So, I won't be able to say I had dinner with a Presidential candidate: Indiana governor Mitch Daniels has announced he won't run, citing the opposition of wife and four daughters. Back in 1993, his wife ran off, but then they got remarried in 1997. Plus, there was the drug dealing in college, which didn't get much attention, but would have if he'd run. Kind of a lot of laundry to air in public for your kids if you're a pretty okay guy like Daniels is.
In contrast, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was full speed ahead for running for president of France until his recent rape arrest. You gotta have the fire in the belly.
In other gossip, a California legal / political heavyweight told a friend that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver had better reconcile. If not, Arnold's business deals are so complicated to unravel (kind of like the McCourts, the divorcing owners of the L.A. Dodgers), that a divorce would be the equivalent of a California Lawyers Full Employment Act.
I've been following Arnold's bizarre career at least since the mid-1970s, so even when I don't have anything interesting to say about him, I'm still interested.
In other gossip, a California legal / political heavyweight told a friend that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver had better reconcile. If not, Arnold's business deals are so complicated to unravel (kind of like the McCourts, the divorcing owners of the L.A. Dodgers), that a divorce would be the equivalent of a California Lawyers Full Employment Act.
I've been following Arnold's bizarre career at least since the mid-1970s, so even when I don't have anything interesting to say about him, I'm still interested.
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According to an article in the Daily Princetonian, Daniels was arrested in his dorm room with enough marijuana to fill two shoe boxes, plus some LSD and prescription drugs for which he had no prescription.
Given that he presides over the legal apparatus of Indiana, which often throws people in stir for years on end for comparable offences, I wonder what his opinion of "The War on Drugs" is?
Most likely, Daniels is a rank hypocrite. Only Ron Paul and Gary Johnson have sensible positions on this issue.
I heard Chris Matthews refer to him as a "cuckold". Nice guy that Matthews. He said since his wife left him it made him look weak. He may be right, but the Left is really getting in the gutter fast this election term.
And what a mistake his wife made! If she hadn't left him and created all this trouble, she might have been First Lady.
The article you linked has a really ugly picture of him. He's too short and ugly to run for president, but he'd be a good choice for VP.
New reports are now coming out that DSK flirted with the receptionists at the Sofitel. This pattern of flirting is highly disquieting. How is it he has never been arrested for this sort of behavior? How many more women need to be assaulated and raped before flirting is upgraded to a felony?
If the press began pressing Daniels on his drug charges, think they would have felt obligated to press BO more on his use? I doubt it.
I read for the first time today, and I don't know that it's true, that the guy Daniels' wife ran to meet in California was married. If true, that would have been a greater problem than her simply moving to CA to marry another guy.
I find it pretty hard to swallow, though, that up until night before last, he was still up for running and that the daughters and his wife nixed it that night. I mean, he knew their feelings long before that.
Boring or not, I actually thought he'd make a good candidate. People are in the mood to listen to someone who seems to know what he's doing and whose not into style over substance.
Housing prices are still tumbling in my CA town.
The spitter, Matthews, is a piece of work, isn't he?
I've often wondered if he has an alcohol problem.
"I heard Chris Matthews refer to him as a "cuckold". Nice guy that Matthews. He said since his wife left him it made him look weak. He may be right, but the Left is really getting in the gutter fast this election term."
What they're going to do this time if Romney is the nominee is really tear into the history and philosophy of Mormonism. Of course, it might not work since Mitt was elected governor to the most liberal state in the Union. I mean, if it didn't bother Bay State libbers to vote Mormon, then why should rank and file Dems let it bother them. It'll be the right's fundamentalists who'll be cool to him.
I don't think they'll be able to do much to TPaw in the way of tying him to anything scandalous or weird. It would help him if his voice were deeper.
Sad that such things matter.
He looks and is way too beta to be president.
He looks like Napoleon Dynamite's dorky brother without the glasses.
@Anonymous 12:33
Re: Daniels as beta, this is from his statement announcing why he won't run:
"On matters affecting us all, our family constitution gives a veto to the women’s caucus, and there is no override provision"
It's fun to contrast C.S. Lewis on Christian Marriage where he explains why the man must have the "casting vote" in the "constitution" of a Christian marriage.
