Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

RINO

2013-08-14T21:35:13Z

Jm920: /* Members of the U.S. House of Representatives */

[[File:Kel-rino.jpg|thumb|250px|Sergeant [[Jesse Kelly]] runs for Congress in Arizona in 2009 and attacks the RINOs in the GOP]]
A '''RINO''' ('''R'''epublican '''i'''n '''N'''ame '''O'''nly) is an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the [[Republican Party]], but holds views to the political left of most Republican voters. The term "RINO" describes politicians who claim to be [[Republican Party|Republican]] but are in fact [[liberal]], and therefore generally debase the winning conservative coalition base of the Republican Party.

RINOs are often Republican only to the extent it serves their own interests, and will abandon conservative principles as soon as it is in their own interests to do so. RINOs often provide support for raising taxes, [[abortion]] as [[Pro-choice|a right]], [[gay rights]] and [[gun control]]. Some RINOs have connections with [[Planned Parenthood]] or corporations that support goals of [[population control]]; other RINOs pay lip service to [[pro-life]] values while in practice not advancing those values.

[[Double standard]]s by RINOs are common: a birther comment by [[Romney]] during his campaign was supposedly a "nothing", but [[Todd Akin]]'s [[pro-life]] comment would somehow "absolutely" could cost RINOs control of the [[U.S. Senate]]!<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/todd-akin-rape-missouri-senate-race-reince-priebus-/1#.UDpUhNZlQ7s</ref>

RINOs, like Democrats, typically come from states in [[New England]], the Mid-Atlantic; or states on the [[Left Coast]]. A less-used term is '''[[cafeteria conservative]]''', for a person who picks and chooses which [[conservative]] principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria instead of ordering the full-course ''menu'' selected by the chef at most restaurants.<ref>[http://www.manp.org/association-spotlight/archives/james-carville-mary-matalin-he-said-she-said James Carville & Mary Matalin: He Said, She Said]</ref> In contrast to RINO's and cafeteria conservatives, [[movement conservative]]s understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it.

The RINO targets of attack argue they follow [[middle of the road]] policies and are not liberals; they claim they get results, and insist that without them the [[United States Congress|Congress]] would be totally controlled by liberal [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] and Republicans would rarely have any success. Conservatives respond that in the heyday of "Rockefeller liberalism" in the GOP the Democrats always controlled Congress, and the GOP only took power when [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national conservative "Contract with America" in 1994, ending 40 years of Democratic control of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. The notion that we need to elect Democrat-lite type of politicians is false. The election cycles of 2010 and 2012 proved that many RINO candidates are unelectable. RINO candidates wasted millions of dollars; Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, Scott Brown, Linda McMahon, and many others could not connect with the people in liberal blue states.

In recent Republican [[Primary election|primaries]], voters have been rejecting establishment RINOs in favor of those with stronger conservative principles. Their commitment to self and not party is evident in their refusal to endorse the candidate that beats them. In some instances, they refuse the will of the voters and their party by running for office on an [[Independent candidate|independent ticket]]. It is important to vote for someone who's more conservative on the issues rather than for a Republican because anyone can join a party and be they can be RINOs.

== RINOs currently holding political office==

=== Government Secretaries ===

*Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]]

*Transportation Secretary [[Ray Lahood]]

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty and [[Common Core]]

*Senator [[Kelly Ayotte]] of [[New Hampshire]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[John Barrasso]] of [[Wyoming]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Roy Blunt]] of [[Missouri]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[John Boozman]] of [[Arkansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Burr]] of [[North Carolina]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html</ref>

*Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Jeffrey Chiesa]] of New Jersey, nominated by the RINO Chris Christie and supports him.

*Senator [[Daniel Coats]] of [[Indiana]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Tom Coburn]] of [[Oklahoma]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/25/tom-coburn-talking-with-democrats-about-background-check-bill/</ref>

*Senator [[Thad Cochran]] of [[Mississippi]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] for supporting [[abortion]] <ref> http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Susan_Collins_Abortion.htm</ref>, amnesty <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-93531.html</ref> [[gun control]] <ref>http://www.sofmag.com/roll-call-vote-manchin-toomey-amendment</ref> and the homosexual agenda <ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC</ref>

*Senator [[Bob Corker]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[John Cornyn]] of Texas for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Crapo]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting environmental regulation <ref> http://www.crapo.senate.gov/issues/environment/environment_natural_resources.cfm</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Enzi]] of [[Wyoming]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Flake]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/is-jeff-flake-arizonas-next-john-mccain/</ref>

*Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] of [[South Carolina]] for supporting amnesty <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/tea-party-lindsey-graham_n_3530569.html</ref>, the drone program <ref>http://www.mediaite.com/tv/lindsey-graham-dismisses-rand-paul-on-drones-judicial-involvement-would-be-worst-thing-in-the-world/</ref>, arming the rebels in Syria and the NSA program<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lindsey-graham-nsa-tracking-phones-92330.html</ref>

*Senator [[Charles Grassley]] of [[Iowa]]

*Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] of [[Utah]], for supporting civil unions for homosexuals, the [[DREAM Act]], [[TARP]], voting for [[Eric Holder]], and insulting the Tea Party.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>

*Senator [[Dean Heller]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting embryonic [[stem cell research]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Dean_Heller_Abortion.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[John Hoeven]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting [[government spending]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_Hoeven_Jobs.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[James Inhofe]] of [[Oklahoma]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Johnny Isakson]] of [[Georgia]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Johanns]] of [[Nebraska]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Ron Johnson]] of [[Wisconsin]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mark Kirk]] of [[Illinois]] for supporting gun control, amnesty, abortion<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Kirk_Abortion.htm</ref>, and same-sex "marriage"

*Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]

*Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] of [[Kentucky]], for supporting excessive government spending and being a [[RINO Backer]].

*Senator [[Jerry Moran ]] of [[Kansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] of [[Alaska]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]] <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lisa-murkowski-gay-marriage-stance-93047.html</ref>, earmark spending, cronyism and amnesty

*Senator [[Rob Portman]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting gay marriage<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/ohio-sen-portman-now-supports-gay-marriage/</ref>

*Senator [[James Risch]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Roberts]] of [[Kansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Marco Rubio]] of [[Florida]] for supporting [[amnesty]]<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/candidate-marco-rubio-2010-earned-path-citizenship-basically-code-
amnesty</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00125</ref> and opposing the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]

*Senator [[John Thune]] of [[South Dakota]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Toomey]] of [[Pennsylvania]] for supporting [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/</ref>

*Senator [[David Vitter]] of [[Louisiana]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Roger Wicker]] of Mississippi for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===
*Rep. [[Justin Amash]] of [[Michigan]] for opposing the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/justin-amash-doma-repeal_n_2981622.html</ref>

*Speaker of the House [[John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]] for abandoning his princapals in favor of "bipartisan compromise"

*Rep. [[Rick Crawford]] of [[Arkansas]]

*Rep. [[David Dreier]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Renee Ellmers]] of [[North Carolina]]

*Rep. [[Chris Gibson]] of [[New York]] for being the most [[liberal]] [[Republican]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] <ref>.http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/02/21/chris-gibson-ranked-as-most-liberal-republican-in</ref>

*Rep. [[Joe Heck]] of [[Nevada]]

*Rep. [[Peter King]] of [[New York]] for supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program. <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/07/25/Steve-King-NSA-Survelliance-Essential,</ref>

*Rep. [[Frank Lucas]] of [[Oklahoma]]

*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Buck McKeon]] of [[California]] for being a sponsor of [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]] in the House

*Rep. [[John Mica]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Candice Miller]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Kristi Noem]] of [[South Dakota]]

*Rep. [[Scott Rigell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Rep. [[Mike Rogers]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] of [[Florida]], for her support of the homosexual agenda<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/ileana-roslehtinen-become_n_977464.html</ref>

*Rep. [[Aaron Schock]] of [[Illinois]]

*Rep. [[Michael Simpson]] of [[Idaho]]

*Rep. [[Lynn Westmoreland]] of [[Georgia]] for defending purges by Boehner and supporting the NSA program

*Rep. [[Don Young]] of [[Alaska]]

=== Governors ===

*Governor [[Jan Brewer]] of [[Arizona]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/19/how-tea-party-hero-jan-brewer-saved-obamacare-in-arizona.html</ref>

*Governor [[Chris Christie]] of [[New Jersey]]

*Governor [[Jack Dalrymple]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/governor-jack-dalrymple-signs-obamacare-expansion-of-medicaid-into-law/</ref>

*Governor [[John Kasich]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Susana Martinez]] of [[New Mexico]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Bob McDonnell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/brian-sandoval-nevada-medicaid-expansion_n_2284478.html</ref>

*Governor [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]]

*Governor [[Rick Snyder]] of [[Michigan]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

=== Federal Judges ===

*Supreme Court Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] after his support of gutting Arizona's immigration law and yet being the swing vote responsible for keeping [[Obamacare]] upheld. As Supreme Court Justices officially have no party, he is more of a "conservative in name only".

=== Local Legislators ===

*State Senator Allan Kittleman of [[Maryland]], for promoting homosexual [[special rights]]<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/gop_senator_announces_support.html GOP senator announces support for Md. same-sex marriage bill]</ref>

*[[Texas]] Speaker of the House Joe Straus

==RINOs currently not holding political office==
=== Executive Officials===

*Former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], because he regulated the economy and used social justice.

*Former [[President]] [[George H.W. Bush]] for claiming he wouldn't raise [[taxes]] and subsequently raising them

*Former [[President]] [[Richard Nixon]] for establishing the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and supporting [[affirmative action]]

*Former [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]]

*Former [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] for supporting [[government spending]], increasing the size of government, and for filling his cabinet with a litany of other RINOs.<ref>Such as [[Dick Cheney]], [[Collin Powell]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]].</ref> Failed at child rearing.<ref>As can seen by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKqr230U9M this video] (Warning: Contains no graphic content but might still be unsuitable for children)</ref>

*Former Vice-President and Senator [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]]

*Former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], for supporting the [[Homosexual Agenda]], being a [[Neocon]] and supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program.

=== Government Secretaries ===
*Former Senator and HUD Secretary [[Mel Martinez]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]

*Former Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].

*Former Press Secretary [[Scott McClellan]]

*Former Press Secretary [[James Brady]], for being a major gun control advocate

*Former Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]], for supporting the Homosexual Agenda.

*Former Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], for supporting DADT repeal and being pro-abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], for supporting DADT repeal and failing to condemn same-sex "marriage" and abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], for defending [[Barack Obama]]'s handling of [[Benghazi]] <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com
/USA/Politics/2013/0512/Robert-Gates-Obama-made-right-decisions-night-of-Benghazi-attack</ref>

*Former Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]], for being a globalist.

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Former Senator [[Scott Brown]] of [[Massachusetts]]

*Former Senator [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]]

*Former Senator [[Alan Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]]

*Former Senator [[Gordon Smith]] of [[Oregon]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for claiming that [[Reagan]] couldn't make it in the current Republican Party.

*Former Senator [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Bennett]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] of [[Maine]]

*Former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] of [[Texas]]

*Former Senator [[Richard Lugar]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting the homosexual agenda and abortion.

*Former Senator [[Robert LaFollette]] of [[Wisconsin]]

*Former Senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]] of [[Maine]]

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Former Congressman Steve LaTourette of [[Ohio]]

*Former Congressman [[Lincoln Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[David Rivera]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] of [[Connecticut]]

*Former Congressman [[Tom Campbell]] of [[California]]

*Former Congressman and Governor [[Michael Castle]] of [[Delaware]]

*Former Congressman [[Joseph Cao]] of [[Louisiana]]

*Former Congressman [[Joe Scarborough]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congresswoman [[Jennifer Dunn]] of [[Washington]]

=== Governors ===

*Former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Governor [[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] of [[California]]

*Former Governor [[Linda Lingle]] of [[Hawaii]]

*Former Governor [[Mitch Daniels]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Governor [[George Pataki]] of [[New York]]

*Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [[Christine Todd Whitman]] of [[New Jersey]]

=== Mayors ===

*Former [[New York City]] Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]

==Former RINOs who have since left the Republican Party==

* Former [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Gary Johnson]] supports same-sex marriage and abortion (although he opposes abortion once the fetus becomes viable outside the mother's body). After switching to the [[Libertarian Party]] in 2012 to run for President, he openly admitted that he governed New Mexico for eight years as a RINO, even using the phrase "Republican in name only" on multiple occasions. The Libertarian Party is [[liberal]] on social issues (with the exception that they support [[gun rights]]) but are fiscally very conservative.

* Former Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] supported ObamaCare and switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party to give the latter a 60-40 edge in the Senate and allow them to enact [[cloture]] on the Republican [[filibuster]].

*Former Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], who became an Independent in 2007. Turned Democrat in 2013.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/lincoln-chafee-to-switch-parties-sources-say-91994.html</ref>

*Former Senator [[Lowell Weicker]] of [[Connecticut]], who left the party and formed his own local one in 1990, then became an Independent in 1995.

*[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], who became an Independent in 2007. As it is not possible to campaign as an Independent in New York State, Bloomberg runs on the line of the [[Independence Party of New York]].

*Former Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]], who left the Party and became a Democrat in 2001, giving control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to the Democrats.

*Former Governor [[Charlie Crist]] of [[Florida]], who became an independent in 2010 after it was clear he would lose his Senate bid. Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in 2012.

*Former Representative [[John Anderson]] of [[Illinois]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 1980.

*Former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Louisiana]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 2012.

==RINO McCain==

A majority of conservatives distrust RINO [[John McCain]] even though many of his policies are that of a true conservative. Key RINO principles rejected by McCain include support for [[gay rights]], support for [[abortion]], and support for [[earmark]]s. He has positioned his career as a bipartisan moderate, reaching across the aisle whenever possible. This is also his downfall. The era of reaching across the aisle passed -- when [[statist]], [[socialist]] Democrats became Senators. His major political blunders mostly came during the 21st century political period. He was against both the Reagan and Bush [[tax cuts]], and employed [[class warfare]] rhetoric in trying to stop the tax cuts from taking effect. His support for amnesty was the complete opposite of what conservatives wanted. He has always complained about [[waterboarding|enhanced interrogation techniques]], calling them "[[torture]]". In non-election years, he likes to trash conservative positions and icons in order to get the [[Mainstream media|media]]'s and Democrats' approval. However, during the election he refused to go after [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s associations with [[Jeremiah Wright]]. He believes in the junk science known as [[global warming]], and has supported cap-and-trade programs. Another [[Middle East]] war, without a goal, without full commitment to win, without Congressional approval- McCain supports the President. It didn't stop there and in July 2011, he called the [[Tea Party]], the people that care about fiscal sanity in Washington, they are "hobbits".

The sacrifices he has made serving this country cannot be overlooked. John McCain has earned war hero status but also the status as a D.C. zero.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1615233/in-senate-primary-california-republicans.html In Senate primary, California Republicans run away from RINO label]
* [http://www.commieblaster.com/RINO/index.html CommieBlaster RINO Index]

==See Also==
*[[RINO Backers]]
*[[PLINO]] - [[pro-life]] in name only
*[[XINO]] - [[Christian]] in name only
*[[Republican Party]]
*[[Moderate Republican]]
*[[Conservative Democrat]]
*[[Blue Dog Democrat]]
*[[Reagan Democrat]]
*[[Catholic in name only]]
*[[Liberal media conservative]]

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:RINOs|*]]

Margaret Chase Smith

2013-08-14T02:35:03Z

Jm920: /* Further reading */

'''Margaret Chase Smith''' (1897-1995) of Skowhegan, Maine, was the first woman elected to both houses of Congress. She replaced her late husband in the House of Representatives 1940-49, and was elected to the Senate in 1948, serving 1949-73.

Smith was a liberal Northeastern Republican (or "Rockefeller Republican) and was defeated for reelection in 1972 by an even more liberal Democrat, who attacked her support for the Vietnam War. She was notably honest, independent and courageous. [[File:Smith-mc.jpg|thumb|260px]] Her concern for national defense during the [[Cold War]] led to service on the House Naval Affairs Committee and later several subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Smith led the fight for granting women regular status in the armed services during 1944-48. After passage by the Senate in 1947, a bill providing for regular status for women encountered opposition in the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee from several members who would agree only to reserve status for women. Through adroit political maneuvering, Smith forced the issue to the floor, thereby demonstrating that regular status had strong support in the House and ultimately insuring the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.<ref> See Sherman (1990) </ref>

Smith was a longtime supporter of the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] and the leading advocate for women's presence in the military. In her 1948 campaign, she released a statement that said she was "a champion for the women" but "no feminist" because "a woman's viewpoint should be...free of any emphasis on feminine interest."

She was a nominal candidate for president in 1964. She did respectably well, considering her lack of organization, time, and money. As a speaker she was pleasant and smiling; reasoned in her answers and without invective, she campaigned on the issues.

==McCarthy==
She is remembered for her famous [[Declaration of Conscience]] in the 1950 in which she said:

{{Cquote|The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as “Communists” or “Fascists” by their opponents.

The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed. But there have been enough proved cases, such as the ''[[Amerasia]]'' case, the [[Hiss]] case, the [[Coplon]] case, the [[Harry Gold|Gold]] case, to cause the nationwide distrust and strong suspicion that there may be something to the [[McCarthyism|unproved, sensational accusations]].

The Democratic Administration has greatly lost the confidence of the American people by its complacency to the threat of communism here at home and the leak of [[Manhattan project|vital secrets]] to Russia [[Venona|through key officials of the Democratic administration]]. There are enough proved cases to make this point without diluting our criticism with unproved charges.

Surely these are sufficient reasons to make it clear to the American people that it is time for a change and that a Republican victory is necessary to the security of this country. Surely it is clear that this nation will continue to suffer as long as it is governed by the present ineffective Democratic Administration

Yet to displace it with a Republican regime embracing a philosophy that lacks political integrity or intellectual honesty would prove equally disastrous to this nation. The nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny—Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.

I doubt if the Republican Party could—simply because I don’t believe the American people will uphold any political party that puts political exploitation above national interest. Surely we Republicans aren’t that desperate for victory.</blockquote>

I don’t want to see the Republican Party win that way. While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican Party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American people. Surely it would ultimately be suicide for the Republican Party and the two-party system that has protected our American liberties from the dictatorship of a one party system.<ref>http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/margaretchasesmithconscience.html</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
* Schmidt, Patricia L. ''Margaret Chase Smith: Beyond Convention.'' (1996). 392 pp.
* Sherman, Janann Sherman. ''No Place for a Woman: A Life of Senator Margaret Chase Smith'' (2001) [http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Woman-Margaret-Politics/dp/0813527228/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243074257&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search], the standard scholarly biography
* Sherman, Janann. "'They Either Need These Women or They Do Not': Margaret Chase Smith and the Fight for Regular Status for Women in the Military." ''Journal of Military History'' 1990 54(1): 47-78. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1985840 in JSTOR]
* Vallin, Marlene Boyd. '' Margaret Chase Smith: model public servant‎'' (1998) 243 pp.
* Wallace, Patricia Ward. ''Politics of conscience: a biography of Margaret Chase Smith‎'' (1995) 245 pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=_wG3BdaOz74C&dq=intitle:Smith+intitle:Margaret+intitle:Chase&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Smith, Margaret Chase}}
[[category:Republican Party]]
[[category:New Deal]]
[[category:1950s]]
[[category:Maine]]
[[category:RINOs]]

Robert LaFollette

2013-08-14T02:27:42Z

Jm920:

'''Robert Marion LaFollette, Sr.''' (Senator 1906-1925) was a [[Republican]] [[American]] [[politician]]. He represented [[Wisconsin]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] (1885-1891) and in the [[United States Senate|U. S. Senate]] (1906-1925), and served as [[governor]] of Wisconsin (1901-1906). After failed bids for the Republican nomination for [[president of the United States]] in [[United States presidential election, 1912|1912]] and [[United States presidential election, 1916|1916]], LaFollette ran in [[United States presidential election, 1924|1924]] as the candidate of the [[Progressive Party]], winning 17% percent of the popular vote nationwide and Wisconsin's 13 [[electoral vote]]s.

{{DEFAULTSORT:LaFollette, Robert}}
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Henry Kissinger

2013-08-14T02:24:58Z

Jm920: /* References */

[[Image:Kissinger Henry.jpg|frame|right]]
'''Henry Kissinger''' (1923- ), American statesman and exponent of "realism" in foreign policy; he dominated foreign policy in the the administrations of presidents [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Gerald Ford]], as [[Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs|National Security Advisor]] and [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], holding both positions for a time. He won the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for reaching a peace that ended the [[Vietnam War]]. In close collaboration with Nixon, he created a '''[[détente]] policy''' that called for an end to the [[Cold War]] and for friendly relations with both the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]]. His position on détente was rejected by [[Ronald Reagan]] in the 1976 campaign for the presidential nomination. But Reagan lost the election to Ford, and in turn Ford was defeated by Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]], as Kissinger retired to write his highly revealing memoirs and consult for businesses worldwide.
==Life==
Kissinger was born in Fürth, Germany, on May 27, 1923 to a middle class Jewish family. They fled Nazi persecution, and arrived in New York in 1938, where he changed his first name from Heinz to Henry and rapidly Americanized in everything except his thick accent. He attended public schools and City University before being drafted at age 19. He returned to Europe during World War II fighting with the U.S. Army; he was in the infantry at first, but his heroism, courage, and daring got him promoted to intelligence. He was discharged as a sergeant in 1946. He spent a year as a civilian instructor in ''de-Nazification'' at an Army school in Germany; charged with de-Nazifying a German town, he did so with remarkable ease. He had power and responsibility far beyond his years because of his intelligence, his energy, and his commitment to opposing the Nazis.

In the army, Kissinger was informally tutored by Fritz Kraemer, a fellow refugee with two PhD's. In 1950 Kissinger earned his B.A. ''summa cum laude'' at Harvard with a 377 page essay on "The Meaning of History: Reflections on Spengler, Toynbee and Kant."<ref> William Y. Elliott was his director but only read half of it; the Government Department thereupon ruled that future senior theses could not exceed 40,000 words.</ref> He finished his Ph.D. in 1956 at Harvard, with a dissertation on "A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace 1812-22," a study praising how the conservative diplomats of the era built a stable and peaceful international system after the Napoleonic wars.

He married Ann Fleischer in 1949 and was divorced in 1964. There were two children, Elizabeth and David. In 1974 he married Nancy Maginnes.

==Harvard professor==
Kissinger became a full professor in Harvard's Department of Government in 1962. As the director of Harvard's University Summer International Seminar, 1952-69, he brought in nearly 700 young European and Asian scholars, many of whom became high officials in their own country. Kissinger met practically every intellectual in international relations at home and abroad.

Kissinger was eager to serve on national commissions. He served as Study Director, Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy, for the Council of Foreign Relations from 1955 to 1956; Director of the Special Studies Project for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund from 1956 to 1958; and Director of the Harvard Defense Studies Program from 1958 to 1971. He resigned from Harvard in January 1971 when his two-year leave of absence expired.

In 1957 Kissinger published ''Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy,'' which proposed a flexible defense posture, including provision for "limited warfare" and the strategic employment of nuclear weapons as an alternative to the doctrine of "massive retaliation" against direct foreign aggression, which dominated military thinking during the mid-1950s. The book brought Kissinger to national attention, and he became an mid-level advisor on security questions under presidents [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[John F. Kennedy]], and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]; he was foreign policy advisor in [[Nelson Rockefeller]]'s 1968 quest for the Republican party nomination, but Nixon won the nomination and Kissinger switched to the winner.

Kissinger was consultant to the Department of State (1965-68), United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1961-68), Rand Corporation (1961-68), [[National Security Council]] (1961-62), Weapons Systems Evaluation Group of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1959-60), Operations Coordinating Board (1955), Director of the Psychological Strategy Board (1952), Operations Research Office (1951), and Chairman of the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America (1983-84). In 2001 he was not appointed to head the commission studying the [[9-11 Attack]] because he was too controversial.

==National Security Advisor and Secretary of State==
In 1969 Nixon appointed him his top advisor on foreign affairs as "Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs" )or "National Security Advisor") in charge of the [[National Security Council]] staff, which he made his base of power. He and Nixon largely ignored the State Department in setting the main lines of foreign policy. In 1973, Kissinger gained the additional role as secretary of state. He was the only person ever to hold the two top national security roles at the same time, and in 1975 he was replaced as head of the NSC.

Kissinger's approach to foreign policy was shaped by his vision of world peace achieved through a global balance of power; and accordingly Kissinger believed that effective U.S. diplomacy needed to be backed by force and guided by the pragmatism of Realpolitik rather than by high ideals and abstract causes. In practice his diplomacy, which mixed a highly visible, personal style with secret, behind-the-scenes maneuverings, was marked by bold, often controversial, initiatives and by frequent travel between world capitals in what came to be known as "shuttle diplomacy".
===Nuclear strategy===
On taling office Nixon and Kissinger were briefed on the US nuclear war plan, the [[Single Integrated Operational Plan]] (SIOP). Appalled by the catastrophic scale of the SIOP, Nixon and Kissinger sought military options that were more credible than massive nuclear strikes. Participants in the Air Force Nuclear Options project also supported more flexible nuclear war plans. Although Kissinger repeatedly asked Defense Department officials to construct limited options, they were skeptical that it would be possible to control nuclear escalation or to introduce greater flexibility without weakening the SIOP. Interagency studies presented a mixed verdict about the desirability of limited options; nevertheless, continued White House pressure encouraged Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to sponsor a major review of nuclear targeting. In 1972 the John Foster panel developed concepts of limited, selective, and regional nuclear options that were responsive to Kissinger's interest in credible nuclear threats. The Foster panel's report led to the controversial "Schlesinger Doctrine" and further efforts to revise the SIOP, but serious questions endured about the whole concept of controlled nuclear warfare.<ref> William Burr, "The Nixon Administration, the 'Horror Strategy,' and the Search for Limited Nuclear Options, 1969-1972: Prelude to the Schlesinger Doctrine." ''Journal of Cold War Studies'' 2005 7(3): 34-78. Issn: 1520-3972 Fulltext: [[Project Muse]]; Aaron L. Friedberg, "A History of U.S. Strategic 'Doctrine'—1945 to 1980," ''Journal of Strategic Studies,'' Vol. 3, No. 4 (December 1980), pp. 37-71; Scott Sagan, ''Moving Targets: Nuclear Strategy and National Security'' (1989). </ref>
===Détente with Soviet Union and China===
Kissinger's first priority in office was the achievement of détente with the Soviet Union and China, and playing them off against each other . Recognizing and accepting the Soviet Union as a superpower, Kissinger sought both to maintain U.S. military strength and to inaugurate peaceful economic, cultural, and scientific exchanges to engage the Soviet Union in the international system. This policy flourished under Kissinger's direction and led in 1972 to the signing of the first [[Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty]] (SALT I). At the same time Kissinger successfully engineered a rapprochement with Communist China, leading to the astonishing news in 1971 that Nixon would visit China, which he and Kissinger did in 1972.<ref> Margaret Macmillan, ''Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World'' (2008)</ref>

Aware that China and the Soviet Union were at sword's point, with rival claims to be the true Communists, Kissinger used the "Soviet card" to win over China by playing up the Soviet threat to the Chinese as a way of promoting closer relations with China. He even hinted at a US-China alliance to oppose the Soviets, and, with Nixon's trips to Moscow, hinted that China had better come to terms lest the US form an alliance with Moscow. The tactics worked, resulting in a friendly relationship with both Beijing and Moscow. As part of the détente, both powers reduced or ended their aid to North Vietnam, thus allowing a settlement of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>Evelyn Goh, "Nixon, Kissinger, and the 'Soviet Card' in the U.S. Opening to China, 1971-1974." ''Diplomatic History'' 2005 29(3): 475-502. </ref>

"In the Soviet Union, there is really nobody left who has any memory of an entrepreneurial tradition," said Kissinger. "In China, there are many people left who participated in Chinese entrepreneurial life." He believed that a Sino-US alliance to oppose Soviet aggression could encourage internal reform within the Chinese system while promoting a more peaceful international order. After China made such reforms, hundreds of millions were lifted out of poverty.<ref>http://www.huliq.com/37702/rising-economic-growth-in-china-india-contributes-to-food-inflation "...hundreds of millions have been lifted out of poverty in the past few decades"</ref>

===Vietnam===
Kissinger worked to achieve a disengagement of U.S. forces fighting in Vietnam. He promoted Nixon's policy of "Vietnamization," aimed at turning the burden of actual combat over to the South Vietnamese, with repeated shows of U.S. air strength, notably in the bombings of Cambodia and North Vietnam. Kissinger met secretly with North Vietnamese leaders in Paris from 1969 on, finally concluding a cease-fire in January 1973, for which he and chief North Vietnamese negotiator [[Le Duc Tho]] were awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize. Later rumors to the effect that Kissinger knew the South Vietnamese government was too weak to survive long were wrong; Kissinger and Nixon had built South Vietnam into one of the strongest militaries in Asia--much stronger than the North Vietnamese--and they had stripped away much of Hanoi's support from Moscow and Beijing. The problem was that Saigon put all its future on the continuation of Nixon in office and his promises to intervene militarily if necessary. Nixon collapsed unexpectedly (because of Watergate) and his personal promises were gone. Saigon despaired and desperately fought back when Hanoi did invade in 1975, after Nixon was gone and Congress forbad further American intervention.

Demographic evidence indicates that the US bombings of Cambodia, especially the Menu bombings, ultimately killed about 40,000 Cambodian combatants and civilians.<ref>Marek Sliwinski, Le Génocide Khmer Rouge: Une Analyse Démographique (L’Harmattan, 1995), pp41-8.</ref> Some estimates go as high as 100,000 killed by the bombing.<ref>http://www.yale.edu/cgp/Walrus_CambodiaBombing_OCT06.pdf</ref> The US Seventh Air Force argued that the bombing prevented the fall of Phnom Penh in 1973 by killing 16,000 of 25,500 Khmer Rouge fighters besieging the city. Documents uncovered from the Soviet archives after 1991 reveal that the North Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1970 was launched at the explicit request of the Khmer Rouge and negotiated by Pol Pot's then second in command, Nuon Chea.<ref>Dmitry Mosyakov, “The Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese Communists: A History of Their Relations as Told in the Soviet Archives,” in Susan E. Cook, ed., Genocide in Cambodia and Rwanda (Yale Genocide Studies Program Monograph Series No. 1, 2004), p54ff. Availible online at: http://128.36.236.77/workpaper/pdfs/GS20.pdf "In April-May 1970, many North Vietnamese forces entered Cambodia in response to the call for help addressed to Vietnam not by Pol Pot, but by his deputy Nuon Chea. Nguyen Co Thach recalls: “Nuon Chea has asked for help and we have liberated five provinces of Cambodia in ten days.”"</ref>

The communist leaders had expected that the ceasefire terms would favor their side. But Saigon, bolstered by a surge of U.S. aid received just before the ceasefire went into effect, began to roll back the Vietcong. The communists responded with a new strategy hammered out in a series of meetings in Hanoi in March 1973, according to the memoirs of Tran Van Tra.

As the Vietcong's top commander, Trà participated in several of these meetings. With U.S. bombings suspended, work on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and other logistical structures could proceed unimpeded. Logistics would be upgraded until the North was in a position to launch a massive invasion of the South, projected for the 1975–1976 dry season. Trà calculated that this date would be Hanoi's last opportunity to strike before Saigon's army could be fully trained.

In 1974, Congress voted not to enforce the commitments agreed to in the Paris Peace Accords. Air support for Cambodia, South Vietnam, and Laos was cut off. The military aid promised was scaled back or never materialized, and the North was allowed to resume support for the Khmer Rouge. "After Nixon stepped down over Watergate," said one Communist commander, "we knew we would win."<ref>http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/vietnam/north.asp</ref> Without the logistical support provided by the Ho Chi Minh trail, the North would not have been able to launch an invasion of South Vietnam by 1975, which it predicted would be its "last chance" before the South was self-sufficiently able to defend itself.<ref>http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/vietnam/north.asp</ref> The US canceled the bombing of Communist positions on the trail. In Cambodia, last minute efforts on the part of the US to arrange for a peace settlement involving Sihanouk ended in failure. When the US Congress vetoed [[Ford]]'s call for a resumption of air support in Cambodia, panic and a sense of doom filled the capital, which was mercilessly shelled for more than a year by the Communists. President Ford openly predicted a "bloodbath" and stated that the Congress's decision to abandon Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge, in particular, would lead to "an unbelievable horror story".<ref>http://www.paulbogdanor.com/left/cambodia/bloodbath1.pdf</ref> The US frantically abandoned Saigon, and the Pathet Lao advanced throughout Laos. The Ford administration's prediction that the Khmer Rouge would murder at least one million people<ref>Washington Post, June 4, 23, 1975</ref> was laughed off by liberal reporters. Some journalists, mocking the claims of a bloodbath, were so bold as to sing the following lyrics to the tune of "''She Was Poor But She Was Honest''": "Oh will there be a dreadful bloodbath/ When the Khmer Rouge come to town?/ Aye, there'll be a dreadful bloodbath/ When the Khmer Rouge come to town."<ref>http://jim.com/canon.htm#ch2 From an important study by genocide survivor Sophal Ear. Note that the source is, of all people, William Shawcross.</ref>

In one of [[Vietnam_War#Aftermath| the largest mass killings since the Nazi Holocaust]], the victorious Communists murdered 3-4 million people throughout Indochina, including over 2 million killed by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia alone.

===Middle East===
One challenge to détente under Kissinger came with the outbreak of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Faced with a threat of Soviet intervention, Kissinger successfully urged that U.S. forces be placed on worldwide alert. With Israel facing possible defeat at the hands of the Arab aggressors, President Nixon launched the largest airlift in military history to replenish Israel's stocks (the left would condemn his actions no matter how big or how small, Nixon said, so "''let's make it big''"). Kissinger had urged Nixon to delay the airlift so as to let Israel "bleed a little", in the hopes that a badly bruised Israel would be more pliable to concessions in post-war negotiations, but Nixon refused.

When the Israelis surrounded the Egyptian Third Army at the end of the war, Kissinger believed that the United States had a tremendous opportunity. Egypt was now dependent on solely the United States for the survival of its Third Army, and Kissinger hoped that the United States could mediate the dispute and wean Egypt from Soviet influence. As a result, he exerted intense pressure on Israel not to destroy the Third Army and to allow it to receive non-military supplies. Among other things, he threatened that the United States would resupply the Third Army by helicopter, support a UN resolution demanding an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before the Third Army's encirclement, and falsely told the Israelis that the Soviet Union had threatened to intervene over the Third Army.

Kissinger then employed shuttle diplomacy to secure disengagement agreements between Israel and the Arab states and to restore U.S.-Egyptian diplomatic ties, broken since 1967. Kissinger's goal was to drive the Soviets out of Egypt by showing the Egyptians that only the United States could persuade Israel to make concessions. The US assisted in a vast rescue operation conducted by Israeli forces to save Egyptian troops stranded in the Sinai.<ref>The Times, UK, June 15, 1967.</ref> US-brokered peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt continued past Nixon's term. Though negotiations were tough, with both sides sometimes intransigent, President Ford ended up securing the first peace agreements between Israel and Egypt, which would be finalized under President Carter. In turn, [[Jordan]] felt compelled to reach a separate peace, which resulted in a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan in 1994.

Kissinger and Nixon approved a covert [[CIA]] campaign of subversion and sabotage designed to weaken the Socialist government of [[Iraq]] in 1973. Done in collaboration with the [[Shah]] of neighboring [[Iran]], it involved Soviet arms captured from Egypt and [[Syria]] in the 1973 war being dispatched to Kurdish rebels in Northern Iraq. The Shah cynically used the Kurds to pressure the Ba'athist government to back down on a number of serious territorial disputes between the two nations. The US brokered a peace treaty between Iraq and Iran in 1975, and aid to the Kurds was subsequently cut off. The Kurds were then viciously slaughtered. "''Covert action should not be confused with missionary work,''" Kissinger famously declared.<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2156400/</ref>

Kissinger helped to diffuse sectarian conflicts in [[Lebanon]] in order to prevent a possible regional war, and opposed the Soviet-backed attempt by Communist forces to conquer North [[Yemen]] (which was the recipient of much US aid).

On 20 July 1974, [[Turkey]] invaded northern [[Cyprus]], overthrew its Greek-backed dictatorship (headed by Nikos Sampson), and installed a new regime. This led to the collapse of the Greek military junta, and the restoration of democracy in Greece, three days later--July 23, 1974. Sampson had been brought to power by the Greek Cypriot national guard (acting under the orders of Athens), which ousted the elected president, Makarios; Turkey removed him from power after a mere eight days in office. "Had Turkey not intervened," Sampson told the Greek newspaper Eleftherotipia, "I would not only have proclaimed Enosis [union of Cyprus with Greece] but I would have annihilated the Turks in Cyprus as well."<ref>http://www.britains-smallwars.com/cyprus/Most%20wanted/most%20wanted%20files/EOKA_Members_List_s.html</ref> Turkey took control of one-third of the country. Civilian casualties were remarkably light. Turkey restored democracy to Cyprus, and new elections brought Glafcos Clerides to power. President Makarios, in his speech to the UN Security Council on 19 July 1974, described the coup that replaced him as "an invasion of Cyprus by Greece."

