Free Republic

So we all know that Cindy McCain is loaded. She’s an heir to the Anheuser Busch fortune and has millions upon millions. I love how the McCains & Clinton’s have 10-100X the millions that Obama has and he’s the elitists. Whatever. I want to challenge the idea that money is what defines whether one is a member of the American Elite. In doing so, I rely mainly on Christopher Lasch’s work The Revolt of the Elites. According to Lasch: The new cognitive elite is made up of what Robert Reich called “symbolic analysts” — lawyers, academics, journalists, systems analysts, brokers,...

With Thursday's California Supreme Court ruling regarding same sex marriage, we can expect a resurrection of one of the most shopworn political epiteths: San Francisco values. GOP Rep. Sam Graves unveiled an ad this week using the money phrase to disparage his Democratic challenger Kay Barnes, aka the "Big City Mayor" (formerly that is, of Kansas City.) Barnes' sin: She attended a fundraiser thrown by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and she shares Pelosi's "San Francisco Values." You know what that means. Or at least what it is supposed to mean. Nevertheless, you've GOT to see Graves' commercial only to check...

Stunned House Republicans vowed campaign changes Wednesday and debated the wisdom of attacking Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama in congressional races after their third straight election defeat in once-friendly territory. "The political atmosphere ... is the worst since Watergate and far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost 30 seats," Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia wrote the leadership in a bluntly worded memo. "Clearly, I think we've got to do a better job" going into the November elections, said the Republican leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, one day after Democrat Travis Childers won a Mississippi congressional...

I was going to title this post "Bend Over, America", but I didn't want to upset the gays. So, by this time I'm sure most of us were expecting to be paying nearly $1 a gallon again for gas and the last of our troops would be coming in from Iraq. Well, at least that's what we were promised by the new Democrat majority in Congress. Instead, their planned retreat from Iraq has (thankfully) failed numerous times and since taking control of Congress, gas prices have risen more than $.50 a gallon. Is anyone allowed to say these things in...

It's probably no secret to anyone who reads my column regularly that I will not be voting for either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for president. But I also will not be voting for John McCain. I could tell you all the reasons and have expressed them already in a number of columns in recent months. But this time, I'll let someone with whom I seldom agree express them for me. His name is Jonathan Chait, a senior editor at The New Republic. Here's what he wrote in that magazine: "Even though it is in the public record, McCain's voting...

President Bush threatened to veto the Foreclosure Bill proposed by the democrats. *link* This bill created by democrats wants to allocation billions of taxpayer funds to bail out individuals who basically bit off more they can chew it attempts to prevent foreclosure on homes across the county. Rep. Neugebauer from Texas brings up a valid point “The American people don’t want to make their neighbor’s payment when they’re having trouble making their own”, which is precisely what this bill would do. Assuming the bill passes, and homeowners are pulled from the brink of defaulting on their mortgage loan, what makes...

I was taking a look at USA Today this morning at breakfast. It had a front page article about the Reagan Revolution on the bench. That was the top layer of the article at any rate. Thinly veiled, just below, was the message, "Do you really trust a Republican to appoint any more judges when your rights are at risk?" I guess that's pretty run of the mill journalism, but we'll get a lot of it in the coming months. John Hinderacker is predicting that this year will actually be even worse than what we've gotten used to. Hard to...

The true real differences between the two political Parties!

The Republican free-for-all to replace retiring GOP Rep. John Doolittle is ugly and getting uglier, with the campaigns spending plenty to tag one candidate as a greedy carpetbagger and the other as a big-spending liberal. Those are fighting words in the Fourth Congressional District, which rambles from the Sacramento suburbs of Rocklin and Roseville east to Lake Tahoe and north to the Oregon border. Former Rep. Doug Ose and state Sen. Tom McClintock are brawling for the GOP nomination in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats 47 percent to 30 percent and the incumbent is leaving after being named in...

The following was a comment I received from a reader with regards to my article Self Loathing Patriots. It is a bit long and does contain some vulgar language, but is definatley worth reading. It goes a long way to show how we are truely viewed around the world by those people who do matter, rather than we Michael Moore and Nancy Pelosi would have us believe we are viewed as... "“Before I came over here I thought we (the Australian Army) were pretty hot.. was I ever wrong!...The Yanks (I hope you don’t mind me using that word) are...

