1 What, no Gingrich?

I keed ... I keed ....

2 Pawlenty is not the most conservative but he should not be called a RINO. He is not that bad.

3 It's a shame he looks exactly like Kevin MacDonald from Kids In The Hall.

4 Ace - a little OT but have you heard of the Freshman 50 who are trying to put together a voting block in the House come Nov.?

5

once Pawlenty goes national and can be upfront about his beliefs he'll do fine....

having to play to DFL moonasoota had him painted into a corner.

6
The problem with divisive issues is that it's the Left who decides what issues are divisive.

End of argument

7 Not Pawlenty.  "President Pawlenty" just doesn't have that oomph.

8 More about that please, Roadking?

9 Anytime a conservative uses one of these two phrases at any time, he/she is a RINO: "bipartisanship" and "cross the aisle."  You never compromise with socialists/Marxists; doing so compromises core principles.

I have never heard TP say these words, but I'll bet he has.  In any event, let's listen from this moment forward.

10 Here's a novel thought.  Work on what UNITES, not what DIVIDES.  To do otherwise proves you're a fucking idiot who wants his ass kicked by the Democrats in November.

The public has had its fill of 'social engineering'.  Stay the hell out of it and concentrate on ObamaCare repeal and RESPONSIBLE financial regulation.

11 Daniels has also stated, well before the the "truce" issue, that he has no intention of running for potus in '12. Everyone seems to want to ignore that part.

12
speaking of third-rail issues...

I have to give credit to the masters of politics on the Left. They not only turned illegal immigration into a third-rail issue and made most Republicans afraid to go near it, the Left is on its way to turning the rule of law into a third-rail issue.

13 I agree that Pawlenty wouldn't be a bad choice from what I know.  Pence and Thune  seem good, too.  I think Paul Ryan also belongs on the list.  Of course, time and opposition research has a way of thinning out the heard.

14

Pawlenty is a Romney lite, the type of Rhino that the National Review types swoon over.  Newt's habit of cozing up to Dems for tv facetime eliminates him from further contention.

Nov is a make or break opportunity, wuzz it up by nominating a mild-mannered wonk and there won't be a second chance.  Why not go for broke and go with Palin.

15

>>> More about that please, Roadking?

What's up Truman?  I heard it on Ingraham - she had a guy named Brian Miller on who is an ex-fighter pilot running for Congress.  He's trying to put this thing together because these young guy's that want to change the world go up to Wash. and get picked off one by one by the RINO's and the machine and turn into shills because they have no support.  So he's trying to create a voting block of hardcore conservatives that will stick together and tell the establishment to get bent.  Sounds good to me but I wondered if anyone else has heard anytning else about it.

 

 

16

Oops.  That's "herd".

17 For "cross the aisle", I'd make an exception when it's followed by the RINO saying "so I can bitch-slap those Democrat cockholsters live on C-SPAN".

Unfortunately, I've got a better chance of dorking Mika Brzezinski up the squeekhole at noon in the middle of Times Square while wearing a feather boa and jungle boots.

18

If the Repubs put up a Social Con, who is squishy on Fiscal Issues?  They are sooooo done.

Terrorism, while horrible, could not destroy this Great Nation... Osama sitting in a cave in Pakistan cannot destroy this nation...

Abortion, while abhorant will NOT destroy this country. Gay marriage will NOT destroy this country.  You may not like them, but they are NOT existential threats.

The threat to the Republic is two fold... one a Fiscal Threat, and one a lack of Equal (or even any) Enforcment of the Law, and Constitution...

Its a matter of emphasis... but many pundits, and the GOP leadership, don't see that.

19 #12

That's because he thinks Obama (or the dark horse Clinton) will win.

20 Cur, maybe it's just because it's Friday but I find that image fascinating.

21
This is simple, really. Pick any Republican and imagine how they'd perform debating Obama.

Will they be polite, reserved, and lethargic like John McCain? Will they be pathetic like Jack Kemp? Or will they be steadfast like Dick Cheney? Or aggressive like Sarah Palin?

Or will they slice like a fucking hammer with confidence like a smiling and pleasant  Ronald Reagan?

22 Pawlenty will most likely be Palin's running mate as an echo of Bush and Reagan.

23 #18

She's as stupid as her father; you might be able to convince her!

24

I think it will be a first-timer with less baggage, namely, either Pence, Thune, or Pawlenty.

Or Sharon Angle.  Don't forget Sharon Angle.

