Mitch Daniels, the only hope for a fiscal conservative that wouldn't campaign or govern over social issues, has officially declined to run for president in 2012. He cited family concerns and probably won't ever be in the picture again.

So there it is, the end of any hope for a presidential candidate that isn't also a willing participant in the circus side show of DC politics. Of course, it would only take a few months for him to get indoctrinated, but at least there would've been a chance. Perhaps the fact that he declined is proof that he was the best candidate.

Paul Ryan has announced he won't run either. Fiscal conservatives are doomed...DEEEWWMED!!!!!!!!

I don't know a lot about these two, but if they both "wouldn't campaign or govern over social issues", do you think the Tea Party influenced these decisions?
I realize the main emphasis of the TP is spending related, but many TP supporters have social issues very near and dear to their hearts, and they are not bashful about being critical of fellow Republicans.

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This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
--Emerson

Mitt Romney.
He is not a social bible thumper and is the only candidate truly equipped to address the main problem of the next Presidential term...global fiscal and monetary policy.

Just ignore the Mormon thing and we all agree the health care experiment in Mass was an abject failure....not that that fact would stop Democrats from taking it nation wide.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Nah, I don't think the Tea Party had anything to do with it. Daniels (I believe) was pretty much given an ultimatum - run for pres or keep the marriage they worked real hard on salvaging. Ryan really likes his influence on Budget and Finance right now and prefers to wait for a run later on.

Looks like it'll be Romney (not quite a true fiscal conservative) and Pawlenty (too big on social issues, same old Repub dinosaur that Dems love to call the devil). Bachmann might run for entertainment purposes only. Wake me up in 2015.

First off, thanks to Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Mormonism is totally IN right now!

As for we all agree Mass healthcare was a failure, Romney does not agree. He has stuck to his guns and defended what he accomplished. And Democrats most certainly will NOT be harping on this issue. Why should they? Romney's fellow Republicans have been grilling him hard on it. Of course, if he flips on this issue, then yes, after the primaries, the Democrats will call him a flip-flopper.

Honestly, I am really amazed that Romney hasn't flat out run away with the nomination by now. He is well known as a fiscal conservative, which is a plus right now. He's not an extremist on anything. Moderates/Independents would love him. All the potential alternatives are un-electable, if not outright whack-jobs. I know it's early, but I think the Republicans are eating their young in this case, and I think the blame lies squarely with all the radical, angry, Tea Party extremists.

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This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
--Emerson

Google "Santorum"

Dan Savage ruining a political career in one fell swoop

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"Oh honey, I would but...I don't want to" ~ Karen Walker