MatthewMaynard.net

Lessee here, who do we have this time?

• Mitt Romney: Nope, can’t stand him for two reasons. First, Romneycare. Second, this:
  
• Ron Paul: a bright star, fading fast for two reasons. First, “It was absolutely not necessary … What if he had been in a hotel in London? So would we have sent the … helicopters into London because they were afraid the information would get out? No, you don’t want to do that..” and while discussing the Kelo v. New London travesty, “If anything, the Supreme Court should have refused to hear the Kelo case on the grounds that the 5th amendment does not apply to states. If constitutional purists hope to maintain credibility, we must reject the phony incorporation doctrine in all cases — not only when it serves our interests.” Apparently the man is both ignorant of how to construct a proper logical analogy and also the first clause of the 14th Amendment.
• Mitch Daniels had the good sense to bow out after one of his judges said you don’t have the right to resist unlawful intrusion into your home, if it is done by the police.
• Gary Johnson is apparently more libertarian than Ron Paul, but the last time I believed someone else’s opinion of a politician without investigating him for myself, I ended up giving $60 to Mike Huckabee. Wish I had that money now, I could almost buy a tank of gas for that.
• Newt Gingrich can’t seem to get into the race without pissing on his base. This does not demonstrate the grace and tactfulness needed for the office in charge of international relations, to say nothing of domestic politics. Plus there’s the problem that I can’t seem to tell if he’s for or against government control of our lives. It seems that when it comes to medical care, I’m not smart enough to make the market decision, but he and his kind are, and at the same time he claims I’m smart enough to know what to do with my money, so we might as well cut taxes and let me keep more of it. Consistency, people, consistency.

As for the non-contenders, Sarah Palin seems the most likable and least likely to run. This is no surprise, as I don’t think I would run either if I was accused of fathering my grandson.

I have no qualms about sitting out an election if none of the candidates are willing to sign a no-deficit-budgets pledge. We can start there and negotiate, but I expect to get something out of the deal besides promises.