Free Republic

...Corporations, unions, non-profits and 527 groups will be required to report donors who give more than $600 if they engage in express advocacy, -- average union dues, the source of the majority of their funds, in 2004 were $377...

I have no connection to this guy at all, but Beck has now suggested checking his site every single day, along with Drudge, of course. (I wish he'd say FR, too, but that's another matter). Titles and coverage is on various conservative topics, with videos embedded.

...In light of the US’s role in global economic destabilization, and whereas major European powers have pledged fiscal prudence in stark contrast to the US, Chinese officials have expressed concern over the worldwide reliance on the dollar as a reserve currency and as the currency of international settlement. Moreover, given the trillions of dollars that China now holds, Beijing has become more and more cognizant of the fact that ill-considered US fiscal and monetary policy could ravage the value of its currency portfolio. The precariousness of settling all trade in foreign currencies manifested itself recently with the slipping and yo-yoing...

...[U]nfortunately, the $8.7 million that the Assembly’s already underwritten allocation of (less than the initially desired $12.7 million) for Drew’s medical residency does not reflect wise spending... Read more: http://www.atr.org/california-assembly-democrats-dont-know-efficiently-a5123#ixzz0riCGk6F1

...One provision that's getting a lot of notice is the tax hike on pensions, charities, and colleges (the "carried interest" tax hike). This version of the Senate bill raises the tax rate on these capital gains even higher than the original version did. Under the Senate bill, a portion of capital gains from some investment partnership profits will be taxed as ordinary income. What portion depends on the year, and whether the asset in question was held for at least five years. Here's the percentage of capital gain which will be wrongly treated as ordinary income... Read more: http://www.atr.org/new-senate-tax-extenders-billbr-even-a5095#ixzz0rhiH6fTg

When the Senate takes up the extenders package, one of the provisions (found in Section 413 of the amendment language) would for the first time impose the self-employment tax on S-corporation profits earned by firms with three or fewer shareholders, and in which 80 percent or more of the gross income is derived from “personal services” (health, law, lobbying, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performance arts, consulting, athletics, investment advice/management, and brokerage services)... Read more: http://www.atr.org/senate-extenders-bill-raises-taxes-onbr-a5116#ixzz0rbS2ibD4

I feel like a broken record, but the Constitution is explicit about what the federal government can and cannot do. Article I of that document lists seventeen powers that the federal government can do. The Tenth Amendment was designed to dismiss any notion that the federal government had broad powers beyond those laid out in Article I. The founders' agenda was clear -- very restrictive powers for the federal government and vast powers to the states and local governments. Thomas Jefferson may have summed it up best when he wrote in 1816 that "The way to have good and safe...

Nothing is as galling as political hypocrisy. There is something so infuriating about a guilty man accusing others of his own transgression. Saul Alinsky saw it as a valuable tool: accuse your enemy of what you are doing. Today, the White House tore into tone-deaf BP CEO Tony Hayward. Wait, aren't the tone-deaf a protected class? No matter, the White House attacked Hayward for attending a luxury yacht race during the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf. You're doing a heck of a job, Tony! Then again, where was our Fearless Leader this weekend? Where was the President who claims...

President Obama is poised to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire at the end of this year and see the capital gains tax on long term investments spike from 15 to 20 percent. Meanwhile the BBC is reporting that Russia has decided to drop their 20 percent tax on capital gains from long term investments. Accompanied with a 13 percent flat tax, the former Soviet Union has prepped itself for a better long term business climate than that of the United States... Read more: http://www.atr.org/end-capital-gains-tax-russia-a5109#ixzz0rWZEvUcV

... It posts monthly spending reports in pdf or excel format, which is a lot of data for the average taxpayer to digest in one sitting. Also, the website includes information such as federal stimulus spending, monthly revenue reports and state contract information, but this information too is in one lump data dump...

For Sunday, the Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll reveals that 28 percent of the country's voters Strongly Approve of the method that Barack Oabama is performing his role as president. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -16. Rasmussen Reports that, "the Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook. Overall, 43 percent of voters believe they at least somewhat disapprove of the president's performance, while 57...

