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Anthropology teaches us that all societies have their various subgroups, each with it's own beliefs, rituals and idiosyncracies. Now here in America we have the Democrat Party, broad in ethnic and cultural scope; and enjoying a sizeable enough segment of the population that they can sway the course of government without worrying about such petty triflings as election laws, accounting procedures, or the parliamentary rules of order. And within the upper eschelons of the Party-of-the-People there exists a new stratum of the elite: The Baby-Daddy. To make it into this good-ole-boys-club, one must first be a member in good standing...

Another Dam Threat July 16, 2008 http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/another_dam_threat By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart At the stroke of midnight July 8, the Denver Water Board closed the road over Dillon Dam in Summit County, Colorado, citing security concerns. The board’s decision, which was implemented without advance notice to local governments and citizens, has not been well-received. It has sparked protests by enraged residents and has even prompted officials from Summit County, three affected towns nearby and the local fire and rescue department to file suit in state district court in a bid to force Denver Water to reopen the road. The...

By CHRIS MERRILL Star-Tribune environment reporter Tuesday, June 24, 2008 > LANDER -- Since Rainbow Family participants have chosen to stay put at Big Sandy in Wyoming's Wind River Mountains, leaders with the Boy Scouts of America have decided to alter plans for a major service project that had been scheduled to take place in the same general area. > > Leaders with the Boy Scouts' Order of the Arrow have decided to cancel a long-planned forest restoration project near Dutch Joe Guard Station in the Wind Rivers, said Mary Cernicek, spokeswoman with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. > > The...

Dole discusses Climate Security Act Written by Lauren K. Ohnesorge Thursday, June 05 2008 Senator Elizabeth Dole discussed national and economic security issues Tuesday evening on the Senate floor. The remarks, available below, were presented during the debate of America’s Climate Security Act. A release from Dole’s office labels the Senator as an original cosponsor of the legislation to address climate change “using a market-driven approach that will strengthen our economy and national security and make America more energy independent.” In her lengthy statement, Dole says nuclear energy is a “safe, reliable, low-cost” energy alternative. She also talks about the...

NASHUA, N.H.—A woman accused of running down a man in her car after a Red Sox-Yankees argument in a bar never hit her brakes as she accelerated toward the small group he was in, a prosecutor said Monday. more stories like this "She never braked, and she accelerated at a high speed for about 200 feet. She went directly at this group of people," prosecutor Susan Morrell said of Ivonne Hernandez, who is charged with reckless second-degree murder in the death early Friday of Matthew Beaudoin, 29. Authorities won't describe the argument beforehand in Slade's Food & Spirits, but witnesses...

A speech to end the war (A Must-Read) > > > WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY > U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN, GIVE THE FOLLOWING > SPEECH? > > My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq > regime has been completed. > > Since Congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, > our mission in Iraq is complete. > > This morning, I gave the order for a complete removal of all > American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within...

The Texas congressman is not likely to be president, but his campaign already represents the most significant pro-freedom movement in recent American history. ...So how did a 72-year-old grandfather who is self-effacing and slender to the point of looking frail on television (he doesn't in person) become the closest thing to a rock star the Republicans have produced, swarmed for autographs at every appearance? Raised in Pittsburgh, Ron Paul attended Duke medical school, served in the Air Force, and began practicing medicine (he's an OB-GYN) near Houston. Along the way he started reading writers like Ludwig von Mises and Friederich...

Widow 'devastated' by decision to allow man who stabbed headteacher to live in Britain · Gang member cannot be deported, court rules · Prisoner expresses his sorrow to family of victim

The Preambles of all 50 States Of The United States: Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution. Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land. Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution... Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of...

The Third Way Middle-class Project The Politics of Opportunity The Case for a New Middle-Class Economic Message A Third Way Message Memo by Anne Kim, Director of the Middle-Class Project and Jim Kessler, Vice President for Policy With Bernard Schwartz and Adam Solomon, Third Way Trustees Introduction For at least the past decade, public opinion polls have given progressives consistent and even commanding leads over conservatives on the economy. But it’s a different story at the ballot box, where progressives have faced resounding defeats among those with between $30,000 and $75,000 in household income—especially white voters. Why have progressives persistently...

