Free Republic

As the Republican presidential race devolves into a five-man free-for-all of sustained attacks and sharp rejoinders, one pair of candidates, Mayor Giuliani and Michael Huckabee, has avoided direct conflict, exchanging more compliments than criticism. Mr. Huckabee, who has leapt to second in the Iowa polls, has drawn increasing fire from GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson, but not from Mr. Giuliani, who has described him as "wonderful." The former Arkansas governor seemed to respond in kind yesterday when he took Mr. Giuliani's side in the former New York mayor's bitter fight with Mr. Romney over their respective records as...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney, a lightning rod for criticism about administration policies, on Sunday rejected the notion of resigning and said he would serve out his term. "I made sure both in 2000 and 2004 that the president had other options. I mean, I didn't ask for this job. I didn't campaign for it. I got drafted," Cheney said on CBS television's "Face The Nation." Being part of the administration was a highlight of his career, Cheney said. "I've now been elected to a second term. I'll serve out my term," he said. Cheney has been criticized...

Op/Ed - David Shribman CHENEY MAY CHANGE THE FACE OF THE VICE PRESIDENCY Sat Jan 15, 7:59 PM ET By David M. Shribman Dick Cheney is the reason American politics is about to get more and more interesting. Cheney is, of course, the vice president. He and President Bush are about to begin their second terms. Since Richard M. Nixon won the Republican presidential nomination in 1960, the vice president has been expected to run for president. The principal exceptions have been Spiro T. Agnew and Nelson A. Rockefeller. As a result, there is a distinguished list of modern vice...

I know that all of you were on tenterhooks, anxiously awaiting my incisive, brilliant take on the horror-show that is currently unfolding in Boston.No?Weren't even a little curious?Oh well, you're getting my opinion anyways, so here it is. This has got to be one of the most painfully unwatchable, unlistenable, unbearable political conventions that has ever taken place during the modern era. The fact that the major networks, which serve as a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party, weren't even willing to broadcast the second night of this debacle must tell you something. The "keynote" speaker of the evening, Barack Obama,...

February 04, 2004, 8:34 a.m.From S.C. to VP?John Edwards and THE LIST. By Michael Graham John Edwards's primary-contest record is 1-8. His margin over Massachusetts liberal John Kerry in S.C. — Edwards's home state — was about the same as his margin over Howard Dean in Iowa. Hardly impressive. And according to the latest polls, Edwards is trailing in every upcoming primary and caucus from Washington to Virginia. He's not even competing in Michigan this Saturday.So why is Edwards's position significantly different from that of Joe Lieberman, Howard Dean, or Wesley Clark — three other people who won't be the...

Lieberman: Democrats 'Working On' McCain for 2004 Ticket In an interview with Tony Snow of Fox News, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) made a startling admission: The Democrats are pursuing Sen. John McCain as a running-mate on the Democratic presidential ticket in 2004. Here are some excerpts: SNOW: Barney Frank this week did a series of interviews ... He says he likes Al Gore, but he's got some reservations. Let's listen to Barney Frank. VIDEO CLIP - U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BARNEY FRANK (D-MA): "A reporter called me up and asked me what I thought about John Kerry once he announced, and I...