Free Republic

WASILLA, Alaska- Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so. According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn't fully support her and...

With privately bought drugs proving to be up to five times as effective as NHS treatments, The Sunday Times reports on the suffering the co-payments ban is inflicting on patients... The National Health Service is providing dying cancer patients with drugs that are five times less effective than those available privately and is refusing to treat them if they try to buy medicines themselves. One drug for kidney cancer, routinely available through public health systems in most European countries but not to British patients, can reduce the size of tumours in 31% of patients, compared with just 6% of those...

I have been a member since 1999. I have been suspended at least twice and kicked off "for good" once. I deserved to be suspended once. I believe that FR is a force for good in the world. Debate between people who consider themselves conservative, right or wrong, is a good thing. I believe that FR would prosper more, that more would donate, if they really believed that they had a stake in the site. The risk, that I now expose myself to, that you can be booted forever for speaking your honestly conservative mind in accordance with the rules,...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - It may not be kosher, but the Hoopoe was chosen Thursday as Israel's national bird. The Hoopoe, or "Duchifat" in Hebrew, is listed in the Old Testament as unclean and forbidden food for Jews. President Shimon Peres declared the pink, black and white-crested bird the winner of a competition timed to coincide with Israel's 60th anniversary. It beat out rivals such as the Yellow-vented Bulbul and the Palestine Sunbird. The Book of Leviticus groups the Hoopoe with birds such as the eagle, vulture and pelican that are "abhorrent, not to be eaten." Israel is a main crossroads...

Naomi Campbell banned by British Airways By Anita Singh and agencies Last Updated: 12:17pm BST 08/04/2008 Naomi Campbell has been banned from flying with British Airways following a row about lost baggage. Miss Campbell has been involved in disruptions at Heathrow before The supermodel, famed for her fiery temper, was removed from a BA flight last Thursday and arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. Miss Campbell, 37, allegedly spat at the officer during a furious dispute with airline staff. A British Airways spokesman declined to comment, saying: "We do not comment in detail...

A Malaysian newspaper is reporting that Christians in that Muslim nation are being banned from using the word "Allah." "We cannot let other religions use it because it will confuse people," Malaysia's Deputy Internal Security Minister, Johari Baharum, told the DNAIndia publication. He said "only Muslims can use the word 'Allah.'" The issue erupted when a Catholic publication used the now-banned-for-Christians word. Herald, the Catholic Church's weekly newsletter, used the word and was warned it is at risk now of losing its publication permit.

A federal judge has ordered a Louisiana city to stop enforcing an ordinance that banned a Christian man from warning bar patrons about the consequences of their actions, concluding the First Amendment trumps the local law. "Zachary (La.) has no legitimate governmental interest in restricting speech that is too 'annoying' or 'offensive' to listeners," said U.S. District Judge James Brady, who issued a preliminary injunction preventing the city from continuing to enforce its restriction. The case was brought by the Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of John Netherland, a man who had been targeted by authorities in the city of...

Vote at the Holy Observer.

I just received the strangest FReeper email from a "Be4Fred." I'll post it below. And did FReeper "pissant" really get banned for showing support for Duncan Hunter? This whole thing gave me a creepy feeling. ... Subject: Last Warning hello, this is a friendly reminder that you have not yet contributed to FRed’s campaign this month. Please take the time to do so now: https://www.fred08.com/contribute.aspx?RefererID=c637caaa-315c-4b4c-9967-08d864cd0791 And remember, we are coming down the final stretch and we must all rally behind FRed. Now is the time to say NO to RINOS like Duncan Hunter and Mitt Romney. Any show of support...

Midland Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Camp is among lawmakers objecting because the U.S. Capitol's architect won't allow God to be mentioned in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constitutents. "This is as insulting as it is absurd," Camp said in a prepared statement. "The architect has gone way too far. If we can put 'in God we trust' on our money, then we can certainly put it on a flag certificate when a citizen wants it there." Camp and dozens of other lawmakers are sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi...

