Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XI

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And George W. Bush, of all people, gave a rats ass about a budget deficit?
 
Schlosser85 said:
In 2000 the media gushed about how charismatic and personable Bush was and how boring Gore was, and in 2004 they did the same with Bush and Kerry. They harped on Kerry's flip flops and ignored Bush's.
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In 2000, all I remember was Bush is not as smart as his dad, Bush stole the election and he got a DUI (oh..no)

In 2004, all I remember was Kerry won all the debates, Bush was definitely gonna lose, and CNN refused to call Florida for Bush after long after every other network did. I don't recall media focusing on Kerry's flipflops...it was the GOP machine putting out some pretty "swift" ads in battleground states. And who could blame em...Kerry was a gaffe machine.
 
In 2000, all I remember was Bush is not as smart as his dad, Bush stole the election and he got a DUI (oh..no)
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I remember some commentator saying Bush "works a room like Bill Clinton".

And I don't watch Fox, so it wasn't on there.

In 2004, all I remember was Kerry won all the debates, Bush was definitely gonna lose, and CNN refused to call Florida for Bush after long after every other network did. I don't recall media focusing on Kerry's flipflops...it was the GOP machine putting out some pretty "swift" ads in battleground states. And who could blame em...Kerry was a gaffe machine.
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I distinctly remember someone (a news figure) calling Kerry "Gore without the charisma" (har har).

If your "swift" comment is a reference to the Swiftboat Veterans For Truth (lol), they're scumbags and a disgrace to veterans.

And are you even seriously gonna try to say Kerry was a bigger gaffe machine than Bush?
 
I'm not a fan of Bush...I'd say he was a pretty bad president overall. However, people understood what Bush was saying regardless of his lack of eloquence. Nobody really understood where Kerry with all his "eloquence". Did Kerry regret voting for war funding? Would Kerry have done it all over again? It depends what day you asked. How was Kerry going to convince other countries to provide a bigger presence in Iraq allowing Americans to move out if he felt the war was a mistake? Bush had one compelling argument in 2004....come join me in this Iraq War mistake made no sense to anyone.
 
SentinelMind said:
The majority of mainstream media is primarily sensationalist but leans to left. They will report sex scandals no matter who it is because that is there bread and butter. Otherwise, yes, majority of mainstream media has advanced a center-left agenda.

I don't know about this idolizing Ronald Reagan...you think they weren't idolizing Bill "the comeback kid" Clinton in 92?
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Totally agree with the blackened parts.

As for Bubba, yeah I remember him being mocked pretty hard by SNL and the rest of the press. He was a fat redneck who liked chubby interns and jogging to McDonalds. Al Gore was parodied by The Simpsons as emotionless. Meanwhile, Reagan has always been The Great Communicator.
 
wiegeabo said:
No one outside of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party knows who Gary Johnson is. He doesn't get media coverage and doesn't have a warchest big enough to get him national exposure.
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I still don't know who he is. I've seen people around here talk about him for months and I couldn't tell you what the guy even looks like.

Whoever he is I think it's a safe bet that he won't be the POTUS.
 
McDonnell and Portman seem to be emerging as the recognized frontrunners for the VP seat on the ticket. I don't think that Portman or McDonnell will cut it. The electoral map is making Colorado and Nevada look more and more like locks for Obama (due to Romney's disconnect with Latino voters). Romney could go for Rubio, but that would be as transparent as McCain with Palin and would backfire.

If Obama takes Colorado and Nevada, Romney needs to put PA into play. Because otherwise, Obama will only need to win Florida OR Ohio to hit 270. Romney needs to take PA to put the pressure on Obama to win both and Romney can be the one who can split Ohio and Florida (plus Romney winning PA makes a win in Virginia that much more important to him). Winning PA removes Nevada, Colorado and even New Mexico from the equation. In my opinion, that makes Tom Ridge the logical choice for Romney's running mate.

Ridge would without a doubt deliver PA. He still holds an immense amount of popularity in PA. Hell, people were calling for him to be named the new president of Penn State because they trust him to sort out that mess. He is conservative, but doesn't alienate moderates (unlike someone like Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and even arguably Portman). He has Bush ties but he was never really part of the inner-circle and got out before **** hit the fan. He can definitely hold his own in a debate and he can play attack dog.

I could see Ridge becoming the dark horse contender who emerges late in the process and is possibly selected.
 
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Matt said:
McDonnell and Portman seem to be emerging as the recognized frontrunners for the VP seat on the ticket. I don't think that Portman or McDonnell will cut it. The electoral map is making Colorado and Nevada look more and more like locks for Obama (due to Romney's disconnect with Latino voters). Romney could go for Rubio, but that would be as transparent as McCain with Palin and would backfire.

If Obama takes Colorado and Nevada, Romney needs to put PA into play. Because otherwise, Obama will only need to win Florida OR Ohio to hit 270. Romney needs to take PA to put the pressure on Obama to win both and Romney can be the one who can split Ohio and Florida (plus Romney winning PA makes a win in Virginia that much more important to him). Winning PA removes Nevada, Colorado and even New Mexico from the equation. In my opinion, that makes Tom Ridge the logical choice for Romney's running mate.

Ridge would without a doubt deliver PA. He still holds an immense amount of popularity in PA. Hell, people were calling for him to be named the new president of Penn State because they trust him to sort out that mess. He is conservative, but doesn't alienate moderates (unlike someone like Ryan Paul, Marco Rubio and even arguably Portman). He has Bush ties but he was never really part of the inner-circle and got out before **** hit the fan. He can definitely hold his own in a debate and he can play attack dog.

