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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

In Defense of Michele Bachmann

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  August 14th, 2011 at 05:35 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I am getting a lot of angst in my inbox already about Michele Bachmann. It is sooooo predictable as to be pathetic.

Michele Bachmann is weighing down Rick Perry and therefore helping MItt Romney. So Bachmann should get out.

Friends, it could be that Rick Perry is weighing down Michele Bachmann, so he should get it out.

In fact, neither is true. Both have a right to be there. This line of argument is sometimes valid, but it is way early. Michele Bachmann just won a huge victory in the Iowa straw poll despite being out staffed and out spent.

If you truly believe that Congresswoman Bachmann needs to now drop out because she is a spoiler, you are an idiot. It is that simple.

Michele Bachmann continues to beat expectations and as someone who has followed her for a while, I am delighted for her and continue to pray for her. She may or may not win, but I hold her in very high regard either way.

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COMMENTS

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  • GordonTaylor

    It is ABSOLUTELY the other way around and I know no one can see it like you Eric.

    Rick Perry is a nice man, a very good Christian and was a good Governor. President he’ll never be.

  • __t_i_m_o_t_h_y__

    I keep looking for reasons to dismiss Michelle Bachmann as our first Lady President (yes, I said Lady–and that is a compliment) but I have yet to find one that matters.

    The Lady is a contender.

    Bachmann/Perry Perry/Bachmann its all good.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    and not a time to be swearing out absolutes. I remember a lot of Republicans in 1979 who said that a fellow named Reagan didn’t have a chance against the other, more experienced candidates in the primary. Many of those folks are still working at choking down those words. They tend to be very dry, and not very nutritious; I try to eat as few as possible.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    well done!

  • toothpick

    Totally agree with your point there, but your terminology is a wee bit harsh: “If you truly believe that Congresswoman Bachmann needs to now drop out because she is a spoiler, you are an idiot” … ?

    How about (instead of “you are an idiot”): “You are mistaken.” Or even “I disagree vehemently.”

    Just a thought. Keepin’ it civil. :)

  • RichmondG30

    but I am absolutely convinced that after putting the current clown into the White House with ZERO executive experience, this country is looking for the next occupant to have run a large organization before becoming leader of the free world.

    Michele has run a business. She’s infinitely more intelligent than the Moron in Chief. She’s real. She’s honest. I would LOVE to see her as President. However, I do not believe 50% of Americans are willing to take a chance on another “hope”.

    I believe it will be either Romney or Perry or maybe Christie who has a realistic chance to defeat Barack Obama.

    I would crawl across broken glass on my hands and knees to vote for anyone with an R next to his/her name. God have mercy on this nation if Barack Obama is reelected.

  • conservativecurmudgeon

    These are my exact sentiment.

    Who IS Rick Perry, exactly, other than a former Democrat state Legislator? I’m watching these social-climbing technocratic former-Democrats with a bit of wary eye, here in these years of the ascendency of Bill Kristol,Trent Lott, Charles Krauthammer, and so on. ESPECIALLY one that seems to have spent WAY TOO MUCH of his life in and out of State Government.

    Conservatives need to be very mindful of looking like a 49-year old spinster who is finally getting a date after twenty years of not being asked: Don’t appear so desperate to find a “conservative” that you fall for, well, a reformed Democrat, however well recommended. Let’s learn a bit more about the man first…

  • phoenix0401

    I think those of you who are taking this as a shot at Rick Perry are misreading it. His point — which is well taken — is that we’re still months away from any primaries, both candidates have earned the right to be there, and neither should drop just yet. Personally, I’d rank them Perry 1 and Bachmann 2 for the simple reason that Perry has shown an ability to get a conservative agenda through a Congress, even though I tend to agree with Bachmann more on issues. But — and this is a Rosanne Barr sized “but” — I’d happily take either of them as the leader of the free world. I’m also scared that both of them running strong in Iowa could pull votes away from each other, but why don’t we let them both campaign for a while before throwing one under the bus?

