Free Republic

The nation's largest business organization launched a multimillion-dollar advertising attack in California on Wednesday night on U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, part of a nationwide effort targeting vulnerable Democrats. The Chamber would not say exactly how much it plans to spend on the race. But the ads, which will be combined with a major push to identify and contact business-friendly voters, reflect the aggressive political strategy that the nonprofit business lobbying group will employ this year in an effort to stymie what it considers the anti-business thrust of the Obama administration. The chamber has set aside about $75 million for...

I'm a lifelong Republican - a supply-side conservative. I worked in the Reagan White House. I was the chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for five years. In 1994, I helped write the Republican Contract with America. I served on Bob Dole's presidential campaign team and was chief economist for Jack Kemp's Empower America. This November, I'm voting for Barack Obama. When I first made this decision, many colleagues were shocked. How could I support a candidate with a domestic policy platform that's antithetical to almost everything I believe in? The answer is simple: Unjustified war and unconstitutional...

The FINANCIAL -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce raised alarm over legislation introduced by Senator Harry Reid to repeal tax incentives for oil exploration, impose a 25% windfall tax on oil companies, and allow consumers to sue nations that supply oil to the U.S. "Higher taxes and more lawsuits won't lower the price of gas at the pump or make America more energy secure. If this legislation is enacted, Americans must be prepared for potential oil supply disruptions and higher prices for gasoline, home heating oil and natural gas," said Bill Kovacs, vice president of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs...

Republican Fred Thompson sidestepped questions Monday about the departure of yet another high-level aide to his presidential campaign-in-waiting. Linda Rozett, a longtime U.S. Chamber of Commerce official, is gone from the former Tennessee senator's committee to "test the waters" of a presidential bid after spending the last several weeks as communications director. "I don't know what the story is," said Thompson, who was asked about the departure while campaigning at the Minnesota state fair. "I don't know what to say about it except that she's a wonderful lady." Rozett's departure was disclosed in an e-mail to staffers from campaign manager...

The American people are up in arms over the current push to legalize illegal migration from south of our border. But unless they are prepared to take up arms, they are likely to lose the battle over immigration reform. (snip) Washington is not listening - at least not to the American people. So who are they listening to? (snip) Democrats are fully behind illegal immigration and they have been for many years. It is a vital ingredient in their effort to build an unbeatable proletariat voting majority that will insure Democrat victories at the ballot box for decades to come....

Just heard about this case on FOX... Very interesting case to discuss. In essence Mohawk Industries, a carpet manufacturer is being sued under RICO as a result of thier efforts to hire illegals. for more background visit http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/2006/04/todays_argument_9.html

“As Rome passed away, so, the West is passing away, from the same causes and in much the same way. What the Danube and Rhine were to Rome, the Rio Grande and Mediterranean are to America and Europe, the frontiers of a civilization no longer defended.” So begins a new work of warning from Pat Buchanan. And this time Buchanan goes all the way. STATE OF EMERGENCY: THIRD WORLD INVASION AND CONQUEST OF AMERICA hit the streets this week and it's designed to jolt readers with stats and analysis of illegal immigration gone dangerously wild. Buchanan warns: “The children born...

Senior business representatives from United States, Mexico and Canada plan to define priorities and discuss specific recommendations for enhancing North American competitiveness in an August 15 session of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) in Washington, officials say. U.S. President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Vicente Fox announced the creation of the NACC in March to provide recommendations on issues concerning North American competitiveness that could be addressed through the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Mexican Economy Minister Sergio Garcia de Alba and Canadian Minister of Industry Maxime...

SAN DIEGO ---- Americans need to think of illegal immigrants as economic contributors and not law breakers, said five advocates for immigration reform Monday. The five advocates, including a farming advocate and a U.S. Chamber of Commerce director, spoke during a press conference in response to a hearing held by the U.S. House Government Reform Committee. The Republican-led committee met Monday in San Diego to discuss the costs of illegal immigration to San Diego County's educational, health and legal systems. Viewed in an economic sense, the advocates said, the loss of a labor force made up largely of illegal immigrants...

Guest worker plan: Horns lock on immigration By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer The Republican National Committee closed ranks in favor of the president's guest-worker plan on Friday, solidifying the party's support for an immigration proposal that has stoked contentious debate since it was first introduced. Randy Pullen, an RNC member who opposes the plan, had attempted to force a vote on the issue. Pullen later withdrew his resolution, and the committee voted for a resolution that opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants. The tempest over the resolution -- a nonbinding action that would have no impact on border security legislation pending...

Sometimes, silence is golden. Silence should be the American policy as Iran takes the first steps toward becoming a member of the World Trade Organization. Next month, when the WTO reviews Iran’s request to have its membership application considered, the Bush Administration should not raise any objections. Considering our history of conflict with Iran, keeping mum on its WTO application might appear, on first thought, to be an unnatural reaction. But having Iran join the WTO waiting list is in the best interests of the United States, the global community, and Iran. How does the U.S. benefit from Iran’s WTO...

America's borders -- land, sea and air -- are our primary ports of entry for billions of dollars in goods and services, along with millions of tourists, business visitors, workers, and other foreign nationals who contribute to our national economy. The events of September 11 also indicate that some have used our borders as an entryway for these evil and malicious attacks. As a result, many have called for increased checks and "tightening" of our borders. While such proposals are understandable, and improvements are clearly needed, difficult questions remain about the potential severe impact to our economy of any improperly...

SACRAMENTO — A television ad campaign portrayed as an independent effort to help Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been bankrolled partly by a group with deep ties to his political operation. An official with the New Majority, a Southern California Republican group at the core of Schwarzenegger's fundraising apparatus, said its members have given about $1 million to the Washington, D.C., business group that is the public face of the ads: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. By pumping the ad money through the chamber, well-heeled New Majority members have bypassed requirements that their donations be publicly disclosed. And they skirted the...

SACRAMENTO — A national business group is opening a statewide ad campaign lauding Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his agenda, without disclosing how much it is spending on the commercials or where the money is coming from. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose governing board includes major donors to Schwarzenegger's political campaigns, launched a 30-second television spot that coincides with Schwarzenegger's efforts to pass an ambitious public works plan and win a second term. Chamber official Eric Wohlschlegel would not reveal what the ad campaign costs. Money to pay for it comes from member dues, he said. The chamber does not...

The first “independent expenditure” television advertising campaign of the 2006 California governor’s race has just begun. It is, not surprisingly, on behalf of the now under-funded former action superstar-turned-Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has begun TV advertising on behalf of Arnold, using Arnold’s familiar theme from his endless string of free media appearances on behalf of his big infrastructure bond, “Build It.” The spot endlessly extols his program, and can be viewed here. After three phone calls to Chamber headquarters in Washington, D.C. over a two-hour period of time, I finally got Chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel...