http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/government/ en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:36:44 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286087/posts STATE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER BEEN SO CLOWNISH, SO EVIL, SO IRRELEVANT Having witnessed the anarchy, chaos and lack of leadership that has engulfed the state Capitol during the past month, I have a painful confession to make. After three decades as a journalist covering state government, if I had to do it all over again, I'd find another job. I've covered Govs. Hugh Carey, Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson and for New York to wind up like this after 35 years of modern leadership, it's clear to me that my real job has been to chronicle... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286087/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:36:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285109/posts Escaped prisoners who are on the run will not be named in case it breaches their right to privacy, civil servants have ruled. The edict has been made even though many convicts are fully identified with photographs sent out by police at the time they go on the run. Ministry of Justice officials say the Data Protection Act means they are unable to confirm the names of escaped prisoners still at large. Justice Secretary Jack Straw is being urged to investigate the ruling amid fears it could undermine public appeals to track down escaped prisoners. The policy was revealed when... The Daily Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285109/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:25:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285004/posts The Obama administration is planning to use the National Security Agency to screen Internet traffic between government agencies and the private sector, the Washington Post reported Friday. The project was first initiated by the previous administration of president George W. Bush and was due to be set in motion in February. The aim is to protect the government computer network from attacks from outside, the Post said quoting Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285004/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:09:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284938/posts Colin Powell, one of President Obama's most prominent Republican supporters, expressed concern Friday that the president's ambitious blitz of costly initiatives may be enlarging the size of government and the federal debt too much. "I'm concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them," Mr. Powell said in an excerpt of an interview with CNN's John King, released by the network Friday morning. Mr. Powell, a retired U.S. army general who rose to political prominence after a long and accomplished military career,... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284938/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:10:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284753/posts Does anyone believe the federal government is a model of efficiency? Oddly enough, superior government efficiency is a core argument offered by President Barack Obama and others pushing creation of a government-run health plan. Obama claims, “If the private insurance companies have to compete with a public option, it will keep them honest and it will help keep their prices down.” And who would keep government honest? Surely not the designated watchdogs, like the Inspectors-General personally fired by the President for catching a FOO (Friend of Obama) with his hand in the till. But back to the claim that government... humanevents.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284753/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:29:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283819/posts "Just how can the Fed credibly promise to be irresponsible...?" HERE'S A THOUGHT - that tiny handful of investors and analysts warning how Fed policy risks hyper-inflation are in fact doing the central bank's work. The Fed wants you to believe hyperinflation is looming. Or at least, it should want that, if doubling its balance-sheet - purchasing and lending against investment junk - is going to work the wonders that modern central-bank theory says it can. And the Fed certainly wants you to believe it will stop at nothing to avoid deflation ("whatever means necessary" as the chairman put it... Commodity News Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283819/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 03:10:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2283810/posts Time for a scary story! Email received Please watch Hyperinflation Nation immediately and spread the word to your friends and family! http://inflation.us/videos.html We spent hundreds of hours making the documentary and would love to hear what you think! Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated! Hyper Inflation Nation Inflation.us http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2283810/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 02:57:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283393/posts After drawing the funds, Freddie Mac has now received $51.7 billion from the Treasury Department and still has access to an additional $149.3 billion to help it finance operations. The Washington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283393/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:24:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283353/posts What is “Cap and Trade”? June 30, 2009 by Doug Parris “Cap and Trade” is a relatively simple concept using extremely complicated laws. But all you need to understand is the concept. THE GOAL “Cap and Trade” begins with the assumption that using energy is a bad thing and the less we use the better. The goal is using less energy. THE CAP “Cap and Trade” puts a U.S. Government “cap” on energy use, creating a government-imposed artificial energy shortage. The shortage is INTENTIONAL. It is the whole purpose of the program. If you are old enough to remember or... www.thereaganwing.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283353/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:26:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282763/posts Vetting Healthcare for Vets by: Mytheos Holt, June 29, 2009 Due to the recent appearance of oversight issues in the national veterans’ healthcare program, the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans’ Affairs convened a hearing chaired by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI). The committee room was practically abandoned, except for Chairman Akaka and Ranking (minority) Member Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). “We know of several instances of poor care,” Sen. Akaka said, accusing the administrators of “putting veterans at risk for infectious diseases.” According to Sen. Akaka, Congress had “subcontracted with an outside entity with the expectation that good care will be provided. Good... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282763/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:59:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282596/posts San Diego city employees earning at least $100,000 are the fastest-growing income group on the payroll... About 13 percent of city employees exceeded the six-figure mark in pay last year, when salary, overtime and add-on pay for reasons such as bilingual skills were included. That's up from 4 percent in 2003, and 7 percent since Mayor Jerry Sanders was elected in 2005. While this highest-paid group is growing, the proportion of middle-income earners is shrinking and the lowest-paid segment is basically flat. For many in San Diego, the conventional wisdom of government work being synonymous with low pay and high... San Diego Union-Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282596/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:57:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2282451/posts If you're drowning, and someone throws you a rope, you're not likely to spend much time worrying about where the rope was manufactured. You grab the rope, and cling to it gratefully. Someone in desperate need is not in a position to question a benefactor. But when the need is no longer so desperate, the questions are bound to come. Who are you, and why did you help me? Were you acting out of pure Christian charity, or were you just doing your job? Were you motivated by compassion, or were you, perhaps, simply carrying out the requirements of a... Catholic Culture http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2282451/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:06:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282362/posts We know reading about deficits and taxes is a sure cure for insomnia, but make sure to read this quick opinion piece on why taxes are going higher. The Daily Crux http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282362/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:23:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2282360/posts The House of Representatives passed the 1,200-plus page Waxman-Markey Cap-and-Trade tax bill by a narrow margin as the last piece of business on Friday before heading home for the Fourth of July recess. Once again House members had to vote on a bill they hadn’t read, since co-sponsor Henry Waxman (D-CA) added a 300-page amendment just after 3 o’clock Friday morning. Fearing the vote on the controversial American Clean Energy and Security Act – the largest tax increase in American history – would not go their way, Democrats called one lawmaker in from rehab to help out. According to The... Annuit Coeptis http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2282360/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:22:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282288/posts In January, I was asked to join Examiner. The process was more involved than any other online publisher had ever put me through. I like the features, the look of the banner and, well, there’s a lot to like about Examiner. There are three reasons I accepted. 