http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/rinowatch/ en-us Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:49:15 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2384051/posts On November 5 on CNN, Florida Governor Charlie Crist told Wolf Blitzer that he didn't back the $787 billion Obama stimulus bill. Crist has since said that it isn't a flip flop when he says he supported the stimulus "in concept" but didn't support the specific bill. In essence he's trying to have it both ways. Claiming he wasn't a supporter of the actual bill, but hedging by saying he felt something was necessary. It seems to be Crist's way of straddling the line. Unfortunately, the facts seem to belie Crist's delicately balanced tightrope act because in February of 2009... Publius Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2384051/posts#comment Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:49:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268464/posts Vanity (?) This evening my wife answered the phone and told me it was the Republican Committee - for me. When i picked up I stated that I was not given any money because I thougth McCain was a travesty and that the way the Committee has been treating [Governor] Palin was an abomination. The nice, polite fellow who called was obviously taken aback and responded with words to the effect of "OK, well thank you for your time". I was a bit surprised that he did not have a response to my disgust with the party. I only wish... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2268464/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:48:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998569/posts He’s the guy who was running for president before all the national attention shifted to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Now, Senator John McCain seems to be only an afterthought, at best, or an anachronism, at worst. He has got to get back into the game, otherwise he will never be in contention. Forget that he leads in the polls. That means nothing. His lead is only the consequence of the division among Democrats. Supporters of Hillary are quite incapable of uttering the “O” word to a pollster and Obama backers won’t admit that they’d ever back Hillary. But once... NewsMax http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998569/posts#comment Tue, 8 Apr 2008 18:49:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1889502/posts Updated on August 31, 2007 thanks to retirement of Sen. John Warner of VA who was one of our 'GOP 13', now 12.Sen. Larry Craig’s indiscretion is just the latest in a series of poor judgments – both of a political and/or personal nature that has inflicted the Republican Party in recent years, thereby hurting the Republican ‘brand’. Now, thanks to actions such as these, we find the GOP in the minority in both houses in Congress, with a Democratic White House coming in 2009 looking increasingly likely. Unless the Republican Party – and its leaders – realize that the... The GOPNation.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1889502/posts#comment Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:46:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788723/posts The Republicans, and even some socially conservative and evangelical leaders, are beginning to adjust to the possibility of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the GOP nominee for president. But not all. The Southern Baptist’s Richard Land, for instance, predicts massive defections from Rudy in the event of a Rudy Giuliani vs. Hillary Clinton race. Hugh Hewitt, evangelical talk-meister in the syndicated stream of radio shows doubts this ; "... If Rudy is persuasive on the judges he will nominate, he wouldn’t have a problem with the social conservatives in the general election." So tell us you’ll nominate... One News Now http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788723/posts#comment Wed, 21 Feb 2007 20:06:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1725770/posts From a reader: Jonah, Over on Freerepublic, I've been one of the people who consistently has been chanting for abandoning the Republicans. The fact of the matter is a republican in congress has a lot more in common with a democrat in congress than either of them has with me and the other folks who only get to spend their own money. The contempt they hold for your average American slips out from time to time and it's always disheartening. So come election time, it seems the only tool I have to get them to listen to me is to... NRO Corner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1725770/posts#comment Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:56:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720979/posts The self-righteous ignorance that drives so much gun control advocacy never ceases to amuse. Josh Feit's latest column for the Seattle alternative weekly the Stranger is a classic of the genre. It seems that as he stumps for fellow Republicans and paves the way for a potential presidential run, Rudy Giuliani is prudently backing off from his history of anti-gun demagoguery. Feit is hopping mad: American Spectator http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720979/posts#comment Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:20:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720328/posts Agents raid homes of Rep. Curt Weldon’s daughter, close friend By John Shiffman, Mitch Lipka and Patrick Kerkstra INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS Federal agents raided the home of the daughter of U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R., Pa.) and his longtime friend Charlie Sexton this morning. The agents departed Karen Weldon's three-story brick home on Queen Street in Philadelphia with arms loaded with boxes. A government car pulled into the alley to the back door of the house and loaded boxes into it. Three agents standing in an alley declined to identify themselves. "I can confirm that we conducted a number of... philly.