THE_New_York_Times may want to change its self-important slogan to "All_the_Puff_Pieces_That_Are_Fit to_Print" after publishing a questionably researched article on Page One yesterday about the friendship and financial ties between babe-loving-billionaire-supermarket-exec Ron Burkle and former horndog-in-chief Bill_Clinton, who's an adviser on funds run by Burkle's Yucaipa_Companies. The piece says the pair first met when Clinton was running for president in 1992 and touring L.A. neighborhoods set afire in the riots after the acquittal of the cops charged in the Rodney_King beating. NYTimes: "Mr. Clinton noticed that some supermarkets were still open, and asked why, his aides recalled. He was told that those...

ASSEMBLY, No. 2185 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 212th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED JANUARY 30, 2006 Sponsored by: Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA District 15 (Mercer) SYNOPSIS Revises criteria for determining whether a rifle is an assault firearm. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. AN ACT concerning assault firearms and amending N.J.S.2C:39-1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:39-1 is amended to read as follows: 2C:39-1. Definitions. The following definitions apply to this chapter and to chapter 58: a. "Antique firearm" means any rifle or shotgun and "antique cannon" means a destructive device defined in...

I'm wondering how many have been in a public school lately, to see the awful mess they have become. Or to see, first hand, what kind of children we have coming up who will be running things one day. I teach at a public high school in a large south-central metro area. I started here this year. Before this, I had been teaching in the military system, which I now realize is very different from the regular public schools. The difference being that where parents actually have something to lose, they WILL control their children. I want you to know...

A Modest Proposal to Solve the Immigration Problem It is a melancholy object that within our prosperous country exists a subversive Spanish-speaking element of illegal immigrants with no intention to better American society, but who only hope to earn enough money, through their illegitimate occupations, to feed themselves, their wives, and their prodigious offspring, as well as their wretched aunts, uncles, grandparents, and brothers-in-law. I think it is agreed by all parties that whoever would propose a viable solution to this insufferable situation should deserve to have his face mounted upon a postage stamp and his likeness inscribed onto the...

Demonstrators overturned cars and threw petrol bombs at police who repelled them with tear gas and water cannon as a show of force by French students against the government over job reforms turned increasingly violent Thursday evening. Demonstrators clashed with police at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) when hundreds gathered on the city's Place de la Sorbonne square in the Latin quarter following a protest march. Protestors also vandalised cafes amid scenes that left the area veiled in tear gas fumes and a bookshop in flames on the square, located near departments of the Sorbonne University. At least one car was...

Abortion Challenge to the Left: Why do you feel it is ok to kill our children via abortion? By Alain (J.T. Finn and Frank York contributed to this article.) I’m a conservative. There are many facets to this viewpoint, just as there are many to someone who claims to be a liberal. Today, I want to challenge the liberal viewpoint that a woman has the “RIGHT” to terminate an unborn life that she has helped create. I have always heard liberals and feminists loudly tout that because it is her body, she has the right to do whatever she wants...

TOLEDO, Ohio - Documents seized by federal agents suggest that two of three Muslim men accused of plotting to kill American and allied soldiers may have ties to a Muslim charity suspected of funneling money to the militant organization Hamas. Federal agents seized an invoice from the charity, known as KindHearts, from a travel agency where defendant Mohammad Zaki Amawi worked. Agents also took a KindHearts binder from an address where defendant Marwan Othman El-Hindi lived. Lists of items seized were filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Toledo. The three suspects - El-Hindi, Amawi and Wassim I. Mazloum -...

Rallying under the slogan “No Paddy Left Behind,” about 900 Irish and Irish-Americans packed a town hall meeting in Woodside on immigration reform Friday evening. Speakers urged the audience, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, to call their elected officials in support of the Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill. Currently before the Senate, the measure would allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States and earn a chance to apply for permanent residency. An alternative bill that already passed the House of Representatives would turn the country’s 11 million undocumented immigrants into criminals, subject to arrest by local authorities. “If...

