Free Republic

Patrons of the Disabled American Veterans club came to the rescue when a knife-wielding robber tried to steal a bag of money from the South Manatee establishment Sunday afternoon. Authorities say Frederick P. McGhee, 34, of the 200 block of Apricot Street in Bradenton came into the D.A.V. tavern at 111 63rd Ave. E. around 3:45 p.m. Sunday armed with a knife. McGhee swung the knife at a patron and then tried to run out with a money bag containing about $1,600, according to an arrest report. Darrell Dawson knocked the knife out of McGhee’s hand, and then several patrons...

Here's a DU sampler from earlier today when the moonbats first learned of Obama's intention to extend the "Faith-Based" initiatives concept: onehandle Tue Jul-01-08 06:27 AM 1. Wow. DU will be a bloodbath today. WillBowden Tue Jul-01-08 07:06 AM 24. No. Sorry. I refuse to help him get elected. After all the things he's done in the past few months I'm no longer sure I can even vote for him.I realize that the rules of DU state we must support the candidate. If Skinner wants he can remove me from DU. I've been here for a lot of years and...

Not quite ten years ago I spent waaaaay too much time pouring through the supplemental documents released by Ken Starr in support of his published report. These documents were primarly transcrpts of grand jury testimony, but some FBI investigative reports were also included. I had fun digging into the dirt and I hope you'll enjoy reading some of the highlights again. There will be more to come. And since I understand the wife of Monica's ex-boyfriend now wants to be President, I hope she enjoys them too! Monica Lewinsky's college friend, Catherine Allday Davis, at page 847, answeers grand jury...

SARASOTA -- A group pushing to legalize marijuana plans to march at noon today as part of the annual Global Marijuana March. The Florida Cannabis Action Network will hold signs at Fruitville Road and Washington Boulevard, making Sarasota one of 232 cities around the world taking part. The group calls for the end to all cannabis arrests and the legalization of cannabis for recreation, medicine, food, fiber, agriculture and fuel. Cannabis needs no pesticides and little fertilizer, is the strongest natural fiber known to man and can be used as an alternative fuel, the group says. The same group rallied...

BRADENTON -- Five years ago, Arlene Sweeting -- noted activist, radio host and unabashed free thinker -- opened a tiny cafe near McKechnie Field. In time, Fogartyville Cafe became something more than a hole-in-the-wall joint that served tofu, organic coffee and "No War" bumper stickers. It became a refuge for aging hippies, would-be radicals and part-time poets, a liberal landmark in a decidedly conservative city. But now, as Sweeting and co-owner Dave Beaton prepare to sell the cafe -- to focus, in part, on a small radio station in Sarasota -- the community that Fogartyville fostered is trying to save...

When she graduates from Ringling School of Art and Design next year, aspiring photojournalist Cassandra Avalon will bail on her apartment, located in low-income Newtown. Navigating through opposite ends of Sarasota's economic margins has, at her ripe old age of 20, given her a wide-angle glimpse of futility. "I'm educated, but I don't think I could ever get there, into the rich society," says Avalon, who moonlights as a beverage assistant at the Longboat Key Club. "Not that I'd want to, really. "I remember, when I walked through the airport at (Washington, D.C.'s) Dulles, I counted 22 American flags. Everybody...

Vowing to fight a lawsuit claiming a Delray Beach church strewn with religious messages was an unconstitutional polling place, Elections Supervisor Arthur Anderson said Thursday using houses of worship as polling sites is "essential" to the voting process. A Delray Beach photographer, Jerry Rabinowitz, is challenging Anderson in federal court, saying the choice of Emmanuel Catholic Church as his polling site violated the First Amendment. The church had anti-abortion and Christian messages posted inside and outside the voting area, the lawsuit says.

Our First Liberty Television SpecialADF Special Airing on TBN November 28 This Tuesday, November 28, TBN will be airing the exciting new special, "Our First Liberty" that highlights how ADF is defending and protecting the First Liberty -- religious freedom -- of ordinary Americans. The special will be aired at 12:30 a.m. EST (11/29), 11:30 p.m. CST, 10:30 p.m. MST, and 9:30 p.m. PST. Click on the link for the source of this news to find your local TBN station and to see trailers of the program.

Even critics are impressed with her debate performances, but experts say it's just too late ORLANDO -- Virtually out of money, abandoned by state Republican leaders and ridiculed by her detractors, Rep. Katherine Harris is refusing to fade into the background in the final days of her U.S. Senate bid. Instead, she is becoming more visible, scheduling one of her busiest series of public appearances in weeks and advertising on television for the first time in months. Even Harris' critics say she has surprised them in her two debates against Sen. Bill Nelson, avoiding the gaffes that have dogged her...

