Is there a winner among (what’s left of) the GOP field?
Herman Cain jumped in, at an Atlanta rally attended by thousands at “high noon.” Mitch Daniels slunk out, via an email to supporters sent in the middle of the night. Another weekend, another news cycle so full of Republican presidential politics you’d think it was spring 2012, not spring 2011. Where does it all leave us?
Cain’s decision was hardly a secret, so let’s focus on Daniels. The Indiana governor was seen as a top choice for fiscal conservatives but potentially vexing for social conservatives. He talked for months as if he didn’t want to run, but no one seemed to believe him — or maybe they just didn’t want to believe him — until his midnight email Saturday. Compared to, say, Donald Trump, Daniels’ declining to run feels like a real loss. (OK, compared to Trump, Charlie Sheen’s declining to run would feel like a real loss.)
So we can now add Daniels to a long and distinguished list of Republican governors or ex-governors who say they’re not running for president next year: Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, Florida’s Jeb Bush, New Jersey’s Chris Christie, Arkansas’ Mike Huckabee, Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and Texas’ Rick Perry. That’s seven men who have won a total of 12 gubernatorial elections and racked up a host of policy achievements — but who insist they have no interest in running for president.
What do you think of the GOP presidential field?
- Beat Obama? Please. (156 Votes)
- There's a winner in there. (120 Votes)
- I can imagine a Republican beating President Obama, but not one of these guys. (120 Votes)
Total Voters: 396
Loading ...Next to them, the govs and ex-govs who say they are running or are still exploring a run — Utah’s Jon Huntsman, New Mexico’s Gary Johnson, Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty and Massachusetts’ Mitt Romney — comprise a lesser list. I don’t think the comparison improves very much if you add Alaska’s Sarah Palin to the mix.
Of course, it only takes one — and there are non-governors in the running as well: Cain, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Sen. Rick Santorum. Your question this Monday morning: Does the current field have a winner in it? Answer in the poll to the left and in the comments thread.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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162 comments Add your comment
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
6:07 am
Look, I’m obviously biased towards Herman Cain, but what this current crop of contenders lacks is someone who can fire up the electorate.
Except for Herman Cain.
Oratory is what gets people excited to vote for them, as long as the policies are in place to make that person initially palatable. Do you think our current Disaster-in-Chief would ever have been elected on such a thin resume if he hadn’t had the ability to connect to an audience through speeches? Never in a million years.
LISTEN to HOW these contenders speak, as well as what they say.
Herman Cain blows them all out of the room. And when you have a leadership vacuum as we do now, oratory AND policy just might be enough to dislodge that disaster next year.
DeborahinAthens
May 23rd, 2011
6:47 am
When the Republicans remember that there used to be millions in the Republican party that are fiscal conservatives but are not religious wing-nuts, they might just wake up from this tea-party induced nightmare. I believe in a woman’s right to chose what to do with her body. I do not believe creationism should be taught in school. I think the carnival with Terry Schiavo was appalling. All of these things reflect philosophical beliefs that have no place in the political discourse. I HAVE read the Constitution and Bill of Rights many times as most of these ding-bats haven’t–though they throw the Constitution around, quoting bits a pieces (like they do the Bible) to support their insupportable arguments. The final nail in Christine O’Donnell’s coffin was when, during a debate, she disagreed about one of the basic tenets of the Constitution and her opponent quoted the REAL verbiage, line by line, and the dim-wit said, “…really? It says that really” (or words to that effect). The shrill voice of the conservative, religious right have hi-jacked my Republican party, and it makes me sick to my stomach. The fact that anyone would listen to the the garbage that comes out of the likes of Michelle Bachmann and Mike Huckabee makes me very frightened for my country. When we see Mitch Romney flipping on his more centrist ideas because he’s afraid of these people, it makes me very frightened for my country. When we really accept as fact that these people are okay to hold the highest office in the US because they might be able to circumvent our rights as American citizens, it frightens me. When I hear a “Libertarian” (LOL) like Boortz supporting a hypocritical piece of garbage like Newt Gingrich who “found Jesus” in time to run for election, it frightens me. Bottom line, until I can see and hear a Republican that is not hell-bent on a social/religious engineering program, I will vote for a Democrat.
arnold
May 23rd, 2011
6:49 am
No qualified Republican of substance is willing to waste money, time and energy in a losing run for president of anything. The good ones didn’t get where they are by being foolish.
Joel Edge
May 23rd, 2011
7:04 am
Ron Paul or Herman Cain. If you’ll notice, Kyle, most of these old line Republican’s aren’t getting a lot of traction. I guess a result of the Tea Party. Haley Barbour is the only loss. Of course, there’s not a chance for a Republican from the Old South this election. The media attacks for that just write themselves.
another view
May 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
Bravo, @Deborahinathens. If Cain is the best the Repubs (NOT to be confused with anything even remotely resembling conservative) can do, the Dems don’t have much to worry about. Some big things about the Obama admin I’m not please with, not the least being what essentially is a continuation of the disastrous Bush education policy, but for the most part, having someone seemingly honest, hard-working, and especially with an IQ over 100 is a stunning contrast to the lazy halfwit Rove/Cheney puppet at the top of the last administration. If we have an electorate so stupid and ill-educated to elect one of what’s in the repub field now, the education system indeed has failed and this country deserves to fall to ruin.
ByteMe
May 23rd, 2011
7:35 am
Pawlenty announced yesterday. He’s in.
I don’t think the comparison improves very much if you add Alaska’s Sarah Palin to the mix.
Best sarcasm of the day! LOL!!!
ByteMe
May 23rd, 2011
7:48 am
LISTEN to HOW these contenders speak, as well as what they say.
See and here I spend my time not listening to what they say or how, but instead trying to figure out how they might govern when given the most powerful job in the world.
So far on the GOP side, we have:
1. A Mormon successful businessman and Northeastern politician with an inability to personally connect with the average person and past positions that are at odds with his current positions.
2. A Black successful businessman with a long history of making stupid statements on the radio that only the crazy will love.
3. A bland, moderately successful politician who has to create superhero videos of himself to seem interesting.
4. An old, fat, twice-divorced southern white guy with a history of verbal bomb-throwing and an inability to control his appetites.
5. (Testing the waters now) A successful politician and businessman (and another Mormon) who spent the past couple of years working in the Obama Administration but with no obvious political base.
No obvious winner in the bunch at this point. 1 and 5 have the gravitas to handle the rigors of the campaign trail and the White House, but no obvious appeal to GOP primary voters.
stands for decibels
May 23rd, 2011
8:02 am
Compared to, say, Donald Trump, Daniels’ declining to run feels like a real loss. (OK, compared to Trump, Charlie Sheen’s declining to run would feel like a real loss.)
heh. good ‘un.
stands for decibels
May 23rd, 2011
8:15 am
Does the current field have a winner in it?
Sure. While I support Obama’s re-election, I don’t doubt that the GOP presidential aspirants with gubernatorial experience (Pawlenty, Johnson, Romney or Huntsman) could be credible challengers. Should the economy turn south again, or some no-win foreign policy nightmare erupt, between now and Nov 2012, of course one of these men could snag >269 EVs.
(As things stand now, though? na gone duit.)
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
8:18 am
Go away, Newt! Seriously, I have not heard a more pompous, self-righteous candidate in a long time. Granted, he is smart, and would make an excellent adviser, but he just isn’t likable enough to win.
Meanwhile, my candidate Herman Cain does not shy from admitting he does not know all the answers, such as yesterday’s question from Chris Wallace on the Palestinian “right of return” hot potato. But I commend Herman, who went home, researched it, and put out this statement:
“I have long been a vocal and unwavering supporter of our friend and ally, Israel. All Israeli governments have rejected the ‘right’ of large numbers of Arabs of Palestinians to return to what is now the state of Israel. Such an en masse return would unbalance Israel’s demographic makeup as the world’s sole Jewish state…In this light, should the ‘right of return’ be negotiated, as I said, if that is a decision that Israel wants to make? Certainly, and to reiterate, it’s Israel’s call.”
Why do we feel we need to elect a Know-It-All each time to the White House? I almost find it more refreshing to have a candidate that admits he does not know everything, but then goes and consults and comes back with an intelligent response. As opposed to most candidates, who would instead just have BS’d something that made them sound like they were just smarter than everyone else.
Go Herman!
Mr. Holmes
May 23rd, 2011
8:31 am
Does the current field have a winner in it?
No.