1) Examiner is a mainstream press with millions of readers per month. 2) It is the only mainstream press at this time to have a full-time lineup of nationally known second amendment experts, and; 3) I write to non-gun owners almost exclusively. Six years ago, I decided that there were tons of second... LA Gun Rights Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282288/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:30:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282283/posts Dressed up like a Hawaiian tourist from Kansas, Obama opened the party by saying, "Aloha! I wish I could have given you a trip to Hawaii. Given our budget crunch, we can't do that, so at least we can bring Hawaii to you." http://crosshairs.archangelsandwitticism.com/2009/06/30/national-lampoons-animal-white-house.aspx Crosshairs - Opinions and Commentary http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282283/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:19:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282242/posts The state could save up to $1 billion over the next five years, they say, by commuting all 682 death row inmates' sentences to life without the possibility of parole.Nearly 3 1/2 years into a court-ordered suspension of executions, opponents have embraced a new argument: that Californians can't afford to carry out the death penalty in a constitutional manner. They contend that by commuting all 682 death row inmates' sentences to life without the possibility of parole, the state could save up to $1 billion over the next five years -- a view expected to be offered, and challenged, during... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282242/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:05:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282196/posts A local bakery chain in St. Louis County had words for liberal Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) today after he voted for the largest tax increase on small business in US history on Friday- the Cap and Trade bill. The owner of McArthur's Bakery in St. Louis called into The Jamie Allman Show this morming on 97.1 FM and said that the enormous costs that this bill will heap on small business will cause his chain of bakeries to close shop. He later posted this message for drivers on Lemay Ferry Road in South St. Louis County. "Russ Carnahan voted to... Gateway Pundit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282196/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:54:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281962/posts The prosecution in the corruption trial of former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill and others gave jurors a tantalizing glimpse of what authorities called a web of intrigue in which black leaders solicited bribes from white developers because, they said, it was time for those developers to pay. “The game has done changed,” defendant Darren Reagan is heard saying on an audio tape played during opening statements by the prosecution. Defense opening statements were taking place this afternoon. In a surprising development, Hill's attorney, Ray Jackson, said his client would take the stand during the trial. Prosecutors say Reagan... Dallas Morning News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281962/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:13:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2281812/posts The American Petroleum Institute has just released the results of its third annual “Energy IQ” survey, and it reflects that Americans’ knowledge about energy issues is lacking. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, comes as President Obama and Congress are pursuing aggressive energy and climate policies that threaten the nation’s economy, and which will determine America’s economic competitiveness for years to come. Some high points from the survey: • When asked about the role fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal will play in meeting global energy demand, only 10 percent of respondents answered correctly that fossil fuels... Annuit Coeptis http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2281812/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:48:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281338/posts By: BangkokPost.com Published: 28/06/2009 at 12:02 PM A latest survey reveals that many Thai people would accept a crooked government if it can make the country prosper and raise their standard of living. The Abac Poll Research Centre conducted a survey on people's well-being, involving 1,228 households in 17 provinces nationwide. 84.5 per cent viewed that corruption in businesses would not be unusual and 51.2 per cent said they would tolerate a corrupted government if it can improve the country and their well-being. 73.9 per cent agreed that living self-sufficiently can help ease the economic crisis. On the continuing border... Bangkok Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281338/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:54:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281299/posts Uncle Sam singing, tipping his hat, taking money, throwing it around and explaining why cap and trade is not a tax.... Tax Foundation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281299/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:34:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281255/posts If you’ve been following the news closely you will have seen a wide variety of comments on the economy. Some paint a rosy picture, telling us that things are getting better and the recession will end in a few months, while others tell us we are headed for a depression to make the 30s look like a boom time. To help you evaluate the true condition of our economy, here are the top twelve indicators that the economy is bad: 12. CEO's are now playing miniature golf. 11. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. 10. I went... Annuit Coeptis http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281255/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:45:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281007/posts our America before Obama - a true American judge...BEAUTIFUL! MUST READ and Pass it on, just to remind everybody what we are loosing because of IDIOTS!!! Remember the shoe bomber? When America was "a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere"? Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio? Didn't think so.!!! Everyone should hear what the judge... email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281007/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:32:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280474/posts By Richard Morrison Washington, D.C., June 26, 2009—The Competitive Enterprise Institute is today making public an internal study on climate science which was suppressed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Internal EPA email messages, released by CEI earlier in the week, indicate that the report was kept under wraps and its author silenced because of pressure to support the Administration’s agenda of regulating carbon dioxide. The report finds that EPA, by adopting the United Nations’ 2007 “Fourth Assessment” report, is relying on outdated research and is ignoring major new developments. Those developments include a continued decline in global temperatures, a new... Competitive Enterprise International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280474/posts#comment Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:49:20 GMT