@Mr. Anon,
Reason magazine's drug prohibition guy, Jacob Sullum, has an account of Daniels' shifting position on jailing folks for the sort of thing he was nabbed for.
"He looks and is way too beta to be president."
It only took eight comments, but here's the alpha/beta pseudoscientific obsession rearing its head again! Who won the pool?
He said since his wife left him it made him look weak.
Perhaps some might see it that way. But for me the fact he married her again after that is more noteworthy. Take your pick I guess...if you're so inclined.
People are in the mood to listen to someone who seems to know what he's doing and whose not into style over substance.
Or at least substance abuse over style abuse.
"He looks and is way too beta to be president." What could be more beta than a soldier who never saw action? Yet Eisenhower became Supreme Allied Commander and President. He was a bloody good President too.
It would have been interesting to see how the Roissy-sphere of bloggers would have reacted to Daniels. His wife left him for another guy, and later he took her back. Which is a stand-up thing to do (especially considering their kids), but which people obsessed with Alpha-ness would ridicule him for.
Daniels is a wimp and a bit of a RINO.
Our next president will be Rick Perry, who will preside over the mostly peaceful dismantling of the former USA. State secession will be driven by a desire to repudiate old debts and declare them the obligations of the former regime. The largest remaining rump state will be named America, just like the largest remaining rump of the USSR was named Russia. Like Russia, America will be a nationalistic, somewhat bitter, explicitly Christian, distrusting military power that is much poorer than the 2011 USA. Many immigrants will simply leave because of the poverty, and many more will be driven out by the unfriendliness of impoverished, unemployed whites no longer fed a daily diet of Hollywood sedatives. The new America may express extreme hostility towards the IMF and World Bank (or their successor organizations), which may attempt to collect on past loans (assuming said organizations survive after the fiscal Götterdämmerung about to befall both Europe and the US).
In Europe, far right parties will be allowed to emerge and push out Muslims, so long as they support Israel. The German PM will likely have to be an Ashkenazi to allow Germany to rearm when the US abandons its bases. At least a few European countries will sign a formal mutual defense pact with Israel.
In Asia the lesson for all will be clear: the Chinese system works, the US system does not. Taiwanese reunification will happen within months of US financial collapse. Many other rubber bands held back by the US leviathan all will go "sproing" at the same time, with interesting consequences, including the rearmament of Japan and Germany.
With the recent shipment of 50 jets from China to Pakistan, we can catch a glimpse of the post American world order. It will likely be the weakened US + Europe + India + Japan + Israel against China, which will ever more openly back Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and others that support its need for energy.
You heard it here first.
The guy rides a Harley and sleeps at constituents' houses. I think he's fine with who he is, regardless of his (bad) hair. He would've made an excellent candidate. Princeton, private industry success, OMB and re-elected Governor of Indiana w/ a record of cutting government - exactly the type of CV you want for a future president. The contrast between his resume and Barack's is notable.
Don't worry though, the MSM will praise Daniels' judgment throughout today's media cycle. As Tim Carney from the DC Examiner said today, "The only good conservative to the MSM is either retiring or dead."
Steve, I'd be interested in hearing your comments on Larry Auster's recent criticism (scroll down to Paul Nachman's comment) of some of your views. He seems to misrepresent your argument, but I would nevertheless like to hear your thoughts on this.
Al Gore of the right, no shot.
Daniels is a rank hypocrite (on drug laws)
Drug Laws are fringe to all but the most hardcore dems and Libertarians. It's a losing issue for mainstream candidates. Even pothead Clinton had to reign in Elders on this issue.
What they're going to do this time if Romney is the nominee is really tear into the history and philosophy of Mormonism.
Last time we had the press hyping up Huckabee to polarize and divide the religious vote and hand the GOP nomination to McCain. Even after Huckabee mathematically could not win, he stayed in the race to spite Romney and hand the victory to McCain.
This time we have the overblown attacks on Mormons for Prop 8 in California (nothing on on the larger black and hispanic vote against it). We also have a well-timed 14 Tony-nominated "The Book of Mormon The Musical" again aimed at highlighting the kookiness of Mormonism and peeling votes away from Romney - the biggest threat to the Obama kingmakers.
