Posted on 04/16/2005 4:53:15 AM PDT by WKB
JACKSON - Is he is, or is he ain't running for president?
Gov. Haley Barbour and his staff appeared to put that speculation to rest on Thursday.
"I do not intend to run for president," Barbour said outside a luncheon for an education group he spoke to Thursday. "It's always flattering for people to talk about you running for president, but we've got plenty to do here."
Several national and local columnists and television personalities recently have speculated that Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman and Reagan administration adviser who's midway through his first gubernatorial term, might run for the White House in 2008.
An online poll conducted by a St. Louis public relations firm, in which Barbour was respondents' top pick for president, has further fueled the speculation.
Reporters noted Thursday that "I do not intend" sounds kind of noncommittal, and asked if Barbour might change his mind.
"I guess I might also lose 50 pounds and grow 4 inches," Barbour quipped. When asked if he would seek re-election, he said he would "cross that bridge when the time comes."
His Deputy Chief of Staff, John Arledge, sounded more definitive.
"No. The governor is not running for president, period," Arledge said, and indicated the speculation might be something of a vast, left-wing conspiracy by Barbour's opposition in state government.
Democratic state Rep. George Flaggs of Vicksburg recently opined, "Of course Haley's running for president. And I'm going to help. Let's get Haley back to Washington - quick. Haley for President. I want to be one of his advisers.
He'll need some African-American faces on his team. I want to be on his exploratory committee."
But Arledge said, "He is not running right now, and he's not planning to run for president."
When asked, "He has ruled out being a candidate in the next presidential election?" Arledge said, "Yes."
But Arledge joked, "I'm not sure about (first lady) Marsha (Barbour)."
Missippy ping
I can't imagine Haley winning anyway. America likes southern presidents, but ole Haley is reeeally southern.
Democratic state Rep. George Flaggs of Vicksburg recently opined, "Of course Haley's running for president. And I'm going to help. Let's get Haley back to Washington - quick. Haley for President. I want to be one of his advisers.
This would be YOUR Rep!!
I tend to agree with you.
But he is a great politician so one never knows.
Sometimes it seems America votes to compensate for the weaknesses of the former president. Carter was too wimpy, so we brought in a cold warrior. GHWB was out of touch, so we elected the "I feel your pain" president. After he turned out to be TOO touchy/feely, we elected a more reserved and conservative man. I wonder if we can't get an idea of who would work based on GW's weaknesses. Let's see, what would W's weaknesses be? Not on policy, but just in general terms, I'd say he's a poor communicator from the lecturn. He lost 3 debates to John Kerry. He looks bad on TV addresses from the Oval Office. He's not that great with press conferences either. So I'd say communication is one. I'd say the economy will be the other. I could be wrong. But I'd say the next candidate should be a really good talker with credibility on economic issues. Anyone out there fit that bill? I think Newt is a very good talker. Does he have credibility on economic issues? Could he win?
He is not going to run for president, bank on it.
Could he be a VP pick..?
Wow. That's actually pretty funny.
If the VP pick is meant to shore up some political constituency, then no. The South is solid Republican already. The Northeast, Upper Midwest, The Pacific states are all areas that need shoring up. Now if you pick for other reasons, disregarding the political pluses, Haley might be on the list. I like Haley, BTW.
Excellent point..you possess an astute political mind...
Try this one, now please..The issue, and not necessarily a problem, for the GOP in the 2008 VP choice will be either to keep the Cheney model..a VP without further political aspirations...or revert to the traditional role of the VP as one with his onw political constituency and calculus, and who dreams of moving up..will the presidential nominee make this his key criteria?
Oh, he lost three debates to John Kerry did he? I differ there, but no matter. It depends on what you mean by winning or losing debates.
You gotta connect with the voters.
Some Ivory Tower guy in NeverNeverLand won't cut it...don't care how many supposed debate points he wins. Same thing between Bush and Algore.
So, you want somebody who is a "glib" speaker, with credibility on the economy? Mitt Romney, probably.
Newt Gingrich talks too fast, is way over everybody's head(he's a college professor, remember) and he does not enunciate his words. People have no idea what he is talking about, except for a relative few who can follow him.
Also, way way way too much other baggage. And I mean among Republicans, Democrats and Independents, all for different reasons.
I agree. But I do think some level of articulation is helpful. GW does stuff that is just really ineffective. For example, he raises his voice when he feels he is not being understood. He'll repeat the thing he just said, only louder. Horrible technique. He connects on a personal level. That's a strength. But he's a pitiful articulator of ideas. That said, I agree with your critique of Newt. And I do understand that a national leader has to speak to a level that a majority of Americans will comprehend. I'm not saying we need a pointy headed intellectual. Just a better salesman. I know he lost big here in NJ, but I happen to think Bret Schundler is a phenominal salesman of conservative ideas. He's totally wasted on our state. I know I am not the only one who cringes watching GW try to articulate our msg.
Much calculation will go into this "question", and not only by the candidate. The entire Party will want to weigh in.
The tricky part is that the PREZ candidate will likely be trying to establish himself or herself.
This SHOULD be a wide open race. There is no heir apparent, or someone whose turn it is to run. No screamingly obvious choice, as it looks now. Throw into that mix the issue of a VP who might need to establish himself or herself for the future, and you could have a problem. They might actually be rivals, of sorts, to establish themselves.
This was true with Kerry and Edwards. We thought Kerry would disappear after losing, but he wants to run again, we're told, and Edwards is strongly hinting he wants to run. Therefore, I think a sort of elder statesman might be best. Just not too elder.
Or this. You could have a VP candididate perceived as above politics, in that they were known for other things than running for office. A Condi Rice, for instance, has never run for anything. Just a thought.
I will throw this name in as someone who could fill just about any bill you want, whether for Prez or VP; not perfectly, but then, nobody is perfect.
John Ashcroft.
Oops...just painted a target on my back. HELP! Incoming.....
All the numbers I saw showed his numbers drop after the debates. Great convention, lousy debates. Good thing Kerry was such a bad candidate.
"Democratic state Rep. George Flaggs of Vicksburg recently opined, "Of course Haley's running for president. And I'm going to help. Let's get Haley back to Washington - quick. Haley for President. I want to be one of his advisers.
He'll need some African-American faces on his team. I want to be on his exploratory committee."
LOL! It appears that Haley is more effective than I thought.
The 'Rats want him gone....real bad. ;o)
Posted by dixiechick2000 to WKB
On News/Activism ^ 04/16/2005 1:10:26 PM PDT · 16 of 15 ^
Dang! I hate when that happens.
SMILING!
Well, I'll have to make a point to meet Gearge Flaggs.
I've already bought the suit I will wear to meet Haley. :)
A small prediction.
I predict the GOP will run away from it's strength, and will either run a plastic man or a "moderate" and screw up the chance to be elected in 2008 and that Haley, having had 8 full years to straighten out MS will be the anti-Hillary in 2012 and find it far easier to unite the party behind him with the McCains and Gullianis swept from the stage...
Sounds like that could be a very large prediction.
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.