Tuesday, May 31, 2016

"Kristol Eyes Conservative Lawyer David French..."

"...for Independent Presidential Run"

Two Republicans intimately familiar with Bill Kristol’s efforts to recruit an independent presidential candidate to challenge Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have told Bloomberg Politics that the person Kristol has in mind is David French -- whose name the editor of the Weekly Standard floated in the current issue of the magazine.
French is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the website of National Review, where French is a staff writer, he is a constitutional lawyer, a recipient of the Bronze Star, and an author of several books who lives in Columbia, Tenn., with his wife Nancy and three children.
Reached in Israel late Tuesday afternoon, Kristol declined to comment on his efforts to induce French to run. The two Republicans confirmed that French is open to launching a bid, but that he has not made a final decision. One of the Republicans added that French has not lined up a vice-presidential running mate or significant financial support. However, according to this person, some conservative donors look favorably on the prospect of French entering the fray.

32 comments:

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The name is abuzz on Twitter.

Trooper York said...

"Bill Kristol Attempts to French Conservatives"

Film at eleven.

Trooper York said...

It is pretty hilarious that he is in Israel. David Horowitz is gonna have a field day with that one.

Rabel said...

"A graduate of David Lipscomb College in Nashville and then of Harvard Law School..."

Wonderful.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

There is not one bad word about the man. None that I can find yet.

Rabel said...

Stolen:

"I hope David French and Elizabeth Warren both jump in as third party candidates. Then we can call it the “French and Indian War.”

Trooper York said...

That's because nobody knows anything about him. I am sure he is a nice enough guy but how is he a credible third party candidate?

This is beyond ridiculous. Bill Kristol belongs in Arkham.

ricpic said...

"There is not one bad word about the man."

How about quisling? If he runs say hello to President Rodham.

Trooper York said...

If he runs he gets about three votes. Him his wife and Kristol.

Trooper York said...

Besides you know what the French are know as?

Cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Thus he will only get votes in Wisconsin.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

French is probably a very nice man and all that.....but Kristol is delusional if he thinks that running anyone at this late date is going to make any more difference than a gnat's fart in a hurricane.

Kristol and his ilk need a professional intervention. Perhaps a white coat that buttons in the back.

edutcher said...

Who?

Lem said...

There is not one bad word about the man. None that I can find yet.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.


Clearly this man stands for nothing. I can see why Kristol wants him.

windbag said...

He's nuts. If he wants to float a veteran with name recognition, David Petraeus or Allen West, but David French? Please. Nuts, I tell you.

If Kristol doesn't like the vibe and attendees of the current party, he should just leave. Start his own, if he wants, but stop trying to pre-empt this one. That ship has sailed.

Methadras said...

Who the fuck make Kristol a kingmaker and when did this occur?

Trooper York said...

I nominate April for Vice President.

Michael Haz said...

French sounds like a nice guy.

Hey, remember back in 2008 when Kristol wailed that Barack Obama was inexperienced in politics and in no way should run for president? Good times, good times.

The butter has melted off of Kristol's noodles. The filing date has passed to put a name on the ballot in several states, including Texas. No third party candidate can succeed, even if some sort of miracle dropped $500 million down onto the candidates lap in order to run a campaign.

Kristol has become a preening adolescent who cannot accept that he isn't getting his way. He's willing to help elect Hillary Clinton and give up the supreme court for the next 40 years just because his favorite sparkle pony didn't make it to the finish line.

Pathetic, really.

chickelit said...

I'm tired of Harvard Law candidates and Harvard grad kingmakers. I'd rather be governed by someone unlisted in the Manhattan telephone directory.

edutcher said...

Now that's one of the things that sticks in everybody's craw.

How many Haavahd Law types have we had running, or trying to run, this country and none of them with any real success?

Trump and Bernie, whatever else they may be are not Haavahd lawyers. I mean, Bernie, to his everlasting credit, was a bum until he was 40 and then he went into politics, a definite downturn. But this is why people like them.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Nice twist on the Buckley missive.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

So we need a spoiler to elect Hillary?

Why?

chickelit said...

Lem said...Nice twist on the Buckley missive.

Actually, you just know that all those NRO cons are itching to get another Yalie in the WH (Hillary) in honor of WFB.

Leland said...

Ace has a few nice words for French, but he's toast. As Haz points out, filing to get on the ballot has passed. He's not on the ballot in Texas, which is the anchor for anyone on the GOP winning the electoral college. Without Texas, the path to the Presidency would require the GOP winning NY and Florida, because they won't win California. Trump will get Texas, he's more likely to get NY than French. So if you understand #NeverHillary is more important than #NeverTrump (if you even find #NeverTrump important, which I don't); then voting for French is just a dumb idea. But its from Kristol; so there you go.

Chip Ahoy said...

Hi, David. *waves*

I can totally see you. The flag and unit patch give it away. Otherwise fantastic camouflage, that's Americanized French for camou flajét, masquerading florajet, tru fax.

rcocean said...

yes, Mr. French is nice

rcocean said...

Remember when a group of conservatives met Obama for dinner at George Will's House in Jan 2009? They had a lovely time. Look who was at the meeting:

George Will, David Brooks, Michael Barone, Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, Rich Lowry, and Peggy Noonan.

It looks like a #nevertrump meet up.

rcocean said...

The only purpose of Kristol's 3rd Party is to elect Hillary. How can anyone take his "conservatism" seriously anymore?

chickelit said...

...George Will, David Brooks, Michael Barone, Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, Rich Lowry, and Peggy Noonan.

The lot of them...all of them...are out of touch with a growing number of Americans. They're an insular bunch. We can chose a better elite punditry.

Do they all live and work in the DC metro area? That might explain things. If I hadn't had the great fortune of living in a variety of places: Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio, Switzerland, Germany, California, I too might be stuck in one insular mode. Those people need to get out more. Seriously.

bagoh20 said...

This is like finally finding the condoms in the morning after you already had your wild night with Octomom.

ndspinelli said...

Good to see your face, bags.

bagoh20 said...

Thanks, Spinelli.

I just wish our process produced lots of candidates like this guy for the job. You would expect that such a coveted job would get that, but it's really more entertainment than serious business these days. This election seems like it was scripted and cast specifically for entertainment value. Can a steel cage match election be far off? You have to admit that if the movie "Idiocracy" was real life, this cycle would be a perfect transition on the way there.

ndspinelli said...

Cuidado bags. We are all supposed to get in line, salute, and pledge total allegiance to the exalted leader. After all, he's from NYC.

Methadras said...

Go read David French's screeds on Twitter. Yeah, Kristol knows how to pick em.