Free Republic

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to Republican critics during his Wednesday address to a joint meeting of Congress, telling lawmakers that no country was safe in the face of Russian aggression. In a speech that won several standing ovations from both sides of the aisle, Zelenskyy predicted the war will hit a turning point next year just as Republicans are set to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. "The struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live," said Zelenskyy. "This battle cannot be frozen or postponed, it cannot be ignored hoping...

WASHINGTON - Efforts to reach an immigration compromise faltered Thursday as Democrats and Republicans staked out divergent positions and prepared to blame each other for scuttling the best chance for a broad overhaul this year. Talks continued on a possible deal that would tie residency for millions of illegal immigrants to tougher border security and a crackdown on employing undocumented workers. At the same time, however, Republicans and Democrats set the stage for a partisan battle next week that could squash any agreement. Democrats plan to force a debate starting Tuesday on last year's Senate-passed immigration measure. Most Democrats supported...

Arnold Schwarzenegger probably has stunk up his Sacramento smoking tent with more than a few celebratory cigars of late. Nine months ago, after a special election wipeout with few parallels in U.S. history, the governor looked like a political shooting star whose time had quickly come and gone. Nowadays, basking in the on-time passage of a generally lauded state budget and facing a charisma-challenged Democratic opponent with big weaknesses on both taxes and the environment, Schwarzenegger appears on a clear path to re-election. Hold your cheers. The conventional wisdom – sure, he punted on addressing that pesky structural deficit for...

LIVE OAK - Peaches are in season, and Leticia Lopez has just spent six hours doubled over a bin, picking out the misfits. Lopez came to this small town north of Yuba City about a year ago, leaving five children - ages 3 to 17 - in Michoacán so she could earn money for them here. The 34-year-old widow finds it difficult and frightening without her family and without papers. She would prefer to be here legally, but economic realities compel her to stay. In Mexico, Lopez made about $15 a week cleaning houses and washing clothes. Here, she makes...

Arafat's Support Falters Wednesday May 22, 2002 1:20 AM RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Yasser Arafat is at his weakest in years, with his popularity down and his people clamoring for reform. Yet, no serious challenger has emerged, according to political analysts and a new opinion poll released Tuesday. Marwan Barghouti, a key street leader of the Palestinian uprising, is the front-runner among potential contenders - but he's been sitting in an Israeli jail since the army detained him last month during a sweep through the West Bank. Criticism of Arafat and his Palestinian Authority is becoming increasingly open as...

CIA blamed as deal to end Bethlehem siege falters By Phil Reeves in Bethlehem 08 May 2002 The CIA was suspected of a diplomatic blunder yesterday that disrupted a deal which would have ended the 36-day siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. An agreement stalled at the final hurdle after Italy refused to accept 13 Palestinians, regarded by Israel as terrorists. The Italian government com-plained it had received no formal request to take in the men. An official blamed the Americans and Britain for the oversight, and complained of being treated in "an arrogant and intolerable" manner.Recent talks to...