Actor Harry Hamlin insisted for 24 years that playing a gay writer who beds a married man in the film Making Love didn't hurt his blossoming movie career. Now, as Making Love is released on DVD (Fox, $15), Hamlin tells the truth: ``I can't say it more emphatically -- playing that part ended my feature-film career.'' ''You get an Oscar today,'' Hamlin said, referring to Brokeback Mountain stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, both currently nominated for Academy Awards. After Making Love, Hamlin never again met with movie executives from a major studio. ''It was over,'' said Hamlin, who the...

The key to getting more women on corporate boards is getting more women on board-nominating committees, according to a study released Thursday on diversity in corporate governance. Success depends on "who makes the lists," said Vicki Kramer, a Philadelphia management consultant who is chairwoman of a national network of female executives. Although more boards are adding female directors, boards are still dominated by men, according to the report by the InterOrganization Network, a group of seven organizations of female executives. "The snail's pace at which women are making their way into corporate boardrooms is simply not acceptable," Kramer said in...

As a veteran of my generation’s noble adventure, this fight unquestionably deserves the title of World War Three. This global war continues to expand as the spatter of innocent blood slowly dries in unsuspecting nations such as: England, Spain, Australia, France, Indonesia, Egypt, the Philippines, Israel and of course our homeland on 9/11. In Fallujah my Infantry unit confronted Chechnyan, Philippino, Iranian Hezbollah, Lebanese, future Palestinians, Sudanese, Yemeni, and Iraqi Islamists. Islamo fascism has provoked this World War and their objective is to “cleanse” the world of the infidel by delivering fear, confusion and grizzly murder. Like past World Wars,...

Voltaire's stirring words seem so quaint now. "I may disagree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." These words summarized what our freedom was about. But the vast majority of the American press no longer believes this. For the defense of the freedom to critize radical Islam has come entirely from the blogosphere. The major television networks have only spoken in the most reverential tones of the offense to Islam from Danish newspapers. Why has our press abandoned the principal of freedom? Why do they not take offense at the death threats? Threats...

Malone may not have to take back seat to Parks City has plenty of candidates for honorary road names By Lori Buttars The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City is celebrating the renaming of 200 East between South Temple and 600 South in honor of the late civil-rights icon Rosa Parks. Seen here is the intersection of 200 E and 300 S. (Ryan Galbraith/The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the arrival of Rosa Parks Boulevard to a six-block strip along 200 East. Utah's capital already has named streets after two other civil-rights...

I don’t watch much TV. I am usually doing something. Anything. I might watch a few particular shows, but for the most part I can’t sit there that long or else I fall asleep. I did watch the NFL playoffs. I will watch the Super Bowl and I vowed to some freepers to try 24 tonight. I know I will have the TV on 24, but to actually sit and watch it? It better be good.No, this vanity is about how the NFL playoff games last night confirmed what I long suspected. I am getting old. That is something I...

<p>NEW BEDFORD -- The UMass Dartmouth student who claimed to have been visited by Homeland Security agents over his request for "The Little Red Book" by Mao Zedong has admitted to making up the entire story.</p> <p>The 22-year-old student tearfully admitted he made the story up to his history professor, Dr. Brian Glyn Williams, and his parents, after being confronted with the inconsistencies in his account.</p>

Social Security has unjustly become a political football where discussions are based on fragmented and deficient information. This has produced half truths and innuendos resulting in inaccurate ideas and resolutions as a means to validate the particular argument being presented. Instilling fear has become the method of a broader strategy in hopes of manipulating the masses thereby controlling their opinions. Perhaps the following information may aid in a clearer understanding of the program from its inception to the current state of affairs. President Roosevelt introduced the Social Security program and promised participation would be on a voluntary basis. Participants would...

