Free Republic

Dominic West has made a call for there to be a transgender James Bond in the future. The actor, 49, reckons Daniel Craig's replacement as the eponymous secret agent in the long-running film franchise could be Hannah Graf, 31, the highest-ranking transgender soldier in the British Army. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Dominic said: 'She's a beautiful girl who could be Bond. 'That's actually a brilliant idea. They should have a transgender Bond because there are a lot of transgender people in the army.'

Just days after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by climbing a wall, a Chicago priest says what he did was wrong and urged parishioners in his Southwest Side church to apologize if they had done the same. "And by recognizing you did something wrong, you can't keep it doing it," said the Rev. Gary Graf of St. Gall Roman Catholic Church in Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood. "I'm begging the people to take a different tactic." --SNIP-- Graf paid for the trip but took about $3,000 from a church collection to pay coyotes, or people who smuggle others into the U.S. for...

The Navy has fired six commanding officers since the start of the year -- triple its usual monthly rate -- including a foul-mouthed captain who was dismissed for subjecting her crew to "cruelty and maltreatment" aboard a warship in the Pacific. Capt. Holly Graf, commander of the USS Cowpens, a guided-missile cruiser, was relieved of duty Jan. 13 after an investigation found she cursed so much at her 400-member crew that even the sailors -- no strangers to four-letter words -- were intimidated. According to the Navy inspector general's report released this week, officers complained that their captain humiliated them...

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- A Navy captain was demoted because she berated and assaulted her crew, not because she led her guided missile cruiser on a drag-race with another U.S. warship in the Pacific, an investigation shows. Capt. Holly Graf was relieved of her command of the cruiser USS Cowpens after an investigation substantiated crew allegations that she was abusive and used her position for personal gain, naval officials said Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.

A quick thought on Arizona 8th District and illegal immigration 11/03 01:43 PM The Corner has a good collection of links to news stories covering the House race in the Arizona 8th District — Democrat Gabrielle Giffords vs. Republican Randy Graf. It's Kolbe's old seat, one of the races every observer is chalking up as an automatic Democratic pickup. I've indicated that Republican Randy Graf is my Super Mega-Shocker Special What-The-Hell-Are-You-Smoking-Jim Upset Pick for 2006; I just figure the illegal immigration issue is huge, stirs passions, motivates voters, and that a lot of people may support a Minuteman, a hardline...

This is kind of a jumble---so many small pieces of information and/or thoughts, so let's get to it: 1. All the polls are off, part umpteen. Earlier this election season, I thought all the polls were off because they were oversampling Dems. Recently, I've been seeing some of the panic-meisters at NRO claim knowledge of GOP "nightlies" or "internals." I don't doubt they are getting information from somewhere, but I think one of two things is happening. A. Their sources either aren't as good as they should be, or are RINOs deliberately feeding them crapola. Before you dismiss the latter,...

Democrat Gabrielle Giffords is running for Congress against Randy Graf in Arizona, and I called her office a few times trying to find out exactly which of the various immigration plans she supports or where her support differs from those plans. All I managed to get out of one of her staff members is that she supports the Kennedy-McCain plan, which includes a "guest" worker plan. [1] However, that plan did not pass. I asked about the plan that did pass the Senate, the "Hagel-Martinez compromise", which also contains a "guest" worker plan similar to that from Kennedy-McCain. [2] I...

A mailer paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America Political Action Committee. The message: The mailer has a photo of President Bush at a podium with the phrase "Fighting the war on women" behind him. "In this war, George W. Bush has lots of allies in Congress," it reads. Inside, above a fake picture of Kyl and Graf in army fatigues, the mailer says: "In Bush's assault on women's rights, Jon Kyl is a top general and Randy Graf wants a promotion."

Randy Graf vs. the Soros $$$ machine, a discredited RINO, and the open borders lobby Wes Vernon Wes Vernon October 23, 2006 Voters in Arizona's 8th Congressional District have an opportunity to send someone to Congress who shares their pro-American values. These people — living right up against the border — have been on the front lines in the war against the invasion of this country by Mexico. Yes, invasion by Mexico, whose government (because of its corruption, incompetence, and Marxist-tinged economic policies) has millions of its people living in abject poverty. So Mexican authorities have a solution. Not a...

BISBEE — Being a congressional representative is not a job title, it’s a job description, Gabrielle Giffords told about 50 people Sunday afternoon. Saying retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe is the person who made that comment, Democrat Giffords promised she would more than carry a title by working hard to be a representative. She made her comments to an audience at Bob and Estellean Wick’s Bisbee home, outlining what she wants to achieve, not if, but when she is elected on Nov. 7. Saying her Republican opponent, Randy Graf, is out of touch of the needs facing the district...

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Randy Graf is a tough-on-immigration Republican in a district that is fed up with people pouring illegally across the border and hasn't elected a Democrat to the House in two decades. Yet Graf's national party is turning its back on him, the retiring Republican congressman he wants to succeed has disavowed his candidacy and he's finding trouble getting traction beyond the most secure GOP voters _ and a border militia that's backing him.

