Welcome Back, McCotter
Building on Peter's earlier thread, some thoughts on Thaddeus McCotter's run:
1) Yes, he gets into the race "late" (ok, not so late, given Perry and Giuliani are still lurking about) for a newcomer, but he's short on money and infrastructure -- and gambling that he can score big in the Ames Straw Poll and go on from there.
2) Did Greg Gutfield really talk him into running? I love "Red Eye", but it's not exactly a shining moment for democracy when a statesman takes his cue from a tv personality -- I'd like to think the "fire in the belly" has to do with deeper principles and philosophical motivations.
3) He's already comfortable doing Fox and he plays in a band. Sound familiar?
4) The optimist in me welcomes the addition of a serious constitutionalist to the field. The cynic in me is forced to ask: does McCotter think he has a snowball's chance, or is this is a dress rehearsal for a future career in tv?
Check out the video below, to see the congressman rocking out . . .
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Comments:
Oct '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Well, since Paul Ryan shows no movement, I am interested in looking at McCotter. He is obviously bright and witty, as he's demonstrated on Red Eye. Maybe Perry/McCotter? He'd be devastating bringing up the rear and saying things the top of the ticket can't. Straight-talking Southerner and wry, witty, Yankee. (I know, I know, he's not a New Englander, but they all look alike from down here.)
Just speculating.
May '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Look, if a nobody kook like Barack Obama can become president, why not McCotter? Why not Bachmann? Why not?
Oct '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Severely Ltd.: Well, since Paul Ryan shows no movement, I am interested in looking at McCotter. He is obviously bright and witty, as he's demonstrated on Red Eye. Maybe Perry/McCotter? He'd be devastating bringing up the rear and saying things the top of the ticket can't. Straight-talking Southerner and wry, witty, Yankee. (I know, I know, he's not a New Englander, but they all look alike from down here.)
Just speculating. · Jul 1 at 11:12am
I won't quibble with the brilliant analysis above, but I've just viewed Peter's short clip and read the American Spectator article that Mollie linked and I'm wondering McCotter/Ryan? He's not perfect, the auto-aid vote wasn't wonderful, but the vote against the Stimulus? Even Ryan faltered there.
Aug '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Hey, even if it's just a path to getting McCotter on TV more often, that's a good thing in my book. The actual substance he brings to any Presidential debate is just icing on the cake.
The lack of campaign infrastructure worries me as well... but I hear a lot of Newt Gingrich's infrastructure has recently jumped back on the market, maybe something can be pulled together quickly.
Edited on July 1, 2011 at 8:54pmMay '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Oh, goody, just what we need. Yet another doctrinaire conservative with no chance whatever of winning splitting up the primary votes to the benefit of Romney and Huntsman.
May '11
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
I've had the pleasure of voting for Thad in my district for the last 10 years. I've attended many speeches, town halls and fundraisers featuring McCotter. Despite not having the follicle prowess of Romney, he is wonderfully engaging and intelligent. Perhaps I'm just a "homer", but I'm thrilled to attend his address tomorrow and will be supporting him, long-shot or not. If nothing else, and as others have suggested, I hope his public awareness increases. And should his POTUS bid fail, maybe (just maybe) we can dump one of our two entrenched liberal senators here in Michigan for a McCotter senate seat. Alas, dreams, all dreams.
Jun '11
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
I do honestly think that discussing VP is pointless right now. Rubio's the perfect VP and I'd bet money whoever gets the nomination will pick him as he may well deliver Florida and many Latino votes. McCotter's very smart, knowledgeable, and funny. Like some said, I'm concerned over his protectionist leanings as reported earlier and his cardcheck stuff. I think he may have bullied into supporting those because his district is so full of UAW and factory workers. We'll see. He's taken a rather isolationist line on Libya but voted to support the action. Leads credence to the theory that if Obama had been clear, taken control, and set the Libya mission to killing Qaddafi- GOP would be full in support of it. It's disgraceful that GOP associated itself with Assad supporter Kucinich's Libya resolution. But anyways, McCotter's voice will only add to the debates and the race. And if he helps take Mitt out in Michigan or in other states, all for the better.
May '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
This is just funny. When I read the quote below, my first thought was that anyone who would put the term RINO in quotation marks (as if the Republican party has no definable purpose and identity) deserves my skepticism. But it appears this won't earn McCotter any points.
From the American Spectator:
Dec '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
This is not the campaign season to be a fan of unions, especially the UAW.
I think he'll be popular at the straw poll (it has the feel of a big county fair, so a candidate who does a rock-and-roll set will get a lot of attention), but let's face it...
He's running for vice president. He's a good choice for Perry if he gets in and gets the nomination.
Dec '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
I like him and the election is a year and a half away. I also like (personally) Cain, but the process isn't benefitting him; he won't hold up. Cain's a wonderful person, but a bit too set in his ways and too reliant upon his experience to react and attack.
Who will hold up? I don't think it will be somebody that is older, or younger but stodgy. I don't think it will be Cain, Huntsman, or Romney, for those reasons. The only thing the latter two have going for them is prior governorships, but they were not notable governors. He's a longshot, but would clean Obama's clock in a substantive debate, if the organizers of debates were to hold one.
Ultimately, whoever the conservative candidate is will be running a tough race against a lying, cheating advocate of voter fraud, so there's the race. Who can drive more people to the polls than Obama can muster fraudulently? The only thing we have going for us is that Obama is apt to drive many more legitimate voters to the polls to oust him, than might ordinarily take the trouble to vote.
May '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
We need to get past the idea that what we need is to find Mr. or Ms. Charisma to match Pres. Obama. I don't want this race to be on their home turf- shallow and vapid slogans.
How about a little bit of common sense and solid policy, experience/credentials as an effective executive, and character?
Dec '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Duane Oyen: We need to get past the idea that what we need is to find Mr. or Ms. Charisma to match Pres. Obama. I don't want this race to be on their home turf- shallow and vapid slogans.
How about a little bit of common sense and solid policy, experience/credentials as an effective executive, and character? · Jul 1 at 2:31pm
Agreed. Who you got in mind?
May '11
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
I pretty much have an instant distaste for any politician who campaigns by playing a musical instrument, especially guitar.
Sep '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
If a guy like t-mac could ever win the presidency, this would be the time. He has the potential to distinguish himself during a debate unlike any republican politician outside of Chris Christie.
May '10
Re: Welcome Back, McCotter
Chris Christie is fun for conservatives looking for sparks- that is why Ann Coulter loves him- she wants a male Coulter to wield a club on lefty heads.
Reagan won by being understandable and likable, not by sticking his nose into his opponents' faces and spraying spittle-borne invective all over.
There are three people out there who can sell the soap in the way needed, each of whom have issues (but everybody does)- Perry, Pawlenty, and Jeb Bush. Perry because of his own everyman persona and the Texas boom, Pawlenty as a working-class, Democrat union family Sam's Club Republican, and Jeb Bush who explains policy ideas simply and straightforwardly, plus he ropes in the Latinos.
None of the other candidates- each of whom is more beloved by primary voter blocs, is electable in the general. Romney and Hunstman combine boredom with a distinct lack of ideological conviction and do not relate to the people on the street at all, Bachmann and Palin would lose the women's vote and are too easily caricatured. Santorum? Please, don't waste our time. Cain may be OK as VP, but you do not make the presidency your first winning election.