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Political Commentary

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September 5, 2008

The Old John McCain By Debra J. Saunders

"I miss the old John McCain." It's a refrain I hear on a regular basis, most often from people who are Barack Obama voters no matter what.

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September 5, 2008

Democrats in Trouble By Dick Morris

The convention floor was abuzz all yesterday with the news of the CBS poll showing a dead tie (42-42) in the presidential race. And the poll, conducted through Wednesday, couldn't reflect the impact of John McCain's speech, or the full impact of Sarah Palin's late Wednesday night.

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September 5, 2008

The Big 5-0 By Susan Estrich

He hit it this week. The big 5-0. No, I'm not referring to the age -- an age that, whatever anyone says, is not the new 30. It's still 50. It's something no one I know looks forward to unless they are ill and afraid they won't make it that far.

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September 4, 2008

Sarah Palin Strikes Back By Debra J. Saunders

"The Republican Party will not stand by while Gov. (Sarah) Palin is subjected to sexist attacks," Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett-Packard and constant McCain booster, told a press conference at the Republican National Convention Wednesday. "I don't believe American women are going to stand for it either."

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September 4, 2008

A Star is Born By Dick Morris

With sass and wit, sarcasm and sincerity, courage and strength, Sarah Palin last night showed us a new model of female politician.

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September 4, 2008

Don't They Have Birth Control up in Alaska? By Froma Harrop

I had dinner last night with a Republican-leaning independent who was despondent over John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

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September 4, 2008

Why Bristol's Baby Matters By Joe Conason

Families deserve privacy about family matters, but families that want absolute privacy should stay out of politics. Sooner or later someone would have noticed the pregnancy of Bristol Palin, 17-year-old daughter of John McCain's vice-presidential pick, especially since everyone in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, seemed to know already.

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September 4, 2008

Sarah Palin, Our Energy Answer By Lawrence Kudlow

The No. 1 economic issue this election is gasoline prices at the pump. The tax-hike effect of surging oil on global markets that has translated to a huge spike at your local gas station has drained the economy of its vitality. It has damaged consumer purchasing power, made it tougher to pay mortgages on time, worsened the credit crunch, raised the inflation rate, undermined corporate profits and thrown stocks into the first bear market in five years.

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September 3, 2008

Stand By Sarah: She's Still a Winning Pick By Dick Morris

The dominant question at the GOP convention is: Will John McCain make the huge mistake of abandoning Sarah Palin?

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September 3, 2008

What an Election! By Larry Sabato

Two tickets full of history, one headed by the first African-American in position to become president, the other with a woman situated to become the nation's first female vice president.

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September 3, 2008

Blue Dogs Have Their Day By Froma Harrop

Hmmm, suppose there were a liberal Democrat as president but a more conservative Democratic majority in Congress. That could happen. As Democrats scoop up seats in traditionally Republican districts, they add members quite unlike their old-time lefties with a program for every plight.

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September 3, 2008

It's Still the Economy, Stupid By Tony Blankley

The No. 1 issue (in contrast to personality) in the presidential campaign, according to every poll of voter opinion, is the economy. More than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than the concerns about health care, the public's negative view of the economy is unambiguously driving the historically unprecedented 80 percent of the public who believe the country is on the wrong track.

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September 2, 2008

Convention Weathering the Storm By Dick Morris

Republicans shouldn’t mourn the loss of the first night (at least) of their convention. Sarah Palin’s warm reception by the American people and the relative success of preparations to contain the damage of Hurricane Gustav seem to have given the GOP far more bounce than it would’ve gotten from a “conventional” first night in St. Paul.

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September 2, 2008

The RNC's Unconvention - By Debra J. Saunders

"This plan makes no sense. It's the height of political correctness," railed John Ziegler, a California alternate delegate, Sunday after he heard the news that John McCain was suspending the political part of the first night of the Republican National Convention.

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August 31, 2008

Sarah Palin -- Dream Girl By Debra J. Saunders

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL -- Bingo. For weeks, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been the Republican whom conservatives barely dared to hope could become John McCain's pick as his running mate.

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August 30, 2008

Great Speeches By Susan Estrich

Hillary gave a great speech. Bill gave a great speech. Barack gave a really great speech. That's what everyone is saying, and who am I to disagree? Of course, I've never been to a convention, Republican or Democratic, where everybody didn't say on Thursday night that it was a really great speech. Truth is, I can barely remember most of them.

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August 30, 2008

Outrageous Vulnerabilities By Michael Barone

As this is written, with a deadline looming, I have not heard Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field and have not learned who is John McCain's choice for vice president.

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August 29, 2008

It's All Good in Obama's "Cathedral" By Debra J. Saunders

Can he win in November? Yes, Barack Obama was the best Democrat in the field. Start with his charismatic yet cool demeanor.

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August 29, 2008

A Strategic Opening For McCain By Dick Morris

Many political campaigns run against the wrong candidate. The opportunity to pick on a vulnerable target is so tempting that they are lured into attacking someone who isn’t running. In 1992, the Republicans unleashed their convention barrage at Hillary and left Bill unscathed.

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August 28, 2008

Questions for Hillary's Zealots By Joe Conason

As the Democrats convene in Denver to celebrate Hillary Clinton and nominate Barack Obama, a tiny minority of her supporters continues to behave petulantly. They whine, they bluster, they agitate themselves and each other.