Free Republic

REMEMBERING RUSSIAGATE Never Have So Few Stolen So Much From So Many Now that President Bush has returned from his tour of the former Soviet states, those Americans who still remember how our last president used to deal with Russian affairs are breathing a sigh of relief that grownups have once more taken charge of our foreign policy. When the Clintons took office, they inherited the awesome, historic task of rebuilding and redefining America's relationship with the fallen Soviet empire. Instead of rising to the challenge, they presided over the systematic rape of the former Soviet economy. The financial catastrophe...

<p>WASHINGTON - It was both an auspicious and ominous way to begin the week: Auspicious because of President George Bush's resolute demand that Saddam Hussein and his sons leave Iraq. There were also ominous noises from his predecessor in the White House, Bill Clinton, who bared not only his antagonism to the president but his horror at envisioning a strong America.</p>

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Iowa Republican Rep. Jim Leach, once an aide to now-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said on Tuesday White House policy-makers had made one of the most misguided assumptions ever in U.S. strategy by not planning for a decisive withdrawal from Iraq (news - web sites). Reuters Photo "The current (administration) thinking is that we'll be there six or seven years, people will realize that we're saviors and they'll want us to have many (military) bases and that this will be a bulwark in the Middle East for an American presence," said Leach, a 13-term House of...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 — With six weeks to go, Republicans appear to hold a slight edge in this year's fight for control of the House, according to interviews with politicians and analysts around the country and examinations of local polls. Republicans have about 10 more seats safely in their hands than the Democrats do. So even if they won fewer than half of the approximately 40 races that are truly competitive, they could still keep control of the House. That unusually small number of competitive districts means that the Democrats have fewer opportunities to achieve the net gain of seven...

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Sept. 10 — After 26 years in Congress, happily cultivating his image as the quintessential Republican moderate, somehow above the partisan fray, Representative Jim Leach suddenly finds himself smack in the middle of the battle for the House. "It's a hard time," he says, sighing, his voice trailing off as he ponders the weeks ahead. Redistricting has forced him into a new Congressional district that is decidedly Democratic. His opponent, Dr. Julie Thomas, is well financed, has strong roots in the community, and makes the case — in the calm, just-trust-me style of a longtime pediatrician —...