# Michele Bachman halts Presidential campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390 "2012-01-04T17:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/21 "2012-01-04T22:29:50Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Bachmann didn’t lose because of her gender, she lost because of her vapid performance in the debates. There is more to running for president than calling the incumbent names, which is about all Michele was capable of. This. “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that _‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’_” ― Isaac Asimov “As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” - H.L. Mencken We have been spared Mencken’s outcome just one more time with Bachmann’s departure, err, suspension, of her campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/22 "2012-01-04T22:30:02Z")
God told her to run. He never told her she’d win. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/23 "2012-01-04T22:38:14Z")
> [@AndyLee](#): > > Sad that we’re in 2012 and a woman still has no real say in getting elected, unless she is the wife of someone, or hand picked for the token VP. > > Women need to find a strong candidate. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Hillary running and winning in 2016 is not much of a stretch, although she’ll be, what, 70 years old? > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Hear, hear! She would very easily have my vote. I don’t think Hillary lost because of her gender, she lost because she could not bring herself to recant her vote to authorize Bush’s war of choice. Take Iraq out of the 2008 equation, and Hillary very likely wins the White House. Sine when is Hillary not the wife of someone? She has done a good job as Secretary of State, but she has gotten where she is because she was married to a President, and her relationship with him was also a factor in her not getting the nomination. I agree that women need to find a strong, independent (i.e. not a politician’s wife) candidate, but Hillary isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/24 "2012-01-04T22:40:06Z")
In '16 Warren will only be 2/3 through her first senate term, so it’s a little pie-in-the-sky. Who’d vote for a first-term senator? 😃 She’d have to start campaigning before the new paint in her new office dries. '20 or '24 would be more realistic, although she’ll already be 71 in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/25 "2012-01-04T22:44:55Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Sine when is Hillary not the wife of someone? She served eight years in the Senate and by most accounts she’s done a good job as secretary of state. She wouldn’t have gotten to that point without being married to a former president, but she’s very capable in her own right and who knows what she would have done if she hadn’t been married to Bill Clinton. It’s not like she was a rich housewife who decided to get into politics in 2000. Regardless, I think it’s very unlikely she’ll be running for president in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/26 "2012-01-04T23:29:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I said the next president will be Bev Perdue, who was elected governor of North Carolina in 2008. I don’t think Clinton is going to run in 2016. [Governor Perdue is having a rough time](http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/11/28/1676707/3-perdue-associates-indicted.html) and might not win reelection. I think she is a particularly long shot for the presidency in any year. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/27 "2012-01-05T02:14:03Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > God told her to run. He never told her she’d win. \*Looks like it’s over, you knew you couldn’t stay Your just Bat Sh-t Crazy that-a way. We had a good thing, I’ll miss your stupit sh-t Why must you look at me that way? It’s over Mad Eyes, turn the other way I don’t wanna see you cry Mad Eyes, you knew there’d come a day When we would have to say ‘goodbye’ Try to remember the people that you scared In time your broken heart will mend I never used you (cause I never really cared) But don’t let cameras hit you in the end. It’s over… Mad Eyes, turn the other way I don’t wanna see you cry Mad Eyes, you knew there’d come a day When we would have to say ‘goodbye’… :D\* ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/28 "2012-01-05T02:38:57Z")
Kirsten Gillibrand would be 40% or so on my version of Intrade for first female President. Governor Haley (SC) about 20%. And lots of single digit longshots. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/29 "2012-01-05T03:21:40Z")
As I said at work; “In the ‘well this takes all the fun out of it’ department…” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/30 "2012-01-05T03:28:52Z")
_Quien es el mas batshit? El Newto o Las Ojos Rabidamente?_ Prospective SNL skit, homage to a classic. Wonder if Ricardo Montalban is available to play Newt? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/31 "2012-01-05T03:38:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Prospective SNL skit, homage to a classic. Wonder if Ricardo Montalban is available to play Newt? Why not. Ricardo Montalban is dead. So is Newt. Although, I’m not sure where Newt would have a desire for “rich Corinthian leather …” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/32 "2012-01-05T04:12:30Z")