To: Congress of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform 2157 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC From: Chris Simcox President of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, Inc. P.O. Box 1489 Tombstone, Arizona 85638 Almost four years after the terrible terrorist attacks upon our country on September 11, 2001, citizens of the United States remain concerned about our national security, specifically our outrageously porous international border with Mexico. Those who live along the border-state region with Mexico have great concern for their personal safety as well as concern over the lack of border security. Despite repeated warnings from...

ON FIGHTING A 16-DIVISION WAR WITH A 10-DIVISION FORCE >by Keith W. Mines > >March 8, 2005 > >Keith W. Mines recently retired from the U.S. Army reserves >after 22 years of active, reserve, and National Guard >service, including military and civilian assignments in >Grenada, Honduras, El Salvador, Israel, Somalia, Haiti, >Hungary, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A former intelligence >analyst, he currently serves as a Political Officer with the >U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. Mr. Mines is a founding member of >the Council on Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA). >These views are decidedly his own and do not reflect U.S. >government policy....

> This Pastor has guts!! > Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer > given in Kansas at the > opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer > still upsets some people. > When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new > session of the Kansas > Senate, everyone was expecting the usual > generalities, but this is what they > heard: > "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask > your forgiveness and to > seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word > says, 'Woe to those who > call evil good,'...

hello all of you ,why you don't accept the fact that usa is an occupation power in irak,what are we doing there:killing innocent people,steeling their oil,distroying their country,burning their houses,they don't tell us to come,usa invade irak without the support of un,neither the support of international community,american soldiers in irak are terrorising children ,men and women killing babies ,throwing heavy bombs on their heads,it is a murder ,it is a genocide ,it is a crime it is not a liberation,it is a colonisation,a destruction of a soverein country,that's why the bush administration is a threat to our word they are...

Now, that I have pondered the election results. Gotten by emotions and anger controlled, I have concluded. Washington law says that the hand recount is the final count. To again quote Joseph Stalin “Those who vote decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything”. This obsolete hand counting law has probably been on the books, forgotten about for years, never questioned, because it never needed to be, at least not until now. It was probably instituted when machine vote counting was in its infancy. The machines accuracy, and unbiased were not yet proven. Critics said man would never fly....

The purpose of FreeRepublic.com's multiple message boards is to limit the topics for each board to particular topics. Posting the same message on all the boards defeats the purpose of multiple-boards for special topics. It is very annoying to see the same message on every bulletin board. PLEASE! DO THE READERS A FAVOR. STOP CROSS-POSTING YOUR MESSAGES!

