Republican fundraiser to feature machine guns

A planned Republican fundraiser in New Hampshire aims to promote gun ownership in the United States by letting supporters fire powerful military-style weapons -- from Uzi submachine guns to M-16 rifles.

The Manchester Republican Committee is inviting party members and their families to a "Machine Gun Shoot" where, for $25, supporters can spend a day trying out automatic weapons, said organiser Jerry Thibodeau.
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Republicans blocked a $32 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy that would have been financed mostly by taxes on oil companies

Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a $32 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy that would have been financed mostly by new taxes on major oil companies.

Democrats came three votes short of overcoming a threatened GOP filibuster that was keeping the measure from being attached to a broader energy bill. Republican senators argued that the nearly $29 billion in additional taxes on major oil companies would have led to reduced production and higher gasoline prices.

Because of Republican opposition, Democrats needed 60 votes to allow the package to come up for a vote, but fell short, 57-36. With a number of senators not voting, Democrats could resurrect the measure later, though there was no immediate indication of that.

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Oil companies earned $111 billion in profits last year and at that rate stand to earn $1 trillion over the 10 years covered by the tax package, said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., rejecting suggestions that "this is an undue burden" on oil companies.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., whose Finance Committee crafted the tax package, said the incentives for renewable and alternative fuels "will help wean ourselves away from OPEC ... from these very high gas prices."

The tax changes would have channeled $11 billion over 10 years into development of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and power from wind turbines. It provides an additional $18 billion in other tax breaks — from tax credits to clean and renewable energy bonds — to support improvements in energy efficiency, clean coal technology, development of gas-electric hybrid cars that could be plugged into the national power grid and other alternative energy programs.

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GOP Candidates Refuse to Rule Out Nuking Iran

GOP Candidates Refuse to Rule Out Nuking Iran
In New Hampshire, the Republican presidential candidates met for their third debate last night. Issues discussed included the war in Iraq, immigration and the U.S.-Iranian relations. Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani refused to rule out attacking Iran with nuclear weapons.

• Rudolph Giuliani: "I think it could be done with conventional weapons but you shouldn't take any options off the table. And during the debate the other night the Democrats seemed like they were back in the 1990s. They don't seem to have got beyond the cold war. Iran is a nuclear threat and not just because they can deliver a nuclear warhead with missiles, they are a threat because they are the biggest state sponsor of terrorism and they can handle and they can hand nuclear material to terrorists."

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney also refused to rule out a nuclear strike against Iran.

• Mitt Romney: "You don't take options off the table, what you do is standback and say 'what's going on here', you see what's happening in Sudan and Afghanistan and Iraq and Iran and all over the world you see what's happening and that is people are testing the United States of America and what we have to make them understand we're not arrogant, we have resolve and the strength to protect our interests and protect people who love liberty."

During the Republican debate, President Bush was repeatedly criticized. The audience applauded when Congressman Tom Tancredo said Bush would never darken the doorstep of his White House. Meanwhile Senator John McCain expressed his continued support for President Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq.

• Sen. John McCain: "I think this strategy needs a chance to succeed. We haven't given it barely got the fifth brigade over there which is part of this strategy. I am convinced that if we fail they will follow us home and it will be a base for Al Qaeda and we will be facing greater challenges and greater sacrifices."