The Daniels Verdict
Troy Senik, Ed. ·
Jan 25 at 9:50am
Two independent events that deserve to be considered in the context of one another:
1. A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows 1/3 of Republican voters would like to see a new candidate enter the GOP presidential race.
2. Last night, Indiana Governor (and Friend of Ricochet) Mitch Daniels -- one the names most often mentioned as a potential late entrant -- delivered the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address.
Here's the question: are you more or less inclined to think that Governor Daniels would be a suitable alternative based on what you saw last night?
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Comments :
May '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Not inclined to inspire tearful adulation, but perfect for what ails us. He would tap into the frustration and dissatisfaction voters feel about the current administration and importantly, would be extremely difficult to demonize. In fact, any viciousness directed at his personal situation would result in likely backlash. Punches would refuse to land. He would plausibly become the first post-partisan president while at the same time proving true to conservative principles. He would be our age's Calvin Coolidge.
Dec '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Less. Great substance, lousy style.
Re: The Daniels Verdict
He's a serious adult in the room who would likely be a very good president but doesn't have the fire in the belly to do what it takes to pursue the office in the modern era.
Dec '11
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Far less inclined.
First, he seemed to be calling for means testing of Social Security and Medicare: "The better course is to stop sending the wealthy benefits they do not need..."
And he engaged in class warfare with regard to taxes: "...and stop providing (the wealthy) so many tax preferences that distort our economy and do little or nothing to foster growth."
It may well be that entitlements will eventually have to be subject to means testing. And no doubt we need sensible tax reform. But we don't need Republican politicians taking direct aim at "the wealthy"
That's what Harry Reid is for.
Aug '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Troy,
Please indulge and include those like me who are so solidly in that 1/3 that they no longer watch debates or SOTUs or the attending pre/rebuttals.
I have seen enough of all the others to know he is a suitable alternative. It really is that simple. And my disgust for the state of things is so strong that actually investing more time and energy into the dead-end Newt/Mitt narrative is too bleak a prospect to consider.
Mitch, Jeb, Marco, bring 'em on. Hell, at this point, loose the Palin. Something has got to give.
Edited on Jan 25 at 10:22amMar '11
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Agreed - up against Mr Obama, who has great style, more hair, baritone voice and is taller and cooler - but lousy substance - I still wouldn't give Mr Daniels much of a chance to win. But he would be a great President.
And, last I checked, he is still married to his wife, who has the veto.
Bring on Palin!
Edited on Jan 25 at 10:13amDec '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
No more inclined than before - which wasn't much. Our problems are "purely mathematical"? That's a strangely bloodless statement. I'm not as outraged as others at his call for means-testing entitlements, but I can empathize with their outrage. And his delivery was completely uninspiring. I would have to see him in a setting where he had to fire up a neutral or slightly skeptical crowd to find out whether he has the ability to inspire and motivate, as a Presidential candidate must.
Dec '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Heh, heh - Squishy Blue RINO said "loose the Palin" - heh, heh.
Jul '11
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Brother Squish, it's like you're reading my mind. Like, like, a thousand times like.
Squishy Blue RINO: Troy,
Please indulge and include those like me who are so solidly in that 1/3 that they no longer watch debates or SOTUs or the attending pre/rebuttals.
I have seen enough of all the others to know he is suitable alternative. It really is that simple. And my disgust for the state of things is so strong that actually investing more time and energy into the dead-end Newt/Mitt narrative is too bleak a prospect to consider.
Mitch, Jeb, Marco, bring 'em on. Hell, at this point, loose the Palin. Something has got to give. · 5 minutes ago
Jun '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Secretary of Treasury.
Sep '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Release The Palin rhymes sort of with Release The Kraaken.
Mar '11
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Mitch doesn't give red meat speeches. He just defends conservative ideas, and then actually delivers on them in government.
He has a solidly fiscally and socially conservative record (not perfect, but rock solid). He ended collective bargaining for public employees, created a very successful school voucher program, has instituted economic policies that have fostered economic growth in Indiana including cutting the corporate tax rate, reducing the cost of doing business (best state in the Midwest) ensuring low property taxes and keeping worker’s comp low. He’s privatized public infrastructure in the state and ensured a balanced budget in all kinds of economic conditions: his state went from 700 million in debt to a 1.3 billion surplus under his care. He improved virtually every government agency's efficiency while also maintaining low rates of state government employment. Meanwhile, he de-funded Planned Parenthood in his state and, after marital difficulties with his own wife, reconciled and is happily married again.
So, I’m not more or less sold than I already was. Mitch is one of America’s best governors and would be far superior to any candidate in the race today.
Jun '11
Re: The Daniels Verdict
And such is the sad state of our union, that this generation's Calvin Coolidge would have little to no chance of being elected president because his deep and thoughtful substance is overshadowed by his not-up-to-Hollywood-standard style.
Aug '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Pseudodionysius
Release The Palin rhymes sort of with Release The Kraaken. · 1 minute ago
It does? Huh.
Peter would be proud, it's the Ricochet way- no baby seal unclubbed, no segue unpraised, no sad attempt a subtlety unexposed.
Good on ya.
Nov '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
I have great respect for Governor Daniels and what he has accomplished in his career. I enjoy his contributions to Ricochet and I hope that we hear more from him. I hope, then, that I am not nitpicking when I object to this premise in his response:
"So 2012 is a year of true opportunity, maybe our last, to restore an America of hope and upward mobility, and greater equality. The challenges aren't matters of ideology, or party preference; the problems are simply mathematical, and the answers are purely practical.
The challenges are matters of ideology, weakly (or so it seems in the case of Republicans) expressed through party preference. Governor Daniels' response does not seem to acknowledge this, and does little to distinguish him from those who have already chosen to run.
Sep '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Squishy Blue RINO
Pseudodionysius
Release The Palin rhymes sort of with Release The Kraaken. · 1 minute ago
It does? Huh.
Peter would be proud, it's the Ricochet way- no baby seal unclubbed, no segue unpraised, no sad attempt a subtlety unexposed.
Good on ya. · 2 minutes ago
No turn unstoned.
May '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Squishy Blue RINO
Pseudodionysius
Release The Palin rhymes sort of with Release The Kraaken. · 1 minute ago
It does? Huh.
Peter would be proud, it's the Ricochet way- no baby seal unclubbed, no segue unpraised, no sad attempt a subtlety unexposed.
Good on ya. · 2 minutes ago
Definitely Robinsonian.
May '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Everybody is looking for delivery... It's a call to BE president... Not act like the president. The problem is that both Reagan and Clinton were comfortable doing both... now both sides are confused by the style over the substance.
Jul '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
I've said it before, in tune with Mr. Urdan, and I still believe it: Mitch, Mitch, Mitch!
Dec '10
Re: The Daniels Verdict
Except "release the Palin" inspires far more bladder-draining sheet terror. I would like to see the entire Washington Establishment deal with her entry into the field (most likely with the battle cry "I see you people are in need of some adult supervision") - heads would explode before she even scheduled her first campaign rally.