Last month, Nikki Haley announced she is running for President. Haley is someone who has consistently proven doubters wrong: she was the first female governor of South Carolina, she has never lost a race, she’s self-made, and she survived as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during a turbulent, chaotic Trump White House without so much as a scrape.
Very hard not to be impressed by Haley. So much sharper than the vast majority of politicians working today. Didn't dodge many questions, had a strong story to tell, showed sincere heartfelt love for the nation—the whole nation—displayed unwavering confidence but not to the point of arrogance, and surprised me with her humor. That line about "hold my beer" while I raise $25k selling coozies was brilliant. I loved how she swatted away the implicit Michelle Obama comparison: "They go low, we ignore them." I have been waiting for a Gen-X leader to rise and have been generally disappointed with what my generation has produced so far (Seinfeld voice: "Hello, Newsom"). But Haley might be the one. I hope the machine gives her a chance.
P.S. I'm one of those long-time California Democrats turned independent and politically homeless, sickened so much I am by the direction taken by both major parties. I had hoped Biden would get the Dems back on track, but he has driven the train like he was carrying a hazardous load through Ohio. I have never placed any faith in the GOP, and having an "R" next to her name will always make me at least a little reluctant to join Team Haley. But she may be the one to actually put the adults back in charge.
Great interview. On her own, Nikki Haley gives me hope, especially since she is the first woman of substance I can stand with fully. It's about time. I just hope the party and the patriarchy don't get in her way. It's time to stand up.
BarI: Am a big fan of CS/TFP and of you, but this interview was poor. You seem obsessed with what the media thinks of Haley and failed to delve at all into what specific policies she would proffer if elected. At every turn it was " What about Don Lemon or Whoopi Goldberg, or Ann Coulter, or Laura Ingraham or some Politico reporter, when one, who cares what any of those charlatans think, and two, Haley continued to tell you she did not care what they thought!
Early on she stated her four priorities and you never asked the obvious next question, "What specific policies would you employ" so voters can get some idea of how to judge her. She did not seem evasive, you just seem obsessed.
For her part I thought she handled herself well and I wanted to learn more. She seems less combative tha De Santis and may be more electable, try again Bari.
I think she has no backbone and is not a leader. In the 2016 election, she came out in support of Rubio and staunchly against Trump. Then, Trump wins and she joins his administration and is all-in on Trump. Then, after January 6, she rightly admonished Trump and said the GOP should turn away. Then, after seeing MAGA had taken over the GOP despite January 6, she backed off that statement (throwing respected journalist Tim Alberta under the bus in the process) and said she wouldn’t run for President if Trump ran.
Now that DeSantis and others have shown Trump is weaker than before and more vulnerable to another GOP candidate, she’s back in and IS running against Trump. She also evolved from this “principled” conservative to being all-in on the culture wars. Her appearance at CPAC this week should put to bed any notion she’s going to rise above the pettiness of politics and unite this country.
In the 2016 election, she came out in support of Rubio and staunchly against Trump. Then, Trump wins and she joins his administration and is all-in on Trump. Then, after January 6, she rightly admonished Trump and said the GOP should turn away. Then, after seeing MAGA had taken over the GOP despite January 6, she backed off that statement (throwing respected journalist Tim Alberta under the bus in the process) and said she wouldn’t run for President if Trump ran.
Now that DeSantis and others have shown Trump is weaker than before and more vulnerable to another GOP candidate, she’s back in and IS running against Trump. She also evolved from this “principled” conservative to being all-in on the culture wars.
When pressed by Hannity of all people to distinguish herself from Trump on policy, she had nothing to say and talked about “I’m not gonna kick sideways.” Wow. How brave of you, Nikki. Her appearance at CPAC this week should put to bed any notion she’s going to rise above the pettiness of politics and unite this country.
I was disappointed when Bari gave her space in this publication after the Afghanistan pullout and I’m even more disappointed that she gave her this interview and didn’t force her to be more specific about what exactly January 6 was not how she could still support Trump if he’s the nominee after everything he’s done to deny the 2020 election.
I hope she loses badly and disappears from politics altogether.
I like Haley. But when she says she would vote for Trump if he is nominee, she is either pandering to his voters or failing to understand his crass stolen election bs and fomenting a riot at the capital has harmed the Republican party and the country in a significant way. Don't think I can support her.
I want to love Nikki Haley, but the idea of a competency test is cringey and fantasy. It will NEVER HAPPEN (who would we all trust to devise and administer such a test?) and so is a complete distraction. Please stop. It's up to the voters to assess competency.
I believe there is a standardized test already available. But the Constitution sets the qualifications for president and passing a competency test isn't one of them. Fine to say candidates SHOULD pass a test, you can't require it.
Yes, but I think this is just a campaign rhetorical device. I hear her call as an appeal to voters that we be the competency test when choosing our leaders, just as you suggest.
I enjoyed this and think Haley is impressive. BUT found out she’s one of Karl Schwab/ WEF young leader which taints her reputation/ integrity. I’d like to hear her comment on this
I listened to entire interview. Nikki Haley is impressive. And she has a child experiencing woke educational indoctrination which places her close to my greatest pain.
