McCain leaves off Gingrich, Romney, Huckabee and others from his list
John McCain has changed his commonly used, ’I love Sarah and her family’ line in response to questions about her potential candidacy in 2012. Senator McCain offered some names of potential candidates.
Knowing that Senator McCain is close friends with Governor Huntsman, Pawlenty and Jindal, this may be one of our first public “tipping of the hand” that these three Governors are considering runs for the White House. Watch the video here. In previous interviews, McCain has not listed names.
Update: As Tommy pointed out, McCain has mentioned some of these names last month, but Senator McCain continues to refuse to name Romney, Gingrich and Huckabee, when discussing the future of the GOP or potential 2012 candidates.
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Gingrich makes 2012 prediction
As Newt continues to develop mailing lists and outreach programs to conservative groups and introduces his wife to the media and voters, he made this prediction on Fox.
Well, I think it’s a rate (ph) that the left-wing Democrats are alienating America with a big energy tax, with a war on churches and charities, with a big effort to raise taxes on every successful American, with an enormous increase on the federal debt. I think the odds are fairly good they’re going to lose control of the House next year and lose a number of Senate seats. And I think by 2012, the country will be in a choice of socialism or free enterprise, which kind of future do you want.
And my hunch is the Democrats can’t win a campaign that is open, aboveboard about whether you want cronies, politicians and bureaucrats to run your life, or you want to have a choice as a citizen about what you do with your own money as a customer and not as a ward of the state.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tllabQjCB7s[/youtube]
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Learning from Katrina, liberals use natural disasters to score political points
Tim Pawlenty is continuing to receive a lot of press, but leave it to liberals to use a crisis that is destroying the lives of thousands of Americans, to make a political point. Chris Steller, from the Minnesota Independent wrote a post on the devistating flooding in north and the impact it may have on the 2012 primary. The headline: “Flood gives Pawlenty a chance to sandbag national GOP rivals”
After declaring a state of emergency there on Friday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty headed to Moorhead today for an early-afternoon briefing with local officials about the looming flood in western Minnesota. Pawlenty and local officials will meet with media representatives after the briefing. It’s a chance for T-Paw to re-start the national PR offensive.
For Mr. Steller to suggest that Governor Pawlenty is using this crisis for his own political gain, is completely absurd!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9nsDUEOZSc[/youtube]
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For Crist’s sake, make a decision
Governor Crist has some critical legislative decisions to make in the next couple of weeks. The most impactful one; will he agree to raise taxes in an attempt to make up for a budget short-fall? This decision could have a major impact on the 2012 primary. Either way, it will provide ammunition to his opponents. Just ask Governor Huckabee what Republican voters and conservative media thought about his willingness to sign a liberal tax bill.
It seems as if half the Republican legislature is putting their own political careers on hold, waiting for Governor Crist to make a decision on a 2010 run for the Senate. The Tampa Tribune, with a headline stating, “Crist Facing Conservative Rebellion”, is reporting that conservatives are looking to challenge the Governor, if he does decide to run.
“My phones have been ringing off the hook,” said DiMatteo, now a Pinellas County delegate to the state party. “A lot of people around the state feel the same way I do. We didn’t leave Charlie, Charlie left us.”
Governor Crist is also waivering on several other issues that may impact a Senate or Presidential run. Governor Crist usually governs on principle, but you cannot help wonder if he is second guessing himself on every decision, knowing it will impact him politically in the near future?
March 29th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Kristofer,
What are you talking about? McCain has always listed names!
March 29th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Newt and Callista Gingrich are quickly becoming one of Washington’s most influential power couples. Newt and Callista are getting a lot of publicity for taking the lead in condemning Notre Dame’s invitation to Obama to speak, suggesting that it sets a poor moral example for Catholics and especially Catholic youth – I understand that both are now converts to Catholicism and are devout Catholics and are offended by the school’s invite.
This could be a political coup for Newt and Callista if Notre Dame uninvites Obama to speak. And it would be a double coup, politically if Newt replaces Obama as the speaker.
March 29th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
#1, not really. He has changed his talking-points from last year.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I don’t think I need to mention the irony in Newt Gingrich lecturing anyone on moral behavior.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Kristofer,
How has he changed his talking points? Last year, he provided names. This morning, he provided names. What’s different?
March 29th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
#5, I will take a look again, but the names McCain mentioned last year were doing the Vp speculation.
Earlier this year, when on ‘This Week’, McCain refused to name names, although he gave the same talking points on Palin. If you have some video, I will post.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
during*
March 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/01/interview_with_sen_john_mccain.html
HANNITY: Do you think she could be president one day?
MCCAIN: Sure, sure. But I’d also like to point out that it’s very early in this whole season.
