I really like MItch Daniels. I don’t know if he wants the job as President, but if so wow would that be a great pick.

Quesitons for the experts: When is it too late to challenge Senator Evan Bayh for 2010? He is very popular in Indiana, but healthcare is not popular in that state.

before he did all the great things you tout him for….and you want to run him against Obama?

I don’t get it…

sorry

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

and that certainly is in keeping with what I’ve been saying about Republicans getting out of the Axes of Evil and making our reputations where we get elected rather than in NYC, DC, and LA and the cocktail party circuit.

He’d be an ideal candidate. I think Daniels is a serious guy who has bonafide conservative credentials and a very good track record as the leader of a state that isn’t inoculated from this bad economy, but it’s government’s balance sheet is healthy. He has a strong social conservative background but he’s done like Reagan and like McDonnell and emphasized conservative fiscal and economic principles that attract independents.

Of course, the big thing is that he has no flash. But if this recession continues to drag on, which I pray it does not regardless of the political implications, Americans will desperately look for a “return to normalcy” type guy. I know plenty of fiscal conservatives and moderates who were attracted to Obama not for his “yes we can” nonsense, but his posing as a sober and intellectual guy.

Personally, I hope Mitch stays below the radar for awhile, continues to build on his record and then get involved around the fall of 2010 by trying to run some Dem congressmen out of Indiana. Enough to build cred but not enough to attract a ton of attention from the left. Then he can quietly build a coalition through 2010 and get something together in 2011 for a real run.

For all of Palin’s star quality she carries a ton of negative baggage and for all of Romney’s inside baseball leadership, he doesn’t get anyone in the grassroots excited. I think a guy like Daniels could be a very good candidate that appeals to GOP party men and grassroots conservatives in the primaries and get the attention of folks in the middle during the general.

But that’s just me.

If Gov. Perry were to run for president, he would have my full support.

No one is better connected to grass roots America, freedom loving and has a successful track record to boot.

First things first, though.

Informal setting during his campaign. Seemed willing to listen to what we had on our minds, and not just talk.

Indiana’s balanced budget, in stark comparison to Obama’s fiscal nightmare, is quite a plus.

While I would take a Reagan/Forbes/Fred/Giuliani economic platform ahead of Daniels’ program, I am really uneasy about his foreign policy views. He always has been more of a libertarian/minimalist in national security. I could be wrong, but I remember he has some dubious connections to anti-Israel groups as well.

So I would prefer an unapologetic hawk to a Lugar protege (which Daniels is).

CPS to run and they never happened, it is not reformed and IN has high rates of DCS rremoving children. The child welfare system is bad all over but he took it to another level by using it for his own advancements. Many children in his state have been traumatized, injured, physically and sexually abused and some even suffered death due to the over zealous actions of DCS and the judicial system denying parents their rights. Then to say he reformed it and used it in a campaign in so wrong.

I like Barbor. I know a lot more about him than the rest of them from his tenure as RNC chair…I’ve always liked him…

I’m not ruling Daniels out…despite my comments above…I want to know more!!!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

I really think he’s a solid, intelligent conservative. He’s certainly my favorite if he were to throw his hat in the ring. What’s interesting is he’s a real darkhorse favorite I’ve heard mentioned many times in conservative circles.

I look at the other front-runners, like Romney and Pawlenty, and they really don’t have any record of implementing conservative policy goals. I’m not saying they’re RINOS, and I support either of them withot question, but they haven’t really achieved much. Daniels has an impressive record to point to.

The election in 2012 is going to be won on economic and fiscal issues, and Mitch Daniel’s is tailor made for this role. It’s not going to be won on the cultural issues that candidates like Huckabee and Palin represent.

My only qualms is he’s not really that dynamic or charismatic. But looking out at the field, I think we could do a lot worse. A solid, intelligent leader that’s not flashy might be exactly what this country is craving in 2012.

… Which was in the first half. It was mostly dealing with Indiana politics (the legislative session is just a month away), but it really showed just how reform minded he is.

In even-numbered years, Indiana has a “short” legislative session–just 30 days. Yet in that brief time, Governor Daniels, among other things, wants to pass a constitutional amendment to permanently cap property taxes, he wants to pass a reform proposal to ban gerrymandered state and congressional districts, and he wants to completely shut down township level government and consolidate county governments.