Both the Turks and the Greeks committed indiscriminate ethnic cleansing against the other side. <ref>http://www.hr-action.org/chr/ECHR01.html 1st Report of the European Commission of Human Rights; Turkey's intervention in Cyprus and aftermath (20 July 1974 - 18 May 1976)</ref><ref>http://www.hr-action.org/chr/ECHR02.html 2nd Report of the European Commission of Human Rights; Turkey's intervention in Cyprus and aftermath (19 May 1976 to 10 February 1983)</ref> Facts and information on the death and the burial site of 201 out of 500 cases of Turkish Cypriot "missing" persons were provided by the Cyprus government on 12 May 2003. A typical report stated:
<blockquote>
In a Greek raid on a small Turkish village near Limassol, 36 people out of a population of 200 were killed. The Greeks said that they had been given orders to kill the inhabitants of the Turkish villages before the Turkish forces arrived.<ref>Washington Post, 23 July 1974
</ref>
</blockquote>

Numerous studies reported accounts of "anti-Turkish pograms," hostage taking, and mass murder.

Kissinger approved of the Turkish invasion, viewing the Greek junta as a Cold War liability.<ref>http://www.kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/cyprus1974/images/NATO_Joseph_Luns_700_bg.jpg</ref> Kissinger had resolved to find a solution to the Cyprus problem in May 1974.<ref>http://www.kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/cyprus1974/images/Dept_Of_State_Kissinger_700_bg.jpg</ref> Kissinger intervened to prevent a planned British military response to the second phase of the Turkish invasion in order to avoid a war between the two American allies.

Some 70,000 Turkish civilians were displaced by the Greeks. It is estimated by independant sources that 140,000 to 160,000<ref>Borowiec, Andrew (2000), Cyprus: A Troubled Island. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, pp2</ref> Greek civilians were displaced by the Turkish invaders. Only 20,000 Greeks remained in the north. Five Americans disappeared during the Turkish invasion.

===Latin America===
The Nixon administration sought to protect the economic and commercial interests of the United States during a period of heightened Latin American nationalism and expropriations, 1969-74. Though the administration initially adopted a flexible policy toward Latin American governments that nationalized American corporations' assets, the influence of Nixon's economic ideology, domestic political pressures, and the advice of Secretary of the Treasury [[John Connally]], led to a more confrontational stance toward Latin American countries. As the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and Kissinger had warned, however, Latin American countries took an even more anti-US stance and expropriated even more assets. Nixon's "get tough" stance, therefore, had a negative effect on American credibility and influence in the hemisphere.<ref>Hal Brands, "Richard Nixon and Economic Nationalism in Latin America: the Problem of Expropriations, 1969-1974." ''Diplomacy & Statecraft'' 2007 18(1): 215-235. Issn: 0959-2296 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]</ref>

The ''de facto'' Communist dictatorship in [[Chile]] headed by [[Salvador Allende]] (originally elected in 1970 with a minority of the vote) presented a major obstacle to American interests in the region.

The CIA, as recounted in the Church Committee report, was involved in various plots designed to remove Allende and then let the Chileans vote in a new election where he would not be a candidate: It tried to buy off the Chilean Congress to prevent his appointment, worked to sway public opinion against him to prevent his election, and financed protests designed to bring the country to a stand-still and make him resign.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref> Convinced that a conventional military uprising was still not possible in Chile, the CIA, acting with the approval of the 40 Committee—the body charged with overseeing covert actions abroad—devised what in effect was a constitutional coup. The most expeditious way to prevent Allende from assuming office was somehow to convince the Chilean congress to confirm Alessandri as the winner of the election. Once elected by the congress, Alessandri—a party to the plot through intermediaries—was prepared to resign his presidency within a matter of days so that new elections could be held.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref><ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref> The CIA also learned of a number of plots to establish a military dictatorship. Although it pointedly refused to materially assist any of them, and actually intervened to prevent one of the plots for fear it would fail and strengthen Allende; it also encouraged several of the plots and did nothing to prevent them. It assured the plotters that such an event would be welcomed in Washington and that the US would not cut off aid over potential human rights violations.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref> In addition, the CIA provided funding for the mass anti-government strikes in 1972 and 1973. Though the CIA maintained contact with a notorious right-wing extremist named Roberto Viaux, Nixon and Kissinger, recognizing that "nothing could be worse than an abortive coup," repeatedly relayed messages to him urging restraint and went to great lengths to deter him from staging a coup.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref><ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref>

The extent of Kissinger's involvement in or support of these plans is a subject of controversy.

Although the US considered economic sanctions against the Allende regime, it never actually implemented them. Although Latin Americans viewed the US as omnipotent, future Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet mocked it as a paper tiger and felt free to launch terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C., during his reign. The US ended up giving more aid to Allende's Chile than any of the prior administrations. The US worked to diffuse potential coups that it had once warmly encouraged, fearing that it would be blamed if they failed. Though hesitant and uneasy, the CIA vowed to "continue to put pressure on every Allende weak spot" even after his appointment. The CIA had warned that the odds of either a military or a constitutional coup succeeding were one in twenty; after they both failed to occur in 1970, US policy shifted towards maintaining a democratic opposition to the Allende regime.

US intelligence reports implicated Allende in the assassination of several opponents,<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf Includes discussion of intelligence reports of Allende-backed hit jobs; note that Cuban intelligence reached the same conclusion--hence the infamous "packages" scandal.</ref> while KGB files smuggled out of Russia by Vasily Mitrokhin indicate that Allende received funds from the Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref> Allende was formally condemned by Chile's parliament for systematically destroying democracy in Chile.<ref>“Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy,” Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies, Chile, August 22, 1973.</ref> The Chilean Chamber of Deputies Resolution of August 22, 1973, accused Allende of support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, confiscating private property, and not allowing people to leave the country. In the infamous "Cuban Packages Scandal" that precipitated the coup, large quantities of weapons were sent from Castro's Cuba to arm pro-Allende terrorists in Chile.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref> Kissinger privately told Nixon that Allende might declare martial law.<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref> By 1973, as a result of covert US aid to Chilean dissidents and financing of pro-democracy protestors, US intelligence indicated Allende would likely lose the next Chilean election if it was held.<ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref> According to ''The Wall Street Journal,'' faced with illegal seizures of farms and factories, of defiance of judicial orders, unchecked street violence and death threats against the judges themselves, the Supreme Court warned on May 26, 1973, in a unanimous and unprecedented message, that Chile faced "a peremptory or imminent breakdown of legality."<ref>http://www.lyd.com/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref> Inflation reached 1,000%. Volodia Teitelboim, the chief ideologue of the Communist Party in Chile, declared that if civil war came, "it probably would signify immense loss of human lives, between half a million and one million."<ref>http://www.lyd.com/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref>

On September 11, 1973, Allende committed suicide during a military coup launched by Army Commander-in-Chief [[Augusto Pinochet]], who became President. Allende's policies had turned the country into a dictatorship that would kill thousands.

On September 16, 1973, the following exchange about the coup took place between Kissinger and President Nixon:

: '''Nixon''': Nothing new of any importance or is there?
: '''Kissinger''': Nothing of very great consequence. The Chilean thing is getting consolidated and of course the newspapers are bleeding because a pro-Communist government has been overthrown.
: '''Nixon''': Isn't that something. Isn't that something.
: '''Kissinger''': I mean instead of celebrating – in the Eisenhower period we would be heroes.
: '''Nixon''': Well we didn't – as you know – our hand doesn't show on this one though.
: '''Kissinger''': We didn't do it. I mean we helped them....created the conditions as great as possible.
: '''Nixon''': That is right. And that is the way it is going to be played.<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB123/chile.htm The Kissinger Telcons: Kissinger Telcons on Chile], National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 123, edited by Peter Kornbluh, posted May 26, 2004. This particular dialogue can be found at [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB123/Box%2022,%20File%203,%20Telcon,%209-16-73%2011,50%20Mr.%20Kissinger-The%20Pres%202.pdf TELCON: September 16, 1973, 11:50 a.m. Kissinger Talking to Nixon]. Retrieved November 26, 2006.</ref>

Kissinger is clearly telling the President that any direct US role in such a coup would be abhorrent but that the coup itself was preferable to a Communist take-over (with both agreeing that the US did not assist the plot).

On June 8, 1976, Kissinger met with Pinochet in Santiago, telling him: "''My evaluation is that you are a victim of all left-wing groups around the world, and that your greatest sin was that you overthrew a government which was going Communist.''"<ref>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Kissinger+DECLASSIFIED.(document+shows+Secretary+of+State+supported...-a054468923</ref>

Using its leverage over Pinochet to curtail Chilean human rights abuses, the US simultaneously pressured Chile to introduce a series of free market economic reforms, a process that escalated sharply in the eighties. This led to a period of rapid economic expansion and development without precedent in Latin America, in which growth averaged 7% annually, that came to be known as the "''miracle of Chile''" (it also included the region's greatest reductions in infant mortality<ref>Nick Eberstadt, The Poverty of Communism (Transaction Publishers, 1990), pp188,
196-206, 240-6, in which he discusses living standards in Communist Cuba versus Pinochet's Chile.</ref>). In turn, this allowed Chile to make a long-term transition to sustainable democratic rule that would likely have been otherwise inconceivable.<ref>http://www.lyd.com/noticias/violencia/what_really.html</ref>

In [[Argentina]], the Socialist government of [[Isabel Perón]] had been persuaded to declare a state of emergency (suspending, among other rights, ''Habeas Corpus'') on February 5, 1975. Drafted so they may (in her words) "annihilate the subversives," the decree led to ''Operativo Independencia'', a military campaign notorious for the brutality it exacted on not only the violent; but also elected officials, magistrates and University of Tucumán faculty (even secondary school teachers). The Peronists' own political mainstay (the labor movement) was also subject to the "subversive" labels and consequent reprisals. The country plunged into a low-level civil war. Fighting between Communist and anti-Communist forces claimed nearly 1,000 lives, with widespread social chaos and inflation peaking at 33%, before the Argentine military, led by Jorge Videla, deposed Perón on March 24, 1976.

As the new regime consolidated power, launching brutal reprisals and "disappearances" against political opponents, Kissinger took a similar line as he had toward Chile. During a meeting with Argentine foreign minister César Augusto Guzzetti, Kissinger assured him that the United States was an ally, but urged him to ''"get back to normal procedures"'' quickly before the U.S. Congress reconvened and had a chance to consider sanctions. The US cut-off aid in 1977 due to human rights violations.

Nixon sought a "special relationship" with [[Brazil]], and proposed a direct line of communication between the Brazilian and American Presidents. He appointed Kissinger to serve as a "special representative" to Brazil.

In [[Cuba]], Kissinger supported a renewal of diplomatic relations and cultural exchange with the [[Castro]] regime. Although President Ford repeatedly reached out to the Cubans; their military interventions in [[Angola]], [[Mozambique]], and [[Ethiopia]] destroyed Kissinger's hopes.

===South Asia===
During the South Asian crisis in 1971, the White House stood firmly behind Pakistani president Yahya Khan and demonstrated a disdain for India and particularly its leader, [[Indira Gandhi]], because of India's tilt or favoritism towards the Soviet Union. Kissinger had disdain for India and was using Pakistan as a tool to reach China, which he considered much more important to the U.S.

Khan's administration was responding to an insurrection launched by Communist guerillas (the ''Awami League''), armed with Indian weapons and demanding independence for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), with a massive campaign of violence dubbed "''Operation Searchlight.''" India was exploiting these internal tensions within Pakistan as part of a divide-and-rule strategy; it hoped for Pakistan's division into smaller Indian proxy states that could be played against one another and it used the violence committed by Pakistani forces as a possible pretext for military intervention in Pakistani affairs.

Nixon relayed messages to Yahya, urging him to restrain Pakistani forces.<ref>Black, Conrad, Richard Nixon: A Life in Full (2007), p. 751.</ref> His objective was to prevent a war and safeguard Pakistan's interests, though he feared an Indian invasion of West Pakistan that would lead to Indian domination of the sub-continent and strengthen the position of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877618-2,00.html</ref> Similarly, Yahya Khan feared that an independent Bangladesh could lead to the disintegration of Pakistan. Indian military support for Bengali guerillas led to war between India and Pakistan.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,878408,00.html</ref>

Nixon met with Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] and did not believe her assertion that she would not invade Pakistan;<ref>Black, Conrad (2007), p. 752</ref> he did not trust her and once referred to her as an "old witch". Kissinger maintained that Nixon made specific proposals to Gandhi on a solution for the crisis, some of which she heard for the first time; for example, mutual withdrawal of troops from the Indo-East Pakistan borders. Nixon also expressed a wish to fix a time limit with Yahya for political accommodation in East Pakistan. Nixon asserted that India could count on US endeavors to ease the crisis within a short time. But, both Kissinger and Gandhi aide Jayakar maintained, Gandhi did not respond to these proposals. Kissinger noted that she “listened to what was in fact one of Nixon's better presentations with aloof indifference” but “took up none of the points.” Jayakar pointed out that Gandhi listened to Nixon “without a single comment, creating an impregnable space so that no real contact was possible.” She also refrained from assuring that India would follow Pakistan's suit if it withdrew from India's borders. As a result, the main agenda was “dropped altogether.”<ref>Jayakar, Indira Gandhi, p. 232; Kissinger, White House Years, pp. 878 & 881-82.
</ref> On December 3, Yahya preemptively attacked the Indian Air Force and Gandhi retaliated, pushing into East Pakistan.<ref>Black, Conrad (2007), p. 753.</ref> Nixon issued a statement blaming Pakistan for starting the conflict and blaming India for escalating it, because he favored a cease-fire.<ref>Black, Conrad (2007), p. 755.</ref> The United States was secretly encouraging the shipment of military equipment from [[Iran]], [[Turkey]], and [[Jordan]] to Pakistan, reimbursing those countries despite Congressional objections.<ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB79/</ref> The US used the threat of an aid cut-off to force Pakistan to back down, while its continued military aid to Islamabad prevented India from launching incursions deeper into the country. A cease fire was reached on December 16, leading to the creation of the independent state of [[Bangladesh]]. Sheikh Mujib led the newly established People's Republic of Bangladesh as a one-party, dictatorial state.

A 2008 study in the ''British Medical Journal'' concluded that 269,000 civilians were killed by all sides in the war.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/269000_died_in_Bangladesh_war/articleshow/3147513.cms</ref> Reportedly, as many as 200,000 Bengali women were raped.

The US remained hostile to the Mujib regime, and considered Mujib himself to be a demagogue. His government's mismanagement of food grain stocks ultimately caused a massive famine in Bangladesh from March to December 1974, leading to the death of more than one million people. During this famine, Mujib rejected food aid from the United States and exported food to [[Cuba]]. By the time Mujib agreed to end support for Cuba, and the US began shipments of food to Bangladesh, it was 'too late for famine victims'.<ref>http://www.indiatogether.org/agriculture/opinions/dsharma/faminecommerce.htm</ref> In addition, his regime committed widespread human rights violations and tortured and executed thousands of dissidents. Nixon and Kissinger argued that these atrocities were far worse than anything Pakistan had committed in Bangladesh.

===Africa===
In the Angolan Civil War, the Communist MPLA (''People's Movement for the Liberation of [[Angola]]'') government was pitted against various right-wing insurgencies as well as an invasion from [[South Africa]]. The CIA covertly attempted to overthrow the MPLA dictatorship in 1975,<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c35COXObeo8&feature=fvw Former CIA head in Angola discusses the operation on CNN</ref> but Cuba militarily intervened to save the regime from certain collapse. The Communist government subsequently killed up to one million people through massacre and forced starvation.<ref>Médecins Sans Frontières, “Angola: An Alarming Nutritional Situation,” August 1999</ref> The U.S., advised by Kissinger, supported the rebels FNLA (''National Front for the Liberation of Angola''), led by Holden Roberto, and UNITA (''National Union for the Total Independence of Angola''), led by [[Jonas Savimbi]], as well as the ''Mozambican National Resistance'' (RENAMO), and the invasion of Angola by South African troops. The FNLA was defeated and UNITA was forced to take its fight into the bush. Only under Reagan's presidency would U.S. support for UNITA return. (See [[Reagan Doctrine]])

Angola would be plagued for decades with constant civil war. In 1992, blatantly rigged elections were held with next to no international supervision, in which MPLA claimed victory. After 500,000 UNITA voters were disenfranchised, UNITA sent a peace delegation to the capital; all of its members, along with 20,000 civilian supporters, were brutally massacred.<ref>National Society for Human Rights, Ending the Angolan Conflict, Windhoek, Namibia, July 3, 2000</ref> Nevertheless, Savimbi remained supportive of the elections, until the MPLA systematically exterminated many tens of thousands of UNITA supporters throughout the country. Human rights observers have accused the MPLA of "genocidal atrocities," "systematic extermination," "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity."<ref>Namibia's National Human Rights Organisation, Press Releases, September 12, 2000, May 16, 2001</ref>

The Democrats in Congress cut off aid to UNITA under President Ford, just as they abandoned South Vietnam and Cambodia to murderous Communist bloodbath. "''A great nation cannot escape its responsibilities,''" Ford admonished them. Emboldened, Cuba would soon militarily intervene on behalf of the Communist dictatorship in [[Ethiopia]], which killed 1.25 million people through massacre and forced starvation.<ref>Washington Post, March 18, 1978; New York Times, December 14, 1994.</ref>

The Nixon White House staunchly opposed the maniacal tyrant [[Idi Amin]] of [[Uganda]], who slaughtered 100-500,000 innocent people and ethnically cleansed<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/7/newsid_2492000/2492333.stm</ref> Uganda of all Asians. Amin was armed almost exclusively by the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Libya]]. The US urged Americans to evacuate the country, and began developing contingency plans to combat the regime's threatening posture in 1972.<ref>http://www.paperlessarchives.com/idi_amin.html</ref> Ambassador Thomas P. Melady described the Amin regime as "racist, erratic, brutal, inept, bellicose, irrational, ridiculous, militaristic, and, above all, xenophobic."<ref>http://www.paperlessarchives.com/idi_amin.html</ref> The British, fearful of a massacre, sought American help in preparing the logistics for an evacuation of the 7,000 British subjects in the country, should it prove neccessary.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906445-3,00.html</ref> Kissinger and Nixon agreed. On September 24, 1972, they had the following conversation:

: '''Nixon''': Isn’t a person a person, goddamnit? You know, they talk about Vietnam, ‘these people far away that we don’t know,’ and you remember Chamberlain talking about the Czechs, that they’re far away and we don’t know them very well? Well, goddamnit, people are people! … I’m getting tired of this business of letting these Africans beat a hundred thousand people to death and do nothing about it.
: '''Kissinger''': And all these bleeding hearts in this country who say we like to kill yellow people…
: '''Nixon''': That’s right!
: '''Kissinger''': There haven’t been as many killed in eight years of the war than were killed in three months in Burundi.
: '''Nixon''': …They’re talking about how many we have bombed in the North. And I told your staff to get the figures for me: How many South Vietnamese or anti-Communist North Vietnamese have been killed by the North Vietnamese government? Civilians! How many? It’s ''unbelievable''! Nobody gives a damn! … We need a new African policy. We shouldn’t have 42 ambassadors to these goddamn countries. Looking at Uganda, ''of course'' we have to help those 7,000 people!<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kph0lygo40</ref>

Amin was deposed by the armed forces of [[Tanzania]] on April 11, 1979.

===South East Asia===
Vietnam fought three more wars after 1975 and armed Communist insurgencies with billions of dollars in an attempt to overrun [[Thailand]] and [[Malaysia]].<ref>http://www.paulbogdanor.com/left/vietnam/hoan1.pdf</ref> To combat this dangerous expansionism, Kissinger closely aligned the United States with anti-Communist nations in the area, such as [[Suharto]]'s [[Indonesia]], which was once described as ''the greatest prize in Asia.'' As tens of thousands fled a Communist take-over in the small island of [[East Timor]] under horrible conditions following a civil war that resulted in the death or displacement of 9,000 individuals; Ford and Kissinger gave Suharto their approval to annex East Timor and remove the Soviet-backed Communist government.<ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB62/doc4.pdf</ref> Over the 24-year occupation; some 140,000<ref>http://www.cavr-timorleste.org/en/Brief.htm</ref> East Timorese soldiers and civilians were killed by all sides, out of a population of less than a million. In 1975, 49% of all violent killings in East Timor were the work of the Communist (FRETELIN) resistance.<ref>http://www.ictj.org/static/Timor.CAVR.English/07.2_Unlawful_Killings_and_Enforced_Disappearances.pdf</ref> Although Congress wanted to stop arm sales to Indonesia, the Ford administration manipulated them by agreeing to an aid cut-off that was never actually implemented. In his own words, "Kissinger overruled his pristine bureaucrats and violated the law."<ref>http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB62/#29</ref>

Kissinger also worked to maintain good relations with [[Thailand]]. In order to prevent Communist hegemony in the area, he sought to deliberately provoke tension between the Vietnamese Stalinists and their Maoist comrades in Phnom Penh. In a 1975 meeting, he told Thailand's foreign minister: "We don't mind Chinese influence in Cambodia to balance North Vietnam. As I told the Chinese when we last met when we were discussing the Vietnamese victory in Indochina, it is possible to have an ideological victory which is a geopolitical defeat. The Chinese did not disagree with me."<ref>http://www.mekong.net/cambodia/kissinger_chatichai.htm</ref>

In the end, Vietnam invaded and occupied Cambodia for more than a decade (killing many hundreds of thousands in the process<ref>http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/SOD.CHAP4.HTM</ref>). Bogged down in an endless guerilla war regularly dubbed ''Vietnam's Vietnam'' in the American press, Communist Vietnam was unable to advance its expansionist objectives abroad; as a result, no more dominos fell in the area.

===Personal Advice to Nixon===
In an April 17, 1973 conversation, Nixon told Kissinger that he was considering whether or not to resign and let [[Spiro Agnew]] take the Presidency, to which Kissinger responded: "''With all due respect, Mr. President, that is out of the question. That cannot be considered....Why should you do it? What good would it do? Whom would it help? It wouldn’t help the country; it wouldn’t help any of the individuals involved….and, of course, it would be personally unjust.''" He also asked him to consider what it would do to weaken the institution of the Presidency.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri3He6n1Dv4</ref>

===Losing power===
Despite his real accomplishments, Kissinger's tenure was marked by much controversy. Revelations of his knowledge of Nixon's secret bombings in [[Cambodia]] in 1969 and the U.S. ground invasion of Cambodia in 1970 stirred particularly strong hatreds on the left, as did later discoveries that he had authorized wiretaps aimed at stopping leaks of classified information.

Much more serious, however, was the attack from the right by Ronald Reagan, who rejected détente with the Soviets as a viable strategy, warning that the Soviets would see it as a sign of American weaknesses and mobilize its Third World allies to subvert pro-American governments wherever it could and expand Soviet influence. Reagan's analysis proved correct and Ford was forced to reduce Kissinger's role, taking away in 1975 Kissinger's double role as National Security Advisor.

In 1976 Ford was challenged by [[Ronald Reagan]] for the GOP nomination. Ford won a very long, close and intensely fought battle. Attacks on détente policy was the focus of Reagan's campaign as the GOP moved to the right on foreign policy. President [[Jimmy Carter]], however, did not recognize the failure of détente until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late 1979 destroyed that policy and reopened the [[Cold War]] at a more intense level.

Kissinger remained on as secretary of state until the end of the Ford term in January 1977.

==Retirement==
Out of office Kissinger became a highly visible corporate consultant on world affairs, and wrote his detailed and insightful memoirs. His advice has been sought out by every President since his retirement, and he was one of President [[George W. Bush]]'s most-frequent advisors on the [[Iraq War]]. He also helped design the Bush administration's opening to [[India]] in the wake of the War on Terror.

Kissinger has met with Russian leader [[Vladimir Putin]] on several occasions in an attempt to buttress US-Russian relations. Noting that the US has no border with Russia nor designs on Russian territory, as well as Russia's frontiers with both the Islamic world and China; Kissinger believes that the United States and Russia have compatible interests.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1690757_1691285-1,00.html></ref> He is apparently well-liked by some in the Russian press.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/world/europe/07russiasumm.html?_r=1 Although Russian TV calls him a "war criminal" due to his imaginary crimes in Vietnam and Cambodia.</ref>

Kissinger has strongly supported the foreign policy of President Bush, writing:

<blockquote>
Extraordinary advances of democracy have occurred in recent months: elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and Palestine; local elections in Saudi Arabia; Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon; the opening up of the presidential election in Egypt; and upheavals against entrenched authoritarians in Kyrgyzstan. This welcome trend was partly triggered by President Bush’s Middle East policy and accelerated by his second inaugural address, which elevated the progress of freedom in the world to the defining objective of U.S. foreign policy.

Pundits have interpreted these events as a victory of “idealists” over “realists” in the debate over conduct of American foreign policy. In fact, the United States is probably the only country in which “realist” can be used as a pejorative epithet. No serious realist should claim that power is its own justification. No idealist should imply that power is irrelevant to the spread of ideals. The real issue is to establish a sense of proportion between these two essential elements of policy. Overemphasis of either leads to stagnation or overextension.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles/wp051605.html</ref>
</blockquote>

He added in a seperate piece:
<blockquote>
President Bush's visit has brought relations between India and the United States to an unprecedented level of cooperation and interdependence, which promises to make a seminal contribution to international peace and prosperity.
</blockquote>

Kissinger believes that the consequences of defeat in Iraq would be worse than the consequences of defeat in Vietnam.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/interviews/FinancialTimes240508.html</ref>

Kissinger returned to teaching for a time after he left office, and today gives eloquent lectures and speeches across the United States. He has appeared regularly on a wide range of television stations to offer his insight, and frequently contributes editorials to newspapers.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles.html</ref> Conrad Black has praised Kissinger as "a political memoirist surpassed, if at all, only by [[Winston Churchill]] and [[Charles de Gaulle]]."

Kissinger delivered a beautiful and heartfelt eulogy for President Ford at his 2007 funeral.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/eulogies/010207.html</ref>

Throughout his life, Kissinger has enjoyed long-standing friendships with such notables as Katherine Graham, Walt Wriston, Beverly Sills, Bill Paley, Hans Morgenthau, Fritz Kraemer, Ahmet Ertegun, Sir James Goldsmith, Marion Dönhoff, Gianni Agnelli, John Aspinall, Rudolf Augstein, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., John McCain, [[Mohammed Reza Pahlavi]],<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/interviews/FinancialTimes240508.html</ref> Anatoly Dobrynin and Bill and Pat Buckley.

Kissinger is a fan of [[soccer]].<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles/nw061206.html</ref>

In the wake of the 2008-9 financial crisis, Kissinger wrote:
<blockquote>
A major cause of the crisis has been the gap between the economic and the political organization of the world. The economic world has been globalized. Its institutions have a global reach and have operated by maxims that assumed a self-regulating global market. The financial collapse exposed the mirage. It made evident the absence of global institutions to cushion the shock and to reverse the trend. Inevitably, when the affected publics turned to their national political institutions, these were driven principally by domestic politics, not considerations of world order. Every major country has attempted to solve its immediate problems essentially on its own and to defer common action to a later, less crisis-driven point. So-called rescue packages have emerged on a piecemeal national basis, generally by substituting seemingly unlimited governmental credit for the domestic credit that produced the debacle in the first place, so far without achieving more than stemming incipient panic. International order will not come about either in the political or economic field until there emerge general rules toward which countries can orient themselves.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
All these urgent issues are taking place against a background of a historic shift of the center of gravity of world affairs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. But there are much fewer trans-Pacific institutional ties with America than exist in the Atlantic. This raises the danger that, over time, the regions will confront each other as strategic and economic adversaries. The emergence of a new regional mercantilism and strategic confrontation by groups possessing large numbers of weapons of mass destruction needs to be resisted. This is why the U.S. relationship with China is so central. A relationship that started on both sides as essentially a strategic design to constrain a common adversary has evolved over the decades into a pillar of the international system. China made possible the American consumption splurge by buying American debt; America helped the modernization and reform of the Chinese economy by opening its markets to Chinese goods. Each side of the Pacific needs the cooperation of the other in addressing the consequences of the financial crisis.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles/iht011209.html</ref>
</blockquote>

==Image and reputation==
Kissinger was loathed by some liberals who viewed him as a war criminal<ref>http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0611-03.htm</ref> and criticized by hardliners for [[detente]]. Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for pulling the United States out of Vietnam.

Kissinger was a Machiavellian figure, skilled at manipulating people around him and currying favor in the media. At one point he admitted allowing secret wiretapping of his own aides' conversations.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907332,00.html?promoid=googlep</ref> The aura of Kissinger's influence was due partly to a cultivated image of high intelligence, including a PhD degree from Harvard University. He has been called "the only European-style realist" to head US foreign policy.

===Major Controversies===
[[Bryce Harlow]], former Eisenhower White House staff member, claimed to have "a double agent working in the White House....I kept Nixon informed." Harlow and [[Henry Kissinger]] (who was friendly with both campaigns and guaranteed a job in either a Humphrey or Nixon administration) separately predicted Johnson's "bombing halt": "The word is out that we are making an effort to throw the election to Humphrey. Nixon has been told of it," Democratic senator [[George Smathers]] informed Johnson. According to [[Robert Dallek]], Kissinger's advice "rested not on special knowledge of decision making at the White House but on an astute analyst's insight into what was happening." [[William Bundy]] stated that Kissinger obtained "no useful inside information" from his trip to Paris, and "almost any experienced Hanoi watcher might have come to the same conclusion". While Kissinger may have "hinted that his advice was based on contacts with the Paris delegation," this sort of "self-promotion....is at worst a minor and not uncommon practice, quite different from getting and reporting real secrets."<ref>[[Robert Dallek]] (2007), ''Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power'', HarperCollins, pp. 73-74.</ref> Nixon asked [[Anna Chennault]] to be his "channel to Mr. [[Nguyen van Thieu|Thieu]]"; Chennault agreed and periodically reported to [[John Mitchell]] that Thieu had no intention of attending a peace conference. On November 2, Chennault informed the South Vietnamese ambassador: "I have just heard from my boss in Albuquerque who says his boss [Nixon] is going to win. And you tell your boss [Thieu] to hold on a while longer." In 1997, Chennault admitted that "I was constantly in touch with Nixon and Mitchell."<ref>Dallek, pp. 74-75.</ref> In response, Johnson ordered wire-tapping members of the Nixon campaign.<ref>Dallek, p. 75.</ref> Dallek wrote that Nixon's efforts "probably made no difference" because Thieu was unwilling to attend the talks and there was little chance of an agreement being reached before the election; however, his use of information provided by Harlow and Kissinger was morally questionable, and Humphrey's decision not to make Nixon's actions public was "an uncommon act of political decency."<ref>Dallek, pp. 77-78.</ref> [[Conrad Black]] agreed that there is "no evidence" connecting Kissinger, who was "playing a fairly innocuous double game of self-promotion", with attempts to undermine the peace talks. Black further commented that "the Democrats were outraged at Nixon, but what Johnson was doing was equally questionable", and there is "no evidence" that Thieu "needed much prompting to discern which side he favored in the U.S. election."<ref>[[Conrad Black]] (2007), ''Richard Nixon: A Life in Full'', PublicAffairs, p. 553.</ref>

Kissinger was also accused of intentionally abandoning South Vietnam to Communist forces, the accusation which probably hurts him most today. He responded to this charge as follows:
<blockquote>
When Nixon came into office, there were more than 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam, and the number was still increasing. The official position of the Johnson administration had been that American withdrawal would only start six months after a North Vietnamese withdrawal. The "dove" platform of Sens. Robert Kennedy and George McGovern, which was rejected by the Democratic National Convention of 1968, advocated mutual withdrawal. No significant group at that time advocated unilateral withdrawal.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
A diplomatic alternative did not exist. Hanoi insisted that to obtain a cease-fire the United States had to meet two preconditions: First, it had to overthrow the South Vietnamese government, disband its police and army, and replace it with a Communist-dominated government. Second, the United States had to establish an unconditional timetable for withdrawal of its forces, to be carried out regardless of what happened in subsequent negotiations or how long these might last. The presence of North Vietnamese troops in Laos and Cambodia was declared not an appropriate subject for negotiations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Given the horrors that occurred when the Communists took over Indochina in 1975, it must be said that Nixon correctly summed up the choices before him when he rejected the 1969 terms.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
When negotiations stalemated, the Nixon administration moved to implement what could be done unilaterally without undermining the political structure of South Vietnam. Between 1969 and 1972, it withdrew 515,000 American troops, ended American ground combat in 1971 and reduced American casualties by nearly 90 percent.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In Vietnam, a breakthrough occurred in 1972 because the administration's strategic design finally came together in its retaliation for the all-out North Vietnamese spring offensive. When the United States mined North Vietnam's harbors, Hanoi found itself isolated because, as a result of the opening to China in 1971 and the summit in 1972, Beijing and the Soviet Union stood aside. Hanoi's offensive was defeated on the ground entirely by South Vietnamese forces assisted by U.S. air power.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Faced with a military setback and diplomatic isolation, Le Duc Tho, Hanoi's principal negotiator, abandoned Hanoi's 1969 terms in October 1972. He accepted conditions publicly put forward by President Nixon in January 1972 - and decried as unachievable in the American domestic debate. He said that "this new proposal is exactly what President Nixon has himself proposed: cease-fire, end of the war, release of the prisoners and troop withdrawal, and we propose a number of principles on political problems. You have also proposed this. And we shall leave to the South Vietnamese parties the settlement of these questions."
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
American disunity was the major factor in dashing these hopes.<ref>http://www.henryakissinger.com/articles/wp061107.html</ref></blockquote>

Kissinger has also been accused of an alleged lack of transparency. He has responded by donating all of his personal papers to the [[Library of Congress]] for posterity. He recently released some 20,000 pages of transcripts of his private conversations with various world leaders.<ref>http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/red_tape/o&e0404.htm#kissenger</ref> Such transcripts were the basis for his 2003 book on foreign policy, ''Crisis.''

In 1976, Kissinger "declined to approve" that a letter be sent to Chile warning them against carrying out any political assassinations.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/04/10/cable_ties_kissinger_to_chile_controversy/</ref> In an Aug. 30, 1976 memo, Shlaudeman discussed the possibility that the U.S. ambassador in Uruguay might be endangered by delivering a warning against assassination. The U.S. ambassador to Chile said that Pinochet might take as an insult any inference that he was connected with assassination plots.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/04/10/cable_ties_kissinger_to_chile_controversy/</ref> When the CIA learned about the Chilean plan to set up a covert office in Miami as part of Chile's overseas operations in 1974, however, Kissinger did authorize the CIA to send the Chilean Directorate of National Intelligence (DINA) a warning not to go ahead with the plan. He rejected the State Department's proposal to publicly rebuke Chile on the matter. As a result, the Chileans backed down.<ref>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Kissinger+DECLASSIFIED.(document+shows+Secretary+of+State+supported...-a054468923</ref> Kissinger's decision not to send the letter is considered a subject of controversy because Chile was engaging in a spree of international murders at the time (the day the letter was to be sent, a Pinochet critic was assassinated in [[Washington, D.C.]]).<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/04/10/cable_ties_kissinger_to_chile_controversy/</ref>

Kissinger's alleged warm support of Pinochet is without much basis in fact; Kissinger and Ford began viewing Pinochet's regime as a serious Cold War liability as early as 1975 and the US engaged in repeated diplomatic confrontations with it from 1977 on.<ref>www.cepchile.cl/dms/archivo_3236_1698/r92_fermandois_ing.pdf Translated from Spanish</ref> The CIA warned that "internationally, the Latin generals look like our guys;" therefore, the US had a vested interest in moderating the way they behaved.

The moderate left-wing extremist [[Christopher Hitchens]] has accused Kissinger of bad faith, describing him as a "toady" of Nixon who "knows what to do" without "being asked." He has also condemned Kissinger's business ties with Indonesia, arguing that they influenced the US "tilt" in favor of Suharto during the war in East Timor.<ref>http://www.etan.org/et2002a/february/01-09/09ksngr.htm</ref> In a general sense, Kissinger responded to these and similar charges by stating:
<blockquote>
When I was a young professor in the fifties at Harvard, where 99.9% of the people on the faculty were Democrats—I can remember only one Republican that I knew—the people in political science had faculty meetings…No one ever attacked the government for being a criminal activity. Nobody said, ‘they like to go to war; they’re blood-dripping!’ Sometime in the sixties, the idea developed that the government itself was an evil enterprise, that they lied professionally to the American people, and that the purpose of intellectuals was to negate the government rather than be constructive...Everybody working in government goes through the long hours and all the other pressures [associated with the job] because he or she would like to make a contribution to a better world.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9vsCD0j3Ys</ref>
</blockquote>

''Contra'' Hitchens, Kissinger attempted to resign from the Nixon White House on at least three separate occasions<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907332,00.html?promoid=googlep</ref>--not exactly the sort of thing one would expect from a "toady."

Conrad Black has written that "Kissinger has sincere compassion for the victims of the grinding wheels of history," although "he tends to take his distance from the beleaguered...during their ordeals." On Vietnam, he maintains that Kissinger "toiled demiurgically for the war's end without a disaster, and his anger [at the Democrats and the media] is real and earned." The "claims of the demented left," that he committed "crimes against Cambodia or Chile" are "bunk."

