An Interesting Assessment Of What's His Name

Nate Silver on the Presidential prospects of the Republican you forget before you hear his name. 

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

Pawlenty had better hope the number of postings on this thread doesn't reflect the extent of the buzz his potential campaign is generating.

[centralcal]

Yawn.

[Jack is Back!]

I still like Matt Blunt. DoT, he is USNA grad and ex-governor of Missouri. Fiscally conservative and very smart. Father is now a newly minted Senator from MO. LUN

[jimmyk]

The more interesting question is why the GOP invariably nominates a well-known "heir apparent" rather than allowing a new face to emerge (as the Dems often do). Not that it necessarily leads to a better result, but the Repubs certainly could have done better than McCain, Dole, and even GHWB.

[100 times on the blackboard.]

Palin/Romney. CEO/COO.
============

[Danube of Thought]

Thanks, JIB. Hadn't heard of Matt before.

[ARC: Brian]

Is he running Jack? Matt Blunt has some negatives. There was the "email scandal" and the fact he didn't run for re-election and instead became a lobbyist.

Being from Missouri, I'd absolutely love it if he ran, but I just haven't heard that he had plans in that direction.

[jorgxmckie]

I could accept Pawlenty, I just don't see myself at this point getting excited by him. Of course, compared to Obamania, that's a plus.

[Sandy Daze]

16 November 2010
Baghdad

If you have not seen, I commend SP's recent facebook post to the newly-elected congressmen:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=455904738434

Her brand of leadership is distinct from what we're hearing or rather, not hearing, from "traditional" Republican leadership. Many presume SP as a likely Presidential candidate. Tradition in the Republican Party (to Hell with Tradition) would put her in the drivers seat.

Yet as many have observed, SP is not traditional politician. When so many suggested she was washed up after resigning the Governorship, she actually confounded virtually everyone with her resurgence. Calm observers were asked what she needed to do to rehabilitate her political fortunes; not only has she accomplished every suggestion, she has surpassed the wildest expectations. Hard to argue the, what, 70% +/- success rate of her endorsements.

Now I wonder, in spite of the intensity of her supporters, it seems that there is a rabid segment that loathes her, hates her. She is obviously aware of this. What if she were to split the difference, becoming someone's VP pick again; perhaps a ticket with Mitch Daniels for Pres, or Jim deMint. She could be, would be a lot more free to speak her mind, to be the "momma grizzly" to a more staid and methodical (not that she isn't methodical, perhaps the word is comfortable) older white guy, who "looks clean, smells nice and speaks well" (heh) with a good record of fiscal discipline. I believe it is too early for Jindal (who has recovered nicely) or Christie, and they have time, as does Palin.

Were these politicians to figure it out, they might be able to establish a several decades-long (not trying to get too far ahead . . .) occupancy of the White House, e.g.
2012 Daniels or deMint + Palin
then
2016/2020 Palin + Jindal or Christie
then
2020/2024 Jindal/Christie + other worthy candidate

It will take several decades long of determined SERIOUS leadership to put America to right, perhaps to get the 4th American Republic (LUN) off on the right foot.

I think there is good potential for 2012, but very strongly discount any possibility of success with the group including Huckabee, Romney, Gringrich, Barbour (although a good guy, unelectable imo) et al (Romney blew it with Romney care etc. . . too calculating, to much a part of what is wrong.)

Take good care,
Sandy

[glasater]

Somewhere I read an opinion that went something like this:

The US could be going through a period of one term presidents.

It certainly is a plausible idea. And from reading "the Forgotten Man" we really don't want to re-do the Roosevelt era.

[maryrose]

I have no problem with one term presidents as long as they are all Republicans. Term limits are an absolute must for the future in both houses of Congress. No one should be allowed to be there longer than 12 yrs.

[PD]

Pawlenty has good ideas, but the problem is that as you find yourself falling asleep listening to him, you wonder whether he's not already asleep himself.

[Uncle BigBad]

What exactly did Pawlenty do to interfere in the blatant vote stealing in the Stewart Smalley/Coleman recount?

[maryrose]

Pawlenty was a good soldier during the recount not certifying anything until he absolutely had to and didn't sign off on it until 6months later.