Elitist Bill Kristol on GOP Primary Candidates: It’s a Weak Field (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Sunday, September 25, 2011, 11:27 AM
East coast elitist Bill Kristol lambasted the current field of Republican candidates today on FOX News Sunday. Kristol claims the Republican field this year is weak and says the Florida Straw poll is proof of this.
The current filed includes a Texas governor who has created half of the jobs in the US these past two years; a former Massachusetts governor who has a strong business background and saved the Salt Lake City Olympics, a former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, a popular Minnesota Congresswoman, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and others.
Sorry Bill, the field is anything but weak.
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Published May 22, 2012 at 5:04 am - 25 Comments
Swifty commented:
He wants Reagan to rise up from the dead and start campaigning.
psawyer commented:
Cain reminds me of Reagan.
Craig commented:
He’s right a very weak field. Only one strong conservative candidate (Ron Paul) who never gets air time. They are too afraid of him. Here is a REAL GREAT speach:
Ron Paul at LSU Part 1 of 5 – 9/23/2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_J3m9fdoWk&feature=related
ar05075 commented:
You’re weak Bill.
CV1 commented:
“Weak” is a relative term. Any one of those Republicans would do a better job than the current occupant of the White House. If this field is weak, it is that much more important to elect one of these people because the presumptive Democratic nominee has proven to be far weaker…and extremely dangerous.
Bob Z commented:
Ron Paul is not a conservative.
CV1 commented:
Craig — Believe me. Airtime does not benefit Ron Paul. As much as you’ll never admit it, he’s not electable.
a former dem commented:
Do conservatives take what Billy Kristol says seriously?
I really do want to know. Thanks. Because I don’t even see Kristol as a conservative. Just some beltway type who the beltway media has deemed a voice of conservatism, but I really don’t see him as conservative and so was wondering do others?
StrangernFiction commented:
I’m no fan of Bill Kristol, but he is right about this. The two front runners are frighteningly weak.
Joe College commented:
The problem is the debates. The debates pit them against each other when they should be demonstrating which is the best candidate to beat Obama.
All of them — as a unit — should refuse the topics thrust on them in the debates and impose such topics as Solyndra, what’s wrong with Obamacare, what they think Obama is doing to the economy. Or how about this one — Do you see any evidence that Obama is actually trying to hurt the country?
Valerie commented:
Well, let’s see.
Gov. Romney went to Harvard, but he’s a Mormon.
Gov. Perry graduated from Texas A&M
Herman Caine is black
Michelle Bachman is a woman
Ron Paul is a nut
and the others haven’t gotten much media coverage. I think I’ve got the picture. What we don’t have is a member of Mr. Krystol’s magic circle.
And now they all have the weight of Bill Kristol going on national TV telling the rest of the Republican party that they are scarey. Republicans eat their own.
I watched Barack Obama debate Hillary Clinton. I watched Hillary quietly, smoothly eviscerate him. And then, I watched the reports come out about his dazzling performance.
It would have been nice to hear Mr. Kristol talk about policy.
StrangernFiction commented:
And for those non-regulars out there, I believe Barack Obama is PURE EVIL. I will take very weal over PURE EVIL.
StrangernFiction commented:
very weak
Craig commented:
Ron Paul is not a conservative. BobZ (#6)
Go look at his 35 years voting record: A perfect conservative record. No one else even comes close tho that.
Gandalf commented:
Bill is right – Sarah has not declared yet.
Craig commented:
You people forgot a long time ago what the word CONSERVATIVE means.
The rest of the candidates are warmonger blood thursty neocons.
StrangernFiction commented:
A note for the R candidates. When you are asked what you would do to get the economy going, turn the country around, etc., the correct response is: The exact opposite of what the current President is doing.
This is not rocket science.
Skip commented:
Craig…sorry but Ron Paul is not even close. He could never win.
————————————————————————————————————
While writing a post for my own blog two days ago my thought was – where is the Benjamin Netanyahu of the Republican Party?
Of course he is one in a million. But, one would think that there would be a stand out in a field of GOP hopefuls for the nomination to run against Obama who has one claim to fame…he is the first black President in our history. Other than that is has been a total disaster and should be easy to beat in 2012.
We have some freshman members of Congress who will one day do well but we cannot wait for them. The GOP must win in 2012. At this point I don’t care who it is…anybody besides another 4 years of Obama. The country cannot withstand it.
The election of 2012 is the most important election in the history of the United States.
