Republican Reports Up & Running Again

After a computer problem put Republican Reports offline for some days, all is well again and we are back posting latest political news both home and abroad.

Germany: Election Getting Tighter

Latest polls in Germany's fast-approaching parliamentary election show the race tightening up a bit. The center-right coalition of the Christian Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party still holds about a 1% edge over the combined parties of the left (Social Democrats, Greens, and former Communists calling themselves simply "The Left").

The last election in 2002 gave the left a 51%-49% majority, and the first polls in this year's campaign nearly reversed that, with the free-market FDP and the center-right CDU together winning 51%. The DCU-FDP lead grew a little during August to 52%-48%, but in the last ten days the SPD has gained ground. Detailed poll results are here.

GA: Republican Governor Suspends Gas Taxes

Saying that Georgia residents needed some relief from sky-high gas prices, Republican Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order suspending the state's gasoline taxes. He asked the legislature to pass his order into law at a special session starting next week.

The Associated Press said that Perdue's move should save Georgians about 15 cents per gallon, since the state has a relatively low tax on gas.

CO: State Taxpayers May Get Refund

Thanks to the state's Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Colorado taxpayers may get a rebate check this year, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The rebate is only about $15, but that is far better than the hefty tax increases people in many other states are facing.

However, if the liberal Democratic proposal to have the state government keep $3.7 billion of excess revenue passes this November, even the measly $15 rebate will be cancelled. Aided by Republican Governor Bill Owens, liberal groups are pushing hard to win approval of the ballot measure that would deny TABOR rebates for five years so that the politicians can go on a multi-billion dollar spending spree.

AZ: Poll Analysis of Illegal-Alien Referendum

The Arizona Republic reports on a survey that analyzes why the state's voters approved a referendum last November that was aimed at controlling the impact of illegal immigration. The most interesting fact turned up in the poll is that 57% of the people said they made up their minds how to vote as soon as they heard of the ballot measure.

That drive homes the emotional impact of the illegal-alien issue, as even liberal Democrats like Hillary Clinton and the governors of Arizona and New Mexico call for stern action.

US: Republicans Making Inroads With Young Black Voters

A Boston Globe article examines the question of whether Republicans are really making gains among black voters, or simply think they are. It highlights Adam Hunter, a Howard University student, whose father became a Democrat during the civil rights movement.

Hunter says he and his father aren't very different in their beliefs, but he simply rejects the idea that "you have to vote Democratic or don't vote." He favors personal social security accounts, lower taxes, and business development and naturally believes that liberal Democrats are hostile to those goals.

US: Democratic Split Over Iraq Grows Wider

The Washington Post says that elected Democratic leaders, many of whom supported--and still support--the liberation of Iraq, are coming under increasing pressure within their party. Left-wing Democrats, who never approved the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's socialist party dictatorship, are demanding that Democrats in Congress join them in denouncing President Bush's effort to give 25 million Iraqis a chance for freedom.

So far, however, most Democrats in elective office are insisting that success in Iraq is vital to American interests and that calls for an early withdrawal are not only wrong but politically dangerous. Their criticism has focused not on the wisdom of liberating Iraq but on what they see as the Bush administration's incompetent handling of that vital work.

Egypt: Presidential Campaign Begins

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, absolute ruler for 24 years, is only one of ten candidates for the presidency in the upcoming September 7 election. Of course, he is virtually certain to be re-elected, but he is hoping the presence of opposition candidates will help convince Egyptians and foreign observers that his country is taking at least small steps toward a more democratic politics.

The New York Times reports that the most serious challenges to Mubarak's National Democratic Party will likely be from the Wafd and the Ghad parties, but several other opposition groups are boycotting the campaign, calling the election a charade.

US: Hate Speech From the Left: Belafonte & Gregory

The latest outburst of hate speech from left-wing actor Harry Belafonte came at an Atlanta civil rights march, where he denounced black officials in the Bush administration as "black tyrants" and called the president himself a tyrant.

Another left-wing activist, former comedian Dick Gregory, compared the Bush administration and black conservatives to Nazis wearing swastikas, according to a report on CNSNews.com. Gregory also launched into a rant against the U.S., calling it "the most dishonest, ungodly . . . nation that ever existed in the history of the planet."

Haiti: American Going Home to Run for President

The Christian Science Monitor has a story on Dumarsais Simeus, an American businessman born in Haiti, who is returning to run for president of his native country. Simeus, of illiterate peasant stock, came to the U.S., earned an MBA, and rose to be CEO of food giant Beatrice Foods.

