Free Republic

ke Berryhill, a Turlock Irrigation District director and a member of a prominent political family, announced Monday that he is running for Dennis Cardoza's congressional seat. Cardoza, D-Merced, is up for re-election in 2010. Cardoza's district includes part of Stanislaus County. Berryhill is a former Ceres Unified School District trustee and has served on the TID board since 1983. His term expires this year and he is not running for re-election. Berryhill, 62, is a Ceres rancher and a Republican. "Someone needs to step up to the plate and take on Dennis Cardoza," Berryhill said. "He's really had a free...

The recent "homecoming" splashed across every news channel, of convicted Lybian terrorist Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, is just one in your face moment of many more to come for this Democratic Administration. Make no mistake about this. Scotland may have released him but the show in Lybia was meant to rub it in the face of America. 270 people lost their lives in 1988 when a Pan Am Jet was blown apart in flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. Many of them were American. Muammar al-Gaddafi, Lybia's leader, back then and now, led everyone to believe his return would be a low key...

The 11th District is a tantalizing target for Republicans because of its history of voting for conservatives. The district went strongly for McCain-Palin over Obama-Biden in 2008 while also re-electing Shuler by a wide margin. The Republican recruiters are meeting with Hendersonville Mayor Greg Newman, former state Sen. Charles Thomas and Henderson County District Attorney Jeff Hunt. All three have expressed an interest in running against Shuler, although Hunt says he is leaning toward running for re-election as the top prosecutor.

It now appears that Dr. Strangelove might be advising the Democrats on passing health care reform legislation without a single Republican vote or without a Filibuster. The "Strangelove" solution is to go nuclear by using a parliamentary procedure that is called Reconciliation.

In 2006 Americans entrusted the Democratic Party to right the wrongs that the previously empowered Republican Party bestowed upon America. In 2008 Americans believed the promises of the then presidential candidate Barack Obama. They trusted Obama’s promises to bring the much needed changes to America that Americans longed for, transparency, integrity, and commonsense leadership. The Democrats and Obama have proved to be no less destructive to our democracy than Bush and the Republicans. The Democrats and Obama have once again proved that career politicians cannot be trusted. Like the previously empowered Republicans, the empowered Democrats ignore their constituents and rule...

Banker and southern Nevada resident John Guedry has announced he intends to run as a Republican against Democratic first-term Rep. Dina Titus. Guedry submitted paperwork Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission saying he intends to enter the race for next year's election. Guedry has been an executive at City National Bank for two years. He says the bank has fared well during the recession, providing over $3.5 billion in residential mortgages with only one home foreclosure. He says the bank refused to engage in risky investments. Guedry says he was approached to run for office by Nevadans fed up with...

Councilman Robin Engel said he expects to make a decision about whether or not to enter the race by Labor Day. Engel represents the 22nd District, which includes Fern Creek, Jeffersontown and Highview. In his last race for Metro Council, the Republican ran unopposed in a district with a majority of registered Democratic voters. Engel said he's met with party leaders to discuss entering the race, including Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Brad Cummings. So far, Engel hasn't made a decision.

Missouri state Sen. Bill Stouffer is seeking the 2010 Republican nomination to oppose veteran Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton. Stouffer recently filed a statement of candidacy and a statement of organization to organize a campaign in Missouri's 4th, a Republican-leaning district that includes all or part of 25 counties in central and western Missouri. "Enough is enough," Stouffer told CQ Politics Friday. "We've lost sight of what the role of the federal government is. We forget that the federal government was created by the states to serve the states, not to dictate to the states, and I'm concerned with the deficits...

Rep. Giffords canceled her town hall in Sahuarita/Green Valley, AZ and Jesse Kelly, her Republican challenger, scheduled an appearance in the same venue at the same time and place. From the looks of the video below it was very successful. Both sides were allowed to speak for two hours and with no problems. You would think that a 2 term congresswoman could manage to put on a town hall during the one month August recess. (VIDEO AT LINK)

Reply with Yes if you agree. Please do not reply if you disagree.

