Here's my report card on the four main candidates in the GOP:
Executive Leadership Experience
Mitt Romney--A
He's had a quarter of a century running businesses, the Olympics and a state. He's known for turning things around. The Democrats have zero executive leadership experience, and Romney's resume will be a stark contrast and a boon for the GOP
John McCain--D
He has none. Some might say he's a leader in the Senate, but if that's the case, where has he led us the past 22 years? He's never worked in the private sector, and legislating is not leading. Never having managed or run anything larger than a Senate office is not impressive, and it's the same credential Hillary and Obama have, so the GOP has no advantage with McCain.
Rudy Giuliani--B
He was the mayor of New York for almost a decade and did accomplish some good things. Before that he was a government lawyer, so he's had some good experience in the public sector, but none in the private sector.
Mike Huckabee--C+
He was governor of Arkansas for 10 years, however his record there was quite unimpressive. He has more experience than McCain, Clinton or Obama, but not that much success. Before that he was a preacher.
Fiscal Conservatism
Mitt Romney--A
He erased a 3 billion dollar defecit in one year without raising taxes, and turned it into a billion dollar surplus with a couple of years. He understands that the problem with government budgets isn't income but outgo, and he knows how to cut waste.
John McCain--B-
He previously opposed Bush's tax cuts, but now supports them. He's against pork-barrel spending, but doesn't seem to really understand the economy. And some of his environmental policies would significantly increase gasoline taxes and thus prices at the pump.
Rudy Giuliani--B
Decent record of cutting taxes, but also fought keeping some taxes.
Mike Huckabee--D+
Cut some minimal taxes as governor, but also raised taxes 20 time resulting in a $500 million tax increase during his administration. He's a big government type of politician and he received an F from the Club for Growth.
Traditional Values
Romney--A
He's pro-life, against human embreyo farming, and probably the most passionate defender of traditional marriage in the country.
McCain--B
He's pro-life, but for embryonic stem cell research and doesn't support a federal marriage amendment.
Giuliani--D-
He's pro-choice and against the federal marriage amendment, though claims he'd try and support adoption programs to reduce abortions.
Huckabee--A
Pro-life and supports federal marriage amendment.
Illegal Immigration
Romney--A
He sought and received permission to authorize his state highway patrol officers to arrest illegal aliens, something no other governor did or has done. He's for legal immigration, but thinks illegal immigration has to stop and our borders have to be secured.
McCain--D+
Pushed the so-called Amnesty bill this past summer. He says he's learned his lesson, but his Latino outreach director is King Amnesty (see post below)
Giuliani--C-
New York city was a sanctuary city under Rudy.
Huckabee--C
Supported free instate tuition and other such friendly policies for the children of illegal immigrants, turning Arkansas into a magnet.
War on Terror
Romey--A-
Most of the pundits agree that he understands the issues and the mindset of the enemy better than any other candidate. He's willing to use force when necessary and diplomacy when necessary.
McCain--A-
Obviously a military background, though I don't trust his temperment. I think he might be more likely to use aggression when aggression is the wrong choice.
Giuliani--B+
He tries to ride on the coattails of 9/11, but his leadership helping New York recover really has nothing to do with fighting terrorists. Though I think he'd be a decent wartime leader.
Huckabee--D
Seems to be pretty clueless when it comes to foreign policy.
Private Life/Character
Romney--A
Happily married for nearly 40 years with 5 solid sons. There is nothing remotely shady in his background and all that know and work with say he is a decent and kind man. His demeanor in the debates when being attacked attests to his solid temperment.
McCain--D+
He's mean, distorts the truth, and admitted to having an affair that led to the termination of his first marriage.
Giuliani--F
He's on his 3rd marriage because of numerous affairs. He's too much like Bill Clinton and if a man won't be faithful to his wife why would he be faithful to anyone else, like the citizens of the U.S.
Huckabee--C+
Solid marriage and family, but investigated 14 times for ethical violations as governor, convicted twice, though he got one conviction overturned. He also has been dishonest in his attacks on Romney, and has been rather slick in running an overtly secretarian campaign. I don't trust him.
Executive Leadership Experience
Mitt Romney--A
He's had a quarter of a century running businesses, the Olympics and a state. He's known for turning things around. The Democrats have zero executive leadership experience, and Romney's resume will be a stark contrast and a boon for the GOP
John McCain--D
He has none. Some might say he's a leader in the Senate, but if that's the case, where has he led us the past 22 years? He's never worked in the private sector, and legislating is not leading. Never having managed or run anything larger than a Senate office is not impressive, and it's the same credential Hillary and Obama have, so the GOP has no advantage with McCain.
Rudy Giuliani--B
He was the mayor of New York for almost a decade and did accomplish some good things. Before that he was a government lawyer, so he's had some good experience in the public sector, but none in the private sector.
Mike Huckabee--C+
He was governor of Arkansas for 10 years, however his record there was quite unimpressive. He has more experience than McCain, Clinton or Obama, but not that much success. Before that he was a preacher.
Fiscal Conservatism
Mitt Romney--A
He erased a 3 billion dollar defecit in one year without raising taxes, and turned it into a billion dollar surplus with a couple of years. He understands that the problem with government budgets isn't income but outgo, and he knows how to cut waste.
