Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Bolton’s Swan Song
In something of a surprise (given that few Republicans have taken a pass), former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton declared yesterday that he won’t run for president, begging the question of which Michael Bolton song best describes a courtship that won’t be: 1) “A Time For Letting Go”; 2) “I’m Not Ready”; 3) “Nowhere To Run”; 4) “You Don’t Want Me Bad Enough.” At least the late Tom Dewey can rest in peace — he’s the last GOP presidential nominee to have sported a mustache, as does Bolton. Dewey’s last run was in 1948; there hasn’t been a presidential nominee with facial hair since then.
Bolton’s announcement continues what amounted to “foreign policy week” for the Republican hopefuls. That includes Marco Rubio outlining a approach that at least one conservative writer likened to the Truman Doctrine, Jeb Bush continuing to clarify his 20/20 hindsight answer on the Iraq invasion, plus Chris Christie, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul all piling on Bush.
If that sounds like a lot of bodies in motion . . . well, it is. About enough to fill a 40-man baseball roster.
Earlier this week, the Republican National Committee launched a straw poll on its website asking this simple question: “who would you like to see as the Republican nominee in the 2016 presidential election?”
The choices (brace yourself, it’ll take a while to get through this):
1) Kelly Ayotte
2) Haley Barbour
3) John Bolton
4) Jeb Bush
5) Herman Cain
6) Ben Carson
7) Chris Christie
8) Ted Cruz
9) Mitch Daniels
10) Mark Everson
11) Carly Fiorina
12) Newt Gingrich
13) Lindsey Graham
14) Nikki Haley
15) Mike Huckabee
16) Bobby Jindal
17) John Kasich
18) Peter King
congratulations, you’re halfway there . . .
19) Susana Martinez
20) Sarah Palin
21) George Pataki
22) Rand Paul
23) Ron Paul
24) Tim Pawlenty
25) Mike Pence
26) Rick Perry
27) Condoleezza Rice
28) Mitt Romney
29) Marco Rubio
30) Brian Sandoval
31) Rick Santorum
32) Tim Scott
33) John Thune
34) Donald Trump
35) Scott Walker
36) Alan West
Two things to note about this list: a) it’s a compilation not meant to offend, which explains a lot of folks who aren’t interested in running; b) what, no Paul Ryan? (Or, for that matter, Greg Abbott)?
Meanwhile, there’s the question of how the GOP is going to pull off the televised spectacle of a dozen-or-so candidates crowding one debate stage for the first gathering in August, in Cleveland. Does the party exclude all candidates polling at 1% or less? Or, as some back-in-the-pack candidates would prefer, split the field in half and holding not one but two debates over consecutive nights?
That, and the question of format, which The New York Times examines here:
“It is not entirely clear who will be in charge of devising or enforcing the debate criteria — that is, if there are criteria. One member of the national committee panel charged with overseeing the debates said its members had discussed ceding the decision entirely to Fox News.
At issue is how to stage a substantive discussion that is fair to viewers and the campaigns. The party has little appetite for a forum so thick with candidates that it allows for not much more than an extended “lightning round” of questions. One Republican involved in the process said a 90-minute forum with 10 candidates would offer each candidate only four to five minutes, after subtracting commercials and moderator time.”
Sounds like there’s a good debate awaiting Republicans . . . in advance of that first Republican debate.
Published in General
Wilford BrimleyJohn Bolton was a great UN Ambassador. He didn’t pull punches and was the only Ambassador in recent memory who publicly called the UN on their leftist controlled ideology and biases.But a sharp tongued Ambassador does not a good President make. I am not disappointed.
That list is ridiculous… which your demonstration proves. Why not add David Lee Roth and Screech?
If the Republican party was really interested in campaign fairness, state primaries would occur simultaneously so that every state got to vote on the full spectrum of candidates.
They are evidently not interested in fairness, so the likely outcome is that some candidates will be excluded from the TV debates.
Aaron I wondered that myself. I know a political consultant who explained a reasoned justification why the primaries start the way they do.
If every state had their primary the same day politicians would not be able to afford to get their message out. When you are a lesser known candidate, it’s hard enough to raise money just to stand above the crowd in Iowa or New Hampshire. If it went to national primary day we would only end up with corporate owned politicians. (which arguable, isn’t far off from what we have now).
John Bolton should be the next secretary of state, not the next president.
John Bolton for Secretary of State in the Republican administration. First task at State: purge all the liberal political appointees, every single one. No more State thwarting the Administration’s work.
OmegaPaladin, were you reading my mind? We must have pressed the POST button at the same time!
I Said I Love You but I Lied
I guess he’d rather remain President of Red Eye.
First we learn that Harry Shearer will no longer be voicing Ned Flanders. Now this.
A devastating week for the bushy mustache set.