So what is everyone's take on the 2012 Republican candidates?

Who are they?

Are you serious LJ?

bigdaddy2003;778173 wrote:Are you serious LJ?

Why wouldn't I be? Are we discussing some in particular or who people want to run or who people think have a shot....

C'mon, vague thread is vague

Nah, it's not that hard to understand the point of the thread but sure I will lay out names.

Ok people I want you to discuss what you think about each of the 2012 Republican candidates.

Herman Cain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Michelle Bachman
Newt Gingrich
Tim Pawlenty
Jon Huntsman
Rick Santorum

Is it 2012 yet?
Until then, doesn't matter.

ptown_trojans_1;778286 wrote:Is it 2012 yet?
Until then, doesn't matter.

Hush you! This is DOMESTIC policy now.

ptown_trojans_1;778286 wrote:Is it 2012 yet?
Until then, doesn't matter.

Ok? I don't see a problem with talking about.

As a conservative, unless Christie runs I think obama gets re-elected (somehow).

Herman Cain - I don't think he'd put up much of a challenge honestly
Ron Paul - Best candidate here but unelectable
Mitt Romney - nearly impossible to even get the nomination
Michelle Bachman - Not gonna happen
Newt Gingrich - No one likes him, and his name is Newt
Tim Pawlenty - Don't know enough about him to comment.
Jon Huntsman - See above
Rick Santorum - Batshit crazy. Unelectable for all but super conservatives

Like I've said on several other threads: Waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early.

The folks who are in the race early are simply attempting to see if they can garner enough financial support and political momentum to make a viable run. MOST if not all of the early candidates will fall by the wayside and already are.

The realistic Repub nominee hasn't tossed his or her hat into the ring yet.

Chillax people...still plenty of time.

I heard a good one last night. In May, 2007 (which is exactly where we are right now in the election cycle), John McCain was out of money and considering pulling the plug, Rudy Guiliani was leading all of the R polling, Hillary was all but coronated, and Obama wasn't a viable candidate to defeat Ms. Clinton. Too early to predict a candidate that won't be officially nominated until 15 months from now.

To me, the only one that would be the odds-on favorite to win the presidency isn't even a candidate....yet - http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/05/chris-christie-2012-john-phillips.html

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about/

iclfan2;778332 wrote:As a conservative, unless Christie runs I think obama gets re-elected (somehow).

Agree. Only thing I have against Christie is he is a fat ass. He needs to lose some weight, it would help him get elected.

QuakerOats;778535 wrote:http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about/

Hearing the same rumblings. Potential playa.

Yeah, Perry hasn't ruled out a run. Gonna be tough for him to justify his talk against government and hinting at seccession (did I even come close to the correct spelling?) while crying for government aid for the wildfires down there. With The Donald, Palin, Huckabee seemingly out of it, someone has to take up the role of fringe lunatic for the R's. Bachman wants that role but I don't know.

I agree that it's early to be discussing this but the problem is money. While Mitt Romney continues to hoard campaign cash, nobody else is generating serious money. Kinda like 2000, when W put together such a huge war chest nobody could seriously challenge him and he won the nomination going away. If I were anyone serious I'd declare sooner rather than later. Otherwise, Mitt will be too far ahead in the money game.

stlouiedipalma;778699 wrote:Yeah, Perry hasn't ruled out a run. Gonna be tough for him to justify his talk against government and hinting at seccession (did I even come close to the correct spelling?) while crying for government aid for the wildfires down there. With The Donald, Palin, Huckabee seemingly out of it, someone has to take up the role of fringe lunatic for the R's. Bachman wants that role but I don't know.

The citizens of Texas and businesses that operate in Texas pay hefty sums of taxes to the federal government each year. As long as Texas is part of this union they should enjoy the benefits of it like any other state. It only makes sense that governor of a state should make a case to the feds if they feel they are not recieving due benefits. If not why be part of the union?

OneBuckeye;778545 wrote:Agree. Only thing I have against Christie is he is a fat ass. He needs to lose some weight, it would help him get elected.

Come on man. If the dude has the credentials then why does this really matter? Bill Maher said the same thing about his weight the other night and it honestly made me cringe but a lot of what he says makes me feel that way.

I Wear Pants;778379 wrote:Herman Cain - I don't think he'd put up much of a challenge honestly
Ron Paul - Best candidate here but unelectable
Mitt Romney - nearly impossible to even get the nomination
Michelle Bachman - Not gonna happen
Newt Gingrich - No one likes him, and his name is Newt
Tim Pawlenty - Don't know enough about him to comment.
Jon Huntsman - See above
Rick Santorum - Batshit crazy. Unelectable for all but super conservatives

Why do you feel that way about Cain and why is Paul unelectable?

bigdaddy2003;778824 wrote:Why do you feel that way about Cain and why is Paul unelectable?

Paul is brilliant, but his charisma bypass makes him pretty unelectable for POTUS.

bigdaddy2003;778820 wrote:Come on man. If the dude has the credentials then why does this really matter? Bill Maher said the same thing about his weight the other night and it honestly made me cringe but a lot of what he says makes me feel that way.

When Christe logically lays out an argument and the reality of the situation all his political oponents have left is, "Uh... your fat". Corzine made fun of Christies weight during the governors race and he lost.

bigdaddy2003;778820 wrote:Come on man. If the dude has the credentials then why does this really matter? Bill Maher said the same thing about his weight the other night and it honestly made me cringe but a lot of what he says makes me feel that way.

I don't think it's that anyone thinks his weight makes him less qualified. Just that when people see an overweight person they tend to have negative thoughts in their mind (this person is too lazy/stupid to eat right and exercise, etc). It's not right because Christie could have plenty of credentials and speak well but things like that can hurt you. Look at how Nixon sweating under spotlights hurt him in a debate.

I say it doesn't matter because whatever one thinks about who is or could be a favorite will change. There are too many variables at play to predict a nominee over a year out.
Think about how much has changed in the last 3 months.
Trying to guess out a year is insane. Might as well pick the winner of next year's NCAA March Maddess.

Christie now has more people who see him as unfavorable ( 45%) than favorable (40%) in his own state. Another case of a loser that the R base thinks highly of that can't get elected in the general election. He has poor positions that Independents don't like. Every current R candidate has problems and will lead a party that will have high negatives from trying to kill Medicare and favor the rich . Polls indicate Independents turned off with the R agenda . Obama gets 4 more years easy and may be a high turn-over in R seats with Ds making hay over the rich vs Middle Class/Poor record that Rs look bad about. Rs have a disgusting record since elected. They'll lose seats.

I Wear Pants;778960 wrote:I don't think it's that anyone thinks his weight makes him less qualified. Just that when people see an overweight person they tend to have negative thoughts in their mind (this person is too lazy/stupid to eat right and exercise, etc). It's not right because Christie could have plenty of credentials and speak well but things like that can hurt you. Look at how Nixon sweating under spotlights hurt him in a debate.

People having those thoughts about Christie is but another example of why people should have to pass a test to vote.