Tyler Durden
May 23rd, 2011
8:32 am
Doesn’t matter who enters this race. As long as the Tea Party and other fringe influences are calling the shots, there’s no way for the GOP to win. And that will give Obama another four years to get America back on track.
Have a great day
Scooter (The Original)
May 23rd, 2011
8:34 am
Perhaps when Cain’s history is consistently focused on by the “media” people will be forced to realize how much was overlooked to get The Obama elected. Then Cain will be able to articulate how The Obama’s “hope and change” is raising all prices and decreasing the value of the middle class’s dollars.
Aquagirl
May 23rd, 2011
8:42 am
DeborahinAthens, you said it all. The nutcases have seized control of the Republican Primaries and nobody’s getting through unless they kowtow sufficiently to these wackos. Watch Jon Huntsman get ripped because he thinks science should—get this—be left to scientists! What a radical!
Mainstream Republicans display operant conditioning that would make Pavlov proud—that’s how we end up with guys like G.W. Bush. Lemmings streamed to the polls to vote for G.W. Bush because that (R) surely means you’re for limited government and fiscal responsibility. And frankly, they just didn’t give a damn about the little hate groups getting their pound of flesh, as long as they weren’t the target.
JDW
May 23rd, 2011
8:44 am
Bunch of losers so far…looks like another election cycle without a credible candidate from the Republicans. By my score sheet the last decent candidate the party produced was Bush 1. That’s 20+ years of futility including 8 years of downright negligence.
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
8:52 am
Ron Paul of course. He will likely be the only candidate committed to ending these pointless foreign wars and bringing the troops home to defend america, the only candidate who has been speaking out and warning about the Federal Reserve and the destuction its monetary policy has now caused, the only candidate correctly looking to end the federal war on drugs, and the only candidate actually committed to restoring civil liberties in this country. His appeal covers the entire spectrum of political thought and should be exactly the right stands to appeal to Obama voters who now realize that he does not care about ending the wars or about civil liberties.
Ron Paul 2012. End the Fed.
Bernard Webb
May 23rd, 2011
8:54 am
Has anyone caught up with long-shot republican candidate Gary Johnson? He was on “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” this weekend and came across as witty, personable, and intelligent. Wait, what am I saying? Nobody like that could possibly win the republican nomination!
independent thinker
May 23rd, 2011
9:00 am
Ron Paul is too old but qualified, Newt is a gasbag has been hypocrite who does not know what he is saying half the time, Palin is a ultra right wing dimwit with no political history of consequence but has accumulated a lot of money for her extensive wardrobe while pandering for money like a grifter, Bachman is nuts, Romney is qualified but can’t cover up his past in Massachussets and other flip flops, Cain talks a great talk but very little of it is of substance since his career is defined by running a pizza operation, So who else wants to jump in the clown car???
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
9:02 am
Maybe they got a reality check and decided that it’s easier to shout from the wings than to take the lead.
Bart Abel
May 23rd, 2011
9:11 am
Attended by thousands? Where did the AJC get that number? From the Herman Cain people?
Jay Bookman was there, and he estimated that about 1,200 people were there. I’ve listened to Herman Cain on the radio, and based on what I’ve heard, I trust Bookman a whole lot more than I trust Cain.
HDB
May 23rd, 2011
9:14 am
The field from the GOP reminds me of a bowl of granola: What ain’t fruit or nuts is flakes!!
reebok
May 23rd, 2011
9:14 am
Any Republican who wants a legitimate shot at being President one day needs to find an excuse not to run this cycle…getting crushed in the general election by Obama will be crippling for future aspirations. But in 2016, the field will be wide-open and the Dems don’t seem to have anybody on deck…that will be a great opportunity for Romney, Daniels or Huntsman to beat a weak Den nominee. IMHO, of course…
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
9:22 am
Bart, the Atlanta police, whom are not for nor against Cain, estimated about 10,000. Herman’s camp says 15,000. That may be including people who RSVP’d but did not show up…
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
9:24 am
Cain is a former director of the Federal Reserve. Given the destruction that criminal organization has already caused, we certainly cannot afford another insider in the White House. Cain deserves to be dropped by the electorate for that reason alone.
Light on Policy
May 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
Will the last GOP candidate please turn our the lights.
As in sports, in order to have a chance to beat your opponent, you have to acknowledge their strength and respect them, a little momentum doesn’t hurt either. None of the GOP candidates, out of willful ignorance, have any of these elements. Their best hope is to maintain control of the House and pick up a couple of seats in the Senate.
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
his stint with the Federal Reserve (of Kansas City, not overall) was many years ago, I don’t think you can lay any of the current crisis on him.
toe nail
May 23rd, 2011
9:29 am
I concur with deborahinathens 100%.
jm
May 23rd, 2011
9:29 am
Huntsman and Romney are very good candidates….
Thomas
May 23rd, 2011
9:32 am
The Tea Party wackos have probably spooked some legitimate candidates out of the race.
Bart Abel
May 23rd, 2011
9:33 am
Here’s what the AJC reported: “Cain, speaking before an estimated 10,000 supporters in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, was clear on the goals for his campaign.”
The photo only shows a small slice of the crowd. The AJC article doesn’t tell us who provided this estimate. Also recall that until recently, Cain was employed by the AJC’s sister Cox Enterprises company, WSB Radio. (This one example of why various local media outlets should not be owned by the same company.)
Folks, there’s reason to believe that this “10,000 supporters” number is a con. Again, it appears that the AJC is reporting an exaggerated estimate provided by Herman Cain’s people.
Why is this important? First know that this is what Fox News and other media outlets have been doing for years…significantly overestimating Tea Party crowds at rallies. They’ve even been caught using footage of crowds from a progressive rallies to make viewers believe that it was the same crowd at a particular Tea Party rally. Some members of the media engage in such scams specifically to drum up support that isn’t already there.
When the AJC reports that 10,000 people attended a rally that was only attended by 1,200, without independent verification, then this is an example of the media wading into and promoting an agenda, not reporting on one.
If somebody can provide independent verification of the crowd size, then I’ll happily admit that I’m wrong. Until then, I’m going with Bookman’s estimate.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2011/05/21/herman-cain-about-to-make-it-official/
Bart Abel
May 23rd, 2011
9:37 am
Please give me a link, Whacks Eloquent. Because I can’t find an article that says this was an Atlanta Police estimate.
Robert
May 23rd, 2011
9:39 am
What goes around comes around – It’s time for the GOP to show real courage in the face of homegrown terrorism displayed by the “tea party” whose weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians and Muslims and Jews. The whole world saw their hatred and bigotry on display during the 2010 midterm elections and heard their call to battle (take back my country) as well as saw the majority of White Americans (poor, uneducated, disenfranshised) vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience. The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box and I hope we never will again. It’s time for serious GOP candidates to choose sides. Are the GOP candidates representing the American People or the homegrown terrorist group(s) know as the “tea party” (klansmen, skinheads, birthers, etc.)? Can Herman Cain, Romney, etc. show great courage in the face of homegrown terrorism and be the GOP nominee for President of the USA. It is time for the GOP to clean-up this “tea party” mess.
Churchill's MOM.....Ron Paul for President
May 23rd, 2011
9:39 am
I would like to know more about Huntsman. No one thought George I could be beat but a weak person like Bill Clinton did, There is still little or no difference between the parties both are owned by the lobbyist.
Light on policy
May 23rd, 2011
9:40 am
turn “off” the lights…swype isn’t working to well today
JustMe
May 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
It seems to me the most popular ones here among hard core Republicans are Cain and Paul, neither one of which would stand a snowball’s chance in hell in a general election, so in other words if that’s the route the GOP chooses to go then they’re only screwing themselves. Personally I like Huntsman and Pawlenty. Romney strikes me as too much of a flip flopper and thus far I don’t know enough about Johnson, but if the GOP wants to win they need to nominate (whether they like it or not) a moderate to conservative Governor, because if they nominate anyone too far to the right the Independents will never vote for someone like that and thus they will lose the election.
Light on Policy
May 23rd, 2011
9:42 am
Enter your comments here
Lynn43
May 23rd, 2011
9:43 am
The GOP needs a candidate with an open mind-not an open mouth. HDB, great comparison.
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
9:48 am
Bart,
Herman’s campaign was claiming 15000, so the estimate was not from them. It was either the police (as I heard on radio, have no link) or the AJC reporters that estimated the more conservative 10000, which I trust more than a political estimate on either end.
Jack
May 23rd, 2011
9:50 am
The radical right wing base of the republican primary has successfully run off another candidate who could have appealed to the swing voters who will elect our next President.
