Calmness and Affection Will Win This Race
Jonah Goldberg had a post this morning at The Corner that touched on the subject of a memorable half of The Delivery. In Episode 97, I mused that what we have in America is not so much a crisis of leadership or a lack of good ideas but a dearth of confidence in America itself. We’ve lapsed into the malaise of the late 1970s, led there by many of our political leaders and especially by the one in the White House. The longing from the electorate for a leader who loves America and Americans more than he loves his career or the political game is nearly palpable.
So, says Goldberg, it’s time for the GOP candidates — any of them, really — to stop acting like contestants and start acting like calm, confident leaders.
Personally, I’d like to see Michelle Bachmann show she can be a bit more presidential. It’s an odd-place for the near front-runner to be that Ron Paul seems more reassuring. If I were advising her, I’d tell her to go into the upcoming Iowa debate with the demeanor of a president-in-waiting (Hillary Clinton, who was more concerned about sexist double standards than Bachmann is, had that poise down). She should go after Obama more in sadness than in anger. If I were advising Pawlenty I’d hammer the idea that the country doesn’t need any more drama, it needs calm, serious leadership to steady the ship of state (“leadership only Tim Pawlenty can provide”). I have to say I wouldn’t tell Romney to change much of anything. I think he’s handled himself very well so far. His lack of leadership on the debt issue was cynical but smart. As for the others, I’m not sure how many of them are playing to win at this point. If I were advising Newt, I’d tell him to work overtime creating that time machine so he can go back and start over.
He doesn’t mention the affection I believe must be there, but he’s not far from it. A candidate who can assure America that they are up to the Carter-esque challenges is but a genuine sunny optimism about her future prospect away from a convincing win in 2012.
Other Posts of Interest:
- Pawlenty’s In, But He Won’t Win So Long As His Last Name is “Who?”
- The Campaign Starts Tomorrow for Cain, Others
- Tim Pawlenty is Kind of In; Full In-Ness to Occur Later Today
Category: The 2012 Horse Race
Basically, act like Reagan.
[...] solve their own problems to set himself apart from the other candidates. I was convinced then that voters are hungry for a candidate whose love for this country and trust in them propels their campaign and I told him [...]