The inept, unprincipled and ignorant presidential Administration of George W. Bush destroyed the careers of Republican politicians young enough to aspire to enter the GOP nomination for president in 2012. Even worse, “W” destroyed the limited government Republican brand.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Mark Sanford, Jeb Bush and an assortment of Senators and Representatives with presidential ambitions are stained by Bush Administration policies that federalized education, engaged in a war of imperial expansion, and blew the federal budget in ways that allowed a seamless transition to the socialist Obama Administration.
Several others had their careers destroyed by Bush/Rove opposition: Colorado Congressman Bob Schaffer—opposed because he organized opposition to “No Child Left Behind”; Pennsylvania Congressman Pat Toomey—opposed because he sought to unseat Arlen Specter and Ohio Congressman David McIntosh—opposed because he sought the Governorship of Ohio that White House operative Mitch Daniel claimed for himself.
Any one of these three—Schaffer, Toomey or McIntosh—are national personalities who would be positioned to run for the GOP’s presidential nomination had they not been thwarted by Bush/Rove incrimination.
That scorched earth policy initiated by Karl Rove—and supported by “W” –leaves the GOP field in 2012 under populated.
Mitt Romney is clearly the front runner, positioned with money and ambition, but lacking in principle. Romney is another John McCain who can be expected to compromise the Republican brand in order to achieve his father’s ambitions.
Virginia’s Bob McDonald is so new to national politics that at best he may aspire to nomination as Vice President. Sarah Palin is compromised by so many mistakes personal and political as to be a non-contender from the start. South Carolina’s Mark Sanford blew himself apart by his failure to resist a mid-life crisis and Jeb Bush is compromised by his name.
That leaves only one real contender for the 2012 presidential nomination: Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
We are jumping the gun, of course, but Pat Toomey’s bid for Arlen Specter’s Senate seat holds the promise for a GOP recovery in 2012.