Today he runs one of the biggest black-owned companies in America, but he thinks Haiti needs him more. He will face numerous roadblocks, however, in his run for president of Haiti. Even if he overcomes constitutional hurdles, he has no political experience and no political base in Haiti. It's not even certain that elections will be held in November as scheduled. Still, Simeus says that taking charge of a failing, bankrupt country requires the same skills as building up a successful business.

MD: Democratic Candidate Welcomes Illegal Aliens

The Washington Times' "Insider Politics" blog reports that a leading Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, welcomed illegal aliens to his state. He said "we should be an open and welcoming community" to criminals who violate immigration laws.

Duncan's welcome mat for law-breakers was in sharp contrast to the reaction of two Democratic governors--Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Bill Richardson of New Mexico--who have taken a tough line on illegal immigration recently.

NJ: Hillary & Giuliani Lead 2008 Nomination Race

A new Strategic Vision poll of New Jersey voters indicates that N.Y. Senator Hillary Clinton and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani are the runaway leaders for their parties' 2008 presidential nomination in that state. Among Democrats, Clinton polls 42% with John Kerry and Al Gore far behind at 10% each. Republicans go 40% for Giuliani and 24% for Arizona Senator John McCain. No on else in either party breaks the 10% barrier.

US: Most Unpopular Senators are Republicans

Survey USA is just out with approval/disapproval ratings for all 100 U.S. Senators. The two most popular, ranked by net approval rating, are Maine's Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Arizona's John McCain ranks 4th, but the rest of the top ten are Democrats.

Meanwhile, Republicans occupy most of the "bottom ten" slots. The least popular Senator in the country is Rick Santorum (PA), with a net -4% rating, and right down there with him are 6 other Republicans among the worst 10. They include conservative Tom Coburn (OK) and two renegades from Ohio, George Voinovich and Mike DeWine.

Among Senators up for re-election next year, the most vulnerable based on their approval ratings would seem to be Santorum and Conrad Burns (MT) among Republicans, and Democrats Mark Dayton (MN) who is retiring, and Debbie Stabenow (MI).

MD: Ehrlich Uses Talk Radio for End Run Around Liberal Newspapers

David Wissings's Hedgehog Report has a great article on the way Maryland's Republican Governor, Bob Ehrlich, uses the conservative talk-radio station WBAL to get his message to voters without having it distorted by the liberal print media. Previously, the liberal Washington Post and Baltimore Sun had a virtual monopoly on major news reporting in Maryland, and neither paper was kind to Republicans.

But now WBAL offers Ehrlich and other Republicans a forum to reach voters directly and avoid the distortions inherent in relying on liberal-dominated newspapers. Needless to say, Maryland Democrats don't like this competition in political reporting and they whine constantly about WBAL.

US: Begala Says U.S. Was Wrong to Oppose Communists in Vietnam

If voters need a reminder that liberal Democrats are soft on national defense, Paul Begala provided a classic one in a recent column on TPMCafe.com. The Democratic operative says the left was correct in opposing American resistance to Communist aggression in Vietnam. Begala even said it was "unjust" to fight against the spread of a totalitarian regime in Vietnam.

When a leader of the Democratic party calls resistance to tyranny "unjust," it's no surprise that the majority of American voters continues to think it unwise to entrust the defense of America to the Democrats. It would be far better for their party if the many Democrats who supported--and still support--the liberation of Iraq would speak out and reject the defeatism of left-wing ideologues like Paul Begala.

FL: Republicans Still Trying to Head Off Harris Nomination

The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports that state and national Republican leaders are still trying to prevent Rep. Katherine Harris from being their candidate against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. Their latest would-be recruit is former Congressman and current talk show host Joe Scarborough. He says he will listen to their pitch but he's not eager to battle Harris, who has a massive lead for the Republican nomination.

LA: Democrats Planning Fake Web Site?

A secret memo to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco's communications director suggests that Democrats should set up an anonymous web site to push their partisan message. The site would pretend to be run by some "non-partisan do-gooder group," according to the memo written by former journalist John Copes.

The Baton Rouge Advocate says that Louisiana Democrats have become concerned that Republicans are increasingly effective using the internet to spread their message in the state. The fake web site would be one possible Democratic response, the memo said.

Germany: Center-Right Parties Maintain Lead

The latest batch of polls in Germany's upcoming general election show the center-right Christian Democratic Union and its probable government partner, the free-market Free Democratic Party, slightly increasing their lead over the parties of the left.

Four polls released August 16-19 give the CDU 42.3%, the FDP 7.6%, the governing Social Democratic Party a miserable 29%, the Greens 8%, and the former Communists 9.6%. If these results hold, the CDU and FDP together would have 52% of the seats in a new parliament versus 49% in the outgoing Bundestag. The SPD-Green coalition would have 38%, and the far left 10%.

