Pawlenty comes out against Boehner’s plan, Romney … not so sure
posted at 9:44 pm on July 26, 2011 by Allahpundit
Bachmann naturally opposes it, which, given the political realities for T-Paw in Iowa, means he has to oppose it too — albeit not before hedging earlier today. His statement tonight:
“President Obama has run up a dangerous amount of debt since taking office, and I greatly appreciate Speaker Boehner for courageously leading the fight to stop him from running up even more. Speaker Boehner has now put forth two plans; that would be exactly two plans more than what the President has offered. The debt limit is a line in the sand where Republicans can force the tough decisions to fix our nation’s finances, and taxpayers cannot afford for us to back down now. I am for the plan that will cut spending, cap it, and pass a balanced budget amendment, but unfortunately this latest bill does not accomplish that.”
Tea party box: Checked. As for Mitt, he’s been quite forthcoming about his shortlist of VP nominees. About Boehner’s plan, though? Not so much:
“Governor Romney thinks President Obama’s leadership has been an historic failure. He applauds Speaker Boehner for standing firm against raising taxes when our nation can least afford them,” says Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Romney, in a statement to National Review Online.
Why would a guy who’s willing to snub tea partiers by doubling down on RomneyCare and endorsing ethanol subsidies suddenly get cold feet about backing Boehner’s plan? He’s got cover from Allen West and Paul Ryan on that. Alternatively, if he feels he needs to build a little cred with fiscal conservatives, why not unload on Boehner and hold the line on Cut, Cap, and Balance? He’s got cover from DeMint and Rand Paul on that and his establishment fans won’t abandon him over one well-timed pander to the base. Ironically, one of the reasons Romney took the positions he did on R-Care and ethanol is because he’s (rightly) sensitive to perceptions that he’ll say anything to get elected. Defending an unpopular stance is meant to signal that he does have core beliefs and is willing to stand firm on them … except, I guess, when it comes to fast-moving legislative battles that conservatives are keenly interested in. Huh.
Don’t look now but, according to Nate Silver’s new number-crunch, Rick Perry’s hot on his heels in the GOP race — but only if Palin and Giuliani run. Hmmmm.
Update: Guess who just landed the coveted George Voinovich endorsement. Oh yeah.
Blowback
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Triangulation. So Mitt is triangulating. Like a triangle.
Bishop on July 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Didn’t he and Huntsman already endorse the
plansham?SouthernGent on July 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM
These freaking idiots are about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory . . . again.
rplat on July 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Romney is waiting for the focus group results…
Caper29 on July 26, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Mitt ” I wont take a stance until everyone else does then I will put my finger up to feel where the wind blows” Romney ?
William Amos on July 26, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Now that’ thar is funny I don’t care what no one sayz.
Where is McCotter and Palin? This is like shooting fish in a barrel for the both of them.
Dr Evil on July 26, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Why does it seem like Pawlenty is running for third place? Is it because that looks up to him?
SlaveDog on July 26, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Romney has mastered the sport of fence sitting.
rukiddingme on July 26, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Bernake can’t do QE3 until the Boehner plan is passed. obama needs that for his election year.
Zerohedge explains
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 9:53 PM
So basically ddritn is right. Romney wins by default if Palin doesn’t run.
promachus on July 26, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Love the pic of Mitt that HA uses. Looks like Lloyd Bridges in Airplane. Maybe Mitt should sniff some glue. It might help him take a timely stand on issues.
arnold ziffel on July 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM
steebo77 on July 26, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Oh, good L-rd. We’re doomed.
Firefly_76 on July 26, 2011 at 9:57 PM
Looks like he picked the wrong week to take a timely stand.
SlaveDog on July 26, 2011 at 9:58 PM
Mittens… The RINO’s RINO…
No thanks…
Khun Joe on July 26, 2011 at 9:58 PM
That is really funny. I don’t know why, it just is.
JellyToast on July 26, 2011 at 9:59 PM
First one to come out with a flame thrower…
… and take it to the Democrats and Obowma for puting us in our current position, gets my vote.