25 He's trying to put this thing together because these young guy's that want to change the world go up to Wash. and get picked off one by one by the RINO's and the machine and turn into shills because they have no support.  So he's trying to create a voting block of hardcore conservatives that will stick together and tell the establishment to get bent.  Sounds good to me but I wondered if anyone else has heard anytning else about it.

 Posted by: Roadking at July 16, 2010 02:34 PM (CwC2h)

And the prosecution calls our first witness, Sen. Scott Brown to the stand...

26

Again with Mitch Daniels....I still fail to see what he said that was so grieviously incorrect.  Worded poorly, perhaps, but I've yet to see anyone lay out how abortion will be a big winning issue for the GOP in the near future instead of facing the ever-expanding budget disaster.

27 No mention of the Gov. of Jersey?

28

Every time this putz's name comes up I am reminded of the fact that he happily jumped on board with the global warming scam, called the skeptics ignorant, and said they should be ignored. One of two things are possible:

a) He believed or still believes that manmade global warming was real and that government must curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to save the world.

b) He tried to coopt an issue from the left and was willing to curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to gain political advantage.

My opinion of him could be encapsulated by a good Mel Gibson rant. He is either a statist or a statist enabler and has no business being anywhere near the White House.

29 We could do a hell of a lot worse than Pence.

30 Cur, maybe it's just because it's Friday but I find that image fascinating.



The normal reaction to that image in polite society should be revulsion and disgust. So I deem you acceptable AoS moron material.

31 Looking at Pawlenty "On The Issues" he has a mixed record in several of the key issues. One of the more troubling ones is on energy.

Although he does support more drilling he is also a firm supporter of the "clean energy" boondoggle.

He wouldn't be my first choice as a candidate based on what I know now, but I could still vote for him if he were chosen.

32
Imagine...

Rudy Guilliani debating Obama in 2012. Pure awesomeness. Rudy has been on a tear lately campaigning for Republicans and he's been great.

33 "

Again with Mitch Daniels....I still fail to see what he said that was so grieviously incorrect.  Worded poorly, perhaps, but I've yet to see anyone lay out how abortion will be a big winning issue for the GOP in the near future instead of facing the ever-expanding budget disaster.

Posted by: radar at July 16, 2010 02:38 PM (sWEaY)"

He didn't do anything wrong, but he should have known this is how he'd be treated for a little frankness.

Really, it would be nice if these idiots would all agree on saving the fiscal situation, but the left would obviously break any truce.  It's unrealistic but it's also based on understanding the severity of our problems.

34 Cool.  I guess that thing floating in my bottle of ValuRite is a secret decoder ring.

35

No mention of the Gov. of Jersey?

What part of no don't you people understand? No means fucking no!

36 Posted by: GarandFan at July 16, 2010 02:29 PM

This!

Add avoidance of the tendency to uncritical hero-worship (am I thinking about Palin, and, to a lesser extent, Mutt Romney? Yes!) and a concentration on finding a candidate who will actually work to get things done to improve the hideous situations we're in today, and we might see Osama Obama go down to a defeat that makes Goldwater's '64 result look like a close race.

What we do not need is the incessant nit-picking of people like KJ Lopez at NR, who dissolves into a puddle of tears unless a potential candidate tattoos "I hate abortion" on his/her forehead, or pro-gun pundits who diss anyone who isn't for unrestricted ownership of RPGs.

I'm more than willing to put aside my own social concerns to support a candidate who doesn't talk about them. What I want to hear is advocacy of a return to the Constitution, a return to fiscal sense and a strong need to protect the citizens of America before extending any kind of "hand" to other lands.

It would be nice if our candidate could appear prepared and knowledgeable on TV instead of chatty and homespun, which is one of Palin's weaknesses. But I'd also like the candidate to come across as an American citizen, not some I-know-better-than-you arrogant elitist like the Traitor-in-Chief.

Who can fill the bill? I don't know. But I'm hoping, nonetheless.

37 Our goal is to make sure that after-tax profits are safe, legal, and rare.

38

>>>And the prosecution calls our first witness, Sen. Scott Brown to the stand...

Sort of.  Remember I said hardcore conservatives.  But I like the way your driving the point.

39 Every time this putz's name comes up I am reminded of the fact that he happily jumped on board with the global warming scam, called the skeptics ignorant, and said they should be ignored.

