Free Republic

Detroit City Council Votes to Begin Removal Process of Mayor Kilpatrick. In a 5 to 4 vote, however one Council Women thinks the Mayor may be making overtures in regards to resigning

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is expected to announce his resignation later today, The Plain Dealer has learned. He planned to break the news to his senior staff this afternoon. The decision came as Dann faced intense pressure both from fellow Democrats and Republican critics who said he was not fit to continue as the state's top lawyer. It also followed action targeting Dann in the Ohio General Assembly today by lawmakers from both parties. House Democrats this morning filed articles of impeachment against Dann, accusing him of misconduct and malfeasance in office. And House Republicans began plans to fast-track...

Columbus, Ohio (AP) -- House Democrats filed articles of impeachment Tuesday against scandal-scarred Attorney General Marc Dann, a fellow Democrat who could become the first official impeached and convicted in Ohio in two centuries. The lawmakers' resolution outlines nine counts alleging that Dann should be impeached for gross neglect of duty, gross immorality and obstruction of his office's investigation that found an employee was sexually harassed by a top aide. On May 2, Dann admitted an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to the sexual harassment claims. Three aides were forced out in...

The Detroit City Council has taken the first step toward removing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick over a scandal involving explicit text messages to his former aide. The council's 5-4 vote Tuesday begins a process aimed at removing Kilpatrick. Council members also voted to ask Gov. Jennifer Granholm to remove the mayor and voted to publicly censure him. . . . The mayor's office has said the council's actions are politically motivated. . . . Prosecutors have charged the two with perjury and obstruction of justice.

A North Carolina Republican member of Congress is calling for the State Department to revoke the passport of former President Jimmy Carter, who's been meeting, against the wishes of the U.S. Government, with representatives of the Palestinian terror group Hamas. Congresswoman Sue Myrick of Charlotte, speaking on the Jeff Katz Show on WBT Radio, says Carter's actions have made a lot of people in the House extremely angry. Officials with Hamas say the meeting with Carter will boost the group's legitimacy, despite criticism by the U.S. and Israel.

Lieberman: Carter Is 'Naive' at Best Thursday , April 17, 2008 Former President Jimmy Carter met another top Hamas official Thursday in a Cairo hotel and planned to meet more officials in Syria Friday, drawing the ire of dozens of U.S. lawmakers. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., told FOX News that "at best, President Carter is being naive" in trying to negotiate with avowed terrorists. "There is a long list of people who thought they could reason with dictators and killers, going back to Neville Chamberlain and Hitler in the 1930s, but it has been shown to be absolutely wrong." Rep....

Jimmy Carter is an evil man. It is painful to label a past president of the United States as a force for darkness. But it is dangerous to let a man like Jimmy Carter stalk around the globe cloaked in the garb of American royalty, planting the seeds of Western civilization's destruction. On Tuesday, former President Carter met with leaders of the terrorist group Hamas. He embraced Nasser al-Shaer, the man who has run the Palestinian education system, brainwashing children into believing Jews are the descendants of pigs and dogs. He laid a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat,...

SPITZER'S LEGACY: A $3.6M PROBE TABBy BRENDAN SCOTT April 13, 2008 -- Eliot Spitzer's political and sexual shenanigans are costing taxpayers upwards of $3.6 million. **SNIP** This month, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched his second look at the Dirty Tricks saga: a far-reaching probe into whether Spitzer ordered the State Police to gather intelligence on Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. It should double the estimated $150,000 the attorney general's office spent on the initial report that sparked the Spitzer's troubles last year. Meanwhile, the State Investigation Commission has launched an investigation of the investigations - those by the attorney general,...

Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, is facing two formidable challengers in the June primary, Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco and former Assemblyman Joe Nation of Marin County. But long after the Democratic nomination for Senate District 3 is settled, the most significant legacy of this hotly contested primary may be what it does to some of the most well-established principles of California's campaign finance laws. If Migden prevails, she could have an extra $647,000 to pour into the homestretch of her race against Leno and Nation. But to do so, Migden and her attorneys will have to blow up...

You couldn’t smell it since it was frozen but a second rat has been found inside a food package in two weeks. This time the suspected rodent was in a package of frozen organic mixed vegetables imported from the United States, the nation’s food safety agency said yesterday. The contaminated product, “Willow Wind Organic Mixed Vegetables,” manufactured by Columbia Foods Inc., was immediately recalled by the Korean unit of Costco Wholesale Corp., after a consumer complained and reported the case to the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. Sales of the product have been suspended. The administration said the foreign...

