Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Ross Douthat, just the other day on his New York Times blog:
[T]his Gallup survey...shows that at present only 3 percent (!) of Republican primary voters have a “strongly unfavorable” view of Mitt Romney, compared with 73 percent who feel “favorable” or “strongly favorable” toward the former Massachusetts governor. Of course those numbers will come down as negative campaigning highlights Romney’s various sins and deviations. But they’re grist for my recurring argument that opposition from movement institutions, talk radio and the like are not insuperable obstacles for a well-funded Republican frontrunner to overcome.
Romney remains a weak frontrunner, to be sure — weak enough that I was sure he was a dead man walking a year ago. But the candidate who beats him has to peel off some of his moderate-establishment support as well as mobilizing Tea Party voters, and such a candidate hasn’t yet emerged. It might — might — be Rick Perry, but it isn’t Michele Bachmann. I have no doubt that she can give him a serious scare, but it will be the kind of scare that Jesse Jackson gave Michael Dukakis in 1988, or Jerry Brown gave Bill Clinton in 1992 — enough to earn her a nice convention speaking slot, but not the nomination.
Sigh. The argument here is a lot harder to dismiss than I'd like.
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Oct '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Peter... this is a duplicate of my post on this subject earlier:
"Perhaps I'm being redundant, but I am tired of trying to digest all of the forgoing comments, both the insightful and the commonplace drivel. Bottom line... conservatives are mostly a bunch of losers. If you do not believe in your own principles enough to have the courage to state them without apology, you are a loser.
Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Ronald Reagan, Maggie Thacher. All share one common characteristic... the losers in the conservative movement exhibit a level of embarrassment that pales in comparison with the truth.
What is the difference between the left and the right????? The answer is really very simple.
The Left believes passionately in their philosophy, and are willing to unapologetically commit their very lives to it, without compromise.
The Right does not !!!"
Call me DISGUSTED!!
Jul '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Peter, I just do not know how to read that Gallup survey.
I can only surmise that we've already reached the point where respondents to polls aren't actually reporting their opinions of the candidates, per se, but their beliefs about the electability of the candidates.
In other words, strongly disapprove equates to, "In an ideal world, I like Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin or Rick Perry, but I want to win, and I strongly disapprove of this candidate becoming the nominee because I think he or she is a sure loser."
Mar '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
The one thing the moderate-establishment does best is make the case for the absolute indispensability of the moderate-establishment. Why, it is a miracle that we bitter, clinging yokels can even dress ourselves!
I'm not invested in any candidate yet, but I am feeling a little irked with some of the people who are. We keep getting told that we dare not nominate anyone too conservative for fear of alienating swing voters. That is important, but the record of our less ideologically stalwart candidates has been less than stellar. Mark Kirk managed to win Illinois by the skin of his teeth, and that was against the hinkiest banker since Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life, and only after he trashed the most egregious of his "enlightened" positions.
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Kenneth: Peter, I just do not know how to read that Gallup survey.
I can only surmise that we've already reached the point where respondents to polls aren't actually reporting their opinions of the candidates, per se, but their beliefs about the electability of the candidates.
In other words, strongly disapprove equates to, "In an ideal world, I like Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin or Rick Perry, but I want to win, and I strongly disapprove of this candidate becoming the nominee because I think he or she is a sure loser." · Jul 9 at 9:22pm
Absolutely fascinating interpretation. Somebody, somewhere, must have looked into the way people are responding to polls these days. I'd agree that we seem to be getting a kind of second-order answer--not, "Whom do I wish to see win?" but "Whom do I, junior Mike Murphy that I am, suppose could win?" But to what extent is this taking place?
Mitt Romney claims to be the most electable candidate. Just how likely is it that his claim will prove self-fulfilling?
May '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Maggie Thatcher? Ronald Reagan? Huh?
When did Thatcher says anything as open-mouth, insert-foot as several of Bachmann's speeches?