I didn't see that at the "On the Issues" Website. If true he is a definite RINO and I would not support him at all.  The AGW scam is a damn deal breaker for me. 

40 36

No mention of the Gov. of Jersey?

What part of no don't you people understand? No means fucking no!

 

I knew he was interested.

41 Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at July 16, 2010 02:39 PM (JxMoP)

Because I'm such a good little aceling, I read all posts before ranting about Pawlenty's global warmist sympathy. Now I'll just pile on.

As far as I know, Pawlenty either still feels that way, or he has quietly dropped it like an Obama campaign promise. The Powerline boys, big supporters of Pawlenty, always seem to tastefully avert their eyes from this issue like a urine bag dangling out from under his shirt. Have Hannity or O'Reilly or any of those other partisan hacks confronted him on it?

42

Here you go Vic, from an opinion piece, WSJ, 2.23.08:

In April, Mr. Pawlenty delivered the remarks that probably best reveal his views on the environment. "It looks like we should have listened to President Carter," he told the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group. "He called us to action, and we should have listened. . . . Climate change is real. Human behavior is partly and may be a lot responsible. Those who don't think so are simply not right. We should not spend time on voices that say it's not real."

Any Republican who says we should have listened to Jimmy Carter about anything should be considered a non-starter.

43 Paul Ryan (VP more likely)
Jim DeMint (although I think we would miss him a LOT in the Senate)
Chris Christie (sorry NJ, the NATION needs this guy)
Jan Brewer (Sorry AZ, the NATION needs this gal)

Mix and match any of those as President/VP or any of them with the 'cuda/

The liberal's worst nightmare; our wet dreams.

44 Ace,
As of today, if you got to set the 2012 R ticket with anyone still alive, who's on it, and in what spot?   Reading Kraut and Jonah lately gives me the bad type of chills that there's no one on the bench to beat Bambi...

45 What part of no don't you people understand? No means fucking no! Posted by: Gov. Chris Christie at July 16, 2010 02:42 PM (Qer5m) Come on Governor, we'll give you a moronette to be named later as an inducement! And Valu-Rite! Gallons of it!

46 mallamutt - I agree on a Haley Barbour, and would recommend keeping an eye on our six - Graham is lurking, waiting for opportunity to be the great compromise. The Chosen One to unify the ...

47 33 - I just want to see Rudi vs Chucky; you would think the media would make this happen just for the ratings.

48 Pence or Thune...I don't know a thing about these guys. Anybody put me some fuckin' knowledge about them?

49 "Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the best known and most positively rated of five possible contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Her 76% favorable rating among Republicans is higher than those for Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Bobby Jindal."

Gallup

50

Again with Mitch Daniels....I still fail to see what he said that was so grieviously incorrect.  Worded poorly, perhaps, but I've yet to see anyone lay out how abortion will be a big winning issue for the GOP in the near future instead of facing the ever-expanding budget disaster.

Posted by: radar at July 16, 2010 02:38 PM (sWEaY)"

Exactly!  His point was ROME IS BURNING!

Daniels is in no way shape or form a RINO.

51 Why would any of you Neanderthals want to vote for anyone except me. I saved the econmy, closed GITMO, won the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stopped high seas piracy, saved US Health care system, and have proven over and over that Bush lied. You people better be careful what you wish for... I know what I am talking about !!!!!

52

I like Rudy but his gun-grabbing tendencies are a problem for me. I do love the way that he laughs while he kicks Democrats in the teeth.

53 Ace says " I do not believe the Republican nominee will be any of the people that the media always talks about, Palin, Huck, Romney, Gingrich. I think it will be a first-timer with less baggage, namely, either Pence, Thune, or Pawlenty. (Daniels used to be high on this list until his own-goal on the truce.)"

This is interesting.  I think most of my support for Palin rests on the idea that she's not Huckabee or Romney or (to a lesser extent) Pawlenty.

What's most important to the Palin voter, in  my opinion, is that we not squander a 2013 White House on someone who can't or won't turn the fiscal doomtrain around.

And that's why, if someone else who is credible on this issue starts to show strength, I think Palin's supporters will partly split to this other candidate if they don't think Romney of someone like that will will.

on the other hand, there's a certain confidence that if we all just stay loyalish to Palin, we'll get a reformer.  May not be the perfect reformer, but Palin support is very much a matter of choosing the good over the perfect.

The real problem is that a lot of conservatives feel they were burned repeatedly by smooth talkers.  These folks are smart enough to be thick skulls when some of these guys, such as T-Paw, try to promise reforms.  It's going to be tough to convince them.

