The American Spectator : Barbour Out On the Hustings

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Barbour Out On the Hustings

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 3.17.11 @ 6:09AM

Time to get serious about 2012.

WASHINGTON -- There are finally some rustlings on the hustings -- you will pardon my attempt at poetry. Republican presidential hopefuls are moving about in places like Iowa and New Hampshire -- does that clarify my admittedly amateur attempt at rhyme? I simply could not resist.

It was rather quiet out on the hustings a few weeks ago, and frankly for me it was a little gloomy. I have been saying for months that President Barack Obama is dead in the water. He will lose in 2012. He has no experience as a chief executive and he is every day in every way proving it. He is the most left-wing President in our history and he is sedulously engaged in proving that left-wing politics are ill-suited for America or for any country that wants to prosper. Our President was a perfect inspirational speaker when there was something to be inspired about, for instance the prospect of his presidency, but Americans have experienced it. He will lose in 2012, if the Republicans put up a plausible candidate. Even an implausible candidate has a chance, which I suppose is why Newt Gingrich is running.

Yet up until a week or so ago we were hearing from the smart money boys that Obama could not be beaten, and so the President was looking invincible. Perhaps he would run unopposed, but now it appears there will be a Republican in the race. Well, let me say it again: A Republican will present himself or herself, and if the candidate runs on sound ideas Obama's next project will be creating a presidential library.

Gingrich is all but in the race for 2012. The retired governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty is running. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey says he is not running, but he sure looks like he is preserving himself as the available man. So is the governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, and now creating rustlings on the hustings -- it happened again, the unscotchable urge to rhyme -- comes this week Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi. He began the week with a talk to the Chamber of Commerce in, of all places, Chicago, soon to be home of the Barack Obama Presidential Library. He ended the week in, of all places, Iowa.

You will note that most of the candidates or possible candidates are or have been governors. That is to say, they are men with extensive experience at running things. As, by the way, Sarah Palin has run things. Maybe she will run. Being a governor is an excellent proving ground for being president, as governors Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan demonstrated. Most importantly it gives them an opportunity for preparing budgets, dealing with bureaucracy, and confronting human problems.

Barbour, while in Chicago, acknowledged the lousy economy that Obama inherited but then skewered the President for his two failed years in the White House: "It's not a failure of business or a failure of free enterprise -- it's a failure of government policy." He went on to attack the Obama energy policy as a "perma-torium" on deep-water oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a piece on Barbour's potential candidacy to be published shortly in The American Spectator, Philip Klein quotes Ed Gillespie on the kind of candidate the governor is likely to be: "He's a policy wonk, which a lot of people don't realize," says the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, "[People] tend to think of Haley Barbour as very politically savvy and good on television and smooth, but he really is a policy wonk at heart." The piece goes on to report the wonk's doings. His steady hand during Katrina and the resurrection of the hurricane-wracked state. His proposals for immigration reform, entitlement reform, and healthcare. And Klein asks him if we can get our debt under control without raising taxes. Barbour answers, "I don't think it's possible if you raise taxes. You've got to grow revenue, you've got to have economic growth, and more job creation. Higher taxes make that harder…. My own view is that low taxes are essential to generating economic growth…. Reagan used to say we can grow ourselves out of the deficit and the Democrats would snicker. Well, I can tell you this, we can't spend ourselves out of this deficit."

President Haley Barbour, it has a ring about it. Moreover, I would relish the debates preceding his election. A policy wonk who slips in a few "y'alls"? Let the race begin.

About the Author

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of the forthcoming The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn't Work: Social Democracy's Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (176) | Leave a comment

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 6:23AM

"Speaking in Iowa, the Mississippi governor said: "Anybody who says you can't save money at the Pentagon has never been to the Pentagon. We can save money on defense and if we Republicans don't propose saving money on defense, we'll have no credibility on anything else."

On Afghanistan: "What is our mission? How many Al Qaeda are in Afghanistan. ... Is that a 100,000-man Army mission?" Barbour continued, "I don't think our mission should be to think we're going to make Afghanistan an Ireland or an Italy."

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 8:04AM

Clint, there's as much chance De Mint will be elected president as there is Bernie Madoff will reimburse all his fleeced victims. There's as much chance De Mint will win as OJ will admit he murdered Nicole and Ron.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 8:25AM

Uh Oh !
The Trash Talkin' Negative Attention Craver ObamaCrush Brooks is in the Building.

Go Feed The Pigeons in the Park Brooks.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 8:42AM

Hitler-Firster Tool-Job Son Of A Colonel Who Made Clint Salute Him Is Foolish Enough To Think De Mint Can Be Elected President when Scarcely Anyone Even Knows Who De Mint Is.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 8:58AM

You mean like, Obama, who nobody knew who he was AFTER he was elected???

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:08AM

ObamaBoy Brooks is very cranky this fine Irish Saint Patty's Day.
Of course, You Agnostics are invited to come into The Saloon & get your Orangeman Ass Kicked.
Top of The Mornin' Laddie !

"The 2012 Tea Party Presidential Poll has tallied 1,876,814 responses, and here are the top-15 potential candidates on the leaderboard to date — along with the percentage of the time that they have won their respective head-to-head matchups in the poll:
1. Paul Ryan, 79 percent

2. Chris Christie, 76 percent

3. Jim DeMint, 73 percent

4. Michele Bachmann, 70 percent

5. Allen West, 68 percent

6. Tim Pawlenty, 66 percent

7. Bobby Jindal, 65 percent

8. Sarah Palin, 64 percent"

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:15AM

Q: What do you call an Irishman that doesn’t swear?
A: A mute!

Q: What do you call an Irishman that doesn’t drink?
A: A corpse!

Q: What do you call an Irishman from Kentuckiana?
A: It doesn’t matter what you call him, you call him an Irishman!

An Irish Toast: “To the Irish.. They drink when they’re happy… They drink when they’re sad.”

Irishman quotes: “I drink to forget, but I can’t remember what.”

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:25AM

Q: How do you circumcise PhilTheCapitalistPig ?

A: Kick his sister in the jaw.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:27AM

Hey, take it easy there bud. I'm irish as well. Irishman aren't supposed to be offended by these things, these are sources of pride!

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:39AM

I mistook Ya for an Orangeman Phil.

Now, let us go forth together & throw potatoes at A Kick The Pope Band.

beebop| 3.17.11 @ 8:05PM

Clint! A warning please before a post like this! I have sent my beverage flying ...

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 8:35PM

Thank You Darlin'.

And remember,"A face without freckles is like a sky without stars".

Deborah D| 3.17.11 @ 12:10PM

Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
...Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 12:13PM

lmao! love it!

Peppermint Tea| 3.17.11 @ 12:25PM

Ah yes, the Irish.
ye know why God created whiskey? So the Irish wouldn't rule the world.

coal carrier| 3.17.11 @ 2:33PM

Q. What’s the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish wake?
A. One less drunk.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 2:09PM

Speaking of Irish [and their clergy]: Q. What a protestant minister? A. A priest who forget his Latin; AND ALSO, a priest asked an elderly Irish woman WHY she had confessed numerous times the SAME ''''MORTAL SIN''''' committed with one Johnny Murphy, to which she replied, BECAUSE I LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:11PM

You know, I'm going to use the Hitler Firster line. I like it, Alan. But I disagree with you on DeMint.

DeMint could be elected because he is a sober, intelligent Conservative tax and cost cutter. He also is for a muscular American defense. A solid man. He has also beaten Obama already like a whipped dog in 2010. He can repeat.

As you know, Alan, it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, if the argument is between two intelligent adults.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 4:40PM

Uh Oh !
Now, The Other Israel Firster, Tool Job Tries To Play The Hitler Card on Tea Party America Firster Clint.
Israel Firster Tool Job is all Compulsed & Obsessed because Our Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement & Our Tea Party Senator from The Commonwealth of Kentucky & Our Tea Party Co-Favorite Dr,Ron Paul don't Asskiss Tool Job's Personal Israel Firter Agenda.

