Any of the Above

I watched the first Republican Presidential Debate on Fox News last Wednesday night.  I wasn't disappointed.  Despite the fact that some major potential candidates have yet to join the fray, those that did participate gave a good account of themselves.  More importantly, while any one of them may never eventually become president, any one of them would make a better president than the one we currently have.

While a great number of people who watched the debate scored businessman Herman Cain as the winner, I had him running a close second to Tim Pawlenty.  Governor Pawlenty has become more polished and "presidential" than when I first met him two years ago in Grand Rapids at a Republican state convention.  He has a tremendous record of achievement but to me he came off bit too coached and cautious.  Herman Cain tossed off some terrific lines, especially in defense of his lack of political experience.  When asked if that lack of experience would hinder his chances, he answered that we already have a lot of experienced politicians in Washington and replied, "How's that workin' for you?"

Ron Paul's libertarian message has made me think more about my own political ideology, but I still think his brand of politics is a bit too isolationist.  Governor Gary Johnson's brand of libertarianism comes closer to home.  I like his cost-benefit analysis approach to government spending and his call to end the failed war on drugs, but I fear he's too flakey for the big stage.  Former Senator Rick Santorum professed to be the tip of the spear for many conservatives on several social issues, but again, I don't think he's quite ready for prime time.

This month promises to mark the entrance into the race for perhaps some additional candidates including Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Mitch Daniels.  I suspect there will be others as well who eventually get into the race over the course of the next several months.  I'm not concerned that the Republicans don't have a favorite thus far, or that it's getting too late to compete against the Obama reelection monolith.  Nothing could be more absurd.  Whenever I hear on the news how some potential Republican candidates have too much baggage, or pose this problem or that for the electorate, I think are you kidding me?  Have you seen who's in the White House?