Although impossible to believe six weeks ago, the republican party is moving toward losing next year’s presidential election.
Of those remaining who can appeal to the swing voter, I see only Governor Romney, a successful businessman who will be focused on the business of running the country rather than playing around with namby pamby non-issues like gay marriage. Governor Romney can win the general election but is unlikely to survive the radical right wingers who will control the primaries.
If no one else were to enter the republican nomination race, I would hold my nose and vote for Governor Pawlenty, not exactly someone who inspires the masses.
I am afraid when this presidential election is over, the Tea Party types will have given the election to President Obama but can find some solice in the “purity” of their choice for the Republican nominee.
As someone who almost always has voting republican, I am getting tired of my political party being taken over by this group.
Kyle Wingfield
May 23rd, 2011
9:57 am
Bart: The AP described the crowd as “thousands” as well.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110521/ap_on_el_ge/us_cain2012
If you’ve ever tried to do it, then you know how daunting a task it is to estimate crowds. I typically go with the police estimate, even if I’m still a little skeptical, just because they have more practice at it.
Jack
May 23rd, 2011
10:05 am
If Cain is the contender and Obama is his opponent, Cain’s the better choice.
Bart Abel
May 23rd, 2011
10:05 am
Thanks Kyle. Unfortunately, the AP article doesn’t source their figure or supply a picture of the crowd either. Incidentally, what does “thousands” mean? It could be rounded up from 1500 or it could me 10,000.
Again, I’d gladly accept an estimate from the Atlanta Police. I just can’t find one online. Until then, the only reliable source I’ve seen is Jay Bookman, who was actually there.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
May 23rd, 2011
10:06 am
While I am a Cain supporter, almost any republican look like a potential winner to me. I don’t think the arithmetic is there – either electoral or economic – for Chauncey, so whoever is left standing among the repubs is likely to win.
Rick Patel
May 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
Chic, charming, courageous Gov. Sarah Palin is & ever shall be the winner. None of the bland, banal RINOblicans can run with her. She moves too fast.
BULLSEYE
May 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
What happens if the Repulicans win and then they all get Raptured?
Dr. Pangloss
May 23rd, 2011
10:12 am
Even a Fox News poll shows Obama beating the prune juice out of Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, Bush or Palin.
http://race42012.com/?p=32062
Toe Maine
May 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
I bet if Boortz ran there would be 10,000. However, it would be filled with those who oppose his hateful lies. If he can’t stack the deck with supporters, he hides his fat face behind a mike.
buck@gon
May 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
5 AM posting ???!!!
Geez Kyle, either you’re a horrible insomniac or you’re making us all look bad!
You might tell your boss, Ms. Tucker, that working and writing well are all good for the soul. You might also mention ask her if she herself has ever heard of “harsh criticism among ultra-liberal purists,” or if such things do not exist at all, please mention that most of her commentary is horribly out of balance.
Regarding your article…. are you a closet left-winger, Kyle?
It’s just too early for conservative navel-gazing right now. No primary events have yet taken place, except the informal stuff. Caucusses and primaries are at least seven months away. That’s when the deciding will begin.
Don’t forget, we have Jimmy Carter to thank for the seemingly never-ending presidential campaign cycle. That means of course, that it’s probably not a good idea to worry about who said what to whom in podunk, South Carolina, about who’s first in polls in Jack Daniels, Tennessee.
The thing to look at is the generic ballot and the performance of one Barack Hussein Obama. I think Prez O loses to almost anyone he comes up against, and despite the fact that he personally shot Osama, I think every day, more eyes are opening to the fact that he is uh…”ruling” without any clothes on.
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
Bart, it does not matter anyway, we know where your vote is going. Those of us on the conservative side are quite energized by him, and either way he drew a lot more people than the Thrashers!
Alan
May 23rd, 2011
10:16 am
Raghead, put down your crack pipe. The GOP has no chance in hell in 2012.
buck@gon
May 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
Bullseye @ 10:10,
If that happens, then your fiscal future is Greece, and your cultural future is Turkey, France & Mexico.
JP
May 23rd, 2011
10:20 am
I am a Dem and still believe Obama is very vulnerable in 2012 – the economy could still be sputtering, gas prices could still be high, etc… I even think Romney could win. For you folks that follow GOP stuff, what about Huntmsan or Pawlenty?
buck@gon
May 23rd, 2011
10:25 am
Dr. Pangloss @ 10:12
Dr.,
Sorry to burst your poll-bubble, but I’m worried about Kyle Wingfeld and his gloomy mood here. That poll you mention is practically meaningless. Fully 20+% of respondents didn’t even answer the poll for Romney or Huckabee, and they’re the most well-known ones here. OK, Gingrich. The President has the simple advantage that everyone knows who he is. Those numbers will change. Better to look at Prez O’s approval ratings among likely voters. Not thrilling if you’re a community organizer.
It’s OK, Kyle. You can come out now! No one yet knows who these candidates are, and the poll is misleading. It contemplates that Obama can’t be beat because Republicans haven’t yet received enough support. Well….. Duh!
Whacks Eloquent
May 23rd, 2011
10:26 am
JP,
I like Pawlenty, but he’s as exciting as a cardboard box. He would make a great VP candidate though, for either Romney or Cain.
Huntsman failed to impress me yesterday at his party in NH, where my wife quipped that “all 13 Republicans in New Hampshire were there”! Seems like a nice guy, better for a cabinet post.
Herman Cain’s turnout (somewhere between 1200 and 15000) is too me indicative of what GOP voters are looking for. Someone who can excite them, energize them. The media downplayed the Tea Party less than 2 years ago, and look what happened. Those same voters are still energized, and they want to decide the candidate, rather than letting the GOP pocketbook holders pick their puppet. Question now is will they succeed? Herman Cain will not outraise Romney, but neither did Huckabee…
Clay Grant
May 23rd, 2011
10:28 am
Nothing but bullet points from Herman. Another AJC reporter asked him a rather basic question about the Fair Tax, and was amazed that how little he knew about it. Understand the desire to have someone to take you back to the so-called ‘good old days’, but if he’s in any way your guy then you are truly desperate.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
May 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Dear Alan @ 10:16, good morning, obviously you slept through the 2010 elections – or perhaps you think ObamaCare and 10% unemployment after destroying the American future via a government stimulus is an electoral winner for the pretender?
Libertarian Chick
May 23rd, 2011
10:30 am
Rick Patel, you just made me throw up in my mouth a little. Chic? Charming? How about dumb and demeaning?
RGB
May 23rd, 2011
10:32 am
@ Robert: The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box and I hope we never will again. It’s time for serious GOP candidates to choose sides….saw the majority of White Americans (poor, uneducated, disenfranshised [sic]) vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates [sic] experience.
It is difficult for one to take you seriously when you describe people who want to restore fiscal prudence to the United States as “terrorists”. Are you a member of the pro-financial destruction crowd? That sounds more closely aligned with terrorism than a group of people who want to save these United States.
Additionally, you should conduct a little research on the average educational background of voters. Your findings would prove your prejudices and preconceived notions wrong.
Based on the specific content of your writings, you appear to be a disgruntled homosexual waiting for society to step up and approve your lifestyle choice. Further, you label people “terrorists” who believe your choice is immoral. But it is your choice so you should live with it and not resort to tearing down others who don’t agree with you. After all, isn’t THAT what you are after for your own life–that others don’t tear you and your lifestyle choice down?
@Robert: Why do think it is the responsibility of other people to prove or disprove the number of people who attended Herman Cain’s rally? Get a life, man. Using your rationale, if Fox News distorts the size of Republican rallies, then a liberal-owned news organization would under-report the size of attendees of such rallies. Do you know who owns the AJC/WSB, etc.?
@DeborahinAthens: From your incoherent single, but long, paragraph, it is obvious that you reject the idea of a Creator and resent people who desire to be obedient to Almighty God. And that is your right. But it sounds as though you are not aware that this country was founded on Christian principles. In fact, of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 29 had seminary degrees. You are free to worship or not worship whomever you choose, but you’ll understand that most people in this country do believe in a Higher Power. They are not trying to indoctrinate you into anything but one cannot separate this country’s foundational principles from the laws and policies that guide this country.
“In the name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity” appeared at the beginning of the peace treaty between the new America and Britain. That sounds Christian to me. This treaty was signed by four people including the British ambassador, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.
