After Ames

National Review Online ^ | August 15, 2011 | Richard Brookhiser, Grover Norquist, and more weigh in on the current GOP field.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wrote Tim Pawlenty off when he declared Chablis and brie treif at CPAC in February 2010. More than the demagogy or the stupidity, I hated the screechy tone, like high-school sopranos trying to sing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” I tried calling him Velveeta Tim or V-Paw, but the nicknames wouldn’t stick. His political style stuck, though, through many repetitions — the Obamneycare insult he would not back up, the anti-Bachmann snarls. Ames rebuked him.

Michele Bachmann did what she had to do. No one has jumped directly from the House to the White House since James Garfield. But she has passed the first way station.

The jacquerie of wicked idiots had a good night. Rick Santorum finished fourth; he also finished fewer than 200 votes ahead of Herman Cain.

Welcome now to real life, Governor Perry. It’s so much easier being everybody’s dream boat. And welcome, former governor Palin, to your career as winger Oprah. You have chosen it with your eyes open.

And Mitt sits in the loneliness of the candidate who has written off Iowa, hoping that the months until the refreshing snows of New Hampshire will not drag unendurably.

[freeangel]

Perry=Bush light

Romney just figures his money will buy another RINO presidency.

[Joann37]

Another new word!

http://kosherfood.about.com/od/glossaryofkosherterms/g/treif.htm

[org.whodat]

Perry can always run as Obummers VP., the both share the secret democrat hand shake.

[gusopol3]

Some of the commentary just sounds confused to me, as if they’ve conflated the straw poll, which is not part of the nomination process, with the Iowa caucuses, which are.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Michael D. Shear/The New York TimesGov. Rick Perry of Texas debuted his new campaign bus in Des Moines Sunday
in advance of his Iowa bus tour that will begin Monday. Mr. Perry will appear at an event in Waterloo,
Iowa tonight along with Representative Michele Bachmann, fresh off her Iowa straw poll victory.

August 13, 2011 Rick Perry's Announcement Speech at Red State Gathering [23:00 - YouTube]

Perry first TX governor to cut general revenue spending since WWII

2:12 Rick Perry: Time to Get America Working Again

The buzzing bees of anti-Perry activists with their "Gardasil-TTC-Border" mantra will only continue to highlight and enhance a Gov. Rick Perry nomination as truth of his work here in Texas gains national exposure. Rick Perry as governor, used all resources at his disposal in an attempt to make a cancer vaccine available to Texas children. The governor is battling environmentalist activists in his push for more transportation infrastructure in a state exploding with commerce and population. And using state resources, Gov. Rick Perry (denied the necessary and requested federal help needed by a border state to deal with the consequences of current federal inaction, in addition to shouldering the continued fallout from past federal actions) works to hold the line on the 1250 mile section of the U.S. border between Texas and Mexico, our neighbor to the south.

Students for Perry -- 3:34 YouTube Video: IT'S TIME FOR RICK PERRY

3:33 Video: Time for Perry

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Perry does not =Bush Light. They have absolutely NOTHING in common and in fact didn’t even like each other. Bush spent money. Perry is a fsical consservative.

[sodpoodle]

Here we go again;)

Maul Paul, Pain Cain, Bury Perry, Hit Mitt, Pile on Palin, Trim Tim.

Smack & Hack.

[Mad Dawg]

I’m thinking that if we want a conservative to win on 11/12 we might consider being kind, respectful, and conciliatory to people who run but lose. Let’s remember the big picture here. This is not about counting coup on the fallen but about restoring constitutional government.

I think this article is self-indulgent and counter-productive.

[SamAdams76]

What is this "Ames Straw Poll" anyway and what significance does it (or should it) have?

Isn't it enough that Iowa has the first caucus? Why do they have to hog even more attention with this useless "straw poll" nearly half a year before their caucus? In fact, many people out there have this straw poll confused with the caucus. My wife was asking me over the weekend why Iowa is having their caucuses so early. I had to explain to her that the caucus is still in January but they had to go ahead and have this other event as well.

So here we are, still well over a year away from the election, and we already have candidates dropping out of the race on account of some tiny straw poll in some insignificant state (sorry Iowa but if not for your role in presidential elections, your state would only be known for its endless corn fields).

Not that my heart is broken over Tom (or what it Tim) Pawlenty dropping out, but don't you all think something is wrong with the process when candidates are crashing and burning months before the first official primary or caucus vote is cast? Hell, Iowa couldn't even wait until all the candidates got into the race to have this stupid poll. (Yes, Sarah Palin is waiting in the wings).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think this article is self-indulgent and counter-productive.

I guess "productive" is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone is welcome to disagree and/or promote their GOP candidate. I am (I guess that would be your "self-indulgent" point).

Gov. Rick Perry is a strong conservative and I will "self-indulgently" promote his selection to be the one to clean Obama's clock (and he will). Rick Perry will build a strong coalition of voters and his coat tails will be huge -- to me and many others, that is productive.

[Flintlock]

Dammit!
DESPITE our gracious MSM, this mess is NOT a horserace.
Issues, anyone?
Howsabout—Illegal Immigration, taxes, healthcare, NAFTA, Military cutbacks, Chinkcommie aircraft carriers........

Is anybody taking notice—or just handicapping the trifecta??

[jocon307]

“Some of the commentary just sounds confused to me...”

Yes, those comments were almost all awful.

What’s with Rick Brookheiser and his snarky defense of brie and Chardonay? Who does he think he is? David Brooks?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As we’ve moved closer to a 50/50 political scene (I will vote your money into my pocket) the stakes have become higher and the emotions are rawer. The candidates need to be out there educating and making the case — cutting through the fog of msm and bully pulpit bs and misinformation — we need this time to get the nominee vetted, accepted and campaigning like there is no tomorrow — as there well not be the way Obama’s directing the nation.

We have little time for disarry and infighting — this is the climate the Left is nurturing and we need to be organized. So let’s get on with it and then get behind our next president.

[USS Alaska]

Welcome now to real life, Governor Perry. It’s so much easier being everybody’s dream boat. And welcome, former governor Palin, to your career as winger Oprah. You have chosen it with your eyes open.

So, Sarah decided that she is not running? I missed that small piece of news, maybe the msm didn't cover it.

When Sarah announces in or out, then this fool can call her new names, until then he can just continue to call her the usual stupid tw_t.

[LibLieSlayer]

It has nothing to do with the candidates... but this piece is poorly written. By trying to sound ethereal... they end up sounding... ignorant.

LLS

[MNJohnnie]

Dammit! DESPITE our gracious MSM, this mess is NOT a horserace. Issues, anyone?

I agree completely. I am totally fed up with the superficial, juvenile angst ridden writing that passes as "informed political commentary" in modern Conservative circles. I expect this sort of stupid drivel from the Left, I am saddened to see it has now infected the Right.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It’s a composite of what comes to mind for a variety of OpEd writers (snapshots printed in NRO) about the candidates coming out of Ames and the Straw Poll.

It hardly is inconsequential.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

......I am saddened to see it has now infected the Right.

Is it always going to be someone else's fault?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Perry has a Muslim problem.

"It is with great excitement that we welcome the first Ismaili Center in America. The new Ismaili Center will contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the City of Houston and the State of Texas. We all believe and hope that it will be a demonstration of the Muslim values and ethics of which you have spoken so frequently. If it is even just a pale image of the center I visited last year in Dubai, then I am certain it will be an architectural and spiritual marvel. "