Change! That is what the Democrats promised when they took over Congress in 2006. Sure enough they were right and that is what we got. Were they the cause or the effect of getting elected? Here are some of the outcomes of them being in control.

THERE wasn't much sympathy on the streets of New York for Governor Eliot Spitzer, an anti-corruption crusader caught up in a sex scandal. The New York Times said Mr Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute at a Washington hotel last month. Mr Spitzer neither confirmed nor denied the report, but apologised for violating his obligations to his family and his "sense of right and wrong". Elmira Shirkhin, 27, who works in sales, said she wasn't surprised. "It's what you would think politicians would do," she said, drawing a parallel to former president Bill Clinton's...

** EXCERPT ** SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Moody's Investors Service said late Tuesday it placed the New York Times Co.'s Baa1 senior unsecured and Prime-2 commercial paper ratings on review for possible downgrade.

Great news, friends: Once again, Virginia has earned top honors from the Pew Center's Government Performance Project. Today, the GPP released their "Grading the States 2008" report, the nation's only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state performs in serving the public. We have achieved this together because we continue to focus on results: Virginia "avoids formulas and focuses on the harder work of asking why goals and targets aren't being met, then seeks to address the underlying problems." My administration has worked hard to continue to improve the efficiency of government, and the Government Performance Project has recognized...

Obama: Sermon on Mount Justifies Same-Sex Unions By Terence P. Jeffrey CNSNews.com Editor in Chief March 03, 2008 (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told a crowd at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sunday that he believes the Sermon on the Mount justifies his support for legal recognition of same-sex unions. He also told the crowd that his position in favor of legalized abortion does not make him "less Christian." "I don't think it [a same-sex union] should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state,"...

Dear MoveOn member, Wow. In 2 days, MoveOn members across the nation signed up to host over 900 "Yes We Can" parties to get out the vote for Barack Obama in Texas! And yesterday, Bill Clinton said that if Obama wins Texas on March 4, he'll win the nomination.1 So on Sunday, March 2, we're holding the biggest phone bank in presidential primary history. Folks everywhere will come to parties armed with cell phones—ready to call thousands of Texas MoveOn members whose votes could put Obama over the top on March 4. But, we don't yet have an Obama party...

Protect Women's Health Virginia legislators have started their work on the 2008-2010 Biennial Budget, which includes funding for transportation, education, health care, and many other necessities the Commonwealth depends on. However, Del. Bob Marshall (R-13, Manassas) has introduced a budget amendment to limit access to health care for the Commonwealth's most vulnerable women - those relying on Medicaid for treatment. This budget amendment would affect women who depend on the state for their health care and would put severe limitations on a woman’s ability to preserve her health when faced with a potentially dangerous pregnancy. Send a letter to the...

February 13, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, All knew that Tuesday’s news of Virginia’s Presidential primaries would dominate Wednesday’s front pages. The Governor chose this day to announce his budget cuts, including cuts to K-12 public education? Coincidence? Undoubtedly, the Governor did his best to spare K-12 given the constraints he perceives. But, given the fact that Virginians hold education to be the most important issue before the General Assembly, should he challenge the constraints that bind him? Is his decision the best one for Virginia’s children in the long run? At the Governor’s press conference revenue projections were downgraded. Anticipated increases...

Dear MoveOn member, It's Election Day! The race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is very competitive, and today's vote in Virginia could be pivotal in determining the Democratic nominee. Someone's going to wake up tomorrow morning and kick themselves for missing their chance to vote. We want to make sure it isn't you. So, do you have a plan to vote? Ask yourself: Do I know what time I'm going to vote? Do I have a ride? Every vote will count big time, so also think about which friends and family members you can get to go with you....

Since the Hillary event could not be held yesterday (she canceled, due to high winds...broomsticks cannot land in high wind)...... Impeached President and Sex Offender Bill Clinton will be in Roanoke, VA today. He will be speaking at 6:30 PM at Patrick Henry High School. Since many of us will be attending the Huckabee event, you guys please step up and FREEP this guy!! FREEPmail me if you can help, I have a sign you can use from yesterday's FREEP of Hillary.....