So I urge you to avoid denouncing, trashing, and persecuting people of faith because there’s simply no future in it.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
10:39 am
When the Republicans remember that there used to be millions in the Republican party that are fiscal conservatives but are not religious wing-nuts, they might just wake up from this tea-party induced nightmare.
——
You obviously don’t know what the Tea Party is about. Fiscal conservatism is its unifying principle. Turn off MSNBC and it’s lineup of haters and educate yourself. That way you won’t look so foolish.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
10:39 am
This next election isn’t about the republicans at all. It’s clearly on OBAMA and the question asked is…DO YOU WANT 4 MORE YEARS OF HIS AGENDA?? Donald Duck could run and beat OBAMA if he just runs a good campaign simply put.
I saw a poll friday that said generic republican getting 45% and Obama 43%. Generic candidate says it almost doesn’t matter, people want the country in another direction. Obama will not be difficult to beat next year. His crap politics have done nothing but sink us further in debt!! Thats change we can believe in right? Meanwhile, americans are looking for some change in their pockets! Obama is another jimmy carter! He will lose handily next year. Bank on it!!
Obama had no record to run on last time. Now his record is massive debt and terrible foreign policy! Even bush got congress approval for the wars but this president got us in libya and failed to even seek congress? The same man who blasted bush for his handling of wars but it appears pot meets kettle here! The same obama who claimed he would end gitmo, end both wars when he got in but has increased drone attacks killing thousands and still fighting in afghanistan. That record will sink him at the polls. This is common sense people. Just watch!
Devil's Advocate
May 23rd, 2011
10:45 am
I’m confused. So now we’re saying the left leaning AJC is drumming up support for a right candidate? Is this sabotage as the AJC believe Cain cannot beat Obama and so they want him to win the Republican nod (a la McCain)?
HDB
May 23rd, 2011
10:48 am
Lil’ Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
10:39 am
“You obviously don’t know what the Tea Party is about. Fiscal conservatism is its unifying principle.”
If such was the case, where was the Tea Party when the nation was getting BUSHwhacked??
Jeff Connington
May 23rd, 2011
10:51 am
Kyle, you are in bed with your messiah, Barack Hussein Obama. And so is you liberal newspaper. Cain so far more qualified to be President than Obama EVER was. Obama never held a job in his life. He never had to run for office. He and his Chicago thugs had the opposition eliminated so he could slide right in. Obama was a worthless Illinois State Senator who set a record for voting “present”. Here your messiah and community organizer ran as a Democrat, and as soon as he took office, he started implementing his socialist Marzist fascist policies. He is the father of lies. In over 500+ Obam promises, he fulfiulled ONE, taking down Bin Ladin. Where are all the jobs? Didn’t your messiah BHO promise to “focus on jobs like a laser”? What about the 787 BILLION dollar so-called-stimulus slush fund? It created ZERO “shovel ready” jobs. The 787 billion dollars was nothing more than an Obama-Reid-Pelosi re-election money laundering fund for Dem’s. Obama has BAMBOOZLED 51% of the FOOLISH Americans who voted for this man in an empty suit. Herman Cain had abt 12,000 at his Atlanta rally, NOT 1200 as you liberals claim. Cain is Obama’s WORST nightmare, and wipe the floor in any debate. Obama has to run on his record,, which is ZERO accomplishments to improve this country, ZERO.
Kyle Wingfield
May 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
Jeff @ 10:51: Welcome to the blog. It’s quite obvious you’ve never been here before…
Gerald West
May 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
Kyle, your poll has a bias toward Republican candidates, and against good sense. You need a fourth option: “they’re all losers”.
What sensible person would want a replay of the last Republican adminstration that began by plunging the federal budget into deficit and ended by wrecking the economy?
Devil's Advocate
May 23rd, 2011
11:06 am
Wow, Jeff is angry today! How many times is someone going to play the “X would wipe the floor with Obama at a debate” card? Seriously, didn’t we hear this during the last presidential campaign season? Obama debated Democrats and Republicans and got elected.
People wonder why a “real” conservative cannot get elected as president anymore (Bush wasn’t a conservative to many conservatives). Well this is why. The platform of too many republicans is to mud sling. They start off on policy issues but quickly abandon them (probably because they don’t believe what they are saying in the first place) and resort to attacks on the liberal’s character and record. That game is old and has been played.
Newsflash people, Obama was elected because he gave voters what they wanted, a candidate who generally stuck to his platform and responded to attacks more than generating his own. He was a breathe of fresh air on the campaign trail. Granted, this has nothing to do with his performance as a president, that is what re-election is for…
When a Republican runs in that manner then that person will have a fighting chance. People of all parties are tired of voting on the best mud slinger. Stick to issues or you’ll simply be viewed as a “hater”. Cain appears to be the best Republican candidate as long as he doesn’t resort to tearing Obama down to build himself up. It’s ok to point at Obama’s policy decisions and state why you think they are wrong but please leave all the birther, community organizer, “Chicago Way”, and other anti-Obamaisms alone unless you do want him re-elected with ease.
RGB
May 23rd, 2011
11:20 am
What sensible person would want a replay of the last Republican adminstration that began by plunging the federal budget into deficit and ended by wrecking the economy?
Exactly right. I sure hated those days of $200 billion annual deficits and $8 trillion in national debt.
: )
Goldie
May 23rd, 2011
11:29 am
That 3rd option in your poll should read “Beat Obama? Puh-leeze.”
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
11:31 am
DeborahinAthens wrote: “The final nail in Christine O’Donnell’s coffin was when, during a debate, she disagreed about one of the basic tenets of the Constitution and her opponent quoted the REAL verbiage, line by line, and the dim-wit said, “…really? It says that really” (or words to that effect).”
Just as in the left quoting Tina Fey, “And you can see Russia from my house!”, you get it wrong again, Deborah. As usual.
In the debate with Christine O’Donnell, her opponent claimed that there was “a separation of church and state” in the U.S. Constitution. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, why don’t you go get the copy of the Constitution you so adamantly claim to have read before, and find that particular quote in it.
Go ahead. READ the Constitution, DeborahinAthens, and show us all your startling intellect and reading comprehension and point to the exact quote the Democrat claimed was in the Constitution.
Never mind, oh mindless one. I’ll save you the trouble. After being caught in the lie by such a lightweight as Christine O’Donnell, he back-pedaled (as you, I’m sure will) and quoted the actual text of “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion”, which is NOT the same as “a separation of church and state”, nor was it found in the Constitution as he alleged.
Your blind hatred of the GOP is just as bad as the blind allegiance of those in the GOP to social engineering by religious beliefs.
Goldie
May 23rd, 2011
11:35 am
“Obama has to run on his record,, which is ZERO accomplishments to improve this country, ZERO.”
Jeff — and your candidate Mr. Cain has been elected to office how many times??? So, how many “accomplishments” has Mr. Cain had to “improve this country”???
Your comments about Our President are ludicrous.
GT
May 23rd, 2011
11:42 am
The Republicans are almost SNL when it comes to picking serious candidates. They have somehow gotten in their minds that America’s love for superficiality demands they run a Palin or a Newt. It is like the ninth inning and your team is 19 runs behind so you pitch the right fielder, to save arms for better days. Unless you drag up a real player, which still may be beat, you don’t stand a prayer, and what you have on the slate now are better suited for dancing with the stars than presidential timber. There is always the lucky punch as shown by Jimmy Carter where all the stars in the universe line up right and the tomato can they put out there will connect but after the damage Carter did to the Democratic National Party for years after I would think the Republicans hope their guy or gal will take a fall like he or she is suppose to in the first round. Any of these candidates running for the Republican Party could kill the party forever introducing the much needed third choice for middle America.
Halftrack
May 23rd, 2011
11:46 am
There is probably a winner in there. The candidates all need to start talking in the image of a President. It is still early in the elephant race. Take notes from Israel’s PM. The song by Peter, Paul, & Mary “Ole Stuball” applies here. Just keep principled, have a backbone to carry the weight and eyes on the finish line and the voters will respond accordingly.
snoqualmiefalls
May 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
Is there a winner in this field of candidates or potential candidates?
NO there is no winner. But I sure want to see this parade of losers, especially when they attempt to attract TeaParty followers or religious followers or social conservative followers. Don’t know about you, but I already have the popcorn out.. I love the smell of CRAZY during campaign season, and the above mentioned candidates fit the bill.
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
11:51 am
“The platform of too many POLITICIANS is to mud sling. They start off on policy issues but quickly abandon them (probably because they don’t believe what they are saying in the first place) and resort to attacks on the OPPONENT’S character and record.”
