Former Oklahoma Sen. Coburn speaks his mind on Republicans in 2016
By Richard Barry
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: “I don’t think that America will elect another Bush president.”
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul: “Scares me to death” on foreign policy. He added Paul didn’t “speak truthfully” about the NSA and he “would not vote for him for president.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio: "Of all that are out there right now probably my favorite.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "Not ready for primetime in my opinion.” He said Walker didn’t win the recall election in 2012 but “Republicans around the country did it for him.”
Ben Carson: Coburn said he had “a personal bone to pick with him on integrity that I witnessed” with retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. The former senator said Carson was asked not to attack President Obama in his National Prayer Breakfast speech but said “his speech was nothing but an attack on the president.”
Former New York Gov. George Pataki: "Probably smart enough” to be president but didn’t have the conservative fiscal credentials.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: A "good guy” but “I don’t think he's capable at that level."
Lindsey Graham: His effort is solely to talk about foreign policy and “that’s what he ought to stick to.”
Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina: "Smart, savvy, and experienced.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz: "Not ready for primetime.”
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Capable of “attracting votes from both sides.”
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: The presidency was not “within his reach."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: "Likes the fact that he answers questions directly.”
I've always had a bit of a warm spot for former Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn. I guess it's that whole straight shooter thing. Not my politics, but I've always gotten a good vibe.
On Sirius XM radio on Thursday he provided a rather pithy and generally insightful run down of GOP presidential hopeful that went a little something like this:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: “I don’t think that America will elect another Bush president.”
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul: “Scares me to death” on foreign policy. He added Paul didn’t “speak truthfully” about the NSA and he “would not vote for him for president.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio: "Of all that are out there right now probably my favorite.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "Not ready for primetime in my opinion.” He said Walker didn’t win the recall election in 2012 but “Republicans around the country did it for him.”
Ben Carson: Coburn said he had “a personal bone to pick with him on integrity that I witnessed” with retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. The former senator said Carson was asked not to attack President Obama in his National Prayer Breakfast speech but said “his speech was nothing but an attack on the president.”
Former New York Gov. George Pataki: "Probably smart enough” to be president but didn’t have the conservative fiscal credentials.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: A "good guy” but “I don’t think he's capable at that level."
Lindsey Graham: His effort is solely to talk about foreign policy and “that’s what he ought to stick to.”
Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina: "Smart, savvy, and experienced.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz: "Not ready for primetime.”
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Capable of “attracting votes from both sides.”
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: The presidency was not “within his reach."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: "Likes the fact that he answers questions directly.”
I agree about Bush and Walker and their vulnerabilities, but unless you agree with Coburn that Rubio is the guy, and I don't, that opens up the race considerably. Like I said earlier, Gov. Kasich anyone?
posted by Richard K. Barry at
12:34 PM
1 Comments:
Much of that was very interesting, but I disagree with a number of things. Pataki is smart enough to be president? Since when is it necessary to be smart to be president. Was Coburn out of the country 2001 through 2008?! Fiorina is experienced? At what? Running companies into the ground? She's certainly not experienced in government! Huckabee can attract votes from both sides of what? I hope he's not talking about the Republican Party, because I think it only has one side! And finally, one of the great myths in modern American politics is that Chris Christie is a straight talking guy. People mistake nastiness with directness. Mostly, Christie uses his nastiness to avoid being honest.
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