Patty commented:
I’m guilty of this “anyone could beat the president”. I certainly hope so as much as everyone else does and some of you know that.
But if you are for Perry, for instance, his debating is less than perfect, Romney, what can you say but Romney Care and I am concerned about Conservative Vote, Cain is a wonderful man but I feel he may not get the nomination of the Party, Bachman is a woman, are we ready for that, Paul has some great ideas and some crazy ideas, the others I am not sure.
If you could take something great from each person, WOW, but that is not possible. There is no stand out candidate. It is not weak but someone needs to step up or step in.
So, weak, I think isn’t, it is early, it feels a little scary because non of them have that SOMETHING, but maybe that is just wishful thinking.
Larkin commented:
Used to read the “Weakly Standard”.
Then about four or five years ago they really started letting their RINO show.
Dick commented:
What pisses me off is that Perry was a crappy debater two years ago during the gubernatorial debates in Texas, and spent ZERO time learning how to debate since.
Call me crazy, but I kinda figure if ya wanna run for POTUS, you best have your sh*t all in one bag and be ready to debate.
tommy mc donnell commented:
what we need is another ivy league lawyer, right bill. how do the accomplishments of these candidates stack up againist the accomplishments of a two-year senator from illinois?
Jayne on the Left Coast commented:
Bill never leaves the Beltway. All he knows is the cocktail party circuit and the same minded cerebral intelligenti. Didn’t he say Zero would lead from the center way back when. BTW Paul gets reelected because he brings home the PORK to his district.
Got Billy Ayers on Speed Dial commented:
The DC cabal want Christie, so that is the motivation. The field is weak but Christie doesn’t strengthen it like Sarah Palin would.
Sarah Palin is proving that she has a smart political strategy to win the nomination and become President of the United States in 2012.
Looking forward to seeing Piper Palin set up her Lemonade Stand curbside at the White House. Let’s see who tries to file a lawsuit then.
Jerry commented:
The trouble with the Republicans is that they are too busy attacking each other rather than attacking the real enemy…Obama. I’m waiting for the day that a Republican candidate with guts(and principal) will say, “Mr. Obama, where do you get the nerve to run for a second term when you’re not eligible for the term you are serving now?” I doubt that day will come.
Patty commented:
I believe that there are a world of Youtube videos and Obama’s failures that will help enormously the upcoming elections.
But this time around will we have a CANDIDATE who will fight harder than the last one in ’08!
McCain was way to nice. I am not saying be hateful but we know Obama now, boy do we know him. So, it him with everything!
WE MUST WIN THIS!!
Hacker 69 commented:
As much as I detesr Kristol, it is weak.
Northeast liberal republican governor endorsed by Jimmy Carter, nuff said
A Texas Gov that looks like he really doesn’t want it, that makes it look like he is walking through lepers when campaigning who was a Gore supporter.
A once promising Midwest representative who doesn’t think before opening her mouth wedging her foot way deep into it.
A company CEO that once worked for the federal reserve, and has had cases of foot in mouth disease when talking about Muslims
A Former house speaker that takes up a couch with Nancy Pelosi, disses Rubio and endorses at union thug clainimg to be a republican in a ny house race.
Texas Congressman who sounds as whacked as Michael Moore when talking about 9/11
Former PA senator who is just waisting his time.
An Obama administration member who seriously thinks he has has shot who is polling less than 1%.
and any others that are purely delusional.
The sad state of affairs is any one of them would be way better than the current occupant.
Patty commented:
#21
fill in for Rush was asking the audience to call in if they were from Texas and tell him how he won when he was not a debater.
martha commented:
Christie is not going to run IMHO. I think he likes grabbing the spotlight every now and then. I agree that Sarah is waiting for a good time to announce, I also think that as she watches to see what cream is rising she’ll jump in and then watch everything get turned upside down. Obama vs Sarah in a debate? I’m already popping the corn!
Black Sabbath commented:
Thanks, Bill! Just when we turn the media and the race baiters like Morgan Freeman on their heads with a Cain win, along comes YOU to screw things up.
Goddamned fool.
Craig commented:
“The election of 2012 is the most important election in the history of the United States.” Skip (#18)
You are absolutely right! And if you don’t vote for a true conservative like Ron Paul, you’re doomed. You will be getting more of the same.
To tell you the truth, I see no difference between the Kenyan Fraud and the rest of the Gop candidates.