Fixed your typo, Devil. No thanks needed. Your bias was showing too readily.
TRUTH
May 23rd, 2011
11:57 am
The short answer to the potential (and current field) of GOP candidates is an emphatic “NO!” The OP field, either having committed, or in the process of being manufactured to BE a candidate, offer NO NEW IDEAS. It is sad that this election cycle breaks no new ground for the GOP. What we citizens have figured out is that the message, although feebly packaged differently, is essentially the same failed ideas of the previous Republican administrations. Throw in the factually inept Tea Party and you have the basis for a complete rejection of the Republican model. The elephant in the room is that the GOP in its backlash against their resounding defeat in ‘08 was to embrace the manufactured “crazy” they created and now its very creation is ripping the GOP parent to shreds. Most of the candidates who have rejected a run for the Presidency, flirted with and supported the insanity of the Tea Party. They have made their names synomynous with insanity, and now are trying to distance themselves from it, even in the face of factual evidence (that darn internet) of their previous support. Paul Ryan nail gunned his own potential run with the most insane budget while protecting the rich and big business, REALLY? Romney…er, not likeable, and attacks his own views…I think that is called schizophrenic. Bachmann…now that is the definition of crazy. Ron Paul, I like, but his is the support of the Tea Party, which means he is subject to leave the reservation at any moment. Herman Cain, well there goes that claim of previous “executive experience.” He was a CEO of Godfather’s, free pizza for everyone on Fridays!! (Sounds like a great Sr. Class President slogan..) Might not know much about how the world operates, but will ensure pizza delieveries in 30 mins or less or its free!! (whoops, another pizza company)…
So, that’s pretty much it. The GOP flirted with the Donald, Newt (who actually has a campaign, and is denying everything he’s ever said, til he denies he’s ever said that he denied it previouly), Palin who FINALLY has been determined to be a mean Twitter-er and of no political substance.
Looks like a DEMOCRATIC pounding is coming your way, GOP. OBAMA 2012
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
“So, how many “accomplishments” has Mr. Cain had to “improve this country”???”
Well, Goldie, Cain’s actually employed people by earning money and distributing it, rather than taking from others by force and distributing it. He’s done it in an ongoing, sustaining enterprise rather than taking us into debt for one-time jobs.
By bringing Godfather’s Pizza back from bankruptcy, Herman Cain has already employed more people than Hope & Punt ™ could ever hope to do.
I think that qualifies as “accomplishments to improve this country”.
But I’m sure you won’t.
GT
May 23rd, 2011
12:04 pm
Tea Party vs. Union. For the Teabags it is a social event where these retirees can show off for their spouses and friends and say they still have the vinegar. Easy stuff when no one is there to oppose them and they have the press to themselves. For the union it is real time, few show up with their spouses who are having to work the other job or taking care of America’s future at home. The teabags had their way in the off year elections making up idiotic stuff for the press and voters and shouting down candidates trying to answer their idiotic questions. The bet here is Obama doesn’t encourage his thugs and will point out where they have missed the boat, unlike the Republican candidates who lead the parade.
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
12:05 pm
Whacks Eloquent – No need to lay the current economic crisis on Cain because of his stint at the Fed back in KC, but as the Federal Reserve needs to be abolished in order to restore freedom, liberty, sound money, and economic security to this nation, we cannot afford to have a former insider in the White House fighting the process and doing their bidding. Ron Paul’s position has been clear since he was first elected in 1973 – End the Fed. Had we listened to him back then, the multiple economic crises since might well have never happened, and certainly the gigantic mountain of debt would never have been possible as that is all the Fed really does (aside from destroying the dollar of course).
RGB
May 23rd, 2011
12:24 pm
Community Organizer. No private sector business experience. Never met a payroll. Can’t read an income statement or balance sheet. Or balance a budget. Or lead thousands of people to meet an objective. Never emerged from bankruptcy but willing to lead a country there.
Sounds like a great Sr. Class President slogan.
To reacap: Libs hate all businesses and, by extension, all those with private sector experience. My recommendation: Don’t buy anything from a private sector business for the remainder of the year.
That’ll show ‘em.
Devil's Advocate
May 23rd, 2011
12:30 pm
Dave R.,
I rest my case. You offered nothing in your response other than to prove that Democrats are the same as Republicans. The Left is the same as the Right. If they are all the same, why fight in the name of something different? If the Republicans are going to run as the principled party of do gooders then why would you want to paint them as the same as Democrats?
Bottom line, stop the mud slinging! Hillary slung mud and got beat. Commentary on Obama’s campaign was that he would be eatten alive by Hillary because he wasn’t “dirty” enough. Obama struggled at slinging mud and ran on “hope and change”. While the Right loves to mock running on “hope and change”, it won. It beat Clinton and McCain. But as I said in my other post, the majority was willing to vote for Obama because he didn’t base his candidacy on tearing down his opponents. He presented a vision and the majority of voters bought it, right or wrong. End of story. Stop thinking like a sports fan and start thinking like an objective observer with no dog in the fight.
Food for thought.
For the record, Democrats run on the heart strings of the people. Their message is often about helping anyone and everyone in “need”. The PROBLEM with this is that it costs too much money to blindly go throwing around “help” to both those in need and those who are too lazy to earn their keep. The Democratic platform doesn’t need mudslinging up front anymore because they are playing the class warfare angle. When a voter is hurting that voter will tend to vote for the candidate that better promises to help their situation regardless of party. The Democrats are going to play this card as long as the conditions of our nation keep dealing it.
The problem with the Obama administration isn’t that he’s breaking campaign promises, it’s that the implementation of his promises are too costly in the first place. It all boils right back down to liberal spending vs fiscal conservative responsibility. Yet, Republicans only focus on that as the opening act to the full show of attacking character. But that’s ok, it’ll work this time won’t it? Maybe if we play the birth certificate card just one more time it’ll finally stick (Yeah, right).
I like Cain because he appears to be a candidate that knows how to comment on Obama’s policy decisions and not focus so much on all the other stuff. Hopefully his advisors and campaign handlers won’t drive him down the path of mud slinging first, policy second which would make him just another politician.
Obama showed us the formula of what will win these days. Many Tea Party and Republican candidates were able to use that to have good showings in 2010 as well. Just state what you think is wrong and how you’d fix it and let the people decide. Voters appear open to going with the unknown or “change” more than ever because they are tired of long term career politicians doing the same old stuff. Party doesn’t matter…
GT
May 23rd, 2011
12:37 pm
Mr Liberty where did the feds come in play with the latest economic crisis? Outside baling the very banks out of the problem after the fact that through pure free enterprise and greed became impotent where was the feds finger in this pie? This will be historically noted as Wall Street through its vast resources keeping the government out of the kitchen for the purpose of cooking what it wanted to cook. Ron Paul is a country preacher fighting the devil, he is way over matched, a water hose versus a tsunami. Until someone has the guts to let the street be true free enterprise which means a depression and a grassroots resurgence there is no cure. Why has Wall Street have to be in New York City or any place in this modern time of computers. Government still has to be run from Washington, I guess, but there is no reason to encourage this systemic risk nature of Wall Street.
Gordon
May 23rd, 2011
12:40 pm
The only two serious candidates are Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney. In saying that, I mean they are the only ones with a chance to win. If I had meant serious to mean their ideas might actually solve problems, several of the candidates could be considered serious and Obama could not.
TRUTH
May 23rd, 2011
12:46 pm
@RGB 12:24 PM That sounds like a great idea to not buy anything from a private sector business, however, its somewhat naive. The problems with us Liberals, and now MOST Republicans, is the massive tax breaks that are offered to those “Private Sector” businesses that still do not create jobs for the American public. They move it to countries where they can get cheap labor. So, its not a “hate” of big business, its about making big business play fairly. And it does sound like a Sr. Class President slogan…. just sayin’.
Chris Matthews
May 23rd, 2011
12:51 pm
Deborahinathens is a left-wing nut job! Instead of Athens ..you should be in the State Hospital !
marc
May 23rd, 2011
12:54 pm
The real winner in the GOP field is Barrack Obama..(unbeatable in 2012)…..Hillary Clinton then becomes the 1st women president 2016 and 2020…….the Republican’s next shot is really 2024……but not as they are today….. with each generation the GOP gets more out of step with mainstream America each year……I voted for Reagan, Cinton, both Bushes and then Obama…..Americans don’t blindly party up for a President…they voted for the best man…..and face it….. the GOP can’t find one.
