http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/local-gop/ en-us Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:15:12 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2286338/posts Sarah Palin's decision to resign as governor of Alaska was greeted with doubts, criticism and downright derision -- not just from Democrats or the media or bloggers, but from Republicans. Critical responses to her decision came from many Republican insiders -- not just people who have an axe to grind such as Mike Huckabee and Lisa Murkowski, but others such as Karl Rove. That followed criticism of Palin just before her announcement from Charles Krauthammer and Jonah Goldberg. When talking off the record, Republican insiders are even harsher toward Palin, as Marc Ambinder notes: With a few exceptions, almost every... Governing http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2286338/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:15:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2286244/posts Alaska Governor Sarah Palin made her own declaration of independence yesterday by announcing that she's resigning as governor of Alaska. It was another gutsy and smart move on her part that has confounded the experts and has many writing her political obituary. I believe it's just wishful thinking on their part and these folks have no clue what just hit them. Since Sen. John McCain chose her to run as his vice-president she, her family, and her staff have been through the wringer as opponents have turned over every rock in hopes of taking her down. Every time she sneezed... Kay Brooks' website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2286244/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 02:20:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2285814/posts Harlan Muth isn’t organizing Sarah Palin’s presidential campaign, but pledges as soon as someone does, “I’ll be with ’em. In the meantime, the Marion maintenance contractor is turning heads with his “Sarah Palin 2012” poster prominently displayed on his van. “It’s getting a fantastic response,” Muth, 63, said. “So many people give me the thumbs up or honk when they see it. Some people get out of their cars and ask me where they can get a poster.” Muth, who spent 23 years in the Air Force before settling down in Marion, couldn’t find a Palin 2012 sign, so he... The Cedar Rapids Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2285814/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:38:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2285786/posts Any politician willing to treat their job as a temporary one is a politician worth looking at. Like most everyone else, I sat back and scratched my head in consternation at the announcement that Sarah Palin was resigning as governor of Alaska. Its either a bold or stupid move, I thought. I placed it on the slow cook burner in my brain and let it soak in. At first glance, you say “Well thats a mistake! She shot herself in the foot!” Then I asked myself “What happens when you decide you dont want to run for re election?” Are... Orange Juice Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2285786/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 06:21:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2282122/posts Dear Friends, I write to apologize and ask for your forgiveness. Well beyond the personal consequences within my own family, I know that at so many different levels my actions have upset, offended and disappointed friends and supporters and for this I am most sorry. As I mentioned in last week's press conference, I've always believed God's laws were there to protect us from ourselves, and what has transpired over this last week vividly illustrates the damage that comes personally, and to those you love and respect, in doing otherwise. So in the aftermath of this failure I want to... A message from Mark http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2282122/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:41:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2279632/posts Remember Jimmy Swaggart? He was the TV preacher who wept before America after a tryst with a prostitute. "I have sinned against you, my Lord,” choked Swaggart through tears. “I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness." The fall of televangelism in many ways foreshadowed the decline of the so-called moral majority. The Right is now reaping what it sowed. By making social conservatism central to its platform, it left no room in the GOP for sinners. Now we have the Sanford affair. Many on the... The Next Right http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2279632/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:24:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2276764/posts The fundraiser set to be hosted Wednesday by elected officials and business leaders at the posh Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables sounds like countless other receptions benefiting Florida's political establishment. But the invitation topped with bold-faced names is for Marco Rubio, the upstart candidate for the U.S. Senate daring to challenge the popular Gov. Charlie Crist for the GOP nomination. Rubio has been mostly raising money over the Internet. Crist has been attending swanky events almost nightly this month. Their lopsided fundraising battle and poll ratings suggest Rubio's campaign will not end well, but the former Miami lawmaker posted a... Miami Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2276764/posts#comment Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:33:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2273580/posts YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2273580/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:37:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2271401/posts There's a new leader at the top of the Minnesota Republican Party. State Republicans chose Tony Sutton, a Twin Cities businessman and active GOP party member as its leader at a gathering in Brooklyn Center Saturday. Sutton replaces Ron Carey, who is stepping down from the post. Sutton served on numerous campaigns and Republican committees on both state and national levels. He most recently served as secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota Republican Party. He is also the CEO of Minnesota-based Baja Sol Restaurant Group. Radio talk show host Dave Thompson and former state Sen. Carrie Ruud also sought the post. The... KSTP.