Free Republic

It has been a heady few months, with relatively free elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Ukraine, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor. Lebanon held open elections following the withdrawal of foreign Syrian troops after 30 years of occupation. Even Saudi Arabia held local elections and Egypt opened somewhat by holding a referendum on multiparty elections. Is President George W. Bush's second inaugural dream for democracy and freedom in the Middle East and the world now at hand? America's most influential right-of-center editorial page is optimistic but warns there is much more to do. "The U.S. with its stake in Iraq and...

It is incredible but George W. Bush has not even been sworn in for his second term as president and the political chattering in Washington has already switched to 2008.Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist made the opening move. He was the first prominent Republican to publicly express reservations about Arlen Specter becoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee after the later questioned whether a nominee who supported overturning Roe v. Wade could be confirmed for the Supreme Court. Every head inside the Beltway turned and asked, why would the normally reserved Leader get so far out front against a fellow member...

Designer Air Force Training The Washington Times By Donald Devine The Air Force Academy has just announced a new training policy for this year, the Agenda for Change. This summer the old in-your-face yelling and drill instructor harassment was replaced by "positive reinforcement" for the new recruits. Col. Debra Gray reports, "The main focus is to make sure they are getting counseling." The 1,000-plus incoming freshmen were introduced to new training sessions in human relations, gender roles, alcohol education, sexual assault, lawful and unlawful orders, and military law. Only specially vetted upper classmen will now be allowed to contact with...

<p>The conservative movement has scored historic gains but has yet to achieve several of its basic goals.</p> <p>That's the verdict of some of its founding fathers (and one important mother).</p> <p>"We won the battle against communism, but I guess we've largely lost the battle against big government," says Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly, 79, who defied conventional wisdom by leading a women's crusade that defeated the Equal Rights Amendment in the mid-1970s.</p>

<p>1. Beginning a Discussion on the Future of Conservatism. We at ACU believe that it is time for the conservative movement to begin a serious discussion of its future course. The issue is, are we to become just a lobbying force for the Republican Party or should we regain our status as a cutting-edge force moving the country towards freedom and responsibility?</p>

Ralph Hallow, the chief political correspondent for the Washington Times, is a nice guy with a beautifully cultivated cynical streak, but he is a sucker for stories about impending factional wars in the Republican party. Earlier this week, he wrote an article claiming that "conservative activists" are upset about their lack of influence over the Bush administration, influence which has been lost to neoconservatives who favor big government at home and abroad. The story is built around a memo written by Donald Devine, a vice chairman of the American Conservative Union and an official in the Reagan administration (where he...

Subject: Revitalizing Conservatism Number: 30-101Date: May 13, 2003To: Conservative Leaders and ActivistsFrom: Donald Devine 1. Beginning a Discussion on the Future of Conservatism. We at ACU believe that it is time for the conservative movement to begin a serious discussion of its future course. The issue is, are we to become just a lobbying force for the Republican Party or should we regain our status as a cutting-edge force moving the country towards freedom and responsibility?2. Moving Policy to the Right. When Ronald Reagan advisor, Ed Meese, met with outside conservative groups in the White House, he always ended...