Let’s face it, as long as there’s a solid core of crazies the Republican Party needs to cater to, being reasonable isn’t going to cut it. The mere fact that we're talking about Kasich as the reasonable one proves that. Kasich or future Kasichs can tweak their message any way they want… if it doesn’t appeal to the crazies, it won’t fly.
13
The conservative movement is, for all practical purposes, in a political abyss. It's lead thinkers don't seem to understand that winning an election means convincing people that they have their interests at heart. The three highest vote-getting politicians today, HRC, Trump, and Sanders are not there by accident. The conservatives best field combined don't measure up to any one of these three. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the conservatives are still pushing economic models that are demonstrably suspect, social policies that are definitely divisive and unpopular, and presenting candidates that are hobbled by their reliance on the most extreme elements of the party. And yet they refuse to change their approach to governance. Holding hearings for Judge Garland would have helped to soften their image but, like Abba Eban said of the Arafat, they will never pass an opportunity to pass an opportunity.
14
How about this sly little phrase: "But he’s (Kasich) closer to the profile than Scott Walker, once (and perhaps again) the conservative movement’s Great Midwestern Hope..."
Don't you just love how Mr. Douthat slips in the parenthetical phrase "and perhaps again?" Ever hopeful, Mr. Douthat really wants a guy like Walker more than he espouses Kasich, who is clearly a compromise for the very conservative Douthat. Sorry, Ross, but Scott Walker is a classic one-trick pony. Once you get past his union-busting, anti-labor ideology, he's an empty suit. By the time another presidential election rolls around, Walker will be gone from Wisconsin, gone from national recognition, and off to the private sector to make piles of money, most likely working for the Evil Koch Bros. Good riddance.
Don't you just love how Mr. Douthat slips in the parenthetical phrase "and perhaps again?" Ever hopeful, Mr. Douthat really wants a guy like Walker more than he espouses Kasich, who is clearly a compromise for the very conservative Douthat. Sorry, Ross, but Scott Walker is a classic one-trick pony. Once you get past his union-busting, anti-labor ideology, he's an empty suit. By the time another presidential election rolls around, Walker will be gone from Wisconsin, gone from national recognition, and off to the private sector to make piles of money, most likely working for the Evil Koch Bros. Good riddance.
22
The elite Republicans just can't seem to get it. Their mainstreet Republican voters WANT someone who is going to tear down the house.
13
Wrong lesson.
If the Dems had more than one candidate running in the same lane as HRC she would be losing to Sanders right now.
The point is that the parties are breaking down led by the Reps but the Dems are close behind. 10's of millions of voters are going for outsider candidates. Running an old style election with the assumption that the parties control the process appears to be dying. I don't see a clear path ahead for either party doing the same things they have been doing in the past. Voters see right through the charade and don't believe the standard lines.
If the Dems had more than one candidate running in the same lane as HRC she would be losing to Sanders right now.
The point is that the parties are breaking down led by the Reps but the Dems are close behind. 10's of millions of voters are going for outsider candidates. Running an old style election with the assumption that the parties control the process appears to be dying. I don't see a clear path ahead for either party doing the same things they have been doing in the past. Voters see right through the charade and don't believe the standard lines.
9
I am tired people calling John Kasich a moderate republican. Senator Collins is only one moderate in the republican party. John Kasich had his chance to prove to me that he is a moderate when he was ask in the South Carolina debate of President Obama appointing a replace for Justice Scalia. If he would have said it is President Obama job to appoint a replace and the Senate should hold hearing and an up and down vote, then i was would agree that he is a moderate. I my opinion, any Republican not in favor of hearing and an up an down vote on Merrick Garland has no right to be call a moderate.
53
The Republican Party is the party of Big Business, and Big Business is the driver of Free Trade. No REAL Republican will ever be able to appeal the white male working class voter without resorting to fear and xenophobia.
How can ANY candidate spin tax cuts for the rich as a solution to stagnation of wages in the middle and below? Every single Republican administration since Reagan shows this DOES ... NOT ... WORK.
So Fear and Loathing are an essential part of any Republican nominee's kit in order to win his party's nomination. (Yes, "his," I don't see how a woman can successfully pitch the Rs. They hate HIllary primarily because she's a woman, and they gave short shrift to the incredibly fear mongering Fiorina.)
How can ANY candidate spin tax cuts for the rich as a solution to stagnation of wages in the middle and below? Every single Republican administration since Reagan shows this DOES ... NOT ... WORK.
So Fear and Loathing are an essential part of any Republican nominee's kit in order to win his party's nomination. (Yes, "his," I don't see how a woman can successfully pitch the Rs. They hate HIllary primarily because she's a woman, and they gave short shrift to the incredibly fear mongering Fiorina.)
10
How do you create an ideal Republican who believes Jesus loves us and hates gays and lesbians? How do you create an ideal Republican who praises the Troops and slashes any program meant to help them re-adjust to home? How about one who believes women can't control their own bodies but believes Big Pharma should have dominion over all of us?
Don't bother. Kasich exists.
Don't bother. Kasich exists.
35
I recall in the early 1990s after the recession that the quip in circulation was: “The economy is improving, and jobs are being created. I’ve got three of them.” In today’s economy, a kid would not recognize the joke; he’d think you were an official government spokesperson.
6
Can someone not be an embarrassment and still get the GOP nomination or get voted into a GOP office?
6
Ross -- to run for the Presidency as a Republican one must win the Repulican nomination.
In times past there have been moments when the GOP really wanted to win the Presidency, and they nominated a competent RINO to do that: Eisenhower is the conspicuous example. The party was desperate after all the years of FDR and Truman.
Eisenhower is the best Republican president after Lincoln and Teddy, neither of whom the GOP today wants to talk about much.
But today the GOP and the GOP voters don't want to win the Presidency, it's that simple. None of the factions want to propose a platform that has an ounce of sanity or reality to it, none of the 3 factions actually wants to engage in governance.
Republicanism is engaged in self-destruction. Ladies and Gentlemen! I will hold your coats ... as you shriek total idiocy and gouge each other's eyeballs out.
When it is over, those who are left standing and have eyes to see -- what will they think about what they have done? What will they do then?
In times past there have been moments when the GOP really wanted to win the Presidency, and they nominated a competent RINO to do that: Eisenhower is the conspicuous example. The party was desperate after all the years of FDR and Truman.
Eisenhower is the best Republican president after Lincoln and Teddy, neither of whom the GOP today wants to talk about much.
But today the GOP and the GOP voters don't want to win the Presidency, it's that simple. None of the factions want to propose a platform that has an ounce of sanity or reality to it, none of the 3 factions actually wants to engage in governance.
Republicanism is engaged in self-destruction. Ladies and Gentlemen! I will hold your coats ... as you shriek total idiocy and gouge each other's eyeballs out.
When it is over, those who are left standing and have eyes to see -- what will they think about what they have done? What will they do then?
8
How can anyone with half a brain, and without a pure profit motive, say anything serious about the Republicans? Limbaugh, Hannity, and their ilk make obscene amount money trumpeting pure nonsense, but someone like Douthat, or even Brooks, seriously. They have to twist themselves up like human pretzels to write their fantastical columns.
8
MODERATE? OR NOT SO MODERATE? I heard on an ad that Kasich had signed over 20 bills as governor aimed at limiting women's rights to have control of their bodies. To me that gives lie to his claims of being moderate. In my book there's nothing moderate about limiting the rights of any citizen. It's only because the competition is so lunatic fringe that Kasich looks reasonable.
9
Give it up, Ross. There is no Republican path to the presidency.
6
"Nobody’s attacking him on the trail, nobody in the national media is going over his record, nobody’s looking at his current policy positions in any detail. (Or, really, at all: Quick, name one!)"
Kasich's most significant policy position is, like every other Republican candidate, a huge tax cut that would explode the deficit and primarily benefit the wealthy at the expense of every other priority. And even if I hadn't already looked that up, I think I could have said that with 100% certainty anyway.
Kasich's most significant policy position is, like every other Republican candidate, a huge tax cut that would explode the deficit and primarily benefit the wealthy at the expense of every other priority. And even if I hadn't already looked that up, I think I could have said that with 100% certainty anyway.
12
It seems to me that a big reason Kaisich has not faired well is because a) the other candidates ignore him and b) the press ignores him because of a) and because he is not bombastic. If he made it to the general election, both of these disappear and the true Kaisich will be portrayed for all to see. And then I expect his poll numbers will tank because the voters will see that he is the same ole Republican with a different name. His numbers will also tank because the Trump supports will not support the same ole samo that they angry enough at to turn to Trump.
9
John Kasich is unquestionably a long-shot, and unless he improves in coming primaries, he may cease to be even that. Nevertheless, he would be far stronger than Trump or Cruz in the general election, and unlike either is actually suited to be President by experience, temperament and character.
Kasich is not perfect, by any means. For example, many Republicans (as well as Independents and Democrats) disagree with his stand on reproductive rights generally and Planned Parenthood in particular. Yet we believe that such issues are relatively small part of serving as President, and given Kasich's instinct for compromise, he is unlikely to be a crusader. On the whole,Kasich has the potential to be an effective and unifying leader
Kasich is clearly preferable to the Democratic candidates, who have taken the Democratic mantra of "tax and spend" and put it on steroids. And in the case of Hillary Clinton there is the matter of her personal history, which even many Democrats find troubling. While I doubt that she will be indicted, it is a possibility that cannot be entirely dismissed. Altogether, she has more baggage than a United carousel at JFK.
On balance, Kasich is the best choice for Republicans and for the country. If we fail to make that choice, we will have to live with the consequences.
Kasich is not perfect, by any means. For example, many Republicans (as well as Independents and Democrats) disagree with his stand on reproductive rights generally and Planned Parenthood in particular. Yet we believe that such issues are relatively small part of serving as President, and given Kasich's instinct for compromise, he is unlikely to be a crusader. On the whole,Kasich has the potential to be an effective and unifying leader
Kasich is clearly preferable to the Democratic candidates, who have taken the Democratic mantra of "tax and spend" and put it on steroids. And in the case of Hillary Clinton there is the matter of her personal history, which even many Democrats find troubling. While I doubt that she will be indicted, it is a possibility that cannot be entirely dismissed. Altogether, she has more baggage than a United carousel at JFK.
On balance, Kasich is the best choice for Republicans and for the country. If we fail to make that choice, we will have to live with the consequences.
4
All 100% correct but irrelevant in this political climate. The Republican base wants bloody red meat, even if the blood is their own.
5
Two thoughts:
1. Kasich is merely Republican Lite. He shares the great majority of the views, in a more "polite" manner, as those who vote for Cruz & Trump.
2. He just MAY have enough self esteem to be embarrassed by the company he keeps and whose vote he solicits.
1. Kasich is merely Republican Lite. He shares the great majority of the views, in a more "polite" manner, as those who vote for Cruz & Trump.
2. He just MAY have enough self esteem to be embarrassed by the company he keeps and whose vote he solicits.
2
Ah yes, the "nice guy" Mr. Kasich. The one who called the police officer who pulled him over "an idiot." (He later apologized.) The one with a reputation for moodiness even among Republicans. The Times reported what his colleagues have experienced over years, including "scolding confrontations, intemperate critiques and undiplomatic remarks." Sounds like Trump in disguise. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/us/politics/john-kasich-campaign.html
11
Everyone knows it's Trump all the way. The rest is noise. Bush, Walker, Pataki, Gilmore (?), Christie, Rick Perry -- governors one and all, and unimpressive. Just like Kasich. "I'm the only one who can beat Hillary!", he keeps saying. Really? Then why can't you beat Cruz or Trump?
What ego is high in the middle, and round at the ends? The Ego of Ohio and its establishment RINO governor.
What ego is high in the middle, and round at the ends? The Ego of Ohio and its establishment RINO governor.
9
Huh?
Kasich was bought and paid for in full by the Koch Brothers, through ALEC, years ago. With his personality, he would in time as President alienate everyone around him.
Do columnists forego the obligation to do their homework once they gain a column in the newspaper?
Kasich was bought and paid for in full by the Koch Brothers, through ALEC, years ago. With his personality, he would in time as President alienate everyone around him.
Do columnists forego the obligation to do their homework once they gain a column in the newspaper?
12
Simplistically speaking, there's just something about Kasich I distrust. At first, I found him refreshing and admirable in his avoidance of mudslinging. Then something happened along the way. But I can't put my finger on it. When I try, the only thing that emerges is that an authentic "bad" guy (Trump) is preferable to an inauthentic kind of goofy "good" guy (Kasich). Maybe it's hearing him tell someone he was doing something helpful because Jesus wanted him to or hearing about his sliding anti-abortion riders into bills or defunding Planned Parenthood. Also and especially the distinct feeling that he is now and will always be unable to separate politics from religion. And that might be okay for conservatives but will never fly for everyone else. Thus, in my opinion, Kasich doesn't have a chance in a general election regardless who is the Democratic nominee.
11
Ross, when you say "limited government" is that not just short hand for the government to end Social Security/Medicare? Why do you not just way that. Oh, that's right that sounds harsh and makes your guy unelectable. Better to crouch it in other speak.
9
YES! Don't let it get out but people like Huntsman and Kasich would appear to be somewhat reasonable for many voters out side the Repub base. However even he has wallored in the mud during the repub clown show and would have to walk back a lot of his "Repub Base' statements. Many of us wonder that there must be responsible mature Republicans somewhere. Fortunately the Repubs are so tied into their ideology and anger they are their own enemy. They continue to help we pointy headed liberals to elect Presidents to protect us from the Congress and maybe we will take back the Senate.
5
Republican John Kasich wants to be perceived as a regular guy when in reality he’s as conservative as this country is to “apple pie.” Kasich will strictly follow the Republican Party’s agenda. Thus, he’ll never restore the American people’s economic way of life.
It would be unrealistic to believe John Kasich stands a chance of becoming the Republican presidential nominee with the stance to overthrow the Democratic nominee.
It would be unrealistic to believe John Kasich stands a chance of becoming the Republican presidential nominee with the stance to overthrow the Democratic nominee.
4
Recipe for Republican success... lie by omission.
Got it.
Got it.
8
If the GOP had a candidate who had John Kasich's political experience and Marco Rubio's smarts, wisdom, personality and eloquence, Clinton wouldn't win 200 electoral votes, if any.
Kasich is an old fashioned GOP politician. He's a Bob Michel Republican who goes along with Democrats to get along. And he's Donald Trump's kind of deal maker. If he wants something, he'll pay the price, including bankruptcy.
Then Kasich is like Rick Santorum. He exploits his church and religion for political power, and that is immoral. Further, he's as extreme as Planned Parenthood's Hillary Clinton on abortion. She's absolutely pro abortion. He's fanatically anti-abortion. Neither of them really care about the young women involved. They just want the votes.
Kasich and Clinton are similar in another important way. Neither seems to have learned much from their failures. Experience is great if it teaches you something.
When you don't learn from your failures and successes, experience is pretty worthless.
Kasich is an old fashioned GOP politician. He's a Bob Michel Republican who goes along with Democrats to get along. And he's Donald Trump's kind of deal maker. If he wants something, he'll pay the price, including bankruptcy.
Then Kasich is like Rick Santorum. He exploits his church and religion for political power, and that is immoral. Further, he's as extreme as Planned Parenthood's Hillary Clinton on abortion. She's absolutely pro abortion. He's fanatically anti-abortion. Neither of them really care about the young women involved. They just want the votes.
Kasich and Clinton are similar in another important way. Neither seems to have learned much from their failures. Experience is great if it teaches you something.
When you don't learn from your failures and successes, experience is pretty worthless.
2
In rejecting Kasich, the Republican voter has simply taken a pass on the most genial fascist in that contest.
11
A real human adult journalist complains that a previous candidate came off as too "reasonable and science-y." The Trump campaign thanks you for your donation.
3
What we desperately need is a sudden outbreak of intelligence. All Republican candidates, Kasich included, are still advocating Reaganisque supply side economics--primarily tax cuts directed at the high end of the income distribution--that has done such a great job for one percent of America since 1980. Trump voters are largely the blue collar voters the Republican Party has attracted since 1960 by affirming their bigotry, but who have gotten as far as figuring out the the Party has not represented their interests. (There is a shorter, more accurate, way to say this, but it involves unacceptable language.) The Democratic Party has failed in what should be its top task: convincing these voters that they can hold whatever prejudices and bad ideas they want, but should vote their economic interests. I'm not optimistic that the Republican base is capable of grasping the concepts.
16
Governor Kasich "appears" to be reasonable because the other candidates are astoundingly absurd caricatures of conservative doctrine. Kasich is equally conservative, has denied health care to women and voting rights to minorities, and taken credit for jobs that were really just part of the national economic recovery.
Then there's the telling episode of a few years ago when he was stopped for a traffic violation. The officer was polite and professional, and had video evidence of the infraction. Years later Kasich was still whining about it and insulting the officer. That says a lot about the candidate and his expectations of being treated with deference and privilege.
In a class of self-made dullards, he is the valedictorian by default, not by achievement.