Great FREEP Opportunity! Freep the Hildebeast and Obama Hussain at the Democrat annual George Jefferson/Jesse Jackson Day dinner in Richmond, VA!! ******************************************************** If you haven't bought your tickets to this year's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner & Celebration, you'd better move fast! Time is running out... and so are the tickets! THIS WILL BE A SOLD OUT EVENT and tickets will not be available at the door. So, if you haven't done so already, go to our website and purchase your ticket now! PLUS, we have now confirmed BOTH of our Democratic Presidential candidates for the program. That's right! Both Sen. Hillary Clinton...

Hundreds of confused Virginians and some Marylanders jumped the gun yesterday, showing up at polls or calling election officials to find out where to cast ballots, even though the presidential primary is next week. Virginia and Maryland were not among the 24 Super Tuesday states that voted yesterday, but that word apparently did not make it to some voters. Virginia, Maryland and the District vote on the 12th. More than 700 people called the Virginia State Board of Elections to ask, "Why aren't my polls opened, and where do I go to vote?" said Susan S. Pollard, a spokeswoman for...

Readings for the Year of the Rat Published on December 29, 2007 The Year of the Rat is for the opportunist, the proactive, the profiteer and the politician. This, indeed, will be a year to keep a watchful eye on those who run the world financially, intellectually and dictatorially. The Rat year is also one of change, reform and the year to put well-thought-out strategy to work. Worldwide, it's a time when security will count and when political giants will want to protect what's theirs. As for the average Joe, the Year of the Rat means 12 months to turn...

Retired NATO commander Wesley K. Clark left last month as Summit Global Logistics chairman following a one-year stint that saw the East Rutherford, N.J. shipping concern's stock fall 60% as its losses rose 10,000%. An ill-fated corporate buying spree fueled by $163 million of debt and equity financing boosted revenues, but not as much as expenses, prompting a default. Clark, once a presidential candidate, had headed the investment bank arranging the initial financing. In 2006 he resigned as a director of Viaspace (otcbb: VSPC.OB) after just two weeks amid sharp questions about high-pressure penny-stock promotions on its behalf over the...

Rat genes shed light on ancient human migrations 15:16 01 February 2008 NewScientist.com news service Emma Young One of humanity’s greatest scourges – the black rat – may help health experts track the spread of disease. New work probing Rattus rattus’s origins and historical movements should help health officials track its ongoing dispersal – and might also explain anomalies in its spread of diseases such as typhus and plague. Ken Aplin at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems in Canberra, Australia, and colleagues have analysed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 170 black rats from 76 regions in 32 countries. They also surveyed other...

RICHMOND, VA - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has been rated the most liberal Senator in 2007 by the non-partisan National Journal. In Obama’s brief time as an elected official, he has succeeded in compiling an extensive record of liberal policy stances, many of which have been repeatedly rejected by the American people. The article also details the similar vote records of Obama and fellow liberal Democrat, Sen. Hillary Clinton, proving that both senators are out of step with Virginia voters. According to National Journal’s January 31, 2008 article, “Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007,” Obama’s liberal voting record...

One day a fourth-grade teacher asked the children what their mothers did for a living. All the typical answers came up - teacher, nurse, businesswoman, saleswoman, doctor, lawyer, and so forth. However, little Justin was being uncharacteristically quiet, so when the teacher prodded him about his mother, he replied, "Well my mother's an exotic dancer in a cabaret and takes off all her clothes in front of men and they put money in her underwear. Sometimes, if the offer is really good, she will go home with some guy and stay with him all night for money." The teacher, obviously...

Democrat Dennis Kucinich quits presidential race, faces tough fight to keep House seat CLEVELAND (AP) _ Democrat Dennis Kucinich abandoned his presidential bid Friday to focus on a tough race for re-election to Congress. Kucinich, speaking at a union hall, told supporters who chanted "Dennis, Dennis," that he would work to keep his campaign promises, not as president, but as a member of the U.S. House. "I won't be president, but I can continue to fight for these important issues as the United States congressman representing the community that is first in my heart, Cleveland, Ohio," he said. Kucinich made...

Kucinich Dropping Out He'll end his Presidential campaign Friday. Thursday, January 24, 2008 (Cleveland) - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is giving up on his second bid for the White House. In an interview with The Plain Dealer, the congressman says he'll make a formal announcement Friday. Kucinich says he wants to continue to serve in Congress. He also says he won't endorse another Democrat in the primary. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Panel OKs bill on teachers' raises A Senate panel voted unanimously Thursday to approve a bill to raise state teachers' salaries to the national average. Senate Bill 267, sponsored by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, would cost the state more than $400 million this year alone if it's approved. That doesn't include the local share, which would come down on cities and counties. SB 267 now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, where a tight budget year makes its passage unlikely. But Deeds, who has requested a budget amendment to accompany the measure, said the stated intent is what matters....

