Why I Want To Be Your President: Republican Round-Up

Lots and lots this week, given the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann thinks schools should teach intelligent design:

New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann explained her skepticism of evolution on Friday and said students should be taught the theory of intelligent design.

Bachmann, a congresswoman from Minnesota, also proposed a major overhaul of the nation’s education system and said state administrators should be able to decide how they spend money allocated to them by the federal government.

"I support intelligent design," Bachmann told reporters in New Orleans following her speech to the Republican Leadership Conference. "What I support is putting all science on the table and then letting students decide. I don't think it's a good idea for government to come down on one side of scientific issue or another, when there is reasonable doubt on both sides."

It’s the “let the states decide” mantra.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is refusing to sign a pro-life pledge:

But the Susan B. Anthony List reported Friday afternoon that Romney was the only top-tier 2012 presidential candidate to refuse to sign its "Pro-Life Leadership Presidential Pledge."

"The fact of the matter is that thus far he has refused to sign," former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a SBA List project director, told Roll Call in a telephone interview from New Orleans, where she was poised to highlight news of the pledge at the Republican Leadership Conference.

She warned of political consequences for Romney and others who refused to sign the pledge.

Add that to the fact that the told a group of unemployed Floridians this week that he is “also unemployed,” and that gnawing feeling I have that Romney is not going to get the nomination just keeps getting stronger.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty – who may actually be the only Republican Presidential candidate talking much about the economy – wants to cut taxes. And cut taxes. And cut taxes. And not much-all-else.

For the most part, though, his “Better Deal” departs from the promising realism and candor Mr. Pawlenty displayed in calling for a phaseout of ethanol subsidies and trims to Social Security. He proposes a two-rate individual income tax system, with a top rate of 25 percent instead of today’s 35 percent — without specifying offsetting cuts in big tax expenditures such as the mortgage interest deduction. On top of that, he would eliminate the capital gains tax, the dividends tax, the interest income tax and the estate tax.

But how is the government supposed to finance itself after these tax cuts — half of which would accrue to people who earn $500,000 per year or more, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center? Mr. Pawlenty assumes that 5 percent annual growth over 10 years would generate $3.8 trillion in additional revenue. Even if that miracle occurs, he would still need another $3.8 trillion to pay for the cuts, according to the Tax Policy Center. Budget cuts will do the trick, Mr. Pawlenty says, contrary to political reality.

And at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich promised he was going back to being the “ideas man.” Enough with the two week cruise in Greece. And losing his entire senior campaign staff. By all accounts, his speech was a public policy feast.

Gingrich did - unlike many of the other speakers Thursday - lay out his ideas. And Gingrich being Gingrich, there were plenty of them. He said he would eliminate the capital gains tax and lower the corporate tax rate to 12.5 percent; repeal the financial reform bill; replace the EPA with the "environmental solutions agency"; ensure America doesn't pay for abortions overseas; and, in the process, create 25 million new jobs.

But the ideas seemed almost beside the point considering the status of his campaign, which appears to have effectively scared off all but the most dedicated donors. Another reporter at the conference pointed out to me that Gingrich is attempting to run the first successful "post-consultant campaign" in modern political history. But it's more than that: His campaign, at this point, is bordering on post-reality.

Consider: In his speech Thursday, Gingrich vowed to "shock the media" with a "big philosophical campaign" - one that did not rely on sound bites or attack ads. And while many Americans (including this one) would love such a campaign, the reality is that sound bites and attack ads exist because they work. And whoever wins the Republican nomination will most likely traffic in both.

More next week, for sure!