Poll Position: Room for one of these four in GOP field?
Was Rick Perry the last Republican to get into the 2012 race?
No sooner had the Texas governor formally thrown his 10-gallon hat in the ring than speculation began that a couple of big names were rethinking their earlier decisions to stay out.
Most notably, former Bush political adviser Karl Rove named New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as possibilities. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to leave the door open for another run. And, of course, no discussion of possible candidates is complete with mentioning Sarah Palin.
Who would be the best late addition to the GOP 2012 field?
- None of the above (92 Votes)
- Chris Christie (63 Votes)
- Paul Ryan (34 Votes)
- Sarah Palin (32 Votes)
- Rudy Giuliani (16 Votes)
Total Voters: 237
Loading ...Of these four, Ryan seems to be the closest to making a decision. While only a member of the House of Representatives, which hasn’t had one of its own jump directly to the presidency in more than 200 years, Ryan has built a high profile as the House GOP’s chief budgetary spokesman. He would be as prepared — and capable — as any Republican to argue against President Obama’s big-government vision. As the man behind a comprehensive spending plan that included big changes to Medicare, he has also already endured a great deal of criticism.
Christie, who’s built a national following for his blunt approach to public-sector unions, has been mentioned so many times that he once quipped he couldn’t put an end to the rumors without committing suicide. The interest in a Christie candidacy is so great that one tweet reporting the governor had focus groups for a possible run — which the same reporter walked back the very same day — created a fresh wave of buzz.
I’ve mentioned Giuliani before, and I can’t imagine that he would have a big effect on the race. The speculation about Palin may not end until the GOP nominating convention next year is completely over, and she would create a political earthquake if she were to run.
So here’s this week’s Poll Position: Which of these four would make the GOP field better — or is it fine as is? Answer in the poll and in the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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87 comments Add your comment
Rich
August 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
Linda @ 1:46 PM
The voucher-like Medicare system Paul Ryan designed to, define, cap/limit the government’s participation in providing for the medical care of our seniors in the future, will not provide for our seniors in the long run. It is designed specifically to end Medicare as we know it. All you have to do is cut or “cap” the subsidy, and before you know it, only the wealthy (and the extremely poor) will be able to have coverage. Really just how far will $6500 a year go towards buying health care in the private market. Today, I personally pay $653 a month for private insurance and I am in my early 50s. That’s $7853 a year, before I pay a single penny towards my $2500 deductible or a 20% co-pay.
How astronomical will it cost as we approach 70 or 80 years of age? This private market approach is going to make America one very sad country. Wait until the Ryan plan kicks in, where will we pick up our “ice floats”, if our “Medicare Coupon” goes to waste?
USMC
August 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
It won’t matter who gets the Republican Nomination.
Obama will lose in 2012 due to his own DISMAL failures as Chief Executive.
tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…
emo
August 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
USMC, keep whistling through the graveyard. You can’t beat somebody with nobody, and the 11-12-13 dwarves (lost count) are all nobodies.
Jason
August 19th, 2011
3:22 pm
Let’s get Gomer Pyle to join the GOP. He is an idiot just like them.
williebkind
August 19th, 2011
3:22 pm
You know I find it so amazing that the progressive liberals have already put all their eggs in the basket for Obama. He is the perfect choice for them. No one talks about anyone challenging him. So all the kings horses and all the kings men can not find anyone suited to challenge the annointed one. The Kenyan’s rating is down, well, about the same number as his vacations yet no other Democrat will step forward and say I have a better plan or hell any plan at all. Why is this?
Frigmund Scroid
August 19th, 2011
3:33 pm
Willie
Because he is an incumbent. Bush had already shown the Republicans that he was a mega-embarrassment in 2004, but they trotted him out anyway, and lo and behold, against a crap candidate he fared pretty well, if I recall.
History will repeat itself with the group of wannabe Idiot Messiahs in your camp. Obama may suck, but your candidates absolutely engulf.
Linda
August 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
emo@2:07, Are you aware that the fed. govt. paid out more in Social Security benefits than it netted in revenues LAST year?
Since you are aware that “the general revenue owes SS trillions,” which means the SS “Trust” Fund is full of chits, IOUs, where in the @#$% do you you think the money will come from?
Rafe Hollister
August 19th, 2011
3:41 pm
willybkind
You and USMC are so right, the question should be who can the Dems drag up to oust our current, Blamer in Chief. Surely there has to many Dems out there that would make a better choice. How can they let this failure capture their banner and march into the general election?
