Free Republic

The Worst Republican Senator Quin Hillyer Published 5/15/2008 12:08:02 AM South Carolina's Lindsey Graham is a flop. He pretends to be a conservative, but sells out conservatives and insults them while doing so. He pretends to be effective at reaching across party lines, but the only thing he effectively does is help the other party. He inhabits the Senate seat of Strom Thurmond, legendary for great attention to his South Carolina constituents, but Graham spends most of his time trailing behind John McCain like a valet as McCain criss-crosses the country in pursuit of the presidency. He called Ted Kennedy...

Atom bombs are just the beginning. In the last half-century, the greatest military minds on Earth have developed an arsenal of weapons to make mutually assured destruction seem tame. Whether these masterpieces of destruction come from miles above Earth or millimeters below the skin, they have one thing in common: they're spooky as hell. Can turning animals into cyborgs ever end well? Should lasers really be strapped to planes? Is dispersing humans with the worst smell ever created a better alternative to doing it by burning their skin? You be the judge. Launch our gallery of the world's spookiest weapons—some...

To talk with Sean during his show (3-6PM EST) Call: 800.941.7326 Today's Guest: Newt Gingrich

Obesity contributes to global warming: study Michael Kahn, Reuters Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008 GENEVA (Reuters) - Obesity contributes to global warming, too. Obese and overweight people require more fuel to transport them and the food they eat, and the problem will worsen as the population literally swells in size, a team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine says. This adds to food shortages and higher energy prices, the school's researchers Phil Edwards and Ian Roberts wrote in the journal Lancet on Friday. "We are all becoming heavier and it is a global responsibility," Edwards said in...

Towards the middle of the 19th century British tourists were travelling through Europe in increasing numbers and the need for guidebooks. Richard Ford's, A Hand-book for Travellers in Spain published in 1845 was -- thanks to his extensive travels there -- one of the finest. From Richard Ford’s A Hand-book for Travellers in Spain: =================================================== 14. SPANISH HORSES. A good horse is not easily got anywhere; and however every man flatters himself that he has, or once had, just the very best horse in the world, it is safer to set out with the conviction that even a really sound...

Hi Everyone. I received possibly the dumbest BDS e-mail today, and would like to reply to the sender in-kind with pictures of the leftie loonies displaying BDS in full force. Please post the most absurd BDS pictures you can find here. Thanks.

The controversy is over a T-shirt that read "puschin' it to the limit" and on the back it reads "Class of .08 Seniors."

An 8-year-old boy reportedly stole an idling car Thursday night and crashed into another car on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Pontiac, police said. Pontiac police said due to protocol, they notified Child Protective Service, but it's unlikely they will face any charges.

It's been two years since I have had a break. It wasn't that I didn't have the opportunity; it's just that I never really thought about it. But a coming event has provided the opportunity for me to take a much-needed (and eagerly-anticipated) break from the trenches. What's the event? Well, dear friend, I am glad to tell you: One of my older sisters is graduating from nursing school down in Southern California. (Can I tell you all how proud I am of her? I am just busting at the seams. She's a good one, she is. And she has...

Just an update on the Letters from Home project. If you remember, I’m collecting letters for the men and women serving aboard the USS Russell. So far I’ve received a little over 50 letters. Remember, we’re looking for about 250, so we’ve got a long way to go yet. Once again, any help you all can give would be greatly appreciated. Please pass the word along to family and friends. Or, if you have a blog, please put up a post abou the project. Letters can be sent to letters@thinking-right.com.

The Social Security program was established in 1935 to provide retirement income to certain workers. The program was later expanded to cover most of the workforce. Prior to the program's development, individuals were completely responsible for funding their personal needs both during their working years and during retirement. If an individual failed to save and invest, that individual could not retire from the workforce. Like any large, complex government program, there are many components to Social Security. Ten common questions about the program are addressed below. More at Yahoo Finance..Investopedia.com

In spite of solar minimum, there seems to be plenty of action on the sun," reports amateur astronomer Peter Schlatter of Wohlen, Switzerland, who yesterday witnessed a spectacular vortex swirling on the sun's eastern horizon. Indeed, the limb of the sun is where the action is. "A huge prominence emerged today looking like a monster rising from a sea of fire," reports David Leong of Hong Kong. None of this activity is explosive or threatens to cause geomagnetic storms on Earth--it's just a pretty show.

