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

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann wants us to know that she loves the State of Israel SO MUCH, that she is brushing up on her Yiddish:

Michele Bachmann has long positioned herself as a staunch supporter of Israel and the pro-Israel lobby. Despite this, Bachmann has not brushed up on her Yiddish. On Fox News last night, the Minnesota Republican pronounced the word "chutzpah" -- Yiddish for "audacity" -- as "choot-spa" (something she was accusing Obama of having).

 Actually, I think it’s cute.

And oh yeah, she and her husband Dr. Marcus Bachmann still think they can cure “the gay.” Using federal dollars.

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is still defending his decision to sign the controversial Marriage Vow, put forth by the Iowa-based group, The Family Leader:

Rick Santorum said he was "taken aback" by The Family Leader candidate pledge that insisted black kids had better family lives under slavery, though that's not the part that shocked him. Instead, he was surprised by the line demanding he be faithful to his wife. But he signed anyway. Why? Because Santorum is really into pledges. After rival presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty "respectfully declined" to sign the Family Leader document, Santorum took to the op-ed pages of USA Today to defend the pledge.

Santorum writes that pledges pushed by special-interest groups "offer something as serious as the vote we are asking for--a solid commitment, a solemn promise. ... Every candidate has heard the cynicism about politicians: 'Oh, they will say one thing now, but just wait until they are elected.' A lot of that is true about too many politicians and elected leaders. Pledges are our way of saying: 'Not us.'"

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty figured he had to make up for not signing the Marriage Vow, by making nice to evangelicals in Iowa:

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty made a unabashed pitch to Iowa’s evangelical vote Wednesday with the release of a video featuring the presidential candidate and his wife, Mary, talking unguardedly about their religious faith.

The video attests to his opposition to abortion and his view that marriage should be only between a man and a woman.

Pawlenty’s campaign also sent out a letter of support to conservative Iowans signed by Sarah Huckabee, the daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and the newest addition to Pawlenty’s field staff in Iowa. Sarah Huckabee, who helped her father win the Iowa caucuses in 2008 largely with strong support within the evangelical community, told voters to support Pawlenty because he “has the same conservative convictions and executive experience I admire in my dad.”

Now that it looks like the Minnesota government shut-down has been resolved, he can't go around saying how great he thought the impasse was.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is very, very, very happy with his name (and face) recognition:

Mitt Romney appears to be having a good time on the campaign trail being one of the GOP presidential front-runners.

In a speech captured by Kasie Hunt of Politico that at times seemed plucked from a (discarded) David Letterman monologue, the former Massachusetts governor was self-depricating while kidding that he often gets recognized on the road.

In one aside, he mentioned that he (like then-President George W. Bush) was in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games taking in "one of my favorite events -- women's beach volleyball." His wife, Ann, insisted, he joked.

"I noticed that some Americans in the crowd had recognized me and were pointing at me had taken out their cameras and were taking my picture," Romney told an audience at the Portsmouth, N.H., Rotary Club.

"And then I noticed that some Chinese in the audience were doing the same thing. And I said, 'Ann, sit up straight, look -- they're all taking our picture.' And she goes like this, and I turn around," Romney said, "and there's Kobe Bryant sitting right behind me."

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich remains “the ideas man.” Collective bargaining – very, very bad. Troop withdrawal from Afghanistan – very, very good. New energy policy – very, very important.

And finally, former Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman really did not do or say anything this week to make me think he wants to be my President. Just saying.

More next week, for sure.  Happy Weekend, everyone!