Where Are The Serious Editorial Page Editors?

Washington Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt takes to the pages of his newspaper this morning to ask the question "Where are the serious Republican candidates?".  This is a ridiculous question, his column reflects classic lefty-media bias, and his banality should be refuted.  So here goes.

What weak field?  We have (had)  a twice elected Governor of Utah, a thrice elected Governor of  Texas, a Governor of Massachusetts, a Speaker of the House and a twice elected member of the Senate from Pennsylvania.  That they may have acquitted themselves unevenly as candidates is beside the point--this is an accomplished group of politicians with deep records of accomplishment.

Those who didn't run, who Hiatt speaks of as likely to have "...turned out human too"?  They didn't run for at least two reasons--one of which Hiatt gets right (the perceived strength of Obama), and the other that he misses completely--the perceived strength of Romney.  Mitt Romney's been quietly working the hustings for four years, supporting candidates with his PAC money and ingratiating himself with state party apparatus(es) nationwide. He was considered by those in the know to be a difficult man to beat, and they acted accordingly.

For whom does Hiatt yearn?  What is the definition of a "serious" Republican?  Tim Pawlenty, who he describes as  "...a conservative governor from a swing region with a record of working across the aisle..."   So there we have it.  What is it the field is missing?  Why, someone with whom Fred Hiatt has political agreement, someone who...to put it bluntly...doesn't always act so....Republican.

Go back to 2000 folks--look at who was running then.  George Bush--two time Governor of Texas.  John McCain--war hero, Senator.  Alan Keyes?  Gary Bauer?  Steve Forbes?  Orrin Hatch?  What was so damn prestigious about that field that we didn't hear people--D and R--complaining about the weakness of the field?  Nothing.  The plain truth is that the Press has an institutional interest in dogfights, and Republicans are simply not giving them one.  So they are piqued. 

This field is just fine--and any one of several of these folks could have been the nominee, if so many Republicans nationwide didn't already feel that the guy in our party best suited to defeat Barack Obama is Mitt Romney.  Republicans aren't interested in providing "bread and circuses" to the Press....we're concerned with winning.