Then there's the telling episode of a few years ago when he was stopped for a traffic violation. The officer was polite and professional, and had video evidence of the infraction. Years later Kasich was still whining about it and insulting the officer. That says a lot about the candidate and his expectations of being treated with deference and privilege.
In a class of self-made dullards, he is the valedictorian by default, not by achievement.
21
"Voting rights" are meaningless when Democrats in huge numbers do not even vote, as is well known. Even in vote-by-mail states the Democrats still don't vote! Lots of Liberal angst about it in the Liberal media. GOP says, "Thank you!"
4
I am afraid Kasich is miscast in this current crop of Republicanism. He gets no traction and reminds me of the fate of the northeastern republican in 60s-70s and their painful ouster. Kasich with a few tweaks could do much better in the Democratic party...though I sense this may have passed him too...it is moving further left and Hillary is hanging on.
3
kasich took the middle road because he felt that was his only path between the fascist ramblings of trump and the come to jesus cruz.
the "moderate" campaigners that he was up against such as bush, rubio, were all well known and republicans didn't like what they saw. so, by attrition he was the only one left standing.
he speaks as if he's the moderate, reasonable dad in the room. when he speaks
my listening skills bring me back to my father lecturing me when i was 14. utterly tone deaf!
he is virulently anti choice, against gay marriage, his state has less job growth than neighboring states, and he accepted medicaid expansion, because it's crazy not to (ok give him some credit).
mr. douthat seems to think that all his party needs is someone who acts nice, but when he is fully vetted, the skeletons will come out in droves.
the "moderate" campaigners that he was up against such as bush, rubio, were all well known and republicans didn't like what they saw. so, by attrition he was the only one left standing.
he speaks as if he's the moderate, reasonable dad in the room. when he speaks
my listening skills bring me back to my father lecturing me when i was 14. utterly tone deaf!
he is virulently anti choice, against gay marriage, his state has less job growth than neighboring states, and he accepted medicaid expansion, because it's crazy not to (ok give him some credit).
mr. douthat seems to think that all his party needs is someone who acts nice, but when he is fully vetted, the skeletons will come out in droves.
17
Kasich, "the consummate moderate:"
-severely restricted access to abortion clinics throughout Ohio, on a par with Texas; signed a bill which prevents rape counsellors from explaining to rape victims all options available
-tried to restrict collective bargaining rights of public employee unions even more forcefully than Walker (see Senate Bill 5); voters turned him aside with a massive referendum vote against it
-unilaterally cancelled all bargaining rights of child care and home care workers and in so doing destroyed a union by fiat
-used funds skimmed from local communities & school districts to cover the costs of deep cuts in state spending & taxes; as a result Ohio enters its 40th consecutive month trailing national job recovery stats
-continued the good work of the last two Ohio governors in voter suppression, signing bill after bill that has been struck down by federal courts as unconstitutional violations of basic voting rights (try visiting the polling places in Lorain County next November, if you can find them)
-became first governor in the US to sell a state correctional facility to a private correctional company: Lake Erie Correctional sold to Corrections Corporation of America, which promptly expanded the facility to 130%
-created a network of for-profit schools in partnership with major donors that maintain the worst performance records in the state; his DOE is currently being investigated for falsified data on a federal grant application
-severely restricted access to abortion clinics throughout Ohio, on a par with Texas; signed a bill which prevents rape counsellors from explaining to rape victims all options available
-tried to restrict collective bargaining rights of public employee unions even more forcefully than Walker (see Senate Bill 5); voters turned him aside with a massive referendum vote against it
-unilaterally cancelled all bargaining rights of child care and home care workers and in so doing destroyed a union by fiat
-used funds skimmed from local communities & school districts to cover the costs of deep cuts in state spending & taxes; as a result Ohio enters its 40th consecutive month trailing national job recovery stats
-continued the good work of the last two Ohio governors in voter suppression, signing bill after bill that has been struck down by federal courts as unconstitutional violations of basic voting rights (try visiting the polling places in Lorain County next November, if you can find them)
-became first governor in the US to sell a state correctional facility to a private correctional company: Lake Erie Correctional sold to Corrections Corporation of America, which promptly expanded the facility to 130%
-created a network of for-profit schools in partnership with major donors that maintain the worst performance records in the state; his DOE is currently being investigated for falsified data on a federal grant application
32
Sadly, Ohio is not the economic miracle Kasich pretends. Not only does it contain more distressed cities (Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Youngstown) than other midwestern states, but it's meth, heroin, and opiod overdose rates are rampant. The brightest spot on it's map is Columbus which is insulated by insurance and finance industry, the education sector, and medical services. It ranks low in happiness ratings. I left 22 years ago and occasionally return to eastern Ohio only to see even more despair and economic depression than when I left in 1994.
61
Kasich cannot continue to claim the US economy is in shambles but at the same time profess that the Ohio economy is "booming" according to every metric. You cannot have it both ways. No offense to the good people of Ohio, but that state is one of the last to come to mind when I think of places that are growing and progressing. It has one of the slowest growth rates in the country. Lastly, perhaps overly anecdotal, but just about everyone I meet out here in Seattle and in other cities that I have lived are Ohio transplants. I don't blame the GOP for not wanting to elect a Governor of a struggling state.
35
@Matt:
You can have it both ways if you're a Republican -- a Republican politician especially -- because there is no "there" there and never was in the first place. It's all noise, lies, confusion, obfuscation and bafflegab.
You can have it both ways if you're a Republican -- a Republican politician especially -- because there is no "there" there and never was in the first place. It's all noise, lies, confusion, obfuscation and bafflegab.
4
The GOP has itself between a rock and a hard place and the space is getting tighter every day. John Huntsman is someone the vast majority of the electorate could get behind. Ever talked to a liberal about John Huntsman? They think he's the last voice of reason in a completely mad party. ButMarching ever right-ward the GOP doesn't get it.
Sadly for the GOP they've chosen to let the angry, vicious and not too bright run their party. And by the way, just so we're clear Kasich falls tidily into that mean demographic. No one with an ounce of compassion or empathy could ever treat another person with the contempt he treats women.
Sadly for the GOP they've chosen to let the angry, vicious and not too bright run their party. And by the way, just so we're clear Kasich falls tidily into that mean demographic. No one with an ounce of compassion or empathy could ever treat another person with the contempt he treats women.
10
The point of this article is to caution the GOP to "ponder his [Kasich's] mistakes." Although Kasich has many shortcomings, the mistakes brought forward are: "disagree with conservatives on some issues, but don’t lecture them about your virtue." and "target blue-collar voters with more than biography". Unfortunately, but entirely in keeping with GOP values, this advice is all about window dressing, and there is no advice offered about sincerity in pursuing answers to America's woes. As usual, the idea is to "package" the GOP for winning elections, not anything about what to do when you get there. Oh, yeah, it momentarily slipped my mind: tax breaks for the 1/10% and eliminate Obamacare.
9
Ross: Your meme about voters who are worried about stagnant wages and the GOP agenda's tilt toward the interests of the wealthy - too funny - TILT towards the wealthy - you mean their only interest is in making the top 1% wealthier and only those people, who of course own any GOP politicians. Good luck with the wooing this election as the Donald has certainly shown the electorate what the GOP are most interested in.
5
Kasich won the Republican primary in Ohio with 40% of Republicans voting for him. That says even the majority of Republicans in Ohio don't want him. He passed a bill to break up unions and Ohioans got a petition up that put it on the ballot and we overturned the bill. He links sneaky anti-choice laws onto bills that must pass. He de-funded Planned Parenhood! He brings his God into secular decision making. Someone needs to vet this guy and send him home.
66
Another Republican Con Man. He puts a somewhat moderate face on the standard Republican platform of tax cuts for the rich, deregulation of the banks and polluters, anti-abortion absolutism, and destruction of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, in the name of 'saving them', of course. He claims that he is a bi-partisan moderate and fiscal conservative, pointing to his part in balancing the budget during the Clinton Administration. But he voted against the legislation which balanced the budget, both the HW Bush part (never forgiven by the extreme right), and the Clinton part, which Kasich warned would destroy our economy.
He might have done better against Hillary because the press bought into his moderate marketing, but he is no moderate, he has no plans to save the middle class, reduce climate change or address any other issues affecting America.
He might have done better against Hillary because the press bought into his moderate marketing, but he is no moderate, he has no plans to save the middle class, reduce climate change or address any other issues affecting America.
8
I do not like agreeing with Trump, at all, but man-oh-man, the popular vote should play a big role here. Every day we see this delegate/super-delegate graphic which tries to explain what will occur. And to your point, that it simply will not matter that Kasich polls better than Trump or Kruz against Clinton. In a confusing and frustrating election season, this unfortunate truth is bordering on depressing. Correction, not just bordering. And the more it's talked about, the less likely people will feel compelled to get out there and vote. Every media outlet is letting us know that we simply do not count.
3
"... if you laboratory-grew a Republican politician to win a presidential election, ... he would probably look a lot like Kasich." Wow, and here all this time I thought ALL the GOP candidates were spliced together in a lab!
But just because Kasich has no big ear growing out of his back, doesn't mean he's like a real human being. He's missing things. Like a personality. Like a message other than how he's turned Ohio into a Nirvana cum Disneyland with a pigeon in every pot. Golly geez.
Mr. Douthat says "Now and likely more so in the future, the G.O.P.’s path back to the White House is likely to run through the Midwest." That seems clear enough. The coasts have not mattered much lately to the GOP. All those lefty smartass know-it-alls in cities. Women. Young people. And off-whites. Don't want and need them.
The GOP wants the poorly or uneducated, disaffected, angry, balding guys guaranteed to vote against their own self interests. In great numbers. But those voters don't seem to like the GOP lately. And what's to like? The GOP offered up wooden Mitt and Count Dracula Ryan last rodeo and poor McCain and pathetic Palin before that. Not what the republican voters had in mind.
They want a badly educated, angry, older, white guy with lotsa hair, genuine or not. They don't want a ninny sane person with no personality but with some sense of how things actually work. And now they have Trump.
Couldn't happen to a nicer party.
But just because Kasich has no big ear growing out of his back, doesn't mean he's like a real human being. He's missing things. Like a personality. Like a message other than how he's turned Ohio into a Nirvana cum Disneyland with a pigeon in every pot. Golly geez.
Mr. Douthat says "Now and likely more so in the future, the G.O.P.’s path back to the White House is likely to run through the Midwest." That seems clear enough. The coasts have not mattered much lately to the GOP. All those lefty smartass know-it-alls in cities. Women. Young people. And off-whites. Don't want and need them.
The GOP wants the poorly or uneducated, disaffected, angry, balding guys guaranteed to vote against their own self interests. In great numbers. But those voters don't seem to like the GOP lately. And what's to like? The GOP offered up wooden Mitt and Count Dracula Ryan last rodeo and poor McCain and pathetic Palin before that. Not what the republican voters had in mind.
They want a badly educated, angry, older, white guy with lotsa hair, genuine or not. They don't want a ninny sane person with no personality but with some sense of how things actually work. And now they have Trump.
Couldn't happen to a nicer party.
4
They want someone who speaks to them without the blatant contempt liberals hold for them, and the marginally less blatant contempt establishment republicans have for them.
1
Douthat points out that Kasich has not been adequately vetted by the media and his opponents as to his positions on issues and even challenges the reader to name a single position Kasich holds, then promptly goes on to tell why he would make the perfect Republican going forward in future elections.
I wonder if Douthat is aware that finger wagging Jan Brewer, former governor of Arizona, also expanded Medicaid in her state.
I wonder if Douthat is aware that finger wagging Jan Brewer, former governor of Arizona, also expanded Medicaid in her state.
4
While Kasich has some positive attributes (with regard to his Republican opponents I guess that in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king) -his interaction with Orthodox Jewish men in New York was beyond cringe worthy.
He was asking questions like "you know who Joshua is don't you?" like he was a missionary in some primitive region, to people who study Torah maybe ten hours a day. As my Grandma used to say it was an example of someone being smart and smart and stupid.
He was asking questions like "you know who Joshua is don't you?" like he was a missionary in some primitive region, to people who study Torah maybe ten hours a day. As my Grandma used to say it was an example of someone being smart and smart and stupid.
3
A Kasich - Rubio ticket will be announced before the convention. They will win the nomination on the third ballot. Trump and Cruz supporters will stay home in November. Kasich-Rubio will carry the center-right and the center-left all the way to the White House. Candidate Nice Guy Kasich will revert to form and become President Tough as Nails Kasich. As Lyndon Johnson said, "Don't get mad, get even."
"electable Midwesterners running in the future."
It's ok Ross, you can just come out and say "Paul Ryan."
It's ok Ross, you can just come out and say "Paul Ryan."
What does it say about a candidate whose sole strategy is produce a deadlocked convention? It says that he and Ted Cruz have more in common with each other than Donald Trump. Kasich and his tiresome Medicaid expansion story is going nowhere.
1
Republican economic policy for all of them including Paul Ryan and Kasich:
Cut taxes at the top.
Increase military spending.
Cut social programs.
Complain about the deficit.
Job creation under George W. Bush with two tax cuts for the "job creators" was 3 million.
Job creation under Obama after letting the tax cuts for the "job creators" expire and with the "jobs killing" Obama care is 13 million and counting.
Clinton gave George W. a balanced budget, zero deficit.
George W. doubled the debt and gave Obama a whopping $1.1 Trillion deficit and that was Oct. 1, 2008 before the sub-prime melt down. The actual number came in at $1.4 Trillion.
Obama now has the deficit down to $500 Billion.
And debt doubled under Reagan, too.
It's fifth grade arithmetic.
Cut taxes at the top.
Increase military spending.
Cut social programs.
Complain about the deficit.
Job creation under George W. Bush with two tax cuts for the "job creators" was 3 million.
Job creation under Obama after letting the tax cuts for the "job creators" expire and with the "jobs killing" Obama care is 13 million and counting.
Clinton gave George W. a balanced budget, zero deficit.
George W. doubled the debt and gave Obama a whopping $1.1 Trillion deficit and that was Oct. 1, 2008 before the sub-prime melt down. The actual number came in at $1.4 Trillion.
Obama now has the deficit down to $500 Billion.
And debt doubled under Reagan, too.
It's fifth grade arithmetic.
9
Republicans have clearly demonstrated that they do not value experience in governance. Their whole ideology demonstrates a strong dislike of governance. Kasich's strength is really a weakness, and there is no way he could pivot to being what the Republican activists want even though many of the their supporters who do not participate in primaries and caucuses may support.
To win elections, resume and policy are not enough. One has to be charismatic. Kasich, no matter what else he is, is not charismatic. You allude to it without coming right out and saying it--he alienates people he needs to win, and doesn't have the magnetism to win over people he disagrees with. In short, he has all the charisma of a an old plow horse. He's done it all, worked hard at it, has the underdog face and chip on his shoulder to show for it, but no one--no one--is going to ride him into town.
That would be an interesting match up however--two of the least charismatic politicians of their era, Clinton and Kasich, head to head to see who's the least unlikable.
That would be an interesting match up however--two of the least charismatic politicians of their era, Clinton and Kasich, head to head to see who's the least unlikable.
2
In the few speeches I heard, Kasich put forth the same economic policy as most Republicans. It makes no sense to me. It has never worked since Reagan, and Republicans never own up to that.
You mention Trump's candidacy and his economic populism as his other appeal (besides the major one, race baiting). I think we should admit his economic policy is his major appeal and it's why he blows Kasich out of the water.
To deny this is ridiculous. The crowds of people cheering Trump on aren't racists. Your party's (Republican party's) economic policy is wrong and the crowds understand that. They don't want Kasich and more of the same. Kasick could be the most racist man on the planet and Trump would beat him.
I'd like to see Trump as the Republican nominee. He likely, very likely, wouldn't best Clinton. But the debates would be a invaluable opportunity to allow national debate on the issues Trump raised, which are important and obviously attractive to people. In this article you like every other NYT columnists outside Paul Krugman dismiss his ideas out of hand. But there's been zero explanation why. (Krugman seems to admit he is correct in many ways)
The NYT gives the impression that the campaigns consists of race baiting, but he actually talks about his ideas, which sound sensible to me. With the huge popularity of these ideas (question globalism, question trickle down, question neo conservatism, etc, ) they deserve debate.
You mention Trump's candidacy and his economic populism as his other appeal (besides the major one, race baiting). I think we should admit his economic policy is his major appeal and it's why he blows Kasich out of the water.
To deny this is ridiculous. The crowds of people cheering Trump on aren't racists. Your party's (Republican party's) economic policy is wrong and the crowds understand that. They don't want Kasich and more of the same. Kasick could be the most racist man on the planet and Trump would beat him.
I'd like to see Trump as the Republican nominee. He likely, very likely, wouldn't best Clinton. But the debates would be a invaluable opportunity to allow national debate on the issues Trump raised, which are important and obviously attractive to people. In this article you like every other NYT columnists outside Paul Krugman dismiss his ideas out of hand. But there's been zero explanation why. (Krugman seems to admit he is correct in many ways)
The NYT gives the impression that the campaigns consists of race baiting, but he actually talks about his ideas, which sound sensible to me. With the huge popularity of these ideas (question globalism, question trickle down, question neo conservatism, etc, ) they deserve debate.
