Free Republic

An article by Michael O'Brien on MSNBC's First Read this morning quotes an "informal" advisor to Mitt Romney's campaign as saying that the presidential candidate is not likely to choose a woman as his running mate because Sarah Palin "poisoned the well" for women, with the possible exception of New Hampshire freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

Today it’s being widely reported that Romney had a moment were he was amazed at the existence of WAWAs, a convenience/gas store, and the electronic touchtone ordering of sandwiches. They have spun this to make it seem like he’s out of touch – BUT THE VIDEO IS EDITED DECEPTIVELY:

Today on Morning Joe Nicole Wallace was sitting in with Joe Scarborough & company (sans Mika) and the subject of President Obama’s statement concerning the “private sector is doing fine”. Plenty of people have hit the president on this but there was an interesting twist on the subject today beginning with the opening. The Show started with John McCain’s “The fundamentals of the economy are sound” statement with the Obama commercial that followed. Then then showed the president’s gaffe and Romney’s ad that followed. Joe, Nichole Wallace Steve Rattner and Mark Halperin started discussing it and comparing it to the...

Clueless or dishonest are the only choices available now. Well, other than “both.” At a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing Thursday, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) asked Holder about the practice [of requiring photo ID to enter federal courthouses], which has been standard procedure at most, if not all, federal courthouses for the last decade or so. “If I were to go to the federal courthouse here in D.C., either as a party or as an attorney, wouldn’t I have to show a government-issued photo ID?” Lungren asked. “That’s not been my experience, here in DC. I don’t — you know,”...

The history of Steve Schmidt’s lies and perpetual backstabbing of Governor Palin have been well documented here and elsewhere. In an article published today in the New York Times (“Fashion & Style” section), he continued his quest to scapegoat his own poor decision-making in 2008 (like telling McCain to suspend his campaign during the financial crisis), and his need for relevancy within political circles, albeit now only with those who reside on the left. The writer who Schmidt sat down with to continue his lucrative charade, is a man by the name of Adam Nagourney. Nagourney was on the list...

The American left as we have come to know it suffered a devastating blow in Wisconsin last night. The organized heart of the left gave everything it had to the fight against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: heart, shoe leather, wallet and soul. The left picked this fight, on the issue and in the place of its choice; it chose to recall Walker because it believed it could win a showcase victory. That judgement was fatally flawed; it is part of a larger failure to grasp the nature of American politics and the times in which we live. The left gave...

In front of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, a popular field trip destination for school children, one protester got pretty upset when MRCTV asked him about his sign. The school children watching this man were a bit shaken up by his behavior.

Deb Fischer's late surge continues to be the focal point of the ongoing post-election analysis of the Republican Senate race. No doubt, there is agreement that Fischer was closing fast as the GOP primary campaign headed to the finish line. Internal polling by Jon Bruning's campaign spotted her moving past Don Stenberg into second place as the candidates rounded the final turn. But the Bruning campaign still expected to eke out a narrow win when voters went to the polls Election Day. Read more: http://journalstar.com/elections/don-walton-fischer-surge-still-hot-topic/article_d2aa34ca-296e-5aa5-ae06-dd8970859d09.html#ixzz1wspx3wo8

The conservative blogosphere has yet to move past the death of patron saint Andrew Breitbart, but it will get a major jolt this month from an equally provocative hero: Sarah Palin. The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee has committed to delivering the keynote address at Right Online, the annual gathering of conservative bloggers and online activists organized by the Koch-backed non-profit group Americans for Prosperity Foundation. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77019.html#ixzz1wsHXcWjE

The Unions, Daily KOS and Progressives are desperate to smeer Gov. Walker right before the recall. The Twitter brigades are mocking them back!!! Join the fun!!! https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23WIUnionDesperation #WIUnionDesperation

As we look ahead to the Wisconsin primary, our efforts can take heart from the Texas primary election for the GOP Senate. Based on the past, we can expect a much-reduced participation level in either a run-off or recall election. Looking at Texas, it seems obvious that the battle will be waged in the major population areas of the state. Keeping that in mind, take a look at the early and election day results from the 10 largest voting counties in Texas.

