Free Republic

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) broke unexpected ground this week, presenting a budget plan that included freezing Veterans Affairs health care spending and cutting veterans' disability benefits considerably. To put it mildly, the Bachmann proposal has not gone over well among groups representing the needs and interests of veterans.

(CNN)-Republican Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann made political waves in Iowa with a visit to the capital city Friday, raising speculation of a possible presidential run in 2012. "I am very encouraged by what I heard and the level of support that I saw today," Bachmann told the Des Moines Register. The tea party favorite sounded much like a presidential candidate while addressing the Iowans for Tax Relief group Friday night. "It is not too late to change course and save this great nation. I believe we can preserve this exceptional nation-this land of promise–for our children and grandchildren, she said....

At the link 1:50

When he (Cantor) became minority whip last year, the office's personnel expenses went up by at least 16 percent... Firebrand Republican Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has for months pushed legislation to freeze what she calls "unconscionable" federal salaries. Meanwhile, her own payroll jumped 16 percent between 2007, when she came to Congress, and 2009..... — Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who has long criticized federal pay, has overseen an average jump of 8 percent per year in his office employee costs between 2006, his first full year in the Senate, and 2009.

WASHINGTON — Even from thousands of miles away, through a computer screen, over Skype, and into a packed room in Fresno, Calif., Representative Michele Bachmann knows how to ignite a crowd. Leading up to the health care vote this year, Ms. Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota, would head to a conference room in the National Republican Campaign Committee’s headquarters and hold Skype rallies, using the Internet video service to address audiences around the country. Staff members walking by could hear the cheering crowds, roaring so loud they reverberated through the glass wall and out into the committee’s hallway. Such is the...

More polling news from the Tancredo campaign: Another poll has been released and the news just keeps getting better. This time the poll comes from the left-leaning Public Policy Institute Poll and it has us within 3% points of Hickenlooper: 47% to 44% with Maes dropping to an all-time low of 5%. This is within the margin of error — and the sponsor of the poll went on radio and said this race could be a “major upset.” We plan on making those words come true. The other good news is that the momentum is all ours — we are...

Tea Party-backed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, raised an extraordinary $5.4 million in the third quarter, possibly smashing a congressional fundraising record for a three-month period while pushing her total fundraising haul for this election cycle to almost $10 million. Although Federal Election Commission financial disclosure reports are not due until October 15, Bachmann press secretary Sergio Gor confirmed to ABC News late Tuesday evening that Bachmann raked in the incredible loot in the months of July, August and September. Gor said he expected Bachmann to report that she has about $3.4 million cash-on-hand in her campaign war chest.

Embracing her strong pro-gun stance, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann fired off a few rounds from an M4 carbine Thursday morning, according to employees of a local ammunition manufacturer in her district. The pro-Second Amendment conservative and rising Tea Party movement icon made the final public campaign stop of her two-day bus tour at Federal Ammunition ATK in Anoka, Minnesota. Photography and videotaping were not allowed. Employees of ATK who were in attendance told CNN about the visit before the campaign ushered them away saying details for the press would be provided by the campaign. Two employees said Bachmann fired off...

There are "movement conservatives," and there are politicians who change their stripes for every occasion. Right now, the conservative movement is getting rolled by the latter. Let us remember another day. Health care was all the rage (at least in the press), and leading "conservatives" were leading the third way. Newt Gingrich was working with Hillary Clinton on a more gradual route to universal health care, according to the New York Times and other sources. "Conservative" Mitt Romney was building the Massachusetts universal health care along "business" principles fresh from saving the Olympics. Now what? Well, Obama, the Tea Party,...

Conservative women around the country have always and WILL always be demonized by liberals– men and women alike. Conservative women in politics have never felt the need to burn their bras, have full blown mustaches, abort their children, flaunt hairy armpits and makeup-free faces to feel that they can be on equal footing with men- and for this they are hated. There is nothing worse to a liberal, most especially a liberal woman, than a beautiful, strong AND conservative woman speaking out loudly and boldly about the issues… and doing it with their good-looking husbands by their sides, not as...

On Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on April 7, two female conservative figures, that are arguably the most reviled by the left, appeared together from a political rally broadcast live in Minneapolis. Playing to the crowd, Hannity proposed the 2012 dream ticket — not because it would ever likely happen in American presidential politics, but because it would give the likes of Chris Matthews and Randi Rhodes aneurysms during the cycle of an election cycle – Sarah Palin & Michele Bachmann 2012.

Michele Bachmann told Sean Hannity tonight that her property was vandalized and that she received several threats.

She is a striking brunette with a decidedly outspoken attitude. She lambasts President Barack Obama as a socialist and has become the darling of America's right-wing activists who flock to her appearances. She is hated by liberals and loved by conservatives. Sarah Palin? Not quite. Meet Michele Bachmann, a Republican congresswoman from Minnesota who is being hailed as a new and increasingly powerful voice in American politics. Bachmann, at 53, is a darling of the so-called Tea Party movement, which has campaigned vociferously against healthcare reform, the economic stimulus package and legislation to combat climate change. Her followers have been...

The GOP's women problem By MEREDITH SHINER & GLENN THRUSH | 11/9/09 4:11 AM EST A widening schism between the GOP's right wing and moderates has clear gender undertones. Photo: AP photo composite by POLITICO Conservatives say they pushed Dede Scozzafava out of the House race in New York’s 23rd District a week ago because of her left-of-Republican social views — and not because she is a woman. But the growing schism between the Republican Party’s ascendant right wing and its shrinking moderate core has clear gender undertones — and Scozzafava’s departure raises fresh questions about the GOP’s ability to...

Michelle Bachman said that their would be days like this. Early reports are that thousands of protesters have shown up at the US Capitol today to push home the point that they do NOT want Obamacare. One Senator, Michael Bennet (D) of Colorado was not to happy to see his constituents. They showed up at his Hart Office building office asking to meet with the Senator in his Hart Senate Office building. Instead of a meeting with the Senator, they got a meeting with the Capitol Police The protesters were arrested about 10 a.m. were charged with unlawful entry, a...

Ten Things that Probably Will Be in the Health-Care Bill (But Shouldn’t) 1. Removal of the Ability of Insurers to Deny Coverage 2. Coverage Mandates on Individuals and Employers 3. Government-Designed Insurance Plans 4. Threats to Medicare Advantage 5. New Taxes 6. A Stronger IRS 7. “Managed Competition” (a.k.a. “Government Control”) 8. Reckless Expansion of Medicaid 9. Welfare for the Middle Class 10. Government Rationing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ten Things that Ought To Be in the Health-Care Bill (but Probably Won’t) 1. Insurance Choice 2. Real Competition: A National Market for Health Insurance 3. Price Transparency 4. High Ceilings for HSAs (and...

Breaking News: Leaders of the Tea Party Express (website: www.TeaPartyExprss.org) are flying out to Washington, D.C. to join Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on Thursday, November 5th at 12:00 Noon.

Republican critics pilloried the White House for making it too easy to request e-mail updates about health reform, but it turns out the GOP could have spam problems of its own. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) sent a tweet this morning from her @michelebachmann account saying: "If you're interested in receiving mobile updates from me, text MN6 to 467468 or visit Bachmann.house.gov and subscribe. Thanks so much!" The homepage of her congressional site allows users to sign up for the "Bachmann Bulletin" by entering only a first name, last name and e-mail address. Then you get a confirmation message that says,...