Mitt Romney and Michelle Bockman: Winners

There is no doubt that Mitt Romney and Michelle Bockman "won" last night's Republican debate, as there was no doubt that Herman Cain "won" the first debate.


There is really on one "top tier" of Republican candidates, and that is Romney. You can add Sarah Palin, if she runs. You MIGHT add "my governor", Rick Perry of Texas, if he runs. Or Perry might just end up in the second tier fighting to be the alternative to Romney. I will comment about my conficted feeling on Romney, who I supported in 2008, at a later time.


Herman Cain, as I thought from the first debate, vaulted to about the top of the second tier--behind Romney--in that first debate. I have to say, however, that I do not think Cain wears well. He has a few stock phrases, which he uses over and over. He is still moderately impressive, but I no longer think he has a chance to win the nomination. I would guess he is running for Viice President. I saw him on Glenn Beck, who I don't watch, and stayed to listent. I was not impressed--tat is, not nearly as impressed as I was with Cain's performance in the first debate.


Tim Pawlenty remains unimpressive, even though he pretty much says all of the right things. He is down, stuck, in the second tier, and Cain had jumped above him. Pawlenty is solid enough to stay in the second tier, but not impressive enough to win the no9mination--absent suddently catching fire like Huckabee in 2008. Romney's support is pretty shallow, but it still seems Romney's race to lose.--with Perry and Palin being wild cars. I don't THINK Palin is running, but I am not usre. I will support her if she does, absent an implosion, but I would adviseher not to do it THIS TIME. I keep getting the feeling that Perry wants to run, but it is getting late for someone not really known nationally (and with less conservative support in Texas, where we KNOW him, than you might suppose).


I LOVVE Michelle Bockman. I would like to see her President. I think a strong case can be made that she "won" last night's debate--especially from a conservative's point of view. It may have been enough--I think it was--to lift her into that second tier of candiates behind Romney. I would expect her to supplant Cain, and be a MAJOR beneficiary if Palin does not run (especially, of course, if Palin were to endorese, her, which may be unlikely, but is possible at some point). WHY do I have strong doubts that Bockman will win the nomination? In the past, she has come across assomewhat strident and non-Presidential. She looked better last night than I have ever seen her, but I just have not gotten the impresson that she is "ready" to be President. No, I do NOT mean the MANUFACTURED "gaffes" that the media has made so much of. I mean the warmth and confidence Ronald Reagan projected, even while saying things stronger than Bockman has ever said (like calling the Soviet Union the "evil empire", or saying: "Mr. Gorgachev, tear down this wall."). Now I think Bockman has to HAVE that warmth and confidence. Her hsitory is BETTER than Reagan. She has FIVE children (the same as my mother), and she and her husband took in 23 FOSTER CHILDREN. If she becomes the nominee, I will guarantee the mainstream media will dig for DIRT in her 'record" with foster children, but that is because the mainstream media is composed of EVIL people. Bockman has been involved in a successful business, and has been a TAX LAWYER. She is obviously bright. She is an articulate--if sometimes strident and too willing to make jumbs without sufficient basis--who seems more like Roganld Reagan than any of the others (except, of course, for sex). Yes, it is part of my outt-of-the closet FEMINIST SHAME that my present heroes in the Republican Party are presently HEROINES.


Still, Bockman comes out of the House of Representatives, and NO ONE (in modern times) wins the Presidency directly from the House of Representatives. Bockman is not really a very seasoned national campaigner, and it has sometimes showed in the past. Democrats may push her as an easy opponet for Obama to beat. I don't consider that. If Democrats knew anything, they would not be ruining the country. Bockman could beat Obam, and has the advantage of being able to define herself, since she is not really well known. But is she really READY tro run for President? Remember, Sarah Palin only ran for Vice President. Is Michelle Bockman really running for Vice President? What about Pawlenty? I think all of these candidates, except Romeny, may be looking at the Vice Presidency as at least a consloation prize. That may beven be true of Perry, although Republicans don't need Perry to win Texas.


Gingrich will not be President, as I said YEARS ago (with my usual foresight). I no longer believe Herman Cain has a chance, unless he gains massive tractivon getting beyond stock phrases (whch all politicians use, but Cain has NO experience, and needs to come across as fresh and different). Although I continue to think former Senator Santorum is fairly impressive, he does not seem to be gaining any traction. The moment seems to be passing him by. Ron Paul has no chance. That leaves Romney , Bockman and Pawlenty. And I cannot see anyone catching fire besides Bockman, and she is a longshot. In other words, that leaves ROMENY. But everyyone knows Romeny is vulnerable, even if he LOOKS Preisdential, and TALKS Presidential. That might well attract Perrty, and even Palin. Will it attract even some others, if Romeny is beginning to seem inevitable, but not loved? Maybe. I think it is Romney's race to lose, as it was in 2008. People forget that Romney had the race WON over a fading McCain in 2008, until Huckabee ambushed him in Iowa. So it is way too early. But right now it is Romney, and everybody else, even though I LOVE Michelle Bockman (even if she is a woman). I may end up supporting her, if I see her growing into the national candidate she can be. She can't possibly have the personal history she does without being both tough and compassionately warm. (no matter how uncompromising her principles). If hse can show that POSITIVE WARMTH, combined with tough principles, she may yet be turly formidable. Forget John Huntsman. Will not happen. That is an establishment Republican/leftist FANTASY.


P.S. No proofreading or spell checking (bad eyesight).