Michelle Bachmann continues to impress me

I have to admit that only a year ago, I had no idea who Michelle Bachmann was. However, over the past year, she has garnered my attention by her outspoken views opposing many of the Obama administration’s policies like universal healthcare, cap and trade, and global warming hysteria.

However, equally impressive are her personal values and general advocacy for her voters, and the United States as a whole. Bachmann has come under repeated attack from the left in a vicious manner rivaling counterpart Sarah Palin. I firmly believe that like Palin, Bachmann brings an element of a person who American voters can relate to. Therefore, she has gotten the bullseye firmly emplanted on her back by the Democrat attack machine.

Here is the biography of Michelle Bachmann, as it is laid out on her website. I think that she is just getting started, and will be one of many Conservatives leading the renaissance of the republican and tea party politicians moving into the future.

Michelle Bachmann Profile

Elected in 2006, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is the first Republican woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota. In only her first term, Congresswoman Bachmann developed a reputation as a “principled reformer” who stays true to her conservative beliefs while pushing for real reform of the broken ways of Washington. And, her strong advocacy for her constituents earned her a second term in Congress in November 2008.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann

She is a leading advocate for bipartisan earmark reform and tax relief and is a staunch opponent of wasteful government spending. She is among the leaders in the U.S. House pushing for increased energy exploration in the U.S. to provide much needed relief at the pump for hard-working Americans and put our nation on the path to energy independence.

Prior to serving in the U.S. Congress, Bachmann served in the Minnesota State Senate. She was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2000 where she championed the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. And, prior to that, Bachmann spent five years as a federal tax litigation attorney, working on hundreds of civil and criminal cases. That experience solidified Bachmann’s strong support for efforts to simplify the Tax Code and reduce tax burdens on family and small business budgets.

Congresswoman Bachmann currently sits on the Financial Services Committee. This committee is tasked with the oversight of numerous financial sectors including housing, real estate and banking. This also gives the Congresswoman keen insight into the housing crisis and credit crunch, leading her to be a staunch opponent of the taxpayer-funded bailout of Wall Street. The 6th Congressional District of Minnesota contains parts of six counties, stretching from Stillwater past St. Cloud, including suburbs of the Twin Cities, which encompasses one of the nation’s largest financial services sectors, making Congresswoman Bachmann’s position on the Financial Services Committee particularly important.

Congresswoman Bachmann is a graduate of Anoka High School and Winona State University. Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, live in Stillwater where they own a small business mental health care practice that employs 42 people. The Bachmanns have five children, Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia. In addition, the Bachmanns have opened their home to 23 foster children, which has inspired Congresswoman Bachmann to become one of Congress’ leading advocates for foster and adopted children, earning her bipartisan praise for her efforts.

Who is the Best Bet for the Republicans to take back the White House in 2012?

2012 will be here before we know it. At times, the older generation of Republicans — including former vice president Richard B. Cheney, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh and one or another of the party’s congressional leaders — have dominated as the spokesman for party lines. But many Republicans see it as essential that a different group begins to emerge to help redefine the GOP, and that has raised speculation about potential Obama challengers in 2012.

Sarah Palin

Polls show that Palin’s favorability numbers are a mirror image of those of Obama. She is respected and loved by the Republican base, while Democrats despise her. Granted, independent voters have significant reservations about her capability to be president, and this would be a hurdle in the general election. But to win the Republican nomination, Palin needs only to get enough support from the base to win early key states.

Palin, who was the VP candidate alongside John McCain, has acheived cult like support, as evidenced by the crowds that have shown up for her book signings the last month or so…..

Mitt Romney

Following the election, Romney paved the way for a possible 2012 presidential campaign by keeping much of his PAC’s money to pay for salaries and consulting fees for his existing political staff. He also had a network of former staff and supporters around the nation who were eager for him to run again

Tim Pawlenty

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced that he will not seek reelection next year, voluntarily leaving after his second term. Pawlenty was runner-up to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in Sen. John McCain’s 2008 vice presidential sweepstakes, and his move was interpreted as a step toward a possible 2012 presidential run, freed from the responsibilities of managing a state while campaigning full time for more than two years.

Haley Barbour

Mississippi Governer Haley Barbour

A third Republican governor, Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, has scheduled appearances in New Hampshire and Iowa for later this month. Barbour, a former party chairman, will help raise money for Republicans on his forays to the two states at the front of the presidential nomination calendar. But as one of the canniest politicians in the Republican Party, Barbour knows that landing in either of those states, let alone both, will stoke speculation about his interest in 2012 as well.

Newt Gingrich

And when former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) tried yesterday to roll back his shortcomings and scandals, which were taken as a sign of his desire to shed baggage should he decide to seek the nomination.

Presidential activity is as much illusory as real at this point, as much an opportunity to feed blog speculation and cable conversation as a sign of actual preparations for a presidential campaign. But at a time when the Republican Party is on its back, out of power in Congress and shut out of the White House, the search for prominent and popular leaders is underway and no better vehicle exists than the long process of selecting the party’s next presidential nominee.

The list is elastic and likely to change in coming months. Others who are considered possible candidates include South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is another possible candidate, though his decision to run for the Senate in 2010 would make a presidential bid in 2012 more difficult.