http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:35:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Reminiscent of the no-bid, cost-plus contracts awarded in the Bush administration to defense contractors, ABC News reported last night the Obama Administration awarded a 5 year $18 million contract to Smartronix, a Maryland-based IT firm with connections to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, for the redesign of Recovery.gov. Launched in February ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/07/09/18-million-to-redesign-recoverygov/ Top White House aide David Axelrod told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos today that the administration intends to explore a number of means by which it can overhaul the nation’s health care system, but refused to reaffirm then-candidate Barack Obama’s “firm pledge” to not raise taxes on middle class Americans. “The president had ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/06/28/administration-weighing-new-middle-class-tax-increase/ The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Friday it will launch a series of district-specific radio ads targeting vulnerable Republicans who voted against President Obama’s controversial war supplemental package. As a matter of national security in years past Republicans have shown tremendous support for similar measures, however last week they voted en ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/06/27/dccc-to-republicans-stop-playing-politics-with-the-troops/ After boldly promising to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and reverse “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members, gay voters, en bloc, went to the polls for then-Senator Barack Obama. But following months of concealing their bitter disappointment, gay rights advocates have begun ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/06/16/lgbt-anger-at-obama-reaches-tipping-point/ Former U.S. Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) announced Monday, via YouTube, he intends to challenge Governor Charlie Crist and former Florida House of Representatives Speaker Marco Rubio in the Republican primary for Florida’s vacant Senate seat in 2010. Echoing Rubio’s conservative sentiments, the Florida snowbird said his entry into the already-crowded primary ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/06/10/mr-smith-goes-to-washington-again/ A review of Minnesota’s statewide database of registered voters revealed at least 2,812 deceased individuals voted in last November’s general election, according to a new report by the “traditional values” advocacy group Minnesota Majority. After obtaining the list of voters who participated in November’s election, the group hired an independent firm ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/06/04/minnesota-vote-fraud-2812-dead-voters/ Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour will headline a Republican Party of Iowa fundraiser in late June, fueling speculation the wildly-popular two-term governor may indeed have ambitions for higher officer. Barbour, 61, will be ineligible to seek another term as governor in 2012, but refuses to speak to his political future, saying only ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/05/22/barbour-to-hawkeye-state/ Republican National Committee members today will vote on a resolution to rebrand the Democratic Party the “Democrat Socialist Party,” upon the urging of leading conservative members of the committee. In an email to committee members announcing the resolution, conservative stalwart James Bopp, Jr., said President Obama’s foremost intention is to reengineer ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/05/20/republicans-propose-resolution-to-rebrand-democrats-obama/ In a brief ceremony at the White House today, President Barack Obama tapped Utah Governor John Huntsman to serve as United States Ambassador to China -- his chief envoy to the world's most populous country. Reelected in 2008 by a record margin as a moderate Republican in an exceedingly conservative state, ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/05/16/governor-no-more/ While the specific dynamics of November’s election are not yet known, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato is wasting no time in making bold assertions. To say nothing of the fact the first African American was elected President of the United States, he maintains 2008 was no ordinary election. 2008 was ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/04/28/2008-the-year-of-obama/ Republican Jim Tedisco conceded the special election to fill Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s vacated House seat to Scott Murphy yesterday, thereby giving Democrats their second Congressional victory post-November, but most importantly, a reason to cast Republicans – namely, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele – in a less than competent light. After rebounding ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/04/25/steele-in-jeopardy-again/ Wisconsin University Law professor and blogger Ann Althouse is reportedly marrying a long-time commenter on her blog. After four years of sparing in the comments section, exchanging several emails, and a few weekend rendezvous, Althouse announced her whirlwind romance in typical Althouse fashion, an emblematic photo essay. While engagements are generally joyous ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/04/01/andrew-sullivan-defending-marriage-from-heterosexuals/ Ralph Amendolaro, a Queens construction worker, is cashing in today with a little help from, of all people, convicted felon Bernie Madoff. Though not a regular purchaser of lottery tickets, Mr. Amendolaro told the NYDN he purchases tickets when a number catches his eye. After noticing one such number – 054, ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/25/makin-lemonade/ Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele should resign from his post immediately, according to the American Family Association’s new online survey. In light of Steele’s regrettable GQ interview, AFA President Don Wildmon asked members if the beleaguered Republican chief should resign from his post, declaring the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/14/afa-wants-michael-steeles-head/ Forced to address whether gay federal employees and spouses are eligible for, among other things, health insurance coverage, President Obama is now in the unenviable position of navigating a political and social minefield: Balancing his commitment to the LGBT community and progressive liberals with his willingness, and need, to ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/13/crunch-time/ In what will only serve as additional ammunition for his more socially conservative detractors, RNC chief Michael Steele split with the party faithful and took a decidedly controversial position: That homosexuality was not, in his opinion, a choice. “I don’t think I’ve ever really subscribed to [the] view [that homosexuality is ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/12/steeles-comments-wont-cost-him-chairmanship-just-donors/ Katon Dawson, one time contender for the top Republican post, is quietly coordinating a vote of no confidence in newly-elected RNC Chairman Michael Steele after the NY 20 special election on March 31 – “regardless of whether Republicans win the seat or not,” reports Taegan Goddard. After an extremely divisive race ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/11/long-knives-for-steele-already/ Joining a growing choir of conservative luminaries, thought-leaders and activists in criticizing newly-elected RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Samuel "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher leveled some harsh, Johnny-come-lately criticisms earlier this week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  At a gathering of 800 conservative activists at Americans for Prosperity’s “Defending the American Dream Summit,” Wurzelbacher warned ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/03/10/the-2008-campaigns-frankenstein/ Marred by a week-long cycle of bad press and Cabinet defections, President Obama’s $787 Billion stimulus package passed both houses of Congress last night, despite the rigid partisan-divide. Clearly emboldened by their unanimous “No” votes on the first version, House Republicans, masterfully corralled by Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), held the ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/02/14/the-government-growth-bill-of-2009/ Wasting no time, President Obama began quickly overturning standing Bush executive orders in an effort to end nearly a decade of, what President Obama called on the campaign trail, “Bush cronyism.” Among his first moves were orders to freeze senior White House staffer’s pay and to toughen ethics and lobbying ... http://www.redstate.com/jrichardson/2009/02/03/president-barack-loophole-obama/