The Chris Christie Effect

Donald Trump, Michelle Bachmann, and now Chris Christie. All of these public figures share two characteristics. One, they have enjoyed broad support at some point in the Republican primary season and two, they all have a "tell it as it is" style. Trump is famous for his combative style in the board room and on TV. His famous tagline, "your're fired" has garnered the attention of television audiences season after season of The Apprentice. Bachmann's support for the Tea Party and no-nonsense politics has garnered the attention of many. She stood up to new spending during August's debt debate and wouldn't give up ground, even with the consequence of defaulting on US debt. Now, Chris Christie is being seen as the savior of the Repubican Party. His Youtube videos taking on critics in town hall meetings have gotten him national attention. Unlike Bachmann and Trump, Christie's popularity has continued to grow. His recent speech at the Regan library highlighted the key difference between him and many of the other Republican Candidates.

While Trump and Bachmann have been polarizing figures, Chris Christie has been able to unite Democrat and Republican legislators in New Jersey to pass sweeping reforms. Agree with him or not, he has been an effective leader for a state associated with political dysfunction. When the US Congress is at a deadlock and unwilling to engage on important issues, this sounds like the type of candidate needed for the White House.

The lesson learned from Chris Christie is that a combative style will only move a candidate so far. It is a track record of BOTH being direct and being able unite that will garner sustainable popular report. While Trump and Bachmann may be remembered as a flavor of the week a year from now, Christie's name will continue to be mentioned for national office during this campaign cycle and many more to come.

Many of the current slate of Republican are breathing a sigh of relief with Christie's recent speech. For a candidate like Perry, Christie would be able to stand up to his Texas posture. Christie would have drawn attention to Romney's lack of charisma. When engaging the other candidates on the issues, Christie's ability to simplify the answer while proposing clear substance would shaken the debates up. The public wants a candidate that says what he thinks, does what he says, and translate this into results as President.

Whether as a candidate or adviser to the Party, Christie's style and substance will impact the Republican primary. To garner the type of lasting support Christie has enjoyed this year, candidates will need to directly talk to voters, highlight their ability to create results, and talk to them about issues in a way that makes sense.

For Huntsman to gain more support, I think he should should borrow a bit more from Christie's lessons on giving direct talk to the voters. This has been shown to be popular, especially with a candidate having the track record of being able to show results.

Huntsman polls higher than 2 percent in third poll, qualifies for CNN debate

Gov. Hunstman understands the challenges he is facing to receive the Republican nomination. His characterization of himself early in his campaign as the "margin of error" candidate certainly makes light of the challenge. The most recent poll shows 4% support of Republican voters. This is a gain of 4x over his beginning 1%. This is especially encouraging as many candidates' polling numbers are falling (i.e. Perry and Bachmann).

The poll adds to Huntsman’s claim that he’s been building momentum of late. This past summer, he joked that he was a “margin-of-error” candidate. More recently, he celebrated two polls that had him with double-digit approval in New Hampshire — a crucial state for presidential candidates in general and Huntsman’s campaign in particular. Huntsman said he is no longer a fringe candidate.

Read Article HERE

The New Hampshire Test: Can Jon Huntsman Resurrect Big Tent Republicanism?

Traction in New Hampshire for Huntsman is positive movement for the campaign. As the article by Michael Crowley in Time magazine indicates, Huntsman has a tall mountain to climb - name recognition, fund raising apparatus, and a moderate tone have made getting noticed hard. Upward movement in the polls is encouraging news. The big tent has gotten a lot smaller as Perry and Bachmann have energized a small portion of the Party - too small.

Huntsman maintains a cheerful optimism in the face of his daunting odds, insisting that Granite State voters are coming to see that he is the most electable Republican candidate: “We’re still a broad-based party, although we haven’t been reminded of that in a while,” he said. “I believe we have an opportunity to re-establish that big tent Republican Party.” Huntsman was buoyed by an endorsement from former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, who praised Huntsman’s “significant experience and statesmanship.” “We’re moving in a positive direction,” Huntsman said last week. The latest polling evidence suggests he may be right.

Read more: article

Jon Huntsman: a moderate Republican for immoderate times

Governor Huntsman continues to improve in the polls. In New Hampshire, his numbers have grown to 10%. For a candidate with little name recognition, this is very encouraging. As the public continues to grow skeptical of Perry and Bachmann, they are looking for alternatives. The public and media will begin to dig deeper into the candidates records and recognize Huntsman's success as an ambassador, governor, and businessman. Instead of pandering to talking points and big plans, the public wants a President that can move the congress, pass legislation, and win the battle of ideas like Regan.

A Kansas City columnist had this to say:

First, he would have been uniquely suited to answer the rising challenge of America’s greatest economic — and possibly someday military — rival, China. An Asia expert for George H.W. Bush’s Commerce Department, he served as the ambassador to Singapore. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese and knows a Taiwanese dialect.

Read more: article

Evolving on the political sideline

Steve Rose is a Kansas City political columnist and former Republican candidate that had some interesting comments on the role of evolution in Kansas public schools. His observation is how the acceptance of evolution falls between party lines, education, and geography. What he once thought was a crackpot position is moving into the large majority of the Party.

Skewing the other way, however, 60 percent of Republicans believe God created humans in their present form 10,000 years ago — otherwise known as creationism or intelligent design.

