Free Republic

One of the Obama administration’s favorite themes is the idea that Republicans have been waging a “war on women.” Though Democrats may overestimate the appeal of this canard, the notion that troglodyte conservatives seek to send American women back to the 19th century has become a form of conventional wisdom, especially in the liberal mainstream media. But though that war is a piece of fakery rooted in the confusion between political liberalism and gender equality, there is little doubt about the reality of another war on women: the one that is being waged by left-wing ideologues against any female Republican...

A scathing profile of Gov. Susana Martinez published in the politically liberal magazine Mother Jones – featuring 4-year-old recordings of Martinez and her campaign staff cursing about her 2010 election opponent and criticizing public school teachers as overpaid because they have summers off – touched off more political skirmishing in New Mexico on Wednesday. Martinez attacked the 5,000-word article as a “desperate” liberal media assault and asked campaign supporters in an email for financial help to fend off political attacks in her re-election bid. Several Democrats seeking their party’s nomination to oppose her in November used the article to blast...

“So many people thought they knew the governor,” Mother Jones reporter Andy Kroll told KOAT in Albuquerque, “and then went on to govern in a different way.” Er, she did? Susana Martinez has a 52% approval rating in New Mexico, according to PPP, and her re-elect polling has her with double-digit leads, according to RCP. Mother Jones wants to change all that by suggesting that Martinez is the next Sarah Palin, only with an extended vocabulary:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Democrats called Wednesday for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez to apologize after a liberal publication released recordings in which she and aides used profanity and offensive names to describe political opponents. The governor, who’s seeking re-election this year and is viewed as a possible rising star in national GOP ranks, also came under fire for making critical remarks about public school teachers while telling aides that it was a view that couldn’t be expressed publicly during her campaign. “Governor Martinez and her aides’ comments are inexcusable. We have clear proof of her intent to deceive voters...

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez needs a new hairdresser — or a new stance on gay marriage. Martinez was recently dropped by her hair stylist, Antonio Darden, who is gay. Darden told a local news station that he cut the governor’s hair three times, but won’t do it again as long as she continues to oppose gay marriage. “The governor’s aides called not too long ago, wanting another appointment to come in,” he told KOB-TV. “Because of her stances and her views on this, I told her aides no. They called the next day, asking if I’d changed my mind...

Like Palin, Martinez was elected on an anti-corruption platform. Upon entering office, she took a page from the former Alaska governor’s playbook by putting up for sale the state-owned luxury jet that had become as much of a symbol of waste and abuse in Santa Fe as had the Juneau-based plane that Palin put on eBay four years earlier. Mirroring her backer’s early legislative successes, Martinez has worked with adversaries in New Mexico’s state capitol, known locally as the Roundhouse, to build a budget surplus while keeping income taxes down. As a result, she has at times earned some of...

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez would make a “great” 2016 Republican presidential ticket, longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told reporters Wednesday. The endorsement of Martinez as a vice presidential nominee with Christie came after Martinez joined the New Jersey governor this week to help him campaign into the homestretch of his successful gubernatorial re-election bid. “Let’s face it: Susana Martinez has a lot of qualities that would help a lot of people to understand that the Republican Party is a broad base party,” Hatch said.

Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Winston Brooks on Tuesday sent Twitter messages to a television reporter that derided New Mexico’s education chief, Hanna Skandera, likening her to livestock. In a series of tweets with KOAT’s Lauren Zakalik, who was in Moriarty covering an event in which Skandera participated, Brooks said at one point, “Maybe Skandy should head for the livestock truck!!!” He immediately followed that tweet with another: “Moo, Moo, Oink, oink!!” APS social media expert Maralyn Beck joined in the conversation, adding six emoticons – cartoon pictures – of a pig, a cow, a boar, a sheep, a penguin and...

In his whole re-election campaign, Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) has invited only one sitting out-of-state officeholder to campaign with him: New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez (R), who joined Christie at eight campaign events Monday, including a rally in heavily Hispanic Union City. In many ways, Martinez is the perfect complement to Christie, amplifying his strengths as a politician. She is relatively young (54) and a moderate who maintains strong popularity in a blue state. She has worked closely with a legislature held by Democrats and bucked her party by taking the Medicaid expansion in Obamacare. Perhaps most importantly, she's almost...

New Mexico Guv Martinez says ‘dysfunctional’ federal government ends up hurting the states 10/28/2013 By Marianne Goodland The Colorado Statesman One of the rising stars in the Republican Party swung through Denver this week, touting her recent successes reining in taxes and promoting business interests in her state.New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez spoke Wednesday to an audience of about 400 at the annual luncheon meeting of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, held at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center.Martinez rose to national prominence at the Republican National Convention last year with a compelling speech that included...

Earlier this week, CNN asked me to write an op-ed on Ted Cruz, and whether he’s a realistic contender for the presidency. My reaction: Of course he is — but probably not in 2016. And for that matter, neither are the Republicans who seem to get the most mention for that position: No one doubts that Cruz has a bright future in the Republican Party, but that doesn’t mean the future is now.Cruz, like Rubio and Rand Paul, have only barely arrived on the national stage and are many years younger than their sell-by date. None of the three has...

SANTA FE – The six months spanning last New Year’s Eve to the Fourth of July have been a time of loss for Gov. Susana Martinez and her husband, Chuck Franco. The governor’s father, Jake, died after a long decline due to Alzheimer’s disease on Dec. 31. In the months that followed, four of the governor’s six pets have died – all due to cancer. Martinez sat in the living room of the private residence wing of the Governor’s Mansion this week, the patio doors open to the yard her dogs used to romp in, to talk about something that...

Hoo boy… Moe Lane at Red State has come across a nasty little piece of business coming out of New Mexico this past week. If the story plays out as early reporting indicates, there are a number of people – including prominent Democrats and a potential gubernatorial candidate – who will have some ‘splaining to do. The story begins in the campaign offices of Governor Susana Martinez, one of the rising stars of the GOP who has already been mentioned as possible POTUS or VPOTUS material in the future. ~~snip~~The local media is already on this, as the following video...

The arrest of an Albuquerque political consultant on child pornography charges stemmed from a search warrant served on his home in November by FBI agents looking for evidence in the investigation of the alleged theft of Gov. Susana Martinez’s campaign emails. The home of Jason Loera, 44, in the 6200 block of St. Joseph’s Court NW, initially was searched on the morning of Nov. 20, 2012, by agents looking to seize Loera’s computers so they could be searched for information about hundreds of emails to Susana2010.com that federal prosecutors allege were illegally intercepted. FBI computer experts began examining CDs seized...

How low will they go? Please indulge a lengthy post, as many of you have asked me about the recent news of my email theft and I thought I would take time on my flight back to New Mexico to provide you a thorough update. Last week, an individual I fired from my campaign was indicted in federal court for illegally intercepting my political and personal emails for almost a year that were then released to the media by leftwing political groups last year. The man is also charged with lying to the FBI about the scheme. A few days...

Gov. Susana Martinez has been crying foul ever since political opponents started trotting out emails sent to an old campaign account. The governor has long contended the emails — ranging from topics such as the controversial Downs at Albuquerque racino deal to an underwear purchase order — were illegally hijacked. Her political adversaries have said they were sure they had been legally obtained. Federal prosecutors weighed in Thursday, releasing an indictment accusing a former Martinez campaign manager with illegally intercepting the emails that ended up in the hands of a union-backed political activist, a lawyer who would become the state...

SANTA FE – First Gentleman Chuck Franco, who turned in his sheriff’s badge when his wife was elected governor of New Mexico, has gone back to work. Franco, former Doña County undersheriff and husband of Gov. Susana Martinez, started a new job last week as a security officer at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Santa Fe, a spokesman for Martinez confirmed. He is working roughly 20 to 25 hours a week for a private security company that is under contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to provide courthouse security. In addition to the Governor’s Mansion in Santa Fe, Martinez and...

SANTA FE – Fresh off her prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention, Gov. Susana Martinez is riding high among New Mexico voters. Sixty-nine percent said they approve of the Republican governor’s performance 20 months into her first term, a new Journal Poll found. Just 17 percent of voters polled Sept. 3-6 said they disapprove of her job performance, while 14 percent were undecided. Martinez, elected in 2010 with 53 percent of the vote, has pursued an apparently popular agenda, campaigning against driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, pushing for tougher school standards, opposing new taxes and trimming the size of...

New Mexico's Governor Susana Martinez delivered a WOW of a speech at the RNC. Republican women are awesome, and Martinez showed just how awesome. Republican women ROCK! Begin Transcript: "Thank you and good evening. On behalf of the great state of New Mexico, let me express my gratitude for being invited to speak tonight. Growing up, I never imagined a girl from a border town could one day become a governor. But this is America Y, en America todo es posible. My parents taught me to never give up and to always believe that my future could be whatever I...