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Mitch Daniels is officially NOT running for President

By: Bill S (Diary)  |  May 22nd, 2011 at 08:54 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Well, maybe not “officially”, but as close as you can get.  Several news sources (and a couple of Redstate diarists) are reporting that Daniels has contacted his supporters to make the announcement:

In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one,” Mr. Daniels wrote. “The interests and wishes of my family is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry.

Questions about events surrounding Daniels’ marriage, divorce and remarriage have swirled about since talk emerged of him as a potential candidate, and this may have played a part in this decision.  Since the standard operating procedure of the media these days is to dismantle every aspect of a candidate’s past (except with the notable exception of then-candidate Barack Obama), I’m sure Daniels and his family were anticipating the media microscope.

I personally am not shedding tears over this decision.  Daniels’ trucer talk turned me off of him months ago.  But I’m sure others here will see this as the decision that tanks the GOP’s odds of winning in 2012.  This is nonsense.  Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain and even Sarah Palin are well-capable of providing a GOP victory against Obama, an extremely weak Democrat incumbent.  Cain’s announcement yesterday drew a huge audience, and combined with his smashing success at the SC debate, Mr. Cain is making big inroads in the name recognition challenge.  Pawlenty is expected to announce his candidacy on Monday, and Daniels’ decision is likely to boost T-Paw’s chances of winning the nomination.  Palin’s entrance into the race is still very much in question, and speculation about her potential candidacy varies wildly (and rumors have emerged that she’s considering a 2012 run for Jon Kyl’s AZ senate seat)

I’m sure this announcement will fuel widespread micro-analysis in the days to come.  I will refrain and simply say: it’s getting interesting.

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COMMENTS

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  • luvnthebigsites

    The real ?winners? of this story are the dumpster diving, church burning far left kooks. I think that?s going to be the untold story. By Daniels basing his decision solely on the wrath the left will bring on his family he has only embolden the idiots to push the bar higher. Now the left has another ?conventional wisdom? bargaining chip to pick the next GOP candidate for us. They will now just threaten to destroy any candidate they deem intolerable? and the ruling class will play along and only prop up candidates accordingly.

    Of course the GOP could nominate someone like Herman Cain and completely destroy every conventional wisdom talking point the left has. But we all know that?s ?crazy talk?.

    —luvntheBIGsites

  • chbroussard

    which translates into not being disappointed at all. I just couldn’t seem to drag up any support for Daniels, any more than I could for Trump or even Huckabee. Daniels never convinced me that he really wanted to run. I do, however, appreciate that he’s gotten out of the race early in order for the us to hear from the candidates who really want the job and enable us to make a more informed decision on who to support..

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    Palin? She is a joke, last time she was putting her foot in her mouth chasing the birther issue with Trump. Yes we are now down to Pawlenty and Cain, but no need to bring the clowns into it.

  • Tbone

    Neither am I.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    For me, he is the candidate who had the best chance of standing up to congress on spending after what he has accomplished in Indiana (that’s accomplished not talked about).

    If this is true, I will support T-Paw … but hope for Christie.

    While winning is the first step (and I don’t think Cain or Palin can do it), wasting another bite of the apple with someone who isn’t willing to make the tough decisions will make me lose hope for the nation.

    So far only Daniels and Christie have talked about what needs to be done and can win the general.

  • GOPUGA

    endorse Pawlenty really soon and try to rally the base around TPAW. I like Cain too and would be excited to support Herman or Pawlenty as our nominee. Please don’t let it be Romney, Huntsman or Paul. Does anyone else think a Pawlenty/Rubio ticket would be a winner?

  • carolina

    Oh well, anybody BUT obama will be OK. I’m with you in that I see ‘politics as usual’ as far as the eye can see. bummer

  • BigRedConservative

    Also known as “Mr Boring vs Mr Liar”. There are no more half-decent candidates left. In fact, looking around the rubble of a once-strong field, I can only see Palin and Huntsman. I’m on my knees begging for John Bolton to run.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    to live forever.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    Not to mention the continued promise to tell us his foreign policy after the Joint Chiefs tell us the secrets only Obama knows.

    But I also think Bayh’s insistence that the election as referendum on Obama in which the GOP nominee matters little is probably right and dooms Obama to defeat.

    Gamecock remains leaning to Paws.

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    He has the potential to really be a powerhouse there, working with DeMint. He’d be wasting his time and talent as VP. We need all the eloquent muscle in the Senate we can get.

    A TPaw/Cain ticket might be interesting though.

  • Green_Lantern

    for us, Bill!

