Free Republic

Karl Rove, the noted Republican political consultant and deputy chief of staff for the George W. Bush administration, praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom's political acumen during a Fox News program on Tuesday. Speaking to Fox host Bill Hemmer during a segment of "America's Newsroom," Rove called Newsom's recent ad blitz in Republican-controlled states a "brilliant" move. Specifically, he praised Newsom's re-election campaign for spending just a fraction of its money on relatively inexpensive ads that, in turn, generated national news coverage for Newsom. "He has spent less than half a percent of what he's raised, and he's going to dominate...

In the Sixties, a groundbreaking series of experiments found that 65 per cent of us would kill if ordered to do so. We have vain brains; we see ourselves as better than we really are. We like to think that we exercise free will, that put into a situation where we were challenged to do something we thought unacceptable then we'd refuse. But, if you believe that, then you are probably deluded. I make this claim, based partly on the work of psychologist Stanley Milgram. Milgram devised and carried out ingenious experiments that exposed the frailty and self-delusion that are...

A top aide to former US president George W. Bush has defended the use of harsh interrogation techniques, insisting he is "proud" of the methods and they had helped prevent terrorist attacks. Karl Rove also told the BBC in an interview broadcast Thursday that he did not believe waterboarding -- a simulated drowning method -- amounted to torture. "I'm proud that we used techniques that broke the will of these terrorists and gave us valuable information that allowed us to foil plots," he said. "I am proud that we kept the world safer than it was by the use of...

This is only an excerpt. This article outlines six aspects of "supersuasion." 1. Simplicity ("Yes we can.") 2. Perceived self-interest (Convince 'em you care about 'em.) 3. Incongruity (not what you expect, where you expect it) 4. CONFIDENCE (You know more than they do; and everyone must know it.) 5. Empathy ("Ah feel yer pain.") 6. Humor (Disarming)

Former top White House official Karl Rove will be interviewed tomorrow as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the firing of U.S. attorneys during the Bush administration, according to two sources familiar with the appointment. He will be questioned tomorrow by Connecticut prosecutor Nora R. Dannehy, who was named last year to examine whether any former senior Justice Department and White House officials lied or obstructed justice in connection with the dismissal of federal prosecutors in 2006. Robert D. Luskin, a lawyer for Rove, declined comment this afternoon on the imminent interview. So did Tom Carson, a spokesman for...

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed former White House adviser Karl Rove to testify about the Bush administration's firing of U.S. attorneys. The subpoena Monday by Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers continues a long-running legal battle. Rove previously refused to appear before the panel, contending that former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify before Congress. Conyers also wants him to testify on whether politics played a role in the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat. "I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress...

Amidst all of political stories, I have noticed several intriguing biology articles on the Drudge Report; and for that matter, on the Free Republic website. (Even though, according to liberals, reading these sites for serious news is like saying you read Playboy for the articles). One of the articles involved a group of scientists who were able to entice human brain cells to grow within mice; another involved a mouse with human ovaries. It is perhaps unfortunate that these articles were juxtaposed with my attendance at a seminar upon the promise of genomics, presented by two researchers from the University...

Amidst all of political stories, I have noticed several intriguing biology articles on the Drudge Report; and for that matter, on the Free Republic website. (Even though, according to liberals, reading these sites for serious news is like saying you read Playboy for the articles). One of the articles involved a group of scientists who were able to entice human brain cells to grow within mice; another involved a mouse with human ovaries. It is perhaps unfortunate that these articles were juxtaposed with my attendance at a seminar upon the promise of genomics, presented by two researchers from the University...

October 8th Bush/Kerry Debate

Ventura for President? BY JIM VARSALLONENEW YORK CITY - Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan stole the show Saturday night, but Jesse 'The Body' Ventura's reference to the 2008 Presidential election opened many eyes near the end of a long evening during the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame induction ceremony.After being introduced by his son in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton in Times Square, Ventura discussed his pro wrestling career, and how being involved in wrestling [quick on your feet, sharp, good mic skills] helped him make the transition to politics -- where he shocked the world by winning the...