Free Republic

In a Nov. 12 Orange Grove column ["Beware of stealth socialism"], I discussed the problems created when government pension funds are invested in private companies. The Register has since highlighted a heretofore-unconsidered problem - political patronage. A media group sued CalPERS to force it to divulge money-management fees it paid to financial companies. CalPERS stonewalled, and for good reason. The information it finally released showed it paid Yucaipa Cos. $8.6 million to manage a reported $50 million. If these numbers are correct, that's a whopping 17 percent fee, or about 17 times higher than what reputable mutual finds charge. The...

I have a question for my fellow Freepers. As you all know, I run a website www.theconservativerepublican.com I have had some complaints about it opening up to slow, although it opens quicker than Drudge or WorldNetDaily. What ways can I improve the speed? Will investing in more bandwidth make the site any faster? Thanks Joe

The purpose of FreeRepublic.com's multiple message boards is to limit the topics for each board to particular topics. Posting the same message on all the boards defeats the purpose of multiple-boards for special topics. It is very annoying to see the same message on every bulletin board. PLEASE! DO THE READERS A FAVOR. STOP CROSS-POSTING YOUR MESSAGES!

Like him or not, as Americans we should all stand together to say NO to any change in the US Constitution that would allow foreign-born, naturalized citizens to run for and hold the highest office in this great land...Apparently a movement is underway to change the US Constitution. We must stand up to this and oppose it. Please sign the No2Arnold Petition

I have a techinical question, how do I change my name on this blog. I love presidentbowen, but I don't think I should use it anymore because there is only one President! Also, how do I add images to the messages I post. Similar to the popular Atomic Opposum... Thanks Freepers!

Barring a last-minute change of strategy and fundraising fortunes, Republican Bill Jones could become the first major candidate in more than four decades to wage a U.S. Senate campaign in California without airing a single television ad — the equivalent of jumping into a gun battle without bullets. Jones' lack of ads also could make history nationally. Political historians could recall no other senate or gubernatorial race nationwide in which one of the major party candidates did not turn to the politician's favorite weapon, the 30-second spot, since television ads began dominating campaigns in the early 1960s. "It sounds like...

I received a beautiful pic of an American Soldier meeting Christ. It has Worth1000.com at the bottom. May I post it? Thanks

Heard this morning that Kerry will be in Xenia, Ohio (about 8 miles west of Dayton) this weekend, doing a "Town Hall" type talk at the high school. Okay you Ohioans, bring your questions, your dog grooming kits, and your ruby slippers! (As Xenia is a notorious tornado-attracting town.)

I have a question about Class 1 FFL. If I obtain one, Can I sell guns to myself at a penny or do I even need to sell them to myself? I have been browsing sites such as gunbroker.com and I have found alot of good deals, But it may be cheaper for the 200$ fee for the FFL than to pay 25-35$ for each transfer to a local gunshop.

Peter Clavelle's mega million plan

Is there an online data source where I can check out Kerry's voting record on Veterans Affairs? I cant seem to find any. It would seem to me that if Kerry was so big on supporting us Veterans he would have some sort of co-sponsored bill or amendment in his name. But I cant find any.

Today's Question: Which presidential candidate makes you feel safer? President Bush or John Kerry?

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry (news - web sites) carefully dodged questions about his search for a running mate, even as he campaigned with one potential vice presidential candidate, Gov. Tom Vilsack. Kerry is expected to name a No. 2 for the party ticket before the Democratic National Convention opens in Boston on July 26, and an announcement could come as early as this week. Although Vilsack rode on Kerry's bus Sunday, the final leg of the senator's weekend tour of Midwestern towns, the two were hardly shoulder to shoulder at campaign stops. And, both avoided...

Parents of some second-graders at a Mount Pleasant Area elementary school are questioning whether a 10-day ban from school is appropriate punishment for youngsters accused of sexual harassment in the classroom. The suspensions were handed to five second-grade boys at Norvelt Elementary School after four girls accused the boys of touching them inappropriately, according to parents of some of the boys. Daniel Landy, Norvelt Elementary's principal, did not return phone calls seeking comment on Thursday. Superintendent Dr. Donald Tylinski would say only that an investigation is under way. Tylinski declined further comment, citing confidentiality concerns.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Critics question why some top executives at the University of California received pay hikes despite a funding crisis that is forcing the system to cut enrollment and contemplate raising student fees. The incoming chancellor of the UC San Diego campus is being paid $350,000, nearly $70,000 more than her predecessor. In February, a new UC provost was appointed with a salary of $380,000, almost $100,000 more than the previous incumbent. Searches are under way for new chancellors at the Berkeley and Santa Cruz campuses and critics predict more hikes. "Each time they raise one person's salary,...

None of us on the Georgia locale page were aware of changes being made. What's up with that?

I need help writing legislation that would abolish parole in all its forms. I need some facts, can anyone help me out?

<p>This week marks the start of the second phase of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's young administration.</p> <p>The first phase -- from his Nov. 17 inauguration through the start of the holiday season -- was a success for the new governor. He rolled back the increase in the car tax, made good on his promise to hold local governments harmless for revenue lost when he cut the tax, persuaded the Legislature to repeal an unpopular bill that gave drivers licenses to illegal immigrants and won approval of a fiscal package he said was the first step toward getting the state's finances back on track.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON — Presidential candidate Howard Dean has run for the Democratic nomination as one of the most aggressively secular candidates in recent presidential campaign history.</p> <p>He has said almost nothing about his personal faith or how the role of religion or faith affects his perspectives of national issues. But that's about to change.</p>

WASHINGTON - Civil liberties groups and politicians raised the prospect Sunday that FBI (news - web sites) monitoring of anti-war protesters could stifle legitimate dissent and jeopardize people's First Amendment right to speak their mind. "What is the chilling effect that will be felt by Americans all across the country if they think they will come under FBI scrutiny just by going to a protest?" said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites). An FBI official on Sunday denied any effort to collect intelligence on people exercising their rights to free speech. The...