I posted two articles “Congress by Lottery” and “America is Fubar”. The concept in the articles was to have a more perfect government by replacing our entire Congress with people randomly drawn from a lottery type drawing. We would then truly have a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people. I received several replies to those articles, namely a general concern for having to change our constitution or needing to create new laws to invoke the lottery process. Please carefully read the next paragraph that confirms that it would be absolutely legal and no new laws...

Well...maybe not the entire retail segment of the economy, but one area that's doing well is anti- Obama merchandise. Vendors who were once capitalizing on the "YES WE CAN" slogan have now started to sell the "NO HE CAN'T" versions of tee shirts , buttons and bumper stickers. The economic stimulus and the current debate on health care, coupled with pending legislation on Cap and Trade have not only helped to refuel the Tea Party movement, it has brought out a new entrepreneurial spirit among the "anger merchandisers". Fox News reports along with the Washington Times that business is good....

Every day someone’s life is decided by the verdict a jury will deliver. And that jury is comprised of randomly selected individuals. Prospective jurors are drawn using a lottery type method. If we entrust our lives with juries drawn from a lottery why should we not entrust our Congress with members drawn from a lottery? What would be the arguments of having a Congress drawn from a lottery? Read the last chapter (free pdf file) of the book “America is Fubar” at the following link. http://members.cox.net/aif062009

There has been some Internet chatter and small amounts of media attention on having a national referendum on health care. It was brought up at a very spirited Town Hall meeting with Senator Arlen Specter this week. One of the participants said to him that the issue should be decided the old fashioned way...by majority rule. "We'll tell you if we like your plan. Hows that work?" Specter, being the "career" politician, (and turn-coat), that he is was quick to answer, "Well, that's a fascinating idea to have a referendum," he said, "Well, that's one of the ideas I'm going...

headed to Davol Square on Tuesday to hear state Rep. Elizabeth M. “Betsy” Dennigan, D-East Providence, announce that she will be challenging U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin in a Democratic primary next year. And as I was picking my way through the crowd, past the banners, balloons and a three-piece band, I bumped into a congressional candidate shaking hands. Only it wasn’t Dennigan. Or even a Democrat. It was state Rep. John J. Loughlin II, R-Tiverton, the House minority whip who plans to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy next year. Was he there to launch a Republicans-for-Betsy organization?...

Vaughn Ward, a former Marine who led a combat tour in Fallujah, Iraq and current GOP House candidate in Idaho, says that "two Alaskans" are coming to campaign for him. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that he doesn't mean Don Young and Ted Stevens. Two of his donors are Jim and Faye Palin of Wasilla, Alaska — the father-in-law and mother-in-law of former GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Which suggests he might have a connection or two up in that state.

Democrats love to argue that we Republicans offer no solutions to the health care debate, that we have no ideas or constructive thought on the issue. It's becoming a standard line in the rebuttal at Town Hall meetings and on the news. Well it's not true...they just don't listen and when they do, they don't like what they hear. The truth is they have been towing the party line (photo courtesy Big EdLb) ever since this debate has started, playing partisan politics all the way. I have posted a link to the GOP website where you will find reference to...

POLITICO's Arena contributors discuss the lessons learned from health care town halls. Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, professor, Washington and Lee University Law School "What we are learning from the health care town halls is just how weird and downright toxic the radical right has become in the United States. Their strategy seems to be simply to spread misinformation and to shout down rational debate. These are the birthers and tea-baggers, and they have little interest in the real problems facing our health care system — 50 million uninsured, uncontrolled costs and inadequate quality. The faux issues they are raising — a...

WASHINGTON – As Democrats seek to fatten their lead in the U.S. House in 2010, they're taking the fight to traditionally Republican turf – and Rep. Dan Lungren is directly in their cross hairs. Lungren, 62, of Gold River, won an eighth term to Congress last year, even though he received less than half the votes in California's 3rd District. He had previously represented a Long Beach district from 1979 to 1989. The district's minority population has risen dramatically since 2000. And while Republicans still outnumber Democrats by 2 percent, President Barack Obama carried the district, which includes Sacramento's suburbs...

