Free Republic

Are you ready to play, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, the 2004 Election Edition For $100, How many laws that get passed are “permissive” (giving people freedom to do something if they wish) and how many are “restrictive” (requiring performance or forbidding it)? A. Most laws are permissive, because America is the Land of the Free B. Most laws are restrictive, because government is only interested in making us behave, speak, and believe as they want us to C. It’s about 50-50 D. Most laws are permissive, because after 200 years of passing restrictive laws in 50 states and...

Teresa Heinz Kerry, through a network of investments in blue-chip corporations, venture capital funds and municipal bonds, controls a family fortune worth an estimated $1 billion, an analysis of public records shows. The $1 billion figure is double the estimates of her wealth that are widely cited in news stories about her husband, Sen. John F. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. The couple would rank as the wealthiest to occupy the White House, far surpassing such storied presidential fortunes as the Kennedys'. Their assets are so vast and far-reaching that they mirror the U.S. economy and will probably...

This should be a great protest rally, folks. We are joining with other groups, and people are coming from as far away as West Virginia and DC.Join Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry, Vietnamese-Americans Against John Kerry, and several other groups from around town.Date: Saturday, February 28Time: 12 noonPlace: Across from John Kerry's NYC headquarters, 373 Park Avenue South, between 26th and 27th Streets, NYCHere's the first thread on this protest.The weather is supposed to be absolutely fantastic.Use this thread for hitching rides, discussing sign ideas, and any other input on the protest.I will be scouting the area for a good...

After the New Hampshire primary, Dennis Kucinich's new slogan is: ".001 Percent of America Can't Be Wrong!" John Edwards' new slogan is: "Vote for Me or We'll See You in Court." Joe Lieberman's new slogan is: "Sixth Place Is Not an Option." (Bumper sticker version: "Ask Me About My Delegate.") Al Sharpton's new slogan is "Hello? Room Service?" Wesley Clark's new slogan is: "Leading America's War on Fetuses." Howard Dean's new slogan is: "I Want to Be Your President ... And So Do I!" That leaves John Kerry (new slogan: "Nous Sommes Nombre Un!"), who is winning Democratic voters in...

January 26, 2004 Prime-Time 'Millionaire' Returning to ABCBy BILL CARTER ho Wants to Be a Millionaire," the most successful game show in the history of prime-time television until ABC burned through its popularity by overexposing it, will return next month, complete with Regis Philbin, the hot seat, the lifelines and the steady progression of cash prizes. ABC is expected to announce today the comeback of "Millionaire," not as a weekly series but as a one-week burst of one-hour shows in the last week of February. This time the show will be called "Super Millionaire," and to distinguish itself from the...

The superstar trial lawyer accomplishments of John Edwards, which allowed this son of a truck driver to amass a personal fortune, finance his successful U.S. Senate run in 1998 and catapult himself into the 2004 race for president, may have been partially built on "junk science," according to legal and medical experts who spoke with CNSNews.com . Edwards, who with a late surge finished second in Monday's Iowa Caucuses, continues to cite one of his most lucrative legal victories as an example of how he would stand up for "the little guy" if elected president. Edwards became one of America's...

DNC chairman’s school visit sparks anger among Portsmouth city officials By PAT McGOWAN Democrat Staff Writer PORTSMOUTH — Several city officials are furious over the Democratic National Committee chairman’s recent visit to Portsmouth High School, who they feel turned a social studies lesson into a one-sided bashing of President Bush. After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process. However, several city officials are livid over what they say turned into a biased Democratic view of...

HOUSTON (AP) - A businessman who used his millions to help bankroll a first-time run for political office easily beat out a former city councilman Saturday in a runoff election to become Houston's next mayor. With 74 percent of the precincts reporting, Bill White had 113,583 votes to 68,720 for Orlando Sanchez, or 62 percent to 38 percent. White, 49, a former chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, spent some $2.2 million of his own fortune as part of a record $8.6 million effort in the race against Cuban-born Sanchez, a Republican making a second bid to become Houston's first...

Face it, you'll never be rich Why do Americans still believe in the rags-to-riches fairy tale? In this final extract from his explosive new book, Michael Moore explains why the corporate bosses will never let the American dream become a reality Tuesday October 7, 2003 The Guardian Buy Dude, Where's My Country? at Amazon.co.uk Perhaps the biggest success in the war on terror has been its ability to distract the nation from the corporate war on us. In the two years since the attacks of 9/11, American businesses have been on a punch-drunk rampage that has left millions of average...

