Meet The Candidates: 2012 GOP Thread

[dmek25]

and this is so ironic....

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Gov. Mitch Daniels
Gov. Chris Christie
Rep. Paul Ryan
Gov. Haley Barbour
Sen. John Thune
Gov. Mike Huckabee
Gov. Sarah Palin

That's a pretty good list of candidates that don't think they can beat Barack Obama. Within GOP circles, I would consider them hitters.


Jon Huntsman still in single digits in every poll, he'll be out of the race in a couple of months if not before. #fail
Rick Perry is fading faster than a pair of Levi jeans.

Your nominee will be flip-flopping Mitt Romney.

That's not quite true. Apart from perhaps Haley Barbour (it's debateable if he's a "hitter"), the people you listed didn't run because they didn't want to. In the case of Mitch Daniels, it was his family that persuaded him not to make a run for it. Others, like Ryan and Christie believe they have to fulfill their commitment to serve the remainder of their terms. Palin and Huckabee don't want to take a pay cut.

Campaigning for president is a life-altering event that takes enormous time away from your family. Sometimes winning the presidency doesn't even make it worth running.

It's quite a stretch to claim that they refused to run because they don't think they can beat Barack Obama.

[DynamiteRave]

Herman Cain's quite the flavor of the week (read as: month).

What's up with that?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

That's not quite true. Apart from perhaps Haley Barbour, the people you listed didn't run because they didn't want to. In the case of Mitch Daniels, it was his family that persuaded him not to make a run for it.

Campaigning for president is a life-altering event that takes enormous time away from your family. Sometimes winning the presidency doesn't even make it worth running.

It's quite a stretch to claim that they refused to run because they don't think they can beat Barack Obama.

On the contrary, I do think that was the ultimate deciding factor. Of course family is always a consideration as it should be. With the exception of Senator John Thune, they all criss-crossed the country and openly flirted with the possibility of running for president. Chris Christie just gave a big speech at the Reagan library two weeks ago and strung the media along for months before finally saying no. Bottom line, it just wasn't there. Same with Palin, same with Huckabee. Mitch Daniels said his family was the ultimate factor, but he didn't seem to have the fire either.

The point I'm making is, I've heard them all give substantive TV interviews about what they would do to change the direction of the country; that Obama could be beaten and he's a one term president. But when opportunity came knocking, they didn't have the guts to put skin in the game and back it up.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

That's not quite true. Apart from perhaps Haley Barbour (it's debateable if he's a "hitter"), the people you listed didn't run because they didn't want to. In the case of Mitch Daniels, it was his family that persuaded him not to make a run for it. Others, like Ryan and Christie believe they have to fulfill their commitment to serve the remainder of their terms. Palin and Huckabee don't want to take a pay cut.

Campaigning for president is a life-altering event that takes enormous time away from your family. Sometimes winning the presidency doesn't even make it worth running.

It's quite a stretch to claim that they refused to run because they don't think they can beat Barack Obama.

I agree with you that campaigning for president is arduous and is an all in proposition. You have to want it badder (bad grammar) than breathing.

That's why I think Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee. He wants to be president and in his heart he thinks he can beat Barack Obama. Mitt Romney really believes he has the answers to get the economy going. He's been running for president for, what, six or seven years? It's his time.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

On the contrary, I do think that was the ultimate deciding factor. Of course family is always a consideration as it should be. With the exception of Senator John Thune, they all criss-crossed the country and openly flirted with the possibility of running for president. Chris Christie just gave a big speech at the Reagan library two weeks ago and strung the media along for months before saying no. Bottom line, it just wasn't there. Same with Palin, same with Huckabee. Mitch Daniels said his family was the ultimate factor, but he didn't seem to have the fire either.

The point I'm making is, I've heard them all give substantive TV interviews about what they would do to change the direction of the country; that Obama could be beaten and he's a one term president. But when opportunity came knocking, they didn't have the guts to put skin in the game and back it up.

And once again, not having the guts, or not believing you can win isn't the same as "I don't want to run for president."