I know Mormons are whacky and have some ahistorical and far-out beliefs, but they are some of the least hypocritical Christians around. I'd rather have Mormon neighbors and coworkers than most other mass church types.
I think it is sad that Daniels won't be a candidate. As a native Hoosier, and someone familiar with Daniels, I don't think he has the charisma/stature to pull off an election. Plus, there was the wife and drug thing. But I would like to see him run, because he would've made a big issue out of the budget/economy even if/when he came up short.
He has done a good job in Indiana with the financial side. His much controversial leasing of the northern toll has been a boon to our coffers, in some part due to Daniels' good timing.
Secondly, 5-6 years back when American automotive companies were faltering, Daniels was touring Japan and Korea trying to secure commitments from Asian automotive companies. As a result, several factories were built here providing local manufacturing jobs. (IIRC, the Michigan and Ohio governors took some heat in their local press, because Daniels was beating them to the punch). I read a statistic the other day that had Indiana as 1 of 2 states in the entire union with more manufacturing jobs than government jobs. (Read that again, and think about it for a second).
Third, Daniels took on the local schools (yes, in large part by cutting some funding), because local school boards were out of control with their building projects and running school corporations into debt.
Indiana isn't perfect. Neither is Daniels. There are no easy answers. But the man has done a good job in this state of making its citizens face the reality of budgetary issues and make tough choices. And he was ahead of the curve on most of that stuff.
At the very least, I feel he would've highlighted an important narrative during the primaries.
"He looks and is way too beta to be president."
The one thing that is often perceived as alpha is a deep, rich voice. Too bad TPaw lacks that. Barry lacks that too. They all do except for Cain.
While Obama's voice is not alpha, there are those that liked it in the beginning; however, after having heard too many speeches from him, they now say that his speaking drives them nuts. I suspect it's the intonation pattern--all so predictable. The chin up is a visual turn-off as well.
I don't really think Barry is what most of us think of as "alpha," is he?
Yes, his style suggests aloofness and while aloofness can be perceived as an alpha trait if it exists with other traits, it's hardly a synonym for alpha.
Obama's skin is very thin, not an alpha trait. Thin veneers shout "Beta pretending to be alpha!" To be successful, his opponent needs to get under the skin over and over.
The "dithering" aspect of Obama's decision-making is that which most effectively reveals this. His hiding during the health care battle on the Hill is a prime example of his not liking to be out front on anything he thinks has a chance of making him look bad. He's like the qb who's afraid to throw the ball so he keeps handing it off to the backs. If they fail to get through the line, it's not his fault. If they break free, he takes the credit.
No, he's no alpha, and whoever the the GOP candidate is needs to peel back the veneer. The sad thing? The only persons who have felt totally free to attack the Beta Barry are Palin and Bachmann...and no, I don't want a Palin candidacy. I think it's might be good that Bachmann is going to be in the debates, although I am not convinced of it. I do want a discussion of smaller government and can count on her to provide that, but she's a wild card in a lot of other ways that may be bad news for the GOP.
US + Europe + India + Japan + Israel
It could be worse - I mean, seriously, that's a pretty dadgum formidable alliance [I certainly wouldn't want to do battle with it].
On the other hand, I can easily imagine scenarios in which China becomes the closest ally of the New USA [cf eg here and here].
RE: Auster and his infantile discussion of “status”:
Roman Catholic (and half Jewish) historian John Lukacs states that most people are not moved by ideas or ideals but rather by their perception of the realities of power. Lukacs gives the example of the rise of Nazi Germany, where early on some claimed to be impressed with Nazi ideas, that is until the USA and USSR won the war, whereupon they became impressed with the ideas and ideals of the USA and USSR. Until the USSR fell apart, then they became Neo-American until the USA fell apart and so on.
Ever hear of the “bandwagon” affect when a sports team starts winning?
Ever hear of the old conservative saying that one never knows just how many stupid things are said and done in the effort to appear sufficiently progressive?
"In contrast, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was full speed ahead for running for president of France until his recent rape arrest. You gotta have the fire in the belly."
THAT was funny.
"Most likely, Daniels is a rank hypocrite."
