Free Republic

Not all House Democrats are up on their leadership’s playbookBy Josephine Hearn Three weeks have passed since congressional Democrats announced their “New Direction for America,” the domestic agenda they propose should they win control of the House or Senate, but some Democrats apparently still haven’t gotten the memo. Asked Thursday to comment on their agenda, a half-dozen House Democrats remained fuzzy on the particulars. “The new model, etc., etc?” faltered Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). “I haven’t even looked at it,” admitted Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). “I’m not very good at talking points.” “I like mine better,” Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.)...

I don’t believe in coincidences in politics. When I see the Wall Street Journal and New York Times both running big front-page stories within two days of each other on a subject that isn’t remotely time sensitive, I know that something is going on. More than likely, it signals the beginning of an organized campaign by the liberal media to gin up an issue for the Democrats. When a team is on a losing streak, the best thing the coach can do is line up a game with a cream-puff opponent. Even if the victory doesn’t mean much substantively, it...

Congressional Republicans Agree To Launch Social Security Campaign By Mike Allen Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, January 31, 2005; Page A04 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Congressional Republicans, after three months of internal debate, this weekend launched a months-long campaign to try to convince constituents that rewriting the Social Security law would be cheaper and less risky than leaving it alone, as the White House opened a campaign to pressure several Senate Democrats to support the changes. The Republicans left an annual retreat in the Allegheny Mountains with a 104-page playbook titled "Saving Social Security," a deliberate echo of the...

The Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office pointed a finger at the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday for nearly 60,000 missing absentee ballots, but took the blame for having a phone system that was being overwhelmed by calls from frustrated voters. While the post office denied responsibility for the missing ballots, Broward County commissioners, anxious to void another failed election, offered to send county employees to help with the phones. Dozens of employees could begin assisting the elections office today to answer telephone calls and to process voters at the 14 early voting sites. "What we are seeing is unprecedented,...

DEMOCRAT RECIPE FOR VICTORY: FOLLOW THE PLAYBOOKDem Playbook Includes Forming Shadow Ground Organizations, Committing Fraud, And Filing Lawsuits To Ensure Lawyers Will Decide Election, Not VotersSTEP 1: FORM SHADOW ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THE DIRTY WORKNM Governor Bill Richardson On 527s: "Now That Campaign Finance Reform Is Law … Organizations Like These Have Become The Replacement For The National Democratic Party."  (Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, "The New Soft Money," Fortune, 11/10/03)ACT Led By Top Democrat Operatives, Spending Millions On Turnout. "Led by top democratic operatives, including former AFL-CIO political director Steve Rosenthal and Emily's list president Ellen Malcolm, ACT aims to raise...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry has a simple strategy if the presidential race is in doubt on Nov. 3, the day after the election: Do not repeat Al Gore's mistakes. Unlike the former vice president, who lost a recount fight and the 2000 election, Kerry will be quick to declare victory on election night and begin defending it. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency. [snip] The prospects for another contested election grow with every poll showing the race neck and neck. Gore prematurely conceded the 2000 race...

We all remember the votes that were never counted in Florida 2000. So, while we are all working hard for a positive outcome on November 2nd, we also have to be prepared for a repeat of a 2000 stolen election. Below is a pledge for people to sign, supporting efforts to mobilize and protect the vote on November 2nd and making a commitment to protest starting on November 3rd in the case of a fraudulent vote count. By signing this pledge, you will be joining with thousands of others in the November 3rd Urgent Response Network. Please sign the pledge...

Democrats got caught with their election playbook open Thursday when a leaked page was published urging operatives to lodge a "pre-emptive strike" of claiming voter intimidation, whether it's true or not. Gleeful Republicans quickly called a press conference after the page from The Drudge Report went online, in which they denounced "a new low in gutter politics" that "played the race card." "They want to rile up the minorities to denounce tactics that do not exist," said Ted Halaby, chairman of the Colorado GOP. Halaby said it was "a criminal act to falsely allege something that does not exist." He...

BAGHDAD — Ripping open an envelope containing a small, hard object, Sadoun Dulame discovered the unwanted gift Iraq's academics have learned to dread. "They sent me a bullet," he said, describing the letter he received last month. "They said in Arabic: 'You cost us just one bullet, no more, so shut your mouth'." Death threats and assassinations are teaching Iraqi academics to watch what they say. Iraq's new interim government says 31 university lecturers have been murdered since last year's US-led invasion and many more have received warnings to keep quiet. While the motives for the killings vary, academics argue...

<p>MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Despite being credited with breathing life into his presidential bid by pushing positive themes, Sen. John Edwards' campaign circulated a confidential briefing book earlier this month that instructed supporters on how to attack his Democratic rivals during the Iowa caucuses.</p>