Free Republic

July 28, 2003, 3:08PM Texas Democrats bolt again By CLAY ROBISON Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle AUSTIN -- An unknown number of Democratic state senators abruptly left the state Capitol this afternoon after learning that Gov. Rick Perry planned to immediately call a second special session on congressional redistricting. One Democratic senator who asked not to be named, told the Chronicle in a phone interview that senators were apparently on their way out of town. "I have no idea where we're going. I just know in a little bit we will be out of pocket," the senator said. He would not...

GEORGETOWN — David Bryan Ballard got a life sentence because he didn't sign on the dotted line. Ballard, who failed to register as a convicted sex offender when he moved to Williamson County last year, was convicted for that omission Tuesday and sentenced Wednesday to life in prison. Ballard faced from 25 years to life because he had already been to prison twice, for sexual assault of a child and possession of a prohibited substance in prison. The 45-year-old had rejected a plea agreement in which he would have received an eight-year prison sentence. He is the first sex offender...

State Constitution prohibits people from disrupting public speeches, Travis County attorney will argue By David Pasztor AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, May 30, 2002 Precisely what former President Bush said that day in November 1998 is lost to memory. But whatever it was roused University of Texas student Thomas Markovich from his seat in the upper gallery of the Texas House. "At some point, I think Bush made a reference to Nicaragua," said Kenneth Houp, one of Markovich's attorneys. "That's when Markovich stood up and yelled (an expletive) and was hauled off by the gendarmes." The 'gendarmes' were officers from the Texas...

Devil and Mr. Hicks How one of L.A.’s leading lefties joined forces with David Horowitz and Southern California’s conservative elite by Marc Cooper Photo by Ted Soqui ON A RECENT WEEKEND EVENING, UNDER A gentle sea breeze, several people are gathered on a cliff-side patio at the sleek Malibu home of David Horowitz. Yes, that David Horowitz. The former '60s radical­turned­conservative. The former Ramparts magazine editor who now spends much of his time touring college campuses warning against the "treasonous" proclivities of a new generation of radicals and railing against proposals to pay slave reparations to American blacks. The onetime...

School officials afraid SEALS drop would cause panic -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Navy SEALS were told to cancel their plans to have eight paratroopers drop into Florida A&M's football stadium to deliver the game ball and an American flag during Saturday's homecoming festivities. The SEALS tried to convince school officials not to stop the flyover, but agreed Thursday to cancel the event. Authorities were concerned that fear of terrorism could cause some of the fans at the 25,500-seat stadium to panic if they didn't realize why the SEALS were landing on the field during the national anthem. ...

For Immediate Release Contact: Nancy Ives 202-224-7130 Thursday, June 21, 2001 McCain: Bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights Puts Americans in Charge of their Health Care, Protects Employers from Liability Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today delivered the following statement on the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S. 1052, co-sponsored by Senators John Edwards (D-NC), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI): "Mr. President, our personal health and the health of our loved ones is the most valuable thing we possess. Unfortunately, we often take good health for granted until tragedy strikes and the health or ...