Posted on 02/22/2011 9:16:34 AM PST by ejdrapes
February 22, 2011 12:09 P.M. By Jim Geraghty Tags: John Thune John Thune will NOT be running for president. For months now, my wife Kimberley and I have received encouragement from family, friends, colleagues, and supporters from across South Dakota and the country to run for the presidency of the United States. We have appreciated hearing their concerns about where the country is headed and their hopes for a new direction. During this time, Kimberley and I and our two daughters have given a great deal of thought to how we might best serve South Dakota and our nation. That process has involved lots of prayer.Along the way, we have been reminded of the importance of being in the arena, of being in the fight. And make no mistake that during this period of fiscal crisis and economic uncertainty there is a fight for the future direction of America. There is a battle to be waged over what kind of country we are going to leave our children and grandchildren and that battle is happening now in Washington, not two years from now. So at this time, I feel that I am best positioned to fight for America’s future here in the trenches of the United States Senate.Sen. John Thune NOT Running for President
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
I didn’t realize SP had annouced her candidacy? Don’t let the wind blow up your skirt. All I said was I was enjoying the popcorn.
Good. Sitting senators rarely win unless they are facing another senator. (Obama beat McCain, Kennedy beat Nixon).
There needs to be one good alternative to the 08 retreads.
...and his fan club here apparently thinks that entitles him to a promotion to the Presidency 8 years later, despite the fact he's been a mediocre Senator and is part of GOP status quo in Washington.
Glad to see he's not running.
And don't forget HANDSOME! That alone entitles him to a promotion INSTEAD of a condemnation when he goes squishy on us and becomes part of the beltway crowd. Witness the difference:
=============================================
Lindsey Graham: I love John McCain & everything he stands for
Thune fans: Shut up, you little wimpy homo!!
John Thune: I love John McCain & everything he stands for
Thune fans: :: sigh:: You tell 'em, Senator! Don't apologize!
--------------------------------------------------
Chris Christie: I'm campaigning for a bunch of conservatives, but I'm also going to endorse one RINO, Mike Castle.
Thune Fans: Go away, you fat traitor!! You suck!
Thune fans: I'm campaigning for a bunch of RINOs, and endorsed the likes of the worse of 'em like Lisa Murkowski and Mark Kirk in the primary.
Thune Fans: Awww... gee John, that's alright... you're still a great Christian conservative!
-------------------------------------------------
John McCain: I'm going to join a bipartisan "gang" now. Oh, and I'm voting with the Dems on closure. But I'll vote against the final version of the bill, knowing it will pass anyway once it gets to the floor.
Thune fans: @(*#&)+_#E$!!!! I'D VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT OVER YOU!!
John Thune: I'm going to join a bipartisan "gang" now. Oh, and I'm voting with the Dems on closure. But I'll vote against the final version of the bill, knowing it will pass anyway once it gets to the floor.
Thune fans: Hmmm... Well gee whiz, if you're doing that, I'm sure you have a really good reason for it. Gotta please your constiuents, right?
In Feb of 2007 a poll showed Barack Obama getting 33% of independents to Rudy Giuliani’s 50%. He trailed him 47-40 overall.
The same poll showed Obama getting 39% of independents to McCain’s 42%. They were tied overall at 43.
Obama ended up winning independents 52-44. He went from 39 to 52. Or from 33 to 52 if you look at his #s against Rudy. Hillary got 35% of independents to McCain’s 50%, and exit polls showed she would have beaten McCain by an even larger margin and done even better among independents than Obama did.
The point is that there’s a long way to go. Would it be tough for with independents if the election took place on March 6th, 2011? Yes. But it takes places on Nov 6, 2012. Plenty can and will happen. If unemployment stays high and inflation takes off, lets see what happens then. Lets see what happens if the debt and deficit continue to grow.
Will it be tougher for her than for others? Yes. But at this point it’s way to premature to make any predictions.
As for Thune, he clearly showed he’s not a leader. What good can he do as one of 47 Republicans in the Senate? What good has he done in the Senate the past few years? Did he stop Obamacare? Financial reform? the stimulus? lower the deficit? reduce spending? anything? No.
As President he could have prevented all of them.
We’re going to need someone willing to get in the ring. Thune clearly isn’t.
Not happening.
Must be his 100% conservative voting record per his ACU ratings - anymore, RINO is defined as the candidate you don’t personally support.
Not one word of that is accurate.
Not one word of that is accurate.
Defeated Tom Daschle for re-election in one of the highest profile Senate races in 2004.
