Free Republic

Tuesday February 15 4:35 PM ET Bush Leads McCain in Private Jet Trips, Group Says Bush Leads McCain in Private Jet Trips, Group Says DALLAS (Reuters) - George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s presidential campaign used corporate jets twice as often as rival Sen. John McCain (news - web sites) last year, despite criticizing McCain for the practice, a Washington campaign finance group said on Tuesday.The nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics said a review of Federal Election Commission records found that in 1999, the Texas governor's presidential campaign reported accepting 79 private plane flights from 35 companies.By comparison, McCain's ...

Between two good men, we choose Gov. Bush South Carolina voters have a tremendous opportunity on Feb. 19. Those of us who choose to vote in the Republican primary that day may very well determine which of two candidates will have the momentum to gain that party's nomination for president. We have two strong candidates contending for the nomination. Either would make a fine president. It is so obvious as to be faint praise to say that either would be a vast improvement over the present holder of that office. Either Gov. George W. Bush of Texas or Sen. John ...

McCain Accuses Bush of 'Savagery' By MIKE GLOVER Associated Press Writer GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) - John McCain (news - web sites) defended inconsistencies in his voting record on public campaign financing as honorable compromises Monday and accused George W. Bush (news - web sites) of ``savagery'' in his criticism. Both men courted the political middle that could be crucial in Saturday's primary.A new Los Angeles Times poll showed the race a statistical dead heat among likely voters. Bush leads McCain by more than 2-to1 among conservative Republicans while McCain leads the Texas governor by the same margin among moderate independents ...

By David LawskyWASHINGTON (Reuters) - George W. Bush (news - web sites) denied on Sunday that he has used negative advertisements or telephone calls against John McCain (news - web sites), after a tape showed the Texas governor agreeing with a supporter he should go after his rival's ``soft spots.''The Arizona senator and Bush are locked in a tight race for the South Carolina Republican presidential primary next Saturday, a crucial test that should give the winner a leg up in contests in Arizona, Michigan and the Super Tuesday battles on March 7.McCain, long the underdog, got a boost from ...

As news of John McCain's New Hampshire landslide hit the networks, I was in Beverly Hills interviewing Warren Beatty on a subject other than his unconsummated political striptease of last fall. But Mr. Beatty can't stop talking about politics, and while he has yet to endorse a candidate, he couldn't contain his ebullience about Mr. McCain, whom he regards as a friend. Yes, the Arizona senator (like the other candidates of both parties) is well to the right of Bulworth -- even on his signature issue of campaign finance reform. But still, Mr. Beatty avows: "John is a good man." ...