54 I'm more than willing to put aside my own social concerns to support a candidate who doesn't talk about them. What I want to hear is advocacy of a return to the Constitution, a return to fiscal sense and a strong need to protect the citizens of America before extending any kind of "hand" to other lands.

Posted by: MrScribbler at July 16, 2010 02:42 PM (Ulu3i)

Then it may interest you to know that there are a few of us libertarians who have set aside our social concerns and are more than willing to support a candidate with whom we don't agree on everything. So I would say conservatives -- yes, even Republicans! -- have an incredible opportunity right now to rope in tons of votes if they can refrain from tattooing "I hate abortion" on their foreheads and "Gay marriage causes earthquakes" on their backsides. So there's a very good chance that the Obama/Clinton 2012 ticket will succeed.

55 I would love to see George Allen or Rick Santorum....

56 I like Mike Pence... but I think he is running for Governor of Indiana in 2012.
He is hugely popular here.  He could have run for Bayhs seat and won.. even against Bayh.  But he declined.

Mitch Daniels has a wife who HATES politics so I really dont think he will run.
Not just dislikes politics.. HATES IT.

57 56 I would love to see George Allen or Rick Santorum.... Posted by: Buster Hymand at July 16, 2010 02:58 PM (k7Ddt) The conventional wisdom is that their careers are over. Which is too bad because they're both smart guys.

58 (Daniels used to be high on this list until his own-goal on the truce.)

Good to see the World Cup had an appropriate impact, after all!!

59 "I will note again I do not believe the Republican nominee will be any of the people that the media always talks about, Palin, Huck, Romney, Gingrich. I think it will be a first-timer with less baggage, namely, either Pence, Thune, or Pawlenty."

Of course you wish this will happen, but when's the last time the GOP has done this?  Oh right, never.

60 I would love to see George Allen or Rick Santorum....

Posted by: Buster Hymand at July 16, 2010 02:58 PM (k7Ddt)

Oh.

61 Barbour isn't running, and probably wouldn't be a viable candidate if he did run. 

62 One thing I can be sure of: The GOP will piss me off if they choose the guy who's next in line instead of the guy (or gal) who can WIN.

63

29 - Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at July 16, 2010 02:39 PM (JxMoP)

What he said.

64 Any Republican who says we should have listened to Jimmy Carter about anything should be considered a non-starter.

Great googly-moogly, he done stick in the fork.

65 62 Barbour isn't running, and probably wouldn't be a viable candidate if he did run. 

Posted by: radar at July 16, 2010 03:04 PM (sWEaY)

Elaborate on the viability thing?

66 RE: George Allen.....I loved George Allen as governor.  I volunteered on two of his campaigns.  That said, even without "macaca", he was running an awful, awful campaign in '06.  That race shouldn't even have been close enough for macaca to make a difference.  He's said to be looking at running for governor again, which is a smart move for him as he was much better suited to be an executive than a legislator.  If he successfully runs for gov again and does as well as he did the first time in the office, perhaps we can consider him for President again, but right now?  No way.

67 I dunno, Pence gives me the douchebag vibe.

68 Really, it would be nice if these idiots would all agree on saving the fiscal situation, but the left would obviously break any truce.

Again, the "truce" he's called for is within the GOP, between social-con types and more libertarian types, to take a breather on the culture-war stuff they disagree about and handle more pressing business first. It's a perfectly fine idea.

He is wrong, though, if he thinks social cons are fiscal cons, or will even put up with fiscal conservatism. There's very little evidence of that, and a hell of a lot against it—including their 'tard-raging reaction to his "truce" idea.

Social cons are a type of socialists. Mostly.

69 Pence, Thune, and Pawlenty fighting for the nomination would be a massive improvement over the retards we had to choose from in 2008 even if a couple of them are borderline RINOish. 

70 Paul Ryan (VP more likely)

Voted for the House AGW scam - RINO

Jim DeMint (although I think we would miss him a LOT in the Senate)

I could go with this one big time. He would carry the Republican Primary in SC by 95% too.

Chris Christie (sorry NJ, the NATION needs this guy)

Supports amnesty and not much of a record. Need more info.

Jan Brewer (Sorry AZ, the NATION needs this gal)

Need more info. Some of the AZ Morons say she doesn't have a conservative record in AZ. Would need to know more.

