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Insider Report: Ann Coulter: Charge: Bush Stole Mexican Election Special From NewsMax's Most Informed Sources
Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories): 1. Fred Thompson Mocks Global Warming Fears Likely presidential candidate Fred Thompson has been seeking to solidify his conservative credentials with frequent online postings, including statements opposing gun control and downplaying global warming fears. In one of his three dozen postings on National Review Online, the former Tennessee senator compared scientists who warn about man-made climate change to those centuries ago who suppressed Galileo's scientific findings because science — like the "consensus" on global warming — had already been "absolutely decided." He also wrote: "It seems scientists have noticed recently that quite a few planets in our solar system seem to be heating up a bit, including Pluto. This has led some people, not necessarily scientists, to wonder if Mars and Jupiter, non-signatories to the Kyoto Treaty, are actually inhabited by alien SUV-driving industrialists who run their air-conditioning at 60 degrees and refuse to recycle." In another posting, he said that students at Virginia Tech — site of the killing spree that claimed 32 lives — could have protected themselves if they had been allowed to carry guns on campus. Story Continues Below
He also criticized Congress' recent attempt at immigration reform for failing to deal with the problem of insecure borders, stating: "A nation without secure borders will not long be a sovereign nation." And he praised Israel's "restrained and pinpoint reactions" to missile attacks from Gaza, likening Palestinian militants' actions to Canadians firing missiles every day into Buffalo, N.Y. Thompson's writings have been "wildly popular," Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor of the National Review Online, said in comments reported by the Seattle Times. "He had just the right balance of red meat and substance to feed a conservative audience." Thompson has also posted to the Townhall.com blog and placed podcasts on RedState.com. The writings are seen as an attempt to reassure core conservatives that he is one of them, despite his past actions supporting campaign-finance reform and opposing federal limits on malpractice lawsuits and attorneys fees, which most conservatives supported. "Most of the other candidates — other than an issue here or there — are trying to conceal their viewpoints in which they think they will offend some portion of the electorate," conservative talk radio host Mark Levin told the Times. "Thompson comes out and he is unafraid of articulating his viewpoints. He's not trying to camouflage them." Editor's Note:
2. GOP Lawmakers Battle Schwarzenegger Over Budget California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity with Republican legislators is plunging — they are in revolt over his shift to the left and are refusing to pass his state budget. Democrats hold a majority in both houses of the legislature, but the budget requires a two-thirds vote for passing. That means Schwarzenegger needs six GOP votes in the Assembly and two in the Senate. The budget has passed the Assembly. But all 15 Republican senators are holding out for a balanced budget — even though the budget is nearly four weeks overdue. "After a politically damaging campaign in 2005 in which he pushed for a slate of conservative initiatives that was rebuffed by voters, Schwarzenegger veered hard to the left," the Contra Costa Times reported. He worked out deals with Democrats to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions and raise the minimum wage. The shift helped Schwarzenegger get re-elected, but was viewed by many Republican lawmakers and activists as a betrayal. "There's been an alienation between Arnold and the Republican caucus," Allan Hoffenblum, a GOP analyst, told the Times. "His moderate positions on the environment and other things have alienated the hard-core right." Schwarzenegger does remain popular with rank and file Republicans, however. The governor received a 75 percent approval rating in a recent poll of registered Republicans by the Public Policy Institute of California. But the Times notes that Senate Republicans in California come from conservative districts where there is strong sentiment for a balanced budget. Editor's Note: 3. McCain: I Won't Ask My Wife for Money John McCain's presidential campaign may be suffering financial woes, but he insists he won't touch a penny of his wife's considerable fortune. McCain's wife Cindy is an heiress to a beer and liquor distribution company founded by her father. But when asked if he would consider borrowing $5 million from her, McCain told New York Times Magazine: "I would never do such a thing. I don't think it's the appropriate thing to do." And it's not a matter of "masculine pride," the Arizona Republican said. "It's more that