Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
From "Queen of the Tea Party," Matt Continetti's cover story on Michele Bachmann, in the current issue of the Weekly Standard:
“I think Bachmann’s chances of landing on Jupiter are higher than her chances of being nominated,” Republican strategist Mike Murphy told me in an April interview for Washingtonpost.com.
Well, get ready for an interplanetary expedition. Bachmann is a far more serious candidate for the Republican nomination than her reputation would suggest. She’s a talented fundraiser who raised $13.5 million for her 2010 reelection campaign. She’s a television star who appropriately tailors her message to her audience. Her combativeness will delight conservatives eager to fight Barack Obama. Her movement credentials—she founded the House Tea Party Caucus—put her at the cutting edge of right-wing politics. And in a primary campaign where authenticity counts, no other candidate has Bachmann’s unique history: an Iowa native who put herself through law school, raised her five children and took in 23 foster children, and has never lost an election for state or federal office.
I think twice before disagreeing with Mike Murphy--and then disagree anyway. Bachmann's no flake or right-wing extremist. As Matt's long and beautifully written story makes clear, she's a principled conservative, enormously impressive as a wife, as a mother, as a working woman--and as an immensely skillful politician.
Maybe things will change--maybe, for instance, Tim Pawlenty will at least discover, somewhere deep within himself, some willingness to display some fight, or maybe Rick Perry will announce, reshuffling the entire race. But as matters stand now?
I'm for Michele.
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Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Peter, I beat you by twelve hours with my modest financial contribution to the Bachmann-for-president juggernaut.
I think Michele is currently--what was Wm. F. Buckley's formulation?--the rightmost viable candidate.
Jun '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Hooray for you, Peter. I am so sick and tired of fellow conservatives nit-picking every little utterance. It's like they are ashamed of being conservative and of their own principles, so the only person who could represent them must be God-like or not conservative at all. Michele Bachmann is a great woman and a worthy candidate. Gee whiz, look at that demogogic,egocentric,narscisistic, juvenile, middle finger using, arrogant and viscious man who would be her opponent. Put the two side by side in your mind. See what you feel is eminating from their hearts. And then, how could one choose other than Bachmann. Barack Obama, in any other profession and after what he has done in the last 21/2 years, would be facing prison time, not tee time.
Aug '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
It's time for a scrapper- that's for sure.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Michele Bachmann has never sponsored a piece of legislation that became law. She has never chaired a committee. Her former chief of staff says – without much in the way of specificity, I acknowledge – that she isn't ready to be president. She has zero foreign policy experience. She has zero executive experience. I can anticipate your retorts already: "Oh yeah? Well look how inexperienced Barack Obama was." Yes. Indeed. Exactly. Look how that is working out for us.
Look too at the totality of the case that Peter has made above. "As Matt's long and beautifully written story makes clear, she's a principled conservative, enormously impressive as a wife, as a mother, as a working woman--and as an immensely skillful politician."
Enormously impressive as a wife and mother? Does that now commend someone to the presidency, because if so, I should get my mom on the phone – she's even a principled conservative, though she's more of a political outsider than an "immensely skillful politician."
Matt Continetti's case for Palin and Bachmann is that they're skilled pols. I'll pay attention when someone argues they'd be best in the White House.
Sep '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Mike Murphy might know a few things about the nomination process that we don't. There are elements - influential elements in the GOP including Murphy himself who don't want a candidate like her and will work to scuttle her.
So we'll see.
I'm for her at this point. I agree with her approach, I think she is qualified well enough and I think she can actually win against Obama.
I just hope the Republican Party wises up and realizes they aren't that good at picking winners. The party needs to adjust itself to the Tea Party, not fight them (us).
Mar '11
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
I agree with you, Peter, on the quality of Mr Continetti's piece, your disagreement with Mike Murphy, and that Mrs Bachmann is the best (i.e. most conservative) of the current candidates.
If Gov Perry runs, it would be a more difficult choice. If Mrs Palin runs, I would vote for her, Kenneth notwithstanding.
However, your previous comments about a split conservative vote handing the nomination to Mr Romney are a concern, to be sure
As for Conor's comment, the syphilitic camel rule applies. The problem with Mr Obama is his ideology, rather than lack of experience. In the same way, conservative ideology trumps experience, I think.
Edited on June 30, 2011 at 8:39pmAug '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Matthew Norman: Laugh is on US as frothing firebrand eyes presidency
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/matthew-norman-laugh-is-on-us-as-frothing-firebrand-eyes-presidency-2808212.html
Check out this hatchet-job from yesterday's Irish Independent, probably bought in from the UK Independent. This is just an example of quite a lot of adverse coverage of the lady in this part of the world.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Conor Friedersdorf: Michele Bachmann has never sponsored a piece of legislation that became law. She has never chaired a committee. Her former chief of staff says – without much in the way of specificity, I acknowledge – that she isn't ready to be president. She has zero foreign policy experience. She has zero executive experience. I can anticipate your retorts already: "Oh yeah? Well look how inexperienced Barack Obama was." Yes. Indeed. Exactly. Look how that is working out for us.
Look too at the totality of the case that Peter has made above. "As Matt's long and beautifully written story makes clear, she's a principled conservative, enormously impressive as a wife, as a mother, as a working woman--and as an immensely skillful politician."
