No one can legitimately complain that the deck was stacked, there was an anointed winner, the Tea Party movement was shut out, or the candidates have not been put through the ropes and the wringer.
It may not end where we want it to end.
But regardless, we will be stronger against Obama for it.
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This GOP primary season promises to be more interesting than the last one. I may actually consider voting for one or two of these Republicans. But we’ll have to see what the field looks like for the primary in my state which comes kind of late in the season…
There are almost 46,000,000 Hispanics in the U.S. You can kiss those votes goodby, not mention Asians.
Obama just won the next election.
I have two words for you: Marco Rubio.
I believe he would take the VP opportunity, if it’s offered to him.
First Latino American as VP evah!
You are entitled to your opinion regardless of how delusional it may be…
BTW, my wife is Asian and she will be voting for a Conservative in 2012 just as she has done for the last six elections.
Surely that is premature. We don’t even know who the candidate will be. I find it hard to believe everyone has made up their minds so firmly at this point — that is, months before any actual primary election.
I am thankful I won’t have to choose to vote or not vote for Ron Paul – that would be too hard, for me. But, as I have said before, ABO. Anybody. But. Obama.
I believe Palin’s strategy is paying off, and proving itself. We shall see if the end of September is the time, or if she will wait until October. Or, perhaps not run (I don’t believe that will be her decision, though; she loves a good fight!).
She predicted this primary season would be different. So far, she’s right about that! This is indeed good for the GOP, and for the candidates – vet them NOW! Not after they are chosen.
Sarah’s worth the wait, IMHO. 😀
I agree, DINORightMarie. I have my GAME ON bumper stickers on the car.
And, a couple of things – 1.) Rick Perry had his Katie Couric moment in that debate. Don’t count him out over ONE lousy night – it isn’t enough for you to judge the measure of a man. Do you doubt that he would be a vast improvement over Obama? His tort reform alone could save this nation.
2.) Herman Cain is an awesome man, he and Gingrich are clearly miles above most any candidate in certain categories – and we can only imagine what a different world it would be today if Herman Cain were in the Oval Office instead of Obama. Cain’s calm, intelligent and measured approach becomes Solomon-esque in comparison.
3.) When the full impact – and facts – of Gunrunner/Fast&Furious come out, the utter disregard for hispanics and Mexican citizens exhibited by Obama and Holder – the responsibility for the deaths of thousands of hispanic people – I cannot imagine Obama telling enough lies to win them back. They are, by and large, far more moral and religious than anyone gives them credit for, and the “Progressive” cavalier hatred of religion, coupled with the callous disregard for human lives – will cost him.
I’m betting it is a rout on the lines of 60/40 against Obama and his failed policies. 70/40 if he keeps doubling down.
Cain has the heart of many and exhibits passion and generates enthusiasm the others don’t. He is certainly an outsider and a huge gamble, but it may be one that the party is willing to take.
The rest of the crew…not much there, in my opinion. Not much daylight between them for the most part (Paul excepted). Nobody stands out consistently.
Unless someone begins to pull away from the pack, I’ll be happy for a watery tart to throw a sword at someone/anyone so the long game strategy can get underway.
70/30 pimf
Professor, I just listened to your excellent interview on WROK. Newt is in fact the only one that brings the debates back to the core issue, defeating Obama. Newt has more baggage than Samsonite, so I don’t see him as viable, but, he is useful. I hope he is loyal enough to the party (and to this country, for that matter) to coach the eventual candidate.
I admit Perry’s missteps have taken some of the wind out of my sails, but, I am firmly with DINOMarie, Anybody But Obama. I would prefer it be Sarah, but, I don’t know if that will happen.
Professor, I half admit to assuming you would sound like my next door neighbor, since I feel so comfortable here. I’m in Tennessee, so…well, you can imagine.
Newt is concerned with Newt and that is where his loyalty lies. Never doubt that.
WarEagle82 and others: I realize Gingrich has baggage, dubious morals, egocentric — and so do a lot of politicians. But he’s competent, and he sure can talk. The #1 question for me is: are the Republicans going to beat Obama, and how. There also are going to be Senate races (and most policy ultimately will come out of Congress.)
Would the commentators here consider a ticket such as Gingrich/Cain, or Gingrich/Rubio?
Didn’t we learn something about the value of talk? And besides talk, what exactly is Newt competent in? He did not cover himself with glory last time he attempted to assume a leadership position.
I didn’t vote for McCain/Palin because I knew John McCain is not a conservative back in 2000.
I won’t vote for Gingrich/Anyone because I know Gingrich is an big government opportunist out to stroke his own ego at our expense. (Does that remind you of the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW?)
