Free Republic

America, the one I loved, left me last night. I fought hard to keep her and tried to warn her of deceitful and abusive men, but in the end, she abandoned not only me, but her sacred virtues, and fell into the arms of sweet-talking swindlers, who promised her the world and tons of free stuff. Today I'm hurt, I’m exhausted, I'm subdued, I’m extremely disappointed, but surprisingly, I'm not bitter. America has made her choice, and as much as I loved and wanted to protect her, I know I cannot change what has happened. She must deal with the...

Gay marriage advocates cheered victories in voter initiatives in Maryland and Maine on Tuesday night and seemed poised to win in two other states. The votes were first setbacks at the ballot box for opponents of same-sex marriage after more than 30 victories. With 93 percent of the vote counted in Maryland, Ballot Question 6, which legalizes gay marriage in the state, was leading by 52 percent to 48 percent, and supporters were already claiming victory in the heated and expensive battle. “Today the marriage equality map expands to Maryland, giving thousands more loving couples the opportunity to make lifelong...

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos talks what President Obama's re-election means for the country on "World News" with Diane Sawyer. DIANE SAWYER, ABC NEWS: So give me your bottom line on the Republicans now. We talked about the soul-searching, what do they do next? GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Soul-searching, perhaps a civil war. You've got to look at this party right now. They have won the popular vote only once since 1988, in the presidential race. And it was probably best summed up by Al Cardenas, the head of the American Conservative Union (ACU). He said the party is too old, too white...

It’s as if the twin towers were just blown to hell by the 19 Arab jihads as my eyes stay glassy dropping tears all through the day. I can’t shake the feeling that my country is vulnerable and at the mercy of evil as we must try to endure another 4 years. It’s so frightening because the majority of my fellow citizens believe that Obama cares so much for the little guy. Yet as our country destroys the value of the dollar we become more and more vulnerable. It is as if I am the child in the street watching...

On the Ecclesial Nature of Faith No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother. VATICAN, OCT. 31, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father continued with the second reflection in his new series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, We continue on our journey of meditation on the Catholic Faith. Last week I explained that faith is a gift, for it is God who takes the initiative and comes to meet us. Thus faith...

Mark Levin passionately defends conservatism and analyzes last night's election in the opening monologue of the Wednesday broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio program. Here's a partial transcript of Levin's opening remarks: MARK LEVIN: We conservatives, we do not accept bipartisanship in the pursuit of tyranny. Period. We will not negotiate the terms of our economic and political servitude. Period. We will not abandon our child to a dark and bleak future. We will not accept a fate that is alien to the legacy we inherited from every single future generation in this country. We will not accept social engineering...

On the Nature of Faith "Faith is a gift of God, but it is also a profoundly free and human act" VATICAN, OCTOBER 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father continued his new series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Last Wednesday, with the inauguration of the Year of Faith, I began a new series of catecheses on faith. And today I would like to reflect with you on the basic question: What is faith? Does faith still make sense...

Comparing 2008 vote totals to 2012 (with some numbers projected, as for example Colorado only has 90% of the votes in) overall in VA, NC, OH, NH, PA, FL, MI, MN, WI, CO, IA, NV (all states were also battleground states in 2008) Romney had 21,674,900 votes to 20,300,366 for McCain in those states, for a 6.8% advantage. In every individual battleground state Romney turnout was higher than McCain, from 20.4% higher in Nevada to 0.6% higher in PA. Ohio Romney turnout was 7.3% higher than McCain. In the non-battleground state of NY, Romney had 6.6% LESS turnout than McCain....

"I thought Obama would be buried in a landslide, instead I’ve been in a bit of a mudslide on my face.

Two upstate appellate judges and a Long Island justice who sits on the appellate court in Manhattan were defeated on Nov. 6 in their reelection bids for Supreme Court, according to unofficial returns. Justices Bernard Malone Jr.  and E. Michael Kavanagh, both Republicans who sit in the Appellate Division, Third Department in Albany, were beaten by Democrats Richard Mott and Stephan Schick. And Justice James Catterson of Suffolk County came in eighth among 12 candidates vying for six seats in the Tenth Judicial District. Catterson sits on the First Department bench.... Throughout the state, judicial election voting appeared to be heavily influenced...