Tool Job & His Girlfriend Brooks Can Crybaby Together once more.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

loulou| 3.17.11 @ 11:00AM

Why don't you just ignore Alan Brooks? He has no value.

blackknights1802| 3.17.11 @ 8:51AM

Earth to Brooks, Earth to Brooks. Clint is not speaking of De Mint.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:02AM

lol

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:14AM

"Earth to Brooks, Earth to Brooks. Clint is not speaking of De Mint."

Clint has mentioned De Mint DOZENS of times at AS. He needs to be reminded that De Mint has no chance of being elected POTUS next year. Obama is going to be re-elected.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:48AM

ObamaEunuch Brooks Trash Talks anyone who challenges His ManCrush Obama.

Americans & Business will vote their wallets.

Obama Is Beatable.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Richie| 3.17.11 @ 10:04PM

If the Republicans nominate a true conservative candidate----Obama is toast! The only chance he has is if the Republicans by sheer stupidity vote for another RINO the likes of McCain! We need a true conservative candidate who believes in small government, low taxes, budgets and free markets.
We have more than one qualified candidate. The mainstream media wants to talk about the RINOs like Huckabee and Romney is the tea party and true conservatives come out in droves to vote in the primaries. The last thing we need is another RINO then, maybe then, Obama might win because conservatives might stay home. I know I will if we have another RINO candidate.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 8:58AM

Didn't OJ pretty much admit it in his book "If I did it"

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:15AM

You would know; I don't read that sort of garbage. Wasn't it yanked from the shelves BTW?

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:24AM

I thought the proceeds were sent to the goldman family via the courts.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:24AM

I didn't read that tripe, either.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:39AM

"I didn't read that tripe, either."

So neither of us know whether or not OJ admitted it.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 10:10AM

A title like, "If I did it", implies the rest of the sentence, "Here is how I would do it"

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 10:24AM

"A title like, 'If I did it', implies the rest of the sentence, 'Here is how I would do it' "

OJ is a tricky guy, we don't really know without reading the book.

Doctor Right| 3.17.11 @ 10:49AM

Pay no attention to Alana Brooks, she lives in fear of the coming Conservative tsunami.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 1:48PM

"Pay no attention to Alana Brooks, she lives in fear of the coming Conservative tsunami."

No way, you'll botch it as you've done since '89.
Absolutely guaranteed without a doubt.
Reagan was the last great conservative- and now you are all screwed.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 2:01PM

Damn, you mean to tell us that he murdered Nicole and Ron? SHAZAM, you must be a real FART-SMELLER [opps, I meant a real SMART FELLER, sorry]!!!!!!!!

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:20AM

Hitler-Firster Clint Has Secret Jewish Girl Friend (Or Maybe Boyfriend) Who He Dines With, Having Matzoh Ball Soup And Gefilte Fish-- Halvah And Macaroons For Dessert.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:25AM

Anti-Semite? What's wrong with jews?

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:41AM

Clint is like Red Phillips in that he hides his anti-semitism behind isolationist (or neoisolationist) rhetoric.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:08AM

Uh Oh ObamaEunuch Brooks tries to Play The Anti-Semite Card on Tea Party Clint.

ObamaBoy Israel Firster Brooks is all atwitter & angst ridden because Our Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement & Our Tea Party Senator from The Commonwealth of Kentucky & Our Tea Party Co-Favorite Dr,Ron Paul don't Asskiss Brook's Personal Israel Firter Agenda.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:31PM

"Israel firter," Clint? Spellcheck much?

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 4:43PM

I misspell a lot less than You so often do, Israel Firster MensaBoy Tool Job.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:14PM

Antisemite is a term that defines Clint, Phil. Go on, Clint, you didn't call Jews "Sand Monkeys." Or discuss how you couldn't care less about a three month old little girl getting slaughtered, because she wasn't American.

Clint, you are A TERRORIST CATAMITE. They do you all day long, and twice on Sundays.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 4:46PM

I care about slaughtered Children as I care about The Deliberate Israel Slaughtering of Our United Stated Seamen of The U.S.S. Liberty.

You're Up Israel Firster Agenda Traitor, Tool Job.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:48AM

Oy Vey !
ObamaEunuch Brooks is all Grumpy because America Firster Tea Party Clint went on a date with Blanche.

Apparently, Brooks has fed his nuts to the squirrels.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 10:25AM

Clint,
if you were in bed with Ernst Roehm, would you be on top, or would he?

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:29AM

You tell Us Obamaboy Brooks, You were Ernst's Bitch.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 1:51PM

But I promised Roehm I'd save a little for you.
"so darlin', save the last dance for me"

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 4:49PM

Well Israel Firster ObamaBoy Brooks, At Least Ya Admit You Were Ernst's Bitch.

We're Gettin' Somewhere.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:30PM

He would be the bottom, Brooksie---he's the catamite.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 4:57PM

Apparently. Obsessed Israel Firster Tool Job Is Also A Latent Dudess , Fixated On Fruity Talk.

You're One Sorry-Assed Self-Help Excuse For A Shrink There Israel Firster AgendaThing.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:15PM

But you are a Nazi, Clint. "Sand Monkeys," ass. You are also a lying sack of garbage.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 5:00PM

Uh Oh !

Fixated Israel Firster Head Case Tool Job Tries To Play The Nazi Card Again on Tea Party Clint.

Aaaand, You're The Garbage, Dogamite Tool Job.

The Israel of God| 3.17.11 @ 10:15PM

Hey, he's a TEA partier. Doesn't that justify him? According to the Neo-Nazis. fiscal conservatism is the only thing that counts.

Clint| 3.18.11 @ 12:05AM

According to Israel Firster Traitor Bastards, Israel First Is The Only Thing That Counts.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Anne Frank's Father| 3.18.11 @ 12:43AM

You're a traitor to the Human Race, Hitler Firster Bastard.

ENOUGH ROPE| 3.17.11 @ 8:52PM

Bemusement

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.17.11 @ 6:45AM

Illegal immigration reform is something candidates should run from but they don't want to give up the Hispanic vote, even though Obama captured almost all of it last time and surely will again.

As far as Haley Barbour he does look good on most issues, and most likely is being investigated right now by George Soros operatives.

The sad thing is I haven't heard one proposal that will change the culture in Washington, D.C. Inc and that's the real problem

Tax cuts are OK, but most people don't pay taxes and could care less.

Somehow it must be proven that even the freeloaders will suffer with too much debt and that's precisely what will happen next, including the freeloaders at many federal agencies.

drudge ette obama| 3.17.11 @ 7:24AM

Bring on the Y'alls. Doesn't everyone have grits with their breakfasts? This man handled Katrina with a purpose. Never underestimate the Southern intellect.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 8:08AM

Maybe you are right, but Southern courts are bad; in Dixie you need an attorney who went to the very best law school.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 8:30AM

Negative Attention Craver ObamaBoy Brooks got a fixated hang up against The South.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 8:45AM

I like the South except for the courts. Just as you like Obama, Clint-- except that he is black.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:11AM

You're a Slandering Liar Negative Attention Craver ObamaBoy Brooks.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:42AM

ObamaEunuch is a Serial Slanderer Of The Red States of The South & A General Slandering ObamaEunuch Liar.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:16PM

I, on the other hand, am a TCU grad and have an Alabama medical license. You are an antisemitic piece of pig feces, Clint.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 8:40PM

You're One Insecure Bloviator & One Sorry-Assed Self Help Excuse for A Psychiatrist Tool Job.

Take Two Lobotomies A Call Yourself In The Morning.

ncatty| 3.17.11 @ 9:38AM

What is wrong with the courts?

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:23PM

Actually, as an MD who practiced and served as an expert witness in the South, I can tell you that Alabama in the 90s was a "tort hell" as was Mississippi, according to Yale Law School. MS has been fixed some; I don't think 'Bama has.

