The Iowa caucuses may be more than two years from now but a series of moves by potential Republican presidential contenders has turned a special election in New York's 23rd district into an early test of conservative bona fides.

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C-SPAN: "If you were to run, what factors would you take into account? What would lead you to think about running?"

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Dick Cheney is running. Consider this: instead of returning to Wyoming to spend time with his family as he repeatedly said he would, Cheney has remained in the DC area.

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So far, no politician has emerged as a leader of the Tea Party movement – and the question of just who might eventually take up the mantle is a hot topic on the bus.

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Our fifth monthly national survey matching up Barack Obama against some possible 2012 opponents comes to the same two primary conclusions as the other four: 1) Obama leads all comers 2) Mike Huckabee, at least at this early stage, is the strongest GOP candidate

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"If I felt that's what the Lord was calling me to do, I would do it," she answered. "When I have sensed that the Lord is calling me to do something, I've said yes to it. But I will not seek a higher office if God is not calling me to do it. That's really my standard.

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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a warning for Sarah Palin: Don't abandon the Republican Party.

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Much has been said in the last couple of days about a recent Gallup poll that showed that 71% of Republicans would likely vote for Sarah Palin if she ran for president in 2012. While that has cheered some of Sarah Palin's fans, it doesn't really mean much.

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Forget the pundits and prognosticators. If you really want to find out what's around the corner, just turn to the bookies. After all, there's real money on the line.

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What can you say about a public official who ridicules those who would take the "quitter's way out" -- as she faces reporters to announce that she's quitting? A governor who claims that "the worthless, easy path" would be to serve out the remaining 18 months of her term? An ambit …

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Sarah Palin Is Hiding Something

Sarah Palin's surprise resignation announcement is the top story in the political media this 4th of July and while the media is giving the story a fairly straight treatment the question on every experienced political reporter's mind is this: "What is she hiding?"

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Palin thinks We're all as Stupid as....well....She is.

A few quick thoughts on the Sarah Palin announcement today.

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"Any time you have leading figures who are engaged in behavior that is sad and troubling and hypocritical, other people are going to look at that and say, 'Hmm, they don't walk the walk.' And so the words and the actions don't ring true," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.

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Dispirited Republicans looking for national leaders amid a wash of scandals that have dominated national news over the last fortnight got a bit of good news on Sunday with an inspired performance on "Meet the Press" by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R).

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The meltdown of the supposed presidential ambitions of John Ensign and Mark Sanford this month (plus the apparent sidelining of Jon Huntsman last month) has led to renewed if premature speculation about the 2012 presidential field.

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Mr.

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Where would Barack Obama be re-elected if an election were held today?

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Despairing Republican friends have been asking me what I think we should do to rebuild the GOP and begin our certain and inevitable comeback. My answer disappoints them: "Build an ark."

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Three appearances by prominent GOP officials in the last 72 hours have effectively shown the three distinct paths available to the Republican Party as it seeks to re-invent and rebuild in advance of the 2010 midterm elections and the coming 2012 presidential election.

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Republicans, out of power at every turn in Washington and looking for a path back to the White House, might do well to follow the populist approaches embodied by two of the party's rare success stories in recent years: Govs. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.) and Mitch Daniels (Ind.)

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You knew it was coming: Sarah Palin is ready to tell her side, agreeing to publish a memoir with HarperCollins. The book comes out in Spring 2010 — the year she is up for re-election.

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On August 9,2001 President addressed the nation about the important issue of stem cell research and federal funding, by calling it the most profound issue of our time. 42 days later we were attacked by terrorist using planes to destroy the World Trade Center.

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A poll to be found at The Nation, with ensuing dialogue - that's the good part! Enjoy Excerpt: I realise that these Nation poll questions are generally intended to be an entertaining diversion, but this question pushes the envelope for "self-explanatory" inquiry.

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John McCain was on Meet the Press today, and he gave an interesting answer when he was asked about supporting Sarah Palin for 2012. He only said that Palin should compete, and talked about all the good candidates the GOP has for 2012.

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Link goes directly to the video from Countdown

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