Free Republic

Less than a decade ago, Mr. Bush fought that exact part of the Voting Rights Act, with his appointed secretary of state, Antonio O. Garza Jr., calling the provisions a burdensome and unnecessary federal intrusion into Texas' affairs. "The Bush administration has really done a flip-flop on this," said Edward Blum, a senior fellow at the Center for Equal Opportunity who has studied Texas voting and the Voting Rights Act. "This is not where he was, and this is not the kind of philosophy that then-Governor Bush had when it comes to getting Texas out from under the thumb of...

SACRAMENTO - Should it be illegal for parents to smoke in the car while their children are in the back seat? One day after the U.S. Surgeon General released the most damning study yet on secondhand smoke, a state Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow police to stop drivers guilty of puffing in the confines of their car when a child passenger is secured in a safety seat. If the measure becomes law, violators who smoke a "lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant" would receive a warning on the first offense, and...

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had a dream of universal consumer-driven health care. Then he met Beacon Hill and its Democratic legislators. Their plan, introduced this week, is a Frankenstein's monster of tax penalties, expanded government-insurance programs and unfunded mandates. A presidential aspirant, which Mr. Romney certainly is, will decide what is the best he can do for his state. The rest of us, however, should not take this plan for a model. The fault of this bill is that it really isn't "consumer-driven" at all. The resource-wasting reliance on third-party payers and employers remains intact as existing government-insurance programs are...

For all Bush’s good qualities, the man can’t not spend money. This republican congress and president has spent an obscene amount of money. I find this behavior to be irresponsible during a time of war, to say the least. I know I’ve ranted about it before at length, but I’ll say it again: the federal government’s spending habits have far exceeded its constitutional mandate, and something has to be done.

Is the NEA Really an NUT? Is the NEA really an NUT? By asking, I’m not casting aspersions on the National Education Association’s sanity, just on its choice of name. The NEA’s British counterpart really is an NUT: It is the National Union of Teachers. British educators unapologetically acknowledge that their union is a union, while their American peers cling to a name that belies their organization’s agenda — literally. Consider the first 10 agenda items from the NEA’s recent national meeting (brought to my attention courtesy of blogger Captain’s Quarters): 1) [No description] — defeated 2) Participate in a...

November 16, 2004 - There have been many contests for the soul of America, some predating the founding of the country but forming the bedrock America was built upon. Fortunately for us, ours is a legacy of builders, not adventurers. The treasures of the Aztecs and the Incas were not to be found on the North American continent, which I believe was one of the greatest fortunes of history for what would become the United States. The English colonies by and large attracted people intent on building a life, not personal fortunes. Our heritage is that of Puritans and Catholics...

Unanswered questions of 2004 Posted: October 18, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 Creators Syndicate, Inc. That John Kerry won the debates, no matter how any of us score them, seems undeniable. Before the first debate in Miami, his campaign was dead in the water. Throughout August, he had been swift-boated by the Veterans for Truth with repeated attacks on his combat service, character and credibility. The GOP convention completed the demolition. By one poll in September, only 36 percent of the nation held a favorable view of Kerry, a seemingly impossible hurdle to surmount. The president led in every...

Friday, October 08, 2004 End of Another Progressive-Era Relic by William Anderson October 7, 2004 Most of our present governmental institutions (and many private ones) are a creation of that era which lasted from the late 19th into the first quarter of the 20th centuries. Progressivism could not have made the strides it did, however, had it not been for the advent of what we would call modern journalism. From the "muckrakers" of the turn of the century (who really were nothing more than socialists trashing capitalism and calling it reporting) to the vaunted 1925 "Canons of Journalism," the modern...

By Eric Peters Published 7/20/2004 12:05:29 AM Big brother will be watching you for sure by 2008 -- the year a proposed requirement that Event Data Recorders (EDRs) become mandatory standard equipment in all new cars and trucks will become law unless public outrage puts the kibosh on it somehow. EDRs are "black boxes" -- just like airplanes have. They can record a wide variety of things, including how fast you drive and whether you "buckle-up for safety." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants EDRs to be installed in every new vehicle beginning with model year 2008, on...

Eliminate Primary Elections The best way to greatly reduce the influence of big money in American politics is to eliminate the primary elections. Choosing nominees in primary elections was invented as a reform to get away from those famous "smoke-filled backrooms." That was a reference to the old political machines, which were active in most large American cities. They often played a major role in choosing nominees. As often happens with reforms, the reform has produced a greater problem than the one it was intended to solve. It's true that money is the mother's milk of politics, but it is...

<p>DES MOINES, Iowa--Pollsters tell us the caucuses here tonight are a four-way race that anyone could win. But there is another battle going on in this state that divides Democrats along lines of occupation, class and policy priorities. Two wings of the union movement are fighting for the soul of the Democratic Party.</p>

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a bill to combat the growing problem of obesity, especially among children and teen-agers. Noting that obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, the bill authorizes a $60 million pilot project to help communities develop programs to address the problem, in part by promoting good nutrition and physical fitness. The programs would also deal with eating disorders. More than 60 percent of U.S. adults and 13 percent of children are estimated to be overweight and about 300,000 deaths a year are associated with being overweight...

No Artificial Christmas for Virginias Apartment and Condo Residents 2 hours, 1 minute ago Add Local - WJLA to My Yahoo! () - Virginia apartment and condo dwellers who usually buy real Christmas trees wont have to travel to the nearest department store this year for an artificial version. Virginia has decided to lift its new ban on fresh-cut trees. So those who live in apartments or condos can decorate for the holidays after all. Fresh trees are still banned in places without sprinklers, like churches, hospitals and dorms. The states new fire code restricts the placement of natural-cut Christmas...

Beer kegs tapped New law aims to track buyers By Kimberly D. Morava SNS Staff Writer Kegs of cold beer are pictured at a local liquor store. Beginning Nov. 1, retailer sellers must abide by the state's new keg law, which requires them to keep records of beer keg purchasers for one year. The law is geared toward making purchasers responsible, and to cut down on underage drinking. (SNS Photos by Ed Blochowiak) Beer sold in metal barrels, or kegs, is the focus of a new Oklahoma keg registration law that becomes effective Nov. 1. House Bill 1014 is aimed...

Temp: 85 °FHi: 79 °FLo: 63 °F Advanced Search Home > News > Story NewsLocal News Past Week's NewsE ThePeopleSpecial Projects SportsBusiness NewsTechnologyWeatherObitsMarketplaceEmploymentCarsHomesApartmentsClassifiedsCity GuideCoupons PersonalsWeddings EntertainmentHighlightsMovies Nightlife & BandsFood & DrinkArts & CultureRecreationFun & GamesEvent Calendars Contact UsNewspaper InfoAdvertising InfoOnline InfoCity Cams Don't flinch at metro plan, says 'regional city' booster By Rick ArmonDemocrat and Chronicle CARLOS ORTIZ William Hudnut, former Indianapolis mayor, urged Rochester to see that central city, suburbs must work together. (April 17, 2002) &#8212 The Rochester community shouldn't fear having a discussion about consolidating its city and county governments, former Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut said...