Free Republic

RON DESANTIS IS BACK TO RUNNING Florida’s government. But he hasn’t really stopped running for president. Next month, DeSantis hosts a two-day presidential-donor gathering at the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida that’s billed as—don’t call it a “fundraiser”—an “Investor Appreciation Retreat.” It’s the latest phase of an image makeover DeSantis started after he officially dropped out of the 2024 race on January 21 and endorsed Donald Trump. For the past month, DeSantis has hosted one-on-one thank-you calls with donors, small meetings with more of these “investors” in Naples and in Miami, and conference calls with former volunteers. In a...

The White House on Wednesday blamed Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration for lax railway and environmental regulations in the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that spilled toxic chemicals. Andrew Bates, a deputy White House press secretary, argued congressional Republicans and former Trump administration officials “owe East Palestine an apology for selling them out to rail industry lobbyists,” pointing to past efforts to loosen regulations. “Congressional Republicans laid the groundwork for the Trump Administration to tear up requirements for more effective train brakes, and last year most House Republicans wanted to defund our ability to protect...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that the UK may have to reimpose lockdown restrictions during the winter months, despite previously promising that the end of lockdowns will be “irreversible”. Speaking to reporters during a visit to a laboratory in Hertfordshire on the day that was initially slated as “freedom day” before being delayed to July 19th, Mr Johnson refused to rule out reinstating lockdowns during the winter.

There were numerous articles published on Tuesday about the dynamic data operations that both the Cruz and Rubio campaigns employed to give them an edge on caucus night in Iowa. The Cruz data project is named the Oorlog project while the Rubio data effort is apparently called Optimus. Cruz might have won Iowa, but Politico reported, "Rubio's analytics shop is stocked with Red Bull and a beer keg, a nacho cheese machine and an X box." Which means they are built for the long haul. I love reading the day after articles that allow us to peek inside the various...

Conservative and Republican affiliated groups have started the 2014 assault against Democrats who support Obamacare. At the very same time, it is increasingly clear Republicans are laying the groundwork to abandon their opposition to Obamacare. The Business Roundtable, which has a great relationship with Republican Leaders, is now listing Obamacare as an entitlement worth preserving. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economic advisor to John McCain and who opposed passage of Obamacare, has started a think tank premised on keeping, but fixing, Obamacare. Holtz-Eakin has the ear of Republican leaders. In 2009, Mitch McConnell appointed him to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission....

The Daily Caller noticed a few days ago that his team hadn’t done anything in Iowa yet, but Perry’s big advantage in having poached Gingrich’s top advisors is that they’d already done work there for Newt. His campaign comes prefab to some extent, in other words; all he has to do is start putting together the pieces that exist.And here he goes: Perry’s chief consultant Dave Carney acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press that he was making inquiries about the political landscape, the caucus process and potential staff in Iowa…“If you’re going to compete in Iowa, that’s an...

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday morning laid the groundwork for arguing that Israel needs a new Arab state in order to remain “democratic and Jewish.” Speaking with President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem at the opening of the second straight day of talks between Israel and PA leaders, Clinton stated, “The status quo is unsustainable” even if it can last for another 30 years. “The only path to ensure Israel’s future as a secure democratic and Jewish state“ is an Arab state, headed by the Palestinian Authority, “alongside” Israel.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2009 – The Iraqi government is contemplating high-speed wireless Internet capabilities for its citizens, underscoring how much times have changed there. Security in Iraq is such that the country is rushing into the 21st century, and U.S. advisors are working with Iraqi ministries to leverage investments to deliver fiber-optic networks to the country. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory L. Brundidge, deputy chief of staff for communications and information at Multinational Force Iraq, said encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset in the country is a challenge as Iraq moves forward. “Under the previous regime, the government controlled all business and...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday began laying the groundwork for an economic stimulus plan of about $100 billion that likely will include tax rebates to help stave off a possible recession. By early April Congress could enact a plan designed to boost spending by consumers, who account for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy, said Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, following a meeting of senior Democrats with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. "I think you have to have it passed by early April at the latest...maybe even a little earlier," said...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq (Jan. 1, 2006) -- The old axiom that the Marines are ‘first in’ often brings to mind the image of infantrymen charging a fire-swept beach or leaping from a hovering helicopter into the thick of battle. However, as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) began to set up shop in the vicinity of Hit, Iraq, the first MEU Marines to arrive did so carrying communications gear in addition to their weapons. Functioning under an umbrella of security provided by both the MEU’s combat forces and those of the unit they were replacing, the...