===The Schneider Affair===
The main controversy over the American role in Chile was an alleged attempt on the life of Chilean general Rene Schneider in 1970, due to his support for the appointment of Allende. The Church hearings found that the CIA did in fact give weapons to a group of men who it knew had attacked him twice before, ostensibly as a test of loyalty so that the CIA would remain privy to their information, but that the weapons provided and the group thereby armed were not the ones who actually killed him. The weapons were returned unused to the CIA and then discarded in the Pacific Ocean.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref><ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref> Schneider was assassinated by a rival group of right-wing extremists.<ref>http://www.history-matters.com/archive/church/reports/ir/html/ChurchIR_0120a.htm</ref> On June 11, 1971, Kissinger and Nixon said the following in a private conversation:

: '''Kissinger''': —when they did try to assassinate somebody, it took three attempts—
: '''Nixon''': Yeah.
: '''Kissinger''': —and he lived for three weeks afterwards.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/07/nixon_tape_reveals_oval_office.html</ref>

There are two possible interpretations of these remarks: a) Kissinger was telling the President that a military coup could not succeed in Chile because there were no officers both willing and ''able'' to carry one out; or b) the two men were mocking the CIA's squeamishness about killing Schneider.

According to ''Commentary,'' however, regardless of what they said in the aftermath (quoting from the Nixon Tapes):
<blockquote>
"Kissinger seems to have been unaware of the plot...Karamassines phoned the National Security Adviser who asked if he "cleared everything in advance with you. He said no, you were too busy." In the same private conversation, Kissinger remarks that, although he did not know about the second plot, he might have approved it. Then he adds: "I thought that after we turned off that one thing [the Viaux plot], nothing more had happened and in fact that other thing [the Schneider kidnapping] had happened."<ref>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=15648</ref>
</blockquote>

The death of Schneider had the opposite effect of what was intended by the Nixon administration--even as the CIA worked to buy off the Congress so as to prevent Allende's appointment, it ensured that the nation would rally behind the otherwise polarizing leader.

==Evaluation==
A smooth-talking, charming ''bon vivant,'' Kissinger was an international celebrity in high society, with the opposite personality of Nixon, yet they made a remarkably effective team with surprisingly little friction. They thought alike, and both could conceptualize and make plans for the complex interactions of international affairs. Neither was interested in economics, and only Nixon mastered the nitty gritty of politics and elections, while only Kissinger understood nuclear strategy.

Kissinger and Nixon were "realists" who deemphasized idealistic goals like anti-communism or promotion of democracy worldwide, because those goals were seen as too expensive in terms of America's economic capabilities. Instead of a Cold War they wanted peace, trade and cultural exchanges. Instead Nixon and Kissinger sought to downsize America's global commitments in proportion to its reduced economic, moral and political power. They rejected "idealism" as impractical and too expensive; neither man showed much sensitivity to the plight of people living under Communism. Kissinger's realism fell out of fashion as idealism returned to American foreign policy with Carter's moralism emphasizing human rights, and Reagan's rollback strategy aimed at destroying Communism.

==Bibliography==

*Black, Conrad. ''Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full,'' PublicAffairs (2007), includes lengthy analysis of foreign policy.
* Bundy, William P. ''A Tangled Web: The Making of Foreign Policy in the Nixon Presidency'' (1998) [http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Web-Making-Foreign-Presidency/dp/186064273X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215175404&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]
* Dallek, Robert. ''Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Nixon-Kissinger-Partners-Robert-Dallek/dp/0060722312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211577632&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search], dual biography by leading scholar; hostile
* Garthoff, Raymond L. ''Detente and Confrontation: American-Soviet Relations from Nixon to Reagan '' (2nd ed. 1994) [http://www.amazon.com/Detente-Confrontation-American-Soviet-Relations-Reagan/dp/0815730411/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215175809&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search], favorable analysis by proponent of detente
* Goh, Evelyn. ''Constructing the U.S. Rapprochement with China, 1961-1974: From "Red Menace" to "Tacit Ally."'' (2005). 299 pp.
* Goh, Evelyn. "Nixon, Kissinger, and the 'Soviet Card' in the U.S. Opening to China, 1971-1974." ''Diplomatic History'' 2005 29(3): 475-502. Issn: 0145-2096 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Hanhimäki, Jussi M. "'Dr. Kissinger' or 'Mr. Henry'? Kissingerology, Thirty Years and Counting." ''Diplomatic History'' 2003 27(5): 637-676 full text at [[EBSCO]]
* Hanhimäki, Jussi M. "Ironies and Turning Points: Détente in Perspective," in Odd Arne Westad, ed. ''Reviewing the Cold War: Approaches, Interpretations, Theory'' (2000), pp 326-42; [http://www.amazon.com/Reviewing-Cold-War-Approaches-Interpretations/dp/0714681202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215175936&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
*Horne, Alistair. "Kissinger: 1973, The Crucial Year" (2009); one of the best books on the man.
* Isaacson, Walter. ''Kissinger'' (1992); a major biography [http://www.amazon.com/Kissinger-Biography-Walter-Isaacson/dp/0743286979/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211577598&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Kuklick, Bruce. ''Blind Oracles: Intellectuals and War from Kennan to Kissinger.'' (2006). 241 pp. says nearly everyone with substantial academic credentials in the early Cold War decades was wrong nearly all the time.
* Litwak, Robert S. ''Détente and the Nixon Doctrine: American Foreign Policy and the Pursuit of Stability, 1969-1976'' (1986)
* Macmillan, Margaret. ''Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World'' (2008)
* Mann, James. ''About Face: A History of America's Curious Relationship with China, from Nixon to Clinton'' (1999).
* Nelson, Keith L. ''The Making of Détente: Soviet-American Relations in the Shadow of Vietnam'' (1995)
* Qureshi, Lubna Zakia. "''"Nixon, Kissinger, and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile'' (2009)
* Rodman, Peter. ''Presidential Command: Power, Leadership, and the Making of Foreign Policy from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush,'' Knopf (2009).
* Ross, Robert S. ''Negotiating Cooperation: The United States and China, 1969-1989,'' Stanford University Press, 1995 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=92018683 online edition]
* Schulzinger, Robert D. ''Henry Kissinger: Doctor of Diplomacy.'' (1989).
* Serewicz, Lawrence W. ''America at the Brink of Empire: Rusk, Kissinger, And the Vietnam War'' (2007), stresses commitment to [[republicanism]] [http://www.amazon.com/America-Brink-Empire-Kissinger-Traditions/dp/0807131792/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211741669&sr=8-6 excerpt and text search]; [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=175941177686117 online review]
* Suri, Jeremi. ''Henry Kissinger and the American Century'' (2007), intellectual biography focused on pre-1969
* Tucker, Nancy Bernkopf. "Taiwan Expendable? Nixon and Kissinger Go to China." ''Journal of American History'' 2005 92(1): 109-135. [http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/jah/92.1/tucker.html in History Cooperative]
* Warner, Geoffrey. "Nixon, Kissinger and the Rapprochement with China, 1969-1972." ''International Affairs'' 2007 83(4): 763-781. Issn: 0020-5850 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Willbanks, James H. ''Abandoning Vietnam: How America Left and South Vietnam Lost Its War'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/Abandoning-Vietnam-America-Left-South/dp/0700613315/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211741669&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search]

===Primary Sources===
* Kissinger, Henry. ''White House Years'' (1979). Nov. 1968-Jan. 1973; ''Years of Upheaval'' (1982). Jan. 1973 to Aug. 1974; ''Years of Renewal'' (1999), Aug. 1974 to Jan. 1977 [http://www.amazon.com/Years-Renewal-Henry-Kissinger/dp/075675383X/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211577632&sr=8-16 excerpt and text search vol 3]
* Kissinger, Henry. "The Conservative Dilemma: Reflections on the Political Thought of Metternich" ''The American Political Science Review,'' Vol. 48, No. 4 (Dec., 1954), pp. 1017-1030 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1951008 in JSTOR]
* Kissinger, Henry. "The Congress of Vienna: A Reappraisal," ''World Politics,'' Vol. 8, No. 2 (Jan., 1956), pp. 264-280 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2008974 in JSTOR]
* Kissinger, Henry. ''A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of Peace 1812-22.'' (1957), his revised PhD dissertation.
* Kissinger, Henry. "Acceptance Speech" for The Nobel Peace Prize 1973 [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1973/kissinger-acceptance.html online edition]
* Kissinger, Henry. "Address to the Sixth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly," ''International Organization,'' Vol. 28, No. 3 (Summer, 1974), pp. 573-583 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2706310 in JSTOR]
* Kissinger, Henry. ''American Foreign Policy'' (3rd ed. 1977), his speeches
* Kissinger, Henry. "The Kissinger Commission on Population and Development in Central America," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 10, No. 2 (Jun., 1984), pp. 381-389 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1973103 in JSTOR]
* Kissinger, Henry. ''Diplomacy'' (1994) an interpretive history since 1815
* Kissinger, Henry. ''Ending the Vietnam War: A History of America's Involvement in and Extrication from the Vietnam War'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Ending-Vietnam-War-Involvement-Extrication/dp/074321532X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211741669&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Haldeman, H. R. ''The Haldeman Diaries: Inside the Nixon White House'' (1994)
* Nixon, Richard. ''RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon'' (1981) [http://www.amazon.com/RN-Memoirs-Richard-Nixon/dp/0671707418/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211577855&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

==Online sources==
* [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB106/index.htm William Burr, ed. "Nixon's Trip to China Records now Completely Declassified, Including Kissinger Intelligence Briefing and Assurances on Taiwan" ''The National Security Archive'' (2003)]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]
[[Category:United States Secretaries of State]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:United States History]]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Kissinger, Henry}}
[[category:diplomacy]]
[[Category:Vietnam War]]
[[Category:1960s]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

RINO

2013-08-14T02:23:45Z

Jm920: /* RINOs currently not holding political office */

[[File:Kel-rino.jpg|thumb|250px|Sergeant [[Jesse Kelly]] runs for Congress in Arizona in 2009 and attacks the RINOs in the GOP]]
A '''RINO''' ('''R'''epublican '''i'''n '''N'''ame '''O'''nly) is an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the [[Republican Party]], but holds views to the political left of most Republican voters. The term "RINO" describes politicians who claim to be [[Republican Party|Republican]] but are in fact [[liberal]], and therefore generally debase the winning conservative coalition base of the Republican Party.

RINOs are often Republican only to the extent it serves their own interests, and will abandon conservative principles as soon as it is in their own interests to do so. RINOs often provide support for raising taxes, [[abortion]] as [[Pro-choice|a right]], [[gay rights]] and [[gun control]]. Some RINOs have connections with [[Planned Parenthood]] or corporations that support goals of [[population control]]; other RINOs pay lip service to [[pro-life]] values while in practice not advancing those values.

[[Double standard]]s by RINOs are common: a birther comment by [[Romney]] during his campaign was supposedly a "nothing", but [[Todd Akin]]'s [[pro-life]] comment would somehow "absolutely" could cost RINOs control of the [[U.S. Senate]]!<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/todd-akin-rape-missouri-senate-race-reince-priebus-/1#.UDpUhNZlQ7s</ref>

RINOs, like Democrats, typically come from states in [[New England]], the Mid-Atlantic; or states on the [[Left Coast]]. A less-used term is '''[[cafeteria conservative]]''', for a person who picks and chooses which [[conservative]] principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria instead of ordering the full-course ''menu'' selected by the chef at most restaurants.<ref>[http://www.manp.org/association-spotlight/archives/james-carville-mary-matalin-he-said-she-said James Carville & Mary Matalin: He Said, She Said]</ref> In contrast to RINO's and cafeteria conservatives, [[movement conservative]]s understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it.

The RINO targets of attack argue they follow [[middle of the road]] policies and are not liberals; they claim they get results, and insist that without them the [[United States Congress|Congress]] would be totally controlled by liberal [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] and Republicans would rarely have any success. Conservatives respond that in the heyday of "Rockefeller liberalism" in the GOP the Democrats always controlled Congress, and the GOP only took power when [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national conservative "Contract with America" in 1994, ending 40 years of Democratic control of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. The notion that we need to elect Democrat-lite type of politicians is false. The election cycles of 2010 and 2012 proved that many RINO candidates are unelectable. RINO candidates wasted millions of dollars; Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, Scott Brown, Linda McMahon, and many others could not connect with the people in liberal blue states.

In recent Republican [[Primary election|primaries]], voters have been rejecting establishment RINOs in favor of those with stronger conservative principles. Their commitment to self and not party is evident in their refusal to endorse the candidate that beats them. In some instances, they refuse the will of the voters and their party by running for office on an [[Independent candidate|independent ticket]]. It is important to vote for someone who's more conservative on the issues rather than for a Republican because anyone can join a party and be they can be RINOs.

== RINOs currently holding political office==

=== Government Secretaries ===

*Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]]

*Transportation Secretary [[Ray Lahood]]

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty and [[Common Core]]

*Senator [[Kelly Ayotte]] of [[New Hampshire]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[John Barrasso]] of [[Wyoming]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Roy Blunt]] of [[Missouri]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[John Boozman]] of [[Arkansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Burr]] of [[North Carolina]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html</ref>

*Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Jeffrey Chiesa]] of New Jersey, nominated by the RINO Chris Christie and supports him.

*Senator [[Daniel Coats]] of [[Indiana]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Tom Coburn]] of [[Oklahoma]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/25/tom-coburn-talking-with-democrats-about-background-check-bill/</ref>

*Senator [[Thad Cochran]] of [[Mississippi]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] for supporting [[abortion]] <ref> http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Susan_Collins_Abortion.htm</ref>, amnesty <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-93531.html</ref> [[gun control]] <ref>http://www.sofmag.com/roll-call-vote-manchin-toomey-amendment</ref> and the homosexual agenda <ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC</ref>

*Senator [[Bob Corker]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[John Cornyn]] of Texas for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Crapo]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting environmental regulation <ref> http://www.crapo.senate.gov/issues/environment/environment_natural_resources.cfm</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Enzi]] of [[Wyoming]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Flake]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/is-jeff-flake-arizonas-next-john-mccain/</ref>

*Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] of [[South Carolina]] for supporting amnesty <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/tea-party-lindsey-graham_n_3530569.html</ref>, the drone program <ref>http://www.mediaite.com/tv/lindsey-graham-dismisses-rand-paul-on-drones-judicial-involvement-would-be-worst-thing-in-the-world/</ref>, arming the rebels in Syria and the NSA program<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lindsey-graham-nsa-tracking-phones-92330.html</ref>

*Senator [[Charles Grassley]] of [[Iowa]]

*Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] of [[Utah]], for supporting civil unions for homosexuals, the [[DREAM Act]], [[TARP]], voting for [[Eric Holder]], and insulting the Tea Party.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>

*Senator [[Dean Heller]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting embryonic [[stem cell research]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Dean_Heller_Abortion.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[John Hoeven]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting [[government spending]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_Hoeven_Jobs.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[James Inhofe]] of [[Oklahoma]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Johnny Isakson]] of [[Georgia]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mike Johanns]] of [[Nebraska]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Ron Johnson]] of [[Wisconsin]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Mark Kirk]] of [[Illinois]] for supporting gun control, amnesty, abortion<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Kirk_Abortion.htm</ref>, and same-sex "marriage"

*Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]

*Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] of [[Kentucky]], for supporting excessive government spending and being a [[RINO Backer]].

*Senator [[Jerry Moran ]] of [[Kansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] of [[Alaska]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]] <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lisa-murkowski-gay-marriage-stance-93047.html</ref>, earmark spending, cronyism and amnesty

*Senator [[Rob Portman]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting gay marriage<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/ohio-sen-portman-now-supports-gay-marriage/</ref>

*Senator [[James Risch]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Roberts]] of [[Kansas]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Marco Rubio]] of [[Florida]] for supporting [[amnesty]]<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/candidate-marco-rubio-2010-earned-path-citizenship-basically-code-
amnesty</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00125</ref> and opposing the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]

*Senator [[John Thune]] of [[South Dakota]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Toomey]] of [[Pennsylvania]] for supporting [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/</ref>

*Senator [[David Vitter]] of [[Louisiana]] for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

*Senator [[Roger Wicker]] of Mississippi for supporting [[Barack Hussein Obama#National Defense|NDAA 2012]], an act that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.<ref name="NDAA">http://www.dailypaul.com/198522/senators-who-voted-yea-for-ndaa-indefinite-detention-of-us-citizens-no-trial</ref>

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===
*Rep. [[Justin Amash]] of [[Michigan]] for opposing the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/justin-amash-doma-repeal_n_2981622.html</ref>

*Speaker of the House [[John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]] for abandoning his princapals in favor of "bipartisan compromise"

*Rep. [[Rick Crawford]] of [[Arkansas]]

*Rep. [[David Dreier]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Renee Ellmers]] of [[North Carolina]]

*Rep. [[Chris Gibson]] of [[New York]] for being the most [[liberal]] [[Republican]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] <ref>.http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/02/21/chris-gibson-ranked-as-most-liberal-republican-in</ref>

*Rep. [[Joe Heck]] of [[Nevada]]

*Rep. [[Peter King]] of [[New York]] for supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program. <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/07/25/Steve-King-NSA-Survelliance-Essential,</ref>

*Rep. [[Frank Lucas]] of [[Oklahoma]]

*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[John Mica]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Candice Miller]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Kristi Noem]] of [[South Dakota]]

*Rep. [[Scott Rigell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Rep. [[Mike Rogers]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] of [[Florida]], for her support of the homosexual agenda<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/ileana-roslehtinen-become_n_977464.html</ref>

*Rep. [[Aaron Schock]] of [[Illinois]]

*Rep. [[Michael Simpson]] of [[Idaho]]

*Rep. [[Lynn Westmoreland]] of [[Georgia]] for defending purges by Boehner and supporting the NSA program

*Rep. [[Don Young]] of [[Alaska]]

=== Governors ===

*Governor [[Jan Brewer]] of [[Arizona]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/19/how-tea-party-hero-jan-brewer-saved-obamacare-in-arizona.html</ref>

*Governor [[Chris Christie]] of [[New Jersey]]

*Governor [[Jack Dalrymple]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/governor-jack-dalrymple-signs-obamacare-expansion-of-medicaid-into-law/</ref>

*Governor [[John Kasich]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Susana Martinez]] of [[New Mexico]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Bob McDonnell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/brian-sandoval-nevada-medicaid-expansion_n_2284478.html</ref>

*Governor [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]]

*Governor [[Rick Snyder]] of [[Michigan]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

=== Federal Judges ===

*Supreme Court Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] after his support of gutting Arizona's immigration law and yet being the swing vote responsible for keeping [[Obamacare]] upheld. As Supreme Court Justices officially have no party, he is more of a "conservative in name only".

=== Local Legislators ===

*State Senator Allan Kittleman of [[Maryland]], for promoting homosexual [[special rights]]<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/gop_senator_announces_support.html GOP senator announces support for Md. same-sex marriage bill]</ref>

*[[Texas]] Speaker of the House Joe Straus

==RINOs currently not holding political office==
=== Executive Officials===

*Former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], because he regulated the economy and used social justice.

*Former [[President]] [[George H.W. Bush]] for claiming he wouldn't raise [[taxes]] and subsequently raising them

*Former [[President]] [[Richard Nixon]] for establishing the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and supporting [[affirmative action]]

*Former [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]]

*Former [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] for supporting [[government spending]], increasing the size of government, and for filling his cabinet with a litany of other RINOs.<ref>Such as [[Dick Cheney]], [[Collin Powell]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]].</ref> Failed at child rearing.<ref>As can seen by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKqr230U9M this video] (Warning: Contains no graphic content but might still be unsuitable for children)</ref>

*Former Vice-President and Senator [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]]

*Former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], for supporting the [[Homosexual Agenda]], being a [[Neocon]] and supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program.

=== Government Secretaries ===
*Former Senator and HUD Secretary [[Mel Martinez]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]

*Former Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].

*Former Press Secretary [[Scott McClellan]]

*Former Press Secretary [[James Brady]], for being a major gun control advocate

*Former Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]], for supporting the Homosexual Agenda.

*Former Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], for supporting DADT repeal and being pro-abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], for supporting DADT repeal and failing to condemn same-sex "marriage" and abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], for defending [[Barack Obama]]'s handling of [[Benghazi]] <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com
/USA/Politics/2013/0512/Robert-Gates-Obama-made-right-decisions-night-of-Benghazi-attack</ref>

*Former Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]], for being a globalist.

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Former Senator [[Scott Brown]] of [[Massachusetts]]

*Former Senator [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]]

*Former Senator [[Alan Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]]

*Former Senator [[Gordon Smith]] of [[Oregon]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for claiming that [[Reagan]] couldn't make it in the current Republican Party.

*Former Senator [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Bennett]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] of [[Maine]]

*Former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] of [[Texas]]

*Former Senator [[Richard Lugar]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting the homosexual agenda and abortion.

*Former Senator [[Robert LaFollette]] of [[Wisconsin]]

*Former Senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]] of [[Maine]]

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Former Congressman Steve LaTourette of [[Ohio]]

*Former Congressman [[Lincoln Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[David Rivera]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] of [[Connecticut]]

*Former Congressman [[Tom Campbell]] of [[California]]

*Former Congressman and Governor [[Michael Castle]] of [[Delaware]]

*Former Congressman [[Joseph Cao]] of [[Louisiana]]

*Former Congressman [[Joe Scarborough]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congresswoman [[Jennifer Dunn]] of [[Washington]]

=== Governors ===

*Former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Governor [[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] of [[California]]

*Former Governor [[Linda Lingle]] of [[Hawaii]]

*Former Governor [[Mitch Daniels]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Governor [[George Pataki]] of [[New York]]

*Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [[Christine Todd Whitman]] of [[New Jersey]]

=== Mayors ===

*Former [[New York City]] Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]

==Former RINOs who have since left the Republican Party==

* Former [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Gary Johnson]] supports same-sex marriage and abortion (although he opposes abortion once the fetus becomes viable outside the mother's body). After switching to the [[Libertarian Party]] in 2012 to run for President, he openly admitted that he governed New Mexico for eight years as a RINO, even using the phrase "Republican in name only" on multiple occasions. The Libertarian Party is [[liberal]] on social issues (with the exception that they support [[gun rights]]) but are fiscally very conservative.

* Former Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] supported ObamaCare and switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party to give the latter a 60-40 edge in the Senate and allow them to enact [[cloture]] on the Republican [[filibuster]].

*Former Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], who became an Independent in 2007. Turned Democrat in 2013.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/lincoln-chafee-to-switch-parties-sources-say-91994.html</ref>

*Former Senator [[Lowell Weicker]] of [[Connecticut]], who left the party and formed his own local one in 1990, then became an Independent in 1995.

*[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], who became an Independent in 2007. As it is not possible to campaign as an Independent in New York State, Bloomberg runs on the line of the [[Independence Party of New York]].

*Former Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]], who left the Party and became a Democrat in 2001, giving control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to the Democrats.

*Former Governor [[Charlie Crist]] of [[Florida]], who became an independent in 2010 after it was clear he would lose his Senate bid. Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in 2012.

*Former Representative [[John Anderson]] of [[Illinois]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 1980.

*Former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Louisiana]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 2012.

==RINO McCain==

A majority of conservatives distrust RINO [[John McCain]] even though many of his policies are that of a true conservative. Key RINO principles rejected by McCain include support for [[gay rights]], support for [[abortion]], and support for [[earmark]]s. He has positioned his career as a bipartisan moderate, reaching across the aisle whenever possible. This is also his downfall. The era of reaching across the aisle passed -- when [[statist]], [[socialist]] Democrats became Senators. His major political blunders mostly came during the 21st century political period. He was against both the Reagan and Bush [[tax cuts]], and employed [[class warfare]] rhetoric in trying to stop the tax cuts from taking effect. His support for amnesty was the complete opposite of what conservatives wanted. He has always complained about [[waterboarding|enhanced interrogation techniques]], calling them "[[torture]]". In non-election years, he likes to trash conservative positions and icons in order to get the [[Mainstream media|media]]'s and Democrats' approval. However, during the election he refused to go after [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s associations with [[Jeremiah Wright]]. He believes in the junk science known as [[global warming]], and has supported cap-and-trade programs. Another [[Middle East]] war, without a goal, without full commitment to win, without Congressional approval- McCain supports the President. It didn't stop there and in July 2011, he called the [[Tea Party]], the people that care about fiscal sanity in Washington, they are "hobbits".

The sacrifices he has made serving this country cannot be overlooked. John McCain has earned war hero status but also the status as a D.C. zero.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1615233/in-senate-primary-california-republicans.html In Senate primary, California Republicans run away from RINO label]
* [http://www.commieblaster.com/RINO/index.html CommieBlaster RINO Index]

==See Also==
*[[RINO Backers]]
*[[PLINO]] - [[pro-life]] in name only
*[[XINO]] - [[Christian]] in name only
*[[Republican Party]]
*[[Moderate Republican]]
*[[Conservative Democrat]]
*[[Blue Dog Democrat]]
*[[Reagan Democrat]]
*[[Catholic in name only]]
*[[Liberal media conservative]]

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:RINOs|*]]

Kristi Noem

2013-08-11T13:05:44Z

Jm920:

[[File:KristiNoem.jpg|right|125px]]

'''Kristi Noem''' (b. November 30, 1971) is the Republican Representative for the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[South Dakota]]. She was first elected in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat [[Stephanie Herseth Sandlin]]. She is [[Pro-life]], a rancher, a [[mother]] of three, a hunter and a [[conservative]] who represents South Dakota state House of Representatives since 2006. Right before being elected to Congress served as the Assistant Majority Leader. <ref>http://www.kristiforcongress.com/meet-kristi/</ref> Kristi Noem and her family lives on a ranch where they raise [[Angus]] [[cattle]] and show [[Quarter Horses]]. Noem has worked the family [[farm]] for 17 years, owned and operated a [[hunting]] operation, and helped manage the family restaurant.<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-next-sarah-palin-meet-south-dakotas-kristi-noem/</ref><ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/elections-2010-south-dakota-sarah-palin/story?id=11860378</ref>

Kristi Noem has become a fundraising star for the GOP, raising more campaign cash than any other Republican challenger for U.S. House. <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2010/10/kristi-noem-another-republican-fundraising-star-is-born/ Kristi Noem: Another Republican Fundraising Star is Born, Dakota Voice, October 12, 2010]</ref>

{{cquote|My experiences as a wife, mother, farmer, rancher, small business owner, and South Dakotan have taught me fundamental truths that will ensure I will remain steadfast in my resolve to do the people’s will.}}

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.kristiforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/kristiforcongress Facebook page]
*[http://twitter.com/#!/KristiNoem Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/kristiforcongress YouTube channel]
*[http://picasaweb.google.com/KristiNoemforCongress/ Picasa photos]

[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Politics]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Noem, Kristi}}
[[Category:United States Representatives]]
[[Category:South Dakota]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Kristi Noem

2013-08-11T13:04:20Z

Jm920: She's supported Boehner and leadership on pretty much every move they've taken in Congress.

[[File:KristiNoem.jpg|right|125px]]

'''Kristi Noem''' (b. November 30, 1971) is the Republican Representative for the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[South Dakota]]. She was first elected in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat [[Stephanie Herseth Sandlin]]. She is [[Pro-life]], a rancher, a [[mother]] of three, a hunter and a [[conservative]] who represents South Dakota state House of Representatives since 2006. Currently serves as the Assistant Majority Leader. <ref>http://www.kristiforcongress.com/meet-kristi/</ref> Kristi Noem and her family lives on a ranch where they raise [[Angus]] [[cattle]] and show [[Quarter Horses]]. Noem has worked the family [[farm]] for 17 years, owned and operated a [[hunting]] operation, and helped manage the family restaurant.<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-next-sarah-palin-meet-south-dakotas-kristi-noem/</ref><ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/elections-2010-south-dakota-sarah-palin/story?id=11860378</ref>

Kristi Noem has become a fundraising star for the GOP, raising more campaign cash than any other Republican challenger for U.S. House. <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2010/10/kristi-noem-another-republican-fundraising-star-is-born/ Kristi Noem: Another Republican Fundraising Star is Born, Dakota Voice, October 12, 2010]</ref>

{{cquote|My experiences as a wife, mother, farmer, rancher, small business owner, and South Dakotan have taught me fundamental truths that will ensure I will remain steadfast in my resolve to do the people’s will.}}

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.kristiforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/kristiforcongress Facebook page]
*[http://twitter.com/#!/KristiNoem Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/kristiforcongress YouTube channel]
*[http://picasaweb.google.com/KristiNoemforCongress/ Picasa photos]

[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Politics]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Noem, Kristi}}
[[Category:United States Representatives]]
[[Category:South Dakota]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

RINO

2013-08-08T20:40:16Z

Jm920: /* Members of the U.S. House of Representatives */

[[File:Kel-rino.jpg|thumb|250px|Sergeant [[Jesse Kelly]] runs for Congress in Arizona in 2009 and attacks the RINOs in the GOP]]
A '''RINO''' ('''R'''epublican '''i'''n '''N'''ame '''O'''nly) is an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the [[Republican Party]], but holds views to the political left of most Republican voters. The term "RINO" describes politicians who claim to be [[Republican Party|Republican]] but are in fact [[liberal]], and therefore generally debase the winning conservative coalition base of the Republican Party.

RINOs are often Republican only to the extent it serves their own interests, and will abandon conservative principles as soon as it is in their own interests to do so. RINOs often provide support for raising taxes, [[abortion]] as [[Pro-choice|a right]], [[gay rights]] and [[gun control]]. Some RINOs have connections with [[Planned Parenthood]] or corporations that support goals of [[population control]]; other RINOs pay lip service to [[pro-life]] values while in practice not advancing those values.

[[Double standard]]s by RINOs are common: a birther comment by [[Romney]] during his campaign was supposedly a "nothing", but [[Todd Akin]]'s [[pro-life]] comment would somehow "absolutely" could cost RINOs control of the [[U.S. Senate]]!<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/todd-akin-rape-missouri-senate-race-reince-priebus-/1#.UDpUhNZlQ7s</ref>

RINOs, like Democrats, typically come from states in [[New England]], the Mid-Atlantic; or states on the [[Left Coast]]. A less-used term is '''[[cafeteria conservative]]''', for a person who picks and chooses which [[conservative]] principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria instead of ordering the full-course ''menu'' selected by the chef at most restaurants.<ref>[http://www.manp.org/association-spotlight/archives/james-carville-mary-matalin-he-said-she-said James Carville & Mary Matalin: He Said, She Said]</ref> In contrast to RINO's and cafeteria conservatives, [[movement conservative]]s understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it.

The RINO targets of attack argue they follow [[middle of the road]] policies and are not liberals; they claim they get results, and insist that without them the [[United States Congress|Congress]] would be totally controlled by liberal [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] and Republicans would rarely have any success. Conservatives respond that in the heyday of "Rockefeller liberalism" in the GOP the Democrats always controlled Congress, and the GOP only took power when [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national conservative "Contract with America" in 1994, ending 40 years of Democratic control of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. The notion that we need to elect Democrat-lite type of politicians is false. The election cycles of 2010 and 2012 proved that many RINO candidates are unelectable. RINO candidates wasted millions of dollars; Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, Scott Brown, Linda McMahon, and many others could not connect with the people in liberal blue states.

In recent Republican [[Primary election|primaries]], voters have been rejecting establishment RINOs in favor of those with stronger conservative principles. Their commitment to self and not party is evident in their refusal to endorse the candidate that beats them. In some instances, they refuse the will of the voters and their party by running for office on an [[Independent candidate|independent ticket]]. It is important to vote for someone who's more conservative on the issues rather than for a Republican because anyone can join a party and be they can be RINOs.

== RINOs currently holding political office==

=== Government Secretaries ===

*Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]]

*Transportation Secretary [[Ray Lahood]]

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] of [[Kentucky]], for supporting excessive government spending and being a [[RINO Backer]].

*Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] for supporting [[abortion]] <ref> http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Susan_Collins_Abortion.htm</ref>, amnesty <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-93531.html</ref> [[gun control]] <ref>http://www.sofmag.com/roll-call-vote-manchin-toomey-amendment</ref> and the homosexual agenda <ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC</ref>

*Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] of [[South Carolina]] for supporting amnesty <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/tea-party-lindsey-graham_n_3530569.html</ref>, the drone program <ref>http://www.mediaite.com/tv/lindsey-graham-dismisses-rand-paul-on-drones-judicial-involvement-would-be-worst-thing-in-the-world/</ref>, arming the rebels in Syria and the NSA program<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lindsey-graham-nsa-tracking-phones-92330.html</ref>

*Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] of [[Alaska]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]] <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lisa-murkowski-gay-marriage-stance-93047.html</ref>, earmark spending, cronyism and amnesty

*Senator [[Mark Kirk]] of [[Illinois]] for supporting gun control, amnesty, abortion<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Kirk_Abortion.htm</ref>, and same-sex "marriage"

*Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]

*Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Charles Grassley]] of [[Iowa]]

*Senator [[Mike Crapo]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting environmental regulation <ref> http://www.crapo.senate.gov/issues/environment/environment_natural_resources.cfm</ref>

*Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty and [[Common Core]]

*Senator [[Bob Corker]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00125</ref> and opposing the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]

*Senator [[Johnny Isakson]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Marco Rubio]] of [[Florida]] for supporting [[amnesty]]<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/candidate-marco-rubio-2010-earned-path-citizenship-basically-code-amnesty</ref>

*Senator [[John Hoeven]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting [[government spending]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_Hoeven_Jobs.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Dean Heller]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting embryonic [[stem cell research]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Dean_Heller_Abortion.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Rob Portman]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting gay marriage<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/ohio-sen-portman-now-supports-gay-marriage/</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Burr]] of [[North Carolina]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html</ref>

*Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] of [[Utah]], for supporting civil unions for homosexuals, the [[DREAM Act]], [[TARP]], voting for [[Eric Holder]], and insulting the Tea Party.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Flake]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/is-jeff-flake-arizonas-next-john-mccain/</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Toomey]] of [[Pennsylvania]] for supporting [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/</ref>

*Senator [[Kelly Ayotte]] of [[New Hampshire]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[Tom Coburn]] of [[Oklahoma]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/25/tom-coburn-talking-with-democrats-about-background-check-bill/</ref>

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Speaker of the House [[John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]] for abandoning his princapals in favor of "bipartisan compromise"

*Rep. [[Don Young]] of [[Alaska]]

*Rep. [[David Dreier]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Scott Rigell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Rep. [[Joe Heck]] of [[Nevada]]

*Rep. [[Candice Miller]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Peter King]] of [[New York]] for supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program. <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/07/25/Steve-King-NSA-Survelliance-Essential,</ref>

*Rep. [[Chris Gibson]] of [[New York]] for being the most [[liberal]] [[Republican]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] <ref>.http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/02/21/chris-gibson-ranked-as-most-liberal-republican-in</ref>

*Rep. [[Michael Simpson]] of [[Idaho]]

*Rep. [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] of [[Florida]], for her support of the homosexual agenda<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/ileana-roslehtinen-become_n_977464.html</ref>

*Rep. [[Mario Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Aaron Schock]] of [[Illinois]]

*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Renee Ellmers]] of [[North Carolina]]

*Rep. [[Frank Lucas]] of [[Oklahoma]]

*Rep. [[Rick Crawford]] of [[Arkansas]]

*Rep. [[Kristi Noem]] of [[South Dakota]]

*Rep. [[Mike Rogers]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[John Mica]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Lynn Westmoreland]] of [[Georgia]] for defending purges by Boehner and supporting the NSA program

*Rep. [[Justin Amash]] of [[Michigan]] for opposing the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/justin-amash-doma-repeal_n_2981622.html</ref>

=== Governors ===

*Governor [[Chris Christie]] of [[New Jersey]]

*Governor [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]]

*Governor [[Jan Brewer]] of [[Arizona]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/19/how-tea-party-hero-jan-brewer-saved-obamacare-in-arizona.html</ref>

*Governor [[Jack Dalrymple]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/governor-jack-dalrymple-signs-obamacare-expansion-of-medicaid-into-law/</ref>

*Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/brian-sandoval-nevada-medicaid-expansion_n_2284478.html</ref>

*Governor [[John Kasich]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Rick Snyder]] of [[Michigan]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Susana Martinez]] of [[New Mexico]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Bob McDonnell]] of [[Virginia]]

=== Federal Judges ===

*Supreme Court Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] after his support of gutting Arizona's immigration law and yet being the swing vote responsible for keeping [[Obamacare]] upheld. As Supreme Court Justices officially have no party, he is more of a "conservative in name only".

=== Local Legislators ===

*State Senator Allan Kittleman of [[Maryland]], for promoting homosexual [[special rights]]<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/gop_senator_announces_support.html GOP senator announces support for Md. same-sex marriage bill]</ref>

*[[Texas]] Speaker of the House Joe Straus

==RINOs currently not holding political office==
=== Executive Officials===

*Former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], because he regulated the economy and used social justice.

*Former [[President]] [[George H.W. Bush]] for claiming he wouldn't raise [[taxes]] and subsequently raising them

*Former [[President]] [[Richard Nixon]] for establishing the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and supporting [[affirmative action]]

*Former [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]]

*Former [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] for supporting [[government spending]], increasing the size of government, and for filling his cabinet with a litany of other RINOs.<ref>Such as [[Dick Cheney]], [[Collin Powell]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]].</ref> Failed at child rearing.<ref>As can seen by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKqr230U9M this video] (Warning: Contains no graphic content but might still be unsuitable for children)</ref>

*Former Vice-President and Senator [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]]

*Former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], for supporting the [[Homosexual Agenda]], being a [[Neocon]] and supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program.

