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Those of us who got our hopes up that $4 gas would finally galvanize the country to break the strangle-hold the extremists in the environmental movement have on our lives and on our future – and impel the Congress to do something sensible for a change – are going to have to grit our teeth and fight even harder. Not only have these five Republican Senators joined with Democrat environmentalists to scuttle all attempts for citizens of the U.S.A. to begin to achieve some semblance of energy independence, but they may have robbed John McCain of the hottest issue to...

I'm optimistic that in this election we are choosing between two good and uniquely qualified individuals seeking the job with a least a more inherent civility, let alone grasp of history, than we've experienced in the last eight years. This can only be a good thing. I like John McCain. I wouldn't walk across the street to shake George Bush's hand, but I'd walk a country mile, barefoot, to shake McCain's.

Political reporters have long been obsessed with conflict between presidential candidates and their running mates, at least since the days of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. That's probably one reason why McCain's joke in Detroit last week that Mitt Romney was "doing a better job for me than he did for himself" sparked a wave of news stories speculating that McCain was seriously considering, for the vice-presidential slot, his bitter rival turned loyal surrogate. But while choosing Romney to be his running mate would make Washington journalists happy, it would be nothing short of political suicide for McCain.

WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate have freed GOP members to go against the traditional party platform if it will help them get re-elected, aides say. The Politico reported Tuesday that the GOP leadership set their members free amid fears they could lose five or more seats to Democrats in November. Republican leaders have told senators in tough re-election bids to side with Democrats on anything but energy and national security issues, a leadership aide told Politico.

SURFSIDE - Democrat Joe Lieberman, campaigning among Jewish voters in South Florida for fellow senator John McCain, said today he won't be the Republican presidential candidate's running mate. "I had the opportunity to run in 2000," said Lieberman, a self-described "independent Democrat" from Connecticut. Lieberman, who was Al Gore's Democratic vice presidential running mate, said he's looking forward to staying a U.S. senator and working with McCain in the White House to build a coalition of Democrats, Republican and independents.

Americans should pick a president they think they can trust. John McCain should pick a running mate he knows he can trust. McCain knows he can trust Lindsey Graham.

Biting the Bullet: It’s Either McCain or Obama By Rene Guerra Never, ever, in her 232 years of illustrious existence, has America been at such a dire juncture where her enemies and rivals--domestic and foreign--are so determinedly poised and so advantageously positioned to undoing her. Islamofascism has vowed to destroy America, at any cost; “Death to America� the frenzied, mouth-foaming, suicidal Iranian throngs cry. Our brave troops in Iraq and Afghanistan keep fighting day in and day out the terrorists that the Saudi Wahhabis, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Iranian Shiite fundamentalists, and the Syrian Baathists would otherwise be sending to...

Conservatives don’t love John McCain, but unless they’re considering abandoning their cause with Atlas Shrugged proportions, there’s no way in hell they’ll vote for Barack Obama. Sometimes, things have to get worse before they get better. And with that idea in mind, the conservative movement really is America’s crutch. The most specific example is economics, as conservatives constantly preach lower taxes and greater individual freedom. One would think that the Bush tax cuts, which have yielded continued economic growth (yes, our economy is growing, despite the lies you keep hearing), and the burgeoning economy during the Reagan Administration would provide...

This is a serious question and I respectfully ask for serious, thoughtful responses from the most ardent McCain detractors and not the casually disgusted. If you are only casually disgusted, please refrain from mucking up the thread and allow only the truly bulemic to air their rationale. I am not a McCain supporter, never have been probably never will be. That he will be the eventual GOP nominee is all but assured and that I might find I must vote for him if only to counter an Obama or Clinton administration, well, that's my decision and one I hope you...

All indications are the Democrats will pick up seats in both the House and Senate, with the Senate likely being a couple of RHINOs away from the magic 60. McCain is no Reagan but he's the only thing standing in the way of the most liberal Senator in Senate becoming President with a clear majority in Congress and at a critical time with decisions to be made on the war on terror, the war in Iraq, heath care, taxes, illegal immigration and likely the Supreme Court. Sometimes you do have to pick the lesser of two evils. This is one...

Today John McCain campaign released a very powerful and emotional ad that portrays a man who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve this greatest nation in history of mankind. I do not know how anyone cannot consider that this great man will be great commander in Chief when they see the footage of him in captivity and being interrogated by his Vietnamese captures. This is the man that we need to continue and win this great war against the Islamic terrorist enemy. (View the very powerful ad here) http://blogsforjohnmccain.com/new-john-mccain-ad-mccain-624787 When he was at the lowest point of his campaign last...

