Meet The Candidates: 2012 GOP Thread

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Keep in mind, I'm stating how I think the Rs will attack Obama on National Security, not that I think it's the best way to go. Precisely because of some counter-arguments that are opened up, specifically like the one you just mentioned.

If it's me running the R campaign, I give credit to Obama for success against Al Qaeda and mention that he's taken plays from the conservative playbook in the War on Terror....and I make it a point to call it that, I point to defense cuts, and point to his limited foreign policy experience in 2008. Then I quickly move on to the poor economy, tax & spend, etc.

True....sidenote with GOP candidates, Im glad Cain is coming back and showing good numbers, not cause i agree with what he is saying, but since the beginning hes been the only one offering tangeble solutions to issues. I thought the R would lean towards more style than substance with with Bachman and Perry. I think that really says people are listening and expecting real solutions this time. So this should wake up the Rs as well as Obama. Its a good sign.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

True....sidenote with GOP candidates, Im glad Cain is coming back and showing good numbers, not cause i agree with what he is saying, but since the beginning hes been the only one offering tangeble solutions to issues. I thought the R would lean towards more style than substance with with Bachman and Perry. I think that really says people are listening and expecting real solutions this time. So this should wake up the Rs as well as Obama. Its a good sign.

I've always like Cain, he's great on radio. I didn't think he would be showing so strong, but I'd certainly say your assessment is dead on. I know I've been disappointed in both Bachmann/Perry.

As you look through the field of GOP challengers, where does their support go when they drop.....Romney or Cain. Some will go to Romney because of the Christie endorsement, but you've got to think Perry's folks will go in a large percentage to Cain, Bachmann & Gingrich to Cain, Ron Paul tough to say. If that holds up, Cain should be the nominee.

This is turning out to be a very intresting GOP campaign.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

I've always like Cain, he's great on radio. I didn't think he would be showing so strong, but I'd certainly say your assessment is dead on. I know I've been disappointed in both Bachmann/Perry.

As you look through the field of GOP challengers, where does their support go when they drop.....Romney or Cain. Some will go to Romney because of the Christie endorsement, but you've got to think Perry's folks will go in a large percentage to Cain, Bachmann & Gingrich to Cain, Ron Paul tough to say. If that holds up, Cain should be the nominee.

This is turning out to be a very intresting GOP campaign.

I think if Cain slides, and he could given the fluid nature of the field, his support would go back to Perry. Romney's ceiling seems to be in the 22% range since day one. Romney will get his breakthrough once he's nominated. Even that isn't looking like a slam dunk, though I expect it to happen.

[mlmpetert]

I like Obama's foreign policy more than Mitt's, but its the lesser of 2 evils for me as i think they are both pretty bad. I think the problem Obama has is that he has really upset a part of his base by entering into new wars. He has also given off the perception that he is siding with Palestinians’ which hurts his Jewish support.

Also Romney, in particular, will attack Obama on the popular opinion that Obama is and has been publically apologizing for what he views as America's past sins. A lot of Obama's apology tour was exaggerated and in some cases in line with past Presidents, but some of it was very questionable.

Apologies Not Accepted - Investors.com

Like past presidential elections I think America blindly votes for one person or political party over another, although I think the 2008 elections were of particular ignorance. Democrats, Independents and even many Republicans didn’t want a neo-con or anything that reminded them of Bush. After 12 years of Bush and 8 years of Clinton the thought of Hilary seemed better suited for a empire and not a republic. A young, very well educated and incredible articulate speaker that seemed to truly want to transform the way things are done in Washington, paired with the insider Biden who could administer those changes seemed appealing to everyone, policy issues aside. That combined with someone who wanted to end 7 long years of what seemed like a misguided war was a big part of the reason Obama, the brand, became extremely desirable.

A lot of the things that made his brand so popular a few years ago are completely gone. Its not just that people feel like Obama didn’t live up to his hype and they were somewhat short changed, it’s that a lot of people feel that Obama sold out and they were cheated. Obama has no hope whatsoever in energizing those people like he did in 2008, however, many people are energized to vote against anyone who isn’t named Obama. More votes in 2008 may have been cast in ignorance then any prior election, but the amount of people blindly voting for anything but Obama in 2012 may be just as bad.

I don’t think Obama or saden1 has a chance.

[12thMan]

ML, our troops will be home by year's end (knock on wood). So what new wars has Obama started?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I like Obama's foreign policy more than Mitt's, but its the lesser of 2 evils for me as i think they are both pretty bad. I think the problem Obama has is that hes really upset a part of his base by entering into new wars. He also has made the public perception that he is siding with Palestinians’ has also hurt a lot of his Jewish support.

I will also add something i think Romney, in particular, will attack Obama on is the popular opinion that Obama is and has been publically apologizing for what he views as America's past sins. A lot of Obama's apology tour was exaggerated and in some cases in line with past Presidents, but some of it was very questionable.

Apologies Not Accepted - Investors.com

Like all presidential elections I think America blindly voted for one person or political party over another, although I think the 2008 elections were of particular ignorance. Democrats, Independents and even many Republicans didn’t want a neo-con or anything that reminded them of Bush. After 12 years of Bush and 8 years of Clinton the thought of Hilary seemed better suited for a empire and not a republic. A young, very well educated and incredible articulate speaker that seemed to truly want to transform the way things are done in Washington, paired with the insider Biden who could administer those changes seemed appealing to everyone, policy issues aside. That combined with someone who wanted to end 7 long years of what seemed like a misguided war was a big part of the reason Obama, the brand, became extremely desirable.