=== Government Secretaries ===
*Former Senator and HUD Secretary [[Mel Martinez]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]

*Former Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].

*Former Press Secretary [[Scott McClellan]]

*Former Press Secretary [[James Brady]], for being a major gun control advocate

*Former Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]], for supporting the Homosexual Agenda.

*Former Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], for supporting DADT repeal and being pro-abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], for supporting DADT repeal and failing to condemn same-sex "marriage" and abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], for defending [[Barack Obama]]'s handling of [[Benghazi]] <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com
/USA/Politics/2013/0512/Robert-Gates-Obama-made-right-decisions-night-of-Benghazi-attack</ref>

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Former Senator [[Scott Brown]] of [[Massachusetts]]

*Former Senator [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]]

*Former Senator [[Alan Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]]

*Former Senator [[Gordon Smith]] of [[Oregon]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for claiming that [[Reagan]] couldn't make it in the current Republican Party.

*Former Senator [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Bennett]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] of [[Maine]]

*Former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] of [[Texas]]

*Former Senator [[Richard Lugar]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting the homosexual agenda and abortion.

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Former Congressman Steve LaTourette of [[Ohio]]

*Former Congressman [[Lincoln Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[David Rivera]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] of [[Connecticut]]

*Former Congressman [[Tom Campbell]] of [[California]]

*Former Congressman and Governor [[Michael Castle]] of [[Delaware]]

*Former Congressman [[Joseph Cao]] of [[Louisiana]]

*Former Congressman [[Joe Scarborough]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congresswoman [[Jennifer Dunn]] of [[Washington]]

=== Governors ===

*Former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Governor [[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] of [[California]]

*Former Governor [[Linda Lingle]] of [[Hawaii]]

*Former Governor [[Mitch Daniels]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Governor [[George Pataki]] of [[New York]]

*Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [[Christine Todd Whitman]] of [[New Jersey]]

=== Mayors ===

*Former [[New York City]] Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]

==Former RINOs who have since left the Republican Party==

* Former [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Gary Johnson]] supports same-sex marriage and abortion (although he opposes abortion once the fetus becomes viable outside the mother's body). After switching to the [[Libertarian Party]] in 2012 to run for President, he openly admitted that he governed New Mexico for eight years as a RINO, even using the phrase "Republican in name only" on multiple occasions. The Libertarian Party is [[liberal]] on social issues (with the exception that they support [[gun rights]]) but are fiscally very conservative.

* Former Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] supported ObamaCare and switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party to give the latter a 60-40 edge in the Senate and allow them to enact [[cloture]] on the Republican [[filibuster]].

*Former Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], who became an Independent in 2007. Turned Democrat in 2013.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/lincoln-chafee-to-switch-parties-sources-say-91994.html</ref>

*Former Senator [[Lowell Weicker]] of [[Connecticut]], who left the party and formed his own local one in 1990, then became an Independent in 1995.

*[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], who became an Independent in 2007. As it is not possible to campaign as an Independent in New York State, Bloomberg runs on the line of the [[Independence Party of New York]].

*Former Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]], who left the Party and became a Democrat in 2001, giving control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to the Democrats.

*Former Governor [[Charlie Crist]] of [[Florida]], who became an independent in 2010 after it was clear he would lose his Senate bid. Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in 2012.

*Former Representative [[John Anderson]] of [[Illinois]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 1980.

*Former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Louisiana]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 2012.

==RINO McCain==

A majority of conservatives distrust RINO [[John McCain]] even though many of his policies are that of a true conservative. Key RINO principles rejected by McCain include support for [[gay rights]], support for [[abortion]], and support for [[earmark]]s. He has positioned his career as a bipartisan moderate, reaching across the aisle whenever possible. This is also his downfall. The era of reaching across the aisle passed -- when [[statist]], [[socialist]] Democrats became Senators. His major political blunders mostly came during the 21st century political period. He was against both the Reagan and Bush [[tax cuts]], and employed [[class warfare]] rhetoric in trying to stop the tax cuts from taking effect. His support for amnesty was the complete opposite of what conservatives wanted. He has always complained about [[waterboarding|enhanced interrogation techniques]], calling them "[[torture]]". In non-election years, he likes to trash conservative positions and icons in order to get the [[Mainstream media|media]]'s and Democrats' approval. However, during the election he refused to go after [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s associations with [[Jeremiah Wright]]. He believes in the junk science known as [[global warming]], and has supported cap-and-trade programs. Another [[Middle East]] war, without a goal, without full commitment to win, without Congressional approval- McCain supports the President. It didn't stop there and in July 2011, he called the [[Tea Party]], the people that care about fiscal sanity in Washington, they are "hobbits".

The sacrifices he has made serving this country cannot be overlooked. John McCain has earned war hero status but also the status as a D.C. zero.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1615233/in-senate-primary-california-republicans.html In Senate primary, California Republicans run away from RINO label]
* [http://www.commieblaster.com/RINO/index.html CommieBlaster RINO Index]

==See Also==
*[[RINO Backers]]
*[[PLINO]] - [[pro-life]] in name only
*[[XINO]] - [[Christian]] in name only
*[[Republican Party]]
*[[Moderate Republican]]
*[[Conservative Democrat]]
*[[Blue Dog Democrat]]
*[[Reagan Democrat]]
*[[Catholic in name only]]
*[[Liberal media conservative]]

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:RINOs|*]]

United States presidential election, 2016

2013-08-08T20:28:35Z

Jm920:

{{uncited}}The 2016 election will be an open field in the [[Republican Party]]. [[Democrats]], as in [[communist]] countries, are not expected to have any choice other than [[Hillary Clinton]].

==Possible Republican candidates==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Jeb Bush]]
|Able to win Florida, has Hispanic wife and kids, multilingual, backing of [[Karl Rove]] though if he doesn't run Rubio will get it. Presumably has the backing of most [[George_H.W._Bush#Family|Bush family]] members, with the notable exception of his mother, [[Barbara Bush|Barbara]], who stated "We've had enough Bushes" during an April 2013 interview<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51667537#51667537</ref>.
|Outspokenly supports amnesty, neither Tea Partiers or independent voters want a third Bush, told GOP primary voters they wouldn't elect Reagan today.
|Might count on Rubio to be a stalking horse because of their friendship but has contradicted Rubio on immigration in his latest book, if he and Clinton are the nominees many voters might gravitate to a third party.
|-
|[[Rick Perry]]
|Strong record of experience as Governor of Texas. Supports Second Amendment. Before the next election he might see a debating coach. Strong fundraiser. Not expanding Medicare to adjust for Obamacare like some other Governors are doing.
|Performed poorly in the debates last time, is an also-ran without Santorum's likely momentum in a race that will probably also have multiple of the other Republican Governors, also passed a state version of the DREAM Act and mandated vaccines for schoolgirls.
|He has stated that he might run again.
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
|Son of [[Ron Paul]], voted against GOP establishment's spending compromise bills, advocate for cutting spending, can unite libertarians and conservatives, voted against NDAA. Made waves with historic filibuster against CIA director John Brennan over the Obama administration's claimed authority to use drone strikes against US citizens on American soil.
|Some of his father's more hardcore followers think he's a 'traitor' for endorsing Romney, voted for [[Chuck Hagel]] as Defense Secretary. Supported the Supreme Court's liberal wing when it struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, suggesting he's somewhat supportive of the [[Homosexual Agenda]].
|Has criticized [[Paul Ryan]] and [[Chris Christie]] like a potential candidate would, delivered 2013 Tea Party response to the SOTU, which the news media didn't cover.
|-
|[[Marco Rubio]]
|Favorite of [[Fox News]], articulate, Hispanic, able to win key battleground state of [[Florida]] since he's from there, was on Romney's shortlist in 2012.
|Used to be a Tea Party favorite when he defeated [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]], but many have since soured on his actions, endorses amnesty and has written an amnesty bill with [[Chuck Schumer]] and six other Senators, friends with [[Jeb Bush]], denounced [[Michele Bachmann]]'s investigation into [[Huma Abedin]], supports the party's neoconservative wing which is why he supports sending troops into Syria.
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at [[Jack Kemp]] library, delivered GOP response to Obama's 2013 SOTU, currently putting his capital on the line working with seven other Senators on a controversial amnesty plan many conservatives oppose.
|-
|[[Rick Santorum]]
|Strong social conservative base, runner-up in the 2012 primary, by 2016 endorsing [[RINO]]-turned-Democrat [[Arlen Specter]] will be a distant memory for many because he died in 2012. Strongly opposed to [[homosexual agenda]].
|May have been a [[stalking horse]] for Romney in the last election, which he'll vehemently deny; in 2016 voters may want a new face to lead the party instead of an also-ran, media portrays as fanatic, voted for Bush's spending to be 'part of the team'.
|Says door is open on Presidential bid, compared his 2012 run to Reagan in 1976. Has founded an organization called Patriot Voices which may serve as a fulcrum for his campaign.
|-
|[[Paul Ryan]]
|Vice-Presidential running-mate in 2012, seen as fiscal hawk, Chair of House Budget Committee, articulate.
|Part of unpopular GOP House leadership, part of steering committee that purged conservatives from leadership positions, supported Boehner's Plan B and Senate budget plan, voted for [[TARP]] and Medicare Part D, budget balances budget in 40 years, didn't carry Wisconsin at bottom of ticket.
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at Jack Kemp library, named after the man he used to be an aide to.
|-
|[[Chris Christie]]
|Blunt criticism of teacher's unions won conservatives over for about a year, [[Ann Coulter]] supports him. Has high approval ratings.
|Unprofessional style, severely overweight, praised Obama's Hurricane Sandy efforts only days before the 2012 election, has gotten heat for appointing Sharia judge and having pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor.
|Not endearing himself to conservatives with his statements on things like gun control.
|-
|[[Bobby Jindal]]
|Populist conservative who says conservatives should be skeptical of big business, Indian-American, cleaned up Louisiana after Katrina and Governor Blanco, evangelical who also focuses on energy issues like Perry before him.
|Severely lacking in charisma.
|Has criticized the GOP on how it needs to be "smarter" and should emphasize it champions small business instead of big business, term limited to 2016.
|-
|[[Ted Cruz]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Sarah Palin]]
|Very popular with the conservative base, record of cutting the size of government, expert on energy issues.
|Thanks to the media, the electorate has already made up their minds about her. May prefer the role of commentator and not run for her and her children's sakes.
|
|-
|[[Condoleezza Rice]]
|Articulate, popular, foreign policy experience, takes the race and gender cards off the table, gave impassioned speech at the RNC, inspiring childhood story.
|Pro-choice, ties to Bush administration, never elected to any office, just appointed; left-wing immigration stance, had role leading up to [[Iraq War]], single status will mean she won't have the emotional support of a family for a Presidential run as [[Laura Bush]] has said; admired by some conservatives, disliked by others like [[paleoconservatives]] and from how [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Donald Rumsfeld]] have criticized her, she doesn't even have all the [[neoconservatives]] wrapped up.
|Some conservatives would think her running would be a good idea, others won't. She declined to run in 2008 and 2012, but from the speculation she was going to be Romney's VP, she might this time.
|-
|[[Bob McDonnell]]
|Socially conservative, pro-life Governor of Virginia.
|Not exciting, signed transportation tax and Medicare waiver for Obamacare.
|Was under attack by feminists for passing pro-life legislation, term limited in 2014.
|-
|[[John Thune]]
|Senator who defeated [[Tom Daschle]], relatively conservative for a Senator.
|Voted for TARP and often votes for other spending bills the leadership pushes, not well known.
|
|-
|[[Scott Walker]]
|A once-seeming [[movement conservative]] who defeated a recall that was pushed by Soros and the unions, exhibited conservative determination in passing right-to-work in his state and surviving the relentless union attacks that followed.
|[[AFL-CIO]] and the other union special interests have him as a top target, but he stood his ground until recently where he's starting to adopt RINO stances on issues.
|
|-
|[[Susana Martinez]]
|Gave a good speech at the RNC, conservative Governor of a blue state, Hispanic.
|Might not be interested, expanded Medicare in her state.
|-
|[[Jan Brewer]]
|If she runs, will use potent immigration issue as foil to Bush and Rubio, can take it's mantle and change debate to pressure other candidates to tack right on the issue, outspoken critic of Obama.
|May not be interested in the Presidency, expanded Medicare waiver for Obamacare.
|Currently serving her state as Arizona's governor losing support from conservatives.
|-
|Ben Carson
|Plain-spoken, with common-sense solutions to the country's problems
|Has said states can enact gun control.
|The world-renowned surgeon made waves by skewering Obama's policies at the White House correspondence dinner
|-
|[[Kelly Ayotte]]
|Represents a swing state
|Voted in favor of amnesty
|If Rubio is the Presidential nominee, he's likely to make Ayotte his running mate hoping the ticket will appeal to two swing states (Florida and New Hampshire), Hispanics, and women, offsetting Hillary with the last group. Both Rubio and Ayotte have been taken under the wings of McCain and Graham since getting in the Senate.
|-
|[[Allen West]]
|Conservative black Congressman from Florida who speaks his mind, some conservative activists insist that he runs.
|Lost his race for re-election to the House two years after getting voted in.
|Has compared his loss to [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s before he became President in a radio interview.
|-
|[[Brian Sandoval]]
|Hispanic, fiscal conservative
|Pro-choice, expanded Medicare in his state, [[Harry Reid]] doesn't seem to mind his performance as Governor <ref>http://blogs.rgj.com/politics/2013/02/20/reid-says-hell-run-for-re-election-in-2016-wont-comment-on-sandoval-as-opponent/</ref>.
|
|}

==Possible Democratic candidates==

[[Democrats]] will not have a choice other than [[liberal]] [[Hillary Clinton]]. If a competitive race were allowed by the party bosses (and it won't be), or if she chooses not to run, the candidates mentioned below her could be contenders:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Hillary Clinton]]
|Has wanted to be President for decades, has Clinton machine and big money behind her, teflon image helped along by the media, quitting Secretary of State position lets her run, she will have the 'sexist' card at her disposal.
|Role in Benghazi and decades worth of scandals going back to the 90s, feminist, may not be able to run due to health problems.
|Claims not interested now, but will likely run anyways.
|-
|[[Joe Biden]]
|Tries to set image as he's 'one of the folks' even though he's a millionaire. He'll have Obama's Chicago machine. Incumbent VPs often receive the party nomination
|Very gaffe-prone, VP to an unpopular administration.
|Currently yukking it up as Obama's Vice-President and has openly expressed some interest in running. Hasn't talked about running...yet. Should be good seeing how him and Hillary deal with each other on the stage if they both run.
|-
|[[Andrew Cuomo]]
|Tried to make himself look like a fiscal conservative, he's part of a political family like Jeb and Hillary, governor of a large state.
|Uncompelling, declared intentions to seize guns from lawful gun owners, which he's used executive orders to do.
|His father, the former Governor, has already said he intends for him to run. His gun confiscating executive orders are not sitting well with the American people by and large.
|-
|[[Mark Warner]]
|Senator from a swing state with a relatively moderate record compared to others, might try to get points with independents that the other Democrats won't have.
|He votes with his party most of the time, voted for gun control even though he claims to be pro-gun.
|
|-
|[[Martin O'Malley]]
|Partisan and aggressive liberal.
|Martin who? He has low name recognition. Fiercely supports raising taxes and other very liberal stances, although that might help in the primary.
|-
|[[Elizabeth Warren]]
|Popular in [[Occupy Wall Street]] and other progressive circles, elected in very competitive Senate race.
|Caught lying about being a Native American so she could get [[affirmative action]] at Harvard, her very liberal views and rhetoric probably won't resonate in states less liberal than [[Massachusetts]].
|Just won election to the Senate against [[Scott Brown]].
|-
|[[Evan Bayh]]
|Represented a state that generally votes Republican
|
|
|}

== References ==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT: 2016, United States presidential election,}}
[[Category: United States Presidential Elections]]

United States presidential election, 2016

2013-08-06T18:38:17Z

Jm920: I didn't know enough about it at the time so I confused him with Mark Udall. Warner supported the NDAA like the rest of his party and Washington.

{{uncited}}The 2016 election will be an open field in the [[Republican Party]]. [[Democrats]], as in [[communist]] countries, are not expected to have any choice other than [[Hillary Clinton]].

==Possible Republican candidates==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Jeb Bush]]
|Able to win Florida, has Hispanic wife and kids, multilingual, backing of [[Karl Rove]] though if he doesn't run Rubio will get it. Presumably has the backing of most [[George_H.W._Bush#Family|Bush family]] members, with the notable exception of his mother, [[Barbara Bush|Barbara]], who stated "We've had enough Bushes" during an April 2013 interview<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51667537#51667537</ref>.
|Outspokenly supports amnesty, neither Tea Partiers or independent voters want a third Bush, told GOP primary voters they wouldn't elect Reagan today.
|Might count on Rubio to be a stalking horse because of their friendship but has contradicted Rubio on immigration in his latest book, if he and Clinton are the nominees many voters might gravitate to a third party.
|-
|[[Rick Perry]]
|Strong record of experience as Governor of Texas. Supports Second Amendment. Before the next election he might see a debating coach. Strong fundraiser. Not expanding Medicare to adjust for Obamacare like some other Governors are doing.
|Performed poorly in the debates last time, is an also-ran without Santorum's likely momentum in a race that will probably also have multiple of the other Republican Governors, also passed a state version of the DREAM Act and mandated vaccines for schoolgirls.
|He has stated that he might run again.
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
|Son of [[Ron Paul]], voted against GOP establishment's spending compromise bills, advocate for cutting spending, can unite libertarians and conservatives, voted against NDAA. Made waves with historic filibuster against CIA director John Brennan over the Obama administration's claimed authority to use drone strikes against US citizens on American soil.
|Some of his father's more hardcore followers think he's a 'traitor' for endorsing Romney, voted for [[Chuck Hagel]] as Defense Secretary. Supported the Supreme Court's liberal wing when it struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, suggesting he's somewhat supportive of the [[Homosexual Agenda]].
|Has criticized [[Paul Ryan]] and [[Chris Christie]] like a potential candidate would, delivered 2013 Tea Party response to the SOTU, which the news media didn't cover.
|-
|[[Marco Rubio]]
|Favorite of [[Fox News]], articulate, Hispanic, able to win key battleground state of [[Florida]] since he's from there, was on Romney's shortlist in 2012.
|Used to be a Tea Party favorite when he defeated [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]], but many have since soured on his actions, endorses his own version of the [[DREAM Act]], friends with [[Jeb Bush]], denounced [[Michele Bachmann]]'s investigation into [[Huma Abedin]].
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at [[Jack Kemp]] library, delivered GOP response to Obama's 2013 SOTU, currently putting his capital on the line working with seven other Senators on a controversial immigration plan conservatives may oppose as amnesty.
|-
|[[Rick Santorum]]
|Strong social conservative base, runner-up in the 2012 primary, by 2016 endorsing [[RINO]]-turned-Democrat [[Arlen Specter]] will be a distant memory for many because he died in 2012. Strongly opposed to [[homosexual agenda]].
|May have been a [[stalking horse]] for Romney in the last election, which he'll vehemently deny; in 2016 voters may want a new face to lead the party instead of an also-ran, media portrays as fanatic, voted for Bush's spending to be 'part of the team'.
|Says door is open on Presidential bid, compared his 2012 run to Reagan in 1976. Has founded an organization called Patriot Voices which may serve as a fulcrum for his campaign.
|-
|[[Paul Ryan]]
|Vice-Presidential running-mate in 2012, seen as fiscal hawk, Chair of House Budget Committee, articulate.
|Part of unpopular GOP House leadership, part of steering committee that purged conservatives from leadership positions, supported Boehner's Plan B and Senate budget plan, voted for [[TARP]] and Medicare Part D, budget balances budget in 40 years, didn't carry Wisconsin at bottom of ticket.
|Visited Iowa in December 2012 to speak at Jack Kemp library, named after the man he used to be an aide to.
|-
|[[Chris Christie]]
|Blunt criticism of teacher's unions won conservatives over for about a year, [[Ann Coulter]] supports him. Has high approval ratings.
|Unprofessional style, severely overweight, praised Obama's Hurricane Sandy efforts only days before the 2012 election, has gotten heat for appointing Sharia judge and having pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor.
|Not endearing himself to conservatives with his statements on things like gun control.
|-
|[[Bobby Jindal]]
|Populist conservative who says conservatives should be skeptical of big business, Indian-American, cleaned up Louisiana after Katrina and Governor Blanco, evangelical who also focuses on energy issues like Perry before him.
|Severely lacking in charisma.
|Has criticized the GOP on how it needs to be "smarter" and should emphasize it champions small business instead of big business, term limited to 2016.
|-
|[[Sarah Palin]]
|Very popular with the conservative base, record of cutting the size of government, expert on energy issues.
|Thanks to the media, the electorate has already made up their minds about her. May prefer the role of commentator and not run for her and her children's sakes.
|
|-
|[[Condoleezza Rice]]
|Articulate, popular, foreign policy experience, takes the race and gender cards off the table, gave impassioned speech at the RNC, inspiring childhood story.
|Pro-choice, ties to Bush administration, never elected to any office, just appointed; left-wing immigration stance, had role leading up to [[Iraq War]], single status will mean she won't have the emotional support of a family for a Presidential run as [[Laura Bush]] has said; admired by some conservatives, disliked by others like [[paleoconservatives]] and from how [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Donald Rumsfeld]] have criticized her, she doesn't even have all the [[neoconservatives]] wrapped up.
|Some conservatives would think her running would be a good idea, others won't. She declined to run in 2008 and 2012, but from the speculation she was going to be Romney's VP, she might this time.
|-
|[[Bob McDonnell]]
|Socially conservative, pro-life Governor of Virginia.
|Not exciting, signed transportation tax and Medicare waiver for Obamacare.
|Was under attack by feminists for passing pro-life legislation, term limited in 2014.
|-
|[[John Thune]]
|Senator who defeated [[Tom Daschle]], relatively conservative for a Senator.
|Voted for TARP and often votes for other spending bills the leadership pushes, not well known.
|
|-
|[[Scott Walker]]
|A once-seeming [[movement conservative]] who defeated a recall that was pushed by Soros and the unions, exhibited conservative determination in passing right-to-work in his state and surviving the relentless union attacks that followed.
|[[AFL-CIO]] and the other union special interests have him as a top target, but he stood his ground until recently where he's starting to adopt RINO stances on issues.
|
|-
|[[Susana Martinez]]
|Gave a good speech at the RNC, conservative Governor of a blue state, Hispanic.
|Might not be interested, expanded Medicare in her state.
|-
|[[Jan Brewer]]
|If she runs, will use potent immigration issue as foil to Bush and Rubio, can take it's mantle and change debate to pressure other candidates to tack right on the issue, outspoken critic of Obama.
|May not be interested in the Presidency, expanded Medicare waiver for Obamacare.
|Currently serving her state as Arizona's governor losing support from conservatives.
|-
|Ben Carson
|Plain-spoken, with common-sense solutions to the country's problems
|Has said states can enact gun control.
|The world-renowned surgeon made waves by skewering Obama's policies at the White House correspondence dinner
|-
|[[Kelly Ayotte]]
|Represents a swing state
|Voted in favor of amnesty
|If Rubio is the Presidential nominee, he's likely to make Ayotte his running mate hoping the ticket will appeal to two swing states (Florida and New Hampshire), Hispanics, and women, offsetting Hillary with the last group. Both Rubio and Ayotte have been taken under the wings of McCain and Graham since getting in the Senate.
|-
|[[Allen West]]
|Conservative black Congressman from Florida who speaks his mind, some conservative activists insist that he runs.
|Lost his race for re-election to the House two years after getting voted in.
|Has compared his loss to [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s before he became President in a radio interview.
|-
|[[Brian Sandoval]]
|Hispanic, fiscal conservative
|Pro-choice, expanded Medicare in his state, [[Harry Reid]] doesn't seem to mind his performance as Governor <ref>http://blogs.rgj.com/politics/2013/02/20/reid-says-hell-run-for-re-election-in-2016-wont-comment-on-sandoval-as-opponent/</ref>.
|
|}

==Possible Democratic candidates==

[[Democrats]] will not have a choice other than [[liberal]] [[Hillary Clinton]]. If a competitive race were allowed by the party bosses (and it won't be), or if she chooses not to run, the candidates mentioned below her could be contenders:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Hillary Clinton]]
|Has wanted to be President for decades, has Clinton machine and big money behind her, teflon image helped along by the media, quitting Secretary of State position lets her run, she will have the 'sexist' card at her disposal.
|Role in Benghazi and decades worth of scandals going back to the 90s, feminist, may not be able to run due to health problems.
|Claims not interested now, but will likely run anyways.
|-
|[[Joe Biden]]
|Tries to set image as he's 'one of the folks' even though he's a millionaire. He'll have Obama's Chicago machine. Incumbent VPs often receive the party nomination
|Very gaffe-prone, VP to an unpopular administration.
|Currently yukking it up as Obama's Vice-President and has openly expressed some interest in running. Hasn't talked about running...yet. Should be good seeing how him and Hillary deal with each other on the stage if they both run.
|-
|[[Andrew Cuomo]]
|Tried to make himself look like a fiscal conservative, he's part of a political family like Jeb and Hillary, governor of a large state.
|Uncompelling, declared intentions to seize guns from lawful gun owners, which he's used executive orders to do.
|His father, the former Governor, has already said he intends for him to run. His gun confiscating executive orders are not sitting well with the American people by and large.
|-
|[[Mark Warner]]
|Senator from a swing state with a relatively moderate record compared to others, might try to get points with independents that the other Democrats won't have.
|He votes with his party most of the time, voted for gun control even though he claims to be pro-gun.
|
|-
|[[Martin O'Malley]]
|Partisan and aggressive liberal.
|Martin who? He has low name recognition. Fiercely supports raising taxes and other very liberal stances, although that might help in the primary.
|-
|[[Elizabeth Warren]]
|Popular in [[Occupy Wall Street]] and other progressive circles, elected in very competitive Senate race.
|Caught lying about being a Native American so she could get [[affirmative action]] at Harvard, her very liberal views and rhetoric probably won't resonate in states less liberal than [[Massachusetts]].
|Just won election to the Senate against [[Scott Brown]].
|-
|[[Evan Bayh]]
|Represented a state that generally votes Republican
|
|
|}

== References ==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT: 2016, United States presidential election,}}
[[Category: United States Presidential Elections]]

RINO

2013-08-06T18:01:05Z

Jm920: /* U.S. Senators */

[[File:Kel-rino.jpg|thumb|250px|Sergeant [[Jesse Kelly]] runs for Congress in Arizona in 2009 and attacks the RINOs in the GOP]]
A '''RINO''' ('''R'''epublican '''i'''n '''N'''ame '''O'''nly) is an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the [[Republican Party]], but holds views to the political left of most Republican voters. The term "RINO" describes politicians who claim to be [[Republican Party|Republican]] but are in fact [[liberal]], and therefore generally debase the winning conservative coalition base of the Republican Party.

RINOs are often Republican only to the extent it serves their own interests, and will abandon conservative principles as soon as it is in their own interests to do so. RINOs often provide support for raising taxes, [[abortion]] as [[Pro-choice|a right]], [[gay rights]] and [[gun control]]. Some RINOs have connections with [[Planned Parenthood]] or corporations that support goals of [[population control]]; other RINOs pay lip service to [[pro-life]] values while in practice not advancing those values.

[[Double standard]]s by RINOs are common: a birther comment by [[Romney]] during his campaign was supposedly a "nothing", but [[Todd Akin]]'s [[pro-life]] comment would somehow "absolutely" could cost RINOs control of the [[U.S. Senate]]!<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/todd-akin-rape-missouri-senate-race-reince-priebus-/1#.UDpUhNZlQ7s</ref>

RINOs, like Democrats, typically come from states in [[New England]], the Mid-Atlantic; or states on the [[Left Coast]]. A less-used term is '''[[cafeteria conservative]]''', for a person who picks and chooses which [[conservative]] principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria instead of ordering the full-course ''menu'' selected by the chef at most restaurants.<ref>[http://www.manp.org/association-spotlight/archives/james-carville-mary-matalin-he-said-she-said James Carville & Mary Matalin: He Said, She Said]</ref> In contrast to RINO's and cafeteria conservatives, [[movement conservative]]s understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it.

The RINO targets of attack argue they follow [[middle of the road]] policies and are not liberals; they claim they get results, and insist that without them the [[United States Congress|Congress]] would be totally controlled by liberal [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] and Republicans would rarely have any success. Conservatives respond that in the heyday of "Rockefeller liberalism" in the GOP the Democrats always controlled Congress, and the GOP only took power when [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national conservative "Contract with America" in 1994, ending 40 years of Democratic control of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. The notion that we need to elect Democrat-lite type of politicians is false. The election cycles of 2010 and 2012 proved that many RINO candidates are unelectable. RINO candidates wasted millions of dollars; Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, Scott Brown, Linda McMahon, and many others could not connect with the people in liberal blue states.

In recent Republican [[Primary election|primaries]], voters have been rejecting establishment RINOs in favor of those with stronger conservative principles. Their commitment to self and not party is evident in their refusal to endorse the candidate that beats them. In some instances, they refuse the will of the voters and their party by running for office on an [[Independent candidate|independent ticket]]. It is important to vote for someone who's more conservative on the issues rather than for a Republican because anyone can join a party and be they can be RINOs.

== RINOs currently holding political office==

=== Government Secretaries ===

*Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]]

*Transportation Secretary [[Ray Lahood]]

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] of [[Kentucky]], for supporting excessive government spending and being a [[RINO Backer]].

*Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] for supporting [[abortion]] <ref> http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Susan_Collins_Abortion.htm</ref>, amnesty <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-93531.html</ref> [[gun control]] <ref>http://www.sofmag.com/roll-call-vote-manchin-toomey-amendment</ref> and the homosexual agenda <ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC</ref>

*Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] of [[South Carolina]] for supporting amnesty <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/tea-party-lindsey-graham_n_3530569.html</ref>, the drone program <ref>http://www.mediaite.com/tv/lindsey-graham-dismisses-rand-paul-on-drones-judicial-involvement-would-be-worst-thing-in-the-world/</ref>, arming the rebels in Syria and the NSA program<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lindsey-graham-nsa-tracking-phones-92330.html</ref>

*Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] of [[Alaska]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]] <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lisa-murkowski-gay-marriage-stance-93047.html</ref>, earmark spending, cronyism and amnesty

*Senator [[Mark Kirk]] of [[Illinois]] for supporting gun control, amnesty, abortion<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Kirk_Abortion.htm</ref>, and same-sex "marriage"

*Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]

*Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Charles Grassley]] of [[Iowa]]

*Senator [[Mike Crapo]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting environmental regulation <ref> http://www.crapo.senate.gov/issues/environment/environment_natural_resources.cfm</ref>

*Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty and [[Common Core]]

*Senator [[Bob Corker]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00125</ref> and opposing the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]

*Senator [[Johnny Isakson]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Marco Rubio]] of [[Florida]] for supporting [[amnesty]]<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/candidate-marco-rubio-2010-earned-path-citizenship-basically-code-amnesty</ref>

*Senator [[John Hoeven]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting [[government spending]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_Hoeven_Jobs.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Dean Heller]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting embryonic [[stem cell research]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Dean_Heller_Abortion.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Rob Portman]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting gay marriage<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/ohio-sen-portman-now-supports-gay-marriage/</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Burr]] of [[North Carolina]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html</ref>

*Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] of [[Utah]], for supporting civil unions for homosexuals, the [[DREAM Act]], [[TARP]], voting for [[Eric Holder]], and insulting the Tea Party.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Flake]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/is-jeff-flake-arizonas-next-john-mccain/</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Toomey]] of [[Pennsylvania]] for supporting [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/</ref>

*Senator [[Kelly Ayotte]] of [[New Hampshire]] for supporting amnesty

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Speaker of the House [[John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]] for abandoning his princapals in favor of "bipartisan compromise"

*Rep. [[Don Young]] of [[Alaska]]

*Rep. [[David Dreier]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Scott Rigell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Rep. [[Joe Heck]] of [[Nevada]]

*Rep. [[Candice Miller]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Peter King]] of [[New York]] for supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program. <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/07/25/Steve-King-NSA-Survelliance-Essential,</ref>

*Rep. [[Chris Gibson]] of [[New York]] for being the most [[liberal]] [[Republican]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] <ref>.http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/02/21/chris-gibson-ranked-as-most-liberal-republican-in</ref>

*Rep. [[Michael Simpson]] of [[Idaho]]

*Rep. [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] of [[Florida]], for her support of the homosexual agenda<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/ileana-roslehtinen-become_n_977464.html</ref>

*Rep. [[Mario Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Aaron Schock]] of [[Illinois]]

*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Renee Ellmers]] of [[North Carolina]]

*Rep. [[Frank Lucas]] of [[Oklahoma]]

*Rep. [[Rick Crawford]] of [[Arkansas]]

=== Governors ===

*Governor [[Chris Christie]] of [[New Jersey]]

*Governor [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]]

*Governor [[Jan Brewer]] of [[Arizona]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/19/how-tea-party-hero-jan-brewer-saved-obamacare-in-arizona.html</ref>

*Governor [[Jack Dalrymple]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/governor-jack-dalrymple-signs-obamacare-expansion-of-medicaid-into-law/</ref>

*Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/brian-sandoval-nevada-medicaid-expansion_n_2284478.html</ref>

*Governor [[John Kasich]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Rick Snyder]] of [[Michigan]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Susana Martinez]] of [[New Mexico]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Bob McDonnell]] of [[Virginia]]

=== Federal Judges ===

*Supreme Court Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] after his support of gutting Arizona's immigration law and yet being the swing vote responsible for keeping [[Obamacare]] upheld. As Supreme Court Justices officially have no party, he is more of a "conservative in name only".

=== Local Legislators ===

*State Senator Allan Kittleman of [[Maryland]], for promoting homosexual [[special rights]]<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/gop_senator_announces_support.html GOP senator announces support for Md. same-sex marriage bill]</ref>

*[[Texas]] Speaker of the House Joe Straus

==RINOs currently not holding political office==
=== Executive Officials===

*Former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], because he regulated the economy and used social justice.

*Former [[President]] [[George H.W. Bush]] for claiming he wouldn't raise [[taxes]] and subsequently raising them

*Former [[President]] [[Richard Nixon]] for establishing the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and supporting [[affirmative action]]

*Former [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]]

*Former [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] for supporting [[government spending]], increasing the size of government, and for filling his cabinet with a litany of other RINOs.<ref>Such as [[Dick Cheney]], [[Collin Powell]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]].</ref> Failed at child rearing.<ref>As can seen by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKqr230U9M this video] (Warning: Contains no graphic content but might still be unsuitable for children)</ref>

*Former Vice-President and Senator [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]]

*Former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], for supporting the [[Homosexual Agenda]], being a [[Neocon]] and supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program.

=== Government Secretaries ===
*Former Senator and HUD Secretary [[Mel Martinez]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]

*Former Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].

*Former Press Secretary [[Scott McClellan]]

*Former Press Secretary [[James Brady]], for being a major gun control advocate

*Former Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]], for supporting the Homosexual Agenda.

*Former Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], for supporting DADT repeal and being pro-abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], for supporting DADT repeal and failing to condemn same-sex "marriage" and abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], for defending [[Barack Obama]]'s handling of [[Benghazi]] <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com
/USA/Politics/2013/0512/Robert-Gates-Obama-made-right-decisions-night-of-Benghazi-attack</ref>

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Former Senator [[Scott Brown]] of [[Massachusetts]]

*Former Senator [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]]

*Former Senator [[Alan Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]]

*Former Senator [[Gordon Smith]] of [[Oregon]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for claiming that [[Reagan]] couldn't make it in the current Republican Party.

*Former Senator [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Bennett]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] of [[Maine]]

*Former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] of [[Texas]]

*Former Senator [[Richard Lugar]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting the homosexual agenda and abortion.

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Former Congressman Steve LaTourette of [[Ohio]]

*Former Congressman [[Lincoln Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[David Rivera]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] of [[Connecticut]]

*Former Congressman [[Tom Campbell]] of [[California]]

*Former Congressman and Governor [[Michael Castle]] of [[Delaware]]

*Former Congressman [[Joseph Cao]] of [[Louisiana]]

*Former Congressman [[Joe Scarborough]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congresswoman [[Jennifer Dunn]] of [[Washington]]

=== Governors ===

*Former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Governor [[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] of [[California]]

*Former Governor [[Linda Lingle]] of [[Hawaii]]

*Former Governor [[Mitch Daniels]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Governor [[George Pataki]] of [[New York]]

*Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [[Christine Todd Whitman]] of [[New Jersey]]

=== Mayors ===

*Former [[New York City]] Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]

==Former RINOs who have since left the Republican Party==

* Former [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Gary Johnson]] supports same-sex marriage and abortion (although he opposes abortion once the fetus becomes viable outside the mother's body). After switching to the [[Libertarian Party]] in 2012 to run for President, he openly admitted that he governed New Mexico for eight years as a RINO, even using the phrase "Republican in name only" on multiple occasions. The Libertarian Party is [[liberal]] on social issues (with the exception that they support [[gun rights]]) but are fiscally very conservative.