The fossilised skull of a rat the size of a car has been unearthed. The creature lived about four million years ago, weighed about a tonne and ate mostly soft vegetation. It was so big that it probably spent much of its life semi-submerged in water, like a hippo, to reduce the stresses caused by its size. Palaeontologists found the skull in rock deposits in Uruguay. It is believed to date back two to four million years to a time when giant wildlife was commonplace in South America. The rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi, was uncovered by Andrés Rinderknecht and Ernesto Blanco....

General Assembly Session Underway – Your Voice Needed! Weekly Legislative Update On Wednesday, January 9, the Virginia General Assembly convened. Read the Washington Blade’s preview of the session. Also, check out Style Weekly’s ( Richmond ) coverage of a new group working against fairness and equality! Equality Virginia will be tracking and monitoring legislation affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, and will be sending out weekly legislative updatess along with additional urgent alerts to keep you informed and let you know how you can help. You can always Take Action on any of the priority legislation at any...

A giant rodent five times the size of a common rat, has been found in the mountainous jungles of New Guinea.

County Dems seek to remove chairman "Misfeasance and negligence" were cited as reasons to strip Richard Evans of his office. By Reed Williams 981-3334 The Roanoke County Democratic Committee moved to dismiss its chairman after a squabble that led to the cancellation of Saturday's party caucus. Committee members sent Richard Evans a letter saying that "by unanimous consent of those present" they voted to "initiate proceedings to consider your removal from office." It is a rare move that no other local Democratic committee across the state has made in at least the past two years, as far as state party...

January 6, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, I think it safe to say that all were disappointed and angry to learn that Governor Kaine’s budget included no funds for a salary increase for teachers in the 2008-09 school year. The fact that the budget doubled the teacher licensure fees when we are getting no salary increase added insult to injury. Having said that, our energy, as this point is best directed at those who can amend the budget bill, your Delegate and your Senator. The Governor proposes and the General Assembly disposes. Our battle is uphill, but it is worth fighting. Even...

Dear Friend, Virginia hasn't voted for a Democrat for president since 1964. But you and I know that Democrats are on the rise here. Virginians are tired of the same old games. We're hungry for excellence in the next president -- excellence in character, in intellect, and in judgment. That's exactly what Barack Obama has shown, from his time as a community organizer working with churches in Chicago to his service in the U.S. Senate. I support Barack because he inspires me. But that's not the only reason. I also support him because I'm a practical person. I want to...

The Year of the Rat is for the opportunist, the proactive, the profiteer and the politician. Year of the Rat This, indeed, will be a year to keep a watchful eye on those who run the world financially, intellectually and dictatorially. The Rat year is also one of change, reform and the year to put well-thought-out strategy to work. Worldwide, it's a time when security will count and when political giants will want to protect what's theirs. As for the average Joe, the Year of the Rat means 12 months to turn losses into gains and instability into security. It...

The U.S. Postal Service revealed its upcoming stamps for 2008. According to the Service's press release, "the 2008 stamp program recognizes a range of subjects as diverse as America itself, from the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrated in Chinatowns all over the country, to 20th century movie icons and literary figures, to the flags of our states and territories." Joining the likes of Bette Davis, Frank Sinatra, journalist Eric Severeid, and numerous other notable Americans, the Post Office will kick off its new stamp series this January by celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with the issuance of the...

Des Moines, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa could make or break a Democratic candidate on Thursday. The question is, who? While the state has long played a key role in choosing the Democratic presidential nominee, it has unparalleled influence this year, even after several larger states moved up their contests to try and muscle in. Those efforts have done little more than compress the calendar into a five-week sprint that ends with the multistate primary Feb. 5 — strengthening Iowa's position as the leadoff caucus state rather than diminishing it. Even New Hampshire, which holds the first primary of the season,...

