Not only did I like South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s response to President Obama’s SOTU, but I think it was best in years. 

Haley came off as confident, engaging, intelligent, warm and personable. Frankly, that’s better than most of the people the GOP has running for the White House.

While she demonstrated contempt for President Obama’s policies she did so by killing him with kindness as when she said that his achievements had fallen short of his lofty words or when she noted that international agreements ought to be celebrated in Israel, not Iran. 

Haley spoke about the shooting at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston last summer noting that the man who entered the church was welcomed with open arms, offered a chair and invited to prayer before he betrayed their good will. Despite the anger from that tragedy, she noted that people turned not to violence and vitriol, but to God. 

I like her temperament. It was music to my ears when Haley said, “We must resist the siren call of our angriest voices.” Amen to that. 

Continuing with that theme, Haley said, “Loudness doesn’t equal results.” She then spoke of the need to lower the volume. 

With this in mind, I hope Donald Trump took note. Should Trump gets the GOP nomination he would be wise to put Haley on the ticket. If he can do that then I would consider casting my ballot for him.

But I doubt Trump would do such a thing. Haley is too smart for him and Trump does not behave well in the presence of intelligent, successful women (i.e. Megyn Kelly, Carly Fiorina). Pride does very bad things. For all his wealth, if Trump can’t swallow his pride and pick someone like Haley he will be the poorer for it.

Let me put it this way. If the Republican Party is to have a future then Nikki Haley has to be a part of that future.