Devil's Advocate
May 23rd, 2011
1:02 pm
marc gets it. The extremists on the Left and the Right all think they are more important than the swingers who simply want the best candidate. If either party were so perfect we’d only have a one party system.
Jefferson
May 23rd, 2011
1:06 pm
Cain has zero chance and his pizza was not good. Paul is too old. Grump Old People. – GOP still no credibility. Danials too short. Newt too fat and dumb. Like a resteraunt with a bad menu.
Clay Grant
May 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
I’d like to stay, but this is just like anywhere else with Republicans taking their cues from Fox News without really understanding the issues. Fact: 7 of the 10 trillion debt came from your two heroes: Reagan and W. Fact: Revenues are at their lowest level since 1949 (adjusted for inflation of course), due to the Bush tax cuts. Fact: Bush left the house on fire and every credible economist said it would take years to fix this. Fact: You can’t balance the budget on 1949-level revenues (well I guess you can if you don’t care about anyone outside your own home). Fact: Republicans were for individual health mandate, cap and trade, and the 1967 Israel borders … until the moment that Obama was for them. It’s not about issues, it’s just about taking adversarial stances. Summation: this has never been about any issues other than low tax rates for the wealthy. And you are the foolish people who are propping them up. They laugh at you, from inside their gated communities! Obama knows he won’t get anything accomplished in his second term because of ya’ll. All he wants (and expects) is a couple of Supreme Court seats.
GT
May 23rd, 2011
1:15 pm
Gordon, Obama can and will be considered seriously. For one thing he articulates which is a far better way of communication than whatever smirking and mumbling is or shouting to a charged up crowd of relatives, anything they want to hear. I wonder who Bin laden would now take seriously upon us. But then you Gordon have a God given right to not respect anyone. I keep forgetting how your well bred crowd shouted down Obama, called him a liar in the middle of the speech to Congress. If only the same rude man had chosen to explode as we were being told of the weapons of mass destruction, but htat was fact and this guy only writes fiction. Your disrespectful following have questioned Obama’s nationality because he came for a place call Hawaii or his college credentials because he is black. Gordon you don’t have to respect anyone that is how you get to the point of not being taken seriously in the first place. It is my guess Obama can stand the loss of that kind of respect, the kind base on false foundation. It is the Republican Party that seems to be cracking under the burden of reality.
Goldie
May 23rd, 2011
1:23 pm
Dave R @ 12:00 — and I seem to recall some other wonderful Repub calling himself the “CEO president” about 11 years ago… now, remind me again who that was, and how did all that business “experience” of his work out for America? What we got from him was massive unemployment and jobs shipped overseas, all the while starting 2 foreign wars and giving tax cuts to the wealthiest citizens — what business CEO worth his underwear would carry on like that and expect to keep his job???
Most American voters have seen what you Repubs really mean by “fiscally conservative” and your lack of sense when it comes to “business sense”, and we don’t want no more of you!
Side Note
May 23rd, 2011
1:27 pm
Aquagirl
May 23rd, 2011
8:42 am
“….nutcases…wackos…lemmings…hate groups”
Wow. When you have nothing, call people names. Laughable.
A fact from the 2004 Presidential Election
May 23rd, 2011
1:35 pm
At this point before the 2004 Election, Howard “I have a scream” Dean was the clear front-runner on the Democratic side. Enough said.
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
1:49 pm
Goldie, you will never see me defending Bush, nor will you see me defending the GOP and Democrat CONGRESSES that were the real reason for this latest economic mess.
Unlike you, I know what and who caused this mess, and it was no single administration nor policy.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
1:57 pm
If such was the case, where was the Tea Party when the nation was getting BUSHwhacked??
——-
Our President Bush never proposed a trillion dollar deficit, much less a decade’s worth of them. Your Idiot Messiah is a fiscal disaster.
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
2:00 pm
GT – If you understood the american banking system you would not be asking what role the Fed played in the 2008 economic crisis.
But for review – the Federal Reserve acts in the role of price fixer – for money. They, and they alone set the interest rate. Back in 2001 after 9-11 they set the interest rate practically at 0%. Banks were able to borrow basically for free. This created enormous mal-investment. This money flowed in various directions, but Bush’s push along with other criminals in congress to create the “ownership” society pushed a ton of that money in the direction of housing. Thanks to horrible government policies bad loans by the boatload were made. Deregulation and poor oversight encouraged the creation of all of the bizarre financial instruments that became the worthless structure the economic house of cards was built upon. Ultimately it was greed among the bankers and wall street that created these instruments, but without the money created out of thin air by the Fed, loaned at zero percent, etc. there would have been no money to lend, etc.
Money for loans is supposed to come from savings. When people defer immediate purchases for long-term purchases by either saving or investing, they send a message to businesses, etc. that long-term projects can be supported in the future. To encourage savings, banks pay higher interest rates to savers. The more savings, the less they can pay to encourage those savings, and thus the lower interest rates they can charge borrowers. So the greater the voluntary savings, the more money available to lend and the lower interest rates. When a central bank like the Fed gets involved, the banks don’t need savings (which americans aren’t big on anyway). They subvert the process by making counterfeit money available to the banks at 0% interest which artificially sends the message that long-term projects will be able to be supported in the future. The opposite of course is true. There is no real savings, there will be no money in the future to pay for the homes, businesses, etc. and other long-term projects and so the inevitable bust comes.
Yes, there is always greed. That’s why it is so important that the free market set interest rates and that savings be the source of lending money, not a criminal organization like the Fed.
Go to www(dot)mises(dot)org to find out everything you need to know about the Federal Reserve and the destruction it has done to our country since its founding in 1913.
The Snark
May 23rd, 2011
2:01 pm
I don’t know if there is a “winner” in the group — only the voters of November 2012 can answer that question. The real question should be whether there is anyone in that group who can wisely and competently carry out the duties of the office, and there is not, except possibly Romney, and no one knows who he is any more.
Cobbian
May 23rd, 2011
2:01 pm
DeborahinAthens, thank you. Well said.
There is a fiscal middle ground that includes spending cuts and tax increases. We need to stop the tax breaks for big oil, the subsidies for millionaire farmers, and the over-spending on the new military hardware that the military says they do not want and do not need. We need close regulation of finance and banking – especially any that are “too big to fail.”
And, we need to get out of peoples bedrooms and back to Constitutional guarantees of equality for all – that includes gay people. We need to handle the illegal alien problem – not just make a political football out of it. That means compromise and set up another amnesty, path to citizenship, whatever you want to call it. Before he announced his run for the presidency, even Newt said “we are not going to deport 11 million people.” He has his rare moments of rational thought.
I am tired of Republican games played to appeal to the crazy tea partiers.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
2:02 pm
When Democrats lose, AMERICA wins.
Robert
May 23rd, 2011
2:03 pm
@RGB – According to the dictionary (Webster) the “tea party” fits the definition of a terrorist group -” the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal”
What comments do you disagree?
1. The homegrown terrorist group(s) known as the “tea party” (aka klanmens, skinheads, birthers, etc.).
2. Weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians and Muslims & Jews.
3. The whole world saw their hatred and bigotry on display during the 2010 midterm elections.
4. The whole world heard their call to battle (take back my country).
5. The American People saw the majority of White Americans embrace the “tea party” and vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience which is why the GOP is in trouble today.
6. The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box and I hope we never will again.
7. Time for the GOP to choose sides. The American People or the homegrown terrorist group(s) known as the “tea party”
It seems you are angry and confused.
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
2:07 pm
LBB – “When Democrats lose, AMERICA wins.”
When people excercise independent thought and stop acting like sheep in a herd, AMERICA wins.
Just thought I’d fix that for you.
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
Robert
May 23rd, 2011
2:03 pm
What a joke. Nowhere did you meantion “Taxed Enough Already”.
You have zero facts to back your idiotic statements.
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
Robert, so many errors in such a short post!
“1. The homegrown terrorist group(s) known as the “tea party” (aka klanmens, skinheads, birthers, etc.).”
There is no evidence of skinheads nor klansmen in any significant numbers in the Tea party. Please provide any you can find. Birthers were less represented in the Tea Party than the GOP.
“2. Weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians and Muslims & Jews.”
Please provide any substantiated claims to rage/mob mentality. And while you’re at it, tell us how that “mob mentality” differs in terroristic activity than the actions of unions in Wisconsin, who occupied their State House for days.
“3. The whole world saw their hatred and bigotry on display during the 2010 midterm elections.”
Proof?
“4. The whole world heard their call to battle (take back my country).”
Yep. Not a problem with that.
