2 Idiots, No Waiting

From Bloomberg:

It was supposed to have been a big moment for Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota — headlining a Republican dinner in Des Moines, Iowa’s largest city, ahead of a potential presidential campaign announcement next month.

Then a late vote in Congress kept her in Washington last night and a political shadow appeared, as Sarah Palin announced a multiday East Coast campaign-style bus tour that will kick off with a May 29 appearance at a motorcycle rally for veterans in Washington.

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Greasy’s the Word

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, kids, but I read this over at POLITICO:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told supporters in an email early Sunday that he will not run for president in 2012, a decision he said ultimately came down to his family’s reticence about a campaign.

First Haley Barbour, then Mike xChuckleberryx Huckabee, then Donald Trump, and now ol’ Mitch.  If you’re like me, you’re beside yourself with grief.  Well, I know the only thing that will cheer us all up is a song, so warm up those vocal chords, kids!

To the tune of Beauty School Dropout written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, as performed by Frankie Avalon:

Your story, sad to tell,
A Rethug ne’er-do-well,
Most nasty lying scumbag on the block!

Your future’s so unclear now,
What’s left of your career now?
Can’t even get a trade-in on your bile!
♪

Barbour Chop

From npr:

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has decided against running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Barbour, long a member of the national GOP Party establishment as a one-time chair of the Republican National Committee chair, said he couldn’t guarantee his supporters that he had the all-consuming “fire in the belly” it takes to wage the kind of campaign it takes to get the nomination, let alone to try and beat an incumbent president.

And whatever fire he did have might have been dampened by polls that gave him very little encouragement.

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El Pandering

From POLITICO:

Newt Gingrich has come a long way since criticizing Latinos a few years ago for continuing to speak “the language of living in a ghetto.” He’s taking Spanish lessons, reaching out to Hispanic community leaders, and supports “finding a way for residency” for some illegal immigrants.

But mounting a successful presidential bid means winning over GOP primary activists — many of whom favor a hard-line immigration crackdown — and that means Gingrich’s moderate positions could spell big trouble for him in the early-voting states, strategists say.

…snip…

He recently attended a Texas conference on strengthening Latino and Jewish dialogue, and regularly publishes op-eds in Spanish.

Pander much?

Rethuglicans Peddlin’ It All Over Iowa

From USA TODAY:

DES MOINES — Stylistic differences in the developing 2012 Republican presidential campaign began to appear during a conference of conservatives here over the weekend that included five potential candidates.

The five prospects who spoke at the conference Saturday sponsored by Iowa Rep. Steve King focused primarily on their opposition to President Obama and his policy initiatives.

I’ve obtained a photograph of the event from one of my unimpeachable anonymous sources who swiped borrowed this from the event’s photo album .

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Michele Who?

From YAHOO NEWS:

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will join former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and businessman Herman Cain at a New Hampshire event next month hosted by the tea party-affiliated Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF).

Also invited, but not yet confirmed are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was invited, but his office “politely reminded us that he’s not running,” said AFPF New Hampshire State Director Corey Lewandowski.

Just as noteworthy are the contenders who didn’t make the cut at all, including Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., a tea party favorite.

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Bloodsuckers

From The Miami Herald:

Call 2011 the year of the Republican governor.

Newly elected officials such as New Jersey’s Chris Christie, Florida’s Rick Scott and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker are exerting power in dramatic ways and jumping over each other for a share of the national spotlight.

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Throwing Phathead Steele Under the Priebus

From THINK PROGRESS:

Reince Priebus just became the 65th Chairman of the RNC by garnering 97 votes in the seventh round of voting. After the fourth vote, Michael Steele dropped out of the running and said, “It’s very clear that the party wants to do something different.”

Gee, nuthin’ gets by Michael Phathead Steele.

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