We had one there in 1992. We lost to Slick Willie.
Posted on 07/14/2014 12:07:47 PM PDT by Viennacon
WASHINGTON — Regardless of whether Sen. Rob Portman or Gov. John Kasich runs for president in 2016, the Republican convention in Cleveland will give both a chance to enhance their national profile as they try to highlight what they believe is their pragmatic brand of conservatism.
At a time when Republicans are hoping to temper the image of a party in the grips of social conservatives and tea party activists, analysts say Portman and Kasich can help Republicans present Americans with a more soothing alternative to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Portman can emphasize his support for conservative goals, such as overhauling the complex federal tax code and reducing federal spending, even as he bucks party conservatives because of his support for same-sex marriage.
And Kasich can offer what his allies claim is a conservative approach to government, even though he has clashed with tea party conservatives by expanding Medicaid to tens of thousands of low-income people in Ohio.
“I think it highlights the governor and his brand of conservatism and his brand of governing,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township. “It will naturally show off Ohio’s success over the last several years, its continued success, and I think that’s probably a good theme for the party as it tries to regain the White House.”
Kevin Madden, who served as an adviser to Republican Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, said “because they are statewide representatives in the mother of all swing states, Portman and Kasich will be able to have a platform to shape some of the conversations about the party and its agenda when the convention is at center stage.”
(Excerpt) Read more at dispatch.com ...
Well - I could see where one or the other was invited to speak just because it’s in their state. Kasich has done ok though not as much as was done in WI. Portman - meh.
Period. WHY? Because the GOP, with my ignorant help by voting straight party ticket over the last few decades, has devolved into a knock-off cheaper brand of Democrat. Americans are WISE to this. Instead of participating in an increasingly ridiculous charade, they stay home and say, "Screw that."
We need a Second party. I have been voting straight Republican for decades. I ain't no spring chicken; instead I'm a little sadder and wiser. The Republican party gives me virtually ZILCH to vote for, and expects me to fall for the fantasy that I get to vote "against" the other guy.
When I was a spring chicken, I believed in voting "against." I've figured a few things out over the years, and one of them is that you ONLY get to vote FOR; anybody who wants you to vote for someone because it is "the same as voting against" the bad guy, is feather-brained -- maybe well-meaning and sincere, but feather-brained just the same.
You only get to vote FOR, or you don't vote at all. IT IS BINARY, 0, or 1. So the ONLY thing that counts is what you vote FOR. Ignoring that physical, material reality is HOW the GOP became the Democrat Lite party that it is today. You can ignore reality all you want -- but it won't ignore you!
Right...that’s why Romney picked Portman to help him with his debating techniques.
The Plaid Pants Wing of the GOP sticks together.
Oh Finny - don’t waste your intellect on voting based on principle.
The majority of voters don’t perform ‘due diligence’ on their public servants - they probably do more comparison shopping for hamburger meat.
I’m going with this ‘very sound’ science:
Of 44 Presidential last names -
16 ended with the letter ‘N’.
23 had 2 syllables.
Obviously - it will be either Clinton or Portman;)
Just wait until Ohio taxpayers start having to pay the cost of Medicaid expansion...thanks to that “great executive” Kasich.
http://www.redstate.com/2014/03/24/gov-john-kasich-obamacare-medicaid-expansion-conservative/
And he bypassed the State legislature’s vote against it, to do it.
Kasich is as slimy as any Democrat.
huh??? He put in place that expanded Medicaid in spite of the votes of the legislature. That's because his buddies that profit off the big medical providers told him to. He gave extra money to the Cleveland school system like they don't waste enough already. Under Kasich, smaller communities have suffered while cities and construction interest do just fine for getting money, even though a lot is wasted.
He stands a real good chance of losing the governorship. He's a big business guy that provides no inspiration for following a conservative path.
And Portman? He's staying quiet and out of the limelight so maybe people won't realize he's a total RINO when the ptb are looking for 'their" candidate.
AMEN FRiend...You know a RINO when you see one.
Seriously, though, it is misguided to describe my thinking as "voting on principle."
