By Quin Hillyer
Two months ago, I offered, without much explanation, a list of my preferences for president, with the proviso that it was a changeable list as more information comes in.
Alas, two of my favorite six, Scott Walker and Rick Perry, have since dropped out.
Meanwhile, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina have continued to impress, helping answer (but not yet fully convincing me, although they still could) that they have the requisite experience to actually do the job of president. And let me say this: I think conservatives significantly underestimate the importance of political/governmental experience for actually performing the nation’s highest job in the realm of, yes, politics and government. It really is more than common sense. Even someone of exquisite values and judgment and intelligence cannot really understand how the system works, or more importantly how to fix it, without significant experience actually working in it. And, sorry to be blunt, but those who say otherwise just flat-out don’t know what they are talking about.
Still, for almost every rule, there is at least the possibility of an exception. Fiorina and Carson might, just might, prove to be exceptions.
Anyway, in my FIRST TIER — as they have been since this time four full years ago — Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal remain the cream of the crop in terms of principles, relevant experience, and competence.
SECOND TIER
[score]Carly Fiorina[/score]
[score]Marco Rubio[/score]
THIRD TIER
James Gilmore
[score]Ted Cruz[/score]
THE “THANKS, BUT NO THANKS” LIST
John Kasich
Jeb Bush
AND THE “NO WAY, JOSE” LIST
Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, George Pataki, Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump.