Dick Morris from Creators Syndicate

The Oprah Factor: A Big Boost for Obama for 12/13/2007

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

The era of celebrity endorsements ended some time ago. We no longer buy the shaving cream Derek Jeter tells us to use; nor do we vote as some Hollywood actor suggests. We have come to assume that political endorsements are often the product of partisan loyalty rather than any particular standard of merit, and that commercial testimonials come only in exchange for cash.

But Oprah's endors ...

Updated: Thu Dec 13, 2007

For Hillary, Electibility Now Equals Vulnerability Later for 12/20/2007

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

In the New York Times-CBS poll of Dec. 11, Hillary was overwhelmingly rated as the most likely of the Democratic candidates to defeat the Republicans in the 2008 general election. Asked, regardless of how they were voting, which candidate was most likely to defeat the GOP, 63 percent of the Democratic Primary voters said Hillary Clinton was the most likely to win in November, while only 14 perc ...

Updated: Thu Dec 20, 2007

Who Needs What From Iowa? for 01/03/2008

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The Iowa Caucuses mean different things to different candidates. Of course Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, for the Democrats, and Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, for the Republicans, are vying for a win there. But there are separate sub-primaries going on, as well: Obama vs. Edwards for the position of chief challenger to Clinton; McCain vs. Giuliani for the right to wear the &qu ...

Updated: Thu Jan 03, 2008

Hillary Should Fire Bill for 01/10/2008

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Who should Hillary dismiss amid the wreckage of her Iowa performance? Surely heads will roll and the strategic geniuses that conceived the idea to run on her "experience" need to go. Their strategy, most responsible for her troubles, forced her into unbelievable twists and turns to try to transform her role as an up-close observer of history into one who shaped it.

But one head ...

Updated: Thu Jan 10, 2008

In Contrast to Obama, Hillary Plays the Race Card for 01/17/2008

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

On the evening of Jan. 3, it became clear that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was going to be a serious candidate for president with a viable chance of winning. The Clintons decided that he was going, inevitably, to win a virtually unanimous vote from the black community. Their own reputation for support for civil rights would make no difference.

With a black candidate within striking distan ...

Updated: Thu Jan 17, 2008

Hillary Clinton Will Win the Nomination by Losing South Carolina for 01/24/2008

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Hillary Clinton will undoubtedly lose the South Carolina primary, as African-Americans line up to vote for Barack Obama. And that defeat will power her drive to the nomination.

The Clintons are encouraging the national media to disregard the whites who vote in South Carolina's Democratic primary and focus on the black turnout, which is expected to be quite large. They have transformed So ...

Updated: Thu Jan 24, 2008

McCain May Win; Romney Can't for 01/31/2008

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Some may agree with Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., positions on his myriad causes and enthusiasms. Others may embrace Mitt Romney's record as governor and his experience in business. But one fact remains pre-eminent: McCain has a much better chance of winning the election than does former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

If you feel confident, for some unknown reason, in a Republican victor ...

Updated: Thu Jan 31, 2008

How Obama Can Win for 02/07/2008

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Is Hillary Clinton bicoastal? Can she win in America's heartland? These questions surface in the wake of her victories in New York-New Jersey-Massachusetts and in California-Arizona and her defeats everywhere else except in her former native state of Arkansas and its two next-door neighbors Tennessee and Oklahoma.

While she was winning the dwellings of America's elite, Obama was sweeping ...

Updated: Thu Feb 07, 2008

Why Hillary Will Lose for 02/14/2008

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Hillary Clinton has blown an almost sure shot at the Democratic presidential nomination. Having surrendered the lead to Obama, she is not likely ever to regain it. It is a fantasy that the Ohio and Texas primaries will be a "firewall" to contain the flames of enthusiasm for Obama and reverse her defeats of February. Just as with Rudy Giuliani's supposed Florida firewall, Hillary's wil ...

Updated: Thu Feb 14, 2008

Warning to Super-Delegates: Obama Fans Will Keep Score for 02/21/2008

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Congressmen and -women who believe that they can ignore the expressed will of their districts' constituents and vote with impunity for whomever they want for president at the Democratic Convention had better think again. A vote for Clinton by a congressman whose district backed Obama is likely to become the single most dangerous vote the member has ever cast.

