Free Republic

Smith, who moved to Florida since losing to John Sununu in the 2002 GOP primary, is now looking at running for the open seat left by retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.).

Dear Mrs. Bbbbbb, Thank you for contacting me regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond to your concerns. On May 15, 2009, Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). This bill would create an absolute cap on total emissions from all covered entities including the electric power, transportation, oil and gas industry, and other commercial sectors with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases. This cap would be lowered over time through 2050, and a government-created market...

(snip) And as the White House holds a bipartisan summit on immigration Thursday, Republicans are warning that Obama needs to offer a specific plan or risk seeing the issue die this Congress. “He needs to really lead on that,” said Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), who was a member of a bipartisan group that unsuccessfully pushed an immigration bill in 2007. “I think it’s very, very important that he give a clear signal on where he is on an issue with that level of specificity.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another supporter of the 2007 bill, said President George W. Bush ran...

Note: The following text is a quote: Wife of Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Charges On the day her trial was to begin in U.S. District Court in Lubbock, Texas, Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) member Marie Chavez, aka "Shorty," the wife of an alleged ALKQN leader Jose Nava, aka "Chino," pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging her and 16 co-defendants with various offenses related to alleged narcotics and weapons trafficking and violent activities. Specifically, Chavez, 28, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms...

"For someone who is of Latin background, personally, I understand what she is trying to say. Which is, the richness of her experience forms who she is. It forms who I am," Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) said. Martinez also predicted Judge Sotomayor would be confirmed.

WASHINGTON — She greeted him in Spanish. He handed her a copy of his book. They chuckled over some recent mishaps. Conservatives hoping Republicans in the Senate will block Sonia Sotomayor's ascension to the U.S. Supreme Court best not look to the senator from Florida: After a 30-minute meeting with Sotomayor Tuesday, a "delighted" Sen. Mel Martinez pronounced her smart, likeable and prudent. "I think she's a very, very bright person, very, very much someone who the Supreme Court will find will fit in very well," said Martinez, a Republican from Orlando. He said he will withhold judgment about whether...

The Republican Party has scarcely begun to repair a wound that threatens to confine it to minority status: its 2006 collapse among Hispanic voters. Driven by some Republicans’ sharp attacks on illegal immigration and — as many Hispanics perceived it, immigrants in general — Latino voters fled the GOP en masse in the midterm elections, then turned on John McCain, as well. . . . . . There are stirrings of a Republican response. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has spoken with Hispanic leaders about creating a new organization to back Latino candidates. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has made...

I heard today that Charlie Crist wants Martinez's Senate seat. I heard that Martinez is thinking of stepping down leaving a vacancy. Crist wants the seat, so he wants to step-down too. Lt. Governor Kottkamp would then appoint Crist to the seat. This way he is the incumbent during the election campaign. I just want this to be on record on FR if it happens.

A U.S. senator has suggested that voters have made Barack Obama eligible to occupy the Oval Office, whether or not he meets the constitutional mandate of being a "natural born" citizen. The comments from Sen. Mel Martinez came in an e-mail sent to a constituent shortly after the election, which just now was forwarded to WND. The constituent had asked about Martinez's perspective on the issue on which WND and others have reported: claims made by dozens of lawsuits around the country that Obama might not meet the constitutional qualification for various reasons. "Presidential candidates are vetted by voters at...

Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) has allegedly told a constituent that President Obama’s eligibility, his natural born status, has been decided twice by the voters. Senator Mel Martinez has laid the vetting of President Obama’s citizenship on the people of the United States. Does Congress assume responsibility of anything? The question of President Obama’s eligibility to be POTUS arose early in the election process. Congress, as a body, has been silent on the issue. For months, voters have received no information, and in fact, no one seems to know who vets a Presidential candidate. So, no one has. Now, it appears...