Or is it time to be civil and nice…
Seven Percent Solution on July 26, 2011 at 10:00 PM
QE2 was over twice as large as QE1
Bernake is holding off on QE3 so they can push this debt ceiling through, then he’s full speed ahead again to get Obama reelected.
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Palin on Greta: “More Obama Drama.”
SlaveDog on July 26, 2011 at 10:02 PM
He previously said cut, cap & balace was “the line in the sand’ for him.
This is another big flip flop.
takeamericabackin10 on July 26, 2011 at 10:03 PM
LOL.
leftnomore on July 26, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Yay T-Paw! Pick the half-baked “plan” that only looks good compared to Osama Obama’s no plan at all, and endorse it in so lukewarm a way that you won’t look like even more of a prize horse’s butt when it goes down in flames as well.
I suppose half a stand is better than none, but that’s the T-Paw Way.
As far as jumping in the race: Ed, either declare for Tiny Tim or stop making the HA crew shill for him. He’s a loser.
MrScribbler on July 26, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Palin: Grizzly
Congress/Obama: Salmon
SouthernGent on July 26, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Boehner’s plan saves exactly 1 billion in 2012, which is the last enforceable year in his deal. Everything else will be promises on the behavior of future congressmen.
QE2 was twice as big as QE1. This is license for bernake to dump money that will make Boehner’s 1 billion dollar cut look pitiful.
And btw…vote for Ron Paul for president not the other ones.
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Palin to Obama on Greta: It’s the spending, stupid!
steebo77 on July 26, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Palin: “President Obama does not know what he is doing.”
Clear, concise, correct. It’s the 3 C’s.
SlaveDog on July 26, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Obamacare becomes Romneycare.
Spending continues unabated.
Dems win Congress in 2014.
Romney happily “works with” Dems.
Global Warming taxes signed.
Conservatism p!ssed away.
And you think it would be worth it just to defeat Obama?
Bat Chain Puller on July 26, 2011 at 10:12 PM
Palin on Obama:
“Scaring the American people is exactly what President Obama is doing.”
“He doesn’t understand that we have a spending problem in this country.”
Palin on Boehner:
“We already had Cut, Cap, & Balance that passed the House. We don’t need to retreat now…”
steebo77 on July 26, 2011 at 10:15 PM
QE3 is probably going on in secret in anticipation of a cooperative congress passing the Boehner bill.
Probably bailing out Greence too.
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Romney ventured out of the foxhole again?
kingsjester on July 26, 2011 at 10:16 PM
That pic of Mitt makes me laugh every time I see it.
aquaviva on July 26, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Looks like he picked the wrong week to run for President…
Seven Percent Solution on July 26, 2011 at 10:26 PM
At least 7% funnier.
SlaveDog on July 26, 2011 at 10:30 PM
steebo77 on July 26, 2011 at 10:44 PM
YOU KNOW THE GUY CAN’T WIN! No matter what he does, or how he looks all you do is criticize!
Still want RUBIO/WEST – but if it turns out Romney comes through – then I’ll vote for him!
But can’t you see the handsome dream ticket of the two of them?
Bambi on July 26, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Well if Voinivich is for him…. then…. well I don’t know, maybe a second look. /s
kringeesmom on July 26, 2011 at 10:57 PM
Senator Toomey, with 32 Senate cosponsors including Rand Paul, introduced the Full Faith and Credit Act.
The bill allows for us to hit the debt ceiling but prioritizes revenue to paid to debt.
This plan will reassure the markets that default is not possible and still stop the spending.
Not that the markets believe we’re going to default anyways. That’s just rhetoric so Obama and Boehner can cause panic
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 11:07 PM
This. Has. Been. My. Point! We cannot afford to replace Obie with a RINO. Mitt will set the stage for the donks to sweep 2014 by forcing the GOP to follow his lead in ramping big govt. Just as Dubya did in the years 02-06 with compassionate conservative crap like Medicare Part D, CHIPS (or whatever that children health plan that allowed participation by families up to 3x poverty)… The GOP base will get disgusted and sit on their hands once more.