I used to vote on principle -- the principle that the Republican was bound to be better than the Democrat, the principle that Republicans represent the philosophy of LIMITED GOVERNMENT in direct opposition to the Democrat philosophy of EXPANDED GOVERNMENT.
I also used to vote on the principle that voting for the Republican was equivalent to voting "against" the Democrat.
I have finally figured out, "principles" be damned, MATH is the only thing that counts.
MATHEMATICALLY, if I vote for a Republican who will implement part or all of the leftist agenda if he/she wins, mathematically and materially I voted FOR moving things left, though I voted "in principle" to move things right.
That the majority don't perform due diligence is human nature and to be expected; it is freedom loving Americans' duty to inform our friends and fellow Americans as best we can, where and when we can.
HOWEVER, it is quite clear that most Americans recognize a charade when they see one -- they did enough due diligence to recognize that the dif between Obama and Romney was so minor as to make "choosing" a waste of time in 2012, as it would make no appreciable dif in the long run as to which one won.
I make it a point to read the comments at MSM news sites, especially ones in liberal cities like Los Angeles. I've being doing it for years, exploring American territory where the MSM (and the vast majority of FReepers) fear to tread.
My informed point of view is that American voters are a heck of a lot smarter (and a whole lot angrier at leftism, Obama, and MSM bias) than most conservatives give them credit for, and that liberals/leftists are the minority in America. If they weren't, they wouldn't have to CHEAT.
“Sen. Rob Portman ... Gov. John Kasich ... the Republican convention in Cleveland will give both a chance to enhance their national profile.”
Well, I can see how this is shaping up. Who else will share the limelight, Christie Todd Whitman or Susan Collins?
It has always occurred to me that a "good financial situation" can only come about by free markets. Free markets need to have a predictable system of laws. Free markets do better with lower taxes.
Kasich has pushed for controlled and managed markets by advocating his unconstitutional "Jobs Ohio" plan where the state of Ohio, with all of the force of law behind it, takes tax payer dollars to invest in private companies. This what they do in China not in free markets.
How about when (like Obama)he unilaterally pushed through Medicaid expansion against the vote of the legislature?
How about when he advocated hiking taxes on oil and gas drilling? Was that good for free markets or the economy of Ohio?
Kasich is far worse than a "moderate". He is an extreme statist to rival even Obama himself. He believes that government can solve our problems and the more power it has, the more effective it can be.
I certainly wouldn’t equate him with obama - that’s not fair - even to Kasich. However, the alternative to his gubernatorial seat is worse. So, those are our choices. I certainly wasn’t happy that he caved on the Medicaid expansion - bypassing the legislature - however, this isn’t over yet. To be honest, I think he did it to appease the left. hoping to gain their votes this election. Make no mistake about it- he is a politician just as much as any other - but, he has put Ohio on a good financial road. You are entitled to your opinions, just as I am. I’m not planning to vote in November, so my opinion or viewpoint doesn’t really matter. We can’t seem to get good governors here in Ohio - thanks to the union strongholds.
True dat!
I was hoping it would be Natalie Portman. At least she is easy on the eyes.
Portman is certainly NOT a "good man". If his son was a crack addict, would his position that crack is bad "evolve"? It seems so.
We had one there in 1992. We lost to Slick Willie.
First of all there's no comparing Cali and Ohio. Ohio is not a "blue" state as you said.
And really, enough of this "The (Majority Leader) is from Cali" so let's bash him that reason nonsense. Cali has more Republicans than any other state, including Texas, it just so happens that Cali also has more rats than any other state. I don't think many people would have a problem if Tom McClintock were Speaker or Majority Leader. Anything wrong with McCarthy has nothing to do with where he's from.
The Speaker of the Texas House is from Texas, and he's a worse leader than Boehner. Would anybody here like Pete Sessions to be the Speaker? Would anyone pick him over McClintock or Steve King because he's from a "Republican state"?
Anyway about the convention, I think it's much ado about nothing, where it's held doesn't seem to matter very much. Cleveland is a once proud city that's turned to crap under decades of rat rule. That's a good theme for the convo if you ask me.
Forgot to ping you to #36
DEFEAT PORTMAN !
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