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) said Wednesday Republican opponents of the $410 billion omnibus spending bill are within "striking distance" of bringing down the massive measure. Derailing the spending bill would be a huge victory for Republicans, and they might accomplish the goal with the help of a few reform-minded Democrats.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) looms hugely over his state’s open Senate race, holding 2-to-1 leads over all Democrats interested in the race, according to a new Strategic Vision poll. The poll finds the popular governor, who will wait until after Florida’s legislative session to make his plans known, leading Democratic Reps. Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek by 34 points each. The seat became vacant when Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) announced he wouldn’t seek a second term in 2010.

In what could be a Sunshine State one-two punch, multiple Republican sources are confirming that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is giving serious consideration to running for Senate — and that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) is contemplating resigning from his seat before his term is up next year. Martinez has already announced he will not run for re-election when his first term expires in 2010. Crist, according to sources, has had multiple serious conversations about running for Senate with both Martinez and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas). Martinez’s office is batting down the speculation that he might...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Ten Republican senators met in Sen. Mel Martinez's office Tuesday morning to discuss a broader stimulus measure than their leadership is proposing — but a narrower one than Democrats are considering. CNN was the only news organization outside the meeting. Afterwards, Martinez told CNN the details are still being debated and finalized, but they are looking at a ballpark figure of $500 billion, including the cost of tax cuts, infrastructure and military spending, and provisions to address the housing crisis. Martinez and Sen. Lindsey Graham said they plan to present their ideas to fellow Republicans at their...

WASHINGTON – Republican senator Mel Martinez of Florida says he will support Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder, putting him a big step closer to confirmation. Holder met with Martinez morning Friday while the Senate Judiciary Committee held a second day of hearings on his nomination. Martinez said in a statement that he believes Holder understands the unique role of the nation's top law enforcement official and intends to vote to confirm him. The support from Martinez and the already-declared backing from Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, should give Holder the 60 votes necessary to avoid a filibuster, assuming all the...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senator Mel Martinez of Florida says he will support Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder, putting him a big step closer to confirmation. Holder met with Martinez morning Friday while the Senate Judiciary Committee held a second day of hearings on his nomination. Martinez said in a statement that he believes Holder understands the unique role of the nation's top law enforcement official and intends to vote to confirm him.

Evolving conventional wisdom holds that the growing string of senior Republican senators packing it in for retirement or a governor's office means gloom for the party in next year's midterm congressional elections, which are usually a time for an incumbent president's party to suffer. But, counterintuitively, that may not be the case. Bill Clinton remembers the Republican revolution of 1994 only too well -- and so does one of his top aides then, Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's incoming White House chief of staff. Indeed, Emanuel, who took over the House seat of someone named Rod Blagojevich in 2002, was one...

Former Florida Governor JEB Bush has decided not to persue the Senate Seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Mel Martinez. JEB was considered the top candidate for the office. Mr. Bush has stated that he is not yet prepared to return to public office.

Jeb Bush poised for Florida Senate run By: Amie Parnes December 26, 2008 09:21 AM EST As Caroline Kennedy pursues her bright-lights, big-city bid for the U.S. Senate, another child of dynasty is quietly testing the waters for his own Senate run. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush – the son of one president and the brother of another – has been working the phones since Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) announced earlier this month that he won’t seek reelection in 2010. Sources say Bush hasn’t made up his mind yet about running for Martinez’ seat yet, but that he’s getting green...

The 52-35 roll call by which opponents on Thursday prevented the Senate from considering a $14 billion emergency bailout passed by the House for U.S. automakers. On this vote, a "yes" vote was a vote to formally consider the House bill and a "no" vote was a vote to stop its progress. Supporters of the bailout needed 60 votes to advance it. Voting "yes" were 40 Democrats, 10 Republicans and 2 independents. Voting "no" were 4 Democrats and 31 Republicans. Republicans Yes - - Bond, Mo.; Brownback, Kan.; Collins, Maine; Dole, N.C.; Domenici, N.M.; Lugar, Ind.; Snowe, Maine; Specter, Pa.;...