Why Mike Pence will run in 2012

Wash Post ^ | 12/9/10 | Jennifer Rubin

[pissant]

George Will today aptly details why Mike Pence, a stalwart on fiscal issues and an articulate proponent of conservative social values, would be an attractive 2012 presidential candidate. I'll go a step further than George and predict that Pence will announce early next year.

A close friend and confidante of Pence's has been telling me for several weeks that Pence is "serious." This friend makes the case that Pence is a solid conservative on the range of issues conservatives care about and is the only candidate who can "seamlessly meld" the sometimes adversarial Tea Party and establishment wings of the GOP "without too much friction." He also points to Pence's demeanor, citing a favorite phrase of the congressman's: "Just because I'm a conservative doesn't mean I have to be a bad mood about it."

Even more telling, Gary Bauer, the influential social conservative leader who heads the group American Values and is on the boards of Christians United for Israel and the Emergency Committee for Israel, gave me his take this morning: "There is no doubt that Rep. Pence has solid support among values voters. They like his unapologetic and confident defense of the Judeo- Christian world view." But Bauer says Pence's appeal goes beyond social conservatives, vouching for Pence's "Reagan-like ability to bring economic, national security and social conservatives together in a winning coalition."

[Kegger]

How is exactly is Pence "really weak" on the border?

Wasn't he at one time for a form of amnesty (before changing his mind)?

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

I like what he says and I like how he says it but

But he has no executive experience. As we all know from our current experience, being confident in 20/20 hindsight is easy.

[pissant]

Whoever the GOP nominee is should get Rush as the VP or official spokesman.

[FTJM]

Wasn't he at one time for a form of amnesty (before changing his mind)?

No.

However, Palin does support a form a amnesty, as does Huckabee.

[FrankR]

Well-known Palin-hater George Will speaks out...

[pissant]

His big blackmark on “the borders” was his ill-conceived Pence-Hutchison ‘compromise’ bill that tried to thread the needle between McCain-Kennedy and Hunter’s “Enforcement only” bill. It was a flop and fortunately, did not see the light of day. But other than that, he’s been a border hawk.

[pissant]

That’s pretty good.

[FTJM]

Both bills required border security but Pence's original bill in the House was stricter on the length of stay for work permits, 6 years, and assuming that immigration quotas stayed the same, would have resulted in a phased deportation over a period of years. It required all illegals to leave the country and apply.

The compromise bill required all illegals to go home but allowed for more time for 2 year renewable work visas, up to 12 years, and ultimately obtain an employer sponsored visa similar to current ones.

The compromise bill was lighter but Pence has been consistent that illegals must return home.

[pissant]

Hunter’s bill had no provisions for allowing anyone to return. That’s my man. But it is very tough to paint Pence as weak on borders. He followed Hunter’s lead on illegal immigration almost to a tee throughout his career. And it don’t get much better than that.

[FTJM]

Yeah, there is no way in hell anyone could say that Pence is weak on borders. It’s just more deflection from the cultists.

[pissant]

There is no comparison between The One who supports McCain’s plans for illegals and Pence. None.

[FTJM]

None. Unless of course someone is drinking a heavy dose of Flavor-Aid.

[SaraJohnson]

By the time the election comes around the drug cartel is going to fix the border debate. It’s getting worse and Obama is letting them make their move on the border states.

[PhiloBedo]

You nailed it!

[Kegger]

Wasn't he at one time for a form of amnesty (before changing his mind)?

No.

However, Palin does support a form a amnesty, as does Huckabee.

My mistake. Guess I did not understand the Pence-Hutchison Plan from a while back.

... Under the Pence-Hutchison plan, foreign workers will initially be granted two-year work visas, automatically renewable for an additional 12 years. Then the foreign worker is given an "X-Change" visa, newly created by the legislation. After five years, the "X-Change" visa will allow the worker to transition to permanent resident status (a green card holder). Permanent residents are entitled to citizenship after five years. Because "temporary" workers will have the right to bring their families, the right to stay and work for 17 years and then the right to stay permanently, the vast majority will certainly do so...

[FTJM]

Both bills required border security but Pence's original bill in the House was stricter on the length of stay for work permits, 6 years, and assuming that immigration quotas stayed the same, would have resulted in a phased deportation over a period of years. It required all illegals to leave the country and apply.

The compromise bill required all illegals to go home but allowed for more time for 2 year renewable work visas, up to 12 years, and ultimately obtain an employer sponsored visa similar to current ones.

[FTJM]

The compromise bill was lighter but Pence has been consistent that illegals must return home.

[Kegger]

Thanks for the reply.

Not sure why I would care about Palin or Huckabee, though. They currently hold no public office and at the present time are not running for anything.

RE:
However, Palin does support a form a amnesty, as does Huckabee.

[jimbo123]

Mike Pence wants Statehood for Puerto Rico. Why?

[pissant]

Not sure, but that’s certainly better than turning 2/3rd of the planet over to the UN like your precious wants to .