Posted on 03/09/2015 12:52:36 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The ideal GOP candidate is a fighter, in touch with the values and needs of regular Americans. He needs to be a leader by temperament.
With the CPAC over, the quadrennial catwalk parade and marathon by which we choose American presidents is fully underway. Among Republicans, at least. Given the givens – unconstitutional executive overreach, shocking spending, the Middle East burning, ISIS rampant, out of control illegal immigration, middle class income down, job growth scant and ill paying, 37% of the working-age population out of work, 20% of the nation on food stamps, poverty among women and children skyrocketing, Iran on the brink of nuclear weapons at President Obama’s invitation, Russia expanding…. — 2016 can’t come too soon. Re: labor force participation – Pew says 37% are out of the labor force. Non ideological source.
No one really knows how the race will play out. As you watch, this column is here to help provide New Yorkers with views, perceptions and even facts, as seen in Right-World. I live in New York City, surrounded by liberals. Why would my neighbors – why would any liberals, including those who might happen to be reading this column—care what a conservative thinks? Because you are too smart to limit yourself to the small range of acceptable interpretations of life and politics allowed in the hermetically sealed, liberal, mainstream media that dominates my town. And, all things being equal, after eight years, the other party picks up the Oval Office.
The secret to figuring out what is really happening in a presidential race is that by the time a trend surfaces, the drama is over. Most of the part citizens get to see is mere political-entertainment complex performance art.
So we are 21 months out, watching many names being floated, committees in formation, donor lists being assembled. Policy papers are being written, and battle plans assembled. There will be a ‘process.’ But the real GOP field has already emerged. The race to come is between Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. A few others may move to the inside lanes. But, as I see it, Walker and Bush are the contenders.
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is backed by the ‘establishment.’ It isn’t a bad establishment, including, as it does, a great many Reaganites, but it isn’t interested in conservative counterrevolution either. He’s also got the majority of money people. He veers centrist on what to do about illegal immigration, and he likes Common Core. Big donors rarely think outside the box when they apply their intelligence to politics. Jeb is the box.
John Ellis Bush is smarter than the conservatives who dislike him think he is. He has already moved right on key issues. And he has deeply experienced advisers, some of whom are first rate. He was smart enough to show up at CPAC, take a drubbing from the hard right, and tell an audience arrayed against him that he wants to be their second choice. He is empathic, impatient with naysayers, likes to tinker with policy – to which he attributes vast curative powers. He is more or less conservative in his thinking, deeply invested in his wife’s Mexican family culture, and intellectually sophisticated, as a scion of a wealthy and powerful dynasty would be.
Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is backed by small government conservatives, regular guys in the middle-middle class, a solid handful of millionaires, and people who want to rip out most of the innovations of the past six years. Mr. Walker, a middle class preacher’s son, without a fortune behind him or fancy credentials, is, as they say, ‘relatable.’ Not to liberal bankers or progressive hipsters. To the nation’s suffering, long ignored middle-middle class citizens—who form the current GOP base.
After last month’s contretemps over Rudy Giuliani’s comments on President Obama’s faith and love for God and country, in which Mr. Walker did not repudiate Giuliani’s assessment, his name recognition is higher than ever. His reputation as a fighter has only risen among those who have been waiting for him to emerge for 18 months. He needs polish as he jumps from a local market to the national stage. But he’s getting good advice, and he has some time.
The generally unprepossessing Mr. Walker has gone from barely known outside of Wisconsin, to frontrunner in under two months. How? He became an underground hero, and the great Reaganite hope as he cut the Wisconsin budget, beat back brutal challenges from state employee unions, and won three rough elections in 4 years. He did not make smart-ass comments, or undermine fellow Republicans by hugging an unpopular president right before the 2012 election. He stayed quiet until he won re-election last November. By January 1, he was ready to go; and voila!
The frontrunner 21 months out is a target from all sides. So, we’ll see.
A week ago I’d have said that Texas Governor Rick Perry could be a contender. He has worked hard on policy since his disastrous campaign four years ago. He’s been the point governor on the illegal immigration issue, which is at the top of the party’s list of concerns. The glasses help. But he barely registered at CPAC, which doesn’t bode well.
Everyone else in the GOP race is either past his sell-by date, or not ready for prime time. A few are sideshow material: Trump, Huckabee, Palin, lovable though they be.
You will have to listen to a bunch of reportage and prognostication about the rest of the field for the next year, because the media loves the horserace, the biographies, the hit jobs and the “narrative.” Arguably exposure toughens candidates. But the fact is that NJ Governor Chris Christie hasn’t worn well. The tough guy act is old, and his state isn’t thriving either. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, loved by the growing libertarian wing, isn’t the interesting young thing he was either. He’s a gadfly. As with his father, the closer you look, the less there is. And that’s apart from his lack of a useful worldview for formulating national security and foreign policy. Or the fact that board certification in his professional specialty – ophthalmology—comes from an entity he and his wife organized, which operated sporadically since 2000, and became defunct in 2011. Dodgy..