I've worked as an expert witness in Tx, KY, Al, Ca, Mn, NM, and New Zealand. The worst was NM, second worse was Alabama.

On the other hand, Alan, the nicest, best behaved children I've EVER seen, outside of my two wonderkids, were from Alabama. Very, very nice children, because their families care if they act "ugly," and discourage it. Second nicest kids are in Minnesota. I am amazed at the politeness of the teenagers here.

Where Alan is also correct is in the number of Southern State institutions that get "federalized," that is, placed under the direct auspices of the DOJ. The Alabama State Prison system and the Alabama system for treatment of the Mentally Retarded were both placed under such Federal jurisdiction in the 90s and 2000s.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:29PM

I mean, my kids are much more polite than Clint, much more intelligent (my daughter just received her second grade CAT back--- 99%, only missed six out of 100---home schooled, of course) and, come to think of it, my seven year old son could take him.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:30PM

That's 99 percentile. Only missed 6 overall, period. Nurture over nature---she's adopted.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 5:04PM

Uh Oh !
Bloviatin' MensaBoy Can't Count Now.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 5:09PM

Once Again, ObamaBoy Israel Firster Brooks & RINO-CINO Israel Firster Tool Job Have Their Coalition Goin'.

Talk About Drawin' To A Pair Of Losers.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:54PM

I like CHOSEN also.......if he weren't so ORDINARY [w/o his telepromter]!!!!!!!!!

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:00AM

Cite an example of this brooksie. Don't just speak in vague generalizations. And if you cite something before 1980, please find the nearest person to you and ask them to slap you.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:11AM

In which states are most of the DNA-freed inmates?
take a guess. And who pays for their restitution?: look in the mirror for the answer.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:18AM

Ok, so you are referring to injustices from 50-60 years ago... that are now being made right in the modern day? This is your example of how bad the courts are?

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 9:18AM

Notice Obamaboy Brooks doesn't Brag on His Own State.
Apparently Southern Red States got Brooks all PMS'y again this fine Irish Morn.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 9:44AM

Well you certainly like the Irish better than you like blacks. You would be willing to admit it?

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:01AM

Apparently ObamaEunuch Brooks, You need to hide where you live, while you attempt to serial smear The Red States of The South.

Aaaand, unlike You, I'm An American Firster,

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 10:29AM

Clint,
I want you to join the IDF and fight for Israel!
What time shall I make arrangements for a recruiting sergeant to meet you at the IDF office in Tel Aviv tomorrow morning?

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 10:35AM

Well ObamaEunuch Israel Firster Chickenhawk Mouth Fighter Brooks, why don't You join The IDF, since You're able to be an Israeli Citizen.
I'm An American Firster,Not An Israel Firster Chickenhawk like You ObamaEunuch Brooks.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:27PM

But you could convert, Clint...of course, no way to change your IQ, but you could convert...maybe, if you could learn the material.

Oh, well, I guess not.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 5:13PM

To Reiterate:
Well Fanatic Israel Firster Chickenhawk Mouth Fighter Tool Job why don't You join The IDF, since You're able to be an Israeli Citizen.
I'm An American Firster, Not An Israel Firster Chickenhawk like You,Tool Job

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:50PM

DNA-freed inmates? Let's see that couldn't possibly be Massachusetts, now could it? Naw, no members their FAMOUS CAMELOT FAMILY didn't go to jail. Maybe NC? Naw again, their BRECK BOY-INSURANCE COMPANY/AMBULANCE chasin lawyer ain't in jail YET!!!!!!!!

No Not Again| 3.17.11 @ 4:14PM

Please be honest! If Bourbor wouldve been a Dem Governor he would have gotten SLOW or NO help like many in Louisiana. Bush Jr made sure that Mississippi was a successful recovering State as was Florida and Texas. Be honest folks. Wait, Bourbor can make the KKK license plates a National Agenda.

DaPicayune| 3.18.11 @ 9:42AM

That "slow-to-no help" was brought to you courtesy of Blanco/Landrieu who refused to allow Bush to Federalize the LA Nat Guard, a necessity required to convince by force of arms the lovely looter "gimmie" culture of Beirut NOLA to give it up, before that help you now desire could be delivered - a necessity that was not required in MS, AL, FL & TX , nor Japan today, go figure.

Congressionally Subpoenaed emails from Blanco prove that she acted in concert w/ DNC to exacerbate the situation in order to blame Bush for her debacle, whose polls were at 44% approval, prior to Katrina. Your MSM did the rest, and here you are attempting to spread an urban legend.

Bush did ask Blanco/Nagin to invoke a Mandatory Evac on 8/26/05, to no avail. Chocolate City" Ray Nagin made this all public on Conan O'Brian's show that week, all while his school buses remained under water. "Contrary Mary" publicly stated she wanted to punch Bush in the face in a fit of feigned anger, with no SS intervention by W.

Since I live here, I helped vote in Jindal so we could loudly tell the Nation and negligent Blanco/her Dem friend, convicted Rep "Cold Cash, Dolar Bill" Jefferson - "No, Not Again!"

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:35PM

Amen, correctamundo! While Chocolate City Ray was hightailing it to Vegas, Louisiana Purchase Mary was asking Daddy Moon THE what to do [and Big-Bad Dollar Bill was stuffin his freezer with Franklins, Lincolns, and a few chops], and Kathy Blank-N-Head was trying to figure out in what part of the middle east that THE CRESENT CITY was; Mississippi's governor was burning up the telephone wires using his boycotting experience to obtain federal disaster funding need to rebuild the Gulf Coast!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:43PM

Louisiana got more federal funding than did Mississippi...........only problem was that Dollar Bill and Chocolate City Ray absconded with most of it stuffed in their freezers, and headed to Vegas. Well, the Muslim license plates are in full view in such locales as the NY downtown site of 9/11, the D of J parking lots of DC, in front of the federal courthouses of Arizona, and at Greenpiece's HQ's in south Louisiana, so it'll be only politically correct if we have some alternative plates in view!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:57PM

Hah, you wouldn't even need an attorney if you weren't always trying to stir up excrement carrying yo VOTE FOR BARRY political sign!!!

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 9:31AM

Gimme some of them cheese grits!

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 1:55PM

Well if you REALLY want me to join the IDF, I will, Clint. Am too old to fight- but can take some bullets meant for you.
The LEAST I can do for you.

Clint| 3.17.11 @ 5:21PM

So ObamaBoy Brooks, Shut Your Israel Firster Chickenhaewk Pie Jole & Get Your Ass Over to The IDF in Israel.

They'll maka Ya A REMF Latrine Commander.

Right Face, Forward Scrub.

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 5:30PM

Without question, Barbour would be the most effective republican president since Reagan. But there's that pesky problem of getting over the hump of getting elected.

Knowing where the levers are in Washington is a huge asset. Lobbying does have it's advantages.

The ex-lobbyist tag might not be such a disadvantage in '12 because of the state of the country and zero's proven track record of complete fecklessness.

Barbour/Daniels

JimH| 3.17.11 @ 8:07AM

Haley Barbour is certainly an example of some of the stronger candidates available to the GOP. I’m not sure he’s my guy. I’d have to see who else is running. Unfortunately one thing that works against him, at least for some Romney supporters on this site is like Christie, his waistline.

Alan Brooks| 3.17.11 @ 8:10AM

..you wouldn't want anyone who isn't as clever as Matlock.

Doctor Right| 3.17.11 @ 10:50AM

Obama's a lawyer and he's as dumb as a post.

A Post| 3.17.11 @ 12:06PM

Hey! I resent that!

No Not Again| 3.17.11 @ 4:17PM

Yes Obama is a Constitutional lawyer so he knows that flawed, wicked document you folks swear by. You know the one that says Federal Reserve Bank should not exist. LOL You patriotic non military volunterring ppl crack me up!!

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 5:39PM

"..you wouldn't want anyone who isn't as clever as Matlock." ------------------ Lame!

Elaine Brooks, are you having a difficult time getting past page 10 of Snarks for Dummies?

wodiej| 3.17.11 @ 8:21AM

So because Barbour spoke in Chicago and Iowa that makes him a candidate? Gov. Palin is speaking in India in 2 days then will be off to Israel to speak w the prime minister. She helped pull off the GOP win back of the House and got voters revved up.

You've got to be kidding me...someone who doesn't have enough willpower to control their eating habits and take care of their health? I don't think so.

JimH| 3.17.11 @ 8:58AM

Many of the lean exercisers I know do so less out of concern for health and more because of an obsession with their appearance and narcissistic self absorption, that and the chance to indulge in their perceived moral superiority over their more rotund brethren.

V8| 3.17.11 @ 11:05AM

Stereotype much?

JimH| 3.17.11 @ 11:14AM

Said many. Not all and cited personal experience.

V8| 3.17.11 @ 12:07PM

Take no offense JimH, That comment was directed to wodiej. I too, have met many that fit your description.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.17.11 @ 12:15PM

Hey, Obama is in great shape and controls what he eats.

Let's not get distracted here..

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:24PM

I seem to recall Taft made an acceptable President and a fine Supreme Court Justice.

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 5:41PM

Palin, the manufactured presidential candidate. Just like Obummer.

Made in the U.S.A.| 3.18.11 @ 12:34AM

At least Sarah was made in America. Where was Obamma made, and where were you made?

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:19PM

Maybe heeds nutritional advise from Michelle My Belle and some goodies from the Victory Garden, huh??????????

Mimi Evans Winship| 3.17.11 @ 8:36AM

Rustlings on the hustings? Hmmm... I don't think so

Anthony| 3.17.11 @ 8:57AM

I wish I could share your optimism RET about Obozo being finished in 2012, but recent events do not bode well for the party of stupid.
Obozo does his NCAA picks on national T.V. and he is applauded and fawned over by the LSM while Japan, Egypt, Libya and Iran smolder. I agree with Mark Levin, who pointed out last night, it was the 1st time Obozo was articulate and animated w/o his teleprompter.
Food and gas prices are through the roof. Sarah Palin writes a cogent insightful blog about $4.00 a gal gas while Obozo picks Ohio State over Duke, but she is still seen as just a hick and a dunce. Apparently, the sharp creases in her skirts don't do anything for David Brooks.
Obozo is off to Rio, while Boehner and the boys turn on the same voters who got them to where they are today. Some snot nosed twit of an aid to either Boehner or Cantor calls us conservatives extremists!! But please send us money today!!!!
I have to say, I haven't been as depressed about things in America as I was last night. And judging from recent events, it appears the party of stupid is right on tract to snatch defeat once again from the jaws of victory in 2012, barring a miracle.

No Not Again| 3.17.11 @ 4:22PM

Japan, Egypt, Libya and Iran smolder, Tn, FL, In, Mn flooding. Jobless, homeless, hunger in America. Sure John Mccain/Palin would have been the best choice to handle all these crisis. She can see Russia from her house and quit in mid-term and He doesnt know when to quit. He has been on the taxpayers dole all his adult life!!

TennesseeVolunteer| 3.17.11 @ 9:07AM

As a transplanted Ohioan in the south, I can tell you that Haley Barbour fits the bill pretty well when it comes to domestic issues and the economy. He has worked within a state that has a tremendous amount of poverty and made it better. When comparing Japan and Haiti's reaction to the earthquake, you can make the same comparison to Mississippi and New Orleans after Katrina. Miss. got up and started cleaning and rebuilding right away. New Orleans is still crying on the side of the road waiting for someone to come save them from themselves. He is a leader, a Patriot and will do well for America.....unless you are a pig at the trough!

Petronius| 3.17.11 @ 9:52AM

Governor Barbour has the goods as a manager. What he, and the rest of the snobs cannot stand is that we social Conservatives want to live by and for ourselves without hindrance from them. And they join the liberals in preventing us from accumulating the wealth we need to insulate ourselves from the predators, perverts, and parasites in this country who are bleeding us out. We pay the total cost of their behavior, and get persecuted anyway. We don't want to join their clubs. We just want all the lowlifes out of ours. If the GOP blue bloods really want social Conservatives to be less of a bother, then give us back Our Freedom.

David T| 3.17.11 @ 9:54AM

Haley Barbour is as gentle as a dove and as shrewd as a serpent.

Maxwell| 3.17.11 @ 10:30AM

My question would be what kind of person would Haley Barbour pick for judges in general and the Supreme Court in particular? I know when Chris Christie tried to pick Michael Carroll who is pro gun to the New Jersey's Supreme Court he caved faster than a cheep suit.

Oldefarte| 3.17.11 @ 10:48AM

As one who grew up in the same small Mississippi town as he did and who has followed his career for a long time, let me tell you that he will [as Terrell indicates] blister El Chosen One in debates/arguments. He's got the intelligence, the political/professional/legal/business experience to make Chosen look like the foolish, inept blowhard that he truly is. Let the games begin [can't wait]!!!!

loulou| 3.17.11 @ 11:02AM

Barbour is better than Pawlenty, Gingrich, Daniels and all the other retreads and/or RINOs running.

George S| 3.17.11 @ 11:25AM

... an overweight white southerner with a drawl contrasted to a skinny black guy? What could the Obama White House do with that picture?

Mark| 3.17.11 @ 12:06PM

How did work for the them in the New Jersey governors race?

Peppermint Tea| 3.17.11 @ 12:30PM

Show the big guy eating the little guy???

loulou| 3.17.11 @ 1:26PM

I prefer fat to a long legged mack daddy.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:16PM

They better make sure that his teleprompter is working.......because he'd need it against Barbour!!!!!!!

No Ma'am| 3.17.11 @ 11:41AM

A.B. is just like Babs Boxer; the more they talk, the better our side looks.

JimP| 3.17.11 @ 11:58AM

As a Son of The South, I'm inclined to vote for Haley just to PO some Yanks. Just funnin' y'all.

Leo W| 3.17.11 @ 1:05PM

JimP, have your fun! Then, vote against the leftists.

JimP| 3.18.11 @ 5:12AM

I always vote against the leftists, Leo. Have no fear there. Whether they are from the South or anywhere else, leftists never get my vote.

Occam's Tool| 3.17.11 @ 2:25PM

This Yankee's got no problems with Haley. The guy I don't like is from Galveston.

Tim the Enchanter| 3.17.11 @ 12:10PM

Somewhat off-topic, but, Mr Tyrrell, I long for the days when you used to refer to our current Sec of State as Mr. Clinton's lovely wife Bruno.

NeilBJ| 3.17.11 @ 12:14PM

I see a Catch 22 in the upcoming presidential race. We need a Republican candidate who is truly serious about doing all he can to reduce the effects of the coming financial disaster and is also able to articulate his vision clearly.

I do believe the disaster is coming and is unavoidable. It's a question of whether we go over the falls and smash on the rocks below or land in the the swirling waters and barely survive drowning.

The problem is I don't believe such a candidate is electable. The electorate will not take to the bad news kindly or accept the drastic measures needed to correct our extreme debt. They will still want govenment solutions to their problems.

I sincerely hope I am wrong.

B. Patton | 3.17.11 @ 12:25PM

Despite a lengthy career of demonstrated competence, Haley Barbour has a quasi-"Willy Horton" episode that is disturbing. As governor it was known that he refused to even read most pardon applications, and he issued almost none prior to 2008. Then five convicted murderers received either pardons or clemency. What they had in common was that, as trusties working in the governors's mansion, they had come to know him personally. This would be used by his opponents as evidence of not only cloudy judgement but a shoot-from-the hip temperament in the exercise of his legal authorities.

Delmar Jackson| 3.17.11 @ 2:32PM

I can not hold my nose long enough to vote for Haley, his F grade on immigration voting from Numbersusa makes him no better than our last Mexican president, George Bush.

