Mr. Electable

In the latest ABC News/WaPo poll, Mitt Romney leads Braack Obama among registered voters by 49 to 46 percent.

Comments

[Rob Crawford]

Clearly he should be the nominee. After all, his policies would be marginally better than Obama's. He might even be able to stave off total collapse by four, five months.

[bgates]

In Gallup's latest poll, conducted June 11-14, 2007, Clinton leads Obama by 11 points among Democrats (33% to 21%)....
The Republican race has seen a jockeying of candidates for second place, while there has been little serious threat to the frontrunner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, since January.

[Rick Ballard]

It's just amazing that the MFM would promote the electability of such a solid and sterling man of any season. How can the American electorate fail to vote for someone with such impeccable credentials? Who could find any fault in a man raised among the powerful who has used every connection available to advance himself to the point where many consider him the apotheosis of the oligarchy which has done so much to this country?

Go Ken!!

[Extraneus]

Why not go with Hillary as the nominee? Surely she's electable. Has anyone seen any polling on how she'd fare against Obama?

[sam]

Rudy led 143 out of 148 public polls for GOP primaries throughout 2007. (I counted. He was tied in 3 others, 2 with Huckabee and 1 with McCain.)

How many delegates did Rudy get?

[glenda]

Again, I say...Polls/Schmoles :)

[Danube of Thought]

Rudy dropped like a rock as his public exposure increased. The more people saw of Obama, the more they liked him.

I don't see this poll as the media promoting Romney--they're just reporting the results of a poll.

[sam]

"Rudy dropped like a rock as his public exposure increased."

No, Rudy did not drop like a rock until the voting started in the primaries. Or as I like to say, when the shooting started.

All the way through December 2007, he led polls.

[Dave (in MA)]

Braack

That's what happens when you drink your Pepsi too fast.

[Danube of Thought]

until the voting started in the primaries

Did his public exposure not increase at that time?

[narciso]

This is an example of the spin they will use against him, that last line, is choice:

http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/151180/romney%27s_failing_grade_as_governor%3A_massachusetts_ranked_47th_in_job_growth_while_he_was_governor/

[MayBee]

Rudy would be a fantastic president.

[Extraneus]

Rudy would be a fantastic president.

I agree, and I bet he gets in again.

[peter]

Any time that Jack Cashill is on the net, I read him. LUN

[Rick Ballard]

Sam,

Thank you for impressive data on the true value of early polling. While some may see such results as an indication that Ken Windsock's nuanced plan to be agreeable to everyone may not be the clearest path to victory, I believe that as the electorate comes to appreciate the full import of his credentials and connections it will find his predilection to attempt to be all things to all people all the time so charming as to be irresistible.

On paper, at any rate.

[jimmyk]

Rudy dropped like a rock when he insanely chose not to run in the early contests.

[narciso]

This isn't surprising, it does seem counterproductive though;

http://patdollard.com/2011/06/and-so-it-begins-bachmann-campaign-manager-rips-palin-she-%E2%80%98has-not-been-serious%E2%80%99-with-video/

[Porchlight]

Did his public exposure not increase at that time?

How much more exposure did he get in the month or two between Iowa and Florida than he had previously gotten as the frontrunner in all the polls for an entire year?

Your theory of exposure just doesn't work with Rudy. He had tons of exposure prior to the actual voting, not least as mayor of NYC during 9/11 and as a political commentator all through the 2001-2007 period. He was the single most well-known GOP candidate; in fact, his high level of exposure is precisely why he did lead in all the early polling.

It was only when Republicans began to fail to vote for him in the early primaries that he started dropping like a rock in the polls.

[Captain Hate]

Dear God, Ed Rollins with a Duke & Duke pedigree rips Palin. I'm sure this will be addressed between 2 and 4 today.

[narciso]

It's only a question if Tammy will use, a Predator, or just MOAB the place. You know
I didn't want to believe it about Bachmann,
the first clue was she didn't cash the SarahPac check.

[centralcal]

Ed Rollins, good grief! Poor choice by Bachmann.

[MayBee]

Ed Rollins lost me when he went after Mitt Romney's religion last time around.

[centralcal]

Over the years, I have seen Ed Rollins on TV numerous times - in various venues. Can't stand the man. There is something "skeezy" about him.

Perhaps it is his nastiness which he just oozes (of the type pointed out by MayBee).

[narciso]

It's what he does, his last success was 18 years ago, the Whitman campaign, and he had to apologize for part of the tactics, employed
'walking around money' to certain constituencies.

[pagar]

IMO, Bachmann has lost whatever support she could have gained, by getting her story out there, when she hired Rollins.

[pagar]

Does anyone know what position Rommey holds on any subject that is different from the one Obama holds on that subject?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Yes, Romney says the very first action he would take as president is to give waivers to all 50 states on Obamacare, while working with the Congress to repeal it once and for all. And, he would drill and do whatever he can to increase domestic energy. That's two for starters.

[pagar]

He's going to give waivers to all the states on Obamacare, while Romney care is still in effect? How very strange.

As reported by PM Tatler; "Heritage Foundation health policy expert Edmund Haislmaier said HHS “exceeded its statutory authority” by issuing such waivers."

LUN

Some leftist organization will file a court challenge the very day he approves any drilling. Before any one can turn policies like drilling in the US around, hundreds of laws currently on the books have to be gotten off the books, IMO. Otherwise, the left just files more suits to block the drilling.

[MarkO]

But, where does Romney stand on the Revere question? Who to warn? Villiagers? British? Obama?

[narciso]

It would have been better, if Romney had left AGW out of the speech, the War on Carbon, is
the War on Energy and Prosperity, you would think his experience with the RGGI would have taught him something,

[narciso]

She's going to have to be more proactive, to put out this fire:

http://twitter.com/#!/StribHerb/status/78173528368750592

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Pagar: The bill lacks the necessary language to give HHS the authority. Romney said it will be his first EXECUTIVE order.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

You asked how he differed from Obama, I gave you two. Neither I, nor to my knowledge, Romney, said it would be easy or it wouldn't take some major shifts in policy, etc.

And just because Odumbo doesn't know how to do anything, doesn't mean Romney is that much of a dunce.

As I said yesterday, I do have a couple problems with Romney, but I still think, of the entire field, he is the best choice if you want to get this country turned around economically and back on track.

I have searched everywhere for the full video of his town hall in NH the other day after he announced. All I can find is soundbites. So many of the complaints that I see here, based in large part on filtered news, would change or be moderated, at least on some of the negatives, where Romney is concerned. It reminded me again why I liked him so much in 2008. I liked what he said, the way he said it, and his responses to all the questions were thoughtful, sensible, and clear and concise. I'm not saying you would agree on everything 100%, but I do think he gets a bad rap, much of it based on inaccuracy in reporting.

[sam]

Romney is a dud, a bad product that fails to move.

He has been running for over 4 years now, and still cannot separate himself from a fairly mediocre field.

He has all the advantages in the GOP field - high name recognition, great fund-raising, GOP establishment support, high-profile prior campaign, a weak opposition field. Yet cannot break through, has basically the same level of support that he had in the 2008 campaign.

Simply because he does not reflect the views of GOP primary voters.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Then how do you explain these new poll numbers from SC?

The initial numbers: Romney 27%, Palin 18%, Cain 12%, Gingrich 12%, Bachmann 9%, Ron Paul 7%, Pawlenty 4%, and Huntsman 2%.

Without Palin in the race: Romney 30%, Cain 15%, Gingrich 15%, Bachmann 13%, Paul 10%, Pawlenty 5%, and Huntsman 2%.

[windansea]

I do think he gets a bad rap, much of it based on inaccuracy in reporting.

correct Sara, and many times it is palin supporters who like to misrepresent his statements.

