Was watching the news last night and out comes John Kasich. Apparently running for gov of Ohio. I have always liked this guy and IMO the GOP needs to get him more involved. He is young, looks the part, and more importantly I think he has the right ideas. I hadn't heard from him in a while and I hope this is a precursor of things to come. I think he is a much better play than Palin for 2012. Thoughts?
Pretty quick to judge just because he works for Fox. I like his work in the House (According to Wikipedia). Balance budget, spend what you have. Seems to have proven he can work with Democrates and Republicans and be effective doing so. Congress After college, Kasich served as a legislative aide to Ohio State Senator Donald "Buz" Lukens. In 1978 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate when he served until he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, defeating incumbent Bob Shamansky. Kasich was reelected eight times, serving from 1983 to 2001.[3] Actions Kasich was fiscally conservative, taking aim at programs supported by Republicans and Democrats, teaming up with Rep. Ron Dellums to cut spending on the B-2 Bomber and Ralph Nader in seeking to reduce corporate tax loopholes.[2][4] During the 1996 presidential campaign, Republican nominee Bob Dole was reported to have considered Kasich as a vice presidential running mate but instead selected Jack Kemp, a former congressman and HUD Secretary.[5] However, during his 1996 re-election campaign Kasich's Democratic opponent in his House race, Cynthia Ruccia, made comments questioning Kasich's sexuality in an attempt to damage him with conservative voters. Ruccia raised the question of the propriety of bachelor Kasich sharing a Washington townhouse with his male chief-of-staff for several years while the staffer drew a large government salary. He nonetheless won the 1996 election. Kasich married in March 1997, at the age of 44.[6] In 1993, he became the Ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee where he authored an alternative to President Bill Clinton's deficit reduction plan that he presented as relying on spending reductions rather than tax increases. Later that year, the Penny-Kasich Plan, which would have cut federal spending by $103 billion, failed by only six votes.[7] Kasich also served as chair of the congressional committee on welfare reform. In 1994, Kasich was called in by Republicans who supported President's Clinton's Omnibus Crime Bill of 1994 to assist in helping to reduce the overall cost. His support of the bill helped it pass the House, but provisions that outlawed some firearms did not win him fans among gun rights supporters.[8] Budget chairman In 1995, when Republicans gained the majority in the United States Congress, Kasich was selected to become Chairman of the House Budget Committee. As Chairman, Kasich worked towards balancing the Federal Budget, and was the chief architect of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, Kasich presided over the only U.S. Budget Surplus since 1969.[9] In 1995, when Kasich assumed the position of Budget Chairman, the U.S. Federal Budget had a deficit of roughly -$163 billion, and upon the conclusion of his tenure as Budget Chairman, the U.S. Federal Budget had a surplus of roughly +$236 billion.[9] Post-Congress political involvement Kasich did not seek reelection for the House for the 2000 election, but instead formed an exploratory committee to run for President.[10] He withdrew early in July 1999 and endorsed George W. Bush, the eventual Republican nominee and winner of the election.[11] Republicans tried to recruit Kasich for Governor of Ohio in 2006; however Kasich declined to enter the race.[12] In early 2007, Kasich was reportedly considering making a serious run for Governor of Ohio in 2010, seeking the Republican nomination to unseat incumbent Ted Strickland. [13] In March 2008, Kasich said that Ohio's state income tax should be "phased out." [14] In 2008, Kasich was named the Honorary Chairman of Recharge Ohio; an organization with the stated purpose of electing leaders who would "get our state back on track."[15] Kasich said that he hoped that through
I liked the little I saw of Kasich back when. A fiscally conservative, socially moderate, not owned by the religious right, seemed like a balanced guy.
sounds like someone i would like to know more about. especially the social policies if a moderate. sounds like a candidate here in ok that i had a lot of respect for and worked for if you are right hou.
I have heard Robert Gates mentioned for the repubs, currently Secretary of Defense, under both Bush II and Obama. I don't know too much about him, but he was President at Texas A&M before going back to Washington, and they thought he did a great job in College Station. Much more important, I think he has and is doing a good job at Defense. Seems to be able to work across party lines. He hasn't campaigned for office that I know of, so he could be a dud on the stump and not a good candidate, although I think he's a good person.
Gates is a rare republican who is apparently a conservative pragmatist and not a conservative ideologue.
