Free Republic

Having just authored a book called "Stop the Presses! The Inside Story of the New Media Revolution," I could hardly have asked for a more timely plug from BusinessWeek magazine. Its July 24 issue will feature a column titled "When Do You Stop The Presses?" – which, not surprisingly, by the time you read this, has been available online for a solid week. The column by Jon Fine asks the question: "Which major American newspaper should be the first to throw up its hands and stop publishing a print product?" Why is he asking? "This could be the worst year...

I take a backseat to no one in believing victory in Iraq is essential to America's national security. I would love to see Iraqis all get along. I would love to see Iraq become a free and independent state or states. I would love to see it become a model for self-government in the Muslim Middle East. But more important to Americans is the utter defeat of al-Qaida and Iranian proxies there. That's what constitutes victory for the U.S. However, that's not the way President Bush defines victory. In fact, he's never defined it – which is one of the...

Mitt Romney has one chance to become President of the United States. Because of his wealth and his political machine on the ground in early primary states, he has a chance to win the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, picking up momentum that could ultimately deliver him the Republican nomination. Therefore, consider this an open letter to the good folks of Iowa and New Hampshire: Don't be fooled by this political chameleon, this charlatan, this pretender to the throne. He's as phony as a three-dollar campaign promise. Romney has tried to "re-invent" himself as a presidential candidate following...

From observing the Middle East for some 40 years, I can say without equivocation that no one is better than the Arabs at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It happened in 1973 when nothing separated Syria's superior armor capability from the heart of Israel but one Israeli tank. The Syrians halted their armored charge into the Jewish state because commanders believed it must be a trap. It was simply too good to be true. That heroic Israel tank commander bought enough time for air and tank reinforcements, and Israel was able to repel the Syrian invasion. It happened...

Whenever there is an armed conflict in the world, someone, somewhere, will propose a U.N. peacekeeping force as the solution. I'm sure you've noticed the way internationalists always suggest the United Nations is the best vehicle for solving global crises. Well, almost always. There is, however, one conflict in the world today about which I have never heard such a proposal offered – and I don't expect I ever will. It also happens to be the most hotly debated conflict in the world today – the war in Iraq. Isn't that interesting? What do you suppose it means? What is...

It's my birthday today. And, if I had one birthday wish, it would be the firing of Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff. Maybe, though, I should go further. I think I would wish for the elimination of the entire Department of Homeland Security, a boondoggle of almost unimaginable proportions. Take it from someone who knows quite a few Homeland Security employees, this is a do-nothing, paper-shuffling agency. It's full of many well-intended people who would like to make their country safer but are actually prevented from doing so by this monolithic bureaucracy that would make the old Soviet Union look...

Independence: freedom from control or influence of another or othersToday is July 4, 2007. It has been 231 years since the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence by America's Founders. That's why some of us – too few, really – call the holiday we commemorate today "Independence Day." That is, indeed, the actual name of the holiday. It's not just the Fourth of July. It's not just the day we shoot off Chinese-made fireworks. It's not just the day we barbecue burgers. It's not just the day we go to the beach. It's Independence Day – so named...

Today I would like to discuss the proposed reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine in a way no one else has. First let me say there is another name for government regulating political speech to determine what is fit and proper and ensuring all sides of an issue are heard. It's called censorship. And it is not only anathema to all we hold dear in America, it is unconstitutional, totally at odds with the First Amendment and the founders' idea that there should be no bounds on political speech. Yet, there is a more practical objection to re-instituting the Fairness Doctrine...

You've got to hand it to Barack Obama. He used his presidential campaign speech to a church to call for separation of church and state and then divided himself from the "religious right" by labeling the movement "divisive." Not every rhetorician could get away with that kind of sleight of mouth. First off, the very presence of Obama speaking before the United Church of Christ's 50th anniversary national General Synod is somewhat remarkable. He's running for president. And this is the congregation of Barry Lynn, the founder of American United for Separation of Church and State, who runs a personal...

President Bush's public approval ratings are at an all-time low. It's difficult to imagine how he could improve them dramatically with just about 18 months left in office. But I do believe there is one speech he could make that would instantly increase his popularity by 50 percent to 100 percent. It's a speech he will never give. Here is a rough draft of the text: "My fellow Americans, I come before you today to admit a mistake and correct our course. "I have made my case for comprehensive immigration reform as the proper way to address concerns over our...

