Free Republic

James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas has released the second installment of its undercover video series unmasking the deep state within the United States Federal Government. This time the investigation covers Department of Justice paralegal Allison Hrabar and Jessica Schubel, the former HHS Chief of Staff for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration. While undercover cameras were rolling, Schubel admitted that “…there’s like a little resistance movement” inside of the federal government. ... In particular, Hrabar knows a DSA member inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who is “…slowing what they do” in order to help people...

Many years ago we heard a lot about a silent majority. What is it? It is an unspecified, large number of people in our country who do not express their opinions publicly and do not take part in public discourse. Richard Nixon first popularized the phrase in presidential politics because he, along with others, saw this group of middle Americans and common people being overshadowed by the biased news media and more vocal, liberal minority with their paid for political leaders. I believe we are witnessing a major bipartisan revolt and uprising of the American people in progress. It sure...

Bill McIntosh interviews Federal judicial reform activist Chuck Panici The story of Chuck Panici, four times GOP mayor of Chicago Heights, Illinois, from 1975 to 1991; skilled political strategist is, both a great saga and a sad one. He turned around a seemingly hopeless municipality, brought fresh water from Lake Michigan to his town: built municipal buildings and built a coalition around his effort that united people across racial and ethnic lines. His bright future changed dramatically however in the aftermath of Chicago Heights city council member Nick LoBue´s name coming up repeatedly during Chicago mob boss Albert Tocco´s Federal...

Early in the morning, two hundred thirty eight years ago, George Washington and the Continental Army reached the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey. Much like today, no-one really wanted to go to New Jersey, but they were forced by circumstances to make the arduous trek. Washington’s force of 2,400 men surprised, and ultimately defeated, the 1,400 Hessian mercenaries who were fighting on behalf of the British Crown. A much needed win was tallied under the Patriot’s side of the scoreboard, emboldening the Continental Army and our quest for freedom. Washington had lead his men through the icy waters of the...

Too much power being grabbed by Washington -- Obamacare, environmental regulations, education standards. That's a constant complaint of conservatives not only during Barack Obama's presidency but during George W. Bush's as well. But power is also flowing out of Washington, largely unnoticed, and back to the states and localities. You can see that if you look at transportation policy, which is following the same path as the little remembered federal revenue sharing program enacted in the Nixon years and phased out during the Reagan presidency. Federal transportation spending has an even longer pedigree, dating from the Federal-Aid Highway Act signed...

A three-legged stool can always stand without wobbling – a solid foundation for good or evil. Addressing the 14th, 16th and 17th Amendments. The Articles (7) and their clauses, the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) are original to the Founders, Framers, and Ratifiers. The 11th and 12th Amendments serve to States’ protection. The 13th freed the slaves. The 14th Amendment – This was the first of three Amendments that created the “progressive” three legged stool. The 14th was a mandatory ratification, a required condition before states were allowed reunification after the Civil War. Congress deliberately established federal supremacy. The 14th,...

The head of the FBI says he understands why people worry about the scope of the government's powers, and in fact, he agrees with them. “I believe people should be suspicious of government power. I am,” Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning. “I think this country was founded by people who were worried about government power so they divided it among three branches,” he added. In the months since Edward Snowden leaked documents detailing the country’s intelligence programs, Comey said that “it’s hard for me, sometimes, to find the space and time to talk about...

Entering the world of official Washington is a bit like the mythical trip Alice took through the looking glass. Everything is upside-down and nonsensical. This was highlighted most recently in a Wall Street Journal article about how the American people have “a deepening distaste for all Washington institutions” and “angst over Washington dysfunction.” At the same time, the reporter noted that Americans were “surprisingly upbeat about their own lives.” Solid majorities were happy with their personal finances and “more optimistic about the economy.” This disconnect is surprising only to those who have gone through the D.C. looking glass and believe...

The Financial Times reports that “the U.S. Federal Reserve is considering the possibility of arbitrarily cutting the amount of interest it pays on money that it borrows from private commercial banks.” Private banks, of course, make a great deal of money this way. But should the Fed make this decision, banks which have historically paid their customers a small amount of interest for the use of their money may well begin “…charg[ing] private individuals and businesses for the privilege of “parking” their money in an account for a time.” Could such a policy create a bank run? That’s what happened...

What the heck is on in the mind of someone who thinks the very oceans must be closed if they are not there to administer proper enjoyment of it? This week, it's a pertinent question. Part of the answer is that many bureaucrats are people who, deep down inside, know they can't achieve anything and/or are afraid to try. This is why they become bureaucrats in the first place. Why else would they agree to work in a cubicle each day, in a job with a very low ceiling, tasked with torturing the very businesses and taxpayers who support their...

CNSNews.com) - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a report documenting attempted abuses of federal power by the Obama administration on Tuesday, saying the administration “knows virtually no bounds.”

Designated High-Speed Rail Corridors Map As of January 2002, the FRA has designated ten high-speed corridors under section 1010 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and Section 1103(c) of the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Designation allows a corridor to receive specially targeted funding for highway-rail grade crossing safety improvements, and recognizes the corridor as a potential center of HSR activity. These designated corridors are shown on the map at the beginning of this document and are listed below, generally from Southwest to Northeast. DESIGNATED HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDORS: California Corridor Pacific Northwest Corridor South...

IDAHO CITY -- Fourteen illegal immigrants were arrested and face deportation after being picked up at an Idaho City hotel. It happened late Tuesday night and now they're in the Ada County Jail. The men were working for a contracted employee of the U.S. Forest Service. They had been working for about 10 days, with one week left. According to the Forest Service, the contracted employer is Cutting Edge Forestry Inc. out of Talent, Oregon. The contractor is required to turn over paperwork regarding their employees and then the Forest Service sends that paperwork to the immigration office. It’s there...

When Terry Botnen built his cabin last spring...he thought he'd found his retirement dream. He built a simple 20-by-30-foot cabin on 40 acres of ground atop a ridge. No power lines run to the remote location, so he used generators to supply power. But since April, his dream home has turned into a nightmare. Part of the attraction of the land is the big-game hunting and solitude. The 120 acres are bordered by Bureau of Land Management land... The problem is that the three pieces of property are accessible only by an old road that crosses BLM land and then...

Anyone else just hear a replay of a talk earlier today (19 May) by former Congressman Asa Hutchison, Homeland Defense Undersecretary for Border Control, going into detail about their new USA Visa program and how it will secure our borders at US points of entry?[This aired on CSPAN Radio.]I couldn't believe that talk. IS THIS REALLY BUSH ADMINISTRATION POLICY?!?!Barf.No wonder we are being invaded on the installment plan and the many law abiding guests and immigrants are being slapped in the face and insulted. It guess, listening to that talk, it will continue to happen regardless if the GOP...

WASHINGTON - More than 100 federal government doctors have been convicted of crimes or disciplined by state medical boards, including one physician now treating veterans who was convicted of helping a terrorist group, an Associated Press review of medical licenses has found.Federal agencies are required to check the backgrounds of doctors they employ but are not prohibited from hiring those with criminal records, revoked licenses or medical punishments.All a doctor needs is a medical license valid in one state to get a government job.Dr. Suzy Melkonian, who is paid $48 an hour as a blood cancer specialist at a Veterans...