Free Republic

Dr. Howard Dean’s fans come out for the big Democratic summer shindig As Tom Andrews, the director of the leading national antiwar coalition, began his speech at the Maine Democrats’ big outdoor summer shindig in Falmouth, John Baldacci signaled his bodyguard/driver to move the large, dark SUV up the driveway. The vehicle soon hid in the trees, its engine quietly humming. At first, the governor seemed to be paying attention as Andrews, the former First District congressman, launched into rousing tales of how the country, under President George W. Bush, had gone "from peace and prosperity to war and recession."...

Who next for 2008? One prospect on virtually every list in speculation by the news media and by Democratic leaders is Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana. As usual, Indiana was one of the first states declared on election night to be colored red, the color now used on the maps to designate that a state has gone Republican. Heck, Indiana could have been declared for President Bush long before the first ballots were marked. In fact, both Kerry and Bush strategists long ago knew that Indiana would landslide for the president. Neither side bothered to bring their campaign to the...

SEC says ex-Enron executive to pay $500,000 Reuters News Service WASHINGTON -- The Securities and Exchange Commission said today that it charged the former chief accounting officer of Enron North America with securities fraud and he agreed to pay $500,000 in a settlement. Wesley Colwell, without admitting or denying wrongdoing, agreed to be barred from serving as officer or director of a public company and to pay $200,000 in penalties and $300,000 in disgorgement, the SEC said. "As part of this settlement, Colwell will continue to cooperate with on-going investigations into Enron Corp. by the Securities and Exchange Commission and...