Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XI

[FilmNerdJamie]

Incumbents typically don't have an advantage when you have the hand of cards Obama has been dealt with for his re-election efforts. A weak economy, high energy prices, an unpopular agenda (stimulus, Obamacare, auto bailout, cap & trade, fiscal problems, etc.), and just being a rather poor politician will severely hinder Obama.

They'll very much try to claim their own version of Reagan's "Were you better off 4 years ago?" slogan/phrase.

 

[Matt]

Yep and that is what will really hurt Obama. Romney doesn't have to convince Americans that he is the best man for the job. He just has to convince them that Obama isn't and that his attempts to be have caused more damage than repair. And Obama will not be able to claim things like, "I inherited this mess." That kind of deflection of blame won't fly and will just piss people off further.

 

[SV Fan]

Yep and that is what will really hurt Obama. Romney doesn't have to convince Americans that he is the best man for the job. He just has to convince them that Obama isn't and that his attempts to be have caused more damage than repair. And Obama will not be able to claim things like, "I inherited this mess." That kind of deflection of blame won't fly and will just piss people off further.

Romney's only chance to win is if the economy takes a bad turn this summer else he is screwed. Over the past year and a half the economy has slowly gotten better and if it continues that trend Obama wins.

 

[spider_rob]

Every religion says that their god is the true god. Which I think should tell you something. But I really don't want to turn this into a religious thread. We have a couple of those already.

Though religion and politics can't seem to keep away from each other for some reason.

I was just kiddin'. Seems like every politician these days say they were inspired by gawd to run for office.

 

[Superman]

Rick Santorum Drops Out: GOP Presidential Candidate Suspends 2012 Campaign (LIVE VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/rick-santorum-drops-out-2012-race_n_1415372.html

LOL Darn, I was hoping he'd stay till the convention just to give Romney trouble. t:

Oh well, He'll be back to try it again in 2016. It will be his turn then.

 

[Matt]

Romney's only chance to win is if the economy takes a bad turn this summer else he is screwed. Over the past year and a half the economy has slowly gotten better and if it continues that trend Obama wins.

Ah, but that is misleading. The economy in terms of the DOW and NASDAQ has improved. Most people don't care about those. Obama can try to hang his hat on those and it will simply make him come off as out of touch. The economy may be improving but it hasn't improved to the point that it is affecting the lives of most average Americans. There is still a high unemployment rate (that doesn't even factor in the underemployed or those who have left the job market). And fuel prices are out of control. These are considered parts of the economy and Obama is doing nothing to improve them.

Are they out of his control? Sure, to an extent....but the American people won't settle for that.

 

[Matt]

LOL Darn, I was hoping he'd stay till the convention just to give Romney trouble. t:

Oh well, He'll be back to try it again in 2016. It will be his turn then.

I seriously have my doubts that Santorum will have a "turn," in 2016. He will be plagued by the same problems that plagued him in this election. I do believe that if Obama wins a second term, in 2016 we will see a considerably more conservative Republican candidate than Romney....but it won't be Santorum.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Santorum is finished. By 2016, you will have a huge Republican field. Santorum will have lost all relevance.

 

[Superman]

I seriously have my doubts that Santorum will have a "turn," in 2016. He will be plagued by the same problems that plagued him in this election. I do believe that if Obama wins a second term, in 2016 we will see a considerably more conservative Republican candidate than Romney....but it won't be Santorum.

You're right about him having the same problems in 2016 and that the GOP will want a more conservative candidate but I've got a feeling that Santorum's ego will force him to try again and there ain't many Republicans that are more conservative than Santorum, None that could get as far as Santorum did this go around anyway.

Unless something big comes out about Santorum that will keep him out, I think it's a safe bet that he will try again and next time he'll get the nomination.

 

[Pagan]

Yep and that is what will really hurt Obama. Romney doesn't have to convince Americans that he is the best man for the job. He just has to convince them that Obama isn't and that his attempts to be have caused more damage than repair. And Obama will not be able to claim things like, "I inherited this mess." That kind of deflection of blame won't fly and will just piss people off further.

Actually Obama can point to charts and show where the economy is better,where unemployment has gone down,where the Iraq war has ended, where GM was saved and along with it a million jobs and he got bin Laden and a lot of other AQ leaders.

Romney can't hang Obamacare on him without Obama reminding everyone that it was based on his plan and dragging out old quotes of Romney's.

The right wing isn't going to be able to scare the public with Obama's "otherness" anymore. The old "he's a secret Muslim from Kenya" isn't going to play.

There's a rising disdain for the economic inequality in America right now too. It's going to be at the forefront. And Paul Ryan's economic plan contrasted with Obama's Buffet rule will be the defining topic I believe. And a winner for Obama.

[YT]PvcarAqryIY[/YT]

 

[SV Fan]

Unless something big comes out about Santorum that will keep him out, I think it's a safe bet that he will try again and next time he'll get the nomination.

Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and a host of others disagree.

