What Haley's Up To
Here in Palo Alto yesterday evening, my wife and I joined the sixty-fourth governor of the great state of Mississippi for dinner. Our couple of hours together represented one of the few relaxed moments on his schedule for many days. Gov. Barbour has visited Iowa and New Hampshire and journeyed to
President Obama's hometown, Chicago, where he delivered a studied, scathing attack on the president's economic policies before the Chamber of Commerce. Here in California, he spoke in Los Angeles on Thursday evening at a St. Patrick's Day dinner attended by more than a thousand. Yesterday he attended a breakfast of business leaders in San Francisco and a luncheon for high tech executives here in Silicon Valley, and then he spent the afternoon at the Hoover Institution, where he discussed foreign policy with Condoleezza Rice and economic policy with several Hoover fellows, including Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker. Today Gov. Barbour will be addressing the California GOP's convention in Sacramento, then flying to Southern California, where, over the next couple of days, he will attend several events in the desert and give a major speech in San Diego.
Does this mean he's running for president? Not exactly.
"When you run for that job," Gov. Barbour said, "a lot of people help you out. Some of them give money to your campaign. Some of them share their reputation with you. Some of them go door to door for you. You owe it to those folks to go all in."
Before making a final decision, Gov. Barbour explained, he wanted to test himself, challenging his own morale and stamina. "For six weeks, I'm going all out, six days a week, from breakfast until evening every day." At the end of those six weeks, he and Marsha, his wife, will talk things over. And then, but only then, he will make a final decision.
Which way is he leaning? Even though I’ve known Haley Barbour since our days in the Reagan White House, I couldn’t tell you. Yesterday he certainly seemed a man who’s enjoying himself, recounting with particular relish what he had learned talking to the Hoover economists. But we devoted at least half our time to talking not about politics but about our families.
Somehow, we got onto the subject of water skiing. Gov. Barbour told us how Marsha had
rigged a pole or boom to the side of their boat, so that their two boys, then little, could ski next to boat, not behind it, receiving shouted directions from Marsha while Haley steered. This method of training proved so successful that before long Marsha had become the de facto water skiing instructor for every little kid in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
“Even today,” Haley said, laughing, “there must be twenty young people back home who still call Marsha ‘the boom-boom lady.’” Soon the four Barbour grandchildren will be old enough to take lessons from Marsha themselves. Haley would like to be there, steering the boat.
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Comments :
Nov '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
I recall a few years ago he was asked (on TV) if he would run for POTUS. He said he didn't think he could, because of his history as a Lobbyist (a pretty darn good one, in his words). Obviously, he has thrown those concerns aside. Though I don't know of the full intricacies of his policies, I must say that I really like him.
Feb '11
Re: What Haley's Up To
Peter, I had not given Governor Barbour much consideration, but you guys have mentioned him several times on the podcasts (and had him on several times) and I like what I have heard; so I am not looking for Republican bashing. But if Ricochet contributor Mitch Daniels - whom I hope runs - throws his hat in the ring as well as Barbour, who would you be supporting, and why?
Re: What Haley's Up To
I hope they both run. The GOP debates would give Americans the opportunity to hear two well-spoken and immensely accomplished conservatives, demonstrating that there are not only alternatives to Barack Obama but alternatives to the entire liberal mindset.
Whom would I support? Well, to be honest, it would be impossible for me to choose--I've known both for years and admire one as deeply as the other. I'd stand back, rooting for both, then support the candidate who won the nomination.
Aug '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Well, we certainly have depth. His podcast on early Ricochet was excellent. One of the heroes of Katrina...unsung of course.
Speaking of depth, past the incumbent and the newly,hotly,independently indignant one, are there any on that side that even come to mind ? They look like the forest near Mt St Helens, all struck down and lying in the same direction.
Talk about an ill wind that blows no one to good !
Nov '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
I can't even believe people are talking about this guy running for President.
Feb '11
Re: What Haley's Up To
Peter Robinson
I hope they both run. The GOP debates would give Americans the opportunity to hear two well-spoken and immensely accomplished conservatives, demonstrating that there are not only alternatives to Barack Obama but alternatives to the entire liberal mindset.
Whom would I support? Well, to be honest, it would be impossible for me to choose--I've known both for years and admire one as deeply as the other. I'd stand back, rooting for both, then support the candidate who won the nomination. · Mar 19 at 1:08pm
That is for sure, we would have some good debates by (at least) two very intelligent and well spoken conservatives.
Feb '11
Re: What Haley's Up To
I understand your hesitation to support one candidate over the other, so I will try to rephrase my question; being that you have known both men for years, and have great admiration for both of them. Both men have been governors, can you say whether a specific act or moment in their respective governorships, will exalt either of them to receive the Republican nomination (i.e. what is the number one moment for each as governor)?
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 1:33pmMay '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Instead of just a random condemnation, may we ask, "Why?"
May '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Odds are, if both Daniels and Barbour ran, I'd only get to vote for one or the other, living in Texas. It angers me to no end that I only get to choose from half as many candidates as a fellow citizen. The legislators who enable this insult should be forced to publicly defend it to citizens of others states. Staggered primaries are plainly disrespectful of fellow Americans.
Anyway...
I still worry about a repeat of 2008, with more conservative voters being split between candidates while the middle-of-the-road voters remain consolidated and are thereby disproportionately influential. Just between Mitch Daniels, Haley Barbour and John Bolton, the conservative vote would be considerably divided early on.
I like all three. And I'm still hoping Lt. Col. Allen West will run.
May '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Sorry, Aaron, but we South Carolinians regard the presidency as far too important to allow Texans to vet the candidates.
