So I’ve been watching the Republican nomination process. Not too closely since I’m a Democrat and, honestly, will probably be voting party line in 2012. I’m not thrilled with POTUS, but that’s a different story.
After the Ames Straw Poll last weekend, all the buzz has been about Michelle Bachmann and 2nd place finisher Ron PaulRick Perry, who did not even run in the straw poll. Not that it matters all that much, because it’s a straw poll amongst a very specific group – Tea Party Conservatives. Hardly tells anything about a how potential nominee will do against the general electorate.
But the media seems to be taking Bachmann and Perry pretty seriously. Even Mitt Romney, who probably stands a better chance amongst Republicans-as-a-whole and Independents, isn’t getting as much airtime. Much less Ron Paul who “lost” to Bachmann by a slim margin. But whatever, it’s just Ron Paul *sarcasm*.
Naturally, as the current front-runners (Who knows what will happen come January, when shit gets real), questions are starting to arise about whether Bachmann or Perry will even appeal to the mainstream Republican or Independent. Their message and image is so tailored to the Tea Party and Social Conservatives that I’m not sure they even know how to break into the mainstream. Perry’s “Day of Prayer” (a complete bomb) and Bachmann anti-Obama/Democrat/EPA/etc. message only appeals to that specific segment of the population. A fraction of a fraction, so to speak. And that’s all they’ve done since even before this whole media circus called Iowa has begun. Neither want to reach across the aisle. If it’s not Republican or Tea Party, it’s no good. Futhermore, they’re so anti-establishment. Which is strange, considering that Bachmann is part of said Washington, D.C. establishment. At least Perry has never held an office on the national level.
They live in their Tea Party fantasy land, thinking that everyone agrees with them when, logically, that’s not the case. Tea Party candidates may have swept in November (the “shellacking” as President Obama so aptly called it), but already there is “buyer’s remorse” not even a year in. One need only look at Wisconsin (Gov. Scott Walker), Ohio (Gov. John Kaisch), and Florida (Gov. Rick Scott – who has some of the lowest approval ratings in the country). Even now, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center finds that “29% judge the impact of Tea Party supporters as mostly negative compared with 22% who see their impact as mostly positive.” That’s pretty bad.
So while Bachmann and Perry are the heroes of the Tea Party, that’s all they are. They don’t necessarily have support of Republicans as whole, nor the group that actually matters: Independents. I don’t see how either of them can become the GOP candidate. Neither have real plans or messages, other than “Screw Obama,” which is hardly a message that reverberates amongst the economic-battered and no-jobs-weary general electorate. Sure, it’s several months before Primary/Caucus season begins. But if either hope to secure the GOP nomination or even the Presidency itself, they need to stop pandering to the Tea Party.
Furthermore, I’ll say this, and I’m just one person. When George W. Bush was in office, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have minded sitting down with the guy and having a beer with him and picking his brain (I was 17 when he was elected to a second term). But our Tea Party darlings? Keep them away from me. I want nothing to do with either of them.
If Republicans want to stand a chance against Obama, they had better pick a more reasonable and moderate candidate. And I’m sure they will.