* Former Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] supported ObamaCare and switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party to give the latter a 60-40 edge in the Senate and allow them to enact [[cloture]] on the Republican [[filibuster]].

*Former Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], who became an Independent in 2007. Turned Democrat in 2013.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/lincoln-chafee-to-switch-parties-sources-say-91994.html</ref>

*Former Senator [[Lowell Weicker]] of [[Connecticut]], who left the party and formed his own local one in 1990, then became an Independent in 1995.

*[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], who became an Independent in 2007. As it is not possible to campaign as an Independent in New York State, Bloomberg runs on the line of the [[Independence Party of New York]].

*Former Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]], who left the Party and became a Democrat in 2001, giving control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to the Democrats.

*Former Governor [[Charlie Crist]] of [[Florida]], who became an independent in 2010 after it was clear he would lose his Senate bid. Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in 2012.

*Former Representative [[John Anderson]] of [[Illinois]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 1980.

*Former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Louisiana]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 2012.

==RINO McCain==

A majority of conservatives distrust RINO [[John McCain]] even though many of his policies are that of a true conservative. Key RINO principles rejected by McCain include support for [[gay rights]], support for [[abortion]], and support for [[earmark]]s. He has positioned his career as a bipartisan moderate, reaching across the aisle whenever possible. This is also his downfall. The era of reaching across the aisle passed -- when [[statist]], [[socialist]] Democrats became Senators. His major political blunders mostly came during the 21st century political period. He was against both the Reagan and Bush [[tax cuts]], and employed [[class warfare]] rhetoric in trying to stop the tax cuts from taking effect. His support for amnesty was the complete opposite of what conservatives wanted. He has always complained about [[waterboarding|enhanced interrogation techniques]], calling them "[[torture]]". In non-election years, he likes to trash conservative positions and icons in order to get the [[Mainstream media|media]]'s and Democrats' approval. However, during the election he refused to go after [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s associations with [[Jeremiah Wright]]. He believes in the junk science known as [[global warming]], and has supported cap-and-trade programs. Another [[Middle East]] war, without a goal, without full commitment to win, without Congressional approval- McCain supports the President. It didn't stop there and in July 2011, he called the [[Tea Party]], the people that care about fiscal sanity in Washington, they are "hobbits".

The sacrifices he has made serving this country cannot be overlooked. John McCain has earned war hero status but also the status as a D.C. zero.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1615233/in-senate-primary-california-republicans.html In Senate primary, California Republicans run away from RINO label]
* [http://www.commieblaster.com/RINO/index.html CommieBlaster RINO Index]

==See Also==
*[[RINO Backers]]
*[[PLINO]] - [[pro-life]] in name only
*[[XINO]] - [[Christian]] in name only
*[[Republican Party]]
*[[Moderate Republican]]
*[[Conservative Democrat]]
*[[Blue Dog Democrat]]
*[[Reagan Democrat]]
*[[Catholic in name only]]
*[[Liberal media conservative]]

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:RINOs|*]]

RINO

2013-08-06T17:25:09Z

Jm920: /* Members of the U.S. House of Representatives */

[[File:Kel-rino.jpg|thumb|250px|Sergeant [[Jesse Kelly]] runs for Congress in Arizona in 2009 and attacks the RINOs in the GOP]]
A '''RINO''' ('''R'''epublican '''i'''n '''N'''ame '''O'''nly) is an officeholder or candidate who is a member of the [[Republican Party]], but holds views to the political left of most Republican voters. The term "RINO" describes politicians who claim to be [[Republican Party|Republican]] but are in fact [[liberal]], and therefore generally debase the winning conservative coalition base of the Republican Party.

RINOs are often Republican only to the extent it serves their own interests, and will abandon conservative principles as soon as it is in their own interests to do so. RINOs often provide support for raising taxes, [[abortion]] as [[Pro-choice|a right]], [[gay rights]] and [[gun control]]. Some RINOs have connections with [[Planned Parenthood]] or corporations that support goals of [[population control]]; other RINOs pay lip service to [[pro-life]] values while in practice not advancing those values.

[[Double standard]]s by RINOs are common: a birther comment by [[Romney]] during his campaign was supposedly a "nothing", but [[Todd Akin]]'s [[pro-life]] comment would somehow "absolutely" could cost RINOs control of the [[U.S. Senate]]!<ref>http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/08/todd-akin-rape-missouri-senate-race-reince-priebus-/1#.UDpUhNZlQ7s</ref>

RINOs, like Democrats, typically come from states in [[New England]], the Mid-Atlantic; or states on the [[Left Coast]]. A less-used term is '''[[cafeteria conservative]]''', for a person who picks and chooses which [[conservative]] principles to believe, as a person might choose foods in a cafeteria instead of ordering the full-course ''menu'' selected by the chef at most restaurants.<ref>[http://www.manp.org/association-spotlight/archives/james-carville-mary-matalin-he-said-she-said James Carville & Mary Matalin: He Said, She Said]</ref> In contrast to RINO's and cafeteria conservatives, [[movement conservative]]s understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it.

The RINO targets of attack argue they follow [[middle of the road]] policies and are not liberals; they claim they get results, and insist that without them the [[United States Congress|Congress]] would be totally controlled by liberal [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] and Republicans would rarely have any success. Conservatives respond that in the heyday of "Rockefeller liberalism" in the GOP the Democrats always controlled Congress, and the GOP only took power when [[Newt Gingrich]] launched a national conservative "Contract with America" in 1994, ending 40 years of Democratic control of the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]. The notion that we need to elect Democrat-lite type of politicians is false. The election cycles of 2010 and 2012 proved that many RINO candidates are unelectable. RINO candidates wasted millions of dollars; Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, Scott Brown, Linda McMahon, and many others could not connect with the people in liberal blue states.

In recent Republican [[Primary election|primaries]], voters have been rejecting establishment RINOs in favor of those with stronger conservative principles. Their commitment to self and not party is evident in their refusal to endorse the candidate that beats them. In some instances, they refuse the will of the voters and their party by running for office on an [[Independent candidate|independent ticket]]. It is important to vote for someone who's more conservative on the issues rather than for a Republican because anyone can join a party and be they can be RINOs.

== RINOs currently holding political office==

=== Government Secretaries ===

*Defense Secretary [[Chuck Hagel]] of [[Nebraska]]

*Transportation Secretary [[Ray Lahood]]

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] of [[Kentucky]], for supporting excessive government spending and being a [[RINO Backer]].

*Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] for supporting [[abortion]] <ref> http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Susan_Collins_Abortion.htm</ref>, amnesty <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-93531.html</ref> [[gun control]] <ref>http://www.sofmag.com/roll-call-vote-manchin-toomey-amendment</ref> and the homosexual agenda <ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC</ref>

*Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] of [[South Carolina]] for supporting amnesty <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/tea-party-lindsey-graham_n_3530569.html</ref>

*Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] of [[Alaska]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]] <ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/lisa-murkowski-gay-marriage-stance-93047.html</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Mark Kirk]] of [[Illinois]] for supporting gun control, amnesty, abortion<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Kirk_Abortion.htm</ref>, and same-sex "marriage"

*Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]]

*Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Charles Grassley]] of [[Iowa]]

*Senator [[Mike Crapo]] of [[Idaho]] for supporting environmental regulation <ref> http://www.crapo.senate.gov/issues/environment/environment_natural_resources.cfm</ref>

*Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[Bob Corker]] of [[Tennessee]] for supporting amnesty

*Senator [[Richard Shelby]] of [[Alabama]] for supporting gun control <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00125</ref> and opposing the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]

*Senator [[Johnny Isakson]] of [[Georgia]]

*Senator [[Marco Rubio]] of [[Florida]] for supporting [[amnesty]]<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/candidate-marco-rubio-2010-earned-path-citizenship-basically-code-amnesty</ref>

*Senator [[John Hoeven]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting [[government spending]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_Hoeven_Jobs.htm</ref>

*Senator [[Dean Heller]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting embryonic [[stem cell research]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Dean_Heller_Abortion.htm</ref> and amnesty

*Senator [[Rob Portman]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting gay marriage<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/15/ohio-sen-portman-now-supports-gay-marriage/</ref>

*Senator [[Richard Burr]] of [[North Carolina]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html</ref>

*Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] of [[Utah]], for supporting civil unions for homosexuals, the [[DREAM Act]], [[TARP]], voting for [[Eric Holder]], and insulting the Tea Party.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>

*Senator [[Jeff Flake]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting homosexuals serving in the military and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants.<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/is-jeff-flake-arizonas-next-john-mccain/</ref>

*Senator [[Pat Toomey]] of [[Pennsylvania]] for supporting [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/</ref>

*Senator [[Kelly Ayotte]] of [[New Hampshire]] for supporting amnesty

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Speaker of the House [[John Boehner]] of [[Ohio]] for abandoning his princapals in favor of "bipartisan compromise"

*Rep. [[Don Young]] of [[Alaska]]

*Rep. [[David Dreier]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Scott Rigell]] of [[Virginia]]

*Rep. [[Joe Heck]] of [[Nevada]]

*Rep. [[Candice Miller]] of [[Michigan]]

*Rep. [[Peter King]] of [[New York]] for supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program. <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/07/25/Steve-King-NSA-Survelliance-Essential,</ref>

*Rep. [[Chris Gibson]] of [[New York]] for being the most [[liberal]] [[Republican]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] <ref>.http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2013/02/21/chris-gibson-ranked-as-most-liberal-republican-in</ref>

*Rep. [[Michael Simpson]] of [[Idaho]]

*Rep. [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] of [[Florida]], for her support of the homosexual agenda<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/ileana-roslehtinen-become_n_977464.html</ref>

*Rep. [[Mario Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Rep. [[Aaron Schock]] of [[Illinois]]

*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] of [[California]]

*Rep. [[Renee Ellmers]] of [[North Carolina]]

*Rep. [[Frank Lucas]] of [[Oklahoma]]

*Rep. [[Rick Crawford]] of [[Arkansas]]

=== Governors ===

*Governor [[Chris Christie]] of [[New Jersey]]

*Governor [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]]

*Governor [[Jan Brewer]] of [[Arizona]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/06/19/how-tea-party-hero-jan-brewer-saved-obamacare-in-arizona.html</ref>

*Governor [[Jack Dalrymple]] of [[North Dakota]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/governor-jack-dalrymple-signs-obamacare-expansion-of-medicaid-into-law/</ref>

*Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] of [[Nevada]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/brian-sandoval-nevada-medicaid-expansion_n_2284478.html</ref>

*Governor [[John Kasich]] of [[Ohio]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Rick Snyder]] of [[Michigan]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Susana Martinez]] of [[New Mexico]] for supporting unconstitutional [[ObamaCare]]

*Governor [[Bob McDonnell]] of [[Virginia]]

=== Federal Judges ===

*Supreme Court Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] after his support of gutting Arizona's immigration law and yet being the swing vote responsible for keeping [[Obamacare]] upheld. As Supreme Court Justices officially have no party, he is more of a "conservative in name only".

=== Local Legislators ===

*State Senator Allan Kittleman of [[Maryland]], for promoting homosexual [[special rights]]<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/gop_senator_announces_support.html GOP senator announces support for Md. same-sex marriage bill]</ref>

*[[Texas]] Speaker of the House Joe Straus

==RINOs currently not holding political office==
=== Executive Officials===

*Former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], because he regulated the economy and used social justice.

*Former [[President]] [[George H.W. Bush]] for claiming he wouldn't raise [[taxes]] and subsequently raising them

*Former [[President]] [[Richard Nixon]] for establishing the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and supporting [[affirmative action]]

*Former [[President]] [[Gerald Ford]] for supporting [[same-sex "marriage"]]

*Former [[President]] [[George W. Bush]] for supporting [[government spending]], increasing the size of government, and for filling his cabinet with a litany of other RINOs.<ref>Such as [[Dick Cheney]], [[Collin Powell]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Paul Wolfowitz]].</ref> Failed at child rearing.<ref>As can seen by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKqr230U9M this video] (Warning: Contains no graphic content but might still be unsuitable for children)</ref>

*Former Vice-President and Senator [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of [[New York]]

*Former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], for supporting the [[Homosexual Agenda]], being a [[Neocon]] and supporting the [[NSA]] domestic spying program.

=== Government Secretaries ===
*Former Senator and HUD Secretary [[Mel Martinez]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]]

*Former Secretary of [[Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].

*Former Press Secretary [[Scott McClellan]]

*Former Press Secretary [[James Brady]], for being a major gun control advocate

*Former Deputy Secretary of Defense [[Paul Wolfowitz]], for supporting the Homosexual Agenda.

*Former Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]], for supporting DADT repeal and being pro-abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], for supporting DADT repeal and failing to condemn same-sex "marriage" and abortion.

*Former Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]], for defending [[Barack Obama]]'s handling of [[Benghazi]] <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com
/USA/Politics/2013/0512/Robert-Gates-Obama-made-right-decisions-night-of-Benghazi-attack</ref>

=== U.S. Senators ===

*Former Senator [[Scott Brown]] of [[Massachusetts]]

*Former Senator [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]]

*Former Senator [[Alan Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]]

*Former Senator [[Gordon Smith]] of [[Oregon]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]] for claiming that [[Reagan]] couldn't make it in the current Republican Party.

*Former Senator [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]]

*Former Senator [[Bob Bennett]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] of [[Maine]]

*Former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] of [[Texas]]

*Former Senator [[Richard Lugar]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], for supporting the homosexual agenda and abortion.

=== Members of the U.S. House of Representatives ===

*Former Congressman Steve LaTourette of [[Ohio]]

*Former Congressman [[Lincoln Diaz-Balart]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[David Rivera]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] of [[Connecticut]]

*Former Congressman [[Tom Campbell]] of [[California]]

*Former Congressman and Governor [[Michael Castle]] of [[Delaware]]

*Former Congressman [[Joseph Cao]] of [[Louisiana]]

*Former Congressman [[Joe Scarborough]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Congresswoman [[Jennifer Dunn]] of [[Washington]]

=== Governors ===

*Former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]

*Former Governor [[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]] of [[Utah]]

*Former Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] of [[California]]

*Former Governor [[Linda Lingle]] of [[Hawaii]]

*Former Governor [[Mitch Daniels]] of [[Indiana]]

*Former Governor [[George Pataki]] of [[New York]]

*Former Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator [[Christine Todd Whitman]] of [[New Jersey]]

=== Mayors ===

*Former [[New York City]] Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]

==Former RINOs who have since left the Republican Party==

* Former [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Gary Johnson]] supports same-sex marriage and abortion (although he opposes abortion once the fetus becomes viable outside the mother's body). After switching to the [[Libertarian Party]] in 2012 to run for President, he openly admitted that he governed New Mexico for eight years as a RINO, even using the phrase "Republican in name only" on multiple occasions. The Libertarian Party is [[liberal]] on social issues (with the exception that they support [[gun rights]]) but are fiscally very conservative.

* Former Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] supported ObamaCare and switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party to give the latter a 60-40 edge in the Senate and allow them to enact [[cloture]] on the Republican [[filibuster]].

*Former Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] of [[Rhode Island]], who became an Independent in 2007. Turned Democrat in 2013.<ref>http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/lincoln-chafee-to-switch-parties-sources-say-91994.html</ref>

*Former Senator [[Lowell Weicker]] of [[Connecticut]], who left the party and formed his own local one in 1990, then became an Independent in 1995.

*[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], who became an Independent in 2007. As it is not possible to campaign as an Independent in New York State, Bloomberg runs on the line of the [[Independence Party of New York]].

*Former Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]], who left the Party and became a Democrat in 2001, giving control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to the Democrats.

*Former Governor [[Charlie Crist]] of [[Florida]], who became an independent in 2010 after it was clear he would lose his Senate bid. Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in 2012.

*Former Representative [[John Anderson]] of [[Illinois]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 1980.

*Former Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] of [[Louisiana]], who became an Independent after losing his party's presidential primary in 2012.

==RINO McCain==

A majority of conservatives distrust RINO [[John McCain]] even though many of his policies are that of a true conservative. Key RINO principles rejected by McCain include support for [[gay rights]], support for [[abortion]], and support for [[earmark]]s. He has positioned his career as a bipartisan moderate, reaching across the aisle whenever possible. This is also his downfall. The era of reaching across the aisle passed -- when [[statist]], [[socialist]] Democrats became Senators. His major political blunders mostly came during the 21st century political period. He was against both the Reagan and Bush [[tax cuts]], and employed [[class warfare]] rhetoric in trying to stop the tax cuts from taking effect. His support for amnesty was the complete opposite of what conservatives wanted. He has always complained about [[waterboarding|enhanced interrogation techniques]], calling them "[[torture]]". In non-election years, he likes to trash conservative positions and icons in order to get the [[Mainstream media|media]]'s and Democrats' approval. However, during the election he refused to go after [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s associations with [[Jeremiah Wright]]. He believes in the junk science known as [[global warming]], and has supported cap-and-trade programs. Another [[Middle East]] war, without a goal, without full commitment to win, without Congressional approval- McCain supports the President. It didn't stop there and in July 2011, he called the [[Tea Party]], the people that care about fiscal sanity in Washington, they are "hobbits".

The sacrifices he has made serving this country cannot be overlooked. John McCain has earned war hero status but also the status as a D.C. zero.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1615233/in-senate-primary-california-republicans.html In Senate primary, California Republicans run away from RINO label]
* [http://www.commieblaster.com/RINO/index.html CommieBlaster RINO Index]

==See Also==
*[[RINO Backers]]
*[[PLINO]] - [[pro-life]] in name only
*[[XINO]] - [[Christian]] in name only
*[[Republican Party]]
*[[Moderate Republican]]
*[[Conservative Democrat]]
*[[Blue Dog Democrat]]
*[[Reagan Democrat]]
*[[Catholic in name only]]
*[[Liberal media conservative]]

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:RINOs|*]]

George Zimmerman

2013-07-15T18:23:14Z

Jm920:

'''George Zimmerman''' is a Hispanic who had long worked as a volunteer to patrol his gated neighborhood in [[Florida]], which had been subjected to a series of crimes. One rainy evening in March 2012, Zimmerman encountered an African American youth wearing a hoodie. After some kind of confrontation, the youth was killed from the firing of Zimmerman's gun, which he had a permit to carry. The youth, Trayvon Martin was unarmed, although Zimmerman and some witnesses state that he was trying to take Zimmerman's gun.<ref>http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-14/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-death-rally-20120314_1_shooting-death-bryant-chief-bill-lee</ref>

After a media sensation that included distortions of the facts, George Zimmerman was subsequently charged with second-degree murder after being denied the protection of a [[grand jury]], despite his claim that he acted in [[self defense]].<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0409/No-grand-jury-What-does-that-mean-for-George-Zimmerman</ref> In the analogous case of Bernhard Goetz, the protection of a grand jury was important when the first grand jury declined to [[indictment|indict]] on the biggest charges.

Rather than plead the [[Fifth Amendment]], [[George Zimmerman]] surprisingly took the witness stand in April and testified that "he thought Trayvon was an adult, 'a little bit younger than I am,' and that he didn't know if Trayvon was armed or not. Zimmerman ended by saying, 'I'm sorry for the loss of your son.'" His bond was set at only $150,000, which he posted quickly in order to remain free until trial.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0420/George-Zimmerman-bond-hearing-5-new-things-we-learned/Zimmerman-brooded-over-comments-by-Trayvon-s-mother</ref>

:: On July 13, 2013: '' After three weeks of testimony, the six-woman jury rejected the prosecution’s contention that Mr. Zimmerman had deliberately pursued Mr. Martin because he assumed the hoodie-clad teenager was a criminal and instigated the fight that led to his death.'' [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html?hp&_r=0]

== Media bias ==

"The revelation that [[NBC News]] altered the recorded 911 call that George Zimmerman made to police before he fatally shot Trayvon Martin has brought down heavy criticism on NBC."<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0404/George-Zimmerman-911-call-what-the-fallout-is-from-botched-editing</ref> NBC News altered the 911 call to make it look like George Zimmerman was obsessed with Trayvon Martin's ethnicity, when in fact Zimmerman merely complied with a direct demand by the 911 operator to provide the ethnicity of Mr. Martin.

For political reasons (to avoid creating an animosity between two [[Democrat]] voting blocs), the [[liberal media]] invented the term "white Hispanic" rather than "Hispanic", over the objection of George Zimmerman's family. It would typically be considered racist to play that word game in another context; no one in the media would refer to a politician as a "white African American."

A writer for [[CNN]] observed:<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/opinion/navarrette-white-hispanic/index.html?hpt=po_r1</ref>
{{cquote|Now, courtesy of the [[mainstream media]], there is a new phrase to add to our national lexicon: 'white Hispanic.' ... I've written about the thorny subjects of race and ethnicity for nearly a quarter century, and I rarely hear this term. ... Wherever this road leads, it's not good -- not for Hispanics nor the rest of the country.}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/video-witnesses-claim-george-zimmerman-didnt-help-trayvon-martin Witnesses Claim George Zimmerman Didn't Help Trayvon Martin.]
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/30/trayvon-martin-witness-zimmerman-uninjured Trayvon Martin killing: witness says he saw Zimmerman walk away uninjured.]

== References ==

<references/>

RINO

2013-07-12T22:22:16Z

Jm920: /* Governors */

RINO

2013-07-02T22:45:44Z

Jm920: /* Local Legislators */

Michael Mukasey

2013-06-23T17:15:28Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Michael Mukasey
|image=Mukasey.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Susan Mukasey
|religion=Orthodox Judaism
|offices=
{{Officeholder/attorneygeneral
|jurisdiction=the United States
|number=81st
|deputy=n
|president=[[George W. Bush]]
|terms=November 9, 2007 – January 20, 2009
|preceded=[[Alberto Gonzales]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Eric Holder]]
}}
}}
'''Micheal B. Mukasey''' (born 1941, Bronx, [[New York|NY]]) is a former federal district judge for the Southern District of [[New York]]. Nominated by [[Ronald Reagan]], Mukasey presided until his retirement in 2006, compiling a tenure that is widely viewed favorably. Following the resignation of [[Alberto Gonzales]], Mukasey was nominated by [[President George W. Bush]] to be the [[United States Attorney General]].<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RMR8300&show_article=1</reF>

Conservatives had anticipated that Bush would pick former Solicitor General [[Theodore Olson]], but Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] vowed to block his confirmation. A former member of the Justice Department stated that the decision "came down to confirmability."<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5850.html</ref>

Mukasey was a member of the Justice Advisory Committee of Giuliani's presidential campaign and his son is a law partner with Guiliani.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5850.html</ref>
[[Democrat]] senator [[Chuck Schumer]] has praised Mukasey past work and in 2003 he placed him on the acceptable "consensus" candidate list for the Supreme Court.<ref>http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/09/018472.php</ref>

Mukasey presided over thousands of cases, many of them high-stake affairs. In 1996, he presided over the trail of [[Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman]], the jihadist behind the [[1993 World Trade Center bombing]], and eleven co-defendants, who were convicted and received lengthy prison terms.<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmY3MTM5ZDFjYTk2YTc3ZDliNzcyY2FkYjhlYTRmOWU=</ref> His work in this important trial earned praise from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated in a review of the trial,
<blockquote>
"The trial judge, the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey, presided with extraordinary skill and patience, assuring fairness to the prosecution and to each defendant and helpfulness to the jury. His was an outstanding achievement in the face of challenges far beyond those normally endured by a trial judge."<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmY3MTM5ZDFjYTk2YTc3ZDliNzcyY2FkYjhlYTRmOWU=</ref>
</blockquote>

He also presided over the recent dispute between [[Larry Silverstein]] and insurers related to the World Trade Center site.<ref>http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/07/21/judge-michael-mukasey-to-join-patterson-belknap/</ref>

Mukasey earned his bachelor’s degree at Columbia before graduating from [[Yale]] Law School in 1967. He left his law practice in 1988 for his appointed position as federal judge. In 2006, Mr. Mukasey announced that he was retiring to take a job at the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/washington/16attorney.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin</ref>

Mukasey was replaced by Eric Holder as Attorney General.

==References==
<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukasey, Michael}}
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:United States Attorneys General]]

Jon Huntsman, Jr.

2013-06-22T16:57:06Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Jon Huntsman, Jr.
|image=Huntsman.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Mary Kaye Huntsman
|religion=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
|offices=
{{Officeholder/ambassador
|for=United States
|to=China
|president=[[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=August 11, 2009-April 30, 2011
|preceded=Clark Randt
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=16th
|state=Utah
|terms=January 3, 2005 – August 11, 2009
|preceded=Olene Walker
|former=y
|succeeded=Gary Herbert
}}
{{Officeholder/ambassador
|for=United States
|to=Singapore
|president=[[George H.W. Bush]]
|terms=1992-1993
|preceded=Robert Orr
|former=y
|succeeded=Ralph Boyce
}}

}}

'''Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr.''' is an American [[business]]man, [[diplomat]] and [[politician]] who served as Governor of [[Utah]] . He sought the [[Republican]] nomination for president in 2012,<ref>http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2071003,00.html</ref> but withdrew from the race before the South Carolina primaries. <ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/huntsman-says-hes-quitting-g-o-p-race/]</ref>
The [[libertarian]] [[Cato Institute]] has praised his tax policies, but criticized his spending.<ref>http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-624.pdf</ref>

He supported civil unions for [[homosexuals]]<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/51795519-90/civil-cowan-gay-governor.html.csp</ref> and now supports [[same-sex "marriage"]].<ref>http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/marriage-equality-is-a-conservative-cause485/</ref> He claims to be [[pro-life]].<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/03/jon-huntsman-touts-pro-life-record-at-faith-and-freedom-coalition-conference/</ref> He has stated his belief in both [[Darwinism]] and [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|man-made global warming]] saying (sic) "I believe scientists on evolution and global warming. Call me crazy."<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/177429-huntsman-call-me-crazy-i-believe-in-evolution-global-warming</ref>

However, in the economic sphere, he appears to be slightly more conservative, as he fully supported [[Paul Ryan]]'s budget and would repeal [[ethanol]] subsidies, a failed liberal faux-environmentalist program.

[[Liberal]] [[Barack Obama]] appointed Huntsman as his ambassador to [[China]]. He was previously ambassador to Singapore for [[George H.W. Bush]]. He served as the governor of Utah from 2005-2009.

In the 2012 Republican primary race for president, Huntsman attracted almost no support besides the media, pulled out quickly, and then endorsed Romney.

==Personal life==
Huntsman is a member of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] and is currently married to Mary Huntsman. They have seven children (two of them adopted). He is a fan of [[Nirvana]] and was once in a band during his youth. His father, [[Jon Huntsman, Sr.]] is an industrial magnate.

==Political Positions==

Huntsman seeks to enact national education reform that would promote more choice and would initiate merit based pay. He advocates a continuation of US military supremacy which he wants to accomplish through a modern fighting force. His fiscally conservative jobs plan made the Utah the #1 state in job creation during his tenure. Huntsman claims to be pro-life and opposed to [[gun control]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Jon_Huntsman.htm</ref>

==See also==
*[[RINO]] (stance on [[same-sex "marriage"]] and environmental policy, as well as coziness towards progressives like Obama and snideness towards conservatives)
*[[Gary Locke]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huntsman, Jr., Jon}}
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Utah Governors]]
[[Category:Mormons]]
[[Category:2012 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
==External links==
*[http://jonhuntsmanjr.com/ Official website]

== References ==
<references/>

Ann Coulter

2013-06-22T16:17:38Z

Jm920: /* Books */

[[File:Ann Coulter2.jpg|right|200px]]
'''Ann Hart Coulter''' (b. 1961) a conservative commentator who often criticizes [[liberals]]. She also sometimes answers liberals in very outrageous considered manners, and then switching the point-of-view around. Liberals have slandered her for this.

She is an [[attorney]], legal affairs correspondent, social commentator and a well known political pundit.
She has written five bestselling books on U.S. politics. U.S. Federal Judge [[Richard Posner]] included her in a list of America's top public intellectuals.<ref>[http://home.uchicago.edu/~rposner/publicintellect.htm] "Data for tables in Chapter 5 of Richard A. Posner, Public Intellectuals: A Study of Decline" where Posner talks about the data he used for his book ''Public Intellectuals: A Study of Decline''.</ref><ref>[http://home.uchicago.edu/~rposner/TABLE%20II.pdf] Table II, which is Posner's data for 607 public intellectuals. A PDF search of "Coulter" will show she is on Posner's list.</ref>

Coulter's primary focus is exposing what she says are the faults of [[liberalism]], and she has enjoyed a popular following for her strong defense of family values against [[abortion]] and [[same-sex marriage]]. She is well known for her forthright statements against those who she accuses of wanting to hurt the [[United States]].

Coulter is a high profile female [[conservative]], in line with [[Phyllis Schlafly]] and [[Condoleezza Rice]]. Her books and strong speaking style have endeared her to fans and infuriated opponents, in which they often see as radical.

As a [[Christian]], Coulter adheres to the [[Judeo-Christian]] tradition the view that [[human being]]s are utterly and distinctly apart from other species.

Being an seemingly unabashedly conservative pundit, Coulter's social commentaries often draw the ire of [[liberal]]s. Her comments are frequently controversial and her critics often feign being offended.<ref>She called Democratic women "no-bra needing, sandal-wearing, [[hirsute]], somewhat fragrant [[hippie]] chick pie wagons". [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501610_2.html (Washington Post)]</ref><ref>At a CPAC conference, Coulter joked, "I was going to have a few comments about John Edwards but you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'f*****.'" [http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Coulter_Faggot_not_offensive_to_gay_0306.html]</ref>

Coulter made headlines during the 2008 Presidential primaries by endorsing [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] for President instead of [[John McCain]]. Coulter asserted that McCain is not conservative, but [[liberal]].

In August of 2011 Coulter created a stir by agreeing to join the advisory board of [[GOProud]], the Republican homosexual activist organization. Earlier this year [[WorldNetDaily]] chief Joseph Farah withdrew an invitation to Coulter to speak at WND's "Taking America Back National Conference" in Miami in September, because of her appearance at a GOProud fundraiser.

Since early 2012 she is a vocal supporter and defender of [[Mitt Romney]] as presidential candidate.

==Views on the Democratic Party==

Coulter says that the [[Democratic Party]] has a "history of supporting [[slavery]], [[segregation]], racial preferences, [[George Wallace]] and [[Bull Connor]]." [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=35188]
[[Image:Coulter2006.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Coulter on the ''Tonight Show with Jay Leno''.]]
==Books==

Some of her books include
*''[[High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton]]'' (2002)
*''[[Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right]]'' (2003)
*''[[Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism]]'' (2004)
*''[[How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)]]'' (2005)
*''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]]'' (2007)
*''[[If Democrats Had Any Brains They'd Be Republicans]]'' (2007)
*''[[Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America]]'' (2009)
*''[[Demonic: How the Liberal Mob is Endangering America]]'' (2011)
*''[[Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama]]'' (2012)

In ''Godless'', Coulter illustrates the concepts of liberals making a [[religion]] out of their beliefs, following with the sort of intolerant zeal which they claim [[fundamentalist]]s do. "Liberalism is a comprehensive belief system denying the Christian belief in man's immortal soul [and] that we are moral beings in God's image." (pg. 3)

==Quotes==

* "Whether they are defending the [[Soviet Union]] or bleating for [[Saddam Hussein]], liberals are always against [[United States of America|America]]. They are either traitors or idiots ... "<Ref>''Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism.''</ref>
* "My only regret with [[Timothy McVeigh]] is he did not go to the [[New York Times]] Building." She later clarified "Of course I regret [saying] it. I should have added, 'after everyone had left the building except the editors and reporters."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-06-09-coulter-roemer_x.htm 9/11 Commissioner Criticizes Coulter's 'Hate-Filled Attack'] Associated Press story in USA Today. "'My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building,' The New York Observer quoted her as saying on Aug. 20, 2002. She clarified those remarks with RightWingNews.com: 'Of course I regret it. I should have added, "after everyone had left the building except the editors and reporters."'"</ref><ref>Hawkins, [http://rightwingnews.com/interviews/anncoulter.php An Interview With Ann Coulter], Right Wing News.</ref>

* "We just want Jews to be perfected, as they say." (The view that Christians are perfected Jews is a common belief among Jewish converts to Christianity, who view Christianity as a natural continuation of Judaism.

* "Saddam's barbaric rape rooms, chemical attacks and torture — those, liberals could live with. But now they want us to send troops to [[Darfur]], a country from which no one anticipates terrorism anytime in the next millennium. If you're looking for a good definition of "no imminent threat," Darfur is it... These people can't even wrap up genocide. We've been hearing about this slaughter in Darfur forever — and they still haven't finished. The aggressors are moving like termites across that country. It's like genocide by committee. Who's running this holocaust in Darfur, FEMA?...Darfur is not the threat... though a hostage-taking, [[Holocaust]]-denying lunatic who doesn't own a necktie but is within two years of having a nuclear bomb comes to mind. You can already hear [[Harry Reid]] and [[Nancy Pelosi]] saying, "If the Democrats were in charge, the use of military force wouldn't be necessary because we'd constructively engage them and appease their stated desire to kill us."<REF>This appeared on Coulter's web site on April 4th, 2007. http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=177</REF>

* "If you want a shorter rebuilding process, then we're going to have to wage less humane wars. The enemy — as well as innocent civilians — must be bombed into quivering terror. Otherwise, we displace aggression but don't destroy it. Americans are weaker for having seen that kind of carnage in [[World War II]]. Recall that the Worst Generation was raised by the Greatest Generation. That tells you how awful war is. The Greatest Generation was so exhausted by the war, it didn't have the spine to stand up to [[pot-smoking]], draft-dodging hippies occupying administration buildings."<REF>This appeared on Coulter's web site on April 4th, 2007. http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=177</REF>

* "I think [women] should be armed but should not vote. No, they all have to give up their vote, not just, you know, the lady clapping and me. The problem with women voting -- and your [[Communists]] will back me up on this -- is that, you know, women have no capacity to understand how money is earned. They have a lot of ideas on how to spend it. And when they take these polls, it's always more money on education, more money on child care, more money on day care."<ref> ''Politically Incorrect'', Feb. 26, 2001</ref>

* "...a cruise missile is more important than Head Start."<ref>Nov. 2001 speech rebroadcast by C-Span in Jan. 2002</ref>

* On Sept. 13, 2001 she wrote this about the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|Sept. 11 terrorist attack]]: "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."<ref>''National Review Online'', September 2001 [http://www.nationalreview.com/coulter/coulter.shtml]</ref>

* "We need to execute people like John Walker [Lindh] in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too. Otherwise, they will turn out to be outright traitors," Conservative Political Action Conference, January 2002. Coulter later clarified what she meant; "when I said we should "execute" John Walker Lindh, I mis-spoke. What I meant to say was 'We should burn John Walker Lindh alive and televise it on prime-time network TV'. My apologies for any misunderstanding that might have occurred."<ref>[http://www.rightwingnews.com/interviews/coulteriffic.php RWN's Ann Coulter Interview #2] John Hawkins.</ref>

* "Liberals are driven by [[Satan]] and lie constantly.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21345 That Was No Lady -- That Was My Husband], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'', 06/28/2007.</ref>

* "Every concrete example of the racism allegedly sweeping the nation's campuses keeps turning out to be a fraud. Far from "institutional racism," there is "institutional racial hoaxism" run amok in this country."<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22909&email Another Liberal Noose-ance], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'', 10/17/2007.</ref>

* "Rather than own up to their moral blindness to Soviet espionage, Democrats fired up the liberal slander machine, which would be deployed again and again over the next half century to the present day.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23316 McCarthyism: The Rosetta Stone of Liberal Lies], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'', 11/07/2007.</ref>

* "By exposing the Democrats' absolute blindness to Soviet [[totalitarianism]], [[McCarthy]] shattered forever the nation's confidence in the Democrats' capacity to govern. For that, the [[Stalin]]ist [[liberal hate speech|hate machine]] attacked him viciously and has never let up."<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23824 They'll Never Forgive You], by Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'', 12/05/2007.</ref>

* "How about having [[Tim Russert]] ask Hillary if she believes the [[New Testament]] is the [[perfection]] of the [[Old Testament]]? She claims to be a [[Christian]]. Let's get it on the table: Is she or isn't she? It doesn't get any more bare-bones than that.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23174 How Long Before the A.D.L. Kicks Out All its Jews?], By Ann Coulter, ''Human Events'', October 31, 2007.</ref>

* "[The New York Times'] reaction to al-Zarqawi's death was to lower the U.S. flag at the Times building to half-staff. (Ha ha — just kidding! Everybody knows there aren't any American flags at The New York Times.)"<ref>[http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter071306.php3 ''N.Y. Times: Better dead than read]]</ref>

* "I think our motto should be post-9-11, ‘raghead talks tough, raghead faces consequences.'"<ref>http://michellemalkin.com/2006/02/12/ragheads-and-sambos-and-gooks/</ref>

==See Also==
*[[Previous Breaking News/Ann Coulter|Articles about '''Ann Coulter''' from previous "Breaking News"]]
*[[Wikiproject:News by Subject#Ann Coulter| Wikiproject:News by Subject- Ann Coulter]]
*[[Conservative Links]]
*[[Lou Dobbs]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

*RealClearPolitcs.com [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/03/poll_most_americans_love_coult.html Poll: Most Americans Love Coulter Columns], accessed 6 May 2007.
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501610_2.html The Long Fuse on Ann Coulter's Bomb] - ''Washington Post'' - March 6, 2007
*[http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2095 Media Research Center 'Funny Video's from 2007'] Watch Ann Coulter present funny videos from 2007 at the 2008 MRC DisHonors Awards in DC.
* [http://www.thehill.com The Hill website]
*[http://anncoulter.com/ AnnCoulter.com/]
*[http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/07/30/2008-top-conservative-political-websites Top Conservative Political Websites.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coulter, Ann}}

[[Category:Women Authors]]
[[Category:Conservative Commentators]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Rino backers]]
{{Conservatism}}

United States Attorney General

2013-06-22T05:53:19Z

Jm920:

[[Image:Eric Holder.jpg|right|thumb|130px|current Attorney General, Eric Holder]]

The '''United States Attorney General''' is a [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] member in charge of the [[Department of Justice]] and as such, is often considered the chief law enforcement officer of the [[United States of America]]. However this has changed in the last decade with the creation of the [[Department of Homeland Security]], as many of the bodies traditionally overseen by the Attorney General are now under the purview of the [[Secretary of Homeland Security]]. Despite this decrease in power, all prosecutorial power has been retained and the Attorney General supervises all [[United States Attorney]]s. The current Attorney General is [[Eric Holder]] who has served since 2009 when he succeeded [[Michael Mukasey]]. By virtue of office, Holder is 7th in the [[presidential line of succession]]. Holder is the first African American to become Attorney General.