And, Peter, I'd like your reactions to a pipe dream of mine: President Haley Barbour served by his chief of staff, Mitch Daniels.
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 2:36pmJun '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
I like Haley Barbour a lot. I trust him. He is both smart and media savvy. Most important, he is disciplined. That is an essential characteristic in a candidate. I want these true conservatives to run simply because of the quality of the debate. We need our views aired and aired intelligently. Obama and his minions complained in the last election that he just doesn't get his message out -- well that, for him, is indistinguishable from a bad message that is received and denied by the voters. He wouldn't and couldn't tell the difference. Conservatives truly do have a problem getting our messages out. The only time it approaches the liberals message success is during these high profile campaigns.
Haley Barbour is a first-tier candidate. He's been in the trenches and he's been at the big table. He deserves our support and respect.
Re: What Haley's Up To
Matthew Gilley Peter, I'd like your reactions to a pipe dream of mine: President Haley Barbour served by his chief of staff, Mitch Daniels. · Mar 19 at 2:34pm
Edited on Mar 19 at 02:36 pm
Chief of staff? Naw. Veep. Barbour/Daniels or Daniels/Barbour. I'd be delirious with either.
May '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Peter Robinson
Matthew Gilley Peter, I'd like your reactions to a pipe dream of mine: President Haley Barbour served by his chief of staff, Mitch Daniels. · Mar 19 at 2:34pm
Edited on Mar 19 at 02:36 pm
Chief of staff? Naw. Veep. Barbour/Daniels or Daniels/Barbour. I'd be delirious with either. · Mar 19 at 3:01pm
Perish the thought! If Governor Daniels is going to serve in a Barbour Administration, let's at least give him an important job.
Jun '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
EJHill
Instead of just a random condemnation, may we ask, "Why?" · Mar 19 at 1:41pm
Really TZ, that's a disrespectful dismissal of those of us who are talking about this guy.
Not only do I want to bat you around a little if you can't defend that position, I am interested in exploring what it is going to take to convince intellegent conservatives (such as your own self) to take a look at Haley.
See if this gets your juices going: Haley Barbour is the proper heir of Dr Martin Luther King,Jr.
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 4:43pmRe: What Haley's Up To
Okay, Pilgrim. I'll bite. Explain that one, would you?
May '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Peter Robinson
Okay, Pilgrim. I'll bite. Explain that one, would you? · Mar 19 at 4:30pm
I'm anxious to get into this, too. It's probably too soon to assign motives in this conversation, but I've been on record for some time that I've had it up to my eyeballs with the he's-too-Southern criticism of Governor Barbour. I suspect Pilgrim may share that frustration.
Jun '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Peter Robinson
Okay, Pilgrim. I'll bite. Explain that one, would you? · Mar 19 at 4:30pm
MLK,Jr didn't need to convince African-Americans in the south that injustice was rampant, they knew.
Under Dr King's leadership, passive resistance and courage to accept the violence that they endured at the Pettis Bridge, Bull Connor's dog and fire hoses, the attacks on freedom rider at Anniston, AL and Rock Hill SC and the murders of Goodman, Schwener, and Chaney as Mississippi burned touched not just the irrelevant cheerleaders in the North but the consciences of a new generation in the the south.
Forgive the presumption, but Dr King would have said that he was addressing Haley's generation of young southern whites. MLK's challenge was to create a generation of white leaders that would do what Haley has done and create the "New South" that is working for all.
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 5:04pmMay '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
I'll follow on Pilgrim's post with a few comments about the manufactured "controversy" over Governor Barbour's portrayal in the Weekly Standard concerning Yazoo City and the civil rights movement. If you read that article, you'll find the Governor recalled attending Dr. King's speech when he came to town in the 1960s. He didn't inflate or glorify his reasons for attending - he allowed he went out of curiosity and hoping to meet a few girls - but he went freely and listened with neither malice for nor fear of Dr. King's message. Within years, he left the solid Democrat establishment that designed and administered the Jim Crow laws in the South for the nearly nonexistent Mississippi Republican Party. The Weekly Standard article is a poor reason to argue Governor Barbour is at all suspect on issues of race. I'll tell you right now - Dr. King could have used a lot more Haley Barbours and a lot fewer Robert Byrds back in those days.
Mar '11
Re: What Haley's Up To
Haley is exactly everything that Obama is not. Conservative. Down home. Ordinary. Your neighbor next door.Sounds like America.Verifiable track record. What you see is what you get. WARNING! As with Palin, if he becomes a threat, the elites will smear Haley Barbour as provincial, regional, out of touch. In other words, southern accent=stupid. I remember attending a corporate cocktail party in Raleigh in the early eighties where I overheard a guy near me who sounded exactly like Haley-deep southern accent- who was explaining that the lack of quality control on a $3 printed circuit card had caused a satellite of his to fail in orbit. Well, yeah, you betcha.
Anyway, Haley Barbour is a conservative's conservative and offers the voters an obvious discernable conservative musical bell-tone counterpoint to the miserably dissonant liberal noise that has been Obama.
May '10
Re: What Haley's Up To
Agreed, and the "It wasn't that bad" line has been put in a different context from the one in which it was given in the article.
The tack of Ferguson's article that worried me more, however (and a tack that I'd expect many more commentators to take with Gov. Barbour), was its kinda-sorta staining him for his lobbying history. That history should be a plus, of course--the man knows how the game is played, ain't never gonna get rolled, etc.--but it may hurt him with naive, ignorant independents.
Which would be too bad, because with the possible exception of Newt, no one would eviscerate Obama in a debate more profoundly than Haley Barbour.