The 2012 Iowa Republican Presidential Debate And Ames Straw Poll

[8wid]

Ron Paul won again.

 

[chaseter]

If he would just settle down, not yell, and not look like he is about to pull out a gun and kill everyone then he would have a good shot (pun intended).

 

[dodgers2213]

Ron was being disrespected again, so He had to show some strength or voters would think of him as weak. That was one criticism he had during the 2008 campaign, not enough strength and too nice.

I like Ron Paul, and I hope he gets the enough screen time and respect to flesh out his platform and reasons for them. When I see him, I trust him, as opposed to other candidates who just seem to spew out party lines and give us exactly what we want to hear AGAIN. I don't like Obama, never did, I didn't vote for him in 08, I knew he'd be a failure....but it's going to take more than Obama bashing and making clever use of incorporating his name in jokes to get me to vote for one of the good looking, bible loving, evolution hating, family values, business as usual GOP candidates. Its unfortunate that Dr. Paul has to battle so hard for recognition, and have his obnoxious--often crackpot--supporters undermining him at the same time

 

[WildcatNC]

Paul


JMHO. I'll never vote for anyone who appears fervently devout. In any religion. Its borderline mental illness to me.

 

[Christopher Nolan]

I agree ron paul made some good points and actually he would be a good candidate, but the financial and military sector will do everything in their power to give him no chance to become the republican presidential candidate...

 

[Matt]

Paul would be a terrible candidate. Far too much to use against him.

 

[8wid]

If he would just settle down, not yell, and not look like he is about to pull out a gun and kill everyone then he would have a good shot (pun intended).

Where did you get that impression from? Ron Paul is very restrained compared to the others on that panel who all favored the current wars. Ron Paul might be passionate but he message has always advocated greater means towards peace.

I think Americans are too afraid of questioning the established power structure to give him much faith though. Look at how many people are ignorantly calling him a crazy old man because he would not confront Iran about nonexistant nuclear weapons.

 

[WildcatNC]

Paul would be a terrible candidate. Far too much to use against him.

I agree with you. I would like to have him as president but he would not stand a good chance of winning a general. People want to be told what they want to hear. Thats who they vote for. He's the only R thats running atm that I would vote for.

Where did you get that impression from? Ron Paul is very restrained compared to the others on that panel who all favored the current wars. Ron Paul might be passionate but he message has always advocated greater means towards peace.

I think Americans are too afraid of questioning the established power structure to give him much faith though. Look at how many people are ignorantly calling him a crazy old man because he would not confront Iran about nonexistant nuclear weapons.

Paul's narrative has been written by public opinion already as a wingnut. People will default to that and see what they want to see, no matter how much sense he makes.

 

[chaseter]

Where did you get that impression from? Ron Paul is very restrained compared to the others on that panel who all favored the current wars. Ron Paul might be passionate but he message has always advocated greater means towards peace.

I think Americans are too afraid of questioning the established power structure to give him much faith though. Look at how many people are ignorantly calling him a crazy old man because he would not confront Iran about nonexistant nuclear weapons.

No he wasn't. He looked like he was on the verge of yelling with every single answer.

You have to remember that a large percentage of races are won by how the candidate looks and acts. They have to look and act Presidential. It's a sad fact but it's a fact nonetheless. Paul just doesn't look Presidential and I therefore don't think he has a chance. Do you remember just 3 years ago when the left put out the McCain is old and may die in office crap? The other side will use everything they can against you.

 

[Marx]

The 2012 Ames Iowa Straw Poll is being held today! Historically, this poll does not have a good record of predicting who the actual party nominee will be for president. This particular poll is more about a campaign's organization and strength rather than policy or popularity. Do you care who wins? Who do you think will win?

Discuss.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I was reading about how the Iowa Straw Poll was just a money grabbing scheme. We should get rid of it to cut down on spending.

 

[Kelly]

This straw poll definitely helps in the money raising area...but not much else.