In the ‘’not quite ready’ pile – Texas Senator Ted Cruz is brilliant, tough-minded, fearless and a genuine constitutional conservative. He needs executive experience. We’ve seen where two years in the Senate gets you. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is cute and extremely articulate, but neither deep nor constant. It’s unclear that more experience would turn him into a leader. He gets too emotional about issues, and made a critical misstep on the Obama immigration proposals. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is a brilliant guy and a good man, serious about politics and policy. As with so many of the smartest people who have served in American politics, he’s Cabinet material, not necessarily a physical embodiment of American power. As a Bronx Science graduate, I say this with love: too nerdy. Dr. Ben Carson is a political novice, regardless of his brilliant medical career. His views are inconsistent. He should run for the Senate, or, better still, for governor, before wasting our time. As for the governors from the ‘East, North, Central Midwest’ – John Kasich of Ohio and Mike Pence of Indiana— they’re solid, intelligent men. Big yawn.
Carly Fiorina and Rick Santorum seem not to grasp that losing one’s first/last political race is not a sign to run for higher office. Ms. Fiorina should find an open Senate seat. Mr. Santorum needs to go home and pursue his laudable goals in the private sector. He is box office poison.
Harsh? Sorry. But the next president has a lot of damage to undo. Most GOP voters see a nation in crisis at home and abroad, and on the brink of worse. So the ideal GOP candidate is a fighter, in touch with the values and needs of regular Americans. He needs to be a leader by temperament, and he needs to be willing to do what it takes to win the general, which isn’t something GOP voters have had in a while.
Lisa Schiffren is native New Yorker. She is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Women’s forum, and a sometime GOP speechwriter.
Jeb bush will be a fighter. Fighting the conservative base after the election
About the only thing Jeb would get accomplished is some type of tax reduction without any corresponding reduction in spending, i.e. more deficit and more debt.
Courteous Memo fm Jeb to Scott: “Mr. Walker, this town aint big enough for the two of us. Read me, Bro.?”
Equally Courteous Memo fm. Scott to Jeb: Mr.Bush, What I’m ‘reading’ is that your support in this town is melting away like hot wax! Have a Nice Day, Bro.”
Walker hands down.
He ain’t perfect but he damn sure ain’t Bush.
The Conservative Movement needs to unify behind a single candidate, or else JB gets it.
What are these great “innovations of the last 6 years” is this idiot talking about? ObamaDeath Care?
George HW Bush got his butt kicked by a conservative...
like father, like son.
Some families just don’t learn...
You mean Jeb would accomplish a tax increase.
Obviously the establishment has softened to Walker because they see he can be bought.
You are going to make a certain set of freepers heads explode with post titles like this.
Governor Scott Walker is the ONLY one who has passed conservative laws and the only person who has defeated the left/democrats and media. and he’s done it repeatedly in a liberal state.Look at his record.
Walker is the only hope for America .
Actions mean everything . Words mean nothing. what the mainstream liberal news media says Walker said means nothing. Walker’s passed conservative laws proving he’s a conservative. Walker’s had victories against the left proving he is effective and can do the job. Action and results matter. liberal media slander of Walker is just lies
As president Walker will restore freedom and prosperity in America.
This socialist monster Obama is destroying America and freedom. I’m counting the days until it no longer is president. If Republican Scott Walker becomes President I will finally have some hope.
I can’t believe the damage this communist monster Obama is doing to America and freedom, and the Internet(his FCC unconstitutionally passed net neutrality laws). Obama and the news media are destroying America, freedom and capitalism on purpose.
I just fear this evil marxist creep Obama will not leave in 2016. what a nightmare this Obama has created for us in a once free country the USA. the Obama pos done all this damage with the help of the news media and the democrat party
I hate Obama , the news media and all democrats who voted for this cretin Obama. I can’t believe we are living in this nightmare. What these traitors have done to America, freedom, opportunity ,prosperity is the worst thing any group has ever done . Walker is the one to restore America , freedom and the Internet . Obama has illegally gotten his FCC to pass socialist net neutrality laws to regulate the Internet (ruin the Internet)
With control of the media the left has been wining battles for 100 years . They’ve grown government every year since then. And with this communist monster Obama now we are one inch away form going out forever, 1000 years of darkness , the end of freedom. But one man showed us how to fight. That man is Scott Walker.
There are more than a few here saying they ARE the same.
Insanity at its best.
I like him, but there is at least one good alternative (I prefer Cruz). Let's see how this continues to unfold, it's early yet.
With the media under their control the democrat party has been winning battles for 100 years, growing government power every year. We are very close to going out forever. But one man Scott Walker has beaten the democrats at every turn and showed us how to fight
I give Cruz a better shot than she does.
I prefer Cruz but only a fool shoots every other horse in the paddock.
Bush and Christie can go to the glue factory as far as I’m concerned.
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