1
I don't understand this article. Do you really think any of the Trump or Cruz voters were paying attention to anything Kasich said?
These voters don't care about reality -- if they did, then they would be voting for the person most likely to beat Hillary.
The Trump voters are expressing their rage. I am personally scared by Cruz's un-smile, so I have trouble understanding how anyone could vote for him, so I'm going to guess faux-"Jesus." But either way it has nothing to do with the finer points of rhetoric that this column addresses.
These voters don't care about reality -- if they did, then they would be voting for the person most likely to beat Hillary.
The Trump voters are expressing their rage. I am personally scared by Cruz's un-smile, so I have trouble understanding how anyone could vote for him, so I'm going to guess faux-"Jesus." But either way it has nothing to do with the finer points of rhetoric that this column addresses.
2
Poll numbers in April are meaningless.
4
Part of Huntsman's problem is that he said we need to believe in science.
Definitely a career-ender for a Republican presidential hopeful.
None of the Republicans who have run this year want to admit in public that the believe in evolution.
Definitely a career-ender for a Republican presidential hopeful.
None of the Republicans who have run this year want to admit in public that the believe in evolution.
12
Thank you Ross Douthat for another brilliant piece of analysis and writing.
John Kasich is presidential, and on foreign policy, educated and intelligent. His acts to defund planned parenthood make my mother roll over in her grave, and I find revolting. But he is the only Republican candidate that I fear, who could challenge the candidate I think should be president and commander in chief, Hillary Clinton.
I support John Kasich as the Republican party nominee, because I agree with Tom Friedman that this country desperately needs two, strong, wise and problem solving parties, to push each other into choices that serve the American public and their allies.
John Kasich is presidential, and on foreign policy, educated and intelligent. His acts to defund planned parenthood make my mother roll over in her grave, and I find revolting. But he is the only Republican candidate that I fear, who could challenge the candidate I think should be president and commander in chief, Hillary Clinton.
I support John Kasich as the Republican party nominee, because I agree with Tom Friedman that this country desperately needs two, strong, wise and problem solving parties, to push each other into choices that serve the American public and their allies.
1
The real difference between Kasich and Cruz (other than ethnicity) is that Kasich is at heart a watered down version of Ted Cruz, who has just had the foresight to be a little more devious in how he presents himself to the voters that actually pay any attention to him.
He talks about how the voters of Ohio love him and the margin by which he was re-elected. That isn't hard to do when your opponent basically self destructs on the way to the election.
He talks about how the voters of Ohio love him and the margin by which he was re-elected. That isn't hard to do when your opponent basically self destructs on the way to the election.
7
"Or really,at all: Quick, name one!"
Okay Ross, he is vehemently anti-choice and a forced birther, trying to close down Planned Parenthood on Ohio, doing what he can to wrest from women their control of their own bodies. Ugh.
Okay Ross, he is vehemently anti-choice and a forced birther, trying to close down Planned Parenthood on Ohio, doing what he can to wrest from women their control of their own bodies. Ugh.
7
Kasich also refused money from the Feds to improve and re-establish passenger rail service between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. In so doing, he joined two other "equally progressive-minded" Republican Governors. Scott of Florida and Walker of Wisconsin, all sharing in common anti-environmental credentials. You can add this to his anti-woman crusade.
4
"if you laboratory-grew a Republican politician to win a presidential election in the current political climate" - perfect & pathetic example of Republican cynicism.
Douthat, you & your party's mad lab have already made this mess. Your products condemn your thinking.
Douthat, you & your party's mad lab have already made this mess. Your products condemn your thinking.
4
There are no lessons to be learned from Kasich, unless it is one mans detachment from reality. The question to be asked, is if he beats Hillary in these "polls", then why can't he win anything other than his home state. How can you possibly reason that out in a logical universe, but then it seems the public has a hard time with reality, and the media certainly isn't helping. republicans may not agree on much, however they have pretty much rejected Johnny outright at the polls. He lost 20 points in Wisconsin in one week, when the polls said he was strong second, finishing a distant Last. Let's get serious here, Rubio is in third right now, after having dropped out, he still has more wins, and delegates. Kasich is obviously pushing to be the kingmaker. The party is going to push this guy as VP, bet on it. The democrats love this guy, like Paul Ryan, because they fold up like a cheap table in negotiations. They also are easy to run against, they are spineless when confronted directly, and they have a record of compromise. Some find that appealing, but very few of the republican voters find that a virtue. John has received no serious scrutiny, because he hasn't warranted it, nobody cares for him. He represents the Clinton/Gingrich era, which was the Dawn of the computer, and cell phone, our technological age. The government accounting scheme which was the "balanced budget", was the social security surplus being stolen, which is Debt now.
2
John Kasich is as conservative as any other Republican in the race. On virtually every issue he toes the Republican party line: lower income taxes, defunding Planned Parenthood, weakening unions, especially teachers unions, etc. However, like John Huntsman in the last election cycle who was equally conservative, he differs only in tone from other Republicans. He doesn't demonize his opposition, either Democratic or Republican. In fact, he goes out of his way to state that although politicians and individuals may differ in their approach to problems, in the end we are all Americans and we need to find a way to work together to solve todays important issues. Unfortunately, todays scorched earth Republican electorate wants none of that. They want to hear that Obama and the Democrats are socialist Muslims who want to destroy America, and they have reacted positively to that message throughout the campaign. According to Russ Douthat, Kasich should have changed the focus of his message to appeal to more of the Republican electorate. But is wasn't the message itself that was off key, it was precisely the reasonable tone that Kasich struck that Republican voters reacted negatively to.
27
An "aw, shucks" persona hides a wolf.
Mr. Kasich is no moderate... he's as extreme as anyone else in his party.
Mr. Kasich is no moderate... he's as extreme as anyone else in his party.
6
"The next six Republican primaries are in his kind of territory: blue states, Northeastern, moderate, exactly the sort of places where his positioning as the electable, reasonable Republican is designed to pay off big."
Another delusional comment by the delusion Douthat. Kasich is only seen as "reasonable" by a party dedicated to rightwing lunacy. Kasich's position in regard to unions, teachers, Planned Parenthood, a woman's right to choose, etc. are not seen as "reasonable" or "moderate" by reasonable, moderate people. Instead he's seen as the guy smart enough and deceitful enough to not bray his message of defunding PP, directing public tax dollars into the private hands of the charter school operators, etc. BUT the fact is -- that intelligent people recognize rightwinger hiding behind a façade when they see it. Plus quoting a Fox News poll that would show him beating Hillary Clinton in a head to head contest is as silly as the moment when Karl Rove insisted on Fox that Obama couldn't be winning re-election on election night 2012.
You Repugs really do live in an alternate universe unrelated to facts or logic.
Another delusional comment by the delusion Douthat. Kasich is only seen as "reasonable" by a party dedicated to rightwing lunacy. Kasich's position in regard to unions, teachers, Planned Parenthood, a woman's right to choose, etc. are not seen as "reasonable" or "moderate" by reasonable, moderate people. Instead he's seen as the guy smart enough and deceitful enough to not bray his message of defunding PP, directing public tax dollars into the private hands of the charter school operators, etc. BUT the fact is -- that intelligent people recognize rightwinger hiding behind a façade when they see it. Plus quoting a Fox News poll that would show him beating Hillary Clinton in a head to head contest is as silly as the moment when Karl Rove insisted on Fox that Obama couldn't be winning re-election on election night 2012.
You Repugs really do live in an alternate universe unrelated to facts or logic.
7
There is no way anybody like Kasich could have won the nomination. And saying that if he had just done this or that and it would have made all the difference, is just plain Monday morning quarterbacking.
The Republican base or at least those that vote in the primaries are composed of two groups. these are he Trump supporters who want to blame all of Americas problems on the "other." Be it "other" countries or "other" immigrants, and the Christian Conservatives, who want to blame all of America's problems on the moral decay and loss of christian values. These latter are the Cruz supporters. Both groups share a hate and distrust of the Government. Kasich, Bush and Rubio are examples of republican politicians that are somewhat moderate and they have been thoughly trounced by Cruz and Trump. Say hello to the new Republican Party.
The Republican base or at least those that vote in the primaries are composed of two groups. these are he Trump supporters who want to blame all of Americas problems on the "other." Be it "other" countries or "other" immigrants, and the Christian Conservatives, who want to blame all of America's problems on the moral decay and loss of christian values. These latter are the Cruz supporters. Both groups share a hate and distrust of the Government. Kasich, Bush and Rubio are examples of republican politicians that are somewhat moderate and they have been thoughly trounced by Cruz and Trump. Say hello to the new Republican Party.
1
"theexisting G.O.P. agenda’s tilt toward the interests of the rich"
A tilt! Name one GOP policy in the past 40 years that has had anything to do with interests of the non-rich.
A tilt! Name one GOP policy in the past 40 years that has had anything to do with interests of the non-rich.
5
it's a good point that Kasich has not really spoken out on the issues that drive Republican voters that are economic in nature. However, he is able to point to his record of accomplishment which none of the other loonies have. His problem is that because he's been more pragmatic than the looney candidates he's tarred with the ideological unacceptable brush. That's not his problem, it's the problem of the Republican voters and their crazed punditocracy.
2
Kasich may be "moderate" as Republicans go, but against the backdrop of what the Republican Party has become, a right-wing, shrill, extremist group that overtly favors the wealthiest and basically hates and works against anyone who is not white, male and wealthy, Kasich's "moderation" is far from moderate at all. Also, as a woman I take particular offense to his actions against abortion rights and access in Ohio, but again, he's being "moderate" in a Republican sense.
5
This is a joke
1
The Lessons of Douthat. No matter how hard he tries he can't find someone to do the horrible things he so badly wants done who is not somehow as bad as the things he wants done. Or something like that.
4
Mr. Douthat missed the most important lesson in “The Lessons of Kasich” – Reaganism is dead! If Kasich, who was a Reagan revolutionary in the contested 1976 Republican convention, “lost Illinois and Michigan handily” in the 2016 primaries, then it’s pretty obvious that his Reaganesque message is falling on deaf ears. The Reagan blue-collar base, not only in the Midwest but also nationwide, has turned inward and nationalistic. It’s the Trump message that they are locked into and neither Cruz, nor Kasich can get them from downing his Kool-Aid.
1
John Kasich is the ONLY candidate who has experience in governing with quantifiable accomplishments. Trump is winging it with a history of dishonesty and a bullying approach to opponents. Cruz is a one term senator ,who like Obama ,lacks the necessary appeal and experience to work with Congress to pass legislation. Clinton has no accomplishments as first lady, Senator or Sec of state as is evidenced by the horrific state of the world. Sanders makes promises which are impossible to attain. Kasich is a very long shot of making us the U.S.A. instead of class warfare and governing dysfunction.
1
I find it fascinating how easily duped the so called intellectual elite in the news media are by John Kasich.
I'm not buying John Kasich, not because I am a Black lawyer in Washington DC. This isn't a matter of nuance or intellectual ping pong.
I was alive in the 1990s.
The John Kasich that was in Washington DC was a warped, Ted Cruz figure sporting all the arrogance and self-importance that could have passed him for his generation's Barack Obama. He strutted around Capitol Hill taking credit for everything, even at the expense of the actual Speaker of the House.
Kasich's morality driven delusions about Bill Clinton's affairs, while Kasich himself was stepping out on his wife are the stuff of legend.
So why is Kasich leading Hillary by 11 points?
Two words: Good press.
His doting, hunched over grandpa act is selling like hotcakes as if the John Kasich of the 1990s never existed. If the news media gave Donald Trump 30 seconds of the kid glove love coverage they slobber and slather onto John Kasich, Trump would be leading in the polls by double digits over Hillary.
Despite the fact that every news organization in America that employs more than 5 people has attacked Donald Trump 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for nearly a year--Trump trails Hillary in the latest NBC News polls by SIX points.
The lesson is the American people aren't as dumb as Barack Obama and the news media think we are.
See you in November.
I'm not buying John Kasich, not because I am a Black lawyer in Washington DC. This isn't a matter of nuance or intellectual ping pong.
I was alive in the 1990s.
The John Kasich that was in Washington DC was a warped, Ted Cruz figure sporting all the arrogance and self-importance that could have passed him for his generation's Barack Obama. He strutted around Capitol Hill taking credit for everything, even at the expense of the actual Speaker of the House.
Kasich's morality driven delusions about Bill Clinton's affairs, while Kasich himself was stepping out on his wife are the stuff of legend.
So why is Kasich leading Hillary by 11 points?
Two words: Good press.
His doting, hunched over grandpa act is selling like hotcakes as if the John Kasich of the 1990s never existed. If the news media gave Donald Trump 30 seconds of the kid glove love coverage they slobber and slather onto John Kasich, Trump would be leading in the polls by double digits over Hillary.
Despite the fact that every news organization in America that employs more than 5 people has attacked Donald Trump 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for nearly a year--Trump trails Hillary in the latest NBC News polls by SIX points.
The lesson is the American people aren't as dumb as Barack Obama and the news media think we are.
See you in November.
4
As the editorial staff of the Washington Post honestly acknowledged yesterday, Kasich appears to be a reasonable, thoughtful, honest conservative ONLY when directly compared to the other sociopaths, ne'er-do-wells, and narcissists in today's GOP race. Otherwise------not so much.
7
People talk about a path to the nomination for Republicans, but not a path to victory in the Presidential election. Because there isn't any. Trump has the highest unfavorability ratings in history. Cruz has no GOP support. And there's Kasich, whose appeal, Mr. Douhat implies, is that he's the last man standing. Coupled with that Kasich personality, it's a real "get out the vote" combination.
The Democrats surely have flawed candidates, but there aren't that many Clinton-haters motivated enough to put a somewhat normal-sounding guy like Kasich in office. This may be a year when Democrats are disappointed, but it's also a year when Republicans should be ashamed.
The Democrats surely have flawed candidates, but there aren't that many Clinton-haters motivated enough to put a somewhat normal-sounding guy like Kasich in office. This may be a year when Democrats are disappointed, but it's also a year when Republicans should be ashamed.
1
If Republicans ever want to win the White House again, they first must abandoned their fear-driven and hate-based political ideologies.
However, that would fracture the Party because they are all that holds the modern GOP together.
However, that would fracture the Party because they are all that holds the modern GOP together.
5
Kasich has low disapproval ratings among Republicans (especially compared to the others). They don't dislike him. He's just not their first choice. And he leads when people are asked about their second choice.
Cruz and Trump are distinct candidates and 14 people have already left the race because they were even less competitive than Kasich. Blaming Kasich under the circumstances is not fair.
Is he the perfect candidate? No, but he's a very good one and infinitely better than the other 4 disasters.
Cruz and Trump are distinct candidates and 14 people have already left the race because they were even less competitive than Kasich. Blaming Kasich under the circumstances is not fair.
Is he the perfect candidate? No, but he's a very good one and infinitely better than the other 4 disasters.
"Air of moderation" is right. But that is all it is. Among the many un-moderate positions pointed out in the other comments, Kasich has done more than any other candidate to disenfranchise voters in his own state, particularly black and brown voters.
10
So the path to the White House for Republicans is to replace the "Southern Strategy" with the "Midwestern Strategy". Interesting comment that perhaps Kasich's expansion of Medicaid just "might be vindicated in the light of eternity" as the more Christian approach. Might be? Exactly how is it not the more Christian approach? It is also the more pragmatic approach as well for the states who have expanded Medicare. "Piety and limited government are a package deal for many voters and activists". Republicans piety extends only to the wealthy, and limited government is the ideal except when it comes to control of women's bodies and having to produce a birth certificate in order to avail oneself of bathroom facilities in some states.
Douthat your Party needs to look at what ideals it had in the past when it truly was more reasonable and more committed to the Middle Class. Eisenhower and even Nixon were far more committed to the Middle Class than today's Republicans. The Republicans with all their "strategies" and devotion to the wealthy have lost touch with the Middle Class in this country. The push back against traditional candidates reflects that. Looking for a white knight to ride in from the Midwest (cue Paul Ryan or Scott Walker) and save the Party will not work unless the Party changes not just its strategies, but also looks at the core of what it has become: An exclusive country club for the wealthy white male.
Douthat your Party needs to look at what ideals it had in the past when it truly was more reasonable and more committed to the Middle Class. Eisenhower and even Nixon were far more committed to the Middle Class than today's Republicans. The Republicans with all their "strategies" and devotion to the wealthy have lost touch with the Middle Class in this country. The push back against traditional candidates reflects that. Looking for a white knight to ride in from the Midwest (cue Paul Ryan or Scott Walker) and save the Party will not work unless the Party changes not just its strategies, but also looks at the core of what it has become: An exclusive country club for the wealthy white male.
45
Mr. Douthat, is there really an official conservative movement? And, why would you think any columnist can make sense out the disparate factions of the GOP? That said, go ahead and keep trying to define your party as your ideology sees fit.
Good analysis, but it misses the forest for the trees.
We must step back and take a look at the system.
In our republican system, the parties, not the primary voters, choose the nominees.
