Artur Davis

Ex-Democrat Rep, Voter ID Convert Artur Davis Says He Might Run As Republican

Ryan J. Reilly | December 30, 2011, 5:17PM

After coming out in support of voter ID laws and donating to Republicans, former Democratic Rep. Artur Davis is continuing his march to the other side of the aisle, telling the Washington Post he could run for office as an independent or even a GOP candidate.

"I've heard some people at the national level encouraging me to run as an independent for my old office," Davis told WaPo's Aaron Blake. "While there have been Democrats who have switched down there, the Republican Party has refused to accept them. Do I agree with the agenda items in the Alabama Republican Party? Some I agree with, and some I don't."

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Michael Bloomberg

NRA's Fundraising Growing Quickly As They Gear Up To Defeat Obama

Ryan J. Reilly | December 30, 2011, 2:00PM

As the National Rifle Association sets its sights on keeping President Barack Obama from a second term in the White House, a new report finds that the group's fundraising grew twice as fast as its income from membership dues from 2004 to 2010. Bloomberg News reported that the group received $71.1 million in donations last year, up 54 percent from the $46.3 million figure they raised in 2004.

If previous numbers are any indication, election years are pretty crucial for the NRA. Their revenue minus expenses went from $29,923,548 in 2008 -- when the man they called "Gun Ban Obama" was running for president -- to $1,183,523 in 2009, when he actually took office (their total revenue decreased by just over $10 million).

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Fox and Friends

Right-Wing, Fox & Friends Warn Girl Scouts Promote 'Liberal Agenda'

Jillian Rayfield | December 30, 2011, 5:26AM

Right-wing bloggers and Fox News have managed to squeeze in one more liberal conspiracy theory before the end of 2011.

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National Organization for Marriage

Anti-Gay Groups Struggle, Make Year-End Pleas For Financial Help

Jillian Rayfield | December 30, 2011, 5:00AM

This holiday season, give the gift of support to your favorite struggling anti-gay group.

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Neil Volz

The Other Side Of The Abramoff Scandal: Neil Volz, Now A Janitor, Self-Publishes Book

Ryan J. Reilly | December 29, 2011, 6:00AM

For a felon, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff has it pretty good: a book deal, a WND column, regular appearances on cable news and a spot judging TPM's Golden Dukes. But it turns out the path to prosperity is a lot of tougher for the lower-ranking individuals caught up in the scandal defined by Abramoff's name.

Take Neil Volz. He was chief-of-staff to former Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) and went to work with Abramoff at Greenburg Traurig LLP in 2002. He reached a plea deal with the Justice Department and pleaded guilty in 2006 and testified against fellow Abramoff associate Kevin Ring and former Bush administration official David Safavian.

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Hydrofracking

To Frack Or Not To Frack: New York Enters The Next Round Of The Drilling Debate

Jillian Rayfield | December 29, 2011, 5:55AM

One side points to videos of people setting their tap water on fire. The other looks to an economic boom in Pennsylvania. But New Yorkers in general are mostly split on whether to lift a moratorium on hydrofracking in the state, and the debate over the decision is likely to continue well into 2012.

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Joe Arpaio

Attorney For Family of Dead Military Veteran Blasts Joe Arpaio's Trip to Iowa

Nick R. Martin | December 28, 2011, 11:38AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has a lot of problems on his plate right now, not the least of which are two ongoing investigations surrounding a Latino military veteran who died after a brief stay in his officers' custody.

So it begs the question: How could the Arizona sheriff find time to jet to Iowa this week for two days of campaigning on behalf of presidential hopeful Rick Perry?

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Voter Identification

Civil Rights Groups Press Justice Department To Block Other Voter ID Laws

Ryan J. Reilly | December 28, 2011, 5:34AM

Attorney General Eric Holder

It wasn't long after the Justice Department blocked South Carolina's voter ID law on Friday that Republicans accused the Obama administration of putting the President's reelection ahead of preventing voter fraud.

"Obama's S.C. voter ID decision shows he's putting the 2012 election above policy by opposing efforts to protect against cheating and fraud," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus wrote on Twitter, indirectly acknowledging that voter ID laws suppress Democratic voter turnout. "Moreover, from S.C. decision looks like they just want to benefit from cheating and fraud."

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Rick Perry

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Help Comes With Baggage, But Rick Perry Doesn't Mind

Nick R. Martin | December 27, 2011, 5:25PM

As the final days of campaigning wind down in Iowa, Rick Perry is betting that an Arizona politician who's currently the target of civil and criminal investigations will be one of his last hopes to win over caucus goers.

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B. Todd Jones

ATF Head Could Recommend Terminations, Suspensions Following Fast And Furious IG Report

Ryan J. Reilly | December 27, 2011, 1:40PM

B. Todd Jones, the U.S. Attorney the Obama administration put in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the wake of the Fast and Furious scandal, told the Los Angeles Times that he would be making some termination or suspension recommendations to the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responibility once an Inspector General report is issued on the botched anti-gun trafficking program.

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Sovereign Citizens

Sovereign Citizen Guru And 'Rabbi' Arrested After Standoff With AZ Police

Jillian Rayfield | December 26, 2011, 10:23AM

Image from Frontpage / Shutterstock

A sovereign citizen leader and purported Rabbi was arrested after a standoff with police in Arizona, after he failed to appear in court to face charges for a $1.3 million money laundering scheme.

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