The Murmur of Crow: The Republican Field
Posted by Brandon Crow on 05.10.2007
Are there any good, viable presidential candidates on the Republican side?
Back in early January, I wrote a column examining some of the Democratic candidates for president in 2008. Ever since then, I've been meaning to do one on the Republican candidates. I held off on writing one the following week because back then, the Republican field was not well defined—at least not as much as the Democratic field. I believe it consisted of pretty much Mitt Romney, and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani (even though neither of the two latter ones had officially declared).
And as the candidates stepped up to announce and the Republican field rounded out, week after week, other issues came up for me to discuss: the crazy surge idea, the Libby trial, Barack Obama's visit to southern Cal, my tax dollars going towards the war, and Virginia Tech.
It almost seemed a conspiracy; clearly, the Republicans did not want Crow to give them the once over! Well, they've run out of luck! Crow is on to their little scheme… this week, they get what's coming.
In seriousness, even though the Republican field has rounded out, and not many people are thrilled with the choices, there are some potential winners there.
John McCain: Perhaps the presumptive front runner since 2000. However, his actions of late have rubbed many [former] supporters the wrong way. McCain has, without a doubt, moved hard right. On issues where he used to criticize Bush and the far right, he has now aligned with them. Personally, there's nothing wrong with evaluating and then changing minds (no, contrary to popular Republican myth, this is not flip-flopping), but McCain's "flip-flop" seems to have been calculated and done disingenuously.
He has lost a lot of the moderates and independents, all in the hopes of appealing to the far right. The trouble is, the far right does not believe him. A little over a year ago, I wrote about McCain's McMove to the McRight and how it cost him my potential support. Since then, he has not done anything to reestablish trust or confidence.
His staunch support of the failed leadership and policy in Iraq (not just failed management, as McCain would like to splice hairs) costs him every day. And the fact that he showed up in a Baghdad market place wearing a bullet proof vest while claiming all is well and the market is totally safe has certainly eroded credibility.
My prediction is that McCain doesn't even make it out of the Republican primary process.
Rudy Giuliani: The current front runner, at least according to most polls. Giuliani, as popular as he is with the citizens of New York, is not as popular with all of America. Certainly his recent remarks about abortion (specifically Roe V Wade) being okay if upheld and okay if overturned has cost him in two big ways: first, the far right and other candidates will use it to assail him. Second, he has now staked out a position on both sides of the fence.
What was his famous quip at the 2004 Republican Convention? Oh yes, "this explains John Edwards' need for two Americas - - one where John Kerry can vote for something and another where he can vote against the same thing."
Hasn't Giuliani effectively done the same thing?
His website offers up the slogan "Optimistic Leadership; Proven Results." And at a glance, this jives as true. If nothing else, Giuliani's stewardship of NYC through and after 9/11 has earned him major political capital and free, media face time. He has parlayed that event into a presidential run.
But I think the gas tank of 9/11 is now on empty.
Giuliani certainly can be credited with getting results for NYC. He did in fact bring down crime and clean up Time Square. However, not many know that he achieved those on the backs of many downtrodden and traditionally underserved. Jonathan Kozol, author of Amazing Grace (and many other books) reveals this about "America's Mayor" in Chapter 4: "The mayor tells a group of children from a segregated high school that they'll have to learn to manage without public help. ‘I think largely you have to help yourself…Look at what is there and take advantage of it,' he advises them, but cancels 11,000 city jobs for children of their age, as well as afterschool programs."
Conservative? Not really. Compassionate? Not really. Giuliani may be the front runner now based on name recognition, but he will quickly lose that status once the real campaigning begins.
Mitt Romney: Here's a guy, which despite the fact that many would disagree with me, I believe can actually win nomination. Let's just get it out of the way—he's a Mormon! Oh my god! Ok, so that's it. It's out now. But John Kennedy was a…are you ready…Catholic! Oh, horror of horrors!
True, being a Mormon will cost Romney some of the extreme Christian votes, but I think America is ready for a Mormon president, and if not, at least a Mormon nominee. Romney served as governor of Massachusetts, balancing their budget while increasing the economy, and all without raising taxes or increasing the state's debt.
His website proudly exhibits his record: "Romney got the economy moving again and transformed deficits into surpluses…At the beginning of Governor Romney's term, Massachusetts was losing thousands of jobs every month. Today, the unemployment rate is lower, hundreds of companies have expanded or moved to Massachusetts and the state has added approximately 60,000 jobs in the last two years."
Romney also served as the President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee which ran the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Romney did a fine job with both, and guess what? He did them both while Mormon! No, say it ain't so! I think Americans will be looking for a potential president based on skill and ability rather than religious affiliation, especially after the current president who has shown time and again that he is willing to twist religion to his political advantage.
