The Significance Of Mike Pence's Decision

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_01/027738.php

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PENCE'S DECISION.... Rep. Mike Pence (R) of Indiana, a darling of the far-right, has flirted for quite a while with the notion of a presidential campaign. Yesterday, however, the former House Conference chairman announced that he would skip the race for the White House.

snip//

But stepping back, it's worth pondering two questions: (1) why in the world would anyone consider Mike Pence a credible presidential candidate? and (2) how woefully underwhelming is the existing GOP 2012 field if major players were giving serious consideration to a dimwitted House member?

I can appreciate the fact that Pence's unyielding right-wing voting record on literally every issue is appreciated by the far-right -- he checks all the boxes, taking a very conservative line that satisfies all the various party factions.

But to say that the guy isn't ready for prime time is a dramatic understatement. Pence has no areas of expertise, has no major pieces of legislation to his name, has demonstrated no working understanding of any area of public policy, and after spending five minutes watching him speak on any subject, it becomes clear that he's conspicuously unintelligent.

I'm reminded of something Matt Yglesias wrote a while back about the Indiana congressman. "Mike Pence is a moron, and any movement that would hold the guy up as a hero is bankrupt," Matt explained, adding, "I would refer you to this post from September about the earth-shattering ignorance and stupidity of Mike Pence.... t's really staggering. In my admittedly brief experience talking to him, his inability to grasp the basic contours of policy question was obvious and overwhelming."

That Pence is skipping the presidential campaign is probably a good thing for the country. But that so many Republicans wanted him to run in the first place is a reminder of the sorry state of the Republican field and the contemporary GOP in general.

—Steve Benen

[COLGATE4]

1. The Rethugs' new motto should be "the dumber the better"

[mopinko]

2. the 2010 elections were a dead cat bounce for the gop.

come on 2012.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. There is reason to believe

that the GOP has essentially written off 2012 IMHO. I currently don't see any path to victory for them, at least in regards to the Presidential race and if they don't start DOING something about the economy and/or become so radicalized by pandering to the teabaggers, they might just end up back out in the cold in 2012 and/or 2014 IMHO. Our response to them whenever they start off on another "culture war" or teabagger-inspired distraction should be, "Where are the jobs" while proposing new ideas of our own IMHO. They got elected because of the rotten economy and the fact that the Democrats were fully in charge. A lot of people overlooked the fact, though, that Republican obstructionism and determination to see President Obama fail was a major reason why more that could've been done didn't get done in terms of the economy.

[Bob Loblaw]

3. Without question...

the next governor of the State of Indiana.

Heaven help us.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Right on

This is guy (if I remember correctly) who likened a marketplace in Baghdad to a marketplace in Indiana (leaving out any and all of the VERY significant, indeed crucial differences between the two places). :banghead: I believe that President Obama also pwned him good at that House GOP Retreat last year (a spectacle we almost certainly will never have the privilege of witnessing again in our lifetime)!
:rofl:

[TuxedoKat]

5. Yes

He pretty much pwned all of them as a group and some individuals got more than others. I forget specifically how Pence got pwned though, can you elaborate?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. I can't remember exactly

but I believe he personally responded to a question by Pence and deconstructed his talking points (like he did with every other Republican in the room). The video of that entire exchange (and the preceding address) is still posted on You Tube (though the entire exchange should've really gotten the DVD/BD treatment and been distributed by the DNC to Democratic candidates as a guide for how to deal with Republicans though I suppose it is never too late) IMHO. I can PM you a link to it if you would like. :)

[TuxedoKat]

8. That would be great

if you get a chance, thank you. :)

[NatBurner]

9. that's just a fact, mike...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y04g6OPLnQ

i had ^this on my dvr for MONTHS