Free Republic

“If you need a license to drive a car, you should need a license to buy and possess a gun,” said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Presidential candidate, and the bill’s author. The measure, dubbed the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, would require individuals who want to buy or receive a firearm to first get vetted by and be issued a license from the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition to an extensive background check, applicants would have to complete firearms training “which must include a written test and hands-on training to ensure safe use and accuracy,” and submit fingerprints. Further,...

'No mystery' behind the move says Vatican spokesman(ANSA) - Vatican City, March 16 - A white marble tomb has been made ready under St Peter's Basilica to receive the remains of the next pope who dies, French-language news agency I-media reported Wednesday. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said there is "no mystery" behind the move. "It is necessary to foresee room being made for tombs in future years...there was only one free chapel, so it was wise to foresee other possibilities as well," he said.

The 400 richest Americans used to pay 30% of their income on the average to Uncle Sam. Today, they pay 18% on the average. The main reason for the drop in their tax rate of some 40% is the tax cuts by George Bush in 2003, taking the rate paid on dividends and capital gains down to 15%.

Cambridge, MA (AHN) - Police have dropped charges of disorderly conduct against noted African-American historian and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, who was arrested last week for shouting at a police officer investigating a reported break-in at the Gates home. The arrest was "regrettable and unfortunate," the city and police department of Cambridge said in a joint statement released Tuesday. "This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department. All parties agree that this is a just resolution to an unfortunate set of circumstances,"...

I believe that Obama's inspirational leadership, contemplative nature and well-reasoned, forward-looking policies offer our troubled nation a real opportunity to face and overcome its many challenges at home and abroad. On an array of domestic issues, including health care, education, tax policy, the environment and alternative energy sources, Obama promises a clean break from the recent past and tangible hope for a return to fiscal responsibility, economic security and true environmental stewardship, all of which are essential to restoring our greatness. Now, Obama must be aware of the hopes that he has raised through his discussion of these issues. Many...

OK when do we hold JANE FONDA accountable for shooting her idiot mouth off and causing so many of the worlds biggest problems? Look how many died in Vietnam after we pulled out? She was instrumental in deceiving the US. Her and John Kerry (did you know he was in Vietnam?) who was there for 3 months, got 3 purple hearts, and "committed atrocities" And how about that stupid "China Syndrome" movie that convinced us all how EEEEEEEeeevil nuclear power was? We could have been a lot less dependant on foreign oil, and needed 2 less Gulf Wars (its all...

Bush Statements "EMBOLDEN" Terrorists September 23, 2004 (Editors may edit for space & time constraints) During the press conference September 23, 2004 with President George W. Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the president stated that the "terrorists have an effective tool" in terror. During the August 30, 2004 interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show President Bush spoke what 'his heart' knew was the truth when he clearly said "I don't think we can win it", referring to the winning the "War on Terrorism". Of course in the days that followed there was a nation-wide effort by...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 — President Bush is expected to propose a health care initiative in his State of the Union address to help the uninsured and the underinsured, White House advisers said on Friday. It was unclear how much the initiative, to be announced in the address on Tuesday, would cost at a time when Mr. Bush is under pressure because of a growing budget deficit. But White House officials have made clear that they do not want to cede the politically potent issue of health care to the Democratic presidential candidates, all of whom have made health care a...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 — President Bush is expected to propose a health care initiative in his State of the Union address to help the uninsured and the underinsured, White House advisers said on Friday. It was unclear how much the initiative, to be announced in the address on Tuesday, would cost at a time when Mr. Bush is under pressure because of a growing budget deficit. But White House officials have made clear that they do not want to cede the politically potent issue of health care to the Democratic presidential candidates, all of whom have made health care a...

Comrades ... Al Gore’s announcement that he will not seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 says a great deal about the state of the American political system and the Democratic Party. The former vice president and nominal head of the Democrats, who captured the votes of 50 million Americans and won the popular vote in the 2000 presidential race, chose a December 15 interview on the CBS program “60 Minutes” as the venue for publicizing his decision. That Gore, by far the best known of all likely Democratic presidential aspirants, should remove himself from contention at this early stage...

It's hard for a progressive playing the game of politics these days not to feel like the fix is in.First, the nominally progressive Democrats lose even when they win. This year, reminiscent of Al Gore in 2000, Oregon House Democratic candidates won more votes statewide than Republicans -- 18,000 more, enough to hold a one-seat majority if every vote counted equally -- and still failed to take control of the chamber by five seats.Worse, the horse, or rather the donkey, that the two-party system would oblige progressives to bet on don't run. This year, even the pundits noticed that Democrats...