Meet The Candidates: 2012 GOP Thread

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Agree on Palin. Too much of a long shot and she's got it pretty good right now. $ 12M in 2010 + $100K per speaking engagement....or run for POTUS with less than 10% chance win a $ 400k/yr. job with ridiculous stress.

She may not be the sharpest tack, but she's no fool either.

With no drastic change in the economy (particularly unemployment) or the state of foreign affairs, either Romney/MB or Perry/MB would be a strong ticket. I'm counting on Romney and adding $ 100 to my bank account.

Yeah i think Palin is too smart to run. She’s turned herself into a brand and part of that brand is acting foolish. She's making loot.

My preferred ticket is Romney Paul, and then Romney MB. At heart i think im a a little libertarianish but thats not what America needs right now. I heard David Kelly of jpmorgan compare the US debt debate and likewise economy to a fat man that needs to lose weight. A lot of people in the tea party just think you can cut spending and not raise revenues and that will right the ship. While I think we eventually need to dramatically cut spending and reduce taxes (particularly at the corporate level) you cant do it all at once after over indulging for the last 40+ years. A fat man still needs to eat, if you starve him youll end up killing him. I think Romney is the probably the most suited person of the 2 parties to lead the country into a healthier economic lifestyle through plans that are actually viable plus he will compromise when needed. Pair him up with a guy like Paul or girl like Bachmann and you plant the seeds for the Republican party to one day return to being fiscally conservative that so many have been calling for.

If Romney gets the presidential bid I think Paul, if willing, would make for a stronger ticket then Bachmann. He’s probably the smartest guy on stage and one of the most well spoken, he definitely knows more about politics then any other front runner, and he’s appealing to lot of different people. A lot of liberals like him and I see him taking votes away (a couple) from Obama, while Bachmann doesn’t take any. Evangelical Christens like him, although probably less then Bachmann. His main issues are his only issues; radical ideas like returning to the gold standard not raising the debt ceiling, although I think hes smart enough to promote these ideas I don’t think he dumb enough to employee any of them recklessly. I think his hardest sell to neo-conservatives is his foreign policy, which is why a lot of liberals like him.

Either way I think you have to pair Romney with a libertarian-esque candidate or youre going to take a significant shot at Romney’s chances. Bachmann and Paul are the main 2 contenders and Bachmann is easy to make fun of, question and take serious. Paul made be hard to take serious at times but he has more conviction than anyone else and makes damn good points to all his arguments. Romney needs to team up with someone that inspires votes and energizes Republicans, because he doesn’t by himself, Bachmann and Paul are probably the only 2 that would as VP’s. Paul may steal a few votes from some liberals while Bachmann might just motivate liberals to vote against her instead of just sitting this one out since Obama sold out on them.

Also ive been going back and forth all day with who id rather do; SP or MB. Im going with Palin today and Bachmann in her prime. Special points for Bachmann’s blue eye dark hair combo, my favorite combo on a chick.