The Dow plunged 313 points yesterday, but don’t believe news media reports that it was the nearness of the “fiscal cliff” that caused the selloff. What spooked investors is a bigger picture that recognizes the economically catastrophic implications of a second Obama term. To be clear, there is nothing Romney could have done to avoid the deflationary Depression that lies ahead. However, a Romney presidency might have at least served as a reality check on malfeasant fiscal practices, delaying the onslaught of hard times for perhaps long enough to allow Americans to put their financial houses in better order before...

(Reuters) - China appears to be within two years of deploying submarine-launched nuclear weapons, adding a new leg to its nuclear arsenal that should lead to arms-reduction talks, a draft report by a congressionally mandated U.S. commission says. China is alone among the original nuclear weapons states to be expanding such deterrent forces, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a draft of its 2012 report to the U.S. Congress. Beijing is "on the cusp of attaining a credible nuclear triad of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and air-dropped nuclear bombs," the report says.

Reacting to the American people’s decision to grant President Barack Obama another four years in the White House, Sean Hannity, during his syndicated radio show on Wednesday, warned Americans: “You get the government you deserve.” The conservative thought leader also urged his audience to stop moping and carry on the fight for conservative ideas and principles in an impassioned monologue. “We lost a tough election,” he said. “And it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time. But the country will come calling, at some point, for conservatism” either on the issue of national security or economic...

WVGOP HISTORIC WINS Biggest House and Statewide Wins in 80 Years CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Republican Party will have more Delegates and Statewide elected officeholders than any year in the last 80 years. Period. "Tonight, West Virginia made the move to a two-party state for the first time in over 80 years," said West Virginia Republican Chairman Conrad Lucas. "We gave folks tremendous choices up and down the ballot. Tonight, we added at least ten new Delegates, three new State Senators and elected the first Republican attorney general since 1928 in Patrick Morrisey. Allen Loughry is exactly the...

I hate to foist him upon you in your time of pain, but alas, one of the biggest winners last night was— against all odds— that Sullen Senate Leader, that Dour Dynamo, Sen. Harrrrrry Reeeeeid! In his press conference today he said he wants to change Senate rules to limit minority rights, but not quite go full nuclear by eliminating the filibuster. More on that in a second.

To all US Republicans – here is your statistics assignment for today 2008 Obama/Biden 69,456,897 McCain/Palin 59,934,814 20012 Obama/Biden 58,702,702 Romney/Ryan 56,455,982

One layer of uncertainty was removed for small-business owners Tuesday, when President Obama was reelected to a second term. While issues like the fiscal cliff and potential new regulations are still unresolved, the small-business community now knows the Affordable Care Act will stand, and tax increases for those making above $250,000 annually are likely. Upon hearing the election results, Craig Dunaway called a meeting of his 75 franchisees to assure them as best he could about what their future holds. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Dunaway is the president of Penn Station East Coast Subs and the owner of 14 Penn Station restaurants....

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state. The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote. The island is currently a US territory, which uses the dollar and whose citizens travel on US passports. But it does not return senators to the US Congress and is represented in Washington by a non-voting delegate. Almost 80% of the island's electorate took part in the referendum, the fourth in the past 45 years. With almost all the votes counted, almost 54% voted to...

USGS reporting a 6.3 off of Vancouver Island, Canada at 6:01 Pacific Standard Time

Following are excerpts from footage of a demonstration that took place in Damascus, which was posted on the Internet on September 14, 2012. Demonstrator: Oh Bashar, you traitor... Crowds: Oh Bashar, you traitor... Demonstrator: We want to instate the Koran. Crowds: We want to instate the Koran. Demonstrator: To hell with freedom... Crowds: To hell with freedom... Demonstrator: We want an Islamic caliphate. Crowds: We want an Islamic caliphate. Demonstrator: To hell with being peaceful... Crowds: To hell with being peaceful... Demonstrator: We want weapons and AK-47s. Crowds: We want weapons and AK-47s. Demonstrator: To hell with being peaceful... Crowds:...