I read somewhere this AM, someone suggesting Jimmy Carter should run against him. He could run on the slogan, “Hey, even I didn’t think anyone else could be this incompetent.”
I really don’t think anyone else needs to get in the GOP field. Who ever emerges with the nomination should handily beat Barry Obluster and send him on a permanent vacation.
Linda
August 19th, 2011
3:42 pm
The Republicans are trying to SAVE Medicare. They HEARD Geitner. They risked their political careers to formulate a plan.
The Democrats DENY there are problems. They have NO plan. They initiated a commercial with a man resembling Ryan pushing an old lady in a wheelchair off a cliff. The Democrats do not CARE a whit about the elderly. All they want are their votes. They are pushing the can down the road.
Rafe Hollister
August 19th, 2011
3:45 pm
Bill Bradley and Ralph Nader please call the DNC, stat, ship sinking.
Linda
August 19th, 2011
3:53 pm
Rich@2:54, There are many plans to “fix” Medicare/Medicaid. Ryan’s is one of many. The ONLY group who has not presented one are the Democrats. See my comment @3:42. The Democrats are USING both the elderly & the courageous Republicans to get votes.
Many Americans are unaware that their benefits far exceed their contributions to Medicare.
Linda
August 19th, 2011
4:13 pm
Greetings from Mars!
One of the first comments this morning mentioned global warming. A NASA Planetary Scientist & Penn State has produced a joint study entitled “Would Contact with Extraterrestrials Benefit or Harm Humanity? A Scenario Analysis.”
This team of American researchers think extraterrestrial environmentally-conscious aliens could become so appalled by our planet-polluting ways that they “could attack & kill us, enslave us, or potentially eat us…”
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/200769/20110819/alien-attack-nasa-global-warming.htm
We now have to worry about the planet AND the universe. Wonder if they exhale carbon dioxide on other planets. Wonder if they will be red or green. What if they land in Washington, DC & ask to be taken to our leader. Will they be told that we don’t have one & to come back in 2013? If they are taken to Obama, will he ask them if they are millionaires & billionaires? Will he take away their corporate UFO loophole tax breaks? Will he give them amnesty? I hope they aren’t fat & look like cats.
I have to go. I think I hear something on my roof.
Rafe Hollister
August 19th, 2011
4:16 pm
The Dims will never permanently fix Soc Sec or Medicare. They like the bandaids, so they will perpetually have these programs to run on. We have heard it for years and years, if Reps are elected you are going to lose your Soc Sec and Medicare.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me three times, damn I must be a Democrat voter.
Rafe Hollister
August 19th, 2011
4:19 pm
Linda
I am sure that Algore is already in contact with the aliens.
Rafe Hollister
August 19th, 2011
4:28 pm
I am not afraid of these aliens, our windmill defense will knock them out of the sky.
This is the kind of “science” that Rick Perry doesn’t believe in.
Moderate Line
August 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Good news for Perry. Texas has moved from 26 to 27 in state unemployment. Will he be a viable candidate if the unemployment in Texas moves higher than the unemployment in the US. Texas is now at 8.4% and the US is at 9.1%.
Yea Right
August 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
Is there anyone left in the Republican Party, or in the country for that matter, with enough intelligence to realize that there is NO ONE in the so called Top Runners with even a chance to get in. The other day, a 4 year old told his Grandfather, who was trying to persuade the kid to get a toy instead of an expensive pair of boots, “Papa, you just aren’t thinking right”. This guy in the office is commanding ALL this lazy, adulterous, immoral, gimme a hand out, crowd, because that’s what he offers, and that’s what they want. “The gubment will take care of you”. The only man (person), running, who even has a remote chance to get in the office of president, is being downplayed, heldback, and given no chance. He’s smart, he’s business minded, he says his head screwed on right, he loves this country, and he’s black. You will not get a white man (person) in there, trust me. Give up the thought of who you would like in the office, and let’s get behind one who CAN win.
Michael H. Smith
August 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
You are so very right Rafe. The DEMwits will never permanently fix Soc Sec or Medicare. What is amazing is how people who talk about what they pay for private insurance now, who can’t seem to get their head around the fact that the government can’t buying anything any cheaper than you or I can in the private market. Truth is, as we all… well, “most all of us with half a live brain at least know” that government too often pays outrageous amounts of money, thousands of dollars needlessly for things that we would buy at a hardware store for a couple of bucks and change!
Now I’m waiting for another genius to tell me how bad the Ryan plan is compared to the “Black Hole” (the scientific term) sic, of Medicare which has been countless times declared “UNSUSTAINABLE by the best of the best damn financial minds on this planet!
