Free Republic

The city of Concord, California is holding its Christmas tree lighting ceremony this weekend.  And from the looks of the tree, it will barely be alive for its big moment. Instead of a beautiful freshly cut tree like in years past, Concord opted to use an existing tree in the town's square. The switch saved the city $20,000.  Not a bad idea in these tough economic times. The mean-spirited would  best describe the tree as pathetic. Those on the nicer side of life are likely reminded of the old classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The tree was scraggly to begin...

The last time Charlie Brown ran against conventional wisdom, he narrowly lost in a decidedly Republican district where Rep. John Doolittle hadn't failed to win with less than 60 percent of the vote in 14 years. Now, two years after losing to Doolittle by 49 to 46 percent, the former Air Force helicopter pilot and combat veteran faces skepticism again. This time, his doubters say he can't win without Doolittle in the race. Brown in 2006 ran against a Washington culture of corruption, lambasting Doolittle's controversial ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Now he will face a popular conservative, state...

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charlie Brown is running a television commercial that touts his military record while attacking incumbent Rep. John Doolittle for not serving in Vietnam. The ad juxtaposes black-and-white footage depicting college students dancing on a beach with footage of Vietnam-era combat helicopters. It goes on to show photos of Brown as a young military officer and Doolittle as a young politician. Following is the text of the ad and an analysis by Peter Hecht of The Bee Capitol Bureau: •TEXT: While John Doolittle rode out the war at UC Santa Cruz, Charlie Brown was decorated for...

The John Doolittle-Charlie Brown race took more spirited turns Wednesday as a leading House Republican assailed a Brown e-mail calling the Iraq campaign a "war of occupation/aggression" and the Brown campaign released a television ad pointing out Doolittle's lack of service in Vietnam. On the steps of the state Capitol, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a 2008 GOP presidential candidate, took Brown to task for an e-mail he wrote in April 2004 while a civilian employee of the Roseville Police Department. After other employees had exchanged e-mails exulting over the anticipated return of...

Patriotism became the dominant theme in the heated race for Republican Rep. John Doolittle's seat Wednesday, with fellow Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter trying to tie Doolittle's opponent to the controversy surrounding comments by Sen. John Kerry. Democrat Charlie Brown, a retired Air Force officer and decorated war veteran, punched back by releasing a television ad accusing Doolittle of dodging the Vietnam War by attending college. The ad also notes that his son, Jeff, is about to begin a fourth rotation in Iraq as an Air Force pilot. During a news conference at the state Capitol, Hunter, R-San Diego, called on...

WASHINGTON - Conservative Rep. John Doolittle found common ground with anti-war activists Tuesday - their mutual befuddlement over the war views of the congressman's Democratic rival, Charlie Brown. Anti-war activist Stephen Pearcy, who gained attention from his Sacramento home in February when he hung a human-shaped form dressed in a military uniform and adorned it with anti-war messages, charged that the retired Air Force officer is distancing himself from the protesters who had come to regard Brown as one of them. "He's back-pedaling," said Pearcy in an interview. "He was initially holding himself out as an anti-war candidate, someone who...

Democratic challenger labels his foe corrupt, and in a return shot is called 'flim-flam man.' Rep. John Doolittle and Democratic challenger Charlie Brown went after each other in a bruising campaign debate Wednesday night, with Brown depicting Doolittle as a corrupt politician in the pocket of felons and Doolittle calling his rival a "flim-flam man" hiding his extreme liberal views.There were verbal haymakers almost from the outset of the televised debate that took place in the Rocklin studios of Starstream Communications and was aired live by the Placer County cable network."You try to be a conservative to the Republicans and...

SACRAMENTO -- Democratic congressional challenger Charlie Brown, engaged in a longshot bid to unseat Republican Rep. John Doolittle, campaigned with retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark on Monday and sounded the themes of security and integrity. The evening rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the state Capitol had the feel of an event intended to resonate with the congressional district's conservative voters. Republicans hold an 18-point voter registration edge. Brown and Clark served in Vietnam — Brown as a helicopter rescue pilot and Clark as an Army officer who was awarded the Silver Star. Clark, a former NATO commander, said...

It’s something Lucy might have done — stolen an already hot statue of Charlie Brown to return it to its owner, and collect a $2,500 reward. And being Charlie Brown — who never got the better of a situation — the statue got a little scraped up in the process. Still, said owner Bob Forsyth: “We’re just happy to have him back.” The case of the stolen statue began between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday, when someone cut the bolts holding the 300-pound polyurethane Peanuts star to its concrete base outside Michele’s Restaurant in Santa Rosa. Forsyth publicized the theft...