71

KG-

He's a tubby good ol' boy from Mississippi.  It's massively unfair that anyone would discount him for that, but you know as well as I do that a white Republican from the Deep South isn't going to inspire much enthusiasm with independents in other parts of the country.....and I say that as a white Republican from the Deep South.  I like Barbour a lot, but you tell me who's going to have some crossover appeal in someplace like Ohio or PA - Jindal or Barbour?

72 Graham is lurking, waiting for opportunity to be the great compromise.

Arrrgggg! Wouldn't that be a damn nightmare!  Hell, he wouldn't even carry SC right now.

73

oblig-

 

I don't think you're 100% correct, but I'd wager there are a lot more Schmuckabee big-government types lurking within the social con framework than many suspect. 

74 I like Rudy but his gun-grabbing tendencies are a problem for me. I do love the way that he laughs while he kicks Democrats in the teeth.

He has a lot more problems than just being a gun grabber. He is the very definition of a RINO. He talks conservative but is record is 99% big government liberal.

He is actually worse than Romney.

75

Elaborate on the viability thing?

Other than the fact that he looks and sounds like the stereotypical Southern redneck politician (see: Boss Hogg or Charles Durning's character in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), nothing. Of course, that pretty much ensures that he has no chance to be elected President.

76 Posted by: radar at July 16, 2010 03:10 PM (sWEaY)

Yes, that will be an issue. They all have issues...

Re Jindal, and potentially other currently serving governors, if he has to campaign while in office, I bet the media will hit him on that, just like we're afraid they will hit Palin on quitting. It may turn out not to be an issue voters care about and I'm just crying wolf. I hope so at any rate.

77

Thune is always mentioned.  I don't know that I've ever heard him say more than two words, ever.  What's his claim to fame?

As for Bobby Jindal, I think he's come off as a whiner who wouldn't take the bull by the horns in the whole oil spill mess.  Granted, his state is broke, like most of them (and should be a hint about him), but doesn't it seem reasonable that he could've done something to save LA wetlands?  

He was also supposed to be this great policy wonk where Medicare/Medicaid was concerned, so why's the state so bad off if he's got it together?

A fw months back, one of our Mew Orleans ONT Morons wrote quite a screed about Bobby J, intimating that the local word was that he was on board with Hurricane Mary Landrieu and the Louisiana Purchase.   

78 "

Again, the "truce" he's called for is within the GOP, between social-con types and more libertarian types, to take a breather on the culture-war stuff they disagree about and handle more pressing business first. It's a perfectly fine idea.

He is wrong, though, if he thinks social cons are fiscal cons, or will even put up with fiscal conservatism. There's very little evidence of that, and a hell of a lot against it—including their 'tard-raging reaction to his "truce" idea.

Social cons are a type of socialists. Mostly.

Posted by: oblig. at July 16, 2010 03:09 PM (x7Ao "

Well said.

I just note the left would probably take advantage of this, even if they aren't a party to the truce,  they certainly wouldn't honor it... they would push the nation to the left.  It's hard to see it as putting those issues on pause, then.  What we're doing is giving them all to the left because there is something more important.

at least, that's how I see it.

79 78 As for Bobby Jindal...


After his retarded state of the union rebuttal last year, I'll take a pass.

80

Other than the fact that he looks and sounds like the stereotypical Southern redneck politician (see: Boss Hogg or Charles Durning's character in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), nothing. Of course, that pretty much ensures that he has no chance to be elected President.

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at July 16, 2010 03:14 PM (JxMoP)

This is what I think every time I see him.  Were we separated at birth or what?  There are also rumblings about Haley's "baggage," and I don't mean weight.  Was he involved in some sort of nefarious political dealings or does he have personal baggage?

81 This trend of politicians jumping to the presidency after one term in office, ala Obama, has got to end damnit. That's no way to get good candidates. 2012 is not going to be fun.

82 I don't think you're 100% correct, but I'd wager there are a lot more Schmuckabee big-government types lurking within the social con framework than many suspect.

Yep. One was President just a year and a half ago. And he wasn't even really a good, committed social con.

83

Other than the fact that he looks and sounds like the stereotypical Southern redneck politician (see: Boss Hogg or Charles Durning's character in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas)

 

Or another Charles Durning role, Pappy McDaniel in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?".  Just give Haley the white suit and a big hat.  Durning's played more memorable redneck politicians than you'd expect for a guy from NY.

