Free Republic

You are invited to the inaugural meeting for Austin Tech Republicans, Thursday, May 14th. Austin Tech Republicans is a group of tech-savvy and online-active conservatives and Republicans; we are meeting to informally discuss and share progress on politics over lunch, centered on: - online activism, political blogging and use of social media and internet technology in politics - science and technology issues in politics - outreach to Austin high-tech community - general political issues of interest to us We're having our first "official" Austin Tech Republicans meeting this Thursday: Date/Time: May 14th, 11:30-1pm - plan to meet monthly, 2nd Thursday...

John McCain has just won a narrow but crucial victory in South Carolina's GOP primary, winning 33% of the vote against Huckabee's 30%, and adding further clarity to a race that has been a bit topsy-turvy. Call it "The Comeback RINO, part two" - McCain played his cards well in this evangelical and military-retiree heavy state. Meanwhile, out west, Mitt Romney won a decisive 51% win in the Nevada caucus, taking along with it more delegates than were at stake in South Carolina. So where is the race now? Duncan Hunter has officially dropped out today. Fred Thompson, who staked...

DETROIT, Mich. -- Romney's scooping up some support in Michigan heading into the home stretch before Tuesday's primary. One intriguing get is the support of Dennis Smith, who heads up the Information Network for Christian Homes, which has supported home-schoolers in the Wolverine State since 1984. Smith yesterday circulated a letter in the state supporting Romney and denouncing many of the Republican candidates, including McCain, and explained in detail the rationale for his thinking. Of McCain, Smith writes: "McCain has been wrong on issues like campaign finance reform and immigration, has an un-presidential nasty temper, and I just don't like...

The poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters in Michigan was conducted by Mason-Dixon by telephone from Wednesday through Friday. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points. H/T to politico, who got the results of this McClatchy/MSNBC poll, conducted by Mason Dixon, to be released on SundayMcClatchy/MSNBC Michigan GOP Primary Mitt Romney 30%John McCain 22%Mike Huckabee 17%Fred Thompson 7% Rudy Giuliani 6%Ron Paul 5% The poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters in Michigan was conducted by Mason-Dixon by telephone from Wednesday through Friday. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

A successful private-equity investor before he became governor of Massachusetts, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney claims a special expertise when it comes to economic issues. Business Editor James Pethokoukis chatted with Romney by phone yesterday evening as the candidate campaigned in New Hampshire. Since the Civil War, every presidential election with a recession has meant defeat for the incumbent party. If nominated, can you win in 2008 if we have an economic downturn? I actually think that in a setting like we have--where we face real competitive challenges, particularly from Asia and the weakened dollar and high energy prices--that people are...

This is a links and activism-central thread to collect the information on the status and effort to defeat the Senate Immigration bill, especially the egregious Z visa amnesty program, in its second attempt at passage. The Vampire Strikes Back The nefarious back-room dealers in the US Senate announced on Thursday night that they were bringing the Senate Immigration bill, killed on a previous cloture vote, back from the dead. Senators are trolling for votes. The future of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA hangs in the balance as they try to drum up support for the sellout of the century. WILL...

The current immigration bill being considered by the Senate is so large, complex, and full of legalistic 'gotchas', that there is no telling what unintended consequences will flow from its passage. There is however one thing we can count on: It will not in way solve our immigration woes. To critics of the immigration bill, this bill will irredeemably change America for the worse through the instant create of a new underclass. Whether it is called amnesty or another name, giving blanket legalization and citizenship to the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants here in this country is the most...

There are now 58 House Democrats elected in districts that voted for Bush in 2004. There are now only nine House Republicans elected in districts that voted for Kerry in 2004. Note the larger Bush Margins than Kerry margins. Those 58 Dem’s are in more difficult districts than the nine R’s. If in 2008 the R's only won those districts that performed 58% or more for Bush in 2004 they would pick up 18seats.If in 2008, the R's only win those districts that performed 55% or more for Bush in 2004, they would pick up 32 seats.Remember, when Bush won...

Why People of Conscience Can’t Afford to Facilitate a Leftist Victory For months, we’ve been hearing about the sour mood of U.S, conservatives, with left-leaning activists and liberal commentators savoring (and promoting) the possibility that many of their opponents on the right will express their frustration by abandoning the GOP on November 7th. As Election Day approaches, however, the evidence accumulatesthat dissatisfied and restless Republicans have begun to come home, recoiling at the very real prospect of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House and second in line to the Presidency. Nevertheless, those of us who travel in conservative circles...

The Alger Hiss award is a distinguished award given by the American Patriot Society, a high-falutin' name given for a buch of people, which may include you, who happen to believe America is a great country and it's sovereignty and integrity is worth defending (thus, Bill Maher is not a member). The Alger Hiss award, or the Hissie, is given to that individual or individuals who have done the most in the past year to provide aid and comfort to America's enemies, foreign or domestic. The award is named after the highest-ranking American traitor in our history since Benedict Arnold,...

