So no mas for Mitch. Coincidentally, I saw my first “Ryan for President 2012” bumper sticker on Saturday. I also expect the phone lines to Governor Christie in New Jersey are going to be busy over the next few weeks.
For a candidate whose "Truce" was a central theme, I am not that surprised that the end result for his own campaign became a "Surrender".
And please stop with this Christie non-sense. The latest polls have him under water in his home state. And Ryan has stated in Shermanesqe terms that he is not running.
I wish NRO pundits would either be honest and embrace the RINO that is actually running (Romney) or maybe open their minds and realize that people like Cain, Bachmann and Palin are far more in sync with the conservative movement than Daniels ever was.
Ryan would be an attractive candidate - relatively charismatic, young, telegenic and very articulate. His only downside, to the extent that he has any downside, is the fact that he sits in the House and not the Senate.
Christie, OTOH, while enjoying tremendous appeal to some Beltway and Manhattan Republicans, is going to be persona non grata with the NRA crowd, and the comments he made about the Ground Zero Mosque and the transit worker who was fired after burning the Koran (on his own time) would not be very well received.
For him to have any viability in a national Republican Primary, he needs to fully pardon Brian Aitken and quickly get some religion on the 2nd Amendment. I don't know how he walks back the GZM and Koran mess.
And, for those that doubt the power of the gun lobby in Republican politics, I would point you to Rudy Giuliani's no delegate performance in 2008.
Christie has never met the full force of the Palinista on- line army (with big help from Breitbart, Levin, and Rush) who will force the likes of NRO and the Weekly Standard and the rest of the traditional Republican press to finally call out Christie on his appointment of the Hamas-supporting judge to the NJ supreme court, his very vocal support of the Ground Zero mosque, his horrible stance on gun rights, etc. Once the average voter in middle America, who's never read/heard a bad word about Christie yet, hears of his liberal beliefs, the average GOP voter will be repulsed.
Which early GoP states does anyone believe Christie can win?
He'll have to run third party to win anything. Welcome to DC, President Palin.
Cain, Bachmann, and Palin check a lot of boxes that's for sure. If the the "movement" has become red meat and an inability to articulate positions beyond sound bites you can count me out. Cain seems like a smart guy, but that doesn't mean he should be president. The other two should be kept away from further elected office at all costs. Serial gaffes is enough for the "movement"; to double down on stupid, apparently.
The problem is the primary challenge followed by the challenge of knocking off an established incumbent. Those that seem like a good fit at the first are often not-so-much at the second. This one-two combo was one of Obama's big strengths; probably still is. As conservatives contemplate where the candidates are and parse their words on the issue of fluoride in the drinking water and such, you might also want to consider how the vast middle who have lives and don't pay attention will view the candidates in October 2012. It really is this: "How comfortable do I feel having this person on my TV screen for the next four years compared to Obama?" I think Palin flunks that test, frankly. Ryan? Sorry; looks like a pimply faced kid. So here we are with Palin and Ryan who can't pass test number two. But then Romney and Christie flunk test number one. I guess we're doomed.
Will they (and NRO) finally embrace real Conservatives? Or will they all charge up to Christie and beg him to actually DO something Conservative rather than just SAY something every now and then?
I've been saying to the RINO class for months now; you are NOT going to force another Establishment Patrician on us. The TeaParty is going to choose our nominee, and nobody else.
Finally NRO, PLEASE dont start up with the Jeb Bush nonsense again. His stance on immigration makes him a non-starter.
I am surprised Jindal's name has vanished. Would love to see a panel post on who folks would recruit if the entire undeclared field bowed out. Would be nice to see some entirely new names.
The ladies (and even the homosexual men) disagree with you, as a quick trip around the web will illustrate. No, Ryan would be our version of JFK, which is to say a man with morals as well as Irish good looks. Our best shot against Obama.
I like Christie and so do a lot of others. But Scott Wilson nailed it–once we get to know his politics, he won't even win the primary. What we really like is the no-back-down, blunt talk. Not like the John McCain "straight talk" but real straight talk. I think that is why Trump had a bump before the "F" bombs. A politician unafraid to go there, better have his ducks in a row, tho', or it won't be real.
I think Palin is smart enough, tough enough and conservative enough, but I think she needs more time to rebuild her unfairly tarnished image. I lean toward Cain and Bachmann. As an "unaffiliated" or independent voter, the GOP won't automatically get my vote by nominating a big government candidate again. I won't vote Democrat, but that doesn't mean I'll vote Republican either.
For a candidate whose "Truce" was a central theme, I am not that surprised that the end result for his own campaign became a "Surrender".