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720328/posts#comment Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:17:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712301/posts WASHINGTON - At least one former congressional page is disputing another former page's claims that pages were warned five years ago to beware of U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fort Pierce. Matthew Loraditch, a page in the 2001-2002 class, told ABC News he and other pages were warned about Foley by a supervisor in the House Clerk's office. Loraditch, the president of the Page Alumni Association, said the pages were told "don't get too wrapped up in him being too nice to you and all that kind of stuff." But another page, who asked not to be named told The Palm... Palm Beach Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712301/posts#comment Mon, 2 Oct 2006 20:27:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712537/posts Questions remain about who knew what, when -- and the case turns off the conservative base. Five weeks before a midterm election, when Republicans are already on the ropes, the last thing the GOP needed was a homosexual pedophilia scandal. Former Rep. Mark Foley's salacious correspondence with teenage boys working as congressional pages is the kind of story that not only obliterates interest in whatever bills Congress passed before leaving town but promises to hit a much rawer public nerve than the corruption scandals that have already removed three Republicans from office this year. It strikes especially hard at "values... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1712537/posts#comment Tue, 3 Oct 2006 04:19:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710885/posts Maf54: You in your boxers, too? Teen: Nope, just got home. I had a college interview that went late. Maf54: Well, strip down and get relaxed. Another message: Maf54: What ya wearing? Teen: tshirt and shorts Maf54: Love to slip them off of you. And this one: Maf54: Do I make you a little horny? Teen: A little. Maf54: Cool. The language gets much more graphic, too graphic to be broadcast, and at one point the congressman appears to be describing Internet sex. Federal authorities say such messages could result in Foley's prosecution, under some of the same laws he... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710885/posts#comment Fri, 29 Sep 2006 22:20:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710903/posts At the close of September, the FCC approved kid video rules for digital TV, created a homeland security bureau, established a task force on childhood obesity, and set forth the ground rules of its first official public hearing on media ownership. The kid vid rules require broadcasters to run three hours of children's programming on all of their multichannels, including 24/7 weather and news feeds. The original rules established by the FCC in November 2004 had the same requirement, eliciting objections from broadcasters, some of whom run weather radar maps on their second or third digital multicast. The 2004 rules... TV Technology Newsbites http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710903/posts#comment Fri, 29 Sep 2006 23:03:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710800/posts WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., submitted a letter of resignation from Congress on Friday in the wake of questions about e-mails he wrote a former male page, according to a congressional official. Foley, 52, had been considered a shoo-in for re-election until the e-mails surfaced in recent days. Campaign aides had previously acknowledged that the Republican congressman e-mailed the former Capitol page five times, but had said there was nothing inappropriate about the exchange. The page was 16 at the time of the e-mail correspondence. Foley's election opponent, Democrat Tim Mahoney, has called for an investigation. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710800/posts#comment Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:25:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709788/posts If a successful steakhouse stopped selling beef and substituted stale vegan sandwiches as part of a strategy to increase its customer base, the restaurant wouldn't remain in business very long. Yet for some reason, the Republican Party has adopted precisely this strategy for governing. Instead of rewarding its loyal voters with the limited government they were promised, the Republican Party has decided to increase its voter base by offering the stale ideas of big government liberalism. This tactic is difficult to understand given that in modern midterm elections, voter turnout has hovered around 40 percent, meaning that winning is about... The American Prowler http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709788/posts#comment Thu, 28 Sep 2006 07:38:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709432/posts Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey has launched an attack on Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, saying Dobson and his "band of thugs” are "nasty bullies” and accusing the Republicans of pandering to the Christian right. In an interview with Ryan Sager, author of the book "The Elephant in the Room: Evangelicals, Libertarians, and the Battle to Control the Republican Party,” Armey said the GOP was "adrift and rudderless” in its commitment to small government. When pressed by Sager about what he feels is wrong with today’s Republican Congress, Armey – who became majority leader when the GOP... Newsmax http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1709432/posts#comment Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:30:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1696146/posts According to Fox 35, Charlie Crist is the winner of the Republican Primary for Governor. Time for us to get behind him. SM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1696146/posts#comment Wed, 6 Sep 2006 02:23:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694664/posts LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF NEW YORK (516) 767-4688 http://www.ny.lp.org/ Contact: Richard Cooper, State Chair nylibertarian@hotmail.com John Clifton www.electclifton.org; Michael Sylvia mike@mikesylvia.org www.mikesylvia.org; Eric Sundwall info@sundwall4congress.org www. sundwall4congress.org; Steve Finger 917-623-0652 Finger4Congress@aol.com, www.fingerforcongress.