  • jaykali

    She doesn’t need to drop out because people don’t think she can win. I say let the big 3 Romney, Perry and Bachmann duke it out. I agree with T-Paw’s criticisms of Bachmann, I think her resume is a bit lacking and I am really much more in the mood for a former governor that has some executive experience.

    To me being president basically being the CEO of the largest corporation in the world. Right now we have a CEO in chief that chases liberal fantasies like rail and socialized healthcare. I think candidates should be judged based on results not ideological purity. You can be right on all the issues but if you aren’t able to make deals then all you can do is stop things, you can’t actually move forward your agenda. But you will say, “Oh no you should never compromise!!!!” – well you shouldn’t compromise your core principles but you need to be able to get things done. So even though T-Paw is out I think his criticisms of Bachmann were fair.

    But look I mean there will be plenty of time for the 3 to duke it out so may the best man/woman win. I really think this is a 3 person race and I put Perry & Romney on level 1 as establishment figures and Bachmann as the insurgent Huckabee-type of this year. All the rest are noise and I hope they go away sooner than later to get us focused on the real contenders.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    that Ronald Reagan was also a former Democrat.

    Sometimes it takes a while for folks to see the light, and some never do. I am more than willing to welcome aboard those who do.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    -NT-

  • phoenix0401

    Phil Gramm, while John McCain is a life-long Republican.

    So, yes, just being a former Democrat doesn’t disqualify him in my eyes.

  • clintonformccain

    Sit back, and enjoy the show. There’s a whole year before the confetti falls on the Republican nominee at the convention.

  • Darin_H

    “So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?” – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

  • altexas

    For now would someone get Rep. Bachman some voice lessons. Her speech at the Iowa State fair was painful to listen to. She sounded like she was yelling the whole speech.
    It obviously did not hurt much as she won the straw poll and I loved what she said. Still it was a pain to listen to. Reminded me of Hilary. Even Pelosi knows how to use a microphone. It can be learned.
    Herman would be a great teacher for her. He is by far the greatest public speaker we have had since Reagan..
    We have a great field of candidates. It is too early to draw lines I think.
    Perry and Romney are not as Conservative as I would like and Rep. Paul is just wacky on his isolationism, still any of these candidates will be a great improvement.

  • Darin_H

    and I’d take him over half of the elected Republicans.

  • Tbone

    making the observation.

  • rememberthealamo

    Rick doesn’t want VP. He’d prefer going back to just being Texas Gov. Knows just as another Texan found out “being Vice President isn’t worth a bucket of warm spit.”

    Of course, Perry/Bachmann is acceptable

  • izoneguy

    It is ABSOLUTELY the other way around and I know no one can see it like you Eric.

    Michele Bachmann is a nice woman, a very good Christian and was a good Congress woman. President she?ll never be.

  • izoneguy

    I Perry/Bachmann will be played up by the MSM as McCain/Palin ver. 2
    No thanks……

    Perry/Jindal makes a lot more sense.

  • Tbone

    are pulling up their anti-Palin posts and running “Find and Replace” on them .

  • izoneguy

    Seventeen (17) things that critics are saying about Rick?Perry

    Look at this
    3. He used to be a Democrat and was Al Gore?s campaign manager in Texas

  • lizabtha

    What business did she run? I know she was an IRS lawyer, got some farm welfare, but I don’t think she ran the farm.

    Look: in Waterloo, it’s reported that she will not even ENTER the Lincoln dinner building UNTIL Perry leaves.

    That’s pretty telling to a lot of folk. She is that intimidated by her opponents? In her own home town?

    Um, Michele, you know as prez, you MAY have some difficult negotiations you have to actually sit thru with some pretty tough characters.

    I pray she never gets that chance. She obviously has a hysteria problem. She’s no Maggie Thatcher(THAT’S the kinda lady I want for our first female prez). Not some easily intimidated, flighty little girl.

