Yep, McCotter Is Definitely Thinking About Running For President

In an interview with Jonathan Martin of the Politico, Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter confirmed that he’s seriously considering a White House bid and said he will make a decision within the next two weeks.

McCotter argued that the current crop of GOP candidates simply isn’t making the case about how to confront what he described as the existential threats facing the country.

“I think the majority of the Republican electorate isn’t happy with the choices they’ve got and want to take a look at new people,” he said.

McCotter said his party must address four major issues: “The challenge of globalization, the war for freedom against terrorists, the rise of Communist China and whether moral relativism erodes a nation built on self-evident truth.”

But what makes a little-known four-term House member who gave up his own leadership position think he can enter the campaign in June and be a viable contender for the nomination?

McCotter said the revolution in communication and media has made it easier for aspiring politicians who don’t have the sort of name identification or personal wealth that traditionally determined who could mount a national campaign.

“It’s easier to get your message out today, and people will take a look at it — and if they like it, maybe they vote for you,” he said.

Pressed further, the Michigander quipped: “I’m from Detroit — we live to prove the doubters wrong.”

If anything, McCotter, 45, is known among political insiders for such wit — along with a love for rock music and his chops on the guitar. He’s a member of a band — The Second Amendments — comprised of a bipartisan group of House members. At a congressional picnic in 2006, President George W. Bush memorably deemed him “that rock and roll dude.”

But he’s also developed something of a cult following on the right as an unapologetic conservative who can quote Russell Kirk as easily as he can Robert Plant. (McCotter weaved Led Zeppelin lyrics into a House floor speech earlier this year.)

Frequent appearances on Fox’s late-night show “Red Eye” and Dennis Miller’s radio program also have built up his fan base in the right-leaning media, particularly among Republicans who, like him, came of age in the 1980s.

“There’s no one I’d like to see more at a debate than McCotter,” gushed conservative Web impresario Andrew Breitbart. “This is a guy that’s blunt, sarcastic, pop-culture-savvy, constitutionally sound and an authentic voice.”

Rest here.

He  was recently interviewed by KCMO morning talk show host, Greg Knapp and discussed Obama’s violation of the War Powers Act,  the  debt ceiling, spending caps, repeal of ObmaCare, Newt Gingrich’s comments on Ryan’s budget plan, and more.

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There are a lot of good reasons to like McCotter, he’s conservative across the board, has a great sense of humor, he’s relatively young, and  is conversant on all the issues. I can’t overstate the importance of being conversant on all of the issues, and being comfortable in all sorts of media situations. As Herman Cain recently demonstrated,  even a somewhat friendly interview situation can go very awry if you don’t have a decent command of all the issues. We can’t have that because when a Republican flubs a question, the MSM goes in for the kill.

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Previously:

More McCotter For Prez Talk

Why Not? McCotter For President

Video: Netanyahu’s Powerful Address To Congress

This video only contains the first seven minutes of Netanyahu’s excellent speech before a joint session of Congress, today. I’ll put up part two when it appears on Youtube.

You can watch the full video at the Right Scoop.

There were so many memorable lines in this speech, (which was read without the aid of a teleprompter):

In a region of shifting alliances, Israel is America’s unwavering ally. Israel has always been pro-American. Israel will always be pro-American.My friends, you don’t need to do nation building in Israel. We’re already built. You don’t need to export democracy to Israel. We’ve already got it. You don’t need to send American troops to defend Israel. We defend ourselves.

We’re proud that over one million Arab citizens of Israel have been enjoying these rights for decades. Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel’s Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights. I want you to stop for a second and think about that. Of those 300 million Arabs, less than one-half of one-percent are truly free, and they’re all citizens of Israel!  This startling fact reveals a basic truth: Israel is not what is wrong about the Middle East. Israel is what is right about the Middle East.

Yet the Ayatollah regime briefly suspended its nuclear program only once, in 2003, when it feared the possibility of military action. That same year, Muammar Qadaffi gave up his nuclear weapons program, and for the same reason. The more Iran believes that all options are on the table, the less the chance of confrontation. This is why I ask you to continue to send an unequivocal message: That America will never permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

When we say never again, we mean never again. Israel always reserves the right to defend itself.

You see, our conflict has never been about the establishment of a Palestinian state. It has always been about the existence of the Jewish state. This is what this conflict is about. In 1947, the United Nations voted to partition the land into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews said yes. The Palestinians said no. In recent years, the Palestinians twice refused generous offers by Israeli Prime Ministers, to establish a Palestinian state on virtually all the territory won by Israel in the Six Day War.Israel will not return to the indefensible lines of 1967.

So I say to President Abbas: Tear up your pact with Hamas! Sit down and negotiate! Make peace with the Jewish state! And if you do, I promise you this. Israel will not be the last country to welcome a Palestinian state as a new member of the United Nations. It will be the first to do so.

Transcript here.

SEE ALSO:

Not a good sign:

RCP: Biden Does Not Applaud After Netanyahu Says Jerusalem Will Not Be Divided

Atlas Shrugs: 56 Thunderous Times:

56 times. That’s how many times the Congress cheered, applauded and/or stood up for Benjamin Netanyahu. This kind of reception is reserved for a much loved president of …… the United States. He was welcomed with a standing ovation and over three minutes of thunderous applause.

And he did not disappoint. Binyamin was brilliant. I will post video as soon as it goes online.

This was history. Unforgettable.

“Israel has no better friend than America and America has no better friend than Israel,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in his much-anticipated speech to a special joint session of Congress.
The two countries “stand together, to defend democracy, to advance peace and to fight terrorism.”

His speech was very strong, He did not downplay the disagreements, but discussed them forthrightly and was met with thunderous applause.

Lisa Graas: Rand Paul Pouts on Senate Floor During Netanyahu Speech

As Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his address before Congress, Rand Paul pouted…alone…on the Senate floor. haha

From Politico:

As senators gathered on the Senate floor before the address, Paul was spotted speaking to his staffers toward the back of the chamber. As the Senate procession across the Capitol began, the tea-party-backed senator quietly walked to his desk, sat down and began shuffling through papers and newspapers.

He remained the only senator on the Senate floor during the speech.

Keep reading, here.

Like father like son. And  here I thought he was different than his dad on foreign policy issues.

Blaze: CODEPINK Takes Responsibility for Netanyahu Heckler — Claims She Was Hurt.

She’s in a neck-brace and everything:

Linked by Michelle Malkin, thanks!