From Eric Dondero:

A balding Mid-west Governor, and a more-than-husky outspoken East Coast chief of state are described as "sexy" proponents of the free market philosophy - tongue in cheek - in the latest column by Michael Gerson at WaPo "Mitch Daniels: A paradox for our times":

Daniels became a highly successful Indiana governor, combining a motorcycle-driving, pork-tenderloin-eating populism with courageous budget cutting, a solid record of job creation and a reputation for competence. If responsibility and austerity are now sexy, Daniels and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are centerfolds.

When asked his political influences, Daniels cites Charles Murray, the author of "What It Means to Be a Libertarian." Daniels speaks of taxation as a form of coercion that can be justified only by narrow and necessary public purposes. But unlike, say, libertarian Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul, Daniels has actually run a state, forcing him to define government's necessary purposes in a more realistic manner.