Free Republic

What does he want? Revenge. For what? Being born. This is the way famous gunslinger Doc Holliday answers equally famous lawman and good friend Wyatt Earp’s inquiry - in their depiction in the movie Tombstone - into why their sworn enemy, Johnny Ringo, is such a misanthrope. Sadly, this description would be equally accurate in explaining the actions of another Arizona transplant filled with endless rage: Senator John McCain. I first encountered the seething side of McCain when I was writing my 2008 book, The Real McCain, which was critical of him while pointing out a then-controversial fact, one no...

Sen. John McCain’s victory in the Aug. 24 Arizona Republican primary was fueled partly by transfers of $7.5 million from his 2008 presidential campaign compliance fund — an account GOP Congressional strategists are now eyeing as they look to finance a growing list of competitive midterm races. McCain’s compliance fund reported $17.1 million in cash on hand as of June 30, with $4.65 million in transfers to the Senator’s re-election committee having been made during the second quarter of this year. Additional transfers were made before the August pre-primary fundraising reporting deadline. McCain also used the compliance account to make...

Gov. Crist to make announcement on political future ThursdayGov. Charlie Crist's fall from Republican Party grace will finally hit rock bottom on Thursday when he is expected to announce that he will run for the U.S. Senate as an independent, according to several news sources citing anonymous sources. Crist had ducked the question for the past few weeks, but previously was on the record as saying he would never leave his beloved GOP. And by never, he meant as long as he thought he could beat Miami Republican candidate Marco Rubio, which seems like a long shot now. Cruist has...

Washington (CNN) - Sen. John McCain on Sunday joined a cast of former presidential candidates and high-ranking Republicans to weigh in on Florida's August GOP senatorial primary between Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio. "I hope that Charlie Crist will remain a Republican," McCain said.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) will roll out their compromise climate proposal April 26, according to several sources. While the date is a bit later than originally expected -- many environmentalists had anticipated it would become public next week, in time for Earth Day on Thursday -- the definitive date shows the senators are coming close to finalizing their package.

A great sadness will descend over this border town today as mourners fill the local high school gym to pay their respects to Rob Krentz. Two weeks ago, the 58-year-old rancher was shot and killed by what appears to be a drug smuggler. His death has created a tidal wave of emotion—Krentz was a pillar of this community where his family has ranched land here for a century. "The sobbing and crying from people I never thought I'd see cry, it's unbelievable," local veterinarian Gary Thrasher told me. Americans who do not live along the Mexican border often assume the...

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- The U.S. Embassy in Mexico says a bomb damaged the outside of the U.S. consulate in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, but there are no injuries.

Sarah Palin said Wednesday that the embattled chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) is "doing a great job." During an appearance on conservative commentator Sean Hannity's show on the Fox News Channel, Palin said, "I support Michael Steele.... I think he's doing a great job. Michael Steele is an outsider. The machine, I think, is tough to penetrate... I think it's been good to have an independent outsider trying to create some change in the Republican Party." The former Alaska governor's remarks are in sharp contrast to the comments of other leading Republicans, who have criticized Steele in recent...

Late last month, at a dusty fairground outside Tucson, John McCain stood behind the person who is, at least for the next few years, surely his most important legacy to American politics. And speaking to the adoring mob, Sarah Palin stood behind John McCain, repaying his inestimable gift to her in the most compelling possible fashion: by helping him to survive. (snip) Many, many years ago she'd competed in a beauty pageant, Palin declared, as women howled (and a few men growled) approvingly. McCain would surely win the talent and debate portions of any such contest, she went on, but...

By Laura Meckler So what exactly happened when the chairman of the Republican National Committee met with immigration activists Wednesday? According to a news release put out by the activists, he said he would try and recruit Republican support for comprehensive immigration legislation. The RNC says he made no such commitment. The immigration activist who led the meeting said he did, but then backpedaled after being signaled by a staffer that he may have gone too far.

