http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/public/ en-us Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:04:46 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100467/posts By Christopher CookAmericans and Obama disagree not just some of the time, not just half of the time, but—apparently—all of the time. Earlier today, I was exhorted to take the Barack Obama Test. I was told that this test has enjoyed tremendous traffic, that it has gotten great response (as well as some hate response), and that it has changed many minds. Excited to know these details, I went to take the test myself. I expected to find a series of question that one answers, followed by an effective statement regarding the degree to which Barack Obama dis/agrees with... Modern Conservative http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100467/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 15:04:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083983/posts St. Paul, Minn. — A few Somali parents in Willmar complained that the public schools weren't allowing their Muslim children to step out of class for daily prayer. Some didn't send their children to school last week in protest. Today, school officials said they won't change their policy, which allows students to pray during lunch time and between classes. For now, families have reluctantly agreed to send their children to school, but the issue may resurface later in the school year. This is the first school year Somali parents have had an issue with Willmar public schools over when their... MPR http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083983/posts#comment Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:13:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2067021/posts Governments tend toward tyranny. Governments are comprised of selfish humans with personal desires for money, job security, and increased authority over fellow citizens. A citizen working for a government has opportunities to rule over and oppress fellow citizens, they would never have outside their government position. Therefore, government becomes a magnet for selfish power-seeking individuals. By their sheer size and superior firepower, governments tend to overrun and ignore personal rights. The machine capriciously devours it's victims. The Declaration of Independence declares that governments exist to protect the rights of citizens. The Constitution for the United States of America further states... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2067021/posts#comment Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:20:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2064900/posts I don't know if I'm posting this correctly, but I thought everyone should get a load of this video. Typical Obama supporter? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2064900/posts#comment Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:26:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063001/posts MARTINSBURG, WV - A pro-gun group wants to do away with a Martinsburg law that bans guns in city buildings, but city officials intend to keep the rule in place. As a gun owner and owner of Shep's Sporting Goods store in Martinsburg, Brad Sheppard believes in the right to bear arms. "If a person has a right to carry a gun for their protection, then they should be allowed to do so," he said. On the other hand, he also understands Martinsburg's ordinance that says people can't carry a firearm or other deadly weapon into a building owned, leased,... your4state.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063001/posts#comment Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:13:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2054604/posts WASHINGTON, July 31, 2008 – A new Web site is giving the American public a nonpartisan opportunity to join entertainers, professional athletes and politicians in expressing gratitude to servicemembers defending the nation. “What we wanted to do and, I think, something that we were equipped to do, was to provide a forum that is really meant to be uplifting [to servicemembers],” said Stacey Artandi, founder of “Moment of Thanks.” “It’s meant to say [to Americans], ‘Shed your politics. Put them aside, and take a moment to be grateful for some of the things that we really cherish.’” The Moment... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2054604/posts#comment Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:41:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048636/posts At 15, Lawrence King was small—5 feet 1 inch—but very hard to miss. In January, he started to show up for class at Oxnard, Calif.'s E. O. Green Junior High School decked out in women's accessories. On some days, he would slick up his curly hair in a Prince-like bouffant. Sometimes he'd paint his fingernails hot pink and dab glitter or white foundation on his cheeks. "He wore makeup better than I did," says Marissa Moreno, 13, one of his classmates. He bought a pair of stilettos at Target, and he couldn't have been prouder if he had on a... Newsweek http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048636/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:25:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047111/posts Father-of-three branded a 'pervert' - for photographing his own children in public park By David Wilkes Last updated at 1:46 AM on 16th July 2008 When Gary Crutchley started taking pictures of his children playing on an inflatable slide he thought they would be happy reminders of a family day out. But the innocent snaps of seven-year-old Cory, and Miles, five, led to him being called a ‘pervert’. The Daily Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2047111/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:34:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043150/posts Name Agency Title Overtime Total pay ABELARDO SAAVEDRA HOUSTON ISD SUPT OF SCHOOLS $0 $442,556 BRUCE H. LESLIE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHANCELLOR EMERITUS $0 $336,583 FRANK WILSON METRO PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXEC OFFICER $0 $312,260 H THOMAS KORNEGAY PORT OF HOUSTON DIR EXECUTIVE $0 $277,979 HERMINIA PALACIO HARRIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $0 $275,185 ARTHUR L. STOREY JR HARRIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,PUB.INF&FCD $0 $271,799 LUIS ARTURO SANCHEZ HARRIS COUNTY CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER $0 $271,449 KEVIN CRONIN METRO DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR $0 $263,744 MARY S. SPANGLER HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHANCELLOR $0 $242,106 KAREN K SOEHNGE HOUSTON ISD CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER $0... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043150/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:02:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2008360/posts WASHINGTON, April 28, 2008 – If the U.S. military lost its politically neutral footing, the armed forces would surrender the public’s trust, a senior U.S. military officer who explained a new Defense Department directive on troops’ political activity said in an interview. “If we do appear to be influenced by our own views or our own understanding of how things should be, we’re going to lose the public trust,” Army Col. Shawn Shumake, director of legal policy within the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, told the Pentagon Channel. “We’re going to lose the... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2008360/posts#comment Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:30:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000157/posts INDIANAPOLIS - The nation's system of public financing presidential elections is "creaky" and needs to be updated, Sen. Barack Obama said Friday, offering another possible argument for bypassing the three-decades-old system that has helped pay campaigns for the White House. Obama, who has raised a whopping $234 million from about 1.3 million donors, said the limited amounts of money available from the federal treasury for presidential campaigns pose difficult choices for candidates raising large sums. "I think that it is creaky," he said of the program financed by $3 dollar checkoffs in tax returns. "The amount of money raised through... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2000157/posts#comment Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:37:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999083/posts Young people's financial know-how has gone from bad to worse. High school seniors, on average, answered correctly only 48.3 percent of questions about personal finance and economics, according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve. That was even lower than the 52.4 percent in the previous survey in 2006 and marked the worst score out of the six surveys conducted so far. With home foreclosures at record highs, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke stressed in a speech that young people must sharpen their financial knowledge so they are in a better position to make sound investment decisions throughout... The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999083/posts#comment Wed, 9 Apr 2008 18:38:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998833/posts <p>As Marc Ambinder reports, the McCain campaign raised only $4 million online and through direct mail. Barack Obama, meanwhile, has over 1.3 million donors, a number that will surely increase if he wins the Democratic nomination. So far, McCain has caught a lucky break.</p> Atlantic.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998833/posts#comment Wed, 9 Apr 2008 04:51:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994895/posts WASHINGTON (AP) - Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released Tuesday. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994895/posts#comment Tue, 1 Apr 2008 05:23:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991578/posts TIKRIT — The Task Force Iron medical team hosted a United and Healthy Conference at the main dining facility on COB Speicher March 23. The conference was designed to bring together and engage Director Generals of Health, the Ministry of Health, Provincial Reconstruction Teams and U.S. medical personnel in a forum where they could present their issues and recommend solutions to the Ministry of Health regarding concerns. “Today’s event marks a historic moment in Iraq’s history,” said Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, 1st Armored Division and Task Force Iron commander. “Their presence today demonstrated the strength and determination of the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991578/posts#comment Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:37:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990822/posts To soothe the bruised egos of educators and children in lackluster schools, Massachusetts officials are now pushing for kinder, gentler euphemisms for failure. more stories like thisInstead of calling these schools "underperforming," the Board of Education is considering labeling them as "Commonwealth priority," to avoid poisoning teacher and student morale. Schools in the direst straits, now known as "chronically underperforming," would get the more urgent but still vague label of "priority one." The board has spent parts of more than three meetings in recent months debating the linguistic merits and tone set by the terms after a handful of superintendents... The Boston Globe http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990822/posts#comment Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:43:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960939/posts HARTFORD, Conn. - Hillary Rodham Clinton relegated her chief Democratic rival to the rhetorical sidelines Monday and focused her criticism on President Bush, saying he had lost touch with the concerns of an anxious public. In a speech to more than 1,000 people jammed in a gymnasium, Clinton did not refer to the fight with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her audience, which included an equal number listening in an adjoining room, roared with approval when the former first lady took note of the Republican president's dwindling time in office. "Tonight is a red-letter night in American history,"... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960939/posts#comment Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:12:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955995/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2008 – When Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ralph Chavez volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan, he didn’t really know what he was getting himself into. It ended up being one of the best experiences of his military career. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ralph Chavez. Defense Department Photo.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Chavez, a yeoman, or administrative specialist, decided to volunteer for an individual augmentation deployment in 2006 while stationed in California. He said it was important for him to volunteer because he knew soldiers and Marines who were on their second or... Why We Serve http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955995/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:34:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1954305/posts I think my late wife would approve of this message. Finneran Lane http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1954305/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:02:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948554/posts Task force targets school corruptionDec 28, 2007 3:00 AM (7 days ago) by Bill Myers, The Examiner WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor has convened a “working group” of anti-fraud investigators from federal and local agencies tasked with rooting out endemic corruption in the District of Columbia’s education system. The new task force began work in the shadow of a string of high-profile fraud and abuse cases within the city’s schools. “Instead of trying to pick up the pieces after the damage has been done, we’re out there in the schools meeting key people and getting the word out... Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948554/posts#comment Sat, 5 Jan 2008 02:02:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946017/posts The Texas Department of Transportation will hold several local meetings early next year to offer answers on the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor. In 2007 TxDOT released a tentative outline for the cross-country Interstate 69, which is currently planned to come through Texarkana. The highway would be a straight shot from Canada, through the United States and into Mexico. TxDOT will hold nearly a dozen “town hall” meetings and 46 public hearings to encourage public input and address concerns. “We want to hear the public’s ideas and we want to answer their questions,” said TxDOT Commissioner Ted Houghton. “Their comments will help... Texarkana Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946017/posts#comment Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:02:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931820/posts Lawsuit seeks over $25,000 in damages NELSONVILLE - A Nelsonville-York School District gym teacher has sued a Nelsonville couple who have been claiming he acted abusively toward their son. Teacher Anthony Mollica of Athens filed the lawsuit last week in Athens County Common Pleas Court against Robert and Tia Chubb of Nelsonville. The lawsuit accuses the Chubbs of a "campaign of defamation" and seeks more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and an award of punitive damages to be determined later. In previous articles about the situation, Brown News Service has not used Mollica's name because he has not been officially... The Logan Daily News (Brown News Service) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931820/posts#comment Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:04:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923602/posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2007 – Serving in the military was something Jose Munoz always wanted to do, but it wasn’t until after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that he was spurred to enlist and fulfill that dream. Army Sgt. Jose Munoz is telling the military’s story to the American people at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program. Defense Department photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Munoz, now a sergeant with five and a half years in the Army, said a lack of... Why We Serve http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923602/posts#comment Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:31:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923485/posts Officers protecting Albuquerque Public Schools showed up on campus Thursday armed with guns. The school board approved a plan to arm the officers Wednesday night. Officers with APS get training every few months on how to use the weapons, and how to make sure they don't end up in the wrong hands. Officers ...are also trained on how to handle the worst case scenario, a student with a gun. Action 7 News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923485/posts#comment Fri, 9 Nov 2007 19:33:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1915037/posts When a high school friend told me several years ago that he and his wife were leaving Washington's Mount Pleasant neighborhood for Montgomery County, I snickered and murmured something about white flight. Progressives who traveled regularly to Cuba and Brazil, they wanted better schools for their children. I saw their decision as one more example of liberal hypocrisy. I was childless then, but I have a 6-year-old now. And I know better. So to all the friends -- most but not all of them white -- whom I've chastised over the years for abandoning the District once their children reached... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1915037/posts#comment Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:44:28 GMT