The Bull Elephant
  • Home
  • About The Bull Elephant
  • Fun Stuff
  • Contact The Bull Elephant
Latest Posts
Sunday Memes–Shame on Gavin Newsome and Pam Bondi
The Foundation of Democracy
Memes of the Day
The Case for Insurrection
So what is the end state in Ukraine?
Gov. Youngkin’s wife and family members rescued from...
E Pluribus Unum– a reflection of who Republicans...

The Bull Elephant

  • Home
  • About The Bull Elephant
  • Fun Stuff
  • Contact The Bull Elephant

Carly Fiorina’s rise provides a much needed opportunity for the GOP

written by Chad Ochocinco September 2, 2015

Just like most of our readers likely have, I’ve spoken with a lot of Republicans over the summer about the presidential race and who they like.  After her stunning performance in the Fox News debate last month, Carly Fiorina emerged as a name on the lips of most observers.  Despite the fact that she has been few people’s first choice to lead our party and our country, her performance at the debate and on the campaign trail has caused a lot of people to take notice, in a very positive way.

At the moment, most polls show the GOP primary electorate to be in a state of roiling discontent with elected Republican leaders.  The frustration at hearing so many promises for so many years only to see those promises unfulfilled—over and over and over again—has left much of the GOP base in an angry mood toward all politicians, but especially toward a perceived disingenuous party establishment whose deceptions have been finally unmasked.

This explains the most important findings in the latest poll from Iowa, where the three non-politicians in the race (Trump, Carson, Fiorina) combine for a total of 56% of the vote.  Add in the decidedly anti-establishment Cruz and that total rises to 65%, buttressing another finding of that poll by Monmouth University:

Iowa GOP caucus goers say that, regardless of who they support in the primary, the country needs a president from outside of government who can bring a new approach to Washington (66%) rather than someone with government experience who knows how to get things done (23%). Among those who prefer an outsider, more than two-thirds are backing one of the three candidates who have never held elected office – Trump (32%), Carson (26%), or Fiorina (13%). However, even among those who say the country needs someone with government experience, 30% are currently supporting one of these three candidates.

(Emphasis added).  My friends, these numbers are simply stunning.  Certainly they are in part attributable to a once-latent anger unleashed by Trumpian rodomontade (this is, after all, the same electorate that favored Gov. Scott Walker just a short time ago…Trump is the only real ingredient that has changed), but to deny its existence—or its legitimacy—is folly.

Like it or not, Trump has unleashed a genie that no amount of “establishment” money will be able to put back in the bottle.

This is where Carly Fiorina comes in.  Unlike the two other outsider candidates, Fiorina has shown a real depth on the campaign trail that goes well beyond the platitudes of Carson and the scattershot bombast of Trump.  She understands the issues and can speak intelligently to them at the same (or better) level as Christie, Rubio, Paul, Walker, or Bush.  She can also do so in a way that equals or exceeds the rhetorical effectiveness of Huckabee and Cruz, but that somehow nonetheless appeals to all corners of our party’s broad coalition.

She’s Trump without being, well…Trump.

With the current mood of the electorate, Carly Fiorina has an incredible opportunity to be the bridge between conservatives and moderates.  This is the electoral sweet spot that Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. Scott Walker have been aiming for without much effect so far.  Fiorina’s outsider and underdog status allows her to hit that spot in a way that none of the other candidates currently can.

This is why the debates on September 16 are so crucial—for Fiorina and for the GOP as a whole.  If you believe, as I do, that a nomination of either Donald Trump or Jeb Bush would damage our party (the latter sentiment having been cemented with recent personnel choices), then an alternative must emerge who has the credibility to beat both men at their own games.  She’s now got that opportunity.

But it is a narrow window.  If she can’t make a dent in Trump (without offending his base voters), or if she can’t demonstrate that she can stand toe-to-toe with former Governors on policy issues, she’ll soon be back to the second tier.  There are plenty of good options that will remain, and there is still lots of time for the electorate’s mood to change and for one or more of the non-outsider/non-establishment candidates to break out of the pack.

In the meantime, expect some fireworks on September 16.  Carly is a threat to Trump’s king-of-the-hill status, and to Bush’s ascendance.  Expect clashes between both of these men and Fiorina.  Should be fun to watch, but my money says Carly will get the better end of any such exchange.

Carly Fiorina’s rise provides a much needed opportunity for the GOP was last modified: September 2nd, 2015 by Chad Ochocinco

Like this:

Like Loading...
#2016Carly FiorinaCNNdebateDonald TrumpJeb BushMarco RubioMike HuckabeeRand PaulScott WalkerTed Cruz
0 comment
Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco isn't a former professional football player.

Your life will be better if you click one of these

Sunday Memes–Shame on Gavin Newsome and Pam...

July 13, 2025

The Foundation of Democracy

July 11, 2025

Memes of the Day

July 11, 2025

The Case for Insurrection

July 11, 2025

So what is the end state in...

July 9, 2025

Gov. Youngkin’s wife and family members rescued...

July 9, 2025

E Pluribus Unum– a reflection of who...

July 7, 2025

Socialism’s Great Myths – Back Again

July 6, 2025

Biden Makes an Appearance

July 6, 2025

I am a Born Again Christian and...

July 6, 2025

Leave a Comment

Fun Stuff

  • Sunday Memes–Shame on Gavin Newsome and Pam Bondi

  • Sunday Memes–Celebrating our Independence

  • Meme(s) of the Day

  • Sunday Memes–Bombs Away

  • Meme of the Day

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sign Up for Email Alerts


Select list(s):

Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription.

Advertisement

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

@2017 Bull Elephant Media LLC.


Back To Top
%d