Thursday, June 25, 2009

Is This The Best They Got?

TW: The Republicans unlike the Dems tend to identify their POTUS candidates early. They are struggling as potential prospects drop like flys (Jindal- childish public speaking, Ensign- winky issues, Sanford- one can assume Buenes Aires is now off limits to 2012 candidates, Newt- general ickiness and Palin- ummm...puhleeeze). Haley Barbour actually might make it though. He is southern, former lobbyist, white, old and very conservative; a perfect match for his party. He and Mitt Romney could have a fine face-off in late 2011, early 2012.

Neither will win. The next Republican POTUS (2016 or 2020) will be a female and/or Hispanic, count on it.

From Economist:
"THIS report on the possible White House dreams of Haley Barbour, the Republican governor of Mississippi, is funnier than it should be. Mr Barbour dined with top Republican strategists on Monday night at the Caucus Room, "a steak place that Barbour co-founded along with Democratic lobbyist Tommy Boggs". (Mr Barbour, too, was a lobbyist.) His guests included a political director for George Bush, a veteran of Bob Dole's 1996 campaign, and a vice president of the American Gas Association.

Chris Cillizza, who broke the story, writes that it's "smart to do these sorts of sessions since they ensure that the inside-the-Beltway buzz surrounding his potential candidacy will keep up." Sure, but in what country? Who thinks that support from the oil industry can lift a former lobbyist into the White House? A steak dinner to launch a presidential bid; in 2009, it's almost quaint."

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