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Political Commentary

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December 27, 2007

Bush's Very Good Year: A Commentary by Lawrence Kudlow

Against all odds, and despite the usual drumbeat of criticism, President George W. Bush has had a very good year. The troop surge in Iraq is succeeding.

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December 26, 2007

Only Suckers Pay Bills: A Commentary by Froma Harrop

Wouldn't it be fun to do a money-dance around town, throwing borrowed hundred dollar bills to passersby, while arranging to have others pay for the adventure?

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December 24, 2007

A Rogue CIA - Inside Report by Robert Novak

Outrage over the CIA's destruction of interrogation tapes is but one element of the distress about the agency by Republican intelligence watchdogs in Congress.

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December 22, 2007

Clinton Discord, McCain’s Choice, and Romney’s Conservative: Inside Report by Robert D. Novak

Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy are privately blaming
aggressive campaigning by Bill Clinton for her recent decline in Iowa's pre-caucus polls.

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December 22, 2007

Looking for Mr. Right: A Commentary by Michael Barone

On the issues, not very much separates the front-runners for the Democratic nomination. What's interesting is that all of them are running well to the left of the only Democratic presidents in the last 40 years, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

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December 20, 2007

Congressional Combat: A Commentary by Larry J. Sabato

Truly important election years for the U.S. House of Representatives come around only every so often-years when party control is at stake and the House actually changes hands or the balance of power is significantly altered one way or the other.

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December 15, 2007

The Two Races for President and the Race within the Race: A Commentary By Douglas Schoen

There are two underlying trends that have emerged when examining recent poll results.

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December 15, 2007

Hill's Big Goof - In Dem Primaries, Experience Loses: A Commentary by Dick Morris

Sound familiar? A young, charismatic candidate campaigns calling for change and new directions. Defying the traditional prejudices that have kept his ilk out of the White House, his effortless good looks and measured cadence attract voters to his vision of new possibilities.

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December 13, 2007

Senate Sensibilities--A Second Democratic Year in '08?: An Overview by Larry J. Sabato

Look at recent history. The Senate has changed party control six times: in 1980 (D to R), 1986 (R to D), 1994 (D to R), 2001 (R to D), 2002 (D to R), and 2006 (R to D).

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December 13, 2007

The Oprah Factor: A Big Boost for Obama: A Commentary by Dick Morris

The era of celebrity endorsements ended some time ago. We no longer buy the shaving cream that Derek Jeter tells us to use; nor do we vote as some Hollywood actor suggests.

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December 11, 2007

Changes in the Democratic Race: A Commentary By Douglas E. Schoen

I have argued for the last couple of months that the Democratic primary race has been static, representing a strong, if not dominant position for Hillary Clinton.

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December 8, 2007

Bill Hurts, Not Helps, Hillary's Campaign: A Commentary by Dick Morris

Bill Clinton’s poll ratings are very high so Hillary figures he can be of great help to her on the campaign trail. So far, so good — but then they extrapolate that view and conclude that he would be a good person to make her negative attacks on opponents, to answer charges against her and to take the media to task for their coverage. And that’s where they are wrong.

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December 6, 2007

Hillary, Rudy Know Life After Death: A Commentary by Dick Morris

It now seems possible, and some would say probable, that both front-runners for their party nominations will be wiped out in the early caucuses and primaries.

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December 6, 2007

Presidential Politics: Not Always Easier the Second Time: A Commentary by Rhodes Cook

"It's always easier the second time around," goes the lyrics of the old song. But while that may be true in love and romance, it is certainly not the case in presidential politics.

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December 6, 2007

The Democratic Race Appears Static: A Commentary By Douglas Schoen

Several recent polls and the Real Clear Politics Averages have suggested that Hillary Clinton no longer leads the Democratic race in Iowa, raising questions about her inevitability as the Democratic nominee.

December 1, 2007

Trouble on Mitt Romney's Campaign Trail: A Commentary by Dick Morris

This is not a good time to be Mitt Romney. After almost a year of having the Iowa and New Hampshire airwaves to himself, he is now facing a challenge on the right from Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson and on the left from Rudy Giuliani.

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November 29, 2007

Notes on the State of Politics II: A Commentary by Larry J. Sabato

This week, the Crystal Ball publishes another installment in our intermittent series of observations on the 2008 campaign and the politics of the day.

November 28, 2007

Who Benefits From the Huckabee Surge in Iowa?: A Commentary by Douglas Schoen

The new Rasmussen Iowa numbers taken together with earlier polls taken by ABC News and the Washington Post, throw many assumptions about the likely result of the Republican Presidential primary into doubt.

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November 21, 2007

What is Really Happening in Iowa?: A Commentary by Douglas Schoen

The race among Democrats is too close to call. Drawing any finer distinction will drive the analysts to distraction as there are so many polls being done it is impossible to divine a clear trend indicating which way the race is going.

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November 15, 2007

Rudy In Trouble Without Iowa Win: A Commentary by Dick Morris

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.