Free Republic

“Go ahead, punch me in the face and I'm not going to retaliate ...” – said Sarah Palin on Hannity and the whole country immediately understood the new Obama policy on nuclear engagement. Like the “death panels” remark got the attention of the seniors to the health care reform, the “punch me!” line made the crowd curious about the new Obama activity involving nuclear arms negotiations. With the “death panels” Palin made Obama defend himself that he will not pull the plug on Granma. With the “I will not retaliate” line the famous now FOX News contributor made the...

You don’t have to go all the way to Europe to find what VAT is. Our neighbors in Mexico have it. Most of the Latin America is collecting VAT – Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela… Ask your Latino friends: “How is Impuesto al Valor Agregado working for ya?” Do you miss it here? Do you want it imported in the USA? It is true some states here have sales tax... There is a difference though... Here is how it works (let’s assume the tax is 10%): Sales tax – The manufacturer of the product buys the supplies tax free by showing business...

Hugo Chavez is making “progress” for his people every day. The latest achievement of the communism in Venezuela is the deal with the Russian car manufacturer AutoVaz for 2500 Ladas – including Lada Niva according to the reports. No word yet if Chavez is ready to punish his people with the resurrection of the Trabbi – parts of which are featured in the photo. There is no information though which Niva Chavez will be producing – the “classic” Soviet design or the new General Motors (Chevy Niva) design. The joint venture between the Tolyatti monster and the GM gave...

The conservatives are having a comeback in Europe lately. After the reelection of the Chancellor Merkel in Germany and the broad right swing in the European Parliament it is Britain’s turn to kick the liberal agenda out of the house on 10 Downing Street.... The British economic situation is similar to the American one – debt caused by social spending that emptied the treasury during the world recession. The liberals in power under Prime Minister Gordon Brown government did what liberals do best to solve the problem: they taxed the rich. Starting April 2010 there is an additional rate of...

Below is my quick research of the National Archives and the Presidential Libraries for Easter Photos. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W.H. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter took time to greet the Easter Bunny and the enthusiastic egg-rollers. The photos capture the fabulous presence of the First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Rosalyn Carter and Eleanor Roosevelt at the celebrations.

The legend says Mary Magdalene visited the Emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD) and told him the story about Christ’s Resurrection. She gave the Emperor a present: a simple egg as a symbol of new life. Tiberius responded that no one could rise from the dead, anymore than the egg could turn red. Then miracle happened! The egg turned red as testimony to Mary’s words. Tiberius had Pilate removed from Jerusalem to Gaul, where he later suffered a horrible sickness and an agonizing death... through the years some celebrate the egg more and more and the story less and less. The...

If Tom Sawyer was painting the fence today he would have broken many regulations. He was 11-12 years old – he did not have work permit for child labor – nor did the kids he exploited. Whitewash – paint made from calcium hydroxide (lime) and chalk – requires reaction with dangerous (according to EPA) carbon dioxide in order to cure. It may take days of carbonation, depending on climate, for the paint to harden. That carbon dioxide pollutant is ruining the world according to the new EPA regulations: Atmospheric deposition may affect materials principally by promoting and accelerating the corrosion...

The Wennberg/Fisher research shows that people with the same illness will get different care in different parts of the country and the amount of care they get is always in correlation with the capacity available. The more beds available in intensive care the better is your chance to die in ICU despite your own wishes. The more physicians and specialists available the more visits and procedures the patients will get whether they need it or not. The researchers also found that patients are happier with the care in regions of the country where the capacities of the providers are less....

Looks like President Obama sees himself as a god-like visionary who is leading the sheep into a social justice czardom instead of following the will of the “we the people”. .. The key bureaucracy that we all need to know about...is the Accountable Care Organization. ACO is the future of the American health care as envisioned by Obama and voted into reality by the Democrats in Congress. The ACO goal is stated as following: providing quality services to patients while earning a reasonable livelihood in the process. The key word is “reasonable” – the Gov will decide what reasonable...

“I might have preferred iron — but bronze will do... It won't rust” – said the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher during the unveiling of her statue at the British Parliament. I wonder if someday an artist will create one of those for the “historic” US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Growing behind the iron curtain I thought the western politicians think like Thatcher and Reagan. 20 years later my life journey took me all the way to America just to discover Nancy Pelosi with a giant hammer in her hands forcing the socialism utopia over the land of...