The position of Attorney General has a long history and was one of the first four Cabinet positions created by George Washington, who appointed [[Edmund Randolph]] as the first occupant.

==Attorney Generals of the United States==
{|class=wikitable
!Name!!colspan="2" | Term of Office
|-
|[[Edwin Meese III]]||February 25, 1985|||August 12, 1988
|-
|[[Richard Thornburgh]]||August 12, 1988|||August 15, 1991
|-
|[[William Barr]]||November 26, 1991||| January 20, 1993
|-
|[[Janet Reno]]||March 12, 1993|||January 20, 2001
|-
|[[John Ashcroft]]||February 2, 2001|||February 3, 2005
|-
|[[Alberto Gonzales]]||February 3, 2005|||September 17, 2007
|-
|[[Michael Mukasey]]||November 9, 2007|||January 20, 2009
|-
|[[Eric Holder]]||January 26, 2009|||
|-
|}
[[Category:United States Department of Justice]]

Michael Mukasey

2013-06-22T05:51:02Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Michael Mukasey
|image=Mukasey.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Susan Mukasey
|religion=Orthodox Judaism
|offices=
{{Officeholder/attorneygeneral
|jurisdiction=the United States
|number=81st
|deputy=n
|president=[[George W. Bush]]
|terms=November 9, 2007 – January 20, 2009
|preceded=[[Alberto Gonzales]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Eric Holder]]
}}
}}
'''Micheal B. Mukasey''' (born 1941, Bronx, [[New York|NY]]) is a former federal district judge for the Southern District of [[New York]]. Nominated by [[Ronald Reagan]], Mukasey presided until his retirement in 2006, compiling a tenure that is widely viewed favorably. Following the resignation of [[Alberto Gonzales]], Mukasey was nominated by [[President George W. Bush]] to be the [[United States Attorney General]].<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RMR8300&show_article=1</reF>

Conservatives had anticipated that Bush would pick former Solicitor General [[Theodore Olson]], but Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] vowed to block his confirmation. A former member of the Justice Department stated that the decision "came down to confirmability."<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5850.html</ref>

Mukasey is a member of the Justice Advisory Committee of Giuliani's presidential campaign and his son is a law partner with Guiliani.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5850.html</ref>
[[Democrat]] senator [[Chuck Schumer]] has praised Mukasey past work and in 2003 he placed him on the acceptable "consensus" candidate list for the Supreme Court.<ref>http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/09/018472.php</ref>

Mukasey presided over thousands of cases, many of them high-stake affairs. In 1996, he presided over the trail of [[Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman]], the jihadist behind the [[1993 World Trade Center bombing]], and eleven co-defendants, who were convicted and received lengthy prison terms.<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmY3MTM5ZDFjYTk2YTc3ZDliNzcyY2FkYjhlYTRmOWU=</ref> His work in this important trial earned praise from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated in a review of the trial,
<blockquote>
"The trial judge, the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey, presided with extraordinary skill and patience, assuring fairness to the prosecution and to each defendant and helpfulness to the jury. His was an outstanding achievement in the face of challenges far beyond those normally endured by a trial judge."<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmY3MTM5ZDFjYTk2YTc3ZDliNzcyY2FkYjhlYTRmOWU=</ref>
</blockquote>

He also presided over the recent dispute between [[Larry Silverstein]] and insurers related to the World Trade Center site.<ref>http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/07/21/judge-michael-mukasey-to-join-patterson-belknap/</ref>

Mukasey earned his bachelor’s degree at Columbia before graduating from [[Yale]] Law School in 1967. He left his law practice in 1988 for his appointed position as federal judge. In 2006, Mr. Mukasey announced that he was retiring to take a job at the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/washington/16attorney.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin</ref>

Mukasey was replaced by Eric Holder as Attorney General.

==References==
<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukasey, Michael}}
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:United States Attorneys General]]

Mel Martinez

2013-06-22T05:47:45Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Mel Martinez
|image=Martinez.JPG
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Kitty Martinez
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Florida
|terms=January 3, 2005-September 10, 2009
|preceded=[[Bob Graham]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[George LeMieux]]
}}
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=Housing and Urban Development
|number=12th
|deputy=(y or n)
|president=[[George W. Bush]]
|terms=January 24, 2001 – December 13, 2003
|preceded=[[Andrew Cuomo]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Alphonso Jackson]]
}}
}}
'''Melquíades Rafael "Mel" Martínez''', born October 23, 1946 (age {{age|1946|10|23}}), is a Cuban-American, who in September 2009 resigned his seat as the junior [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Florida]]. he was the former General Chairman of the [[Republican Party]]. Previously, Martinez served as the 12th [[Secretary of Housing and Urban Development]] under President [[George W. Bush]]. Martinez is Catholic.

==Early Life==
Martinez was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, to Gladys V. Ruiz and Melquiades C. Martinez. He came to the United States in 1962 as part of a Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Peter Pan, which brought into the U.S. more than 14,000 children. Not knowing a word of English, Martinez learned the language, earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University, and went on to practice law for 25 years.

==Political career==
In 1994, Martinez ran for Lieutenant Governor of Florida. He teamed up with former Family Research Council President [[Ken Connor]], who was the gubernatorial candidate. The Connor/Martinez ticket was defeated in the Republican primary, finishing fifth with 83,945 votes, or 9.31% of the vote. Martinez was the elected Chairman of Orange County, Florida, and served on the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission. He previously served as President of the Orlando Utilities Commission, on the board of directors of a community bank, and as Chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority. In 2000, Martinez was selected as the co-chairman of [[George W. Bush]]'s 2000 Presidential campaign in Florida. Bush carried Florida by under 400 votes after intense controversy and thus became president.

In November 2004, Martinez was elected to the United States Senate in Florida. Sen. Martinez announced in August 2009 that he will resign from the Senate. <ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/mel_martinez_retiring/2009/08/07/245239.html</ref>

Mel Martinez was one of the first Republicans in the Senate to endorse President Obama's Supreme Court nominee [[Sonia Sotomayor]]. <ref>http://www.rollcall.com/news/36930-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</ref>

==Political views==
With the exception of his stance on immigration, Mel Martinez is known as a strong [[conservative]]. Throughout his Senate career, he has voted with Republicans 84% of the time. <ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/m001162/</ref>

===[[Abortion]]===
Martinez is morally opposed to abortion even in case of rape or incest. He supports education to reduce abortions, and supports the promotion of alternatives such as adoption. From 2007-2008 he received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=31193</ref> In a debate moderated by [[Tim Russert]], Martinez stated the following on [[Roe v. Wade]]:

"The bottom line is I don't plan on prosecuting anyone. When I go to the United States Senate, I'm going to be confirming judges who will go to the courts, and the courts will deal with the issue. This is not up for a vote by the United States Senate." Adding, "We're far from prosecuting people in this country over that issue."

===[[Health care]]===
Supports private [[Medicare]] and [[Social Security]] accounts for new workers; advocates more thorough investigations of Medicare fraud; supports reimportation of drugs from [[Canada]].

===Right to Life===

Martinez was one of the authors of the Palm Sunday Compromise, which allowed the federal government to intervene in the [[Terri Schiavo]] case in order to prevent her death by dehydration.

===[[Iraq War]]===
Supports the Bush Doctrine, but has asserted that the U.S. erred in hastily dismantling the Iraqi Army.

===[[Immigration]]===
Mel Martinez says he's against amnesty for [[Illegal alien]]s, However, he helped craft a bill that would be referred to by much of his own party, as "amnesty." On June 28, 2007 he would later vote for an immigration bill he helped form with other Senate leaders that would allow many illegal immigrants to become citizens and provide stronger border security. The bill was defeated through being denied cloture on the Senate floor. Approximately 80% of his Republican base vehemently opposed to the bill.

==[[Republican National Committee]]==
In November 2006, Martinez was named general chairman of the Republican Party for the 2007–2008 election cycle ([[Mike Duncan]] will handle the day-to-day operations). Many conservatives objected to Martinez's selection, citing his position on immigration. He would later step down.

==External Links==
*[http://martinez.senate.gov/public/ Official Website]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Mel_Martinez.htm Martinez On the Issues]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT: Martinez, Mel}}
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
[[Category: 111th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]

John McCain

2013-06-22T05:45:06Z

Jm920: /* Gun Control */

{{Officeholder
|name=John McCain
|image=John McCain official portrait 2009.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Carol Shepp (1965-1980) [[Cindy McCain|Cindy Lou Hensley]] (1980-present)
|religion=[[Baptist]]
|offices=

{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Arizona
|terms=January 3, 1987-present
|preceded=[[Barry Goldwater]]
|former=n
|succeeded=Incumbent (no successor)
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Arizona
|district=1st
|terms=January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
|preceded=John Jacob Rhodes Jr.
|former=y
|succeeded=John Jacob Rhodes III
}}
|military=y
|branch=[[United States Navy]]
|serviceyears=1958–1981
|rank=Captain
|battles=[[Vietnam War]]
}}
'''John Sidney McCain III''', born in the U.S. [[Panama Canal]] Zone, August 29, 1936 (age {{age|1936|8|29}})<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m0003http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/Button_enter.png Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref>, was the Republican candidate for President in 2008 as well as a prominent maverick politician and [[Vietnam War]] hero. He is also the senior [[United States Senate|Senator]] of [[Arizona]]. He has been an influential leader in American politics since 1986, when he ran for office attacking corruption, attacking [[pork barrel]] spending and working for [[campaign finance reform]]. He was defeated by [[George W. Bush]] for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, and lost to [[Barack Obama]] in the 2008 Presidential Election.

As a pilot for the [[United States Navy]] and former Prisoner-of-War ([[POW]]), he served in the military for 22 years.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000303 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref> McCain, a [[Baptist]],<ref> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296973,00.html</ref> has impressive credentials on issues of foreign policy and national security, which have propelled him in the forefront of national politics as both an outspoken voice for the United States military and as a Presidential contender for the Republican Party since 1993.<ref>Paul Alexander, ''John McCain: Man of the People''. (2003)</ref>

In the Senate in 2009 McCain has moved to the right, shedding his maverick image with full-throated attacks on the Democrats' proposals for health care reform, cap-and-trade environmental taxes, and wasteful stimulus spending, while supporting President Obama's aggressive policies in the [[Afghanistan War]].
==Early Life==
McCain's family has a long history of military service, including ancestors who fought as army soldiers in the Indian Wars, [[American Revolutionary War]], [[War of 1812]], for both the Union and the Confederate States of America during the [[American Civil War]], and in [[World War I]]. Both his father and grandfather were four-star Navy admirals. In addition, McCain's two sons are currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

In 1951, the McCain family moved to Northern [[Virginia]] and he attended Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria. McCain was on the wrestling team and went on to graduate in 1954. He later joined the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1958.

==Military career==
[[Image:McCain 1965.jpg|left|thumb|200px|McCain photographed in 1965]]
McCain served heroically in the [[United States Navy]] from 1958 to 1981. He spent two and a half years as a naval aviator in training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in [[Florida]] and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in [[Texas]]. By 1967, McCain was a veteran pilot aboard the [[USS Forrestal|USS ''Forrestal'']] [[aircraft carrier]] off the coast of Vietnam. On 29 July 1967, while preparing to take off on a bombing run over North Vietnam, a missile accidentally fired from another plane, hitting the fuel tanks on McCain's aircraft and triggering explosions and a fire. McCain escaped from his plane by crawling onto the nose of the aircraft and diving on to the ship's deck which was ablaze from burning fuel. His attempt to rescue a fellow pilot whose flight suit was on fire was prevented when McCain was blown over by further explosions. When the fire was contained 24 hours later, 134 men had been killed and hundreds more injured. It was called the worst non-combat-related accident in U.S. naval history.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=526451&in_page_id=1811 ''The coronation of the ultimate survivor, John McCain''] 5 March 2008 [[Daily Mail]]</ref>

===Prisoner-Of-War (1967 - 1973)===

On October 26, 1967, as McCain was flying over [[Hanoi]]'s Thermal Power Plant during his 23rd bombing mission, he was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese. He had just released his bombs when [[A-4 Skyhawk|his plane]] was shot down by a [[surface-to-air missile]]. As he ejected, unconscious from the accident, he broke his knee and both arms and descended by parachute into a lake. When he floated ashore, Vietnamese locals spit and kicked him, nearly killing him. The police took him to Hoa Loa Prison where he was held in solitary captivity without medical attention or sufficient food. During brutal interrogations, he was asked for information in return for medical care. McCain refused, giving only his name and date of birth. When it was discovered that he was the son of a top U.S. Admiral, he was given medical care. Hospital personnel never believed he would survive, as he had large wounds and weighed a mere 100 lbs. He also had completely white hair, a product of accelerated aging under harsh conditions. Nonetheless, his health improved and McCain was held as a Prisoner-Of-War (POW) at the [[Hanoi Hilton]]. As a prisoner, guards tortured him with frequent beatings and painful contortions, breaking his teeth and bones. <ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. Published 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-47545-9</ref>

After months of beating sessions and intense interrogations, McCain was psychologically and physically weakened. At one point, he was forced to sign a statement which made claims exonerating his captors of inhumane treatment. The paper was intended for use as propaganda, but in all their subsequent attempts for promoting a "humane" image of the POW camp, McCain worked his hardest to thwart them. In 1971, four years from his capture, he was placed with 20 to 30 other Americans in better treatment. They were allowed to celebrate Christian holidays, including Christmas. McCain, who served as an impromptu chaplain, recalled that during their services, men cried; "They were tears of joy that for the first time... we were able to celebrate Christmas together."<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. Published 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-47545-9</ref> In light of his father's high military status, McCain was offered early release, which he adamantly refused in honor of the "First in, first out" clause of the POW Code of Conduct.

On March 14, 1973, after five and a half years of imprisonment, McCain was released alongside 106 other pilots under the Nixon administration. McCain received a heartfelt reception at the White House and was pronounced a war hero and eminent voice for the Vietnam War. Awards from the military followed, including the Legion of Merit, a [[Silver Star]], a [[Bronze Star]], a [[Purple Heart]], the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]], and the Vietnamese Legion of Honor.<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. Published 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-47545-9</ref> McCain's severe war injuries prevent him today from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes. <ref>http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/McCain_character_loyal_to_a_fault+.shtml</ref>

===Return to the Navy (1973 - 1981)===

The Vietnam War and his military service remained strong in McCain's. He immediately wanted to rejoin the Navy, and spent years preparing with excruciating physical therapy and a year of study in the Naval War College, where he attacked the liberal anti-war movement for weakening the morale of his fellow POWs.<ref>Kirkpatrick, David D. "[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/14/america/15pows.php In '74 thesis, the seeds of McCain's war views.]" The New York Times (June 15, 2008) p. A1.]</ref> With his extensive experience in the Navy's Aviation division, he was selected to reform the flying fleet as Commanding Officer. John McCain quickly transformed his crew's personnel, which had been underfunded in the post-Vietnam era. Carl Smith, who served under McCain, stated, "He immediately began making changes. He fired people, and he replaced people at the top who he thought were not being as effective as he wanted them to be. He wanted real leadership. He wanted the squadron to come to life."<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. pg. 57</ref> Many in his staff were disappointed to have him leave, and praised his work in promoting efficiency.<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People.</ref>

During his assignment to the Senate as the Navy's liaison, 1977-81, McCain began to join the ranks of politicians. He transformed the position from a rather unimportant post into one of authority and respect{{fact}}, gaining allies in the Senate. The Senate liaison role provided a learning experience in national security policy and foreign affairs.

==Political career==
===Congressional (1982 - 1986)===

Prior to entering public service, McCain worked in [[Phoenix]] for his father-in-law's company, Hensley & Co, which was an Anheuser-Busch beer wholesaler and distributor. With nagging injuries and limited physical mobility, McCain realized he would never become a four-star general like his forefathers.<ref>[http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542249 John McCain Biography (1936-)]</ref> Some biographers argue that he shifted into politics so that he could achieve the equivalent in politics, leading to his Senatorial career. After gaining support from local business leaders, he ran for a congressional seat for Arizona's 1st congressional district as a Republican in 1982. His [[liberal]] opponents labeled him as a "carpetbagger". McCain responded to a voter making the charge of "carpetbagging" saying,

{{cquote|Listen, pal. I spent 22 years in the Navy. My father was in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy. We in the military service tend to move a lot. We have to live in all parts of the country, all parts of the world. I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the First District of Arizona, but I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi.}}

With the endorsements of local newspapers, McCain easily won the election. In 1983, he became President of the Republican freshman class of representatives. At the time, he largely supported Reagan's hard stance against the [[Soviet Union]], his tax cuts and matters on Indian Affairs. He did, however, break with the President on the decision to place a U.S. military presence in Lebanon, saying {{cquote|''I do not foresee obtainable objectives in Lebanon; I believe the longer we stay, the more difficult it will be to leave.''<ref>Alexander, Paul. John McCain: Man of the People. pg. 100</ref>}} During his four years in [[Congress]], McCain and his wife Cindy had three children.

===Senatorial (1986 - Present)===
[[Image:Reagan mccain.jpg|left|thumb|300px|3/3/1987 President Reagan and Nancy Reagan greet John McCain in the Blue Room during a dinner for newly elected members of the 100th Congress]]
When Republican and [[conservative]] icon [[Barry Goldwater]] retired from the United States Senate in Arizona in 1986, Congressman McCain announced his candidacy for the seat. He easily won the election, defeating his Democratic opponent Richard Kimball by 20 percentage points. When entering the Senate, he became a member of the powerful Armed Services Committee and he also joined the Commerce Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee. During the 1988 Presidential Election, McCain was named chairman of Veterans for Bush. In 1991, Senator McCain became part of the "Keating Five" scandal, where McCain and four other Senators (all Democrats) were accused of improperly aiding Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of an investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Between 1982 and 1987, McCain had received approximately $112,000 in political contributions from Charles Keating Jr. After a lengthy investigation, the Senate Ethics Committee determined that McCain's involvement was minimal and was criticized for using "poor judgement".

===="Maverick" Image in the Senate====
John McCain has gained a reputation as a "maverick" for his sponsorship of many bills and leadership on almost every issue. Starting in 1994, he worked with Democratic [[Wisconsin]] Senator [[Russ Feingold]] on campaign finance reform. The McCain-Feingold bill banned "soft money". It passed and was signed into law on November 6th, 2002, by President Bush. In the 1990's, McCain gained attention for his strong opposition to pork barrel spending. He championed the 1996 Line Item Veto Act, which gave the President the power to veto individual spending items. However, in 1998, the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled the act unconstitutional.

Voteview.com rated McCain as the second most conservative Senator in the 109th Congress (Jan. 2005 - Jan. 2007).<ref>http://voteview.com/SEN109.HTM</ref>

John McCain and the Bush administration agree on most issues. He voted with the Bush administration 95% of the time in 2007, according to Congressional Quarterly's "Presidential Support Scores". <ref>http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/512/ Politifact fact checks McCain's voting support</ref> Issues include making the Bush tax cuts permanent (even though he originally opposed and voted against them), energy independence, winning the war in Iraq, reforming Social Security, and continuing and expanding Bush's supply-side economic policies.

In 2008, McCain asked for $0 in earmarks.<ref>[http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2008_database 2008 ''Pig Book''], Council for Citizens Against Government Waste</ref>The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste has given him a rating of 100% in 2007 (88% lifetime).<ref>[http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/DocServer/2007_Senate_Ratings_Final.pdf?docID=3242 2007 Senate Scorecard]</ref> A score of 100% represents voting against all pork, and 0% represents voting ''for'' all pork. Democrats averaged 5% in 2007, whereas Republicans averaged 60%. <ref>[http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/News2?abbr=CCAGW_&page=NewsArticle&id=11590 CCAGW Releases ''2007 Congressional Ratings'']</ref>

==Presidential Politics==
===2000 Presidential Campaign===
McCain launched his first campaign for President in 2000, when he challenged then-[[Texas]] Governor [[George W. Bush]] for the Republican nomination. McCain's campaign was surprisingly strong. By ignoring the [[Iowa Caucus]], he was able to win the [[New Hampshire]] Primary by nineteen percentage points. He then won the [[Michigan]] Primary. However, he went on to lose [[South Carolina]] and 9 out of the 13 [[Super Tuesday]] states. McCain withdrew from the race on March 9, 2000.

After withdrawing, McCain announced that he supported the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the top of the South Carolina statehouse. During the primary he had stated he believed it was an issue for the state to decide, which was his true belief from a federal standpoint, but not his personal belief. He felt by withholding her personal belief that he had erred. He explained that he lived his life by being open and felt he should have been at that time and apologized for not speaking up sooner. <ref>http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/04/19/mccain.sc/</ref>

===During Bush Presidency 2001 - 2008 ===
Following McCain's loss in the 2000 Presidential primary and reports of dirty tricks in [[South Carolina]]<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/21/the_anatomy_of_a_smear_campaign/ The anatomy of a smear campaign, March 21, 2004</ref><ref>http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2007/12/30/top-romney-advisor-tied-to-anonymous-attacks-of-previous-presidential-primary/ Top Romney advisor tied to anonymous attacks of previous presidential primary, December 30, 2007</ref>, McCain began to disagree with President Bush on many issues, such as tax cuts, climate change, and gun legislation. After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], McCain wrote legislation that created the 9/11 Commission, while he and Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings co-sponsored the Aviation and Transportation Security Act that federalized airport security. In May 2005, McCain led the so-called "[[Gang of 14]]" in the Senate, which established a compromise that preserved the ability of senators to [[filibuster]] judicial nominees, but only in "extraordinary circumstances". McCain also co-sponsored comprehensive immigration reform (see below under political record for details). In addition to bipartisan work in the Senate, it was during this period that McCain was courted by the Senate Democrats, and considered switching parties.<ref>http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html</ref>

===2008 Presidential Campaign===

{{main|John McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign}}

McCain announced his run for President in early 2007 at New Hampshire, a state which had boosted his floundering 2000 run for President. From the onset, he ran on an unwavering support for the Iraq War and a close tie to President Bush, stemming from his shift during the 2004 election. The Republican Party was highly splintered among political groups, with strong constituents of the Christian social conservatives (Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee), anti-immigration activists (Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo), and the blockbuster fundraisers, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, who appeared to be media favorites upon entry. McCain was not seen as a viable candidate by many Republicans because of his strong support for immigration reform and distaste for political fund-raising. Mitt Romney, for instance, had raised $23 million in the first three months of 2007, for instance, three times that of Sen. McCain.<ref>Cook, Charles. "The 2008 Presidential Primaries: What in America's Name Is Going On?" The Washington Quarterly Vol. 31 Issue 3 pp. 193-204.</ref>

Christian conservatives overwhelmingly backed Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback, rejecting McCain from longstanding offense he had struck during his 2000 run. John McCain had called politically-charged leaders such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson "agents of intolerance" for their part in a smear campaign during the South Carolina Primary. Many Christians were angered by these remarks, and fumed that they would field a Third Party candidate if McCain was chosen as the nominee. McCain had shown unfavorable views on abortion and religious initiatives in the past, and many Republican voters were worried that he could not be a reliably conservative candidate. <ref>Luo, Michael. "Evangelicals see Dilemma in GOP Field." July 8, 2007. New York Times.</ref>

Sen. McCain's unwavering support for victory in Iraq was made into a hot-button issue by many politicians following stories of insurgent violence erupting during early 2007. People began to fear the worst in Iraq, and the idea of a timetable for withdrawal became a major issue. At this time, conservative Republicans also feared McCain's position on immigration reform, and booed him loudly at the 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference. A news story by the New York Times was a major blow to the campaign, which reported that a scandalous affair between McCain and a lobbyist had taken place. It was found to be completely false, but the story severely hurt his political advances.

When news had spread that McCain's campaign bankrupted and "imploded" in the summer of 2007, the Republican nomination began a period of quick shifting; other candidates began to soar in the polls, detracting McCain's support. Rudy Giuliani, who collected a strong following based on his leadership as "America's Mayor", began to court evangelical Christians who felt uneasy about McCain, gaining the endorsement of televangelist Pat Robertson. However, as his less-than-flattering personal life and liberal positions on social issues became apparent, he quickly lost momentum to Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee.<ref>Cook, Charles. "The 2008 Presidential Primaries: What in America's Name Is Going On?" The Washington Quarterly Vol. 31 Issue 3 pp. 193-204.</ref> Fred Thompson, who entered late in the race, quickly withdrew because of lackadaisical popularity and poor fund-raising efforts. Huckabee remained popular in the Southern United States, but failed to win major contests among independents and Democrat voters.

Romney had the edge in early races, but couldn't deliver a knockout blow. McCain's poll numbers slowly increased and benefited as the field narrowed. After McCain defeated top contender Mitt Romney by a large margin on Super Tuesday in delegate-rich states like New York, California, and Arizona,<ref>Scott Neuman and Howard Berkes. "Mitt Romney Drops Out of GOP Presidential Race." Feb. 7, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18772382</ref> Mitt Romney withdrew with some protest, leaving McCain the clear front-runner.<ref>Bumiller, Elisabeth, Kirkpatrick, David. "Romney Is Out; McCain Emerges as G.O.P. Choice." Feb. 8, 2008. New York Times.</ref> Although McCain's proportion of the vote was not much higher than Romney's, he won most of the 'winner take all' states giving him a much higher proportion of the delegate count. Without Romney's well-financed opposition, McCain easily clinched the necessary delegate lead of 1,191 in March after a spirited yet short-lived fight from Mike Huckabee.<ref>NPR.org. "Election 2008: Huckabee, Romney Stay in Race for GOP Nomination." Feb. 6, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18739137</ref>

McCain had won the nomination and could focus on the [[2008 United States Presidential Election]].

==Domestic Policy==
[[Image:McCain_on_Meet_the_Press.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Senator John McCain discusses his opinions with Tim Russert on "Meet the Press", 2005]]

===Balanced Budget===
McCain has emphasized reducing government spending over tax cuts. He is one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of pork barrel spending and has pledged to veto any bill with pork as President. Congressional experience has enabled John McCain to identify items that are unnecessary. McCain is fiscally responsible with the taxpayers' money and created a simple method to detect spending abuses. <ref>[http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=d1a878d9-f16c-4570-b402-9d1bc3fe6ab9] , http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=d1a878d9-f16c-4570-b402-9d1bc3fe6ab9, U.S. Senate Pork Barrel Spending</ref>

* An appropriation that is not properly authorized by the Senate and not requested by the Administration.
* An unauthorized and unrequested, locality-specific or facility-specific earmark (including those funds that are above the Administration request).
* A budget add-on that would be subject to a budget point of order.
* The transfer or disposal of federal property or items under terms that circumvent existing law.
* New items added in conference that were never considered in either bill in either House.

===Economy===
Upon his party gaining the White House in 2001, McCain opposed a $1.35 trillion cut in [[taxation]] over 10 years, but switched his position around 2006, and voted to renew it twice. The plan included the objectives of doubling the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000, reducing the tax penalty on [[marriage|married couples]] and fully repealing the [[Estate tax|tax on estates]]. A [[United States Senate]] Finance Committee Report estimated that with all the planned reductions fully phased in, the average family of four making $50,000 would save $1,825 per year.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes/ $1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law], CNN, 21 June 2001</ref>

Since the tax cuts, [[IRS]] revenues increased from $1.78 trillion in 2003 to $2.56 trillion in 2007 with a 46.3% increase of individual income tax receipts. Surging $785 billion since the 2003 investment tax cuts, it is the largest four-year revenue increase in U.S. history<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119189497675953035.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref>

During this same time period, spending mandated by Congress has also increased by more than 29 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars, representing an 11.4 percent increase in federal spending as a percentage of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]. This spending has doubled the federal debt, increasing it from 58 to 66 percent of GDP. Defense spending increased 61 percent, and non-defense by 23 percent during the eight years since 2000. The largest non-defense spending increase has been for federally-funded medical expenses, at 54 percent.<ref>[http://www.aier.org/research/commentaries/750-big-government-under-the-bush-administration Big Government Under The Bush Administration], AIER, 16 November 2008</ref> In total, Congress and the White House has increased government expenditures by the largest percentage since the administration of President [[Lyndon Johnson]], but McCain has opposed every earmark put forward in the Democratic and Republican congresses, even ones Bush supported. Part of the huge spending increases are directly traceable to the economic repercussions of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the economic downturn in its aftermath, and increased defense and Homeland Security spending. However, this appears likely to be eclipsed by the spending plans of [[Barack Obama]], who pledged on 6 December 2008 to invest "record amounts of money" in infrastructure, a plan which some members of Congress are estimating at $400 to $700 billion.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/politics/07radio.html?ref=us Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast Scale], New York Times, 6 December 2008</ref>.

McCain's policies have caused general economic growth. This is partially due to changes in the stock market that lead to a record high in 2007, although the [[NASDAQ]] is still down considerably from the levels it was at before the Dot-com bubble burst. Corporations showed profits growing by double digits growth.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/us/2006-05-08-mart-usat_x.htm</ref> Even the working class benefited from the Bush economy, as unemployment hit an all time low in March 2007.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/economy</ref> McCain supported a minimum wage increase, one of the platforms for the Democrats in the 2006 Congressional elections, after the House and Senate included McCain's request of provisions for small-business tax breaks.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001784.html</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011001666.html</ref> Tax policies have been favorable to reducing the [[Capital Gains Tax]], with a subsequent surge in investment.

===Earmarks===
John McCain staunchly opposes [[earmarks]] as [[corrupt]] and wasteful spending. In his 28 years in federal government, McCain has never requested an earmark. He vigorously crusaded against earmarks in his 2008 presidential campaign.

===Education===
McCain supports [[school vouchers]] and [[charter school]]s. His voting record shows support for reducing the federal government's role in [[education]]. He voted for school vouchers for Washington, D.C., education savings accounts, and against $5 billion for grants to local educational agencies. McCain sponsored the Education A-Plus bill in 1997 and again in 1999, which allowed parents to open tax-free saving accounts for their children's school supplies. McCain also co-sponsored the Child Nutrition Act, which would provide [[federal funding]] for at-risk children. He has publicly stated he supports [[intelligent design]] teaching in schools.<ref>http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/90069 "On Tuesday, though, he sided with the president on two issues that have made headlines recently: teaching intelligent design in schools...McCain told the Star that, like Bush, he believes "all points of view" should be available to students studying the origins of mankind."</ref>

===Health Care===
McCain's record and stated positions on [[health care]] are based on true conservative principles. He is against socialized health care and health coverage mandates. McCain supports tax credits for personal health savings accounts and enhancing competition in the health care industry to improve quality and lower costs. He also supports allowing citizens to purchase out-of-state health insurance. In an October 2007 statement, McCain said: "In health care, we believe in enhancing the freedom of individuals to receive necessary and desired care. We do not believe in coercion and the use of state power to mandate care, coverage or costs." McCain is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. <ref>[http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/healthcare.htm Pro Healthcare]</ref>

===Energy===
John McCain has stated "ethanol subsidies, tariff barriers and sugar quotas drive up food prices and hurt Americans. However, we cannot take the wrong direction and cut off trade for American goods."<ref>[http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm], McCain Economic Plan</ref> “America’s most vital interests call us to the mission of energy security, and so does our sense of honor. And the straightest, swiftest path to energy security is to produce more, use less, and find new sources of power — so that no commodity can determine our security, and no crisis can undermine our economy,” McCain said in Houston, TX, June 16, 2008. He proposes to remove federal obstacles to offshore drilling. Among his major initiatives is the removal of the 27-year old federal moratorium on states’ abilities to explore and drill for oil and natural gas.<ref>[http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/06/17/mccain-slaps-obama-on-energy-calls-for-more-drilling/], McCain slaps Obama on energy, June 17th, 2008</ref> In addition, he wants the states to receive incentives and royalties to drill. The current ban on offshore drilling covers an estimated 80 percent of U.S. coastal waters."We've seen the impact of it in the form of food prices, in the form of gasoline, in the form of threats of inflation and indeed indications of inflation, and we must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil." <ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080616/ap_on_el_pr/mccain] , http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080616/ap_on_el_pr/mccain , AP McCain urges end to ban on offshore drilling , June 16, 2008</ref> He indicated, though, that the end of the ban on offshore drilling would have mostly psychological effects in the short term. At a town hall meeting, McCain stated, "I don't see an immediate relief, but I do see that exploitation of existing reserves that may exist -- and in view of many experts that do exist off our coasts -- is also a way that we need to provide relief. Even though it may take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial."
He would support incentives for building new nuclear power plants. <ref>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/24/1163504.aspx</ref> John McCain wants more nuclear reactors to increase America's energy independence. He is calling for the construction of 45 new reactors by 2030. Also, McCain wants to increase federal funds for clean coal technology by 2 billion dollars to reduce dependence on foreign oil. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CMT0O0&show_article=1] , http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CMT0O0&show_article=1 , AP McCain calls for building 45 new nuclear reactors, June 18, 2008</ref>
McCain supports increasing ethanol imports and more production of hybrid vehicles. He is co-sponsor of a Senate cap-and-trade bill designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions. He has consistently voted for preserving the budget for ANWR but against drilling for [[oil]] in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]] (ANWR), because of environmental concerns. Conservationists differ from conservatives that 2000 acres for oil drilling is not enough to impact [[polar bears]] in the region.

===Environment===
McCain's position on [[global warming]] issues has put him at odds with conservatives. His [[environment]]al proposals are mostly sound modern thinking by someone that understands the enormity of the problem. McCain says that we can go green as a nation without bankrupting America. Per his website, Senator McCain "wants to leave a better future for our children."
On January 2007, McCain said, "we continue to learn more about the science of climate change and the dangerous precedence of not addressing this environmental problem. The science tells us that urgent and significant action is needed." On October 30, 2003, he co-sponsored the Climate Stewardship Act (S.139), which was defeated. McCain is a member of, and was endorsed by, the Republicans for Environmental Protection organization. His conservative stances include voting to confirm Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior and he is in favor of renewable energy such as solar, hydro, and wind. "Wind power is one of many alternative energy sources that are changing our economy for the better, and one day they will change our economy forever."

===Immigration===
John McCain says that he will secure the borders first and many [[immigration]] issue are still needed but will have to come later. In 2007, McCain worked to provide border security efforts with a temporary worker program and an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Conservatives wanted nothing to do with the proposal and in June 2007, Congress' efforts collapsed. McCain said of the outcome,"I say it is a lesson learned about what the American people's priorities are. And their priority is to secure the borders." <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-11-03-610628094_x.htm] , http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-11-03-610628094_x.htm, AP McCain emphasizes border security, November 4, 2007</ref> "..I support the same solution. But we've got to secure the borders first" says McCain

On Jan. 5, regarding the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, Senator McCain announced that anyone who says he supported amnesty is "a liar, is lying." The senator stated "I do not support, nor would I ever support, any services provided to someone who came to this country illegally, nor would I ever and I never have supported [[Social Security]] benefits for people who are in this country illegally. Any assertion to the contrary is absolutely false." During the comprehensive immigration reform debate, Senator McCain voted to table an amendment that would have prevented illegal immigrants from receiving Social Security who "are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity."<ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00130</ref> Senator McCain stated in a May 29, 2003 interview, "Amnesty has to be an important part because there are people who have lived in this country for 20, 30 or 40 years, who have raised children here and pay taxes here and are not citizens." Arguing amnesty is not a free pass or a reward for law breaking, McCain stated, "Well, because amnesty, according to the dictionary, is forgiveness. The proposal that we had- would require fines, would require back in the line, would require deportation for some. It would require others to go back to the country of their origin" <ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/John_McCain_Immigration.htm] , Ontheissues.com, John McCain on Immigration</ref> At the [[Republican]] debate at the Reagan Library, McCain stated he supports the deportation of 2 million illegals who have committed crimes in the USA.