84 Thune I have some familiarity with. I could offer my vote that way... after more, and more recent, checking though.

85

Haley Barbour is being approached by big-money donors and he seems like he's got common sense to spare, but Foghorn Leghorn is always at the fore.  A couple nights ago, Fox ran the crawl about the donors and his reply:  If I start losing weight, it'll be one of two things; I'm running or I've got cancer.

 

86 If I start losing weight, it'll be one of two things; I'm running or I've got cancer.

So you're saying there's a chance? Whoo!!

87 I'm curious who here would vote for Bush over these contenders.

88

Were we separated at birth or what?

Posted by: RushBabe at July 16, 2010 03:21 PM (W8m8i)

Depends. If you are cool, good-looking, and interesting then no, we were not separated at birth. On the other hand, if you're none of those things then yes, there's a pretty good chance you're my long-lost twin.

89 Mitch Daniels has a terrible idea.  You never let a crisis go to waste, Rahm Emanuel has taught us this.  This nation needs a president with long-term goals to undo the Gramscian damage which will certainly involve ruffling the lefty social activist feathers. Maybe not as Day 1 agenda but certainly no later than 2014.

Sorry, the guy is surrendering preemptively -- that's how I read this.  Another shitty go-along-to-get-along Republican boomer. Screw them all.

90 Pawlenty was a very hearty supporter of McCain.

No dice there.

91 No to Thune.


Not sure about Pence.

92

Every time this putz's name comes up I am reminded of the fact that he happily jumped on board with the global warming scam, called the skeptics ignorant, and said they should be ignored. One of two things are possible:

a) He believed or still believes that manmade global warming was real and that government must curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to save the world.

b) He tried to coopt an issue from the left and was willing to curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to gain political advantage.

c) He has lots of corn farmers in his state who benefit from ethanol, etc.

But he was too enthusiastic about it to not believe it himself.

AGW is a secular article of faith.  It's what you have to believe in.  You just have to.  Literally, there is no science.  It's an example of bien pensant.

93 Haley Barbour used KELO on small private citizen's property because big private business could pay better property taxes and Mississipi needed the money after Katrina. Even after reflection, he remained glad he had done it.

No.  All my no's are Absolute.

Have you seen Dale Peterson?

94 I'd love it if Steve King from IA became president.  Lefty heads would explode daily, and he is the one guy I know would try to reverse the Gramscian march through the institutions.

Imagine January 30th, 2013.  President King signs the English Language Unity Act of 2013, then immediately declares La Raza a terrorist organization. Sweeeeeeet.

95

The biggest problem with a "truce" on social issues is that the term is undefined.  The Dems can push through all kinds of crap that isn't even really  social issue stuff--like gun control--and then, if Daniels objects (OK, stop laughing), call foul. 

The term is actually pretty insulting, too.  The implication is that if I object to my tax money going to chop up unborn babies, that it's just because "that's the way those people think."  If I want a gun, it's not because of my Constitutional right, and my wanting to protect my family, it's because I live in a region where people like to (hump their sisters and) use guns.  If I oppose gay marriage, it's because of my longitude and latitude, not because I'm leary about the possibility of a backdoor (NPI) negation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

These are all serious issues, not comfort food for hicks.

Any time a politician uses the term "social issues," or worse yet, "culture wars," it's a red flag saying that the politician not only takes the leftist view on all these issues, but that he doesn't even want to allow debate on them.  You never hear a 2A activist referring to guns as a social or cultural issue, precisely because he believes it to be a universal right, not just for people in Arkansas.  Ditto for abortion:  pro-lifers don't object to the fact that abortion clinics are in Wyoming; they object that they are anywhere. 

These aren't social issues.  They are civil rights issues.

96 as long as it's not huckster or Palin.  I hate the huckster, and while I like Palin I think she's so decisive that it would drive lib's to the polls.  I hate what the MFM's have done to her but she's damaged goods at this point.  The others are all acceptable to varying degrees, but right now there's no perfect candidate.  Ryan comes to closest in my eyes, AGW vote be damned.

97

Social cons are a type of socialists. Mostly.

So it's socialist to oppose Waco-style gun confiscation raids?  Or to oppose taxing abortion opponents to kill babies?

Ah, who cares about them.  They're a bunch of hicks.  The Constitution is only for Ivy Leaguers.

