Free Republic

Rhode Island is poised to join nine other states and the District of Columbia in allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. Gov. Lincoln Chafee planned to sign gay marriage legislation into law Thursday evening, immediately following a final procedural vote in the state’s General Assembly. The outcome of the vote is not in doubt. Hundreds are expected to gather at the Statehouse to celebrate the new law, which has already passed the House and Senate once. The first weddings could take place Aug. 1, when the new law would take effect. …

Former GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., now supports the rights of gay Americans to adopt children, though he still believes marriage “is between a man and a woman.” In a town hall meeting with constituents in Wisconsin on Monday, the House Budget Committee chairman said he has changed his mind on the adoption issue, even though his opinions on other aspects of gay rights have remained unchanged. To date, two Republican senators — Rob Portman of Ohio, who had been in the mix for Mitt Romney’s No. 2 spot, and Mark S. Kirk of Illinois — have...

Kaitlyn Hunt, 18, had her entire life before her. Graduation. College. Job prospects. The high school senior was just preparing to start her life when she found herself expelled and slapped with criminal charges over her engagement in a same-sex relationship. And what started as a relationship between two young women has snowballed into a legal battle that could land Hunt in prison. The story has many twists, turns and oddities. And so far, only one side — that of Hunt family — is being told. The high school senior apparently met her girlfriend, who is now 15-years-old, on the...

http://www.kpho.com/story/22124354/jury-finds-jodi-arias-guilty-of-first-degree-murder

The U.S. government had the ability to “react and respond” to the Benghazi terrorist attack and could have had forces on the ground before the second wave of the assault began, a special operator with knowledge of the response told Fox News in an exclusive interview. Due to the explosive nature of his allegations, the special ops member asked to remain anonymous. “I know for a fact that C 110 the UComm CIF was doing a training exercise, not in the region of northern Africa, but in Europe. And they had the ability to react and respond,” he told Fox...

When accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev gave up his University of Massachusetts Dartmouth dorm room at Pine Dale Hall for accommodations at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Medical Center Devens, he left behind his $22,000 a year tuition, room and meals payment and picked up a somewhat similar set of taxpayer-indulged amenities, save one: freedom.

Nigeria Police say at least eight people have been killed in an attack on a church service at a Nigerian university in the northern city of Kano. Explosions and gunfire rocked Bayero University, with witnesses reporting that two church services were targeted as they were being held on campus. One of the services was being held outdoors, while the second was inside a building, but with an overflow audience outside, witnesses said. Officials were unable to confirm casualty figures, but one correspondent counted six bullet-riddled bodies near one of the two sites and said other bodies had been seen on...

MoveOn.org has started a petition to get ESPN reporter Chris Broussard immediately suspended from the network for comments he made regarding Jason Collins's homosexuality, which Broussard said was a sin according to his personal Christian beliefs. The group said Broussard was engaging in "gay bashing." The petition reads: Chris Broussard's hateful attack on Jason Collins for being gay was an unacceptable misrepresentation of the Christian faith. ESPN must immediately suspend Chris Broussard and guarantee that their network will never again be used for gay bashing. In its "petition background" statement, the left-wing organization says that after Jason Collins "emphasized the...

My thought is certain recreational drugs, such as marijuana, should remain off legal limits for the under 18 year olds, but become legally available when used in the proper environment. In many ways, pot is quite similar to alcohol, in that they should be used responsibly. My thought is to make the sale of marijuana less profitable by making it legal for home use. Personally, I don't smoke anything now, and do not want the smell of tobacco or pot on my clothes should I visit a public place, such as a shopping mall or bus stop. I know this...

In his first congressional hearing as secretary of State, John Kerry tells lawmakers that, after the Benghazi attacks, the US must fortify security for diplomats, press for a two-state solution in the Middle East. Seven months after the deadly terrorist attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, the State Department is proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in new security spending – tacit acknowledgement that some of the most effective security enhancements for America’s overseas diplomats are still months or years away. Secretary of State John Kerry told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday that the department’s proposed fiscal...