Obama and the rest of the GOP candidates are warmongers and all agree to redistribute the wealth to big corporations and Banksters true bailouts money (your money). Where’s the difference? I see none!
Big Al commented:
I, too, am really sick of this pompous blowhard…and I wish he would shut up about Christie. The governor is TOTALLY wrong on Global warming which is the stealth bombshell issue of this election. The republican candidate must be able to articulate why the left is wrong about destroying the US economy in order reduce the temp by 1 degree 100 years from now (if that) AND strongly defend that position against the slings and arrows of the MSM.
louisc commented:
Anybody that Kristol, Noonan, Rove, Rubin etc. are for (Christie, Daniels, etc) I’m against and anyone they’re against goes a couple of points in that candidates favor. Kristol, speaking on behalf of our betters in Washington and New York, has left me puzzled: since he disfavors them all, their standing goes up equally, so I’m right where I started.
Daniels may or may not be a smart gut but I recently heard him in an interview. If you thought Perry stumbled and was inarticulate at the debates, Daniels on the stage would have made Perry sound like Cicero. It would have been interesting to see what excuses our betters would have made for Daniels’ stumbling and stuttering.
Gravelyvoice Jim commented:
Remember, Kristol shilled for McLame in 2008 an is repeating the same song & dance this year for Christie. Brit Hume wasn’t much better either today, although I did chuckle at his “Perry threw up all over himself during the debate…” comment. He was pretty much spot-on with that one and it was a great visual.
Looking beyond Kristol’s words, my question is what about Romney is now so unappealing to the Republican establishment? Are there some internals that we are unaware of that tells them he can’t win the primary…or worse yet – COULD win in the general?
One thing is certain, the Republican establishment is starting to become unnerved with Bachmann’s win in Iowa and Cain’s in Florida. Watching these Republican establishment rats squirm is starting to become real entertaining; same thing with the lefties who are starting to become completely unraveled. Think maybe this was the “transformational change” Barry promised us in 2008? His election certainly woke up the grass-roots on the right.
Got Billy Ayers on Speed Dial commented:
#26 – Patty, I’m keeping a tally of all the Obama gaffes. They will be very useful in 2012.
Patty commented:
#35
I can’t imagine the RNC not keeping one or any Conservative party. They are on the web for sure, if not washed off by the Attack Watch website of Obama.
But I certainly hope the Ads will run with facts and not hate. Bad ads could hurt but real facts will win this thing. Or hope they will be a great part of our win.
If I were you, I would send what you have and anyone else hear to your favorite Republican site. The more facts and gaffes on the guy won’t hurt.
Johnny "Stanford" Davis commented:
This is some bad class warfare being brought up by Gateway Pundit, calling Billy Kristol “elitist.”
Aside from the strange anti-success tinge of this blog post, the other interesting thing is that Gateway Pundit lists Mr. Cain and Mrs. Bachmann as examples of strong candidates. Mrs. Bachmann even made the false claim that HPV vaccines cause mental retardation, a claim that originated by crazy people in England who supported the spread of disease.
donna commented:
billy boy is hoping his self serving statement will get his pal kris kristie into the mix. what a wimp.
Patty commented:
We have seen so much after ’08 go down. Our heads are rattling from shaking them so much.
Those who really knew the impostor in Chief were ready for just about everything. But where we came from and where we are since, I truly doubt we could have dreamed it would turn out this bad.
And that is because the dumbing down of America by the Chicago Machine and the Media.
Duped and lead to the waters by the Orator in Chief. A majority filled with promise and hope by non other than an inexperienced and questionable person
Hope this is a learning experience and the second time around Americans aren’t duped.
And our candidate shouldn’t be shy must be able to bring up disastrous policies and mandates of this administration as a Whole. They all are guilty and no just Obama, the entire whole.
And Downgrade Obama!!
Skip commented:
“You are absolutely right! And if you don’t vote for a true conservative like Ron Paul, you’re doomed. You will be getting more of the same.” Craig #31
If Ron Paul would be the GOP nominee vs. Obama…certainly I would vote for him. I know what you want but it’s not going to happen. Ron Paul will not be the GOP nominee.
John Galt commented:
Bill Crystal has been so wrong so many times in the past that Fiox News practically dropped him from the evening News commentators roster.