Let's take his statement about global warming.

“I don’t speak for the scientific community, of course,’’ Romney said. “But I believe the world’s getting warmer. I can’t prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that . . . so I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may well be significant contributors to the climate change and the global warming that you’re seeing.’’

I don't think there's anything in that statement that Steve McIntyre, or Roger Pielke jr would disagree with, and they are 2 of the most prominent skeptics on AGW science. Go to their blogs and ask them :)

[sam]

Nobody is paying attention.

How do you explain the fact that Giuliani led 143 out 148 public polls throughout 2007, and yet managed to win not one delegate anywhere?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

He didn't campaign when he should have. Simple as that.

[sam]

Here's the SC poll at a similar point in time in 2007:

Mason-Dixon 06/13 - 06/15 423 LV McCain 7
Huckabee 5
Romney 11
Thompson 25
Giuliani 21

Care to review the final results?

33.2 29.9 15.1 15.7 3.7 2.1

Guess who got what?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

And as I recall, he went on to say that the real pollution problems begin with China. He also said that it is fine to investigate the benefits of wind, solar, etc, as long as we remember they don't drive cars and that not everyone is interested in driving a Volt.

[pagar]

Sara, I apologize for not acknowledging your kindness in answering my question concerning Romney. Thank you.

[Extraneus]

I have to say, that AGW statement by Romney turned me off big time. And I was already turned off.

The guy seems to be for whatever his audience is for. Iowa? Ethanol. New Hampshire? AGW. All of his positions seem calculated. Why should we think he really believes in these things, or has a core philosophy that he'd use to govern? RomneyCare?

[Porchlight]

I don't think there's anything in that statement that Steve McIntyre, or Roger Pielke jr would disagree with, and they are 2 of the most prominent skeptics on AGW science. Go to their blogs and ask them :)

That may be true. But McIntire and Pielke aren't campaigning for POTUS. It's not so much Romney's opinion on this (though it doesn't please me) as the fear of what is going to be done based on the opinion. For example, will he support cap and trade? If so, that's a deal breaker. Sorry.

[narciso]

That's not appreciably better, who does he not end up on the 'War on Carbon' , I'll concede that he meant well with MassCare, but the Democrats and the Courts made it immeasurably worse. His speech was about
economy and jobs, and he misses the main
reason why were stalling on both. So the Post is willing,

[Extraneus]

We were talking about Giuliani. Now there's a guy with some liberal tendencies, especially on social issues, but he can tell you what he believes in, and you can take it to the bank. When he was mayor, he rarely if ever flinched in the face of liberal attacks.

I think he'd be a great VP candidate for a more conservative nominee, because he can both defend *and* attack.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Sam: I don't know who you are. You are the one that said he can never attract the base of the GOP. No one knows where we'll be 17 mo. from now. But, your statement does not hold up today. This is not 2008. The electorate has different goals for 2012 than were at play in 2008. It is a far different world politically. And, the Tea Party spokesperson has said that they will support him. I don't think he is their 1st choice in their hearts, but the tea party is made up of sensible, practical people and Romney supports state's rights, lower taxes, smaller government, more sensible regulations that don't stifle businesses and hurt expansion, balancing the budget, etc, etc., all of which fits nicely with their own economic agenda.

If Sarah gets in, then it is a new ballgame. Pawlenty is toast after saying he supports the individual mandate, Bachmann seems to have lost her mind, Huntsman and Johnson don't have a prayer, Santorum will be loved by the social cons, but that won't be enough. Rudy missed his shot (could change if security/law and order issues come back to the front burner). I don't know of anyone who likes Newt. Cain is a wild card. I've liked the few remarks I've heard him make. He certainly has the management experience we so desperately need. But...I don't think he is seasoned enough to be at the top of the ticket. He is used to being the boss, giving orders and expecting results. I just don't see him (or anyone) getting through their very first campaign without tripping up in some fatal way.

