Thune plans to run in 2012 ...

[one_voice]

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the “Daschle slayer” who beat the Senate Democratic leader in 2004, is ramping up plans for a presidential run in 2012, associates say.

Thune, 49, spoke candidly about his plans for a cover story in The Weekly Standard – priceless exposure for an ambitious conservative. Senior editor Stephen F. Hayes writes that Thune “is likely to run for president in 2012.”

“Thune allows that he’s thinking about it seriously enough that he’s gamed out his ‘pathway to get there,’ calculated the amount of money it would take to be competitive in early primaries, and even thought about the timing of an announcement,” Hayes writes in “DAKOTA DREAMING: The Presidential Ambitions of John Thune.”

“He thinks his family would be on board. ‘I’m taking a very full look at it,’ he says. And why not. The Republican field is wide open. And Obama is vulnerable.”

Thune gets a high-level endorsement, from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

“I think he’s the complete package and is the kind of person who could conceivably go the distance in a race for the presidency,” McConnell told Hayes. “I think he’s an extraordinary talent, and I hope that he will run and win.’”

Hayes adds that Thune faces “many obstacles”: “He has virtually no national profile. He worked briefly as a lobbyist. He voted for TARP. He is a defender of earmarks. He would be running against Washington from Washington. … Despite his proximity to those who craft the Republican agenda, Thune does not have a signature issue—something Thune skeptics point to as a liability for a potential presidential candidate.”

~snip~

http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=70&threadid=4555969

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Pretty, fundy, GOP boy. All you need to know.

The American Conservative Union gave Senator Thune a rating of "100" in 2006.<12>

Thune has described his religious faith as the most important aspect of his political career: "Having a Christian worldview shapes my decision-making with respect to all aspects of my life. I always respect people in public life who are principled, and those principles have to be connected to something. And my faith is what serves as the anchor and directs my actions."<13> In June 2006, Thune reaffirmed his strong support to amend the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage: "The Federal Marriage Amendment debate simply is an opportunity for us to affirm our support for marriage...It is an important debate to have in this country." Thune is pro-life and opposes federal funding for elective abortions in accordance with the Hyde Amendment.<14>

In a 2005 interview with Christianity Today, Thune supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, expressing a hope that this would result in greater religious freedom: "Liberating Iraq from decades of tyranny and dictatorship, bringing about political freedom, will create an atmosphere of where religious freedom will come to Iraq. And that opens the door, obviously, for the Christian faith there as well."<13>

[Initech]

3. Gag! The last thing we need in this country is an Xtian Taliban warlord.

[Dawson Leery]

2. Prairie Ken Doll is a Christian Fundamentalist

who by his own admission would amend the Constitution to reflect a "Christian" view of the world.

[one_voice]

7. Seems that most of the "wanna be's"...

are fundies. Mitt Romney doesn't stand a chance.

Seems the conservatives wont be happy until we have an American version of Iran. :eyes:

Sadly I think it's going to take a fundie presidency for this country to wake up and see how dangerous these people are and keep them out for good. This is when we'll shift back to left of center. IMO. But it's gonna be hell getting there.

[Dawson Leery]

8. The GOP establishment will demand someone sane.

Romney was most likely promised first take in return for stepping aside for McCain after Super Tuesday.
The right flank will go to war to make Sarah Palin their nominee. These days the hard right has all the influence over the GOP.
Perhaps a Palin/Thune ticket?

[Bitwit1234]

4. What is the largest building in the USA we are going to need

that to house all the republicans who want to run for congress. See their ego see their ego that makes them run. I suppose they will have to also have a three to four hour debate just to give all the nuts a chance to answer just one question. And that is "How long would you be in office before you would do away with taxes altogether for the top 1% of the richest of the rich. And appoint all the CEO's to cabinet posts"? Guess about 10 seconds.

[CurtEastPoint]

6. I think this one MIGHT hold them all.

[bluestateguy]

5. A 15 year voting record in Congress that can be picked apart every way from Sunday

And then he'll get himself tied up in knots trying to explain himself:

"I voted for the motion to recommit on the supplemental appropriations bill before I voted against cloture on the omnibus package even though I would have voted for the bill if provision 13b had been amended to the stopgap...

:boring:

If you're explaining, you're losing.

[customerserviceguy]

9. That's some pretty good self delusion

if you think that the GOP field is 'wide open' enough for a total unknown to break through.

[saltpoint]

10. The path to the Pukes' nom keeps getting more and

more complex every day for poor Mitt Romney.

And he's so rich, too!