  • lineholder

    as “anti-Perry talking points” diary? Just so that everyone gets a “head’s up” as to what is going on?

  • http://www.usdebateboard.com usdebateboard

    Everyone knows Ron Paul disciples stack the deck when it comes to straw polls. Paul winning would not have been a headline, and the Perry announcement would have been the meat and potatoes of the week. If Ron Paul wins, Pawlenty stays. Instead, Bachmann leapfrogs both of them.

    Winning in Iowa and getting Pawlenty tossed in the same weekend is a double word score Bachmann. After all, his credentials were supposed to trump her shaking up the status quo. None of the tastemakers would have predicted she’d outlast him and he’d fold this fast.

    It’s as though she won Iowa AND Minnesota.

  • gracie

    I have sent it out to my address book including some reluctant Tea Party members here in Texas. It seens to be a comprehensive and fair analysis.

    As far as him being a Dem so many conservatives were raised that way. My father-in-law was a Dem County Judge but he dispensed justice exactly like we would. So my husband was raised a Dem and I was one out of rebellion…until ’92! Sometimes you just have to grow up.

    We need to watch for the follow-up article re: Perry’s positives. I know I will be.

  • RichmondG30

    “…she along with her husband, Marcus moved their young family to Stillwater, Minnesota. There they opened a small business health care practice that employs nearly fifty people.”

  • 1stRichard

    Then when the facts are brought forward, there is a bad habit of forming a circular firing squad and everyone keeps shooting until no one is standing.

    Some do not know the facts because of this. Case in point, ?corporations are not people? and one of the lefts talking points. Who knows how and when this started, and how do you reply? I do, it was the McCain Feingold partial overruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 08-205.

    Then there is the matter of taxes, someone said they did not increase taxes as governor but if you are like my self and consider fees the same as taxes then someone lied.

    Please excuse me if I duck

  • conservativecurmudgeon

    In 1989. I will remind you, also, that Mr. Perry never voted for Reagan.

    Look, Governor Perry may be the greatest thing since sliced glazed raisin bread, but I am naturally skeptical of folks that come to MODERN conservatism later in their adult life. I certainly welcome them into the fold, and they often have much to offer.

    But President? I simply am suggesting that we look a little more critically at such folks, that’s all. As of right this moment, I think I would choose Mr. Perry over Romney– but, I look forward to all the input RedStaters can give me about both men…

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    I would not be so sure that he didn’t vote for Reagan–there were a lot of democrats who did, because Carter wasn’t cutting it, and Mondale was more liberal than Carter.

    I am not committed to Perry at this time, but Perry was about the same age when he became a Republican that Reagan was when he converted.

    I will also admit that I was for Carter in ’76, but I was also only 16 years old at the time. I registered as a Democrat in Oklahoma at 18, but re-registered in my new district as a Republican at 20. Some of us come to our senses earlier than others, and some never do. I am glad that Perry has joined our side of the aisle, and you can bet that he will be vetted much more thoroughly than Maobama was.

    Be skeptical, but don’t write him off based on youthful indiscretion. Also, remember the history of the south: it took a long time for southerners to accept the party of Lincoln, since Republicans were the enemy during the Civil War. My parents have registered Democrat their entire lives, yet they voted for Nixon, Reagan (twice), Bush I (twice), Dole and Bush II (twice). They may have been registered Democrat, but they were liberal by NO means.

  • notpropagandized

    We all love to predict and then those who lose control of themselves think they should try to work the puppet strings. This is soooo cool having all these candidates and they are really quite good despite what others manipulators would like for you to think. Bachmann and Perry are just fine in the same campaign. If nominated, I’d vote for Romney, but in the meantime am enjoying watching a process where he’ll not win the nomination. I guess that Perry will. Bachmann is really impressive. Assuming she can execute policy effectively, it’d be tremendous to have her go in and kick butt in Washington. Would still like for HermanCain to rise up. This is all good stuff. The ongoing debate on all the issues focused on fixing the wreck that Obama has made of American life is interesting and educational. Every school kid should be required to watch the whole campaign closely and get informed. Let it be. Have faith. Pray. Send money. Communicate with others aggressively. It’s all going to work out.

