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Confederate heritage groups got excited when Gov. Bob Riley's annual proclamation designating April as Confederate History and Heritage Month dropped a paragraph saying slavery was the cause of the Civil War. The groups were pleased because they consider that description of slavery historically inaccurate. Their excitement, however, was short lived. "It was a mistake," said Jeff Emerson, the governor's communications director, on Monday. He said he did not know how the mistake was made. Emerson said the governor was unaware of the deletion until The Associated Press contacted his office. The governor quickly reissued the proclamation with the paragraph on...

US Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, who had hoped to replace George W. Bush as president yesterday, instead sat in the cold and clapped as the Republican began a second four-year term. Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin patted Senator Kerry on the back shortly before the inauguration Senator Kerry had hoped would be his. As Mr Bush delivered his inaugural address, Senator Kerry, about 10m away on the steps of the US Capitol, joined other lawmakers and the crowd in repeated applause. Senator Kerry looked relaxed, at times wistful. He frequently smiled, able to hide any disappointment over what...

Ditto, Tom...Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle says goodbye.     This is an email-able, copyright-ready graphic you can use in emails, on blogs, in flyers, on posters... anything that's noncommercial.

The purpose of FreeRepublic.com's multiple message boards is to limit the topics for each board to particular topics. Posting the same message on all the boards defeats the purpose of multiple-boards for special topics. It is very annoying to see the same message on every bulletin board. PLEASE! DO THE READERS A FAVOR. STOP CROSS-POSTING YOUR MESSAGES!

The Afghan President has declared that the Taliban has finally been defeated. Hamid Karzai was speaking after talks with the United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Kabul. He says the war on terrorism has been won and there is unlikely to be a resurgence of the former Afghan militia. But in recent months there have been a number of attacks on the American military, as well as aid workers. President Karzai also says the hunt for Osama bin Laden is continuing, but remained non-committal about suggestions that US and Pakistani forces are closing in on him. "Whether he...

<p>PIERRE - An effort to define marriage in South Dakota was defeated in the state Legislature on Monday even though it enjoys the support of four of every five lawmakers.</p> <p>Backers of the proposal hoped to form a bulwark against a recent court decision in Massachusetts and developments in other states that allow gays and lesbians to legally marry. But the language of the 39-word bill, which would make civil unions and domestic partnerships illegal in South Dakota, proved too vague for lawmakers. It was defeated 12-1 by the House State Affairs Committee.</p>

Democrats Abroad Japan Press Release Submitted by Heather on 9 February, 2004 - 05:59 UTC. - For Immediate Release - "Dean Takes Tokyo, Sweeps Past Kerry on Third Count" A record 156 participants gathered at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Yurakucho Tokyo, on Sunday 8 February for the Democrats Abroad Japan Caucus. The purpose of the Caucus was two-fold: firstly to elect delegates to the Democrats Abroad Convention in Edinburgh in March, members of which will in turn be elected to the Democratic National Convention in Boston, and secondly to propose and debate resolutions to be adopted...

Seattle Voters Says "HELL NO!" To Expresso Tax By Tim Eyman, WA State Anti-Tax Guru I'm shocked but pleased to announce that Seattle voters finally found a tax they not only disliked, but viscerally hated:  the latte tax.  It went down in flames tonight with 68% of Seattle voters, that's right SEATTLE VOTERS, not saying "no" but "HELL NO!" This is clearly a turning point on taxes in Washington state.  We've always had non-Seattle voters on board our efforts toward more tax sanity.  But now it looks as if voters in Seattle have seen the light. Better late than never....

Almost two years after they were defeated, thousands join the Taliban's new jihad (Filed: 07/09/2003) Massoud Ansari travels with militia fighters around the Kandahar region of Afghanistan They are known as the Sarbaz - those who care nothing for their own lives - and they represent one of the greatest threats to the government of Mohammed Karzai and the international forces seeking to bring stability to the shattered country of Afghanistan. The Taliban, supposedly vanquished in December 2001 when American and Northern Alliance forces drove them from power, are reviving and fighting back across southern Afghanistan. Siddiqullah is one of...

House kills push for anti-abortion license plates BY CONNIE MABIN Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - A push to create a "Choose Life" license plate was derailed in the Texas House Sunday when a San Antonio Democrat said a committee that passed the bill violated a House rule requiring two hours' notice of a meeting. "This bill won't come back," said Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, sponsor of the measure that contained the license plate provision. He said he'd look for other ways to revive the bill. Committee deadlines have passed and the session ends June 2. Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio,...

House Appropriations Committee Defeats Section 245(i) and Ban on State/Local Police Cooperation with INS REP. SERRANO (D-NY) AMENDMENT TO MAKE SECTION 245(i) PERMANENTIn a stunning defeat for supporters of open borders and non-enforcement of laws against illegal immigration, the House Appropriations Committee last night defeated an effort to make Section 245(i) permanent. The effort was made as the full Appropriations Committee was marking up the fiscal year 2002 Supplemental Appropriation. As expected Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) offered his amendment to make this amnesty permanent. However, on a voice vote the committee approved a substitute for the Serrano amendment mirroring...