Conversely, in a June 2008 meeting with Hispanic leaders in Chicago, McCain indicated he would push legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected. According to one attendee, Rosanna Pulido, head of the Illinois [[Minuteman Project]], ""He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics..." <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/mccain-discusses-immigrat_n_108297.html McCain Discusses Immigration With Hispanic Leaders</ref> <ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-06-19-4020801806_x.htm McCain Meets With Hispanic Leaders</ref> Pulido further stated, "He was telling one group of people one thing and the Hispanics another, I'm a conservative and I think he's throwing conservatives under the bus."<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/title----mcca-1.html McCain Double-Talk on Immigration?</ref> Due to his support, members of the Minuteman Project, participating in the Minuteman Project Caravan, traveled to Washington, D.C. to register their disapproval. They made an entry into McCain's Guest Log Book asking him to uphold the Constitution and enforce the law. After making the entry, the group was forced to leave by a senior staffer for Senator McCain or be reported to the police. <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1643181/posts Minuteman Project Thrown Out of McCain's Office</ref>

Senator McCain's position on illegal immigration has arguably resulted in the most criticisms from conservatives. On May 12, 2005, McCain joined Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] (D-[[Massachusetts]]) as co-sponsor of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. The bill would legalize and eventually grant citizenship to the estimated 12–20 million [[illegal alien]]s in the United States and have them immediately start collecting social security and other government benefits. The bill never came for a vote on the Senate floor. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 are two additional compromises based on the original McCain-Kennedy bill. McCain has consistently voted for visas for skilled workers. McCain voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and has said border security should be a bigger priority then the illegal aliens who are currently here.

===Global Trade===
McCain has actively supported reducing barriers to trade and has shown leadership in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] on Free Trade Agreements (FTA). Senator McCain supports both pending FTAs for Columbia and [[South Korea]]. <ref>[http://useconomy.about.com/od/candidatesandtheeconomy/p/McCain_Trade.htm], John McCain and Trade</ref> He voted for and defends the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

===Social Security===
McCain is a strong supporter of private [[Social Security]] accounts.

===Tax Reform===
In 2001, McCain gained attention as one of only two Republicans who voted against President Bush's tax cuts. He opposed accelerating the cuts in 2003, saying, "I voted against the tax cuts because of the disproportional amount that went to the wealthiest Americans. I would clearly support not extending those tax cuts in order to help address the deficit." He has now changed his stance, by voting to make the tax cuts permanent, and says he would do the same as President. In 2002, Senator McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against the permanent repeal of the Death Tax. He has also refused to sign a pledge put forth by Americans for Tax Freedom not to impose any new taxes or increase existing taxes. However, many of McCain's votes has shown support for lower taxes, such as eliminating the marriage penalty, a 1997 vote to cut capital gains taxes and he introduced measures that would require a sixty-vote majority to pass a tax increase.

==Foreign Policy==

===National Security===

McCain urges the Senate to pass FISA. “For months, House Democrats, the [[ACLU]], and the trial lawyers have held up legislation to modernize our nation’s terrorist surveillance laws. Today, the House passed a compromise bill to end this impasse. While I would have preferred to see the Senate bill enacted, which I voted for earlier this year, I am pleased Congressional leaders and the Administration were able to reach an agreement to reform our current surveillance law and not let FISA expire in August. I hope [[United States Senate|Senate]] Democrats will allow this matter to quickly be considered by the Senate and sent to the President for his signature. I will support this measure and hope that politics will be put aside in favor of this vital national security matter.” <ref>[http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=a7f9dc6c-da0e-459d-dd6c-91e20a46e1e5] , McCAIN URGES SENATE PASSAGE OF FISA
, June 20, 2008</ref> Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was established in 1978.

McCain has voted in support of the [[Patriot Act|USA PATRIOT Act]] as well as National Missile Defense. However, he has joined [[liberal]]s in support of immediately closing [[Guantanamo Bay]], and moving all the prisoners to Fort Leavenworth. On October 3, 2005, he introduced the McCain Detainee Amendment which prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The bill was passed and signed by President [[George W. Bush]]. McCain has recently criticized the practice of [[waterboarding]], saying "they should know what it is. It is not a complicated procedure. It is torture." McCain voted against HR 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which included provisions that would have prevented the CIA from water boarding prisoners.

===Afghanistan===
After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] McCain was a strong advocate for military action in [[Afghanistan]], saying:

''We did not cause this war. Our enemies did, and they are to blame for the deprivations and difficulties it occasions. They are to'' ''blame for the loss of innocent life. They are to blame for the geopolitical problems confronting our friends and us. We can help'' ''repair the damage of war. But to do so, we must destroy the people who started it.'' <ref>http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95001375</ref>

McCain is currently calling for 15,000 additional troops to address the situation in Afghanistan, similar to his victorious 2007 troop surge in Iraq.

===Iran===
McCain has said that "We continue to be concerned about [[Iran]]ian influence and assistance to Hezbollah as well as Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons." He tried to ban Iran from playing in the 2006 World Cup, citing Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]'s [[Holocaust]] denials.

===Iraq===
[[Image:610x.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Senator John McCain with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, 03/17/08]] McCain voted with the majority [[Republican]] Party and 29 Democrats of the Senate in favor of the 2002 "[[Iraq War]] Resolution" authorizing President George W. Bush to go to war against Iraq and overthrow the [[Saddam Hussein]] regime. In 1998, McCain voted in favor of HR 4655 Iraq Liberation Act, signed by then President Clinton. <ref>[http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm], http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm, HR4655 Public Law: 105-338, October 31, 1998</ref> HR 4655 declares that it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in Iraq and to replace it with a democratic government. McCain went on to became a critic of the management of the war, arguing that there wasn't enough troop strength in the area. However, he never became a defeatist advocating surrender. McCain publicly stated that he had "no confidence" in then-Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. However, he refused to call for his resignation, saying that "the President picks his team, and the president has the right to stay with that team if he wants to." McCain became one of the strongest leading advocates in the Senate for the 2007 troop surge, which increased the number of American troops by 20,500, deployed to provide security to [[Baghdad]] and Al Anbar Province. On February 4, he criticized a non-binding resolution opposing the troop buildup, calling it a reckless "vote of no confidence" in the U.S. Commanders and in the military. Additionally, he voted against all measures aimed at withdrawal of U.S. forces and voted against cutting off of war funds. McCain rightly believes that Congress should not micromanage the war and to give the military everything they ask for to successfully complete the mission. He has mentioned in a town hall forum that staying the course in Iraq for 'a hundred years' would not bother him if no American soldier's were losing their lives. This became an issue for Democratic political strategy. The DNC lead by chairman [[Howard Dean]] repeatedly tried to use false statements in justifying attacking McCain.<ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/mccains_100year_war.html]http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/mccains_100year_war.html, Washington post Fact Checker, April 2, 2008</ref> What McCain said is very different from what the liberal media and the DNC were reporting. Asked in Derry, NH of the willingness to keep troops in Iraq for 50 years, he said "Make it 100" and

{{QuoteBox|"That's fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed."}}

===Russia===
Senator McCain has strongly criticized [[Russia]]n President [[Vladimir Putin]]. During a primary debate he said, ""He bullies his neighbors and he wants to get a control of the energy supply of Western Europe. This is a dangerous person. And he has to understand that there's a cost to some of his actions." In 2005 McCain and [[Connecticut]] senator [[Joe Lieberman]] drafted a resolution banning Russia from attending the Group of 8 (G8) international forum. McCain is also a strong supporter of ballistic national missile defenses.

===Cuba===
McCain forcefully supports the [[Cuban embargo]] and believes it should be maintained until certain specific political freedoms are restored to the country. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&fta=y&adxnnlx=1222106556-zea3cQG12OakFI9P97dogQ</ref>

===Syria===
During the [[Syrian Civil War]] McCain wanted to arm the islamist opposition with weapons and also called for a air strike against the syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/05/mccain-calls-for-air-strikes-against-syrias-assad/</ref>

==Social Issues==
===Abortion===
{{QuoteBox|"If I am fortunate enough to be elected as the next President of the United States, I pledge to you to be a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement."}}

Sen. John McCain has more than a twenty year anti-[[abortion]] record, first in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], then in the U.S. Senate. McCain voted 11 times on anti-abortion and other [[pro-life]] issues in the House. Senator McCain has voted 119 times on anti-abortion and other pro-life measures in the Senate. <ref>[http://www.naral.org/assets/files/mccain_fact_sheet.pdf], http://www.naral.org/assets/files/mccain_fact_sheet.pdf</ref>

McCain's record in the Senate on abortion is pro-life. He voted for the 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. McCain has also voted against government funding of birth control and sex education.<ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00214 Voted Nay on an amendment to authorize grants to carry out programs to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies</ref> <ref>http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00075 Vote against allocation of $100m for prevention of unintended pregnancies </ref><ref>http://www.nowpublic.com/quiet-campaign-against-contraception Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain's campaign officials boast that he has "consistently voted against taxpayer-funded contraception programs." And Mr. McCain reports that his adviser on sexual-health matters is Sen. Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, who leads campaigns claiming condoms are unsafe and opposing emergency contraception.</ref> During his first Presidential campaign for the 2000 election, McCain said the following on [[Roe v. Wade]], "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." <ref>http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/feb/07021908.html McCain's "</ref> He has since changed his position, saying Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

John McCain:
* Voted against a [[Roe v. Wade]] resolution
* Co-sponsored and voted for the Federal Abortion Ban
* Supported H.R.1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act
* Voted for four anti-abortion U.S. Supreme Court judges
* Voted for six anti-abortion lower court judges
* Supported H.R.3913, to prohibit federal funds for abortion services in any case
* Voted to make it a federal crime for anyone but a parent to cross state lines for abortion termination
* Voted in favor of a national network of parental notification.

====Quotations====
“I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned.” <ref>Ann Althouse, Rudy & Mitt Hem & Haw on Abortion, N.Y. TIMES, Feb. 24, 2007.</ref>

*"I have many, many votes and it’s been consistent. And I’ve got a consistent zero from NARAL throughout all those years…."<ref>John McCain for President 2008, On the Issues: Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life</ref>
*"My record is clear, and I think the important thing is you look at people’s voting record because sometimes rhetoric can be a little… misleading…. As you know I don’t support Roe v. Wade…. I thought it was a bad decision, and I think that the decision should be made in the states"<ref>John McCain for President 2008, On the Issues: Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life</ref>
*“I’m proud that we have Justice Alito and Roberts on the United States Supreme Court. I’m very proud to have played a very small role in making that happen.” McCain explained further that he “will try to find clones of Alito and Roberts” to fill future court vacancies.<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=26539], Letter from Sen. John McCain to Pro‐Life Community Janary 23, 2008</ref>

===Gun Control===
McCain's record on [[gun control]] is mixed. He co-sponsored the Gun Show Loophole Closing and Gun Law Enforcement Act of 2001. This act would reduce the number of gun shows, require gun-owners to purchase trigger locks, and allow federal agents to arrest those who violate federal gun laws. However, McCain has frequently voted in support of the Second Amendment, such as voting against background checks at gun shows and voting in support of prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. In August of 1999, McCain said he was open to voting for an assault weapon ban, depending on the details. However, he still voted against the Federal Assault Weapons Ban and the efforts to renew it, as well as the Brady Bill.

A top official of the [[National Rifle Association]] said McCain has been a reliable ally of gun owners despite divisions with the powerful lobbying group on some issues. NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre told The Associated Press "...We're not foolish enough to ignore the vast areas of agreement in which John McCain has been a friend to gun owners." <ref>[http://www.gopusa.com/news/2008/may/0514_nra_mccain.shtml], http://www.gopusa.com/news/2008/may/0514_nra_mccain.shtml, NRA chief stresses common ground with McCain, May 14, 2008</ref> The Republican presidential nominee has voted against a ban on assault-type weapons with restrictions which were objected. In 2013 he voted to block his colleages' filibuster and was one of four Republicans who voted for the Manchin-Toomey background checks gun control bill.

===Same-sex marriage===
In the speech on the Senate floor July 13th, 2004, McCain stated “Mr. President, most Americans believe, as I do, that the institution of marriage should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman." <ref>http://www.friendsofmccain.com/news/dspnews.cfm?id=143</ref> John McCain revealed his decision based on super majority requirements and the current political realities within Congress. “By my count, there is not at this time even a small majority of senators who would vote for Senator Allard’s amendment, much less the 67 votes required by the Constitution. That won’t change, Mr. President, unless public opinion changes significantly. The [[Founders]], wisely, made certain that the Constitution is difficult to amend, and, as a practical political matter, can’t be done without overwhelming public approval. And thank God for that. Were it any easier I fear we could not make the claim for the Constitution’s enduring success that I have just made." Further, he explained his approach to the amendment's ultimate success “If a constitution is to be amended, Mr. President, it should be a state constitution." McCain voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court effectively created a ruling to grant same-sex partners equal rights to [[Marriage]] and to be recognized by the state. A spokesman for Republican John McCain, who opposes gay marriage, said the Arizona senator "doesn't believe judges should be making these decisions."

===Evolution===
Senator John McCain's position on evolution is nuanced:

{{QuoteBox|"I think Americans should be exposed to every point of view, I happen to [[believe in evolution]]. ... I respect those who think the world was created in seven days. Should it be taught as a science class? '''Probably not'''." [http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/12/mccain-creationism/]}}

==Personal life==
[[Image:Cindy McCain.jpg|thumb|Cindy McCain]]
McCain has been married twice. His first marriage, to Carol Shepp, ended in [[divorce]] in 1980 after 15 years, of which he spent five in captivity. McCain publicly acknowledges the responsibility for the breakup as his, stating in a 2008 interview with Pastor Rick Warren that "My greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the failure of my first marriage".<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/rules021299.htm</ref> His second and current wife is Cindy Lou Hensley, to whom he has been married for 28 years. His son John Sidney IV is a Midshipman at the [[United States Naval Academy]], Annapolis, and his son James is a non-commissioned officer in the [[United States Marine Corps]], who is serving in [[Iraq]] as part of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. Also, the McCains adopted a ten-week old baby girl in 1993, who they named Bridget, from [[Mother Teresa]]'s orphanage in [[Bangladesh]].<ref>[http://celebrity.rightpundits.com/?p=3183 Bridget McCain Biography] Rightpundits.com</ref><ref>[http://www.newsanalysisindia.com/109022008.htm Bridget vs Sonia: McCain vs Rajiv Gandhi] News Analysis India</ref>
Cindy McCain was in the country as part of the American Voluntary Medical Team<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-041408-cindy-mccain-bio,1,2151434.story Bio of Cindy McCain]</ref> in response to the 1991 [[Bangladesh]] cyclone.
===McCain's family===
*Wife Cindy
*4 sons
**Douglas
**Andrew
**John (''"Jack"'') Sidney IV
**James
*3 daughters
**Sidney
**[[Meghan McCain|Meghan]]
**Bridget
*Parents
**[[Admiral]] John Sydney McCain, Jr. (from [[Indiana]])
**[[Roberta McCain|Roberta Wright McCain]] (from [[Oklahoma]]).

== Books ==
* ''Faith of My Fathers'' (Random House; 1999) ISBN 0-3755-0191-6
* ''Odysseus in America'' (Scribner; 2002) ISBN 0-7432-1156-1
* ''Worth Fighting For: A Memoir'' (Diane Publ. Co; 2002) ISBN 0-7567-6759-8
* ''Medal of Honor'' (Artisan; 2003) ISBN 1-5796-5240-9
* ''Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life'' (Random House; 2004) ISBN 1-4000-6030-3
* ''Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember'' (Random House; 2005) ISBN 1-4000-6412-0
* ''Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them'' (Twelve; 2007) ISBN 0-4466-9911-X

==Further reading==
*McCain, John [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=513224&in_page_id=1811 ''My six years of hell: John McCain recalls life as a prisoner of war in Vietnam''] 8 February 2008 [[Daily Mail]]. Accessed 9 February 2008

==References==
{{reflist|2|small}}

==See Also==
* [[John McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign]]
* [[Previous Breaking News/John McCain|Articles about John McCain from previous "Breaking News"]]
* [[White House]]
*[[Cindy McCain]], spouse of John McCain
*[[Roberta McCain]], mother of John McCain

== External links ==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQsckD9trn4&eurl=http://evangelicalsformccain.org/meetthesenator.htm ''John McCain: Courageous Service''] - Streaming video documentary hosted at YouTube, including footage of McCain's time as a POW and the Forrestal incident.
*[http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542249 John McCain Biography]
*[http://evangelicalsformccain.org/index.htm Evangelicals for McCain] - Christians, Families and Patriots for John McCain
*[http://studentsformccain08.blogspot.com/ Students for McCain 2008]
*[http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/01/mccains-mom-pop.html McCain's Mom Pops Off]
*[http://www.rd.com/national-interest/people-and-politics/our-interview-with-sen-john-mccain/article.html Presidential Candidate John McCain on the Issues]
*[http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53270 Voting record]
*[http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300071_john_mccain OpenCongress]

{{2008 presidential candidates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCain, John}}

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Orrin Hatch

2013-06-22T05:36:51Z

Jm920: There are other issues.

[[Image:Hatch.jpg|right|150px]]
'''Orrin Hatch''', born March 22, 1934 (age {{age|1934|3|22}}), is a [[Republican]] [[United States Senator]] from [[Utah]]. He was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in 1977 as a [[conservative]] but has moved to the [[Left]] ever since, as in December 2010 when he failed to vote against the repeal of [[don't ask, don't tell]]. He has repeatedly won reelection in the past, but faced a [[conservative]] challenger in 2012 who came somewhat closer to winning, making him go into a runoff. He proved himself to be a RINO without a doubt when he wrote the [[DREAM Act]], voted for [[Eric Holder]], and expressed support for civil unions for homosexuals.<ref>http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112240-90/civil-com-gay-hatch.html.csp</ref>
When he first ran for Congress, he criticized his opponent as a career politician who was in office for too long. Now he has been in office for a very long time.

Before he entered politics, Hatch worked as an attorney in [[Pittsburgh]] and [[Salt Lake City]]. He received a [[J.D.]] from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in 1962.<ref>http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Biography.FastFacts</ref> He was a candidate in the 2000 Presidential primary, but lost to [[George W. Bush]].<ref> A Man of Faith, The spiritual journey of George W. Bush, by David Aikman, 2004, p. 1, </ref>

==References==
<references/>
{{DEFAULTSORT: Hatch, Orrin}}

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Johnny Isakson

2013-06-22T05:30:22Z

Jm920: To think, at one time I voted for him.

[[Image:200officialphoto.jpg|150px|Johnny Isakson|thumb]]
'''Johnny Isakson''', born December 28, 1944 (age {{age|1944|12|28}}), is a [[Republican]] [[United States Senator]] from [[Georgia]]. He is a member of six Senate committees that have jurisdiction over education, healthcare, transportation, environment, ports, foreign policy, veterans’ affairs, jobs and small businesses.

[[Category: United States Senators]]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Isakson, Johnny}}
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Saxby Chambliss

2013-06-22T05:28:29Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Saxby Chambliss
|image=
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Julianne Chambliss
|religion=Episcopalian
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Georgia
|terms=January 3, 2003-present
|preceded=Max Cleland
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Georgia
|district=8th
|terms=January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
|preceded=J. Roy Rowland
|former=y
|succeeded=Marc Collins
}}
}}
'''[[Senator]] Saxby Chambliss''', born November 10, 1943 (age {{age|1943|11|10}}), is the senior senator from the state of [[Georgia]]. A [[Republican]], he has been in the Senate since 2002, when he defeated [[Democrat]] [[Max Cleland]] to gain the seat in a controversial race, after which Chambliss was accused of painting his veteran opponent as unpatriotic. His colleague is [[Johnny Isakson]], a fellow Republican, and a former colleague when both were in the [[House of Representatives]], as well.

Chambliss was successful in holding off his liberal and democratic Jim Martin, keeping the filibuster in the balance. Saxby Chambliss says that he is pro-life and does not support gay marriage, but supports tax increases, even though earlier in his career he received a reward from [[Grover Norquist]] for taking the opposite position.

[[Category: United States Senators]]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Chambliss, Saxby}}
[[Category: 110th United States Congress]]
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Robert Corker

2013-06-22T05:24:37Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Bob Corker
|image=RobertCorker.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Elizabeth Corker
|religion=[[Presbyterian]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Tennessee
|terms=January 3, 2007 – Present
|preceded=[[Bill Frist]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
}}

'''Robert Phillips "Bob" Corker, Jr.''', born August 24, 1952 (age {{age|1952|8|24}}), is the junior [[United States Senator]] from [[Tennessee]]. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations; Armed Services; Energy and Natural Resources; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and the Special Committee on Aging. He has voted with a majority of his [[Republican]] colleagues 84.6%. <ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c001071/</ref>

Corker is the former mayor of Chattanooga in southeastern Tennessee and a successful businessman.

==2006 Senate campaign==
In 2004, Corker announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Incumbent Republican, Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]], had said that he was not going to run for reelection in 2006. Corker faced two other Republicans in the August primary, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, which he won with 48% of the vote to Bryant's 34% and Hilleary's 17%. Corker's [[Democratic]] opponent in the general election was congressman [[Harold Ford, Jr.]]. Corker had been declared the winner for the Senate seat in Tennessee. Results showed that the election was close, with Corker winning by less than three percentage points.

==2012 campaign==

In the November 6, 2012, general election, Corker faces the Democrat [[Mark E. Clayton]] of Davidson County, a [[conservative]] [[Christian]] who has been disowned by his own party. The Tennessee Democratic leadership urged that voters write in another choice in the pending race against Corker.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2012/08/03/tennessee-democrats-are-very-sorry-about-mark-clayton| title="Tennessee Democrats Are Very Sorry About Mark Clayton" |work=Nashville Scene}}</ref>

==External links==
*[http://corker.senate.gov/ Official Senate Website]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corker, Robert}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]
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Lamar Alexander

2013-06-22T05:23:29Z

Jm920: Why didn't it already call him out ? He's a RINO.

{{Officeholder
|name=Lamar Alexander
|image=250px-Lamar_Alexander_official_portrait.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Honey Alexander
|religion=[[Presbyterian]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Tennessee
|terms=January 7, 2003 – Present
|preceded=[[Fred Thompson]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|state=Tennessee
|terms=January 16, 1979 – January 17, 1987
|preceded=Ray Blanton
|former=n
|succeeded=Ned McWherter
}}
}}

'''Lamar Andrew Alexander''', born July 3, 1940 (age {{age|1940|7|3}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] from [[Tennessee]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

==Early Life==
Lamar Alexander was born in Maryville, the son of a kindergarten teacher and an elementary school principal. He is a seventh generation Tennessean. Alexander graduated with a B.A. from Vanderbilt University where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1962 and from the [[New York]] University School of Law in 1965. After graduating from law school, Alexander clerked for [[United States]] Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit judge John Minor Wisdom in [[New Orleans]] from 1965 to 1966. He later worked as a staffer for Senator [[Howard Baker]] of Tennessee. Alexander is a classical and country pianist and the author of seven books.

==Political career==
===Governor of Tennessee===
In 1970, Alexander served as the campaign manager for Memphis dentist Winfield Dunn's successful gubernatorial bid. Thanks to his successful tenure as Dunn's campaign manager, Alexander received the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee in 1974. He faced Democrat Ray Blanton, a former congressman and unsuccessful 1972 Senate candidate. Blanton won the election with 56% of the vote. Do to a number of scandals in his administration, [[Governor]] Blanton decided not to run for re-election in 1978. Lamar Alexander ran for governor and won the general election, defeating Democrat nominee Jake Butcher by eleven percentage points. Once elected, he helped Tennessee become the third largest auto producer and the first state to pay teachers more for teaching well. He started Tennessee's Governor's Schools for outstanding students. Alexander made history by becoming the first person reelected to a second 4-year term by defeating Knoxville mayor Randy Tyree in the 1982 election, carrying almost 70% of Knox County. During his second term, he served as chairman of the [[National Governors Association]] from 1985 to 1986. After his governorship, Alexander moved to [[Australia]] with his family for a time, he would soon return to Tennessee and became the president of the [[University of Tennessee]] (1988–1991), and United States [[Secretary of Education]] under President [[George H.W. Bush]] (1991-1993).

===Presidential campaigns===
Alexander made two unsuccessful runs for [[President of the United States]], in the 1996 and 2000 election cycles. In 1996, he finished third in both the [[Iowa]] caucus and [[New Hampshire]] Primary and dropped out before the Super Tuesday primaries. After dropping out of the race, Alexander took an advisory role in the [[Bob Dole]]/[[Jack Kemp]] campaign. His second candidacy, in which he traveled around the U.S. in a Ford Explorer, eschewing a campaign bus or plane, lasted less than six months, being announced March 9, 1999, and withdrawn August 16, 1999 (after a poor showing in the [[Ames Straw Poll]]), both times in [[Nashville]].
===United States Senate===
[[Image:000lamaralexander.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lamar Alexander with Senate Republicans, 07/16/09]]In 2002, Lamar Alexander ran for the open seat of retiring Senator [[Fred Thompson]]. Seen as a moderate Republican by Tennessee standards, his candidacy for the GOP nomination was challenged by conservatives who supported Congressman Ed Bryant. However, Alexander went on to win the Republican primary and the general election. Making him the only Tennessean ever to be popularly elected both governor and United States Senator. Alexander was easily reelected in 2008 with 67% of the vote. Senator Alexander is the third ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee responsible for overseeing the Tennessee Valley Authority as well as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and is a member of the Senate Rules committee. In the 110th Congress, Alexander unsuccessfully ran for Senate Minority Whip, losing by one vote to Senator [[Trent Lott]] of [[Mississippi]].

Lamar Alexander's voting record in the U.S. Senate is generally conservative. Since 2003, he has voted with his Republican colleagues 81% of the time. <ref>http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000360/</ref> Alexander voted against the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. "A number of things have been said about the so-called stimulus package, which I feel, many of us feel, is more of a spending bill than a stimulus bill. But there is no doubt about the fact that it increases our national debt." <ref>https://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=441175&keyword=&phrase=&contain=?q=print</ref> Alexander has also expressed concerns over [[Democrat]]'s government run health care initiatives. "This is the wrong first step on health care reform because it sets the stage for higher state taxes, more federal debt, government-run health care and Medicare cuts—and still leaves many Americans uninsured." <ref>http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=468afdb8-1f82-4103-b7bc-e62af19698fb</ref> However, he broke with his party after voting to confirm [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

In October 2009 Alexander stated that he sees similarities between the [[Obama administration]] and [[Richard Nixon]], in that the White House is creating an "enemies list" that includes the [[Fox News Channel]], the health insurance industry, and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]]. <ref>http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/10/21/alexander/</ref>

==External links==
*[http://alexander.senate.gov/ Official Site]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Lamar_Alexander.htm Alexander On the Issues]
*[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/a000360/ Voting record]
*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000360, Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander,Lamar}}

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Mario Diaz-Balart

2013-06-22T05:21:02Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Mario Diaz-Balart
|image=MarioDiazBalart.jpg‎
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Tia Diaz-Balart
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=25th
|terms=January 3, 2013 - present
|preceded=[[David Rivera]]
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=21st
|terms=January 3, 2011 - January 3, 2013
|preceded=Lincoln Diaz-Balart
|succeeded=[[Ted Deutch]]
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=25th
|terms=January 3, 2003 - January 3, 2011
|preceded=None (New district created after 2000 Census)
|succeeded=[[David Rivera]]
}}

}}

'''Mario Diaz-Balart''' (born September 25, 1961, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), a [[Republican]], is the [[United States Representative]] for [[Florida]]'s 25th congressional district. He was first elected to the House in 2002 to represent the newly created 25th district. In 2010 he was elected to fill the seat vacated by his brother, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, representing the 21st district, before returning to the 25th in 2013. He is a member of the [[House Committee on Appropriations]].<ref>http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/committees/</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000589 Congressional Biography]
*[http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/ Official House website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diaz-Balart, Mario}}

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Scott Rigell

2013-06-22T05:18:10Z

Jm920:

'''Scott Rigell''' (born May 28, 1960 in Titusville, Florida) is a car dealership owner and the [[Republican]] U.S. Representative-elect from [[Virginia]]'s 2nd congressional district, defeating [[Democrat]]ic incumbent [[Glenn Nye]].
He is a supporter of gun control and was one of the few Republicans who didn't vote to hold [[Eric Holder]] in contempt of Congress. http://www.libertynews.com/2013/03/republican-congressman-from-virginia-joins-democrats-in-calling-for-gun-control/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rigell, Scott}}
[[Category:United States Representatives]]
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Renee Ellmers

2013-06-22T05:09:49Z

Jm920:

[[File:Reneeellmer.jpg|right|150px]]

'''Renee Ellmers''' is the [[Republican]] U.S. Representative for [[North Carolina]]'s 2nd District, defeating incumbent [[Democrat]] [[Bob Etheridge]] in the 2010 election. She is a registered nurse, Clinic Director of Trinity Wound Care Center and teaches Sunday school at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Ellmers is a fiscal [[conservative]] concerned for the direction of this country. ''"My economic plan can be summed up in 4 words: Cut Taxes. Cut Spending."'' She has been endorsed by the SBA List for her [[pro-life]] stance. Per the SBA,
{{cquote|Ellmers's commitment to rescind taxpayer funding of abortion in health care and in every aspect of federal spending is urgently needed in the coming Congress. A new women's movement which affirms its original pro-life roots is making its way to the House of Representatives, and Ellmers is one of its brightest new stars.}}

Her opponent Etheridge was filmed in 2010 assaulting a student for asking a question about his votes. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v60oNUoHBYM Congressman Assaults Student on Washington Sidewalk, YouTube]</ref> <ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/246848/renee-ellmers-s-bully-beatdown-jack-fowler Renee Ellmers’s Bully Beatdown, National Review Online, September 16, 2010]</ref> In addition, disrespecting a U.S. Marine for asking a question at a healthcare townhall with [[sarcasm]] and refusing to answer. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5-FIufRfMM&feature=player_embedded Congressman Bob Etheridge Health Care Town Hall Lillington U.S. Marine Scolded, YouTube]</ref>

Since getting elected to Congress, she's become a favorite of Boehner's RINO leadership and without fail votes for big-government items that he supports. <ref>http://www.primarymycongressman.com/rep-renee-ellmers-nc-02/</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.reneeforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/ReneeEllmersforCongress Facebook page]
* [http://twitter.com/Renee4Congress Twitter page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/ReneeforCongress YouTube channel]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellmers, Renee}}
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Renee Ellmers

2013-06-22T05:09:13Z

Jm920:

[[File:Reneeellmer.jpg|right|150px]]

'''Renee Ellmers''' is the [[Republican]] U.S. Representative for [[North Carolina]]'s 2nd District, defeating incumbent [[Democrat]] [[Bob Etheridge]] in the 2010 election. She is a registered nurse, Clinic Director of Trinity Wound Care Center and teaches Sunday school at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Ellmers is a fiscal [[conservative]] concerned for the direction of this country. ''"My economic plan can be summed up in 4 words: Cut Taxes. Cut Spending."'' She has been endorsed by the SBA List for her [[pro-life]] stance. Per the SBA,
{{cquote|Ellmers's commitment to rescind taxpayer funding of abortion in health care and in every aspect of federal spending is urgently needed in the coming Congress. A new women's movement which affirms its original pro-life roots is making its way to the House of Representatives, and Ellmers is one of its brightest new stars.}}

Her opponent Etheridge was filmed in 2010 assaulting a student for asking a question about his votes. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v60oNUoHBYM Congressman Assaults Student on Washington Sidewalk, YouTube]</ref> <ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/246848/renee-ellmers-s-bully-beatdown-jack-fowler Renee Ellmers’s Bully Beatdown, National Review Online, September 16, 2010]</ref> In addition, disrespecting a U.S. Marine for asking a question at a healthcare townhall with [[sarcasm]] and refusing to answer. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5-FIufRfMM&feature=player_embedded Congressman Bob Etheridge Health Care Town Hall Lillington U.S. Marine Scolded, YouTube]</ref>

Since getting elected to Congress, she's become a favorite of Boehner's RINO leadership and votes for big-government items that he supports. <ref>http://www.primarymycongressman.com/rep-renee-ellmers-nc-02/</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
* [http://www.reneeforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/ReneeEllmersforCongress Facebook page]
* [http://twitter.com/Renee4Congress Twitter page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/ReneeforCongress YouTube channel]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellmers, Renee}}
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Talk:Renee Ellmers

2013-06-22T04:56:22Z

Jm920: Created page with "Campaign rhetoric before getting elected is one thing, she's the leadership's go-to lady when they want to push anything RINO. http://www.primarymycongressman.com/rep-renee-ellm..."

Campaign rhetoric before getting elected is one thing, she's the leadership's go-to lady when they want to push anything RINO.
http://www.primarymycongressman.com/rep-renee-ellmers-nc-02/
[[User:Jm920|Jm920]] 00:56, 22 June 2013 (EDT)

RINO

2013-06-22T04:47:51Z

Jm920: /* RINOs currently not holding political office */

RINO

2013-06-22T04:36:30Z

Jm920: /* Members of the U.S. House of Representatives */

RINO

2013-06-22T04:27:05Z

Jm920: /* U.S. Senators */

Timothy Geithner

2013-05-23T03:47:11Z

Jm920: Who was gushing over Tim Geithner? Who would?

{{Officeholder
|name=Timothy Geithner
|image=TimothyGeithner.jpg
|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=Carole M. Sonnenfeld
|offices=
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=the Treasury
|state=United States
|number=75th
|deputy=n
|president=[[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=January 26, 2009-February 28, 2013
|preceded=[[Henry Paulson]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Jack Lew]]
}}

}}
'''Timothy Geithner''' (b. 1961) became the [[Secretary of the Treasury]] in the [[Obama Administration]] in January, 2009. [[Image:Geithner1.jpg|thumb|370px|Critics feared Geithner's vague plans would crash]] Geithner got off to a very bad start, as his programs from 2008 have worked poorly, he was ridiculed and humiliated during his confirmation hearings for not paying taxes (even though he has admitted to using tax software Turbo Tax, which would have clearly showed him the errors). Unpopular, he resigned after Obama got a second term and was replaced by White House Chief of Staff [[Jack Lew]].

==Career==
Educated at Dartmouth and Johns Hopkins, he spent many years abroad. Previously he was president of the powerful Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Geithner started as a Republican and changed his voter registration — to Independent — only in the late 1990s, when he became under secretary for international affairs in the [[Clinton administration]].

==President of New York Federal Reserve Bank==
In 2008 he was deeply involved in the complex moves by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury to [[bailout]] banks in the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]]. That included $700 billion in money sought by president [[George W. Bush]] and passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress in October, 2008, and trillions in loan guarantees made by the Federal Reserve on its own authority. Geithner now is the person most responsible for bringing recovery to the economy.

Geithner was appointed to the Treasury largely on the basis of his work at the New York Fed. His most important action there was design the [[bailout]] of giant insurance firm [[American Insurance Group|AIG]], with 80% government ownership of AIG. It received $170 billion from the government. AIG scandalized the nation in March 2009 by giving out $165 million in bonuses to the very people who caused it to lose over $60 billion after the government took it over.

==Treasury Secretary==

In the confirmation hearings in January 2009 he was publicly humiliated by the Senate (controlled by Democrats) when it seemed he deliberately evaded over $40,000 of federal taxes. He paid the taxes and penalties and was confirmed, with most Republicans opposed.
Geithner and the [[Obama Administration]] moved moved to handle the crisis on two fronts. Working with Democrats in Congress (and three moderate Republican Senators), they passed the an economic stimulus bill, the "[[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]", with $500 billion of [[Direct_spending#New_spending|new spending]] and nearly $300 billion in new tax cuts. The stimulus will begin operations in mid-February, 2009, and supporters hoped it would slow the nosediving economy. Conservative critics feared it would be ineffective in the short run and add to the national debt and tax burdens in the long run.

===Calls For Resignation===
Republican Representative Kevin Brady of Texas told Geithner he has ‘Lost All Confidence’, thats how both liberals Democrats and conservative Republicans now view Geithner's position. Democrat Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon told [[MSNBC]] that Geithner needed to go. Representative Michael Burgess of Texas, also expressed dissatisfaction with Geithner, <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=awXy12PVV7.0 Geithner Resignation Calls May Increase as 2010 Election Nears, Bloomberg, November 20, 2009]</ref>

{{cquote|I don’t think you should be fired,” Burgess told him. “I thought you should have never been hired.}}

===Bailout plans===
With banks on the verge of failure, Geithner unveiled yet another massive [[bailout]] program in mid-February. Trillions would be spent to move toxic assets out of the banks, but the unanimous reaction was negative and Geithner hung on to his job, but had to come up with a better plan. Geithner has the authority to decide what to do with the second tranche of $350 billion from the $700 billion banking bailout bill passed by Congress in October 2008.

[[Image:Toxic-2-assets.jpg|thumb|290px|left]]
With Geithner losing more of his credibility as a problem solver, he came back with a plan on March 23 that will not need additional funding or approval by Congress. The Treasury will use $100 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), as well as new capital from private investors, in order to generate $500 billion in purchasing power to buy toxic loans and assets. The program could potentially expand to $1 trillion over time, and initial responses by Wall Street have been favorable.

