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Subscribe to RSSBACHMANN: Stu Rothenberg says it’s time to reassess what he calls his “knee-jerk reaction” that a member of the House can’t win the presidency. After all, it’s happened just once – back in 1880, when James Garfield won. And only two other times have members won major party nominations, both in the 19th Century. “But with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann expected to enter the GOP race, and growing speculation that House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) might also eventually jump in, it’s time for me to reassess,” Rothenberg writes in Roll Call today.
GINGRICH: Newt Gingrich yesterday signed a pledge from the grassroots organization Strong America Now, which encourages businesses to apply a business model that is supposed to increase efficiency. He signed it “in anticipation of the group’s deficit protest and information event ‘Deficit Free America Summit’ on June 18th in Des Moines, Iowa, the Nashua Telegraph reports.
PALIN: The Sarah Palin camp hits back at Michele Bachmann adviser Ed Rollins for criticizing Palin as not serious, The Hill reports. “Michael Glassner, the chief of staff at Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC, said that Rollins has a history of making foolish comments. ‘Beltway political strategist Ed Rollins has a long, long track record of taking high profile jobs and promptly sticking his foot in his mouth,’ Glassner said in the statement.”
PAUL: Freshman New Hampshire state Sen. Jim Forsyth, who the New Hampshire Union-Leader calls a “rising state conservative leader,” will chair Ron Paul’s campaign in the Granite State, the Union-Leader reports.
PAWLENTY: “Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty secured a major endorsement in the early primary state of South Carolina on Wednesday, picking up the support of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson,” CNN reports. “Wilson will serve as co-chairman of the former Minnesota governor's campaign in South Carolina.”
Forbes columnist Leonard Burman shreds Tim Pawlenty’s economic plan, calling his plans for sustained 5% annual growth and the reduction or elimination of tax rates “fantasy tax policy.” More: “There is one more difference between fantasy sports and fantasy tax policy. The fantasy sport player is just some jock wannabee with a computer. Tim Pawlenty could be the next president.”
Pawlenty’s wife Mary is hitting the campaign solo, Politico writes. She’ll deliver he keynote speech at a Nashua Area Federated Republican Women luncheon on June 20, honoring tea-party congressional candidate Jennifer Horn as woman of the year.
Politico notes that former G.E. CEO Jack Welch praised Pawlenty last night on Piers Morgan’s show on CNN, saying Pawlenty is “starting to intrigue the hell out of me.” When asked by Morgan who on the Republican side interested Welch, he said, “If you had asked me that a month ago, I would have said, well, Mitt Romney might be the best guy, et cetera. The most obvious guy. But everything (I’ve seen) Tim Pawlenty say in the last month appeals to me.” (Here’s video.)
PERRY: While aides continue to insist that Rick Perry is not eyeing a presidential run, the signs are beginning to show that he might be, the Wall Street Journal writes. “Republican operatives in Washington and elsewhere say they have received calls recently from prominent Texas GOP donors seeking advice on how Mr. Perry might navigate a late entry into the field. It was unclear whether Mr. Perry or anyone on his team had instigated the calls.” One hurdle for Perry if he does decide to run? His two top campaign aides both signed on with Newt Gingrich, the Journal says.
ROMNEY: Making a swing through Michigan, Mitt Romney has to defend his opposition to a federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler, but he told the Detroit Free Press that he’s “not worried” about his position. He said he agreed with some of the steps Obama took, including running the companies through a structured bankruptcy. “‘What I suggested was they shouldn't just write a check,’” he said.
Republican Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) slammed Romney yesterday for not supporting the auto bailout, the Detroit News reports. “Motor City hospitality dictates a Michigan message to Mitt that our struggling families, entrepreneurs and workers think Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama are not rivals, they're running mates,” McCotter, who is considering a presidential bid, said in a statement.
Romney will visit Atlanta, Georgia on June 16 for a fundraiser, the AP reports. State Attorney General Sam Olens is among the co-chairmen for the event.
SANTORUM: Rick Santorum signed the anti-tax pledge from the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform with group president Grover Norquist standing by, the AP writes. Santorum said signing the pledge was a “minimum” and while he offered no specifics said, “We need to have pro-growth oriented taxes to get this economy up and going.”
Santorum will be back in Iowa on Saturday for a homeschooling conference – his 16th trip to the state this election cycle, according to the Des Moines Register.
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Bachmann, Gingrich, Palin, Paul, Pawlenty, Perry, Romney, Santorum
Does anyone else find this list of candidates completely unimpressive? Pardon the cliché, but, "Where's the beef?"
