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Subscribe to RSSIndiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) says he's testing the waters for 2012, but he's clearly not convinced yet it would be the right move.
He has expressed misgivings about exposing his family to the scrutiny of a White House bid. He has already drawn the ire of some social conservatives for calling for a "truce" on social issues. Daniels, a "pro-life conservative," explains that it's about prioritization.
And today, there was this in the Northwest Indiana Times, based on an interview with a Chicago radio station:
"Addressing speculation he may be seeking a run at the White House himself, Daniels said, 'I wouldn't hold your breath for that.'
"'We're thinking about it,' he said. 'A lot of people have asked me to think about it, so we will.'"
Daniels is slated to address the Conservative Political Action Conference Feb. 10 here, but at least one conservative group is vexed by CPAC's decision to invite him to speak.
The American Principles Project -- which protested CPAC's invitation of conservative-leaning gay-rights group GOProud -- wrote the following about Daniels:
“Unfortunately, while Governor Daniels is slated to speak at CPAC’s ‘Reagan Dinner,’ he has failed to understand how Ronald Reagan fused the three critical legs of the conservative movement into one coherent governing philosophy. Discarding one makes the whole obsolete.
“Governor Daniels’ selection is an affront to the millions of conservatives who believe that social issues such as abortion and traditional marriage are non-negotiable.
“The Beltway wisdom among Republican insiders boils down to a simple mantra: Social issues are a thing of the past. But this theory falls apart outside of the Washington bubble. The Republican sweep in the House was dominated by pro-life, pro-family candidates, and polling shows large majorities want to see action on these issues."
This all creates a difficult landscape for Daniels to navigate. It may be that his best path to the nomination is for the former Bush budget director to make it about the numbers, about the economy, and how to reduce fiscal deficits and debt. He's comfortable talking on that ground, and it distinguishes him from much of the rest of the 2012 GOP field.
But making fiscal issues the top issue in GOP primaries in states like Iowa and South Carolina, where social issues usually dominate, could prove very difficult if he decides to run, especially, if unemployment trends continue downward, and if President Obama takes up the fiscal mantle in 2011 and 2012, working with Republicans to try and implement his fiscal commission's recommendations.
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And after reading this, NJNB, has to go change her Granny Panties!
It will be fun watching her turn a lovely shade of blue though! ;o)
A republican who is willing to acknowledge and abandon the wedge issues? Tell me more.
He was President Bushes Budget Director:
Enough said!
You're right. Never mind. And thanks. ;-)
Rick, I have some intelligent, charming and responsible friends currently living in the blue grass state. I am quite sure your path does not cross theirs! How bout them Wildcats?
The American Principles Project needs to understand one thing
It is the economy, stupid.
Daniels has proved that he knows how to cut government spending, lower taxes, and balance a budget.
Please, please, Governor Daniels- your country needs you. I fear for the future if you do not run, and win.
Yeah, Mitch- let's put those taxes for the uber wealthy on 2000 time.
As a person who lives in the state of Indiana and has witnessed Daniels governing (or lack of it) let me be the first to say.....Hell NO.
Most of the policies Daniels has pushed thru have been knee-jerk reactions that in the long term are failing miserably. He pushed thru policies that required the state rely less on funding from property tax (stable/steady) and more on sales tax (fluctuates/unsteady).
At a time when the state needed leadership on how to handle funding for education, he and his GOP legislature pushed thru referendum policies. This has given THOUSANDS of people I wouldn't elect to office IN A MILLION YEARS the opportunity to dictate the quality of education children in this state will have. It also put THOUSANDS of people in the A/E - Construction industry (as well as 2nd tier support businesses) on the unemployment line LONG before the national economy went in the tank.
Daniels is NOT the man you want in the White House when the pressure is on.
Yes, because basing your entire budget on spending cuts and tax breaks worked so well for Texas.
If it didn't work in Texas, it sure as hell won't work on a national level.
The only thing that seems to work well for Texas is Federal Aid and begging for more Federal Aid
Eliminate Federal Aid (State Welfare) or make it a population based program NOW, The USA cannot continue supporting State taxcuts for Corporations,,,,,,,These people BRAG about not having State income taxs with one hand on their wallets and one hand out for welfare money to support them.
Hey Mark in Indy. You must live in an apartment or rent because the resulting reduction in revenue from property taxes resulted from a vast majority of public outrage over escalating property taxation and inflated assessments. Anybody who likes to bitch about lower property tax doesn't own any property. If they bitch more about sales tax they are swilling to much beer and eating over cooked hotdogs downtown at the pub next to Lucas oil stadium. Oh, go ahead and admit that the last two years a democratic majority has backed him on a majority of key issues. Honk, Honk!
Who cares this guy has a snowballs chance in Hell against a sitting President.
This dude's irrelevant - the bible-belt (ie...the 30% of the Republican party that they can't win without!) won't vote for him.
"It may be that his best path to the nomination is for the former Bush budget director to
make it about the numbers, about the economy, and how to reduce fiscal deficits and debt."
This really has to be a joke right?? Yea, Let's go with the guy's who put us into the Recession, LOL
Look, you guys.
I really don't know this guy. I live outside the US right now but will be returning for awhile to see how things go. I'm worried. We're loosing our footing. From my point of view, lets listen. Maybe he has somethig worth hiearing. The people in Indiana thought so. They elected him, and, I guess he's put the state in the black. Don't we as a nation need that......or do you all already speak Chinese?
Look, you guys.
I really don't know this guy. I live outside the US right now but will be returning for awhile to see how things go. I'm worried. We're loosing our footing. From my point of view, lets listen. Maybe he has somethig worth hiearing. The people in Indiana thought so. They elected him, and, I guess he's put the state in the black. Don't we as a nation need that......or do you all already speak Chinese?
Look, you guys.
I really don't know this guy. I live outside the US right now but will be returning for awhile to see how things go. I'm worried. We're loosing our footing. From my point of view, lets listen. Maybe he has somethig worth hiearing. The people in Indiana thought so. They elected him, and, I guess he's put the state in the black. Don't we as a nation need that......or do you all already speak Chinese?
Koch, you are right. He has done a tremendous job fiscally and with a democratic majority! One of the few things I disagree with him on right now is the proposed voucher handouts going to his targeted slice of the populace for private schools. The public school education system is not broken. The parents are willingly uneducated. It is hard for your kid to excel when you can't help them with or understand their homework.