· Jun 30 at 11:30am
All fair points, Conor--and all on my list to address when I get a moment over the weekend. Brace yourself, btw. I'm making notes on the parallels between Bachmann and Thatcher--and discovering that they aren't, really, all that outlandish.
But keep at us, Conor. You're our very own Diogenes.
Sep '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
According to Conor F we are in trouble because Obama lacks experience. He of the No Labels group doesn't want to acknowledge the simple fact that it isn't a matter of competence but a matter of world-view and vision. According to Conor, if Obama had executive experience everything would be going swimmingly....
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Hi Peter,
Did a new post on all this. Maybe I was supposed to put it here, so apologies if I screwed up. Tried to call Long for advice, but he is at a John Anderson for President staff reunion and not available. Best, MM
Mar '11
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Charles Mark
Check out this hatchet-job from yesterday's Irish Independent, probably bought in from the UK Independent. This is just an example of quite a lot of adverse coverage of the lady in this part of the world.
The Independent hates Mrs Thatcher, also - one to add to Peter's comparison list.
Edited on June 30, 2011 at 8:43pmApr '11
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Let's take them one at a time:
1) It's time congress started eliminating laws rather than creating more.
2) I'll bet the budget comitte she has at the kitchen table with her husband is enough to balance a budget.
3) Foreign policy experience? Who needs experience? When someone wants to kill you you either kill them or die. You are loyal to your friends and you don't back down and coddle your enemies. It doesn't take experience to know this.
4) Skill as a mother is great experience for negotiating and conflict resolution. Especially when you've dealt with 28 children.
5) Executive experience? I own and run two companies and there's no way I could run a household of up to 28 children.
Sep '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
The thing about Conor F's comment that gets me is that he's not being entirely genuine in his remarks. He doesn't want Bachmann because of her vision . If Bachmann were more experienced, he would be giving us other, possibly real reasons why he opposes her. But I am quite sure after having read Conor F's other writings and affiliations, that he is four-square against Bachmann's ideology and whether she would be a competent President isn't his fundamental concern. Am I wrong?
Apr '11
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
As the old saying goes......Some people would complain if they were hung with a new rope...and it wouldn't be the hanging they were complaining about.
May '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Bachmann is as viable as Barry Goldwater and Walter Mondale. I will personally write a check to Peter for $1000 if Bachmann becomes President. She would lose Minnesota by far more than Gore lost Tennessee. John Hinderaker is a good friend of Bachmann and has been a supporter for years- but he has concerns about viability as well. These are not slams against her as a person or of her views.
Right now everyone is looking for a confronter- I think we may have fooled ourselves into believing that a lot of loud talk, or personally thrilling ecstatic moments watching viral videos of some lefty idiot getting his due on camera is substantive campaign fodder that wins over the marginal votes. Or that repeating the same maxims is how you show determination regarding policy preferences.
Sorry, Charlie Tuna. Ronald Reagan's outburst regarding the microphone in that 1979 debate was not what won him the nomination or the general election in 1980- it was 1) him showing over time that he was not the empty-headed actor of the media portrayals, 2) he refused to throw mud at his Republican rivals, and 3) he was infinitely likable.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Peter, thanks for those kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed my piece.
I said what I wanted to say about Bachmann in my long article. I'd add, though, that experience has rarely been a deciding factor in presidential contests—just look at the current occupant of the Oval Office!
Bachmann's challenge is to broaden her appeal beyond the conservative base of the Republican party. Can she do it? I think she already is, by deemphasizing social issues and running as a Reagan Democrat who opposes the Obama agenda.
We'll see how well Bachmann does on the trail. But if I were a Democrat or a moderate Republican, I would not underestimate her.
Jul '10
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Conor Friedersdorf: I can anticipate your retorts already: "Oh yeah? Well look how inexperienced Barack Obama was." Yes. Indeed. Exactly. Look how that is working out for us.
Look too at the totality of the case that Peter has made above. "As Matt's long and beautifully written story makes clear, she's a principled conservative,
· Jun 30 at 11:30am
Nice try.
Obama's failure isn't from inexperience.
Look at the totality of Obama's Presidency. Obama's policies and agenda makes clear, he's a principled Marxist.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
I'm sympathetic to the charge she's not experienced enough, but never sponsoring a piece of legislation that became law is not a mark against her. I've noticed that those who champion their legislation-passage skills are those who think additional legislation is a good thing. Neither does it bother me that she's never chaired a committee, considering both how rare these seats are to gain and how those who have chaired committees tend to just get further entrenched in the political-lobbyist complex.
The rest, sure.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
Conor is beyond correct. My criticism has been focused on her weakness as a candidate. But his point gets to that and the wider and more important issue of who ought to be President. Her record in Congress is very thin; same in MN state Senate. No footprints in the snow. Ask any GOP staff pro on the HIll -- including lots of 100% ACU conservatives -- and they privately say she is pretty much a joke.
Re: Our Own Mike Murphy, Our Own Matt Continetti, and the Next President of the United States
I dunno Franco. I mean, you're right, I don't want her, but I'd gladly put Mitch Daniels in the White House tomorrow, and there's a lot of overlap in their beliefs and favored policies. Competence is a big concern with me RE Bachmann. Just not my only concern.