Dear Presedent Obama My name is Alexander. I’m 7. Please change the law about killing babys when they are still in mommy’s tummys. This babys are a live and not one chose to die. Please make a new law that will protect the babys. Marten Luther King, Jr. had a drem and he changed America and I also have a dream that Momys have to take good care of the babys in there tummys and bring babys to the orfanedg and other mommys can adopt them and they will be happy. I will also be Presedent wen I grow up....

Survey after survey has shown that views on basic social issues often move very slowly. But support for marriage equality is turning out to be one big exception to the rule. According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 58 percent of Americans now think it should be legal for same-sex couples to get married. That is an astounding increase from a low of 32 percent less than a decade ago. And in another shift that is seen as directly related to support for equal rights, only 24 percent see homosexuality as a choice, compared to 40 percent almost 20...

Today Meghan McCain and Margaret Hoover paired up to pen an op-ed for USA Today, calling on conservatives to support marriage equality. In the article, McCain and Hoover outline the inevitable demise of anti-LGBT organizations and leadership, as country continues to shift support toward marriage equality. They wrote: Marriage is marriage, whether a person is straight or gay. Marriage also promotes outcomes that we as conservatives should support: stable homes, with committed couples who take care of themselves without government intrusion. We know the benefits to society from healthy marriages, and we celebrate them. Our fellow Republicans should be strengthening...

Hello Brothers and Sisters – There’s an insidious heresy going around the Body of Christ. It sounds something like this: “[Because of the license given by the LORD Jesus to believers in Luke 22:36-38 to carry and use deadly weapons, I say, “Better the death of Masada than the death of Dachau when the government illegally violates the 2nd amendment, and lawlessly comes to confiscate my gun(s)]�. Before we begin, let’s remember that Scripture has no contradictions per John 10:35, and per 2 Timothy 2:15 there is a right and wrong way to interpret scripture. It is even possible per...

Last week, Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio announced that he had reversed his position on same-sex marriage. The reason was that his son had come out to him and his wife as gay. This is not the first such instance. Periodically, we hear about Republican politicians whose child announces that he or she is gay, prompting the parent to change his mind about the man-woman definition of marriage. As a parent, I understand these parents. We love our children, and we want them to love us. Nevertheless I differ with their decisions to support the redefinition of marriage. In...

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ –We need to seek Jesus with repentance (Acts 26:20), fasting (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35), weeping, and round the clock prayer, until God visits as he did in the Welsh Revival, after the Revolutionary War, and just before the Civil War, and throughout the 20th century. The USA is in serious trouble with the LORD. This should be apparent from … American Christianity has until the coming revival been in decline and is helpless against porn, divorce, sin, … Despite the LORD telling us in Matthew 5:13 to be "salt", the Church in...

<p>Greetings fellow patriots! Houston we have a problem! A big one. I'm located in South Louisina 337. On February 28 a white SUV pulled up to the house with red DHS lettering with Texas plates. (Texas WTH i thought y'all were with us) I saw them pull in the drive an met them outside at their truck 2 agents late 40s-50s. They say Hi we are here doing a survey. One agent pulls out 3 volumes (looked like phone books almost sizewise) He ruffles through the pages in first then second volume. He finds my list (The 1 that they don't have). he says so we are doing a survey and we are going around visiting everyone and trying to verify if you own or still have these firearms. He proceeds to show me my list. Every gun i bought from a dealer is on this list. Every one from 22s to Mosin Nagants and everything in between. I was blown away and still am. Many bricks have been shat since then! I told them nah i don't have any of those dangerous baby killers gave them all away after Newtown. They left but sat parked down the road for a couple hours. Probably coordinating drone strike. I have ony told a couple of close friends i trust. I've been tryng to keep it together. The first person i told also had a visit exactly 2 weeks before me. He ordered a questionable part off the net an that's what the agents told him they were after. He lives 5 minutes down the road. I was freaked then but I didn't think anything of it you know he brought it on himself. Until i got a visit. All my stuff is legal and above board. No worries on that part. But then why did i recieve a visit? I don't know i've been gripped with fear since. Keeping watch on my porch, almost sleeping outside some nights. And then yesterday my wife's friends parents who are an hour north of us got a visit. Only the mom was home and she told them to hit the street. These people are farmers and have guns but mostly Fudd guns and relics passed down. The father was going somewhere on business this weekend and next week. He cancelled. Even the Fudds aren't safe from this. My only solace in all of this is the 3 massive volumes the jackboots had. I know i'm not the only one. I don't know what to do?! It took this long for me to tell somebody else. My wife and i are scared shitless!I'm not sure if they are testing the waters seeing who will comply. Or if it's something else entirely. Why down here? Why not in Commiefornia or one of these other liberal dreamlands? I thougt we were good we just voted to strengthen the 2nd in our state. i just keep saying in my head. WTF?</p>