However, none of the them has actually endear themselves with foresight. Even Kruthammer, the most insicive of them, has failed to see what it could be the financial catalyst of 2012 that will defeat Obama. The piece “Who Will defeat Obama in 2012? . . . Greece” has laid out a possible scenario that would be 2008 in the inverse. Can be found HERE
RedBeard commented:
Dear Bill,
What is more important to you, a Republican victory over Obama, or the distainful and dismissive sound of your own voice?
d_fitz commented:
Ron Paul doesn’t stand a chance. He is unelectable.
d_fitz commented:
I’d never vote for RP simply because his followers are kooks.
Conservative4Palin commented:
Kristol is just setting the stage for a brokered convention at which Governor Sarah Palin becomes the nominee.
Craig commented:
“Ron Paul doesn’t stand a chance. He is unelectable.” D-Fitz (#43)
Keep repeating the MSM mantra! It works, even you is falling for it. A lie repeated 1,000 times becomes the truth. Be smarter than this.
Of course the Big Establishment don’t want Ron Paul. He will blow-up their corruption way of doing things and it will fall like a house card. And since MSM are funded by them, they will repeat what ever they tell them to say about Ron Paul.
Ron Paul is electable only if you stop beleiving all the BS that they are feeding you. Be wiser, think for yourself, for once.
Sorry to Live in Illinois commented:
My thoughts and My opinions:
*Paul = 90% right on the money, 10% crazier than hell
*Romney = Mormon/RINO. Absolutely cannot stand this man.
*Perry = I SO wanted to get behind this guy, but now think he is in over his head
*Bachman = Marginalized by media
*Huntsman = Mormon/RINO Obama Lover
*Santorum = Ignored, but I like him
*Gingrich = The smartest, most articulate candidate, RINO leanings. Washington insider.
*Cain = Old Black Guy VS. Young Black Guy (think Kennedy/Nixon)
So I, unfortunately, agree with Mr. Kristol. You would think that with the way things are in this country, somebody on the right would emerge as the definitive frontrunner.
I firmly believe that the Republican Nominee is NOT in the race yet.
mcc commented:
Two of the good guys who were overlooked:
Mike Pence: “The Constitution and the Presidency”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnoef7xW5sg
(For his less sober side, YouTube has his 2010 CPAC speech. Red meat for the audience.)
Then there’s the quiet, steady and always reliable conservative, Jim DeMint. Don’t think he gives many speeches, but what’s not to love, admire and respect about him?
Wonder how they’d have fared in the debates.
ploome commented:
lol
‘elitist’ Bill Kristol happens to be correct.
robinFL commented:
All Christie will bring to the race is bluster! Show me his accomplishments Mr.Kristol!It’s going to take a lot more than bluster to turn this country around and Christie hasn’t shown anyone that he’s got what it takes.
Sparky commented:
Krystol is absolutely right especially regarding the front runners.
Romney is a RINO. Perry has too much sleaze and insincerity dripping off him. Bachmann has zilch executive experience.
kato commented:
I’m with Bill.
It’s a weak field. A pathetic, dispiriting field when one comes right down to it.
It’s what I’ve come to expect from the Clueless Party.
Jeroboam commented:
Say what you want about Kristol’s elitism, or about how practically anyone would do a better job than Obama (which is certainly true), but the numbers are probably not lying. Neither Perry nor Romney is exactly inspiring the GOP rank and file. And you can whistle past the graveyard all you like, but this IS a weak field.
Molon Labe commented:
#55
Give me a break. Cain is excellent. Bachman shas the right stuff. Santorium is strong. Newt is acceptable. The rest are weak.
Benson II commented:
Sorry to disagree with Mr. Crystal and many of the comments but this is not a weak field.
Not one of them except for Huntsman wouldn’t make an outstanding president. They’re all smart, articulate and love America and would put forth their best effort to do a good job. If that’s to sweet for you let me put it this way. They’re not only head and shoulders above any Democrat in elected office at the present time they’re head and shoulders above most, not all of the elected Republicans in office at the present time. It’s a strong field with all the faults and human foibles anyone would have. We just need to sort it out and try to come up with the best one. We have a year and so do they to show us what they’ve got.
Ritchie The Riveter commented:
Mr. Kristol is right, but probably for the wrong reasons.
The primary weakness of all all the candidates on the debate stage this past week, except for Mr. Cain, is that they are plugged into the professional/political complex — and its “win elections uber alles” way of thinking that ignores the quality of governance after the election.
That connection is what preserves our dysfunctional status quo.