<p>Dirt-poor Mexican teen Rodrigo Perez Sanchez illegally crossed the border into the United States in 1971 in search of a good job and found his way to the Northwest. Since then, he's worked hard, acquired a house and a few thousand dollars in savings. He's also acquired a long criminal rap sheet, including convictions for first-degree rape, felony assault and two instances of DUI. That criminal history -- and three previous deportations -- made Perez Sanchez a target for investigators with Immigration and Customs Enforcement based in Seattle, who arrested him and 54 other illegal immigrants last month. Since June, arrests of illegal immigrants such as Perez Sanchez around Washington have fueled rumors of wholesale dragnets in which ICE officers indiscriminately arrest any Latino lacking proper papers. But high-level ICE officials say they have neither the interest nor the resources to conduct "sweeps" targeting otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants. "We never, ever pull anyone over just because we think they might be illegal," said Blake Brown, supervisor of a six-person Detention and Removal squad that covers Washington, Oregon and Alaska. "Our interest is in arresting fugitives." A review by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of arrests by this squad between June 1 and Oct. 26 does not support the contention that ICE has been conducting indiscriminate dragnets. In that time period, the squad has arrested 94 people. Ninety-one of them were fugitives, defined as those who have failed to comply with a final order that they present themselves to be deported. Of the 91, 41 have criminal histories beyond immigration offenses, and 12 have been deported before. Three people without proper documentation that had neither a criminal history nor a fugitive warrant were arrested. Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE criminal investigations, also has responsibility for enforcing immigration laws. Winchell has fielded many calls generated by rumors of sweeps. "They are rumors -- no substance to them," Winchell said. And like his colleagues at ICE's Detention and Removal Operations, Winchell has to prioritize how his agents spend their time within their vast three-state turf. Winchell's agents are responsible for seaport security, anti-terrorism operations, money laundering, child pornography, narcotics, commercial fraud and illegal exports. "I need to have my agents focus on those persons who pose a threat either to national security or to the community at large. Therefore, when my agents start arresting people (on immigration charges), their focus is on those people who have a criminal impact on the community." But Magdaleno Rose-Avila, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, is not convinced by statements from ICE executives or the arrest statistics. "As soon as we found out they were doing these sweeps, community groups raised their voices," said Rose-Avila. "Their statistics would have been very much different if we of the ICE Melt Coalition hadn't raised our voices. We were looking over their shoulder." ICE Melt is an ad hoc coalition of community organizations that came together to speak out for the rights of immigrants in the face of what they characterized as "sweeps" by ICE officers. Its leader is Carlos Marentes of the Committee for General Amnesty and Social Justice. Marentes says he is concerned about the fear the arrests have generated in the community. ICE officers "were going to apartment complexes, they were hanging out in shopping areas, even outside (English as second language) classes," Marentes said. "By doing these types of activities without any information at these types of locations, it was causing fear within the community." When asked how immigration arrests can be conducted within a community that includes a large number of illegal immigrants without causing fear, Marentes said: "There is no simple answer. We understand that they are doing their job. What we object to is their inability to communicate with the community that is impacted by their operations." Marentes said ICE Melt suggested to ICE officials that they conduct a forum with the community, but did not get one. "We declined to do a public forum," ICE spokesman Mike Milne said. "When you have community forums, the meetings generally are contentious and not a lot of good comes from them." But Milne said ICE did agree to meet with community "and we gave them assurances that we weren't doing random, wholesale sweeps." It was a targeted operation, based on investigative work, which led to the arrest in late September of convicted rapist Rodrigo Perez Sanchez on immigration charges. In an interview at ICE's Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Perez Sanchez described how easy it has been for him to return to the United States despite being deported three times. On one occasion, Perez Sanchez said, he "got drunk with a friend and was driving like this" and raised his hands aloft to demonstrate a weaving motion. "They stopped and arrested me and immigration showed up and deported me to Tijuana. "I just came back right away. I just walked around the gates at night." Perez Sanchez, now 54, said he had been back just two weeks when the same two immigration officers spotted him and deported him again to Tijuana. "I waited exactly one week and then me and another guy walked three or four hours, climbed a fence" and took a bus back to the Northwest. A few weeks ago, Perez Sanchez was on the job at a vitamin factory in Vancouver when a supervisor called him into the office. Two immigration officers where there to arrest him. "I said: 'What are you doing? I don't even have a parking ticket.' " But Perez Sanchez does have a conviction for felony assault as well as for first-degree rape of his 16-year-old stepdaughter. Perez Sanchez said he was drinking one day while his stepdaughter was using marijuana when he had sex with her. He admitted "having sex with her just one more time and that's it." When asked if the United States should allow someone with his criminal history to stay in the country, Perez Sanchez said: "A country is like a house. If you let bad people get into your house, you're going to corrupt your own people. I understand that." But since Perez Sanchez got out of prison in 1995, "I don't even have a parking ticket. I've tried to fix myself. Why don't they give me a chance." This time, it's not likely that Perez Sanchez will simply be deported again. Perez Sanchez was in U.S. District Court yesterday facing a felony charge of unlawful entry into the United States. If convicted, he's looking at two years in federal prison followed by deportation to Mexico.</p>