A lot of the things that made his brand so popular a few years ago are completely gone. Its not just that people feel like Obama didn’t live up to his hype and they were somewhat short changed, it’s that a lot of people feel that Obama sold out and they were cheated. Obama has no hope whatsoever in energizing those people like he did in 2008, however, many people are energized to vote against anyone who isn’t named Obama. More votes in 2008 may have been cast in ignorance then any prior election, but the amount of people blindly voting for anything but Obama may be just as bad.

I don’t think Obama or saden1 has a chance.

You raise some fair points. But your statement about Obama's brand being gone is largely media driven and way off the mark. Are Obama supporters as enthusiastic as they were in '08, I don't think so. However the grassroots remains solid. Even in the best of economic times, no policy (foreign or domestic) is without flaws and has the luxury of hindsight. Every president could have done things better or differently. For me, Obama has been largely as advertised. He said change would be difficult, he's been pragmatic, and not overly partisan. For people that would like to see more conservative policies coming out of the White House, well, vote your guy into office. It's really that simple.

Also worth noting that Obama just raised $70 million dollars last quarter and 257,000 of those people were first time donors. That's a quarter of a million new supporters into the fold. Pretty incredible for someone who's brand is suffering. In my opinion those numbers are a good indicator of where he stands with his base of supporters. If Mitt Romney and the GOP are counting on voters abandoning Obama next year, they will most definitely be disappointed.

[SBXVII]

Honestly I'm not happy with any of the Republican candidates. I just went looking the other day at each candidate and after a short while gave up thinking our options are either Obama or trash. I'd have taken almost any of the candidates who have declined to run over the candidates who are on the table right now.

Which is why today I went looking and found this......

Petition to Draft Donald Trump for President 2012

and signed the Petition to the right. He did say if there were no decent options he would step up and run.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by saden1

Few things:

1. If you turn 999 upside down what do you get? You get the devil and we all know the devil is in the details.

2. Herman Cain proposed a federal sales tax and thus taking away or marginalizing the power of a state to manage its own sales tax policy and the conservatives cheer?

3. Per his request as reflected in his performance I'm going to officially eliminate Perry from contention.

4. Romney looks like he is going to get his wish...it's a shame he will get get creamed by Obama.

I just don't like Romney who is second runner up right now to Cain. Of the two I'd take Cain but I'm not impressed with him either.

Again which is why I'd take Trump. I know some will think I'm a fool but I like a lot of his ideas which were similar to my own and thinking hopefully a business man can fix our failed situation over bringing in yet another failed politition.

[SmootSmack]

You want a businessman...but you don't want Mitt?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

Few things:

1. If you turn 999 upside down what do you get? You get the devil and we all know the devil is in the details.

2. Herman Cain proposed a federal sales tax and thus taking away or marginalizing the power of a state to manage its own sales tax policy and the conservatives cheer?

3. Per his request as reflected in his performance I'm going to officially eliminate Perry from contention.

4. Romney looks like he is going to get his wish...it's a shame he will get get creamed by Obama.

I don't think the Cain sales tax has any affect on the states taxes. Why would it?

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think if Cain slides, and he could given the fluid nature of the field, his support would go back to Perry. Romney's ceiling seems to be in the 22% range since day one. Romney will get his breakthrough once he's nominated. Even that isn't looking like a slam dunk, though I expect it to happen.

I tend to agree with you there, GOP establishment is hard to break. Too much $$$ and entrenched influence.

I was initially pretty bored with the whole primary, but with some of the recent twists & turns and Cain's surge, it's caught my interest. Chico brought up a great point about people wanting solutions over style. It'll be very interesting how it plays out.

[firstdown]

It will be fun to watch as Cain gains momentum how is the left going to bash him without being the raciest they call everyone who disagrees with Obama?

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

You want a businessman...but you don't want Mitt?

Personally no. It's my understanding he has endorsed Obama's health care plan. I don't like the plan, so ... I don't like him.

I know I won't find the "perfect" candidate but the health care topic is a biggie for me. I'll pass on Romney.

I do like the fact Cain has the Tea Party behind him but again he just doesn't stand out as Presidential material. I also don't like the whole 999 theory he has.

and lastly lets be honest, the Republican party will throw whoever they think has the best chance of winning against Obama. Common sense I know but the problem is they are letting all the best candidates walk away and simply giving the public crap. So now they are throwing the crap against the wall to see who sticks and then throw all their endorsements into crap, package it up with nice paper and throw a bow on it, leaving the voters to either pick crap vs. crap.

I feel sorry for the Republican party. I'm an Independant and vote for whom I think will be the best candidate, but Republicans must be scratching their heads like me wondering why they are letting better candidates simply opt out.

Bob McDonnell-Virginia
Jeb Bush-Florida
Donald Trump

[SmootSmack]

I see. Well I just thought it was interesting that you seemed to be touting Trump for his business experience but not considering Romney a businessman

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I do like the fact Cain has the Tea Party behind him but again he just doesn't stand out as Presidential material. I also don't like the whole 999 theory he has.

Cain's 9-9-9 plan is just the first phase in moving to the FairTax system. If you haven't read about it, it's worth looking into. It will jump start the economy and reduce the IRS to a small fraction of what it is today. It removes the complexities of the tax code and closes virtually all tax loopholes.

I feel sorry for the Republican party. I'm an Independant and vote for whom I think will be the best candidate, but Republicans must be scratching their heads like me wondering why they are letting better candidates simply opt out.

I'd be comfortable with Romney or Herman Cain, both would do a good job as POTUS. I think Gingrich would do well as POTUS, but he could never win a general election.