Is Rasmussen becoming the most incapable pollster next to American Research? Maybe. Just this morning, Rasmussen released a poll showing Texas GOP Senator John Cornyn ahead of his Democrat challenger by only 3 points. Possible? Sure. Likely? Not. Rasmussen made a similar mistake just last month in the Louisiana Senate race between incumbent Mary Landrieu and GOP State Treasurer John Kennedy. On April 14, Southern Media and Opinion Research correctly found Landrieu leading Kennedy by 12 points. That same morning Rasmussen and friends reported that Landrieu had a lead of 55 to 39. But on April 20, the Times Picayune...

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jerry McNerney, a freshman Democrat, has emerged as one of the Republicans' top targets in Congress this year, making the race in his district that rarity in California politics — a national battleground contest and a true tossup. In 2006, McNerney pulled off one of the big upsets of the year when he knocked off Republican Richard Pombo, a committee chairman who earned the ire of environmental groups. Now, efforts by the GOP to retake the district, which stretches from Stockton through Alameda County to Morgan Hill, ensures an expensive campaign and should be one of the...

It’s Time for Conservatives to Dump the GOP! Don Boys, Ph.D. It is time for Christians and Conservatives (not always the same) to run from the Republican Party as if their hair is on fire. How much longer will principled people pretend that the GOP takes a principled stand? Some background: Every member of my family in West Virginia was a Democrat, but when I turned 18, I wanted to vote for Ike, so I registered as a Republican and have generally voted for them most of my life—until recently. When I was administrator of a large Christian school in...

John Hawkins of Conservative Grapevine and Right Wing News hit the nail on the head with his article:"Stop Apologizing for Being American". He explores the plethora of reasons why liberals bash America and whine about the history of our nation. It amazes me how we’ve got “people” in our country (Michael Moore, everyone on The View with the exception of Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Harry Reid etc) who insist that this nation has done so much harm to the world that they can barely stand to live in it. Yet, these are the same people that insist on...

Joe Andrew, former Chairman of the DNC threw his support behind Obama. This is of course after he threw his support behind Hillary. One thing you’ve got to admire is the consistency of liberals. They always enjoy voting for something prior to voting against it. Andrew cites a number of reasons as to why Obama is the “right” choice. He goes on to wonder “how the world would be different if Al Gore and not George Bush, would have been President of the United States.” Well for starters we would have let Al-Qaeda get away with 9-11, and we would...

WASHINGTON — Local congressman Jerry McNerney, a freshman Democrat, has emerged as one of the Republicans’ top targets in Congress this year, making the race in his district that rarity in California politics — a national battleground contest and a true toss-up. In 2006, McNerney pulled off one of the big upsets of the year when he knocked out Republican Richard Pombo, a committee chairman who earned the ire of environmental groups. Now efforts by the GOP to retake the district, which stretches from Stockton through Alameda County to Morgan Hill, ensures an expensive campaign and one of the state’s...

He’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. In a press conference held on Monday, Rev. Jeremiah Wright stated that the criticisms made against him and his sermons were truly an attack on the “black church”. Additionally, he fights back against criticism that he is unpatriotic or un- American, statements made against him after his shocking statements regarding Sept. 11. He states that he served his country and thus cannot possibly be anti-American or considered un-patriotic. He then goes on to ask “how many years Dick Cheney served” --- First of all, although serving our country should always be recognized and respected, there is a great...

Fred Thompson was superb last night on Fox News in responding to Sean Hannity's very legitimate questions about Obama, his politics, electability, and overall qualifications as President, Commander In Chief. NOTE: Barack Obama's refusal to appear on Fox News despite repeated requests, invitations from Fox News seems as if it might finally come to an end as he is currently scheduled to appear on Fox News Sunday.

Given recent results in congressional elections and current polls, and given the beating we took in 2006, there is significant concern that 2008 will result in the Democrats making sweeping gains in the House and Senate. Given the electoral history of the past few decades, I believe that the fears of Democrats picking up an additional 5 or more seats in the Senate, or 20 or more seats in the House, are WAY overstated, PROVIDED McCain wins by a few points or more in November. Why? I surveyed the Senate elections occuring in presidential years. In no year at least...

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows John McCain leading both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton by an identical margin of 48% to 43%. While the topline results are the same, there are important differences in the way those results are obtained. Clinton does better among Democrats than Obama while Obama does better among unaffiliated voters. Among those not affiliated with either major party, McCain leads Obama by five and Clinton by sixteen. Daily tracking results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (see recent daily general election results). In the race for the Democratic Presidential...

