Free Republic

Hillary Clinton made one thing very clear at Saturday night’s Democratic debate: Her likability tour is definitely over. Baring her claws at opponents Barack Obama and John Edwards, the real Hillary was finally in evidence. The mask was off and her rage, arrogance, and sense of entitlement were on full display. It was not a pretty picture. From the first moment that she entered the stage, Hillary’s body language shrieked one thing — smoldering, simmering anger. The constant smile and the cackling laugh that have been her campaign trademark were suddenly gone. In their place was a furious, primal glare....

THE amazing victories by Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee in Iowa last night are truly historic. They demonstrate the impact and viability of a message of change in both parties. On the Democratic side, Obama - by winning in a totally white state - shows that racism is gone as a factor in American politics. On the Republican side, Huckabee's win shows how a truly compassionate conservative can win by harvesting voters who want the message of concern for the poor and for values to prevail. But what of Hillary Clinton? She's down but not out. In the first really...

Even as he continues to hold a convincing lead in the national race, Rudy Giuliani may be riding for a big fall in Iowa and the other early state primaries. Mitt Romney, despite his anemic national showing, could sweep Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan, a trifecta that could give him such momentum as to sweep him to the nomination. The numbers are scary for Giuliani (and since Mitt doesn’t have a prayer in hell of beating Hillary in a general election, scary for us all). While he holds a lead in the national polls (Giuliani 30, Thompson 17, McCain 15,...

What if the current polls in Iowa are the final result? What if Romney wins in Iowa and then comes in first again in New Hampshire? What if Giuliani stumbles badly in Iowa and finishes fourth? What if Huckabee surges and finishes second in Iowa? What if Fred Thompson makes an unimpressive third-place finish there? And, on the Democratic side, what if Hillary only narrowly beats Obama in the first caucus state? With two months to go before the Iowa caucus, everything can change, and probably will, but it is worth speculating on what the impact will be if things...

It’s easy to see the disguises that the Democratic Party is planning to don for Halloween. While we can only speculate on the taxes they are planning to increase — everything would be a safe bet — it is becoming clear how they will dress the tax increases up to make the radical change they will, in fact, represent seem moderate and reasonable, even necessary to protect the “middle class.” Of course, this will take place not this year but in 2009, after they have elected Hillary as president and as many as 58 Democratic senators (possible takeaways in Minnesota,...

Democrats may hold up to 57 U.S. Senate seats after the 2008 election — almost enough to block a Republican filibuster and likely enough to assure passage of most of the Democratic program. Last week was a bad one for the GOP. Longtime Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., announced that they wouldn't seek re-election in '08, joining Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., in voluntary retirement. Add to that Sen. Larry Craig's, R-Idaho involuntary retirement. Republicans may well lose the Warner seat. Sen. George Allen lost in '06 to Democrat Jim Webb in Virginia. The most likely Democratic candidate,...

The winner of the Hypocrite of the Year award goes to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). Even though the year is far from over and is likely to have its fair share of hypocrisy, Mrs. Clinton's comment on the need to compromise to achieve political and social progress has to outclass any other current or future entrant. This woman, who refused to change a comma or a word of her 1,000-page-plus healthcare reform bill and, as a result of her intractable stubbornness, sent the bill down to defeat along with the Democratic Congress and almost her husband's presidency, is daring...

In the case of the Republican presidential primary, there are two men who aren’t there: former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.). But their presence — or absence — haunts the GOP primary nonetheless. Until they make their respective moves to enter or foreswear entering the primaries, they will freeze a critical segment of conservative Republicans who are withholding their affections from other suitors, waiting for Mr. Right to arrive. In fact, most polls indicate that these two gents account for between 15 and 20 percent of the vote in trial Republican primary heats. Not since...

There's a new mortal sin in American politics: criticizing Hillary Clinton. Nobody's allowed to do it. Certainly none of her opponents. If they dare to, Hillary sends in one of her boys, who practically accuses them of being un-American. In January, without ever mentioning Hillary's name and before she was even a candidate, John Edwards dared to express the view that silence on the Iraq War was "betrayal." Ignoring the substance of Edwards' speech, Clinton gun slinger Howard Wolfson immediately shot from the hip, attacking him for waging a negative campaign: "In 2004, John Edwards used to constantly brag about...

"Sorry" seems to be the hardest word for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The New York Democrat is not used to being challenged on either her policy positions or her votes - especially when it comes to Iraq. For the last six years, she's operated in a protective bubble - insulated from the press and the voters. Those days are over. Since she entered the presidential race two weeks ago, she's learned quickly that voters in Iowa and New Hampshire - and most likely in the rest of the country - want truthful answers and won't accept scripted spin. During the...

Former Bill Clinton aide Dick Morris is bringing out a documentary in September to expose Hillary Clinton as a "phony." Morris told the American Spectator Breakfast that the documentary will present Hillary's conflicting statements side-by-side and will portray her disingenuous statements and misrepresentations alongside the facts. The documentary will also depict Bill Clinton's involvement in controversial matters ranging from his pardons as president to his work for Dubai. "You have to get to the fundamental fact of her phoniness, her lack of credibility." Morris said. "That she is pretending to be something she is not. I think you can best...

Morris: Hillary will be ‘worst president we’ve ever seen’ Dick Morris is no fan of Sen. Hillary Clinton, having spent much of the past decade writing and speaking out against her. And he took his always-quotable opinions to the offices of Americans for Tax Reform Wednesday at a breakfast sponsored by The American Spectator. Dick’s greatest hits: » Although Barack Obama is an “exciting phenomenon,” he is the equivalent of “political stem cells: You can make him into any tissue you want.” » “It is in the national interest that, if there is a Democratic president, that it not be...

Dick Morris, longtime former aide to Bill Clinton, is soliciting funds to finance an expose - documentary film of Senator Hillary Clinton who announced last week her intention to run for president in 2008. In a letter sent to Republican mailing lists this week, Morris asks for contributions of $25 to $100 to help in his efforts. "If you liked how the Swift Boat Veterans turned the tide against John Kerry, you understand how a top Clinton aide can turn the tables and stop a Clinton style liberal from becoming the next president of the United States."

Political analyst Dick Morris used a baseball analogy out of season to summarize what he considers the bleak prospects for Republican victory in the 2008 presidential election. "I think you’ll see one of the minor leaguers win it [the GOP nomination],” Morris told Fox News Channel. Morris thinks the leading Republican candidates – Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich – are "too flawed” to win the hearts and votes of conservatives in the early primaries. "The top four candidates for the Republican nomination can’t win,” Morris said. "Rudy Giuliani, John McCain . . . Romney with all...