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp is among lawmakers objecting because the U.S. Capitol's architect won't allow God to be mentioned in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constitutents. "This is as insulting as it is absurd," Camp said in a prepared statement. "The architect has gone way too far. If we can put 'in God we trust' on our money, then we can certainly put it on a flag certificate when a citizen wants it there." Camp and dozens of other lawmakers are sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calling for...

SACRAMENTO -- Having already laid down the law for his two teenage daughters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Thursday that will prohibit the rest of Californians under age 18 from using cellphones, text message devices and laptop computers while driving. Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-me-cellphones14sep14,1,4297013.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Tailgating: It's all in the preparationSerious fans set up shop early in Athens as season begins By JENNIFER BRETT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/01/07 Athens — Long before game time, the fields were full of action. Grassy quads throughout the University of Georgia campus started filling up Saturday morning as tailgating season, a cherished Bulldog tradition, began. "Most of this group was here this morning at 9," said Kim Folsom of Sugar Hill, breaking bread with a group of about 50 friends, relatives and co-workers. With relatively mild weather following the recent bout of withering heat, fans turned Athens...

A couple weeks ago I searched The Path To 9/11 on Amazon, and discovered the DVD is listed but not available. A week later on Hannity's America it was mentioned that the maker of the movie keeps asking ABC when the DVD will be available, and he thinks he's getting the run-a-round and that the Clintons might have something to do with it, figuring they will keep it off the market until the election is over! Does anyone have any connections or knowledge about this?

Banned by PBS: Muslims Against Jihad Saturday, June 23 at 9 p.m. ET Repeats Sunday, June 24 at 3 a.m. ET Hosted by E.D. Hill Tune in this weekend, as FOX News Channel presents the documentary the Public Broadcasting System didn't want you to see.

The Banned Bunch Questions are raised as to legitimacy of bannings Erik Myers 4/27/07 They are the unwanted, the unwelcome, and until earlier this week, they were unknown to most of the campus community. These are the University of Northern Colorado's banned individuals: 24 people whose names, along with a mug shots in some cases, have been posted on the UNC Police Department Web site. These are individuals who have been issued persona non grata orders, and are not allowed to step foot onto university property. Those listed on the page include former students and faculty, as well as individuals...

Snoop Dogg banned from Australia Snoop Dogg was also recently denied a UK visa Rapper Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Australia after failing a character test, according to officials. The star - real name Calvin Broadus - was due to co-host the MTV Australian Video Music Awards on Sunday. The 35-year-old had his visa cancelled after recently pleading no contest to gun and drug charges in the US. "He doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want in this country," Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews told Sydney's Macquarie Radio. Incidents "This man has been a member of a Los...

A soothing summer sound may be making its way back onto Des Moines streets. The City Council will discuss the possibility of allowing ice cream trucks back into neighborhoods. The trucks were banned several years ago when a 9 year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing the street. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 this evening at City Hall.

(CBS) NEW YORK First it was cell phones in cars, then trans fats. Now, a new plan is on the table to ban gadget use while crossing city streets. We all seem to have one -- an iPod, a BlackBerry, a cell phone -- taking up more and more of our time, but can they make us too distracted to walk safely? Some people think so. If you use them in the crosswalk, your favorite electronic devices could be in the crosshairs. Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Even during this time of year, not everyone is welcoming Santa. A Florida man who looks a lot like Kris Kringle found that out on a recent visit to Walt Disney World, WESH 2 News reported. J.D. Worley, 60, lives in Tampa. During a trip last weekend to Disney, he got a lot of attention from kids and adults, and he played along pretending to be Santa. But then someone complained to Disney management. "I needed to either alter my appearance or I needed to leave the park, because I was impersonating Santa Claus," Worley...

Is there a list of newspapers, magazines, media sources that we are only allowed to excerpt, or link to? Couldn't find a list on the home page. Is one available? Thanks.

Banned: Police ordered to stop calling young tearaways 'yobs' By Ben Leapman, Home Affairs Correspondent (Filed: 01/10/2006) They are the menacing youths who hang about in gangs, causing trouble. For decades they have been known as "yobs". It has been rare for anybody to have a good word to say about them. But now, it seems, police officers are going to have to find a more "polite" way to describe the nation's troublemakers, because Scotland Yard has banned its officers from using the word "yob", for fear that it might alienate young people. The edict has the backing of Sir...