There are few democratic senate seats that are deemed safe blue in November no matter what and who. It is time to zoom-in to this “safe democratic czardoms” and see what kind of folks rule there. Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA) is the woman who overturned 30 years of protection against federal funding for abortion laws. She led the pro-abortion coalition that prevented the passing of the Stupak amendment in the Senate version of the ObamaCare that ultimately became law. Later Bart Stupak caved during the House vote and supported the Boxer language that gives just enough wiggle room...

There are few democratic senate seats that are deemed safe blue in November no matter what and who. It is time to zoom-in to this “safe democratic czardoms” and see what kind of folks rule there. Senator Mikulski, Barbara (D-Md) – most recently she proposed the “filibuster reform”. While she was in minority she did not mind to exercise a check on the majority through filibuster (a great American tradition in which to get something done in the Senate you need 60 votes not just 50+1) “I was raised in a country where I thought the majority ruled” -discovered Mikulski...

The Obama Care introduced a new era in American society – the era of mandatory participation in government policies. According to the law passed by Congress yesterday if you don’t have health insurance you will be required to get one: 1. If you are under age of 26 – ask your Mom 2. If you feel like you are poor – check your Medicaid office to see if the government feels the same way about you 3. The rest of you over age of 26 and not poor enough – call the local health insurance companies and buy insurance 4....

There is a creepy similarity between the US government tweets and the old Soviet slogans. Both are short messages from the leaders that are passed to the people to inform them of the official line and agenda. Let’s take a look and compare. Pres. Obama tweet: In just a few days, a century-long struggle will culminate in a historic vote. The time for health reform is now. Soviet slogan: Workers of public health and physical education! Improve the medical service to the people, more actively introduce physical education into the daily life of the people!.... State Dept tweet: New...

216 “YES” votes in the House of Representatives are needed to transform the American health care system. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) spit on his face and his principles today and agreed to switch his vote from “NO” to “YES”. The magical mystery tour with President Obama in the AirForce One flipped the vote of Dennis Kucinich. This is typical for socialists – a public sign from the dear leader verifying someone’s importance is more precious than gold and more important than principles.... The Kucinich flip flop is creepy close to the French reality show based on the good old American...

The arrogance of the Democratic leadership in Washington DC hit a new low. Instead of voting for the Health Care Bill the House of Representatives will just deem it passed. This is the “new way to get your way”: deeming the bills passed. If Obama-Pelosi-Reid deem the Senate Bill passed you will get the following perks: - You will be deemed insured – meaning you will have to hurry up and buy yourself health insurance or else you will pay a penalty fee (called assessment instead of penalty fee so you don’t get stressed or angry). If you fail...

The Coffee Party is an attempt of the left to get back what is theirs and was lost in the arrogance and the hype of the first year of Obama in office. The sweeping Democratic victory in’08 made their leaders insensitive to the folk’s concerns. People who voted for change and realized they got more of the same were chipping off the Democrat Party. The Reagan democrats, the independents were drawn into the tea party movement. The Coffee Party is the proof that Democrats finally realized the Tea Party is not a radical fringe movement, but a safe place for...

President Obama already has the full list of the members of his National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform – known as the Debt Commission...... • Eskine Bowles (Democratic Co-Chair – appointed by President Obama) – Currently serves on the board of directors of General Motors Corporation, Morgan Stanley (where he began his career), Cousins Properties Inc. and NC Mutual Life Insurance Co. Bowles is President of the University of North Carolina. MBA from Columbia University. Served as White House Chief of Staff for President Clinton . Bowles lost two bids for US Senate. Let’s hope he does not hold...

It is the communications, stupid! Carlos Slim is the world “fattest cat” with personal wealth of 53.5 billion dollars. He made the biggest chunk of his money in communication technologies business. Slim’s Telmex has the control of 90% of the Mexican land-line telephone market. He invested in communications, information technologies and media. It is not the evil oil companies that make the biggest profits. It is not the evil health insurance companies either. On top of most profitable industries are the Network and other communications equipment industry (20.4% profits as % of revenue –think Cisco) and the Internet Services...

At the time when the USA are trying to give a final push in the War in Afghanistan Congressman Patrick Kennedy and his loony friends on the left tried to stab the nation in the back in effort to erode the public support for the Surge. Mr. Kennedy was disappointed that his little solo crescendo in the House did not get enough attention from the media. Mr. Kennedy, cynical is the cowardly attempt of you and your few leftist friends to amuse their fringe base with sabotage of the American efforts to bring the War in Afghanistan to an...