And, we have not even began to talk about Medicaid, which is a far worse situation!
But oh do I ever still like the Galveston Plan for fixing Social Security. Of course we know why it will never happen – IT WORKED AND WORKED VERY WELL, TOO WELL FOR SOCIALIST GUB’MENT!!!
~
A model for Social Security reform
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2005-03-15-benefits-reform-galveston_x.htm
Clownie
August 19th, 2011
5:32 pm
I think Bozo the clown should enter the the GOP 2012 field. After all the Republicans are all clowns just like him. He will shoot right up to the top of the field just by the fact that he is a clown.
Gordon
August 19th, 2011
5:34 pm
“First of all, Social Security is NOT in need of reform. It’s solvent for years, and in fact, the general revenue owes SS trillions.”
This statement doesn’t make any sense. SS is the government, and the general revenue is the government. Government cannot afford to support SS in its present form long term. If the government owes SS a certain amount of money but can’t pay it, where does that leave SS? The “trust fund” is just a record of how much one part of the government owes another part of the government.
Mama Says
August 19th, 2011
6:02 pm
Interesting reading—-Think about this, if democrats were in the majority in 1776 they would have been loyal to the crown because the only people they will vote for are established, one thought, government types who claim to be doing the country good as they sing God bless the king.
A review of comments includes terms like revolutionist, rebels, and anti government. and those are the nice ones. The stupid, incompetent, etc.. comments are old by now.
If I understand liberals correctly having a revolutionary mindset is a destructive mindset, which can never benefit the country. All this of course is based on the fact that liberals will save the country by paying the king his bounty after which he will bless us all with a lower debt and jobs.
God save the King !
yuzeyurbrane
August 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
Linda, my poor little “I own 3 businesses” friend with so much time to blog about whatever arouses her Teapeople brain, you are speaking out of your derriere about Social Security. The “IOU’s” that Teapeople like to refer to mischaracterizes the nature of the debt to the Social Security Trust Fund and since you are an owner of 3 businesses, the holder of a degree in economics from a large southeastern university as well as I suspect a very large 401(k) account, I think you know this. Nevertheless, I will educate you because I want others to know what a damn liar you are. Social Security has collected more in revenues (FICA tax) than it has paid out in benefits until this year for the first time. The revenues flow into and out of the Social Security Trust Fund in the form of benefits. Over the years its surplus has aggregated to where it now stands at about $4.5 trillion. Now the Trust Fund does not put its cash into a mattress. It prudently invested its surplus into what was until recently the world’s safest investment, US Treasury Bonds and earned interest. This, as you know, is the “IOU” to which you allude. But this is the same IOU which is also owned by banks, stockbrokers, rich people, foreign countries like China and retirement funds like your 401(k). Now, it is true that this year for the first time revenues from FICA were not quite enough to pay all benefits. So the SS Trust used part of the interest it earned on its US Treasury Bonds to cover the shortfall. In fact, even if the economy continues in its current state, the SS Trust Fund will have enough revenue and interest to cover 100% of benefits for at least another 10 years. Beyond that it will have enough to pay 100% benefits until 2036 through a combination of revenues, interest and redemption of its US Treasury Bonds. Interestingly, this is as planned by Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill in the last big SS reform legislation because they knew the Boomers would be retiring now. Ironically, the Boomers have essentially saved to finance their own SS benefits. After that, the estimate is that the benefit would be reduced to 75% to 80%, but if certain minor modifications were made the SS Trust Fund would be solvent for another at least another 75 years. There are a number of proposals of which all of the policy makers are aware which would easily resolve the problem and which should be considered in the normal legislative process (proposed bills, hearings, votes, etc.) but not at the point of a gun. Are you suggesting that the US govt. will honor redemption of its Treasury Bonds by banks, mutual funds, China, and owners of 401(k) accounts before it will Seniors? Or just renege on its solemn committment to its Seniors who worked hard their whole lives and paid their FICA taxes just so it will have more money to pay for the tax breaks you want for large corporations and the mega-wealthy? Your response would be interesting even though I doubt seriously that any reasonable US President would do this. But, President Perry, Bachmann or Ryan???? Finally, shame on you for scaring Seniors with your lies. For some reason, I do not think your Daddy would be proud.
Michael H. Smith
August 19th, 2011
6:37 pm
Let’s see now, someone (namely barack hussein obumer) spends trillions of dollars to lose millions of jobs. hmm…
Oh liberals, were you guys saying something about stupid, incompetent, etc..?
!!!
