Posted on 05/15/2014 9:59:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
If we’re destined to have another Bush versus Clinton election, it’s only right that there be a Perot-type in the mix too.
As David Petraeus once said, tell me how this ends.
Ben Carson is warming to the idea of running for president. Since the famous brain surgeon retired last year from Johns Hopkins Hospital, he’s been speaking around the country to enthusiastic audiences. And they’ve affected his thinking about seeking national office…
Carson writes that he suspects many others interested in high office would be better candidates. But in his book he has a caveat: “If I felt called by God to officially enter the world of politics, I would certainly not hesitate to do so.”
Interviewed this week, Carson said he’s “starting to feel it. Because every place I go, it’s unbelievable.” One lady “really touched me the other night … She just kept clinging to my hand and said, ‘You have to run. You have to run.’ And so many people tell me that, and so I think I’m starting to hear something.”…
Carson said he has no illusions about running. “It’s a daunting thing,” he told me. “I know how vehemently the left will come after you, try to destroy you, try to destroy your family. But at the same time I recognize that people like Nathan Hale – he said, ‘My only regret is I have but one life to give to my country’ … And if everybody runs for the hills because they’re afraid that somebody is going to attack them or their family, then [the left] will have won.”
He’s got his very own version of a “Ready for Hillary” Super PAC (led by John Philip Sousa’s great-grandson), which, believe it or not, has actually out-raised Clinton’s org since the beginning of the year. The assumption all along, given his speech at CPAC and frequent appearances in righty media, has been that he’ll run as a Republican. But … why would he do that? His natural base of support in the primary is conservatives, but how many conservatives are going to opt for a political novice when they’ve got Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal, and maybe Rick Perry and Mike Pence to choose from instead — especially given that Carson has a litmus-test problem on guns? The only path he has, realistically, is if none of those guys run except Paul (who’s definitely running) and then Paul wobbles among righties under the cumulative weight of his ideological idiosyncracies. Then Carson could become the conservative choice, which would make him the “Not Jeb” or “Not Christie” alternative against whoever emerges from the center of the party. In which case, he’ll lose anyway. And let’s face it: If Paul is wobbly because of his take on, among other things, voter ID, one of the other candidates I mentioned will sense it and jump in to challenge him on the right. There’s no way, in other words, that only Paul and Carson will be out there campaigning for tea partiers. That being so, what hope does Carson have?
The obvious solution, then: Don’t run as a Republican, run as a conservative independent. Advance to the general election against Hillary and Jeb or whoever and offer yourself as a fresh-faced naif who’s never worked in Washington, the natural antidote to the grotesque dynastic politics being played by the two major parties. He would get some votes as a Perot-like “no more business as usual” protest candidate — maybe enough to sink the GOP’s chances against Hillary, which would be … sub-optimal for a conservative heartthrob. So, tell me how this ends. Early flame-out in the GOP primaries, albeit with better-than-expected numbers in Iowa thanks to social conservatives? Some sort of surprise momentum into February due to universal disgust with D.C. and craving for someone uncorrupted by the system among voters? Third-party candidacy? Fox News show circa 2017? What’s the answer?
He’s on my short list with Cruz and Walker...
Dr Carson is too Gun “Grabbie” and too “Amnesty” for me, Maybe HHS Secretary.
RE: Dr Carson is too Gun “Grabbie” and too “Amnesty” for me, Maybe HHS Secretary.
So, who ISN’T sympathetic to some sort of ‘Path to Citizenship’ among the current conservative favs?
You gonna turn in your guns before or after you vote for this clown?
He doesn't think anyone but the law should have them, you know.
Carson isn’t quite the perfect ideal but he would be a huge improvement over anyone since Reagan and most of what is on the horizon.
I’ll have to learn more about his other positions... but if he does run whaddaya bet having a black president suddenly loses all of its luster with the MSM, Glitterati & various other leftwing fascists?
If he's looking for a post-retirement hobby then he'd be better off with golf.
RE: I’ll have to learn more about his other positions..
SEE HERE:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Ben_Carson.htm
We could have used him in 2008 or 2012.
This time, we don’t need to split the conservative vote against Jeb, Christi, Paul or Rubio.
I don’t expect a perfect ideal but I expect a conservative candidate to understand and support the constitution. Carson plainly doesn’t.
He's not real big on the 2nd amendment, and if they aren't for the right to keep and bear arms then the hell with 'em.
You gonna turn in your guns before or after you vote for this clown?
Calling him a “clown” is a stupid thing to say. He is no clown.
Well I like Dr Carson but some of his abbreviated positions on that site do make me wonder if he’s right for president.
Carson is a good man, and is especially good on the Obamacare thing. But presidential material? Where’s his relevant experience? Plus, if he’s for illegal alien amnesty, that’s a deal-breaker for me.
They should try being a governor first. Then we’ll see if they are capable of being POTUS.
BEN CARSON ON THE BUDGET AND ECONOMY:
* 1990s deregulation paved way for 2008 economic meltdown. (Jan 2012)
* Cut every agency spending by 10%, with no exceptions. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Corporations
* Tithing teaches about not hoarding as capitalist greed. (Jan 2012)
* Highest corporate tax rate causes highest national debt. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Energy & Oil
* Petroleum independence would deprive terrorists of funding. (Jan 2012)
* Intelligently tap our own resources offshore & in Alaska. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Government Reform
* Human nature makes giving up power difficult. (Jan 2012)
* Too many lawyers in government; get more doctors in. (Jan 2012)
* Lengthen House term to 6-10 years, with no re-election. (Jan 2012)
* Bloated government keeps itself busy to justify existence. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Gun Control
* Semi-automatic weapons ok in countryside, but not cities. (Mar 2013)
Ben Carson on Health Care
* ObamaCare is the worst thing since slavery. (Oct 2013)
* Health savings account from birth; teach poor responsibility. (Feb 2013)
* Two-tiered system ok as long as care is adequate. (Jan 2012)
* Regulate insurance companies as non-profit services. (Jan 2012)
* Government responsibility for catastrophic coverage. (Jan 2012)
* Let paralyzed quadriplegics choose to die if they wish it. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Immigration
* Overwhelming majority want the southern border secured. (Jan 2012)
* Deportation is moral low road; create guest worker program. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Tax Reform
* Bible endorses flat tax—10% tithing. (Feb 2013)
* Nothing in Constitution supports redistributing wealth. (Jan 2012)
* Not unpatriotic for rich to take advantage of loopholes. (Jan 2012)
Ben Carson on Welfare & Poverty
* Charities better at providing for needy than the government. (Mar 2013)
* Those who don’t want to work? They are on their own. (Jan 2012)
* Government entitlements compete with private-sector charity. (Jan 2012)
* Eradicate poverty by providing education and requiring work. (Jan 2012)
I think Dr. Carson is a valuable weapon in our arsenal for no other reason than to expertly advise us on a key critical issue.
Does Hillary have brain damage or not?
Others who sound like they are running :Christie, Rubio, Jeb, Ryan, Paul, Santorum, Romney .....
But sounding isn’t doing, but it does get them media attention.
But the moderates will love him.
They don’t want any amateurs unless its their amateur.
Personally I’d like to see him run for mayor of Detroit. He’s a hometown hero and he can’t do any damage there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.