Stop the presses! New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has officially quit the Republican Party! I couldn't believe it. Why am I so shocked? I was surprised to learn he was a member of the Republican Party. I was surprised to learn the party of Ronald Reagan would permit him to join. I was surprised to learn that, having made such as mistake in associating with the likes of Michael Bloomberg, the Republican Party didn't have enough discretion to quit him first! This guy's record is remarkable only in its extremist divergence from any principle ever held – in word and...

I'm going to make a little prediction. In a few days, Michael Moore's latest mockumentary, "Sicko," will release nationally. It is an indictment of health care in the U.S. and a paean to systems in worker paradises like Cuba. But given the notoriety and box-office success of some of Michael Moore's other agitprop fare, I predict it will be rapidly followed by the introduction of major federal legislation that will, in effect, attempt to nationalize and socialize medicine in the U.S. In my own meager effort to pre-empt this well-orchestrated plot, I would like to bust a few of the...

If you listen to George W. Bush and his small, fringe-like cadre of amnesty supporters, you would hear that it is virtually impossible to get more than 15 million illegal aliens out of the country. They try to get you to imagine 50,000 747s filled with deportees taking off for Mexico and returning empty. They try to get you to imagine concentration camps filled with families who only sought a better way of life for themselves. They try to get you to imagine the cost of hiring millions of new immigration enforcement officials, building new holding facilities and transporting of...

Everywhere I go and in every interview I do, people ask me who I am supporting for President in 2008. In my book "Taking America Back," I explain in great detail why I don't get consumed with who will be our next President. I explain the limitations on the powers of Presidents. I explain how unlikely and difficult it is for them to change the direction of the country in a positive way. I explain how there are so many more important issues for Americans to be concerned with in their daily lives. I explain that we make choices every...

President Bush insists if we just shut up, blindly listen to him and support his so-called "comprehensive immigration reform plan," we can solve the problem "once and for all." I have a better idea. Since Bush has, for nearly seven years, deliberately, consciously and overtly refused to uphold his sworn constitutional duty to execute and administer the duly enacted border and immigration laws already on the books, he should be disqualified from participating in any further negotiations regarding new border and immigration laws. Doesn't that make sense? Why would we turn to a scofflaw president, one who, out of some...

Tom Tancredo made an interesting suggestion at the recent Republican debate hosted by CNN. Because America has permitted so many millions of foreigners into the country illegally in recent years, he said it's time to consider a suspension of all immigration – legal and illegal – so the country can work on assimilation. "How will we know when that goal has been achieved?" he asked rhetorically. "When we're no longer prompted to dial 1 for English and 2 for another language." He makes a great point. Washington has been so negligent in enforcing existing immigration laws, there is real question...

Watching the Democratic presidential debate this week on CNN, I was reminded of the famous line spoken by Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars" when he approached the Mos Eisley Spaceport with young Luke Skywalker and two droids. "You won't ever find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," he said. There they were: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson – clueless, shameless, principle-less, truthless. The contest within this hive of scum and villainy is of modest interest to Americans only because the current occupant of the White...

You know what my problem is? I just don't want to do what's right for America. I just don't have the courage to put a comprehensive immigration plan into place. I just want to knock down America's great immigration tradition. That's what President Bush said last week in promoting his plan to provide amnesty to 15 million to 20 million illegal aliens already in this country and welcome in millions more to provide his fat-cat friends with abundant cheap labor. He impugned the motives of anyone opposing the amnesty bill worked out by the White House and senators in secret....

Hillary Rodham Clinton is speaking in code. Because I learned this code as a youngster, I thought it would be a public service for me to translate for Americans who may not understand exactly what she is saying and exactly what she means. The presidential candidate says it's time to replace our "ownership society," which she calls an "on your own society," with one based on shared responsibility and prosperity. "I prefer a 'we're all in it together' society," she said. "I believe our government can once again work for all Americans. It can promote the great American tradition of...

Everyone knows about New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's decision to speed down a state highway sans seatbelt and the price he paid for flouting the laws he was charged with enforcing. Corzine was at least repentant, acknowledging the error of his ways. Sen. Carole MigdenNow meet California state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. Last month, after she was chewed out for colliding with another motorist between her district and Sacramento, she declared: "You can't talk to me like that. I'm a senator." When the news first leaked out, Migden explained she'd been momentarily distracted while reaching for a cell phone....