Free Republic

The Coast Guard has been performing the mission of Homeland Security since its inception more than 200 years ago. Since 1790 it has adapted its operations to meet the needs of the nation.After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 we once again made changes, refocused our efforts, and developed new tools and policies to protect the American people.  We already had many of the skills, authorities, systems and response plans and brave, dedicated men and women to immediately raise the level of security. As America’s premier multi-mission, military, maritime agency, Homeland Security and Search and Rescue are, and have...

"I have a story that my Dad sent me the other day about my Grandfather. It is amazing... It is about my Grandfather who was on the West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. When the ship went down, the necklace he bought for his mother was in his locker. He borrowed some diving equipment and went and retreived it. ...When I first saw the photo, I thought it was my son. The resemblance to my son is uncanny. I don't know when this article first appeared, but I think it was sometime in 1942. There was no date on the clipping....

THE LADY I wonder what she thought As she stood there, strong and tall. She couldn't turn away, She was forced to watch it all. Did she long to offer comfort As her country bled? With her arm forever frozen High above her head. She could not shield her eyes She could not hide her face She just stared across the water Keeping Freedom's place. The smell of smoke and terror Somehow reduced her size So small within the harbor But still we recognized... How dignified and beautiful On a day so many died I wonder what she thought,...

CAPTION THIS PHOTO - SUSAN SARANDON'S national antiwar media blitz to air seconds before President George Bush addresses the nation in his State Of The Union Address. President Bush will address the nation on Tuesday, 28 January at 8 P.M. Sarandon's timing of her 30-Second meida blitz just seconds before the President presents his cause in the war against terrorism is a desparate grasp at reaching the hearts and minds of many Americans and a direct attempt at painting the President as a "War Monger." She is backed by many of her influential colleagues in Hollywood - including a former...

It's both right-wing and vast, but it's not a conspiracy. Actually, it's more of an anti-conspiracy. The subject is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), closely related ailments (henceforth referred to in this article simply as ADHD). Rush Limbaugh declares it "may all be a hoax." Francis Fukuyama devotes much of one chapter in his latest book, Our Posthuman Future, to attacking Ritalin, the top-selling drug used to treat ADHD. Columnist Thomas Sowell writes, "The motto used to be: 'Boys will be boys.' Today, the motto seems to be: 'Boys will be medicated.'" And Phyllis Schlafly...

Scholarships for Military Children 2003 Program The Defense Commissary Agency/Fisher House Foundation announces the availability of its 2003 scholarships. The program was created to recognize the contributions and sacrifices military families make to ensure the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military community. The scholarship program is administered by the nonprofit Fisher House Foundation, best known for building family comfort homes near military medical facilities for families experiencing a medical crisis. To date, nine hundred and twenty scholarships of one thousand five hundred dollars each has been awarded to military children....

BISMARCK - North Dakota House representatives Monday voted overwhelmingly against a bill proposing to ban tobacco sales in the state. The measure, which would make selling or using tobacco products except for using it for relgious purposes misdemeanors, failed by an 88-4 vote. The bill would have made it a crime to sell or use tobacco in North Dakota, with sellers facing a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The bill labeled smoking, chewing or using smokeless tobacco as a less severe crime, punishable by 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. GF sponsor...

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-) Practice makes perfect.....post on.... Thank you, xsmommy, for today's WFTD suggestion. If any of you have a suggestion for a word you'd like to see used, please FReepmail me. If the word has not been used recently,...

<p>ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The Pataki administration has put forward guidelines for an ambitious mandate that all cigarettes sold in New York be wrapped in paper that poses a lower risk of igniting fires than the paper currently used.</p> <p>The Legislature and Gov. George Pataki approved the law, the first of its kind in the United States and possibly the world, in 2000, and the Fire Prevention Bureau in Pataki's Department of State has been at work ever since figuring out how the statute will function and be enforced.</p>

The fire-throwing, blood-letting, original Sheik, one of the most famous of all professional wrestlers, has died. AnnouncementBio 1Bio 2Photos

<p>LEWISTON, Maine (AP) Embattled Mayor Larry Raymond, whose stance on Somali immigration has sparked a protracted controversy, said he intends to finish his term despite some calls for him to step down.</p> <p>''I have no plans to resign,'' Raymond told the Lewiston Sun Journal in a telephone interview from Florida where he was on vacation. ''My work that I hoped to accomplish isn't finished.''</p>

An American missionary has been attacked in southern India by right-wing Hindus allegedly belonging to a group close to the ruling party. The gang attacked Cooper and others with swords, sticks and iron bars Police spokesman Joseph W Cooper, 68, who is from Pennsylvania, received knife wounds in the assault in Kerala state in which five others were also hurt. Police say they have arrested five activists of the hardline Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). But local RSS leaders deny the movement had anything to do with the attack. The RSS is a group with close ties to the Hindu Nationalist...

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-) Practice makes perfect.....post on.... restive \RES-tiv\, adjective: 1. Impatient under restriction, delay, coercion, or opposition; resisting control. 2. Unwilling to go on; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn. Good Morning Class. Welcome to School!

The Neverending StoryAn ongoing debate on Scripture, Tradition, History and Interpretation. Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams Previous Thread

<p>LEWISTON, Maine (AP) Police brought in reinforcements and closed roads Saturday as white supremacists prepared to call for the expulsion of Somalis while another group tried to drown out their racist message.</p> <p>More than 100 law enforcement officers were deployed in the city as the World Church of the Creator planned to demonstrate against the presence of more than 1,100 Somalis who have made Lewiston their home over the past two years.</p>

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-) Practice makes perfect.....post on.... meretricious\mer-ih-TRISH-us\, adjective: 1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with prostitutes. 2. Alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as, meretricious dress or ornaments. Etymology: Meretricious comes from Latin...

Join the FR smokers lounge bump list...click on the logo Welcome Friends, foes and associates to the completely remodeled Free Republic...Smoker's Lounge Here you will find a comfy place to smoke, drink, joke or whatever. We always have a great time, so sit back, relax and...Smoke 'em if you got 'em shsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshssh aaaaa,:`___________________________||`,:'.",`.;'`,:'.',`: <--------Life is good! A very special thank you to Registered for providing us with this fine logo....we will bear it with pride.

Wow. What a finish to the regular season in the National Football League. We now know the final standings for the regular season, the official playoff rankings, and the playoff schedule. There is a similar NFL thread here (thank you Counter Counter Culture), but that was before Week 17. Now everything is settled and everybody knows who made it and all that good stuff. So, here we are. Post your pics, highlights, scores, predictions and, of course, TRASH TALKING! ------------------------------------------PLAYOFF RANKINGS 2002 AFC Playoff Rankings: 1. Oakland 2. Tennessee 3. Pittsburgh 4. NY Jets 5. Indianapolis 6. Cleveland OUT: Miami,...

Americans are eating themselves into an early grave, a study found. And carrying a spare tire into middle age can be just as deadly as smoking. Obesity at 40 skimmed an average 7.1 years from the lives of women, 5.8 from men, researchers said yesterday. Fat people who smoke are in the express lane to the great beyond, with men living 13.7 years less than nonsmokers and women losing 13.3 years. "The message is that you have to work early on your weight," said Dr. Serge Jabbour of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. "If you wait a long time,...

The Republican Party has decided to hold its 2004 presidential nominating convention in New York City, the GOP announced Monday. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida and New Orleans had been among the finalists along with New York. But New York had been considered a favorite for several months. The convention is scheduled for August 30. The Democrats have previously choosen Boston as the site of their 2004 convention to be held the week of July 26.