As the landmark Supreme Court decision looms next month, Republicans have been privately considering a plan to reinstate some popular provisions of “Obamacare” if it’s struck down. The revelation sent conservative advocates — who have demanded nothing less than total repeal — into a tizzy, which forced House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to reaffirm his commitment to “repealing Obamacare in its entirety,” declaring that “[a]nything short of that is unacceptable.” But more evidence is emerging that Republicans believe that’s not tenable. Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a tea party darling, told ThinkProgress that he supports preserving three popular provisions of the...

In recent years, Democrats have argued that requiring voters to show photo IDs prior to voting is an egregious act of voter suppression. Ben Jealous, of the NAACP, has gone so far as to argue that such requirements are tantamount to modern-day Jim Crow laws. In the world they inhabit, lots of voters don't have access to photo IDs, so requiring voters to provide this will "disenfranchise" them and leave them out of the democratic process. Funny they don't feel that way for their own party conventions. On Saturday, Massachusetts delegates will meet in their state's Democrat party convention. The...

It was never going to be easy for Ted Cruz to force a runoff in the Texas Senate primary. “This race is Ground Zero between the moderate establishment and the conservative tidal wave,” Cruz said Tuesday at a Houston polling site, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The stakes are high.” “A runoff,” he added, “would be a tremendous victory.” Last night, the former Texas solicitor general got his wish, winning a spot in the runoff and a direct showdown with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, who finished just short of the “ 50 percent plus one” threshold he needed to avoid...

Dan Liljenquist’s campaign has stated that he would never label himself a “Tea Party” candidate, and now we see why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YgIUmxoEO7Y Update by Doug: I’m stunned. For a couple of reasons. First, all these alleged Tea Party proponents are supporting a guy who’s already signaled his willingness to compromise with liberals on what’s supposed to be one of the Tea Party’s core principles: Tax increases. Isn’t TEA an acronym for “taxed enough already”. Not that Liljenquist would know since, as Stacy noted above, he doesn’t consider himself a Tea Party candidate anyway. I can certainly see why.

(CBS News) In his first interview since he lost his primary earlier this month, Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar said he had no plans to campaign for Richard Mourdock, who beat him. "For the time being, I don't plan an active campaign," Lugar said on "Face the Nation." The 80-year old lawmaker, known for reaching a landmark post-Cold War agreement on weapons reductions with Russia, has served in the Senate for 36 years. He lost to Tea Party-backed State Treasurer Richard Mourdock by 20 percent during the May 8 primary. Lugar told host Bob Schieffer that Republican voters in Indiana...

I'm a big fan of the "Mass Effect" series but I gotta say the ending of ME3 made me go "What da heck???" Really? It was that much of a head scratcher. But folks, it's just a game! It must be a generational thing. After seeing the rants (some emotional) on You Tube it makes me think how misguided some are. Have we sunk this far? We celebrate and remember Memorial Day for those who gave their all. It would be nice to turn off the XBOX once and a while. The departed don't get a "reset" button. Just wanted...

Breitbart News has received an exclusive first-look at a poll to be released tomorrow morning by Reason. The Reason-Rupe Poll, conducted May 14-18, shows Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker moving into a commanding lead in his recall race. Walker now leads his opponent, Democrat Tom Barrett, by 8 points, 50%-42% among likely voters.

Mitt Romney was already facing a hard time within his party when it comes to his stance on illegal immigration. Now, the presumptive GOP nominee faces criticism on the issue from a potential running mate, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R). In an interview with Newsweek’s Andrew Romano, Martinez takes aim at “self-deportation,” an idea promoted by Romney during the GOP primary and one at the heart of Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070 anti-illegal immigration law. As we sit down at a local Starbucks, I ask about immigration. It’s a topic she has been reluctant to discuss since winning the Republican...

The Omaha-World Herald as well as The Hill have both reported earlier in the hour that the Deb Fischer campaign (U.S. Senate, Nebraska) has received an endorsement from Governor Palin. Also, Fischer’s campaign website includes a note from Fischer to Palin: “I am writing to you as both a fan of your strong, conservative principles and as a fellow female Republican. I have watched your career with respect as you take on tough issues, all while raising a family and serving your great state. Your career has inspired me and so many other female politicians who believe principles should be...