Huckabee:McCain = Bachmann:Romney (Vanity)

06/16/2011 | RPage

[rpage3]

I think the title of this thread would be true if Gov Palin gets into the race. Whether or not this is the intention; it is likely to be the outcome (desired by the Romney camp, no doubt) if folks fall for it. Having said this, Rep. Bachmann has every right to seek the nomination and I will certainly vote for her in the general election.

Now, the news report following the recent debate certainly gave Rep. Bachmann a lot of credit for her performance and I have been wondering if these people watched the same debate I watched. In particular, I found the following exchanges less than stellar but maybe I am just missing something. The full transcript is here: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1106/13/se.02.html

DISTASO: Thank you, John.

Congresswoman Bachmann, let's turn to a serious subject.

New Hampshire is one of five states where individuals who happen to be gay can marry legally. This is a question of conflicting interest. I know you're opposed to same-sex marriage.

As president, would you try to overturn -- what influence would you use from the White House to try to overturn these state laws despite your own personal belief that states should handle their own affairs whenever possible and in many circumstances?

BACHMANN: Well, I do believe in the 10th Amendment and I do believe in self-determination for the states.

I also believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I carried that legislation when I was a senator in Minnesota, and I believe that for children, the best possible way to raise children is to have a mother and father in their life.

Now, I didn't come from a perfect background. My parents were divorced. And I was raised by a single mother. There's a lot of single families and families with troubled situations. That's why my husband and I have broken hearts for at-risk kids and it's why we took 23 foster children into our home.

DISTASO: What would a President Bachmann do to initiate or facilitate a repeal law on the state level? Anything at all from the White House? Would you come into the state of New Hampshire, for instance, and campaign on behalf of a repeal law?

BACHMANN: I'm running for the presidency of the United States. And I don't see that it's the role of a president to go into states and interfere with their state laws.

AND:

FOREMAN: Hi, John. Representative Bachmann, I have a question for you. Governor Pawlenty says he opposes abortion rights except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at stake. Do you have any problem with that position? And if so, why?

BACHMANN: I am 100 percent pro-life. I've given birth to five babies, and I've taken 23 foster children into my home. I believe in the dignity of life from conception until natural death. I believe in the sanctity of human life.

And I think the most eloquent words ever written were those in our Declaration of Independence that said it's a creator who endowed us with inalienable rights given to us from God, not from government. And the beauty of that is that government cannot take those rights away. Only God can give, and only God can take.

And the first of those rights is life. And I stand for that right. I stand for the right to life. The very few cases that deal with those exceptions are the very tiniest of fraction of cases, and yet they get all the attention. Where all of the firepower is and where the real battle is, is on the general -- genuine issue of taking an innocent human life. I stand for life from conception until natural death.

(APPLAUSE)

[rpage3]

I am not trying to beat up on Rep. Bachmann on this thread (or any where else) so please don't view this as such. I am inviting a dicsussion about what I have posted, however.

Thanks.

[Grunthor]

You have done a fine job of posting your opinion.

I disagree. I believe that Bachmann is running to win. Or did I misunderstand your post?

[GoCards]

There is definetly some heated discussions between FRiends regarding Bachmann... My instincts are that Bachmann is NOT the one. Just sayin.......

[9YearLurker]

I think you’ve got the dynamics of the race correct, though I don’t think it’s any accident. And you will note that Rollins has the exact same roll this time around.

As to Rep. Bachmann’s responses, I don’t see a problem with them. She wasn’t perfect in the debate, but I thought she did very well.

[GoCards]

Also feel like someone got to Bachmann.... :(

[RockinRight]

I agree. In fact, Bachmann is now my #2 pick behind Cain.

[Grunthor]

“Bachmann is now my #2 pick behind Cain”

I’ve been there for a while, but that Rasmussen poll this morning.....damn. I have no problem supporting Bachmann if Herman doesn’t catch fire soon.

[bagster]

a. How bout you post her follow up to the first question, when she stated that she supported a constitutional amendment regarding gay marriage....

b. Im not sure what your criticism on part two is all about....i, for one, am sick to death with the libtards using the “rape and incest” justification for advocating abortion as birth control....her answer was perfecf...

[RockinRight]

What poll??

[kevkrom]

I know that some have theorized that Bachmann is acting as a “stalking horse” to clear the decks for Romney.

Personally, I doubt she’s doing that by intent. She’s being used that way, almost certainly, as the current not-Palin flavor of the month, and if she’s smart, she’ll take advantage of that exposure.

Considering how unlikely of a Presidential contender she is, she’s also likely in this aiming for the VP slot. No need to burn bridges that she doesn’t have to.

