Free Republic

I am a nationally published journalist who has been drafted to challenge George W. Bush in the Republican Presidential primaries, beginning in New Hampshire on January 27. My aim is to prompt legitimate debate and genuine new ideas, but I start with a question: HAS GEORGE W. BUSH BETRAYED TRADITIONAL GOP VALUES? He has failed in his promise to control spending. Nondefense spending has skyrocketed under Bush. The Congressional Budget Office reported that for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, nondefense spending rose 7% – nearly double the 4% discretionary spending caps Bush promised to enforce (Source: Washington Times)....

State Sen. Frank Ballance won the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating three other candidates seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton. Ballance, an 18-year veteran of the General Assembly and No. 2 leader in the state Senate, had the endorsement of Clayton, the first black woman elected to Congress from North Carolina. Ballance saw that endorsement critical. "It was tremendously important," the Warrenton lawyer said. "I said all along that I wouldn't have been in the race if she had supported any of the other three candidates. Anyone that doesn't know that hasn't been around...