Sam Brownback: The Senator from Kansas does not have a realistic shot. The caricature that Bush displays to win over the Christian vote is what Brownback is. There is no caricature there. Rifle through his website and we quickly discover that Brownback includes something about religion or Christianity in every policy issue.
Statements like the following pepper his site:
"Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas may be Mitt Romney's worst nightmare in the Republican race for President. Brownback, 51, is a Christian conservative with long-held convictions."
"Sam Brownback, the leading pro-life voice in the U.S. Congress, today applauded the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the federal ban on partial birth abortions."
"U.S. Senator Sam Brownback announced today that he has enlisted the support of contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Michael W. Smith for his presidential campaign."
"Brownback Applauds South Carolina Pro-life Bill."
"Will Christian right embrace — and support — one of its own?"
I believe the Christian right will embrace and support one of its own. But that may be the only votes Brownback gets. Bush manipulated this group into voting for him so he could win—twice. But Brownback is targeting only this vote. Sorry, but the Christian Right is not big enough in voting block to be a force on its own.
Mike Huckabee: Call me crazy, but I believe Huckabee is the dark horse in the Republican primary. If he gets some funding, gets his message out properly, he could make some noise. Huckabee is a conservative through and through. He's heavily pro-life, heavily pro-gun and wants a flat tax.
But he wins me over on immigration and education. Plus, I don't believe he will force his beliefs on me, on all of us, like the current guy does.
Look what he said about illegal immigration. This is studious and judicious:
"We should have a process where people can pay the penalties, step up and accept responsibility for not being here legally. But here's the point. The objective is not to be punitive. The objective is to make things right. Right for us. Right for them. And what I have objected to in the past is when we are punishing the children for the laws that maybe their parents have broken. I do have a problem with that."
On education, he pulled off what can only be considered a miracle for Arkansas. Perennially at the bottom of the nation, Arkansas' education saw a dramatic turnaround under Huckabee. Here are some stats:
"Arkansas has experienced a 108 percent increase in the number of students taking advanced placement (AP) exams this year versus 2004. the increase is the largest any state has ever seen in a single year in the 50-year history of the AP exam."
Under Huckabee, Arkansas' graduation rate has increased to 74% during his term, which is better than the nation's average at 70%.
• Twenty-three percent, or almost one in four, Algebra I test takers and 17 percent of geometry test-takers scored at the advanced level on the tests, up a whopping 7 to 9 percentage points from the previous year
• More than half the test-takers in each subject scored at advanced or proficient levels
• Sixty percent of algebra test takers scored at proficient or advanced levels, up 7 percentage points from the previous year
• Fifty-five percent of geometry test-takers scored at those levels, also up 7 percentage points from the year before
• Even more impressively, as the percentages of students scoring at the top two levels on the math exams improved, the percentages of students scoring at the basic and below-basic levels on the test have dropped
• A total of 79 percent of Algebra I test-takers scored at below basic and basic levels the first year the test was given in 2001. That has dropped to 40 percent
• A total of 82 percent of geometry test-takers fell below mastery level in 2001. That has dropped to 45 percent
(info from http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/2005/07/huckabee-delivers-eye-popping.html)
Sure, Huckabee may be an extremely socially conservative man. But he works and acts on the compassionate moniker whereas Bush just pays it lip service. Huckabee has proven he can get things done. A quick comparison between Huckabee and Clinton's records will show that Huckabee comes out ahead on many aspects.
Not bad for a guy following the act of yet another former Governor from Arkansas, eh?
Tommy Thompson: Who? Enough said.
Fred Thompson: Ah, the second coming of Ronald Reagan. Things are bad when none of the current candidates compare themselves to the current sitting president, who happens to be "the leader of their party." In any case, Thompson has the credentials, the background and the experience. Most importantly, he has the advantage of sitting out most of the primary and watching the other candidates slaughter each other before he jumps in. Conservatives are generally warm to him, and there are plenty of "draft Fred Thompson" groups out there. He has also made the prerequisite rounds in DC.
My feeling is that Thompson will jump into the race some time in the spring of '08 after dissatisfaction with the current crop grows even more. Thompson will make noise too. I don't believe he'll become the nominee, but I think he can give whoever does become the nominee a tough run all the way to the wire.
Tom Trancedo: What's with the "Toms" and the "Thompsons" this year? Trancedo, best known as the nutty boy from Colorado who wants all illegal immigrants extinguished, has zero chance of getting the nomination. A quick gander at his website clearly reveals that Trancedo is not near the main stream of America, not even on immigration.
Read what Trancedo proudly displays: Trancedo has a "reputation as a solid pro-life, pro-gun, small government Republican, and emerged as the leader in the national struggle for true immigration reform… illegal aliens threaten our economy and undermine our culture…I will secure our borders so illegal aliens do not come, and I will eliminate benefits and job prospects so they do not stay."
