John King, USA
Rumsfeld talks 2012 GOP field
Washington (CNN) – Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld gave his view of the 2012 presidential campaign field by saying, “I would recommend letting these people run around the track for a while, see how they do.”
In an interview that aired Wednesday on CNN’s “John King, USA” Rumsfeld wouldn’t divulge who out of the potential candidates would garner his support, but he mused about the pivotal moment in time for a presidential election.
“They’re gonna have to deal with tough issues, with surprises. It’s gonna range from economic issues to social issues to foreign policy and defense issue, and it's a tough job running for president. They're gonna have to meet new issues and tough questions,” Rumsfeld told CNN’s King.
“Oh I think its kind of an unusual opportunity we have. We have ... no sitting president in our party, no sitting vice president, and no logical candidate who’d run before, so its a fresh, clean slate,” Rumsfeld said.
During the interview, Rumsfeld touched on other issues, including the situation in Libya. He also took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his years as a congressman when John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson manned the White House. Rumsfeld was also White House chief of staff during part of the Ford administration and filled various roles for the Nixon administration.
Rumsfeld – who resigned from the Pentagon post the day after the 2006 midterm elections, when the Republican party lost control of Congress – published a memoir recently detailing his insights about the Bush administration, 9/11, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Rumsfeld praised the Tea Party for “bringing more people into politics,” a sentiment he has vocalized before.
“I think it’s a healthy thing to have the Tea Party, myself,” Rumsfeld said, "I think that if you believe in democracy, having more people engaged and interested is a healthy thing.”
Be in the know: Today's political bullet points
Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.
RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:
– Reuters reports 40 civilians were killed in Tripoli by Western airstrikes. Um . . . weren't we going in to stop the killing of civilians?
– Republicans got complacent in Wisconsin after the battle over collective bargaining. It looks like their victory was pyrrhic now as unions may very well be able to take the Supreme Court.
– Did Chris Christie give a campaign trail speech last night before the NRCC? He called Obama a poseur and preening.
Talk Show Host and Online Editor of MyLatinoNews.com Mario Solis-Marich:
– Home Run: The White House calls on Latino families to win the future in a TV education town hall that attracted 2.7 million viewers.
– Rundown (AKA: Pickle): Speaker Boehner is stuck between the Tea Partiers who want to shut down the government and long time GOP’ers and Independents that want solutions, will Boehner be Newt –ered ?
– Three Strikes: Of course Donald Trump doubts Obama is a citizen, he also believes bankruptcy is fair to his creditors, and that Joan Rivers would make someone a good apprentice.
Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors
Tonight on John King, USA...
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tells CNN's John King why he thinks the U.S. is sending mixed signals in Libya. Sec. Rumsfeld also shares his thoughts on the GOP race for 2012. Tune in to John King, USA tonight at 7pm EST for the full interview.
Be in the know: Today's political bullet points
Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.
RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:
– Barack Obama finally admits some of the rebels in Libya may not be friendly to us. So he doesn't want to jump in with both feet. He's just going to send us off to NATO so we can still be in charge while pretending we are not in charge.
– House Republicans want House Democrats to work with them on a budget, alienating conservatives. Boehner may win this battle, but then lose the war.
– The Balanced Budget Amendment is picking up steam with several Republican Governors and a unified GOP Senate demanding passage out of Congress.
Firedoglake.com Blogger/Founder Jane Hamsher:
– What $550 Million Buys…Besides a Kinetic Week in Libya.
– Eric Cantor Admits Republicans Want to Kill Social Security.
– “The Police Are Here for Me”: Bahraini Blogger Taken In Middle of Night Still Missing.
Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors
Will U.S. arm Libya's rebels?
CNN's John King and panel members discuss the challenges faced by President Obama in Libya.
Be in the know: Today's political bullet points
Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.
RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:
– Barack Obama's embrace of a lack of coherent doctrine for engaging Libya and not Syria, Yemen, Iran, or Darfur begs the question of does he think Libyan citizens are more valuable?
– The Obama Non-Doctrine is the foreign policy equivalent of being a little bit pregnant. He wants Gaddafi gone, but he opposes regime change.
– Republicans have won the battle in Wisconsin over collective bargaining, but they may lose the war because of the recall effort.
Senior Political Columnist for TheDailyBeast.com John Avlon:
– Libya Speech: The President tried to make the case for Humanitarian War last night, defending the limited, U.S. led, multilateral intervention in Libya. Critics, however, did not hear an exit strategy or even a clear doctrine. What seems clear now is that the NATO led mission will take not days but weeks and months.
– Shutdown Looming: April 8th is the new date for a government shutdown and talks have broken down between Democrats and Republicans. Everything needs to be on the table for this to move forward or the high-stakes game of chicken will continue.
– Trump Goes Birther: Really? Usually, the CEO presidential candidate focuses on executive ability and sidesteps social issues and culture war wedges. But the Donald seems determined to pander to the outer limits. It's bad politics and bad principle.
Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors
Be in the know: Today's political bullet points
Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.
RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:
– There is disconnect in the administration with Robert Gates saying the Libyan operation is not in our national interest.
– If the President says we will be in Libya for months, expect him to hurt himself with his base.
– Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the unions are engaged in twice as much violence as the tea party activists ever did, but are getting not even half the media scrutiny the tea party activists did.
Talk Show Host and Online Editor of MyLatinoNews.com Mario Solis-Marich:
– Law and Order: Walker contemptuously moves against a judge’s orders and publishes the controversial union busting bill. Hey, I thought the unions had the outlaw thugs?
– Myth Busters: The mainstream media is finally waking up to the fact that the Census numbers DON’T favor the GOP.
– Flipper: Tonight the President will both give a speech on Libya and hold an education town hall meeting, which one will Gingrich flip flop on the most?
Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors
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John King, USA aired weekdays at 6pm ET. The final show aired June 29, 2012.
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