Gingrich is a political animal whose ultimate goals are the promotion of Gingrich, and the protection of the Political Class. He talks conservatism, but reflexively stands with the elites of both parties. After the cuddling on the couch with Nancy Pelosi, his actions in the NY-23 race, and his slams on conservatives/TEA Party patriots; any ticket with him on it means that the Nomenklatura has won and there is no room for Conservatives in the party anymore. Nominating him would be like the French naming Pierre Laval as president of France after WW-II.
retire05 @ September 25, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Hmm. Last time I looked, I still have my epicanthic folds. Yep, still there. My nom d’ blog comes from an exchange in front of my crew with a former captain. He accused me of being “to the right of Genghis Khan”. I disagreed, and pointed out that I was to the right of Subotai Bahadur, his chief general, who was a real hard a**.
If Sarah decides to run; she will have my heart, my hands, my efforts, my money, and my experience [I have helped run a successful Republican presidential campaign at the county level]. Unless the nominee is Huntsman [in reality an Obama operative], Romney [the “Brave Sir Robin” of the Republican party], or Gingrich [too many daggers in my back with his fingerprints on them] I will support the Republican nominee, despite misgivings; because the mission is to defeat those who are no longer our countrymen.
Subotai Bahadur
If Romney ends up being the nominee I call ”stacked”.
Sarah will run, and she will win. 🙂
The DECK has been stacked for Mittens Romey but it is flying apart!!!
Yea
i know it’s still early but i’m a bit worried that this frontrunner-of-the-week thing that is happening is just invalidating the candidates, one by one, from what is already not a particularly inspiring group. please tell me that, in a contest where ‘anybody’ beats obama, it ends up that ‘anybody’ actually ends up losing.
of course that should read “it DOESN’T end up that..” i need a proofreader, or the site needs an edit button.
Exactly.. We are the state we are in now, because the media refused to vet Obama.. so now, we, the American Patriotic Conservative people, are doing the media’s job for them.. and now we are seeing the weak, and anemic liberal career crony capitalist politicians, weeded out.. That’s what Primaries, as well as pre-primaries, are for.. and whomever the candidate will be.. cough, cough.. we will be all the stronger and better for it..
Now, with that being said..
Mr Cain, as nice a guy he is, is only ahead, and the winner in some States straw polls, because of Gov. Perry’s massive meltdown.. and Romney is too much of a Big Govt Crony Capitalist, like Perry is.. So this makes Mr. Cain, the leader by default.. which is no way meant to be an insult, but as excellent as Mr Herman Cain is in many regards, he does not have the experience, skill, expertise, knowledge, and most of all, leadership persona, to be the next Ronald Reagan, for which we, America needs right now… although he is far better than Romney or Perry.. so this is currently what the Republican Party Nomination selection of potential GOP candidates, has come down to thus far..
But wait, enter stage left, Chris Christie.. another career Crony Capitalist Republican Party RINO.. and he too will fall to the vetting process, harder than Perry has..for he is worst than Perry..
But wait, enter stage right.. ? When she, Gov. Palin, officially enters the Presidential race, she will immediately be the Republican Party front runner, and will be the one to beat.. as she has already been vetted for 3 years now, and the more vetting that is done, the more it will strengthen her, as her record will be revealed even more.. and that will only strengthen her even more.. as she was not a career crony capitalist politician, but she was, and is, a politician of the people.. as she fought crony capitalist corruption, on both sides of the political aisle.. and beat them..
Her candidacy will be the same as everyone else’s, but her campaign will not.. She will completely rewrite the political Primary rules, as she will do it her way, and not the Republican party way, or the media’s way.. and she will completely dominate the stage, like no other, since Ronald Reagan.!
Cain is a leader? Are his poll numbers out of single digits yet? Cain won a straw poll in which a trivial number of people voted in FL, where he has ties. If you held that straw poll in my town, I could win it.
I like Cain fine but calling him a “front runner” at this point is silly. Cain will be a serious candidate when he wins two or more primaries, not before.
I will begin to think that he has a shot at being a serious candidates when his polls number break 20% and stay above that for 2 months.
I don’t think it is necessarily so surprising that the race is wide open at this point. Remember the Florida Straw Poll in 2007? The top candidates then were Giuliani and Fred Thompson, going in. Six weeks ago this past Saturday, Michelle Bachmann won Ames and was the flavor of the month. Now she loses to Gary Johnson and finishes dead last.
There will be more surprises and twists.
Since Reagan isn’t available, I find it hard to believe people think it is a weak field (except Bill Kristol, who made his reputation with contrariness). Six Governors, not counting those who didn’t get in, former Speaker, former CEO, former Senator, three sitting Representatives, and almost Donald Trump. Not a bad selection, but it isn’t completely closed to new entries yet, either.
I do have to wonder if Mitch Daniels is kicking himself now, though . . .
I think we have to stop buying the media line that the candidates are not so hot. Did you hear anything bad about Pawlenty before he ran? Not really. He’s an example of one who can do the job, but isn’t a media-sensation-candidate.
No matter who we run, we will be told they can’t win – and, I have been saying this for months now, it’s not true. – In fact, we have a pretty amazing bunch of people, running for the right reasons – with new ideas (look at the incredible discussions the debates have generated, with a wide range of opinions on everything from immigration to migraines.)
We have all the up and coming candidates with fire in the belly.
