Free Republic

Given that many moderate and conservative Californians see Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto pen as all that protects them from the most far-left Legislature north of Caracas, it may be a surprise to learn that so far the governor's sign-to-veto ratio on bills sent his way is a stunning 19 to 1. As of yesterday afternoon, Schwarzenegger had given his official blessings to 379 measures while only rejecting 20. The governor seems to think California doesn't have enough laws already. We disagree. Here is our second list of bills now on Schwarzenegger's desk whose next stop should be the trash can, not...

The University of California's Board of Regents should show more respect for the taxpayers. The UC system is embroiled in a scandal over secret compensation deals and lavish perks. So what do the regents do last week? Approve large raises for top executives. Few of us would begrudge UC employees a modest raise to cover the rising cost of living. But the regents last week approved $770,000 in raises for 71 UC executives, some getting pay hikes of as much as 15 percent. "They have the greatest disparity to the comparable positions elsewhere," Judith Hopkinson, chairman of the regents' compensation...

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke yesterday at the annual conference of the Western Governors Association in Sedona, Arizona, where he pushed three resolutions on alternative energy and global warming. “We should fundamentally change our approach to energy,” he declared. “We've all seen the pictures of melting glaciers. We know the dangers of climate change. How the oceans are getting warmer, how they're rising. How agriculture can be threatened.” "We are long past the time when we can just talk about this problem," said the former action superstar, who is being challenged for re-election by Democrat Phil Angelides. "We must take action."...

A woman from St. Paul was wounded this week near Cincinnati during a freeway shootout that killed the assistant to top-selling rap artist T.I. Janice Gillespie, 22, part of an entourage that included T.I., was hospitalized in stable condition. The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., was not hurt. But Philant Johnson, 26, his assistant, was slain during a shootout Wednesday. The shooting was the latest in a string of violent incidents involving hip-hop artists during the past month. Cincinnati police said the 3 a.m. shootout between Harris' entourage and unidentified locals may have carried over from...

The most important thing for any poor person trying to improve his or her condition is, of course, a job. It is the entry-level job that accords impoverished workers – even those with no skills, no references and no employment record -- the invaluable opportunity to succeed and to prosper. It is literally the first rung up the ladder of success. If that is true, then the most vicious conceivable governmental policy would be one that eliminates entry-level jobs, making it harder and harder for the poor to get a foothold in life. Yet that is precisely what the state...

Katie Holmes Called 'Stepford Wife' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Susan Hatch Apr 7, 2006 It was only a matter of time. The fabulous Katie Holmes has been dubbed as behaving like a 'Stepford wife.' She has been quite odd since this whole - I wanna marry my dream guy Tom Cruise thing stated. Katie Accused: Stepford Wife Now here come the brainwashing hints. Who better to deliver the story than Page Six. The gossip column asks - What's up with Katie Holmes? *** The once vivacious actress is like a "Stepford" wife ever since she hooked up with Tom Cruise and Scientology....

An unauthorised biography of Barbra Streisand alleges the singer has had more than her fair share of celebrity sexfests in her day. In his new book, Barbra: The Way She Is, Christopher Anderson alleges Streisand notched up many big names on her star-studded belt, including Prince Charles, Dodi Fayed, Andre Agassi and Bill Clinton. Other alleged former conquests include Warren Beatty, Ryan O'Neal, Steve McQueen, Kris Kristofferson, Don Johnson, Jon Voight, Elliott Gould, Richard Gere, Omar Sharif and Liam Neeson. Anderson says the 63-year-old actress is "cheap", prone to huge tantrums and has a "Maria Callas-sized ego". Streisand was also...

Easy riders, free loaders The Stockholm chapter of the Hell's Angels biker gang is under investigation for benefit fraud after police noticed that 70 per cent of its members were claiming state disability payments after being certified as depressed by the same doctor. Christer Nilsson, deputy head of Stockholm police's criminal investigation department said: "It seems to be depressing being a member of this club." The Hell's Angels have a violent reputation in Scandinavia, allegedly participating in frequent shootouts and bomb attacks. However, in recent years they are believed to have branched out into benefit and tax frauds, police said.