98 Jindal's problem is pretty typical lately. We get a good guy (or gal) and throw him center-stage right away. It's like taking a 19yr old pitching phenom and throwing him into starting game six of the World Series. We have to let these people develope into Major League players. The good image of Jindal in the oil spill now has to contend with that bad speech as the first impression. Same with Palin. I love her, but it would have been better to let her improve as governor and to come up more seasoned. Seeing what she has done so far, she would have been much more formidable in a few years. Ryan is great, but he still is only 40. He's going nowhere but up, just let him rise. How many of you even heard of him 2 years ago? Let's build the army, the general will come. I want to hear Pawlenty and others in their own words and deeds, I'm smart enough to figure them out.

99 I think the best campaigners (from what I've seen of them) would be Christie and Giuliani.  Both have the same "take no prisoners" attitude that made me stand up and cheer Palin's convention speech, and either of them would be immune from the "moron" target that the media painted on Sarah's back.  I'd love to see (Chief Justice) John Roberts for Veep on the ticket with either of them.

However my track record of picking the winners is miserable.  Anyone remember Pete DuPont?

100 I'd love to see (Chief Justice) John Roberts for Veep on the ticket with either of them.

Roberts needs to stay on the court. It is damn near impossible to get a conservative on the court.

101 Roberts needs to stay on the court. It is damn near impossible to get a conservative on the court.

I am inclined to agree, BUT, he and his family would be phenomenal on the campaign trail, and as Veep he could help select and shepherd through good conservative justices for the next 4-8 years.  Might make a dandy POTUS some day, too.

102 Could you imagine the Roberts - Biden debate?  Or the Roberts - Clinton debate?  And how about that series of debates between the Big Man and Wittle Bawwy?

103 "
I am inclined to agree, BUT, he and his family would be phenomenal on the campaign trail, and as Veep he could help select and shepherd through good conservative justices for the next 4-8 years.  Might make a dandy POTUS some day, too.

Posted by: Z as in Jersey at July 16, 2010 05:54 PM (kZT4X)"

This is pure insanity.

You might as well ask Petraeus to be the VP.

He's already in a much better position than the US Presidency.  he is a the top of a branch of government that is final arbiter of civil rights, and he is there for life.  And it's exceedingly rare for conservatives to get where he is.  Many of the GOP's picks have been awful. Kennedy, Souter, etc.  We're losing this critical branch, piece by piece.

104 "

Jeb?  In heartbeat over Huckabee and Romney, probably over Sarah, not sure about anybody else except Ron Paul (I would probably take Huckabee over Paul).

Posted by: Mallamutt at July 16, 2010 04:20 PM (OWjjx)"

I meant Dubya, but I admit, Jeb is not nearly as bad as the horrified expressions I've seen when Jeb comes up.  Still, I'm sick of the dynasties.  Kennedy, Clinton, Bush.  It's just not something I'm cool with.

I think this thread shows that the GOP has some real problems.  It's one thing to win a poll against Obama today, and another to inspire the massive volunteerism and donations and hard work to get voters to show up and overcome the Obama Zombies.

Another great reason for Palin.  She isn't perfect, but oh fucking well.  We all know she would be pretty tough against the pressure, that she has something to prove, that she's a reformer.  I can think of a few better ones, but I don't think they are experienced enough.

since it's proven that Palin is approximately as electable as others on a poll, and we know she's got far more intensity and passion from her supporters, and she'd actually accomplish something if she won...

Let's not lose hope.  Palin or whoever our nominee will have to actually win a tough nomination.  They will have to set a powerful agenda for reform and perform in debates.  But don't write someone off as unelectable just because the people who completely called 2008 wrong at the primary stage say as much.

Giuliani looked strong to some of these people.  Fred did.  We need that core those two have, plus something more.  Electability is more than a poll.

105 IllTemperedCur said: Unfortunately, I've got a better chance of dorking Mika Brzezinski up the squeekhole at noon in the middle of Times Square while wearing a feather boa and jungle boots.

My kindergarten teacher used to tell us that Dreams really do come true, if you wish them hard enough.

106 On Pawlentwhatever, it seems to me that the RINOs running the party are still positioning their automatons out front as they did in 2008. You know, just pick from the following selection. We are going to end the era of Obama with ease, but the people looking to profit most by it are not us. It was interesting and depressing to see Dick Armey at the Tea Party rallies, smiling and chuckling as the little people look to be saving his wealthy contributors a mint. He did leave a sturdy warning, however, that Tea Partiers must not do anything to those Hard-Working Undocumented Workers.

