Free Republic

Republican governors mimic democrats "It's the most dire situation we've seen in over 20 years, " laments Raymond C. Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors' Association. He's talking about the deficit faced by many states. The Washington Post reported last Sunday (Jan. 19) that many Republican governors are proposing tax increases to close the gap and abide by their state constitutions which require balanced budgets. Many, including Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, say they've cut expenses as much as they can and will now have to raise taxes. Kempthorne says, "I'm not going to dismantle this state, and I'm not...

So Much More Than Lott So, already by Christmas the Republicans took their newly revealed "racist" Trent Lott and chopped him off like a hood ornament and left him folded up in the glove compartment like a paper napkin full of forgotten fruitcake. Nice crisis resolution, huh? Neat image management, right? Not so fast. One problem. Trent Lott is NOT a racist. Nobody believes Lott is a racist. His enemies don't believe that. His friends don't believe that. And nobody believes Trent Lott believes America would have been better off if Strom Thurmond had been elected president in 1948. What...

<p>TRENT LOTT, call your office: Apparently some parts of American history can be sanitized and forgotten. Earlier this week, President George Bush issued a formal White House proclamation celebrating Kwanzaa.</p> <p>Sounding like a "Saturday Night Live" send-up, Bush praised the "seven principles" of Kwanzaa, "known as Nguzo Saba," and discussed the "early harvest gatherings called 'matunda ya kwanza,' or first fruits." He included the usual claptrap about how Kwanzaa celebrates "traditional African values" and "uniting people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs."</p>

Commentary: Lott Throws In The Towel Gary Bauer President, American Values After days of endless apologizing, Trent Lott has thrown in the towel and resigned as Senate Majority Leader. Late last night he began making phone calls to GOP colleagues to let them know his decision. Also over night the White House began a more concerted push to replace Lott with Senator Bill Frist, who will now emerge as the "frontrunner." Frist is a savvy media personality, but he angered many conservatives by interfering in Republican primaries around the country, virtually always in favor of the moderate candidate over the...