But I think it is unwise to suggest some form of collusion is going on. Politicians need to understand how the game is played and how to maximize their own benefit — it’s part of the job.

[Lazlo in PA]

Are you trying to compare a phony Conservative AR Gov to Bachmann? I don’t see it. All through the ‘08 election, the Huckster was pushing Progressive Big Gov’t solutions to all types of issues that only he saw as problems, i.e.; obesity. Bachmann is very First Principles, pro Constitution. She has no interest in pushing for the Gov’t to do anything but leave the American people alone.

[pennboricua]

I for one am of the old school of thought, every one of those currently seeking to become President and running as Republicans, meet all the requirements necessary for doing
so.

Every single one is creating jobs as a result of everything necessary in running for said office.

We the people will decide when and at what time those running for office will have to give up on that quest.

A rather simple method of reaching on a front runner.

It always depends on a majority and not everyone will consider the person chosen as the right one.

[FrankR]

As everyone probably knows, I'm a big Palin fan, however, having said that, I am beginning to get the feeling that she is going to bow out this time around.

Bachmann seems to be a conservative that means it, but I get the impression that IF she won the Presidency, the "GOP Establishmentalism" would start to creep in, fueled by the newfound power.

I don't think she would use the "no" word too much with old-line GOP'ers, and it would be "go along to get along" all over again.

In other words, I don't think she's tough enough to get the job done, that needs doing.

I also worry that - has been posted elsewhere - she might be saving Romney from her fire in hopes that she might be the "pick me, pick me" puppy in the store window if mitt gets the nomination.

Frankly, I thought all of the candidates on the stage did a good job, and the solidarity was commendable, however, I still could not pick a winner from that line-up. There was no, one, candidate who supercharged the night.

But, I've got to start watching them a little closer now that I'm losing confidence that Palin will join the fray. There is a lot of "Perry-Palin", or "Palin-Perry" talk going around, but I don't see Sarah going for VP slot AGAIN, with all the crap she caught last time.

But, time will tell...

[Lazlo in PA]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/romney_bachmann_cain_lead_the_pack_among_gop_primary_voters

[bagster]

right now, bachman is the number one anti-rino candidate...i love cain but he stumbles too much on the issues....bachman knows politics while remaining an outsider and she has mass appeal to MY people, which is to say, the so called right wing fringe of the republican party...i would love to see it boil down to her versus romney....it would be the people versus the dems, the media, and the republican establishment....thats a battle i can sink my teeth into and i have great faith in my people

[Vigilanteman]

Huckabee was a McCain butt-kisser from the get-go. He never criticized McCain directly. Romney at least had the guts to challenge McCain on CFR and other topics.

We would have been far better off had Romney won the 2008 nomination. Then we wouldn't be dealing with him now.

I see no credible evidence that Michelle Bachmann is running for VP or playing Judas Goat for Mitt. If Sarah doesn't get in, she will be my first choice.

[RockinRight]

We need another RINO to catch some traction to knock Romney down and make this a race of Bachmann vs. Cain.

[rob777]

"Bachmann is now my #2 pick behind Cain."


I had been equally divided between Bachmann and Cain, but am now leaning more toward Bachmann. As for her perceived coziness with the GOP establishment, she is playing it smart. It is quite obvious that she is not favored by them, but she can ill afford their active opposition to her if she is to win. This is especially so should she make it to the general election. This dynamic is why Reagan chose Bush as a VP. He wanted to go into the general election with a united party behind him. Bachmann is smart enough to realize how important this is. She may not have needed them as a bomb throwing Congressman, but running for President is another matter. So far her olive branch to the GOP establishment and the media has only been a matter of style, not substance. In fact, other than Ron Paul and Gary Johnson, she is the only candidate to offer a detailed plan to cut spending. Her budget cutting plan is far more in line with limited government principles than even Paul Ryan's plan.

[Grunthor]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2735541/posts

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I believe that Huckabee was used, knowingly or unknowingly, as a stalking horse for McCain. I don’t believe Bachmann is in that role for Romney.

With Huckabee we had a dyed in the wool Christian who was proud of his faith and drew Evangelical crowds because he was, well, a dyed in the wool Christian who was proud of his faith. In 2008, there were no others who were as outspoken about their faith.

In the 2012 race we have Bachmann, Santorum, and Cain who all are outspoken in their faith. If Palin jumps in, that would be four.

With having diffused options, the stalking horse concept doesn’t work well.

More to the point, who would Bachmann be pulling votes away from in favor of Romney? If you think Palin, then it doesn’t make sense. If you don’t think Palin can win, then why would you vote for Bachmann? No vote split there.