AH, ANOTHER QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 11:57 A.M. ET:  We have an embarrassment of riches in quotes today.  This, by Newt Gingrich, summarizes the state of Hillary Clinton's campaign, and her morality.  From the Washington Times: 

Many observers in the political-news media establishment thought Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a winning performance at Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate.

It certainly was a performance. We have yet to see whether it will be a winning one.

The reason this Democratic debate offered any drama at all, in a year when the Democratic frontrunner was presumed to have cleared the field, is that the Clinton campaign is clearly in significant trouble. She is lagging in some state polls behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, a candidate who, when he announced, was considered to be among the least plausible nominees the party could find.

Part of the reason for Mr. Sanders‘ success is undoubtedly his ideological appeal to the hard-left of the Democratic Party. But Hillary’s collapse likely has much more to do with the fact that she keeps lying, and that she keeps getting caught, than it does with Bernie’s charm.

In a recent Quinnipiac poll, the word most mentioned by respondents in association with Hillary Clinton was “liar.” The runners-up were “dishonest” and “untrustworthy” — offered by a combined 394 people. The next most common term, “experience,” was offered by 82.

Now Hillary’s solution to nearly her lowest favorability ratings in two decades of public life is to lie some more.

COMMENT:  Newt is right, of course.  But Hillary is surrounded by the same press corps that did so much to put the vastly inexperienced and deceptive Barack Obama in office.   Will the protection work this time?  I think it depends entirely on the quality of the Republican candidate and the willingness of the GOP to fight for the presidency, not just run for it.

October 18, 2015