Free Republic

Newly released details of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's prison plan show a portion of one of Chowchilla's two women's prisons being converted to a men's prison -- a proposal that local officials say they will do everything they can to stop. "People are really opposed to this," said Chowchilla Mayor Ron Harris. "We'll probably raise a stink." The proposal, part of a nearly $6 billion prison-crowding relief plan, calls for 800 male beds at the Valley State Prison for Women. The prison, listed as having capacity for 1,980 women, would essentially be split in two -- a male prison and a...

The Bay Bridge retrofit contractor's new spokesman is a political public-relations heavy hitter with a national reputation for digging up dirt on embattled clients' critics. Chris Lehane, 37, helped the Clinton White House spin the Whitewater investigation, spoke for Vice President Al Gore on the 2000 presidential campaign trail and advised former Gov. Gray Davis during the 2001 energy crisis and 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Now he's working for KFM Joint Venture, the contractor building the Bay Bridge's new eastern span. The Oakland Tribune has reported welders' accusations that many of the project's welds are defective and that unsafe working conditions...

Zogby Now a PR Firm: Just yesterday I participated in the Nov. 10 Zogby On-line Poll (invitation only). Aside from being far more lengthy than usual, I was struck by the “advocacy” nature of the questions. Rather than being content to survey attitudes, it was very clear to me that Zogby was trying to influence and to change those attitudes, at least regarding what must be a new customer for them: The government of the Peoples Republic of Viet Nam. That was my conclusion, at least. Here are the questions regarding Viet Nam: you be the judge, but it looks...

Dean walks the line on firearms By Sam Hemingway Free Press Staff Writer Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean has a ready answer for voters who think his opposition to the Iraq war and support for homosexual rights make him an ultra-liberal. "I've been endorsed by the National Rifle Association," Dean tells audiences at almost every stop, referring to NRA's support of him when he was Vermont's governor for 11 years. That statement is true, but an examination of Dean's record on gun issues in Vermont suggests his relationship with the NRA in his home state has been more platonic than...

<p>Hello Folks, Been a regular fan of the weekday Fox & Friends - Love. I get the news but, more importantly I start the day with a few laughs. Excellent.</p> <p>So what is the deal with this Julian Phillips fellow? The weekend Fox & Friends has generally seemed quite a bit weaker than the weekday version but some thing seems way off lately. This fellow appears to be left leaning flack.</p>