Free Republic

In a move to counter the House Republicans’ planned vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law this week, the White House on Tuesday released data showing that half of all Americans under the age of 65 have pre-existing conditions and could be denied coverage if reform is weakened. Republicans quickly dismissed the study as a political stunt. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that from 50 million to 129 million Americans have some type of pre-existing condition and would be protected by the Affordable Care Act when it takes full effect in 2014. Those numbers represent...

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Andrew Giermann takes an Afghan boyÂ’s hand during a visit to Rechah Lam in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, March 11, 2006. Giermann, of the Scout Sniper Platoon of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, joined other Marines in distributing food, blankets, clothing and toys. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joe LindsayMore Photos Marines Stymie Taliban, Earn Afghan Villagers' Trust The Marines of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment have a dual mission: to track down insurgents and to ensure Afghan villagers have the opportunity to live in peace. By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joe Lindsay...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2005 – Afghan and coalition forces stopped several terrorist attacks on Aug. 5 and 6 when they destroyed three improvised explosive devices in southern and eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said today. The first IED was found near Mehtar Lam, in Laghman province, and transferred to a nearby company of Marines. The Marines rendered the device safe before transporting it to a U.S. military base, where it will be destroyed, officials said. The second IED was discovered in southern Afghanistan. Afghan police forces disabled the device, made from an anti-tank mine, before turning it over to U.S....

"OUR GANG" Whatever happened to these people? Well, here is is.....the "rest of the story" of Our Gang/center> ALFALFA Carl Switzer was shot to death at age 31. CHUBBY 300-pound Norman Chaney died at age 22 following an operation. BUCKWHEAT William Thomas died at age 49 of a heart attack. DARLA HOOD The Our Gang leading lady contracted hepatitis and died at age 47. BRISBANE Kendall McCormas, known as Breezy Brisbane, committed suicide at age 64. MICKEY DANIELS He died of liver disease at 55. STYMIE Mathew Bear led a life of crime and drugs. He died of a stroke...