Free Republic

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break in early September to hear a new argument in a momentous case that could transform the way political campaigns are conducted. The case, which arises from a minor political documentary called “Hillary: The Movie,” seemed an oddity when it was first argued in March. Just six months later, it has turned into a juggernaut with the potential to shatter a century-long understanding about the government’s ability to bar corporations from spending money to support political candidates. The case has also deepened a profound split among liberals, dividing those who...

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break in early September to hear a new argument in a momentous case that could transform the way political campaigns are conducted. The case, which arises from a minor political documentary called “Hillary: The Movie,” seemed an oddity when it was first argued in March. At issue is whether the court should overrule a 1990 decision, Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which upheld restrictions on corporate spending to support or oppose political candidates. The court’s order calling for re-argument, issued in June, has generated more than 40 friend-of-the-court briefs....

A measure that would prevent radio and television broadcasters from airing advertising between 6 a.m.-10 p.m. related to erectile dysfunction has popped up again in Congress. Jim Moran, the left-leaning Virginia Democrat who first introduced the Families for ED Advertising Decency Act in Congress in 2005, along with fellow Democrat Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, reintroduced the measure on April 29 with the aim to "prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for a medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and for other purposes." The prohibition would apply to all "pioneer and generic drugs that are medications for treatment...

MEXICO CITY (AFP) – The Obama administration wants to crack down on the sale of assault weapons that are arming Mexican drug cartels, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview with NBC television. Clinton late Wednesday called letting a previous US ban on the sale of assault weapons expire "a mistake." "I think these assault weapons, these military style weapons, don't belong on anyone's street," said Clinton who pushed for the ban as a New York senator. "During the time period from 1994 to 2004, when the ban was in effect, our police in America were able to...

ASPEN — A man who left bomb threats and homemade bombs around Aspen on New Year's Eve shot and killed himself in his car a few hours after his threats cleared much of the resort town, Aspen Police said. Assistant Aspen Police Chief Bill Linn said James Chester Blanning, 72, walked into two Aspen banks Wednesday afternoon and left packages wrapped in holiday paper along with notes saying the boxes contained bombs. The notes threatened "mass death" and demanded $60,000 cash, along with criticisms of President George Bush, Linn said.

I tried to post here an excellent editorial on Obama's economic corruption but was disallowed because the source is noquarterusa.net. I became interested in No Quarter recently because it pops up when searching for information about Obama's birth. It is a Democrat site, but right now, it is pro-McCain and anti-Obama and it seems a shame not to be able to use its work. Also, I don't really see the point of banning articles by source (since you can ban users or subject articles to review depending on the source), but if you must, it would be nice if the...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw

Can any legislation be successful in banning all distractions for motorists? Like California, many states are banning the use of cell phones while driving a car, and some bans go way beyond cell phones. So far, Vermont may have the longest list of no-nos for motorists, with a proposed law that even prohibits playing the flute while driving. I've played a bit of flute in my time — not very well — but not as badly as if I were trying to drive and "tootle" at the same time. The Vermont law also would forbid such driving distractions as smoking,...

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A state law that would ban sales of violent video games to minors violates free speech rights and cannot be enforced, a judge ruled. U.S. District Judge James Brady said the state had no right to bar distribution of materials simply because they show violent behavior. Brady issued an injunction, calling the law an "invasion of First Amendment rights" of producers, retailers and the minors who play the games. ----snip----

Ann Coulter...was definitely Friday’s biggest draw at CPAC 2006. From the get-go the conservative columnist had the crowd cheering and was frequently interrupted by applause. Many of Coulter’s talking points came from recent news events -- such as “the great Danish cartoon caper” and President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees. “Muslims are the only group who kill because people call them violent,” she said of Islam’s rage over the printing of Muhammad cartoons. Speaking about the nation's highest court, Coulter not only expressed elation at Justice Samuel Alito’s confirmation, she also shared her feelings on Chief Justice John Roberts ... She...

Those on the left of the political spectrum love to scoff at the notion that "guns don’t kill people; people kill people". Ban guns and all will be right with the world. Banning guns and molly coddling potential killers with state sponsored outreach programs will reduce crime. Those that think that social programs are the answer to everything have been doing it their way for the past 40 years and as an example, the city of Toronto has recorded a record number of gun deaths. When will they ever learn this approach simply doesn’t work?