  • johnt

    I mean, it is the only, single, lone & lonesome thing the diseased & degenerate left has. The poor beasts may have to confront the issues, and how do you defend those?
    Charity suggests caution here. Obama will be left helpless, OK, but the demented may have strokes & never be able to hate again.

  • AceInTX

  • http://www.unifiedpatriots.com/ pilgrim

    The knowledge Cain brings concerning money makes him look like a giant compared to Geithner and Paulsen.

  • powertothepeople

    nt

  • chbroussard

    They’ll still use the race card because that’s all they have. I have no doubt they’ll portray Cain as an Uncle Tom and say he’s trying to be “white.” Look what they did to Clarence Thomas, and on a smaller scale to Condoleeza Rice. Cain will not get a pass from the left because he’s black. I fear instead he’ll receive a double dose of their rath.

  • thurman

    I think this also revs up the rumblings to draft Christie or Perry now even more

    I liked Daniels a lot myself, but I think he was far from the savior the establishment guys thought he would be– I can’t imagine how he could have run the type of campaign you need in this day and age, I think he would have flopped badly in a general election. I also don’t think he was “mean” enough to go after Obama’s pathetic record aggressively, which is what we need right now in a candidate

  • AceInTX

    you have no credibility when it comes to naming clowns

  • cja99

    Thank God, I was already beginning to snore. He’s just another Washington insider.

  • AceInTX

    I have nothing against him other than a healthy skepticism after McCain pumped his name as someone he’d like to see as our next nominee for POTUS.

    But I have nothing against him and have an open mind…but he’s going to have to sell and sell hard to get me on board because it’s going to take a lot to scrub an early McCain endorsement off his hide. I have to wonder what it is in TPaw that McCain liked….

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    than an incompetent red meat launcher. :-)

  • AceInTX

    and scrubbing that McCain taint off us behind

  • frankmac

    …who told him Daniels was in. Maybe they’re the same people who swore to him that Pawlenty was going to be on McCain’s ticket in ’08. Erick’s opinions are dead-on; his “scoops” – not so much.

  • http://www.LifeNews.com Steven Ertelt

    Pawlenty is a strong fiscal conservative who vetoed tax increases and held the line on spending (see http://bit.ly/jtfqBV ) and did such a good job that the Cato Institute gave him an A grade at the end of his two terms (see http://bit.ly/h1OAWZ ).

    He is also conservative on social issues, including racking up an impressive record on pro-life issues (see http://bit.ly/fu4XLe ).

    A two-term governor of a blue state who was re-elected by a bigger margin the second time around. Experience, well-spoken on the issues, and a good man at a time when we have an egomaniac in the White House.

  • http://www.LifeNews.com Steven Ertelt

    Pawlenty is a strong fiscal conservative who vetoed tax increases and held the line on spending (see http://bit.ly/jtfqBV ) and did such a good job that the Cato Institute gave him an A grade at the end of his two terms (see http://bit.ly/h1OAWZ ).

    He is also conservative on social issues, including racking up an impressive record on pro-life issues (see http://bit.ly/fu4XLe ).

    A two-term governor of a blue state who was re-elected by a bigger margin the second time around. Experience, well-spoken on the issues, and a good man at a time when we have an egomaniac in the White House.

    He is definitely worth consideration.

  • aesthete

    Who doesn’t make it to the Oval Office. I don’t know about that “unfounded” bit, though — there’s at least some evidence judging by his record that he would have made a good ‘un.

  • onemovoter

    Is that whichever candidate can stay on message and bring his or her message consistently will win the GOP nomination.

    Looking at all the candidates and how they have been running, only one so far has been consistent. Herman Cain.

    I know Ron Paul supporters would also say Ron Paul has been consistent, but his one big issue, the audit of the Fed, should be asked of Ron Paul now that he is in the majority and has the power to enforce an audit. So why hasn’t he done so? Also we all know that Ron Paul is a 10%’er where his issues only appeal to 10%. His presence does not inspire others to join him.

    So you heard it here, so far the prediction is Herman Cain ends up with the nomination unless there is some weird surprise.

  • powertothepeople

    the whole “he does not give me goosebumps” mentality. If someone wants to vote for “exciting” or a “great orator,” they have Obama. He made people cry, dance, moan, call him Jesus, etc. I will stick to a guy who can do what is need to be done and skip the whole church revival and filling of the spirit thing. TPaw is far from perfect and may be the best we have this time, but his speaking ability or lack of matters little.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    than for Treasury Secretary. And no amount of homework can fix the many problems with the substance of the FAIR Tax (and even if you accept the leaps of faith/math) and the lack of simple answers re the 23% tax on necessities and pre-bate.

