Congratulations Michelle!

The Iowa Straw Poll may prove meaningless in the long run (it often does) but it is important to note that Iowa Republicans who really want to work for a change of leadership in Washington turned out in bunches to campaign for Congressman Bachmann and to pick her as their early favorite for the presidency. Tim Pawlenty worked Iowa hard for nearly a year getting ready for this straw poll, spent lots of money, and developed an impressive organization. Finishing a distant third place, he called it quits the day after the straw poll. Pawlenty has been looked at since 2008 as a formidable contender to take on heir-apparent Mitt Romney. His attempt to smear her as the failure who somehow allowed Obamacare to pass helped sink him. It became obvious in their last debate that Pawlenty resented the upstart from his own state stealing his thunder.

Michelle Bachmann is routinely ridiculed by most of the "serious" media and is subjected to outright abuse by liberal pundits and bloggers. The latest issue of Newsweek Magazine for instance featured an unflattering cover photo with the headline "Queen of Rage." Inside was the typical hit piece masquerading as an informative profile. It's not surprising that US Weekly outsells Newsweek by numbers that approach national debt proportions. The scandal mongers at US don't care about fairness in reporting either but then they don't pretend to. I've watched Michelle Bachmann closely ever since she started this inevitable campaign two years ago and I've seen no rage.

So what happened here? Bachmann isn't the most articulate speaker in the Republican field. She is not the most experienced by far. She's never even sponsored a major piece of legislation. Why does she impress? It's not because she's pretty. Sarah Palin is pretty (drop-dead gorgeous actually) but the Republican establishment despises her and many Republican women hate her living guts because she's so pretty. Same with Bachmann on that count.

Michelle Bachmann is so successful thus far for two reasons. First,she's a tireless campaigner and a shameless fundraiser - qualities she shares with His Imperial Emptiness, Mr. Obama. Second and most important is the big reason. She is completely honest and uncompromisingly devoted to her core beliefs - the rarest qualities of all in a national-level politician.

How formidable is she? Time will tell. She has to develop a detailed and effective policy message that goes beyond soundbites and slogans. Those are fine for campaign stump speeches but when the party faithful vote in the primaries they will be looking for not just the happy warrior that is Michelle Bachmann. They also will be looking for a strong and articulate statesman who explains why people should follow her. She needs to give us a strategic vision for the future and show us how it will make the USA a better country and America a better society. Time will tell.