 

[StorminNorman]

Paul would be a terrible candidate. Far too much to use against him.

The only stuff that can be used against him is meaningless fluff.

Anyone looking at the issues would have to vote Ron Paul.

 

[Marx]

SOURCE: MICHELE BACHMANN AND RON PAUL DELIVERING AT STRAW POLL
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...l-camps-getting-supporters-to-the-straw-poll/

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: HUNTSMAN BELIEVES THAT BACHMANN WILL WIN STRAW POLL
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/13/huntsman-predicts-straw-poll-winner/

 

[Marx]

UPDATE: LIMBAUGH TEARS INTO FOX NEWS OVER IOWA GOP DEBATE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/rush-limbaugh-fox-news-debate_n_925615.html

 

[hippie_hunter]

My prediction:

- First and second place will go to Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul, in either order. Right now I'm leaning towards Paul on account that he does really well in straw polls and grassroots, but Bachmann coming out on top won't surprise me.

- TPaw will get another setback to his campaign. He has to win the Ames Straw Poll which isn't going to happen. Even worse, he'll have to explain that he lost to both Ron Paul and Michelle Bachmann. He will end his campaign shortly afterwards on account that he has no money and major donors are going to Perry and Romney and grassroots donors are going to Paul and Bachmann. No one will want to contribute to Pawlenty after coming third at best in Ames.

 

[Franklin Richards]

So Bachman wins. Who was the last Straw Poll winner to become President?

 

[Marx]

Yep. Bachmann won and Paul came in second.

 

[8wid]

No he wasn't. He looked like he was on the verge of yelling with every single answer.

You have to remember that a large percentage of races are won by how the candidate looks and acts. They have to look and act Presidential. It's a sad fact but it's a fact nonetheless. Paul just doesn't look Presidential and I therefore don't think he has a chance. Do you remember just 3 years ago when the left put out the McCain is old and may die in office crap? The other side will use everything they can against you.

Ron Paul has a strong and flexible speaking ability, he will speak from the heart not from a teleprompter it seems. I feel US presidents needs to stop looking more like a stiff public figure and really interact with the people in a social and common sense way, not too formal. That really hurts the disconnect with the people. It's unfair to look at Ron Paul's age without a rational basis, but it will happen and Obama is very young in comparison. Presidential races are always fashion shows and celebrity contests anyway.

 

[kytrigger]

To me, Paul's biggest hurdle are the large group debates. I don't think anybody can deny he's incredibly knowledgeable, but it's hard to always convey how much he knows in short 1 minute bursts, so what ends up happening is he starts giving a good explanation, hears the buzzer, and then has to wrap up with "End the Fed!"

If he was ever able to make to it a 2 person debate where he actually has time to flesh out his ideas then I think some of his ideas would be more accessible to the masses. Unfortunately I don't see him making it far enough to a true debate (as opposed to these crappy slogan-fests we've gotten so far.)

 

[hippie_hunter]

Yep. Bachmann won and Paul came in second.

They were very close to each other with ZPaw not even close to them. This is the end for him and he just needs to give it up now.

 

[hippie_hunter]

So Bachman wins. Who was the last Straw Poll winner to become President?

Bob Dole won in 1995 and George W. Bush won in 1999. But the point of the Ames Straw Poll really isn't meant to anoint a winner for the nomination, it's really meant to weed out the weak candidates like Tim Pawlenty and Newt Gingrich.

 

[Russell Nash]

I live in the 6th Congressional District of Minnesota and personally know Michele Bachmann, you can literally ask me any questions if you want to dig up any dirt.

 

[Marx]

They were very close to each other with ZPaw not even close to them. This is the end for him and he just needs to give it up now.

I doubt he will withdraw so soon. I think he'll hang around through the first primary.

I live in the 6th Congressional District of Minnesota and personally know Michele Bachmann, you can literally ask me any questions if you want to dig up any dirt.

You have my sympathies...