Or Reagan? He didn't ever make any gaffe like Concord NH as Concord MA- because he thought and prepared before speaking. He never ran for every camera in sight and screech that a program like TARP, which was voted for and supported as a desperate measure in a desperate time based on the information available then was absolutely nothing more than bailouts for Wall Street. If it ended up as bailouts for Wall Street it was because people like Bachmann spent all her time self-promoting instead of working to put safeguards in the legislation to prevent any actual bailouts.
Romney is stiff and comes off as inauthentic, and his principles are suspect, and he refuses to acknowledge that RomneyCare didn't turn out the way he had hoped. But he does appear to do some homework first before blathering to every media outlet.
As I have said several times, Bachmann is our Howard Dean. Until we get serious and stop looking for ObamaRight, we will continue to spit into the wind.
Murphy is half right.
Feb '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
The use of "ain't" in a Peter Robinson piece seems terribly out of place.
Jul '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Peter: You go to the Times, the opposition paper. You absorb it all like a sailor seduced by a Tokyo Rose broadcast, and you come back and tell us that we lost the war in the Pacific and all the girls back home are cheating on their warrior husbands and boyfriends.
What were they be saying about Reagan on July 9, 1979? Bonzo's straight man? Ronald Raygunz?
What you need is a nice Mark Steyn, Andrew Breitbart, Ann Coulter bake-off to restore your good senses.
All: And enough with the "Bachmann signed a pledge with slavery language," kerfuffle. She did no such thing, as detailed here.
Edited on Jul 9, 2011 at 10:37pmMar '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
The purpose of polls is to manufacture news, not report it.
I don't have a 'strongly unfavorable' view of Romney. I'm sure he'd be a much better President than BHO; but then, Freddy Krueger would be a better President than BHO.
I believe Romney is a moral man, a capable manager and a patriot, but maybe too 'nice' to take on the Democrats.
If the NYT is touting him as the Republican favorite, or the inevitable candidate, it's because they have destroyed him before and they believe they can do it again.
Romney might win, if BHO can't lift his game, but at best he would slow the decline when what is needed is to reverse it.
I think Bachmann could best serve the conservative cause by taking Two Hankys Boehner's job.
Jul '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Peter Robinson
Mitt Romney claims to be the most electable candidate. Just how likely is it that his claim will prove self-fulfilling?
In an election season where Obama looks to lose big, Mitt Romney is the stealth Obamacare preservation lifeline candidate the zombie media so desperately wants to find.
Mar '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Michele Bachmann is no Reagan or Thatcher, and has almost no chance of winning a general election. She is also smart. She must know that she is fighting a losing battle.
But if you're a politician of genuine convictions (which she obviously is), what better way to advance the causes you believe in than a high-visibility presidential campaign? Even if she gets 3% of the primary vote, she will have raised her own profile enormously, brought her issues to the table, and hopefully forced the front-runner to tack rightwards. Mission accomplished.
We all want to win. But winners won't start to be picked for another half a year. This is the time for ideas to be voiced, for platforms to be crafted. I don't agree with a number of Bachmann's ideas, but I applaud her for being uncompromising in her convictions, in the face of what even she must know is certain defeat.
Sep '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
As I have said several times, Bachmann is our Howard Dean. Until we get serious and stop looking for ObamaRight, we will continue to spit into the wind.
Very well and succinctly put.
Mar '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Kenneth:
In other words, strongly disapprove equates to, "In an ideal world, I like Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin or Rick Perry, but I want to win, and I strongly disapprove of this candidate becoming the nominee because I think he or she is a sure loser." · Jul 9 at 9:22pm
In other words, Mitt Romney is sealing his title as 2012's John Kerry.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Who is it that keeps telling us that too conservative won't fly? By and large it's the MSM, the same people who insisted John McCain was the perfect moderate. And if "too conservative" is a slur, then why wasn't Obama "too liberal" to be elected? Our incumbent president will be at least as vulnerable in 2012 as Jimmy Carter was in 1980. This election is the perfect time to nominate the most ideologically conservative candidate we can find. There's a republic at stake here, folks. Half measures simply won't do.