HANNITY: Are you thinking of running again?
MCCAIN: I was — no, no, no, but I — you know, my political corpse is still warm, as you know, but I — you know, there’s going to be, I think, a spirited contest for the nomination of our party, and I think there are also other governors that will be competitive.
People like Bobby Jindal and John Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty and Mark Sanford, and — you know, there’s — governors now, I think, are going to be — play — an enhanced role in the direction of the Republican Party. One reason is because their talent, and another reason is because they govern.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
http://www.gop12.com/2009/03/mccain-brings-fold-together.html
“I think there’s a lot of voices in our party. Rush Limbaugh is one of them. Michael Steele, I respect enormously, the governors, Pawlenty and Jindal and Palin and others.”
March 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/Story?id=6459155&page=4
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me switch to the politics of the Republican Party. You said, after the election, that Governor Palin has a bright future in your party. Does that mean that, if she does chooses to run for president, she can count on your support?
MCCAIN: Oh, no. Listen, I have the greatest appreciation for Governor Palin and her family, and it was a great joy to know them. She invigorated our campaign. She was just down in Georgia and invigorated their campaign. But I can’t say something like that. We’ve got some great other young governors. I think you’re going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party. Pawlenty, Huntsman…
March 29th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Thanks Tommy, I altered my post….
btw, be careful quoting from gop12. It is run be a radical liberal, not a Republican as it claims.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
So very true, TO. There are more than a few in the GOP that need to keep mum on morals and values. Newt and his sweetie are just two of them.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Kristofer,
You need to provide a second update….hahahah. He mentions Huckabee and Romney in a funny kind of way.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/29/mccain-has-kind-words-palin/
“Mr. McCain also put his former running mate in the top tier of Republicans queuing up for presidential runs in 2012 although he mentioned Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty four times, more often than anyone else.
“And, uh, who am I forgetting?” he asked. “Yeah, yeah, Mitt Romney, so many that Mike Huckabee there’s a bunch of voices out there that need to be heard,” he said, going on to urge Republicans to “let a thousand flowers bloom.”
March 29th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Tommy boy, only when called out, but he continues to avoiding name three major figures, all who have chances at the nomination.
McCain is clearly sticking with his ‘team’. No doubt.
I am confused, because just last week on Larry King, Governor Romney stated that he speaks to McCain regularily. I understand the potential ‘age’ issue with Romney, but why not Huckabee?
As well, two weeks ago, Meghan McCain described Huckabee as “extreme” right of the party.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Kristofer,
Do you have a link to the Meghan McCain quote regarding Huckabee?
Who knows if Romney was telling the truth about speaking to McCain regularly?
March 29th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Kristofer,
McCain also said in that Hannity interview that he speaks to Palin regularly, hahahaha. I have to question whether that’s the truth.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
This is Callista Gingrich;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNO4NX1W3o8
March 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Gingrich productions. This one is for a Tommy Oliver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX0eVAUO1SU&feature=channel
March 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I suppose McCain and Romney could have different definitions of “regularly,” so I take back my comment about the “truth” since there is no set definition of “regularly.”
March 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
McCain may have promised his endorsement to Lindsey Graham or Lieberman if either should decide to jump into the race.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
#16,
Exactly….although he is politically correct, it would be nice to know the truth!
March 29th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Tommy Boy,
I love you, but I cannot believe you are making me post a link to Rachael ‘The Communist’ Maddow.
Look at the 1:27 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZVT9KXzjEI
March 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
#20,
I believe McCain remembers what Gore did in 2004 (Dean) and he is avoiding that same mistake.
March 29th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I actually believe that McCain believes (foolishly) that he might have a shot at a comeback in 2012 – again, won’t happen, but I really think McCain is pondering it in the back of his head.
March 29th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Crist video: Non-committal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJpgSzLtKgg
March 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Nice to see McCain listing Huntsman first, and leaving Romney off the list completely. Shows he has good judgment.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Last I heard, the energy tax was dead.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
#26, exactly
March 29th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
The image I have is of Sarah Palin taking one for the team in 2012, with a popular democratic president and Hillary in the #2 spot or on the High Court.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
26 – Maybe he just pays as much attention to who is a major prospect as he did to his general election campaign…not enough.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Then again, he may be setting up Huntsman to offset Mitt, thus trying to play eventual kingmaker.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
McCain did not like Romney personally, so that is probably why he did not add him to the list. Not sure why McCain would not like Huckabee or Gingrich. Anyone else have a clue?
March 29th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
#32, yes.
I believe the friendship between McCain and Huckabee is a facade (sp?). They used each other for political purposes…that is it.
March 30th, 2009 at 12:25 am
33 – Well at least we agree on something again.