Free Republic

Hutson observes that in their 1780 state constitution, “[o]fficials in Massachusetts afforded the most ample liberty of conscience…to Deists, Mahometans, Jews and Christians” (2002)—an allusion to Samuel West’s discussion of tax assessments for the support of the public teaching of religion and morality. This observation is accurate as long as one clearly understands that “liberty of conscience” specifically meant no governmental intrusion, but did not extend to the encouragement or promotion of Islam in public life. Proof of this contention is seen in the Third Article of the 1780 constitution itself, in which the legislature was authorized “to make suitable...

Gay marriage is an issue of equality that fulfills America’s founding principles, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said during Wednesday’s press briefing. Earnest was responding to a reporter who asked whether President Obama feels his stance on gay marriage has “cleared the way” for others to support it publicly, noting Sen. Portman’s decision to support gay marriage earlier this month after his son announced he was gay.

This article is an excerpt from Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman's new book Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing. Predicting the future is a crapshoot. When we were writing this book and interviewing people about 3D printing, we discovered that a few underlying "rules" kept coming up. People from a broad and diverse array of industries and backgrounds and levels of expertise described similar ways that 3D printing helped them get past key cost, time and complexity barriers. We have summarized what we learned. Here are ten principles of 3D printing we hope will help people and businesses take...

Money cannot buy you happiness... but it's more comfortable crying in a Mercedes than on a bicycle. Forgive your enemy- but don't forget the SOB's name Help a man in trouble... and he'll remember you (when he's in trouble again!) Many people exist in this world only because it's illegal to shoot them Trying to debate facts with an Obama voter is like trying trying to pick-up a cow pie by the clean end~ ___________________________________________ h/t Kirby

In His Debut In Washington’s Power Struggles, Gingrich Threw A Bomb Bob Woodward December 24 On the evening of Oct. 4, 1990, Newt Gingrich and his then-wife, Marianne, were enjoying a VIP reception at a Republican fundraiser when they were suddenly hustled over to have their picture taken with President George H.W. Bush. “I thought it was a bad idea,” Gingrich said in a series of interviews in 1992 that have not been previously published. Days earlier, Gingrich had dramatically walked out of the White House and was leading a very public rebellion against a deficit reduction and tax increase...

When John Bolton was asked the question of what he thought was the greatest misconception that Democrats have about Republicans, I honestly didn’t expect such a brilliantly deep answer. I guess I’ve gotten used to fluff. But Bolton hit it out of the park and I just had to start the day with it:**snip**“The core misimpression is that a fundamental belief in liberty and it’s implications is somehow cruel and uncaring. When in fact, liberty is absolutely central to the most massive economic change in the history of the world that has brought more concrete material advantages to people in...

It used to be common for people to urge us to learn “the lessons of history.” But history gets much less attention these days, and, if there are any lessons that we are offered, they are more likely to be the lessons from current polls or the lessons of political correctness. Even among those who still invoke the lessons of history, some read those lessons very differently than others. Talk-show host Michael Medved, for example, apparently thinks the Republicans need a centrist presidential candidate in 2012. He said, “Most political battles are won by seizing the center.” Moreover, he added:...

One of the things that has always comforted me, being a conservative, is the raw, bare, confidence I have in knowing that the ideas we construct society around (from the conservative viewpoint) are without question based in freedom, dignity, and morality. One of the things I have most despised about conservatives is that while we have these tremendous and high-minded principles, we wimp out way too often, and the fate of the free world suffers. I hate victimization of the innocent more than anything. And when conservatives serve up the self-inflicted victimhood, I want to heave! A couple of examples...

