Free Republic

The informant who sparked the biggest criminal sting in New Jersey history briefly emerged from federal protection long enough yesterday to plead guilty to a $50 million bank fraud. But even as Solomon Dwek stood fidgeting before a judge in a perfunctory 30-minute appearance, explosive details about his private con schemes and his role as the cooperating witness in the ongoing federal corruption investigation were coming to light. A Star-Ledger examination of court documents shows before Dwek became an informer for the FBI, he was running a wild Ponzi operation in which one investment was being used to pay off...

Our nation was founded by men of high honor, Fighters for freedom from abusers of power, We're now run by people who lie, steal and more, And that's why we all have to show them the door. Throw the bums out, just throw the bums out Kick 'em in the can and throw the bums out They lie about justice, they lie about sex, They lie about health care and say it's a mess, They lie about freedom, they lie about war And that's why we all have to show them the door. Throw the bums out, just throw the...

Most politicians are not bad people, but the system has a way of chewing them up and spitting them out. Once in the system, they learn to play the game and almost always compromise their integrity when it can be justified and even sometimes when it cannot. This is done while we look the other way if it’s “our guy” and/or they give us something we want. That’s the insidiousness of democracy and these “representatives” continue to do anything to stay in power. Many of the problems that we face today can mostly be chalked up to our divisions fueled...

It’s Halloween Everyday in Washington D.C. - This Halloween - and all year long - in Washington D.C., many politicians will be dressing up as concerned, moral, honest and Constitution-honoring representatives of the American people. Among these will be the rising American Left of the Socialist-Democratic Party. These are wolves dressed up in sheep’s clothing. The Left has had an anti-American agenda which is being unfolded before our very eyes (government controlled healthcare, for example). They have a vision for America which is rapidly and rigorously becoming a tangible reality. This vision is a secular socialist state for America and...

You Tube Video: Germany begins controversial swine flu vaccinationSpiegel: Germans Unhappy with Alternative Swine Flu Vaccine for Politicians "Damage control is the name of the game in Berlin on Monday as politicians rush to deny that they are receiving a better, safer swine flu vaccine than ordinary Germans. The first of 50 million doses arrived in Germany on Monday. One might think that the arrival in Germany of the first of 50 million doses of swine flu vaccine on Monday might be cause for celebration. But with news breaking over the weekend that top government officials in Berlin will be...

Critics are calling it a two-tier health system — one for the politically well-connected, another for the hoi polloi. As Germany launched its mass vaccination program against the H1N1 flu virus on Monday, the government found itself fending off accusations of favoritism by offering one vaccine believed to have fewer side effects to civil servants, politicians and soldiers, and another potentially riskier vaccine to everyone else. The government had hoped that Germans would rush to health clinics to receive vaccinations against the rapidly spreading disease, but the rising anger over the different doses may now cause many people to shy...

We were invited to a church group picnic today to meet friends of our son and his wife. Amidst the fun and food, the D.I.L. trots out baby pics of my son that she had gleefully pounced on as we were still unpacking at the house. Paul's friends were amazed to see proof of his wittle, cute wittle, vulnerable self as a mere babe and toddler. One young dad said to me, "It's really something to see pics of him so little and cute, because anyone will tell you that when Paul walks into a room, the testosterone level jumps...

Damage control is the name of the game in Berlin on Monday as politicians rush to deny that they are receiving a better, safer swine flu vaccine than ordinary Germans. The first of 50 million doses arrived in Germany on Monday. But with news breaking over the weekend that top government officials in Berlin will be injected with an alternative vaccine -- one widely seen as safer -- a debate about an alleged two-class medical system has erupted. The controversy centers on an additive included in the vaccine manufactured by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. The additive includes an inactive strain of...

If you watch C-Span for a while, you’re sure to hear a politician or pundit criticizing some idea by comparing it to “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” It’s a vivid illustration of the short-sightedness and futility of so much of what Washington does superficially to improve failed programs. In Washington today, however, we are witnessing an unprecedented extension of the Titanic analogy: Both parties and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are focused on rearranging our deck chairs while there is still time to steer around the iceberg, if only someone would grab the wheel...

As you can see, voters are tired of the current Congress. We need to vote out all career politicians. Lets us know where you stand – cast your vote at: http://www.CongressionalLotteryPool.com National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters Conducted August 27-28, 2009 By Rasmussen Reports 1* Would a group of people selected at random from the phone book do a better job addressing the nation’s problems than the current Congress? 42% Yes 42% No 15% Not sure NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence Last Year's Survey National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters...