That wouldn't necessarily be a problem, but it is because the parties are corrupt mediocrities.
We have corrupt mediocrities picking corrupt mediocrities. WE THE PEOPLE are left out of the process. Doesn't the fact that the delegate vote is for sale give anyone pause?
All the voter rights in the world will not make us free and prosperous if a corrupt, closed system rigs the "election" on the front end, serving up a continuous loop of corruption and mediocrity.
What we need is an "aha" candidate, not an establishment retread, but someone so clearly the next president that a collective sigh of relief would be heard throughout the world.
It must be someone who doesn't want the job. By that I mean someone who REALLY doesn't want the job. (I.e., I do not mean Paul Ryan.)
Prez wannabes are not a random sample of people. They are a self-selected, corrupt or corruptible, power-hungry mediocrity. And they are not normal. Normal people don't lust for omnipotence.
We need a new system, a national search for exceptional—and sane—candidates.
So instead of throwing up our hands, let's throw out the bums. And start looking. Now.
1
On Kasich's watch, Ohio's public school system has been ravaged; "public" charter schools (public in name only) have caused one scandal after another, and yet he has done nothing to stand up for taxpayers' hard-earned money and public schoolchildren's futures. Hedge-fund managers bankrupting our schools: that's the future that awaits the country should Kasich be elected president.
3
"nobody’s looking at his current policy positions in any detail. (Or, really, at all: Quick, name one!)"
Paul Krugman. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/the-kasich-con/
Paul Krugman. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/the-kasich-con/
1
Let me put this more succinctly, Mr. Douthat. The problem for 2016 Republicans isn't Mr. Kasich, who has sterling if extreme conservative credentials. The problem is the voters your party has scrupulously courted for the past four decades. Welcome to the reality you helped create.
1
John Kasich is not the man that many Americans think he is. He has ranted against the State Highway Patrol when he was pulled over for speeding, tried to destroy collective bargaining by the state employee unions (which was overturned by a referendum) and generally behaved like a thug when he encounters disagreement with his policies. He is not a moderate by any means. Once his public and personal life are scrutinized by the press, his poll numbers will drop like a rocj.
5
I think you hit on something when you referred to the pious lectures. That does appear to be his default mode. It came out in the clip aired on MSNBC last night where he interrupted a group of Orthodox Jewish scholars to lecture them on the Torah/Old Testament.
The other default Kasich mode that does not seem to be working well with voters is when he wants to party like it's 1999. He sure wants to take a lot of the credit for that brief shining moment when it looked like we had actually fixed the federal budget (of course, so do Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton), but what he does not do is actually explain, or acknowledge, how today's economy is different from 1999 and what we would have to do differently to replicate the 1999 result.
The other default Kasich mode that does not seem to be working well with voters is when he wants to party like it's 1999. He sure wants to take a lot of the credit for that brief shining moment when it looked like we had actually fixed the federal budget (of course, so do Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton), but what he does not do is actually explain, or acknowledge, how today's economy is different from 1999 and what we would have to do differently to replicate the 1999 result.
1
What Republican party? There IS no Republican party. Parties cohere; that's what makes them parties. A party's "establishment" should be the proverbial "cooler heads" that prevail when the rabble wants a Goldwater or a McGovern. That's why we HAVE parties - so that the voters will be HEARD, but not INDULGED. Does no one in the Republican party even know what a "republican" is? Their party is named for the notion that popular passions be channeled into workable solutions by people who know how to get things done.
The party has caused its own undoing by political greed. Party-boss gerrymandering made it possible for fractious boobs to run for Congress. The Tea Party is not a Republican "wing"; it is a partial takeover of the party's function. Social media has disintermediated our politics. We don't think we need political bosses anymore. We have Twitter. and our 140-character attention spans cannot handle anything as keystroke-intensive as "representative democracy."
Kasich should be the party's nominee, because the party, unlike its members, cares about winning elections, whereas the membership cares about venting its collective spleen. Paul Ryan is another guy with a chance, but smart enough not to run in this time and place. These are not "my" guys; I'll probably vote for Hillary, unenthusiastically. But they would be for-real candidates who would give us a for-real choice. Not losers GOP voters can feel good about, until early August anyway.
The party has caused its own undoing by political greed. Party-boss gerrymandering made it possible for fractious boobs to run for Congress. The Tea Party is not a Republican "wing"; it is a partial takeover of the party's function. Social media has disintermediated our politics. We don't think we need political bosses anymore. We have Twitter. and our 140-character attention spans cannot handle anything as keystroke-intensive as "representative democracy."
Kasich should be the party's nominee, because the party, unlike its members, cares about winning elections, whereas the membership cares about venting its collective spleen. Paul Ryan is another guy with a chance, but smart enough not to run in this time and place. These are not "my" guys; I'll probably vote for Hillary, unenthusiastically. But they would be for-real candidates who would give us a for-real choice. Not losers GOP voters can feel good about, until early August anyway.
Of the five remaining candidates, Kasich is probably the most reasonable. We've all been subjected, ad naseum, to the evils of Trump and Cruz. Less so, the utter vacuousness of Clinton and Sanders. Is this the best we can do? God help us....
Of course the problem with this is that a moderate cannot be nominated in the Republican Party. Primary voters in the party are the hard-core conservatives, and they will no accept moderation. They want a radical religious conservative. So if you're going to lab-create a Republican presidential candidate, it's probably going to be someone more like Cruz.
2
Beware of lessons in this cycle. The GOP has literally done nothing for 7 years, so the vacuum was filled and the frustration boiled over (in both parties). Why isn't Paul Ryan going to accept the nomination? Because he's far better off picking up the pieces. He too could be the Midwestern, working class savior, but not in this toxic environment. Nothing survives this fire, and the GOP will be better for it. The lesson is, rather, that, decency is not completely lost. It's a testament to Kasich that he's still relevant in this circus
Kasich's main claim to fame is that he balanced Ohio's budget and cut state taxes -- promising to do the same for the federal government. Yes, it can be done, exactly as Kasich did it in Ohio: cut state spending and impoverish local communities while forcing them to raise local taxes. It only hurts the poor. And most poor people don't vote.
3
Someday soon you will be forced to address the real reasons for Trump and Cruz's popularity. The liberal dry rot that has this country falling to pieces is showing no signs of slowing and will only grow the ranks of those finally realizing what a disease it truly is.
Say it again: "...the existing G.O.P. agenda’s tilt toward the interests of the rich." Then say it for the Democrats. Some will debate whether the economic agenda should tilt at all, but if it does it should be tilting to support the disadvantaged. Both parties. Always.
1
Sorry Ross, Kasich would not get the women's votes if they knew just how freaky he was on reproductive RIGHTS. All one needs to do is look at how he has cut off funding to Planned Parenthood and other clinics in Ohio, causing 55,000 women to go without healthcare services. Yeah what a great guy!
83
I live in Ohio - though in the northeastern rectangle along Lake Erie, the last bastion of liberalism remaining in the Buckeye State. And I assure you that Gov. John Kasich is far from a kinder, gentler GOP version of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin that Ross Douthat portrays as such in his op-ed. A vast majority of Ohio voters (62 percent to 38 percent) in the 2012 election repealed a bill that Gov. Kasich signed into law and passed by the GOP-dominated Ohio Assembly in 2011 that would have taken away the collective bargaining rights of union members who work in government. And recently during his campaign for the Repubican nomination, Gov. Kasich came back to Ohio and vetoed a bill that provide federal funds, only a meager $1.2 million, for Planned Parenthood that was earmarked for preventine cancer screenings for women. There was no money in that grant which could have been used for abortions though Gov. Kasich implied there was during his vetoing of that grant. But half of the clinics that do provide this elective procedure for women have been shut down in the state. So he's tried to be draconian like Gov.Walker of Ohio but he has failed. That's the only real difference between him and Gov. Walker. Gov. Kasich tries to portray himself as a reasonable and moderate alternative among the GOP nominees. But it's a well-orchestrated ploy to take votes from Donald Trump's core of disenfranchised, working-class white voterrs. Gov. Kasich is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
171
Just how....I ask you can John Kasich get his message across as the ONLY
electable GOP candidate...when.....the
Media Monster Trump gets all the air time...???
or
The Alternative to Trump who is funded to block Trump...Ted Cruz...who
no one in the US Congress likes...gets funded as a foil to Trump.
The GOP...is not covering their only ...establishment member...John Kasich.
And Ross Douthat you and the rest of the NYTimes ...just haven't given
Kasich any coverage...
So...it is the media grab of the advertising and ratings that are the reason
for ....John Kasich to be buried under the carnival of Trump vs Cruz.
If you like Kasich...it is so simple....write about him from now on...get
cracking.
electable GOP candidate...when.....the
Media Monster Trump gets all the air time...???
or
The Alternative to Trump who is funded to block Trump...Ted Cruz...who
no one in the US Congress likes...gets funded as a foil to Trump.
The GOP...is not covering their only ...establishment member...John Kasich.
And Ross Douthat you and the rest of the NYTimes ...just haven't given
Kasich any coverage...
So...it is the media grab of the advertising and ratings that are the reason
for ....John Kasich to be buried under the carnival of Trump vs Cruz.
If you like Kasich...it is so simple....write about him from now on...get
cracking.
2
We need a strong Republican party. What we have now is a sad collection of misfits most of whom couldn't get a job in the private sector. With no ability to attract the majority of Americans, they have pandered to every fringe group out there. No sane person can make it through the primary system as a result. The education system in certain parts of this country must really be something.
1
"The question, then, is whether the party could ever actually nominate a figure with this profile."
Given the system and the GOP elite's willingness to overthrow the will of their base, the party may well nominate someone like Kasich again (though there's little to suggest he isn't just as hollow as the rest of the donor's classes favorites were). The problem is there's no longer a base of conservative voters interested in electing someone like Kasich, because they've been radicalized by the imams of Republican Right: FOX, Limbaugh, Beck, and McConnell. The unruly mob you've created won't be tamed by your pragmatism; you've fed them red meat for years, and they've developed a taste for it.
Given the system and the GOP elite's willingness to overthrow the will of their base, the party may well nominate someone like Kasich again (though there's little to suggest he isn't just as hollow as the rest of the donor's classes favorites were). The problem is there's no longer a base of conservative voters interested in electing someone like Kasich, because they've been radicalized by the imams of Republican Right: FOX, Limbaugh, Beck, and McConnell. The unruly mob you've created won't be tamed by your pragmatism; you've fed them red meat for years, and they've developed a taste for it.
1
I have an idea. Lets have the columnists meet in Barbados and decide who they like to have as the nominee. Follow that with National Committee summit in one of the West Virginia luxury hideaways to come to consensus on which candidate and " narrative " would resonate ( as per the reports by the " focus group" committee ). After that, have a meeting on K street with the lobbyists to line up positions and contributions that will sustain a national campaign. When that is done, bring in all tv and radio show hosts for the simulated interview schedule which will present the candidate in the most favorable light.......
When all this is done, present the contrived, controlled, and duplicitous candidate to the public with a back story of " loving parent with some kind of personal tragedy in a family member or pet" and as a person of the moment with a " 24 and me" gene profile that is multi-racial and flexibly gender specific. And be sure to open and close every public utterance with " for your children and grandchildren "....See not so hard after all.
When all this is done, present the contrived, controlled, and duplicitous candidate to the public with a back story of " loving parent with some kind of personal tragedy in a family member or pet" and as a person of the moment with a " 24 and me" gene profile that is multi-racial and flexibly gender specific. And be sure to open and close every public utterance with " for your children and grandchildren "....See not so hard after all.
Kasich is of course deeply conservative and has a temper competitive with the best of them. But the key lesson, to me, is what happens in today's Republican Party when you present a persona based on civility, thoughtfulness, empathy, compassion, and problem-solving.
28
False persona. False. Kasich's is a calculatedly false persona projecting civility, thoughtfulness, empathy, compassion and problem-solving.
1
How reassuring. Kasich is less of a psychopath than the other candidates, but not by too much. He just needs to hide from the electorate the parts of him that are LESS psychopathic and he'd do better. Wow.
10
The Republican propaganda machine has been successfully selling the idea that poverty is due to the moral failings of the impoverished and that the safety net creates a culture of dependence. Now that the dwindling white middle class has lost their footing are they going to blame themselves for their own moral failings ? Of course not ! Are they going to blame themselves for getting tricked by the Republican party into voting against their own interests ? No. It's the Mexicans and The Muslims that are the problem, not their own self satisfied entitlement and ignorance. When are the members of the party of individual responsibility going to take responsibility ?
9
John Kasich has yet to publicly comment on the machete attack by Mohamed Barry on patrons at the Nazareth Deli in Columbus, OH. Barry was later shot dead by police after being stopped in a PIT maneuver and exiting his car with the machete and a knife in hand, yelling "Allahu akbar" and charging police. Barry was on the FBI watch list for radical Islamist views, but was allowed to re-enter the US after ME travel & had a green card.
This is not the candidate you want in charge of dealing with ISIS.
This is not the candidate you want in charge of dealing with ISIS.
1
The strategy is to look less crazy than your opponents all the while holding the same obscene positions on women. Nice job. Hope no one falls for it.
121
Like most conservatives, even the so-called "intellectuals,'' Dothan can't resist the urge to set up false strawmen to use as punching bags. Huntsman wasn't smug; he was honest and smart -- two virtues that the GOP base abhor. Same thing with Kasich. He wasn't pious about Medicare; he shamed his base by illuminating their constant hypocrisy -- you can't claim to be religious and then do NOTHING to help the poor. Dothat, like Rich Lowry and Charles Krauthammer, refuses to accept the reality that the problem with the GOP isn't that candidates like Kasich are flawed; it's that Trump and Cruze truly do reflect the values of the majority of GOP voters. They are racist, anti-science, xenophobic and nihilistic.
6
Ross, why not do something constructive and root cause the Republican mess?
You have to do this at some point in order to solve the problem.
Your candidates are just symptoms.
You have to do this at some point in order to solve the problem.
Your candidates are just symptoms.
3
I am a lifelong liberal/moderate Democrat. Wake up Republicans!!!! Kasich is your chance to get into the White House. I would gladly vote for him and given your alternatives, you should too!
12
If you'd gladly vote for John Kasich then either you're not paying any attention or you're not a lifelong liberal/moderate Democrat. John Kasich offers a liberal/moderate nothing, absolutely nothing to vote for. If you liked George W. Bush then Kasich's your man, but I can't think of many liberal/moderate Democrats that liked Bush.
2
"Kasich is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He's gaining out there trying to sell himself as a moderate, he's no moderate. He is an extremist." Look at his record.
3
Sorry, Russ, a pig with lipstick and a wig is still a pig.
Son of a mailman or not, Mr. Kasich is neither an inspirational nor thought leader. He's never led in combat, transformed a major enterprise, led enactment of major legislation, or managed crises. He's not TR, FDR, HST, DDE, JFK, LBJ, RMN, RR, or GHWB.
His current appeal is that he is not Cruz or Trump. On that basis, we have more than 200 million Americans similarly qualified.
Son of a mailman or not, Mr. Kasich is neither an inspirational nor thought leader. He's never led in combat, transformed a major enterprise, led enactment of major legislation, or managed crises. He's not TR, FDR, HST, DDE, JFK, LBJ, RMN, RR, or GHWB.
His current appeal is that he is not Cruz or Trump. On that basis, we have more than 200 million Americans similarly qualified.
5
Too many polls.... sliced and diced to make it appear that anything is possible....
Kasich relied too much on his past work with Reagan (who??) as a reason to be supported. But the smear machines created monsters in need of slaying, and the 'people' want blood this cycle.
Hopefully they won’t get caught in the crossfire as they shoot and shoot and shoot. A very tricky cycle, indeed....
Kasich relied too much on his past work with Reagan (who??) as a reason to be supported. But the smear machines created monsters in need of slaying, and the 'people' want blood this cycle.
Hopefully they won’t get caught in the crossfire as they shoot and shoot and shoot. A very tricky cycle, indeed....
1
Wait a minute .. . You concede that "in the light of eternity," Kasich's position on Medicaid expansion "might be" more Christian, but that it was malpractice so say so?
I don't know what to do with that from the NYTimes' "Chrisitan" guy. I'm at a loss for words actually. (First time in my life.) And what good are words if they mean so little anyway. Wow. Naked tribalism and political opportunism laid bare.
I don't know what to do with that from the NYTimes' "Chrisitan" guy. I'm at a loss for words actually. (First time in my life.) And what good are words if they mean so little anyway. Wow. Naked tribalism and political opportunism laid bare.
3
Oh yeah, and he balanced the federal budget plus has other real legislative and executive accomplishment! K-Man is going to win
1
Just another snake in the grass!
3
Will there be a Republican Party in 2020?
"Now and likely more so in the future, the G.O.P.’s path back to the White House is likely to run through the Midwest. "
Maybe through Wisconsin. En attendant Walker...
Maybe through Wisconsin. En attendant Walker...
John B. Anderson had a great platform but got no where against Carter.
2
This sounds harsh....
But even the below 20 or so comments (including mine) here on NYT perfectly illustrate the non buzz of his strange pursuit/non pursuit of the post.
