A group of prominent conservative activists is calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to step down.

In a statement today, the group, which includes both social and economic conservatives, said Pelosi has crossed the line by accusing the CIA of lying to her about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques.

"When Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi accuses the intelligence community of lying, more is at stake than what she was told, who briefed her, or even the substance of the briefings she had with the CIA," the statement said. "Speaker Pelosi is endangering the national security of the United States."

The controversy over Pelosi's knowledge of enhanced interrogation techniques peaked last week when the Speaker said the CIA had not been honest with her in a 2002 classified briefing. Since then, the flare-up has receded as Congress has focused on the administration's policy for closing Guantanamo.

This statement is likely an effort by conservatives to keep the issue alive. They'd undoubtedly rather make Pelosi the face of Democrats' national security policy than President Obama.

Among the signatories are Ed Meese, Attorney General in the Reagan Administration; Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform; Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council; and David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union.

The group highlighted Pelosi's proximity to power–she's second in line to become President–and called for an investigation into her accusations.

"We ask that Speaker Pelosi voluntarily step aside from her duties, and that the Congress appoint a bi-partisan Select Intelligence Committee to investigate and determine what Speaker Pelosi knew and when she knew it," the statement reads.

Pelosi has said her speakership is not in danger, and no Democrat has publicly called for her to step aside.

The signatories to the letter include:

Edwin Meese, former Attorney General
David Keene, Chairman, American Conservative Union
Frank J. Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy
Wendy Wright, President, Concerned Women for America
Alfred Regnery, Publisher, American Spectator
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
Brent Bozell, President, Media Research Center
Richard Viguerie, Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com
Becky Norton Dunlop, President, Council for National Policy
William Wilson, President, Americans for Limited Government
Ken Blackwell, former U.S. Ambassador,
U.N. Human Rights Commission

Is Newt Gingrich the GOP's top prospect for 2012? And is he considering a run?

Those are the questions that the folks over at Newsmax.com, the conservative magazine and website, sought to answer in their latest: "Newt Gingrich Eyes Presidential Bid."

And while the former House Speaker from Georgia is perennially named as a potential Republican presidential candidate, Newsmax notes that Gingrich has been everywhere in recent weeks touting new ideas for the GOP.

Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, told Newsmax that Gingrich is on every Republicans shortlist for 2012. The story also highlights this interested tidbit:

Gingrich is in frequent contact with Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the second-ranking Republican in the House. He's been all over the web promoting anti-tax "tea parties" set to take place around the country on April 15. > Read More

Archived under: Campaigns, News
Tags: 2012 Republican candidates, 2012 Watch, Eric Cantor, Grover Norquist, Matt Bai, Newsmax, Newt Gingrich
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Rep. Ron Paul's (R-Texas) own convention during his party's national convention has already booked some big names.

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I), anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist and conservative pundit Tucker Carlson have all committed to Paul's event, Rally for the Republic, in Minneapolis. The event runs from August 31 to Sept. 1. It ends with a speech by Paul at the 18-000 seat Target Center.

The GOP convention, to be held in St. Paul, Minn., will be held from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4.

Watch video of Paul announcing the scheduled appearances of Ventura and country music artist Rockie Lynne below.

Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist is showing up in yet another hot Republican primary Friday.

Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), will appear with John Stephen, New Hampshire's former health and human services secretary, as the House candidate signs Norquist's "no-tax-increases" pledge. Stephen is challenging former Rep. Jeb Bradley for the GOP nomination. The winner will face freshman Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D), who narrowly defeated Bradley in the Granite State's Republican-leaning Seacoast district.

Both Stephen and Bradley have signed the pledge, but Stephen signed four months earlier, in November 2007. Stephen, who pushed to cut his state department's costs, has tried to run to the right of Bradley, charging him with requesting an earmark when he served in Congress. Bradley has denied the claim.

Neither Norquist nor ATR has endorsed a candidate in the race, though the group's spokesman, John Kartch, said that ATR was "very impressed with Stephen's track record."

Norquist has taken an active role in other House races this year. He has campaigned against Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.), who had voted for Democratic bills that included tax increases. Gilchrest lost his primary in February though Jones won his on Tuesday.

Condoleezza Rice as Republican vice presidential candidate? That's the question Beltway observers were buzzing about last week after she spoke at a semi-secret gathering of the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and talked about race in a Washington Times interview.

When The Hill asked ATR president Grover Norquist about Rice's chances, he did little to tamp them down. Rice would make a "great vice presidential candidate and a good president," said Norquist, a key player in President Bush's 2004 campaign. Norquist then ticked off a number of Rice's attributes that would appeal to conservatives: "serious, tempermentally level headed, understands free markets, likes guns… a foreign policy person, promoted free trade policies."

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