Mitch Daniels, sadly, will be the one the R's run

[silvershadow]

Don't ask me how I know, because I don't. But he is the most obvious choice (from my perspective as an outsider to the R's, and as an observer). He carried water in the beginning of the last administration, and in fact was largely the architect of the Norquist budget we are all suffering under.

I have lived in this state all my life. When he left Bushco to run for governor, I knew we were in trouble. He "sold" the rights to the Indiana Toll Road, theoretically an asset of the People of Indiana (it should belong to all of us) for 99 years lease to a European agency for not particularly a lot of money considering it's 99 years. Hell not only will he be dead, but so will his kids and likely grandkids before that lease expires. I guess it's cheaper for them to come over here (thousands of miles) to run it than it is for the people of Indiana to do it. Besides, it can't be about money. Hell, if you can't figure out how to make money off of a toll road, something is wrong. No, it is not about money, just as in Wisconsin. It is about ideology. Not only is it not good eonugh we allow them concession contracts along the toll road, which we wouldn't have to do, hell the road belongs to the people so we could run those eateries ourselves if we so chose and plow to profits into maintaining and upgrading.

Then there is his very recent labor tensions. This, however happened about the same time, maybe a little delayed, from Walker's trouble in Wisconsin. Why it became different from Wisconsin is Mitch (that's what he likes to be called, Mitch, he ran his campaign on the slogan "My Man Mitch". Conveniently for Mitch, he took note of the fact that since, as of this date, the Republican party is tripping over their own dicks, decided to pull back on seeing what trouble Walker was getting into.

The trouble he will have is his record. That doesn't mean they won't run him. He just narrowly escaped a whole lot of attention when labor got riled up here a couple of months ago. He looked up north to Wisconsin, felt the cold winds drifting down, and decided not to follow his bretheren into the into the tainted water (despite his actual total agreement with Walker and ilk).

He outsourced the entire State FSSA to IBM and fired almost all of the state social workers and replaced them with call centers whose sole design was to put private companies in charge of saving the system money. The way they did this was by denying, getting paperwork lost, not sending paperwork, etc. So many people got riled up the state had to cancel the contract only two years in, of a 10 year contract.

He is a total opportunist, he is just as ideological as Norquist, Walker, etc. And remember, he was Bushco. He, if he were to be elected, could likely do the most covering up of them all. He needs to be opposed at every turn. I don't know if he's PNAC or not, but you can just about bet he is if he's not listed as a signer.

(and, and, he looks like what I imagine a reptilian would look like if I actually believed in reptilians) :)

PS: He also is current Governor, so has the ability to get creative, like they did apparently in Wisconsin, if you know what I mean.
tin foil hat off now,
what do you guys think?

[Thrill]

1. Isn't he a Dwarf?

I can't see Americans voting for a Dwarf with a comb over. He'll look funny standing next to Pres Obama.

[LiberalFighter]

5. He doesn't have anything to comb over.

[mikekohr]

34. He's a Hobbitt, 4'6" tall when standing on two size 12 shoeboxes of weed -nt-

[woo me with science]

38. No, he's a conehead.

[ecstatic]

46. Does he at least have a deep voice?

If he sounds and looks like an elf, he doesn't have a chance!

[dkf]

2. Maybe all the speculation on his wife will scare the family off.

I feel sorry for him already.

[Ramulux]

4. I didn't know about the whole re-marriage thing

I cant see that not coming out and being at least a little issue. I feel bad for the dude.

[silvershadow]

6. I am wondering what all that mess was about.

what little I heard just barely made me aware of all that.

[dkf]

7. MSNBC was going on and on about it.

Tweety says it makes Daniels look like a wimp and Cenk thinks it will earn him sympathy.

Between that and the Ensign stuff it feels like the enquirer.

[silvershadow]

9. well, Tweety is right, it does make him look like a wimp...

I thought that on my own. I don't know why he just doesn't get on with it.

[dkf]

12. Funny I thought it showed he was a nice man.

Must be a male/female thing. Cenk probably is more of a softie than most.

[silvershadow]

20. Perhaps so, but a candidate for the presidency generally isn't so coy

about his plans,and deferring too much to the wifey thing just makes him look not ready (even if it's not true). jmho But what do I know, I'm not a strategist. I don't know him, and perhaps he is a nice guy, but ideologically wrong, and this business of transferring state assets is wrong, and the whole privatization of government is wrong.

