Free Republic

California will hand over cash expropriated from hardworking taxpayers to drug dealers, provided they are black and have criminal records. Yes, I’m serious: It’s all part of an effort in the Golden State to help more minorities become “marijuana entrepreneurs.” On New Year’s Day, California became the ninth state to legalize cannabis for recreational use, but officials are worried that not enough blacks will qualify for the permits needed to sell weed legally. To address this “problem,” Los Angeles, Oakland and other cities have created “equity programs” that offer no-interest loans and other perks to people who live in poor...

"If we cannot destroy the drug menace in America, then it will surely in time destroy us," President Richard Nixon told Congress in a special message on June 17, 1971, which generally is credited as the day the "war on drugs" began. Actually, Nixon didn't use the term "war on drugs" in the address. He used it later. And while Nixon talked tough about going after drug traffickers, he emphasized that rehabilitation would be a priority as he dedicated the lion's share -- $105 million of $155 million in new anti-drug funding -- "solely for the treatment and rehabilitation of...

Once again honoring the revolutions of history, Texas Congressman Ron Paul will commemorate the Boston Tea Party Sunday, with his campaign attempting to set another one day fund raising record and beat out the $4.4 million he collected from supporters last month on November 5th, Guy Fawkes Day. The campaign's new blimp also took to the air Friday, leaving North Carolina on its maiden voyage up the east coast. The blimp was originally scheduled to drop tea into Boston the harbor on Sunday, but a launch delay forced organizers to reschedule the flight plan for a New Hampshire primary...

WASHINGTON — If Ron Paul's supporters got together for a family portrait, it would be one of those pictures in which no one seems to resemble anyone else. "You have old-school Republicans, the conservatives who backed Barry Goldwater (in 1964). You have the antiwar crowd who are principled non-interventionists," said Jim Forsythe, a former Air Force major who's organized meet-and-greet sessions in New Hampshire for the Texas congressman and Republican presidential candidate. You also have businessmen tired of government regulation, college students who like his views on holistic medicine and middle-aged folks who don't see Social Security helping them in...

Charleston, WV (HNN) – An updated listing of Republican delegates who registered for the Feb. 5 statewide Charleston convention has been announced by wvgopconvention.com. The new tally adds some of the registrations that came in by mail. At least one additional update is anticipated. Mitt Romney leads the committed delegates with 191 followed by Ron Paul at 177, Fred Thompson 157, Mike Huckabee 126, Rudy Giuliani 89, John McCain 25, Duncan Hunter 7, and Alan Keyes 5. A total of 589 delegates are listed as “uncommitted.” After all of the delegate registrations are processed, an online vote will be conducted...

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mitt Romney bought himself a victory in the straw poll for Republicans at a rain-shortened barbecue in Vinoy Park. Romney got 893 votes, besting second-place Ron Paul's 534 -- despite Paul's shuttling in supporters on a rented trolley and shuttle. The campaign had a plane sporting pro-Paul slogans and a boat touting him, too. In fact, Paul supporters dominated the crowd, which reached an estimated 1,000 people. Tickets for votes cost $20 each. So how did Romney do it? "I voted 20 times," Derek Gyongzois, 38, of St. Petersburg exclaimed after casting ballots. He said he works...

Why must the Republican Party nominate a 72-year-old grandfather from the Gulf Coast of Texas, until the past few months little known outside his district, as its 2008 standard-bearer? Very simple: the alternative is eight years of President Hillary Clinton. That ought to be enough to get the attention of every conservative who happens upon these words, so let me explain. It should come as no big revelation to anyone inside or outside of the Republican Party that the GOP has lost touch with its conservative roots. Massive deficit spending that would make Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter blush; foreign...

When stereotypes dosn't fit in

HOUSTON -- A 79-year-old school crossing guard was fired over a drug test, but not because he failed it, Local 2 reported Thursday. Francis Light refused to take it, violating Houston Independent School District policy. Light has been a familiar face at Oak Forest Elementary School in northwest Houston for 16 years as the school's crossing guard. He was fired last month after refusing to take a random drug-alcohol test. Light said his system is clean, and after so many loyal years on the job, he was insulted. "I got to think as long as people know me, long as...

