Free Republic

She is the Tea Party diva who lit up the 2008 Presidential campaign. But four years later Mitt Romney is facing one of the most vexing questions of his campaign: what to do with Sarah Palin? In an increasingly uncomfortable stand-off, he has not invited her to next month’s Republican national convention whilst she has failed to give him her full backing. Palin has also not appeared with the Romney on the campaign trail and prefers to use her Facebook page to bash Barack Obama. The result is that the Republican presidential candidate is left without the endorsement of a...

The Romney campaign, renowned for its oppo-heavy strategy, didn’t even have an oppo book on Rick Santorum a few days before the Iowa caucuses, so surprised were they by his surge. Jon Huntsman nearly decided in November to leave the GOP and run as an independent. And before one of the debates, Rick Perry sang “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” in a restroom. These details are from Mike Allen and Evan Thomas’ new e-book, Inside the Circus, as are these additional factoids below. Mitt Romney raised millions in March by warning would-be donors a brokered convention could mean a...

From watching “Game Change,” this much is clear: (1) Steve Schmidt is an absolutely brilliant campaign strategist who gave Sen. John McCain the idea to put “Country First” (it had never occurred to the war hero); and (2) Nicolle Wallace is a demure, yet quietly ingenious, media savant who can handle any crisis. Oh, but wait: Mr. Schmidt ran one of the worst campaigns in the history of presidential elections, losing to a first-term senator from Illinois with no experience governing anything, and Ms. Wallace let the entire message of the McCain campaign be overrun by — “Saturday Night Live”?...

Ten days before the 2008 presidential election, as blame was beginning to be laid out for John McCain’s “likely defeat,” a top communications adviser to the campaign wrote a detailed strategy memo focused on how to preserve the reputation of another key adviser, Steve Schmidt, POLITICO has learned. *** The protective maneuver sheds more light on the final days of the 2008 campaign, a period of low morale marked by tensions between the Palin and McCain camps and the expectation of defeat. *** “Thankfully, and rightfully so, some members of the political punditry are already coming his defense (Rove, McKinnon,...

A recount of the Jan. 3 Iowa Republican caucus results has Rick Santorum leading Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP presidential nomination by 34 votes, with data from 8 precincts missing and never to be certified, GOP officials told The Des Moines Register on Wednesday. Despite Santorum's advantage, the state Republican party views the results as a wash.

*See below*

McCain gains political capital in elections By Stephen Dinan THE WASHINGTON TIMES November 8, 2006 Sen. John McCain emerged from yesterday's elections as one of Republicans' only winners as Democrats made solid gains and both parties turn an eye toward 2008. The Arizona Republican, who wasn't up for re-election, rallied to the side of Republican candidates at 131 events -- a strong showing that displayed his rising popularity. His strength was underscored Monday when Charlie Crist, Florida's new Republican governor, chose to skip a scheduled rally with President Bush for an event with Mr. McCain. "There's going to be a...

Once again, John Bolton -- the tough-talking, no-nonsense U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations -- is facing an uphill battle for confirmation in the Senate.

We may have lost this battle, but we are going to win the war! Last night, 23 Republican Senators voted in favor of a bill (S. 2611 - the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006) that will give amnesty to millions of illegal aliens; but the battle is far from over and the movement to secure our borders first has gained a great deal of momentum. Two weeks ago, Senate leaders boasted that they had over 70 votes in favor of S. 2611. They fell well short of that number and the credit goes to all of you. Your Blast...

WASHINGTON — The House author of a border security bill that triggered massive street protests stood firm today against amnesty for illegal immigrants and predicted tough negotiations with the Senate on compromise legislation. The Senate passed its sweeping bill 62-36 Thursday after two weeks of debate and difficult votes that tested the strength of a coalition of bipartisan senators who supported the opportunity for U.S. citizenship that their bill would give most of the estimated 11 million to 12 million people who are in this country illegally.

Here me now and believe me later, my friends: all these conservative orgasms over Arnold Schwarzenegger are - like the "Gorbasms" liberals experienced over Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev - fake. I know that (R) next to Schwarzenegger's name excites the White House, but his own words prove he's not a conservative. I call this "The Hollywood Syndrome," and it happens every time some actor-type says anything even remotely conservative. I'm not trying to cold shower anybody here, but don't look to anyone in Hollywood to validate your political ideas. The American Prowler's George Neumayr detailed Arnold's politics in his article "Here's...