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2271401/posts#comment Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:39:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2271161/posts There has been much chatter about who now speaks for the Republican Party and whether the GOP has a message or agenda to combat President Obama's popularity. Those questions are important to the party's future, but the most serious problem remains the deeper demographic and political forces at work in the country. For the past few months, political analysts and demographers have been poring over the results of the 2008 election and comparing them with presidential results from the last two decades. From whatever angle of their approach -- age, race, economic status, geography -- they have come to a... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2271161/posts#comment Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:26:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2270228/posts The ultra-conservative wing of the GOP wants to make Florida’s Republican Senate primary a test case of its power. The race pits Gov. Charlie Crist, a moderate who had the audacity to endorse President Obama’s stimulus plan, against hard-core conservative Marco Rubio, a former speaker of the state House. Crist also just signed a new state budget raising the cigarette tax and various fees by $2 billion, an act that further fueled conservative anger. Even worse, the moderate governor has drawn strong support from current Republican senators. He has been endorsed by Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate,... AJC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2270228/posts#comment Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:08:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268762/posts This is what we need to be talking about. Conservative Values and Standing for Something instead of Standing for Everything. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rigML-twftY YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268762/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:08:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268598/posts This is a video from The Daly Buzz that attempts to shed light on Crist's sexual preference. What are your thoughts? The Daly Buzz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268598/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:31:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268592/posts On the surface, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist appears to be the rising star in the Sunshine State. Mr. Crist won a landslide election, maintains high approval ratings and was considered as a potential vice presidential choice by Republican nominee John McCain. In addition, he was even ranked the most "fiscally conservative governor in the country" by the Cato Institute - beating out even South Carolina's budget hawk Gov. Mark Sanford. Many Florida conservatives, however, have a very different hero - Marco Rubio. washingtontimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268592/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:11:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267810/posts Dear Secretary Duncan, By order of the South Carolina Supreme Court, I am submitting the attached application for South Carolina's portion of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. In doing so, however, I'd offer a few observations. First, it's important to state one last time for the record what a monumentally terrible idea I believe the entire so-called stimulus act is, and why in particular utilizing this money as our General Assembly has done is ultimately going to cause more harm than good. Gov. Sanford http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267810/posts#comment Tue, 9 Jun 2009 06:55:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267413/posts Democrats have remained coy on the idea of new taxes, but Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel last week that it is "not reasonable" for any legislator to rule out taxes . . . SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267413/posts#comment Mon, 8 Jun 2009 19:40:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2266615/posts South Carolina — An openly lesbian politician who came close to unseating incumbent South Carolina Representative Henry Brown in November has outed three Republican lawmakers. Linda Ketner's narrow loss to Brown heartened South Carolina gay politicos who never expected such a tight race. A longtime businesswoman and community activist, Kerner's clear leadership attracted strong support from a community mostly cool to gay rights. In 2006, a large majority (78%) of South Carolina voters approved a gay marriage ban in their state constitution. Speaking to Howie Klein at Fire Dog Lake, a progressive political blog, Ketner outed three prominent South Carolina... Chicago Pride http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2266615/posts#comment Sun, 7 Jun 2009 14:33:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2265323/posts You have to see this picture. Don't have time to embed it, but click the link. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2loqh_dRGgc/Sij2FsVwsQI/AAAAAAAAAAw/Ea9jywq_dXI/s1600-h/rhinocrist.jpg RhinosBeGone http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2265323/posts#comment Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:45:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263770/posts Assemblyman Roger Niello, who cast a key vote to pass a state budget that raised taxes this year, has been replaced as the GOP's point man on the Assembly Budget Committee. The Fair Oaks Republican will hand his committee post to Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, who is a freshman in the lower house but served a dozen years in the Senate, leaving in 1990. The switch was made by the Assembly's new Republican leader, Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, who has stressed that taxes cannot be raised again in tackling a $24.3 billion shortfall. "There is no doubt that... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263770/posts#comment Wed, 3 Jun 2009 14:58:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263659/posts It has been over a month since Marco Rubio announced his candidacy for US Senate in Florida http://www.marcorubio.com Still nothing about him mentioned on the RPOF website, but the RHINO Crist is plastered all over the site & now McCollum is featured. When is the RPOF going to show that they are neutral? I still don't see any actions that lend validity to Jim Greer's words. Contact the RPOF and let them know how you feel about their Bias attempt to push a RHINO into the Senate Seat. 420 E. Jefferson Street PO Box 311 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850.222.7920... My Head http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263659/posts#comment Wed, 3 Jun 2009 12:32:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263144/posts Let me confess: I really like New Jersey. No joke. My earliest memories are living on Alpha Avenue in Old Bridge, New Jersey. When I was eight, in the summer of ’68, my family moved. Today I live in Virginia, but just last year I detoured while driving to New York City and darted over to see the old Old Bridge neighborhood. It was nice. I enjoyed the scenery. And, thankfully, I didn’t have to pay their highest-in-the-nation taxes. Or contemplate their latest corruption scandal. I’ve been thinking about New Jersey because, like Virginia, the state holds its governor’s race... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263144/posts#comment Tue, 2 Jun 2009 19:26:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2262141/posts The state GOP may be officially neutral in the Republican U.S. senate primary, but as an e-mailer points out to Buzz, you would be hard-pressed to know that Charlie Crist even faces a challenger if you went to the RPOF site. It contains plenty of news about Crist's campaign and endorsements but nada that we can see about Marco Rubio. http://www.rpof.org/index.php The Buzz, Florida Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2262141/posts#comment Mon, 1 Jun 2009 14:31:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2260068/posts Steele Reinforces "Inside the Beltway" Image of GOP CHQ Blog - The last thing the GOP needs in its mission to restore its public image is the stereotype of being immersed in the elitist, "Inside the Beltway" culture of Washington, D.C. However, recent comments by RNC Chairman Michael Steele are reinforcing this negative image that could undermine any progress the GOP has made in reaching out to voters after its stint in the political wilderness. It's no secret the Republican Party is struggling to rebuild an image destroyed by years of Big Government, big spending, and corruption. However, comments made... CHQ Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2260068/posts#comment Thu, 28 May 2009 20:15:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2258635/posts NASHVILLE — Over the weekend, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele ventured into Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams’ backyard in upper East Tennessee and pledged to oust Williams next year. The Kingsport Times-News quoted Steele as saying: “I got a bull’s eye right on his back and we’re taking him out.” Williams is the second-term legislator and Elizabethton restaurateur who stunned fellow Tennessee Republicans when he joined the House’s 49 Democrats in voting for himself for speaker Jan. 13 to defeat his own Republican Caucus’ nominee. For that, the Tennessee Republican Party declared he was no longer a member of the... Memphis Commercial Appeal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2258635/posts#comment Tue, 26 May 2009 22:27:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2256311/posts Unbelievable. On Thursday, 25 House Republicans joined Democrats in passing HB255. The vote was 86 to 30, with one Democrat voting “Present.” HB255 is a three-pronged attack on the Republican Party Platform. First, it massively expands gambling in the state by legalizing video poker. It also allows lottery wagering over the Internet. Second, it raises the fee for a driver’s license. And third, it imposes sales taxes for the first time on previously exempt grocery items like candy, non-carbonated beverages, and health and beauty aids. Taxes on wine, beer and other alcohol are also increased. Here are the names of... Champion News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2256311/posts#comment Fri, 22 May 2009 15:25:04 GMT