Free Republic

Leading news services AP and Reuters have issued corrections to reports last Saturday claiming that Pope Francis called Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas an "angel of peace." That translation of the Pope's comments was republished by numerous international news outlets, including Arutz Sheva. But after initial doubts as to the accuracy of the translation ensued, several Italian-language experts confirmed to Arutz Sheva that Francis actually told Abbas that he "may" or "could" be an "angel of peace," in an attempt to persuade him to return to peace talks with Israel. Now the mis-translation has finally been acknowledged, at least partially,...

You might think the question would be settled by now, but the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to opine on whether the Second Amendment right to “bear” arms for self-defense extends outside the home. We may soon get an answer. Lyle Denniston, writing for the Constitution Daily, reports about two gun rights cases that may get a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Both cases, dealing with restrictions on the ability of minors to possess weapons in public, hinge on the difference between the right to “keep” a gun and a right “bear” one. The National Rifle Association thinks the...

Illegal immigration continues to be a hot button, and Gov. Schwarzenegger has kicked up some anger among conservative Republicans this week on that front. The latest ripple: his statements cautioning that Californians have shown a surprising "intensity of prejudice" and that they shouldn't be angry at people who have crossed the border to look for opportunity in America, but at the federal government for not doing its job in securing the borders. --snip-- "I draw a very big distinction from someone who legally emigrates to American versus someone whose first act is disregarding our laws," said Fleischman. "It goes to...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Archivists released documents from Dwight Eisenhower's administration that historians say could help refine their understanding of the president's positions on national security and civil rights. The Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kan., announced Thursday the release of 40,000 pages of previously classified documents on subjects including J. Edgar Hoover's domestic intelligence operation, construction of the Berlin Wall and Middle East policy. Chester Pach, an Ohio University professor who authored "Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower," said historians have many unanswered questions about the president, including his role in planning the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. "There...

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has suggested, among other things, that we put warning labels on French wine alerting the consumer that the French use bovine blood to clarify the wine. I think that’s a great idea. Other than being generally disgusting to vegetarians who thought French wine was drinkable, it highlights the risk of mad cow disease, via that bovine blood tainting French wine.