IA: Condoleezza Rice Leads 2008 GOP Race

A Victory Enterprises poll reported in the Quad City Times shows U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a surprisingly strong first among Iowa Republicans' preferences for president in 2008. Rice polled 30% to 16% for Arizona Senator John McCain and 15% for ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Asked what should be the Number One priority of the federal government, 41% of the Republicans said fighting terrorism, 14% cutting the size of government, 12% improving the nation's moral climate, and 9% improving schools.

WA: Cantwell Leads Two Republicans for Senate

Washington state's incumbent Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell runs well ahead of two potential Republicans in her quest for re-election next year. The Rasmussen Poll says that Cantwell leads state GOP chairman Chris Vance by 57%-32% and former Congressman Rick White by 56%-33%.

WA: Cantwell Leading But Not Safe in 2006 Senate Race

Results of a new Republican poll discussed in The Hill newspaper show that Washington's liberal Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell is ahead of her presumed Republican challenger by 46% to 38%. This is a respectable lead, but any time an incumbent polls below the 50% level it's a bad sign.

The strongest Republican candidate, 2004 gubernatorial nominee Dino Rossi, declined to run for the Senate, and MIke McGavick, currently CEO of Safeco, stepped in to fill the gap. Assuming that he defeats any primary opposition next year, he will have the financial resources to give Cantwell a strong challenge.

CA: Sacramento Bee on Lew Uhler, Giant Among Conservatives

The Sacramento Bee has a long article on Lew Uhler, head of the National Tax Limitation Committee and one of the country's most influential conservatives. Uhler served under governor Ronald Reagan, was a key player in getting tax limitation passed in California, and helped lead the successful fight for legislative term limits in that state.

Of course he draws sharp criticism from left-wing ideologues, but the Bee story balances that with strong praise from conservatives like Milton Friedman. Currently, Uhler is helping Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger push for Proposition 75, which would protect union members from having their dues money used for political purposes without their consent.

WA: GOP Grumbles at Minority Status in Legislature

Washington state's capital city newspaper, The Olympian, has an interesting article about how Republicans are adjusting to minority status in the legislature after being tied or in control since 1994. In the state Senate, the Republican leader is a moderate even though the caucus is dominantly conservative, and this has led to grumbling in the ranks.

In the state House, the minority leader was actually deposed in a caucus coup because he did not offer tough enough opposition to the liberal Democratic majority's huge tax increase. Republicans hope that a voter backlash against the tax hike--and the disputed gubernatorial election--will put them back in the majority in November 2006.

SC: Sanford Solid Favorite for 2006 Re-Election

The Rasmussen Poll gives South Carolina's Republican Governor Mark Sanford a wide lead over two potential Democratic candidates in 2006. Sanford has a 52%-31% margin over Florence Mayor Frank Willis and a 52%-30% lead over State Sen. Tommy Moore.

CO: Republican Governor's Race May Get More Crowded

Two people are already in the Republican primary race for governor of Colorado next year, and the field may get even more crowded. So far, Congressman Bob Beauprez faces former University of Denver head Marc Holtzman, and both expect to wage well-financed campaigns.

Former Congressman Scott McInnis says he might run also, and now former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell says he is thinking of entering the race. Campbell, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, says he enjoys private life but is being encouraged by good polling numbers in the gubernatorial primary, the Rocky Mountain News says.

France: More Problems for the Poor Old French Language

The Christian Science Monitor reports that 16 of France's 26 largest companies use English as their official working language--and 9 of them don't use French at all. A French testing service says that not knowing English today is equivalent of not knowing how to read or write 50 years ago.

Even the French postal service is having its executives learn English so they can communicate at international meetings where people from around the world use English as their universal language.

NY: Hillary Should Fear Pirro's Challenge, Writer Says

Writing in the Washington Times, Tony Blankley warns that New York's Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton should be worried about her 2006 Republican challenger, District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Currently leading Pirro by 63%-29%, Clinton has "nowhere to go but down," according to Blankley.

He says that her greatest problem will be the tendency for a big leader to "play it safe," leaving the opposing candidate to make news by waging an aggressive campaign. The result, Blakley predicts, will be a declining Clinton margin and a possibly embarrasing "narrow" victory in the vicinity of 55%-45%, which would seriously tarnish Clinton's presidential ambitions.

US: Hate Speech From the Left: Belafonte Compares Bush to Hitler

Left-wing singer Harry Belafonte scoffed at the number of blacks serving in powerful positions in the Bush administration by telling a press conference that "Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich." Belafonte's rant was not only hateful, but wrong, according to Bryan Rigg, author of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers, the book Belafonte was apparently referring to.