[JTFrog]

24. Sorry, no one will ever buy the "softie" from a man who just screwed every woman living in Indiana.

He's a fucking pig and we will not forget.

[OHdem10]

3. He is choice of the Establishment Republicans. and the establishment

in both parties usually get what they wish.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. See, I don't think he's going to run...

No Republican wants to be the sacrificial lamb to Pres. Obama's reelection bid. Those who are seriously thinking about running are doing so for three reasons:

1. They're old and they can't wait four years - Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney fall into this category. Gingrich will be in his 70s by the time 2016 rolls around and Romney will be knocking on the door to 70. This is both their swan songs. If they don't win it this time, they're not going to win it ever and they'll probably fade away politically.

2. They're capitalizing on their current buzz - These candidates know four years from now, they'll probably be so irrelevant, that the platform won't be there for a realistic run. Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann are the two I'm thinking about the most here. If Palin decides to not run, then she's ultimately done with national politics because she's already having a helluva time ginning up enough support to stay relevant and it's not even been a full three years since many deemed her the Queen of the Republican Party. Bachmann? Well her tea-party lovin' views will fall out of flavor when most Republicans wake up and realize it's doing their party more harm than good.

3. They're egomaniacs who actually think they have a shot - This is the remainder of the filed. Guys like Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Herman Cain. We all know they don't stand any credible chance of breaking 10% nationally - let alone capable of winning a primary state. But that won't stop 'em for trying.

Daniels doesn't fit into that category. Unless he seems himself more a two and realizes that in four years he won't have near the clout - but I disagree. I think he can hold off for four years and run when it's more likely Republicans stand a better chance. I think Jon Huntsman is doing the same thing - even though he's moved closer to announcing than Daniels.

But that's just my take. I'm no political expert - so I could be totally off.

[starroute]

28. But Daniels is almost as old as Mitt or Newt

Daniels is 62, Mitt is 64, and Newt is 68.

So Daniels is a bit younger than the other two -- but even he will be 67 in 2016.

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. I doubt that an Arab-American who has just received an award from the Arab American Institute would

be acceptable. Mitch Daniels grandparents came from Syria and are of Christian background. He is a Presbyterian. But from what I gather he doesn't stress the religious angle very strongly. He even called for a truce on social issues like abortion. That would likely make him anathema to most social conservatives - although he has a history of anti-choice positions.

He may very well be as ideological as Norquest - but he just doesn't come off as crazy enough and too pragmatic for the taste of teabagers, fundamentalist Christians, the Fox News and NewsMax crowd and the right-wing radio crowd to be deemed acceptable. That group now dominates the Republican Party more than ever. This year, I suspect they will really dig in their heals and demand that someone of their ilk get the nomination. As far as they are concerned, they lost in 2008 largely because McCain was too moderate.

Also, most Republican have barely heard of him. It would be unusual for the Republican to favor someone with such low name recognition.

[I owe]

13. Exactly right

The batshitters in the GOP won't stand for it.

[Merlot]

17. Yes, he called a truce. Then he signed the bill to defund planned parenthood.

Rachel did the story.

[DCBob]

11. why sadly??

[silvershadow]

18. Oh, must be my general outlook on things...

I just think the Republicans are in a sad state of affairs. To me, Mitch looks like a little kid, hopeful that there may be an opening (which it seems is his for the taking).

[DCBob]

26. They are in a sad state for sure. But its their own fault.

All of their potential candidates, including Daniels, are seriously flawed.

[DrToast]

14. The guy who called for a truce on social issues?

Good luck winning the Republican nomination.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

25. Yup

though he has tried to "walk back" his support for the truce by telling anti-choice folks that his comments were aimed at the left not the right and he recently signed a bill increasing restrictions on abortion here in Indiana, as well as cutting off aid to Planned Parenthood, so maybe the fundies will be mollified. :shrug: OTOH whatever mileage he might get out of that he's going to lose more moderate general election voters.

[Pirate Smile]

15. He is the Bushies choice. He is the choice of the R Governors like Christie & Barbour. He is now the

establishment GOP choice.

Obama can and will beat him if he gets the nod. There is a lot of ammo to throw at a Bush budget guy.

[silvershadow]

19. I hope so. I may blog some about life here in Indiana if necessary

to make sure my message gets out. Hopefully it won't be necessary. I'm rather enjoying the show at this point.