I think getting small donations is part of campaigning. It's part of whether you can succeed or fail. I think that's going to be the key to our success." When asked about GOP rival Mitt Romney's decision to spend upwards of $9 million of his own money to help finance his campaign, McCain told the magazine: "I am not criticizing anyone else's decisions, but I should be able to raise my own money from contributors or take matching funds according to the law, not dip into my wife's assets." McCain did disclose that he signed a prenuptial agreement with his wife when they wed 27 years ago. Turning to Iraq, McCain said he has no regrets about coming out in favor of President Bush's "surge" of troops there. But he declined to answer when asked if his 19-year-old son Jimmy, who joined the Marines last year, had been deployed to Iraq. Finally, McCain agreed that sometimes "the most difficult choice a person can make is to quit." But the former POW in Vietnam strenuously ruled out quitting the presidential race: "We're staying in. I've had a lot tougher days than these." Editor's Note: 4. Three-Quarters of Senators Have Visited Iraq Of the 100 U.S. Senators, at least 76 have visited Iraq one or more times during the four years of combat, but at least 18 — including senators critical of the war — have not been there at all. Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island leads all senators with 10 visits to Iraq. "Many lawmakers feel that making a trip is important for their credibility when they are asked to weigh in on the war," according to The Hill newspaper, which compiled a list of senators and how many times they have visited the war-torn country. But Democrat Jim Webb of Virginia recently called congressional trips to Iraq "dog and pony shows" that don't confront the reality of the situation there. Other senators who have traveled often to Iraq include Republican John Warner of Virginia (nine visits); James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., (eight visits); Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., (seven visits). The dozen senators who have made the most trips to Iraq are all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee. Republicans George Voinovich of Ohio and Pete Domenici of New Mexico, who have both broken with the Bush administration and called for changes in U.S. policy in Iraq, have not traveled there at all. Of the 18 senators who have not visited Iraq in the past four years, 13 are Democrats, and one, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is an independent. Besides the 76 senators confirmed to have visited Iraq at least once, six others did not did not comment to The Hill about whether they had traveled there. Among senators running for their party's presidential nomination, in addition to Biden, John McCain has visited Iraq six times; Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd have traveled there three times; Sam Brownback has been there twice; and Barack Obama has visited once. Editor's Note: 5. Arlen Specter Breaks Air Force One 'Rules' President Bush has two unwritten rules for guests aboard Air Force One: No mingling with the on-board press corps, and no criticism of the administration. Sen. Arlen Specter broke both rules during a recent trip aboard the presidential jet: He visited with reporters before it took off from Andrews Air Force base for a flight to Philadelphia — and took the opportunity to level criticism at Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. President Bush had not yet arrived on the jet when the Republican from Pennsylvania had his chat with the press corps. Specter, the ranking Republican member of the Judiciary Committee, said Gonzales' recent appearance before the panel, where he faced accusations of misleading Congress, was "devastating," according to The New York Times. Specter also told reporters he hoped "to reach an accommodation" with the administration regarding Congressional demands for testimony from presidential adviser Karl Rove and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. Despite Specter's breaches of Air Force One etiquette, after the event in Philadelphia he was allowed aboard the jet for the trip back to Washington. Editor's Note: 6. NewsMax Announces Winners of $1,000 Challenge NewsMax is happy to announce the winners of NewsMax Magazine's $1,000 Challenge Contest. Contestants were asked to check out a copy of the award-winning magazine's July issue at one of the many venues where it is sold; review or buy it; and then send an e-mail answering this question: "On Page 32, which CNN host is being targeted by a liberal Web site?" The prize would go to the 99th person and the 121st person to submit a correct entry. The two winners of the contest, who will each receive $500, are Dominick D'Onofrio of Lodi, N.J., and Carolyn Albright of Marietta, Ga. The targeted CNN host? Glenn Beck. Editor's Notes:
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