McColm and Trump Bow Out Of 2012 Race

"Even though I have given the matter much thought and reflection and I have been encouraged by countless people to contest the Republican primaries, I will not and can not run for President in 2012. I will , of course,continue to utter my opinions on the countless issues and challenges facing this great nation of ours. I will provide the voice for all those who do not have a forum.

From my frequent travels through the heartland and listening to my fellow citizens, I just know that if I were to run,I would not only win the primary but ultimately the general election.

I know so many of you have given me your support and I know I have let so many people down. I appreciate all your unsolicted advice. But,Cheer up. Get a Life.

As you all know paying Powerball is my passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector to become a slave to your whims and fantasies. I am a Free Man, not a Number. Always remember, the Future lies ahead."

Bruce McColm, chairman of the Papoose for Not Insane Campaign.

And so it goes. Just re-word the statement above and you have the Donald bowing out of the race. This leaves Sister Sarah and Mitch Daniels left to decide.

The Republican list of non-participants is now heftier than the candidates--Trump,Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour,John Thune, Mike Pence, Bobby Jindal, Bob Corker,Jeb Bush and Chris Christie.

Now the Veeps are beginning to bow out. Nikki Haley of South Carolina today has bowed out of the Veepstakes after saying last week she was the "flavor of the day." She said that she was committed to serving out her term as Governor. I think she learned the lesson of Sister sarah quitting her post.

If you wonder why so many Republicans are avoiding the race, you might want to consult the Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll today. Ok, 52% approve of President Obama's performance in office,while 72% approve of him personally. The latter is key to me. It's why Mike Huckabee said that the President and the First Lady are excellent role models for the country and why the family values crowd have real problems in their attack message against the First Family. 59% said they would either "definitely" vote for President Obama or consider voting for the President again. Only 38% said definitely not. 57% did say that President Obama's re-election will hinge on the state of the economy. In the poll, President Obama knocks out both Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty.

Nate "the Great" Silver does a tap dance on the Republican primary in Iowa now that Mike Huckabee has bowed out of the race. Read it at www.fivethirtyeight.com . It's too convoluted for this early stage in the race but Nate opines on how the Christian Right vote will break. He has a nice chart on the differences between the Iowa and New Hampshire voters.

Newt was for the individual mandate on health reform before he was against it. And the last I looked he did all this in one day. Paul Ryan is crying today saying that with allies like Newt, who needs the Left. Paul, it's not just the Left which opposes your budget--it's the entire country. Newt said it was radical social engineering that the country can not afford. Bill Bennett busted a gut when he heard his friend Newt said this. Bennett on his talk show replayed Newt's statement in April how the Ryan budget was "serious."

Fox News dissed Newt by playing his ad with Nancy Pelosi on climate change and the need for cap and trade. George Will even scoffed that Newt is a serious candidate. Democrat Cokie Roberts raised the interesting issue about the resentment of divorced Catholics, who know longer can participate in their church, at Newt--twice divorced being hailed as a Catholic.

The Daily Kos raised an interesting organizational issue for Newt. Gingrich brags about his friends on Facebook and Twitter, although these numbers are fairly low, but they raise the issue that he must shepard them into a viable, functioning organization. They contrasted the Obama machine that is being re-assembled in Chicago with top-of-the-line tech support and an army of volunteers and proclaimed "No contest."

Are we to really believe Sarah Palin is going to run at this late date? Newsweek does a puff piece on secessionist Todd Palin saying he is game for another campaign. Sarah Palin is not registering much in recent polls suggesting that her novelty has worn off. My question has always been about Palin's discipline. Remember her Veep campaign lasted only two months. A presidential campaign would last 18 months and there is no evidence any of the machinery is in place.

The Love Revolution keeps rolling. Ron Paul had to one up his son who said that doctors were slaves if healthcare was a right. Paul said that both Social Security and Medicare were inconstitutional and tantamount to slavery. He's wrong on the constitutional part and God knows what he means by the slavery part. But he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

Now that Paul Ryan has ruined the lives of all GOP freshmen congresspeople, he's going to jump ship and run for Senate in Wisconsin. To give you some idea of the flack this will generate, Tommy Thompson, the former Republican governor and former cabinet member, is also thinking of contesting the race. Tommy knows what the people of Wisconsin are thinking about their congressman and also their Governor Scott Walker.