The right wing isn't going to be able to scare the public with Obama's "otherness" anymore. The old "he's a secret Muslim from Kenya" isn't going to play.

It really didn't work the first time in 2008 either. lol

The only people who buy/bought the "secret muslim" BS are people who aren't going to vote for Obama in the first place. It's a losing issue to try promote since it makes your party look nuts and turns off people

 

[hippie_hunter]

Obama can say that unemployment has gone down, but he doesn't add in the facts that the workforce is much smaller than the workforce that he inherited. The numbers that the government reports are kind of misleading.

 

[FilmNerdJamie]

This is not going to be a cake walk for Obama. Or Romney.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and a host of others disagree.

I don't see Mitch Daniels running in 2016. His wife doesn't want him to run because it would expose her past far too much.

 

[Pagan]

I don't see Mitch Daniels running in 2016. His wife doesn't want him to run because it would expose her past far too much.

It's going to be Romney/Rubio

I said it before the primaries even started.

The GOP have to carry the Latino vote. The enthusiasm for Romney is lacking really bad. Unless the economy takes another nosedive Obama has this one locked up.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Let's see, for 2016, Marco Rubio, Scott Brown, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Bob McDonnell, Paul Ryan, Nikki Haley. It's going to be busy.

 

[Pagan]

Let's see, for 2016, Marco Rubio, Scott Brown, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Bob McDonnell, Paul Ryan, Nikki Haley. It's going to be busy.

Walker? lol That guy will be lucky to keep the job he has.
The Koch bros have a lot of puppets with more appeal than him.

Watch for Jeb Bush. he and possibly Olympia Snowe (or Haley) as a running mate. To match up against Hillary and whoever she chooses.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Walker? lol That guy will be lucky to keep the job he has.
The Koch bros have a lot of puppets with more appeal than him.

Watch for Jeb Bush. he and possibly Olympia Snowe (or Haley) as a running mate. To match up against Hillary and whoever she chooses.

Oh I'm not saying he will win, but he's clearly not finished in politics.

 

[Matt]

Watch for Jeb Bush. he and possibly Olympia Snowe as a running mate. To match up against Hillary and whoever she chooses.

I doubt that Hillary at 70 years old will run and if she does, I don't think she'll win. I'd say the major Democratic candidates in 2016 will be:

Mark Warner, Kirsten Gillibrand, Brian Schweitzer, Tim Kaine, Andrew Cuomo, Martin O'Malley and then a dark horse like Sherrod Brown or Rahm Emmanuel.

Plus, if Obama loses, there is always the chance he may pull a Cleveland.

 

[Webfoot Hero]

Walker? lol That guy will be lucky to keep the job he has.
The Koch bros have a lot of puppets with more appeal than him.

Watch for Jeb Bush. he and possibly Olympia Snowe (or Haley) as a running mate. To match up against Hillary and whoever she chooses.

I doubt the American people would want another Bush in as president so him running sounds highly unlikely.

As for the Koch brothers, they are just like George Soros is to the Democratic Party so they aren't that big of a deal.

 

[Matt]

I could see Petraeus going for it in 2016 for the Republicans. He was another potential rival that Obama neutralized by employing (like Huntsman). He was smart enough to stay out of this one, but in 2016 he won't be running against his boss. I could see him taking a shot at the presidency.

 

[Paradoxium]

So I guess it's President Bain Capital vs President Goldman Sachs

 

[SV Fan]

As for the Koch brothers, they are just like George Soros is to the Democratic Party so they aren't that big of a deal.

Let's see i may not agree with Soros on everything but one seems to put money into issues that he believes the other 2 seem to care about issues that will make them an extra buck at the expense of everybody else.

I am surprised you didn't bring up Republicans favorite arch villain Saul Alinsky, the destroyer of American Exceptionalism

So I guess it's President Bain Capital vs President Goldman Sachs

I think they best way to see who is worse is look at which lobbyist groups are funding who

Obama had way to much support from Wall Street last time but I think he will lose alot of that support, his main base will probably be unions this time. Romney will probably get all your big business lobbyists(Oil, Jails, Military, etc). Whichever candidate has less lobbyist groups behind them the better off we probably are

 

[Paradoxium]

Intrade betting lines show (highest to lowest)

1. Marco Rubio
2. Chris Christie (makes no sense whatsoever)
3. Bob McDonnell
4. Paul Ryan
5. Susana Martinez

Candidate's stock value can fluctuate with newer news.

 

[SV Fan]

4. Paul Ryan
5. Susana Martinez

These are my 2 choices. Ryan looks the part and Martinez covers alot of weak areas(women and Latinos).

Rubio is to young and I don't think for alot of latinos having a token cuban will make much of a difference(except in Florida), it will almost come off as an insult that you think all latinos are the same. Christie will turn off southern republicans because they feel like this is a Northeast Ticket and McDonnell screwed himself by not vetoing the vaginal ultrasound bill until there was a huge backlash.