http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/110th/ en-us Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:24:16 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048218/posts So House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is about 40-odd minutes into her "Ask the Speaker" session Saturday at the Netroots Nation confab here in Austin,TX and about to field a question about energy and the environment, when she says she's got to call a friend. Offstage is heard the voice of Al Gore. No, wait he's actually here and the Netrootsters in the airline hangar sized hall greeted him with a nearly a minute long standing O. It was like a surprise guest showing up to jam at a Bridge School Benefit Concert. -- if you're a political geek, which we... The San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048218/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:24:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048206/posts WASHINGTON — The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel — far from dropping — will have to go up if they go anywhere Foxnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048206/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:27:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048193/posts NOTWITHSTANDING a shift by big business to become more socially responsible, Big Oil prides itself in being an island of bullheadedness and smugness. In a capitalist system, rewards of success go to shareholders. But Big Oil has virtually ignored an equally important constituency - the citizens of the United States - who have granted Big Oil the right to extract the nation's most strategic natural resources. In return, they expect them to act as responsible fiduciaries. ... Read the rest of this drivel at the link... The Boston Globe http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048193/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048215/posts Is it time for Senator Mitch McConnell,Republican Leader - United States Senator for Kentucky,to go? me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048215/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:02:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048153/posts John McCain couldn’t convince Congress to adopt his gas-tax holiday, but Congress does plan on making some changes to the rate. Unfortunately, the change will go in the opposite direction, if Democrats get their wish. With Americans driving less, the highway fund faces even more severe shortfalls than expected from lost gas-tax revenue — and so the Democrats plan to hike it up by ten cents a gallon. Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048153/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:53:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048120/posts Al Gore steals the show at Netroots By Lilly Rockwell | Saturday, July 19, 2008, 11:01 AM Former Vice President Al Gore stole the show from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fireside policy chat at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin on Saturday. Pelosi spent 45 minutes talking about abortion rights, efforts to bring the troops back from Iraq and why she didn’t think the Senate version of the FISA bill was appropriate. Some questions seemed to take her off guard, such as when one audience member asked about care packages being sent to troops, and if Congress should pass a... statesman.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048120/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:52:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048061/posts Congressional Democrats want the United States to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help bring down oil prices, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Saturday. Murray said during the Democrats' weekly radio address that with gasoline prices reaching new highs, it is time to use the emergency reserves and urge oil companies to drill on leased federal lands. We believe it's time for the oil companies to use that land and to make sure that it stays in America instead of shipping it to the highest bidder overseas, Murray said. Democrats also think it is time to tap into the... Web India 123 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048061/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:10:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048089/posts Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life women's group told members of Congress and their staff this week that women across the country lack pregnancy helps and resources. Feminists for Life of America says the need is particularly acute for college students without good campus resources.The organization held a special workshop on Tuesday to help Congressional staff understand the problem and encourage more support in upcoming legislation.While many college students who become pregnant might prefer to keep their baby and parent while they complete their education, Serrin Foster, the head of the group, says most universities make that task... Life News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048089/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:30:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048099/posts Obama visits Afghanistan Obama received a military briefing at the Bagram air base after his arrival [AFP] Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has begun a visit to Afghanistan, attending a military briefing at Bagram airport before travelling to a base in the east of the country. The visit on Saturday was the Illinois senator's second stop on an international tour aimed at boosting his foreign policy credentials during his campaign to become the US's first black president. At the Bagram base, north of the capital Kabul, military leaders told Obama, and the other senators travelling with him, about efforts... Al Jazeera http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048099/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:05:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048097/posts A Minnesota conservative is calling for an end to the tax-exempt status and public financing of the country’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. According to Planned Parenthood's latest annual report, the organization received more than $1 billion from revenues -- nearly one-third of that figure came from "government grants and contracts." In light of that report, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) became outraged when she learned of Planned Parenthood's new branding effort in her Minnesota district. She says the new strategy is a move away from helping poor women with family planning, and instead involves targeting latte-drinking, affluent women across America.... OneNewsNow http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048097/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:58:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048033/posts WASHINGTON — A plan to lift the ban on coastal drilling is stalled on Capitol Hill, for one simple reason: A Californian who opposes President Bush's proposal is calling the shots in the House of Representatives. Despite growing public support for ending the ban, even in California, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won't allow a vote. "I have no plans to do so," Pelosi said Thursday. It's an example of the vast power placed in the office of the speaker, who sets the agenda for the 435-member House. Members can force a vote if enough of them sign... McClatchey Newspapers http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048033/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:50:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048051/posts Link only. Gas tax holiday talk dies; Congress eyes increase instead http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048051/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:37:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048060/posts That nervous laughter you hear is the sound of party activists responding to speculation that Barack Obama or John McCain might pick a vice presidential candidate from the opposing party. More specifically, it is reaction to talk that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) is being seriously considered as a running mate for Barack Obama or that Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, is a potential choice for John McCain. Though it’s nothing more than unfounded conjecture at this point, top conservative and liberal activists nevertheless say that any cross-party selection of that kind would... Politico via CBS