This year’s Republican presidential wannabes all have a past. They’ve all held responsible positions requiring hard decisions. Some decisions were controversial when made and remain so; others look more like mistakes now, with the advantage of hindsight.
In politics, opponents and critics try to hang every decision around the neck of the incumbent, and if possible, set fire to the tire. Every candidate with a record has to defend it, run from it or use it to his or her advantage.
Mitt Romney has RomneyCare; Tim Pawlenty supported cap-and-trade and agreed to some pretty silly renewable-energy mandates as governor of Minnesota; Mitch Daniels infuriated supporters of state right-to-work laws, backed a tax increase early in his first term and has suggested what he calls a “truce” on social issues. Mike Huckabee, as governor of Arkansas, pardoned a hardened criminal who went on to kill several law enforcement officers, and Haley Barbour worked for years as that most hated of all Washington professionals: a lobbyist.
President Obama faced none of these problems when he ran for president. He had never held a job that required him to make hard decisions, and did all he could to avoid tough votes as an Illinois state senator. Though a reliably liberal U.S. senator, he ran for president in a way that allowed voters to define him as they liked.
Indeed, as is often the case when running against an incumbent with a record, he promised “change,” but didn’t really define the sort of change his election might bring. Obama benefited greatly from the fact that his opponent in the Democratic primaries also had a record and had taken positions on controversial issues for years — positions that contributed to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) ultimate defeat.
Photo Credit: Donkey Hotey (Creative Commons)
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I would totally agree the field from the right already have easy targets to distract from the issues and the left would rather not focus on issues. They will send there lemmings to the TV cameras loaded with everything each of these people have done and very seldom use anything more than a one or two word positive statement that means nothing. "Hope" "Change". So unless the right finds one candidate fast and clean we are in for 4 more years of the Kingdom Of Barry. And at that rate of debt we will be heading to about 25 trillion dollars of debt. We as a country have already past the point of no return on debt and the only thing we shall see from the left is to increase revenues. Hang on my freinds we are in for a very bumpy ride for sure.
I have yet to see an announced candidate for President that I would support, at any cost. If we can't find a Constitutional loving candidate, then let Obama remain, for it is all we deserve. We have been sold this "lesser of two evils" crap for long enough, and now it is time to clean out our Government, and get truly qualified candidates in office. I don't want a bunch of damn lawyers, or professional politicians sitting at the helm of government. Let the common man, of good character, ability, and personal accumulation hold those reins of power, and for a short period of time. Our nation is on the verge of destruction, and we no longer have time to play these mindless games created for our distraction.
I found one, a constitutional candidate, PAUL RYAN. And he has a brain- evidenced by his plans for a realistic budget reform. We wasted our votes on Palin one time and that is enough. Bachman is so full of conceit that she surely couldn't think clearly under presidential pressure. I say this as a professionalj woman myself. I can think like a man but still remain lady like. That is unique & those two do not have that ability.
HELL, I can beat hussein, He continues to be the worlds biggest loser !!!!!
Yeah, sure you could. So what does that say about all the people who haven't been able to do so–and whomever will lose to him in 2012?
James you are in what professionals would call a dream fog! Just keep on dreaming James boy! By the time you wake up it will all be over for Obama your Messiah.
You might investigate why Obama & his wife were forced to surrender their law licenses.
That would be interesting. Also, the fact that he taught constitutional law on a part time
basis. Most of which, he evidently has forgotten.
"why Obama & his wife were forced to surrender their law licenses"
They weren't. And since I and others have already addressed that issue at length here, how about if we just see if you can do a simple Google search?
James you know perfectly well that Michelle Obama was asked to resign her position at the law firm so don't go there! Just stick to what is factual! That is if you actually can interpret what is factual & what is not?
I know nothing of the sort, and neither do you. Why is it that on the rare occasions you offer something other than an insult, it's invariably a lie?