What are the key principles that explain Mankind, Society and the Universe best? If you were to give a few general principles, easily stated, what would they be? I have been thinking of how to explain things simply to the next generation, ie my kids, and I have just been reading Bastiat's "The Law", a book that has clear and cogent thinking about how Government ought to work. Bastiat explained that Governments overstepped their bounds when they engaged in 'legalized plunder' which all forms of protectionism and socialism fall prey to, and that all errors in Governance flow from violation...

Purging the Immigration CourtsPresently, the U.S. has a talented and experienced group of immigration judges. With few exceptions, they are dedicated to enforcing the law and perform a difficult job well. Most serve for life.  The Committee’s bill would change all of that. After seven years, all immigration judges—including the current ones—would step down. And it seems (the provision is very poorly drafted) that their replacements would have to be attorneys with at least three years’ experience practicing immigration law. Who meets that requirement? The same immigration attorneys who currently represent aliens in the immigration courts. These attorneys are considered...

Within 72 hours, America faces the most important election choice in decades. Voters will determine where America and our civilization will go in the global war on terror and in leading the world. This election is about our fundamental national security and our nation's future. Why? WE ARE AT WAR. The central issue for America is terrorism; the central battlefield of terrorism today is in Iraq; and so the future of Iraq and the future of America is intertwined. In this war on terrorism (or more precisely,war on global Jidahist terrorism), we have a choice: 9/10 Senator versus a 9/11...

Please enter your entry of items, anecdotes, reasons why Kerry is not a good man. He's done some creepy things in the campaign, in his politics and in his life. Since he is presenting to the people some thing other than who he really is, I think a summation, butt SO the challenge: Give me a bullet item, 100 words or less per item, that shows he is not a good man. Example: Used the crippled ex-Senator Max Cleland for a cheap political stunt of delivering a letter to President Bush. When fellow vet Jerry Patterson, Texas Land Commissioner had...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military has arrested a "senior leader" in the network run by Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, along with five others during overnight raids in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, officials said Saturday. American forces have stepped up operations in Fallujah in a bid to root out al-Zarqawi's terror group, Tawhid and Jihad, which is believed to operate from there. The group has been blamed in numerous suicide bombings and beheadings of foreign hostages, including recent twin blasts inside Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses the U.S and Iraqi leadership. The 1:30 a.m. raid in southern...

I too have read some so-called inside dope on Bush Jr. that indicates he has some mental disorders. It occurs to me that there may be more than a sliver of truth to this. In fact it is possible Bush 'may' be suffering severe mental stress and unstability. This to the extent that Bush may truly be unfit by reason of deteriation of mental condition, not just his stupid, arrogant and blundering poor handling of every thing he has touched. Next, in steps the Republican big money. They have Dick Cheney to woefully, and with great regret, step up to...

Soldiers Maintain Security and Win Over Residents on the Streets of Samarra Samarra, Iraq – Soldiers with B Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry walk through the streets, accompanied by two gun trucks. During the mission, time is made to speak with members of a youth soccer team and buy ice cream cones for grateful children. Company leaders speak with merchants offering everything from watermelon to hubcaps. Virtually every resident stops and stares at the passing throng, most of them smiling and waving. After an hour on patrol, the Soldiers turn and head back to their forward operating base. The situation...

Jim Krane went after Bush before when he turned a US coup in capturing an Al Qaeda operative into questioning the war in Iraq: "A letter seized from an al-Qaeda courier shows Osama bin Laden has made little headway in recruiting Iraqis for a holy war against America, raising questions about the Bush administration's contention that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror." His bias was enough to make someone take notice. Now that terrorism heated up in Iraq, did Jim Krane write any words that said: "Spate of Car Bombings lays to rest questions that Iraq...

Poll to FREEP. Give the terrorist supporters trying to drag down the Iraqi Government a WAKE-UP call. Al Jazzera has an online poll: Is Allawi's interim Iraqi government 'succeeding'?The correct answer is yes. Here's what Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi said in the Rose Garden with President Bush: These terrorists understand all too well that success in Iraq will be an enormous blow for terrorism worldwide, and an enormous step forward for peace and stability in the Middle East, and in the wider world. I thank you, Mr. President, for your determination to stand firm with us in Iraq, and for...

... Dean, that is. Kerry now adopts Dean's position: "The invasion of Iraq was a profound diversion from the battle against our greatest enemy -- Al Qaeda." The FLIP-FLOP is a full bore Olympic Gold-medal-winning double-take on the whoe war effort. It's as if Kerry decided the Republicans didnt have enough Kerry Flip-flop on Iraq material to work from, and decided to add to it! Kerry was AGAINST the Gulf War I, before he was for it. (That's right, he was against the Gulf War, and then later had some 'memory' of being at the Gulf War signing ceremony ......