GOP Base's 2012 Pick: None of the Above
A new CNN poll putting Rudy Giuliani at the head of the pack of potential 2012 GOP candidates only highlights the weak state of the current crop of contenders. The Iowa caucuses begin in 254 days. Not only do Republicans not have a clear favorite, but polls routinely show considerable support …GOP Flirts with 2012 Disaster
Maybe Republicans should nominate Paul Ryan. Or Sarah Palin. Maybe we need to get the passions of 2009-2011 out of our system once and for all. Maybe Republicans should nominate Paul Ryan. Or Sarah Palin. Maybe we need to get the passions of 2009-2011 out of our system once and for all. Maybe it's …With Daniels Out, Who Speaks to GOP Youth?
Many conservatives are saddened by Mitch Daniels’ exit, especially the growing grassroots student initiative which pulled out all the stops to convince him to run. There are many conservative columnists, donors, and op-ed writers are saddened by the exit of Mitch Daniels from the presidential …Treasury Fire Sale Could Take Years
Any plan to ward off a default by selling government assets would be unworkable in the short term. An emerging right-wing meme about how to deal with the prospect of a debt default is that the federal government can pay off its debts by selling its assets. Veronique de Rugy of Cato and the …GOP Wonks Lose with Daniels' Exit
The challenge for those on the right who admired Mitch Daniels is to figure out how to get the rest of the party to embrace his pragmatic perspective. Mitch Daniels’ has exited the GOP presidential field and he leaves a large cadre of unhappy conservative policy wonks in his wake. The sentiments …With Daniels' Exit, GOP Looks Out of Luck
Daniels’ decision to opt out signals a much larger problem for the GOP: Its best and brightest candidates are imploding, lackluster or ducking the race altogether. Mitch Daniels’ decision to forgo the presidential race is personally understandable and even laudable: His wife and four daughters …With Daniels Out, Is Perry the Answer? No
Conservatives are once again looking for a white knight to save the GOP field and the newest name being promoted is Texas Governor Rick Perry. With Mitch Daniels announcing that he will not seek the party's nomination, conservatives are once again looking for a white knight to save the Republican …GOP Field Looking More Mainstream
It's not just the potential GOP field that is thinning out, it's the once-crowded conservative portion of that field. Pence running for governor. Palin too damaged. Bachmann too far-fetched. Ron Paul too sinister. Gingrich experimenting with "moderation." Huckabee committed to …With Huck Out, Will GOP Lose the Middle Class?
He had his political flaws, but Mike Huckabee also understood the economic concerns of the middle class. This Saturday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced that he would not run for the 2012 Republican party's nomination. As my latest column for CNN.com notes, for all his political …FroshUpdate: West for the West Wing?
Freshmen have been pushing the energy bills in the American Energy Initiative, but conservative economists tell FrumForum it will have little effect on gas prices in the next year. Meanwhile, freshman Rep. Martha Roby calls rising gas prices “the greatest threat to our economy”. Rick …Will Pawlenty Defend His Health Care Record?
The GOP field hasn't pulled any punches when talking about Romney's health care record. But some of the other candidates have questions to answer as well. A question for Tim Pawlenty at the next Republican debate. "When you became governor in 2003, Minnesota had under 395,000 citizens without …Romney: No Apologies For Romneycare
In a speech Thursday, Mitt Romney defended his Massachusetts health care plan and argued that it didn't resemble the President's health reforms. Here is a link to Romney's power point slide. Here is where he defends the mandate: For some, Romney's ability to defend the …
Romney's Health Speech Venue: Another Misstep?
Romney is set to deliver a major policy speech at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center. But the venue is raising some eyebrows. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich got off to a not-so-great start yesterday with some website problems just as he announced to 1.3 million people on Twitter that …Newt's Challenge: What's His Selling Point?
Conservatives look to character and ideology when picking a president. As Newt Gingrich seeks the GOP nomination, these traditional grounds are unavailable to him. What's the most important quality in a president? Over the past 15 years, conservatives have often emphasized character. The …Newt Stumbles Out of the Starting Gate
Newt Gingrich's campaign infrastructure was much vaunted in the run up to his announcement this afternoon, but it appears to hobbling at the moment. Newt Gingrich's campaign infrastructure might have been much vaunted in the run up to his presidential campaign announcement this afternoon, but it …