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The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who Republican leaders worry could complicate the party’s efforts to win control of the Senate. -snip- The Conservative Victory Project, which is backed by Karl Rove and his allies who built American Crossroads into the largest Republican super PAC of the 2012 election cycle, will start by intensely vetting prospective contenders for Congressional races to try to weed out candidates who are seen as too flawed to win general elections.

The battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party has begun. On one side is the Tea Party. On the other side stands Karl Rove and his establishment team, posing as tacticians while quietly undermining conservatism. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the “biggest donors in the Republican Party” have joined forces with Karl Rove and Steven J. Law, president of American Crossroads, to create the Conservative Victory Project. The Times reports that this new group will dedicate itself to “recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who...

The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who Republican leaders worry could complicate the party’s efforts to win control of the Senate. The group, the Conservative Victory Project, is intended to counter other organizations that have helped defeat establishment Republican candidates over the last two election cycles. It is the most robust attempt yet by Republicans to impose a new sense of discipline on the party, particularly in primary races. “There is a broad concern about having blown...

Via The Undefeated on Facebook, I discovered an article by Daria DiGiovanni about Bill O’Reilly’s coverage of what he called “bad blood” between Governor Palin and Mitt Romney. He used such a description to segue into his version of why the Governor has not been invited, at least not yet, to speak at the Republican National Convention in Tampa next month. It’s clear he doesn’t think such an invitation is forthcoming, either, because, according to him, at this stage of the game, “she’d have to sleep in a tent.” Bill, of course, hardly ever lets people talk, which is, first...

Sununu's full quote: "He has no idea how the American system functions, and we shouldn't be surprised about that, because he spent his early years in Hawaii smoking something, spent the next set of years in Indonesia, another set of years in Indonesia, and, frankly, when he came to the U.S., he worked as a community organizer, which is a socialized structure, and then got into politics in Chicago."

Out of the midst of our nation has risen many - but one in particular - whose love for God and country has placed her on the center stage of the conservative movement. One who the masses of common folk greatly respect and admire. One who has become a “mother” in these United States of America in an hour of crisis. One who has the vision and passion that our founders once possessed. One who has spoken out against to political machines of the Left and Republican establishment; and finally, one who has a fear of Almighty God to govern...

Rahm Emanuel to Mitt Romney: ‘Stop Whining’Jul 15, 2012 12:41pm Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said this morning on “This Week” that presumptive GOP nominee for president Mitt Romney should “stop whining” about attacks on his Bain record and just defend himself. “What are you going to do when the Chinese leader says something to you or Putin says something to you?” said Emanuel. ”I give him his own advice. ’Stop whining.’ Defend — if you want to claim Bain Capital as your calling card to the White House, then defend what happened to Bain Capital.”

The Donald is back and better than ever. Today, Donald Trump explained that Mitt Romney should release his tax records … but not until Barack Obama releases his college records. “Obama should give his college applications and records – you talk about transparency,” said Trump. “We will learn more about Obama when we look at those college applications than any other thing that can happen.” President Obama has already refused repeatedly to hand over such records, lumping the entire topic in with talk about his birth certificate. Trump, of course, is eminently correct. Those who call for Romney to release...

In an interview with Republican strategist Steve Schmidt on Monday's NBC Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie portrayed Mitt Romney's decision not to release more tax returns as a sign of guilt: "Mitt Romney is within the letter of the law, but he's on the low end of the norm. Do you think that he's left the impression with voters that perhaps he does have something to hide?" A list appeared on screen of the amount of tax returns released by other presidential candidates in past years as Schmidt provided a bland response that only reinforced Guthrie's assertion: "...when you don't disclose...

Republicans fired back Monday after President Obama suggested business owners owe their success to government investment, with Mitt Romney's campaign calling the remark "insulting." The president made the comment Friday during a speech to supporters in Roanoke, Va. Arguing that business owners got help from others along the road to success and suggesting they should pay more in taxes in return, he said: "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul told FoxNews.com on Monday that the remarks "reflect just how unqualified he is to lead us to a real...