  • notpropagandized

    Beware of underestimating RickPerry.

  • notpropagandized

    I agree. But Perry would probably go for somebody like Martinez-NM-R.

  • notpropagandized

    MicheleBachmann in the campaign is good for all Republicans / conservatives. Thanks for considering the civil alternative. Better late than never…

  • notpropagandized

    Texas Democrats have traditionally been conservatives. There were plenty of them around when Perry made his jump to Republican and anyone in Texas that knows would not hold it against him unless he/she had a personal problem. Some may make hay, but it’s entirely irrelevant. Also, AlGore back then was a conservative before becoming mentally ill and declining to his present desperate state of mind.

  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/ reaganiterepublicanresistance

    Bachmann is the REAL DEAL, a actual principled conservative for whom words and deeds are one-in-the-same… much like the Gipper

    Her influence on the debate is reason enough to welcome her presence in the race… and I might mention that those underestimating her have tending to look a little bit silly to this point- it’s Perry who needs to sell himself to me, got some questions for him…..

  • SirGladiator

    I wonder how its possible to be a ‘spoiler’ half a year before the first votes are cast? Erick is 100% right, its completely insane to talk about somebody dropping out to support somebody else. Of course I don’t particularly care for Perry anyway, but like Erick said, you could argue that Perry should drop out to help Bachmann, its just as valid, and yet just as dumb. This is the time when the candidates campaign. They show what they’re made of, they make their best sales-pitch to the People, and then we the People choose who we like best. The process itself will weed out the weaker candidates. Pawlenty spent possibly 1 1/2 million dollars on the Iowa Straw Poll and finished a distant third, granted that was behind a candidate who was born in the state and a candidate who had run before and had a strong base of support there, but nevertheless it was his idea to make the Straw Poll a hill to die on, and he died on it.

    Over time, other lesser candidates will make similar dumb mistakes, or simply get weeded out by actual caucuses and primaries. Either way, it will take care of itself. I wouldn’t go so far as to say, as Erick generously did, that winning the state you were born in by less than 1 percent of the vote is somehow a ‘huge win’, certainly if it had been the actual Caucuses a result like that would be more like a loss than a win, but it was a Straw Poll, and it was a good result for Bachmann. Perry’s sixth place finish despite the significant write-in effort his people put in, was quite poor, he’s going to start off the post-Ames Iowa campaign at a pretty huge disadvantage. Of course Romney did even worse, 7th place, he may well lose Iowa so badly that his New Hampshire lead evaporates as well, and the winner of Iowa could take New Hampshire also and make this a pretty short campaign season.

    So three cheers for Erick bringing sanity to a pretty insane situation, nobody needs to drop out this far in advance of actual voting. Let the candidates continue to sharpen their messages and their message-delivery skills, and let the People decide who should be next to go!

  • bk

    I saw this story across the pond about her actions at that Iowa dinner yesterday.

    I don’t know the biases of the reporter (if any), but if it’s anywhere close to true I guess she was a bit miffed that Perry blew off Iowa Saturday – raining on what turned out to be her parade – and was welcomed with open arms Sunday.

  • justluthien

    I’m one of those purists damned by the Republican-first crowd in 2008 because I refused to vote for McCain. Not this time. I have one major criteria for 2012: can this person defeat Obama?

    That’s why I believe that the lower-tier, can’t win crowd needs to fall on their swords before the primaries begin. I don’t trust the Dems, who have no presidential primary races, to let Republicans choose their own canidate. What’s to stop them from crossing over, esp in blue states, to vote in the GOP primaries to get a loser on the ballot?

    The only way that I can see to avoid this from happening is to have the field winnowed down to those who will support conservative values AND who can get that assclown out of the White House in 2012 before the primary season begins.