Former Crystal Lake High School District 155 board member John Dawson wants to take his politics to a higher level. Dawson, 52, of Barrington, announced Thursday he's running in the 8th Congressional District's Republican primary. Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington holds the seat Dawson wants. Other candidates for the GOP or Democratic primaries in the 8th District have not yet stepped forward publicly. The district includes Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. The owner of a home building and remodeling company, Dawson said the need for job creation and getting a handle on the national deficit are two issues...

Does anyone know if Ed Markey is planning on meeting with constituents or holding a town hall meeting during the Aug 09 recess?

Apparently, the Democrats still haven't learned that the rich are really the "Golden Geese" that we need in order to sustain our standard of living and create new jobs; not the broad evil that they are portrayed to be.

Just like the White House "Beer Summit", the debate in Congress on National Health Care has come down to "we agree to disagree." Republicans are fighting the administration, democrats are fighting among themselves, and Nancy Pelosi is ready to accept compromise on just about anything as long as it might get the bill moving forward. This bill is on a collision course with a brick wall...the American taxpayer. No one in their right mind could actually believe that what they propose would not add to the burden of the national debt, or that the only tax will be on the...

The committee also endorsed two of the 13: former state Rep. Dennis Ross in the race to succeed Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) and Iraq veteran Adam Kinzinger in the race against freshman Rep. Debbie Halvorson’s (D-Ill.). In releasing the list Wednesday, Sessions also for the first time detailed how the program would be run. In order to get involved in the NRCC’s program, Sessions said candidates must demonstrate a base of support, develop a media messaging plan for the race and show they are capable of raising enough money to get their message out. He said too often members who...

The farewell address for Sarah Palin was for the most part what one would have expected if you have been following this story. However one statement directed toward the media caught my attention: "Democracy depends on you," Palin said, "That's why our troops are willing to die for you. So how about in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up?" I have heard and read a lot of "chatter" over the meaning of the words. Is she referring to reports on the military or CIA, the reporting in Afghanistan or Iraq? Maybe she is talking about the...

Rep. Lee Terry hardly had time to return to his Washington office after winning his sixth term in November before being confronted with challengers for 2010. With that election a year and a half out, the Nebraska Republican is already finding himself a target of Democrats hoping to gain control of his 2nd Congressional District seat. Democratic state Sen. Tom White of Omaha announced earlier this month that he is forming an exploratory committee to consider a run against Terry. Also this summer, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee aired a radio ad critical of Terry's vote against a $106 billion...

Here is a list of everything I could find on each of the Blue Dogs as far as telephone contact information and events go. The recess home district events are sadly lacking. If anyone knows of specific events scheduled in one of these districts, please freepmail me and I will add it to a later posting. Please print out the list. When you are waiting in a line, make a few calls. Let the people around you overhear your conversations in a Dr's office waiting room. FReepers are the smartest people I know so I am sure you can turn...

1) Be Prepared- Have your argument prepared why they should oppose the Obama agenda 2) Tell a Personal Story- Speak to how what is happening in D.C. is impacting your or your family 3) Use Numbers If You Have Them- Use the polls, use the data from other Countries that have followed the Obama path in the past. 4) Be Respectful- You may not respect the person, but be respectful of the office they hold. 5) Go in Groups- Bring the Tea Party to the Town Hall Meeting! 6) Talk to Staff- An aid is always at the meeting. Find...

The most impressive and most promising Republican who spoke Monday night was John Guedry. He all but announced he was running against Rep. Dina Titus (D) and, even though a newcomer on the campaign stage, was savvy enough to downplay the biggest knock against him in his brief remarks; noting that while he's a banker, he's a community banker, not a Wall Street banker. GOP gubernatorial candidates Joe Heck and Mike Montandon also spoke. Montandon seems to have a slight edge right now among the party faithful, but Heck, a doctor by trade, rolled out a new campaign slogan: “I'm...

After his opening monologue, Obama fielded a question on the cost of the plan and part of the answer contained this statement: "And I've said this before, if you found out that your neighbor had gotten the same car for $6,000 less, you'd want to figure out how to get that deal. And that's what reform is all about. How can we make sure that we are getting the best bang for our health care dollar."This is a simple enough statement but don't forget, Obama is all about getting a good deal and more bang for his buck. Just go...