John McCain--B-
He previously opposed Bush's tax cuts, but now supports them. He's against pork-barrel spending, but doesn't seem to really understand the economy. And some of his environmental policies would significantly increase gasoline taxes and thus prices at the pump.
Rudy Giuliani--B
Decent record of cutting taxes, but also fought keeping some taxes.
Mike Huckabee--D+
Cut some minimal taxes as governor, but also raised taxes 20 time resulting in a $500 million tax increase during his administration. He's a big government type of politician and he received an F from the Club for Growth.
Traditional Values
Romney--A
He's pro-life, against human embreyo farming, and probably the most passionate defender of traditional marriage in the country.
McCain--B
He's pro-life, but for embryonic stem cell research and doesn't support a federal marriage amendment.
Giuliani--D-
He's pro-choice and against the federal marriage amendment, though claims he'd try and support adoption programs to reduce abortions.
Huckabee--A
Pro-life and supports federal marriage amendment.
Illegal Immigration
Romney--A
He sought and received permission to authorize his state highway patrol officers to arrest illegal aliens, something no other governor did or has done. He's for legal immigration, but thinks illegal immigration has to stop and our borders have to be secured.
McCain--D+
Pushed the so-called Amnesty bill this past summer. He says he's learned his lesson, but his Latino outreach director is King Amnesty (see post below)
Giuliani--C-
New York city was a sanctuary city under Rudy.
Huckabee--C
Supported free instate tuition and other such friendly policies for the children of illegal immigrants, turning Arkansas into a magnet.
War on Terror
Romey--A-
Most of the pundits agree that he understands the issues and the mindset of the enemy better than any other candidate. He's willing to use force when necessary and diplomacy when necessary.
McCain--A-
Obviously a military background, though I don't trust his temperment. I think he might be more likely to use aggression when aggression is the wrong choice.
Giuliani--B+
He tries to ride on the coattails of 9/11, but his leadership helping New York recover really has nothing to do with fighting terrorists. Though I think he'd be a decent wartime leader.
Huckabee--D
Seems to be pretty clueless when it comes to foreign policy.
Private Life/Character
Romney--A
Happily married for nearly 40 years with 5 solid sons. There is nothing remotely shady in his background and all that know and work with say he is a decent and kind man. His demeanor in the debates when being attacked attests to his solid temperment.
McCain--D+
He's mean, distorts the truth, and admitted to having an affair that led to the termination of his first marriage.
Giuliani--F
He's on his 3rd marriage because of numerous affairs. He's too much like Bill Clinton and if a man won't be faithful to his wife why would he be faithful to anyone else, like the citizens of the U.S.
Huckabee--C+
Solid marriage and family, but investigated 14 times for ethical violations as governor, convicted twice, though he got one conviction overturned. He also has been dishonest in his attacks on Romney, and has been rather slick in running an overtly secretarian campaign. I don't trust him.
Labels: grades, report card, republican cadidates
posted by James Phillips | 11:17 AM
1 Comments:
John Kerry: McCain Approached Me About Joining Dem Ticket in 2004
On Monday afternoon I had the chance to speak with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic Party's nominee for President in 2004. During the interview, which covers a range of topics and which I will be posting later this afternoon, an item of particular interest jumped out at me: According to Sen. Kerry, it was John McCain's staff who approached his campaign about potentially filling the Vice President slot on the Democratic ticket in 2004.
Take a listen to and a look at the interchange...
Go to http://mydd.com/story/2007/4/3/11936/97033 to hear John Kerry giving this interview.
Jonathan Singer: There's a story in The Hill, I think on Tuesday, by Bob Cusack on the front page of the paper talking about how John McCain's people -- John Weaver -- had approached Tom Daschle and a New York Congressman, I don't remember his name, about switching parties. And I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what your discussions were with him in 2004, how far it went, who approached whom... if there was any "there" there.
John Kerry: I don't know all the details of it. I know that Tom, from a conversation with him, was in conversation with a number of Republicans back then. It doesn't surprise me completely because his people similarly approached me to engage in a discussion about his potentially being on the ticket as Vice President. So his people were active -- let's put it that way.
Singer: Okay. And just to confirm, you said it, but this is something they approached you rather than...
Kerry: Absolutely correct. John Weaver of his shop... [JK answers phone]
As you might know from reading my posts in the past, I don't usually addend my own thoughts to my interviews. I like to think they speak for themselves. But in light of the fact that I have written about a closely-related subject and I think this item is particularly newsworthy, if you'll oblige me I'd like to write a few words here.
For many Republicans, it has been bad enough that John McCain has voted and worked with Democrats against the majority of Republican Senators on a number of occasions in recent years. For Republicans, I would imagine that reports that he approached the Democrats about leaving the Senate GOP caucus in 2001 represent a borderline unpardonable offense. But it seems that reaching out to the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to talk about running on that party's ticket would be tantamount to the highest form of political treason to Republicans.
Certainly, I would assume that McCain's campaign will deny Kerry's account of their interactions. In fact I would be surprised if they didn't push back on this story, as they did to the story in The Hill last week. (A call for comment to the McCain campaign was not returned before the time this story was published.) That said, at least from my vantage this story could hardly come at a worse time for McCain.
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