Free Republic

As the Republican presidential candidate in the fall of 2008, Arizona Sen. John McCain had more power than anyone to upend the Wall Street rescue package. But McCain now feels duped by former Republican Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. “We were all misled,” McCain said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” speaking of Paulson. “What did he do? He started pumping money into the financial institutions. Now the financial institutions are fine — Wall Street’s doing great. Main Street is in deep trouble.” Paulson and other former Bush administration officials told Congress at the time that the $700 billion lawmakers approved...

Many skeptics continue to question whether Rudy Giuliani is serious about making a run for the White House, but it was abundantly clear on Saturday that he had come to Manchester for more than the sub-freezing temperatures. Addressing over 500 activists at the New Hampshire Republican Party's annual meeting as part of a two-day swing through the state, Giuliani sketched the broad outlines of what looks like a presidential run. Sounding at times like a motivational speaker, Giuliani cautioned against cynicism and pessimism in the wake of November's election results and challenges in the ongoing War on Terror. The message...

Never mind that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is biding his time on "officially" joining the 2008 presidential throng, a number of prominent Houstonians are moving ahead with fundraising efforts on his behalf.The unannounced Republican candidate, a partner in Houston's Bracewell & Giuliani law firm, steps out at a $2,100 per person cocktail reception at the Houstonian Thursday night. And for those who reach very deep into their pockets — $30,000 deep — a private dinner with Giuliani will follow. This will be the first major dining for dollars event for Giuliani outside of New York.Among those already committing...

MANCHESTER, N. H., Jan. 27 — Rudolph W. Giuliani sounded nearer than ever to being a presidential candidate on Saturday, repeatedly talking about the prospect of running, and inviting voters to judge him by his record as mayor of New York City.