“5. The American People saw the majority of White Americans embrace the “tea party” and vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience which is why the GOP is in trouble today.”
Kinda missed the whole 70+ seat swing in the House of Representatives, didn’t ya?
“6. The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box and I hope we never will again.”
And still haven’t, unless you have proof that no one else has seen.
“7. Time for the GOP to choose sides. The American People or the homegrown terrorist group(s) known as the “tea party”
The American People ARE the Tea Party, Robert. You might have missed their political makeup in polls taken last year, but they are a cross-section of libertarians, moderates, independents and disaffected Republicans AND Democrats.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
Rich, liberal Democrats have no idea where we are heading with their wishes and principals. Maybe they have enough money to get out when all Hell breaks lose. Because when half this country, sitting around sucking on that big ole Government T**, and it runs dry, their coming in those gated, private door man buildings to get what they need. It won’t be pretty.
Say what?
May 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
This is from Cain’s speech on Saturday: ”
And I know that there are some people that are not going to do that, so for the benefit of those who are not going to read it because they don’t want us to go by the Constitution, there’s a little section in there that talks about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Uh yeah Herman…. that would be the Declaration of Independence… not the Constitution. Nice try
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
Dave R
Excellent response to the less intelligent one.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
2:21 pm
Fletch, thanks for making my point for me. Turn off your MSNBC hate-TV and try being an American instead.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:23 pm
95% of tea party people are law obeying, tax paying citizens. Like any large voting block( Christians,NRA etc) start to make noise and get movement heading away from Liberal thinking and policy, The press will play their part and frame them as loons and terrorists. Still may be a little time left with the help of moderates to save this country a little while longer. When everyone 60 and older today is gone, God help this country.
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
2:26 pm
LBB – “Fletch, thanks for making my point for me. Turn off your MSNBC hate-TV and try being an American instead.”
Ahhhh…. so you advocate the sheep mentality? BTW, my comment was neither partisan or supportive of one pary over another. Yours on the other hand, not so much. And for the record, I don’t watch MSNBC, CNN, FOX or the other mindless so called “news” outlets. I tend to read, study and analyze a situation before drawing a conclusion. Same goes for political candidates. And based on my observations, it looks like I’ll be withholding my vote for yet another election season. Nothing good on the Left or Right.
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
2:32 pm
“Uh yeah Herman…. that would be the Declaration of Independence… not the Constitution. Nice try”
Verbal gaffe from unscripted remarks, Say What. Everybody makes them, including Hope & Punt ™.
Most reasonable people don’t dwell on them. Move on.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:33 pm
I would take a President, either party, if they would put America and her people first, rather than a ideology driven by special interest.
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
JB – “I would take a President, either party, if they would put America and her people first, rather than a ideology driven by special interest.”
As would most rational voters. Unfortunately, we probably have a better chance of getting Raptured.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm
No, Fletch, I advocate the American mentality. The wingnuts who get their “news” from MSNBC and similar hate-TV outlets need to start thinking independently an rejoin Americans to take back the country from Democrat party America-haters.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
2:43 pm
If Kyle required all comments that quoted “facts” be backed up with proof by citing sites, most of the liberals on this blog would be mute. Their venom mixed with complete untruths is appalling. Do Democrats know how to surf the web or do they get all their information from MSNBC? Are they deliberately lying or are they stupid enough to actually believe their own statements?
GT
May 23rd, 2011
2:44 pm
Mr. Liberty the real cause of the economic crisis was greed. Wall Street had the keys to pension funds and other pools of money around the world they just needed an excuse to use the keys. Mortgages were defined as collateral marked product and almost automatic as long as they were underwritten by a credit rating agency. Wall Street paid the credit rating agencies who began to blur the lines in order to compete. They paid the pension funds indirectly to buy the mbs packages, each round becoming more liberal than the next. No one knew what they were selling or buying and the production got so huge no one cared, all were making money. All thought they were protected by an ever appreciating housing market and falsely thought there was a huge margin of error when there was absolutely none. This compounded by criminal activity both on the streets and Wall Street cause the collapse and the atmosphere still excise for more. The government as much as we would like to think, had little to do with this except to be indifferent to the going ons with Wall Street. A lot of this head turning was lobbied by WS and political contributions. A lot by a familiarity of WS and government executives in charge, but none the less an absence of government made the problem then a too late bale out are the causes. Banks should be allowed to fail, they should also not be allowed to cross over to private enterprise under government protection. Free enterprise works if we just try it. It is just when it works no one is guaranteed an income that doesn’t work for it, which put a record number of retirees on notice. There may have been only a trillion dollars of good mortgages in the entire world and the made 3 trillion so something had to break.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:45 pm
GT………Good stuff………..From a Dawg fan.
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
2:47 pm
What’s the obsession with MSNBC? I’m guessing it’s the equivalent of someone on the Left accusing someone on the Right of getting all their news from FOX?
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
2:49 pm
Linda
“Facts” backed up by “proof”. If that were true, we wouldn’t have our funny little Libs.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
2:49 pm
The first GOP debate was in SC with Cain, Johnson, Paul, Pawlenty & Santorum. Frank Luntz had a GOP focus group of 29, only 1 of which was a Cain backer prior to the debate. Afterward, more than half were Cain backers. Luntz said he had never seen such a response for a candidate in all the debates he’s covered.
http://freedomslighthouse.net/2011/05/05/herman-cain-declared-huge-winner-of-sc-gop-debate-by-frank-luntz-focus-group-video-5511/
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:51 pm
Cain- Obama debate would be interesting…………But Cain, would be murdered by the main stream as untrained and Unequipped to be President…………………LOL…Like this fool we have now was……
Fletch
May 23rd, 2011
2:53 pm
JB – “Cain- Obama debate would be interesting”
If it’s anything like these blogs, it would be 2 hours of them calling each other “lib” and “con”. Maybe I need to dust off my old copy of Robs Rules.
GT
May 23rd, 2011
2:58 pm
go dawg!!!
mhs
May 23rd, 2011
3:07 pm
I think Joe Biden is stepping aside so that Barack can choose Cynthia McKinney as his new running mate. They are certainly have much more in common.
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
3:13 pm
mhs
Hilarious!! Joe Biden and Cynthia….LMAO!!! Two FINE examples of The Democratic Party!!!
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
3:16 pm
Let’s explain what is really happening with the corrupt media & the liberals. There is a very rich & powerful man who wants a new world order. To accomplish his mission he needs to bring down the United States. He has already brought down several other countries & caused the British Sterling to collapse (google Black Wednesday) (sort of like what is happening to the dollar). To bring down the US, he thought that controlling the already corrupt media would be helpful. He’s spent $48 so far. Notice that FOX did not join in the scandal. You will see Cynthia Tucker’s name on the list.
http://www.mrc.org/bmi/commentary/2011/Over__Major_News_Organizations_Linked_to_George_Soros.html
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Herman Cain figured out what the liberals were up to & was not afraid to say it out loud, “The objective of the liberals is to destroy this country. The objective of the liberals is to make America mediocre…That’s their objective. Well, let me tell you something about mediocrity. It’s not in an American’s DNA to be mediocre.”
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
3:32 pm
JB
Don’t forget the Presidential Teleprompter.
JB
May 23rd, 2011
3:32 pm
If I hear the main stream press question any GOP contender as not be qualified, I’ll scream…Like Obama WAS! Obama was as ill prepared as anyone I’ve ever seen elected President. Being black, and cool and using a blackberry certainly doesn’t make one qualified to be President. And that’s the bulk of his qualifications.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
3:38 pm
GT@2:44 & others, Even Obama wanted to know what caused the economic collapse, so he appointed another commission, but decided to fix it before he knew the cause of it. Financial reform was passed last summer which did not even address Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac (the GSEs) nor hedge funds.
The members of the Financial Inquiry Commission could not agree. One report is about 600 pages of mostly what we already knew that happened. The other 13-page report is what I personally witnessed. The top of page 2 explains 3 ways the govt.’s intervention into the housing market was the trigger, the match to the fuse, that caused the tsunami. The “govt. was following a social policy…” i.e. social justice, socialism. It started with the passage of the GSE Act in 1992.
http://keithhennessey.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Financial-Crisis-Primer.pdf
JB
May 23rd, 2011
3:39 pm
Reality………….You are correct….When you can’t go into a third grade class and wing it for 5 minutes, You really have to question what’s going on. Can you imagine Bush doing this. Can you imagine Bush Saying ‘corpse” for “corp’ twice in a speech?