Methinks if a RINO wins in ’12, it’s time to launch the conservative 3rd party in earnest to begin burying the RINOs in ’14 & ’16
AH_C on July 26, 2011 at 11:25 PM
He’ll flip before he flops.
hillbillyjim on July 26, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Who cares about handsome if the candidate is going to keep us on the path to ruin? Give me butt ugly conservative over handsome stardust.
AH_C on July 26, 2011 at 11:33 PM
Hey hillbillyjim, who’s your non-starter of a candidate?
Perry flip flopped on campaigning for Al Gore, Bachman can’t win, Palin isn’t running, Pawlenty is like watching paint dry, and Cain can’t handle prime time. That leaves exactly, NOBODY.
scotash on July 27, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Let’s not quibble about Timmy’s hour to hour policy changes. It’s a squish’s prerogative to change his mind.
whatcat on July 27, 2011 at 12:45 AM
Since the CBO only managed to score the just-written plan this afternoon, I can cut candidates who don’t have to vote on it some slack for not committing one way or the other.
It sucks butt, though, not enough early cuts, no caps, and the poison pill: the worthless committee to try to fool us into thinking something will be cut. They won’t fool the rating agencies and they won’t fool us, so why give them a chance?
Adjoran on July 27, 2011 at 1:20 AM
..boy, this mantra is beyond tedious.
Respectfully, at this juncture, anything would be worth ridding ourselves of this incompetent sh!t. Your model discounts the fact that Romney said he would issue an executive order for ObamaCare waivers for all 50 states. It also conveniently ignores the election of the freshman class of conservatives in the house in 2010 and the takeover of the statehouses by conservatives. (Can you say “redistricting”, boys and girls?) And you seem to ignore the fact that there are some 23 or 24 Senate Democrats who will be facing stiff election challenges in 2012 and, therefore, a good likelihood that the GOP will control both houses.
So, I guess with most here, it’s a case of “the perfect tainting the good” Eeyore-ism. Let’s raise the white flag now because we will not have a sainted conservative running against Obama.
You don’t like Romney? Then get out and work your asss off for Pawlenty or Cain or whomever you want. I personally would like to see Rick Perry enter the race and will work for him to get the nomination. But if Romney gets the nod, I will do everything I possibly can to see The Mittster gets elected..
..four more years of Obama and there will not be a United States of America.
But, if you prefer Obama to Romney, then kindly see to it you keep your mouth shut here on Hot Air about what a P.O.S. Obama will be in his second term. You had your chance and you sat there grumbling because your little Mister (or Miss) Perfect didn’t get nominated.
The War Planner on July 27, 2011 at 2:51 AM
I don’t think Perry has said anything one way or the other. Pawlenty and Bachmann are both rooting for default..or whatever happens when a bunch of incompetent politicians fail to come up with a deal to end this nightmare.
I think Romney is trying to be careful about his comments because he does not know what will happen next.
Terrye on July 27, 2011 at 6:21 AM
Who is this Pawlenty guy that Allah mention so often?.
Falz on July 27, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Mitt’s supposed to be the smart business man here but is late to this game. Does anyone know what his position is? TPaw is too busy trying to throw sand out of MB’s sand box. Meanwhile, SP goes on Greta’s show and tell us like it is. It’s the spending, stupid.
Kissmygrits on July 27, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Sorry. Romney is the quintessential Beta Male.
kens on July 27, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Spathi on July 26, 2011 at 11:07 PM
Thanks for posting that link about the Full Faith & Credit Act. I don’t know what the current status is, but when it was introduced in the House, it had 102 co-sponsors. H.R. 421. It is S.163 in the Senate. Interesting.
Concerning Mitt Romney: It seems if you are running for President, you should be able to lead. Not taking a position on this debt ceiling issue is very troubling to me.
If one can’t lead by voicing an opinion on something so serious, then what are you going to do if President?
bluefox on July 27, 2011 at 6:04 PM