FR is going lame again, where is the tech support when you need them?

I got a troll zotted yesterday, then all of a sudden this morning I get the following email (to the email address attached to my FR profile) from "Organizing for Action" (rapid pro-Obama group): Hi -- Thanks for saying you’re in for the next phase of our grassroots movement. I’m excited to get the chance to work with you as we set out to finish what we started. Over the next four years, we’ve got an incredible opportunity to keep moving this country forward. This grassroots movement has shown time and again that ordinary people have the power to change...

<p>The Associated Press on Thursday updated its stylebook so that married individuals will be referred to as husband and wife, regardless of whether they are in a same-sex marriage. The change comes a week after the AP received criticism for an internal memo designating the word "partners" for individuals in same-sex marriages.</p>

The Archbishop of Lyon, Philippe Cardinal Barbarin visited the Grand Mosque of Lyon, and there prayed for the release of a seven-member French family who has been kidnapped in Cameroon and is held hostage. "Does Allah hear the prayers more than our Lord Jesus Christ?," asks the French website Riposte Catholique

"They say not to feed the trolls. But we knew that."

Lost Freepers: What ever happened to FReepers such as... NativeNewYorker

The very notion that His Holiness, The Pope, way over there in Rome (Vatican) would ask me anything at all is of course, somewhat ludicrous and highly unlikey, to say the least. That is my initial disclaimer and statement of humility before I even start my excercise of answering questions I have not been seriously asked. Still, in the privacy of my home, I hold opinions, and by the miracle of this internet connection, I can speak to you by the press of a button. So, with that said, let's talk for a bit. Anyone could hold a valid point...

Please, do not laugh. Barack Obama has the same qualifications to be Pope, as he has to be a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, or President of the United States. If Obama can win the Nobel Peace Prize, then we cannot say with 100 percent certainty, that he cannot become Pope. Stranger things have happened. As far as I am aware, one does not need to be a Cardinal in order to become Pope. The job is open to any Baptized male Catholic. Two Popes, Benedict IX (1012 - 1056) and John XII (930 - 964), become Popes when...

RON PAUL, Republican of Texas, has retired from the House, after winning more than two million presidential primary votes in 2012. He took the party’s libertarian wing from ignorable fringe to significant faction. His son, Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, is angling to lead that faction, very possibly as a presidential candidate himself. The libertarian wing’s dissatisfaction with Mitt Romney led the Libertarian Party to earn 1.2 million votes in the presidential election for its candidate, the former New Mexico governor (and former Republican) Gary Johnson. That was its largest vote total ever. In at least seven national House...

Hello fellow free republicans! I've been reading more and more online about how Atheists have started a movement to have Atheistic Churches the way doctrinal/theological religions do. Regardless of where you stand it's certainly a thought-provoking movement seeing as Atheism has long been an intellectual perspective of DOUBT in any religion. But I found an interesting video on youtube/cleantv.com about it. It's only 3 minutes so it is well worth your time. So check it out! I'm interested to see what others think about atheistic movements in our culture. http://www.clean.tv/Web/ProgramDetail.aspx?pid=670

Young Republicans in Iowa are still split on the institution of marriage being extended to gay people. But there is a growing consensus among college-aged GOPers that in order to win elections, the party's focus should be elsewhere. Gay and lesbian campus groups and College Republicans haven't exactly been friendly to one another over the years, in Iowa or the rest of the country. But there are signs that with this coming generation the trend could be changing, and for the Republican Party that could be critical. "As a young Republican, I see where the party’s coming from with the...