Oldefarte| 3.18.11 @ 12:10PM

I really don't know what you're referring to, sinc eht Governor of Mississippi has not IMMIGRATION VOTES possible that I'm aware of. Maybe his stated opinions maybe? Anyway, Mississippi has no credible skin in the game concerning the immigration issue [as does say Arizona and their Governor Brewer, who has been legally sued by D of J Holder, at the direction of his boss El chosen One]. Barbour's statements regarding immigration as such should be of little indication of how he would futuristically govern as a president in charge of same]. Do you prefer the current administration's immigration agenda? [since that is what you'll futuristically get if Barry is re-elected in 2012, if your opposition to someone like Barbour negates your voting for him]!!!!

patrick henry| 3.17.11 @ 3:17PM

"Obama’s Long-range Master Plan Unveiled"

What Republicans need to seriously consider as they plan their 2012 Presidential campaign is that Obama may not be the Democrat candidate again. Candidates who base their entire campaign on that assumption are risking being completely caught off-guard by an historic blind-side political bombshell. The 2010 election seriously damaged Obama, and his on-going indifference as multiple domestic and international issues piles up will cause many Dem candidates up for re-election in 2012 to be very open to a "Savior" who can step in and rescue their party from political oblivion.
Consider this:

"Obama's long-range master plan unveiled"

As Barack Obama and his closest staff raced through the first several months of his new administration goading Congress into adopting bills hundreds of pages long without reading them and approving trillions of dollars of new spending and debt, long-time Washington insiders scratched their heads profusely as they attempted to decipher the specter and rationale of it all. Aside from the astonishing spending and associated risk, politicos marveled at the ability of the new President to move his agenda with apparent little regard for the constitutionality of such measures as moving the census operations into the White House and appointing hoards of “czars” with staffs of thousands, budgets of billions, and no apparent accountability to anyone but the President.

In the meantime, the new President remained on the campaign trail, giving speeches, making appearances, and posturing as if the Presidential election had not already occurred. The long time Washington observers puzzled over this odd behavior. After all, wasn’t the election over? Hadn’t he already won? Why was he still traveling all over the globe and not sitting at his desk in the White House Oval Office attending to business?

Was there any real method to this madness, or was it just plain madness? Turns out there is, indeed, very specific rationale and logic behind this President’s mad rush to acquire as much authority and control as possible over the nation and its subjects.

After some detailed probing and pursuit of the subject, what we find is that Barack Obama, still just in his late 40’s, has much greater ambitions than just serving two terms as President of the United States. Barack Obama is positioning himself to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations, a post with no statutory limit of terms and control of the only organization with widespread authority over all points of the globe.

Researchers contemplating Obama’s long-range master plan find that all the necessary elements are in place, or soon will be, to give Obama the opportunity to literally rule the world- possibly for as long as he wants. A brief review of the United Nations charter and history provides the eye-opening details.

UN Secretary General

The United Nations Charter establishes the Secretary General as the head of the Secretariat, and, as such, as the chief administrative officer of the United Nations. The position of UN Secretary General is a five-year term recommended by the UN Security Council and appointed by the UN General Assembly. The Secretary General position is generally rotated by geographic region and is traditionally (but not constitutionally) limited to two consecutive five-year terms. Since the founding of the UN in 1945, the only exception to this was in 1996 when American President Bill Clinton’s administration exercised its authority as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to veto the re-appointment of Egyptian diplomat Boutros Boutros-Ghali to a second term as Secretary General. As he was from Africa, the UN then selected another African representative, Kofi Annan, of Ghana, to replace him.

Annan served his two terms as Secretary General, completing his service Dec. 31, 2006. Under the UN’s rotational system, the Security Council then looked to Asia for the next Secretary General, and nominated Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. The General Assembly quickly approved him as the new Secretary General. And here’s where it gets interesting.

The first term of Ban Ki-moon expires Dec. 31, 2011 and, according to UN tradition, if he is interested, he will almost certainly be reappointed to a second term, which will expire Dec. 31, 2016, three weeks prior to the end of Barack Obama’s presumed second term as President of the United States. Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945, only two geographic regions of the world have not had a representative serve as UN Secretary General: Oceana…. and North America. Barack Obama intends to be the first from North America.

This, of course, would explain virtually everything about Obama’s otherwise-unconventional behavior and his aggressiveness in acquiring as much control, authority and international goodwill as possible. The basic goals of the Obama Presidency are to weaken the United States as an international force in order to lessen its ability to exert influence and control over international affairs, while at the same time seek to subjugate the U.S. as much as possible to international agreements and UN control, authority, regulation and laws. This will curry favor with the international community, thus enhancing Obama’s chances at ascension to the Secretary General throne, and make the U.S. less significant vis-a-vis the UN in international affairs, so that he, as life-long UN Secretary General, will have unquestioned and unchallenged authority over the worldwide community and its affairs.

The procedural steps

To achieve these ends, during his time as President, the Obama administration has pursued policies that weaken American strength, power and influence in every conceivable political, economic and social way possible. For example, many economists have pointed out that the Obama economic plan, loaded with unsustainable spending and debt, may cause serious long-term damage to the American economy. No problem- if his plan does happen to somehow work, fine, but the Obama economic plan is not designed to heal the economy- in accordance with Obama’s long-range master plan, it’s designed to weaken the economy, and the nation. And how does the on-going Obama international “blame America / apology tour” strengthen America’s foreign policy? It doesn’t- it’s not supposed to- it’s designed to weaken our nation’s role in international affairs. Further, Obama’s administrative and judicial appointments and nominations are people infused with a strident anti-traditional and anti-constitutional ethos, because that nudges America further toward an eventual submission to “international” ethics, laws and constraints.

The more that Obama will be able to enact this agenda and master plan now, the easier it will be for him to later wield unquestioned power as UN Secretary General, because the United States will have been severely weakened and unable to exert significant influence on international (or even some domestic) affairs.

Possible scenarios

Speculators are envisioning several alternative scenarios. For example, one option being bantered about is that Obama’s unbridled ambition will not allow him to wait until Ban Ki-moon completes a second term as UN Secretary General. Mr. Ban’s first term will conclude Dec. 31, 2011, one year and three weeks prior to the end of Obama’s first term as President, and one popular scenario envisions that, if Obama feels he has sufficiently accomplished enough of his agenda by then, he will resign as President and seek to replace Mr. Ban in January of 2012. After all, why wait another four years and risk something going awry in the meantime that could pre-empt an Obama second Presidential term or even the larger Obama long-range master plan itself?

Under that scenario, it is thought that Vice President Joe Biden’s subsequent ascendancy to the White House in January of 2012 would assure a continued passive and subordinate American role in UN and international affairs while Obama then promotes his UN Secretary General agenda, and, at the same time, assure election of Biden as President later that November.
Another variation of that scenario is that the aftermath of the 2010 election and growing unhappiness with Obama's lack of leadership, including by members of his own party, will cause key Dems, especially those up for re-election in 2012, to seek an alternative to head the Dem ticket as Presidential candidate. Hillary would then offer herself up as the "Savior of the Party" as Biden fills out Obama's term and doesn't seek the nomination. As a narcissist, Obama must be concerned about the prospect of being defeated in a re-election campaign. So, as a political safety valve, Obama could resign in late 2011 for the UN job. Under that scenario variant, everybody would win- Obama would get his UN Secretary General-for-life job, Biden would get to serve one year as a U.S. President, and Hillary would get her shot at making history as the first female President, perhaps even for two terms.
However, some feel that this scenario would be too outrageously ambitious for even Obama. Their thought is that Obama would prefer to complete the second term as President and then move on to the UN. On the other hand, this scenario would explain the “mad rush” to enact as much of Obama’s agenda as soon as possible in his first term. And it would also explain why Obama was so insistent on running for President in 2008, rather than allowing Hillary Clinton to have her shot at the job in ’08 and running after her two terms.