[macphisto]

Romney strikes me as fake as fake can be. every time i see him on video he absolutely reeks of constructed BS. given his none-more-RINO record, this does not surprise me. i'm not buying it for a nanosecond, and i wouldn't believe him if he said the sky was blue. mark my words: he's about as conservative as Hubert Humphrey.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Romney thinks implementing cap and trade would be a disaster for small business and would increase energy costs. He does not support it.

[Janet]

I wanted Giuliani in the last election (even though I'm socially conservative)but he never made it to Virginia.
Romney did terrible in the debates last time. I'm not voting for anyone that believes in AGW or even plays lip service to that scam.

[anduril]

I've seen a little about this, but Walter Russell Mead has a lengthy post, covering it in a fair amount of detail: Fanniegate: Gamechanger For The GOP?

JOMers may wish to stop reading at this point, since the lowdown comes courtesy of the NYT. However, for the adventuresome few, here are some highlights:

Democrats, watch out.

The Republican Party and especially its Tea Party wing have just acquired a new weapon of mass destruction — and it has nothing to do with any of Congressman Wiener’s rogue body parts. If they deploy this weapon effectively in the next election cycle — a big if — then they have the biggest opportunity to move the country rightward since Ronald Reagan took the oath of office back in 1981.

The Tea Party WMD stockpile is currently stored in book form: Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon. By Gretchen Morgenson, one of America’s best business journalists who is currently at The New York Times, and noted financial analyst Joshua Rosner, Reckless Endangerment gives the best available account of how the growing chaos in the mortgage and personal finance markets and the rampant bundling of dubious loans into exotically toxic securities plunged the world, and millions of American families, into the gravest financial crisis since World War Two. It is gripping reading as well, and its explanations are clear enough that readers without any background in finance will have no trouble following the plot. The villains? An unholy alliance between Wall Street, the Democratic establishment, community organizing groups like ACORN and La Raza, and politicians like Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi and Henry Cisneros.

...

If the GOP can make this narrative mainstream, and put this picture into the heads of voters nationwide, the Democrats are toast. The party will have to reinvent itself (or as often happens in American politics, be rescued by equally stupid Republican missteps) before it can flourish.

If Morgenstern and Rosner are to be believed, the American dream didn’t die of old age; it was murdered and most of the fingerprints on the corpse come from Democratic insiders. Democratic power brokers stoked the housing bubble and turned a blind eye to the increasingly rampant corruption and incompetence at Fannie Mae and the associated predatory lenders who sheltered under its umbrella; core Democratic ideas may well be at fault.

This is catnip to Republicans, arsenic to Dems. If Morgenson and Rosner are right, there is someone the American people can blame for our current economic woes and it is exactly the cast of characters that a lot of Americans love to hate. Big government, affirmative action and influence peddling among Democratic insiders came within inches of smashing the US economy.

The Morgenson/Rosner story is a simple and easily grasped one. It is made for campaign ads. The Great Villain, the man who almost ruined America according to the book, is James Johnson, long one of the most important members of the Democratic establishment.

...

Truth is one thing; politics is another. Politically, this story is a killer app for the GOP. It demonizes Dems, lends itself to attack ads, divides Democrats between their Wall Street and union bases, and combines GOP hate figures in ways calculated to unify the GOP and heighten the intensity of the faithful.

The story illustrates everything the Tea Party thinks about the corrupt Washington establishment and the evils of big government. It demonstrates the limits on the ability of government programs to help the poor. It converts a complicated economic story into a simple morality play — with Dems as the villain. It allows Republicans to capitalize on public fury at the country’s economic problems. It links the Democrats to Wall Street — the one part of the private sector that the Republican base loathes. It exposes that mix of incompetence and arrogance that is the hallmark of the modern American liberal establishment and links this condescending cluelessness to the real problems of real American families. It links President Obama (through appointments, associations and friendships) with the worst elements of the Clinton legacy and it blunts some key Democratic talking points.