How conservative is Mr. McCain? During his quarter century in Washington, the senator has assembled an 82% rating from the American Conservative Union, placing him 39th among senators in 2006, while drawing a 25% lifetime rating from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has a 75% ACLU lifetime rating. A scorecard by the antitax Club for Growth, a conservative political-action committee, ranked him 29th among 55 Republican senators in 2006.

Sen. Thad Cochran has shifted his support to Sen. John McCain for president. Cochran made the announcement in a statement Thursday after his first choice, former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, dropped out of the Republican race. Mississippi's other senator, Roger Wicker, a Republican, had endorsed former Tennessee senator, Fred Thompson, who has also withdrawn from the race. Wicker has not announced his support for another candidate. GOP Cong. Chip Pickering endorsed McCain last year. Cong. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, has endorsed fellow Democrat, Barack Obama for president.

With the race to succeed him reaching a critical juncture, President Bush on Friday began rallying the Republican base around its presumptive nominee, John McCain. In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Bush offered an implicit endorsement of McCain, a senator from Arizona, as a true conservative in the face of deep skepticism on the right.

Fred Thompson, the one-time Republican presidential candidate, endorsed Sen. John McCain Friday, calling on the party to "close ranks" behind the presumed nominee

Syndicated talk-radio host Mark Levin said this about John McCain last night, “We know who John McCain is … we’ve seen him with our own two eyes, we’ve heard him with our two ears … We smell defeat in November whether he wins or loses.” This is the audio of Mark explaining why. For many of us who have flatly stated that we will not vote for John McCain in 2008, it is not just resisting the urge to vote for the lesser of two evils, we see McCain, Obama, and Clinton as a wash.

By unanimous vote of our principals, we endorse the candidacy of Senator John McCain for President of the United States.Why? Because in spite of our preternaturally youthful looks...we're grown-ups. Or, if you prefer...because America is more important than any one of us and our personal feelings. Mitt Romney delivered an amazing speech at CPAC yesterday. He proved himself a noble, good, decent, patriotic man. He showed us all that he's a man we'll be seeing a lot more of down the road, and that we'll be lucky to have him. There were a lot of specifics in his speech, but...

Bob Dole, the former Senate Republican leader, wrote an insistent letter to Rush Limbaugh on Monday and suggested that for the good of the party, the conservative talk-show host should stop his strafing of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). On Monday's show, Limbaugh asserted that McCain has "lied about his reason for opposing the Bush tax cuts," and added: "I think McCain has an animus toward the Republican Party. I think ever since South Carolina 2000 he's had it in for the Republican Party, and one of his objectives is to destroy it and change it." McCain, the front-runner for the...

. Senior Republicans said Rush Limbaugh and Tom Delay would rally behind him........"Oh, they'll rally behind me," McCain told reporters on his campaign battle bus, the Straight Talk Express. . . John McCain will woo conservatives and independents with an upbeat message lauding Reagan-era economic values and a pledge to defeat Islamic extremism, strategists say. "He has tremendous momentum coming out of this race, and we'll be out talking about the two issues that Americans care most about, which is winning the war against radical Islamic extremism ... and the economy," Steve Schmidt, McCain's key strategist said at a...

We are all fallen, imperfect beings. The news of the federal indictment of Bernie Kerik is a sad moment, a cautionary tale, and an object lesson. Sad, because Kerik rose from the child of a prostitute to “America’s cop”–and this nation loves such tales of success. Cautionary, because it speaks to the fallibility of anointed heroes and the temptations of power. An object lesson, because it highlights the flaws and vulnerabilities of GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani’s on the issues of corruption and immigration enforcement. Here’s what I wrote back in December 2004 when Kerik was forced to withdraw from consideration...

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The reaction from the pro-life community to Pat Robertson's endorsement of pro-abortion ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani for the GOP nomination for president has been strong. Several pro-life groups and leaders issued statements Wednesday and Thursday saying Robertson has "sold out" the pro-life movement. The evangelical leader said he backed Giuliani because of other political issues -- most particularly his leadership after the terrorist attacks and against Islamic extremism. But pro-life advocates say Giuliani's position in favor of legalized abortion and his long record opposing any limits on the practice outweighs any other political considerations. "Pat...