Eighteen months ago I was asked about the upcoming presidential election. I responded by saying I could not foresee a scenario by which Hillary! wouldn’t win the election handily. I guess I could be forgiven for not predicting the messianic ascension of Saint Osama Obama, since he had been elected to national office only a few weeks earlier. My assessment of the electorate at Christmas 2006 was that they still revered the Clintons and would keep on voting for one of them until the cows came home. But I digress for a moment, as this piece is about the election,...

Dolly Parton is threatening to sue "The Howard Stern Show" for manipulating recordings from one of her audio books last week into seemingly racist and sexually graphic sound bites. The country performer released a statement Wednesday saying editing or trickery made it appear she was commenting on topics and celebrities including Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Burt Reynolds and Johnny Carson in a segment that aired May 6.

-- John McCain Speaking in Columbus Ohio today, May 15th 2008.

A federal employee from Henry County, and his wife, will face federal charges in connection with an alleged immigration scheme. Hasmukh C. Patel, 52, of McDonough, was formally charged Tuesday, with conspiracy to encourage aliens to remain in the United States illegally. Authorities say over a period of more than two years, Patel and his wife, Nitigna, 46, facilitated unlawful acquisitions of visas. The alleged conspiracy began in March 2005, while Hasmukh Patel worked as a business interface representative for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The 10-page indictment states Hasmukh Patel received money from a foreign national, in exchange for...

Clinton navigates ‘perfect storm’ of naysayers Gene Lyons It’s long been my opinion that if Hillary Clinton could be appointed president, nobody could do the job better. In a parliamentary system, she’d stand an excellent chance of becoming prime minister, since political parties tend to select leaders more on the basis of competence than the dubious skills of a game show host. Like Al Gore, Clinton is seen by friends as warm, funny and empathetic. She does better in small groups and town hall-type events than in large arenas. Also like Gore, she’s motivated more by duty than most politicians....

Do you think the new law to allow guns in restaurants, parks and on public transportation is a good idea? Yes No Undecided

Yes, this is a vanity...but an important one. Calling all Freepers to support Buddy Witherspoon for US Senate. He's going up against Lindsey Grahamnesty on June 10th. We've got an opportunity to throw this guy out of office for good. Remember Graham spoke before La Raza and stated: "We're going to tell the bigots to shut up!" watch the video here: Witherspoon needs donations. I don't even live in South Carolina but have donated to his campaign. Let's give Grahamnesty the boot.

American psychologists have unearthed a “marital rating scale” used by marriage counsellors in 1939 to assess the performance of wives – and the categories make interesting reading for modern couples brought up to believe in the equality of the sexes. Women are awarded marks if they dress for breakfast, ask their husband’s opinions on important decisions and let their partners sleep late on Sundays and holidays.....

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A southwest Ohio man who planned to be buried next to his mother found someone else already in his grave. David L. Bingham says someone who shares his name has taken over his final resting place in Colerain Township.

Jocelyn Kirsch, 22, and Edward K. Anderton, 25, of Everett have signed federal plea agreements that will likely send them to prison for several years, Kirsch's lawyer, Ronald Greenblatt, said Monday. U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehad announced that charges stemming from the $120,000 scheme had been moved to federal court. Since her arrest, Kirsch's friends and classmates have stepped forward to portray her as a serial liar who even masked her identity when she met the heir to the British throne at a student forum during his visit to Philadelphia last year; in a favorite myth, she told the prince she...

A solar powered bra that can charge a phone! May 14, 2008 Lingerie maker Triumph International, Japan, on Wednesday unveiled a 'solar powered bra' that can generate enough power to charge a cell phone or an iPod. The environmentally friendly, green-coloured bra sports a solar panel that can be worn around the stomach. The bra is equipped with a solar panel which generates electricity using sunlight and distributes it to various types of electrical devices when the power cable is connected. The bra was revealed prior to the 2008 G8 Hokkaido Toyoko Summit that will address environmental issues. The bra,...

SWAMPSCOTT - Officials decided to lock down the Clarke School Tuesday after a raccoon bit a school crossing guard minutes before school was released for the day. According to Detective Sgt. Tim Cassidy, Judith Hapgood was stationed at the Clarke School on Norfolk Avenue just after 2 p.m. when she felt something rub against her leg and was then bitten by a raccoon. School Resource Officer Rose Cheever was contacted and she immediately contacted officials at Clarke School and administrative offices. Cassidy said the school was placed in lockdown until the raccoon was disposed of. He said the animal was...