42% of voters agree that people randomly selected from a phone book would do a better job in Congress than the current Congress. It is time to flush the corruption out of Congress. It’s time to vote out the career politicians who are destroying America. It is time to run non political candidates for Congress. Should we take our country back by replacing career politicians in Congress with common citizens? Cast your vote: http://www.CongressionalLotteryPool.com It's time for real change!

After World War II, the U.S. government invested an enormous amount of money in medicine; medical research, medical procedures and medical technologies. This investment made contemporary scientific medicine into American medicine, characterized by a continuing flow of new treatment possibilities. These advances raised all kinds of ethical questions. Some were personal and individual, others were social and political. Both type questions are addressed by a new academic discipline called bioethics. The first attempt to develop a scientific medicine took place in Greece in the 5th century B.C. It was called Hippocratic medicine. Closely linked with this first scientific medicine was...

What's driving the great health debate of 2009 is not a popular clamor for universal insurance. "Many Americans are balking again at the prospect of health care reform," writes pollster Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center. A new Wall Street Journal poll found 41 percent of respondents opposed to President Obama's proposals and 39 percent in favor (the rest were undecided). The underlying driver is politicians' psychological quest for glory. "My colleagues, this is our opportunity to make history," implored Chairman Max Baucus as the Senate Finance Committee last week opened consideration of his bill. Politicians, in their most...

Politicians that Cry Wolf Let me be clear I cannot stand when good Americans change who they are and their personality once they become a candidate or become an elected official and call it “Politics”, these individuals are “Sell Outs”, they sell their souls to the devil to become an elected official and they give “politics” a bad name. Republican Assemblyman Chad Christenson who represents District 13 comes to mind. Back in 2008 Chad told a Review Journal reporter on the second-to-last day for candidate filings that he would not seek re-election, he said he would need more time to...

The House of Representatives voted today, 345-75, to cut off all funding to ACORN. All Republicans voted for the measure. That doesn't mean it will happen, of course; the measure, which is attached to a student aid bill, goes beyond the scope of the Senate's action earlier this week. Don't assume that ACORN can't ride out the storm and have its funding quietly restored by the Democrats, now that those in swing districts have had an opportunity to tell their constituents they voted to stop funding the voter fraud/tax fraud/prostitution organization. For now, at least, supporting ACORN is hard to...

It's time to draw the line on ACORN. In fact, long past time. The group deserves not one penny of public funding. For any reason. And the recent outrageous videos -- showing its employees giving advice on committing housing fraud to filmmakers who claimed to be looking to open a brothel -- are only the latest reason. Yes, some officials are waking up. * State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said yesterday that he'd flag any state money going to the radical group. * Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the Brooklyn DA began probes. * City Council Speaker Christine Quinn suspended council...

Chicago is known as “The Windy City” not because it is windy (although anyone who tries to use an umbrella during a heavy rain in the Loop knows how difficult that can prove) but because of the blowhard politicians it has produced throughout the centuries. Chicago’s scandalous history of political corruption began in the l9th century around the time of the Chicago Fire continuing through today, most notably, Governor Blagojevich’s attempt to “sell” President Obama’s Senate seat. Political malfeasance doesn’t begin and end in Illinois, though. Other states have equal or worse reputations. The Wall Street Journal, in an article...

Video about Joe Wilson and politicians across the world and includes Pope. Various scenes of politicos having food fights, etc. States Obama turned the other cheek just like the Pope.

How do you feel your local elected officials are handling the issues most important to you?

Yes, they walk among us!!! If these are true, it is no wonder our country is in so much trouble. A DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of 'why' our country is in trouble! 1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman (Carol Shea-Porter) ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!) 2. I got a call from a Kansas Congressman's (Moore) staffer (Howard Bauleke), who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, and then...

Politicians trying to manipulate voters using the "race card" may be in for a surprise. It is not working as well as it did during the campaign when Barack Obama was running for president of the United States.

We have all seen that motion picture and televised legal dramas. One side is seeking important information and the other is attempting to keep that same information hidden. The court orders full disclosure...and what happens? The side wanting to keep a particular topic hidden provides the opponent with thousands and thousands of pages containing useless information. The important words are hidden deep inside everything that was placed on the table. Isn’t this the same tactic being used by Congress today? A healthcare reform bill, renamed a healthcare insurance reform bill is offered to the public that is 1117 type written...

ALBANY — When Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg retired last year, there were no sendoffs, no cakes and no serenades. In fact, no one even knew he had left the Capitol, because he never did. Mr. Weisenberg, 75, a Long Island Democrat, “retired” last year but continued to work as a lawmaker and remained on the payroll. As a result, he earns $101,500 in salary and collects a pension of about $72,000, according to the comptroller’s office. Similarly, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, a 72-year-old Brooklyn Democrat, retired last year after 31 years, but continued to serve her district. She earns $104,500 and draws...