Republican leaders in New York have chosen state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their nominee for the special election to replace Army Secretary-designate John McHugh (R-N.Y.). County chairmen for the 23rd district made the selection on Wednesday. The chairmen choose their nominee in lieu of a primary process for special elections in the Empire State. “I congratulate Dede Scozzafava for receiving the nomination to represent our party and make the case for tax relief, economic development and opportunity,” state party chairman Joseph Mondello said. “We desperately need her voice to oppose the Democrats’ plans to stifle our economy, tax business out...

Poll                  Date            Approve   Disapprove Spread RCP Average  5/28 - 7/12      32.0          57.3       -25.3 CBS News  7/9 - 7/12            22             65          -43

BOSTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a white paper released today by Ernst Berndt and Mark Trusheim of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, research shows that eliminating FDA's preemption protection would decrease patients' access to life-enhancing medical devices, increase health care costs and reduce medical device industry employment. The paper, "The Economic Impact of Eliminating Federal Preemption for Medical Devices on Patients, Innovation and Jobs," comes as Congress considers legislation that would remove Federal preemption of state rules and litigation that exists for a small percentage of medical devices that undergoes the most rigorous FDA review. The report highlights the...

Social Security is broke, Medicare is broke, the U.S. Postal System loses money, and thousands of Americans opt out of the educational system for private or home schooling. All are government backed programs they have been trying to fix for decades to no avail. Now they want to start a National Health Care Plan at a cost so ludicrous to the American taxpayer ,(1 trillion dollars), that those who are proposing it must be insane! This is nothing but shoot from the hip, hope I hit the target legislation by the Obama Administration. They are desperate to get a National...

"ANY USE OF TOBACCO WHILE IN UNIFORM SHOULD BE PROHIBITED!" Thats what the medical institute report to the Pentagon concludes. Brian Wise, executive director of Military Families United, decried even the discussion of such a ban. "With all the issues facing our military today and the risks our troops take to protect our freedom, banning smoking should not even be on the radar screen," Wise said in a written statement Wednesday. "Nobody doubts the effects of smoking, but it is not an illegal substance and should not be banned," he said. "Our troops make enough sacrifices to serve our nation....

Kansas State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, picked up yet another endorsement today in the First District Congressional race, this one from former Congressman Jim Ryun. Ryun announced his support for Huelskamp in a fundraising letter as a "a top-notch Kansas state senator for more than a decade, earning many accolades including a lifetime A+ NRA rating — the endorsement of Kansans for Life — and Taxpayer Champion by AFP (Americans for Prosperity)." Huelskamp has gained a whopping 34 endorsements since announcing his intentions to run in December of last year. The list is long and growing longer: Gun Owners of...

Only hours after Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) announced that he would run for Governor, state Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) declared his candidacy to replace Gerlach in the 6th District. Schroder had long said he would vie for Gerlach’s seat if the four-term Congressman stepped aside in favor of a gubernatorial run, and after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission weeks ago, his announcement was mostly a formality. But as Democrats continue to coalesce around Doug Pike, the contours of the race are becoming increasingly clear. “I have decided to enter this race to ensure that the values that built...

(Headline courtsey of "THE BOSS" from "My Hometown") Obama was to speak at the Macomb County Community College in Warren, Michigan where he would inform them that the thousands of jobs lost in the collapse of the auto industry would never return and it was time to start looking to new industries for future employment, as well as the training of workers for those jobs. As to just what those industries might be or any specifics on the type of training needed it was too soon to say... Entire text at: http://www.edistojoe.com Edisto Joe "INCREASE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT"

President Obama is pressing hard for passage of his health care and energy proposals... What if all these hearings and this special prosecutor business is really a smoke screen designed as leverage to be used on Republicans in the House and Senate in order to assure passage of the Obama agenda. Simply put: We back off if you back off! Entire text at:http://www.edistojoe.com

The Democrats, Eric Holder, and the CIA are all the ingredients needed for the recipe of self destruction. At a time when the general public still rates national security high on the list of priorities, it seems the Obama Administration is determined to press forward with investigating Dick Cheney and CIA policies and programs following 9/11. Despite the fact that Obama himself has stated that he is not interested in pursuing the policies of the past administration, Eric Holder has taken it upon himself, either out of contempt for the wishes of his Commander and Chief, or mounting pressure from...