Many Democrat leaders felt that Hillary had earned her shot at an open office in the 2008 Presidential election, as George Bush was completing his second term. After all, even after two Hillary terms as President, Obama would still only be 55 in 2016 and, presumably, politically bolstered by another eight years of service and experience as a U.S. Senator. With such additional maturity and experience, Obama in 2016 would have had formidable credentials to then become the first black American President.

All very logical, except for one very revealing factor. As previously mentioned, a new UN Secretary General will be scheduled for appointment in 2016, and eligible for two five-year terms. If Obama would have let that opportunity pass by and allow someone else to become UN Secretary General, that would mean that Obama’s next best shot at the UN Secretary General position may not occur until 2026. At that point Obama would be 65 years old, with far less time to rule the United Nations. And, in addition, that would leave far too much time for something unforeseen to disrupt Obama’s long-term master plan. No, it was felt that it was a far better approach to push Obama for the Presidency in 2008 even if that meant risking the wrath of Hillary and her Democrat Party operatives. With an Obama victory in the 2008 Presidential election, his plan of ascending to the open UN Secretary General seat in 2016 was assured, and he could serve as many as four five-year terms as UN Secretary General before finally retiring at a still-robust 75, or possibly even serving beyond that. That would provide Obama with a full twenty years or more of ruling the world- a heady opportunity indeed, one that would be very difficult for an intense narcissist to let pass by.

Another variant of that scenario involves the secret pact made between the Clintons and Obama when Hillary decided not to challenge Obama at the 2008 Democrat convention and, instead, endorsed Obama for President. The negotiations between the Clinton and Obama camps concluded with some major concessions to the Clintons, beginning with Hillary’s nomination and subsequent appointment as Secretary of State. Some have said that the Clinton-Obama deal also includes (among others) eventual nomination of Bill Clinton to the U.S. Supreme Court, and Obama’s endorsement of Hillary for the Democrat Presidential nomination in 2016.
And Hillary’s part of that deal would include acquiescence with UN Secretary General supremacy in the international arena during her Presidency.

Regardless, it is clear that the position of UN Secretary General will be open for appointment just as Obama’s presumed second term is about to expire. The Secretary General serves a five-year term and is traditionally (but not constitutionally) limited to two consecutive terms. But Barack Obama clearly sees himself as a being above and beyond traditional (if not even constitutional) constraint, and there is no provision in the UN Charter that would prevent him from seeking as many terms as he desired. By ingratiating himself to the international community during his service as American President, he could assure himself of unlimited service later as UN Secretary General. The only constraint to prevent Obama from additional terms as Secretary General would be a veto by one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. But the Obama team has very effectively considered that element as well. The five permanent Security Council members are the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. The U.S. is already (figuratively and literally) indebted to China, Russia is clearly pleased with Obama’s weakening of the U.S., and Obama has profusely sidled up to the European powers in his on-going “blame America / apology” tours. This should greatly diminish the prospects of one of those other four permanent Security Council nations vetoing additional Obama terms as Secretary General beyond his second term. And, with a submissive America ruled by the Democrat Party, the chances of a U.S. veto are virtually nil.

Following his act as the first black President of the United States, the Obama campaign for UN Secretary General would focus on the historic nature of him becoming the first person from North America to serve in that capacity. And, as a result of his weaken-America policies as President, the members of the United Nations would feel much more comfortable bestowing upon him the honor of serving as the first North American Secretary General. For his part, naturally, this would fit very nicely into Obama’s narcissistic persona. And, of course, the mainstream American and international media would play it to the hilt. Obama’s ascendancy to the throne of United Nations Secretary General would be virtually a coronation, not a selection or an election.

Now that the basic goals of Obama’s long-range master plan are clearly evident, his motivations and intentions are much easier to decipher. Clearly, the structure of the Obama Presidency is not about what is good for America or its citizens- it’s all about Obama. It’s all about what advances Obama’s personal agenda and objectives. If it appears that Obama is still campaigning, it’s because he is still campaigning. Obama viewed the 2008 American Presidential election as just another primary election in his broader campaign to become the UN Secretary General. During his Presidency, Obama’s policies are designed to control, not cure. The economy, the banking system, the auto industry, the health care system- the Obama administration’s energies are directed toward seizing control over all those sectors, not “curing” any real or perceived problems in them. The more that Obama can make America subservient, compliant and subordinate now, the easier it will be for him to rule later as the unchallenged United Nations Secretary General.

This fascinating insight gives us the opportunity to view Obama and his administration in a much different light. Other such alternative scenarios are being actively debated, and only his closest insiders are privy to the details of the actual plan. But one thing is very clear: the increasingly strange and unconventional behavior of Barack Obama and his administration and policies can now be seen through a much clearer lens, and it’s quite obvious that there is, indeed, a very specific method to the madness.

No Not Again| 3.17.11 @ 4:30PM

Gosh, hope you got it all out!! LOL You folks crack me up. no seriously. Havent you been talking about the same thing for ohh two 2yrs now and YET You still dont know who to choose a list of 15. Dang such funny stuff coming from the crowd that allowed our jobs to go overseas. How can you even consider Newt -Contract w America NAFTA such foolishness!!

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 6:38PM

patrick henry You have written an encompassing piece on the obama grand strategy but allow me this observation.Most Americans want the US out of the UN and with good cause. The institution that held such promise almost immediately ossified into a caricature of itself, stifled at every important point (save Korea, where the Soviets had walked out of the Security Council w wee bit too soon) but the nyets of the Soviets. There is already talk of developing a parallel institution of truly free countries committed to the rights of man to run without the interference of antithetical philosophies that would have us all back in the dark ages. That is why it is vital to defeat obama and gain a leader with the energy in the executive that Alexander Hamilton in Federalist#70 outlined: Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy. Every man the least conversant in Roman story, knows how often that republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of Dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals who aspired to the tyranny, and the seditions of whole classes of the community whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome. In our case we need no dictator but a leader who can create a new organization to bypass the truly pitiful UN.With the proper energy we can move the UN from it’s now illegitimate standing to its proper place in the pantheon of failed international organizations and move Obama back to Punahou School or better yet Indonesia.

chris| 3.17.11 @ 3:30PM

cant wait to see these bat shit crazy tea baggers proven wrong in 2012. With your line up of idiots, pedophiles, and adulterers im sure this is a shoe in.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 3:38PM

I had a subscription to TAS when it was in tabloid form, a newspaper. Then RET moved on to the magazine phase and now the internet.

I say this because RET writes some great stuff and has for the 35 years I 've been reading him....and what do I see on his blog .....95% trash talkers who contribute ZERO to the thread, do no justice to TAS but engage in petty carping......It would be nice if those who do the trash talking, Brooks being the primary offender, could muster the intelligence and self control to contribute meaningful discourse.......what one has to wade through to get to any substance isn't worth the trouble of daily seeing the same crap from the same contributors. RET and TAS have helped move the political agenda of this nation, through out the time of it's existence and you folks are treating it like a pig pen. Obviously a contrbutor can't make you do anything but those with the power will read this and no doubt fully understand what it will take to rid this blog of all the pettiness, grab ass, non contributors who simply use it as a means of holding their daily ritualistic personal kindergarten pettiness. For my part, I'd displace about 50% of the cheap, off topic quips with a time out for you infantile contributors.

Or perhaps it's simply a case where the solipsistic gather to see their putatively erudite glibness highlighted in print, with nothing substantial to add because they no nothing of substance, only tripe.
Get it right people,RET and TAS deserve a better caliber of contributor than what I read here 95% of the time. I know this will offend a huge majority of you because it is a huge majority that are engage in the offal that you offer.

somnolence| 3.17.11 @ 4:13PM

Neither Barbour or the rest of the potential candidates is talking as sensibly or as knowledgeable as Sarah Palin is on energy concerns.

No Not Again| 3.17.11 @ 4:34PM

Energy concerns of Sara Palin? LOL You need to do some serious research on her constituents. She was below 50% after running for Vice President. BTW Alaskians get a stipend from the oil company. She was very cozy with big oil. Then the bridge to no-where, but wait you folks overlook her lack of judgement why? LOL GEEZE!! Claims she helped the Valdez victims but they tell a very different story. Do the research of your beloved candidates please!! It only been 2 yrs!!