The saga of a Lakeville South High School student banned from home football games took another turn Wednesday -- he'll get to sit in the stands with his friends during football games after all. Donovan Sullivan was kicked out of the stadium two weeks ago for holding up a sign supporting the opposing team. Lakeville south was playing Lakeville North. He said he was bored with the game and did it as a joke. The dean personally removed Sullivan from the game. The school initially told the student that because of what he did, he would no longer be able...

Eugene, Ore., social service agency salvages airport toiletries The Associated Press   EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Airport discards in the response to a terror plot have turned into balm for the homeless in Eugene. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County has started picking up some of the things people have jettisoned for security reasons as they board flights at the Eugene Airport. Charley Harvey, assistant executive director of the charity, dug through trash bags Tuesday and took every bottle of shampoo and shaving cream he could find. The items will be distributed at the organization's First Place...

Banned Islamists spawn front organisations Al-Ghurabaa tries to ensure survival with groups across UK Ian Cobain and Nick Fielding Saturday July 22, 2006 The Guardian (UK) Muslim demonstration organised by Anjem Choudhary, former righthand man to the al-Ghurabaa founder. Photograph: David Levene/Guardian A British Islamist group which is to be outlawed under new anti-terror laws has already formed scores of front organisations in an attempt to ensure its survival, according to investigators in New York. Al-Ghurabaa, formed by Omar Bakri Mohammed before he fled to Lebanon in the wake of the 7/7 bombings, heads the list of four organisations which...

Well it's not a fatwa but I suppose it will have to do. Reader Patrix tells me that we have been banned in India for ostensibly spreading a doctrine of hate. The DoT is of the opinion that some of these sites were being used by banned organisations to transmit messages to their colleagues. Blog entries cannot be tracked as easily as email. The sites that were asked to be blocked include hindunity.og and exposingtheleft.blogspot.com. All ISPs do not seem to have implemented the ban uniformly, yet. Bloggers in India meanwhile complained that they were having problems accessing popular blogs...

EXTRA! For reasons not clear, Daily Kos removed my diary entry, "Bad News" after more than a few people (but less than 63) cried out in extreme anger over it's content(?) In addition, Kos won't let me post anything else(??) They called me a "troll," and other threatening and hurtful things (most of which started with the letter "F") that are not in keeping with our Democratic Party's progressive ideals of non-violence, tolerance, and love. My tears cannot be counted. What I don't understand is how my own liberal brothers and sisters can suddenly turn against me when I have...

Well I guess the spammer from yesterday, who was posting the juvenille obscene spam, was not a kid, as we supposed, but an irate troll who's been banned.

Official wants Da Vinci movie bannedWed May 10, 8:51 AM ET MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine government should ban the controversial movie "The Da Vinci Code," a senior official in the mainly Catholic country said Wednesday, describing the religious thriller as blasphemous. The film, based on the best-selling fiction novel of the same title, is due to open in Manila's cinemas next week. "I think we should do everything not to allow it to be shown," said Eduardo Ermita, executive secretary to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, expressing his personal opinion as a "devout Catholic." He told journalists the state's censors...

On Friday, the day "United 93" opened in New York, I watched the movie at an Upper West Side theater. As the credits rolled, no one in the audience of about 300 moved. The ushers did not attempt to start sweeping the aisles. We stared silently at the screen, together. Someone quietly cleared his throat. Afterward, I walked home in a daze, oblivious to the sunny weather and anxious to call friends to talk about the experience. Most of them assured me that they could not sit through it, or expressed their disapproval. "I cannot see it, it is too...

