On my way home from work this evening I heard on the radio that our State Treasurer here in South Carolina, Tom Ravenel, has been indicted on conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.  It is worthy to note that Ravenel is Rudy Giuliani’s Campaign Manager for South Carolina.

State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, federal and state authorities announced at a news conference at SLED headquarters this afternoon.

Charlotte Observer

Well, really, it’s not like he was ever much of a Republican anyway.  He only became one to run for mayor and he certainly hasn’t governed like one.  Obviously, this leaves speculation wide open of a Presidential bid, despite his insistence otherwise.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leaving the Republican party and will remain unaffiliated with any political party, CBS 2 HD learned Tuesday night.

The move will clearly begin advancing rumors that the mayor is gearing towards a presidential run, which he has denied in the past.

WCBSTV

Despite the new Democratic congressional leadership’s promise of “openness and transparency” in the budget process, a CNN survey of the House found it nearly impossible to get information on lawmakers’ pet projects.Staffers for only 31 of the 435 members of the House contacted by CNN between Wednesday and Friday of last week supplied a list of their earmark requests for fiscal year 2008, which begins on October 1, or pointed callers to Web sites where those earmark requests were posted.

Of the remainder, 68 declined to provide CNN with a list, and 329 either didn’t respond to requests or said they would get back to us, and didn’t.
“As long as we are not required to release them, we’re not going to,” said Dan Turner, an aide to Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Louisiana.

CNN

Oh, how I love to see a Republican take such a rogue attitude over fiscal responsibility….

How can they refuse to disclose them? It is public tax dollars at use. Where is their authority to refuse to tell us what they are requesting to do with our money? I am fairly certain the Constitution does not protect this secrecy.

Today’s Republican Party is not fiscally responsible and the only way that Republicans like McCrery will learn is to threaten them at the voting booth.

**The CNN page has a link where you can see if your Congressman has disclosed his earmarks. My Congressman, John Spratt (D-SC5), has not.

Thompson is now in the number one spot according to a new poll released by Rasmussen.  This is just another sign that the people are hungry for a straight talking conservative candidate with an idea based campaign that articulates the basic conservative principles, of less government, lower taxes, more freedom, strong defense, and Secure borders!

There’s change at the top in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson earning support from 28% of Likely Republican Primary Voters. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attracts support from 27%. While Thompson’s one-point edge is statistically insignificant, it is the first time all year that anybody but Giuliani has been on top in Rasmussen Reports polling. A week ago, Thompson and Giuliani were tied at 24%.