So, is Bachmann now endorsing any candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/33 "2012-01-05T04:21:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > One of the things we learned in 2008 was that women are going to vote on the issues, not on gender. And it’ll happen sooner or later. I’ve gone on the SDMB record as predicting it for 2016, mostly because nobody has any idea what’ll happen in 2016 and on the off chance I’m right, it’ll look brilliant. 😛 Women voting on the issued and not gender is the greatest sign of equal participation in politics. Even if it means that it would take more years to elect a woman (because women will not rally around the female candidate simply because she has a vagina) it shows that women vote like they should: issues. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/34 "2012-01-05T05:02:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > So, is Bachmann now endorsing any candidate? For their sake I hope not, but probably Perry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/35 "2012-01-05T05:17:12Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Why not. Ricardo Montalban is dead. So is Newt. Although, I’m not sure where Newt would have a desire for “rich Corinthian leather …” In a whip. You were thinking it too. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/36 "2012-01-05T16:22:33Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Hear, hear! She would very easily have my vote. I don’t think Hillary lost because of her gender, she lost because she could not bring herself to recant her vote to authorize Bush’s war of choice. Take Iraq out of the 2008 equation, and Hillary very likely wins the White House. Bachmann didn’t lose because of her gender, she lost because of her vapid performance in the debates. There is more to running for president than calling the incumbent names, which is about all Michele was capable of. Agreed on both counts. If she hadn’t kept defending the decision to invade iraq throughout the pre-primary, I don’t think Obama would have won Iowa. If Obama hadn’t won Iowa, he would never have won the primary. > [@Marley23](#): > > I can see why he thinks he’d do better there, but I’m not sure why he thinks it’ll matter. Presidential candidates don’t stop running, they run out of money and Rick raised so much money before he opened his mouth that he can coast through to South Carolina without worrying about raising another dime. By that time he may be the only conservative who still has enough money to run against Romney. > [@Marley23](#): > > She served eight years in the Senate and by most accounts she’s done a good job as secretary of state. She wouldn’t have gotten to that point without being married to a former president, but she’s very capable in her own right and who knows what she would have done if she hadn’t been married to Bill Clinton. It’s not like she was a rich housewife who decided to get into politics in 2000. Regardless, I think it’s very unlikely she’ll be running for president in 2016. A LOT of people are very capable in their own right but they would never hold high public office. If she hadn’t been married to Bill Clinton, she would be a partner at some large law firm or investment bank. > [@Locrian](#): > > For their sake I hope not, but probably Perry. 😃 I think Santorum would be a better place to put her support. He is a LOT smarter and pretty conservtive by msot accounts. If a conservative wins this primary, Romney should be their running mate. Like Reagan and Papa Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/37 "2012-01-05T19:11:46Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Presidential candidates don’t stop running, they run out of money and Rick raised so much money before he opened his mouth that he can coast through to South Carolina without worrying about raising another dime. By that time he may be the only conservative who still has enough money to run against Romney. Gingrich seems to have devoted himself to attacking Romney and doing nothing else, and I think Perry is essentially skipping New Hampshire to focus on South Carolina. So it seems like they should both be around through January 21. > [@](#): > > A LOT of people are very capable in their own right but they would never hold high public office. If she hadn’t been married to Bill Clinton, she would be a partner at some large law firm or investment bank. She was involved in politics before she met him, so this comment makes me think you don’t know much about her background. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/38 "2012-01-05T19:44:46Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I think Santorum will continue to be interesting. If the Perry and Bachmann supporters go to Santorum (which is more likely than them going to Romney) he could manage to drag out the nomination process quite a while. Romney has been stuck at 25% since the beginning of the campaign; with the crazy Tea Party conservative candidates narrowing down Santorum’s share of the votes will only rise (until Romney’s PAC comes down hard on him, probably in SC/FL). It will be interesting to see if he allows this to happen. The evangelicals are dubious about Romney already - if he or his PACs start to throw dirt at Santorum, the new evangelical champion, will they see it as proving that those damn Mormons hate real Christians? Doing it to Newt, who no one really likes, was a lot safer. Romney is very vulnerable to charges of flip-flopping on social issues, which Newt can’t exploit but Santorum can, and that his company destroyed other companies for profit. Not sure if any Republicans can use that, but the Dems can - and maybe Newt. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/39 "2012-01-10T04:35:00Z")
[Michelle Bachmann implies that the media’s coverage of her campaign was sexist](http://www.theonion.com/video/did-the-media-treat-bachmann-unfairly-because-shes,26961/). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390/40 "2012-01-10T22:14:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Sad that we’re in 2012 and a woman still has no real say in getting elected, unless she is the wife of someone, or hand picked for the token VP. > > Women need to find a strong candidate. The problem is when you start off by trying to find a strong female candidate, rather than by trying to find a strong candidate who happens to be female. It’s the same thing with race: A decade or two ago, everyone who considered the possibility of a black president was thinking of someone like Jesse Jackson, who really wears his race on his sleeve. But the actual first black president was Obama, and you’d have to go pretty far down his campaign platform to find anything in it that’s at all relevant to race specifically. If you go into an election looking for a candidate, without regards to gender, it might be a while before you end up with a woman, just because that might be the way the coin flips work out (especially since the coin is biased by there being fewer women in politics to begin with). But if you go in specifically looking for a woman, you’ll never find one, since you’re doing the wrong kind of search. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michele-bachman-halts-presidential-campaign/608390.md?page=1)