Um, threatens our culture? I thought this country's culture was supposed to be a "melting pot." Oh, that's right…the melting pot is only for the desired cultures to mix…
I will say this for Trancedo. At least he clearly states and prominently displays his stance on issues on his website for all to see. Still, he has as much chance as Duncan Hunter.
Duncan Hunter: The other nutty boy in the party. While the rest of the candidates run for the presidency, Hunter and Trancedo are duking it out for the coveted "Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Xenophobic Man of the Year" award. Good luck to the Representative from the 760, or San Diego's version of the 909.
Get a glimpse of Hunter's mindset on how the federal budget should be spent: "I support a balanced federal budget, with additional revenue provided by economic growth, not increased taxes. Further, I support limiting growth in non-defense areas."
However, when it comes to federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, Hunter says, "I strongly oppose using these federal funds for any group that produces material that has questionable artistic, scientific or political value."
How exactly does war hold artistic or scientific value? Hunter represents San Diego, which is a huge military town, even still today. He's a tool, basically.
Newt Gingrich: Mark Radulich would follow this man to the gates of hell… but he may be the only one. Gingrich may be a good politician and he may have support, but the truth is he'll never make it out of the primaries because everyone remembers him to be the guy who shut down the federal government, wanted to deprive school kids of their lunch, and then on top of it all, led the charge to impeach Bill Clinton for an extra-marital affair while he himself was having one. No chance.
Condi Rice: Ah, how the rumors continue to flow. First, I don't think Rice has the desire to either be president or to go through a campaign. Second, even if she had the desire, she lacks the personality. She would be Al Gore and John Kerry in front of the cameras. Lastly, she lacks the ability. In her entire political career, she's been effective only as an advisor to Daddy Bush on Russia. That's her specialty. She proved incapable of handling the same duties on the Middle East. And as Secretary of State, she has done nothing. Even Donald Trump admits Rice has been ineffective at closing deals as S of S. Those of you trying to draft her can stop now.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Forget about it, you wet dreamers. The law simply will not allow him to. And Americans seem particularly fond of cabalistic, arcane laws. To disallow those who were not born in America to be president may have been a good idea 300 years ago when the nation was still a fledgling. It was meant to prevent usurpation by foreign plants. But today, this law just deprives us of some of the best minds around. Arnold or not, this law has to go. I hope the next president, whoever it is, takes up the charge.
As for Arnold, I will say this. I've never been much of a fan but he does seem to have learned the one thing Bush hasn't—Arnold knows he's the Governor of all California, not just the Californian Bible-thumping Republicans.
Crow is the DC Madame:
Wait till you see who's on my pimp list! All I'll say is that it goes all the way to the top of 411 Politics! But I'll never tell! Ok, you've convinced me to let the names out…
First up, is of course the head honcho, Jason Easley. Not only does he force me to pimp him, he's now mandated that he be first on the list…
Next up, is Easley's Chief of Staff, Mark Radulich. Mr. Radulich finds a way to indulge himself by bringing together his two childhood fantasies: being Spiderman and getting into politics. Personally, I thought Mark had a good point to make, but his column was unfocused and disorganized. Just a little too meandering. There was a point to be sure, but we needed to dust off the webbing in order to unmask it!
Then there is Easley's in-house, legal counsel, Greg Allen. Mr. Allen will be fired soon because he dared to let the truth out about oil and democracies.
Easley's newly-appointed "War Czar" Ryan Latimer will likely have to step down soon due to Easley's poor handling of the zone. Either that, or Mr. Latimer will be thrown under the train.
Are you getting that "not so fresh" feel? Well, Joshua White certainly does not feel fresh. It appears that Mr. White, Easley's Secretary of Defense has already been axed for doing "a heckuva job."
And finally, no "madame's pimp list" is complete without disclosure of the participation of Easley's Propaganda Minister, Ray Robison. Mr. Robison attempts to end the idea that our army is not battle ready by comparing this US military to ones from the past. I know Mr. Robison didn't intend this, but in essence, he inadvertently says that the US military has always been broken down.
Come check out something a little different:
Sean Garmer of the Sports Zone here at 411 was kind enough to invite the old Crow to participate in their NBA Opening Round of playoffs roundtable. I was happy to comply. This cross pollination is good for 411Mania. I just regret that I did not find the grapefruits to call the upset in the Warriors/Mavericks series. I totally wanted to…just couldn't pull the trigger. Now I regret it.
And despite going 5-3 in that round, Mr. Garner has invited me back for predictions on the second round. Let's see if I can't do better this time.
The Curtain Call:
Here is an article on Asian men that the Bossman of 411 Politics should find interesting. See how hard life is for the old Crow under this leadership? I say it's time for regime change!
Of course, I'd pimp out my own columns here in the politics zone as well, if I could only find them. I know I've authorized the posting of at least nine of them in the past week…
…I just can't recall where they are.
Till next time, remember, none of the above cases are examples of indiscretions, corruption, or ethics lapse.
STAY CURRENT