CNN reports that Michele Bachmann, Republican Congresswoman for the sixth district of the State of Minnesota, will likely compete in the race for the 2012 presidency of the United States and that she is preparing to file the necessary papers to set up an exploratory in June this year.
Republican participants in the race are required to set up exploratory committees in order to raise funds for their campaigns.
CNN also reveals that a spokesperson for Bachmann says that an announcement may even come earlier than June to allow Bachmann the opportunity to participate in the primary debates between Republican candidates. The first debate is scheduled for May 2nd, 2011 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
If Sarah Palin believes as she stated in India, that it is time that a woman became President of the United States, then Bachmann has taken her at her word. In a race where brand, recognition and bringing in the money means everything Bachmann appears to be taking advantage of the fact that Palin's popularity is declining by declaring her intentions sooner rather than later.
Bachmann has many things in common with Palin. They are both right wing conservatives. They are both the darlings of the tea party and the far right wing base. They are married and have children. They present themselves as fundamentalist christians. And so on.
But essentially, and more important, they share the same ability to walk themselves into serious situations caused by their ignorance and confusion on issues that they have stupidly or thoughtlessly fluffed due to their lack of a keen intellect.
They are the "buy one get one free" examples of what passes as a serious right wing female contender for the highest office in the western world. My feminist heart weeps.
Like Palin, Bachmann is all over the media insisting that urgent reform of social security is needed and that the US tax code is a "weapon of mass destruction". She even thinks that Glenn Beck and his chalk board can solve the economic problems facing the USA. Naturally she believes that the rich are overtaxed and that they need a break.
Can Bachmann win the selection? Many think not as she is way too extreme for the majority of US voters. It should be noted however that Bachmann has a strong following amongst the religious right and that she has received favour from figures like David Barton and Lou Engle.
Brian at Right Wing Watch reveals that Bachmann,
Once elected to the House of Representatives, she became a Religious Right leader on a national level, finding favor with figures like David Barton, Rick Scarborough, Tony Perkins, and Lou Engle, along with a whole litany of far-right organizations and radical religious groups. Stephanie Mencimer of Mother Jones details the Congresswoman’s close ties to the Dominionist movement, which believes that fundamentalist Christians must run the government to hasten the end-times, most notably Coral Ridge Ministries.
The GOP primaries are inching closer -- so far two people have declared that they will definitely run. Fred Karger, a republican gay rights activist and Jimmy McMillan a registered democrat. Five have announced that they have either formed or are planning to form an exploratory committee. Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Buddy Roemer. I expect that more will announce their intentions before the debate in May.
Politicalgates reader BfromC, left an interesting observation in the comments:
Geesh. Next, Bristol Palin will be setting up an exploratory committee.
I hope Michele doesn't get her feelings hurt when her exploratory committee comes back with the news that people don't want batshit crazy as the leader of the free world.
Here are two videos of Bachmann's latest gaffs.
