Free Republic

As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked. But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well. It’s not because Giuliani has shifted; it’s because the Republican Party has. The 2010 election was less about social conservatism than it was fiscal conservatism, and that aligns with Giuliani’s socially moderate and fiscally conservative ideology. There is another promising wind of change blowing Giuliani’s way, one that’s less ideological. This isn’t the era of kinder, gentler politicians. This is the age of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and...

GOProud has endorsed former HP CEO Carly Fiorina in her battle to unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer. Via press release: Today, GOProud, the only national organization representing gay conservatives and their allies, endorsed Carly Fiorina for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in California. “Carly Fiorina is the candidate conservatives can trust,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, Executive Director of GOProud.

Sarah Palin may draw ecstatic crowds in "real America," but among Republican insiders in Washington, she's not so popular. National Journal's annual Insiders Poll issue will come out Friday, but we've got some early results; the most interesting finding is how many GOP insiders and members of Congress listed Palin as one of their least favorite members of the party. Palin was the top response when 85 GOP strategists and insiders were asked, "Which voice in your party would you most like to mute?" 28 percent listed Palin; Republican National Committee Chairman Michael came in second, with 12 percent. [...]...

Coming soon to a battleground state near you: a new effort to revive the image of the Republican Party and to counter President Obama's characterization of Republicans as "the party of 'no.'" CNN has learned that the new initiative, called the National Council for a New America, will be announced Thursday. It will involve an outreach by an interesting mix of GOP officials... [John McCain and Jeb Bush]. In addition to Sen. McCain and Gov. Bush, GOP sources familiar with the plans tell CNN others involved in the new group's "National Panel Of Experts" will include: [Barbour, Jindal and Romney]...

ABSTRACT: The host of the Republican Governors' Association event is Florida's Charlie Crist, a big believer in the "big tent" theory who calls his way of governing "a model for the country." Crist's priorities include addressing climate change and restoring civil rights of felons, and some Floridians are still waiting for their property tax bills to "drop like a rock," as he promised last year. He has appointed Democrats to high-level state posts, and he took the advice of a Democratic legislator in extending the hours of early voting before last week's election, a step some viewed as favorable to...

I understand the frustration of many Republicans who just can’t understand how some conservatives just can’t bring themselves to support John McCain even though Barack Obama would likely be an even worse president than Jimmy Carter.  I really do feel your pain.  However… It’s still a long, long way to election day.  Many conservatives who are saying today that they can’t vote for McCain will come around and vote for McCain in November.  Heck, I might even be one of them.  But let me warn partisan Republicans that you’ll catch more wayward conservatives with honey than you will with vinegar.For...

A Senate committee advanced legislation yesterday that would prohibit smoking in most public, indoor places in Virginia. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Bill Mims, R-Loudoun, was approved by the Senate Education and Health Committee on an 8-7 vote, reversing an earlier Senate subcommittee vote that narrowly rejected the bill. The legislation would prohibit smoking in most indoor public places, including offices, restaurants, and common areas of apartments and condominiums, with few exceptions. Hotels could permit smoking in some rooms, as long they do not exceed 25 percent of the total rooms. Smoking would be permitted in "private, separately enclosed areas"...