Fraternities will not be allowed to have parties with alcohol, according a press release from the president of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) at CU-Boulder. CU sophomore Jesse B. Gomez attended a party at the Theta Xi fraternity house for about 60 to 90 minutes April 8. Gomez was found dead April 9. The cause of death is still not known, and the investigation is continuing. “We are awaiting the outcome of the police investigation Š before releasing specific details regarding the event,” the press release announced. The restrictions on partying are “indefinite” and “highly dependent on the outcome of the...

http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/loc...094003340.html Tensions Prompt School To Alter Dress Code Mike Hooker Reporting CBS4) WESTMINSTER, Colo. The immigration debate and recent demonstrations over the issue have led to a change in the dress code for a middle school in Adams County. Students at Shaw Heights Middle School are no longer allowed to wear anything that is patriotic, including camouflage pants, because they have become a political symbol for a version of patriotism, CBS4 reports. "It upsets me that we cannot support our troops -- the military," said Kirsten Golgart, an eighth grader who was told she'd be suspended if she didn't change...

A US judge has thrown out a lawsuit lodged by New Yorkers seeking the right to dance when they please in their city's bars and restaurants, which is restricted by a decades-old law, officials said. A group of amateur and professional dancers filed the suit, which bans dancing in establishments without a so-called cabaret licence. The plaintiffs argued their constitutional right to free expression was being undercut. But judge Michael Stallman rejected their arguments yesterday. "If these establishments draw more people because they offer dancing, then there is a greater likelihood of pedestrian traffic, increased vehicular traffic and associated noise,"...

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) - A Bahamian government board's decision to ban the movie "Brokeback Mountain" has prompted charges of discrimination and censorship in the island chain. Gay rights groups and others have called on the Plays and Films Control Board to reverse its decision prohibiting theaters from showing the award-winning movie about a troubled love affair between two cowboys. "You have a group of people who are telling grown men and women what they can and cannot watch," said Philip Burrows, a theater director in the island chain. "I cannot understand denying people the right to make their own choices."...

On Wed,March 22, there will be a hearing in Essex County Court in Massachusetts, which could result in the banning of a book by Fathers rights(Pro-Family) activist, Kevin Thompson. Kevin Thompson has been fighting a long and lonely battle in the Essex Probate and Family Court to try to be able to be a father to his son. Several months ago, the court impounded the records of the trial and Judge DeGangi has recently granted a restraining order forbidding Kevin from distributing his book, EXPOSING THE CORRUPTION IN THE MASSACHUSETTS FAMILY COURTS.

Women with boob jobs may be banned from Virgin's space flights. Bosses fear the implants may expand and burst due to cabin pressure, according to The Sun. More than 157 people have paid £115,000 each to travel into space on the Virgin Galactic space "shuttle". Spokesman Will Whitehorn said: "We've discovered there may well be issues with breast augmentation. "We're not sure whether they could stand the trip - they could well explode." People with heart or circulation problems may also be ruled out. The first trips are due in early 2008 and will have room for only seven...

John McCain is running for President 2008. As a republican candidate, John McCain could win the republican nomination. Many feel if John McCain runs against Hillary Clinton, he would win the presidential election in 2008. John McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958. After graduation, John McCain became a Naval Avaitor. For over 5 years, John McCain was a Vietnam captive. John McCain became a US Senator for Arizona in 1986. Senator John McCain is now Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and is known for his successful passing of Campaign Finance Reform. Express your...

Tunisian singer and dancer Najla is trying eagerly to return to the scenes, yet decisions to ban her music surround her. According to the London based weekly, Sayidaty, Najla insists on presenting nudity as an essential part of her music videos. The most recent is Najla’s fourth music video for "Baghlat Fi Ismak" (I Mistake your Name). The music channel Mazzika was forced to delete a number of scenes in order to make it appropriate for the average viewer, but even after the deletion the clip is still considered too sexual. It contained scenes of Najla doing a strip tease,...

A Web site collects information on 1,200 sites that have been closed to the public by militaries and governments -- from Roswell to the Bushehr nuclear facility in Iran. But the highlight is a 3D model of the Guantanamo prison camp. Christoph Wachter and Mathias Jud have been collecting data about the world's restricted military zones for more than five years now. The two Swiss citizens, who live in Berlin, have collected their findings on Zone Interdite, a Web site with more than 1,200 sites that are all linked to Google Maps and data they have collected about every site...

Marcus of Blogger Beer has more details on how people living in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and elsewhere get around banned sites such as Michelle Malkin's blogsite. He says it's a simple yet forward method of doing this.

