Free Republic

PATERSON, N.J. – A judge has ruled that a new election will be held in November for a disputed Paterson City Council seat, just weeks after the race's apparent winner and a sitting councilman were charged with voter fraud. State Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela issued his ruling Wednesday. Alex Mendez had won a special election on May 12 to fill the seat, but claims of voter fraud were soon raised. An investigation was then launched after the U.S. Postal Service's law enforcement arm told the state attorney general's office about hundreds of mail-in ballots located in a mailbox in...

Since the debate over what he said yesterday is still raging, it’s only fair that you get to hear his latest comment about it. Skip to 8:35 of the clip below from last night’s interview on Trump TV.His response to Hannity’s question about North Carolina is a dodge but it’s a dodge with a conservative pedigree. If you’re a Republican who’s been put on the spot about a hot-button social issue, you can’t go wrong saying, “Leave it to the states.” Even righties who disagree with you on the merits will tip their caps at your nod to federalism....

Recall Contents [hide] 1 Statewide recall 1.1 Officials eligible by state 1.2 Prerequisites for recall processes 2 Notable recalls 2.1 Gubernatorial recalls 2.1.1 Wisconsin, 2012 2.1.2 California, 2003 2.1.3 North Dakota, 1921 2.2 Other recalls 3 Recalls by type of political office 4 See also 5 References Recall is a process available in most jurisdictions whereby an elected official can be removed from office either for malfeasance or in some jurisdictions for any action the recall language specifies. For recalls, most state laws have set the highest signature threshold for any type of petition—most often requiring 25% of all registered...

"Let's face it, a mixed kid from Hawaii born to a single mom is not likely to become President of the United States. But in America it can happen because of education, because somebody gave me opportunity. "You know, a little black girl from the South Side of Chicago, whose mom is a secretary and dad is a blue-collar worker—not likely to become First Lady of the United States. But it happens because she got a great education, even though her folks didn’t have a lot of money. "It's the gateway of opportunity for middle-class families, for those who are...

It seems some of the Kos Kids regret voting for Obama. You have to read it to believe it. Enjoy! I think we are all really disappointed. We thought we were getting something fresh, intelligent and new when Obama came in. I have to admit, I also feel defeated with this resignation. I also hope I buck up soon, but either I don't understand Obama's MOA, or something. Maybe he is weak, on a slow learning curve, maybe he will surprise us in all those wonderful ways. I don't know anymore, and the bitterness I am hearing in these comments...

In a bid to gloss over the highly controversial racial charged comments that Mr. Obama’s nomination to the Supreme Court has made concerning White men or White male judges in particular the Democrat Party made a concerted effort on Tuesday to give Latina Judge Sonia Sotomayor another chance to say what she said in 2001 but this time say it like a Supreme Court nominee.

The Food and Drug Administration, reversing field, will now let 17-year-olds get the 'morning-after' birth control pill without a doctor's prescription, a government health official said Wednesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agency will announce that it is complying with a federal judge's order that overturns a Bush administration policy. The official was not authorized to speak publicly before the FDA announcement, expected later Wednesday....

<p>SCIENTISTS have warned that Christmas lights are bad for the planet due to huge electricity waste and urged people to get energy efficient festive bulbs. CSIRO researchers said householders should know that each bulb turned on in the name of Christmas will increase emissions of greenhouse gases.</p>

The Revolutionary Political Blog has a story on the Barack Obama three point basketball shot at this link: http://www.mikefrancesa.com/wordpress/?p=938 The site claims that a military source revealed that Obama actually missed five three pointers in a row before making the shot that has been broadcast all over the MSM. The video was edited to make it seem like Obama canned the three on his first attempt.

John McCain will spend the coming week talking about the economy, but the Republican presidential candidate isn't expected to say anything new. Rather, he will repackage proposals he has already outlined -- ones the campaign fears nobody heard. "We don't think we've made the case eloquently," Doug Holtz-Eakin, the campaign's policy director, said. The goal is to put out a consistent message each day that can penetrate voters' minds. The ability to control a certain story line through a 24-hour news cycle is seen as one element of a successful modern political campaign and, so far, Sen. Obama has been...

A Briton living in Australia has agreed a bid of more than £192,000 after putting his "entire life" up for sale following a split from his wife. Ian Usher, 44, who left Darlington six years ago, included his house, car, job and friends in the online eBay auction, in an effort to make a fresh start. The lot attracted a peak offer of 399,300 Australian dollars (£192,276) when bids closed early on Sunday. Despite expecting higher bids, Mr Usher said he had "no regrets". At one point offers on the "life lot" rocketed to over two million Australian dollars (£1m)...