Edited on Jul 10, 2011 at 4:46amMay '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
You don;t have to be a Bachmann fan to know that Murphy's day is over. Even the temperate Lileks was beside himself talking to the man. Professionalism stayed his tongue, but I'm sure the mic stand is irrevocably altered.
I don't want Romney for President, and I support anybody who diverts a single dollar away from his primary race. I really liked Romney for 2008, and I really don't for 2012. Weakening him is the only way to keep the door open for a conservative who doesn't have to be goaded into marginally acceptable positions. "Things have changed, Jerry!" -- Fargo quote.
Edited on Jul 10, 2011 at 5:33amMar '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
"Our incumbent president will be at least as vulnerable in 2012 as Jimmy Carter was in 1980. This election is the perfect time to nominate the most ideologically conservative candidate we can find."
~Paules: Obama is quite vulnerable in 2012 and the best indicator of that is the "Right Track/Wrong Track" question.
But, here's the thing about 2012 versus 1980. Ronald Reagan was someone who had spent decades articulating a promising vision of America, had a compelling personal story, had lead a union, and had led one the countries biggest and most populous states through some turbulent years over 2 terms prior to running for President.
Which is to say, he wasn't merely an ideological conservative. He had a tremendous resume in addition to the right beliefs. And, he was the Great Communicator. That is, he not only had the right beliefs, he had the ability to persuade his fellow citizens that he was right.
We don't have that a candidate in his class in 2012, which means other considerations necessarily must be taken into account.
Jan '11
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Interesting argument, Mr. Robinson, but to my mind a bit non sequitor. You note the strong support for Romney among conservatives (I remain doubtful) making him a more viable candidate than Bachmann, but you also say, "...those numbers will come down as negative campaigning highlights Romney’s various sins and deviations." I agree, and that makes Romney a dark horse, or a dead horse walking - he's an inevitable looser, as I believe he always was.
I'm with other posters on Ricochet who plead for faith, not compromise, in conservative principles. Therefore, Bachmann, one of the few truly conservative candidates in this 2012, race will get my support. Call me foolish, but at least I know where I stand, and why.
Nov '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Duane Oyen:
As I have said several times, Bachmann is our Howard Dean. Until we get serious and stop looking for ObamaRight, we will continue to spit into the wind.
Well, you'll notice that no one on the Left repudiates the Howard Dean wing of the Democratic party or calls him nuts, no matter how nuts he is. It is the "Stupid Party" that autocannibalizes like this, expending energy on distancing itself from its most ardent supporters.
Sep '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
I do not understand why criticism of Murphy's manner is being interpreted as believing he's wrong. So he's right, by which I mean correct. Paul Krugman is sometimes correct, but even then I cannot stand to listen to/read him, he's so smug and annoying. (Pictures of him with his cat remind me of Dr. Evil.) Is it not problematic for Ricos that media people are the primary beneficiaries of the ridiculous sums of money being spent on political campaigns—and so have an inherent conflict of interest—yet espouse their beliefs as if they are pure messages from on high, never to be questioned? Indeed, that Murphy describes such questioning as cowardice? And his defenders often describe critical comments about him as desiring indoctrination? Phooey politics, as far as I'm concerned.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
Sisyphus
In an election season where Obama looks to lose big, ...
Only in your dreams.
Obama will be re-elected easily -- and with bigger margins than before. All the standard rules about elections being based on economic realities have been tossed out when we elected a black man for president. He was chosen by the MSM and the Dems (Democratic Media Complex) for this reason alone.
And then when you fold in Murphy's demographic horrors -- it's a sure thing for Barack.
May '10
Re: Bachmann, Schmachmann: Mike Murphy Ain't Alone
In other words Murphy has spent so much time crafting a way of thinking to appeal to the left that he can even make himself likeable to his own side...