Free Republic

DNC protesters likely to have plenty of room — with a view Protesters at next summer's Democratic National Convention will likely be allowed to rally within view of the Pepsi Center, a Denver city council committee was told today. Denver Deputy Police Chief Michael Battista said the city will probably be able to allow closer access for protesters than Boston did in 2004, since the Pepsi Center is not next to a freeway like Boston's Fleet Center. "At the Fleet Center there were railroad tracks and a highway and the protesters were put on the other side," said Battista. "At...

Good morning, Madame Chancellor. Here you are, Germany's Angela Merkel, on your first trip to Washington, D.C., preparing for your meeting with President Bush. As you look out of your Blair House window over Lafayette Square toward the White House, consider the historicity of the era: the beginning of Mr. Bush's fifth year leading his country, and the beginning of your first year leading your country in the so-called War on Terror. Or is that the War on Guantanamo Bay? I get them confused. That's because in just about every account of your American trip -- biggish news in Europe...

Beset with an unpopular war and an American public increasingly less trusting, President Bush faces the lowest approval rating of his presidency, according to a national poll released Monday. Bush also received his all-time worst marks in three other categories in the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. The categories were terrorism, Bush's trustworthiness and whether the Iraq war was worthwhile. ...

Senate energy bill escapes House trap With the leadership of several key Western senators, the Senate is crafting legislation that addresses both production and environmental concerns. The U.S. Senate is crafting energy legislation that's far more worthwhile than the retrograde bill that sailed through the House in April. The Senate proposal could actually help wean America from imported oil in the long term. And it doesn't sidestep such environmental concerns as global warming. ... The House measure is filled with federal giveaways to the oil and gas industries - mature businesses that don't need a taxpayer handout. Worse, the House...

Fatal DU Carjacking Suspect Sentenced Teen Gets Youth Offender Time, Suspended Prison Time DENVER -- The driver of a car being chased by police that killed a DU student was handed a 6-year-sentence Friday. The parents of Ronnie Hernandez, 17, sobbed as the judge imposed the sentence, which included a suspended 12-year prison term. Hernandez was driving a stolen sport utility vehicle being followed by Denver Police on Feb. 20 when he crashed into a car driven by Qi Zhang, 19, at the intersection of High and Asbury streets (pictured, left). The violent impact sent both vehicles into the front...

America has become the world's superpower because of a "Silent Majority" that has no time to waste on protest marches – we're too busy working, achieving, earning, paying the mortgage, producing most of the taxes that help to run America, and raising our families. Protest marches are for people who have nothing better to do than complain and criticize rather than live life and achieve success.

DENVER (AP) - The leading supporter of a group seeking to dismantle bilingual education is blaming opponents for a rash of vandalism and harassment.