But even the below 20 or so comments (including mine) here on NYT perfectly illustrate the non buzz of his strange pursuit/non pursuit of the post.
The Clinton-Kasich popularity polls, on which this column is predicated, are meaningless—because as Ross says, Kasich has not been scrutinized by journalists (including this one), but also because they are intrinsically flawed at this stage of an election campaign. Moreover, Kasich has not struck voters as Presidential—he lacks the dignity, stature, dynamism, posture, voice, and manner of a natural leader of the pack. Drugstore-cowboying his campaign for "lessons" for the ruins of the Republican Party is not a mature journalistic effort.
3
Kasich has the temperament to be the CEO of the US.
Unfortunately there is a strain of the Republican party that wants to be entertained. If thats what they want, they are going to be 'entertained' for eight more years
by a Democrat.
It is sad that Trump and Cruz are drowning out Kasich's reasonable message and vision for America. But it will not drown out the voters who will show up in vast numbers and eviscerate the GOP. Maybe then whats left of the Republican party will exchange entertainment for reality. And that reality may mean a liberal Supreme Court and a Democrat controlled Congress.
After all, there is a price to pay when you play check out from reality and get 'entertained'.
Unfortunately there is a strain of the Republican party that wants to be entertained. If thats what they want, they are going to be 'entertained' for eight more years
by a Democrat.
It is sad that Trump and Cruz are drowning out Kasich's reasonable message and vision for America. But it will not drown out the voters who will show up in vast numbers and eviscerate the GOP. Maybe then whats left of the Republican party will exchange entertainment for reality. And that reality may mean a liberal Supreme Court and a Democrat controlled Congress.
After all, there is a price to pay when you play check out from reality and get 'entertained'.
1
Kasich is not the moderate he tries to present himself to be. We moved out of Ohio because of Kasich. He has gutted public school funding, with many Ohio school districts now in bankruptcy. He rants and raves incoherently in meetings and at state of the state addresses. We never saw any rational or compassionate behavior from him.
3
Maybe Republican voters have finally figured out that their party's economic program (endless tax cuts with corresponding evisceration of govt services, corporate coddling, and free market worship) doesn't work for them?
1
Apparently the Kasich Moment is that of a loser -- except in Ohio, and while Republicans have a difficult time winning the presidency without winning Ohio, that is actually not enough. Douthat is backing a loser....
John Kasich is running from cover [he'll still be governor of Ohio for two more years], so has nothing to lose. Plus, he's using other people's money, that mostly comes from big-buck state contractors and long-time friends back home. Ross, you say "nobody’s looking at his current policy positions in any detail. (Or, really, at all: Quick, name one!)." Try these people: www.plunderbund.com. They have the goods on the governor in spades. You're right about national media, they are willfully clueless to Kasich, trapped in his Mr. Nice Guy narrative. He's not nice, never has been. His interview transcript with the NYDaily News shows how convoluted he is, not to mention his self-abortion with himself as center of the universe. Ohio's in bad shape, from jobs to infant mortality to rising poverty to bad abortion laws. His tax plans are wishful thinking. He's playing you and everyone else for chumps, and you're all obliging him by playing along. He's dismissive, arrogant, self-righteous and combative. He only brings people together to tell them what he's decided, not to listen to them and then do something contrary to his misguided beliefs.
5
The only reason Kasich polls were up against Clinton was no one knows anything about him and everyone knows a lot about Clinton. That would change in the general election where his Ohio miracle would be laid waste by Hillary.
74
"But for all of that, it’s also true that if you laboratory-grew a Republican politician to win a presidential election in the current political climate, he would probably look a lot like Kasich." Are you kidding me? Where has Kasich shown any leadership through almost 8 years of Tea Party birther racism? The Republican Party HAS laboratory grown republican politicians and a Republican constituency that is a slag heap of gun worshiping racists, misogynists, homophobes and science deniers. All of a sudden the white glove cover for these incompetents (Brooks, Will, Douthat) are shocked, shocked I say that they let this tacky collection of knuckle dragging ignorance into the country club... Tut, tut that will never do! This is your party Ross. It has been your party since Wallace showed Nixon the way to a solid south and blue collar racism. Own it. Kasich? He who loses every race and still trails Marco Rubio. Puuullleeeezzzeee.
4
"...the G.O.P. would benefit from nominating a candidate who is religious but not a Southern evangelical..." Why do we need religion in politics at all? That is the main reason why I will never vote for a Republican. If your religious, fine, but please do keep your views to yourself, and do not try to impose them on others.
10
Kasich is insufferable.
Also, anyone who is for more tax cuts for the rich, interfering in a woman's right to choose, taking money out of public education and giving it to charter schools and anti-union is not moderate. He is as extremely right as the rest of the Republican candidates, except that he doesn't want to build a wall.
But, I am not fooled and Kasich is not moderate.
Also, anyone who is for more tax cuts for the rich, interfering in a woman's right to choose, taking money out of public education and giving it to charter schools and anti-union is not moderate. He is as extremely right as the rest of the Republican candidates, except that he doesn't want to build a wall.
But, I am not fooled and Kasich is not moderate.
18
John Kasich's moderation is as much an illusion as Donald Trump's outsider persona.
Kasich's first few measures as governor were:
- Tax breaks for wealthy corporations who had funded his campaign.
- Trying to break the teacher's unions.
- Moving public school funding over to charter schools.
Kasich's first few measures as governor were:
- Tax breaks for wealthy corporations who had funded his campaign.
- Trying to break the teacher's unions.
- Moving public school funding over to charter schools.
93
The only reason Kasich polls better against Hillary than the other two clowns is that he has been barely scrutinized and the only thing most voters know about him is that he did not oppose Medicaid expansion in Ohio. If he were to became the candidate, voters will find out he is as conservative as they come. He embraces most of the standard conservative bromides that turn off the majority of voters (including Trump and Sanders supporters). His poll numbers will tank. He will still lose against Hillary but will be by a much smaller margin.
38
The last GOP candidate to make not consider expatriating from the U.S. was Huntsman. The GOP stands for so little that matters to me and Kasich is GOP to the core. And most people who live in GOP dominated states do not do well economically. That reality has finally caught up with Texas.
14
In one word: dull! And the definition of the word his yours.
14
May you live in interesting times.
"...where his positioning as the electable, reasonable Republican is designed to pay off big."
Reasonable Republican is pure oxymoron.
Thank you for this fine example, Mr. Douthat.
Reasonable Republican is pure oxymoron.
Thank you for this fine example, Mr. Douthat.
58
When's the last time anyone heard ANY Republican or conservative use Reagan's famous means-nothing phrase "compassionate conservatism"? Did such a chimera EVER exist?
Mr. Douthat writes: "In Huntsman’s case, this habit included smug barbs ...".
I don't recall Mr. Huntsman ever being smug, or issuing barbs. It is true the Mr. Huntsman recognized facts. If Mr. Douthat thinks that adhering to facts is issuing "smug barbs", then that speaks poorly of Mr. Douthat, not of Mr. Huntsman.
I don't recall Mr. Huntsman ever being smug, or issuing barbs. It is true the Mr. Huntsman recognized facts. If Mr. Douthat thinks that adhering to facts is issuing "smug barbs", then that speaks poorly of Mr. Douthat, not of Mr. Huntsman.
70
So, you would advise future Republican candidates to be religious, but not too religious, not Southerly, snake-handling religious. You assume that the Republican Party is, and will be, dominated by Christians. You just don't want those Christians to be too loud, or tawdry?
Well, gotta warn you. Every educated old lady I know, and many of the young ladies, understand that Kasich has gutted Planned Parenthood in Ohio and has passed laws that make it difficult for women (especially low-income women) to get access to reliable contraception.
He may look like a humble, pouchy, aw-shucks moderate, but he can be mean (this guy is not Christlike), and if he stepped out into the light, that would be made clear.
If your party plans to march into the future behind the banner of the Christian Church, then, Mr. Douthat, I think you're in trouble. Because women constitute more than half of the electorate in the US, and many of them recognize when men are being preachy, falsely modest bullies. It may take a while ... but the path you recommend will lead the GOP to more and more losses.
Well, gotta warn you. Every educated old lady I know, and many of the young ladies, understand that Kasich has gutted Planned Parenthood in Ohio and has passed laws that make it difficult for women (especially low-income women) to get access to reliable contraception.
He may look like a humble, pouchy, aw-shucks moderate, but he can be mean (this guy is not Christlike), and if he stepped out into the light, that would be made clear.
If your party plans to march into the future behind the banner of the Christian Church, then, Mr. Douthat, I think you're in trouble. Because women constitute more than half of the electorate in the US, and many of them recognize when men are being preachy, falsely modest bullies. It may take a while ... but the path you recommend will lead the GOP to more and more losses.
166
AMEN. Having said that, Republican losses are what we want. Get them boys gone.
1
This does capture the essence of Kasich. His popularity results from the realization that he is not Trump and not Cruz. This is not good news for either of them, or for Kasich.
I like the more and more losses part.
Kasich is just hoping to be the compromise in the third round at the convention, running on the promise that "you hate him, and you loathe, him, so vote for me, I am too dull to dislike." He might be onto something.
But dull as he is, he's the complete package. He has proven willing to restrict women's reproductive rights; he brings God to the table. He is an old fashioned Reaganista, with lifted boats and all.
He shows no outward signs of insanity or demagoguery.
He doesn't excite anyone, but he doesn't make them run screaming in fear either. I know - it's kind of a low bar to set, but still... . So he is playing a long game, and improbably sticking it out.
But dull as he is, he's the complete package. He has proven willing to restrict women's reproductive rights; he brings God to the table. He is an old fashioned Reaganista, with lifted boats and all.
He shows no outward signs of insanity or demagoguery.
He doesn't excite anyone, but he doesn't make them run screaming in fear either. I know - it's kind of a low bar to set, but still... . So he is playing a long game, and improbably sticking it out.
107
Speaking of Reagan's lifting boats metaphor, long ago Archimedes discovered that when you lift a large boat out of the water, the water level sinks. The very wealthy sit on their riches, like Uncle Scrooge cavorting in his money bin, sucking money out of the economy. All others suffer as the money available to the un-rich recedes, even the big corps with their dwindling markets.
A chant from Occupy Wall Street that seems appropriate: 'Of the People, By the People, For the People...Who the hell are You?'
A chant from Occupy Wall Street that seems appropriate: 'Of the People, By the People, For the People...Who the hell are You?'
So Kasich can market himself as "Diet Conservative"?
What a sad commentary on our country that Kasich is seen by many as a potential POTUS. At best he is a Babbit. Only by comparison to Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Bushes could he look possible.
37
And - let's be honest - he only looks as good as he does in comparison to a couple of very weak Democratic candidates.
There are two political drag queens running for President. One is a Republican running as a "Progressive that likes to get things done" in the Democratic Primary and the other one is a NeoCon Hard Right Republican that likes to pass himself off as a moderate who is the only adult in the room.
John Kasich tried to strip union rights from public workers and only a public statewide vote terminated his signed bill. He is just as retrograde as other Republican Governors who have rolled back the clock- he is just a little less brash because he got his hands slapped by the voters.
John Kasich tried to strip union rights from public workers and only a public statewide vote terminated his signed bill. He is just as retrograde as other Republican Governors who have rolled back the clock- he is just a little less brash because he got his hands slapped by the voters.
31
as a registered Republican (just haven't bothered to switch) who gags at the Republican Party today, I would find Kasich more acceptable except for his attempt at union busting.
He's from western PA coal and steel country and his father was a mailman. He should know the value of unions in labor and should respect those who serve the public. Guess he forgot all those lessons at Lehman Bros. and in those fancy GOP dinners and seminars.
Some might distinguish between public and private unions, but they are needed for the same reasons. There are idiot bosses in the public sector as well as public, and unions offer protection. Just as shareholders "needs" can trump workers, the taxpayers "needs" are always the excuse to screw public workers. And just because a new regime comes in, a worker who is doing his job should not have the rug pulled out from under him.
He's from western PA coal and steel country and his father was a mailman. He should know the value of unions in labor and should respect those who serve the public. Guess he forgot all those lessons at Lehman Bros. and in those fancy GOP dinners and seminars.
Some might distinguish between public and private unions, but they are needed for the same reasons. There are idiot bosses in the public sector as well as public, and unions offer protection. Just as shareholders "needs" can trump workers, the taxpayers "needs" are always the excuse to screw public workers. And just because a new regime comes in, a worker who is doing his job should not have the rug pulled out from under him.
"He’ll probably be the only Republican nominee to ever lead Hillary Clinton by 11 points in a national poll."
That isn't a measure of Kasich. It is a measure of Hillary. It is a measure of the national weakness of the Republican Party as a whole. It shows that even total failure polls better nationally than either Hillary or the people Republicans like.
That isn't a measure of Kasich. It is a measure of Hillary. It is a measure of the national weakness of the Republican Party as a whole. It shows that even total failure polls better nationally than either Hillary or the people Republicans like.
9
Katich is a loser, looks like a loser and thinks like a loser. As Mr. Douthat says (Do That), he lectures and therefore he is insufferable. It's almost as if he says, 'Look, you morons, I'm your man, don't you understand? He projects no royalty (like Trump does) and we Americans need some form of royalty (our Royalty is tattooed, proletarian sports people, singers or actors who are paid vast amounts and think like the Proper-thinking Left Socialists of Bernie Sanders ilk: what's mine is mine and what's yours is also mine).
8
We need someone who projects "royalty"?
Aside from the total misrepresentation of Sanders, I agree.
As good as Kasich might be to serve as POTUS, he clearly has no message to deliver, and clearly has not delivered any message. No one knows who he is or what he stands for, or how he will be different from the two Socialists fighting for the Democratic nomination.
3
Cuckold is the word that comes to mind when I see Kasich. While the two alpha dogs are ripping each other apart, there is Kasish laying his eggs hoping for a viable hatching this July. His message seem to be: "Vote for me, my ideas are the same, but I don't act like a crazy person, and I'll use the standard dog whistles unlike these other guys outing our Republican true beliefs."
23
Kasich is warmed over 20th Century gruel.We need someone who will take on The Wall Street-Washington Crony Capitalism Cartel.We need someone that will take a Hard Look at Post WW2 treaties and why they are no longer relevant in the 21st Century.We need an insider who knows what a Lousy
Hand has been dealt the average American the past 20 yrs by the 1% Club
and is willing to do something about it.The only name available at present is
Donald Trump.
American
Hard Look at Post WW2 treaties etc and how they are no longer relavant in
the 21st Century.An insider who knows what a Lousy Hand has been dealt the Average American the past 20yrs and is willing to do something about it is my candidate.The only one on the Horizon is Donald Trump.
Hand has been dealt the average American the past 20 yrs by the 1% Club
and is willing to do something about it.The only name available at present is
Donald Trump.
American
Hard Look at Post WW2 treaties etc and how they are no longer relavant in
the 21st Century.An insider who knows what a Lousy Hand has been dealt the Average American the past 20yrs and is willing to do something about it is my candidate.The only one on the Horizon is Donald Trump.
2
Ir Repubs hadn't fought Obama the last 8 years, Trump wouldn't look so good to you. You've been duped and continue to be so.
2
@JVH- So far those "antiquated WWII treaties" have avoided WWIII. Trump knows less about foreign affairs and history than a typical 4th grader.
2
Donald Trump is one of the 1%.
So, in essence, Ross, the ideal Republican candidate is a consummate con artist who is able to mask his extremist views just enough to fool the general electorate while at the same time being properly heard and seen by the "base" as in line with their 1916 political views. Dog whistle lite, eh Ross?
57
The only way a Republican can "target blue-collar voters with more than biography" is to run as a Democrat.
10
Douthat's free advice to future Kasich: pander to idiots more convincingly.
60
"Kasich’s pitch has been strictly biographical: He’s the son of a mailman, he’s a regular guy, etc., ad infinitum." why does today's politician emphasize his 'common vperoson' background. the wealthy family background of JFK and FDR did not deter either of them from serving in what they considered the be the best interests of the less well-off.
18
Kasich will never be President, he does not have the cool head that is needed to be a leader of a nation. Remember this article from March 26th?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/us/politics/john-kasich-campaign.html
He has also shown himself to have a lot of contempt for half the population - women. He's signed more anti-abortion bills than any other governor, he's tried to take down collective bargaining with the unions in this state. He's is not Presidential material. That fact that anyone would think so is only because the other two alternatives are so nauseatingly hideous. Congrats Douthat! This is what your party has become. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. And the fact that you did this to yourselves makes it all the more rich.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/us/politics/john-kasich-campaign.html
He has also shown himself to have a lot of contempt for half the population - women. He's signed more anti-abortion bills than any other governor, he's tried to take down collective bargaining with the unions in this state. He's is not Presidential material. That fact that anyone would think so is only because the other two alternatives are so nauseatingly hideous. Congrats Douthat! This is what your party has become. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. And the fact that you did this to yourselves makes it all the more rich.
