Free Republic

It’s easy to get wrapped up in men and moments. In the current election season, for instance, we may see a candidate appearing to embody all our hopes and dreams (or at least many) and come to assign him country-savior status. Even the great Thomas Sowell — a man for whom I have tremendous respect — has called the November choice “the last chance for America.” Yet even if we do choose the “right” president, it will only amount to a stay of execution. Many people lament that “Obama has destroyed America these last eight years” or, alluding to same,...

After six minutes of discussion, the Huntington Beach City Council voted 6 to 1 on Monday night to allow stores to use plastic carryout bags, taking a step toward reversing a ban that was enacted in 2013.

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, speaking at an event hosted by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence’s Legal Action Project, said Monday said that having “some kind of constitutional right to a cell phone with a predialed 911 at your bedside might be better protection than a gun.” “I’m not sure I actually have captured the entire question, but it does occur to me that one thing that I thought about from time to time is that maybe you have some kind of constitutional right to have a cell phone with a predialed 911 number at your...

Key Dem: Attacks on Libya 'because of oil'By Michael O'Brien - 03/21/11 01:30 PM ET The United States military action against Libya is motivated by a desire for affordable and accessible oil, a top Democrat on environmental issues said Monday. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said that he agreed with President Obama's decision to launch, along with allies, attacks against Libya and its leader, Moammar Gadhafi. But Markey said the attacks were primarily motivated by oil. "We are in Libya because of oil," Markey said on MSNBC. "It all goes back to...

Note: the following text is a quote: THE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2009 President Obama Names Medal of Freedom Recipients 16 Agents of Change to Receive Top Civilian Honor WASHINGTON – President Obama today named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. This year’s awardees were chosen for...

SNIPPET: "(CNSNews.com) - Two provisions in President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan could give the federal government the authority to oversee the medical decisions made between doctors and patients, critics warn, which could result in the rationing of health care. The plan to make all health records electronic and establish an effectiveness board to review health care costs was part of the $838 billion economic stimulus bill that passed the Senate Tuesday." SNIPPET: "Further, the legislation also spends $1.1 billion to establish a Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, which would serve as an umbrella group for all federal...

As expected, the House today gave final approval to the S-CHIP government health care expansion funded with a massive tax hike on smokers. President Obama is set to sign the bill amid great “progressive” fanfare. The kiddie human shield strategy strikes again. The roll call vote is up here. The vote was 290-135. I’ve broken down the list of Republicans who supported this universal health care Trojan Horse. Take note: Austria Bono Mack Buchanan Cao Capito Castle Dent Diaz-Balart, L. Diaz-Balart, M. Ehlers Emerson Frelinghuysen Gerlach King (NY) Kirk Lance LaTourette Lee (NY) LoBiondo McCotter McHugh Miller (MI) Moran (KS)...

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Between now and Election Day, Democrats say they will use Congress to showcase the kinds of change promised by their presidential candidate, Barack Obama. Some legislation they'll choose have good prospects of passage — policy blueprints for higher education and the military; a ban on lead in toys — and skip over debates on spending plans and some taxes until a new president takes office. Other bills they'll debate are doomed. But on those, the point isn't passage this year. It's about making the case that the Democrats' plan for children's health care, for example, won't become...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Sen. Jim Webb said he owns the gun that an aide was arrested for carrying into the U.S. Capitol complex in March. "It's my gun," Webb told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an interview last week. Webb previously had refused to say whether the gun was his, although his senior aide--Phillip Thompson--had told police the weapon belonged to the Democratic senator. Thompson was arrested on an illegal handgun charge when he carried the loaded pistol and two other loaded magazines in a briefcase into the Russell Senate office building. A federal prosecutor later dropped the charge. Webb said...

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. made it clear as he began taking questions at yesterday's National Italian American Foundation luncheon that he couldn't reveal any of the Supreme Court's forthcoming opinions. But did he at least give a hint? Two of the court's biggest remaining cases focus on the First Amendment, and while Alito didn't mention either, he did make it clear that any restrictions on speech face a high hurdle with him. "I'm a very strong believer in the First Amendment and the right of people to speak and to write," Alito said in response to a question of...

Anti-war activists vowed they will have long memories about the deal Democratic leaders struck with the Bush administration this week on Iraq war funding, warning that they will exact retribution from lawmakers in both parties in 2008. Enraged by what they considered capitulation by Democrats, anti-war leaders vowed to redouble their efforts at defeating the next funding request when it comes up as expected in September. The group MoveOn.org, which previously had been an ally of the Democratic leadership on the war issue, in a statement raised the specter of "in-district advertising and recruitment of primary challengers" as punishment for...

My fellow world citizens: Vice President Obama and I send you greetings from the Oval Office. I want to tell you what we have already accomplished today, and what we have planned for our first 100 days. Firstly, Vice President Obama and I are deeply disappointed with the rioting and social upheaval that have occurred since our election last November. As a result of this attack on our democracy, I have consulted with the United Nations, and have been granted permission to declare martial law, for as long as it takes to quell the insurrection. U.N. troops should be in...

Fresh off a vote last week urging our abrupt surrender in Iraq, and just hours removed from coming up 62 votes short in an attempt to override the president's veto, Democrats will use the House floor this afternoon to slide through legislation conceived of, written by, and moved in consultation with a key segment of their special interest constituency. The bill, harmlessly coined "the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" by House Democrats, would create a nebulous new class of criminals based not on the things they do, but on the basis of what they may or may not...

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) said Sunday that Democrats in Congress could consider impeachment as a way to pressure President Bush on his handling of the war in Iraq. “What I’m saying, there’s four ways to influence a president. And one of them’s impeachment,” Murtha, chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Murtha has been one of the most outspoken members of Congress on the administration's handling of the war in Iraq; others who have strongly criticized Bush have stopped short of calling for impeachment. Murtha also expressed doubt that Congress and the Bush...