[bjobotts]

16. Agreed. A proven economic failure for the country who has been wrong on everything.

[deminks]

21. He has big Bushco baggage.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1103423&mesg_id=1103423

Mitch Daniels, Architect of US Debt Crisis

[Vinca]

22. Wonder if anyone in the MSM will ever mention that?

There would be no debt crisis if it hadn't been for Mitch.

[LatteLibertine]

44. Bushco Baggins wouldn't be a bad name for him

[JTFrog]

23. Mitch won't run. Someone has probably already reminded him that women still have the right to vote

in this country.

And he just made Indiana one the top four worst states for women to live in.

We will not suddenly forget about this in 2012.

[starroute]

27. I find a few more interesting things on Daniels in my files

In April 2001, as Bush's budget director, Daniels announced the administration's intention of privatizing much of FEMA's operations, saying "Many are concerned that federal disaster assistance may have evolved into ... an oversized entitlement program." This was what led in 2003 to the downgrading of FEMA from a cabinet-level position to an agency within Homeland Security and the reduction of its functions and pre-disaster mitigation funding. I don't know if Daniels was behind all of that or if it was just his job to make the announcement -- but it would be interesting to find out.

Equally intriguing, I find that under Reagan, Daniels was part of the Iran-Contra coverup. I have a saved file that says, "Daniels was Reagan's political director who participated in a White House political damage-control effort in 1986 and 1987. Daniels privately complained to associates at the time, however, that the White House account of the secret diplomatic initiative to Iran was not believable, according to various reports." (Original source no longer online, but you can find it quoted at various blogs and message boards.)

And somewhere along the line, Daniels was vice president of Eli Lilly, which co-developed bovine growth hormone along with Monsanto. In the early days of the Bush administration he was regularly mentioned as someone who had close ties to the chemical/pharmaceutical industry and might be promoting its interests.

I don't know if there's anything more in any of these connections -- but they all seem worth looking into.

[starroute]

29. Here's a little more relating to Daniels and FEMA

It appears that in 2002 he was involved in forcing out a Secretary of the Army who had complained that drastic cuts to the budget of the Army Corps of Engineers would gut flood control projects in Louisiana.


http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=hurricane_katrina_tmln&startpos=0#hurricane_katrina_3007

February 27, 2002: Army Corp Official Criticizes Bush Administration’s Budget Cuts
Edit event

Secretary of the Army Mike Parker, a former Mississippi senator, testifies before the Senate Budget Committee and criticizes the Bush administration’s proposal to reduce the Army Corps of Engineer’s fiscal year 2003 budget by 10 percent. According to Parker, the proposed cuts would affect several of the Corps projects including two flood control projects in southeast Louisiana. These two projects, the Yazoo Pumps and the Big Sunflower River Dredging, would be reduced from a combined $9 million in fiscal year 2002 to $565,000 for fiscal year 2003. Parker asserts that the proposed cuts would also force the Corps to cancel $190 million in already-contracted projects and will result in 4,500 lost jobs. His comments to the committee indicate a dissatisfaction with the Bush administration’s priorities. “After being in the administration and dealing with them, I still don’t have warm and fuzzy feelings for them. I’m hoping that OMB (White House Office of Management and Budget) understands we’re at the beginning of the process. If the corps is limited in what it does for the American people, there will be a negative impact.”


http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?printerfriendly=true&katrina_policies_that_affected_intensity_of_katrina_impact=katrina_politicalPatronage&timeline=hurricane_katrina_tmln

Between February 27, 2002 and March 6, 2002: Bush’s Budget Director Complains to Bush about Army Corps Official

Mitch Daniels, director of the Office of Management and Budget, writes in a memo to President Bush, complaining about Assistant Secretary of the Army Mike Parker’s testimony opposing the administration’s proposed budget cuts. Daniels complains that Parker’s testimony “reads badly… on the printed page,” and that “Parker. . . is distancing actively from the administration.” . . .


March 6, 2002: Army Corps Official Reportedly Forced Out for Criticizing Bush Administration’s Proposed Flood Control Project Budget Cuts

Mike Parker, assistant secretary of the Army, resigns shortly after testifying against the Bush administration’s proposed cuts to the Army Corps of Engineer’s fiscal year 2003 budget, including flood control projects in southeastern Louisiana (see February 27, 2002). According to White House officials, Parker has been forced out by the Bush administration, “as a clear sign that the president will not tolerate open defiance by his appointees.”

[Proud Liberal Dem]

30. FEMA="oversized entitlement program"?

I wonder what the flood-ravaged states of Mississippi, et. al think of that kind of suggestion.