Americans across the country have noticed that their politicians have gone missing during the health care debate. They are nowhere to be found. So we here at The Big Feed feel compelled to do our part. We have decided to sponsor the search effort for one of those senators. (Picture) Here's the list of the rest of the missing politicians, via Hot Air: * Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) * Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH) * Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) * Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) * Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) * Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) * Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) * Rep....

Every day someone’s life is decided by the verdict a jury will deliver. And that jury is comprised of randomly selected individuals. Prospective jurors are drawn using a lottery type method. If we entrust our lives with juries drawn from a lottery why should we not entrust our Congress with members drawn from a lottery? What would be the arguments of having a Congress drawn from a lottery? Read the last chapter (free pdf file) of the book “America is Fubar” at the following link. http://members.cox.net/aif062009

One of the benefits coming from the recent congressional town hall meetings – of which there are many – is that we now know to what extent the elected class in Washington DC is cognizant of their constituents’ positions on the issues; specifically, healthcare. They aren’t, especially on the Left side of the aisle. Instead, the elected class in Washington – and it is true for an overwhelming majority on both sides of the aisle – has opted-out of their sworn duty to represent their constituents in deference to a blinding loyalty to their political party organizations and the ideologies...

Someone on this website said that we talk too much about issues and never do anything. We just Yak, Yak, Yak. Well, at first my feelings were hurt because, IMHO, my contributions mostly make sense, even to me. But he (I vaguely recall that it was a he person) was correct. We do not really DO MUCH. In fact, we YAK A LOT. So I am contributing something you can actually do. Write your elected officials a letter. I am providing you with all of the information you need, you just need to do it. Following is a link to...

This week there will be much shenanigans in Congress. They are preparing for break and are under a tremendous amount of pressure from the anointed one and his minions to push legislation that will lead to the depopulation of America. Everyone in Congress needs to be aware of the words of John Quincy Adams, "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." Sadly our non-representing representatives will do what is best for them and need to be shown that voting for this is in their worst...

Cash in an envelope. In return, a promise that a development project will speed along, unhindered by bureaucratic delays. A handshake to seal the deal. It is the most clichéd, unimaginative form of corruption — and its persistent hold on New Jersey’s elected leaders seems unrivaled in American government. Over the last decade alone, nearly 150 of the state’s senators, mayors, county executives and council members have been arrested and charged with leaping at the chance to engage in this lowest-common-denominator crime, at times for laughably small sums of money. But the history goes back much further than that. ......

Health Reform: If Democrats in Washington think their health care reform with a public option is a good thing, why have they exempted themselves from it? Why isn't what's good for their constituents good for them?During ABC's June 24 infomercial for government-run health care broadcast from the White House, President Obama was asked if he and his family would abide by the restrictions and limitations that came with his proposed reforms. In what Ed Morrissey at HotAir.com called "Obama's Michael Dukakis moment," President Obama refused to make such a pledge and confessed that if "it's my family member, if it's...

545 PEOPLE By Charlie Reese Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does....

Should politicians be required to serve their full terms before running for different offices? A Daily Poll.

We all know that the signers of the Declaration of Independence put their lives and property at risk by their act of courage. The question is: who among politicians of the past 60 years would have done the same. I can think of only two. Ronald Reagan would have signed, no doubt, on grounds of principle above personal ambitions. Harry Truman might have done, but I think that it would depend upon when in his career he was asked to do it. Are there any others? Nominations, please.

A team of scientists with years of expertise in climate issues has written an open letter to Congress, warning members that, "The sky is not falling," and global warming alarmism is unproven. The letter was signed by physics professors Robert H. Austin and William Happer of Princeton, environmental sciences professor S. Fred Singer of the University of Virginia, retired manager for strategic planning at ExxonMobil Roger Cohen, physics professor (emeritus) Harold W. Lewis at UC-Santa Barbara and others. Their names trail long lists of initials including APS or the American Physical Society, AAAS or the American Association for the Advancement...

Politicians Are What’s Wrong With Politics So, Mark Sanford had an affair. Big deal. Who really cares? He screwed up his own life. He screwed over his wife and kids. It happens everyday. His family will deal with it. He will pay a personal price, either by losing his family, the mistress he claims to be in love with, or most likely both. The media and the Muckadoos on the Internet think that this is once again an example of “conservative hypocrisy.” I’ve seen no less than ten news segments dedicated to discussing whether or not the GOP needs to...