On top of that, he came out strong for winning back the Indiana House of Representatives. The Democrats control it 52-48, and have been a thorn in his flesh for the last 4 years. They oppose every reform he proposes and they are blocking his effort to cap property taxes. Last year, House Democrats tried to block his budget and pass one that raised taxes, raised spending, and completely depleted the $1 billion budget surplus. He stopped them, obviously, but his top goal is to win control of that House and finally push through the last of his reforms.

We should be striving to oust Hill and Ellsworth before we worry about who may or may not run for President.

for an accountant or actuary. He should be able to raise several dollars for other Republican candidates over the next couple of years who then would constitute a grass root base of dozen(s) of widespread supporters.

I would be excited to meet him should he come to my home.

You know, when MSNBC sends a team of “journalists” to his hometown, college town, and every place he’s lived or so much as taken a leak since taking his first breath. When that happens you know two things: a) the Democrats think he’s running; b) they fear him.

but let’s face it – to win a national election you need some personality, some pazazz. I couldn’t make it through an eight minute clip. That’s a bad sign.

Forget budgets, forget roads and schools, forget taxation. The thing that sets Daniels apart from mere mortal politicians is that he took a firm stand on the most contentious, gut-wrenching, and divisive issue in all of Indiana history, the TIME OF DAY.

Yes folks, after 150 years of chaos, during which period a person could start a fistfight simply by asking what time it was, Gov. Daniels charged ahead into the Political Valley of Death by proposing that the entire state finally go on Daylight Savings Time. He took the position that it might possibly be better for Indiana businesses if the rest of the country had some idea when they opened and closed. Common sense radicalism in the pursuit of sanity. And he won.

Well, not entirely. The counties in the northwest and southwest corners are still fighting and feuding over whether to be in the central time zone or the eastern time zone, switching alliances like Arlen Specter and/or cheating spouses, but every state needs a bit of mud rasslin’ to keep things interesting.

But I do remember the part where he threw his weight behind raising sales taxes to pay for a playpen for millionaires which is called Lucas Oil Stadium.

As to the 1% over 100k debacle, somehow I knew he didn’t mean it and was casting around for ways to raise some cash. I also remember instantly reacting the moment I heard about it in violent knee jerk manner. In fact I suspect that the reason I didn’t vote for the guy second time around was that his first instinct was to raise taxes. NOT a good sign. So, these two things aside, he has been a good fiscal steward for the state. Check that, a very good steward given the external circumstances.

Politically what I don’t see him doing (and freely admit, maybe he is and I’m not paying attention because not paying attention is my specialty) is laying any kind of a ground work to run off some of these absolutely dreadful lefties we have in the state legislature. If he’s a party man, I would think I would be observing that in some way.

Lately he’s compounded my overall aggravation with the constant hectoring of the media, politicians, and celebrities about one thing or another. I never watch television without benefit of the DVR so I can’t tell you precisely what he’s harassing me about, but recently I’ve seen him zip by on the screen with a blood pressure cuff on (I think it is), leaning into the camera probably telling me to go get it checked or something. I think it was a few months ago he was bugging me to get out and take a walk or something. You were elected governor– you’re not my mother! I’m not paying you to badger me about something that’s none of your bloody business so STFU!

But all that aside, there are three things that I think are show stoppers. First, as I said in a comment a few months ago, the man has the charisma of a third-rate undertaker. It’s simply not credible to think that a man with that bad a combover could be elected president. I’m not sure he could inspire me to walk down the driveway to pick up the newspaper never mind drag myself up the road to vote for him. I didn’t vote for him the second time he ran so why would I vote to promote him?

And… file this away in the Promises Waiting to Be Broken drawer … he has said numerous times that two terms as governor were the extent of his political goals.

Third and maybe most potentially disastrous– he worked for Bush in W’s first term. I don’t think it really matters that he didn’t stick around long. What matters is you can attack him with some juicy guilt by association.

One of the most interesting things to be observed in IN politics will be … Sarah Palin’s doing a book signing tonight in Noblesville, IN, a far northern Indianapolis ‘burb. What kind of crowd does she draw? How many are there? Could Mitch draw that kind of crowd anywhere in the state? Uh ….no.