Free Republic

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is planning a second anti-health care reform Tea Party at the Capitol -- this one scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday -- approximately the time when the House is due to vote on Democrats' public option bill, POLITICO's Jake Sherman reports. King and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) organized a rally Thursday that drew thousands to the west front of the Capitol, drawing chants of “Kill the Bill.” There were a handful of arrests. “We can kill this bill and stop the government takeover of health care,” King said in a news release. “We need the help of...

Republicans will enact the health reform proposal they unveiled this week if they take back the House, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) pledged Thursday. Appearing on the Republican National Committee's (RNC) online town hall, Boehner and other House and Senate leaders said they sensed momentum behind GOP efforts to halt Democratic health reform legislation, which is set for a vote on Saturday. "If we get in the majority after the election, I plan to enact our healthcare plan," Boehner said during the town hall.

This evening, CBO released a preliminary analysis of a substitute amendment to H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, proposed by Representative John Boehner, the Republican Leader in the House of Representatives. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that the amendment would reduce federal deficits by $68 billion over the 2010-2019 period; it would also slightly reduce federal budget deficits in the following decade, relative to those projected under current law, with a total effect during that decade that is in a broad range between zero and one-quarter percent of gross domestic...

An armed Columbus, OH home invader was fatally shot in self defense by one of his victims. Police say that several people were inside a home on Northglen Drive when an armed home invader and at least one accomplice rushed in through the door and threatened the lives of those present. One of the victims reportedly grabbed his self defense handgun and shot one of the armed robbers in self defense. Police arrived to find one home invader lying dead on the living room floor, and another suspect hiding in a bathroom. The surviving suspect was apprehended, and police say...

Note: The following text is a quote: Hamilton Man Sentenced to 30 Months' Imprisonment for Threatening to Bomb Cincinnati Airport and Other Cincinnati-Area Landmarks CINCINNATI—Frederick D. Purvis, 43, of Hamilton, was sentenced in United States District Court here today to 30 months' imprisonment for a series of messages he sent in November, 2008 in which he threatened to blow up seven Cincinnati-area landmarks including the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. He was also sentenced to serve six years of supervised release after his prison term. Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, James A. Zerhusen, United...

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Joined by an unlikely ally, Terrell Yarbrough's lawyer fought for his client's life on Wednesday, one day after the Pittsburgh man was found guilty of killing Franciscan University students Aaron Land and Brian Muha. The Washington County jury that convicted Yarbrough of first-degree murder and conspiracy is trying to decide if the 29-year-old East Liberty man should be put to death or spend the rest of his life in prison. Dr. David Hammer testified on Wednesday that Yarbrough was born to a drug-addicted mother who was high while pregnant. As a result, Yarbrough's I.Q., social behavior and...

Sarah Palin will be at the Joseph Beth Booksellers in the Rookwood Plaza on November 20, 2009. The time is still tentative, but the bookseller will make a future announcement.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outraged by public corruption and economic woes, Cuyahoga County voted Tuesday to dramatically restructure a government that dates back 200 years. The historic 2-to-1 vote in favor of Issue 6 pushes Ohio's largest county into an era of change and reflects the public's hopes for honesty and a new prosperity. "The need for change has been clear for years, but the status quo dies hard," said State Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland, an Issue 6 backer. While passing Issue 6, voters rejected a competing reform proposal, known as Issue 5, which was backed by some of the...

Life long Democrat candidate Keith Wilkowski Former county commissioner, Law Director, etc, etc) loses to Independent Candidate Michael Bell (Former Toledo Fire Chief and OH State Fire Marshall) by over 3,100 votes. State Democrat party gave Keith $90,000 for advertising and 2 ACORN volunteers that arrived Sunday from CA To Toledoans, this is as huge as the Corzine/Christie race

ST. CLAIRSVILLE,OHIO -- We the People - Ohio Valley sponsored a rally that attracted more than a thousand people to the steps of the Belmont County Courthouse. The purpose of the voter rally was to remind voters of the importance of the Congressional midterm election in 2010., and to refocus on some of the important issues that face us today. The rally featured patriotic music and motivational speeches.