Mr. Graf in one of his TV ads prominently displays a pregnant woman, but when a bill came forward in the Arizona Legislature to crack down on people who beat and abuse pregnant women, he voted against that bill," Giffords said at one point, referring to a bill Graf opposed that she said increased penalties for abusing pregnant women. Meanwhile, Graf criticized Giffords over government spending. "We have some differences of opinion. I'm for lowering taxes, Ms. Giffords is for increasing taxes. I'm for smaller government and less programs. She wants to increase government programs. It's a clear difference," Graf...

Ms. Giffords is endorsed by every prominent liberal political action committee in the nation, including such radical groups such as Emily's List (www.emilyslist.org), Las Adelitas www.lasadelitas.com/, the National Women's Political Caucus (www.nwpc.org), and the pro-Gay Marriage Human Rights Campaign Fund (www.hrc.org/nov2006/). She was described as a "feminist candidate" by the Feminist Daily News (www.feminist.org). The liberal blog Daily Kos describes her as a "fantastic candidate" (www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/13/11956/6807) and her political patron, Rep. Raul Grijalva, is a member of the ultra-liberal House Progressive Caucus (http://cpc.lee.house.gov/). The Almanac of American Politics describes his voting record as "strongly liberal."

To hear the liberal media, the Democratic Party and a few disgruntled liberal Republicans tell it, the seat of retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe (R.-Ariz.) is already lost to the Democrats. Republican nominee Randy Graf would save himself a month of aggravation by conceding now, they will tell you, and Democrat Gabrielle Giffords can start hiring staff and contacting real estate agents in Washington, D.C. To all that, conservatives throughout Arizona’s 8th District and nationwide should chorus in unison: “You’re dreaming!”

District 8 race offers challenge, rare opportunity By Daniel Scarpinato arizona daily star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.15.2006 As one of a select number of truly competitive congressional districts, the diversity of Southern Arizona's 8th cannot be overstated. Juxtaposing chi-chi Foothills neighborhoods with high-poverty border towns — swallowing in Bohemian artists enclaves and straight-laced family populated suburbs, the district presents a unique political challenge. And with the retirement of Rep. Jim Kolbe, a rare opportunity for the aspiring. That's precisely why the seat was supposed to be one of the most competitive races in the nation. But since the...

Illegal Immigration Shaping Congressional Elections in Key Border States By Greg FlakusTucson, Arizona13 October 2006 Flakus report - Download 512k Listen to Flakus report The issue of illegal immigration has stirred passions around the nation in the past year and it is playing a role in some congressional races around the country. One place where it is a big issue is southern Arizona, where the majority of illegal entries from Mexico occur.  The candidates for Congress from one district on the Mexican border are competing over who has the best approach to the problem. Republican candiate for Congress Randy...

McCain backs Minuteman Graf; Giffords wants Hastert to resign The Business Journal of Phoenix - October 8, 2006 by Mike Sunnucks The Business Journal Arizona Sen. John McCain has endorsed conservative Tucson congressional candidate Randy Graf despite a split between the two on immigration and the Mexican border. Graf is also a member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a controversial group that patrols U.S. border and wants tougher immigration controls. The Minutemen have opposed McCain's approach to immigration, including a guest worker program. Graf faces an uphill climb against Democratic rival Gabrielle Giffords in a southeastern Arizona U.S. House...

McCain supports Graf for House seat By Daniel Scarpinato arizona daily star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2006 Republican congressional candidate Randy Graf has won the endorsement of political superstar John McCain — a significant step, the campaign says, toward unifying moderates and conservatives. "Randy Graf's record as a state representative has demonstrated his commitment to the values important to the people of Arizona," McCain said in a written statement provided to the Arizona Daily Star. "His voting record on issues such as supporting our military, reducing taxes and reining in election and welfare fraud bodes well for his future...

Another Republican congressman knew of disgraced former representative Mark Foley's inappropriate Internet exchanges as far back as 2000 and personally confronted Foley about his communications. A spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) confirmed yesterday that a former page showed the congressman Internet messages that had made the youth feel uncomfortable with the direction Foley (R-Fla.) was taking their e-mail relationship. Last week, when the Foley matter erupted, a Kolbe staff member suggested to the former page that he take the matter to the clerk of the House, Karen Haas, said Kolbe's press secretary, Korenna Cline. source with direct knowledge of...

Tucson Chamber backs Napolitano An influential business group is endorsing Gov. Janet Napolitano's election effort. The Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is backing Napolitano, a Democrat, over Republican challenger Len Munsil in this year's governor's race. Napolitano has carved out a moderate, pro-business path since becoming governor in 2003. That includes approving business and Republican-backed tax cuts the past two legislative sessions. Napolitano is favored to win over Munsil, a social conservative and Scottsdale attorney. Munsil was head of the Center for Arizona Policy, a Scottsdale-based Christian conservative group, before entering the governor's race. The Tucson chamber and a number...