Free Republic

President Bush demonstrated a steady command of every issue last night. All I see on Fox is a simple quote about being steady in the war on terror. But they keep playing Kerry's laundry lists of complaints. And everyone is manufacturing discussion of how Bush "jumped" up to answer questions, etc., even though the President behaved as a gentleman and statesman.Bush made numerous points against Kerry's record and proposed plans. I am not seeing those either. It's as if Bush had no memorable lines, and he had many. And they are not touching Kerry's pathetic statement that Sadamm would "not...

On January 15, 2004, Free Republic was honored to have me registered. No doubt the IQ needed boosting a little on this forum. But all good things must come to end. It is with sadness that I have realized that you people are crazy! You've driven me to the Kerry camp! You're a bunch of fascists on this forum. You're a bunch of narrow-minded, sexist, homophobic, women-oppressing, gun-toting, war-mongering, Nazi thugs! I am so outta here it'll make your head spin. Of course, the IQ will undoubtedly suffer from dramatically, and I might add that Kerry is gonna win in...

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - One-time pop sensation Sinead O'Connor was back in the news Friday - by taking out a full-page ad pleading for people to stop making fun of her. O'Connor, who shot to international fame in 1990 with her biggest hit "Nothing Compares 2 U," claimed she had been "consistently ridiculed, lashed and called mad" for decades, particularly in her native Ireland. "I don't think there can be any person male or female from this country who has been as consistently lashed as I have been and always am no matter what I set out to do," she...

What an absolute travesty. Tennessee fans should be ashamed. 55 seconds left, at Tennessee clock running, Florida up by 1 at midfield with the ball, 4th down, clock will run down another 30 seconds before punting. Ref is staring right at a UT player and a Florida player. TN player then slaps UF player on helmet as ref watches, then UF player retaliates, paid off ref throws flag on UF, stopping the clock and giving UT 15 extra yards. Not offsetting, just a complete homer call. UT makes a 50 yard field goal with 13 seconds left.

<p>It is increasingly depressing to contemplate the march of the (conservative) lemmings behind Bush as we advance, lurchingly, toward despotism, under the banner of "Compassionate Big-Governmentism"--or is it "Conservative Socialism"? Hard to tell.</p> <p>Some of us remember Goldwater and Reagan -- and the amnesia about what they stood for -- and how far Bush has strayed from them -- invites despair. Reagan: abolish the federal department of education; Bush: more, more more! Goldwater loved the First Amendment; Bush signed 'McCain Feingold,' thinks the First Amendment needs even more containment ("get rid of those pesky 527s!).</p>

Raise the drinking age to 25?

<p>In case you don't know, "Freepers" are fans of a certain far-out-right-wing-nut website and they go on sites like this and "freep" books with one-star reviews without reading them. They're group-thinkers and dittoheads. They go on polling sites and "freep" them as well, and the ones who are technically inclined attempt to infiltrate some websites and shut them down. They're rotten, horrible people.</p>

A gay couple in northern Minnesota is angry and upset over being told they no longer should take communion or sing in the choir at their church because of their lifestyle.Dale Sand and Tom Pepera, who have been together for five years, say their priest has asked them to restrict their participation in church activities after a letter Sand wrote was printed in the Grand Forks Herald on Easter Sunday.In the letter, Sand responded to previous letters warning against gay marriage and homosexuality in general. He wrote that being gay wasn't a choice and said God had made him that...

Bush has a fork in him. Look at the polls. You see them. What makes you think it's gonna get any better for the appointed one? Only the dedicated neo-cons support this clown. Your boy is toast. I hope you guys won't do anything rash after he loses horribly on November 2. President Kerry will make this country much better. Just keep that in mind and you'll be fine. Better yet, jump on the Kerry bandwagon and support a return to peace and prosperity. Come on guys, I'm on your side.

This new forum setup just sucks...Why do people always ruin a good thing? I used to like coming here, now its like navigating some bloatware site. Is there a reason for this?

Taking Exception: Punishing criminals just isn't enough to prevent handgun violence REBECCA THOMAN In her recent Viewpoint column, Sen. Pat Pariseau defends the new conceal-carry law because it imposes sanctions on those who misuse weapons ("The sky didn't fall," April 29). Punishing criminals, she believes, is the best means to reduce gun violence. So she calls for tougher sentencing for violent felons. While I agree that violent felons should be prosecuted, punishing criminals is not enough because gun violence is seldom related to crime. Rather, it results from ready access to lethal weapons during times of anger, despair and conflict....

> > by Charley Reese > > If you step back a moment and think about it, you will realize that you are > constantly being propagandized to approve of war - not just the wars in > Afghanistan and Iraq, but war generically. > > We should resist. War is killing, maiming and disfiguring human beings. It > is so disgusting and horrible in reality that even the most "realistic" > Hollywood movie sanitizes it. The news media sanitize it. The government > sanitizes war because it doesn't want you to see the coffins. Most of all, > it...

I tried to think of many words to say just how I feel...., of what is going onand what it takes to make it real.I am not sure that I can saywith truest moments, lot...but "We are here and you are not, so fluck you, thanks a lot"

what happened to the black box which was said to have been found from the airoplane, what was said on it. And the fbi said they found a passport of the terroist who flew the plane in the rubble, how is this possible the passprt would have been burnt if in fact it was placed there by someone. And what aboutall the telephone calls made by the people on board the planes, we should have atleast some information about what was said on the conversations. Why hasnt bin laden been caught, its been 3 years and not caught, it was...

<p>Mod update: To put this "opus" in perspective, some additional information compliments of a thorough FReeper, dighton.</p> <p>I am Michael Joseph McCarthy, well known forest activist in Eugene, Oregon who ran against Scott Meisner for City Council last election. I am a Member of the Pacific Green Party who wants this scoundrel in office now thrown out.</p>

The murder of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by Israel was an act of terrorism, and an insane one at that. It has not only opened the gates of hell, as one incensed Hamas official declared, it has also slammed shut the door of peace. If for one moment the Israeli leadership imagined that assassinating the Hamas leader would stem the tide of violence, they were deluded. Sheikh Yassin’s murder will not diminish suicide killings, it will increase them. Hamas will want to retaliate, as massively as possible, to retain credibility in Palestinian eyes. Other groups too, such as...

The Bush reelection campaign yesterday unveiled its first three campaign commercials showcasing Ground Zero images, angering some 9/11 families who accused President Bush of exploiting the tragedy for political advantage. "It's a slap in the face of the murders of 3,000 people," said Monica Gabrielle, whose husband died in the twin tower attacks. "It is unconscionable." Gabrielle and several other family members said the injury was compounded by Bush's refusal to testify in open session before the 9/11 commission. "I would be less offended if he showed a picture of himself in front of the Statue of Liberty," said Tom...

<p>March 3, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - Assault weapons like AK-47s, "street sweepers" and Uzis could be up for sale again after the Senate yesterday rejected a bill to extend the ban on the deadly weapons. The current prohibition on a variety of semiautomatic weapons expires this fall, and Congress had been weighing efforts to renew the measure, which went into effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton.</p>

You want a Free Republic, if it is your kind of freedom.

<p>The Arizona prison inmate who orchestrated a 15-day hostage siege claims authorities have reneged on the terms of their negotiations and violated his rights since his surrender, he said in a letter sent to The Arizona Republic.</p> <p>"I am being denied several rights and privileges," wrote Ricky Wassenaar, one of two convicted felons in a standoff at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis that involved sexual assault and violence against corrections officers.</p>