Free Republic

WASHINGTON California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, facing criticism over his fundraising practices and international travel, escaped to friendlier terrain Wednesday to accept an award from Governing magazine. The Los Angeles Democrat was named one of nine "Public Officials of the Year" and was accepting the honor at a dinner at Washington, D.C.'s Willard Hotel, just blocks from the White House. Other honorees included Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire and Houston Mayor Bill White. The magazine cited Nunez's bipartisanship in working toward passage of last year's package of public works bonds - $37.3 billion for...

Jesus Pasos took one look around the grounds at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills on Sunday afternoon, and summed up in one word what everyone was thinking. "Wow!" the young Los Angeles city firefighter said. Yeah, wow. Pasos and his fellow firefighters were standing in the middle of the biggest community hug any of them had ever seen. More than 400 residents came to a barbecue at the synagogue to thank local firefighters for saving their homes from the Topanga Fire, which scorched more than 24,000 acres and destroyed three homes before it was put out earlier this month....

Saudi Defense Minister: Bin Laden Sent by the Jews 20:53 Feb 09, '05 / 30 Shevat 5765 During a meeting to plan the recent Saudi conference on counter-terrorism the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia claimed that arch-terrorist Osama bin Laden was “sent by the Jews.” The Defense Minister, Prince Sultan Feted read a poem with the following verse: "Long live security - may its men hold their heads high on every corner. [Bin Laden], whose ideology is sick, who was sent by the Jews, who is the architect of theft, was treacherous and sent us the criminals. This traitor...