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GOP Tries Blocking Libertarian Candidates Albany, NY 8/31/06 Libertarian Party of New York State Chair Richard Cooper reports that general objections have been filed against both the statewide Libertarian petition and that for Eric Sundwall in the 20th Congressional District. Cooper asks “Are the Republicans and lobbyist John Faso desperate to keep the Libertarians out of the race? They know we won’t hesitate to expose Republicans... http://www.ny.lp.org/news/2006.gopblocks.htm http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694664/posts#comment Sun, 3 Sep 2006 04:01:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1688004/posts WASHINGTON - Three times this year, a lobbyist sought help from Rep. Christopher Cannon for his clients and got it. The lobbyist was the congressman's brother, Joseph Cannon. The Utah lawmaker acknowledges helping his brother's clients, including pressing Congress last month to intervene in a business dispute over an Internet contract estimated to be worth as much as $1.3 billion. "If my wife decided to lobby, then we would probably say, 'No talking to my office.' I just don't see my brother in the same category," Cannon, R-Utah, told The Associated Press. Cannon has a financial interest in his brother's... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1688004/posts#comment Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:16:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1687558/posts President Bush Approves Over the Counter Early Abortion Pill, Pro-Life Base Decries MoveBy John-Henry Westen WASHINGTON, August 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For his pro-life supporter base, President George W. Bush stepped into one of the biggest political landmines of his Presidential career today with his approval of over the counter status for the abortion-causing morning after pill Plan B. A press release by Human Life International underscored the seriousness of the move as it was titled, "President Bush Files for Divorce with Catholic Base." Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International commented, "President Bush's implied support for the... LifeSite http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1687558/posts#comment Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:50:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1687416/posts President George W Bush has announced that the US is to boost its aid package to Lebanon to $230m. The money would be used to help rebuild Lebanese homes and infrastructure, he told reporters at the White House. He also called for the quick deployment of a peacekeeping force for Lebanon. "The need is urgent," he said. The international community must designate the leadership of the force and give it a "robust mandate" as soon as possible, he said. A UN resolution calls for 15,000 troops to uphold the week-old ceasefire. Mr Bush said he hoped France would send more... BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1687416/posts#comment Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:04:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686226/posts Topinka Spokesman Dismisses Endorsement (CBS) CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich has won a surprising endorsement from the Republican mayor of New York City. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Chicago on Thursday to promote New York as a host of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Bloomberg called Blagojevich a fighter for the people of Illinois, especially in health care issues. “If I lived here, I would vote for him,” Bloomberg said of the Democratic governor. In response, a spokesman for GOP rival Judy Baar Topinka dismissed Bloomberg’s endorsement as from an “out of towner.” CBS2CHICAGO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686226/posts#comment Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:54:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653935/posts Next week is a big one for Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island: He must decide whether he's going to run for re-election as a Republican or as an independent. The deadline is 4 pm on Wednesday — almost exactly a week from right now. If Chafee doesn't believe he can win the GOP primary against challenger Steven Laffey, he may decide to forgo the whole thing and create a three-way race between himself, Laffey, and presumptive Democratic nominee Sheldon Whitehouse. This would create an interesting dilemma for Elizabeth Dole and the NRSC, which has already pumped a lot of... National Review's the Corner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653935/posts#comment Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:46:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645251/posts Drug Warriors Push Eye-Eating Fungus USA -- Why are members of Congress advocating the use of a dangerous crop-killer in Columbia? On April 16, the New York Times ran a full-page ad from contact lens producer Bausch and Lomb, announcing the recall of its “ReNu with MoistureLoc” rewetting solution, and warning the 30 million American wearers of soft contact lenses about Fusarium keratitis. This infection, first detected in Asia, has rapidly spread across the United States. It is caused by a mold-like fungus that can penetrate the cornea of soft contact lens wearers, causing redness and pain that can lead... In These Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645251/posts#comment Wed, 7 Jun 2006 23:58:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1633574/posts President Bush is an easy target these days. Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the job he is doing and even Bush’s loyal supporters are taking the opportunity to pile-on. Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and other evangelical leaders are criticizing the president for inaction on social issues dear to their hearts and threatening to withhold their support in the November elections. While the threat seems intimidating at first glance, the concept of staying home in November carries little long-term consequences for President Bush and Republicans but virtually certain consequences for the very issues social conservatives wish to... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1633574/posts#comment Wed, 17 May 2006 07:15:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1632085/posts White House threatens Buy American veto WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- The White House Thursday threatened to veto the House versions of the 2007 defense authorization bill. The White House took the action because of a series of "buy American" provisions. The White House contends that the prohibition on purchasing foreign goods for the U.S. military will cause "irreparable damage" to U.S. efforts to build alliances and coalitions. One of the prohibitions bars procurement from any entity that has exported or transferred certain items linked to the U.S. Munitions List to the People's Republic of China. The White House argues... UPI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1632085/posts#comment Sun, 14 May 2006 17:15:51 GMT