Pirate's Cove

Well, you knew this was coming. A poor choice for the format to announce, since pretty much no Republicans would have seen it

(Politico) Carly Fiorina announced Monday that she will seek the Republican nomination for 2016, becoming the latest entrant in an increasingly crowded field of candidates.

“Yes, I am running for president,” she said on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” where she made the announcement to host George Stephanopoulos. “I think I’m the best person for the job because I understand how the economy actually works. I understand the world, who’s in it, how the world works.”

“I understand bureaucracies, and that’s what our federal government has become—a giant, bloated, unaccountable, corrupt bureaucracy,” she said. “I understand technology, which is a tool both to reimagine government to reengage citizens in the process of government, and I understand executive decision-making, which is making a tough call in a tough time with high stakes for which you’re prepared to be accountable.”

This is mirrored by her Twitter feed

I am running for President. http://t.co/TiEAlrWpUc

— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) May 4, 2015

For those who can’t see the little writing, the gravatar says Carly For President.

She most certainly has the background to be an executive. Many may complain about her time at HP, but there were also many, many successes at HP

• Doubled revenues
• More than quadrupled its growth rate
• Tripled the rate of innovation, with 11 patents a day
• Quadrupled cash-flow
• Moved from 28th to 11th largest company in the United States

Now it’s time to find out her political stances. And surely to let the liberal dogs of sexism loose.

Anyhow, super squishy Republican Establishment believer Jennifer Rubin wrote a glowing article about her a few days ago, so, that is rather concerning. Regardless, two things really stand out to me

2. Hardship is endearing. She is a cancer survivor (she famously said that “after chemotherapy, Barbara Boxer just isn’t that scary anymore”). She lost a stepdaughter to drug addiction. She got fired. People don’t resent success, but they love someone who has overcome adversity.

7. She emphasizes results. She tweaks Clinton for lack of accomplishment and scolds the Department of Veterans Affairs for tying vets up in mounds of paperwork. She reminds us how process-oriented politicians can be and how little they get done.

Her stock is very much rising within the GOP, both the Establishment and the Conservative base. Will she take this far, or flame out? Time will tell. Do not expect the flubs we saw from Sarah Palin, and expect much more measured responses.

Ben Carson has also announced. I like him, but, I do not think he’s going anywhere. He’s too much of a loose cannon when he speaks. He makes great points, but lots of flubs which can turn off independents, and he’s certainly no favorite of the Establishment GOP for his Tea Party like stances.