The story can also be a devastating wedge issue. The Democratic Party today is a fragile coalition of elite liberals, traditionally Democratic ethnic blue collar whites, African Americans and Hispanics. The Fannie Mae story is essentially a story of how liberal Wall Streeters raped every one else — and how the organized leadership of the other groups colluded in the attack. Hammering this picture home will demoralize and divide the Democratic Party, reducing enthusiasm among minorities and pulling swing white ethnic votes toward the GOP.

[narciso]

Now on the other hand, this makes me vote for him,

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/mitt-romney-michael-dukakis-.html

[The consensus narrative is gradually dissolving. The sea of knowledge is becoming too acidic for the fragile construct that was AGW.]

As windansea points out, that is an extremely fine choice of words by Romney on carbon, energy, and climate. He has latitude to move either direction depending upon how the debate effects the present narrative. There are only a few extremists that argue that man has no effect on the climate, the debate is entirely about the manner and the degree.
=========

[Sorry, Ma.]

'only a few extremists who argue'
===========

[I don't look for it; it finds me.]

Anduril, I always find Walter Russell Mead worth reading, no matter from where I'm linked to his work.
============

[Truth will out, but by a much uglier route in this post modern landscape.]

And, I'm glad you found it & linked it. It's a powerful narrative because it is true, just as skepticism about the exaggerated effect of CO2 is true.
==================

[Clarice]

windansea and Sara have done a fine job in clarifying romney's remarks when the initial reports really turned me off him.

[narciso]

Bachmann is really ticking me off, today, with
the Rollins hire, her spokesperson Parrish, is brushing off the remarks, of course Rollins
was just now on Matthews, with the easy mark' Heileman.

[Melinda Romanoff]

narciso-

Heileman no longer brews Old Style, FYI.

[centralcal]

narciso: Tammy Bruce has said for quite some time that Bachmann is a stalking horse (patsy) - for the Republican establishment - whose mission is to to divide and distract (Bachmann v. Palin). She once again reiterates that today on Twitter.

I am starting to believe her, with the hire of Rollins. However, I think Rollins is going to be a bridge too far - and may end up hurting only M.B.

[centralcal]

@HeyTammyBruce
Weird how Matthews/NY Mag guy/Rollins discussed how a Palin-Bachmann "feud" would clear the way for Romney. #stalkinghorsepatsy

[narciso]

I didn't want to believe it, I've defended her against JM's critiques among others, but 'the writing is on the wall' so to speak,

[jimmyk]

Guess who got what?

Sam, for some unfathomable reason, Giuliani blew off the early primaries in smaller states, thinking he could focus just on the north. But once he fared so poorly in those early contests he was basically done.

[MayBee]

I think it's perfectly believable that Michelle Bachmann is running for president because she wants to be president, and she is willing to take down Sarah Palin just like she's any other candidate.

[Extraneus]

There's obviously some discomfort there. During the Wallace interview, he asked Palin if Bachmann wasn't diluting her potential appeal, and she immediately answered with something like "Well, we both have our different strengths. I have extensive executive experience, for example. But the more the merrier!" (Paraphrasing.)

It was obviously uncomfortable.

[Rick Ballard]

macphisto,

I don't think he's a fake at all. He just makes sure he always keeps the ball in the fairway. Watching him hit 40 yard shots all day is as exhilarating as it's gonna get.

[narciso]

Another Tammy Tweet:

I'm told Rollins, aka 'Bachmann guy' spent entire intv bashing Palin, not discussing where his candidate stands on issues. Weird.

[Ignatz]

--windansea and Sara have done a fine job in clarifying romney's remarks when the initial reports really turned me off him.--

And if that doesn't work, clarice, just wait til tomorrow cause he'll be 180 degrees from where he was today anyway.

[Clarice]

Legal Insurrection's Jacobson agrees that hiring Rollins was Bachman's worst mistake and that she cannot win by attacking Palin.

