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Subscribe to RSSNational Journal's Ron Brownstein writes of the 2012 presidential contest, "The debate will revolve around a big question more often dodged than confronted: How much government are Americans willing to pay for? Before the conversation is over, the answer could produce uncomfortable moments for President Obama and Republicans alike, not to mention voters themselves."
Politico notes that the next two weeks will finally shine more light on the GOP nomination race: who's in, who's out, and who steps up when some of the contenders finally share a stage.
So far not one Republican presidential candidate – not even the ones who’ve said they’ll participate – actually fit all the criteria for the May 5th presidential debate in Greenville, South Carolina, the Spartanburg Herald Journal writes. While some have already met part of the criteria, none of the candidates have filed paperwork to be on the ballot in the state.
BARBOUR: There are eight days left until all of Haley Barbour’s self-imposed deadlines for a presidential announcement have past, the Jackson Clarion Ledger points out: the legislative session is over, and the month of April has only eight days left. Barbour’s ambivalence has left some Mississippians miffed: “Let us know instead of running from state to state. If he's not going to run, we need him home in Mississippi," retired school nutritionist Lola Ducksworth said.
GINGRICH: Gingrich moved away from Paul Ryan’s budget this week, writing in a Facebook post on Wednesday that he would embrace “a voluntary plan that would give seniors the option to choose private plans without explicitly abolishing Medicare as we know it. That is in line with a Medicare proposal by former Democratic Congressional Budget Office director Alice Rivlin and former Republican Sen. Pete Domenici, once embraced, then rejected by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan,” the Wall Street Journal writes.
HUCKABEE: “Mike Huckabee on Thursday criticized fellow Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck for calling the former governor and potential White House hopeful a ‘progressive’ for supporting first lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity efforts,” the AP says. Huckabee said Beck’s statement was an attempt to “create yet another ‘bogey man’ and said the first lady’s program “is about personal responsibility, not the government literally taking candy from a baby’s mouth.”
PAWLENTY: One of Pawlenty's New Hampshire steering committee members is a convicted felon who served jail time after his third drunk driving arrest.
ROMNEY: Romney dinged Obama over Libya policy yesterday on National Review Online: "It is apparent that our military is engaged in much more than enforcing a no-fly zone. What we are watching in real time is another example of mission creep and mission muddle."
SANTORUM: Rick Santorum has hired Cody Brown, the campaign manager for a “hard-fought but unsuccessful” congressional campaign last fall, to manage his testing-the-waters effort in Iowa, the Des Moines Register reports.
TRUMP: The Donald's media blitz doesn't appear to be boosting ratings for 'The Apprentice.'
Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer fielded a call from Trump, and now he says the tycoon sounds serious about a run.
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My gut tells me Romney will not win the Republican nomination. Too traditional. I predict the Republicans will nominate an as yet to be named demagogue, someone fiery and to the far right. That is my prediction.
A steering committee member with three drunk driving arrests? Get his hands off the wheel!! Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!
Nice selection, Santorum! "Hard fought but unsuccessful"? You must want even MORE of a beatdown than you got in '06!!
Beck needs all the anti-obesity efforts he can get! It'll NEVER get all the fat outta his head!
Pawlenty all the way to the Whitehouse. I am not worried about the DWI person. He will be dealt with accordingly. What ever happened to forgive and forget. A standard for the Dems except where repubs are concerned. Just another article that must be taken with a grain of salt, as all must be from MSNBC.
He already HAS spent six months in prison! He's a FELON!! If he's backing T Paw, he must've fallen off the wagon!
Felony, DWI on the steering committee ? You just can't make this stuff up.
I guess Greenville, South Carolina will answer the question "What if the Republican Party held a debate for Presidential candidates and no one showed up ?"
the trouble with the GOP candidates is that they are just a bunch of old white guys !!! they have no new ideas for our nation !!! they all tremble at the sound of rush limbaugh's voice !!! and, they all fear suffering the indignity of defeat at the hands of a "black" incumbent President !!! mccain is still "pissed off" !!!
Smith,
So if your Mother is White and your Father is Black that make you Black? Just confused on how race changes every day.
How do you know McCain is still "pissed off", did he tell you this? BTW, kudos with the race baiting..
Who is in and who is outy? By what standard is this judgement being made; the libbie MSNBC standard? Well then of course all republicans are out and the lone annointed one, Bev's comment not mine, is the only one in.
Really, what a rediculous article to even comment on. The timeline is too far out from the debating season, and Barry still needs to fix problems he has created. With the rising cost of gas, the increase in the average grocery bill, and inflation soon to grow, people between now and the election will probably vote with their pocketbooks.
and which party has driven up the deficit, not balanced a budget in over a year, and well, doing a terrible job? and which Prez will have to accept accountability? Well libbies, it isn't George Bush! And don't blame Bush for the Obama drama decisions.
One name will come up time and time again - Barry Obama, the leader of the Progressive-Democratic Party. OK libbies, if you thought the mid-terms were bad, wait until people again vote with their paychecks. Your party will lose seats again with Barry in the picklebarrell for his administrative decisions; or non-decisions.
I really would like the media to stop their bs! First of all, as a Responsible Republican voter, NONE of these clowns have the ability to articulate on the President's level! Think about it! What comes out of their mouths? NOTHING BUT HOT AIR!! Not one of these clowns talks about issues for the middle class. I haven't heard a plan for housing, creating jobs, or corporate welfare as we all know it!
The President is right on track with raising revenue on the wealthy. Obviously, he was in a bind in Dec of 2010 with the GOP who tied a rope around the necks of the Dems with the tax cuts! They held unemployment hostage!
Now they have nothing to hold hostage against the Middle Class and we are going to raise the revenue on the wealthy and put the taxes back to the Clinton era where it should be! That makes common sense.
But the Right-wing gang of thieves; Boehner and McConnell are not going to win on this issue because there is no vote on tax cuts, the tax cuts automatically expire in 2012!! So, they have no leverage!
Even if they pass the House to a cap on revenue, it won't pass the Senate and the President won't sign it!
Wake up Republican Thieves! Give us back our country!! It doesn't belong to the Corporate welfare giants or your Lobbyist!!
Signed, A Responsible Republican
Debra Pilla
Everyone is entitled to an opinion Debra; however, have you often heard what came out of the Prez.'s mouth, and did you actually see any action from what he spoke? Now he's a much windy, full of BS, non-action oriented Prez., wouldn't you agree? I often believe he enjoys hearing his voice, with his handlers actually having him believe he IS the second coming.
The latest NY Times poll shows that 70% of Americans believe the Obama administration is heading down the wrong path. Sounds like the american pocketbook may be voting in the 2012 election. With gas prices, grocery increases and inflation right around the corner, Americans have had enough of run-away spending, House and Senate members posturing while passing the buck. The Congress have a lower rating than Obama and with Obama continuing to blame Bush, well, it is getting old for many.
When analyzed, you have to look at the Progressive/Democrats for increasing spending since '06. You also must look to the Progressive/Dems for their lack of responsiveness on the last budget they neglected to propose and now blame the Republicans for.
yep, it should be a difficult time for those Progressive/Dems running for office along with the empty suit we have as Prez.
I see there are ignorant people on this blog! How far do you think Pawlenty will get with a jailhouse guy???
He's OUT!!!!!!!!!!
About as far as Obama with Soros, the Apollo Group and the other Soros organizations.
A CHEVY VOLT FOR EVERY OBAMA VOTE!
More liberal propaganda from the left. Your guy is in deep trouble and the only alternative is too trash your competition.