Paging Conservatives: The 2012 Republican POTUS Candidates

[Direckshun]

This is a thread specifically for Republicans and conservatives on this forum.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the sense that just about every one of you really don't like Mitt Romney as a Presidential candidate against Obama. That may not be universally true of all of you folks, but I'd think it's true of much of you, if not nearly all of you.

At the same time, outside of the minority of you who were big on Ron Paul, Romney was unquestionably the best candidate for your party out of the primaries, was he not? At least among the people who were doing anything in the polls. Santorum led at one point, as did Michelle Bachmann but I think all the DC conservatives here hate both. I don't think a single one of you have an ounce of respect for Newt Gingrich or Herman Cain as POTUS candidates (my apologies if you actually do). And Rick Perry was... well, Rick Perry.

Yes, I know most of you would prefer almost all those folks to Obama, but that doesn't change the fact that this seemed like a particularly weak crop.

I am not a conservative or a Republican, but I think compared to previous primary fields for your party, this was a very weak cycle in terms of POTUS candidates.

My question is -- why do you think that is? Why do you think we had such a weak crop of POTUS candidates for your party?

Because right now, it really does seem like the GOP has a deeper bench of people that have Presidential timber than do the Democrats, who outside of Obama and Hillary Clinton, don't really have much of a bench at all. And yet... these candidates didn't seem to have their shit together.

I'm just interested in picking your brains. I'm not even remotely interested in debating or arguing, just wanted to see what your points of view on the subject might be.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Hoover

To understand why 2012 boasted a weak field of presidential candidates you must understand the influence of money in politics. Romney had either lined up most of the big money, or neutralized it. The people who would have backed a Chris Christie were already backing Romney. The only real money threat came from Rick Perry. The threat was significant, but the candidate himself was not. Romney was challenged on ideology by Santorum and Gingrich. Gingrich had a real shot but lacks focus. He could have put together a winning campaign but over thought his campaign every step of the way. Santorum didn't have squat for cash, but focused on the basics and proved to be tough opponent.

I'm of the belief that the 2016 field is basically set. In my opinion it is the strongest field of candidates Republicans have had in a while, and I'd bet money of them will be elected president.

hillary will be formidable. And Hispanics will put Texas in play.

The republicans don't need a better messenger, they need a new message.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

It doesn't help when everytime he shows his face on video it's either really good or really bad. I thought Romney did good on 60 minutes, horrible at rnc and really bad on the hidden camera.

Here's another clip of his "leadership skills"

My god this guy is a horrible candidate. He's been running for president his whole life, how can he stink at it so bad?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

My god this guy is a horrible candidate. He's been running for president his whole life, how can he stink at it so bad?

It's disappointing that so many of you Obama supporters are clearly more concerned with sizzle than with substance.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by patteeu

It's disappointing that so many of you Obama supporters are clearly more concerned with sizzle than with substance.

Substance?

What substance?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

You're so full of shit, that at this point all I can do is laugh (heartily I might add) at you.

I liken the rabid class warriors of the left with the rabble that fill the ranks of the radical islamists' armies except that your god is a secular god, big government. So much hate and envy.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Substance?

What substance?

Even if he didn't have a whole website filled with policy positions and two or three years worth of speeches talking about them, his track record as a leader and a man of accomplishment put the empty suit we have in the WH now to shame.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I liken the rabid class warriors of the left with the rabble that fill the ranks of the radical islamists' armies except that your god is a secular god, big government. So much hate and envy.

Yup.

Full of shit.

[DoucheMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'm of the belief that the 2016 field is basically set. In my opinion it is the strongest field of candidates Republicans have had in a while, and I'd bet money of them will be elected president.

Unless they change their entire social component by 2016, they'll continue to lose. And as their base continues to die, so to will the party.

[DoucheMcCloud]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Even if he didn't have a whole website filled with policy positions and two or three years worth of speeches talking about them, his track record as a leader and a man of accomplishment put the empty suit we have in the WH now to shame.

Bush fooled the country in 2000 and did again in 2004. Nixon had everyone believing he was a great president up until he wasn't. Reagan conveniently "forgot" information. Bush I left the country in a recession. Instead of focusing on the country, Republicans focused on a blowjob and spent $40 million on the Starr report.

That's quite a party.

[Bo's Pelini]

Originally Posted by Swanman

To me, it's almost a carbon copy of 2008 with McCain. I liked McCain. He was a moderate guy that was forced to run on the far right by the party. As a result, we have no real debate going on, just talking points being spewed by both sides.

A moderate would force real debate? Uh no. Barack Obama is Bob Dole.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

It doesn't help when everytime he shows his face on video it's either really good or really bad. I thought Romney did good on 60 minutes, horrible at rnc and really bad on the hidden camera.

Here's another clip of his "leadership skills"

Wow what a total tard.

[Aries Walker]

Originally Posted by FishingRod

I apologize for a semi hijack but the real lasting power of the POTUS is the appointment of judges. I’m too lazy to do the research this morning so, are any Supreme Court Judges likely to step down in the next 4 years due to age or health issues?

Kennedy, Scalia, Ginsberg, and Breyer are all in their mid- to late- 70's, so, although as far as I know none of them have mentioned any plans, any or all of them is possible. The rest of the court are Roberts, Thomas, and Alito (all conservative), and Sotomayor and Kagan (both liberal). The answer, then, is yes, there could be a major court swing this coming four years, one way or the other.

Which is why everyone here should vote, whichever way you lean, and the encourage - nay, compel - your friends and family to also vote.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I liken the rabid class warriors of the left with the rabble that fill the ranks of the radical islamists' armies except that your god is a secular god, big government. So much hate and envy.

A better comparison would be Cassel backers. Three + years into it and they still sing his praises even though he proves over and over he sucks.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Aries Walker

Kennedy, Scalia, Ginsberg, and Breyer are all in their mid- to late- 70's, so, although as far as I know none of them have mentioned any plans, any or all of them is possible. The rest of the court are Roberts, Thomas, and Alito (all conservative), and Sotomayor and Kagan (both liberal). The answer, then, is yes, there could be a major court swing this coming four years, one way or the other.

Which is why everyone here should vote, whichever way you lean, and the encourage - nay, compel - your friends and family to also vote.

The conservatives that ruled in favor of Obamacare? gotcha.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Bush fooled the country in 2000 and did again in 2004. Nixon had everyone believing he was a great president up until he wasn't. Reagan conveniently "forgot" information. Bush I left the country in a recession. Instead of focusing on the country, Republicans focused on a blowjob and spent $40 million on the Starr report.

That's quite a party.

Oh, well, I guess we might as well vote for the guy who has demonstrated incompetence both in foreign affairs and in facilitating an economic turnaround.

Any of those four guys would be far superior to the failure we have now. Even Jimmy Carter would be a close call.