National Republicans
MCain vs The Times
John McCain has enjoyed laudatory Mainstream Media coverage for so long it’s understandable he’s mad at The New York Times. The Times finally broke a story – which apparently has been an open secret among insiders for two months – about a potentially unethical relationship between McCain and a lobbyist eight years ago. The story…
Read MoreMcCain vs Huckabee
Mitt Romney has ‘suspended’ his campaign – which in plain English means he’s struck the flag. Romney out-fundraised, out-spent, out-organized and ran two or three times more ads than any other candidate. But there are campaigns – and candidates – who never find their message. And Romney was one. He was a governor with a…
Read MoreIt’s Not the Economy, Stupid
This year’s Republican presidential primaries haven’t been debates about issues. They’ve been about character. Not character as in honesty and integrity. But character as in biography. Who you are. Not where you stand. Mike Huckabee is an example. There are, roughly, three groups of voters in the Republican primaries: Evangelicals. Economic Conservatives. And Moderates. Huckabee…
Read MoreIn Defense of Pundits
Enough self-flagellation, already. The media and all of us in the “chattering class” are in full mea culpa frenzy. We have sinned. We have over-reacted and over-reached and over-relied on polls. We have jumped to hasty conclusions. We have talked when we should have listened. We have been too quick to anoint winners and condemn…
Read MoreChange
The Democrats got the infection first. But it didn’t take long for the Republicans to catch the bug too. The symptoms: Uncontrollably saying the word ‘change’ passionately a dozen times in each sentence. Hillary says she’s been fighting for change all her life. John McCain has too. Barack Obama’s a fresh face which makes him…
Read MoreNew Hampshire Winners and Losers
Remain Calm
An experienced ocean-swimmer knows what to do in a riptide. Don’t panic, and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of trouble. Then get back to dry land. That’s what Hillary Clinton and John Edwards should do now. They’re caught in a Barack Obama tide. There’s no fighting it. But there…
Read MoreNew Hampshire
Ten polls yesterday in New Hampshire; John McCain led in nine; Barack Obama in all ten. The press loves a good story and Obama’s given them one: David slaying the Clinton Goliath. And the press has gone a little berserk. Hillary’s best hope is to hold on until the wave passes. Which takes two things:…
Read MoreNew Hampshire Change-up?
OK, OK, we’ve answered one question. The presidential race is all about “change.” But here is a baker’s dozen (plus one) other questions about New Hampshire Tuesday: Will New Hampshire voters be content to “finish what Iowa started,” as Obama suggests? Or will these notoriously independent Yankees revive the Clinton campaign? Obama says his campaign…
Read MoreIowa Oscars
Only in America. After Iowa, the leading Presidential candidates are: An African-American man. The real thing, with a father from Kenya. A Southern Baptist preacher with a sense of humor and a populist streak. Both Obama and Huckabee get two prizes for winning: a big boost and a big bullseye. Put on your Kevlar, gentlemen.…
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