Back in 2005, President Bush was routinely criticized by the left-wing media for his handling of Hurricane Katrina. But in less than a week, he made it down to the gulf to survey the damage. Obama took nearly two weeks to view the areas affected by the oil spill. Let’s take a look at how busy our President has been throughout this crisis: Day 1: The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes, killing 11 workers. Day 3: The Netherlands government offers skimmers and other equipment to protect American shores. The Obama administration rejects the offer. Day 4: Obama attacks Arizona’s immigration...

Blog: Quote: June 18, 2010 YouTube User Fazalhazswat Doesn’t Suppport Terrorism? YouTube user fazalhazswat, aka Tahreek-e-Taliban Swat, has this on his channel: Click to enlarge “Take this gun and kill an US NATO & ISAF Soldiers” “Put this on your page is you are against terrorism”? Why not go over to Google’s YouTuve and report his profile. BTW, the Tahreek-e-Taliban wwere behind Faisal Shahzad’s failed Times Square bombing. Interesting choice of a YouTube name, wouldn’t you say? fazalhazswat Found him by following “subscription link” from youtube/user/talibjan02. YouTube still doesn’t get, or ignores “what’s in a name” - gawd. Thanks to...

...[B]roadband innovators will invest approximately $30 billion annually in fiber optic and wireless networks, resulting in 500,000 jobs. This, in turn, will spur others in the “broadband ecosystem” to invest at least $18 billion annually, creating 450,000 jobs. Net Neutrality restrictions, however, would result in anywhere from 500,000-700,000 jobs lost and decrease the GDP by $62-$80 billion... Read more: http://www.atr.org/net-neutrality-inflict-losses-jobs-gdp-a5105#ixzz0rEw5wSSQ

...The FCC is already attempting to assert control over the Internet under Net Neutrality, and now the Department of Homeland Security is looking to wield power as well. Any exercise of this bill could also have drastic economic effects; no one would be held liable for any losses or damages. Bob Dix, a government affairs and infrastructure protection expert, believes that the government is in no position to interfere in dealing with cyber attacks. He rightly argues that businesses are already fighting against cyber attacks and know what they are doing... Read more: http://www.atr.org/pcnaa-internets-next-biggest-threat-a5104#ixzz0rEoUnTyP

... According to the Office of Management and Budget, the federal government currently owns roughly $18 billion in unneeded property that is a burden to taxpayers...

In his Tuesday address to the nation, President Obama used the Gulf of Mexico tragedy to twist the facts, bend the truth, and attempt to capitalize on a national disaster to push job-killing energy tax legislation. Below are some of the more egregious mistruths... Read more: http://www.atr.org/top-six-obama-mistruths-national-energy-a5085#ixzz0r384JryJ

...Despite the defeat of a bi-partisan effort to prevent the EPA from being the largest regulator of our economy, Congress is joining arms with un-elected bureaucrats to exploit and use the incident in the Gulf to ram through energy legislation. The most recent Democrat energy regulations come in the form of the misnamed American Power Act, introduced by Sens. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lieberman (D-CT)... Read more: http://www.atr.org/brief-outline-key-provisions-kerry-lieberman-a5080#ixzz0qwvV3rC3

...Under the guise of “Net Neutrality” and “consumer protection” the FCC would begin regulating Internet access for the first time under a completely new regulatory scheme (even though they lack the authority to create it). Meanwhile, the FCC would push regulations – cloaked in the heart-warming language of competition and innovation – mandating that your cable box (known as a set-top box) become a “broadband gateway device” controlling access to your Internet, TV, and phone. The FCC has already started looking at set-top box regulations in their National Broadband Plan. The FCC would then begin setting rates for the total...

SNIPPET: "-- The Voice of Truth claims responsibility for attacking the site on March 17, April 7, April 14, May 17, June 4, and June 7 of this year (the dates are based on this Islamic calendar date converter)." SNIPPET: "So, who could be doing this? Earlier this year, someone identifying himself as @th3j35t3r on Twitter bragged about taking sites promoting terrorism, for short periods of time (30-60 minutes). He says he's hit at least some of the Taliban usual suspect sites - for example: www.alemarah.info - official taliban website (Afghan Resistance) - ooops I did it again, down for...