News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048060/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:08:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048032/posts Congress must confront offshore-drilling banThe yearly renewal process means vote will be hard to avoid Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:02 PM By Jack Torry THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH WASHINGTON — With the issues of oil exploration and high gasoline prices heating up in an election year, the House and Senate likely will be forced to vote on whether to continue a ban on oil exploration off U.S. coasts. Although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have blocked Republican efforts to end the 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling, few people realize that Congress is required to... Columbus Dispatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048032/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:48:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048043/posts SNIP Mr. Obama touched down in Kabul about noon, according to a statement released by his aides. His trip has been cloaked in secrecy, which advisers said was due to security concerns set forth by the Secret Service. SNIP The governor of Nangarhar province, Gul Agha Shirzai, a burly former mujahedeen commander with a brutal past but who is favored by the United States as someone who gets things done, was the only Afghan official to meet Senator Obama and Senators Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, and Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, at Jalalabad airfield along with the United... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048043/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:07:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048034/posts For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryJuly 19, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This is a challenging time for families across our nation. I know many families are worried about rising prices at the pump and declining home values. So this week my Administration took steps to help address both these challenges. To help address the pressure on gasoline prices, my Administration took action to clear the way for environmentally responsible offshore exploration of key parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. Experts believe that these areas of the OCS could... WhiteHouse.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048034/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:50:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047959/posts Click on the link for a great video report on the attempt by Democrat Rep. James Oberstar and unions to shut down the 1926 passenger steamboat Delta Queen, which sails America's inland rivers. Fox News Channel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047959/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:44:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047618/posts WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced the Drive America on Natural Gas Act to promote the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vehicles. Inhofe also introduced the American Affordable Fuels Act to relieve pain at the pump. "As Americans continue to suffer from high gas prices, we need to take advantage of our abundant domestic supply of natural gas for use as a transportation fuel," Senator Inhofe said. "The Drive America on Natural Gas Act adds flexibility to the current Renewable Fuels Standard... inhofe.senate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047618/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:36:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2047499/posts Get infuriated when you fill up your car? Wondering why gas is over $4.00 a gallon? Wondering why we aren't drilling for our own oil?  THREE REASONS!   There are 3 Grades of "NO" to lower gas. Regular  "NO" Plus  "NO" Supreme  "NO" Vanity http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2047499/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:41:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2047483/posts Nancy Pelosi called Bush a total failure in prepared remarks yesterday. This is outrageous. I thought it would be nice to tie up her phone lines this morning and give her some feedback. The young man who answered seemed a bit exasperated. San Francisco, CA - (415) 556-4862 - Washington, D.C. - (202) 225-4965 Nancy Pelosi web site http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2047483/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:11:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047558/posts Add another quote to the litany of idiocy issued by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., over the years. "To suggest somehow that (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are in trouble is simply not accurate," Sen. Dodd said during CNN's "Late Edition" Sunday. "The facts are that Fannie and Freddie are in sound situations. They have more that adequate capital, in fact more than the law requires." Recall the scene in the film "Animal House," in which the character played by Kevin Bacon attempts to block a stampede of panicked citizens by crying, "All is well!" Sen. Dodd performs a credible... Waterbury Republican-American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047558/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:38:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047948/posts Former Vice President Al Gore urged Congress not to overturn a federal ban on offshore drilling and complained that lawmakers are "being stampeded by lobbyists for special interests" eager to lift the moratorium. In a speech and interview, Mr. Gore called for moving the U.S. toward "zero-carbon" electricity over a decade, and reiterated his support for a carbon tax accompanied by a "sharp reduction" in payroll taxes. "We have to switch from carbon-intensive fuels to renewable energy," Mr. Gore said. Although some recent opinion polls have found evidence of a shift in public opinion toward favoring more domestic drilling as... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047948/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:53:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2047908/posts Reid Wilson of Real Clear Politics had a column yesterday, "Dems finding success in the center" about how democrats have been having success winning House seats by recruiting "conservative" democrat candidates, and they were following the model again in 2008. While it is true that the democrat party has had success in executing this tactic, this success is due more to their ability to fool the public about these candidates than anything else. Wilson mentioned a few members such as John Barrow of Georgia and Heath Shuler of North Carolina (perhaps better known in the South for his college football... Not Wright for America http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2047908/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:08:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047894/posts Natural Born Citizen Clause The clause of the U.S. Constitution barring persons not born in the United States from the Presidency. [Black’s Law Dictionary, Eighth Edition] [cf. Natural Born Citizen Clause] Greetings, The analysis below is indeed helpful, but it is erroneous and/or misleading on several important points which do deserve further clarification, as follows: (1) there are two (2) classes of citizens under American laws never repealed, not one (1) class: http://www.supremelaw.org/rsrc/twoclass.htm (see all links at the very end) Federal citizens aka "citizens of the United States" were not even contemplated with Article III -- and hence Article II... Four Winds 10 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047894/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:16:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047898/posts The House for a second time defeated a Democratic bill to require energy companies to explore their existing oil and gas leases or lose them. The “use-it-or-lose-it” bill (HR 6515) was the Democratic leadership’s response to a drumbeat of Republican calls for legislation to open up new public lands and offshore areas to oil and gas drilling. It was a retread of a measure (HR 6251) that Democrats rushed to the floor ahead of the July 4 recess under suspension of the rules, an expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The 223-195 vote on that bill June 26... CQ Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047898/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:22:46 GMT