<p>Tonight was a truly prolific night in American history. It was the greatest debate that I have ever heard or seen. President Bush vs. Senator John Kerry. Two men but only one man came out on top. I tell you this from the bottom of my heart ladies and gentlemen, President George W. Bush took charge and leadership tonight like he has never done before, since September the 11th. George W Bush showed his compassion, his vigour, his zeal for our country. He took charge as Commander-in-Chief and gave definition as to why he did what he did in Iraq, and around the world. It was not defense, it was the facts! You better believe that this election is on the line as is our country. The future is in the hands of two men. One man who will appease those who have worked to undermine us. John Kerry. The other man who will stand tall, as I reported earlier and as the President honed in on tonight. The Dalfer Report showed that Saddam was bribing France and Russia our major opposition on the war, Saddam was trying to push off inspections, and he was trying to rebuild Weapons of Mass Destruction. President George Bush stood tall to our enemies! This is the facts people! George Bush attacked on this very issue, he defined it from his heart, he spoke clearly about the evil we face and still face! Those who will try to harm us will be dealt with. President Bush laid out the Axis of Evil Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. These countries will be dealt with! These countries will be handled. America stay sure, I have told each and every one of you to remain focused. We are going to win and we are going to win because we are right, we do not waiver and we stand on the very ideals that make this country great. Iran and North Korea will be handled, we will find Bin Laden and we will triumph over evil. There will be no wavering, there will be no falling back. Bush will win because America is right. America will do the right thing if it is unpopular or not because human life, and the ideal that life is scared, and that people are born to be free will prevail in our thoughts and our decisions. Kerry can try to redefine himself as the man who is moderate but he cannot escape his record. He cannot escape the fact that he is a Liberal, that he voted against the Gulf War, he cannot escape the real truth. No matter what you do, or what you say, John Kerry will not change his face and what he is. Liberals are not tough on Terror, Liberals will not defend America. If they could not step up against Howard Dean, and barely win their nomination. If they have to appease the Far Left Michael Moore socialist to maintain, how can defeat Terror if effectively? If they say hunting down Saddam and fighting this war is wrong on the Far Left, how, how, how, how can they win?! America can not put it's faith and it's trust on the weak, or those who will not effectively handle terrorism. America is a nation for the brave and the strong at heart. Abraham Lincoln was under intense scrutiny during the Civil War, scrutiny that is comparable to that of President Bush's today on this war. President Lincoln was at war against America, people were dying from America. So, alot of lives were effected, we lost over a half a million people who were all Americans in that war. A war that could have ripped America apart if the protesters of that day would have won, if Southern sympathizer would have effectively defeated Lincoln. If McCellan would have won, America would be two nations, and history would have recorded that the Democrats had failed. And McCellan was a Democrat! He was a military veteran! What a contrast to today?! We must and we will repeat this historical feat! Remember, America is really in contrast to that day, that hour, if we lose we may very well be defeated. If we appease the world, if we give into the UN and submit, America will decline. Europe is working against us not for us, France, Germany, and Russia are not real allies. These countries are not our friends. And we must prevail, we must win, vote for George Bush, vote for America! The fate of this country is YOUR HANDS! God bless you! God bless America! God bless our troops! God bless President Bush! George Bush must win! The survival of America is in our hands!</p>

Press Release http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/ep020813HispVote.html 1 of 4 2/10/2003 3:54 PM United States Embassy in Mexico BACKGROUND INFORMATION U.S. Democratic, Republican Parties Reaching Out to Hispanic Voters (Parties see Hispanics as key to winning in Nov. 5 elections) By Eric Green Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Mindful that Hispanics now are the largest minority group in the United States with 35.3 million people, the Republican and Democratic parties are going all-out to woo the Hispanic vote in November 5 elections for the U.S. Congress, state governorships, and other local offices. Hispanic voters are a "hot item right now," says trade union...

Based on collegiate debating standards, Sen. John Kerry won Thursday night's debate, a local debate expert says. From a more partisan viewpoint, however, the winner was more clearly defined by viewers as whichever candidate they supported before the debate started. Utah Republicans were pleased that President Bush continued his strong reasoning for the Iraq war and emphasized the need for continued strikes against terrorists. The Democrats backing Kerry applauded his extensive knowledge of all of the issues and his ability to communicate them to voters. While the messages of both Bush and Kerry, D-Mass., did not stray from their oft-repeated...