When I was a student at KU there was an excellent panel brought together to discuss the teaching of evolution in public schools. A well known physicist, I can't remember his name, described the interaction of faith and evolution. As a religious person, he felt no conflict between science and religion. He felt that evolution, in all of its complexity, was further evidence of God's hand. I'm not sure where the idea came from that religion and evolution cannot coexist.

This is one reason Gov. Hunstmans, has not gained traction. While he has successfully tackled health care , reformed the tax code, created jobs, and supported a pro-life agenda, he is being branded as a liberal because of his positions on climate change and evolution. The other reason, accepting to serve as ambassador to China under Obama, is being branded as the act of a traitor rather than a patriot.

It's amazing that the candidate that has probably done the most to advance a conservative agenda is being dismissed for deferring to accepted scientific principles.

Read the article here

Who is Gov. Huntsman?

As a middle-right voter, which candidates share many of my positions? Who is Jon Hunstman? Why has his campaign not gained traction like many expected? Is Hunstman preparing for a 2016 bid?

Huntsman was extremely popular as Governor of Utah, with his approval ratings hitting 90 percent at several points in his Administration, which was noted for its tax reform agenda. Those tax reforms included $110 million in income tax cuts, and a statewide flat income tax rate. His reforms slashed sales and food taxes and provided tax credits aimed at attracting new business development. The Cato Institute ranked Utah top in the nation for tax policy after Huntsman’s reforms kicked in.

He is staunchly pro-life, and may be the most accomplished executive of the pro-life cause, according to Michael Brendan Dougherty of The American Conservative.

“He signed bills banning second-trimester abortions, reclassifying third-trimester abortions as a third-degree felony, and requiring abortion providers to explain the pain unborn children can experience during abortion. He signed a trigger law that would ban abortion outright if Roe is overturned. He opposes embryonic stem-cell research. And by establishing a state legal fund to defend these laws, he showed willingness to uphold state prerogatives,” Dougherty writes.

Link to article

Best Quote of the Republican Debate

From Politico's Playbook -

--BEST LINE AT THE DEBATE: "I hate to rain on the parade of the Lone Star governor, but as governor of Utah, we were the number one job creator in this country ... And to my good friend, Mitt: 47 just ain't going to cut it, my friend -- not when you can be first."

Why isn't Huntsman getting kudos for his track record?

The 2012 Election Will Come Down to Seven States

Does the all or nothing approach to the electoral college allow voters to be heard? Does it seem representative for only a few states to be focused on in a general election? Are the positions and issues addressed in presidential debates reflective of the those facing the country? Should the voting public be better informed of WHY the electoral college is necessary? Does the mathematical approach described in today's WSJ article seem right?

Republicans therefore are a lock or lead in 24 states for 206 electoral votes, and Democrats have or lead in 19 states for 247 electoral votes. That's why seven super-swing states with 85 electors will determine which party gets to the magic number of 270 electoral votes: Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13).

Link to WSJ article

Is the Republican Party "Anti-Science"?

Is the Republican Party anti-science? At what point did the idea of man made climate change become a part of the Republican/Democrat divide? If a growing body of scientists and accepted scientific research becomes counter to what has become a Republican position, when will the party change its position? Perry, a front-runner in the Republican Party had this to say:

"I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And I think we are seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists are coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change."

Is this the position of the majority of the Republican Party?

Is Gov. Huntsman the Answer?

Is a candidate with a conservative record(78% of vote in Utah, a VERY Republican state) too liberal for today's Republican Party?

Washington Post: "Huntsman’s campaign might be moderate, but his economic plan isn’t"

It is perhaps a sad commentary on the state of the modern Republican Party that saying “I believe in science” is considered a radical play for a center that may no longer exist. But whether Huntsman is looking for a purple heart in the science wars, he’s not interested in taking any friendly fire for his economic plan (pdf). it’s about as close to Republican orthodoxy on the issue as you can get.

Full story at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/huntsmans-campaign-might-be-moderate-but-his-economic-plan-isnt/2011/08/25/gIQAp9bKuJ_blog.html

CNN: "Wall Street Journal loves Huntsman jobs plan"

In an editorial published late Thursday night, the newspaper, which is influential among fiscal conservatives, touted the former Utah governor and former U.S. ambassador to China's jobs plan...Perhaps Mr. Huntsman should be asked to give the Republican response to the president's jobs speech next week," writes the Wall Street Journal. "The two views of what makes an economy grow could not be more different."

Full Story at: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/02/wall-street-journal-loves-huntsman-jobs-plan/

Ship of Fools (?)

The power of the Republican Party comes from the ideas and leaders it produces. Those ideas and policy proposals were based on sound reasoning, facts-based research, and common sense. Those ideas have been replaced with sound-bites, battle-cries, and pledges. After the 2008 election, the Economist magazine had this to say...

"Republicanism’s anti-intellectual turn is devastating for its future. The party’s electoral success from 1980 onwards was driven by its ability to link brains with brawn. The conservative intelligentsia not only helped to craft a message that resonated with working-class Democrats, a message that emphasised entrepreneurialism, law and order, and American pride. It also provided the party with a sweeping policy agenda. The party’s loss of brains leaves it rudderless, without a compelling agenda."

Link to article: http://www.economist.com/node/12599247

Get Involved

Frustration with American politics has left many in the middle right on the sidelines of Party politics. This trend will continue until the middle right decides to engage the Republican Party and help shape the national debate. This blog will attempt to aggregate and post relevant news and information for those of the middle right. Read, write, debate, and get involved.