Posted on 12/01/2005 7:57:18 AM PST by Gipper08
His star is rising so fast on the national political scene that there's even talk of a possible presidential run. For now, however, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence just wants to keep his sights on his duties in Congress. He's moved into the limelight by pushing the Bush administration and the Republican leadership in Congress a little farther to the right side of the political spectrum when it comes to trimming the federal deficit. He and his conservative bloc in the House, the Republican Study Committee, have forced House leaders to accept some proposals to reduce federal spending in response to the huge proposed costs for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
Pence's fiscal conservatism is earning him favorable attention from groups such as the American Conservative Union, as well as the business-oriented wing of the Republican Party. BusinessWeek magazine recently commended him as a possible future House speaker. In the past he has been a thorn in the side of President Bush and the leadership in Congress for being so outspoken about deficit reduction. But with the Bush presidency bruised if not crippled this fall, Pence could emerge as a major advocate for the conservative wing of the party. National commentators are taking notice of him, and he is making frequent appearances on national TV shows. The 46-year-old former radio talk show host has an instinctive grasp of the news cycle from hosting a show in Indiana in the 1990s. In a recent profile, Chicago Tribune writer Mike Dorning identified him as a possible conservative alternative in a 2008 presidential field dominated by people like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Pence is young and relatively unknown compared to such candidates, but he appeals to the socially conservative wing of the party, which carries a lot of influence in primaries. He also has an optimistic disposition toward the world, in contrast to some conservatives who are worried about liberals taking over the country and world. "I'm a conservative, but I'm in a good mood about it," he likes to say. "There is a tendency among some conservatives to communicate as if they have been sucking on lemons." With his emphasis on cutting the budget, he might be able to do what few Republican leaders, except Ronald Reagan and President Bush, have been able to accomplish -- bring the free market wing of the party together with social conservatives. His credentials as a cultural conservative are well established, with a strong pro-life record and support for faith-based initiatives. Short of a presidential run, Pence is clearly in line to contest for the House speaker position, with Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois planning to step aside in 2008. He also would be an obvious statewide candidate for the Republicans in Indiana, if Sen. Richard Lugar accepts a Cabinet post or Sen. Evan Bayh becomes president or vice president. But Pence tries not to let the attention go to his head. Going home can be humbling in a helpful way. He sees his wife, Karen, and three children, 13, 12 and 11 each night at their home in Virginia and makes plenty of trips back to Indiana. "When I walk into the house, I'm no longer the congressman or the conservative leader," he says. "I'm just Dad."
Stay the current political course PING
One of two Congressmen in thr audience, yesterday, at Annapolis.
Pence 08 PING
"When I walk into the house, I'm no longer the congressman or the conservative leader," he says. "I'm just Dad."
Mike Pence is truly a humble leader. He puts faith in Jesus Christ and family above everything else. It is that determined and principled leadership that is so desperately needed in our nation today. Pence truly expounds and lives the principles that Ronald Reagan brought to Washington, D.C. and that our Founding Fathers brought to our shores.
There is truly no finer leader destined for our nation's top office.
Up until recently, I was in Allen's corner but now I'm having second thoughts. For some reason, Allen is invisble and not being the leader he should be at this stage of the game. It is hard to be enthusiastic about one of the crowd when most of what he is doing is nodding his head.
"But with the Bush presidency bruised if not crippled this fall, Pence could emerge as a major advocate for the conservative wing of the party."
I think it's premature to be writing President Bush out of the picture. Pence appeared with Pres. Bush at the speech at Anapolis yesterday.
Agreed.
He is far from out.
However, interesting talk about Pence.
People have been pushing him for awhile, but being a Congressman I doubt the possibility. Now I'm not too sure. I never have wanted a Senator, and if I did, I would choose soemone that won't run. Sessions. I'm not impressed with the field we know is running. Jeb won't run. That leaves Barbour as the only Governor I like, and I'm not aware he's running.
If Pence wanted to run I'd be open to him. I think he has a little of everything the base across the spectrum would like.
"If Pence wanted to run I'd be open to him. I think he has a little of everything the base across the spectrum would like."
Agreed. He certainly has the two qualifications I look for: strong on defense, and strong on fiscal conservatism. I, too, am not impressed with senators running for president, but I do like what I've seen of Pence so far. Haley Barbour is a good, strong governor and certainly has done a good job for the people of Mississippi after the hurricanes; I'd like to see more of him.
He doesn't seem interested in taking on a large campaign.
He also, for what its worth, has absolutly no interest in the Draft Pence movements, and is uninvolved, but I'm hoping if its gets big enough, he'll have to listen.
Most politicians are not leaders..they don't know how to do much more than nod the head, test the wind and so on.
That is why Pence is the true heir to RR.
(I think though that we also ought to think about him becoming speaker and just parking there...for a few decades. He would be a stronger force for conservatism in that role than in the White House, which comes and goes every few years....).
bump
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.