Free Republic

 10. Blog hawking (I know, I know, we're supposed to be nice.)  9. Run-on, single-paragraph posts 8. Pings to Jim Robinson with kiss ass complements 7. Posting "hugh and series", "stuned beeber" or "Bush's fault" 6. A post asking a noOb if they are sure they're logged in 5. Passive-aggressive keyword epithet war 4. Satire posts that fool you (the rest are hilarious) 3. Viking Kitties (just kidding... love ya'... really...  who'd poke fun at you...  rah roh.) 2. Vanities 1. ...

NEW YORK — A television actress testified Wednesday about her real-life role in a campaign corruption scandal that has embarrassed some of the Democratic Party's biggest names. Susan Chilman told jurors at the federal trial in Manhattan of longtime fundraiser and admitted investment cheat Norman Hsu that she was completely clueless about the politicians she supported at his behest. "I didn't know who the candidates were," Chilman said. The prosecution witness — with roles in "Brothers & Sisters," "CSI Miami" and "ER" under the stage name Susan Pari — testified that in recent years she had given nearly $42,000 to...

California collected just $7.34 billion in personal income tax payments in April, putting further stress on the state's budget. The state controller's office said the collections in April were down from $13 billion a year earlier. About a quarter of all income tax revenue is collected in April, the agency said. In addition, the dismal April means the state is falling behind the revenue forecasts incorporated into the budget deal adopted by the Legislature in February.

Michael Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee wants the GOP to reach out to candidates who support gay marriage and are pro-choice. Steele told Fox's Chris Wallace that it was "important" to reach out to those voters. WALLACE: You are one of the co-founders of something called the Republican Leadership Council which supports candidates who favor abortion and gay rights. STEELE: Yes. (watch video) WALLACE: Does the GOP needs to do a better job of reaching out to people who hold those views? STEELE: I think -- I think that's an important opportunity for us, absolutely. Within...

We've got some real challenges facing us. FR was established to fight against government corruption, overstepping, and abuse and to fight for a return to the limited constitutional government as envisioned and set forth by our founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and other founding documents. One of the biggest cases of government corruption, overstepping and abuse that I know of is its disgraceful headlong slide into a socialist hell. Our founders never intended for abortion to be the law of the land. And they never intended the Supreme Court to be a legislative body. They...

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front blamed Tuesday the Philippine government for the current crisis affecting peace negotiations between the GRP and MILF panels. In a statement, MILF Chaiman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said the government should adhere to the consensus points and a draft proposal on the issue of ancestral domain. He added that such moves could avert the possible disintegration of the peace process and may spark another round of talks.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has written a book about the Boy Scouts, and he includes a less-than-flattering story about Mitt Romney, suggesting that the Republican presidential hopeful bowed to the homosexual rights lobby during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Here is a portion of what Mr. Perry had to say about Mr. Romney in the new book... "In 2000 (Romney) put out a published call for volunteers ... The Great Salt Lake Council of the BSA, the largest in the nation, with some 80,000 Scouts and 35,000 adult leaders, answered Romney's call for volunteers." "Some...

Video clips of a dog being decapitated with a chain saw were found on the cell phone of a St. Paul man accused of killing his former girlfriend's pet, according to charges filed Friday. The man, Anthony Albert Gomez, 24, is charged with two counts of cruelty to pets. He is currently being held on $35,000 bail and was scheduled to make his first appearance in Ramsey County District Court Friday afternoon. After cutting off the dog's head, Gomez allegedly gift-wrapped it in a box and left it on the doorstep of Crystal Brown, 17, whom he had once dated....

A STRONG earthquake hit Papua New Guinea today. The US Geological Survey said the 6.5 magnitude quake hit at 9.25am local time, with an epicentre 577km from Port Moresby.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery prepared to leave the International Space Station on Friday while ground control teams revamped landing plans to handle a small leak in one of the ship's power generators. Managers believe the leak is inconsequential but because there is not enough proof, they are proceeding cautiously. [snip] The shuttle has three power units needed to move the body flaps, speed brakes and other critical landing gear. It can safely land with just one, though two or more make for greater control, Shannon said. One unit has a tiny leak, about six drops per hour,...

This is Part I of a three-part series. No one in their right mind would consider Jerome Corsi a liberal or a leftist. Corsi received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science in 1972 and has written many books and articles, including co-authoring with John O'Neill the No. 1 New York Times best seller "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry." The 2004 book was a defining character study of presidential candidate John Kerry. "Unfit for Command" may have been the single biggest reason John Kerry is not president today and George W. Bush is....

Extremely dangerous and large Category Five Hurricane Rita is churning westward across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Air Force Reconnaissance indicated the central pressure has dropped to 904mb, making Rita the fifth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Northern Mexico through the South Louisiana coastline. Galveston TX used school buses to evacuate residents. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in effect along the Texas coastline. The following links are self-updating: Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET NHC Discussion Published every six hours...

There are just some songs that are so good, that when heard on the car radio, they trigger an automatic reflex to pop open a frosty cold brew. I know it's illegal in most states, but the law be damned when RYS (Retrograde Youth Syndrome) is triggered by the the following songs: 10. Pride and Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughn) 9. Wild Night (Van Morrison) 8. Locomotive Breath (Tull) 7. White Room (Cream) 6. You Shook Me (AC/DC) 5. London Calling (clash) 4. Sultans of Swing (Dire Staights) 3. Honky Tonk Women (Stones) 2. Roadhouse Blues (Doors) 1. La Grange (ZZ...

Fri 28 Jan 2005 9:06am (UK) Scooby Doo Punched in Face By James Tapsfield, PA A nightclubber dressed as Scooby Doo was attacked by a man who seems to have objected to his costume, police said today. The 25-year-old victim had just got into a taxi outside the Escape club in Margate, Kent, at around 3am today when he was assaulted. A spokeswoman for Kent Police said a 6ft tall, stocky white man wearing a cream coat opened the cab door and punched the famous cartoon character in the face. She said: “He didn’t know him, and he doesn’t seem...