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 7:24PM

Another problem in addition to Sarah's unelectability (not sure if that's a word) would be her inability to pass anything substantive in congress should she win. She is so polarizing and displays no political skills whatsoever. I doubt if she would be effective at all in swaying members.

I'm sure Haley's energy stance duplicates Sarah's. The difference is Haley would be much, much more effective in passing legislation.

Oldefarte| 3.18.11 @ 12:16PM

The thing to remember is that if conservatives continuously eliminate one or more long-shot conservative candidates in the political process, the end result will be that a RINO/NEXT-IN-LINE REPUBLICAN [ie Dole, McCain,etc] will sneek in and become the nominee [and thereafter predictably lose against El Chosen One]!!!!!!!

Bob Grant| 3.18.11 @ 6:54PM

I think there's a big difference, however, in long-shot conservative candidates and unelectable candidates in that the latter's qualifications come into question rather than the former's stance on issues is what makes them the long shot.

somnolence| 3.17.11 @ 4:15PM

Remember that Thomas Sowell has predicted that Obama will not finish this term because he will resign in the face of the inevitable eight ball.

Greg| 3.17.11 @ 9:22PM

You're a nut. Hitler would have welccomed you with open arms.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:13PM

Oh you Hitlerphile, you.....SHAME!!!!!!!

Gabe Ramirez| 3.17.11 @ 4:36PM

When did you divorce yourself from reality and is there a possibility of rapproachment? If Obama is so beatable why is Jeb Bush NOT running? Your house of cards is one Jack short of a foundation.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 6:07PM

The election 2012, like the recent midterms will no doubt be one of the, if not the defining election to determine if this nation continues as a superpower of drifts into the backwaters of countries who have previously occupied the top spot such as Great Britain, once the mightiest, now an also ran.

obama is already tacking toward the center when not on the golf course or vacationing somewhere but his abilities to do so are neophyte and impuissant. He is now heavily invested in avoiding ALL executive responsibilities of a national and world leader. His vulnerabilities are so florescent that targeting a campaign, not against the man, but the child he has shown himself to be should not pose a challenge to the like of Haley Barbour. Self-indulgent, petty, and totally removed from the American experience obama will attempt to avoid the klieg lights focused on his radical friends and Marxist ideology inbued in him by his mentor, Franklin Marshal Davis. Davis was a known communist who belonged to a party subservient to the Soviet Union. In fact, the 1951 report of the Commission on Subversive Activities to the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii identified him as a CPUSA member. obama has shown us in two plus years that he was an excellent student of communism….this is the florescence I speak of, something from which he cannot escape nor deny. His policies at every level show distain for the Constitution (Czars bypassing Senate confirmation).
He is no doubt impeachable now with the House controlled by the Reps but it’s too close to election time to operate an impeachment only to fail in the conviction stage in the Senate.
But if we do not replace obama in 2012 we will be at the total mercy of growing Chinese might and a Soviet renascence. Not to mention the Islamic dimensions of their demographics and possession of the bomb. We must replace the POTUS

ENOUGH ROPE| 3.17.11 @ 7:35PM

Obama is a traitor, stooge, and mouthpiece for the radical left that wants totalitarian government in America and the world. Someday, we will know who, besides the usual suspects with billions, recognized years ago that Obama could be groomed as a one man sleeper cell. I suspect Obama decided to enjoy the pomp and perks of The Presidency instead of working hard on the job. He knows he is backed by a phalanx of plotters for totalitarianism comprised of wealthy Machiavellis., think tanks, media, senators, congressman, some state governors and legislators, academics, public and private labor union leaders, and dupes among the voters.
Obama knows that all he must do is follow the orders of the leaders of the phalanx when the orders are delivered by frequent couriers to the White House.

Greg| 3.17.11 @ 9:23PM

fluorescent? ha ha. take some language courses before it's too late. typical tea party ignoramous.

ENOUGH ROPE| 3.17.11 @ 10:25PM

Greg,

May I suggest your capitalizing the first letter that begins a sentence? We all make mistakes, especially typographical mistakes and spelling mistakes, which is a good reason for our being humble and forgiving of such mistakes. It is particularly not fair in the pursuit of truth to nullify the cogency of an entire commentary because of a spelling error. I presume that you would not like to be mocked as you have mocked Habu.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:13PM

Forrest Gump was correct afterall!!!!!!

Frank Gerber| 3.17.11 @ 6:13PM

Good to see you Repugs getting nervous. You have good reason. Obama will be re-elected in (another) landslide.

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 7:13PM

Mr. Goober,

Unfortunately you're probably right. The combination of a shallow presidential field, the changing demographics and associated dumbing down of the electorate, Jimmy Carter would have had a good shot at reelection under these conditions.

beebop| 3.17.11 @ 8:13PM

'Obama will be re-elected in (another) landslide.' Only in the alternate universe where picking four number one seeds passes for round balls smarts. What a doof. I think I could have made the same selections ... but when Ohio State comes out on top? Perhaps the UN can authorize a no fly?

Seriously dude...get real| 3.17.11 @ 9:36PM

Stop lying to yourself. You and the world knows that it isn't even really about Obama. It is about those pathetic potential Republican candidates in the field. Not to mention Scott Walker just obliterated your chances in the mid-west. Obama doesn't even need a strategy there because Republicans are creating one for him. Stop living in denial. Just come out to us, reveal the truth you feel inside. Try not to cry either like John Boehner...lmao

Oldefarte| 3.18.11 @ 12:20PM

Oh, you silly IDIOT! CHOSEN has completely come forth from his closet into the sunlight. Let the games begin!!!!!!!!

Bob Grant| 3.17.11 @ 8:44PM

His comments about the tourney are about as worthless as the one about Gadaffi's fate. Remember that little gem: "the noose it tightening around his neck".

Heh, yea.

Greg| 3.17.11 @ 9:20PM

Nonsense. Typical right wing rant. A right wing racist like Barbour doesnt have a prayer. For Christ's sake, look at those jowls! Watch the film "Mississippi Burning" and remember Barbour leads a state full of racists, 2nd worst literacy rate in the US and the second worst poverty rate. Which is what the rich coddling, vote supressing Republicans want for the rest of us. Time for a third party to wipe this extremist party off the map.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 1:09PM

Yeah, you mean illerates and racists like William Faulkner, Willie Morris, etc. Did you forget about the highest enrollment rate within the state of MEDICAID/GOVERNMENTAL WELFARE recipients, and do you have the mental capacity to understand WHY THAT IS SO? Take your RACISM, GENTRIFICATION, HOMOPHOBIA, DISENFRANCHISEMENT BULLEXCREMENT and stick it where the sun don't shine. Also, you may wish to educate yourself by refraining from watching Hollywood cow manure disguised as movies, and instead increase your IQ by reading Morris' books etc. Finally, the only WIPING that will be done will be in November of 2012 when ya boy and his domestic terrorists are completely defeated and flushed down the toilet of politics [as your propaganda of racism etc is exposed for the radical stupidity that it is]!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we go again...and again..| 3.17.11 @ 9:26PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Here we go again...this article is an absolute joke. This sounds like 2008. "SENATOR OBAMA DOES NOT HAVE A CHANCE" said the "idiot columnist" that bases this on nonsense. I mean if I had $1 for every columnist that wrote an article like this I would be a billionaire. This is the kind of trash that fires up his base to turnout. This will not be like 2010 buddy, this election will be all about the "Conservative Elitist" trying to strip the rights away from working class families. "RE-RE-Distribution of wealth to the wealthy" I guess Obama needs to watch out for the "white supremacist" Haley "Bull Conner" Barbour?