Huffington Paid Little Income TaxThe candidate for governor has criticized 'fat cats' for avoiding taxes. She denies taking advantage of loopholes and unfair deductions. By Rich Connell and Robert J. Lopez Times Staff Writers August 14, 2003 MTV commentator and author Arianna Huffington, who launched her campaign for governor with criticism of "fat cats" who fail to shoulder a fair share of taxes, paid no individual state income tax and just $771 in federal taxes during the last two years, her tax returns show. Huffington, who released her tax returns for the last two years to The Times, lives in...

Bryant Takes Important Shot "He kept shaking his head, licking his lips, and working his jaw muscles against the grain of the moment. Kobe Bryant did not have the ball. He had the world's attention, but not the ball, when he measured his racing heart, his burning lungs and his leaking eyes before taking the biggest shot of his life. "I'm innocent," Bryant said Friday night. He said it four times. Bryant adjusted the news conference mike, faced the cameras, and swore he was only guilty of being a man. A weak, flawed, adulterous man. He stitched Hester Prynne's scarlet...

ABC Radio News just reported that Buddy Ebsen passed away. He was one of the stars of the Beverly Hillbillies.

When You Run Out of Ideas... by Doc Farmer I've been racking my brain for the past hour, trying to come up with ideas for my next column. I know I'll have to create something funny, pithy, humorous, and witty because that's what my editor wants. And from what I've been able to gather, that seems to be what the readers want as well. Man, the pressure! It's hard to come up with new stuff all the time, so those of you who think that writing is an easy gig can think again. Sometimes it's really simple--something interesting (or annoying)...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- From its multimillionaire majority leader, Sen. Bill Frist, to its members of more modest means, the Senate is dominated by people far more affluent than nearly all those they represent, lawmakers' financial disclosure forms show. Frist, R-Tenn., who lists blind trusts worth up to $31 million, is surrounded by colleagues who enjoy substantial wealth from successful private careers, family riches or wealthy spouses. Many should benefit from the recently enacted cut in taxes on capital gains and dividends paid by corporations. Among those listing substantial property holdings or income from stock dividends in 2002 are Sens. Lamar...

"In a letter soliciting Southern Democrats to join his new 'campaign advisory committee,'" Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., "asserts that he is a different kind of Southerner than" former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R- Miss., newsobserver.com reports. Different kind of Southerner means:1) Lives in multi-million dollar house in Georgetown. 2) Votes in line with Ted Kennedy. 3) Gets most of his campaign money from California. 4) Boycotts states that fly the Confederate flag. 5) Jokes that he will make Jeff Gordon Secretary of State. 6) Hires Los Angeles joke writer to develop jokes for the Gridiron Dinner, which explains #5.

Mr. Lautenberg Goes to Washington. Maybe. The Democrats, Hypocrisy and the N-Word By Murray Sabrin According to the latest poll of the New Jersey U. S. Senate race, Frank Lautenberg will be elected on November 5th. With just more than a week to go, it may take a miracle for Doug Forrester to overcome Mr. Lautenberg's 10-point lead. This was not the script that was playing out this year. After Channel 4 (WNBC) in New York aired a riveting 40 minute interview with David Chang in prison, Senator Torricelli abandoned his campaign on September 30th, because ethical charges were sinking...

China's ruling Communist Party has mixed feelings about their homegrown entrepreneurs who strike it rich - they like the idea of Chinese business tycoons enriching both the economy, the tax rolls, and themselves, but they aren't all that excited about the presence of millionaires in a Marxist state. Last year, for example, the Party opened its doors to China's capitalists, allowing them to join their anti-capitalist crusade - something akin to the Roman Catholic Church inviting militant atheists to join their ranks. Yet, according to Forbes magazine's new ranking of China's 100 top millionaires, "Who Me, Rich?' the state recently...

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Citizens for Tax Justice , 202-626-3780 June 18, 2001 Post-2001 Tax Cuts Offer Little to Most AmericansClick here to see this analysis in PDF format.Click here for a related analysis. The vast majority of American taxpayers will see the bulk of their Bush tax cuts take effect this year, leaving only a minority of taxpayers with a significant stake in the Effects of the final Bush tax plan in 2001 & thereafter Income Group Average tax cut in 2001 Average tax cut still to come 2001 cut as % of fully-phased-in tax cut Lowest 20% $ –56 $ –10 85% Second...