53
If Republicans want or wanted a sensible, capable thoughtful guy like Jon Huntsman they'd be backing Jon Huntsman, not John Kasich. It is only in this year's spoiled kindergarteners-in-the-sandbox GOP race that Kasich appears as the thoughtful, reasonable adult. Let's not forget: The main reason Kasich hasn't quit is, quite frankly, he's not smart enough to realize that he doesn't have a prayer, even in a brokered convention.
11
The "nobody's looking" charge is squarely on your own industry Ross. For months on end, the fourth estate has been more interested in generating clicks than in educating the electorate. The endless coverage of one candidate has crowded out reasonable and fair consideration of all the others and it is the American people who are hurt. You, and your colleagues have failed us.
12
There are no lessons to be learned from Kasich, not after he defunded Planned Parenthood in Ohio, hurting innocent, needy women. He's a standard right winger whose occasional lapses into rationality are an illusion.
54
Just who is this article written for? Certainly not the blue collar workers who serve as its lynch pins, not with the very fancy vocabulary used, that's for sure (heterodoxies et al). It's a curious read. Well, who is it's audience? Finally, I imagine it can only be for the other fine writers at the NYT who would appreciate an opinion piece that is cleverly if somewhat perversely bereft of an actual living breathing opinion.
12
Kasich is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has been following the tea party playbook in Ohio. Elect him, and you will have George Bush II. How many times do we have to see trickle down economics fail until we stop giving more tax cuts to the rich (who then pocket the savings and send more jobs to China). Look at the economies of KS, WI, FL, to see the damage that Republican policies inflict on the public. The rich in these states do very well though.
30
In the few speeches I heard, Kasich put forth the same economic policy as most Republicans. It makes no sense to me. It has never worked since Reagan, and Republicans never own up to that.
You mention Trump's candidacy and his economic populism as his other appeal (besides the major one, race baiting). I think we should admit his economic policy is his major appeal and it's why he blows Kasich out of the water.
To deny this is ridiculous. The crowds of people cheering Trump on aren't racists. Your party's (Republican party's) economic policy is wrong and the crowds understand that. They don't want Kasich and more of the same. Kasick could be the most racist man on the planet and Trump would beat him.
I'd like to see Trump as the Republican nominee. He likely, very likely, wouldn't best Clinton. But the debates would be a invaluable opportunity to allow national debate on the issues Trump raised, which are important and obviously attractive to people. In this article you like every other NYT columnists outside Paul Krugman dismiss his ideas out of hand. But there's been zero explanation why. (Krugman seems to admit he is correct in many ways)
The NYT gives the impression that the campaigns consists of race baiting, but he actually talks about his ideas, which sound sensible to me. With the huge popularity of these ideas (question globalism, question trickle down, question neo conservatism, etc, ) they deserve debate.
You mention Trump's candidacy and his economic populism as his other appeal (besides the major one, race baiting). I think we should admit his economic policy is his major appeal and it's why he blows Kasich out of the water.
To deny this is ridiculous. The crowds of people cheering Trump on aren't racists. Your party's (Republican party's) economic policy is wrong and the crowds understand that. They don't want Kasich and more of the same. Kasick could be the most racist man on the planet and Trump would beat him.
I'd like to see Trump as the Republican nominee. He likely, very likely, wouldn't best Clinton. But the debates would be a invaluable opportunity to allow national debate on the issues Trump raised, which are important and obviously attractive to people. In this article you like every other NYT columnists outside Paul Krugman dismiss his ideas out of hand. But there's been zero explanation why. (Krugman seems to admit he is correct in many ways)
The NYT gives the impression that the campaigns consists of race baiting, but he actually talks about his ideas, which sound sensible to me. With the huge popularity of these ideas (question globalism, question trickle down, question neo conservatism, etc, ) they deserve debate.
4
Kasich's downfall is his "St. Francis of Assisi" persona. He acts like a lib with taxpayer's dollars, in the name of Jesus, of course. He expanded Medicaid in his state in response to Obamacare. Not good for an alleged fiscal conservative.
A complete fraud.
A complete fraud.
4
He is a part of the Republican Sharia woman hating party.
Stop your witchin and get back barefoot and pregnant to the kitchen.
And Ohio women were stupid enough to help put him in office.
He has signed a slew of laws that closed half the abortion providers offices in his state and wants to defund Planned Parenthood.
His moderation comes from offering an aspirin to a woman before he puts her in a dunking stool and her latter trial by fire.
Burn witch burn.
Stop your witchin and get back barefoot and pregnant to the kitchen.
And Ohio women were stupid enough to help put him in office.
He has signed a slew of laws that closed half the abortion providers offices in his state and wants to defund Planned Parenthood.
His moderation comes from offering an aspirin to a woman before he puts her in a dunking stool and her latter trial by fire.
Burn witch burn.
18
This Ohio woman didn't vote for him. And I know plenty others that didn't either. Quit painting us with such a broad brush. I am appalled what Kasich has done to women's reproductive rights in this state. I have never and will never vote for a republican.
1
Rolling stone has a great article this month on women's health in Ohio all thanks to the myriad of laws that Kasich has signed in the last five years. It is a must read and a view into how difficult the GOP wants to make women's lives. This election more than any other will effect a woman's independence and autonomy. Please don't vote for the GOP.
I am D all the way across the board...
I am D all the way across the board...
22
If Republicans like Mr. Douthat wish to have a national candidate for President who is thoughtful and can reach out to moderates and centrists and independents, perhaps they need to make the Republican Party vaguely moderate, somewhat centrist and open to independent thought.
Instead, they have spent the past seven-plus years practicing unwavering obstruction, locked into conservative dogma in fiscal matters and on social issues while labeling those who wouldn't go along, "RINOs" and kicking them to the curb.
Kaslch is (as was Huntsman,) highly conservative. Only in comparison to the current GOP is he a moderate.
As to mock battles between some Republican and Hillary, we have seen how the GOP did in thrashing her with their "Benghazi" committee when it had its chance to put her under oath for a good grilling. The GOP had only their loathing - no evidence. One wonders whether they believe another six months of loathing without evidence won't grow old?
The GOP has built a party that has to rely on smearing the opposition.
How far do you believe this can take the GOP this year...and into the future?
Instead, they have spent the past seven-plus years practicing unwavering obstruction, locked into conservative dogma in fiscal matters and on social issues while labeling those who wouldn't go along, "RINOs" and kicking them to the curb.
Kaslch is (as was Huntsman,) highly conservative. Only in comparison to the current GOP is he a moderate.
As to mock battles between some Republican and Hillary, we have seen how the GOP did in thrashing her with their "Benghazi" committee when it had its chance to put her under oath for a good grilling. The GOP had only their loathing - no evidence. One wonders whether they believe another six months of loathing without evidence won't grow old?
The GOP has built a party that has to rely on smearing the opposition.
How far do you believe this can take the GOP this year...and into the future?
216
Douhat: "In Kasich’s case, it has included pious lectures about how his Medicaid expansion makes him more Christian than the average small-government Republican...but phrasing it that way, in a party in which piety and limited government sentiment are a package deal for many voters and activists was clear political malpractice."
As Douthat illustrates the complete political, moral and intellectual malpractice and bankruptcy that is modern Republicanism.
Kasich's acceptance of expanded Medicaid to poor Ohioans who lacked health insurance - an extended compassionate Christian hand to the least among us - is considered a black mark in the rainbow of Republican immorality.
Father Douthat - who plays a Christian in this newspaper - prefers the political sensibilities of GOP Death Panel states where Medicaid expansion is withheld for political spite, an action that a 2014 Harvard study projected would will kill off up to 17,000 poor Americans annually in the original 24 states governed by Republicans.
The truth is that most Americans - including Republicans - support the ACA's outlawing of pre-existing condition abandonment, elimination of lifetime caps and the personal responsibility embedded in the ACA.
It's only when the ACA is called 'Obamacare' that Republican blood starts to boil, mouths start to foam, and brains start to collapse into a sea of right-wing spite and cognitive dissonance.
The lessons of GOP hypocrisy, stupidity and fake religiosity shine bright in 2016.
As Douthat illustrates the complete political, moral and intellectual malpractice and bankruptcy that is modern Republicanism.
Kasich's acceptance of expanded Medicaid to poor Ohioans who lacked health insurance - an extended compassionate Christian hand to the least among us - is considered a black mark in the rainbow of Republican immorality.
Father Douthat - who plays a Christian in this newspaper - prefers the political sensibilities of GOP Death Panel states where Medicaid expansion is withheld for political spite, an action that a 2014 Harvard study projected would will kill off up to 17,000 poor Americans annually in the original 24 states governed by Republicans.
The truth is that most Americans - including Republicans - support the ACA's outlawing of pre-existing condition abandonment, elimination of lifetime caps and the personal responsibility embedded in the ACA.
It's only when the ACA is called 'Obamacare' that Republican blood starts to boil, mouths start to foam, and brains start to collapse into a sea of right-wing spite and cognitive dissonance.
The lessons of GOP hypocrisy, stupidity and fake religiosity shine bright in 2016.
211
Kasich was never, and is never, ever going to be the nominee. He expanded Medicaid in Ohio, which, in the code of the racist wing of the Republican party, means that he gave something for nothing to blacks.
3
Kasich failed the first requirement for running for president: finding a billionaire or two to support him.
5
To Republicans who are so blind to see the obvious, here is tiny proof that Kasich should be the nominee and that Douthat is right here. I voted for Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008 and 2012. I would have voted for Kasich in November. You can forget about Trump, Cruz, and even Ryan. At least Kasich has shown he can think for himself every now and then. He is more Reagan than all of the other candidates. Yes I did vote for Reagan way back when.
Reagan's trickle down economics of tax cuts for the corporations and the wealthy together with deficit spending for a bloated congressional-military-industrial complex delivered massive wealth inequality and a really angry impoverished working middle class. George H.W. Bush correctly called it voodoo economics before Reagan co-opted him by naming him his VP running mate.
Today Kasich embodies the same Reagan worship. Both Reagan and Kasich appear to be friendly, regular, likable guys etc. BUT beware of their Republican "economics".
Today Kasich embodies the same Reagan worship. Both Reagan and Kasich appear to be friendly, regular, likable guys etc. BUT beware of their Republican "economics".
5
Given the devotion of Republicans to entertainers like Reagan, Beck, Limbaugh who make bad stuff sound good, we wonder why it took so long for all Republicans like Kasich to become irrelevant. The mob, always turns on the plans of it's demagogues. Despite claims to the contrary, the Republican Party has become the anti-democratic party instead of the anti-Democratic Party.
Embracing stupidity is never rewarded. Eventually, those who tolerate stupid ideas to support a larger agenda recognize that they are surrounded by fools that paralyze their goals.
Republicans have branded themselves as unvarnished racists among Black and Hispanic Americans by first opposing all things Obama, even when Obama's efforts support Republican agenda items: the ACA. Republicans have uncovered the "subtle" racism of the Southern Strategy, have underlined the deliberate racism of voter impediments, have exulted in cutting food stamps to "incentivize" children, and condemned their own constituents to denied healthcare benefits. Republicans still imagine that they can blame Obama for their stupid intransigence.
Kasich is more rational but still believes that he and men like him can declare imminent domain on the uterus because of their religious beliefs. This could be their death, if more women recognize how outrageous and arrogant these politicians are.
"Do stupid stuff" is the rule of the Republican Party. Kasich reaps the consequence....he did not denounce stupidity and violates women's rights.
Embracing stupidity is never rewarded. Eventually, those who tolerate stupid ideas to support a larger agenda recognize that they are surrounded by fools that paralyze their goals.
Republicans have branded themselves as unvarnished racists among Black and Hispanic Americans by first opposing all things Obama, even when Obama's efforts support Republican agenda items: the ACA. Republicans have uncovered the "subtle" racism of the Southern Strategy, have underlined the deliberate racism of voter impediments, have exulted in cutting food stamps to "incentivize" children, and condemned their own constituents to denied healthcare benefits. Republicans still imagine that they can blame Obama for their stupid intransigence.
Kasich is more rational but still believes that he and men like him can declare imminent domain on the uterus because of their religious beliefs. This could be their death, if more women recognize how outrageous and arrogant these politicians are.
"Do stupid stuff" is the rule of the Republican Party. Kasich reaps the consequence....he did not denounce stupidity and violates women's rights.
15
As a retied public educator I can quickly name one of Kasich's signature policies: privatization of public schools. Look at that part of his record and you'll see why I'm relieved he's been marginalized.
21
While you're laboratory growing a Republican candidate you might also try lab growing a Republican electorate that is less fanatical, hateful and intransigent.
There is nothing for Kasich or Romney or Huntsman to offer blue collar workers that would better their condition or protect wages and jobs. It is simply not in their DNA, their whole world view would collapse. They offer nothing to minorities, women or children. Trickle down has been exposed by the Donald (how ironic) to be a fraud.
Clips of Kasich campaigning in New York show him to be kind of a jerk. He wont beat Hillary either and isn't interesting that polls show that the people would choose Sanders over this Republican totally bland old timer.
Republicans have been playing with fire for 50 years now and way too late they are getting burned by their dog whistle politics and catering to fear. They now have a party were the candidates have to out do one another in unreasonableness. Good luck Douthat. Go back to explaining to us why the Pope and Jesus are not really good Catholics.
There is nothing for Kasich or Romney or Huntsman to offer blue collar workers that would better their condition or protect wages and jobs. It is simply not in their DNA, their whole world view would collapse. They offer nothing to minorities, women or children. Trickle down has been exposed by the Donald (how ironic) to be a fraud.
Clips of Kasich campaigning in New York show him to be kind of a jerk. He wont beat Hillary either and isn't interesting that polls show that the people would choose Sanders over this Republican totally bland old timer.
Republicans have been playing with fire for 50 years now and way too late they are getting burned by their dog whistle politics and catering to fear. They now have a party were the candidates have to out do one another in unreasonableness. Good luck Douthat. Go back to explaining to us why the Pope and Jesus are not really good Catholics.
260
The once Grand Old Party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Eisenhower has now morphed into an obnoxious bunch of obstructionist and religious nuts even within their own party.
14
If Kasich wants to convince me that he has a blue-collar mentality, let him pick up a picket sign and march with striking Verizon workers.
It'll be a cold day in Hades before that happens.
It'll be a cold day in Hades before that happens.
11
Kasich is more moderate than the GOP frontrunners, but that's not saying much. Beyond that, he has the affect of a middle school principal, preachy and full of platitudes, but who secretly believes in corporal punishment.
8
Republicans should walk the walk.
Allow unrestricted open carry at the convention. They legislate to have that rule everywhere else. Then deny the nomination that Trump has earned, the old fashion way, by actual votes.
Let's see how that unrestricted carry rule works.
They're all 'good guys', right?
What could possibly go wrong?
Allow unrestricted open carry at the convention. They legislate to have that rule everywhere else. Then deny the nomination that Trump has earned, the old fashion way, by actual votes.
Let's see how that unrestricted carry rule works.
They're all 'good guys', right?
What could possibly go wrong?
5
I think Ross has nailed the two reasons why I do not want to vote for Kasich: his pious lectures and the endless repeating of his biography, without addressing the issues that really concern us.
10
I'm a Democrat and I'm glad Kasich isn't likely to win the Republican nomination.
I'm not a great fan of Mr. Kasich, but I can see his appeal to Independent voters.
I honestly think Hillary could still beat him, but it would be a closer match than the presumed race between my side and one of the two crazy people.
I'm not a great fan of Mr. Kasich, but I can see his appeal to Independent voters.
I honestly think Hillary could still beat him, but it would be a closer match than the presumed race between my side and one of the two crazy people.
5
I would like to see Mr. Kasich put on his glasses and read a speech that explains how poor and minority women benefit from his move to de-fund Planned Parenthood in Ohio. While he is explaining that, he might also explain the math of his "balanced budget amendment". Bottom line: these policy "solutions" , which in my view typify the vapidity of most republican "solutions", are dangerous and unworkable, and cannot be cleaned up and made nice by someone trying to sound friendly and sincere in a prepared speech.
18
The problem here is that the campaign season and polling industry is taken way too seriously. Herman Cain also polled competitively for a week or two early in a primary season. So what?
4
If America was true to the constitution and the legislation of morality was not the only issue the RNC could run on Hillary Clinton and John Kasich would be in the same political party.
In dumbed down 21st century America the Grand Old Party is four square against the constitution. That is the be all and end all of the conservative movement where even the second Amendment requires the denial of Samuel Johnson's 18 th century Dictionary of the English language definition of militia and arms forbids the GOPs understanding of the second amendment.
In dumbed down 21st century America the Grand Old Party is four square against the constitution. That is the be all and end all of the conservative movement where even the second Amendment requires the denial of Samuel Johnson's 18 th century Dictionary of the English language definition of militia and arms forbids the GOPs understanding of the second amendment.
6
Polls that show John Kasich beating Hillary Clinton in the general election are as meaningless as the polls that show Bernie Sanders beating any GOP nominee by a wider margin than Hillary Clinton. Sanders has not been attacked by the GOP. The Republicans are convinced that Hillary will be the nominee, so they've concentrated all their firepower on her. It's the same with Kasich. He has been little more than a bookend at the endless debates. Nobody has paid any attention to him, either. Should either of them get the nomination he will be tarred and feathered by the opposing camp. Sanders and Kasich are winning in polls because they're not in the game.