  • acat

    Like I said to Becker around here somewhere, there is one single solitary upside to the Fair Tax – it’s a reset of tax policy that would spread the load more fairly .. for the 10-20 years it’d take for the Dems to bend it.

    As I also said, we could get the same net effect – wider tax base, more fair spread – just by adding a 5% minumum unavoidable bracket. Earn income, pay 5%, no deductions. Deductions apply only to higher percentages….

    Mew

  • gpclaw

    I don’t see anyone (who has a legitimate shot at the nomination) in the current field who would shrink the role of the federal government.

  • gpclaw

    aren’t perceived by the left as “real” african-american’s.

    Somehow, the left will twist a black, Republican nominee into an example of the rich, white man exploiting the black man, then somehow tie that into a slavery analogy.

    Racism will still be alive and kicking.

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    Several points…

    • Obama got his rep as an orator at 2004 Dem Convention when he delivered a well rehersed speech.
    • His performance to date as President, as a speaker, sucks big time. His speech yesterday to AIPAC was classic crap.
    • GWB, scorned as a speaker, actually stood up pretty well when he was speaking off the cuff on things he was passionate about.
    • All that said, a President MUST be able to communicate clearly and precisely AND he has to be able to hold the attention of his audience.
    • No President, especially a Republican, can expect to be given a pass on a bad speech nor can, or should, he expect to be bailed out with others explaining what he means.

    I haven’t heard TPaw. I understand he’s a wonk, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. He gave one speech – CPAC I think – that wasn’t well received because he apparently moved out of his comfort zone and made a poor effort to throw red meat to the assembled. He needs to stick with what he’s comfortable with and not listen to his advisors if they’re telling him to act like Sarah.

  • AceInTX

    you could be perfect on the issues, have the best credentials and be the best executive on planet earth and it wouldn’t matter for a hill of beans if you bore people to tears and can’t get them to give you the time of day.

    The Obama argument about goose pimples is a good one all else being equal…but I would argue that a good salesman and orator who can baffle voters with BS will beat a competent boring milquetoast policy wonk any day.

  • powertothepeople

    and it is a sad state that people buy feel good rather than good.

    That being said, while Tim is not the greatest speaker on the face of the planet, he is no where near the worst. And what he lacks in skill, he makes up in directness. He simply says what he wants to say and moves on. I would rather there be more choices and better speakers/conservatives but I am also happy we at least have one good choice rather than another election like last time. I think people will buy our message this time even it is not the best presented one.

  • AceInTX

    I ready for his pitch….

    bring it on

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    of the Texas house that was backed by nearly every single conservative repersentative in the whole house? I know, I know, you put your Ron Paul conspiracy glasses on and say that Straus used his sith lord power to make them vote that way, but the reality of the situation is you are simply dead wrong on the issue.

  • AceInTX

    you know…the one who is putting Democrats as committee chairmen in return for their votes for him as Speaker

    questions about Palin’s Conservative credentials from a Straus backe is a bit rich

    as for the Paul crack….get a clue….I am not now nore have I ever been a Paulite

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    but I am saying that you have to be in Paulike conspiracy land if you think that Strauss used his evil NWO powers to force all those conservatives in the house to vote for him. If you bash me for Stauss you are bashing 95% of the conservatives in the house who actually voted for him (I just said the sloppy hit job done on his was stupid, they actually voted FOR him)

  • AceInTX

    he makes the committee assignments and he controlled the redistricting…

    no we’ll have fewer Conservatives in the legislature, his blue blood lackeys will have bigger majorities to vote for them since he carved up a few conservative districts and deluded the votes…and the Dems will keep voting for him as a block.

    Chalk it up to conspiracy theories if you want…the end result it the same.

    a less conservative legislature, a smaller Republican Majority and Straus entrenched with the Dems keeping him in has seat

    Bravo

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    if he is the big bad boogy man who is going to redistrict out the conservatives why did they vote for him? If you are right then they must be too stupid to stay in anyway (vote for a speaker who is going to redisctrict you out anyway) or if I’m right and it was never a big deal anyway then thats why they voted for him.

  • AceInTX

    He used his POWER to assign committees….he carried through on his threat to write freshmen who opposed him out of their districts….he’s rerwarding Democrats for making him Speaker…..you can’t deny it…it’s a fact…

    I don’t know why the scared bunnies didn’t stand up and defeat him…but it doesn’t matter now does it?

    He’s written the district lines to strengthen hia allies and he’s written his foes out of their seats…

    Hooray for Straus