KNZR-AM Bakersfield Talk-host Jaz McKay finds himself involved in a controversy over some phony Barack Obama bumperstickers posted on the station website. The graphics feature the Obama '08 graphic with phrases such as “Kill Whitey” and “Yes We Can…kill white folks” beneath the logo. McKay tells KGET-TV “It’s a joke, please get over it.” KTEG also reports that station management stands by the controversial host. Also: http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=52e9ca64-c1aa-4c64-bf94-6c85ab06b9e9 (Has video. Logos are off the website.) Local radio talk show host Jaz McKay is taking some heat after some controversial Barack Obama bumper stickers found their way onto the station's website. McKay...

Talk about hair of the dog ... Now man's best friend could become his best drinking buddy, too, thanks to a beer designed especially for dogs. Sold in a glass bottle with a contented German Shepherd pictured on the label, beef-flavoured Dog Beer is being pioneered at a Derby pet shop. Non-alcoholic and said to have nutritional value by retailer Pets at Home, the drink is proving popular with customers at the Meteor Centre store, according to manager Mike Hall. "There's potassium, protein and fats in there. There's nothing in there to harm them, that's for sure. "People are going...

America's Recession-Proof Cities Nationally, home prices are falling, unemployment is on the rise and the economy is expected to grow slowly--or even contract--in the first half of the year. But some cities are doing just fine. Oklahoma City, OklahomaSan Antonio, TexasAustin, TexasHouston, texasCharlotte, N.C.Dallas, TexasSan Jose, CARaleigh, N.C.Salt Lake City, UtahSeattle, WA

Just wondering this guy is hysterical!!!!

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Research on SwiftFuel© Swift Enterprises Ltd. has unveiled a new general aviation fuel that is less expensive, fuel-efficient and environmentally friendlier than any on the market, said co-founder John Rusek. The general aviation industry includes all flights other than military and scheduled airline flights, both private and commercial. Data on Swift Enterprises' 100 percent renewable general aviation fuel was presented April 28 at an annual meeting of an international committee that oversees aviation fuel standards. Unlike current biomass fuels, SwiftFuel is comprised of synthetic hydrocarbons derived from biomass. Rusek said it can provide an effective range...

Today is a huge day for me - 9 years CANCER FREE. On May 13, 1999 I was laying in a hospital bed recovering from cancer surgery to remove my right kidney, uretor and about 1/3 of my bladder. On that day I was given a new lease on life, and I cherish every single day the good lord gives me now. No matter what you have gone through, no matter how many family members may fight this horrible disease, nothing will ever prepare you for the moment your doctor looks across that desk and utters those three chilling words,...

The Union Police May 12, 2008; Page A14 Unions keep losing membership as a share of the national workforce, which explains why organized labor's main political focus is changing the rules to force more workers into unions. Witness a bill that Senate Democrats are pushing this week to require that hundreds of thousands of local police and firemen submit to collective bargaining. Under current law, every state has the ability to set policies that govern its public workforce. In some states, police, firefighters and paramedics belong to unions that collectively bargain for their contracts. In others, unions representing public-security workers...

ST. MARIES, Idaho - She has been named Beauty, though this eagle is anything but. Part of Beauty's beak was shot off several years ago, leaving her with a stump that is useless for hunting food. A team of volunteers is working to attach an artificial beak to the disfigured bird, in an effort to keep her alive.

This is a shortened version of the song, Good Religion. The video has pictures of earth’s universe and its grandeur. The pictures and images are of space Nebulas and show the magnificent awesomeness of our solar system.

An epochal shift in the immemorial cycle of war is under way, writes retired major general Robert H. Scales, the former commandant of the Army War College. The infantry is back. America’s enemies have learned that they can’t win blitzkrieg- age wars, so they no longer fight them. They have moved the battlefields to cities, jungles, and mountains, where the U.S. military’s techno log­ically superior ma chines are ineffective. “The enemy chooses to fight as infantry because he can win the infantry fight,” Scales says, and America’s experience in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that the nation has no choice but...

NAGOYA -- A man died after turning into a fireball after police supplied him with cigarettes and a lighter and his kerosene-soaked clothes exploded into flames while in a police interrogation room here, police said. The 45-year-old unemployed Nagoya man, whose name was not disclosed, died late Sunday night, about 21 hours after he burst into flames inside an investigation room at the Atsuta Police Station. A 54-year-old police sergeant who tried to extinguish the fire that claimed the man's life sustained minor burns to his right hand. Investigators said they are unsure whether the man set himself alight or...