Dr. Pangloss
May 23rd, 2011
3:41 pm
JB
May 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
Rich, liberal Democrats have no idea where we are heading with their wishes and principals.
————————-
Rich, liberal Democrats own their own school administrators? Boy, they are rich!
JB
May 23rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Doc………..The crowd I’m talking about are the crowds that show up for Obama in NY and LA and write a check for 50K. That Rich liberal crowd.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
3:51 pm
37 new Republicans elected in 2010 had no previous govt. experience. Why do we keep electing career politicians & lawyers? Does anyone wonder how we have trillions of dollars in debt when professional politicians have NEVER seen a balance sheet?
Someone said Cain didn’t know how Washington works? When has Washington worked? Has it ever worked for we, the people as it was created to do?
GM became a health insurer with some cars. The fed. govt. is now a health insurer with a military.
Dr. Pangloss
May 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
buck@gon, you didn’t burst any of my poll bubbles. Take a look at the other national polls at:
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh12gen.htm
Reality
May 23rd, 2011
3:58 pm
JB, didn’t the The Great and Powerful Community Organizer receive the largest donation from BP?
JB
May 23rd, 2011
3:59 pm
The Press doesn’t want Cain…………..He’s might to fix something
Chrissy Matthews
May 23rd, 2011
4:00 pm
I’m the only one that gets a “tinglin feelin runnin up and down my leg” when Obama speaks?
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
4:00 pm
Obama was as ill prepared as anyone I’ve ever seen elected President.
——–
You win the prize for “Worst Use of Past Tense” for the day.
Dave R.
May 23rd, 2011
4:05 pm
“Take a look at the other national polls at:
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh12gen.htm”
Not a single national poll means anything for Nov. 2012 in May of 2011, Dr. Pangloss.
None of them.
Ever.
Get it?
Dr. Pangloss
May 23rd, 2011
4:07 pm
JB
May 23rd, 2011
3:39 pm
Reality………….You are correct….When you can’t go into a third grade class and wing it for 5 minutes, You really have to question what’s going on. Can you imagine Bush doing this. Can you imagine Bush Saying ‘corpse” for “corp’ twice in a speech?
————
Can you imagine typing “corp,” the abbreviation for “corporation” for “corps,” the term for a body of troops consisting of two divisions?
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
4:08 pm
Libs like Robert just fire me up. I know better than to argue with him. I know he knows he’s lying. He’s trying to insult Tea Party members. What he doesn’t understand is that it hasn’t worked for over 2 yrs. & backfires every time the strategy is used. People that spew hate toward Tea Party members motivate me to make bigger, more colorful & very respectful signs! I would enjoy a refreshing glass of tea over Koolaid any day.
Maybe Robert does not know the Herman Cain has spoken at 70 Tea Parties & maybe Robert has not noticed that Cain is black. Maybe Robert is getting the Tea Party rallies mixed up with the union protests.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
4:18 pm
Cain is an unknown & must get his message out.
What I don’t understand is what message Obama is trying to get out. Is he still trying to sell Obamacare? He campaigned for the Ill. Senate, where he campaigned for the US Senate, where he campaigned for president, where he’s been campaigning for re-election for nearly 3 yrs. If Obama had to pay for his own gas & fuel to campaign, we could pay down some of the natl. debt & he would have to open an arugula stand on Pennsylvania Ave., which would be his first business venture.
Robert
May 23rd, 2011
4:42 pm
@Dave R & @Linda –
Time for you to choose what side are you on? The American People or the homegrown terroist group(s) known as the “tea party” (aka-klansmen, skinheads, birthers)
Your children and grandchildren are depending on you to be a real man and stop all the hatred and bigotry spewing from the mouth of people claiming to be members of the “tea party”. It is time for the GOP to clean-up this mess.
Jamie B
May 23rd, 2011
4:47 pm
“…homegrown terroist group(s) known as the “tea party” (aka-klansmen, skinheads, birthers)…”
Any facts to back this up? Or just another idiotic, loony, left wing statement.
Jamie B
May 23rd, 2011
4:48 pm
Poor Robert, are you sure you aren’t thinking of those Union goons?
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
Obama went on a bumpy ride today, seesawed & lost traction on the campaign trail. Doesn’t Ireland already have health care?
http://ajc.newsinc.com/video.html?wid=1529&cid=5051&vid=23417220&freewheel=12699&sitesection=ajc&plg=1527
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
4:59 pm
Robert@4:42, I know a federal prison guard with more manners & charisma, & he’s also a whiz with punctuation. Ever met a “real man” named Linda?
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
5:26 pm
GT – All that very clear explanation on my part and you are still ignorant. Sad.
I never denied the greed of wall street or the bankers, or whomever. Without the Federal Reserve printing money out of thin air and lending it for 0% there would have been nothing or very little for anyone to be greedy with. There would have been no money for home loans, there would have been no money for purchase of the derivatives, etc. That is the point of the damage a central bank can cause. If you are unwilling to learn about the Federal Reserve and the mechanisms it has used to destroy the value of your savings, the dollar, and the overall US economy then there is little hope for you. Greed will always be with us. Without a central bank and the bailouts of the US government, that greed is contained and the moral hazard eliminated. Hey, the information is free, all you have to do is take the time to get educated.
MrLiberty
May 23rd, 2011
5:29 pm
And JB, why don’t you go to www(dot)mises(dot)org and get an education on the Fed as well.
Road Scholar
May 23rd, 2011
5:44 pm
So, if all the Repub candidates suck, what about the Repub policies?
Daniel
May 23rd, 2011
5:50 pm
Bart,
I was actually there. It was a large crowd. Easily 5,000 and I would believe 10,000 or slightly more as I was only in a small corner of the park.
John Galt
May 23rd, 2011
5:59 pm
Linda-
Are you sure your name isn’t really Dagney? I think I’m in love!
You have been the only clear, accurate voice on this blog-
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
May 23rd, 2011
6:06 pm
Your dog could beat obozo, just sayin…
Uh, option #4 ^^
TruthBe
May 23rd, 2011
6:07 pm
Anybody but Obama in 2012. Barack Hussein Obama is a muslim brotherhood Homegrown terrorist with a “New World Order” communist agenda OWNED by his Master George Soros. The democrat party has been taken over by progressive communists that HATE America’s values and traditions. Just this week it proves that Obama is a racist especially towards Israel. The Obama’s have been a complete disgrace as our First Family. Tasteless and Tackly especially wide hips Michele. The Obama administration is the most dishonestand corrupt administration in ALL of American History. Obama’s administration is full of left-wing nutcase communist.
Dr. Pangloss
May 23rd, 2011
6:10 pm
Dave R, the election is over a year away, and you’re already resorting to saying that the score doesn’t matter.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
6:21 pm
John@5:59, Dagney from Atlas Shrugged?
I’ve been happily married 35 yrs., but I love you, too.
Thank you.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
6:43 pm
TruthBe@6:07, My friends tell me they never have to wonder how I feel about something, that if it comes up, it comes out. Why don’t you tell us how you really feel about the issues? (Just kidding.)
Go, brother! I’m with you.
Linda
May 23rd, 2011
6:58 pm
TruthBe, You might be interested in this prediction by Pastor James Manning, PhD, made 11-12-08, 2 1/2 yrs. ago that in 2011, Obama would get OBL, give the Jews to the Muslims & beginning in 6/11, claim victory in Afghanistan & start bringing the troops home.
I don’t follow Manning, but this is amazing
http://www.patriotactionnetwork.com/video/give-me-osama-ill-give-you-the.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
9:17 pm
Obozo is buddies with Ayers and Dohrn, two actual domestic terrorists whose only regret is that they didn’t bomb more.
Kinda makes the libtards’ whining about Tea Party protesters exercising their free speech rights seem rather weak.
Libtards: Weak.
Alan
May 23rd, 2011
10:16 pm
Raghead a/k/a ambulance chaser:
Your GOP clock is going to be cleaned in 2012, Get ready.
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 23rd, 2011
10:48 pm
9% unemployment. Rising inflation and high food and fuel prices. Health insurance costs increasing as before. $1.5 trillion deficits as far as the eye can see.
Yeah, your Idiot Messiah has nothing to worry about.
Alan
May 24th, 2011
10:11 am
Not a messiah dumbazz, just better than anything that you are fool enough to follow has to offer.
Why the GOP field for 2012 may be stronger than you think | Kyle Wingfield
May 26th, 2011
12:14 pm
[...] this week, I asked y’all whether there was a candidate in the current GOP field who could beat President Obama [...]