Peninsula GOP leaders asked Atherton Republican Greg Conlon "to take a bullet for the party," he said, and run against Jackie Speier in the special election to replace the late Rep. Tom Lantos earlier this month. The 75-year-old Conlon played the good soldier, dutifully finishing second with 9 percent of the vote, as Democrat Speier grabbed 79 percent for an easy - and expected - victory. Across the Bay Area, more Republicans are being asked to face that same electoral firing squad, marching into legislative contests where they have little or no chance of winning behind an increasingly tattered GOP...

For my inaugural post on FreeRepublic.com, something I should have posted about a month ago. Just in time to be too late for the NCAA Basketball Tournament, here now is the (unofficial) Republican Veepstakes Bracket. The field is broken down in to four regions (Governors, Congress, Cabinet, and Activists) of 16 participants. Note that I don't condone betting or pools, and I'm sure FR doesn't either. Governor's Region: #1 Mitt Romney (MA) versus #16 Jodi Rell (CT); #8 Sonny Perdue (GA) versus #9 Rick Perry (TX); #5 Bobby Jindal (LA) versus #12 Matt Blunt (MO); #4 Mike Huckabee (AR) versus...

The Dems have their final trainwreck prior to the Pennsylvania primary and it promises to be a show. The National Constitution Center is a beautiful building and it's nice to see Philly in the spotlight. 8:03: Obama's special interest rhetoric grates on me as he's taking money from just about everyone. Oil companies come to mind first. 8:04: Clinton speaking now and talking about the Constitution and going right to the liberal playbook: government is not doing enough for people. We've come a far way from "not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for...

LOS ANGELES, (AP) -- A splinter group of Republicans with ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and financed by six-figure donations will recruit candidates with hopes of reversing the party's disappointing record in recent statewide elections. Disclosure of the group Tuesday — California Republicans Aligned for Tomorrow — comes at a time when the California Republican Party has been struggling with financial and management problems and factional strife between moderates and conservatives. A list of supporters comes from across the party's political spectrum, but the organization appears geared to promoting Republicans who can compete statewide in a state that leans Democratic....

This is my first post here at Free Republic, I'm sorry if I'm not formatting it correctly! I realize that you don't agree with my of my views as an anarcho-capitalist. I'm not posting here to troll, get into debates I'll never win, etc., I'm here to beg you to support McCain! It wasn't until a few months ago that I understand why (as a libertarian) I always viewed the right with respect while viewing the left with disdain. I'll articulate it here: Leftist programs knowingly create perpetual votes; rightist programs don't create perpetual votes at all. Leftist view government...

BUSH'S RESIGNATION SPEECH The following "speech" was written recently by an ordinary Maineiac [a resident of the People's Republic of Maine]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a personw ho does not write for a living. The resignation speech we wish George W. Bushwould give: Normally, I start these things out by saying "My Fellow Americans." Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened,...

ALIQUIPPA, Pa., April 9 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday attacked her rivals over Iraq, saying Democrat Barack Obama is all talk when it comes to ending the war and Republican John McCain would keep it going. New York Sen. Clinton and Illinois Sen. Obama traded barbs in Pennsylvania, whose April 22 vote is the next milepost in a long campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to determine who will face McCain in the November election. Polls showed a tightening picture in the state with Obama making a move against Clinton's former big lead. The rivals spoke...

By LETTER OF THE WEEK I've been a conservative Republican since Ronald Regan ran for office back in 1980. I supported Bush I and Robert Dole against Bill Clinton. I supported Bush II against Al Gore in 2000. My political views began to change when Bush rallied this country for war against Iraq due to the WMD threat. I listened to U.N. inspectors (at least one was a U.S. citizen) that said Saddam didn't have any WMD. I watched the inspectors be discredited. I came to believe that Bush had better find WMD or his justification for war and my...

The foul odor of media-in-the-can-for-McCain and the Rethugs hangs over the 2008 campaign. McCain sez: It's fine with me if we're in Iraq for 100 years. The media sez: He didn't say that! The Washington Post charges Democrats are "distorting" McCain by saying, well, that he said what he said. The New York Times says Democrats are misharacterizing and distorting McCain, by saying, well, that he said what he said. Again, the facts the media is trying so hard to ignore: McCain said he'd be fine if we stayed in Iraq for 100 years. After all, he said (you can...

BEHIND any successful politician lies a usable contradiction, and John McCain’s is this: We love him (and occasionally hate him) for his stubborn individualism, yet his politics are best understood as a decade-long attack on the individual

Do we have enough young people to carry the flag of conservative values in public office for the next generation? Specifically, people who fit the following description: under the age of 50currently holds office or is a declared candidate for US Senate/House or Governor...or...merits being recruited for officeholds all or most of these (or more) conservative principles: Pro-lifePro-2nd AmmendmentSmaller govermentLower taxesFewer entitlementsSecure bordersAggressively pursue war on terrorism Know anyone who fits the bill?