SAN DIEGO, (AP) -- The House Ethics Committee said Wednesday that it dropped its investigation of U.S. Rep. Bob Filner for his altercation with a baggage employee at Dulles International Airport. Members of its investigative subcommittee unanimously agreed Filner's behavior demonstrated "poor judgment" that reflected badly on the House of Representatives, but they also felt the case was adequately handled in court, according to a committee statement. The California Democrat entered a no-contest plea Nov. 26 in Loudoun County, Va., General District Court to misdemeanor trespassing charges after prosecutors dropped assault and battery counts. He was fined $100 and ordered...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., admitted Thursday that she had underestimated the willingness of Republicans to stand behind President Bush’s Iraq policy despite the drubbing the GOP took in the polls in 2006. “The assumption I made was that the Republicans would soon see the light,” she said. Instead, the minority stuck to the president’s war policy in the face of unrelenting pressure from congressional Democrats and powerful lobbying campaigns by anti-war groups. Bush has consistently refused to accept any limitations on his authority to direct military operations in Iraq, or on funds destined for the war effort. Democrats...

(12-17) 21:46 PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Researchers in a remote Indonesian jungle have discovered a giant rat that is about five times the size of a typical city rat and a tiny possum, scientists said Monday. Unearthing new species of mammals in the 21st century is considered very rare. The discoveries by a team of American and Indonesian scientists are being studied further to confirm their status. The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation International, which organized the trip in the Southeast Asian nation along with...

Former Memphis City Council member Rickey Peete has been ordered to report to federal prison on Jan. 3 to begin serving a 51-month sentence for accepting $12,000 in bribes for his vote on a zoning issue. Peete, 52, pleaded guilty to the federal charges in June, his second conviction for selling his votes. He was ordered Monday to report next month to the Federal Prison Camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He will join former County Commissioner Michael Hooks who began serving a 26-month sentence there last summer for accepting $26,200 in bribes from informants or FBI...

December 17, 2007 Dear xxxxxx, The Governor presented his budget this morning (12/17) and this is a very quick-and-dirty first look. Much more thorough, and perhaps more accurate, information will be provided after we have a chance to dive into the 548 page biennial budget bill, HB30/SB30, and the 271 page caboose bill, SB29. There is no teacher salary increase in the first year of the biennial budget. A 3.5% raise beginning on July 1, 2009 is provided in the second year. This led President Moss to quip, “The glass is half empty, and we cannot drink for another year.”...

Action Alert: Bobby Scot: "Christmas, Bah Humbug!" Congressman Bobby Scott has nothing on old Ebenezer Scrooge. A resolution recognizing the significance of Christmas and the importance of the Christian faith overwhelmingly passed the House this week. The resolution recognized that "Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world," "Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization" and "the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that...

Senator Jim Webb Hype

I can think of two Republican benefits from the potentially political NIE: 1) Hillary goes down. If the NIE is to be believed, then even rational Dems will not be looking for a hawkish candidate. Thus, Obama may be helped in the upcoming primaries. This can only help Republicans, because in the general, Obama would probably be pummelled. If Hillary wins a brutal fight, she'll be weakened. Either way, Republicans benefit. 2) Oil prices go down. One of the things keeping oils prices at such astronomic highs is uncertainty, or the likelihood of a disruption of supply from another Gulf...

NASHVILLE — Embattled state Sen. Jerry Cooper has decided to retire from the Legislature and appeal the record $120,000 civil penalty imposed against him last month by the Registry of Election Finance, according to his attorney. “Simply put, after Sen. Cooper’s well-publicized problems over the last several years, his medical, legal and other bills make it impossible to pay this penalty,” attorney Michael D. Galligan of McMinnville wrote in a letter to Registry Director Drew Rawlins. “Sen. Cooper would represent to the Registry that he intends to retire prior to the next election upon completion of several ongoing projects he...

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., entered a plea days before he was set for trial on assault and battery charges over allegations he pushed a United Airlines baggage employee at Dulles International Airport. At a hearing in Loudoun County's General District Court on Monday, Filner entered a so-called Alford plea to trespassing, according to a statement issued through his attorney. That means he did not admit guilt, but acknowledged sufficient evidence exists for a conviction. He was fined $100, according to the court clerk. Filner was accused in the Aug. 19 incident of trying to barge past a...

The sentencing of former Councilman Oliver Thomas ended moments ago, amid a scene like noneother in the recent spate of indictments and guilty pleas in New Orleans. A mix of Thomas' relatives and friends, reporters, courthouse personnel and others packed the courtroom and spilled out into the hallway to hear U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance sentence Thomas to 37 months in jail. "The defendant has not been truthful or fully cooperative," Vance said in sentencing the former city councilman, who pleaded guilty to a single count of bribery and has refused to provide prosecutors with possible information he might have...