Posted on 05/20/2011 1:11:30 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Tea Party congressman underwhelmed by current Republican presidential field By Michael O'Brien - 05/20/11 02:45 PM ET
The current crop of Republican presidential candidates is "lukewarm" and unexciting, said Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), a Tea Party darling.
West, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Florida, badmouthed the 2012 field of GOP hopefuls while noting that he himself would not be seeking the presidency.
"I've got to tell you that no one is really exciting anyone out there right now," West told the conservative website Newsmax in an interview posted late Thursday. "I think by September, October, maybe we'll see a front-runner. But right now, you know, kind of lukewarm."
West said he "couldn't say right now" if he had any favorites, and that his only focus was on seeking reelection to his House seat next fall.
West's words might sound disappointing to someone like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), a potential presidential candidate who helped propel West to his congressional nomination with a key endorsement just before the primary.
The political action committees of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) each eventually endorsed and donated to West, too, but not until later in the process, and much closer to Election Day.
West appeared at an event in Florida earlier this year with Donald Trump, who withdrew from seeking the GOP nomination last week. West credited Trump with setting a faster pace for the other Republican candidates.
"I think that he tried to get people to come out of their comfort zones, but you still have a pretty 'blah' atmosphere out there," West said.
I think he's right......
Hard to disagree. Most of the declared candidates or the ones in exploratory mode are lacking. Most of the people we would like to see run have declined or appear not to be preparing to get in the race. The one exception is Cain, who is an unconventional candidate who right now fills the void for a motivated electorate. He may turn out to rise to the occasion, or someone else may, but right now, it is a pretty ho-him cast.
Sarah Palin is not yet a Republican presidential candidate.
He is right on as usual. With the exception of Herman Cain, none have really sparked much interest. I expect things to be much different in another 6-8 months.
I continue to pray that West changes his mind and runs in 2012. Now that would be exciting!
I hope so, because the current crop are not acceptable.
A friend put this one together. Feel free to pass it around.
Allen West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs6jygvGlwg&feature=youtu.be
IMHO, his failure to do so is a big mistake.
I'm "Waitin' On A Woman" (by Brad Paisley).
Sarah has not yet declared. :)
I highly doubt it. The writer is projecting a reaction to West's statement onto Sarah Palin that she likely hasn't had, for the simple fact that she's not even in the race at this point.
If anything, I'd say that West just telegraphed to Sarah that we're all getting a little impatient.
Bachmann will wind up declaring on Memorial Day.
She is in. Just waiting for the formal announcement.
but he'll definitely be ready in 8 ...
-------------- PALIN / WEST --------------
If there is an America left to save by then.
I love AW. Marco, too. But goodness gracious, I don’t hang on every word they say.
Right now, I am leaning toward Pawlenty and Cain.
If the primary were today, I’d study those two closely and make a choice.
When/if West makes an endorsement, I’ll look at that person, too—but he doesn’t think for me. (I’m not saying this to criticize your post, but to remind everyone that honest discussion and difference of opinion can happen between Tea Party people.)
RD
Well, that's fine, but I don't hold out any huge hopes for her to go all the way to the finish line. In my opinion, it's not about negatives with Bachmann, but a lack of positives.
I second your opinion. I pray for West to change his mind. The country needs him now.
With his vote to continue a hundred million dollars in ObamaCare funding for school-based medical clinics, which amount to nothing more than gateways to the Planned Parenthood slaughterhouses, I find myself underwhelmed by Congressman West.
i agree.
...and if she decides not to, for some reason,
i expect Colonel West, to do his duty yet again,
for his country, and step forward.
i would be honored to salute him as my CIC !!!
I do wish that somebody would whisper in congressman West’s ear that he should go on a recruiting drive in the military and among military retirees, for peers that he respects to also run for congress.
The military is a great storehouse of such people, and their country needs them.
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.