I think you pretty much nailed it right here better than I or anyone else has.
We need someone who can communicate conservative policy and thinking to the masses, who can persuade a generation to begin moving away from the welfare state. Daniels, in my opinion, has good conservative instincts, but we need someone as a presidential candidate who can fight the broader ideological war.
It's fine to have competent governors like Daniels do their thing on a state level, but we really need someone more charismatic and persuasive to champion conservatism on a national level.
You make a great point that we need someone to fight the broader ideological war, because we are in that war right now and we’ve not had a leader who could fight that since Reagan left office in 88 — and Newt for a couple years during Clinton’s first term and the 94 election cycle.
And as a result of what that ideological fight accomplished, much good legislation and a lot of good economic years resulted, along with a military rebuilt to the point that under Stormin Norman could kick butt with it.
That’s why we MUST have someone who can fight that fight, not merely someone who can enact bits and pieces of that agenda.
God Bless Indiana..............and please help change minds, also, in the next Prez election.
What makes you think Daniels can't do that? Have you actually heard him speak on substantive policy issues? I've emailed links of his talks to middle-of-the road friends I have, and they all find him very convincing.
His speach at CPAC is exactly the kind of thing we need to convince people in the middle to support conservative ideas.
Don't confuse rhetorical bomb-throwing with effective communication.