Bush leads in states won by Gore By James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES President Bush is pushing ahead of Sen. John Kerry in several states won by Al Gore in 2000, which puts the Democratic senator at a disadvantage in his presidential bid because he must commit resources to protect turf once considered his. Mr. Bush holds leads in all but two of the 17 states identified by both campaigns as swing states in the Nov. 2 election, according to the latest polls, and in the four states that Mr. Gore took by less than two percentage points four...

Bush's Honorable Air National Guard Service By Col. John H. Wambough, Jr. USAF (Ret.) September 20, 2004 George Bush and I were fighter pilots. Lt. Bush flew F-102s in the Air National Guard (ANG) -- 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS); I flew F-105s in combat -- 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS). Both our flying assignments were inherently dangerous -- Lt. Bush's because of the high performance nature of the fighter interceptor aircraft he was flying, the training required to fly the F-102, and the high risks that come with all weather (night and day) intercept missions. Sen. John Kerry, the...

Hello FReepers, I haven't been blogging long but something has been bothering me for months. You know, that strange, eerie feeling that you get with you think something bad might be going to happen. Well I got that feeling and I can't seem to get anything done about it so maybe, more experienced bloggers can run with this and get something done about it, if indeed, something needs to be done. A few months ago, I was waiting at an railroad crossing for a train that had stopped. This isn't uncommon at this intersection as I have been caught there...

<p>To understand the magnitude of what may have gone on in America's secret prisons, you don't need special security clearance or inside information. Anyone who wants to connect the dots can do it. To see what I mean, review the content of a few items now easily found on the Internet. Item 1: The "torture memo." Written in August 2002 by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, at the request of the CIA and then the White House, this memo argues that it "may be justified" to torture al Qaeda suspects. The memo, posted last weekend on The Post's Web site, also speculates that international law, which categorically prohibits torture, "may be unconstitutional." Item 2: The "Rumsfeld memo." This document, unearthed by the Wall Street Journal, was written in March 2003 by a Pentagon working group. It declared not only that the American president has the power to evade international law and torture foreign prisoners but that interrogators who follow the president's commands can, in addition, be held immune from prosecution. Item 3: The Abu Ghraib photographs. Remember what they show: not just torture but guards who appear absolutely certain of their legal and moral right to torture, as well as a large number of unidentified personnel, standing around and watching. Item 4: The "dog testimony." Two Army dog handlers assigned to Abu Ghraib have submitted sworn statements, again obtained by The Post, asserting that military intelligence officers told them to use dogs to frighten prisoners. The Army had said that any use of dogs in interrogations would have needed approval from the U.S. military commander in Iraq. As I say, connect the dots: They lead from the White House to the Pentagon to Abu Ghraib, and from Abu Ghraib back to military intelligence and thus to the Pentagon and the White House....."</p>

The Gullible Mr. Kerry-The senator gets fooled again. By Christopher Hitchens So, the junior senator from Massachusetts has finally come up with a winning line. "Vote for me," says John Kerry. "I'm easily fooled." This appears to be the implication of his claim to have been "misled" by the Bush administration in the matter of WMD. And, considering the way in which Democratic Party activists generally portray the president as a fool and an ignoramus, one might as well go the whole distance and suggest a catchy line for the campaign: "Kerry. Duped by a Dope." Given that Kerry once...

<p>As they vie for the Senate GOP nomination, they reveal differing spending styles, philosophies on government.</p> <p>One promotes his ability to bring home the bacon. The other decries congressional pork, even when served in his own district.</p> <p>As rivals for the Senate GOP nomination, Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Pat Toomey are poles apart on federal spending, especially the long-standing but controversial practice of earmarking money for favored projects.</p> <p>Specter does it with abandon. Toomey has done it a little, but only reluctantly and not lately.</p>