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
August 19th, 2011
6:38 pm
Junior Samples: I guess lil’ barry doesn’t count killing people in two countries a sin.
——————–
It’s three countries now.
yuzeyurbrane
August 19th, 2011
6:39 pm
Linda, by the way, most of the facts I allude to can be found in the Annual Report of the Social Security Trustees or in the AARP’s rather large online library on this subject.
Michael H. Smith
August 19th, 2011
6:49 pm
It prudently invested its surplus into what was until recently the world’s safest investment, US Treasury Bonds and earned interest.
Okay, I want a piece of this action (even though you don’t use your “real name” publically out of FEAR probably) but let me give you one more opportunity to reconsider the statement I intent to challenge you on before I go after you on it. Just want to be very fair here, because once you re-read what you wrote in the above portion of your comment, that is if you know anything about investing, I’m sure you will NOT repeat it word for word?
Linda
August 19th, 2011
8:26 pm
yuzeyurbrane@6:36, There is NO surplus in the social security fund. There is NO money in the social security fund. There is NO social security fund. The fed. govt. has borrowed every single cent from the SS fund & spent it. Right now the SS fund is nothing more an accounts payable item on the books of the Treasury. The unfunded liability is $15.2 TRILLION.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
The bonds are backed by the “full faith & credit” of the US govt., which has an obligation to repay its debt, but TIMES HAVE CHANGED! S&P & the largest Chinese credit rating agency has downgraded the credit of the US govt., i.e. our ability to repay our debts. Others are on our backs. The US govt. has an unsustainable debt with no PLAN to reduce the deficit NOR the debt, both of which will continue to increase for YEARS. Geitner threatened that the fed. govt. would default on the debt, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, veteran benefits & military pay 3 weeks ago. The “full faith & credit” of the fed. govt. depends on the whims of the legislature & president AND the economy.
SS did not “invest” in govt. bonds. Congress “took” the money & spent it, knowing full well for many years that it was jeopardizing the fund & seniors. SS is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme.
Another 10 yrs., huh? 2036, huh? Did you read what Geitner wrote? Would you like his phone number? When SS “redeems its bonds,” where in @#$% do you think the fed. govt. will get the cash? From the ATM?
We cancelled all ties with AARP. I even told them what they could to do with the tote bags they tried to bribe us with. We believe the AARP no longer has the best interests of seniors in mind.
I bet you also believe in man made global warming. Bless your heart.
Linda
August 19th, 2011
8:28 pm
Michael@6:49, It’s your turn. Have at it.
BTW, did you read my 4:13?
Claude
August 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
The “more than 200 years” figure isn’t correct. James Garfield did it in 1880, a mere 131 years ago.
yuzeyurbrane
August 19th, 2011
11:27 pm
Michael H. Smith, bring it on. You and Linda are quite a pair, repeating every talking point I have found on the Freedom Works (aka Teaparty) website. I guess since Linda hasn’t revealed her name either, she is a coward just like me. Actually, there is a good reason to remain anonymous—I don’t want to wake up with a cross burning on my front yard. So, terrorism works, as you Teapeople have proven. Here are a couple of other factoids for you to mock. Your average SS benefit is the equivalent of what 1 would get from a $460,000 annuity and it is much safer. Do you have U.S. Treasury Bonds in your retirement portfolio, either directly or as part of a mutual fund? Take a look. I’ll bet you do even if you don’t realize it. Despite all the Teapeople’s extremist efforts to rule or ruin, I have been pleasantly surprised that US Treasury Bonds are still the most sought security in the world because they are still considered extremely safe. Finally, Linda, I want to apologize for misguessing your age. I pegged you as a 40 something, but since you say you cut all your ties to the AARP, you are likely a Senior like me. Are you returning your socialist Social Security old age benefit?
Michael H. Smith
August 20th, 2011
12:08 am
yuzeyurbrane – I noticed you didn’t choose to reiterate your ridiculous post portion? Instead you go off into this infantile rant about talking points from Freedom Works which I don’t bother to read. I doubt the line about the cross people. You’re just chicken sh*t, that’s all.
Here is your very dumb statement once again.
It prudently invested its surplus into what was until recently the world’s safest investment, US Treasury Bonds and earned interest.
You consider the rate of return the government pays to social security accounts to be a “prudent investment”?!
You are absolutely NUTS to say social security money was prudently invested. The return on investment made by government to recipients is pathetic! A measly 2 or 3%!
Hell no I’m not returning one darn penny I paid into SS, if anything I want a better return on the money government poorly invested that paid me the kind of CRAP RETURN I’m going to get.