Anderson Cooper's 10pm show is set to be slashed by CNN chief Jeff Zucker to make room for a big new hire, network sources have revealed. The TV favourite, 45, hosts Anderson Cooper 360° at 8pm every weekday and the show is repeated at 10pm, with Brit Piers Morgan sandwiched in between. However, as part of a huge raft of changes at the network, Zucker plans to axe the 10pm segment, paving the way for a news star to anchor another show.

I was banned from Facebook for posting a screenshot of a comment on Facebook where another user hoped someone would shoot and kill my kids with a gun. The person who said it was not banned, but because I shared the lady's name - I was. Facebook is ridiculous.

While the title says it all, I thought a goodbye was in order. While I've been a FReeper for well over a decade, I must declare that it is time to part ways. While I have the greatest respect for a great many of you, the days where I can in good conscience remain silent about the issues that set me apart from the rest of FReeperdom have past. For clarity, or perhaps catharsis, I'm not entirely certain which, I'll lay them out on the table an call the ZOT™ down upon myself. The racism: I just can't handle it...

I have a serious question for the "conservatives" on here. Why do you assume the GOP is conservative and why do you continue to support them? In he past 10 years the GOP has done nothing to prove they are a conservative alternative to the leftist democrats. They crow about fiscal restraint but GWB pushed the national debt to 10 trillion( don't throw out the Obama raised it 16, we know and it's not an answer). He started wars without congressional approval, gave us the TSA, Patriot act, warrantless wiretaps, drones flying over the country. Expanded medicare the list goes...

DEMOCRATS (109 VOTES) My party should support it: 97% My party should oppose it: 0% My party should avoid the issue: 2% Other: 1% "Marriage equality is a vote-getter for Democrats and a vote-loser for the party of the last century, the Republicans." "More and more states are adopting marriage equality, and it is time for the U.S.A. to lead on this issue." "No issue has changed more dramatically than support for gay marriage over the last 10 years. In 20 years, it won't even be an issue." "It's a nonissue. Americans support the concept. Let's move on!"... REPUBLICANS (99...

I saw something today that upset and deeply disturbed me. I was walking past my son's bedroom, where he spends all his time on his computer playing those damn games of his. I stopped when I heard the sound of Wayne LaPierre's voice as he gave his speech about the Newtown massacre. I was surprised my son, who is just 14, was getting involved in anything political, but I was glad he was exposing himself to the right people. I opened the door, intending to tell him how proud I was, when the image on the screen stopped me cold....

House Speaker John Boehner barely held onto his job atop Congress’ lower chamber on Thursday.

The End is Near!

Making the Ultimate Sacrifice Report on Law Enforcement Officer Deaths Released Tragically, during 2011, 72 law enforcement officers from around the nation were killed in the line of duty, while another 53 officers died in accidents while performing their duties. And 54,774 officers were assaulted in the line of duty…all according to our just-released annual report Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2011Here’s a look at some of the data collected for this report: While the 72 officers killed in the line of duty came from city, university and college, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies, the majority (50)...

Who is blocking comments on the Free Republic I used to love. (Used to being the KEY WORD here). Has Jim been warned not to let anything controversial (anti Obama - anti government) pass? Have we lost our right of free speech? Yes. It definitely has been or is being enforced on FR this past month or so.

In recent minutes, the IAF assassinate Ahmed Abu Jalal, a senior Hamas terrorist, in and air strike. The IAF also hit another car in the strike.

It seems to me that we're holding all the cards in this sequestration negotiation. We don't need to protect a President Romney and have nothing to lose, really. This is the deal I would offer Obama: We'll give you tax increases for $250k and higher. We'll even eliminate the debt ceiling. But, he needs to agree to repeal Obamacare. If he chooses not to accept our offer, tell him he'll have until X date in December, at which point everyone will head home for Christmas and he can explain to the American people why he's putting "economic patriotism" aside for...