Bryan DeWinter spent his summer vacation in Israel, speaking with convicted terrorists at a maximum-security prison and venturing to the Syrian and Lebanese borders, where signs of the 2006 war with Hezbollah still remained. In Washington, D.C., he spent winter break meeting with Department of Homeland Security officials, analyzing government tactics to quell terrorist activities. Although young Democrats have dominated the spotlight this presidential election, helping to swell the ranks of new voters, college Republicans like DeWinter are just as impassioned about the 2008 presidential campaign. But instead of demanding a change of course from the Bush administration's policies, young...

Hillary's White House itinerary is being released. Question, in late 1999, what were her contacts with Luis Nieves Falcon. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199912/ai_n8877467 The FALN terrorists were pardoned for New York Puerto Rican votes for her Senate election. The 16 terrorists were convicted of a variety of charges that included conspiracy, sedition, violation of the Hobbes Act (extortion by force, violence or fear), armed robbery and illegal possession of weapons and explosives -- including large quantities of C-4 plastic explosive, dynamite and huge caches of ammunition. Observed Judge George Layton, who sentenced four FALN defendants for their conspiracy to use military-grade explosives to...

Husband in double slaying had gambling, real estate, political ties; deaths appear 'motive specific,' official says -- The man who was killed alongside his wife in their Pleasanton country club home was a "complicated" and, at times, controversial local figure with political, gambling and real estate ties, those who knew him said. Ernie Scherer, 60, was a passionate conservative who once worked for former Republican Congressman Bill Baker. He dabbled on the professional poker circuit and was an active real estate investor who bought and sold homes across the country. "Local politics was as much a hobby to him as...

PLEASANTON -- A Republican activist and professional poker player and his university lecturer wife found slain inside their country club home in Pleasanton had been dead for several days before their bodies were discovered Friday, authorities said today. Ernest Scherer Jr., 60, and his wife, Charlene Abendroth, 57, were discovered at 12:30 p.m. Friday after their daughter could not reach them and summoned officials with the Castlewood Country Club association to the home at 18 Castlewood Drive. The couple had owned the home for about 18 months, a neighbor said. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not said...

For the eighth week out of the last nine, Fox News Channel ranked in the top five channels on cable in prime time last week. FNC was the fourth most watched channel — CNN ranked 14th and MSNBC came in 27th.

Looks like the folks in Minnesota are trying to have a little fun. So many of you responded to our video requesting help to name our blog, we here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul figured we're in March, the local college is trying to get into the post-season basketball tournament, that tournament has a catchy nickname, so why don’t we *ahem* "leverage" that into creating our own contest: Blog Madness?

I drove up to Auburn Tuesday to see Tom McClintock rhetorically throw his hat into the ring. "The ring" in this case refers to the 4th Congressional District, and the cliché is historically appropriate. Apparently derived from a frontier tradition of throwing one's headgear into a boxing ring to announce one's pugilistic intentions, it was popularized as a political term by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. "My hat's in the ring. The fight is on, and I'm stripped to the buff," Roosevelt said as he announced he would challenge a heretofore fellow Republican, William Howard Taft, for the presidency. Which is...

Who will be Senator John McCain’s running mate for the race to the White House. A question a lot of us on the right, middle, and the left are starting to ask.McCain’s choice of running mate is an important one especially with the perception in the party that McCain is not truly a conservative in the mold of Reagan instead a moderate (an image that he crafted throughout much of his political career). One way is to pick a running mate that holds many of the ideas that are at the core of the conservative movement - pro-life, limited government,...

One meme that has emerged in recent days is the idea that Hillary Clinton’s remaining in the race, and especially her negative attacks on Barack Obama, will seriously damage the Democratic Party and make Obama damaged goods in the fall. John Aravosis is one of the more passionate advocates of this position. Well, come Wednesday, if Hillary doesn’t win 65% of the delegates in Ohio and Texas, and still insists on staying in the race and ripping our party in two, it will be time to start treating candidate Clinton with the same golden rule she is using for candidate...

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Republican Chairman Robin Smith says she stands by the state party's use of "Barack Hussein Obama" in party criticism of the Democratic presidential candidate - even though John McCain says it's inappropriate. McCain, holding a big lead in the Republican presidential race, Tuesday apologized for criticism of Obama by a radio talk show host who introduced McCain at a rally. Asked if it was proper to refer to Obama by using his middle name, the Associated Press reports that McCain replied: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama...

