tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post6840464359548937858..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Tom P. Baxter, Presidential Candidate?Jonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-65655463926540453172011-03-01T07:42:25.685-06:002011-03-01T07:42:25.685-06:00>I suspect he'll run into the same kind of ...>I suspect he'll run into the same kind of problems Chris Dodd ran into in 2008 on the Democratic side: why are your running for president, other than it's something on your bucket list?<br /><br />Perhaps, but it's worth pointing out that the GOP, unlike the Dems, has a recent tradition of nominating old guys: Reagan, Dole, McCain.Kylopodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06932528611103718373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-66526357051428526382011-03-01T07:39:52.457-06:002011-03-01T07:39:52.457-06:00James Polk is the only former Speaker in history t...James Polk is the only former Speaker in history to become president, though he also had a (two-year) governorship under his belt.<br /><br />Besides Henry Clay, the only other former Speaker ever nominated by a major party was (consulting Wikipedia) James Blaine in 1884. Both men were also former Senators and Secretaries of State.Kylopodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06932528611103718373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-35630009273510247002011-03-01T06:55:42.770-06:002011-03-01T06:55:42.770-06:00In addition to Gingrich's messy personal life,...In addition to Gingrich's messy personal life, and having never served in the Senate or as governor, and his unpopular record as Speaker, and his "ideas", he's also been around a long, long time. I suspect he'll run into the same kind of problems Chris Dodd ran into in 2008 on the Democratic side: why are your running for president, other than it's something on your bucket list?massappealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883213166005005577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-34637619393811568402011-02-28T22:53:45.218-06:002011-02-28T22:53:45.218-06:00@ R. John -
I think this is an interesting quest...@ R. John - <br /><br />I think this is an interesting question. Can't think of a Speaker who was nominated other than Henry Clay, and he served as Senator and SecState after his Speakership.<br /><br />Dick Gephardt wasn't in leadership yet when he lost in 1998, and had left as minority leader before his 2004 campaign. And of course, he never served as Speaker.TapirBoy1https://www.blogger.com/profile/11327586630549189956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-40474090425669750472011-02-28T18:18:17.263-06:002011-02-28T18:18:17.263-06:00I agree with most of what you say about Gingrich, ...I agree with most of what you say about Gingrich, but isn't it a little unfair to make the "hasn't risen above the House" argument?<br /><br />The Speaker of the House isn't just another congressman; it's a major power position, third in the line of succession. It seems to me that Gingrich is a credible candidate on those grounds, just like Nancy Pelosi or Tip O'Neill would be.Robert John Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826028694522732227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-75806497886555599832011-02-28T17:08:05.131-06:002011-02-28T17:08:05.131-06:00I don't like Newt Gingrich either as a conserv...I don't like Newt Gingrich either as a conservative but you might as well admit that you are anything but an objective observer.<br /><br />You write the following at the link you provided:<br /><br />"I suppose there are also some rubes in the press corps who somehow or another are able to see through the Sage of Wasilla's ordinary hockey mom pose" <br /><br />So if one becomes wealthy, that person is no longer able to present themselves as someone who came from less fortunate economic circumstances? Didn't Obama make the same argument about how he could relate to middle-class families when he was going to overpriced third-tier Occidental College?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-69823456055839428622011-02-28T12:58:40.529-06:002011-02-28T12:58:40.529-06:00I wish I remembered the Tom P. Baxter episode bett...I wish I remembered the Tom P. Baxter episode better. I understand the reference, but it just makes me want to see the original clip.Matt Jarvisnoreply@blogger.com