[centralcal]

MayBee - I agree with you about MB's seriousness in running for President. That isn't the issue, exactly. Rather it is some of those who are surrounding her may have another agenda, ergo Tammy's use of the word "patsy."

[Captain Hate]

Regarding the Fannie/Freddie story, there was an op-ed by Peter Wallison of the American Enterprise Institute about how purportedly conservative John Campbell (R-Ca) will introduce a bill (HR 1859) to replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with something even worse. I'm not sure how the Duke and Duke geniuses have been unable to leverage the obvious advantages mentioned in the anduril article but something rotten must be precluding it. Rick or Mel; I'm appealing to your expertise/insight.

[Strawman Cometh]

But is it still fully kraeusened?

[Captain Hate]

Legal Insurrection's Jacobson agrees that hiring Rollins was Bachman's worst mistake and that she cannot win by attacking Palin.

Not only can't she win but she'll damage herself in trying to do so because her natural constituency will see right through this. I've generally cut MB slack because she makes the left almost as crazy as Palin but this is an act of somebody who doesn't know what's in her own interest. The comments at LI are pretty good.

[Ignatz]

CH,
Wallison has done more than anyone, possibly even including Bill Isaac and John Taylor in trying to get the story out on Fannie and Freddie, the CRA and the Fed.
He's especially well placed having been on that whitewash of a financial crisis commission that Barry appointed headed by one of CA's most corrupt and slimy insiders Phil Angelides, and from which Wallsion vehemently dissented.

[If you tell a Truth often enough.]

Too bad, Anduril, that Mead didn't name the phonied up Boston Fed study instead of just alluding to it. Early work by Ross McKitrick, of Hockey Stick debunking fame, showed that statistical tricks which had ponied up that Boston Fed Study.

The facts are in; the Democrats shat on the American Dream. The message is already felt by the public. The lesson must be explicit, though.
===========

[MayBee]

Rather it is some of those who are surrounding her may have another agenda, ergo Tammy's use of the word "patsy."

Hmm. To that I'd say Ed Rollins seems like the last person who would be working for a stalking horse for Mitt Romney.

[MayBee]

I have to admit that I bristle at those who want to put Bachmann and Palin in some sort of competition.
Or at least in a different kind of competition than any other two candidates.
I like to believe there is room for two women in the field, especially if there is room for 9 men.

[windansea]

Clarice thanks, and also Kim for clarifying

I don't think he's a fake at all. He just makes sure he always keeps the ball in the fairway. Watching him hit 40 yard shots all day is as exhilarating as it's gonna get.

hehe, nice one Rick

actually I've won a lot of money betting people I can beat them using just 4 clubs, there's nothing wrong with keeping the ball in play

[Captain Hate]

Thanks for the insight, Iggy; any in-state knowledge about what Campbell's all about?

[Captain Hate]

Maybee, we conservatives are only allowed one candidate and we should be damn grateful to be given that.

[MayBee]

Is Herman Cain not considered conservative?

[MayBee]

Rick Santorum?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I cannot see why she is attacking Palin now. If Palin does not get in the race, she would probably be one of Bachmann's big supporters. And it is sort of pointless, not to mention way too early, to be bashing someone who hasn't even announced. This is political back-stabbing Rollins' variety. I'm just surprised Bachmann approves of these tactics.

[Captain Hate]

I don't think either of those 2 are being taken seriously. They're kind of like outlying points now. Believe me, I know what you're saying about women getting short shrift but Bachmann and Palin are both identified with the Tea Party and the party grandees will only allow so many of those parvenus to be car valets or bus tables at the country club.

[anduril]

c&p:

Gary Shilling was just on CNBC, responding to Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's speech today on the outlook for the U.S. economy.

"We're probably headed for a recession next year," Shilling said.

