The Republican Nomination For President: The Race For The Race For The White House

Most of you know me well enough to know that I give honest opinions and don't let my own political views color them, at least I try not to.

... I think Pawlenty has a real shot at it.

Fact Free Pawlenty


With the new year comes the beginning of the 2012 presidential race. Outgoing Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty is making his move. He’s written a book, and he’s written a recent op-ed article for the Wall Street Journal. That article is so devoid of facts that Pawlenty has been awarded the “Pants on Fire” rating on PolitiFact’s Truth-o-meter.

This should make him a shoo-in for the Republican nomination.

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/12/25/fact-free-pawlenty/

December 20, 2010 4:00 A.M.
The Republican Class War
From the December 31, 2010, issue of NR

There is now a class divide in the Republican party. Mitt Romney, the leading establishment candidate for the party’s presidential nomination in 2012, draws support from affluent, college-educated Republicans. Voters without college degrees, on the other hand, look more favorably on Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin — the potential candidates who most consistently rail against “elites” and “country-clubbers.”

This division is relatively new to the Republican party. In the past it was the Democrats who were riven by class conflict. In 2008 journalist Ron Brownstein analyzed the primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in terms of a longstanding split between “beer track” and “wine track” Democrats. Downscale Democrats tended to prefer candidates who would fight for their material interests, while upscale Democrats had a more ideological bent.

Some conservatives are making the right moves at the state level. Govs. Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Chris Christie of New Jersey have successfully used the language of shared sacrifice to press for difficult structural reforms, always careful to emphasize that the short-term pain will be accompanied by long-term gain.

Working-class voters, who are increasingly important to the GOP, have different priorities and sensibilities than other voters. They’re not necessarily unalterably opposed to free trade and entitlement reform, but they need reassurance that they’re not going to be left behind. Representing all elements of this new Republican coalition will be difficult. But there is a payoff: The politician who can do it will be well positioned to secure a national majority.

Never been to Moultrie, but is there something I should know about that place? Screaming kids will always be successful in obliterating names.

Much of who is picked will say a lot about what the RNC feels is the best strategy as a whole.

Sarah Palin...self proclaimed conservative
Mike Huckabee..conservative
Newt Gingrich...conservative, former Speaker of the House
Mitt Romney..hard to get a read on his politics