The Washington Post reports that Sen. Barack Obama is aggressively trying to “reintroduce” himself to voters, echoing the spin of Obama’s advisers that not everyone knows him yet. In reality, Obama’s major campaign challenge will not be to reveal, but to conceal his true identity. Obama is not trying to introduce himself to unreached voters, but is engaged in damage control with many he’s already reached — and insulted and disillusioned. As long as he was soaring above the fray with the lofty rhetoric of hope, change and unity, Obama could masquerade as a quasi-messianic figure, but once forced into...

Now her husband’s presidential campaign is giving her image a subtle makeover, with a new speech in the works to emphasize her humble roots and a tough new chief of staff. On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama will do a guest turn on “The View,” the daytime talk show on ABC, with an eye toward softening her reputation. Her problems seemed hard to imagine last fall and winter. Mrs. Obama, a Harvard-trained lawyer, appeared so at ease with the tactile business of campaigning and drew praise for humanizing, often with humor, a husband who could seem elusive. Then came some rhetorical stumbles....

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Democrats moved forward with plans to override President Bush's veto of a $290 billion farm bill Thursday despite a printing error that has turned a triumphant political victory into a vexing embarrassment. It seems that no one read the bill after it was printed on parchment paper and sent to the White House, where Bush vetoed it Wednesday. Missing was a 34-page section on international food aid and trade. Democratic leaders in the House decided to pass the bill again, including the missing section in the version that Bush got. That vote was 306-110, again enough to...

DETROIT: With plans for new primaries in Florida and Michigan in limbo, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton challenged Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday to accept at least a new contest in Michigan, arguing that he should match his "words with action" because a civil rights principle was at stake. Clinton added a quick stop at a union hall here to throw down a gauntlet before Obama in hopes of pressuring him to support a proposed June 3 primary in Michigan, where some lawmakers describe his resistance as a key obstacle to a revote. In hopes of bolstering the Michigan plan, two...

The headline from MIRS, Michigan's Hotline: Ding-Dong, Do-Over Primary Is Dead "Time of death for the do-over Michigan primary? Call it at about 11 a.m. today." A Lansing insider IMs to explain the latest development: The Senate Dems just had a long caucus meeting following their long phone call with the Gang of Four [as Carl Levin and others pushing a re-vote are called], and the result is that no one moved. Votes aren't there. Thus, it will not go to a vote in the Senate. And barring some other last minute miracle that doesn't involve those four, the governor...

The headline from MIRS, Michigan's Hotline: Ding-Dong, Do-Over Primary Is Dead "Time of death for the do-over Michigan primary? Call it at about 11 a.m. today." A Lansing insider IMs to explain the latest development: The Senate Dems just had a long caucus meeting following their long phone call with the Gang of Four [as Carl Levin and others pushing a re-vote are called], and the result is that no one moved. Votes aren't there. Thus, it will not go to a vote in the Senate. And barring some other last minute miracle that doesn't involve those four, the governor...

Michigan Democrats seemed to smother any chance of a presidential-primary revote yesterday, but the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton added a surprise stop to the state ...to try to keep prospects alive. On Monday Florida Democrats also dropped the idea of a vote-by-mail presidential primary... Michigan's efforts to regain those seats seemed likely to end after state legislators yesterday were unable to agree to a bill... Late yesterday the Clinton campaign announced that the New York senator would host a "Solutions for America" rally in Detroit... "We're going to Michigan because she wants to personally press the case that the...

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s hopes of ending the primaries with game-changing victories from new contests in Florida and Michigan grew dim on Tuesday as Florida officially scuttled plans for a new vote and Michigan lawmakers appeared far from a deal. --snip-- Political analysts said Mrs. Clinton had far more to lose from the deadlock than Mr. Obama, which explains why she has pressed harder for revotes. Mrs. Clinton trails in elected delegates and the popular vote. With 10 contests remaining, she will find it virtually impossible to close the gaps without new elections in Florida and Michigan...

Lansing (WWJ) -- It's appearing more and more likely there will not be a re-do of the Democratic presidential primary election. WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports state Senate Democrats came out of a closed door meeting Tuesday morning and said there are not enough votes to approve a re-do. Legislative approval is necessary for a re-vote to happen. Speaking live on WWJ, Skubick said it would take a "miracle" to have the re-do approved, but he added it's still possible. There has been no comment from the Michigan Democratic Party. A spokesman said they are waiting to see...