Thune seems to be a nice guy and a conservative. Not enough willingness to do the necessary knifework.
‘I assume that Gov. Mitch Daniels is the front-runner now.’
Gov. Daniels came out against Indiana Republican legislators attempt to pass a right to work law today. I assume that Gov. Mitch Daniels is NOT the front-runner now.
Thats as much as I can figure by reading Presidential threads lately. Quite a few have backed themselves into a Palin or nothing corner.
He can get into leadership in 2012 when the Reps take over the Senate, which they definitely will.
Did DeMint do any of the those things?
You voting for Obama in 2012?
I am announcing on this forum tonight that April Lexington will not be seeking his party’s nomination for President of the United States in 2012. That is all. Thank you.
I don’t think anyone expected him to run.
They’ll definitely take over the Senate? I hope so.
No, Demint didn’t do any of themm and that’s exactly my point.
Taking over the Senate won’t really matter if Obama is still in the WH. Who cares about being in the leadership if Obama is still in the WH? He’ll veto any attempt to change any of his policies and there will never be 67 votes to overturn it. Moreover, there will still be 40 dems to filibuster any major changes. Will being #2 or #3 to McConnell really matter?
And if Obama wins and gets to replace Scalia or Kennedy(both will be 77-80 in 2013-2016)we are all in trouble. The SC would be gone for the next 20-25 years. There won’t be one conservative decision handed down for a generation.
Nothing major will change as long as Obama is President.
So if Thune or anyone else really wants to help the #1 issue is beating Obama. Nothing else really comes close. So if he or anyone else really wants to do something and they think they can beat Obama that’s what they should focus on. With all due respect, him staying in the Senate doesn’t really change anything or get us anywhere.
Same for Demint or anyone else. Same for Christie. He talks about leadership and doing big things then says he won’t run. There’s nothing bigger than beating Obama. Again, with all due respect it’s a tad more important than what goes on in NJ.
A GOP President with 47 in the Senate is far better than Obama with 55 in the Senate.
I’m just saying I want to see someone who we can count on to get stuff done, to take on the powers that be, to be willing to get in the arena. And I’m a little put off by potential leaders who are shying away from the fight. Staying away from the frony lines.
2016 could well be too late. We don’t have 4 years for guys to get seasoned or more comfortable or whatever. If Obama is re-elected the damage could be too entrenched to be overcome on so many levels. If we win in 2012, we can still reverse a lot of his policies, and preserve the SC for a generation. Not to mention all the foreign policy issues. Imagine if Carter won in 1980. Things would be a lot different.
Maybe the key issue in being Preisdent is leadership. And when the country is truly in a perilous situation it doesn’t inspire confidence to see guys like Thune, Pence, Christie, Perry, Jindal, Demint, etc... all of whom I like and all of whom have lots going for them, all say “thanks, but no thanks” I’m not willing to take Obama on.
I don’t really care for Mitt Romney, but at least he appears to be willing to do something about it and go after Obama and try and beat him. More than I can say for a few others.
I don’t like Obama but at least he was willing to get in the ring, to take on the most powerful people in the Democratic Party, to articulate an agenda, put it before the public, and fight for his beliefs. He didn’t say “I’ll wait another 4 years”.
We’re all waiting for a general and too many guys are deciding to remain at HQ, and not lead the troops into the field.
And so what if Obama looks in good shape now? Bush41 was in great shape in Feb of 1991. No one thought he’d lose. A lot of top dems bailed thinking 96 was their shot. Bill Clinton didn’t bail. Carter had a 14 pt lead on Reagan in March of 1979 and a 26 pt lead in Dec of 1979. Things happen.
I’m just saying seeing someone bail on a Presidential run does tell me something about their willingness to lead and take on Obama. I want someone who’s willing to go for it.
I guess I dont put that much fear into Obama. His healthcare was defunded while he is President. AG’s in a majority of states are taking on his healthcare law in court. Governors are taking on teachers unions and fiscal problems, all with him as President.
Republicans in Congress passed a balanced budget and defense of marriage with Clinton. Laws are created in the Congress. Id much rather have good leaders in the two houses. And I believe that if we had a majority in the Senate with Thune as a Jr Leadership and someone like DeMint in Sr leadership, along with a giant House lead, the issues that matter to me will be taken care of.
This is a great source of comfort to me, as I watch the usual RINO egomaniacs parade about making their big inferences about throwing in their hat. Perhaps there is a true conservative in the wings who we haven't thought of yet.
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.