Free Republic

In a reprehensible slap in the face to the oppressed people of Venezuela, far-left members of the Democratic Party are urging President Obama to resist bipartisan efforts to level sanctions against the authoritarian government of Nicholas Maduro. Based on comments by the Administration, apparently their sympathy for the Marxist regime is shared by the White House in a startling reversal of national doctrine of supporting freedom and liberty that has endured since the US was founded in 1776. John Conyers, Democratic Congressman from Michigan, penned a letter to Obama signed by he and 13 of his colleagues urging them to...

A Maine congresswoman who told Americans to wear hand-me-downs to fight climate change has clocked in over 100,000 miles traveling the globe in the lap of luxury. Chellie Pingree, 69, expensed over $100,000 in business class flights, luxury hotels and dining while her and her team clocked in over 130,000 miles around the globe. According to an investigation by the Maine Wire, Pingree, who prides herself on fighting climate change, was responsible for roughly 15.98 metric tons of emissions. The outlet uncovered that since 2016, 21 taxpayer-funded trips by air across the globe have related to her work as a...

Democrat lawmaker Chellie Pingree called for less border security and advocated for more migrants to be bused to her state, claiming there aren't 'enough locals to fill jobs.' The Representative from Maine, who has served as Maine's 1st congressional district since 2009, spoke for over two minutes during a House Appropriations Committee debate on the fiscal year 2025 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill. She expressed support for a Democrat-proposed amendment that would redirect $600 million from border fencing construction to a FEMA-administered municipal emergency shelter program, the Shelter and Services Program. The program would pay for migrant housing...

As far as liberal financiers go, you don’t get much more powerful than S. Donald Sussman Since 1989, the hedge-fund billionaire has pumped millions into the coffers of Democratic politicians and their political pet projects. Sussman sits on the board of the Center for American Progress, the Democracy Alliance and the dovish Israel Policy Forum, and he’s been one of the top contributors to left-leaning 527 organizations during the 2010 election cycle. But while Sussman has long kept a behind-the-scenes profile, a recent ethics controversy in Maine has flung him into the center of a complicated dispute over state residency,...

Campaign fundraising reports for Chellie Pingree, a former Democratic Senate candidate form Maine who now heads Common Cause, contain numerous infractions that may prompt an audit by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), The Hill has learned. The prospect of an election commission audit of Pingree has raised eyebrows among campaign finance experts and lawyers because the well-known government watchdog group spearheaded the passage of the landmark Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act last year. In fact, campaign finance regulation has become Common Cause's signature issue in recent years. Pingree, who last year lost her bid to oust Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), became...

A Democratic effort is underway in at least 16 states to overturn restrictions on mail-in balloting and third-party ballot harvesting. A nationwide effort by Democrats is underway in at least 16 states to overturn restrictions on mail-in voting and third-party ballot harvesting. States where suits have been filed include the swing states of Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The effort is being backed by the National Redistricting Foundation, a Democratic group headed by the Obama administration’s Attorney General Eric Holder. The suits appear to be funded by Priorities USA, a Democratic super PAC. A Wall Street Journal headline from April read,...

As far as liberal financiers go, you don’t get much more powerful than S. Donald Sussman. Since 1989, the hedge-fund billionaire has pumped millions into the coffers of Democratic politicians and their political pet projects. Sussman sits on the board of the Center for American Progress, the Democracy Alliance and the dovish Israel Policy Forum, and he’s been one of the top contributors to left-leaning 527 organizations during the 2010 election cycle. But while Sussman has long kept a behind-the-scenes profile, a recent ethics controversy in Maine has flung him into the center of a complicated dispute over state residency,...

Complete Title: The Soros Summit - Free Beacon exclusive: Inside the secret Miami meeting of George Soros’s liberal conspiracy ### A secretive network of left-wing billionaires and their political operatives descended on the luxurious Biltmore Hotel in Miami over the weekend to discuss strategy for the coming elections. The location of the conference had been kept a closely guarded secret by the members and guests of Democracy Alliance (DA), a collection of ultra-wealthy liberal donors formed in 2005, and is reported here in a Washington Free Beacon exclusive. Attendees roamed the grounds at the 150-acre tropical resort on their way...

Husband of Dem rep Chellie Pingree has purchased a 75% share in Maine's Largest Newspapers.Sussman to get 75% stake in MaineToday Media A new restructuring plan finalized today between MaineToday Media and Maine billionaire Donald Sussman gives Sussman 75% ownership in the media company. In February, Sussman outlined a deal to become a 5% equity partner through a $3.3 million loan to MTM. But as the deal went through its due diligence, investors, including out-of-state pension funds, insisted on changes. Maine Values, Sussman's company, is providing the same money, but as a straight stock purchase, resulting in a 75% ownership...

  A liberal financier at the center of two congressional ethics controversies may also be involved in some questionable business dealings, according to the New York Times. S. Donald Sussman, a billionaire hedge-fund titan, made news after his fiancé, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), was accused of traveling on his private jet to campaign events.Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has also been scrutinized for traveling to Sussman's Virgin Islands mansion on the billionaire's plane. Republicans have said the trip had the appearance of impropriety, since Frank serves as chair of the House Finance Committee and a company owned by Sussman has...

Poll shows Collins, Baldacci with significant leads PORTLAND (AP) -- A statewide telephone poll released Monday indicates that Republican Susan Collins and Democrat John Baldacci hold significant leads in their respective races for U.S. senate and governor. The poll conducted by Strategic Marketing Services shows 55.2 percent of those surveyed support or are leaning toward incumbent Collins, compared with 36 percent for Democrat Chellie Pingree. Baldacci had 50 percent, compared to 29 percent for Republican Peter Cianchette, 6.2 percent for Green independent Jonathan Carter and 3.4 percent for independent John Michael. Democrat Tom Allen led the 1st District congressional race...

Polls assess key campaigns By DAVID SHARP, Associated Press Democrat Michael Michaud and Republican Kevin Raye are locked in a tight congressional race in Maine's 2nd District, but heavy television advertising has not erased wide leads for Susan Collins and John Baldacci in the Senate and gubernatorial races, according to polls released Wednesday. One poll by Strategic Marketing Services showed Michaud leading Raye by 5.4 percentage points, a statistical dead heat after the margin of error was taken into account. The other, by Critical Insights, had Michaud ahead by 9 points. Both polls indicated Democrat Chellie Pingree still has considerable...

Incumbent holds edge; Pingree’s negatives mount By Jeff Tuttle, Of the NEWS Staff e-mail Jeff BANGOR — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins held on to a sizable lead over her Democratic challenger Chellie Pingree, according to a poll commissioned by a media consortium including the Bangor Daily News. Collins won the support of 60 percent of likely voters compared to 28 percent for Pingree, the former state senator and majority leader, according to the September telephone survey of 523 likely voters. The 32-point spread had Pingree aides doubting the validity of the RKM Research and Communications survey, citing their own internal...

NEW POLL SHOWS PINGREE MESSAGE WORKS PINGREE'S RECORD FIGHTING CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS CLOSES RACE TO SINGLE DIGITS Aug 26, 2002 -- Portland, ME - A poll by national polling firm Lake Snell Perry & Associates shows U.S. Senate candidate and former Maine Senate Majority Leader Chellie Pingree continues to gain significant ground in her race against Republican Senator Susan Collins. Reaching an increasing number of voters with her message, Chellie has moved within 9 points of Collins, who remains under 50 percent support. The new numbers are: Collins 47 percent, Pingree 38 percent, with 15 percent undecided. The poll also...