Oh, like you haven't thought of your youthful beliefs as stupid and immature. Most normal people do that eventually. He's got kids now. That tends to give one a perspective.
"It only took eight comments, but here's the alpha/beta pseudoscientific obsession rearing its head again! Who won the pool?"
If you knew you were an alpha, you wouldn't have made that comment. I'm not an alpha either, but at least I don't whine about it. Whining, naked envy, envy in disguise - none of that is attractive.
True story:
My late mom was getting an autograph from Arnold at the Mall of America when Planet Hollywood was opening (before it closed), and he asked her to come to his trailer. She must have been in her late 40s
This is funny--the UK's new code name for Obama comes from the Punjabi word for "smart aleck." Seems they're very perceptive.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389806/British-police-label-Obamas-upcoming-visit-Punjabi-word-Chalaque-means-smart-alec.html
I'm just gonna through this out there: guys like Mitch Daniels and Newt Gingrich who have had marital troubles and/or have been in the spotlight long enough to have espoused policies that are now extremely unpopular oughta give up before they begin. Also, Newt's time has come and gone.
BTW, I believe it's the other conservative candidates are narrowing the field by getting articles published that focus on these guys' past foibles.
I wonder what they have on Michael Steele. Surprisingly, he hasn't even speculated about making a bid for the nomination. He's gone straight to political analyst instead.
Mitch Daniels too sane?
I don't think so--not since I read some of the details of his marital break-up and remarriage.
His wife dumped him, abandoned their four kids (it might not seem that way to anyone else but I'd bet my life it seemed that way to them), divorced him, married someone else, divorced that someone else and then returned to the family fold after three years.
And he took her back. After three years. With four children involved.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
No, I don't want that man running for POTUS. And not because he's too sane.
It only took eight comments, but here's the alpha/beta pseudoscientific obsession rearing its head again!
It's not "pseudoscientific" at all. In fact it's completely scientific. It's based on empirical observation and accumulated experience. People "know" whether a man has a dominating presence by the visceral reaction and sense they get. He has no "command presence".
Daniels himself knows it:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110228/pl_yblog_theticket/mitch-daniels-admits-his-height-might-be-a-problem-in-2012
Look at this picture:
http://mit.zenfs.com/100/2011/02/daniels-height.jpg
"What could be more beta than a soldier who never saw action?"
A civilian.
Israel is a tiny country of less than 5 million Jews. It does not have the ability to sustain any type of force projection for more than a couple of months at best. Like Czechoslovakia or Switzerland or Finland, it is most notable for the combination of people and geography in a very contested area, but that is all. Israel in the larger scheme of things does not matter. But yes, a post-American world is coming. It will resemble the post-Roman world (the Chinese are structurally weak as well).
If Mitch Daniels would not stand up for himself (taking a flagrantly cheating wife who hooked up with her married ex-HS flame BACK!) why would you expect him to stand up for YOU?
Beta Male Mitch seems like the most pathetic guy in the scene. You want at least some self-respect and lines drawn along with naked ambition.
Again, a guy who is so craven in his personal life won't stand up for the people who vote for him.
OT: California has been ordered by the US Supreme court to release about 35K felons from prison ... over health care.
I actually respect him for swallowing his ego and taking his wife back. I would not have had the humility to make the same choice. It says to me that his family meant something to him.
"In fact it's completely scientific."
So scientific you couldn't cite a single source.
Damn, must be really basic if no one needs to prove it.
So scientific you couldn't cite a single source.
Damn, must be really basic if no one needs to prove it.
Yeah, you want a "cite" from some "authority". You want theology, like those medieval Scholastics citing scripture and "authority" to "prove" some insane proposition.
It is basic. Easily encountered through everyday empirical experience.
"I'm just gonna through this out there: guys like Mitch Daniels and Newt Gingrich who have had marital troubles and/or have been in the spotlight long enough to have espoused policies that are now extremely unpopular oughta give up before they begin."
Newt doesn't have a shot, for sure, but to say that "marital troubles" are reasons enough for would-be candidate to "give up before" he begins?
Have you, sir or madam, never heard of one William Jefferson Clinton? And his wife, Ms. "I'm not Tammie Wynette just standing by her man and bakin' cookies"?