Please rank ( and list percentages) the priorities that most motivate our current Congress Critters: A. Jobs (Insuring my re-election) B. Cultural/Moral Issues (Insuring those photos of me are never released) C. Defense/Security (Insuring those photos of me are never released) D. Economic (Insuring my lifetime perks and benefits) E. Systemic Political Improvement (Moving the nation towards global Marxism) E. Constitutional (Upholding my oath of office)

The majority of the nation doesn’t know that investigators have turned up a hatched-scheme in which Union bosses coordinated efforts with public education officials. Further that 44 of 56 school districts in the Atlanta Public Schools system strategically convinced Superintendents, Principals and teachers to cheat–primarily by going back and erasing answers on tests and replacing them with correct ones–in order to have a higher means score for the No Child Left Behind funding qualifications. The evidence is overwhelming. 2100 Interviews… 178 educators involved… 38 principals involved… 80 confessions to the schemes… 800,000 documents as evidence…

DALLAS, March 4, 2011 – Recalling his own experience as an Eagle Scout, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates last night praised scouting for instilling principles, integrity and honor in tomorrow’s leaders. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanks former President George W. Bush after he is introduced during the Circle Ten Council Friends of Scouting dinner in Dallas, March 3, 2011. Gates, a former Eagle Scout, gave a keynote speech. DOD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gates was the keynote speaker at a Circle Ten Council Friends of Scouting dinner here. The secretary told...

I have a very personal message for those half wits who are calling for "civility". Ready ? Here we go: Shove it. Shove it where the sun doesn't shine. Shove it up sideways. Shove it up sideways and twist it around. Now I'm sure there will be those who will call me a hatemonger. It certainly wouldn't be the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last time. Oh well. I'm crying a river, let me tell you. Really. Boo-hoo. See, I look at the current political environment as more than the Hatfield and McCoy nonsense that we...

Edmund Burke, one of history's greatest conservatives, warned that abstractions are the enemy of responsible government. "I never govern myself, no rational man ever did govern himself, by abstractions and universals," Burke wrote. "A statesman differs from a professor in a university; the latter has only the general view of society; the former, the statesman, has a number of circumstances to combine with those general ideas." Alas for all of us and for American conservatism in particular, the new Republican majority that took control of the House on Wednesday is embarked on an experiment in government by abstractions. Many in...

The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are "first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" (A of F 4). The resurrected Savior taught that these principles constitute his "gospel": "Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctihttp://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/godhead/index.htmfied by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this...

Having moved into the life as a former candidate (WA-01), a citizen running for the first time, I can tell you that I’m pretty sick of the following phrases, “Well, that’s politics”, “It’s all about the money”, “We have to unite”, “Politics is dirty”, and “You can’t say that. You have to get the independent vote”. Do you think the Founding Fathers thought that way, or would accept working in such a political system?...

You had to live through it to recognize the metamorphosis. During those early days of June 2004, as the nation mourned the passing of Ronald Reagan, you would have never known he had been ridiculed and treated with disdain for most of his political career—not only by Democrats but by establishment Republicans. Frankly, I was stunned by the display of love and gratitude in 2004. As the Reagan motorcade drove toward the Reagan Library for the final tribute, ordinary citizens along the route were paying their final tributes as well. It was an amazing moment. But it was not always...

We know, based on economic experience, theory, and logic, how to create another economic boom that will last 25 years, or a generation into the future. We achieved that in America from the end of 1982 to the end of 2007, with only two, short, shallow recessions that barely interrupted sustained, robust, economic growth. But that was not the only instance of success. Several times in the last 100 years, whenever the nation's economic policies adhered to the timeless principles of economic growth and prosperity, our economy has boomed. When it has departed from those policies, it has fallen into...

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding. Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government. These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings...

"I think he’s struggling to translate that to policy."

An interesting thing happened on the way to the congressional election in New York's 23rd district. The Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, dropped out of the race. This bodes well for the Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who, as it turns out happens to be a Republican who ran on a third party ticket against Scozzafava and the Democrat Bill Owens. This is a fascinating race to watch, because it forces those in the Republican Party to take a hard look at what has become of the GOP. In the last few weeks, there has been a huge rift within the...