We have two Mormons, two businessmen, two women (potentially), a gay guy (yes, Fred Karger is still in the race, and he and McCotter should have been included in some of the debates)… we have a range of experience, Governors, business, and like Huntsman or not, his resume is something else… In the wings, we have Marco Rubio, Allen West, Chris Christie…
It’s interesting! It’s challenging. This is not your ‘it’s-your-turn-in-line, Bob Dole’ kind of race – let’s look at what’s POSITIVE. THIS is what’s happening – all the Democrat/”progressives” have are warmed over Clinton retreads and the cadaverous Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
They DO have to run the gauntlet of fire – yes – because they must emerge as hardened steel. But be careful we do not do such a hit job that we mortally wound the final contestant, and send him into the match bloodied and weakened by friendly fire.
Maybe its a fine line – but California has history with this, killing off our own, and leaving the way clear for a Grey Davis. And arguably, doing the same to McCain gave us Obama.
Most of these candidates have survived the fire before, running for Governor, and lesser offices on the way up. Local politics can be brutal, remember this.
It worries me to see us so easily being led to say on stumble disqualifies Perry.
And, yeah, Palin has not only survived the blowtorches, she remains standing, proud and ready – GAME ON!
Obama: “That’s Bad Crazy . . . You Don’t Want Billionaires Paying The Same Tax Rate As Jews… I Mean Janitors” http://weaselzippers.us/2011/09/25/obama-gaffe-thats-bad-crazy-you-dont-want-billionaires-paying-the-same-tax-rate-as-jews-i-mean-janitors/
Good summary of the situation.
AS for Palin, well, she has gone rogue as she has said. Most rogue would be that she has shadowed the current campaign rather than joining in. I am not sure many voters will appreciate her watching this spectacle and then jumping in. But to so many to speak any shade of negative about Sarah is to slam a saint.
Even Christie will have to provide a good reason he watched his fellows twist in the wind and yet
demurred.I will hate seeing him run. At his weight it is a health risk.
If the Republicans [real Republicans, not RINO’s like Collins/Snowe, Brown, McCain, Lugar, etc.] take over the senate with a veto proof majority, we keep the House and even add a few, what does it matter which one in the current field is in the WH?
From my perspective, the more Conservative the POTUS the better. That way the person will veto anything trying to slide through some sneaky, back-door deals (which will probably still happen with a Repub majority House and Senate – it is the nature of the bill process at present, adding “goodies” and hideous “amendments” that have deep impact).
Also, the country is in the right place and mood for real Conservative change. This past 4 years, if nothing else, showed Americans the danger of the Left and the damage that can be done in a very short time by agenda-driven Alinsky-ite liberals. Anyone in the White House with any tendency toward liberal progressivism is undesirable, at best.
But, as I said, A.B.O. We must focus on taking back the Senate, increasing the House majority, and putting in the White House the most Conservative candidate possible.
Here is a good article on this (and yes, it discusses Sarah Palin 🙂 ), and why it’s important:
Palin Palin can square Buckley and Rush rules.
Wait, Sarah Wait (Delay Continues to Be Palin’s Ally)
“Sarah Palin is husbanding her resources while the Establishment is spending hand over fist, while dividing its admittedly much larger warchest several ways. In effect, Palin–who will be the insurgent candidate–is evening the odds. She is learning from some of the mistakes of the 1976 and 1980 Reagan campaigns, which overspent early in both cycles and ran out of money both times, costing the Gipper the nomination in 1976 and very nearly derailing him in 1980. Her delaying game, coupled with the multiplication of Establishment candidacies (a divide and conquer strategy, so to speak), has put her in the catbird seat.
Moreover, her delay is forcing the Establishment to play its cards first…to put its candidates out front first for the public to scrutinize. Palin knows that her formal announcement would take the spotlight and scrutiny, as well as the pressure, off the Establishment candidates since all eyes would then turn to her. And she is not about to give her Establishment opponents such a break. The vetting process has been very hard on the new candidates so far, and Palin is wisely allowing it to continue.”
http://alabama4palin.com/2011/09/wait-sarah-wait-delay-continues-to-be-palins-ally/
While I appreciate the ABO mindset at some point you have to wonder if Conservatives are afraid of actually electing someone conservative. We keep listening to people tell us – “you will lose the Independents, Latinos, blacks, Jews, Asians, young voters, gay voters blah, blah, blah, if the nominee is too conservative.If we always offer squishes why do we get upset when they turn into the Dem-lites they actually are?
Maybe we need to make a better case for why all those groups should vote for a Conservative rather than trying to outpander the Left.
What katiejane said: Maybe we need to make a better case for why all those groups should vote for a Conservative rather than trying to outpander the Left.
Well spoken, ma’am.
Whoever wins the GOP nomination has to run a campaign based on a fundamental optimism about America. The Donkeys will run a fearmongering campaign — of that there’s no doubt. That doesn’t mean that the GOP can’t go negative — Reagan did it beautifully in 1980. And let’s face it — the Donkeys’ record is filled with a surplus of targets. But there must be a fundamental belief that we can right this ship, and that we know how to do it.