Free Republic

Back in 1964, historian Richard Hofstadter wrote “The Paranoid Style in American Politics.” If the book is ever made into a movie, Joe Scarborough could be cast in the title role. For on today’s Morning Joe, Scarborough contended that President Trump was speaking seriously when he said that we might have “to give a shot” at the establishment of a president-for-life in the United States. Scarborough: “This is important. When Republicans, Gene [Robinson] are saying it’s just a joke, or when Republicans ignore the fact that this man is talking about being President-for-life. If they think that Donald Trump is...

On January 14, Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s natural gas monopoly, Gazprom, to cut back by 60% the natural gas delivered to Europe through Ukraine. His ostensible reason: Ukraine was illegally siphoning off gas for its own use—a charge Ukraine denies. Overall Europe depends on Russia for 30% of its gas supplies, and some 80% of Europe’s Russian natural gas comes via Ukraine. Putin’s order would leave six countries in eastern and southeastern Europe totally without gas.

Vladimir Putin has said he won’t remain Russia’s president for life and will step down in line with the constitution no later than 2024, according to an interview with a Russian news agency released Sunday. Staying beyond that would be “detrimental for the country and I don’t need this,” he told the Tass news agency. Putin, 62, has effectively led Russia since he was first elected in 2000. He stepped aside after two four-year terms to abide with constitutional term limits, but retained power as prime minister and was elected in 2012 to a six-year term. …

Egypt President Morsi grants himself far-reaching powers CAIRO – Egypt's president on Thursday issued constitutional amendments that placed him above judicial oversight and ordered the retrial of Hosni Mubarak for the killing of protesters in last year's uprising. Mohammed Morsi also decreed immunity for the Islamist-dominated panel drafting a new constitution from any possible court decisions to dissolve it, a threat that had been hanging over the controversial assembly. Liberal and Christian members withdrew from the assembly during the past week to protest what they say is the hijacking of the process by Morsi's allies, who they saw are trying...

Join the Grassroots Movement to Make Barack Obama's Third Term Possible! REPEAL THE 22ND AMENDMENT Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President of the United States four times. FDR died early in his fourth term after serving three full, successful terms. It was his leadership that brought our great country out of Economic Crisis and War. Congress passed the 22nd Amendment on March 21, 1947 to limit future Presidents to two terms and took the choice out of the hands of the American People, where it belongs. History has no way of determining what would have happened to the United States...

Chávez to Propose Removing His Term Limits By SIMON ROMERO Published: August 15, 2007 CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 14 — President Hugo Chávez will unveil a project to change the Constitution on Wednesday that is expected to allow him to be re-elected indefinitely, a move that would enhance his authority to accelerate a socialist-inspired transformation of Venezuelan society. The removal of term limits for Mr. Chávez, which is at the heart of the proposal, is expected to be accompanied by measures circumscribing the authority of elected governors and mayors, who would be prevented from staying in power indefinitely, according to versions...

Kazakhstan Parliament Abolishes Presidential Term Limits on Nazarbayev By VOA News 18 May 2007 Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have voted to allow President Nursultan Nazarbayev to stay in office for an unlimited number of terms. Both the upper and lower houses of parliament Friday voted overwhelmingly in favor of amending the constitution to let Mr. Nazarbayev remain president as long as he chooses. The proposed amendment is an exception only for Mr. Nazarbayev. Future leaders will be limited to no more than two consecutive terms. Lawmakers also passed an amendment requested earlier this week by President Nazarbayev to reduce the presidential...

Long hair or beards will no longer be tolerated in Turkmenistan, following a presidential decree. President Saparmurat Niyazov said on Thursday that the Education Ministry should be in charge of checking people's hair and facial arrangements. The self-styled "Turkmenbashi the Great" also announced the launch of a textbook on good behaviour to add to a school curriculum already dominated by his "philosophical" works. The volume, entitled Upbringing, is based on the "wisdom of the ancient traditions of the Turkmen people who through the ages developed clear-cut norms of behaviour and socialisation". Dictator Niyazov has clung to power since the end...