David Brooks: Rating the Republicans (NYT's Faux conservative likes Gov. Kasich)

The New York Times ^ | January 15, 2015 | David Brooks

[2ndDivisionVet]

If the Republican presidential campaign were “American Idol” or “The Voice,” this would be the out-of-town auditions phase. Governors across the country are giving State of the State addresses, unveiling their visions. Let’s spin the chairs and grade the contenders, to see who deserves a shot at the big show.

John Kasich: A. The Ohio governor is easily the most underestimated Republican this year. He just won a landslide victory in the swingiest of the swing states. He carried 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties. He won Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, and which President Obama won by 40 points in 2012.

Kasich is the Republican version of Jerry Brown: experienced but undisciplined in an honest, unvarnished way. If he shows he can raise money, and if voters want someone fresh but seasoned and managerial, he might be the guy.

The inaugural address he delivered on Monday was a straight-up values speech. But it wasn’t about values the way Pat Robertson used to define them. It was traditional values expressed in inclusive, largely secular form. “I think the erosion of basic values that made our nation great is the most serious problem facing our state and our nation today,” he said. “And I’m not talking about those volatile issues.”

He built his speech around empathy, resilience, responsibility and other virtues: “You know why this happened? Too fixated on ourselves. It’s all about me. And somehow we have lost the beautiful sound of our neighbors’ voices. Moving beyond ourselves and trying to share in the experience of others helps us open our minds, allows us to grow as people. It helps us become less self-righteous. Did you ever find that in yourself? I do ... self-righteous.”(continued)

[JPG]

[txrefugee]

“.. And somehow we have lost the beautiful sound of our neighbors’ voices.”

My neighbors’ voices are screaming at each other in Spanish….not so beautiful. Maybe if we could trade these neighbors for some that are legal and speak English…….

[gdani]

He just won a landslide victory in the swingiest of the swing states. He carried 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties. He won Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, and which President Obama won by 40 points in 2012.

Against a horribly unprepared & incompetent opponent, even by Ohio Democrat standards.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Conservatives need to take a play from the liberals. Get a RINO who is generally not that useful anyway, tag him a Democrat and then praise him to death as your favorite Democrat. It is a weaken the opposition tactic that the leftist media plays all the time.

[17th Miss Regt]

“.. And somehow we have lost the beautiful sound of our neighbors’ voices.”

Or maybe the sweet sounds emanating from the minaret next door.

[C19fan]

Whoever Brooks likes write that politician off. This guy was up there with Chris Mathews in worship of Obama.

[Dr. Sivana]

Brooks thinks Christie gets an A-minus? Guffaw.

That Cuomo-esque accent of his does not play well at all outside of the Boston-DC megalopolis (throw in CA , but only because they like schtick).

Some guys are meant to run a county, a city, a district, a state, but can't travel. Giuliani found that out in 2008. Christie will find that out in 2016.

[Dr. Sivana]

Get a RINO who is generally not that useful anyway, tag him a Democrat and then praise him to death as your favorite Democrat.

The Dem base runs the party, where the pragmatists/establishment ones want to run ours. If the Dems wanted to WIN, they'd get a guy like Evan Bayh the nomination (he quit at the right time, and is from a mostly sane state). But even if that knowledge were infused in every Dem delegate, they couldn't resist going for someone who thinks their way.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I’m not talking about a strategy to help them win. Just the opposite. I am talking about the phony baloney stuff they pull in the media. They tout Republicans they “could vote for” and then if they win the nomination, they still vote for the Democrat. The point is to get the opposing party to nominate someone their base hates.

[Dr. Sivana]

I’m not talking about a strategy to help them win. Just the opposite.

I know, but it doesn't matter. They won't pick a weak RINO type (say, Charlie Crist, for instance), because they are so far over. Also, when they praise Romney or Jeb Nush or Cristie, the media will pick up on it. If we suggest that they nominate Joe Manchin, the media won't say anything (unless Sarah Palin suggests it, and then they will twist what they said). Even if the media promorted the idea, a Joe Manchin or a Joe Lieberman will get zero tractyion because of the way delegates are selected. Even tghe superdelegates would be afraid of a reaction. The farthest right the current Dem party will go is Rahm Emmanuel.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

No they won’t. They would need years of practice at it like we have had. BUT, it would be fun to watch them squirm at the mere suggestion of it. But like you said, the media is on their side so how could even the suggestion happen.