Polls in Ohio and Kentucky are now closed. Go here for the latest results as they come in. Pike County, Ky. Lawrence County, Ohio Ohio Amendments Meigs County, Ohio Athens County, Ohio Scioto County, Ohio Gallia County, Ohio Vinton County, Ohio Jackson County, Ohio �

More body bags were reportedly taken from the backyard of the Ohio home of convicted sexual predator Anthony Sowell on Tuesday, Fox 8 Cleveland reported. Sowell's neighbors have said they complained for years about a foul smell coming from an area near his house, Fox 8 Cleveland reported. Now a Cleveland city councilman wants to launch an investigation into whether police and health inspectors failed to pick up on any signs that could have led them to the six bodies around Sowell's house any sooner.

Athens County authorities are investigating whether local Democratic Party officials illegally offered a $5 bounty to Ohio University students to bring friends to the polls today. Susan Gwinn, the county party chairwoman, said this morning that such a plan was discussed with members of the OU College Democrats, but that no agreement was reached. The county party agreed to pay some students for get-out-the-vote efforts, but "this whole idea that somebody was paying people to vote is ridiculous," she said. The flap surfaced when Kellie Galan, vice president of the college Democrats, sent out an e-mail on Friday urging students...

The Obama administration announced Friday that federal stimulus money had created or saved about 7,200 education jobs in Ohio as of Sept. 30. Although a couple of hundred of those jobs were in Columbus City Schools, the district acknowledged yesterday that many of the "saved" jobs definitely wouldn't have been lost in the first place, and others might not have been lost at all. Although other areas of the district's budget might have suffered without the stimulus, district officials said, the jobs report nonetheless highlighted the fuzzy math involved in pinpointing a saved-jobs number.

News that the state will cancel the car registrations of possibly thousands of undocumented immigrants has caused panic and created rumors among those living in central Ohio. Before Aug. 24, a loophole in the state Bureau of Motor Vehicle's policy allowed illegal immigrants to register cars in their names by using a power-of-attorney form, even if they didn't have a driver's license. The Ohio Department of Public Safety closed the loophole after delaying a crackdown on possibly fraudulent registrations for more than a year. After The Dispatch reported on the delay, the bureau sent letters at the beginning of October...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- There is a "political rebellion" going on in America that the Republican Party is hoping to speak for, the U.S. House minority leader says. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, speaking Sunday on CNN's "State of Union," said an incident in which a GOP-endorsed New York congressional candidate withdrew from an election under pressure from Republican conservatives showed that "we're in the middle of a political rebellion going on in America." Boehner said, "This rebellion are by people who really have not been actively involved in the political process. And they don't really care whether you're...

(Oct. 31) -- Police in Cleveland say at least three bodies have been found at the home of a convicted rapist, and they expect to confirm three more. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Anthony Sowell, 50, and a convicted rapist, has been arrested. Police are asking people with missing relatives to bring in items that might offer DNA samples, to help authorities identify the victims. Police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said Saturday that the bodies were found at the home of 50-year-old Anthony Sowell of Cleveland. He says officers have found three bodies and believe they have discovered three...

Funeral services for Arshon Baker, the 5-year-old Cleveland boy who police said died after his mother beat him for tugging on her dress, will be Tuesday at the Highland Church of Christ, 27495 Highland Road, Richmond Heights. The 10 a.m. wake will be followed by a funeral at 10:30. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Cleveland. Services were delayed while family members tried to raise money to cover the costs. They have set up the Arshon Baker memorial fund and are asking that donations to help the family be made at any FirstMerit Bank branch. Arshon, a quiet kindergartner...

On October 30, Congressman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota called for people to meet her on the steps of Congress Thursday, November 5 at Noon, to walk the halls and tell our elected officials we don’t want obamacare. Click here to watch Michelle: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TAskp6q6h8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TAskp6q6h8[/url] We’ve called and faxed until we’re blue in the face. It’s time for us to show up in person. If this monstrosity passes, we can kiss our freedom good-bye. Bus trips and car pools are being organized across the nation. If you are interested in going by bus or car, please send an email to info@bloodofpatriots.org. If...

A search has been launched for a 50-year-old convicted rapist and suspect in the killings of six people whose bodies were found in and around a house in Cleveland, Ohio, police said Friday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Residents of one Ohio city are complaining that police officers are telling them if they're fed up with crime in their neighborhoods they should move out. At least two Columbus city council members have heard the complaint. An aide to Councilwoman Charleta Tavares said she has received more than 20 calls. Councilman Andrew Ginther said if police are making the comments, they're neither acceptable nor appropriate, though he said he believes most officers want to be helpful. A police spokesman said the department addresses the complaints when it's given the name of an officer. A police union...

With Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman running neck and neck with the Democrat in Tuesday’s special election in New York, some other disaffected Republicans are seeing the third-party route as more viable. And it could hurt the Republicans in those races. In Virginia’s 5th district, state Sen. Robert Hurt’s entry into the GOP primary has spurred little-known candidate Bradley Rees to switch to the Virginia Conservative Party. And in Ohio, another GOP primary contender said this week that he’ll run as a Constitution Party candidate. Both will go at the GOP nominees from their right flanks and try to expose...

Video at link.

Ford Motor Co. (F) union members at two Ohio transmission plants handed the auto maker and the United Auto Workers national leadership another defeat. Production and skilled workers at Ford's Sharonville and Batavia transmission plants voted down more cost concessions. A total of 75% of the votes cast were against the changes. The plants are represented by UAW local 863, which reported the results. Seven locals have voted against the changes while four have approved the concessions. Ford has said it needs the contract modifications in order to stay competitive. Opposition has been building as UAW locals near the end...

OREGON, Ohio — A furious Ohio mother says her 7-year-old son, who has had problems with medications, was vaccinated for swine flu at school against her wishes. Kim Lutheran works as a nurse and says her son, Matthew, has had bad reactions to medicine. So, she says she signed for "no consent" on a vaccination form and then circled her intentions with a black marker to make things clear to the boy's public school in the Toledo suburb of Oregon. SNIP Deputy Health Commissioner Larry Vasko says his agency has responded by changing the consent forms, telling parents not to...

Westboro Baptist Church, a Topeka, Kan.-based church known for picketing at the funerals of American troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, announced Monday that it would protest at the funeral of Lance Cpl. David Raymond Baker. The funeral for Baker, the 22-year-old Painesville Township Marine who was killed by an improvised explosive device Oct. 20 in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Painesville. Regarding the protest, Painesville police intend to enforce the laws outlined in Ohio Revised Code Section 2917.11, which defines disorderly conduct, Capt. Rick Kline said....

For an editorial promoting fiscal responsibility, The Dispatch overlooked one of the best ways to lower health costs: a public option that competes with private insurers to lower costs and keep the industry honest ("Honest accounting," Oct. 19). The newspaper called the public option "the way for a government takeover of health care," but I ask: A takeover from whom? The two insurance companies that control more than 50 percent of Ohio's health-insurance market? The insurance companies across the nation that deny care based on gender or pre-existing conditions? The insurers that place arbitrary limits on how much medical care...

DAYTON — A woman accused of celebrating her 55th birthday by having sex with a 12-year-old boy pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual imposition of a person under age 13 on Friday, Oct. 23. Gloria J. Murphy, of 5440 Rawlings Drive, appeared before Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Katherine Huffman, who set sentencing for Dec. 2. The charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Gloria J. Murphy, who uses a walker and an oxygen tube, appeared frail.

In every mid-term election, there is a race for governor that draws nationwide attention and packs a political punch far beyond the borders of its state. This year, Virginia and New Jersey have drawn that attention. The elections of Govs. Nelson Rockefeller in New York in 1958 and Ronald Reagan in California in 1966 helped shaped national Republican politics for nearly a generation. The likely election of Bob McDonnell in Virginia this year -- if it comes to pass -- will probably be another. Next year, it will be Ohio where former congressman and host of Fox News’ “Heartland� program...

GROVE CITY, Ohio — Police said that a robbery victim acted in self-defense when he shot a man who was trying to rob him late Monday morning. The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. behind a Wendy's restaurant, located on Broadway. Investigators told 10TV's Glenn McEntyre that a man was walking his dog when another man approached him with a gun and demanded his wallet. The victim complied and then pulled out his own gun, shooting the robber, police said. The accused robber, Keith Walker Jr., ran to a nearby neighborhood where he collapsed. Walker underwent surgery at Grant Medical...

POOL REPORT CLEVELAND, Ohio — The U.S. economy is pulling out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression because federal stimulus measures are working, said Vice President Joe Biden during an appearance in Cleveland this afternoon. "We are recovering. We will recover. We are no longer talking about will there be a recovery, we are talking about what kind of recovery it will be," said Biden, during a fund-raiser for a pair of Democratic congressman, Zack Space of Dover and John Boccieri of Alliance. Biden thanked the congressmen for their support of stimulus measures that passed earlier this...