  • arthurmanger17

    I posted Friday the 12th ?Mr. Erickson?s Game Plan?, where Erick is pushing for a head to head contest between Romney and Perry. At the end I stated, ?Much to Mr. Erickson?s chagrin Bachmann, Gingrich and Gain aren?t going anywhere?.
    In reply to that post, Bill S Posted ?Yawn? Thanks, Carnac. Glad you?re a mind-reader.
    ?It?s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.? ? David St. Hubbins
    So here are the Straw Poll Results
    Michelle Bachman – 4,823 Erick writes because she won, she can?t win. She?s not going anywhere.
    Ron Paul – 4, 621 Erick is not worried for Perry concerning Paul. Has no comment.
    Tim Pawlenty – 2, 293 Tim quits. Erick calls him a leader. Say?s Rick S., Herman and Newt should follow suit.
    Rick Santorum – 1,657
    Herman Cain – 1, 456 Ron has no chance, which puts Cain in third. He stays in.
    Rick Perry – 718 No debate, we?ll have to wait.
    Mitt Romney – 567 Here?s Mitt barely beating Newt.
    Newt Gingrich – 385 Well if Romney stays in, Newt isn?t dropping out.
    Jon Huntsman – 69
    Thaddeus McCotter – 35
    Scattering – 162
    Hey Bill S, you don?t have to be a Carnac, just pay attention. Which side of the line are you on? Stupid and Clever? Try the side that pays Attention.

  • weyland

    Ah, yes, that would be the one that uses federal tax dollars to cure homosexuals…

  • robertm75

    That only works if you are completely ignorant of the travesty that McCain was as a candidate. Perry’s record over the past ten years is a stark contrast to McCain’s over the same period hands down. Other than the genders of the two spots there is absolutely zero comparison. I am glad McCain lost in 08. Now is our chance to flush out some of the remnants of the “Rockefeller” wing of the GOP.

  • robertm75

    Obama’s problems do not stem from his lack of executive experience. His problems stem from his solid radical Leftism. Do you really think that had Obama been a governor as a candidate instead of a senator that things would be any different? His ideas are the problem not his electoral resume. We, as Conservatives, are making a grave mistake playing up the Left’s superficial critique of Bachmann. You really think if she was a governor that the MSM would be giving her any credence against the Bamster? Experience is just a convenient criticism for them because their guy can’t run on a record.

  • gekster

    You missed this part, “will be played up by the MSM as “.
    Slow down a little and understand what you read.

  • robertm75

    http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/270101/five-points-perry-s-favor-kevin-d-williamson#

  • robertm75

    Again, as I said in this thread above, experience is not the issue with Obama. It’s ideology and the ideas he is pushing in DC. Bachmann, despite what you may say or what the MSM has painted, is discussing ideas. She is willing to fight this man on the grounds of ideology and that is what we need. What we don’t need are policy wonks who want to fight the Left based on their premises about policy, or else you get into a battle of who is best to grow government.

  • robertm75

    When I used the word “you” I was speaking in the collective sense, as in the general voting public. Perhaps I should have spelled that out better in my post, but I didn’t think I would have to deal with “that’s not what was written” posts. I did not reference izoneguy and thought that my intentions would be clear regarding who I was talking about.

  • gekster

    Thanks for the clarity.

  • jaykali

    Obama had a lot of so-called good ideas that were popular when he ran, such as ‘healthcare for everybody’, ‘green jobs’, etc without any sort of record to prove he could achieve these goals. When you asked ab his record he would say he’s not a washington insider! – which is what everyone uses. That is fine if you have other experience, like in the private sector.