(snip) VAN SUSTEREN: Governor Palin, if you were vice president today, what would you be telling a President McCain about what to do about immigration, if anything? PALIN: I support his position on immigration. It all comes down to securing the border. And he who has actually proposed some solutions, the Obama administration does not want to listen to Senator McCain or any other Republican, and that, of course, leads to a greater problem that we have in Washington, D.C. And it's that lack of the new administration's ability and enthusiasm for listening to those on the other side of...

As the former running mates prepare to campaign together for the first time since 2008, sources familiar with them say they have chatty, personal phone calls and remain friendly even though Palin attacked many of McCain’s loyal staffers. Shushannah Walshe takes us inside their relationship and what it means for McCain’s campaign. This weekend John McCain and Sarah Palin are bringing the band back together and hitting the road in support of the Arizona senator’s reelection battle. On Friday, there will be a rally and picnic in Tucson followed by a private fundraiser. The next day, the former presidential ticket...

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(snip) Her mission? To “redefine” Republicanism, to make room in the party for diverse viewpoints and ideological differences. “I’m saying make room for all Republicans,” she said. “Not tomorrow. Today….We evolve or we die.” (snip) For someone who grew up in a house with elephant wallpaper in the bathroom, McCain took a circuitous route to Republicanism, registering as an independent voter at age 18 and even voting for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004. But “sometimes love sneaks up on you in weird ways,” McCain explained, noting that her experience on the campaign trail changed her mind, leading her...

Campaign staff and volunteers of Sen. John McCain and his former vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin are preparing for the pair’s appearance at Mesa’s Dobson High School on Saturday. A spokesman for the camp offered a bit of advice for those wanting to get in: “Folks should get there early,” said Brian Rogers, McCain’s communications director.The event is free, on a first-come, first-served basis and does not require a ticket. (snip) Also speaking at a rally in Tucson on Friday, the appearances are McCain and Palin’s first ones together at a public event since their concession speech in the...

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will host an event for Rhode Island state Rep. John Loughlin in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The event will be at the National Republican Club, with a suggested contribution of $750. Loughlin has also secured commitments from two other 2008 presidential hopefuls -- Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney -- to campaign for him.

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama on Tuesday signed into law a sweeping health care reform bill, the nation's most substantial social legislation in four decades, achieving a top priority of his administration. Greeted by applause from enthusiastic supporters, he said, "Today after almost a century of trying; today, after over a year of debate; today, after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America." The president said he is confident the Senate will improve the health care reform law swiftly. He said some health care reforms will take some time to...

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says he is not abandoning negotiations on a comprehensive energy and climate bill even as he warns of partisan gridlock following the Democrats' push this week to pass health care reform. "It's going to make it very difficult to do anything complicated and controversial," Graham told reporters yesterday. "I'm still committed to trying to roll out a vision of how you can price carbon and make it business-friendly. We're still going to do that. ... But the truth of the matter is, I think you're going to find most of our colleagues around here risk adverse."...

Anyone paying attention knows that John McCain has been a Big-Government Globalist Neocon (BGGN) for virtually his entire senatorial career. As with many BGGNs hiding out in the Republican Party, McCain likes to talk about smaller government, but his track record is littered with the promotion of one big government program after another. But, what else would one expect from a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)? Lately, however, McCain has outdone himself. He has introduced two bills in the US Senate that are about as Machiavellian as they could be. I am referring to S.3081, a bill...

Republicans, who have been under fire in the Latino community for junking immigration reform in the Bush administration and promoting some policies that appear anti-immigrant, think they can win back Hispanics, in part because President Obama has largely ignored the issue. One way they see to do it is to legalize illegals. "Conservative leaders see opportunity for the party," says a Republican immigration reform advocate. "Due to Obama's lack of action on his promise of immigration reform , we believe Latino voters are open to being wooed by Republicans," the conservative activist said. The wooing began today at an immigration...