I could see Ridge becoming the dark horse contender who emerges late in the process and is possibly selected.
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The fact that he's pro-choice takes him out of consideration I think. Especially when Romney has to worry enough out energizing the base as it is.
 
Romney's pro-life though. And that will be enough for Christian conservatives to vote for him over Obama, regardless of who the VP is. Hell, Ridge allows Romney to continue to cater to the right on social issues because Ridge will please moderates/independents and send a message of Romney not being a far-right extremist (even if the things that he says indicates otherwise).

I think that people are overestimating Romney's need for a right wing running mate. Romney may not be the most appealing candidate to far right wingers (which is why he had such a tough primary), but they are still going to be out in full force to vote for him. Gary Johnson isn't going to attract all of those voters. The far right wingers will vote Romney because in their eyes it is either him or a Muslim communist. They'll vote Romney. Using the running mate to make a play for independents is the smarter move, IMO.
 
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You would think a lot of the fear mongering about Obama being some fringe leftist would have ended by now. Since he's had such a centrist run. Unless they really think he's just been trying to lull conservatives into a false sense of security for the last four years.

Having said that, Mitt Romney has a lot of problems. He lacks legitimacy as a conservative. He can't appeal to the religious right. And he's had to try so hard to seem conservative that he's put off a lot of liberals and moderates in the process. I.e. women in general.
 
Matt said:
McDonnell and Portman seem to be emerging as the recognized frontrunners for the VP seat on the ticket. I don't think that Portman or McDonnell will cut it. The electoral map is making Colorado and Nevada look more and more like locks for Obama (due to Romney's disconnect with Latino voters). Romney could go for Rubio, but that would be as transparent as McCain with Palin and would backfire.

If Obama takes Colorado and Nevada, Romney needs to put PA into play. Because otherwise, Obama will only need to win Florida OR Ohio to hit 270. Romney needs to take PA to put the pressure on Obama to win both and Romney can be the one who can split Ohio and Florida (plus Romney winning PA makes a win in Virginia that much more important to him). Winning PA removes Nevada, Colorado and even New Mexico from the equation. In my opinion, that makes Tom Ridge the logical choice for Romney's running mate.

Ridge would without a doubt deliver PA. He still holds an immense amount of popularity in PA. Hell, people were calling for him to be named the new president of Penn State because they trust him to sort out that mess. He is conservative, but doesn't alienate moderates (unlike someone like Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and even arguably Portman). He has Bush ties but he was never really part of the inner-circle and got out before **** hit the fan. He can definitely hold his own in a debate and he can play attack dog.

I could see Ridge becoming the dark horse contender who emerges late in the process and is possibly selected.
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Colorado was a bright spot for Democrats back in 2010, but I think that Romney is the favorite in Nevada, even with the Latino disconnect. The Democrats appear to be far too reliant on the Las Vegas area while completely forgetting about the Carson City and Reno area (that typically lead to victories in statewide Nevada elections). Also Nevada is the hardest hit state in the Union in the past couple of years with home foreclosures, unemployment, etc. That is a very tough environment for an incumbent to deal with.

And you also have to take a look at Nevada's demographics. Yeah, it has a rapidly growing Latino population, but the Latino voting share has been incredibly static for over a decade and hasn't at all been growing in proportion to their increase in population. And a very large chunk of Nevada's Latinos are illegal immigrants, Nevada has the largest percentage share of illegal immigrants in the United States, making up almost 9% of the state's population. And guess what? They can't vote. Nevada also has a very large Mormon population (11%) and these people do go out and vote. And they're all legal citizens. They also freaking love Mitt Romney.
 
Superman said:
Yeah Romney, Go ahead and pick another Bush for your VP. I'm sure everyone would love to see another Bush that close to the Presidence. I mean the last Bush did such a bang up job that people can't wait to see another Bush in office.:lmao: :dry:
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Jeb Bush is actually very popular. He left office with over a 60% approval rating and is still considered to be highly looked upon by Republicans and Floridians. Jeb was always considered to be the more competent (by far) of the Bush children and is seen by many as George H.W. Bush's true heir of the Bush legacy.

George W. Bush is one thing, but don't underestimate the abilities of Jeb Bush.
 
hippie_hunter said:
Jeb Bush is actually very popular. He left office with over a 60% approval rating and is still considered to be highly looked upon by Republicans and Floridians. Jeb was always considered to be the more competent (by far) of the Bush children and is seen by many as George H.W. Bush's true heir of the Bush legacy.

George W. Bush is one thing, but don't underestimate the abilities of Jeb Bush.
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I just don't see him wanting to play 2nd fiddle.
 
I'd have to agree with that assessment. He was popular, and hasn't had any major controversies.

However the family name is a double edged sword. If you want to mobilize liberal voters, put a Bush on your ticket.
 
Pagan said:
I just don't see him wanting to play 2nd fiddle.
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That, I absolutely agree with. Why would Jeb want to play second fiddle to anyone?

Thundercrack85 said:
I'd have to agree with that assessment. He was popular, and hasn't had any major controversies.

However the family name is a double edged sword. If you want to mobilize liberal voters, put a Bush on your ticket.
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The Bush name may mobilize liberals but that doesn't matter. It's just like how Barack Obama mobilizes conservatives. But Jeb Bush has massive appeal to independents and he's the only one that can throw away the stigma to the Bush name that George W. created.
 
I doubt anyone can get rid of that stigma...

But really, why does anyone run for president? Because they know they might get first chair if something happens. Or... they just really don't have anything better to do and like the perks.
 
Thundercrack85 said:
I doubt anyone can get rid of that stigma...
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The Bushes are a very powerful political family. The stigma of George W. Bush can be overcome. If the Kennedy clan can overcome scandal after scandal after scandal, the Bushes can overcome one incompetent man.
 
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