Fellow Americans, there comes a time every mans life when we must give up ourselves before we are worthy to recieve. There comes a time in this war on terror when in order to protect liberty, we have to give it up in the mean time for safty. That's right folks. Today, Americans have forsaken the creator for the creation and have decided that they would value our "civil liberties" than protecting western civilization and rich white people from the tender mercies of radical Islamic terrorists. Selfish liberals insist and whine that Bush has no right to spy on Americans...

There's no helping you. This site is now just a diversion -- like a train wreck. This site is inherently for and about raving egomaniacs, and Jim's site policies -- which amount to excluding reality and actual dialogue in favor of political/militaristic pornography -- is conducive to cognitive dissonance, which at the times your worldview is threatened leads you into psychotic breaks (on the political cognitive plane, that is, and just maybe in other realms too). Not to mention that your baseline politics is based in mythology about American demographics, science, economics, ethics etc. You spoonfeed each other in the...

CESANA, Italy - Zach Lund, the top slider on the U.S. skeleton team, was banned from the Turin Olympics on Friday for taking a common hair-restoration pill that can be used to mask steroids. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Lund should serve a one-year suspension, retroactive to Nov. 10 and enforced immediately. Lund told CAS that he was misled by the Web site for the governing body of his sport, which listed finasteride both as a "prohibited substance" and a "specified substance." Lund told CAS he failed to check the prohibited list in 2005. The CAS panel...

In this war freedom should come first not after! In New Hampshire the Motto is Live free or Die! I don't need Bush spying on law abiding americans and taking our freedoms. Anyone who surrenders a square inch of freedom to the government in the name of saftey is a traitor and should be treated like one! Let the Bush Fashists all drop dead! Filthy Commys! LET FREEDOM RING!

Yaa, you repukes are not doing so well, huh? Imagine, you repukes control the presidency, both houses of Congress, and appointed 7 of the 9 Supreme Court justices. Yet the Supreme Court thre out sodomy laws in all 50 states and recognized the right of government to seize land for any reason. And you couldn't pass your Social Security changes could you? Sorry, that was your last shot. Come November, we're going to start seeing more Democratic faces in the House. It's the end for you guys. You guys are celebrating when Bush's numbers go *up* to 45%. Then Faux...

Bush’s giant Right Wing Noise Machine (RWNM) loves to preach about the Bush economic miracle. In fact, the RWNM’s current thinking is Bush doesn’t spend enough time talking about his economic triumphs. If only he did, then everyone would fall in line and believe in the great Bush economic miracle. There is one problem with this argument: it’s a lie. Any way you look at the Bush economy, it comes up short. Today, I want to compare Bush’s job creation record with other economic recoveries. As usual, Bush comes up way short. The national Bureau of Economic Research has identified...

Why does anybody support George w Bush as President? He is clearly the worst President I have ever seen -- a complete disaster. And before you say anything, I have been a registered Republican for 25 years.

After reading all of the crap that people have been saying regarding Adult Private Social Clubs, I felt that I had to post an article and give my opinion. I am sick and tired of all the religous groups that are saying that there are drugs, prostitution, minors, non-consenting people, and just immoral people at these clubs! First of all, who do these people think they are to decide what is morally right or wrong for me? I believe that I have a good set of morals. I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen, I work full time and...

Lies of omission about 9/11 -- stoking fears of terrorism THEY WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID The following post was censored by freerepublic.com shortly after it was posted on their "public" forum on 9/11/04. That forum is designed to appear as though it is a community forum open to all, but this post only received three responses before it and its replies were deleted, and a repeat posting at 4 am PST on 9/20/04 didn't stay online for 5 minutes! Someone is apparently watching closely over the content of the freerepublic.com forums and censoring them 24/7 (though they might have...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2005 – President Bush's decision to support a congressional measure that bans "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" of terror suspects in U.S. custody or under U.S. control won't change military operations because the military always has upheld those principles, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during a Dec. 15 television interview. Bush announced his endorsement Dec. 15 of the so-called "McCain Amendment," championed by Arizona Sen. John McCain, who underwent torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. "Senator McCain has been a leader to make sure that the United States of America upholds the values of...