"I actually respect him for swallowing his ego and taking his wife back. I would not have had the humility to make the same choice. It says to me that his family meant something to him."
Agreed, Truth. I think it does say much positive about the man.
Besides, who the heck can know the circumstances of their separation/divorce except the two of them?
I've got an idea. Since TPaw is showed some alpha today, telling Iowans/corn farmers today that ethanol subsidies, like a lot of other goodies, have to go, I think he could make himself even more alpha by sporting a two day growth of beard. I don't know--maybe only a day of not shaving my do that for him.
What'dya think? He's not a bad looking guy at all, just has a baby face which this new look might toughen up. I think it would be totally a kick for a Presidential candidate to do that. He could spike his hair too. Nah, that's going a bit too far, I guess.
"OT: California has been ordered by the US Supreme court to release about 35K felons from prison ... over health care."
Living in CA, this has me concerned, but the larger issue is the assholish libs on the Court.
One huge issue for the next Presidential election has to be the Court--the person occupying the White House in the next term will likely be in a position to make several nominations. We can't have any more justices who don't feel constrained by the Constitution at all.
"It is basic. Easily encountered through everyday empirical experience."
Oh? Because in my experience the sluts that like Roissy-esque "alphas" are so careerist they don't even begin thinking about considering having kids until they're 35, i.e., when it's too late. Meanwhile, the sweet girl-next-door who married her high school boyfriend (who's one of those betas you guys keep talking about) has 5 kids by then.
But yes, totes confirmed by experience.
It's funny that you were talking about science, and now it's about anecdotes. The guy who wants some scientific evidence is a Scholastic (that's an insult, btw? Wow!).
You mad, bro?
Good riddance. Taking drugs is one thing. Dealing drugs is a big no no for a presidential candidate.
Oh? Because in my experience the sluts that like Roissy-esque "alphas" are so careerist they don't even begin thinking about considering having kids until they're 35, i.e., when it's too late. Meanwhile, the sweet girl-next-door who married her high school boyfriend (who's one of those betas you guys keep talking about) has 5 kids by then.
But yes, totes confirmed by experience.
It's funny that you were talking about science, and now it's about anecdotes. The guy who wants some scientific evidence is a Scholastic (that's an insult, btw? Wow!).
I don't know why you're bringing up marriage. That wasn't the topic at hand. It was about Mitch Daniels being a beta and not having any "command presence" or alpha domination presence. And he knows it himself, go look at the article I linked above. In fact this confirms his ultimate beta status, as he himself acknowledges and admits it. If he didn't acknowledge or admit it, he'd at least have some plausible deniability. An alpha wouldn't care, wouldn't acknowledge. And of course there's the fact that his wife left him for another man (possibly other men as well) and he took her back.
Face it, he's a huge beta. He's too beta to be a scoutmaster.
Anyway, you're even wrong about your tangential point on marriage. Marriage rates in general for young adults have collapsed. Go look up the stats on that.
I wonder what they have on Michael Steele.
His record as RNC chair, for starters.
Face it, he's a huge beta. He's too beta to be a scoutmaster.
I like Roissy's site, but you can't view the whole world through his basic philosophy. The presidential race is about big boy politics with lots of things to consider, and some problems don't have any good answers--just shades of grey.
Daniels was president of N. American operations for Eli Lilly. He was also a successful governor. The notion that somehow his wife's faults wipe away his ability to manage other powerful people is a bit silly.
"Glossy said...
Oh, like you haven't thought of your youthful beliefs as stupid and immature. Most normal people do that eventually. He's got kids now. That tends to give one a perspective."
I agree. I would expect him to have the perspective that perhaps the best thing for somebody very much like him - a young person dealing drugs to his friends - that the best thing for that person is to NOT be sent to prison for engaging in a vice which is no more harmful than any number of legal vices.
"The notion that somehow his wife's faults wipe away his ability to manage other powerful people is a bit silly."
True. It's his acceptance of those faults, to the point of remarrying her after they became patently obvious, that calls his judgment and leadership abilities into question.
Mitch Daniels has managed to combine a career in the three most disreputable (legal) professions: lawyer, politician and pharmaceutical corporation executive. Good riddance!
With no alumni history.
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