1/6/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- By dawn, Airmen of the 424th Medium Truck Detachment had finished preparing for their mission -- move Army 4th Infantry Division supplies and material from Kuwait into Iraq. These Airmen do not fly their cargo, and it’s quite possible they may go their entire deployment without even seeing a flightline. Instead, they drive the most dangerous roads in the world in tractor-trailers and gun trucks to deliver their cargo to Iraq. “I want this to be a safe trip,” convoy commander Tech. Sgt. Bill Bellmore said as he reviewed safety procedures, truck assignments and...

Though copy editors and popular writers have known it for long, an experiment by a psychologist establishes the key to impressive writing - keep it plain and simple. Writers who use long words needlessly and choose complicated font styles in print are seen as less intelligent than those who employ basic vocabulary and plain text, according to new research from the Princeton University in New Jersey to be published in the next edition of Applied Cognitive Psychology. In the study titled 'Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly', Daniel Oppenheimer based his findings...

Big Easy 5K Run Aids Hurricane Victims The run raised more than $6,200 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund. By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Timmons 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq, Oct. 21, 2005 — While Iraqi citizens were helping themselves take a step forward to a representative government during the constitutional referendum, some U.S. soldiers were helping those struck hard by Hurricane Katrina by donating time and money to the Big Easy 5K run held here Oct. 16. "I like to run and it was a good cause." U.S. Army...

Threatened with eviction at gunpoint, the Big Easy holdouts are now hailed as heroes By Toby Harnden in New Orleans (Filed: 18/09/2005)A Starving Pit Bull Attacks A Bull Beside The New Orleans Bayou Just days since they were being urged, sometimes at gunpoint, to leave their homes, the hardy band of residents who sat tight in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina are now being encouraged to stay put and help to restart the city. In a remarkable U-turn, the authorities - who had previously reviled, goaded and even threatened force against the few hundred remaining "holdouts" - are hailing them...

Rather got off too easy By Al Knight Denver Post Columnist Article Published: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 An independent panel's probe of the disputed Sept. 8 "60 Minutes" report on President Bush's National Guard service allows for only one conclusion: The program segment was an example of lousy, if not biased, journalism and most of the culprits responsible, especially CBS producer Mary Mapes, deserved to be fired. However, for reasons not yet clear, CBS anchorman Dan Rather was spared a similar fate. Although Rather has resigned his anchorman position, he will continue to work for CBS on both the Sunday...

Easy commute for delegates: Local pols opt for posh downtown digs By David R. Guarino Friday, June 25, 2004 As commuters sweat through convention gridlock, area pols and delegates - many who live within a few miles of the FleetCenter - will be living it up in posh, traffic-free serenity at their own downtown hotel. Nearly 140 delegates, led by the state's top pols, reserved rooms at the Fairmont Copley Plaza by today's deadline - including several congressmen, state constitutional officers and dozens of state lawmakers, the Herald has learned. Two-thirds of the delegates live within 30 miles of the...

Sitting on the floor of his Karachi apartment, Ramzi bin al-Shieb laid out in stunning detail the anatomy of the 9/11 attacks. As one of the masterminds of September 11, he had a lot to share. Talking this June with a reporter from al-Jazeera--the Arab-language network of choice for Qaeda terrorists--bin al-Shieb discussed everything from the “conquests and heroism of Islam” to America’s support for Israel, in addition, of course, to the particulars of 9/11. With close ties to both Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the 9/11 hijackers, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, believed to be the new operational leader of...

<p>FROM electricity, to software, to myriad goods and services purchased through a no-bid contracting program, the suspicion is running strong in Sacramento that the state is business friendly in a way never intended: It's an easy mark.</p> <p>Electricity is an old story that got a fresh jolt Wednesday with the accusation that Perot Systems, which wrote the software for the electricity marketplace, told sellers of power how to ``game'' the system for profit.</p>