146
Although I think it's likely that Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, to pair Sanders - who has won his last 8 or 9 contests - with Kasich, who has won exactly one - is a bit disingenuous.
For a party(s) that claims to be strictly wedded to the Constitution, the way the GOP vs. TP vs. ? deals with (e.g.) elections and Supreme Court nominees is every day more a matter of expeditiousness and big boss political convenience.
3
If I follow the logic here: "Moderates" (speaking relative to 2016), such as John Kasich, should dumb-down their talking points, and pander more assiduously to the anti-intellectual and deluded side of the Republican tent, because conservative columnists such as Douthat are ultimately unwilling to really take on the ignorance-worshipping that has defined the GOP of the last 15 years.
13
The lesson of 2016 is that if a party spends eight years in uncompromising opposition to the president it will find itself to be reactionary party, with few ideas and fewer real leaders.
16
" conservative's Great Midwestern Hope "
The article mentions John Kasich and Scott Walker both as being those hopes, and refers to Scott Walker as the possible hope again.
Nothing hardly could chill my spine to even think along those lines. To put the word hope with the name Scott Walker would call for a sedative. Oh, yes, the Mr. Friendly and Mr. Folksy. But then that must mean being friendly and folksy on the outside, you need to hate union workers and women on the inside. You know why Kasich got dumped in Illinois? Because although Kasich claims he has been marvelous in Ohio and Walker thought the son of a preacher man was all he needed to redeem himself, they both have created grave sins. Even conservative voters see them as film flam men and they are.
Kasich's grin and demeanor, once maybe even appealing now comes across as a silly and manipulative old guy who is off from some other planet still trying to land. He, like Walker, believes in one thing, himself. Democrats in his state voted for him because they didn't want Trump to win. That's partly how he won Ohio.
The Midwest is a nice place. For the most part the people are honest and hard working. But they've been tossed to the wind by Kasich and Walker. Neighboring states have watched and the truly conservative even, will not take any more chances with these two birds.
Walker is trying to sell his campaign shirts to pay his campaign. $45, no size guarantee. Maybe Kasich should give it a thought.
The article mentions John Kasich and Scott Walker both as being those hopes, and refers to Scott Walker as the possible hope again.
Nothing hardly could chill my spine to even think along those lines. To put the word hope with the name Scott Walker would call for a sedative. Oh, yes, the Mr. Friendly and Mr. Folksy. But then that must mean being friendly and folksy on the outside, you need to hate union workers and women on the inside. You know why Kasich got dumped in Illinois? Because although Kasich claims he has been marvelous in Ohio and Walker thought the son of a preacher man was all he needed to redeem himself, they both have created grave sins. Even conservative voters see them as film flam men and they are.
Kasich's grin and demeanor, once maybe even appealing now comes across as a silly and manipulative old guy who is off from some other planet still trying to land. He, like Walker, believes in one thing, himself. Democrats in his state voted for him because they didn't want Trump to win. That's partly how he won Ohio.
The Midwest is a nice place. For the most part the people are honest and hard working. But they've been tossed to the wind by Kasich and Walker. Neighboring states have watched and the truly conservative even, will not take any more chances with these two birds.
Walker is trying to sell his campaign shirts to pay his campaign. $45, no size guarantee. Maybe Kasich should give it a thought.
108
Re: Walker campaign shirts. The size doesn't much matter to many Wisconsin union members and teachers (and other people of good heart). Just so long as they fit onto the effigy and aren't fireproofed.
1
Another good piece. Kasich's real problem is that he's comforting in an era that seems to want confrontation. It's no accident that both Trump and Cruz take a wrecking-ball approach, both from a policy and a temperamental perspective. The GOP isn't ready for a Kasich, and Walker isn't a substitute. They won't nominate a conciliatory candidate. The entire orientation of the party has been that of obstruct when you aren't in control, and impose when you are.
3
The only lesson of Kasich is that if one hopes to be the default "mainstream" choice, be less odious than Cruz, less unhinged than Trump, less green than Rubio and less loud-mouthed than Christie. Hardly exemplary.
9
Richard Luettgen is dead-on: Kasich appeals to Douthat but not America, and Douthat supplies the explanation when he says "But for all of that, it’s also true that if you laboratory-grew a Republican politician to win a presidential election in the current political climate, he would probably look a lot like Kasich." That is a toxic chemical creation, this "plain-talking" Kasich. Looks like bread, but smells like Flint's lead-lad water. He's no winner, he's a Chimera. After all, his record is inedible GOP fustion, Faustian fustian, unfashionable fare in post-Nixon times, when people can look up the recipe online in seconds. Kasich is not the recipe for GOP success but for lead-poisoning even Midwestern GOPs, reject.
Flint-wise, his toxicity is not as bad for voters as Trump's, but Kasich is fake food. identifiable as false-moderation loaf and values-conservative oaf, and who wants that when an entertaining, funny-haired, dirty-mouthed, WWF oaf like Trump exists? The recipe Douthat wants to win with won't fly with the voters -- what the sub-degree American voters want to buy is vitamins-added Wonder Bread. Where did they get this addiction to fake, half-baked, inedible politics? Maybe reading this column and watching Fox and Koch?
Flint-wise, his toxicity is not as bad for voters as Trump's, but Kasich is fake food. identifiable as false-moderation loaf and values-conservative oaf, and who wants that when an entertaining, funny-haired, dirty-mouthed, WWF oaf like Trump exists? The recipe Douthat wants to win with won't fly with the voters -- what the sub-degree American voters want to buy is vitamins-added Wonder Bread. Where did they get this addiction to fake, half-baked, inedible politics? Maybe reading this column and watching Fox and Koch?
2
Ross longs for a candidate who does not actually exist all because the party has been morally bankrupt since Nixon's era. The once proud party of low taxes, individual freedoms and limited government no longer exists.
4
It's telling that Republicans can clearly see that Kasich would be their best hope in the general election, yet have narrowed their choices to two bellicose extremists--one a stone-hearted ideologue, the other a distillation of the anti-intellectual wing, a defiant no-nothing who relishes in offending people.
Chalk up another one for the Republican misinformation machine that drives people to vote against their own economic interests.
Chalk up another one for the Republican misinformation machine that drives people to vote against their own economic interests.
7
Katich and Clinton position themselves as able managers in a time when we need to jumpstart a renaissance and by that criterion neither is really fit for the job. The others are all revolutionaries. Trump, Sanders, Cruz, want to overthrow the established order but they don't have a plan for when they succeed with the overthrow. Someone needs to point in a new direction and paint a picture of what success looks like, and it isn't bringing back jobs, it's inventing them. Kaisich's (and Clinton's) flaw is that he isn't pointing out where he wants to go, only where he's been, he's simply trying to keep the lid on. In that comparison, of course Trump and Cruz win but they are offering half a loaf.
2
Kasich supports Amnesty for the 12 million illegal immigrants; Trump and Cruz support Deportation. This is a great divide between Republicans, and, unfortunately for Kasich, Trump and Cruz support the majority position among the base (while Kasich backs the GOP elites - not helpful in this year.) Like the Vietnam War splitting Democrats in 1968, several core issues are tearing the GOP to shreds. One has to wonder if the GOP has expired its shelf life.
3
7 out of 7 polls (see 2016 Presidential Race at Real Clear Politics) have Kasich easily defeating Clinton, while Clinton easily defeats Trump and Cruz. I'm a fiscal conservative, a big fan of Kasich, and I hope despite the odds against him the delegates eventually realize he could be the savior of the Republican Party.
20
Kasich would have a tough time walking back many of his statements during his repub clown show days.
As a fan of Kasich, do you know he is vehemently opposed to women's reproductive health, is anti labor, anti education and has a Wall Street background he fails to emphasize. Some savior.
1
I agree that Kasich is the sanest of the bunch.
But you should understand that these early national polls have so little prediction power as to be effectively useless.
Clinton-Kasich is uncallable -- too many "wild cards" on both sides, far too many miles to go.
Absent some big "October surprise" HRC will trounce Trump or Cruz.
The Republican party is unmanageably divided now -- it cannot win in national elections until it can heal internal divisions.
But you should understand that these early national polls have so little prediction power as to be effectively useless.
Clinton-Kasich is uncallable -- too many "wild cards" on both sides, far too many miles to go.
Absent some big "October surprise" HRC will trounce Trump or Cruz.
The Republican party is unmanageably divided now -- it cannot win in national elections until it can heal internal divisions.
Ponder his mistakes?
His mistake is thinking that he could compete at all without being a dog-whistle racist.
The driving force in the Republican primary IS race baiting and he would have to get down in that sordid mud and wallow around.
The rest of the party platform, that celebration of stupidity that the wealthy party controllers have become so adept at selling -- more tax cuts for the rich, climate change denial -- has been revealed by Trump as secondary interests for the majority of voters in he party.
His mistake is thinking that he could compete at all without being a dog-whistle racist.
The driving force in the Republican primary IS race baiting and he would have to get down in that sordid mud and wallow around.
The rest of the party platform, that celebration of stupidity that the wealthy party controllers have become so adept at selling -- more tax cuts for the rich, climate change denial -- has been revealed by Trump as secondary interests for the majority of voters in he party.
2
John Kasich is no moderate. He's as extreme as the front-runners whose dust he's been eating since Day One. He's anti-abortion and he's anti-voter.
The white GOP "base" is broken and broke. The men have no work. Their wives and daughters and sisters have sex; they get pregnant; they want out of the condition. Kasich is as sly as a fox; he slides anti-abortion riders into bills crossing his desk in a sneaky, underhanded fashion. He answers truly to another of the GOP's prima facie evidence tests: the elimination and exclusion of voters, particularly minority voters.
How does his seeming independence of going rogue and taking the federales' billions for Medicaid for its poorer citizens jibes with his stance on abortion? And exactly what legislation has he introduced to stem the flow of jobs offshore to aid the white, blue-collar "base"?
We all know about the Flint, Michigan water disaster, but Kasich has presided over a few of his own in the Buckeye State: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/09/27/clean-water-cri....
And, Mr. Douthat, how has your "model" distanced himself from the nuclear waste of a Congress? When has he scolded a do-nothing Congress for boasting as its major achievement the frustration of every initiative that President Obama authored? Has he spoken up for the need for the Senate to meet with Judge Garland, for example?
John Kasich was outflanked by two demagogues whose lack of ideas served only to expose the emptiness of his own.
The white GOP "base" is broken and broke. The men have no work. Their wives and daughters and sisters have sex; they get pregnant; they want out of the condition. Kasich is as sly as a fox; he slides anti-abortion riders into bills crossing his desk in a sneaky, underhanded fashion. He answers truly to another of the GOP's prima facie evidence tests: the elimination and exclusion of voters, particularly minority voters.
How does his seeming independence of going rogue and taking the federales' billions for Medicaid for its poorer citizens jibes with his stance on abortion? And exactly what legislation has he introduced to stem the flow of jobs offshore to aid the white, blue-collar "base"?
We all know about the Flint, Michigan water disaster, but Kasich has presided over a few of his own in the Buckeye State: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/09/27/clean-water-cri....
And, Mr. Douthat, how has your "model" distanced himself from the nuclear waste of a Congress? When has he scolded a do-nothing Congress for boasting as its major achievement the frustration of every initiative that President Obama authored? Has he spoken up for the need for the Senate to meet with Judge Garland, for example?
John Kasich was outflanked by two demagogues whose lack of ideas served only to expose the emptiness of his own.
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A rebuttal to your last point: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/03/20/john-kasich-says-...
I prefer Kasich to Trump or Cruz (and will vote for Bernie or Hillary), but he is what I call a "stealth bomber" because of his politics.
As this Boston writer points out, Kasich's actual Ohio record is often by-passed when citing him as a moderate. He is anything but the Prince of Light.
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Kasich is the only choice we have for president. His whole career has been a preparation for the presidency. While he is a very conservative Republican, he is not an extremist. He can work with the Democrats. His talk to the Council on Foreign Relations ( available online) has convinced this liberal that he has the gravitas, the understanding of foreign affairs and the political skills necessary to be president. Above all else we need an adult in the White House.
1
Liberal? Please explain how a "liberal" could support a candidate who at best is warmed over faux Reagan stew - minus the senility and the creepy mannequin wife - and at worst a wolf in sheep's clothing who is no better than the other awful Republican governors out there busily destroying their states.
And stop with the fiscal conservative stuff. The GOP is not the party of fiscal conservatism. It is the party of selfishness, greed and pandering to the worst of human nature while waving a cross and a flag.
The only answer to the GOP is Buffy and a large supply of stakes and holy water. Actually sunlight works well too - it allows everyone to see what the GOP is really about.
And stop with the fiscal conservative stuff. The GOP is not the party of fiscal conservatism. It is the party of selfishness, greed and pandering to the worst of human nature while waving a cross and a flag.
The only answer to the GOP is Buffy and a large supply of stakes and holy water. Actually sunlight works well too - it allows everyone to see what the GOP is really about.
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What an extraordinary surprise. For a Republican to win the nomination in the future, he/she must not appear too compassionate or science minded. Kasich's apostasy to what is now uber conservative orthodoxy was that he dared to slightly stray from its base of proud ignorance and celebrated cruelty. Modern conservatives have yet to realize that their charming, scapegoating (government and non-whites) dullard paragon – Reagan, is never coming back.
4
"But if Republicans want Kasich’s current poll numbers against Hillary to ever be a real live general-election possibility for the party, they would be wise to ponder his mistakes."
In a nominating process where the moths have been attracted to a hate-bating carnival barker and an anti-government religious zealot, there is little room for a governor who has the audacity to support health care for the people of his state. The problem lies not so much with Kasich, but with the mess that is the Republican base.
In a nominating process where the moths have been attracted to a hate-bating carnival barker and an anti-government religious zealot, there is little room for a governor who has the audacity to support health care for the people of his state. The problem lies not so much with Kasich, but with the mess that is the Republican base.
3
Addressing the issues confronting the working class while passing conservative litmus tests is an impossible task. Everyone, proponents and opponents , agree that there are winners and losers resulting from globalizing our economy. If you are conservative, you are fundamentally opposed to the government helping the losers. Heck, even President Obama limits his proposals to help these people to things that relatively minor programs because admitting that we have a major problem with economic and social disruption due to globalization might upset things to much. The timid proposals by Obama are dead on arrival at a Republican congress who views them as government waste. Along comes Trump. He has no policy plans to help these people at all, but at least he talks about their pain...and hey, he has his own television program.... Trump and Bernie were inevitable.
Globalization is on balance good for the US. We need to force, through taxation, globalization winners to help globalization losers through a variety of wealth redistribution schemes. Conservatives will lose all power before that happens.
Globalization is on balance good for the US. We need to force, through taxation, globalization winners to help globalization losers through a variety of wealth redistribution schemes. Conservatives will lose all power before that happens.
1
"Globalization is on balance good for the US". Are you kidding? We have lost our Corporate tax base, our manufacturing base, and export only military might. Wake up.
1
It would be great to have a Republican who laid out the smartest policy positions, but, none have the courage and intelligence to do that. Short of that we should prefer one that is most likely to do what is needed and to win. Kasich is that. That said, I would like him to state positions he does hold more persuasively to people who want toughness and, so, buy Trumps addled rhetoric. Comprehensive immigration reform can be tough if it means drawing a line between people here so long it would be inhumane to deport them and then making it strictly illegal to hire illegals. Another smart and tough position he has taken is preferring good government to the interests of public employees. That's largely a state government issue (Walker learned from him by not crossing the powerful police unions.), but, it would be creative, smart conservatism to hear a Republican take pride in taking on this leviathan crushing the government we do need. But, I'll take Kasich sans this creative policy rhetoric. (By the way he's nothing like the cloying Huntsman. Kasich is a genuine product of the Ohio middle of America.)
Kasich is NOT a genuine product of "the Ohio middle of America."
Most of the Ohioans I know - quite a few - are not simply outwardly courteous - they are truly reasonable and kind people who prefer moderation because extremism is usually a dead end.
That is why I am usually quite content to allow Ohio decide the Presidential election. Kasich wears the outfit but he is an extremist. Only an extremist would spend so much darn time worrying about other people's religious and sexual practices. How can it be "middle America" to spend so much time and attention on uteruses.
Walker is an utter disaster as Governor. You outed yourself on that one, Sir.
No one who can read and is not a completely soulless could ever be a Walker fan.
Most of the Ohioans I know - quite a few - are not simply outwardly courteous - they are truly reasonable and kind people who prefer moderation because extremism is usually a dead end.
That is why I am usually quite content to allow Ohio decide the Presidential election. Kasich wears the outfit but he is an extremist. Only an extremist would spend so much darn time worrying about other people's religious and sexual practices. How can it be "middle America" to spend so much time and attention on uteruses.
Walker is an utter disaster as Governor. You outed yourself on that one, Sir.
No one who can read and is not a completely soulless could ever be a Walker fan.
