For optimum effect please read this week’s column while listening to the title soundtrack from 007's "The Spy Who Loved Me," "From Russia with Love" or at least the theme to “Get Smart.”

So, this is how politics is played on the big stage. If you haven't heard, former secretary of state, former senator, former first lady and 2016 presidential loser Hillary Clinton has made a shocking and shameless accusation towards one of the Democratic candidates running for president. Without presenting a shred of viable, corroborated evidence, Mrs. Clinton tossed out the slur that Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii is being "groomed" by the Russians.

Clinton’s audio quote, which was part of a podcast, stated, "I'm not making any predictions, but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate. She's the favorite of the Russians."

Hillary never names Gabbard, but everyone agrees on who she is talking about.

Gabbard is the first decorated female combat veteran ever to run for the presidency and is the first female combat veteran ever elected to Congress. She is a war veteran of two tours of duty in the Middle East and presently a major in the National Guard. Since 2013, she has served Hawaii’s Second Congressional District honorably. If Gabbard can be sucker punched, who is next in line for a public mauling? Santa Claus? You can’t be more patriotic than Gabbard.

Too many politicians on the left are clinically and mentally impaired by having way too much Russia on the brain.

What’s incredible is that there has been only a moderate amount of pushback from Clinton’s colleagues. Do any actually believe in this nonsense, or are they simply afraid to push back against Princess Hillary? Presidential candidates Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders mildly put up token resistance, but everyone else has sat in silence. Nobody on the left will challenge Hillary and nobody on the left wants to share the stage with Gabbard. She represents everything they are not. Tulsi Gabbard threatens the ultra-left-wing progressive propaganda message. She is a clear and present danger. She is on record that her goal is to bring our troops home. That doesn't bode well for war hawks.

The Hawaii congresswoman fired off a few defensive tweets calling out the former candidate to jump back into the race. Among them: "Great! Thank you @HillaryClinton. You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain."

"Hillary & her gang of rich, powerful elite are going after me to send a message to YOU: “Shut up, toe the line, or be destroyed.” But we, the people, will NOT be silenced."

Why would Hillary attack someone who was polling at or around 2%? There are a couple of reasons I can think of off the top of my head. 1) Hillary Clinton is vindictive and still livid that Gabbard supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election. 2) Hillary can't sit idly by and allow anyone to attack the military industrial complex that has made the Clintons millionaires. 3) In her world she has been pre-ordained with the honor of being the first woman president. That distinction cannot go to an Elizabeth Warren and, for that reason, Hillary most of all wants back in the game and it's simply a matter of “when” before she jumps in.

The day the Clinton political machine announces another presidential run, like it or not, she will become the instant odds-on favorite to represent the Democrats. Remember, in her mind, she was wronged in 2016 and we all owe her the throne. Hillary will regain the full backing of the rest of the Democratic elite and will one-by-one knock down her adversaries. She will run in 2020!

Hillary Clinton inadvertently boosted Tulsi Gabbard's political prospects by increasing her visibility among voters.  Gabbard’s next move should be a fast exit from the Democratic Party and, for political races beyond 2020, she should become a real institute for change by running as a viable independent. This country needs a strong third party, one that is void of the sewage the Democrats and Republicans repeatedly produce.

Lee Elci is the morning host for 94.9 News Now radio, a station that provides "Stimulating Talk" with a conservative bent.