DAVIE -- The debate between Republican Senate hopeful Katherine Harris and Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson was Nelson's to lose. He did not, analysts said. But Harris performed surprisingly well. Experts agreed that the Longboat Key congresswoman displayed some command of the issues, and perhaps appeared more senatorial than at any other time in her struggling campaign. That undoubtedly disappointed those who tuned in Monday night wondering how the outspoken Harris, down-and-out in polls and nearly dry of campaign funds, might try to capitalize on the first of two debates broadcast statewide. "She needed to show that she had command of...

TRENTON, N.J. (BP)--The New Jersey Supreme Court will issue its much-awaited decision on "gay marriage" on Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST, the court announced Tuesday afternoon. The ruling by the seven-member court could make New Jersey the second state in the nation to legalize "gay marriage" -- a decision that almost certainly would have an impact on elections nationwide, particularly ones in the eight states considering constitutional marriage amendments. Massachusetts' highest court issued a decision in 2003 legalizing "gay marriage" there. A ruling against "gay marriage" would be another major legal setback for homosexual activists in their quest to redefine...

Few questions arise over the candidates in what may be Florida's weirdest race this year. PORT CHARLOTTE -- Predictions of mass confusion at the polls following Mark Foley's Sept. 29 resignation from Congress seemed largely unfounded as voting kicked off Monday. By noon, 161 people had cast early ballots at the Mid-County Regional Library in Port Charlotte. Not one raised a question about the 16th Congressional District seat vacated by Foley, according to poll worker Darlene Perry. Foley resigned after it was revealed that he had sent sexually explicit electronic messages to male pages. "There hasn't been one word," Perry...

Does your weekend need a little cheering up for some reason? Well, here's a contribution from a DU moonbat that's sure to brighten your day and perk up your smile: whereismyparty (195 posts) Sat Sep-16-06 02:33 PM Original message I am mainly hopeless. When I look at all of the deceptions of our government, I feel such an array of emotions: I AM ANGRY that they remain in power and unpunished. That the media allows the government to decieve it's own people so unabashedly. I HOPE the whole powerful cabal's arrogance and distorted view will soon catch up with them...

Tyron Garner, one of two plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case in 2003 that overruled a Texas sodomy law in the broadest possible terms, effectively making homosexual relations a basic civil right, died Monday in Houston. He was 39. The cause was complications of meningitis, said his brother Darrell.

PERTH, Scotland – A Scottish woman may appeal after losing a suit against Britain’s National Health Service for compensation after the NHS failed to kill both her twin daughters in the womb. Stacey Dow, the mother of now five year-old surviving twin Jayde, demanded $250,000 from the public health service for support for Jayde, the daughter she never intended to raise. The case was a first of this kind for Britain, commonly called “wrongful life” or “wrongful birth” suits. She said after being informed of the court’s decision that she would be consulting with her lawyers for the next step....

Washington, DC -- With the balance of power in Congress hanging in the air, a leading African American businessman says black voters in the United States should put their historical pro-life values above political party. That means voting for pro-life candidates rather than supporting Democratic candidates across the board. Herman Cain is best known as the former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. He is a political commentator and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate. “More and more African Americans are pro-life," Cain said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained. “Our message to African Americans is simple -- it's time...

NEW YORK - Wearing just a small white towel and a smile, Bob prowls the dark halls of the East Side Club, looking into dozens of its closet-sized rooms and hoping eye contact with another man will lead to sex.

LAUREL -- "Muslims can convert to Christianity here!" read the sign Monday in front of the Congregational Church on Laurel Road. It was an invitation that the church's pastor, K.C. McCay, admitted he didn't expect anyone to accept. But coming on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it was bound to stir a response. And it did. "If church leaders are really interested in saving people, they would find much less offensive ways to do it," said Ahmed Bedier, director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Religious leaders are adding fuel to the fire. It's...

Even on the very day of 9/11, this is what you get from DU moonbats: Dangerman (837 posts) Mon Sep-11-06 11:44 AM Original message I'm going to have a hellish night tonight. I am working at a local sports arena tonight and there will be a pre-game speech about "We are going to win the war on terror." and some patriotic songs and that song "God Bless America" in the bottom of the 7th. The last two 9/11s when I work there, I started shouting "bull!" and felt like I am going to tantrum. Why they are still going some...

PORTLAND — The Oregon Supreme Court today rejected the discrimination claim of an atheist whose son was required to attend a Boy Scout recruiting session in a Portland public school. The Scout oath requires members "to do my duty to God and my country" but simply providing information to pupils in public schools isn't discrimination under Oregon Law, the court said.