Free Republic

A veteran NYPD officer surrendered to authorities Thursday for using an illegal chokehold on a man during a caught-on-video Queens boardwalk arrest, the first cop busted under a new state law barring the potentially lethal tactic, officials said. Officer David Afanador, suspended without pay shortly after the Sunday incident, was charged with strangulation and attempted strangulation at a Queens Criminal Court appearance. The officer, who was released without bail, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. “The arrest ... is the first step in getting justice,” said attorney Sanford Rubenstein, who represents victim Ricky Bellevue. “The next step...

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR THE 2015 ULTIMATE WEDDING GIVEAWAY COUPLE. They're throwing THE ULTIMATE WEDDING for one lucky couple in Marion County, Florida. Each of the eight couples submitted a video that can be viewed at the link below. The only gay couple is currently in the lead . . . because an agenda must be pushed.

While Bill de Blasio backer Steve Nislick plots to grab the stables once his boy follows through and outlaws carriage horses in Central Park, Liam Neeson visited the actual stables whose “64,000 feet of valuable real estate” Nislick has been drooling over and is plotting to seize under the cover of animal rights. And taught smirking liberal Jon Stewart a thing or two about horses. . .

TAVARES, Fla. —Propane explosions at the Blue Rhino LP gas plant rocked the Tavares area on Monday night. The plant is located at the 300 block of County Road 448 and several residential areas surround it. A 1-mile evacuation of the area was ordered before midnight. A massive emergency response was called for after multiple injuries were reported. Several locals called WESH 2 to report seeing flames and hearing loud explosions.

Kathy Maggio, 56, lives a half block away from the beach on 126th Street, in a one-story brick house in Rockaway, Queens. Hurricane Sandy severely damaged her house: Flood waters gushed in, leaving leaking ceilings, a ruined skylight, water-logged walls and a basement full of destroyed furniture, rugs, and boxes of photos and keepsakes. Maggio said she saw volunteers in her hard-hit neighborhood shortly after the storm hit. "So I saw these guys walking around, removing debris at a neighbor's house," Maggio said. Two days later, she said, half a dozen volunteers were at her door. They were members of...

On Wednesday night, as a fierce northeaster bore down on the weather-beaten Rockaways, the relief groups with a noticeable presence on the battered Queens peninsula were these: the National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Police and Sanitation Departments — and Occupy Sandy, a do-it-yourself outfit recently established by Occupy Wall Street. This stretch of the coast remained apocalyptic, with buildings burned like Dresden and ragged figures shuffling past the trash heaps. There was still no power, and parking lots were awash with ruined cars. On Wednesday morning, as the winds picked up and FEMA closed its office “due...

1. Had to reboot my desktop. It's now frozen on a screen that gives me the choices of F1=Setup or F10=System Recovery. I've tried both ... neither does anything. 2. Lent my laptop to grandchild to watch a movie. It was returned to me with everything sideways. She says it looks like an I-pad now. Grrrr.....

The terrorist attacks scythed through generations of firefighters and Wall Street traders in the largely Irish-Catholic neighborhoods on the Rockaway peninsula. Also, the neighborhood’s Muslim bagel man, and the connection between the 9/11 families and wounded American soldiers.

Marion County sheriff's investigators have arrested six people in connection with the death and disposal of a 15-year-old boy in Summerfield whose body was burned and shoveled into paint cans. The victim, Seath Tyler Jackson, of Belleview, was lured to 13896 SE 53rd Ave. on Sunday, where he was severely beaten, shot multiple times with a .22-caliber handgun, beaten again and, after showing signs of life, shot another time, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Republican Florida governor-elect Rick Scott slammed President Obama’s ban on offshore drilling near the coast of Florida. Mr. Scott issued a statement saying Wednesday’s decision is another example of the government regulation impeding economic growth. Mr. Scott said drilling could be conducted safely if proper regulations were implemented. Offshore drilling does not currently occur near the coast of Florida. The Obama administration announced a ban on offshore drilling, shelving plans to open offshore waters near Florida to oil and gas drilling. Officials said the decision was due, in part, to the BP oil disaster earlier this year. The western coast...

Five children were killed in a house fire in Citra Monday night. Three brothers -- Joseph Jordan, 15, Austin Jordan, 13, and William Jordan Jr., 8 -- and their two sisters -- Shyanne Jordan, 12, and Trinity Jordan, 6 -- were killed in the fire at 1760 N.E. 182nd Place. Their 21-year-old aunt, Kyla Cole, was severely burned.

We stopped by Rick's rally and got a great picture of him with my grandson!

<p>Andrew Breitbart is reporting that former President Bill Clinton and James Carville are planning a counter offensive against the tea party movement. According to BigGovernment.com, their plans are to identify 7- 8 national figures active in the tea party movement and engage in a smear campaign against them. You can read more on Clinton's plans at the link below.</p>

Monday, January 18th, 2010 2:00pm - 4:00pm In Celebration of Martin Luther King Day TEA PARTY SOLUTIONS, INC. IS HAVING A TEA PARTY! Join the millions of Americans that are speaking up and saying ‘NO MORE”. If you believe in the conservative values this country was founded on the rights Martin Luther King fought for, don’t miss this event. Our lineup of speakers and entertainment are include: “THE SIGNING AUCTIONEER” Dane Bailey Joining us from Ft. Wayne, In., In 2006, Dane was honored with an invitation to sing at the “Pageant of Peace,” an annual event held at the National...

National Level Exercise 2009 (NLE 09) is scheduled for July 27 through July 31, 2009. NLE 09 will be the first major exercise conducted by the United States government that will focus exclusively on terrorism prevention and protection, as opposed to incident response and recovery. < snip > NLE 09 is a White House directed, Congressionally - mandated exercise that includes the participation of all appropriate federal department and agency senior officials, their deputies, staff and key operational elements. In addition, broad regional participation of state, tribal, local, and private sector is anticipated. This year the United States welcomes the...

I invited someone to join Free Republic on Wednesday evening, during Obama's presser, but she seems to have a problem registering. This is the message I received from her: I have not received a password, even though I registered right after your invitation...as well as another attempt today. Also, I have emailed the Webmaster as recommended. Did you have any problems with this?

Tax Day Tea Party in Ocala, Florida

Okay, I'm on Obama's mailing list. It's one of those keep your enemies close . . . Well, I just get voting instructions: Here are some tips to help you make sure Election Day in Florida goes smoothly: Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Even if you're in line at 7:00 p.m., you still have the right to vote. You will be asked to show an approved form of ID when you arrive at the polls. Bring your Florida driver's license or other acceptable ID with your photo and signature. The address on your ID does...

Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in New Port Richey, FL Sims Park Corner of Grand Blvd & Bank Street New Port Richey, FL 34652 Doors Open at 6:00 a.m. Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Polk City, FL Fantasy of Flight 1400 Broadway Blvd, SE Polk City, FL 33868 Doors Open at 9:00 a.m. Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Ocala, FL. West Port High School 3733 SW 80th Avenue Ocala, FL 34481 Doors Open at 12:00 p.m.

A fired staffer for an affiliate of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now testified Wednesday the organization was provided a "donor list" from the presidential campaign of Barack Obama in late 2007 for fundraising efforts.~ snip ~ Moncrief said she has a copy of a "development plan" that outlines how Obama contributors who had "maxed out" under federal contribution limits would be targeted to give to Project Vote, and that it was her job to identify such contributors.