Free Republic

Federal Law requires that all U.S. defense systems be built with U.S. or allied components. The reality is that nearly every defense system in the U.S. arsenal is 100% reliant on China for rare earth materials and components. Even the small quantity of heavy rare earths mined in United States are shipped to China for processing. Solution: S. 2006 "The National Rare Earth Cooperative Act". Bill S. 2006 was introduced as a stand alone Bill in February 2014. Jim: "On May 19, shortly after a well received bi-cameral Congressional Briefing to Armed Services and Natural Resource staff, we were informed...

AP just called the race for Brat in the VA-7 race. But, but, but....they said the Tea Party was dead!!!!

Tom Cotton’s campaign manager just placed a hit job on Nebraska airwaves against Ben Sasse. Cotton, who is running for the U.S. Senate from Arkansas as a Republican, apparently has no problem with his campaign manager moonlighting to attack another Republican. Cotton’s campaign manager, however, is using video of Ben Sasse’s daughters in an attack ad against Sasse. Even more bizarre, the clip of his daughters is just so random. It makes no sense in the advertisement. Cotton’s campaign manager, by the way, used to run Mitch McConnell’s campaign and his Super PAC that bought the ad is also managed...

I'm looking to buy a new vehicle after my old one (2005 Hyundai Accent) hit the 110000 mile mark. I've nicked-named it the "old gray mare" I'll be going to the same Hyundai dealer who sold me the previous Accent. I'm looking at a 2012 Accent which was a lease and it only has 6176 miles on it. Auto Check is "clean" and it's Hyundai "Certified Pre-Owned" (and under it's original warranty). Any advice you can offer to make this a smooth transaction, save some money, and avoid pitfalls? FYI: I'm already pre-approved by my local credit union (helps to...

The exploits of the blind swordsman Ichi, the wandering "masseuse" and former Yakuza in a quest for redemption. Haunted by his pasted...hunted in the present....hesitant of his future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HgAuU1TZs

On Monday, Governor Heineman released his newest column warning Nebraskan's of current efforts in Nebraska's Legislature to silence the voice of Nebraskans on future Presidential races. The Bill, LB1058 (sponsored by Republican State Senator Tyson Larson who made it his priority bill is also now cosponsored by liberal Democrat Sen. Ken Haar ). The bill is being pushed by highly paid lobbyists (noted below). The bill proposes that Nebraska join the National Popular Vote Compact, in essence promising all five of Nebraska's electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote (even if that candidate didn't win...

Senator Bill Kintner Medicaid expansion has been stopped when the proponents failed to get the necessary 33 votes to invoke cloture. The vote was 27-21 -1. Krist was a not voting. This is a huge win for the citizens of Nebraska for all the reasons I have previously covered. Thank you to all the people that called and wrote the senators.

CHRIS McDANIEL FOR U.S. SENATE FROM MISSISSIPPI Chris McDaniel has a proven record of fighting for conservative principles in the Mississippi State Senate. He has been a champion of limited government, free enterprise, civic participation, reduced tax rates, a strong national defense, and a return to the original checks and balances of the Constitution.

BEN SASSE FOR U.S. SENATE FROM NEBRASKA Ben Sasse is the clear conservative choice in the Nebraska Senate race. National Review calls him “Nebraska’s Obamacare Nemesis.” Ben is a proven problem solver. A few years ago, Ben took over as president of Midland University in his hometown. The school was on the verge of bankruptcy, but under Ben’s steady leadership and commitment to make tough decisions and reform old policies, Midland is on the path to recovery and has nearly tripled enrollment. Today, it’s the fastest growing school in the Midwest. We need those kinds of results in D.C.

The advent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created a number of problems for our state that did not exist prior to that legislation, in addition to exacerbating most, if not all of the existing issues faced by Nebraskans. We long ago decided as a society to care for those who could not care for themselves. This deference to the needs of the vulnerable is a hallmark of our social contract and has been a driver of public policy for more than a century. It is the foundation of our entire social services system. For more than a century...

FaceBook (USA Curling) ‪#‎curling‬ on CNBC between 3-8 p.m. on Tuesday had 2.6 million viewers. Highest ratings ever for a show on CNBC. ‪#‎rockinit‬ Go suck it CNBC!!! And while you're at it tell your homies at MSNBC they suck too. They can "lean forward" over the rock and do a face plant (ala Russian Team Captain)

Looking into buying silver and needed advice (do's and don'ts). Was thinking of both 1oz and fractional coins (1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 an oz). Where can I buy (recommendations) and how can I properly store them? Was looking to spend under 1k.

Looks like Sarah Palin is turning 50 and there are many wishing here a Happy 50th Birthday in this new video by ShePAC:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (W. Va.) introduced the “National Rare Earth Cooperative Act of 2014” this week, bipartisan legislation that relieves America’s dependence on China’s rare earth minerals, encourages private sector jobs and innovation, and preserves our the United States’ military technological edge. To read the bill, click this link: http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/8385bd2e-0063-48eb-85ed-ab19dc713c55/2-7-14%20National%20Rare%20Earth%20Cooperative%20Act%20of%202014.pdf

NBC is running a poll on who should carry the US flag at the Sochi Winter Games. Lets make the liberals at ESPN squawk and elect a CURLER to bear the US flag!!!! Vote here: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/vote-who-should-be-flag-bearer-united-states

I don’t know exactly how to characterize this, but there is a new campaign to highlight crony capitalism (or the portmanteau that I like to use–crapitalism) . This campaign–The Kronies– uses youtube clips and specially designed 80s style action figures.

All is fair in politics, and no one gets a pass. There is a growing attempt to paint Wendy Davis as the victim of a double standard, in which a woman is treated more harshly than conservative men as to family failings and career ambition. Kirsten Powers articulated that view in her post at The Daily Beast, The Right Subjects Wendy Davis to Litmus Tests No Male Would Ever Face (interestingly, the title shows up in search engines as “Wendy Davis the Piñata Parent,” not sure if that was the original title): It seems that Wendy Davis needs to learn...

SpaceX Webcast Thaicom 6 Falcon 9 successful Launch on January 6, 2014 Launch is at the end....first 40 minutes is a pre launch show explaining the Falcon 9, its current mission, and future launches with a reusable 1st stage called "grasshopper".

USA's women's 2014 Olympic team members Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick, Jessica Schultz, Ann Swisshelm, & Allison Pottinger made a spoof video of the YouTube viral hit, "What does the fox say" by changing it to "What the skip say." The skip in curling is the captain and often is known for intense yelling to his/her sweepers. Words most often used include hurry, hard, whoa, right off, yes, yep. The video was shot in Scotland and created by Matt Gamboa for USA Curling.

Was trying to find out if there any USAF units solely dedicated to dropping nuclear test bombs in the Pacific and Nevada.