For the last two days I've been hearing conservatives decry "the death of the conservative movement" or "the end of the Republican Party," as well as a lot of other hyperbolic nonsense. Believe me: this happens every time a Democrat gets elected. And it happens every time a Republican gets elected on the other side. Passion is a great thing, but don't buy into all the crap. You lost an election; it happens and it's part of politics. What you should be thinking about is *how* you lost the election and how to win the next one. To figure that...

After MONTHS of letting posters write horrid things about Mormons and bash Romney to no end, after SWEARING he would NEVER in a million years vote for a MORMON for the Presidency- is it any wonder that Jim Robinson, when realizing his "FREEPATHON BEGATHON" wasn't going quite so well following the exodus of members, changed his tune. After weeks of being told he was aiding Obama, he FINALLY changed his tune. And where did he choose to announce his "EPIPHANY"? In his FREEPATHON thread. Robinson no more cares about principles or conservatism than Obama. The MINUTE people jumped ship (MANY...

Starting with the best available source of trend data and adding a bit of thought and analysis, I come up with the following conclusions. First, the reasoning: The Northeast: The Northeast is a solid Democratic Party stronghold, and with the growth of the Northern Virginia suburbs has expanded to include that state in its political orbit. The South: The South remains mostly Republican. However, Hurricane Sandy exerts a strong political impact here, giving President Obama an opportunity to display his leadership chops while reminding people of Dubya's inept handling of Katrina. This effect isn't great enough to tip the Gulf...

<p>Romney was a liberal in Massachusetts, we all know that. Romney wasn't on board with the Reagan Revolution. That's a deal killer and a game changer with me.</p> <p>Yet now he mouths all the right conservative things (kill big bird-- yeah I like that).</p> <p>SO THE QUESTION IS...</p>

Hey FReeper's. I HATE to admit it,but I am TRULY becoming concerned about the election. I hate to sound negative, and I TRULY don't listen to the polls (with the exception of Rasmussen),but I am starting to get the sinking feeling, that we are SUNK, and that Obama is going to get re-elected, no matter HOW WELL, Mitt does on Wednesday night! I TRULY think that there are more people, that are idiots and Kool Aid drinkers, then there are informed,rational, intelligent people (like those found here at FR), in our GREAT COUNTRY. Am I off base here, or am...

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ver two decades, the Boy Scouts of America failed to report hundreds of alleged child molesters to police and often hid the allegations from parents and the public. A Los Angeles Times review of 1,600 confidential files dating from 1970 to 1991 has found that Scouting officials frequently urged admitted offenders to quietly resign — and helped many cover their tracks. Volunteers and employees suspected of abuse were allowed to leave citing bogus reasons such as business demands, "chronic brain dysfunction" and duties at a Shakespeare festival. The details are contained in the organization's confidential "perversion files," a blacklist of...

Islam believes in freedom of speech, because freedom (from hell) is part of Islam. Other kinds of freedoms have to have limits. When the true profit is denigrated, three billion Muslims are offended, so there must be consequences. Islam is a revealed religion, so it must be protected and honored, none more deserving than the Profit (saw). As believers in the Allmitey and in religious decency, we must instigate riots and kill those who share the same citizenship as those who perpetrated the crime against Islam. I hope we all unite and go KABOOOM!

Here is a better way to look at this ... the government should not be in the marriage business, and marriage is not a political issue. Gay people, for the most part, express a desire to get married for the benefits that are extended to married couple [rights like Social Security benefits, child care tax credits, Family and Medical Leave to take care of loved ones, and COBRA healthcare for spouses and children]. Government should allow people to engage in civil unions [this includes men and women], only. Marriage should be left to the churches. Then, any one can have...

Those of you who listened to Rush yesterday already know this, but: Just as he was coming upon a commercial break, at one point in the broadcast, he closed out with this statement: "Latest poll shows 77 percent of Missourians forgive Todd Akin. He trails McCaskill by only one point. Hmmmmmmm.........."