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Douthat continues to grasp at straws, mistaking them for lifelines, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the intellectual bankruptcy that has crippled the GOP. In a country beset by economic inequality and a crumbling infrastructure, a party wedded to an anti-government philosophy and hostile to the demographic groups that represent the nation's future, faces a challenging future. A candidate like Kasich, who fudges some of his party's more loathsome positions while remaining faithful to its core doctrines, offers no solution to the GOP's longterm dilemma.
The party, through gerrymandering and voter-suppression laws, can retain its influence on the state level and in congress for some time, but the long arc of its power must trend downward unless it develops a more suitable governing philosophy for America in the 21st century. Kasich is not the prophet of that new thinking.
The party, through gerrymandering and voter-suppression laws, can retain its influence on the state level and in congress for some time, but the long arc of its power must trend downward unless it develops a more suitable governing philosophy for America in the 21st century. Kasich is not the prophet of that new thinking.
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O.K. here is Kasich main current policy position. He wants to balance the federal budget. He wants to eliminate the deficit. He wants to pay down the federal debt. He is in favor of the Balanced Budget amendment. That's pretty clear and monumentally stupid.
He doesn't understand that as the economy grows we need more and more money in the private sector, that only the federal gov can print this new money and that the way it gets from the gov to the private sector is through deficit spending. He probably believes that new money falls like manna from the sky.
He has never looked to see what has always happened when we HAVE balanced the budget for a bit. Well, here is the history:
The federal government has balanced the budget, eliminated deficits for more than three years in just six periods since 1776, bringing in enough revenue to cover all of its spending during 1817-21, 1823-36, 1852-57, 1867-73, 1880-93, and 1920-30. The debt was paid down 29%. 100%, 59%, 27%, 57%, and 36% respectively. A depression began in 1819, 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893 and 1929.
You should support John Kasich only if you are in favor of a 7th depression.
He doesn't understand that as the economy grows we need more and more money in the private sector, that only the federal gov can print this new money and that the way it gets from the gov to the private sector is through deficit spending. He probably believes that new money falls like manna from the sky.
He has never looked to see what has always happened when we HAVE balanced the budget for a bit. Well, here is the history:
The federal government has balanced the budget, eliminated deficits for more than three years in just six periods since 1776, bringing in enough revenue to cover all of its spending during 1817-21, 1823-36, 1852-57, 1867-73, 1880-93, and 1920-30. The debt was paid down 29%. 100%, 59%, 27%, 57%, and 36% respectively. A depression began in 1819, 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893 and 1929.
You should support John Kasich only if you are in favor of a 7th depression.
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Here we go again, "eliminate the deficit, pay down the national debt, etc." Doesn't Kasich know he's a Republican? Hasn't he and all (or almost all ) Republicans sworn an oath to Grover Norquist to never, ever vote to raise taxes/ To eliminate the debt, tax raising would be involved. That will never happen as long as Republicans have any sort of power, including the filibuster. They believe in their oath to Norquist as much as they believe in their oath to our Constitution.
4
What "mistakes"?
Kasich has won every race in his political career in which he has gone one-on-one, head-to-head with his opponents. He was re-elected as purple state Ohio's Republican governor in a landslide. He won 86 of 88 rural and industrial counties and 27% of the African American vote. In the most recent polls, 62% of Ohio's Democrats, Republicans and Independents together and 79% of Ohio's Republicans alone approve of his leadership and accomplishments.
The state of Ohio turnaround? The people of Ohio made it happen because the governor expected more of us than we expected of ourselves during our low time.
The Medicaid expansion? Kasich initiated and led the effort. The State Controlling Board and the Legislature subsequently supported him. They approved Kasich's initiative because a detailed study conducted by the Urban Institute made a compelling case for choosing the Medicaid expansion. Some 400,000 previously uninsured Ohioans are now receiving the kind of medical care that many of them desperately need and that most people take for granted.
John Kasich is the governor of my state, and he was my U.S. Representative.
I've had a long time to watch him in action. His quirks, foibles and annoying behavior? So what? Results are all that matters, and Kasich has delivered.
The Republican Party needs John Kasich more than he needs the Republican Party. Kasich may not be the president we want, but he's clearly the leader we need.
Kasich has won every race in his political career in which he has gone one-on-one, head-to-head with his opponents. He was re-elected as purple state Ohio's Republican governor in a landslide. He won 86 of 88 rural and industrial counties and 27% of the African American vote. In the most recent polls, 62% of Ohio's Democrats, Republicans and Independents together and 79% of Ohio's Republicans alone approve of his leadership and accomplishments.
The state of Ohio turnaround? The people of Ohio made it happen because the governor expected more of us than we expected of ourselves during our low time.
The Medicaid expansion? Kasich initiated and led the effort. The State Controlling Board and the Legislature subsequently supported him. They approved Kasich's initiative because a detailed study conducted by the Urban Institute made a compelling case for choosing the Medicaid expansion. Some 400,000 previously uninsured Ohioans are now receiving the kind of medical care that many of them desperately need and that most people take for granted.
John Kasich is the governor of my state, and he was my U.S. Representative.
I've had a long time to watch him in action. His quirks, foibles and annoying behavior? So what? Results are all that matters, and Kasich has delivered.
The Republican Party needs John Kasich more than he needs the Republican Party. Kasich may not be the president we want, but he's clearly the leader we need.
John Kasich would "fit" if Mitch McConnell would show some backbone and along with Paul Ryan begin a "profile in courage" re-imaging of your Republican party, Ross. Just imagine if Mitch switched-- announced as the party's leader that they would meet with Obama about a by-partisan fix to the ACA, that they would consider Justice Garland, that they would seriously acknowledge climate change... If tomorrow the party leaders would acknowledge the inevitable--that their intransigence is crushing your party's relevancy, but more importantly creating a cynical, devastating backlash that is profoundly damaging our nation's well being and our belief in our democracy. In one half hour news conference, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan would become two political heroes--present day, patriotic Everett Dirksens. Recall Dirksen, who heroically rose to the occasion fifty years ago as Republican Congressional leader and helped to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. If McConnell and Ryan were to demonstrate true political leadership and simply short circuit the wing nuts, the party could immediately move to the center, disavow the Trump/ Cruz neo-fascist movements, and heroically nominate Kasich at the convention, who would very likely win the election. SHow some courage Mitch-- life is short, and your moment has come.
1
I though Katich was supposed to be the doc one, the reasonable one. But his views on women's right to personal agency on medical and life choices is pretty cold and denies women full humanity.
And then I saw him in a video yesterday, with a bunch of Hasids, in a Jewish bookstore, lecturing Talmudic scholars on the Old testament. It was the height of arrogance end tone-deafness. Watch it yourself - it is almost painful to see. Then he moved outside with them, and in reference to the marking of the doors of the Israelites with blood so the angel of death would pass over, he invokes Jesus, as they stand uncomfortably alongside him.
My view of him plummeted as I watch the interaction. Not so bright. Completely tone deaf. And arrogantly self-assured. Very bad combination.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/kasich-meets-talmudic-schol...
And then I saw him in a video yesterday, with a bunch of Hasids, in a Jewish bookstore, lecturing Talmudic scholars on the Old testament. It was the height of arrogance end tone-deafness. Watch it yourself - it is almost painful to see. Then he moved outside with them, and in reference to the marking of the doors of the Israelites with blood so the angel of death would pass over, he invokes Jesus, as they stand uncomfortably alongside him.
My view of him plummeted as I watch the interaction. Not so bright. Completely tone deaf. And arrogantly self-assured. Very bad combination.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/kasich-meets-talmudic-schol...
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typos - Kasich, "supposed to be the nice one"
1
This is just more of the pseudo-logical contortions that GOP apologists have to put themselves through, now that their bigotry and attachment to the wealthy few has produced the current schisms in their party and awful choices. Well, Ross, it's your party and you can cry if you want to, but I for one will dance at the wake. Unless of course the irresponsible behavior of the GOP results in Trumping us all and then who knows how long the painful death of all the humanitarian values of society will last. Of course your other "leader" would only speed the Cruz of the Titanic.
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Douthat sees Kasich as the chameleon candidate. He’s not evangelical, but he’s plenty religious enough to have denied women their legal abortion rights. He’s the blue-collar’s soul mate, although he was a union-crusher and a managing director at Lehmann Brothers. He can beat Hillary in a general election, but he can’t beat a failed Republican candidate who wasn’t even running.
He sounds less like a chameleon than a mannequin, having so little personality that he can be dressed up in any regalia that suits the moment.
Kasich wants to be the darling of a party that ignores him because he isn’t crazy enough. Republicans didn’t burn down the House and the Senate in a blaze of conservative glory only to rally behind a personality-challenged pseudo-moderate. They didn’t commit political suicide only to be resurrected by some Medicaid-friendly schlub.
The fact that we’re talking about Kasich at all is testament to the depths to which Republicans have sunk. Douthat says Republicans should ponder Kasich’s mistakes, but his mistakes were to remind Republicans that they’ve gone off the deep end.
Years of fomenting anger and resentment among low-info voters has paved the way for a Trump or a Cruz. There are no off-ramps. They will follow this road to the bitter end, asleep at the wheel, and dreaming of a Republican victory that will never come.
R.I.P, G.O.P, while Douthat delivers the eulogy.
He sounds less like a chameleon than a mannequin, having so little personality that he can be dressed up in any regalia that suits the moment.
Kasich wants to be the darling of a party that ignores him because he isn’t crazy enough. Republicans didn’t burn down the House and the Senate in a blaze of conservative glory only to rally behind a personality-challenged pseudo-moderate. They didn’t commit political suicide only to be resurrected by some Medicaid-friendly schlub.
The fact that we’re talking about Kasich at all is testament to the depths to which Republicans have sunk. Douthat says Republicans should ponder Kasich’s mistakes, but his mistakes were to remind Republicans that they’ve gone off the deep end.
Years of fomenting anger and resentment among low-info voters has paved the way for a Trump or a Cruz. There are no off-ramps. They will follow this road to the bitter end, asleep at the wheel, and dreaming of a Republican victory that will never come.
R.I.P, G.O.P, while Douthat delivers the eulogy.
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Oops! There's that "low info" name calling again. I so wish the regulars in this echo chamber could find a way to improve their mostly worthy comments by not stooping to this.
2
Gemli needs his own column. Please, NY Times?
3
Great points, Gemli.
As to the criticism over your use of the term, "low-info," of course you're right! Should we call them "high-info," informed, knowledgeable, cautious?
Of course not.
Research has shown that watching FOX actually makes people more ill-informed than watching no TV news at all. As a figure in South Pacific sang, "They have got to be carefully taught" to hate the "right" target groups. Well, FOX, right-wing hate radio, every elected Republican politician, and an acquiescent and slumbering mainstream media have aided and abetted the teaching of misinformation.
So, yes! "Low-info" is exactly the description to use!
As to the criticism over your use of the term, "low-info," of course you're right! Should we call them "high-info," informed, knowledgeable, cautious?
Of course not.
Research has shown that watching FOX actually makes people more ill-informed than watching no TV news at all. As a figure in South Pacific sang, "They have got to be carefully taught" to hate the "right" target groups. Well, FOX, right-wing hate radio, every elected Republican politician, and an acquiescent and slumbering mainstream media have aided and abetted the teaching of misinformation.
So, yes! "Low-info" is exactly the description to use!
7
John Kasich sounds reasonable and acts as cruelly and unreasonably as his conservative peers. One only need to look at what he has signed as Ohio governor to get a clue. What's more, what Kasich proposes is no different than the austerity the GOP has foisted on a nation that could have not only have barely recovered from the Bush Great Recession, but been thriving for the last three or four years. Instead, millions of voters are barely subsisting and their kids can't have what their parents did, for as long as we have a stalemate in our federal government. Kasich is no less extreme than the rest of his party's establishment and his platform serves the same masters Republican voters have turned their backs on.
No, Republican voters want to get back what they lost and John Kasich isn't the one they think will do the job for them. They've picked Trump. The establishment knows that and desperately wants to find a way to install Paul Ryan as their nominee. Ryan has demurred, just like he did when John Boehner resigned. Maybe Robert Reich is right and Ryan's protestations should be taken as a sign that he really wants the brokered convention coronation. If that's the case, the Drumpf's promise of trouble will likely come to pass. Either way, the GOP doesn't have a strong candidate in any front-runner, real or wished. Which Democrat will Republicans pick? http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-27G
No, Republican voters want to get back what they lost and John Kasich isn't the one they think will do the job for them. They've picked Trump. The establishment knows that and desperately wants to find a way to install Paul Ryan as their nominee. Ryan has demurred, just like he did when John Boehner resigned. Maybe Robert Reich is right and Ryan's protestations should be taken as a sign that he really wants the brokered convention coronation. If that's the case, the Drumpf's promise of trouble will likely come to pass. Either way, the GOP doesn't have a strong candidate in any front-runner, real or wished. Which Democrat will Republicans pick? http://wp.me/p2KJ3H-27G
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According to this, it is all right for Kasich to worry about global warming and expand health care with Medicaid, but he must not justify these affronts to conservatives by giving true and valid reasons for them. Finding justifications that conservatives will accept will be difficult whether they are true or not (since basically there arent any), and so he chose to go after those conservatives who have retained some respect for science or some concern with those too poor to afford the medical care they need.
Kasich is targeting blue-collar voters with claims of lower taxes and job creation and community self-help. Unmentioned are the cuts in services brought about by the lower taxes, and the low wages of the created jobs. These threadbare, tried-and-true Republican suggestions are not working now, even if they once did.
Kasich could say, as Trump does, that he knows the corruption of the financial/business world from the inside and and therefore knows how to deal with it. The problem here is that Kasich does not see it as corruption. Trump's populist bloviating is much closer to the truth, and the Republican electorate knows it.
Kasich is targeting blue-collar voters with claims of lower taxes and job creation and community self-help. Unmentioned are the cuts in services brought about by the lower taxes, and the low wages of the created jobs. These threadbare, tried-and-true Republican suggestions are not working now, even if they once did.
Kasich could say, as Trump does, that he knows the corruption of the financial/business world from the inside and and therefore knows how to deal with it. The problem here is that Kasich does not see it as corruption. Trump's populist bloviating is much closer to the truth, and the Republican electorate knows it.
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Why would we think that a man who, so far, could only win his own state, will do much better in the remaining states? Kasich is still in the game in the hopes that as one of the last three still standing he'll be nominated by a convention that can't stand Donald Trump and who sees Ted Cruz, rightfully, as the destroyer of the Republican Party in Congress.
How real is that 11-point lead over Hillary? As the most apparently rational among the three remaining Republican contenders (actually, the only one), that lead may reflect a sense of relief by the people that the right can field at least ONE candidate actually QUALIFIED to be president; as well as a general sense of Hillary that she reminds us of over-cooked asparagus -- not the most appetizing of chores to get through at dinner. If he becomes the Republican nominee, it won't take America long to realize just how conservative John Kasich really is. While not as conservative as Ted Cruz, he's still about three galaxies more conservative than America.
It's been quite awhile now that we chased off the really ELECTABLE Republicans, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. In our disgust of establishment politics, we've probably shot ourselves in the foot.
Kasich looks like a Republican laboratory-grown to win a presidential election in the current climate? Ross has been exposed to too many harmful vapors in that laboratory. Hillary would point to him as the signer of 16 anti-abortion measures and likely eat him for lunch.
How real is that 11-point lead over Hillary? As the most apparently rational among the three remaining Republican contenders (actually, the only one), that lead may reflect a sense of relief by the people that the right can field at least ONE candidate actually QUALIFIED to be president; as well as a general sense of Hillary that she reminds us of over-cooked asparagus -- not the most appetizing of chores to get through at dinner. If he becomes the Republican nominee, it won't take America long to realize just how conservative John Kasich really is. While not as conservative as Ted Cruz, he's still about three galaxies more conservative than America.
It's been quite awhile now that we chased off the really ELECTABLE Republicans, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. In our disgust of establishment politics, we've probably shot ourselves in the foot.
Kasich looks like a Republican laboratory-grown to win a presidential election in the current climate? Ross has been exposed to too many harmful vapors in that laboratory. Hillary would point to him as the signer of 16 anti-abortion measures and likely eat him for lunch.
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How electable is a guy who thinks that women should be forced to give birth to babies conceived through rape or incest?
19
Oh Richie settle down. There is no well in Hades the billionaires who own this country are going to allow another Democrat in the White House. President Obama was allowed to win two elections to calm the population. You'll get a right wing hack in power later this year. HE will steal our retirements, homes, savings, and health care. Rich Americans want to live in a poor America. They'll get their dream this year. Our millionaire media propagandist will ensure it.
5
"While not as conservative as Ted Cruz, [Kasich]'s still about three galaxies more conservative than America."
But can't the same be said about Bush, and Rubio, and Walker, and all the rest of the original 17 Republican candidates? Which is why those of us who live in THIS galaxy are hopeful that none of these flawed candidates will be elected POTUS.
But can't the same be said about Bush, and Rubio, and Walker, and all the rest of the original 17 Republican candidates? Which is why those of us who live in THIS galaxy are hopeful that none of these flawed candidates will be elected POTUS.
6