Free Republic

The Supreme Court of the United States denied certain military veterans a chance at greater retirement benefits in a nearly unanimous opinion authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday. Justice Neil Gorsuch bucked the 8-1 majority and would have allowed a subset of veterans to recoup more Social Security funds after their service ended. Stylized as Babcock v. Kijakazi, the case turns on the Social Security Act’s so-called “windfall elimination provision,” which is a statute designed by Congress to reduce Social Security payments for retirees who receive separate pension payments. Such retirees would otherwise, in Congress’s view, receive a...

Four years ago, I wrote about my decision to live as a woman in The New York Times, writing that I had wanted to live “authentically as the woman that I have always been,” and had “effectively traded my white male privilege to become one of America’s most hated minorities.” Three years ago, I decided that I was neither male nor female, but nonbinary—and made headlines after an Oregon judge agreed to let me identify as a third sex, not male or female. Now, I want to live again as the man that I am. I’m one of the lucky...

Homosexual Assault in the Military Executive SummaryA Family Research Council analysis of publicly available documents-the Pentagon's own report on sexual assault in the military for Fiscal Year 2009, and published decisions from military courts of appeals over the last decade and a half-have shown that there is already a significant problem of homosexual misconduct in the military. This problem can only become worse if the current law is repealed and homosexuals are openly welcomed (and even granted special protections) within the military, as homosexual activists are demanding.Rates of Homosexual Assault in the Military Are Disproportionately HighHomosexual activist groups themselves have...

A reported threat by a senior Army officer to "Taser" another officer on trial for challenging Barack Obama's eligibility to be president could be a serious "command influence" issue that could taint the case, according to an expert. Vincent Averna, a former Navy captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps, has dispatched a letter to Maj. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, who has command of the superior officer to Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin who allegedly was involved in the threat incident. Averna suggested that unless the major general addresses the behavior, it could be "tantamount to command influence, since it can legitimately...

The Senate confirmed a huge group of administration nominees on Thursday, following a tense exchange between President Barack Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). At a White House meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders on Tuesday, Obama warned that he would make recess appointments if the logjam over nominees wasn’t broken before the Senate left for the Presidents’ Day break. “Mitch, this is unprecedented,” the president said, gesturing forcefully on the Cabinet Room table, according to aides. “If you don’t move any, I’m going to do some [recess] appointments.” The 27 confirmations mean no recess appointments will be needed...

PHOENIX — Starting Thursday, voters who are registered in Arizona but live overseas will be able to vote online through a unique Web-based system offered by the Secretary of State.

Hello Military Supporters! www.operationmilitarypride.org Here is an update on OMP projects! We have some wonderful news!!! We just got 686 lbs of gatorade donated from Sam's club! We were able to help 11 more kids with presents! We got around 1500 Cds donated to send over! what we still need help with is TOYS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES NEEDED! Donations are needed to help 74 more children with presents! I DO NOT have it to lay out! We have 77 more kids we need to buy presents for! I am desperate for help with this! We still need to raise a...