These "moderates" and 2008 retreads they are keeping in camera range are not the persons we need. They are the face of the enemy every bit as much as Obama is.

107

Every time this putz's name comes up I am reminded of the fact that he happily jumped on board with the global warming scam, called the skeptics ignorant, and said they should be ignored. One of two things are possible:

a) He believed or still believes that manmade global warming was real and that government must curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to save the world.

b) He tried to coopt an issue from the left and was willing to curtail our liberty, our economy, and our standard of living in order to gain political advantage.

My opinion of him could be encapsulated by a good Mel Gibson rant. He is either a statist or a statist enabler and has no business being anywhere near the White House.

THIS

So nice it ought to be said twice.

108 Posted by: Ken at July 16, 2010 05:03 PM (7LgN4)

That's some real insight, right there.

And all along I was wondering why I was a conservative and not a libertarian.

Starting to really hate Karl Rove...

109 As a Minnesota resident, I like Pawlenty for the most part. What I haven't liked is his tobacco choices. I still feel that it should be up to individual businesses to ban smoking in their own places and not something the government should be able to control. Apparently he didn't think it was fair that some cities banned smoking in their bars while others allowed it to happen. Of course many people would choose to drink where they could smoke and would drive to the next city. Tim decided that the only fair way to deal with this problem was to pass a law that forbade smoking in ALL  Minnesota bars and restuarants. Many long time establishments closed when people chose to stay home so they could enjoy a cigarette or cigar with their beer. Rather than passing a law banning smoking everywhere in the state (to make it "fair"), he could have passed a law clarifying the right to individual businesses setting their own rules regarding legal rights (yes, smoking cigarettes is still legal to do as of this writing, but don't hold your breath...lol).

110 I think it will be a first-timer with less baggage, namely, either Pence, Thune, or Pawlenty. (Daniels used to be high on this list until his own-goal on the truce.)

Ohferfuckingcryingoutloud!

 Even I, a  former brain-fucking-dead-NYC-liberal who converted to sanity after the war attack on 9-11-2001, am wise enough to now know that whatever 'less baggage' the first-timers have going into the race will be turned into 'more fucking baggage'  by mainstream media and Hollywood shitholes who falsely manufacture their bullshit meant to satisfy the gluttonous appetite of the privileged RULING CLASS.

Ace I've been reading Spades since you began and yet you want to retread the same shit over and again; get a clue, fucking sucking Celebrity Donk Ass will keep you permanently stuck on stupid.

111

Abortion, while abhorant will NOT destroy this country. Gay marriage will NOT destroy this country.  You may not like them, but they are NOT existential threats.

The threat to the Republic is two fold... one a Fiscal Threat, and one a lack of Equal (or even any) Enforcment of the Law, and Constitution...

If this is true why then did PRO-CHOICE MODERATES Brown, Snowe and Collins vote for the current 'financial reform' bill which is a Fiscal Threat to everyone and everything except for the primary cause of financial meltdown Freddie and Fannie?

After reading Ace of Spades for years now all I am left with is the knowledge that  this 'Spades tribe' is obtuse in all form and manner of being.

"Equal (or even any) Enforcment of the Law)"

Hey there are a gazillion LAWYERS in the Spades tribe yet all are fucking impotent-so much for EQUALITY.

112 Jan Brewer (Sorry AZ, the NATION needs this gal)

Hey FISCAL MODERATES, Gov Brewer on increasing taxes in AZ "The governor says thereÂ’s a large coalition of groups backing the tax hike. Teachers, firefighters, police and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry all support the measure"  Yes the Nation needs more MODERATE tax hikers

I love Gov Christie and believe he would be a fantastic President unfortunately he would have to QUIT in less than a year into his governorship in order to run for president with then means MODERATES will have to reject him for QUITTING!

The good thing for both Brewer and Christie deciding not to run is that they would enjoy the luxury of not having to endure Party of FUCKING MARXIST LAWYERS investigating every nook, cranny and uterus of their being and every nook, cranny and uterus of their own family and friends being.

I truly am disappointed; after all these years I would have thought that Ace of Spades would have known by now just how vicious is the Left.

FUCKING IMPOTENT and no amount of viagra is going to help with the tribal problem; too bad so many rejected the call Jeff @ Protein Wisdom made a couple of years ago.

113

Pawlenty ran rings around the Dem-controlled MN legislature.  He totally snookered them on budgets and taxes.  As a president his could be as wily as LBJ was in manuvering Congress to his bidding.