No surprise here, but Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has officially decided to drop out suspend her campaign for the Republican nomination to seek the Presidency of the United States. I know hearing the phrase “suspending her campaign” may imply that the door’s still open to folks that may not follow the political scene beyond catching the high points and headlines; so let me make this abundantly clear – she’s done. Suspending one’s campaign is nothing more than politi-speak for quitting while still making every effort to comply with election laws. Think of it like a corporation. When said corporation decides to shut the doors and turn out the lights, people still have to get paid, assets have to get liquidized, and bills don’t simply go away. Either way, she’s out.
“Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, so I have decided to stand aside,” Bachmann said at a news conference, flanked by her parents, husband and five children. “I have no regrets, none whatsoever. We never compromised our principles and we can leave this race knowing we ran it with the utmost integrity.”
For what it’s worth, I’m rather pleased to see Bachmann exit this race. While she surprised me at times with her performance under pressure, I do believe she serves a very important role in the United States House of Representatives. My hope is that she hasn’t jeopardized her seat with this presidential run.
She came on the scene with a bang winning the Ames Straw Poll and went out with a whimper. While it’s not the kind of ending most Bachmann supporters probably would have hoped for, I do believe it was the best resolution for everyone involved. I cannot even begin to imagine the hate-campaign the MSM and the Left would have waged against this woman if she had emerged as our Party’s nominee. Bachmann – and by proximity, the Party as a whole – would have been painted not just as intolerant; but as the lowest common denominator of bigoted and ignorant filth. I’m anything but a Bachmann apologist, but there’s no way she would have deserved even a fraction of the mud that would have been thrown her direction. What I’m saying here is I think she’s better off putting this exercise in arrogance behind her.
While I don’t want to dance on the grave of Bachmann’s campaign here, I am struggling to choke back the excitement that overcame me hearing her exit this race. The fact that her brand of conservatism or “Republicanism” has been soundly rejected by the American People (or at least the people of Iowa) warms my heart more than I can express in words. I may agree with Bachmann on 99% of the issues; but it’s her approach to those issues that makes her take on all things political undeniably alien to me.
In a nutshell, I’m glad to see her (and her husband) go; and I won’t hesitate to recall this utter failure of a campaign, the next time a Bachmann-like figure attempts to seek the Republican nomination. Bombshell bumper sticker politicians have a place in national politics – it’s called the House of Representatives; not the White House.
Here’s the full campaign suspension speech. Maybe turn the volume up so you don’t have to hear me chuckling…