Prudently invested,your butt! You need professional help, mentally and fiscally.
Linda
August 20th, 2011
11:55 am
yuzeyurbrane, I realize your long rant @ 6:36 yesterday had little to do with Social Security & more to do with your feeble attempt to discredit me & depict me an a “damn liar.” My real name is Linda. My background might seem unusual to you, but it is God’s truth. You & I disagree on party platforms & issues, but that gives you no right to attack my personal background. My response to you @8:26 was respectful except the stab about global warming. Your comments are mean & personal. When you mentioned my deceased father, you crossed the line. People from all over the world read this blog. You do not further your agenda with personal attacks on women.
I’m on this blog for one reason. My husband & I have lived thru 12 presidents. The next election is not about merely electing another president. It is a vote on the type of life we want in the US. Do we want a European socialist government, the likes of which are causing cutbacks, riots & a recession all across Europe? Or, do we want to adhere to our Constitution & the Republican form of government it created? Do we want to be a dependent society/peons & rely on the govt. elites to dictate how we live? Or, do we want to be industrious & maintain our freedoms? If I can shed a ray of light about the issues, I have made a contribution.
The Report of the SS Trustees that you referred to states that the programs “are not sustainable.”
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/index.html
You need to open your mind. Start by reading the words of the agencies you cite. Question the motives of the other agency you cited. Look around you, man. This country is still in a recession. We are going in the wrong direction.
From now on, I would appreciate it if you just left me alone. Good luck to you.
yuzeyurbrane
August 20th, 2011
2:03 pm
Michael H. Smith, is that the best you can do? You had me shaking in my boots that you had some personal blackmail on me. But now we see who resorts to name-calling when they have lost an argument. I suggest that if your ideas cannot stand up to vigorous debate, you should not be on the blogs, unless you just enjoy reading regurgitated likeminded comments from rightwing extremists like yourself. Obviously, you are totally opposed to SS except when it comes to getting your own. Such a man of principle. I did not realize that by your rules if one does not repeat one’s position one has conceded. I believe what I said is accurate and see no need to repeat. Ask those who lost half the net worth of their 401(k)’s in 2008 whether US Treasury Bonds are a prudent investment. I assume you know of the risk/reward concept. The higher the risk, the greater the reward. Good for you if you want to make further investments in risky ventures. I hope they pay off for you. But for most people SS is just the basic safety net in their old age and they want it as secure as possible. Without SS, half of seniors would live in poverty, African-Americans and Hispanics even more. This was the norm in the 150 years before SS. Today, low income households over 65 rely on SS for 87% of their income; middle income (over $35,000) for 70%; and even upper income, 37%. Source: Center for Retirement Research, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2009. Many of these people would have no old age pension at all if left totally to their own initiative. Is that the society you want?
Linda
August 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
yuzeyurbrane, Your comment proves you did not read the site cited @ 5:11 yesterday. It also proves that you are unaware of many other alternatives to both SS & 401ks.
In 1980, Galveston County, Texas workers voted to opt out of SS. They have a plan with better benefits for retirement, survivorship & disability. It is risk-free & not subject to tax increases. It pays a higher return. Their benefits don’t end at death & can be passed on to family members. It has been a successful program for 31 years.
Congress (both Dems. & Reps.) don’t like programs like this because they can not “take” other people’s money & spend it & let future congresses worry about paying it back. It proves that Congress is concerned about control, not about the elderly.
The elderly should have a safety net, one that they cannot touch until they retire & one that govt. cannot spend.
yuzeyurbrane
August 20th, 2011
6:27 pm
Linda, you are sending me mixed messages. I thought you last told me to buzz off? Now you engage me in more debate? Anyway, I admire your spunk. By the way, there have been 13 Presidents in my lifetime.
Linda
August 20th, 2011
7:39 pm
yuzeyurbrane@6:27, I answered you because I didn’t think Michael would come back, & he didn’t. Just open your eyes, man, & while you are at it, open your heart.
Don’t be mean to me anymore, or to anyone.
S
August 21st, 2011
3:19 am
yuzeyurbrane..you said it just right..Is it any wonder that most thinking people of this country have become disillusioned with the Tea Party. These poor sheep have just been totally brainwashed and can’t seem to get past the radical talking points(lies) coming out of the talking heads (Republican/Tea Party Politicians) of the republican party. They don’t get it that the 112th Republican majority congress has been bought and paid for by the Corporate World/lobbyist and are no longer and actually never did work for us. You could say, the Tea Party sold out to the highest bidder, and that sure wasn’t the American People.