The New Republic

Fred Thompson on Ted Kennedy: "No room to the left of him. And no room to the right of him, either." And the crowd goes wild. Update: When Thompson goes through Giuliani's liberal stances, though, it certainly is effective. --Isaac Chotiner READ MORE >>

In order to attend a speech by Bill Clinton in Florida yesterday, a Miami Herald reporter "had to purchase an admission ticket for $50. That money is considered a donation to the Hillary Clinton campaign." READ MORE >>

Apologies for the light posting today--Mike and I are both crashing on pieces for the magazine; we'll be back to blogging by the end of the day. In the meantime, allow me to recommend three articles by close friends of The Stump. READ MORE >>

Mud Pit: [Michael Kranish, The Boston Globe]: "The eight Republican candidates for president held a fiery debate last night filled with charges and confrontations about who is a true conservative and 'real Republican' as th READ MORE >>

Pretty much everything you needed to know about tonight's GOP debate--and much of what you need to know about the GOP race--happened in the first 15 or 20 minutes. That's when Fox News correspondent Chris Wallace invited each of the leading candidates to attack their rivals--and the candidates took him up on it. READ MORE >>

Noam's going to have more on tonight's GOP debate in Florida, but here's one quick reaction: The Republicans did Barack Obama, John Edwards, and all the other non-Hillary Democrats a big favor tonight. The candidates mocked and derided Hillary constantly, and the crowd joyously whooped and cheered them on. Some of it was absolutely cheap, as when Mike Huckabee said that Clinton's election would destroy the morale of the U.S. military. Or when a member of Frank Luntz's focus group on Fox declared "she'll end America as we know it.") But it's READ MORE >>

Michael Kinsley channels Jon Chait in making the case for keeping the Alternative Minimum Tax: READ MORE >>

This can't be real. And yet it is! (Make sure to look at all of the pictures). --Isaac Chotiner READ MORE >>

Who's tougher on dirty movies? This morning Rudy Giuliani bragged that he'd kicked the peepshows out of Times Square. But last night Mitt Romney did him one better: READ MORE >>

Kate O'Beirne hints at an interesting point involving Fred Thompson and John McCain in the latest issue of National Review. (No free online access.) O'Bierne writes: Some have predicted a "Fred fizzle" that [pollster] Scott Rasmussen is not yet ready to declare; John McCain is the candidate most likely to benefit from a second look by Fred Thompson's supporters, should it appear his candidacy is not as viable as they had hoped.   READ MORE >>