If Obama loses the nominatio ...

Updated: Thu Feb 21, 2008

The Clintons Just Won't Learn for 02/28/2008

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Whether one likes, dislikes, loves, hates, admires, fears, despises or envies them, every Clinton watcher has this in common: They are dumbfounded both by the incompetence with which Hillary has run for president and her intransigence at sticking to a failed message. In a demonstration of inability and inflexibility reminiscent of her health-care debacle of 1993-94, Mrs. Clinton seems destined ...

Updated: Thu Feb 28, 2008

Michigan and Florida Deserve Do-Overs for 03/13/2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Despite their apostasy in holding early primaries in defiance of the powers that be in the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Michigan and Florida both deserve to have do-over primaries. It is ludicrous to suggest that their current delegations should be seated and equally inappropriate to disenfranchise the nation's fourth- and eighth-largest states. The obvious and only fair solution is to ...

Updated: Thu Mar 13, 2008

Pastor Wright: This Too Shall Pass for 03/20/2008

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Will the Gospel According to Jeremiah Wright sink the Obama candidacy? Not very likely.

Let's start with two basic facts:

First, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has already won the Democratic nomination. It's over. Regardless of how the remaining primaries and caucuses go, including Michigan and even Florida, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., can never catch Obama in elected delegat ...

Updated: Thu Mar 20, 2008

Hillary's List of Lies for 03/27/2008

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The USA Today-Gallup survey clearly explains why Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is losing. Asked whether the candidates were "honest and trustworthy," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., won with 67 percent, with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right behind him at 63. Hillary scored only 44 percent, the lowest rating for any candidate for any attribute in the poll.

Hillary simply canno ...

Updated: Thu Mar 27, 2008

Gore's Conspicuous Silence on Primary for 04/03/2008

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Even as the rest of the Democratic Party around him takes sides in the epic struggle of Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama, Al Gore remains inscrutable, silent, above the battle. His gigantic but unspoken presence is raising rumors and fueling speculation. Joe Klein, writing in Time magazine, even suggested a scenario that has a deadlocked convention turning its lonely eyes to Al.

New ...

Updated: Thu Apr 03, 2008

Obama's Weakness Is Weakness for 04/10/2008

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The USA Today-Gallup Poll of late March suggests a strategy for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the general election. The poll compared Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and McCain on certain key variables. Here were the results:

Obama won:

— Cares about the needs of people like you, 66 percent to 54 percent.

— Shares your values, 51 percent to 46 percent.

— ...

Updated: Thu Apr 10, 2008

McCain Begins to Get It Right for 04/17/2008

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

John McCain built up massive popularity among American voters with his populist opposition to swindlers, liars and thieves, whether in business, Congress, labor or the defense community. His take-no-prisoners attitude toward corruption and his willingness to battle it wherever it crops up has made him an icon among our political leaders.

But in 2008, that John McCain has been under wraps ...

Updated: Thu Apr 17, 2008

No Knockout; Obama Will Win on Points for 04/24/2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Sports metaphors are trite and too male-oriented, but sometimes they are so apt they are unavoidable.

The Clinton-Obama contest is like a 15-round heavyweight title bout in boxing.

Hillary went for an early knockout. All previous Democratic races since 1960 have been decided that way, with one candidate winning decisive primaries, forcing his opponents to withdraw. But Obama beat ...

Updated: Thu Apr 24, 2008

Obama's Opportunity for 05/01/2008

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

At the start of his campaign, Obama ran in counterpoint to the previous candidacies of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Here was a black man running for president on issues that had nothing to do with race, as he rose above the victimization rhetoric that characterizes so many speeches of African-American political figures.

Now, in attacking the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as he did Tuesday, Obam ...

Updated: Thu May 01, 2008

Why Won't Hillary Adopt the Huckabee Option? for 05/08/2008

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

OK, so Hillary Clinton is staying in the presidential race despite losing among elected delegates, facing a slimming lead among super-delegates, losing the popular vote and being behind by two to one in the number of states carried. She slogs on, hoping against hope for a sudden turnaround in the race.

Apart from the psychological reasons for her stubbornness, is there a more subtle poli ...

Updated: Thu May 08, 2008