    Obama didn’t have a record that proved how he would govern. Governors have records, they have to balance budgets and run and a state. Some legislators don’t have much more than a voting record. Others are good at moving legislation or being thought leaders (Paul Ryan). So far as I can tell, Bachmann passes various purity tests but has a thin record. Now that doesn’t disqualify her from being a million times better than Obama but I don’t see her as a serious candidate. She is more a bumper-sticker type with good 1-liners but not a serious resume. Also she I think will be more susceptible to attacks from the left as being a wingnut bc of some of her gaffes which the left will try to use to make her radical, etc. I know we shouldn’t just vote based on who will/won’t be attacked bc any Republican candidate will- I just think that she tends to attract more negative attention like Palin has. Again that is not the main reason I wouldn’t support her but is a factor. I think Perry has a much better record to stand on and will be a much more formidable opponent to Obama. Personally I think Bachmann would be a liability even as a VP candidate. But she doesn’t have a real chance to win in my opinion.

  • BA Cyclone

    There was an excellent comment on that above. Honestly it’s ridiculous for any person to suggest that, at least among the supposed “top three” of Romney, Perry, Bachmann that any of them drops out. Instead I am hoping that the circular firing squad stays home, and we can all focus on the strengths of each candidate and which has the best combination of them all.

    There is “a lot of green” between here and the first real votes being cast, so this “firing squad” discussion is premature from being premature.

    Personally I am already behind Bachmann at this stage, and I do have serious questions about Perry at this point. I am not the only one. Voters in general are taking a skeptic and cautious view of all the candidates. Perry will need to get out on the trail and campaign to win this thing, and answer those questions. Posts on a blog are great, but ultimately it will still take old-fashioned campaigning for Perry to win the nomination.

    However this nomination cake is still far from setting, much less even ready to put into the oven in my opinion. A lot can and will change before votes are cast. The field will winnow down quickly from here by the nature of the process. I am glad we at least have both Perry and Bachmann who appear to have the conservative credentials we need to replace Obama and move the government back in the right direction.

    Heck, even Romney looked decent in the debates last week. I just think RomneyCare is an albatross that hurts mightily in practice…although I personally still believe that just about any GOP nominee is going to win the general election. The failure of Obama to lead on economic policy is going to doom his re-election.

    I am just hoping that our nominee will be part of leading the conservative movement that Bush 43 was not.

  • Aaron Gardner

    Some I would like to drop out because they ideologically impaired, others, like Cain, because I would rather see them in a Perry or Bachmann admin as Sect. of Commerce.

    What I don’t want to see is conservatives splitting the vote and letting someone who is lacking in character and principles to pull a McCain.

  • acat

    it’s a cheap way for some of ‘em – Santorum, especially – to raise profile and funds for a Senate challenge.

    I’m expecting several to .. refine their career trajectories .. in the next month or three.

    Mew

  • Aaron Gardner

    That place just may not be as President.

  • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

    Teddy Kennedy ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980 . . . and possibly . . .

  • snowshooze

    So… looks like there is serious consideration….if the progressive Democrat caucus can be considered serious..

  • izoneguy

    of a Marxist Amerika…..

    Please give Obama some grief. Obama is now shown to be far too liberal
    for the majority of Americans and they think they can drop an even more
    progressive candidate to run against Rick Perry????

    Rick Perry will be very active in California – The Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party can see him up close.

  • snowshooze

    I could join up… cast ballot.. but I think I want Obama to make it to the general on his own.
    Say they dredged someone up, that appeared to make sense.. respected the country, had some serious charisma…( Funny…Obama seems like a vaccuum in the charisma department..) somebody really good. My Senator Mark Begich is amazing. For being so new to the game, he is smooth. And in live debate, his powers of obscufication are nothing short of excellent.
    Who would you consider to be the best candidate to challenge…I mean aside of Hillary? Colin Powell?
    Who is that guy who slammed Obama on the oil spill.. Carville!!!
    I’d be happy to bet on Carville, man that guy has the gettup and go…

  • snowshooze

    And furthermore, I believe Romney is toast.

  • snowshooze

    The last minute was designed for this sort of thing…
    Let’s let them define themselves.