12th, you may not be up for a cage-match against Gary Coleman's dead corpse. But it won't be because you don't think you can win.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

And once again, not having the guts, or not believing you can win isn't the same as "I don't want to run for president."

12th, you may not be up for a cage-match against Gary Coleman's dead corpse. But it won't be because you don't think you can win.

But why Gary Coleman? lol

That said, I don't think you cross the country, hold focus groups, dozens of TV interviews if you don't want to be president. It's one thing to add your voice to the debate, it's another to be the center of the conversation.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Warren Buffet pays the capital gains tax, while his secretary pays federal income taxes. They are two completely different things.

Now, if you are saying that the capital gains tax rate should be the same rate as the top level income tax rate, fine. But if you think your 401k didn't take enough of a hit over the last few years, don't worry. Jacking the capital gains rate up will clean out whatever you have left.

Call me crazy, but I'd rather not have Congress find a way to make it less profitable to invest.

Everyone missed the story. The cheap ass makes buckets of money. Sorry dumpsters of money and he pays his personal secretary only $60000 per year. What a tight a$$ and no wonder he feels guilty.

[dmek25]

In June 2006, he announced a plan to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.[104] He pledged about the equivalent of 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (worth approximately US$30.7 billion as of June 23, 2006),[105] making it the largest charitable donation in history, and Buffett one of the leaders of philanthrocapitalism.[106] The foundation will receive 5% of the total donation on an annualised basis each July, beginning in 2006. (Significantly, however, the pledge is conditional upon the foundation's giving away each year, beginning in 2009, an amount that is at least equal to the value of the entire previous year's gift from Buffett, in addition to 5% of the foundation's net assets.) Buffett also will join the board of directors of the Gates Foundation, although he does not plan to be actively involved in the foundation's investments.[107][108]
probably can call him lots of things. but cheap ass isnt one of them

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by dmek25

In June 2006, he announced a plan to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.[104] He pledged about the equivalent of 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (worth approximately US$30.7 billion as of June 23, 2006),[105] making it the largest charitable donation in history, and Buffett one of the leaders of philanthrocapitalism.[106] The foundation will receive 5% of the total donation on an annualised basis each July, beginning in 2006. (Significantly, however, the pledge is conditional upon the foundation's giving away each year, beginning in 2009, an amount that is at least equal to the value of the entire previous year's gift from Buffett, in addition to 5% of the foundation's net assets.) Buffett also will join the board of directors of the Gates Foundation, although he does not plan to be actively involved in the foundation's investments.[107][108]
probably can call him lots of things. but cheap ass isnt one of them

He is just doing that for the tax write off.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by firstdown

He is just doing that for the tax write off.

yeah of course he is

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Herman Cain's quite the flavor of the week (read as: month).

What's up with that?

Cain's rise has been quite the surprise.

Here's a poll released just today: NBC/WSJ numbers: Cain 27, Romney 23, Perry 16. Last month, it was Perry 38, Romney 23 and Cain 5. Herman Cain has jumped 22 points in six weeks!

I think there are two things going on: The Tea Party's disapproval of Mitt Romney, as a candidate, and Rick Perry's horrible debate performances has brought Herman Cain into favor with conservatives. Once his economic plan is vetted more, you'll probably see his numbers come back down to earth. None of these candidates can stand toe to toe with Obama on national security or foreign policy experience.

The short of it is, Herman Cain is on probation for another month or two until Republican voters come to their senses and realize that Mitt Romney has the best shot at beating Barack Obama.

[SmootSmack]

Cain's got Hank Williams Jr's vote! Not sure his 9 9 9 plan will fly though.

White House is preparing as if it will be Romney though

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

None of these candidates can stand toe to toe with Obama on national security or foreign policy experience.

None have the foreign policy experience, but they've got the same amount Obama had in 2008. It will be a tough sell to the American people that Obama will be stronger on National Security or foreign policy than a Republican candidate.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

White House is preparing as if it will be Romney though

Smart move, with the Christie endorsement I'd be surprised if he isn't the nominee.