Former Sen. Rick Santorum was back on the stump in his home territory of western Pennsylvania over the weekend, but this time in a new role: Mitt Romney's attack dog. "The republic is at stake," Santorum told a crowd gathered in the hot and cramped Victory Center, many of them wiping their brows. "One man is who we have to put our trust in to go out and fight that battle, and win that battle. And we must rally behind and do everything we possibly can to support Gov. Mitt Romney so he's the next president of the United States."...

'I’M SURE I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE ACCEPTING CONSEQUENCES FOR CALLING OUT BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY, PUTTING US ON THE ROAD TO BANKRUPTCY, AND ENGAGING IN CRONY CAPITALISM,' THE CONSERVATIVE FIREBRAND SAYS

PAWLENTY GETS A SECOND LOOK: Mitt Romney has already made his decision on who he’ll pick as his running mate, an announcement which could come this week, according to a New York Times report, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who shares a close relationship with the Romney family and has become an energetic cheerleader for the GOP nominee, sits at the top of the list four years after he was passed over for the number two spot by John McCain. “After a short-lived presidential bid of his own last year, Mr. Pawlenty is again being considered for the Republican...

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows Mitt Romney attracting 46% of the vote, while President Obama earns 44%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) more are undecided.

The "Super PAC" backing Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney saw its best fundraising month yet in June, raising some $20 million and by far outpacing its chief rival group backing President Barack Obama. The pro-Obama Super PAC, Priorities USA Action, also had its best fundraising month in June but brought in $6.1 million.

The Mitt Romney campaign has been busy this week fending off attacks about Romney's involvement with Bain Capital after he claims to have ceased dealing with the company's day-to-day operations. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about how this episode reminds him of the "Swiftboat" attacks against Democratic candidate John Kerry in 2004. GUY RAZ, HOST: It's WEEKENDS on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz. MITT ROMNEY: I had no role whatsoever in the management of Bain Capital after February of 1999. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I think most...

On Friday, July 13, 2012, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney sat down for interviews with all five networks following several days of heightened criticisms over his time at the private equity firm Bain Capital. Romney defended his work there to CBS News chief political correspondent Jan Crawford, and said the president owes him an apology for his campaign's "reckless and absurd" accusations. Below is a transcript of the full interview. Video clips are also available at CBSNews.com. JAN CRAWFORD: Governor Romney, the Obama campaign is saying that you either committed a felony by lying to the SEC or you...

George Shultz has one of the most preposterously impressive résumés in recent American history. World War II Marine (1942-45); distinguished academic economist; business executive; secretary of labor (1969-70); director of the Office of Management and Budget (1970-72); secretary of the Treasury (1972-74); chairman of Ronald Reagan's economic transition team; and the secretary of state (1982-89) who wound down the Cold War. He's also been an active adviser to GOP leaders including George W. Bush in the years since. And, as I just learned, he's not a bad singer either. When I called out of the blue on Wednesday morning, the...

Presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is planning a $60,000-a-plate fundraiser in Jerusalem, a source told The Jerusalem Post. The Post said in an exclusive report attendees would fly in from the United States for the July 29 event. After the fundraiser, Romney was reported planning to host a conference in Jerusalem where he will outline his Middle East policy.

When Mitt Romney arrives Thursday at the gates of Teton Pines, a majestic Wyoming country club where captains of industry flock each summer to golf on an Arnold Palmer-designed course, his purpose will be greater than spending another evening separating rich people from their money. The presidential candidate will be taking a big step toward becoming the official head of the Republican Party, as he is feted at the club and then at a $30,000-a-couple dinner at the nearby home of Richard B. Cheney, the living thread connecting the past five GOP presidencies. By hosting the fundraiser, the former vice...