Tina Dupuy

SALT LAKE CITY -- Five years ago, as Republicans were getting to know Mitt Romney, a Gallup poll showed 30 percent of GOP voters expressly saying they wouldn't vote for a Mormon for president.

Let’s not forget how we arrived at the Fiscal Cliff. The Fiscal Cliff itself was a compromise solution, and one that favored Obama. House Republicans agreed to delay addressing the deficit issue until after the presidential election. That undoubtedly helped Obama get re-elected.

Tom Patterson ("Conservatives have to win this deficit stare-down, AFN, June 12), where were you when President Bush and the Republicans were spending the huge surplus built by President Clinton? How come you were not worried about the surplus-turned-deficit until we had a Democrat-elected president?

Jose de la Isla: Unless the Republican Party chooses to become a permanent minority party, it would be smart to heed the path set by President Richard Nixon in 1969 to expand the electoral base.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama plans to nominate Sen. Judd Gregg as commerce secretary on Tuesday, the White House confirmed on the eve of the announcement as the New Hampshire Republican disclosed an apparent deal that would keep his seat out of Democratic hands.

Bonnie Erbe, guest commentary

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans circulated a sweeping plan to drive down the cost of mortgages by expanding the federal government's role in the industry, officials said Monday night as debate opened on an economic stimulus bill at the top of President Barack Obama's agenda.

It's not that Republicans aren't hypocrites - it's more the label just isn't an effective dig. First, hypocrite is a fancy foreign Greek word like amnesty, ethics or Europe - how is that going to appeal to Republicans? Second, espousing virtues you don't personally have to live up to is basically the point of being a Republican.

Jose de la Isla: Many in the GOP are feeling bullied by fellow Republicans because of their moderate views.

The two years since his loss in the presidential election has done nothing to dull John Kerry’s gift for political tone deafness. Surely the man would have learned by now.

WASHINGTON - Republicans accused Democrats Wednesday of moving too hastily on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, warning that the decision could imperil her confirmation as they pressed the judge for more documents from her past. The top Senate Republican blasted Democrats' decision to schedule mid-July hearings for Sotomayor's confirmation, while another senior GOP senator floated the possibility of a filibuster by angry Republicans against President Barack Obama's first high court nominee.

After wrapping up the Republican nomination for president Tuesday, Sen. John McCain can get to work picking his running mate. In the past, political reporters and partisan pundits probably have overestimated the effect of vice presidential candidates on the outcome of presidential elections.

Republican legislative leaders are hoping to fix at least part of the state budget before Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano leaves, as has been reported.

Thank God it’s finally over. That was my first thought on Wednesday morning when I realized that the mid-term elections were done. However, my relief quickly turned to trepidation as I realized that the 2012 elections were probably going to begin in earnest next week.

Matt Mackowiak

WASHINGTON - Republicans are nervously watching the fight over Karl Rove's involvement in a news leak that exposed a CIA officer's identity, fearing that President Bush's chief adviser has become a major political problem.

Legislative Republicans are preparing a budget for next year that involves no new taxes, a move that could court Jan Brewer's first veto.

WASHINGTON - Senate GOP leaders plan to confirm Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito early next week after dealing with a filibuster threat from Democratic die-hards who worry that the conservative judge would swing the court too far to the right.

WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday easily defeated a Democratic effort to pressure President Bush to outline a timetable for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.