His comments come in the wake of recent disappointing data on employment. Shilling said he didn't expect QE3, and thought QE2 was a response to the lack of will from Washington to do anything on the fiscal side of the equation.

Shilling expects that by the end of 2011, we'll be worried about deflation instead of inflation.

[Captain Hate]

My 6:58 was in response to Maybee's 2 previous posts.

[Ignatz]

--any in-state knowledge about what Campbell's all about?--

Nope. He's got a nice district though; Newport beach I think. Matt might know him.

[Rick Ballard]

CH,

The Fuddle sisters have a combined attention span of 45 seconds tightly aligned with the IQ of a very dull 13 year old. The FMs were "helping the disadvantaged", right? You must be a cruel, sick bastard to pick on those nice people who were just trying to help. Besides, no one is to blame. Things just happen, some good, some bad and the important thing is to feel good about yourself no matter what.

Mitt understands the importance of feeling good and he's very, very careful about not saying anything that might cause someone to feel bad. Why can't you be more like Mitt?

[centralcal]

MayBee - stalking horse for Romney might be Tammy Bruce's theory, but I don't necessarily agree with that.

I think the suits would like to eliminate both Bachmann (and the potential of) Palin. Huckabee took himself out of the race, to Rollin's chagrin. So, who knows what he is up to or whom he is really serving. I just don't honestly believe he is serving Bachmann.

[Captain Hate]

Why can't you be more like Mitt?

A campaign slogan for the ages. I challenge TOP MEN to come up with a better one.

[MayBee]

I think he's serving his wallet. I can't imagine he thinks Bachmann will win the primaries.

[Jane]

I'm with Maybee, the more the merrier. Any fan of Romney ought to send me a check each month for my insurance premium.

[SWarren]

centralcal,

I think the suits would like to eliminate both Bachmann (and the potential of) Palin.

Exactly! They want to nullify the Tea Party voters by splitting them. That way their guy - (either Romney or Pawlenty)takes the nomination.

[Janet]

I like Bachmann, Palin, & Santorum. Bachmann has been a workhorse at the Tea Parties...& Pence. Boehner actually showed up at a lot of the gatherings.

[anduril]

The thing about Palin and Bachmann is that they both had wacko moms who got them involved in cultish religious outfits. Oh, wait, there are some of us who think Romney belongs to... I can't vote for a guy who wears underwear dictated by his cult. And then there's Pawlenty, who was raised Catholic, but then his wife told him he'd better change. Yeah, he's quoted pretty much saying that: I had to reconcile my faith with my wife. Kinda fits his personal appearance. Santorum? No, I don't think so.

I'm hoping the field isn't complete.

[narciso]

Back Hewitt had that radio show I could listen to, he talked up Campbell quite a bit,
therein might lie the problem.

[centralcal]

Ladies, please go to the Bold Prediction thread. Michelle is outlined very well there.

[Jack is Back!]

You will never get someone who is perfect or like Reagan, so I am keeping my powder dry and will support AOTO.

Way too early as proven by past events especially 08.

[Jack is Back!]

::AOBO:: Any One But Obama

[Porchlight]

The GOP establishment knows that Bachmann is not a threat, and that Palin is a threat. Bachmann may have the purest of intentions. However, she and Palin appeal to the same slice of the electorate, yet Palin is vastly more talented and experienced and her star is much brighter.

Once Palin declares (if she declares), Bachmann's candidacy is effectively over. She has no hope of defeating Palin in Iowa, for example.

So I can't say exactly what her strategy is here, but I don't see how Rollins helps her.

In general, I prefer "the more the merrier" approach as well. Except when it gets us McCains. ;)

[jimmyk]

What exactly is the knock on Rollins, other than that he's attacking Palin? He's never struck me as a "Duke and Duke" type Republican. Yes, he's a hired gun, and did work for Huckaby. But I don't think he has any love for Romney, so why is the view here that he's some kind of Manchurian manager secretly working for someone else? An honest question, I haven't followed him that closely.