Ron Paul and Gary Johnson, while plugged in, are able to unplug and run on their principles … the problem is, some of their principles would return us to 10 September 2001 when it comes to national security — their views on non-intervention have not caught up with 21st-century reality. Also, they both come off as rock-ribbed libertarian policy wonks, who sound to the casual observer like the fringe-on-the-flag militia types of fifteen years ago, turning these voters off.
As for the “potentials” … Christie has the right attitude, but is wrong on significant areas of substance. Ryan is also significantly plugged into the Complex, and may be too much of a wonk to gain traction. I’d love to see Guiliani run, but I wonder if he has the energy/drive to close the deal.
That leaves Mr. Cain … and Ms. Palin. The first is not significantly plugged into the professional/political complex, and is willing to ignore its conventional wisdom; the second has demonstrated the tenacity to stand up and confront the Complex, while not playing by its rules. That makes them both look like Charles Atlas on a beach full of 98-pound weaklings, when compared against the others above.
The national media, of which Mr. Kristol is a member, are (1) part of the professional/political complex, and are “graded” by how they predict the election and (2) believe that their educational credentials and position make their judgment superior to the unwashed masses (i.e. you and I).
In that light, it is no wonder that Mr Kristol issued this judgment … but he seriously underestimates the strength of the Tea Party movement, which imparts its support to candidates who reflect the good sense of its millions of members, instead of rewarding assertions of “superior” intellect.
After watching for years the similar support mechanism that is the basis for the success of Rush, Hannity, Levin … and the Weekly Standard … you think he could pull his mind out of the box and consider the whole picture.
The question is … when do WE stop passively accepting the judgments of Mr. Kristol and the rest of the Complex, and develop/use our own informed judgment instead?
The battle is no longer really (D) vs. (R), as much as it is (US) vs. (DIM) …
mcc commented:
Tonight I watched something I never watch: ABC’s evening news. In reporting the Florida Staw Poll result, they used the Christie “will he or won’t he” as the big news instead. Not one word about Herman Cain other than to give his name and former position at GodFather’s Pizza — and then it was more as an aside.
They worked their darndest to avoid naming Cain, and even harder to avoid showing his picture. It was a graph that like nothing I’d ever seen before: putting his photo waaaay in the distance – purposely smaller – with the 37% bar dwarfing it as it lunged forward. Then they couldn’t take it down fast enough.
I would have laughed, but it was too disgustingly predictable. Barry’s wooing the black vote this week. Wouldn’t be prudent.
BS61 commented:
I don’t watch Fox News Sunday, specifically cause Kristol really pisses me off! I hate RINO’s.
BS61 commented:
#8 September 25, 2011 at 11:44 am
a former dem commented:
Just some beltway type who the beltway media has deemed a voice of conservatism, but I really don’t see him as conservative and so was wondering do others?
I am also a former Dem from Chicago no less, and I don’t trust Bill Kristol at all. He’s the establisment problem we have today. I pray that this will really be the year that everyone votes against incumbents!
BS61 commented:
#16 September 25, 2011 at 11:50 am
Craig commented:
You people forgot a long time ago what the word CONSERVATIVE means.
The rest of the candidates are warmonger blood thursty neocons.
Craig, you never seem to have an answer to me about why Thomas Jefferson was fighting against Muslim Pirate’s in Tripoli If RP is correct in saying the founders would not fight in go to war with foreigners?!
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
BS61 commented:
#18 September 25, 2011 at 11:55 am
Skip commented:
Craig…sorry but Ron Paul is not even close. He could never win
We have some freshman members of Congress who will one day do well but we cannot wait for them. The GOP must win in 2012. At this point I don’t care who it is
Skip – I totally agree, unfortunately for us, the Ron Paul people will be voting for the Dem’s if he doesn’t win the nomination. They some how believe that the system will need to crash for their candidate to win. They can’t imagine that our system will crash and we will be ruled by totalitarians.
BS61 commented:
#16 September 25, 2011 at 11:50 am
Craig commented:
You people forgot a long time ago what the word CONSERVATIVE means.
The rest of the candidates are warmonger blood thursty neocons.
BWA HAHA – a liberal Canadian lecturing the US!
BS61 commented:
#32 September 25, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Big Al commented:
I, too, am really sick of this pompous blowhard
HA! I thought that you were talking about Craig!
RedBeard commented:
The interesting thing about Craig is that he is totally oblivious to the fact that he’s a laughingstock.