The old NRA slogan says, "Guns don't kill people. People do." That's no fun, if you're a "lawmaker" -- odious name for a representative, isn't it? U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (D-South Boston), "has filed a bill seeking to pull the controversial drug [painkiller Oxycontin] from the market," reported the Boston Herald Saturday, May 7. In announcing his bill, Lynch referred to a recent robbery attempt in an Arlington, Massachusetts pharmacy. Two would-be thieves showed guns and demanded the druggist's Oxy stash. Lynch did not tell what happened next, which would have suited the NRA's purposes better than his. The...

<p>Freerepublic.com has over the years filled a unique and valuable niche for conservatives. In the past, I was also a Freeper, but I ceased posting when Freerepublic.com founder Jim Robinson first began censoring and banning members for any criticism of George Bush. I knew then the handwriting was on the wall for Freerepublic.com; that the situation would only grow worse with time. . .</p>

America was not founded on the concept of a "wall of separation between church and state," it was founded upon pluralism. The "wall of separation" phrase does not appear in any of our founding documents; it is taken from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. To base our laws on the correspondence of Jefferson, rather than the Constitution ratified by representatives of each of the original " united states ," is in direct opposition to our system of representative government. Jefferson was a brilliant man, but he also favored slavery and was fanatical about macaroni and cheese. However, slavery was...

In an effort to assuage their latest electoral pain, some in the far left of the Democratic Party have laid siege to Ohio in hopes of reviving their flagging ‘every vote counts’ war chant, while others have enrolled in PEST-control programs to ease the suffering inflicted by the recent red-state tidal wave. The most vocal however are those still mystified by the ‘values’ issues cited by many of the voters who re-elected President Bush. Unwilling to learn from their defeat and unable to process concepts like faith, morality, and patriotism, they have decided to throw more gasoline on their funeral...

It’s appallingly looking NOT like Christmas Ev’rywhere you go: Leftists are at it once again, using their anchormen On a campaign to spread disdain you know. Yes, it’s that time of year again…when socialists, atheists, and malcontents (AKA – members of the ACLU and all who support the positions it advocates) get together to conspire – not necessarily by the fire, mind you – to spoil everybody’s good time. Let’s see what they’ve accomplished so far this Christmas season (yes, I said “Christmas” – sue me!): Federated Department Stores – you know, of Macy’s and Miracle on 34th Street fame...

I'm so angry. I found out (by Googling Mehlman+gurley) that Dan Gurley, National Field Director for B/C04, and Jay Banning, CFO for Republican fundraising, are publicly "outed", and future RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, "all but" (no pun intended). Has the President and the RNC turned their backs on us? Why is this just now coming out? I feel betrayed. The government and public service should be off-limits to moral degenerates. Is this why the RNC supports useless marriage amendments instead of the REALLY necessary banning of these "people" from teaching in public schools, the civil service, etc? WHAT GIVES?? I...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California could be the first state in the country to fine motorists who smoke while driving with young children in the car if a bill passed by an Assembly committee Wednesday becomes law. The bill, passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and now on its way to the full Assembly, would lead to fines up to $96. [snip] The bill would make it an infraction, punishable by a $25 fine for a first offense, to smoke a cigar, pipe or cigarette in a vehicle in which there was a child who was required to be carried in...

Call it southern pride or good fashion, but at Greensboro High School you can call it controversial. On Friday, Greensboro High School banned a popular brand of shirts known as Dixie Outfitters, because the clothing bears the image of the confederate flag. Student Amanda Burdick told the school board Tuesday night that Greensboro High announced that the confederate flag shirts were banned "because they offended some people." Burdick, a GHS senior, said she has been wearing the shirts with the flag since the beginning of the school year and she was upset that the school was now banning the shirts....

Given the rumors and speculation regarding banning of individuals from FR, I took the suggestion of another poster to start a thread around the topic. I have gone back and reread the rules and the specific speculation of posting to one type of thread or posting one type of article only is not called out as against the rules. So, outside of the rules, what constitutes being banned or suspended from posting on FR?

<p>September 22, 2003 -- ALBANY - Smoking even in the privacy of your own car could be banned under one of at least five state bills introduced in the past year to limit where a person can light up.</p> <p>From public beaches to carnivals to a person's private vehicle, the legislation would make it more difficult for smokers to take a drag.</p>

Serious charges continue to surface at lp.com concerning the privacy of FReepmail. Some continue to opine and/or charge that they were banned because of something they wrote in FReepmail. 1. Who has access to authentication codes and passwords besides JR and John?2. Do any moderators, n.e.c. have the need to read mail which is reported to be obscene or do they rely on the person reporting the abuse?3. If FReepmail has ever been viewed without permission is there a log of such?4. If so, what possible reason can be advanced to justify such?