Daily treason by our elected Washington representatives on both sides of the aisle inches America towards the loss of our sovereignty. Career bureaucrats, consumed more with their special interest agendas than the security and future of this nation, surrender us to the secular humanist global mentality and to our sworn enemy; Islam. Politicians practice general malaise on the subject of Muslims operating within our borders with virtual impunity. The duplicity exhibited by our government confuses a public on identifying our enemy by using freedoms to shield them while they become operationally stronger and entrenched in our society. By raising the...

Daily poll question: Should politicians be ousted from office if they break campaign promises?

A pro-life outreach has started a new prayer campaign hoping for the conversion of pro-abortion Catholic politicians to the pro-life perspective. The web site and outreach OneNationUnderGod is starting the effort today, the feast day of St. Thomas More. Pope John Paul II proclaimed More the patron saint of statesmen and politicians, so June 22 appears to be an appropriate time for prayer for lawmakers who Catholic deviate from the Catholic Church's longstanding pro-life teachings. Lisa Correnti talked with LifeNews.com about the new effort. "In the 1995 encyclical Evangelium vitae, John Paul II reiterates what the Catholic Church has always...

Politicians vis-a-vis Representatives Politicians only ask two questions when asked to take action. Politicians ask how will this action help me get elected or stay in office? or How will this hurt my getting elected or staying in office?

The House of Representatives, with little comment or opposition, on Friday approved an 8 percent increase in the budget for members' office expenses. House members will get an average $1.5 million in the budget year starting in October to run their Washington and district offices and cover travel and other official expenses. Overall, the budget for what the House calls members' representational allowances, or MRAs, will jump $51 million to $660 million.

Using his law enforcement experience and data drawn from the FBI's behavioral analysis unit, Jim Kouri has collected a series of personality traits common to a couple of professions. Kouri, who's a vice president of the National Assn. of Chiefs of Police, has assembled traits such as superficial charm, an exaggerated sense of self-worth, glibness, lying, lack of remorse and manipulation of others. These traits, Kouri points out in his analysis, are common to psychopathic serial killers. But -- and here's the part that may spark some controversy and defensive discussion -- these traits are also common to American politicians....

It was Ronald Reagan who said that Politics is the second oldest profession and it shares many traits with the oldest. President Reagan might have been a bit off in this one. A recent FBI study of Psychopaths seem to indicate that Politicians share a lot of traits with Serial Killers. When you read what Jim Kouri has written about the study in the Examiner, it seems very real: Interpersonal traits include glibness, superficial charm, a grandiose sense of self-worth, pathological lying, and the manipulation of others. The affective traits include a lack of remorse and/or guilt, shallow affect, a...

77% See Politicians Unwillingness to Cut Government Spending as Bigger Problem Than Voter Resistance to Tax Hikes Friday, May 22, 2009 For nearly four-out-of-five U.S. voters, the problem is not their unwillingness to pay taxes. It’s their elected representatives’ refusal to cut the size of government. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters say the bigger problem in the United States is the unwillingness of politicians to control government spending. Just 14% say the problem is that voters are unwilling to pay enough in taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. These findings parallel results in California just before...

Is our democracy is in need of a revolution, mobs in the streets carrying torches and pitchforks, hot tar and bags of feathers? The example of Congressman John Murtha might make you think so and there are literally a hundred more in high office just like Murtha. Murtha's famous election line is, "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district." And corrupt he is, Murtha sneaked in an earmark for his brother, Robert "Kit" Murtha, so he could land a lobbying job at KSA Consulting in 2002 and 24 months later KSA clients profited from a $417...

A quick tour through the week’s headlines suggests the Republican Party is beginning to come to terms with the last election and that consensus is emerging among GOP elites that the party needs to move away from discordant social issues. There was Sen. John McCain's daughter and his campaign manager who last week demanded that their fellow Republicans embrace same-sex marriage. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – the most devoted modernizer among the party's 2012 hopefuls – won approving words from New York Times columnist Frank Rich for his call to downplay divisive values issues. The party’s top elected leaders in...

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What is the difference between a politician and a pirate? The pirate won't pretend he is doing you a favor when he takes your money. The pirate will only steal from you once. The pirate will probably treat you better while waiting on your ransom. The pirate is more honest about their intentions. You can avoid pirates. You can kill pirates.

Freep the poll - What do you think about the Tax Day Tea Parties?....

DALLAS -- A judge blocked the Texas Department of Public Safety on Thursday from continuing to enforce new rules that prevent some legal immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses and identification cards. State District Judge Orlinda L. Naranjo in Austin issued a temporary injunction and found DPS acted outside its scope of authority when it adopted the policy last year. "This case is not about illegal immigrants obtaining driver licenses, it is about legal residents who have been denied or have been threatened a denial of a driver license," Naranjo wrote.