Very hard not to be impressed by Haley. So much sharper than the vast majority of politicians working today. Didn't dodge many questions, had a strong story to tell, showed sincere heartfelt love for the nation—the whole nation—displayed unwavering confidence but not to the point of arrogance, and surprised me with her humor. That line about "hold my beer" while I raise $25k selling coozies was brilliant. I loved how she swatted away the implicit Michelle Obama comparison: "They go low, we ignore them." I have been waiting for a Gen-X leader to rise and have been generally disappointed with what my generation has produced so far (Seinfeld voice: "Hello, Newsom"). But Haley might be the one. I hope the machine gives her a chance.
P.S. I'm one of those long-time California Democrats turned independent and politically homeless, sickened so much I am by the direction taken by both major parties. I had hoped Biden would get the Dems back on track, but he has driven the train like he was carrying a hazardous load through Ohio. I have never placed any faith in the GOP, and having an "R" next to her name will always make me at least a little reluctant to join Team Haley. But she may be the one to actually put the adults back in charge.
Great interview. On her own, Nikki Haley gives me hope, especially since she is the first woman of substance I can stand with fully. It's about time. I just hope the party and the patriarchy don't get in her way. It's time to stand up.
Wow, Haley.
Have to learn more but just Wow!
Because she wants to dilute the DeSantis vote and help Trump win. There, I saved you an hour long podcast
Wouldn't she say some negative things about Desantis if that was the case.
BarI: Am a big fan of CS/TFP and of you, but this interview was poor. You seem obsessed with what the media thinks of Haley and failed to delve at all into what specific policies she would proffer if elected. At every turn it was " What about Don Lemon or Whoopi Goldberg, or Ann Coulter, or Laura Ingraham or some Politico reporter, when one, who cares what any of those charlatans think, and two, Haley continued to tell you she did not care what they thought!
Early on she stated her four priorities and you never asked the obvious next question, "What specific policies would you employ" so voters can get some idea of how to judge her. She did not seem evasive, you just seem obsessed.
For her part I thought she handled herself well and I wanted to learn more. She seems less combative tha De Santis and may be more electable, try again Bari.
I think she’ll make it to the debate stage, and I hope she makes an impact then.
Why is it that there seems to be so much objection to her?
I think she has no backbone and is not a leader. In the 2016 election, she came out in support of Rubio and staunchly against Trump. Then, Trump wins and she joins his administration and is all-in on Trump. Then, after January 6, she rightly admonished Trump and said the GOP should turn away. Then, after seeing MAGA had taken over the GOP despite January 6, she backed off that statement (throwing respected journalist Tim Alberta under the bus in the process) and said she wouldn’t run for President if Trump ran.
Now that DeSantis and others have shown Trump is weaker than before and more vulnerable to another GOP candidate, she’s back in and IS running against Trump. She also evolved from this “principled” conservative to being all-in on the culture wars. Her appearance at CPAC this week should put to bed any notion she’s going to rise above the pettiness of politics and unite this country.
In the 2016 election, she came out in support of Rubio and staunchly against Trump. Then, Trump wins and she joins his administration and is all-in on Trump. Then, after January 6, she rightly admonished Trump and said the GOP should turn away. Then, after seeing MAGA had taken over the GOP despite January 6, she backed off that statement (throwing respected journalist Tim Alberta under the bus in the process) and said she wouldn’t run for President if Trump ran.
Now that DeSantis and others have shown Trump is weaker than before and more vulnerable to another GOP candidate, she’s back in and IS running against Trump. She also evolved from this “principled” conservative to being all-in on the culture wars.
When pressed by Hannity of all people to distinguish herself from Trump on policy, she had nothing to say and talked about “I’m not gonna kick sideways.” Wow. How brave of you, Nikki. Her appearance at CPAC this week should put to bed any notion she’s going to rise above the pettiness of politics and unite this country.
I was disappointed when Bari gave her space in this publication after the Afghanistan pullout and I’m even more disappointed that she gave her this interview and didn’t force her to be more specific about what exactly January 6 was not how she could still support Trump if he’s the nominee after everything he’s done to deny the 2020 election.
I hope she loses badly and disappears from politics altogether.
Probably sexism.
"Not in her prime". What an asshole.
I like Haley. But when she says she would vote for Trump if he is nominee, she is either pandering to his voters or failing to understand his crass stolen election bs and fomenting a riot at the capital has harmed the Republican party and the country in a significant way. Don't think I can support her.
I was Camp Haley right up until she mentioned Def Leppard as an American band.
Heathen.
Can we really trust someone like this with the nuclear codes?
I want to love Nikki Haley, but the idea of a competency test is cringey and fantasy. It will NEVER HAPPEN (who would we all trust to devise and administer such a test?) and so is a complete distraction. Please stop. It's up to the voters to assess competency.
I believe there is a standardized test already available. But the Constitution sets the qualifications for president and passing a competency test isn't one of them. Fine to say candidates SHOULD pass a test, you can't require it.
Yes, but I think this is just a campaign rhetorical device. I hear her call as an appeal to voters that we be the competency test when choosing our leaders, just as you suggest.
The logistics is indeed concerning but I think the thinking knowing that only capable people are in office exhilarating
Why didn’t you ask her about gun violence in our country and where she stands on banning assault rifles. You were way too soft on her…..
Will be an interesting election.
I enjoyed this and think Haley is impressive. BUT found out she’s one of Karl Schwab/ WEF young leader which taints her reputation/ integrity. I’d like to hear her comment on this
Good convo, Berri. Haley's sharp. Didn't know much about her.
Please consider putting transcriptions of your podcasts online. Thank you.
I listened to entire interview. Nikki Haley is impressive. And she has a child experiencing woke educational indoctrination which places her close to my greatest pain.