CLEVELAND (AP)—The Cleveland Indians hired Manny Acta to be their manager, giving him the job about three months after he was fired by the Washington Nationals. Acta signed a three-year contract with a club option for 2013, Indians spokesman Bart Swain said Sunday. Additional terms were not disclosed. “I am very excited to become part of the Cleveland Indians family,” Acta said. “I look forward to working with this talented group of young men who seem to possess a lot of energy and passion for their work.” The Indians chose Acta after a second interview over former New York Mets...

House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) stressed Wednesday that both parties needed to work together to rein in the "reckless spending" that has brought federal deficit to its record high. In an op-ed published this morning in the USA Today, Boehner also responded to the editorial board's criticism that his party was without "credible conservative ideas for fixing" the country's burgeoning federal deficit and debt -- an argument, he said, that overlooked the many alternative plans his colleagues have offered to stabilize the economy and address such issues as climate change and healthcare reform. "As I've stated before, Republicans lost...

What: WAKE UP OHIO! When: October 25, 2009 3:00 PM Where: Geauga County Fairgrounds Grandstand 14373 N. Cheshire St. Burton, OH 44021 EVENT: WAKE UP OHIO! DATE: October 25th, 2009 TIME: 3pm - 5pm WHERE: Geauga County Fairgrounds Grandstand, 14373 N. Cheshire Street, Burton, OH 44021 SPEAKERS: RECENTLY ANNOUNCED: Joe The Plumber. DOC Thompson from WRVA DOC fills in for Glenn Beck about every 2 months, and he was one of the featured speakers in Washington, DC on 9/12! Pastor James Manning, from Harlem, he has been really speaking out about the corruption in Washington (if you are not familiar...

A Florida judge ordered today that Fathima Rifqa Bary be returned to Ohio. The 17-year-old religious runaway will be transferred into the care of Franklin County Children Services. To ensure her safety, the details of her transfer will not be released, the Florida Department of Children and Families said in an e-mailed statement. Judge Daniel P. Dawson of the 9 t h Judicial Circuit Court of Florida agreed last week that Bary's case should be heard in Ohio, but he said he first wanted to receive documents detailing her immigration status. The girl is a native of Sri Lanka.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that after controlling the state for years, the Ohio GOP got slaughtered in 2006 and again in 2008. In addition to losing the state's top offices, the party lost a U.S. Senator, four U.S. House seats and its majority in the Ohio House of Representatives over the past four years. But timing is everything in politics, and Ohio once again looks like a barnburner in next year's midterm elections.

When an armed robber barged into a North Side motel room Wednesday night and ordered the six people there to the floor, he put a 70-year-old woman closer to her handgun. The great-grandmother knelt between the beds, reached into her purse on the floor and pulled out her .357 Magnum pistol. She fired one shot at the robber, who staggered from the room, collapsed in the parking lot and died. "It's a wonder she didn't shoot us all," said her 51-year-old son, who was preparing to hand over his cash when he heard the gunshot. "She's the worst shot in...

Two House Republicans side with Dems to raise state income tax [Scumbag Traitor RINO Alert!] link only: http://www.ohio.com/news/65368782.html

Washington, D.C. – The issue is resolved, but it means an Idaho Congressman no longer has an excuse to slip out his pocketknife at a committee meeting. Last week, the House of Representatives approved the conference report setting appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security. This final bill included language preventing spring-assisted knives from being classified by the Department as switchblades. The language was first championed by Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) and Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio.) “This amendment was necessary to prevent commonly-used pocketknives from being branded as illegal switchblades,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “The National Rifle...

A 70-year-old woman who is in town for the All-American Quarter Horse Congress shot and killed a would-be robber last night at a North Side motel, police said. The shooting occurred about 9:15 p.m. at the Continent Inn, said Columbus Police Sgt. Isaac Bridges. The motel, at 6225 Zumstein Dr., is located at The Continent shopping center, off Rt. 161 near I-71. Sgt. Eric Pilya of the homicide squad said the woman was in a motel room with four or five others and they'd cracked open the door to get fresh air. Pilya said a man barged into the room,...