==External links==
*[http://www.ustreas.gov/ Department of Treasury]
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Finance]]
[[Category:Taxation]]
[[Category:Clinton administration]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:United States Secretaries of the Treasury]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geithner, Timothy}}

John Kerry

2013-05-23T03:39:54Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=John Kerry
|image=John-kerry.jpg‎
|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=Julia Thorne (divorced) Teresa Heinz
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices= {{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=State
|state=United States
|number=68th
|deputy=n
|governor=
|president=[[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=January 30, 2013-Present
|preceded=[[Hillary Clinton]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Massachusetts
|terms=January 2, 1985 - January 30, 2013
|preceded=[[Paul Tsongas]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Mo Cowan]] (placeholder)
}}
}}

'''John Forbes Kerry''', born December 11, 1943 (age {{age|1943|12|11}}), is the current [[United States Secretary of State]] and formerly served as a U.S. Senator from [[Massachusetts]] since 1984; he was considered one of the more [[liberal]] senators<ref>http://nationaljournal.c om/voteratings/sen/lib.htm</ref><ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm</ref>. In the [[United States presidential election, 2004|2004 Presidential election]], he ran an unsuccessful bid for the [[President of the United States of America|presidency]] as the [[Democratic Party]]'s nominee, losing to [[Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent president [[George W. Bush]]. Kerry was a former Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Kerry's military service in the [[Vietnam War]] has been tainted with his subsequent distortion of facts regarding his tour of duty which was exposed during the 2004 presidential election.

==Military Career ==
Kerry enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in February, 1966, and began active service that August as Ensign aboard the USS Gridley, a Guided Missile Frigate deployed in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]]. During his tour of duty, Kerry requested his second tour be in Vietnam, listing his preferred position as commanding a Fast Patrol Craft (PCF) or "Swift Boat." His request was granted, and on November 17, 1968 he reported to Cam Ranh Bay for a month of training.

The Swift Boats had been considered to be a safe place to be during the war, but during that time their role was changed to become more dangerous and combat oriented. During his few months service, Kerry recommended himself for the [[Silver Star]], the [[Bronze Star]], and three [[Purple Heart]]s. After his third minor injury he was permitted to request reassignment as per Navy instruction 1300.39, and felt Vietnam on April 2, 1969, less than 5 months after arriving.

Upon returning stateside, he served as personal aide to Rear Admiral Walter Schlech until March 1970 when his active duty obligation had ended. Kerry continued serving in the Naval Reserves until February 1972.

===Vietnam record===
[[Image:437px-The New Soldier.jpg|right|thumb|Kerry's book, ''The New Soldier'' with [[VVAW]] activists flying the American flag upside down.]]
Marine Corps Maj. Michael E. McBride wrote in Townhall.com, Mr. Kerry "has always had the power to clear up any of the Swiftboater challenges; all he had to do is allow the Navy to distribute unaltered copies of his service record, medical records, and DD214. It is essential that these records come from [[Department of Defense]], so that they cannot be tampered with by Kerry or his supporters. The DOD copies are the true copies of record and the only viable evidence for these matters." Maj. McBride, citing Mr. Kerry's long reluctance to do, so goes on to write, "it is unlikely that any credible evidence exists to refute the base charges of the Swiftboaters."

He concludes, "If any of my ex-squadron mates dumped on me like the Swift boat vets are dumping on Kerry, my records would have been available the next day ... ." <ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/COMMENTARY/847826179&template=nextpage</ref>

Kerry also claimed on multiple occasions to have been in [[Cambodia]] during the Christmas of 1968. When his claim was shown to be very improbable, his subordinates agreed that he was incorrect, but stated he was still there at a later time -- a claim that likewise is considered to be dubious.<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40056</ref>

An internal memorandum for Attorney General John Mitchell from a Nixon staffer released by the National Archives in July 2007 revealed the [[Nixon]] White House had considered recruiting John Kerry. The memorandum states in part,
{{Cquote|He was asked the direct question of how he voted in 1968. He said "if he had voted (which he did not), he would have voted for Nixon." <ref>[http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/virtuallibrary/documents/donated/042671_chotiner.pdf Memo from Chotiner to Mitchell], April 26, 1971.</ref> }}

===Allegations against fellow veterans===
[[File:1judzb.jpg|thumb|275px|right|Sen. [[Edward M. Kennedy]] with John Kerry during the so-called [http://www.wintersoldier.com/index.php?topic=NewSoldier "Winter Soldier Investigation"].]]
Upon returning from Vietnam, Kerry joined [[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]] (VVAW), and became a chief spokesman for the anti-war movement.

Controversially referring to US servicemen in Vietnam as having been sent "''to die for the biggest mistake in history''," Kerry alleged that the military had "''created a monster''" in the form of violence-prone American soldiers, and recounted that soldiers had personally recollected stories of having "''personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads''," of Vietnamese citizens and rampaging across Vietnam "''[razing] villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan''". <ref>[http://www.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/JohnKerryTestimony.html John Kerry's Testimony before the Senate Foerein Relations Committee, April 22, 1971], Editorial Notes by Dr. Ernest Bolt, University of Richmond. </ref> That these acts were "''not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command''." <ref>Ibid.</ref>

On NBC's ''Meet The Press'' in 1971, Kerry was asked whether he had personally committed atrocities in Vietnam. He responded:
{{Cquote|''There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 caliber machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare, all of this is contrary to the [[Geneva Convention]]s and all of this is ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are [[war criminal]]s.''"<ref>[http://hnn.us/articles/3552.html Vietnam 30 Years later: What John Kerry Said on Meet the Press], George Mason University, History News Network</ref>}}

==2004 Presidential election==
:''Main article:'' [[United States presidential election, 2004]]
During his 2004 campaign for President, several groups were formed, most notably the [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth|Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]],<ref>[http://www.swiftvets.com/index.php Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]</ref> to counter the charges of "[[war crimes]]" Kerry repeatedly made against Vietnam veterans (see below) and to call Kerry's military record into question, accusing him of inflicting his own wounds,<ref>[http://www.learnedhand.com/kerryunfitepilogue.htm John Kerry - Unfit For Command]</ref> going to unusual lengths to obtain his Purple Hearts,<ref>[http://www.archive-news.net/Articles/FD040830.html ''Forging a Paper Hero: The Mystery of Kerry’s Medals] </ref> and attacking unarmed civilians. Swift Boat Veterans for Truth had been criticized, firstly because no member of the group served on the actual boat that Kerry commanded and secondly for perceived contradiction. As an example, Kerry's commanding officer, George Elliott, signed an affadavit for the Swift Boat veterans claiming that with the information he had now, he would not have recommend Kerry for the military honor, but later repudiated his affadavit, stating that Kerry had deserved the honor.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/08/06/veteran_retracts_criticism_of_kerry/</ref>.

===Violation of election laws===
In 2007 the [[Federal Election Commission]] fined the Kerry campign $1.3 million for spending more than federal rules allow during his 2004 Presidential bid. In order to receive public funds, Kerry, a former Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and his running mate, former North Carolina Sen. [[John Edwards]], agreed to spend $74.6 million or less on their general election campaign against President Bush.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0507/4269.html</ref><ref>[http://www.fec.gov/agenda/2007/mtgdoc07-37.pdf Agenda Document No. 07-37], Federal Election Commission, Washignton, D.C., May 21, 2007.</ref> In 2009 the FEC fined a [[George Soros]]-backed group $775,000 for its unregulated spending during the 2004 election on behalf of [[Democrat]]s, including Democratic Presidential candidate John F. Kerry. <ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-501563_162-3222390.html</ref>

==Iraq War==
:''Main article:'' [[Operation Iraqi Freedom|Iraqi war]]
Kerry voted to give President George W. Bush the authority to go to [[Iraq War|war with Iraq]] in 2002, although in his 2004 Presidential bid he campaigned as being opposed to the war, and later said regarding his vote to give the President that authority, "There's nothing - nothing - in my life in public service I regret more, nothing even close. We should all be willing to say: I was wrong, I should not have voted for the Iraq War Resolution." <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/mistakes-and-responsibili_b_31482.html</ref> Kerry's initial vote on the matter and subsequent revision on the topic caused many to label him a "flip-flopper" during his 2004 presidential bid.<ref>[http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20040716-083945-7626r.htm Kerry’s skewed priorities], ''The Washington Times'', July 16, 2004.</ref>

===Comments on service in Iraq===
On October 30, 2006, eight days before the 2006 elections, Kerry was a headline speaker at a campaign rally being held for unsuccessful Democratic [[California]] gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California. Speaking to an audience composed mainly of college students, Kerry said, "
{{Cquote|You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.}}
After being criticized from President Bush and other leaders, in an effort to be funny Kerry stated "Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how. I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy."

After two days, Kerry wrote an apology on his [[blog]], claiming to be sorry if anyone 'misinterpreted his comments'.

==Secretary of State==
Since the first February of 2013 Kerry is the Secretary of State of the United States of America. In his office he supported the opposition in the [[Syrian Civil War]].

==Books by John Kerry==

* John Kerry, [http://www.freekerrybook.org/documents/THENEWSOLDIERPHOTOS_000.PDF ''The New Soldier''], edited by David Thorne, Macmillan Pub Co (October 1971). ISBN-10: 002073610X

==See also==
[[Previous Breaking News/John Kerry|Articles about '''John Kerry''' from previous "Breaking News"]]
==External links==
*[http://frontpagemag.com/2013/steven-plaut/john-kerrys-sympathy-for-terrorism/ John Kerry’s Pro-Terror Swiftboating]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerry, John}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]
[[Category:110th United States Congress]]
[[Category:111th United States Congress]]
[[Category:112th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Irish-Americans]]
[[Category:Failed Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:United States Veterans]]
[[Category:Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]
[[Category:2004 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:United States Secretaries of State]]

Karl Rove

2013-05-23T03:27:04Z

Jm920: He's not this and at this point, few on the right would consider him one.

[[Image:Karl Rove.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Karl Rove''' (born December 25, 1950) is a [[Rino Backer]] known for losing the [[Congress]] to a [[Democrat]] takeover in 2006 and pursuing policies that resulted in the [[Republican Party]] to suffer landslide defeats in the 2008 elections. For an encore, perhaps to cater to socially liberal donors to his [[Super PAC]], in August 2012 Rove made vicious remarks against [[conservative]] [[Todd Akin]] in an unsuccessful attempt to force him to give up his nomination for the [[U.S. Senate]]. Furthering Rove's downward spiral, less than 2% of candidates backed by Rove's super pacs succeeded in the 2012 General Election.<ref>http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/</ref>

Rove sided with [[Planned Parenthood]] when [[Komen for the Cure]] temporarily stopped funding it, according to Karen Handel, who was an executive at Komen for the Cure at the time.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/09/11/rove-told-komen-back-off-planned-parenthood/</ref>

[[Robert Novak]] famously observed that Rove had become "part of the problem" as he was hurting the Republican Party towards the end of the [[George W. Bush Administration]].

By 2012, Rove had reinvented himself with funding by [[Las Vegas]] casino billionaires for Rove's [[Super PAC]], [[American Crossroads]] and its sister Super PAC, "American Crossroads GPS". Rove married for the third time and was flown on his honeymoon in a private jet owned by a [[Las Vegas]] casino mogul.

[[Liberal]] [[Newsweek]], the [[Wall Street Journal]], and [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] promote Rove heavily, although it is unclear his political advice and the ads run by his [[American Crossroads]] is having any positive effect.

== Background ==

Rove was the Deputy Chief of Staff in the [[Bush administration]]. Rove's longtime partnership with [[George W. Bush]] dates back to Bush's terms as [[governor]] of [[Texas]]. Rove ran all of Bush's campaigns for governor and for president. Rove was credited as the "architect" of these elections.

Rove started his political career early, attending the University of [[Utah]] to work in the [[College Republican National Committee]].
Often called "the brains behind Bush" or "the Architect," Rove is credited as the chief architect of the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns.

===Resignation===

On August 13, 2007, the Wall Street Journal published an interview with Rove in which he announced that he would be resigning from his position of deputy Chief of Staff at the end of the month. <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118698747711695773.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news</ref> Rove explained the move as motivated by his dedication to his family.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rove, Karl}}
[[Category:Political Operatives]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Rino backers]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Talk:Karl Rove

2013-05-23T03:18:07Z

Jm920: /* RINO Backers */

== The McCain 2000 allegation ==

I will not embarrass the editor who left on this article an allegation that Karl Rove had, during the [[United States presidential election, 2000|2000 US Presidential election]], started a rumor, of dubious foundation, to the effect that [[John McCain]] had fathered an [[illegitimate]] child. I will merely cite this article<ref>Mooney, Alexander, and Yoon, Robert. "[http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/03/rove-responds-to-2000-south-carolina.html Rove responds to 2000 South Carolina campaign allegation]." ''Cable News Network Online'', March 16, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2007.</ref> in which Karl Rove specifically denies having any part of such a rumor. The article quotes Rove:{{Cquote|That is absolutely not true, and I take offense....If you have any bit of evidence that anybody connected with the Bush campaign was involved in that, you bring it forward, because it is a reckless charge.}}--[[User:TerryH|TerryH]][[User talk:TerryH|Talk]] 17:23, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

:Hey, I'm just writing the facts as I know them. Rove is celebrated for his push-polling and other shrewd tactics. You're free to refute them, of course. [[User:Kristkrispies|Kristkrispies]] 17:28, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

::Still, I cannot and will not accept that last edit as friendly without a hard, trustworthy citation. The laws of libel govern this site, don't forget.--[[User:TerryH|TerryH]][[User talk:TerryH|Talk]] 17:29, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

:::I don't deny that it needs a citation, but this site is relatively new and many articles that are entirely factual are yet unsourced. I was not aware of that denial, nor am I fighting the reversion. [[User:Kristkrispies|Kristkrispies]] 17:32, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

==References==
<references/>
==[[RINO Backers]]==
I'm creating a category to facilitate identification of false conservatives or "RINO Backers", who pay lip service to conservative principles but sometimes oppose the social conservatism. I can't add the relevant category, but perhaps somebody else would like to do it. The category to be added is: [[:Category:Rino backers]] --[[User:TonySidaway|TonySidaway]] 17:06, 7 September 2012 (EDT)
[[Category:Rino backers|*]]
:This entry seems to be locked--I had the same inclination. However, I would now like to add that as a result (?) of being a Rino Backer, Rove's superpacs had a 1% success rate. Although typical for some liberal media, they get the "facts" right (e.g. the 1% claim) but the reasoning wrong. See http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/
:Rove isn't a fiscal conservative either, which his years in the White House and the big government supporting candidates he backs shows rather explicitly. Really he's not any kind of conservative. Sunlight Foundation is a liberal group from what I know about them, but a stopped clock can sometimes be right. On another note the sentence about Rove's honeymoon is TMI. Getting funded by casino owners is notable, but I don't think anyone wants to know about it. [[User:Jm920|Jm920]] 23:13, 22 May 2013 (EDT)

Talk:Karl Rove

2013-05-23T03:13:18Z

Jm920: /* RINO Backers */

== The McCain 2000 allegation ==

I will not embarrass the editor who left on this article an allegation that Karl Rove had, during the [[United States presidential election, 2000|2000 US Presidential election]], started a rumor, of dubious foundation, to the effect that [[John McCain]] had fathered an [[illegitimate]] child. I will merely cite this article<ref>Mooney, Alexander, and Yoon, Robert. "[http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/03/rove-responds-to-2000-south-carolina.html Rove responds to 2000 South Carolina campaign allegation]." ''Cable News Network Online'', March 16, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2007.</ref> in which Karl Rove specifically denies having any part of such a rumor. The article quotes Rove:{{Cquote|That is absolutely not true, and I take offense....If you have any bit of evidence that anybody connected with the Bush campaign was involved in that, you bring it forward, because it is a reckless charge.}}--[[User:TerryH|TerryH]][[User talk:TerryH|Talk]] 17:23, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

:Hey, I'm just writing the facts as I know them. Rove is celebrated for his push-polling and other shrewd tactics. You're free to refute them, of course. [[User:Kristkrispies|Kristkrispies]] 17:28, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

::Still, I cannot and will not accept that last edit as friendly without a hard, trustworthy citation. The laws of libel govern this site, don't forget.--[[User:TerryH|TerryH]][[User talk:TerryH|Talk]] 17:29, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

:::I don't deny that it needs a citation, but this site is relatively new and many articles that are entirely factual are yet unsourced. I was not aware of that denial, nor am I fighting the reversion. [[User:Kristkrispies|Kristkrispies]] 17:32, 3 July 2007 (EDT)

==References==
<references/>
==[[RINO Backers]]==
I'm creating a category to facilitate identification of false conservatives or "RINO Backers", who pay lip service to conservative principles but sometimes oppose the social conservatism. I can't add the relevant category, but perhaps somebody else would like to do it. The category to be added is: [[:Category:Rino backers]] --[[User:TonySidaway|TonySidaway]] 17:06, 7 September 2012 (EDT)
[[Category:Rino backers|*]]
:This entry seems to be locked--I had the same inclination. However, I would now like to add that as a result (?) of being a Rino Backer, Rove's superpacs had a 1% success rate. Although typical for some liberal media, they get the "facts" right (e.g. the 1% claim) but the reasoning wrong. See http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/
:Rove isn't a fiscal conservative either, which his years in the White House and the big government supporting candidates he backs shows rather explicitly. Really he's not any kind of conservative. On another note the sentence about Rove's honeymoon is TMI. Getting funded by casino owners is notable, but I don't think anyone wants to know about it. [[User:Jm920|Jm920]] 23:13, 22 May 2013 (EDT)

RINO

2013-05-23T02:33:32Z

Jm920: /* RINOs currently not holding political office */

Tom Campbell

2013-05-15T06:31:47Z

Jm920: Feinstein is one of the most wicked and one of the most hated gun-grabbers in the country. Don't see how she would be popular, unfortunately a state like California would elect her...

{{Officeholder
|name=Tom Campbell
|image=Tomfinal.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Susanne Campbell
|religion=
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=California
|district=12th and 15th
|terms=January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 December 12, 1995 - January 3, 2001
|preceded=Ernie Konnyu Norman Y. Mineta
|former=n
|succeeded=Mike Honda
}}

}}
'''Tom Campbell''' (born August 14, 1952 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]) is an academician who served as a [[Republican]] U.S. Representative from [[California]]'s Silicon Valley area for five nonconsecutive terms and Director of Finance for the State of California in 2004 and 2005. Campbell was a candidate for the Republican nomination for [[U.S. Senate]] to challenge [[Barbara Boxer]] in the 2010 election, however was defeated by former Hewlett-Packard CEO [[Carly Fiorina]].

Campbell earned B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from the [[University of Chicago]], during which his faculty advisor was [[Milton Friedman]]. He graduated from [[Harvard]] Law in 1976. Campbell served as a clerk for [[U.S. Supreme Court]] Justice [[Byron White]], and went on to become a White House Fellow under President [[Jimmy Carter]] and Director of the Bureau of Competition under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. In the 1980's Campbell became a full tenured professor at Stanford Law School.

In 1988, Campbell was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and served until an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 1992. After his defeat, he was elected to the California State Senate and was elected to the House again in a 1995 special election after his district was renumbered. He served on the Judiciary Committee, the Joint Economic Committee, the Banking and Housing Committee and the International Relations Committee. Campbell's record was fically conservative while socially moderate. He voted against the 1997 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and consistently earned high ratings from pro-choice groups. However, the conservative National Taxpayers Union Foundation named Campbell the most fiscally responsible member of [[Congress]]. His political leanings have gained him a [[libertarian]] following.

In 2000, Campbell was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent [[Dianne Feinstein]], but was defeated badly, even in his home district. After serving as Dean of the Haas School of Business at the [[University of California]], Campbell was appointed by Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] to the Council of Economic Advisors. His tenure under Schwarzenegger led his primary Senate opponent Fiorina to make an ad contesting his fiscal conservatism, calling him a FCINO and comparing him to a demonic sheep.

In 2008, Campbell opposed [[Proposition 8]], arguing that "Republicans believe deeply that government should be limited. Government has no business making distinctions between people based on their personal lives. That's why, as a Californian and a Republican who has held elective office at the federal and state levels, I will be voting No on Proposition 8." <ref>http://reason.com/archives/2008/10/24/ending-marriage-discrimination</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://campbell.org/ Campaign Website]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Campbell, Tom}}
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]

John Kerry

2013-05-09T06:54:14Z

Jm920:

Chuck Hagel

2013-05-09T06:43:18Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Chuck Hagel
|image=Ghdur76.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Lilibet Hagel
|religion=[[Episcopalian]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=Defense
|state=United States
|number=24th
|deputy=n
|president=[[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=February 27, 2013-Present
|preceded=[[Leon Panetta]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Nebraska
|terms=January 7, 1997 – January 3, 2009
|preceded=[[J. James Exon]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Mike Johanns]]
}}
}}
'''Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel''', born October 4, 1946 (age {{age|1946|10|4}}), was nominated in January 2013 by [[Barack Hussein Obama]] to be [[Secretary of Defense]] and confirmed that February, most likely because of Hagel's agreement with Muslim views about the Middle East. (See [[Obama's Religion]]) Earlier Hagel was the senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Nebraska]]. A member of the [[Republican Party]] although he's now part of the Obama administration, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002. In September 2007, Hagel announced he would retire at the end of his term in early 2009 and said he would not seek a rumored bid for the [[White House]].<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/08/politics/main3244230.shtml CBS News, September 8, 2007, "Sources: Hagel Won't Seek Re-Election"]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08cnd-hagel.html New York Times, September 8, 2007, "Hagel to Retire at End of Term, Aides Say"]</reF>

Hagel is a [[Vietnam War]] veteran, having served in the U.S. Army infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) from 1967-1968. Hagel served along with his brother Tom Hagel as an infantry squad leader with the [[U.S. Army]]'s 9th Infantry Division. While serving in [[Vietnam]], he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After returning from Vietnam, Hagel worked as a bartender and radio newscaster while finishing college. Hagel is the current [[Secretary of Defense]] of the United States.

==Political views==
Chuck Hagel is known for being a [[liberal]] [[Republican]]. In December 2005, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president." According to a SurveyUSA poll, Hagel has a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans. Together with [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] [[Joseph Biden]] and [[Carl Levin]] he proposed a non-binding resolution to the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which rejected President Bush's policy as "not in the national interest" in a 12-9 vote. On domestic issues Hagel was known to have a more [[conservative]] record. He voted pro-life, supported [[2nd amendment]] rights and had a "Taxpayer's Friend" voting record. On [[Illegal Immigration]] he is more [[liberal]] and supports an amnesty guest worker program and even voted to allow illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. He is also more liberal on national security issues, which gave him the media's stamp of approval because he would always vocally attack his party and his president. Another issue he is liberal on is his advocacy of earmarks. Hagel currently operates ties with the [[Bilderberg]] group.

Hagel voted with 78 other Democrats and Republicans to authorize the Iraq war, but later changed his mind, called Iraq another Vietnam, voted for withdrawal, and voted to defund the war.

==Possible 2008 presidential candidacy==
Hagel had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Hagel has talked about entering the possibility of an independent run with New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]]. "It's a great country to think about -- a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation," Hagel said on CBS's Face the Nation.

==Electoral History==
'''2002 Nebraska United States Senatorial Election'''
*Chuck Hagel (R) (inc.),83%
*Charlie A. Matulka (D), 15%

'''1996 Nebraska United States Senatorial Election'''
*Chuck Hagel (R), 56%
*Ben Nelson (D), 42%

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
*[http://hagel.senate.gov/ Official Senate website],
*[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h001028/ Voting record]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm Hagel On the Issues]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Hagel, Charles Timothy}}
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category: 110th United States Congress]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Chuck Hagel

2013-05-09T06:42:34Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Chuck Hagel
|image=Ghdur76.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Lilibet Hagel
|religion=[[Episcopalian]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=Defense
|state=United States
|number=24th
|deputy=n
|president=[[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=February 27, 2013-Present
|preceded=[[Leon Panetta]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Nebraska
|terms=January 7, 1997 – January 3, 2009
|preceded=[[J. James Exon]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Mike Johanns]]
}}
}}
'''Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel''', born October 4, 1946 (age {{age|1946|10|4}}), was nominated in January 2013 by [[Barack Hussein Obama]] to be [[Secretary of Defense]] and confirmed that February, most likely because of Hagel's agreement with Muslim views about the Middle East. (See [[Obama's Religion]]) Earlier Hagel was the senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Nebraska]]. A member of the [[Republican Party]] although he's now part of the Obama administration, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002. In September 2007, Hagel announced he would retire at the end of his term in early 2009 and said he would not seek a rumored bid for the [[White House]].<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/08/politics/main3244230.shtml CBS News, September 8, 2007, "Sources: Hagel Won't Seek Re-Election"]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08cnd-hagel.html New York Times, September 8, 2007, "Hagel to Retire at End of Term, Aides Say"]</reF>

Hagel is a [[Vietnam War]] veteran, having served in the U.S. Army infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) from 1967-1968. Hagel served along with his brother Tom Hagel as an infantry squad leader with the [[U.S. Army]]'s 9th Infantry Division. While serving in [[Vietnam]], he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After returning from Vietnam, Hagel worked as a bartender and radio newscaster while finishing college. Hagel is a current nominee for the office of [[Secretary of Defense]] of the United States.

==Political views==
Chuck Hagel is known for being a [[liberal]] [[Republican]]. In December 2005, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president." According to a SurveyUSA poll, Hagel has a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans. Together with [[Democratic Party|Democrats]] [[Joseph Biden]] and [[Carl Levin]] he proposed a non-binding resolution to the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which rejected President Bush's policy as "not in the national interest" in a 12-9 vote. On domestic issues Hagel was known to have a more [[conservative]] record. He voted pro-life, supported [[2nd amendment]] rights and had a "Taxpayer's Friend" voting record. On [[Illegal Immigration]] he is more [[liberal]] and supports an amnesty guest worker program and even voted to allow illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. He is also more liberal on national security issues, which gave him the media's stamp of approval because he would always vocally attack his party and his president. Another issue he is liberal on is his advocacy of earmarks. Hagel currently operates ties with the [[Bilderberg]] group.

Hagel voted with 78 other Democrats and Republicans to authorize the Iraq war, but later changed his mind, called Iraq another Vietnam, voted for withdrawal, and voted to defund the war.

==Possible 2008 presidential candidacy==
Hagel had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Hagel has talked about entering the possibility of an independent run with New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]]. "It's a great country to think about -- a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation," Hagel said on CBS's Face the Nation.

==Electoral History==
'''2002 Nebraska United States Senatorial Election'''
*Chuck Hagel (R) (inc.),83%
*Charlie A. Matulka (D), 15%

'''1996 Nebraska United States Senatorial Election'''
*Chuck Hagel (R), 56%
*Ben Nelson (D), 42%

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
*[http://hagel.senate.gov/ Official Senate website],
*[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h001028/ Voting record]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm Hagel On the Issues]
{{DEFAULTSORT: Hagel, Charles Timothy}}
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]
[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category: 110th United States Congress]]
[[Category:RINOs]]

Leon Panetta

2013-05-09T06:20:28Z

Jm920:

[[Image:DCIA-Panetta.jpg|thumb|right|Leon Panetta, as CIA director (2009)]]'''Leon Edward Panetta''' (born June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California) served in the Obama administration first as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], having been appointed by President [[Barack Obama]], from January 2009 through June 2011, when he became the [[Secretary of Defense]], a position he held until stepping down in February 2013. Despite criticisms of his lack of significant intelligence experience, he was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on February 12, 2009.

Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the [[California]] Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives.

Panetta served as director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] and was promoted to White House chief of staff in 1994. In 1997 he became director of Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a leadership non-profit based at [[California State University]]. In 2006 Panetta was a member of the [[Iraq]] Study Group, along with former [[Secretary of State]] [[James Baker]] and future-[[Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert Gates]].

Panetta is married and has three sons and five grandchildren.

==External Links==

*[https://www.cia.gov/ Central Intelligence Agency]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Panetta, Leon}}
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]
[[Category:California]]

Robert Gates

2013-05-08T07:26:52Z

Jm920:

{{Officeholder
|name=Robert Gates
|image=Robert Gates, official DoD photo portrait, 2006.jpg
|party=[[Independent]]
|spouse=Becky Gates
|religion=
|offices=
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=Defense
|state=United States
|number=22nd
|deputy=n
|president=[[George W. Bush]] [[Barack Hussein Obama]]
|terms=December 18, 2006-July 1, 2011
|preceded=[[Donald Rumsfeld]]
|former=n
|succeeded=[[Leon Panetta]]
}}
}}
'''Robert Michael Gates''' is the twenty-second [[Secretary of Defense]]. He serves in the [[Obama Administration]] and previously served in the second [[Bush]] administration since December 18, 2006. He took office after the forced resignation of [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Gates is a registered independent because when working at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], he believed he should be apolitical, however he has said "I consider myself a [[Republican]]" <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/</ref>, and gave financial contributions to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign. <ref>http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Robert_Gates.php</ref> Gates is given credit for the "surge" in Iraq and the success of American policies there.
==Early Life==

Gates was born on September 25, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas. He received a scholarship to the [[College of William and Mary]] in Virginia and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in history. While attending William and Mary, he was very involved in the [[Young Republicans]], and even became the chapter's President. He went on to receive a graduate degree in history from [[Indiana University]] and a Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from [[Georgetown University]].

==Early Public Service==

Gates served in the [[United States Air Force]] in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] from 1967 to 1969, a time when much of the rest of the nation had abandoned the strategy of [[Containment]] abroad. Immediately thereafter, he began working with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] as an investigator.

Gates was first nominated for the position of Director in 1987. However, due to negative media spin about the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], in which Gates helped the spread of [[Democracy]], the [[United States Senate|Senate]] stated that they would not ratify his appointment.

However, in 1991, [[George H. W. Bush]] renominated Gates due to his hard work and staunch [[American values]]. This time, a more responsible [[Congress]] approved, and Gates won the appointment he had earned. True to the [[American Dream]], Gates had worked his way up from the position of entry-level investigator all the way up to Director and is the only officer in the CIA to have done so.

In 1993, Robert Gates left the CIA and became a lecturer at a number of prestigious universities. He continued this until 1999, when he was hired as the Dean of the George Bush School at [[Texas A&M]], a position he held until 2001. In 2002 he took on the position of President of Texas A&M, becoming one of the Universities most popular Presidents and greatly expanding the school. In 2004 he hosted a Christian event called "President's Day" for children from Bryan, Texas who were part of the Children's Evangelism Fellowship.

==Secretary of Defense==

On November 8, 2006, [[George W. Bush]] followed in his father's footsteps by appointing Gates to the position of [[Secretary of Defense]] after [[Donald Rumsfeld]]'s resignation. He has since used this position to continue to fight the [[War in Iraq]]. In 2008, it was announced that Gates would remain Secretary of Defense for at least a year under the administration of incoming President [[Barack Obama]], so as to ensure a smooth process regarding how the situation in the [[Middle East]] is handled. This move has been criticised by people on both ends of the spectrum, and praised by others. Gates is expected to remain as Defense Secretary through 2010. <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gates-defense9-2010jan09,0,3629923.story</ref>

Comments on the value of a [[free press]]:
*"When it identifies a problem, as at [[Walter Reed]], the response of senior leaders should be to find out if the allegations are true, as they were at Walter Reed, and if so, say so," Mr. Gates said. "And then act to remedy the problem. If untrue, then be able to document that fact. ... The press is not the enemy and to treat it as such is self-defeating." <ref> [http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070525-041807-9641r.htm Gates addresses Navy class] - May 25, 2007 </ref>

==Afghanistan war==
see [[Afghanistan War]]

[[File:Mcchrystal.jpg|thumb|250px|General McChrystal]]
In Aug. 2009, General [[Stanley A. McChrystal]], the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref> Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009] </ref>
American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President Bush in 2006 and reappointed by President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a '''counterinsurgency''' strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin. Liberals though Obama and Gates were making a big mistake--heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals. Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18 month deadline.

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

==Other appointments and honors==

Gates is presently the head of the [[National Eagle Scout Association]].
Gates is an [[Eagle Scout]], and has won the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and two occasions, and the CIA's highest honor, the [[Distinguished Intelligence Medal]] on three separate occasions.

==Notes==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Robert}}
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Cabinet]]
[[Category:Reagan Era]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

Leon Panetta

2013-05-08T07:24:38Z

Jm920: We can't stand by the sloth that would cause an entry like this to go without being updated since Pannetta was head of the CIA.

[[Image:DCIA-Panetta.jpg|thumb|right|CIA Director Leon Panetta]]'''Leon Edward Panetta''' (born June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California) served in the Obama administration first as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], having been appointed by President [[Barack Obama]], from January 2009 through June 2011, when he became the [[Secretary of Defense]], a position he held until stepping down in February 2013. Despite criticisms of his lack of significant intelligence experience, he was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on February 12, 2009.

Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the [[California]] Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives.

Panetta served as director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] and was promoted to White House chief of staff in 1994. In 1997 he became director of Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a leadership non-profit based at [[California State University]]. In 2006 Panetta was a member of the [[Iraq]] Study Group, along with former [[Secretary of State]] [[James Baker]] and future-[[Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert Gates]].

Panetta is married and has three sons and five grandchildren.

==External Links==

*[https://www.cia.gov/ Central Intelligence Agency]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Panetta, Leon}}
[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party]]
[[Category:California]]

United States Secretary of Defense

2013-05-08T07:18:06Z

Jm920:

The '''United States Secretary of Defense''' is the head of the [[Department of Defense]]. The current Secretary of Defense is [[Chuck Hagel]], who was nominated by [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Barack H. Obama]] and approved by the US Senate on February 27, 2013.

==History==
The Secretary of Defense position was created in 1947 by President [[Harry S Truman]] along with the creation of the National Military Establishment (which became the DoD in 1949), which replaced the Secretary and [[Department of War]]. [[James Forrestal]] was appointed as the first Secretary of Defense.

==Duties==
The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm DoD Organizational Structure]</ref>

==Secretaries==
{|class=wikitable
!colspan=3|Secretaries of Defense
|-
|[[Donald Rumsfeld]]||January 20, 2001|||December 18, 2006
|-
|[[Robert Gates]]||December 18, 2006|||July 11, 2011
|-
|[[Leon Panetta]]||July 11, 2011|||February 27, 2013
|-
|[[Chuck Hagel]]||February 27, 2013|||Incumbent
|}

==References==
<references/>
[[category:United States Department of Defense]]

Movement conservative

2013-05-08T07:03:50Z

Jm920:

[[Category:Conservative]]A '''movement conservative''' is one who supports all or nearly all [[conservative]] principles with a coherent philosophy, and who advances broad [[conservative]] goals both individually and through teamwork. This is contrasted with [[Republican in name only|cafeteria]], or single-issue, or self-serving approaches. Movement conservatives, unlike cafeteria conservatives, understand that since conservative philosophy is a coherent whole, it is untenable to discard part of it without discarding all of it. '''Movement conservatives favor [[logic]] rather than self-centered behavior''' and therefore reject the teachings of [[Ayn Rand]], who considered [[selfishness]] to be logical.

Simply put, a movement conservative is a conservative who seeks to help others, and the nation, by explaining, advocating and defending the logical and beneficial conservative approach. A movement conservative is not primarily seeking political gain for him or herself, but advocates the insights and values of [[conservatism]] for the benefit of others.

Movement conservatives include:

*Author and Commentator [[William F. Buckley]]
*Political theorist [[Russell Kirk]]
*Activist [[Phyllis Schlafly]]
*Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]]
*Commentator [[Pat Buchanan]]
*[[Ken Cuccinelli]], [[Attorney General]] of [[Virginia]]
*U.S. Representative for [[Iowa]]'s 4th District, [[Steve King]]
*U.S. Representative for [[Minnesota]]'s 6th District, [[Michele Bachmann]]
*U.S. Senator [[Rand Paul]] of [[Kentucky]]
*U.S. Senator [[Ted Cruz]] of [[Texas]]
*Heritage President (and former Senator) [[Jim DeMint]] of [[South Carolina]]
*[[Homeschooling]] leader [[Michael Farris]]
*Columnist and economist [[Thomas Sowell]]
*Radio and television personality<ref>The Blaze TV.</ref> [[Glenn Beck]]
*Author and talk-radio host [[Mark Levin]]

== Honorable Mention ==

*Former Governor of [[Alaska]] [[Sarah Palin]]
*Talk-radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]]
*Activist [[Alan Keyes]]
*Columnist [[Ann Coulter]]
*Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]]
*Columnist and blogger [[Michelle Malkin]]

== Deceased ==

*[[Saint Paul|St. Paul]], author of the greatest number of letters in the [[New Testament]]
*Irish Statesman [[Edmund Burke]], who served in the British Parliament at the time of the [[American Revolution]]
*U.S. Senator [[Jesse Helms]] of [[North Carolina]]
*President [[Ronald Reagan]]
*Congressman [[John Ashbrook]]
*Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], M.D., who died on board of the [[KAL 007]] flight when it was shot down by Soviets.
*Journalist [[Robert Novak]]
*Author [[William F. Buckley]]
*U.S. Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]]
*Liberty University founder [[Jerry Falwell]]
*U.S. Senator [[Robert Taft]] of [[Ohio]]

==See also==
*[[Conservative Movement]]

== References ==

<references/>

{{Conservatism}}