SEATTLE — Seattle's new city hall and justice center have received awards for their environmentally sensitive design. But just two years after opening, both buildings are plagued with problems — and fixing them is going to cost taxpayers millions....(snip) For example, the light-reflecting shelves in the building haven't worked -- intended to reduce electric bills, workers complain of glare. An oxygen-producing, rainwater-preserving "green roof" died and will have to be re-seeded with heartier plants. Boilers have exploded. Cops have trouble getting hot water to their locker rooms. Offices are too hot or too cold. "Tenants are uncomfortable and we are...

California is proposing to add solar power to a million homes in the next 10 years, paid for by a surcharge on electricity bills equivalent to about US$0.27 a month. The plan, proposed by the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is intended to honor an election pledge of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to ensure that half of all new homes in the state are built with solar power facilities. The surcharge would raise US$1 billion in 10 years for the installation program, with the state using the money to give rebates to home builders who install solar panels on new homes,...

BUSH: "The Missing Year" written by senior editor of GQ magazine Jason Gay. This article appears in the August 2004 edition of GQ magazine, will put the end to the myth of Bush's National Guard Tour of Duty. After reading this article you will decide who the real hero is. Jason Gay did an eight month thorough background research to substantiate the material before publishing this article. Every one knows that GQ is so far to the left that it makes the leaning tower of Pisa appear straight. sirwarlok0069

A candidate for state office in the great state of Washington appears headed for defeat even before the first absentee ballots are mailed in. (This is my first post on FreeRepublic, by the way, so bear with me if I make a few errors.) David Blomstrom is a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction who issued a press release calling for the "legal or quasi-legal" execution of President George W. Bush. It was discussed in this thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1168765/posts Apparently, his actions were legal, as his sites are still online. But the website may outlive Blomstrom. Check his campaign website, at...

I'm really having a hard time deciding who to vote for this time around. Immediately after 9/11 I strongly supported the President because I truly believed that we would be tireless in his efforts to protect this country. However, since then I have begun to lose trust in President Bush for a number of reasons. I know this may be an unpopular topic of discussion here, but I wonder if some of you can tell me where I'm wrong. I strongly supported the war in Afghanistan, as did most Americans, but with the invasion of Iraq I think the President...

A few minutes ago I posted here about Linda Ronstadt. No swearing, no personal insults. Other posters here viciously attacked and insulted Ronstadt, their posts remain. My post got deleted within minutes. Are you guys really that scared? I believe in free speech and the exchange of opinions, obviously you don't. Mr Robinson, answer me: on what basis was my post deleted? I almost feel compelled to post on various other websites how I doubled up laughing about the cowardice on display here. Again, show me your courage please, cheers from the Leftist Dutchman!

<p>I'm a true American patriot who is a pro-American voter. Thus, I support John Kerry for president because I want America needs our country back: we're tired of having our national security weakened, our 1st Amendment disregarded by the American Taliban (i.e. religious right) and want to restore respect back to the White House after 4 years of a failed presidency. God Bless America and John Kerry, the man who real patriotic Americans support.</p>

Subject: Bush lies part 1 (245865) Author: NOYFB (2028685) Date & Time: 2004-06-28 14:48:20-04 Lie No. 1: “My fellow citizens, events in Iraq have now reached the final days of decision.” The decision for war with Iraq was made long ago, the intervening time having been spent in an attempt to create the political climate in which US troops could be deployed for an attack. According to press reports, most recently March 16 in the Baltimore Sun, at one of the first National Security Council meetings of his presidency, months before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and...

DETROIT -- The lies, delusions and deceptions of George W. Bush have reached a point where the "dry drunk" madness and the "stinking thinking" in his frighteningly flawed mind are what drives all his remarks on the bogus al-Qaida-Iraq connection and the president's rigid, judgmental world view. In the best of times, George W. can be impatient, self-important and prone to irrational, contorted rationalization. Now that his crazy, unnecessary war in Iraq and grandiose plans to change the Middle East with more violence have clearly failed and he fears that he might get bounced from the White House like his...

Can you believe this would be printed in Texas? Farewell to a hero BY GILBERT GARCIA CRAWFORD, TX., June 16, 2032 The world lost one of its most beloved leaders yesterday when George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, passed away after a long, debilitating battle with attention-deficit disorder. He was 87.

From those, whose supposed duties are to govern man in the civil matters of this world, we should expect no less from them, that they themselves submit to the one who governs the universe, and that is, God. Amen and Amen!!