I have known, liked and admired Pat Robertson for about 25 years – maybe more. Pat has said and done some dumb things occasionally during that period of time, but, until this week, I would have counted him among the "good guys" – a righteous man of principle. With his endorsement of Rudy Giuliani for president of the United States, he has me doubting him – big time. Keep in mind, this is the presidential primary season. I admit, the choices among the front-runners – Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Mitt Romney – leave a principled constitutionalist...

When Rudy Giuliani captured the endorsement of Christian Coalition founder and 700 Club host Pat Robertson Wednesday, many heads turned. Why did it happen? What does it mean?...

Conservatives who aren't backing Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid are turning to him in strong numbers when asked to name their second choice, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed Thursday.In the latest evidence of the former New York mayor's strength among the Republican Party's right wing, one-third of the conservatives supporting his rivals made him their pick when asked to choose an alternative, considerably more than anyone else.Overall among Republicans and GOP-leaning voters, Giuliani is the favored candidate of 29 percent, followed by former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson's 19 percent, this week's AP-Ipsos poll showed. Arizona Sen. John McCain was next at...

WASHINGTON — Televangelist Pat Robertson endorsed Rudy Giuliani's campaign Wednesday, a surprising embrace that underscored the divisions among Christian conservatives about the field of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. By itself, Robertson's support of the former New York mayor was an unusual partnership between a Christian conservative who once blamed the 2001 terrorist attacks on American sins such as abortion and a social liberal who supports abortion rights and gay rights. But coming the same day that another prominent Christian conservative — Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas — endorsed Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and two days after influential...

As much as the mainstream media like Rudy Giuliani’s liberal viewpoints on abortion and homosexuality, a panel on CNN’s "The Situation Room" were divided on the issue of Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani. Jack Cafferty, who won MRC’s "Tin Foil Hat Award for Crazy Conspiracy Theories" last year, labeled Robertson as being part of a "lunatic fringe" and opined that the endorsement was "absolutely irrelevant." On the other hand, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin thought the Robertson/Giuliani alliance was a "big deal." Cafferty and Toobin, along with host Wolf Blitzer and CNN senior political analyst Gloria Borger discussed...

Data and stats found in link

Over the course of his political career, Bill Clinton was literally and figuratively embraced by countless pastors, most of whom presumably went to their pulpits on Sunday to preach traditional values, including marital fidelity. If memory serves, neither Gail Collins nor other liberal pundits noted any irony in people of the cloth endorsing the spectacularly straying Clinton. But let a preacher praise a Republican with a personal history, and Gail Collins thunders like Billy Sunday with a bad migraine. Here's the opening paragraph of her "Pat Loves Rudy" in today's New York Times [emphasis added]: "Back in mid-2001, when Mayor...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York Sen. Hillary Clinton still holds a 20-point lead over her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination but she and Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani are in a dead heat, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Wednesday. According to the poll, Clinton leads Giuliani by just one point, 46 percent to 45 percent, a statistical tie. In September, Clinton was 7 points ahead of Giuliani, 49 percent to 42 percent. Giuliani leads Republican presidential contenders with 33 percent support, followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain at 16 percent and former Tennessee Sen. Fred...

 Nov. 8, 2007 based on the following news story: Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Giuliani   This cartoon/graphic is free for noncommercial use in emails, blogs, and forums.  iowapresidentialwatch.com

To some extent, America knows Rudy Giuliani. They know him as “America’s Mayor,” the man who engineered the greatest urban Renaissance of my lifetime and who stood as a pillar of strength when our nation needed him most. But there is more to Rudy — much more to the man I have had the privilege to know since we first worked together in the Reagan Justice Department. .... . . . The breadth of Rudy Giuliani’s experience in the arenas of justice and [national] security is simply unmatched by any presidential candidate running today. Rudy has been an inspirational leader...

On the matter of Terri Schiavo’s right to life, which occupied the attention of the media and Congress in 2005, Thompson called that a family decision, “in consultation with their doctor,” and “the federal government should not be involved.” Thompson added, “the less government the better.” ... In the case of Terri Schiavo, a severely disabled person, there was a family dispute. Her estranged husband wanted her to die and he eventually succeeded in starving her to death. Her parents had wanted her to live. ... There was no moral justification for killing Terri because she had an inherent right...

