http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/2007review/ en-us Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:01:26 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085248/posts WASHINGTON (AFP) – A record number of people, some 1.4 million, rushed to become naturalized US citizens in the 2007 fiscal year before a hike in fees was introduced. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said Wednesday that in 2006 some 730,000 people became naturalized citizens. The Immigration Policy center said the doubling of the figures was due to several reasons, but mostly because from August 2007 the cost of the application process rose some 80 percent to around 675 dollars. In July 2007, just a month before the new charges came into effect, there were some 450,000 applications compared... AFP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085248/posts#comment Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:01:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071468/posts Including Among Some Minority Groups, According To U.S. Census Bureau The number and percentage of uninsured U.S. residents declined in 2007 to 45.7 million people, or 15.3% of the population, according to an annual U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday, USA Today reports (Cauchon/Appleby, USA Today, 8/27). In 2006, 47 million people, or 15.8% of the population, were uninsured (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Kansas City Star, 8/26). For the report, researchers analyzed data from the Current Population Survey of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. (U.S. Census Bureau release, 8/26). The survey also found that uninsurance rates differed by race: * 32.1% of... medicalnewstoday http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071468/posts#comment Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:46:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2068321/posts The Census Bureau reports that the number of people lacking health insurance dropped by more than 1 million in 2007, the first annual decline since the Bush administration took office. MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2068321/posts#comment Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:24:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019344/posts A dominant Fox is set to be crowned the winner of the 2007-08 television season, one that the broadcast biz -- and perhaps even Fox -- would just as soon forget. The writers strike, along with the rising popularity of DVRs and the increased availability of programming on multiple platforms, conspired to make this season the lowest-rated on record for the broadcasters. There was also a dearth of breakout hits, with no new show emerging as the biz's savior. Of course, the broadcasters have been losing audience share to cable for years -- but this season saw the most troubling... Variety http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019344/posts#comment Wed, 21 May 2008 21:22:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013611/posts Washington - Today, the Club for Growth released its 2007 annual scorecard, awarding the Defender of Economic Freedom award to six senators and forty-nine representatives who scored a 90 or above on the Club's scorecard.... "These top-scoring members of Congress are staunch defenders of American taxpayers," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "Their votes are critical to lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and promoting economic growth for all Americans. The Club for Growth scorecard allows taxpayers to see how their senators and representatives are performing in Congress and find out who is truly fighting for pro-growth, limited-government policies...." The... The Club for Growth http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013611/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 16:15:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010839/posts The American State Department released its yearly Country Reports on Terrorism. The National Counterterrorism Center reported more than fourteen thousand attacks around the world last year. The number was about the same as the year before. But deaths increased almost nine percent, to more than twenty-two thousand last year. The report said well over fifty percent of those killed or injured were Muslims, and most were victims of attacks in Iraq. In Iraq, the number of attacks fell but the number of people killed, injured or kidnapped increased. In Afghanistan, both numbers were higher. A wounded man is helped after... Voice of America http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010839/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 22:46:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004143/posts In 2007, "remittances," money sent back by Mexican workers to families in Mexico, beat out tourism as the second largest source of foreign money into the country. Only oil exports accounted for more. That is $24 billion that was taken out of the American economy. It was not spent in American stores. Best Buy sold fewer televisions. Ford sold fewer cars and trucks. Winn Dixie and Safeway sold fewer groceries. U.S. Steel sold less steel. And yes, even Exxon/Mobil sold less gasoline than it could have. Those fewer sales curtailed the growth of jobs for Americans in those companies. It... Red State http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004143/posts#comment Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:12:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000283/posts WASHINGTON - The federal tax bill for President Bush and his wife: $221,635. That's how much the Bushes owed on their adjusted gross income of $923,807 for the year 2007, according to a joint return released Friday. The Bushes have paid $203,894 so far, which means they'll need to break out the checkbook — they owe the government $17,741. Their income total includes a $150,000 advance received by Laura Bush for the children's book she co-authored with her daughter, Jenna. Last year, the president and Mrs. Bush paid $186,378 in federal taxes on their income of $765,801. Bush's salary as... Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000283/posts#comment Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:04:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996875/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Clinton report nearly $109.2 million in income for seven years in newly released tax data. The Democratic presidential candidate and her husband paid $33.8 million in taxes from 2000 through 2007. They listed $10.25 million in charitable contributions during that period. Clinton has been under pressure to release her tax returns, especially from rival Barack Obama, who posted his 2000 to 2006 returns on his campaign Web site last week. Neither Obama nor Republican Sen. John McCain have made their 2007 tax returns public, though both say they will this... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996875/posts#comment Fri, 4 Apr 2008 20:50:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996886/posts Aaron Tonken was a grand jury witness in New York when an investigation was conducted of Bill Clinton's last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. Tonken is currently incarcerated, but he remains a defendant and perhaps star witness in Paul v Clinton. I don't know what he told the grand jury, but I hope we can someday find out. Today, I discussed with a source, who has knowledge of the grand jury and had done work with Denise Rich, the Clinton claim of $109 million income in the 2000-07 tax returns they just released. It evoked big laughter. My source... Tonken book/articles/confidential source http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996886/posts#comment Fri, 4 Apr 2008 21:17:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1995925/posts The US were #5 in 2007 - #3 in 2008 ??? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1995925/posts#comment Thu, 3 Apr 2008 08:11:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993731/posts WASHINGTON (BP)--Oregon recorded more deaths by physician-assisted suicide in 2007 than in any year in the decade since the practice was legalized. The Oregon Department of Human Services recently reported 49 people committed suicide last year using lethal doses of drugs prescribed by doctors. The previous yearly high was 46 in 2006. Oregon, the only state to legalize assisted suicide, has recorded 341 such deaths since its Death With Dignity Act took effect in late 1997. "The report shows that the situation in Oregon is not only creepy but creeping," bioethicist C. Ben Mitchell told Baptist Press. "Compassion means providing... Baptist Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993731/posts#comment Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:09:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987620/posts More than 20 years of data is in – and the conventional wisdom is wrong. The chances a Hollywood movie will win big at the box office are greatly enhanced by a family-friendly rating and strong moral content, defying the notion the entertainment industry is merely serving up what consumers want when they produce so many R-rated movies full of foul language, sex, drugs and immorality, shows a new study by the Christian Film and Television Commission, publishers of Movieguide. According to the study, G-rated movies averaged nearly $92.2 million, more than 438 percent better than R-rated movies, making only... World Net Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987620/posts#comment Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:27:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1986296/posts http://www.youtube.com/ytawards07 You can vote on the best videos. The famous "Dont Tase Me Bro" video is listed under the category "Eyewitness", and the video is named "University of Florida student Tasered at Kerry forum" Select a Category... ...and watch the nominees. Then click on the box next to your favorite video OR hit "Vote For This Video." You may not change your vote on the same day, but you can vote again the next day for any video you like. Voting continues through March 19, 2008. youtube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1986296/posts#comment Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:14:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1976383/posts WASHINGTON – While China continues to promise to impose higher safety standards on exports, a WND study shows two of every three products recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission last year were Chinese imports – with an upward trend of defective, unsafe products found in every quarter of 2007. The CPSC recalled a total of 447 products for safety concerns last year. Of those, 298 were manufactured in China. Only 62 were made in the USA. The rest were made in other countries. In 2006, the CPSC recalled a total of 467 kinds of products – 221 of which... WorldNetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1976383/posts#comment Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:23:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973414/posts For Immediate Release Contact: Leslie K.Paige 202-467-5334 Alexa Moutevelis 202-467-5318 February 20, 2008 CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the Year Taxpayers Are Not in His “Corner” Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today announced the final results of its online poll for the 2007 Porker of the Year. Rep. John “Jack” Murtha (D-Pa.) won in a landslide victory, receiving 63.4 percent of the vote. A distant second, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) received 10.6 percent, while Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) came in with 9.9 percent, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had 6.7 percent, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)... Citizens Against Government Waste http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973414/posts#comment Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:35:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973350/posts Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings. The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries, after ranking as the 16th- and 10th-most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate. National Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973350/posts#comment Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:14:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968987/posts General Motors Corp. reported one of the largest losses ever for an automotive company Tuesday as it struggled to turn around its North American business amid a weak economy. Also this morning, the company offered a new round of buyouts to 74,000 U.S. hourly workers. GM said it lost $38.7 billion in 2007. The loss largely was due to a third-quarter charge related to unused tax credits. The Detroit-based automaker also on Tuesday said it was offering a new round of buyouts to all 74,000 of its U.S. hourly workers who are represented by the United Auto Workers. The 2007... Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968987/posts#comment Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:46:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1967203/posts The president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission says comments by best-selling author John Grisham at the recent "New Baptist Covenant" meeting are theologically off base. During a rare public speech, Grisham criticized Baptists who believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. The novelist spoke about a Baptist church he attended as a youth, which he described as intolerant because its leaders said the Bible should be read literally. The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president, Dr. Richard Land, disagrees with Grisham and says it is not intolerant to defend God's Word.... One News Now http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1967203/posts#comment Fri, 8 Feb 2008 18:13:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963158/posts Exxon Mobil Posts Record Profits Friday February 1, 8:20 am ET Exxon Mobil Posts Biggest Annual and Quarterly Profits Ever by a U.S. Company HOUSTON (AP) -- Exxon Mobil Corp. on Friday posted the largest annual profit by a U.S. company -- $40.6 billion -- as the world's largest publicly traded oil company benefited from historic crude prices at year's end. Exxon also set a U.S. record for the biggest quarterly profit, posting net income of $11.7 billion for the final three months of 2007, besting its own mark of $10.71 billion in the fourth quarter of 2005. The previous... Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963158/posts#comment Fri, 1 Feb 2008 13:23:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962971/posts What do monks, kites, unwanted pregnancies, a 19th century abolitionist, and a young man with a life-sized inflatable doll have in common? They're all in movies that we've deemed the ten most redeeming films of 2007. posted 01/29/08 First off, what do we mean by "redeeming" films? They're all stories of redemption—sometimes blatantly, sometimes less so. Several of them literally have a character that represents a redeemer; all of them have characters who experience redemption to some degree—some quite clearly, some more subtly. Some are "feel-good" movies that leave a smile on your face; some are a bit more uncomfortable... Christianity Today http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962971/posts#comment Fri, 1 Feb 2008 02:40:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935926/posts America's most influential blog is the Daily Kos. Democratic members of Congress post on the blog, Democratic presidential contenders cater to them, and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas is considered to be a mainstream figure amongst Democrats. Keep all of that in mind as you read these excerpts and quotes, all of which come from the Daily Kos writers, not from commenters on the blog: 10) "I wrote a diary a short time ago about how the Bush administration helped ruin my marriage. It wasn't because my husband was a Bush supporter or anything...it was because of all the stresses... Right Wing News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935926/posts#comment Fri, 7 Dec 2007 02:25:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1961077/posts Contact:  Jerry Horn, Priests for Life, 540-220-0095STATEN ISLAND, NY, Jan. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and full-time Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life, has been named one of the Top Ten People of 2007 by Inside the Vatican magazine. In naming Dr. King, the magazine called her "one of the leading pro-life voices in America and the world today." "I am humbled and honored by this recognition, but I give all glory to God who allows me to speak on behalf of His children who cannot speak for themselves," Dr. King... Christian Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1961077/posts#comment Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:11:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959857/posts But some natives don’t want to be lifted. Published 1/24/2008 Perceptions of The Immigrant vary, to say the least. Merchant and restaurateur Eduardo Martinez of Little Rock sees himself a few years ago — ambitious, hard-working, law-abiding, soon to become a pillar of the community. Mayor Stephen Womack of Rogers sees people who drive up the crime rate, strain government services as well as the patience of the natives, and generally bear watching. A curious coalition of hard-nosed businessmen and soft-hearted do-gooders sees someone who needs protection from ill-informed and ill-intentioned elected officials. A fair number of inhospitable Arkansans see... The Arkansas Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959857/posts#comment Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:45:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957918/posts For Immediate Release Contact: Leslie K. Paige 202-467-5334, Alexa Moutevelis 202-467-5318 January 22, 2008 CAGW Announces 2007 Porker of the Year Nominees Washington, D.C. - With presidential primary season in full swing Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) jumped into the fray today with the announcement of its nominees for 2007 Porker of the Year. Citizens may cast their ballots for the politician they think was the most reprehensible porker of 2007 in an online poll. The six finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among 12 worthy Porkers of the Month for 2007. The candidates are: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)... Citizens Against Goverment Waste http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957918/posts#comment Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:26:52 GMT