GOP Must Strike Back in the 'Burbs

John Wheeler III, 66, last seen on Amtrak train

(AP) - Police searched for clues today in the death of John Wheeler III, a veteran of the Reagan and first Bush administrations who also helped lead efforts to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The body of Wheeler, 66, was discovered on New Year's Eve as a garbage truck emptied its contents at a Wilmington, Del., landfill. His death has been ruled a homicide. "He was just not the sort of person who would wind up in a landfill," says Wheeler's attorney. More»

John McCain says 2010 could be 'seminal election'

(NEWSER) - In a bid to break its reputation as the "party of no," Republicans will present a 10-point plan of action for 2010. John McCain told an Arizona radio station that the GOP is preparing the pledges to be enacted if the party takes back both houses of Congress. The pledges, reminiscent of the GOP's Contract With America in 1994, would likely include a balanced budget amendment and cuts in federal spending, the Hill reports. More»

Who knows, maybe her star power will make her the next Reagan

(NEWSER) - No matter what kind of gains Republicans make in the midterm elections next year, it’s going to be tough to unseat President Obama—and that’s why the GOP is going to choose Sarah Palin, its heart’s preferred candidate, over Mitt Romney, its head’s favorite. Or as Matt Lewis puts it, “If you’re going to lose anyway, is it better to lose atop the horse you really want to ride?” More»

(NEWSER) - Republican pundits reacted predictably to news of President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize. Noting that the committee gave the award on the basis of Obama’s efforts rather than accomplishments, John Bolton noted, “President Reagan called for a world without nuclear weapons; where was his Nobel peace prize?” But Reagan would have applauded the decision, writes Jonathan Curiel. More»

Republicans have more followers, but benefits are unclear

(NEWSER) - If you think Twitter is the preserve of skinny-jeaned urbanites, think again; in the corridors of power, Republican microbloggers are leading the way. Politico reports that 101 GOP members of Congress have Twitter accounts to only 57 Democrats, and Republican legislators posted 932 messages over two weeks this summer—nearly four times the Democratic total. The most popular tweeter in Congress? Onetime technophobe John McCain, with 1.4 million followers. More»