A 70-year-old woman who is staying in town for the All-American Quarter Horse Congress shot and killed a would-be robber tonight at a North Side motel, police said.

A federal judge in Ohio has handed down prison sentences of more than 10 years to two Toledo-area men involved in a terrorist plot that the government said targeted U.S. troops. Mohammad Amawi was sentenced to 20 years and Marwan El-Hindi was sentenced to 12 years. Both had faced up to life in prison. The two men and a third defendant were found guilty last year of plotting to recruit and train terrorists to kill American soldiers in Iraq. The third man has yet to be sentenced.

If nothing else, little-known Manny Acta, the first of four finalists for the Indians' managing job, has a strong grip on reality. "Every team wants Tony La Russa or Joe Torre to walk through the door and manage their team," said Acta. "The reality is these jobs don't go to guys like that. They go to guys like me." Thus, the job of managing the rebuilding Indians will go to Acta — or to one of three guys like him. Two guys who won't be walking through the door — in addition to La Russa and Torre — are former...

Ohio has joined with several other states, including Montana and Tennessee, in asserting independence from federal gun laws with the introduction of House Bill 315. This bill, sponsored by Representatives Morgan and Martin, would make all guns manufactured wholly within the state of Ohio exempt from federal gun regulations provided sales are within state boundaries. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives has claimed that they have the authority through the right to regulate interstate commerce because even exclusive intrastate sales of guns have an effect on gun sales nationwide. With two states already having passed similar bills, and...

TOLEDO -- A Toledo man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his part in a terrorist plot intending to target American soldiers. Mohammad Amawi was sentenced Wednesday morning in federal court. He had faced up to life in prison. He is one of three defendants who were found guilty last year of plotting to recruit and train terrorists to kill U.S. troops in Iraq. Another defendant, Marwan El-Hindi will begin his sentencing Wednesday. Wassim Mazloum was also found guilty of the terrorist plot...

ROSELAWN, Ohio -- Cincinnati Police are investigating after an elderly woman in her nineties was fatally stabbed in the 1500 block of Summit Road in Roselawn Tuesday night. Ida Martin was 93-years-old. Family say she had just celebrated her birthday in August. She was transported to University Hospital, but did not survive. Her grandson says she had been out in front of her apartment building at the Summit Apartments "Active Adults" complex where she had lived for 30 years and was about to take a walk. That's when witnesses say someone approached her and stabbed her four times. Police say...

Brunner spent more than she raised in latest quarter Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner spent more than the $147,000 she raised during the most recent quarter that ended Sept. 30 and has less than $112,000 on hand, a report filed with the Federal Elections Commission shows. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, her opponent in the May 2010 primary, reported raising $618,201 during the quarter with nearly $1.6 million cash on hand. Despite the fundraising difference, Brunner has vowed to make to the ballot. "There's some rumor-mongering going on that I'm getting out of the race," Brunner told The Dispatch last...

Last Tuesday there was yet another hearing for Rifqa Bary, the girl who converted from Islam to Christianity and fled to Florida from her family in Ohio after saying that her father threatened her life. It was agreed that Ohio has jurisdiction in her case. That means Rifqa is ultimately to be returned to Ohio, but not so fast: the Florida court maintains emergency jurisdiction. And Florida Judge Daniel Dawson is firm: Rifqa will not be returned to Ohio until the family’s immigration status is cleared up. That could take awhile. On Wednesday at my Web site AtlasShrugs.com, I broke...

WASHINGTON -- As conspiracy theories go, this one met the legacy test: Skeptics remained convinced that ACORN, the community organizing group, tried to steal Ohio's 2008 election, even though authorities declared the election clean. So be forewarned, because what follows reawakens old suspicions -- and Republicans say there's a good reason. In a nutshell: ACORN, under attack for other misdeeds, plotted privately to help elect liberal congressional candidates in several 2008 Ohio races, a previously undisclosed ACORN political plan shows. This is the first time that ACORN, formally called the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has been linked...

Cordray weighs in on McDonald v. Chicago by Keith Loria October 16, 2009 01:33 PM. Now that the United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, the Second Amendment is back in the spotlight. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, who will join arguments in the case, believes that the people's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and cannot be denied by state and local governments. He outlined his perspective in an exclusive interview with Public Nuisance Wire. PNW: The Second Amendment has become a hot topic of late....