Free Republic

As those who follow Syria's seemingly intractable civil war are no doubt aware, Washington is a big part of why the conflict is now going into its sixth year. What began as a plan to destabilize the Alawite government by "playing on Sunni fears of Iranian influence" (to quote a leaked diplomatic cable from then-Deputy Chief of Mission in Syria William Roebuck) gradually metamorphosed into a overt and at times absurd effort to arm and train a series of rebel groups in an attempt to bring about regime change in Damascus. Those efforts have thus far failed, in part because...

Ebay did not like a friend's feedback commentary (it WAS a violation of the rules) and has indefinitely suspended a friend's account. Ebay did not like the conservative commentary in the feedback. No warning notice of violation was given, the friend did NOT know all feedback had to be relevant to the transaction. Representative said suspension could not be appealed and was more or less permanent. Please send me a private message to discuss this. I'll give that person advice on what to do after folks comment.

How do you watch the NFL games online tomorrow free, w/o some scam signup routine ?

My daughter wanted Spam and eggs. She fetched a can of Spam from the pantry and told me there's a warning label that reads "Pork. Not for muslims." I thought she was trolling me, but it really is there.

Did America's Founder Make A Mistake? My question is for liberals but of course, anyone with an opinion is welcome to comment. Did the founders err by limiting the legislative powers of the new government? The Progressive Movement supports the premise that man's nature has improved since the founder's ratified the Constitution. The improvement means there is no longer a need to limit the powers of the elected. The founders gave the government just enough power to perform its primary function of protecting the people's rights, and no others. The Federalist Papers reasoned that limiting legislation powers would limit the...

The candidate's speech disqualifies him from the presidency. The following comments were made in a public speech last week by a man considering running for president of the United States.

For weekend amusement, I am sharing a conversation I had yesterday about important little things that people created, maybe out of frustration or by accident that make our lives better.

An opossum was found in California on Friday after being shot in the head and torso with what appeared to be crossbow arrows. Riverside County Department of Animal Services were amazed by the opossum's survival after it was found trying to remove the arrows near an intersection in the city's La Sierra neighborhood. [snip] The opossum survived the surgery and is now recovering at the animal hospital. [snip] The city's department of animal services has began an animal cruelty investigation into the incident.

I really like Ted Cruz....but it is true...he won't be able to get anything done.

Waukesha - The sight of a terrified little girl about to have an MRI scan gave Doug Dietz a different perspective on his work as an industrial designer at GE Healthcare - and led to a project that has turned imaging departments at 27 children's hospitals into small theme parks. The idea that eventually emerged from a mix of brainstorming and research - with some persistence thrown in - was to transform a frightening medical test into a voyage on a spaceship, a visit to a pirate island and other adventures. Imaging departments became elaborate sets. Technicians became amateur actors...

Here are various demonstrations and uses for net launchers and liquid launchers. These non-lethal weapons can be used to slow down or subdue criminals. When used together or used with other non-lethal weapons (such as the 2-pronged weapons called a "riot forks"), they can be very powerful tools for law enforcement, security, and individuals. Reminiscent to something you would find in a live-action superhero television show, the net launcher is a handheld device that shoots out a net projectile. The launcher is reloadable and has two different net cartridges. One type of cartridge just fires out a net. The other...

John Wilson, who leads the McLennan County chapter of the Cossacks Motorcycle Club, was in the Waco Twin Peaks parking lot when the shooting broke out on May 17 between the Bandidos and Cossacks. His son Jake Wilson was also there. John Wilson owns Legend Cycles in Waco. He and his son were arrested, along with 175 others, and later indicted on organized crime charges. John Wilson is one of the only Cossacks speaking out about what happened that day, and he insists that many of those arrested are innocent. His interview with Julie Lyons is excerpted here. Wilson begins...

Thank you for the love expressed on Bristol's blog post. The homegoing of our Grandma Lena yesterday is so sad, but we'll always be uplifted and encouraged by her strong, tenacious Christian spirit. This beautiful 95-year-old Yupik Eskimo elder is matriarch to our five generations here; she was a hard working commercial fisherman who loved God and family so much! She's been a blessing to our entire state of Alaska. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love...

Live stream of the Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas, NV at South Point on January 21, 2016 at 1:00 PM PST.

As of now, and until after the Iowa Caucus, I will no longer engage in any Trump v Cruz arguments in FR. I just want to put this little vanity note up to make it clear that my silence does not mean I have given up. I support Trump for President. I support Palin for endorsing Trump. Some of my reasons are on my about page.

Obviously the piece is better at the original link (gifs and videos) but I've pasted the text below. Dear George Clooney, Ah, so it looks like you’ve decided to weigh in on the fake outrage of the day. I’m speaking of course of the boycotting of the Oscars being “too white.” I was wondering when you’d find the time to self-importantly chime in. South Park didn’t devote an entire episode to your “smugness” for nothing. Let me see if I’m reading you correctly... “If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how...

This video is animated and created out of pictures of a small, colorful Colombian Parakeets, (Perija), that is listed as critically endangered, and threatened species, have voices of my grandchild, wife and myself, quoting scripture from the KJV Holy Bible.

I believe I've read that there is something magical about a 42% threshold in an election/poll. Can someone clarify why that number is so important? Does or have to do with inevitability?

The conservative commentariat has imploded in dismay at Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Donald Trump in Iowa on Tuesday. Fans of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) , Trump’s main rival in Iowa and beyond, were understandably dismayed. But the reaction went far beyond that. Some said Palin betrayed her conservative principles by choosing a candidate whose conservatism is shallow at best. And some rehashed the personal attacks that have been a staple of the left. In fact, Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Trump makes sense, and fits both her politics and her personality.