Free Republic

Rumors are gathering in Rome that it might soon come to the convening of a consistory to create new cardinals. Cardinal appointments always mean a redesign of the elective body for a possible conclave. Next Saturday, a decent consistory will take place, where, according to Jan Hendrik Stens (Domradio), "surprises might be possible". Currently, according to the electoral code for a conclave, which provides for a maximum of 120 papal electors, five elective seats are free. Pope Francis could forgive these and keep a few more "already in stock,” as in the course of next year, five more seats will...

Don’t you feel more confident in our NSA overlords already? ABC and the Washington Post finds a number of familiar names on the panel created by Barack Obama to review the surveillance activities of the NSA and American intelligence in general. In fact, you could call them the usual suspects: A group of veteran security experts and former White House officials has been selected to conduct a full review of U.S. surveillance programs and other secret government efforts disclosed over recent months, ABC News has learned. The recent acting head of the CIA, Michael Morell, will be among what President...

FReep this poll: Giuliani vs Duncan Hunter: http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=173

The iconic black and yellow letters beckon from a sign near Interstate 40 and Randleman Road. Inside the low-slung restaurant that claims the sign, there's plenty of batter ready. But it isn't destined for a fryer. This is Waffle House, and here, batter belongs on an iron -- a waffle iron. Founded in 1955 in Avondale Estates, Ga., the restaurant chain has been serving "Good Food Fast" around-the-clock for five decades. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary Labor Day. Freeway Foods of Greensboro opened the city's first Waffle House franchise in 1973 on Randleman Road. The restaurant operated 24 hours...

On MSNBC Countdown last night, Mary Carey revealed just what went down at the National Republican Committee Senatorial dinner she attended this week.Carey: I think they can drink just as much. There were some really drunk guys by the end of the night. I was getting (joking) propositions for threesomes with mistresses. I was offered money from oil tycoons!It's pretty exciting, I didn't take any money or do any threesomes, but I was just suprised.I thought everyone would be stuck up and no one was going to like me. Instead, everyone loved me, got drunk and took pictures with me.So...

The official end of judicial independence in Venezuela Today the National Assembly named the new members of the TSJ, our High Court, based on the new law voted a few months ago. At least the opposition had the delicacy to step out of the assembly when the vote took place. It is fair to say that today is a dark day in Venezuelan history. By packing the TSJ with 17 political appointees, the Government ensures that his already clear majority in the present Court will be a large one, a commanding one in every single of the different court halls...

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)[1] has sponsored all general election presidential debates since 1988. We always question the way these debates are set up, but never mind that for the moment; there are more important things to talk about this year. For instance, as usual, there is no "balance" to the debates this year. The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the University of Miami and is to deal with domestic policy. The third debate is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Arizona State University and the topic is foreign affairs. The second debate is more interesting,...