(AP) -- The splintering of prominent Christian conservatives over the Republican presidential contenders reflects a schism — between the dogma of God, guns and gays and the desire to beat Hillary Rodham Clinton. Months of disagreement within this important GOP voting bloc culminated this week in a flurry of endorsements: Televangelist Pat Robertson is backing Rudy Giuliani. Conservative Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas is supporting fellow Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich is going for Mitt Romney. All the candidates are flawed in the eyes of the Christian right, which is why some evangelical leaders are...

A conservative political commentator says Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani for president earlier today is "a big get" for the former New York mayor, but also presents the GOP frontrunner with some complications.   Robertson, the often-controversial founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and the Christian Coalition, says he is endorsing Giuliani because he is "a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans." The host of CBN's 700 Club made the announcement Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Matthew Continetti of the Weekly...

On Wednesday, Christian Broadcasting Network founder, Pat Robertson (photo), gave Rudy Giuliani his endorsement in the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. Robertson's announcement came as a surprise to many political observers who believe the TV evangelist's position on social issues were not compatible with those of the former New York Mayor. Giuliani graciously accepted Robertson's endorsement. Robertson said the most important issues facing America were terrorism and the defeat of Democrats. Robertson's backing of Giuliani also came as a shock to the other men seeking the GOP's presidential nomination. However, under further scrutiny, Robertson's announcement made perfect sense--for...

This morning it was announced that Pat Robertson is endorsing Rudy Giuliani for President. This could turn out to be the biggest and most costliest compromise of his career. Pat Robertson has been a giant among dwarves in the evangelical movement. He has been a vocal leader in the movement against Abortion, Gay Marriage, etc. Now he has compromised all of that to support Rudy Giuliani, an unapologetically pro-Choice candidate. Why did he do it? One word, Mormonism...

Robertson endorses Giuliani, Weyrich endorses Romney, Dobson says stop the madness, vote third party. Limbaugh sits on the sidelines but appears to be willing to accept the worst without so much as a whimper. This is what happens when a conservative party loses its way. Conservatism takes a back seat to liberalism. Conservative leaders start endorsing pro-abort liberals and RINOs because they're "electable." Conservatives flee to third parties or stay home in disgust. The party self-destructs. !0, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Pat Robertson, one of the nation's most influential Christian leaders, plans to endorse former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani today, the Politico has learned. Giuliani has struggled to win support of social conservatives because of his moderate views on abortion and gay rights. But now he has one of the most resonant imprimaturs with Christian voters. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), meanwhile, plans to announce his surprise endorsement of former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president on Wednesday, a campaign official told Politico. The endorsement is to be announced in Dubuque, Iowa. The alliance gives McCain — once a front-runner, now...

Giuliani Strikes a Note With California GOP Testing the Waters, Former N.Y. Mayor Garners 4 Ovations SACRAMENTO, Feb. 10 -- Rudolph W. Giuliani came west to learn whether his brand of Republican politics has a chance among party members significantly more conservative than himself. By the time he had received a fourth standing ovation Saturday at the California Republican Party convention, the answer seemed clear. Equating the U.S. fight against terrorism with the Civil War and the Cold War, Giuliani told about 750 of his party's faithful that failure in Iraq would turn that country into a "massive headquarters for...

NEW YORK Citizens for Principled Conservatism has released its second video of "hate speech" by conservative columnist Ann Coulter. It can be viewed on the BradBlog.com blog...." Audio Link: Audio Link MP3

A political piece in The New York Post caught my eye. It said that conservatives were warming up to Senator John S. McCain III, R-Ariz. If McCain, as expected, makes another run for the presidency, he would be the oldest man, if successful, to have been elected president. It seems that some conservatives are enamored with a new poll suggesting that McCain would defeat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., by a margin of 52 percent to 37 percent. Others point to McCain's consistent efforts to cut government spending. Still others point to McCain's support for the Right to Life. These...

Don Nickels and other senior Senators privately discussed ways to ease Lott out of his leadership job before year's end to put the controversy behind the party, Republican sources said.They said Senator Nickels and others are working on a 'soft landing' scenario to encourage Lott to step down under face saving conditions, which could include another prestigious Senate office. Senior GOP senators including veteran John Warner (R-Va.) spent several hours on the phone discussing Lott's eventual fate.There were also private discussions about whether party elders-perhaps former GOP leaders Robert Dole of Kansas and Howard Baker of Tennessee--should approach Lott soon...