Jill Lawrence

How Hillary Clinton squandered a savvy campaign on an idiotic scandal

Hillary Clinton is still a strong presidential candidate and could even be headed for the White House. So why does it feel to some Democrats as if they are enduring the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance —…

Hillary Clinton's elitism problem

Hillary Clinton was in full-throttle everywoman mode the night she won the 2008 Ohio primary. "For everyone here in Ohio and across America who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out, and for everyone who has stumbled but stood right…

Elizabeth Warren will be the X-factor in 2016 — even if she doesn't run for president

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is becoming a power player in Democratic politics, starting with her rapid emergence as a fundraising juggernaut. She raised $1.6 million through late April in support of nearly two dozen Senate contenders and her home…

The big difference between liberal and conservative 1-percenters

Sen. Elizabeth Warren makes a lot of money and lives in a very nice house. The Massachusetts Democrat is also the best known Wall Street antagonist in the country. This is not unusual for the Democratic Party, in which the wealthy and their interests…

The Democrats have a mega-donor problem

Reducing gun violence and curbing global warming are high priorities for most Democrats. So theoretically, they should be thrilled about plans by like-minded billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer to pour money into this year's midterm…

Martin O'Malley's biggest 2016 problem (besides Hillary Clinton)

As far as proving grounds go, Maryland may have been a bit too soft on O'Malley. (REUTERS/Jim Young) If there's any liberal priority that's gone ignored by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), I can't think of it. In his eight years in office, O'Malley…

Republicans learned all the wrong lessons from Bush's 'Read my lips' snafu

At 89, former President George H.W. Bush is enjoying a belated season of victory, as praise pours in for a seminal budget agreement he negotiated with a Democratic Congress nearly a quarter century ago. He's even set to receive a Profile in Courage…