:wtf:

[silvershadow]

40. I knew he was at Lilly. Didn't know about the BGH. Interesting.

[democrattotheend]

31. He scares me

My old boss at a very Democratic-leaning political organization is from Indiana, and he said he thinks Daniels has done a great job as governor and would even consider voting for him. Like I said, this is someone who works in Democratic politics. Maybe he's an outlier, but if there are other people who feel that way then Daniels is probably one of the GOP's stronger candidates.

[silvershadow]

41. Sadly, there are a lot of Democrats here who probably feel the same.

They typically have jobs. The Democrats we elect here aren't exactly Bernie Sanders. Evan Bayh chose not to run again and I'm thinking he thought he would have gotten trounced this time. I think it was premature, myself, but at the time he did it it may have seemed like the right call. From what little bit I remember about Daniels, he is a great campaigner and is popularly liked, even if his policies aren't.

[livetohike]

32. He seems as exciting as a plain piece of paper

Can't wait to see those rip-roaring rallies if he does run.

[center rising]

33. While Daniels maybe someone to keep an eye on

I think he's more apt to be the VP candidate

[mikekohr]

35. Mitch Daniels Drug Arrest circa 1970

http://images.politico.com/global//blogs/daniels-arrest?


from: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Daniels_drug_arrest.html

Mitch Daniels is weighing a run for president 22 years after he glumly told his college newspaper, the Princetonian, that "any goal I might have had for competing for public office were shot."

Though Daniels is often knocked as a dull numbers guy, his past is actually among the most colorful of any Republican contender's, beginning with the surprisingly little-known fact that he was arrested and jailed in a drug sting operation that centered on his Princeton University dorm room.

According to campus newspaper reports supplied by the university, Daniels and two other students were swept up in a five-month joint investigation between New Jersey state police and local police that culminated in the May 14th, 1970 raid on Daniels' shared room at111 Cuyler Hall.

Daniels and the two other students were initially charged with possession of marijuana, LSD and prescription drugs without a prescription and with "maintaining a common nuisance by maintaining a place for the sale of narcotics."

[Joe Bacon]

36. So a dope sells dope?

Doesn't matter because he's a Republican. Another case of IOKIYAR that our Whore Press will cover up...

[a kennedy]

37. and don't get me started on his wife.......

ugh..... saw her on C-SPIN.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitch-danielss-wife-cheri-is-in-the-spotlight/2011/05/12/AFCi0c1G_story.html

[HipChick]

39. what about his wife?

Does it kinda kill his family values message

[Honeycombe8]

43. You haven't heard the wife story? Oh, my.

If I heard it right....she up and left him AND the kids years ago (maybe ran off with another man? Not sure about that part.) He got her back.

So....she's back! Now, it's HER decision whether HE will run.

As crazy Larry put it...does he sound like someone who is a leader, or who could be the leader of the most powerful country in the world? Or at least, that'll be the scuttlebutt. (Before he makes the decision to deploy our forces to kill OBL, would he have said yes....if Martha says it's okay.)

This is the gist of what I got from crazy Larry's show this past week.

[silvershadow]

42. Which one? Just sayin...nt

[karynnj]

45. He is the current flavor of the week, but he has more baggage than people are speaking of

If the issue is fiscal responsibility, the Democratic ads write themselves. He was the budget director during the time a surplus became a huge deficit. In 2008, the Republicans tried to run against Bush - especially on the budget. In 2010, some on the right even linked Bush and Obama as "liberals" because they both increased spending.

There is also personality. When People even put Rumsfeld on a list of the "sexiest men alive", Daniels was seen as boring and uninteresting . http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20138634,00.html IMO, this means he does not have the charm or charisma that would let him get away with the deficits he helped create. (Remember that Bush REJECTED the idea that the war should be paid for by rolling back the tax cuts - even those not enacted yet - saying that he would veto a bill that did this. People like Krugman warned that governments with an expanding war (and we had 2) do NOT cut taxes at the same time. )

[silvershadow]

47. I found this, which I think supports my OP....

From Reason (gag). I honed right in on the words "de-fang" Obamacare. http://reason.com/blog/2011/05/16/reason-on-mitch-daniels-who-is

(edited for link)

[graywarrior]

48. The question for the republicans is more like "Who's gonna walk the gauntlet?"

[silvershadow]

49. Well, I guess I was wrong about that...gotta go now,

time to go eat my hat. :)~

[Rowdyboy]

50. Don't feel bad...

You're not the only one who thought it was a "done deal"