From a post I wrote at the time:

My support for John Shadegg is based mostly on four issues: he is a co-sponsor of The Fair Tax, is one of the most fiscally responsible lawmakers in Washington (Citizens Against Government Waste gives Shadegg a 97% score (Taxpayer Hero) for the 108th Congress with lifetime score of 95%.), introduced a bill which would deny pensions to politicians convicted of bribery (H.R. 4546) and perhaps his best proposal, The Enumerated Powers Act, H.R. 2458, would require all new bills before congress to “include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which the law is being enacted.” Perhaps the Enumerated Powers Act would be a pipe dream even if Shadegg won the post of House Majority Leader but imagine how much better the federal government would operate if an attempt was made to keep the government within its constitutional limits?

Maybe after the Republicans get their asses kicked in this election, hopefully the climate will be right for someone like Shadegg or Flake to run for POTUS.

There are still a few Republicans in the House who believe in limited government (though not nearly as many as I would like).

It would probably help Flake a lot more if he ran for Senate first, or perhaps governor of Arizona. It’s been quite awhile since a Representative was elected to the presidency…for good reason. Being a senator or a governor generally entrusts you with a greater amount of responsibility (and publicity) than the HOR provides. And being a governor also puts you in a position where you have to learn to work with others to be effective. Holding those positions doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll be elected to the White House or that you’d be a good president, but they certainly help.

If Flake did run in 2012, though, I’d certainly consider voting for him.

Jeff’s right, though. Go blame the organization that gave Paul the award.

If the Republicans do lose in November, which I still expect, I wouldn’t mind seeing guys like that kick the old guard out.

Sometimes you’ve got to tear things down before you build them back up again. I’d prefer that the “religious right” and “big government conservatives” take their bullshit out of the GOP before this election but I recognize that the Republicans probably need to get their asses kicked a lot more before that happens. Oh well, I suppose I’ll find a way to survive until it does…I’m smart and young :)

Missing from the list is a certain Presidential candidate who calls himself the Taxpayers Best Friend.

Jesus. What’s up with the senseless sniping? Whatever happened to intellectual honesty in this place? “Taxpayers Best Friend” is an award he receives regularly from an independent organization. Say what you will about the merits of the award, but don’t spin it like he’s self-anointed.

Flake is good on the economy, so is Shadegg.

If the Republicans do lose in November, which I still expect, I wouldn’t mind seeing guys like that kick the old guard out.

What on earth are you talking about ?

You do realize that the Presidential candidate I was talking about is Ron Paul, right ?

McCain tries to maintain his conservative roots, however, he usually fails in the attempt simply because he comes to see negotiation with the Dems as the end and not the means.

I suspect that’s because McCain is more interested in being President than in any ideals. McCain is about power…there’s not a position he won’t reverse himself on in order to obtain it.

Couldn’t help but notice that he’s also from Arizona…like a certain icon of libertarian Republicans :)