Debates? – Now? Too Much POTUS ’12 News For The Week Before Christmas ’10
Consider this post an official protest. We have four debates announced already (though no one is committing to them) and as I stare at the stack of stuff I set aside for this reading list post – I am flabbergasted. Clearly the media wants to tell Republicans how to run their primary. They are doing so with all these debate announcements and they are doing so in particular with this election to try and save Obama’s hide. That they are trying to do so at all is bad enough in principle, but out of obviously loyalty to a particular candidate while claiming neutrality just stinks.
With the holiday well in hand, I am sorely tempted to ignore most of it, there is little news, despite much coverage – but a big part of our job here is to try and condense all this nonsense for our readers – but we write under protest. We should be with loved ones celebrating the birth of Christ, or whatever else it is you choose to celebrate this time of year. We certainly should not, less than two months after a national election just concluded, be discussing the next national election two years away. But here we are – blame the media.
Of Course, We Do Not Help…
…We have all those media candidates. They are feeding the media beast. Sarah Palin is, of course, the queen of the media candidates. She is a leader, but she is no candidate, her polling is awful. She has done some good stuff, but it just is not happening for her electorally. And like most media stars, they shine brightly for a moment and then fade – causing them to seek new fuel.
Then there is the Huckster whose star has already faded looking for space on the media stage wherever he can find it. Frankly, it’s unbecoming.
And amazingly, with those few sentences the pile of stuff is cut in half. That should be instructive to our readers.
There Was Some Serious Business…
The tax deal of the week past may be the first event that actually affects the 2012 race. Romney took the lead in criticizing it. And got some good coverage out of the deal. John Thune shot back. Or did he? Some cast this as the first serious showdown of POTUS ’12, GOP style. And despite what people are saying this thing was not an “Obama” victory. It was a draw with the tie breaker going to the American people, which may be all we can expect under the circumstances.
It is way too soon to draw any candidate conclusions from this, but it is instructive about the GOP. It reveals the divide in the party – some say it’s bigger than a divide. The left is, of course, going to try and drive a wedge into it. Since Eisenhower really, this always seems to be how we lose the White House – we beat ourselves. I hope we do not take the bait this time.
This week’s court decision on the Obamacare mandate is also a serious issue. Many are trying to get Romney fodder out of it. I actually agree with David Frum on this one – it proves Romney’s federalism point.
Someone said tome in the past week that Mitch Daniels had serious “nerd appeal.” He is delaying his decision. And remember when I said his wife did not want him to run? Read this and think about it. Am I good or what?
Tim Pawlenty has some regrets. Not good in a presidential possible.
And please remember I have been telling you that Haley Barbour has some skeletons.
In Religion News…
Richard Land speaks up, and is poorly analyzed, but that is not new for him.
“Fizzling“? There never really was one.
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lkm55 on 21 Dec 2010 at 7:16 am #
I don’t disagree that Sarah is not ready to be president, I also realize she’s not a candidate yet. In 2008 she was thrust into a bad situation by a horrible GOP candidate and still managed to give life to the race. Without her on the ticket McCain would have lost by double digits. Like it or not, she’s the only star the GOP has at this time. Everyone including this blog says “the TV show is not presidential”. If she was a declared candidate for the office you’d have an argument….but she’s not. I tend to agree with you that she’s not going to run, more fun, more money, and less stress being a star/kingmaker than a candidate. There’s lots of young fresh talent out there in the house and state governors that would be great for the office and party. Conservatives and the GOP need to look there and not repeat the mistake of nominating the next old white guy in line that’s waited his turn.
Merry Christmas to you and Lowell.
JLF9999 on 21 Dec 2010 at 2:23 pm #
John commented about Haley Barbour having some skeletons in his closet. According to Politics Daily, Barbour said “We just sat on our cars, watching the girls, talking, doing what boys do. We paid more attention to the girls than to King.” He was talking about Martin Luther King when King visited Yazoo City, MS when Barbour was a boy. Being merely being unimpressed and distracted is enough cause to pause in some circles. That is why I take exception to John’s remarks.
Barbour’s comments sounds about right for a 15 year old. When I was 14, former President Eisenhower came to town and the schools let the older kids out who wished to hear him speak at the local college gym. We boys finally settled on the top row of the upper bleachers after being lectured for horsing around by some no nonsense looking guys in business suits sporting flat top haircuts. It seemed the wise thing to do at the time. We too ogled the girls while Ike talked. Ten minutes after it was over I could not have told you one word of what Ike said. However not everything was lost on me. I was about 5 feet from Ike when he first entered the room and I remember how short the man was.
John Schroeder on 21 Dec 2010 at 10:36 pm #
JLF:
Have you followed the press today? You may not see Barbour’s comments as scandalous, and being a son of Mississippi, I am not saying anything, but the press has been all over this like “white on rice” (yes, the racial pun is intentional). It’s an issue.