Petition: We, the undersigned, respectfully demand that the Judiciary Committees of the United States House and Senate investigate the firing by President Obama of Inspector General Gerald Walpin. Sign Petition at: gopetition.com/online/28746.html

VIDEO - Amy Holmes tells Will Cain who the new Republican All-Stars could be, and how they will emerge from the scandals and resignations of now.

“I am considering a run for Congress,” Ashland County District Attorney Sean Duffy said in an interview Wednesday. “On Wednesday, I’m going down to Wausau to talk about what the future holds.” The Republican Party of Marathon County on Wednesday announced an event next week at Wausau Homes featuring a “very special announcement regarding the 7th Congressional District,” expected to be Duffy’s formal announcement. Duffy is active with the Republican Party of Wisconsin, but he is perhaps best known as a former cast member on the MTV reality show “The Real World: Boston” in 1997. His conservative political views were...

Nobama is all over the news. There is no where to hide from his picture, his voice, his marxism. But who is speaking for us? Oh, sure, plenty of us here on FR, on BTR and on terrestrial talk radio. But of those running for office, who speaks for us? I can't say he speaks for you, but he definitely speaks for me, and to me. Lt. Col. Allen West is one of today’s most admired veterans, leaders and speakers. His speech is a direct reflection of his philosophy, leaving no one in question as to where he stands. Excerpts...

Excessive Government involvement is what's wrong with our current healthcare system. One prominent example: FDA regulation and Medicare/Medicaid policies are suppressing new drug and device options and increasing healthcare costs. The FDA's approval process for new technologies costs companies between 250 and 800 million dollars. It takes an average of 8.5 years to move through the FDA's clinical and approval phases and there is no guarantee of approval. Out of 5000 compounds discovered in the pre-clinical stage, only about 5 will make it through. The cost of approved and non-approved drugs and devices are passed on to the physician practice,...

I write to you today for two reasons, to introduce myself and to seek your support. My name is John Loughlin and I am a 3-term State Representative representing District 71 in the Rhode Island General Assembly, which comprises Little Compton, Tiverton, and Portsmouth. I consider myself a life-long Rhode Islander. I grew up in Portsmouth and Lincoln, and graduated from Lincoln Senior High School in 1977. I became an Eagle Scout in Troop 1, Pawtucket, one of my proudest achievements. I live in Tiverton, have been happily married to the former Susan Brush of Scituate for more than 21...

We, the undersigned, respectfully demand that the Judiciary Committees of the United States House and Senate investigate the firing by President Obama of Inspector General Gerald Walpin. Sign Petition at: gopetition.com/online/28746.html

Former Republican state Rep. Mia Morris visited the General Assembly on Wednesday and said she is thinking of running for Congress against Democrat Larry Kissell in the 8th District in 2010 or 2012. And she's not Mia Morris anymore. Since narrowly losing to Democrat Margaret Dickson in the 2002 election, Morris has divorced and remarried. Now she's Mia White. She had a set of twins, a boy and a girl, now 4, and moved to Singapore. White said she's been a commentator and analyst of American politics for Singapore's equivalent of CNN, and she has kept up with the news...

Investigate firing of Gerald Walpin Petition now has 326 Signatures Petition: We the undersigned respectfully demand that the Judiciary Committees of the United States Senate and House of Representatives formally investigate the firing of Inspector General Gerald Walpin by President Obama. SIGN the PETITION: http://gopetition.com/online/28746.html

Former Michigan and Buffalo Bills tight end Jay Riemersma has designs on Congress. Riemersma has filed paperwork to run for U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra's (HUCK'-struhz) 2nd District seat in southwestern Michigan. Hoekstra, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for governor in 2010. Riemersma also is a Republican. He is listed as Regional Director of Development on the web site of the Family Research Council.