Free Republic

Do we have ignition here? Iowa Republicans already have predicted that Rep.Michele Bachmann’s appearance at a Polk County Republican dinner in Des Moines on Thursday night will be “historic,” complete with an announcement from the Minnesota lawmaker that she plans to run for president in 2012.

In 1993, America was overwhelmed by millions of aliens who defied our borders and immigration laws and came here unlawfully. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid United States Senate Washington, D.C. Dear Majority Leader Reid: In 1993, America was overwhelmed by millions of aliens who defied our borders and immigration laws and came here unlawfully. As a responsible steward of the United States Constitution and a dedicated patriot at the time, on August 5, 1993 you released the following statement to the floor of the U.S. Senate to the address the illegal alien crisis: “In response to increased terrorism and abuse...

You've got to wonder about John Kerry's eye-hand coordination. His career is falling into a pattern. Whenever Kerry is confronted with a big decision, he tries to compensate for his last mistake. He voted against the first Iraq war, which turned out to be a success. So when the second one came around, he swallowed his misgivings and voted for it. That also turned out to be a mistake. So when it came time to vote for the $87 billion to fund the war that he had voted for, he produced what must be the single most damaging sound bite...

US Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, who had hoped to replace George W. Bush as president yesterday, instead sat in the cold and clapped as the Republican began a second four-year term. Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin patted Senator Kerry on the back shortly before the inauguration Senator Kerry had hoped would be his. As Mr Bush delivered his inaugural address, Senator Kerry, about 10m away on the steps of the US Capitol, joined other lawmakers and the crowd in repeated applause. Senator Kerry looked relaxed, at times wistful. He frequently smiled, able to hide any disappointment over what...

Gerhard Bach was one of the thousands of German businessmen who had high hopes when Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's coalition of Social Democrats and Greens was swept to power for the first time four years ago on a promise of economic reform. The 63-year-old director of the Wilhelm Faber construction company near Frankfurt was convinced that Mr Schröder's pledge to sweep away the bureaucracy, legal restrictions and high costs dogging his business would bring an end to the notorious "German disease" crippling the economy. I read this and grinned. Then snickered. Then burst out laughing. - Ivan Now, just two months...

THEY might maintain separate homes more than 150 miles apart, but Doris Schröder-Köpf, Germany’s first lady, is emerging as her husband’s most influential adviser as he struggles with plunging poll ratings and rumours of a palace coup. Gerhard Schröder, the chancellor, has long sought advice from his fourth wife, a former political journalist, despite her decision to bring up her daughter from a previous marriage at their home in Hanover. Yet to the dismay of many in his Social Democrat-led coalition, Schröder appears increasingly dependent on her since his narrow re-election in September, telephoning her up to five times a...