And please stop with this Christie non-sense. The latest polls have him under water in his home state. And Ryan has stated in Shermanesqe terms that he is not running.
I wish NRO pundits would either be honest and embrace the RINO that is actually running (Romney) or maybe open their minds and realize that people like Cain, Bachmann and Palin are far more in sync with the conservative movement than Daniels ever was.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRyan would be an attractive candidate - relatively charismatic, young, telegenic and very articulate. His only downside, to the extent that he has any downside, is the fact that he sits in the House and not the Senate.
Christie, OTOH, while enjoying tremendous appeal to some Beltway and Manhattan Republicans, is going to be persona non grata with the NRA crowd, and the comments he made about the Ground Zero Mosque and the transit worker who was fired after burning the Koran (on his own time) would not be very well received.
For him to have any viability in a national Republican Primary, he needs to fully pardon Brian Aitken and quickly get some religion on the 2nd Amendment. I don't know how he walks back the GZM and Koran mess.
And, for those that doubt the power of the gun lobby in Republican politics, I would point you to Rudy Giuliani's no delegate performance in 2008.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseChristie has never met the full force of the Palinista on- line army (with big help from Breitbart, Levin, and Rush) who will force the likes of NRO and the Weekly Standard and the rest of the traditional Republican press to finally call out Christie on his appointment of the Hamas-supporting judge to the NJ supreme court, his very vocal support of the Ground Zero mosque, his horrible stance on gun rights, etc. Once the average voter in middle America, who's never read/heard a bad word about Christie yet, hears of his liberal beliefs, the average GOP voter will be repulsed.
Which early GoP states does anyone believe Christie can win?
He'll have to run third party to win anything. Welcome to DC, President Palin.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCain, Bachmann, and Palin check a lot of boxes that's for sure. If the the "movement" has become red meat and an inability to articulate positions beyond sound bites you can count me out. Cain seems like a smart guy, but that doesn't mean he should be president. The other two should be kept away from further elected office at all costs. Serial gaffes is enough for the "movement"; to double down on stupid, apparently.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe problem is the primary challenge followed by the challenge of knocking off an established incumbent. Those that seem like a good fit at the first are often not-so-much at the second. This one-two combo was one of Obama's big strengths; probably still is. As conservatives contemplate where the candidates are and parse their words on the issue of fluoride in the drinking water and such, you might also want to consider how the vast middle who have lives and don't pay attention will view the candidates in October 2012. It really is this: "How comfortable do I feel having this person on my TV screen for the next four years compared to Obama?" I think Palin flunks that test, frankly. Ryan? Sorry; looks like a pimply faced kid. So here we are with Palin and Ryan who can't pass test number two. But then Romney and Christie flunk test number one. I guess we're doomed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCan someone explain why we're not talking about Bobby Jindal as a possible candidate?
He'd be great: an accomplished governor, young, smart, energetic, etc.
Am I missing something? Someone call that man up.
I'd also love to see Paul Ryan get into the game.
Other than those two, I'm not much enthused by many others, though I do like Pawlenty fine enough (his cap-and-trade past notwithstanding).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMan, oh man, what will the RINOs do now?
Will they (and NRO) finally embrace real Conservatives? Or will they all charge up to Christie and beg him to actually DO something Conservative rather than just SAY something every now and then?
I've been saying to the RINO class for months now; you are NOT going to force another Establishment Patrician on us. The TeaParty is going to choose our nominee, and nobody else.
Finally NRO, PLEASE dont start up with the Jeb Bush nonsense again. His stance on immigration makes him a non-starter.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am surprised Jindal's name has vanished. Would love to see a panel post on who folks would recruit if the entire undeclared field bowed out. Would be nice to see some entirely new names.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Ryan? Sorry; looks like a pimply faced kid."
The ladies (and even the homosexual men) disagree with you, as a quick trip around the web will illustrate. No, Ryan would be our version of JFK, which is to say a man with morals as well as Irish good looks. Our best shot against Obama.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI like Christie and so do a lot of others. But Scott Wilson nailed it–once we get to know his politics, he won't even win the primary. What we really like is the no-back-down, blunt talk. Not like the John McCain "straight talk" but real straight talk. I think that is why Trump had a bump before the "F" bombs. A politician unafraid to go there, better have his ducks in a row, tho', or it won't be real.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think Palin is smart enough, tough enough and conservative enough, but I think she needs more time to rebuild her unfairly tarnished image. I lean toward Cain and Bachmann. As an "unaffiliated" or independent voter, the GOP won't automatically get my vote by nominating a big government candidate again. I won't vote Democrat, but that doesn't mean I'll vote Republican either.