E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSCampaign advisor Ed Rollins talks about Rep. Michele Bachmann's decision to continue to attack Rick Perry for the HPV vaccine he signed into law, calling it "dangerous."
By msnbc.com's Michael O'Brien
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign lacks the "ability or the resources" to last past Iowa's caucuses, her former campaign manager said Monday.
Ed Rollins, a veteran GOP political guru, who stepped down as the congresswoman's campaign manager earlier this month, suggested Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are better-positioned at this point to run an extended campaign to win the nomination.
"I think Michele, which always was the game plan, if she somehow for some reason could win Iowa, then she could get another look. Right now, she's competing hard in Iowa," Rollins said on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports. "She doesn't have the ability or the resources to go beyond that, Iowa, at this point and time, where Perry and Romney, with lots of money can go into South Carolina, Arizona, Florida and other places."
Rollins, who helped engineer Bachmann's win at the Ames straw poll in August, stepped into an unpaid advisory role for the Bachmann campaign in early September, citing health concerns related to the grueling pace of a presidential campaign. But his shift also coincided with a slide in the polls for Bachmann associated with Perry's entry into the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Around that time, Rollins had said publicly that Bachmann had slipped into a "third candidate" role.
Rollins said both Perry and Romney are "strong candidates with strong organizations and the ability to raise money," and acknowledged that Perry had stolen some of the energy, especially from Tea Party activists, upon which Bachmann had staked a great deal of her campaign's momentum during its infancy.
Bachmann's sought to recapture some of that momentum by attacking Perry's decision to sign an executive order mandating HPV vaccinations for young women in Texas, though she's faced recriminations for conveying an allegation that one such vaccination caused mental retardation in a patient. Bachmann's also looked to boost campaign funding to stay competitive with Perry and Romney, each of whom enjoy ties to deep-pocketed GOP donor networks.
Leave a Comment:
Bachmann lacks the ability {period}.
"by the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over.”
Well, if Bachmann doesn't work out, the TP can always run this guy. He seems to be their cup of tea.
Think Progress:
Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) appeared on MSNBC with Chris Jansing this morning to attack President Obama’s new deficit reduction plan, which includes some tax increases on the wealthy. Taking up the typical GOP talking point, Fleming said raising taxes on wealthy “job creators” is a terrible idea that kills jobs because many of these people are small business owners who pay taxes through personal income rates.
Fleming is himself a businesses owner, so Jansing asked, “If you have to pay more in taxes, you would get rid of some of those employees?” Fleming responded by saying that while his businesses made $6.3 million last year, after you “pay 500 employees, you pay rent, you pay equipment, and food,” his profits “a mere fraction of that” — “by the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over.”
_____________________________
Where in heaven's name do we get these members of Congress? Doesn't anyone look at these candidates before they vote?
Democrats, GOTV. Otherwise we're cooked.
They are taking this great country of ours and completely running it into the ground. Get them out. Boehner. Cantor. The entire GOP House.
They're idiots.
I never understood why Rollins hitched his wagon to the old glue mare in the first place!
I'm sure that all First Readers love Ed Rollins as much as I do.
I know how much they love Michelle Bachmann.
Rollins is a smart guy...so, he would prefer Bachmann over four more years of President Obama.
I'm not a Bachmann fan...but Rollins makes a point, much as I hate to admit it.
And, Feisty...
Barack Obama was the reason.
Glad to help.
What does this say about you Ed? What were you think when you hopped on her train? That speak more about your assessment of ....... Bachman. Leap first then look later. Ed is the disgrace here.
PEN-24-
All else aside, Rollins STILL thinks Bachmann would be a better President than Obama.
Don't forget THAT minor detail.
I'll mention it, since First Read didn't.
And for me personally, it's a tough choice because President Obama is a part of the equation.
I don't think very highly of President Obama.
Sadly, as time goes by...
Any and all alternatives will receive serious consideration.
More on this later, but I loved this paragraph written by Deaniac83 over at The People's View, after the president's speech today:
Republicans were screaming for a specific plan from the president on jobs, and he gave them one. They were clamoring for a specific plan from him on deficit reduction, and he gave them that today. He threw a challenge: that he will always protect and defend the American middle class, students, poor and the elderly, and it would be the choice of the Republicans if they want to protect the same people or the tax welfare system for the superwealthy.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2011/09/i-told-you-so-president-obama-to-use.html
Read Deaniac's entire article. It's fascinating. One of the best blogs out there for accuracy, instead of knee jerk reactions from the media and the left. And the right. Of course.
When a number of blacks were shown the door (banned) over at a "progessive" website, many of us went over to Deaniac's site, for good. Not because we're black. But because we're Americans. And the real base. And we didn't appreciate a progressive site treating fellow Americans so shabbily.
Of course if they were real Democrats over there, they would never ever have allowed this to happen.
Funny, isn't it. If a Fox News website had done this, the "left" media would have been over all it. But when a so-called "progressive" site does it. Well, crickets.
Like I said last week, all is well with the President's real base. We have his and each other's back.
President Obama is the smartest man in this country. Hands down.
Morale of the story:
Before you dive in make sure there is water in the pool. In this case it was a "zero depth" pool.
MB
Let lay it bare here. Who among GOP field and GOP congress polls better than Obama? What your forgetting is where most Americans are on many contentious issues.
I believe what you think of the president is a choice and not a referendum on his policies cause this election will go down on choice.......Which Way America.
"President Obama is the smartest man in this country."
Just ask him.
But...
Don't ask him to prove it.
"Which Way America"?
If the nation's pollsters are to be believed...it's in the opposite direction of where President Obama is leading us, eh PEN?
I'm guessing the ole' gray mare wishes he would get OFF the talk show circuit. I really don't think Rollins is helping her case. Not that she was doing a bang up job on her own; but really.
Step aside and shut up, Rollins. She will implode without your 'help'. Man, with friends like that, Bachmann should really get some new enemies.
GOPextinct
Zero depth, zero sum - either way, zeroes for Repubs. Darn that fuzzy math.
MB, that just ain't so. Here are transcripts from Hardball with Chris Matthews:
When Rollins says "Bachmann lacks the ability or the resources" he means she is an idiot who can't keep a staff.
TP-
What does Rollins mean when he says "...if she's elected president, she will be commander in chief. And she will do good job."?
Forget Michelle Bachmann for a moment...
Would you really like me to produce quotes from Ed Rollins on the job President Obama has done?
I will, if you like.
Afterwards...I don't think you'll "like" at all, TP.
Rollins doesn't believe President Obama should be reelected...are you really suggesting that Rollins believes otherwise, TP?
Dude, how many times does Ed Rollins have to be asked a direct question to get an answer? There was a lack of conviction and everyone knows it. As for what Rollins thinks about President Obama, what does that have to do with the price of rice in China? Rollins out of the game and on the wrong side.
Notice he didn't say Obama was right on those issues.
Sounds like he has confidence in her abilities. Notice he didn't say Obama was tough.
More of the same.
Ed is a realist. Bachmann won't be the nominee and he knows it. We all know it Somebody else will seek his services. Why jeopardize his goodwill for the likes of an ol' tingly legged drunkard who probably pees himself?
@TYLER
Why is Feisty allowed to post if SHE HAS BEEN BANNED FOR A DAY?
I think the readers here deserve to know why some get special treatment and others, not. LIke all the people banned today for comments that were no where near the level of vitriol of hate spewed from the reigning champ?
Inquiring minds.....
Dennis- you beat me to it!
But really, if the GOP is going to mount a halfway successful campaign against Obama, they will have to do so much better than Bachmann. And Perry. And Noot. And Cain. And....wait- SARAH! I almost FORGOT!!
LOL
wait- SARAH! I almost FORGOT!!
Yes, the country turns it's hungry eyes to her. Wooo Woo Wooo
x
Ahh whats the matter Michele, you don't have any cash to pursue your dreams, well neither do 14 million unemployed Americans, maybe now you will be able to represent them a little better.
I just read an article that state what the President is proposing as far as increasing taxes on the wealthy will not hurt job creation and would actually raise revenue for the deficit. So, if that is the case what is the argument from the GOP? I would be more than happy to pay my fair share of taxes as a small business owner.
I am also a small business owner. I don't make very much, but I also would be happy to pay a bit more in taxes to help my country and it's people.
Diane the argument put forward by the GOP is that this is Class warfare on the wealthy. The example being floated is Warren Buffet paying less tax than his secretary. She pays 29% and he pays 17%. So the proposal is to have the rate be the same or slightly higher for the wealthy making over 1 million. Also that this will stop job creation somehow according to the GOP.
Also remember that they have had this tax break for 10 years now - was supposed to be trickle down economy for job creation. How did that work??
And closing loopholes and subsidises to help pay for job creation. Being pro-loopholes and subsidies -- We need to come up with a term for that other than stupid. It's "middle class killing" to be sure.
Why can't the GOP find one person who isn't senile like McCain, a liar like Bachman, too rich to care about working and middle class like Romney, or bribed like Perry? And it's not that empty headed quitter from Alaska either. Doesn't the GOP have ONE person who will put Country and it's citizens FIRST to work for everyone? Mitch McConell let it slip out: The number one priority is for this current administration to fail. That's swell but it also means America slips too. 2 unfunded wars and tax breaks for millionares. That's what we got with Bush. Now we can't afford anything? NOW we are taking our toys and going home? We need one candidate who cares more about this country than the party's agenda. Because there will always be liberals who want to pay for health care and food for the hungry while ignoring what the unwashed masses are doing in their bedrooms. So let's find someone who can work with those people and hasn't lost his mind yet.
Tea, No way No how, they have not got a person like that in the party. Kind of hard to do when you are trying to please two parties in one, Rep and Tea P. both of which want to see this country fail, they have made that statement as well. Care to start over and try again when this one falls.
Yes, the GOP does have a few who meet the requirements you've listed. But they're also smart enough not to run.
Ms. Bachmann, is politics not conducive to
agreements of confidentiality? This is legal and business 101. Obviously there
was no non-disclosure agreement between you and Mr. Rollins when there should
have been so my question is why not? Did you assume that Mr. Rollins would be a
good guy and not participate in these isometrics against you? I'm going to need
an answer to this concern before I move forward as a supporter. This is something
you could have easily deferred so again, why wasn't language of confidentiality
included in the consulting agreement?
TF, your kidding RIGHT!
Nuff Said!
Bachmann can always raise money by fostering more kids.
Feisty@1.2==Maybe it was the money, after all Ed is a Republican, and you know it is always the money with them