Free Republic

From last night's Special Report

We're in the midst of a great four-year national debate on the size and reach of government, the future of the welfare state, indeed, the nature of the social contract between citizen and state. The distinctive visions of the two parties — social-democratic vs. limited-government — have underlain every debate on every issue since Barack Obama's inauguration: the stimulus, the auto bailouts, health care reform, financial regulation, deficit spending. Everything. The debt ceiling is but the latest focus of this fundamental divide. The sausage-making may be unsightly, but the problem isn't that Washington is broken, that ridiculous cliche. The problem...

Charles Krauthammer has kind words for both Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. He thinks it is obvious that she is not going to run, he calls it a "smart" move. Krauthammer believes she definitely has a future in GOP politics. Krauthammer thinks Bachmann is a serious candidate, being a sitting member of Congress and her knowledge of policy.

Charles Krauthammer's opinion matters. As any political junkie knows, Dr. Krauthammer is all at once witty, sublime, sarcastic, and serious. People listen to Krauthammer and care about what he thinks. Political junkies yearn for reliable scouts like him who speak plainly, tell the truth, and offer unique insights based on the truth. The most valuable characteristic an established "wise man" can have is the ability to see and tell the truth. Speaking the truth about current events is where Krauthammer seems to hit all the right notes. Only on very rare occasions does this maestro hit a decidedly sour note....

This is a RUSH transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," May 31, 2011. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Impact" segment tonight: Fox News political analyst Charles Krauthammer, a very outspoken guy, as Donald Trump recently found out. So how does he see this weekend's Sarah Palin bus tour? Charles joins us now from Washington. So Hume and me, your humble correspondent, we feel that she's not going to run. First of all, do you concur? CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER, FOX NEWS ANALYST: I agree completely. I think it would make...

"O'Reilly Factor" producer Jesse Watters caught up with Donald Trump in New Hampshire on Wednesday and asked him what he thought of Charles Krauthammer's personal attacks, the latest one comparing "The Donald" to a "crackpot" "drunk." Mr. Trump shot back at Krauthammer, calling him a "sad fool" who was trying to ride his coattails for publicity. http://nation.foxnews.com/donald-trump/2011/04/28/trump-and-krauthammer-take-personal-attacks-new-level

There's something cryptic and elusive about Krauthammer, like the coy Waldo in the famous puzzle. (And don't miss Steve Green on "Krauthammer Correcting Krauthammer." )Charles Krauthammer has long been recognized as one of America’s most astute and authoritative political columnists, acknowledged as a cut above the majority of his scrivening colleagues. And yet there is something cryptic and elusive about him, like the coy Waldo in the famous puzzle. Perhaps he resents being put in boxes and wishes to preserve his independence of judgment, or his unpredictability. Still, one detects a growing tendency to pronounce upon critical affairs without sufficient...

When I was growing up, my parents taught me that if you want people to think you’re smart, just shut up. They didn’t encourage me to shut up completely – maybe they should have – but the lesson was: never talk about things you know nothing about and people might think you’re smart..... .....For several years now, the elites have been trying to fool us in believing that two people, one on the left and one on the right, are very smart people. On the left, we have the President and on the right, we have Charles Krauthammer. We are...

Is the idea that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin could be America’s next president laughable? Not only to many on the left, but also to conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer. On Friday’s broadcast of “Inside Washington,” Krauthammer offered several reasons why Palin shouldn’t be considered the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential election. “What do you mean if not Sarah Palin in 2012?” Krauthammer said. “Who’s saying she’s going to be the presidential candidate? I don’t even hear her saying it. Her chances of being are smaller than half a dozen other people. If you talk to Republicans, I don’t...

It's Christmas Eve, so let's treat ourselves to something conservative political junkies enjoy: handicapping the 2012 Republican field. On the Fox News Special Report this evening, panelists Stephen Hayes and Charles Krauthammer both singled out Mitch Daniels as a man to watch. Hayes identifed the Indiana gov as perhaps the true Tea Party candidate—someone willing to speak the hard truths about the need for entitlement reform. The ever-interesting Krauthammer found Daniels' lack of charisma appealing--as an antidote to our overdose of hope-and-change. View video after the jump.

Ouch Charles !...., Keep in mind that Obama has huge majorities in both Houses and you've got a lot of Republicans with absolutely no backbone Krauthammer: "He had a unbelievable December, he came back in a way that is quite stunning..He restored himself as a player in Washington, he's relevant and what he's achieved is quite amazing...That's a lot to achieve for a guy that got shellacked and was on the mat, he got off the mat in a way that was not expected." Note: at 5:20 you'll see Stephen Hayes shaking his head in disagreement

McConnell on CNN State of the Union is asked by Crowley about Charles Krauthammer saying 'If Obama wins reelection, his comeback point will be the Great Tax Cut Deal of 2010' McConnel responds: "I think Charles Krauthammer is very smart but on this he's totally wrong"

The Buckley rule By Charles Krauthammer Friday, September 17, 2010 Tuesday in Delaware was a bad day not only for Republicans but also for conservatives. Tea Partyer Christine O'Donnell scored a stunning victory over establishment Republican Mike Castle. Stunning but pyrrhic. The very people who have most alerted the country to the perils of President Obama's social democratic agenda may have just made it impossible for Republicans to retake the Senate and definitively stop that agenda Bill Buckley -- no Mike Castle he -- had a rule: Support the most conservative candidate who is electable. A timeless rule of sober...