Obama's failed Presidency is enough for the Republicans! There are several good candidates running and maybe a couple more will join.... but plenty of qualified candidated to oppose a democratic incumbant who has caused irrepairable harm to the nation's economy and standing in the world's community! Time to end the reign of a President who's inexperience with economics, finances, leadership, etc has proved to the country that it was a failed experiment from the beginning. The position is too important for someone who needed on the job training!
The democrats strategy in 2012 will not be to run on Obama's record (that would be stupid even for a liberal), but they will come out with a vicious, mud slinging attack on whoever the Republican candidate will be.... this will be the dirtiest campaign we've ever seen....
I think most of the Republican candidates could face up nicely with an incumbant that has nothing to show during his first term other than many magnificent White House concerts at the publics expense. And a keen sense of luxurious vacation spots, also on the public dime.
The 2012 campaign will focus on the Obama record, jobs, the deficit, and the administrations attack on the private sector, and many other issues... illegal immigration, unemployment rising, families on welfare and food stamps rising, the increasing costs to manage a federal government that is so massive it can only soon collapse on itself because it cannot even repay the interest on its debt!
Let the campaign begin and lets hope the democrats keep the mud slinging to a minimum this time around and stick to the facts!
Where's the Beef, you ask?
That pretty much summarizes the current state of the Republican Party. Nuthin' to chew on, is there?
But we can't get too over confident......I mean, the American People did put a complete moron in that office for 8 years......so we do need to maintain some sense of vigilance.
This field is so unimpressive and unqualified to be President that even the ghost of Ronald Reagan can't help them. Daniels may have been their best best and he's dropped out. I'd look for hin in 2016, after Obama's second term.
I'm trying to think of something to say about Bachmann/Gingrich/Santorum/Romney/Perry/Palin/PawlentyPerry/Paul/Ryan, but, frankly...got nothing.
On the other hand, I love, love, love Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, I wish we heard more about him and what he's up to in the Senate. Would Meet the Press bring him on some Sunday? I think the whole country needs to know there are still workhorses in American government, not just reality-TV stars with no substance.
Amy,
living in Virginia, even though a conservative I was impressed with Warner as Governor, he showed some sanity as a moderate Democrat. I hoped he would run for President in 2008, to prevent the Democrat Party from veering Far Left.
But Warner didnt run for President , and then in 2009 he went along with the disastrous Obamacare and stimulus. Warner no longer can claim to be a conservative/moderate, he is just another clueless liberal.
Bob,
I supported Warner for President, but he dropped out.
What's funny is the Maine legislature, which is majority Republican, just passed a healthcare insurance reform bill which taxes every insured person $4.00 a month to pay for the high risk pool the insurance compnaies don't want to cover. Oh, pardon me, when Republicans do this, its called a fee, not a tax :)
There is so much hypocrisy in politics is unreal.
Breaking news on FR Comments...every day from now until November 2012!
...MSNBC moonbats dont approve of Republican Presidential candidates! (Shocking)
....Pretend Obama is unbeatable! (Delusional)
....Make lame witless jokes, and use crude sexual reference "teabaggers"....(witless)
....Bob-1887910 continues the relentless bitching about FR Comments, but can't seem to find a way to avoid the posts altogether.
...Bob-1887910 demonstrates once again his pure genius.
No Bob -
Obama is certainly vulnerable. You can choose any reason you want but the key issue is jobs,jobs,jobs and NOT "the debt" , which is where the Republicans have the entire country pointed.
Obama is vulnerable ( IMO ) is because he cannot control the national conversation and as long as we look at debt and don't address jobs, then "someone" has a chance.
The problem for the Republicans is that these (3) candidates DON'T have a chance but will suck up all the air in the room and negate the real candidates from getting their strategies across.
No Pablo,
The system doesn't allow for any one cadidate to "suck up all the air in the room" We will have debates, each candidate will have an adequate venue to air his or her platform. We will have the primaries and caucuses, then we will have the convention.
I do wish all the primaries were held on the same day. This would prevent the early states from controlling who I get to even vote for in my primary. Then, the real campaign begins. The dems will search for any tiny issue they can dredge up to defeat Obama's opponent. What they can't make go away, is Obama's dismal record, and the dismal record of the Democratic party in general. That is the albatross around their necks that they can't get rid off or ignore.
This never gets old:
...Shots and Bells. Neat. The only problem is- she thought it was 'shots' of wobble-water, and 'bells' as in the old hippie jeans.
They don't git no smarter than Palin. Takes a big ol' bus out with all kinds of advertizing for herself on it, then encourages her child to 'thank' the crowds that result for 'ruiinging our vacation'.
Um, First Read, you guys just gave Gingrich a double-hit on the same story.
The only reason MSNBC would tout Michele Bachmann, is because they know she can't beat Obama~!!!!