I did not think so. There have been some rumblings in the republican side of the 2012 presidential race. I cannot get excited about either one, but at least there is something to talk about besides Donald Trump’s hair and Ron Paul’s attempt to be the next Pat Paulsen.
Newt Gingrich finally announced his bid for 2012. It is pitiful, since his window of opportunity, which I think was always sealed shut by a sloppy paint job in the first place, was about fifteen years ago. The guy is an idea man, and those rarely make good leaders in these day and age of style over substance. Gingrich is an intellectual who is not comfortable outside the lecture halls of academia. I figured he knew that. His teasing over a potential presidential run would be a sales pitch for his books. His actual run may still be. He is at least pitching a fifty state strategy--an impossible task for a presidential considering cash flow and ideology of various state populations, but not too out of the question for a book tour. The fun will come in watching the thrice married Gingrich attempt to appeal to social conservatives.
Mitt Romney finally put all his cards on the table over healthcare. If you recall, Romney was behind a mini version of ObamaCare in Massachusetts when he was governor. By most accounts, it has been a costly, ineffective failure. That would be bad enough, but ObamaCare is unpopular regardless if RomneyCare works. Romney has done the only thing he can do--come out against ObamaCare. Repealing it is to be his biggest priority on the remote chance he becomes president.
When it comes down to it, I suspect his chances are even worse than Gingrich’s. Romney is a rich guy who won the Massachusetts governor’s race while riding a wave of popularity for organizing the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Do people even remember the Olympics were hosted in Utah nine years ago? Apparently not, since Romney opted not to seek reelection. His facesaving reason was because he wanted to run for president, but the truth is was not going to let a republican ease into two terms even if he is pro choice and all for universal healthcare. Let us face it--he is stiff, boring, and going to face loads of accusations of racism considering the Church of Latterday Saints’ controversial views on blacks up until 1979. It is not happening for him, folks.
I have read quite a bit as of late about Republicans quietly despairing over the lack of a solid candidate. The party wants someone to swoop in and rescue their 2012 opportunity to take the White House. To that, I think it is way too early in the game to be fretting. Half the candidates which any serious pundit gives a chance of winning to have not even declared. Until they do, no one will pay any attention. That is the primary reason Trump is getting any press--bored journalists need to say something about the 2012 race and Barack Obama’s low poll numbers amid rising gas prices does not with their approval. That said, it does pay to speculate on who this dream candidate could be. Sadly enough, I got nuthin’.