packeryman| 3.21.11 @ 4:36AM

The GOP will have pulled off 1964 (Goldwater again 2012) by giving the nomination to any ultra conservative radical ("teabaginn freak or far right religious nut) the nomination. The only hope is a international business man with experience dealing with China, India , Korea, etc. He has to recognize that free trade is a joke and all trade agreements have to be revisited and made fair trade agreements. The scheme for the middle class to carry the tax burden instead of the wealthy is a failure. Deregulation is a complete failure. The idea of reducing taxes on corporations and placing that burden on the middle class is proving to be the end of the worlds greatest middle class(Republicans refuse to deal equality) . Wake up elitist conservatives and southern right wing jerks, we WILL lose the nation, as did the leftist DEM's. We independents don't buy any of this far out crap right or left.

sebastian interlandi| 3.17.11 @ 10:34PM

you must be joking

watches| 3.17.11 @ 10:48PM

Regardless, it is clear that the position of UN Secretary General will be open for appointment just as Obama’s presumed second term is about to expire. The Secretary General serves a five-year term and is traditionally (but not constitutionally) limited to two consecutive terms. But Barack Obama clearly sees himself as a being above and beyond traditional (if not even constitutional) constraint, and there is no provision in the UN Charter that would prevent him from seeking as many terms as he desired. By ingratiating himself to the international community during his service as American President, he could assure himself of unlimited service later as UN Secretary General. The only constraint to prevent Obama from additional terms as Secretary General would be a veto by one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. But the Obama team has very effectively considered that element as well. The five permanent Security Council members are the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. The U.S. is already (figuratively and literally) indebted to China, Russia is clearly pleased with Obama’s weakening of the U.S., and Obama has profusely sidled up to the European powers in his on-going “blame America / apology” tours. This should greatly diminish the prospects of one of those other four permanent Security Council nations vetoing additional http://www.watch07.com Obama terms as Secretary General beyond his second term. And, with a submissive America ruled by the Democrat Party, the chances of a U.S. veto are virtually nil.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 10:57PM

Folks ...don't play tho the leftest obama acolytes, it just feeds them...ignore them, focus,focus on how to win in 2012...all of their remarks are simply crys of desperastion..IGNORE THEM..it gains you nothing to argue with leftest commies who only want to throw sand in the machine.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 11:19PM

We are all aware that obama hussein promised the world to everyone because that's what the teleprompter told him to say but here are a few of the promises he made that never materialized. Believe me this is just a very small portion of what he was dishing....anbd hey, he never promised to run up debt exceeding all previous presidential debt combined but you have to say the boy has done an exsecutive classs job of destroying our economy...anyway to the list...the last one listed is my favorite...remember all the bills we all saw on the Internet...hell most of the bills were never even read ....to anyone.

No. 1: Increase the capital gains and dividends taxes for higher-income taxpayers
No. 10: Expand the child and dependent care credit
No. 24: End income tax for seniors making less than $50,000
No. 30: End no-bid contracts above $25,000
No. 38: Repeal the Bush tax cuts for higher incomes
No. 39: Phase out exemptions and deductions for higher earners
No. 45: Forbid companies in bankruptcy from giving executives bonuses
No. 46: Allow workers to claim more in unpaid wages and benefits in bankruptcy court
No. 71: Allow imported prescription drugs
No. 80: Mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment
No. 81: Appoint federal-level coordinator to oversee all federal autism efforts
No. 86: Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study of federal cancer initiatives
No. 97: Create a National Commission on People with Disabilities, Employment, and Social Security
No. 98: Change federal rules so small businesses owned by people with disabilities can get preferential treatment for federal contracts.
No. 129: Form international group to help Iraq refugees
No. 177: Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
No. 220: Reinstate special envoy for the Americas
No. 221: Double the Peace Corps
No. 234: Allow five days of public comment before signing bills

Pick one out and hammer him with it..he's earned it.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 11:30PM

'Sunlight Before Signing'

When Obama campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in Manchester, N.H., on June 22, 2007, he announced his "Sunlight Before Signing" promise.
His words:

"When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as the president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what's in it before I sign it," he said.

He repeated that promise on his campaign website:
"Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."

However, Obama signed his first bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, on Jan. 20 – only two days after its passage.

He signed a second bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program just THREE HOURS after Congress passed it.

Again, on Feb. 17, Obama signed his 1000 PAGE $787 billion stimulus aimed at jolting the declining U.S. economy. He did so only ONE BUSINESS DAY after it passed through Congress – without allowing for five days of public comment.

The fact is obama hussein is a clear and present danger to this country.

Habu| 3.17.11 @ 11:30PM

'Sunlight Before Signing'

When Obama campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in Manchester, N.H., on June 22, 2007, he announced his "Sunlight Before Signing" promise.
His words:

"When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as the president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what's in it before I sign it," he said.

However, Obama signed his first bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, on Jan. 20 – only two days after its passage.

He signed a second bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program just THREE HOURS after Congress passed it.

The fact is obama hussein is a clear and present danger to this country.

Logic| 3.18.11 @ 12:49AM

Obama is the most left-wing President in the history of the country. Hahahahahahahahahhahaa. Not only could a case be made for FDR, Truman, JFK, and LBJ, a strong argument could be made that even Republicants Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon were more progressive. I have a feeling that Emmett would say that about any current Democrat in the White House. Lame article. And even worse, lazy.

Dee See| 3.18.11 @ 3:48AM

---Putting aside the awesome cover-up the
unfolding Japanese catastrophe for a moment
(BTW -seems Japan is NOT liked by the cultural EUGENISTS at the IMF becuase they refuse to
globalize their bond market)

OBAMA will almost certainly be re-elected,
if, IN FACT, there even is an election as the
'Mutiny from above' issues of Globalism become
undeniable ---and the 'Big Boys' cut to the chase
and go for broke --or we should say go for 'breaking
us'.

HUAC meets NUREMBERG with an opening
grand inquest into 'the agenda' for that last century ---begining with the FED and WWI
on down.

"Put off the things of darkness,
Put on the armour of light"
----It's surely time.

PBS Pinchback| 3.18.11 @ 3:49AM

Is the author of this article even literate? Distinction without difference, assertion without argument...need I continue? This is pathetic.

RI| 3.18.11 @ 5:01PM

Let's see: Mississippi has some of the worst performance records of any state -- near last in income levels, education, child health, retirement savings...the list goes on and on. Miss. is the third world of the U.S. Last thing we need is for Barbor to Mississippi-ize the whole country. Never, ever going to happen.

Oldefarte| 3.19.11 @ 12:56PM

Yeah, we Mississipians aren't smart enough to give the world [and this country] THE PRESENT INTELLECTUAL BRILLIANCE THAT CURRENTLY OCCUPIES 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE [and its Victory Garden economics]!!!!!!!!

Jim Stagg| 3.18.11 @ 6:41PM

Agree that Barbour may make a good candidate. Also agree that Palin and Gingrich would be prudent to support some OTHER candidate, say Herman Cain.

Also, do you think you could identify Barack Obama as U.S. President, when you name him? Too many, including myself, forget who the U.S. President is presently.......seems to be MIA most of the time. For all we know he could be President of France, or Finland, or maybe Bosnia. An additional hint would help out so much! Thank you.

packeryman| 3.21.11 @ 1:33AM

All of the candidates as we know them are losers against Obama. The GOP has only one real candidate, that is a business man, very wealthy, has international experience in dealing with foreign governments and business. The man is a winner. The far right religious fanatics and dirt bag "teabaggers won't like him. He is the only man speaking about bringing back jobs to America. He knows the free trade agreements have to be revisited and re worked to be fair trade agreements. He understands China has to be brought to the table on their under handling of their currency. Otherwise we lose the next election. PURGE TEABAGGERS, they are the death of the GOP.

weddingdress| 7.15.11 @ 5:28AM

do you think you could identify Barack Obama as U.S. President, when you name him? Too many, including myself, forget who the U.S. President is presently.......seems to be MIA most of the time. For all we know he could be President of France, or Finland, or maybe Bosnia. An additional hint would help out so much! Thank you.