You will be blessed to see this video of an Australian parrot called Riley. Real parrot not animated and holds a good conversation with its owners.

Holy cow - giant Friesian may be tallest in UK By Richard Savill Last Updated: 2:08PM BST 12/05/2008   Weighing 1.25 tons, and towering 6ft 6in at the shoulder, Chilli, dwarfs most horses, is the same height as a small elephant, and could provide enough steaks to feed an army. BNPS The owners of Chilli, a black and white Friesian steer, believe he may be the tallest bovine in Britain. Naomi Clarke, care manager of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Chard, Somerset, who raised the bullock, said: “As he was growing up we began noticing that he was bigger...

This video is of a peaceful moment when a back yard pet finds solitude and rest on a bale of hay. The song that's sung is a verse and chorus of the hymn, "I Love To Tell The Story", sung a cappella by o7jimmy. The characters are o7Jimmy and pet dog O7.

LONDON (Reuters) - From screaming skulls and headless horsemen to murdered brides and phantom farmers, English folklore is full of spine-tingling ghost stories. (Advertisement) Terrified witnesses speak of seeing ghostly armies marching through the fog, spirits searching for hidden treasure and bells ringing from ruined churches. Authors Jennifer Westwood and Jacqueline Simpson have sifted through centuries of myths, legends and local tales to compile a county-by-county guide to England's ghosts. "Readers may be surprised to see that a tale they had thought belonged to one place is found elsewhere," the authors say in the foreword to the "Penguin Book of...

(A pup named "Molly". She's a West Highland terrier. Photo taken at the recent Dortmund, Germany dog show.)

Ohama wildlife park in Japan Visitors to the Ohama wildlife park in Japan are being warned not to feed the monkeys================================================== Some of the park's monkeys are so grossly overweight they struggle to move around ================================================== A report said that about 30 per cent of the park's 50 Macaca mulatta monkeys were overweight, due to overfeeding by visitors ================================================== The average Macaca mulatta usually weighs about 20lbs – but one of the park's males weighs a whopping four-and-a-half stone =================================================== The animals have now been put on a strict diet

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

C.Q. C.Q. all ham radio operators, short wave listeners, public service monitors and anyone interested in the subject. I’m announcing my wish to revive the Ham Radio ping list. A lost Freeper (Denver Ditdat) had the list at one time, but with his absence for almost two years, and his freepmail to me that he had lost most of the original list, I think that the ping list should be built again. There is a large population of Freepers who are hams. My wish in resurrecting this ping list is to once again bring news pertaining to all FReepers, hams...

[Originally published in The Blue Press, from Dillon Precision] Just Say Nothing by Dave Kopel What if you've just been arrested for something which shouldn't be a crime? For instance, if a burglar breaks into your home, attacks your children and you shoot him. Should you talk to the police in detail about what happened? In a word, "No." Shut up, call the best lawyer you can find, and then continue to shut up. If you talk to the police, you will only make things worse for yourself. Sociologist Richard Leo has written several articles which detail the deliberately deceptive...

My sincerest wishes for a Happy Mother's Day go out to you all, especially to any Gold Star or Blue Star Mothers out there. "Blessed are the mothers of warriors. For their hearts must be that much stronger."

I have a PDF of the script for this despicable movie. I've been told it's the actual, final script. I haven't even read it yet, just glanced through it and I wanted to throw up. If anyone's interested, freepmail me an email address and I'll send it to you. We could really plaster this over the internet and ruin everything for him, couldn't we....hmmm....Anyone have any other ideas???? By the way, did you all know this money is being financed by a Shanghai based group? So...to recap...a hit piece on a sitting President to be released before said President will...

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: FIRST: Emergency The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobiles is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it...

This video has animated butterflies and a rainbow scene with children singing, What A Mighty God.

On a pleasant Thursday in December 1948, Emilio Traubner, a correspondent for The Palestine Post, found himself near Abu Kabir, not far from Jaffa. Trenches and expended cartridges were strewn about, reminders of the fighting between units of the Irgun and local Arab forces that had taken place there seven months previously. There was a large Arab villa from where Traubner recovered a diary. It turned out to be the daily record of Yusuf Begovic of Pale, a town near Sarajevo in modern-day Bosnia-Herzegovina. In it Begovic had described his activities as a cook for the "Arab Army of Liberation."...