I ask the question because it isn't out of the question. They are good friends with a history. It would be a smart move on the Maverick's part to stilt up his lacking on conservative credentials. Could Thompson serve as the conservative concience? The ideological gravitas? Even...power behind the throne? How would the conservative base/blogosphere react? Serious thought from Scott Ott: Bring Fred Thompson on as vice president to serve as the Constitutional conscience of the administration -- an ideological gravitas behemoth -- who can do for President McCain what Dick Cheney has done for President Bush on foreign policy....

The cash-strapped California Republican Party is facing deeply divisive political and financial problems in this critical election year - beginning with a $3 million loan from a furious contributor who was supposed to have been repaid on Friday. The troubles of the GOP in the nation's most populous state - which backers of Sen. John McCain insist could be competitive in the fall presidential election - come at a crucial time. The California party convention is Feb. 22 in San Francisco, and conservatives and moderates will debate the platform and whether independent voters should be allowed to cast ballots in...

In John McCain, congressional Republicans are grappling with the notion of a presidential nominee most didn't expect or want. Now, struggling under a raft of retirements that has dimmed their chances of regaining control of the House and Senate, Republicans are coming to terms with the idea of the Arizona senator at the top of their ticket in November. McCain, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting met Wednesday morning with House Republicans, a group dominated by conservatives who have been suspicious of his moderate positions on some issues and willingness to work with Democrats. It was, as McCain said, "a spirited and...

Consider the excerpts below from this website: http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm His political history in Illinois ( http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=BS030017 )shows that Obama has proven himself to be a nearly perfect Progressive-Democrat. While in the Illinois State Senate, Obama is named Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. His distinguished works include passing bill to assist children and adults who cannot afford health insurance; increasing funding for AIDS prevention and care; a law requiring police to videotape interrogations for crimes punishable by the death penalty; a law requiring insurance companies to cover routine mammograms; legislation to curb racial profiling. Obama supports homosexual marriage, racial...

One of the great surprises of the current election cycle has been the popularity and the resilience of one Senator Barack Hussein Obama (rookie – IL), who is bidding to become the Democrat nominee for the President of the United States. There have been several interesting things about his candidacy. Frst, he is a first-term U.S. Senator from Illinois. It wasn’t that long ago that Senator Lloyd Bentsen uttered his famous line “I knew Jack Kennedy. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy” and completely humiliated Dan Quayle, who was only seeking the Vice Presidency under a well-qualified George H.W. Bush. (And...

I have the utmost respect for Senator John McCain's service to our country as a career officer in the United States Navy, however, because of positions he has taken as a United States Senator, I can never vote for or support him for any public office, especially for the office of President of the United States. While acknowledging and appreciating Senator McCain's support for the sanctity of human life, his positions in regard to illegal immigration and trade make it impossible for me to support his candidacy for President of the United States, even if he does receive the nomination...

As Team Romney talked up the prospect of a Romney surge leading up to Super Tuesday, I envisioned my worst nightmare: A Hillary Rodham Clinton/Mitt Romney contest. A Clinton/Romney race, no doubt, was a Democratic operative's dream, starring the easiest Republican to beat. The Dems could have dusted off all of the 2004 campaign spots on John Kerry's flip-flops, and revamped them with Romney as the windsurfer, shifting positions on a number of issues - and I'd be stuck arguing that, flip-flopping aside, Romney would be better on Iraq. Now, I can breathe a sigh of relief. If Clinton wins,...

The snow doesn’t seem to be slowing down Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He plans to leave Thursday on another out of state trip. It is just one of several 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has followed over the last couple of months—fueling speculation of a Vice Presidential nod. Aside from his day job at the capitol, Pawlenty’s side gig as John McCain’s national co-chair has him crisscrossing the nation almost every weekend so far this year. Take a look at his itinerary: Dec. 29: Pawlenty was in New Hampshire. The next week, to the Iowa caucuses. Then it was off to Michigan. And...

Behind the scenes, Republican supporters of Arizona Sen. John McCain are grumbling about what they say was state GOP Chairman Ron Nehring’s glaring failure tonight to publicly congratulate the apparent GOP winner in California. (SEE UPDATE BELOW WITH NEHRING’S STATEMENT ON McCAIN’S APPARENT WIN.)Starting about 9:30p.m., media outlets projected McCain would take California but Nehring remained silent.Nehring, reached by phone a few minutes ago from San Diego, where the state party held its Election Night party, called it a non-issue and said he never planned to call the election himself or give a speech from the podium.“We will absolutely unify...