Free Republic

"In a private conversation he had with the vice president before the luncheon, Bilbray said he told Cheney the No. 1 message he wanted Cheney to carry back to the president was 'no amnesty for illegal immigrants.' "Bilbray said that when he said that to Cheney, who did not speak with reporters Tuesday, the vice president 'said tactfully, "I hope you are on the conference committee that discusses immigration with the Senate."'"

In their battle to replace former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Republicans are embracing their party's ideals while distancing themselves from its record in Washington. As deficits balloon and scandals multiply under a Republican-controlled Congress, these candidates are touting independence over party loyalty and lashing out at the GOP as often as they criticize Democrats. Setting the tone is millionaire businessman Eric Roach, whose television commercials ask, “When did Congress begin losing touch?” “I think it began when Republicans quit being Republicans,” Roach answers in the ad. “You know, they were sent to Congress to bring the budget in balance, to...