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Best Early pick for Republicans in 2012

Who is the best choice for republicans in 2012


  • Total voters
    22

Redress

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Yes, it is way way early, but I have a fascination with elections, and this article got me thinking.

I got too many names, so assume there is an "other" option, and write in your choice. Let's kep this serious please, and not have a bunch of liberals pick who we want to run for an easy win for Obama. Who do you think would have the best chance against Obama, and, of course, why?

Edit: Poll options added.
 
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As someone who supported Obama in 2008 I would be most likely to vote for Romney (and I think a lot of democrats I know would too) as of now out of those who you listed.
 
I'm not voting for any republican or democrat unless s\he has a proven track-record of pragmatically pushing libertarian solutions at every opportunity. There's only one person who currently fits this description: Ron Paul.
 
Yes, it is way way early, but I have a fascination with elections, and this article got me thinking.

I got too many names, so assume there is an "other" option, and write in your choice. Let's kep this serious please, and not have a bunch of liberals pick who we want to run for an easy win for Obama. Who do you think would have the best chance against Obama, and, of course, why?

Edit: Poll options added.

Aww, I was so eager to respond to this thread until I saw that you were interested in who had the best chance at winning, rather than who was the best candidate.
 
Which has the best chance of winning? Patraeus, hands down. Too bad he has no chance of actually running.
 
Petraeus would have the best chance of winning if he ran, but I doubt that he would. Romney is probably the way to go for the GOP.
 
Personally, I think that none of these candidates stands a chance in a general election against Obama. I don't see how Romney or Huckabee distinguished themselves as anything different than neo-cons, which the American people fundamentally rejected in 2008. I think the majority of the people are becoming dissatisfied with Obama's radical leftist agenda, but may again view him as the "lesser of two evils" (which is a ridiculously stupid way to select a candidate, but I digress). The only Republican who would stand a chance in a general election would be Ron Paul, but based on policies alone. I think that Paul's reputation as a gawky, eccentric nerd and perhaps his ugly history of racist statements would derail his candidacy. However, I believe that if Paul's ideas were exposed to the media in the same manner as other Republican and Democratic candidates, the American people would be in support of them. The problem becomes that there is no other candidate even close to Paul in ideology that can run under the Republican ticket. There are several (Peter Schiff, Ron's son Rand Paul, etc.) that would be intriguing candidates down the line, but they are seeking election to the Senate in 2010 and could hardly be taken seriously with 2 years experience in government by 2012. That being said, I think it doesn't matter who the Republicans run in 2012, unless they fundamentally shift ideology (particularly foreign policy), they have no shot and Obama will be a 2 term president.
 
Personally, I think that none of these candidates stands a chance in a general election against Obama. I don't see how Romney or Huckabee distinguished themselves as anything different than neo-cons, which the American people fundamentally rejected in 2008. I think the majority of the people are becoming dissatisfied with Obama's radical leftist agenda, but may again view him as the "lesser of two evils" (which is a ridiculously stupid way to select a candidate, but I digress). The only Republican who would stand a chance in a general election would be Ron Paul, but based on policies alone. I think that Paul's reputation as a gawky, eccentric nerd and perhaps his ugly history of racist statements would derail his candidacy. However, I believe that if Paul's ideas were exposed to the media in the same manner as other Republican and Democratic candidates, the American people would be in support of them. The problem becomes that there is no other candidate even close to Paul in ideology that can run under the Republican ticket. There are several (Peter Schiff, Ron's son Rand Paul, etc.) that would be intriguing candidates down the line, but they are seeking election to the Senate in 2010 and could hardly be taken seriously with 2 years experience in government by 2012. That being said, I think it doesn't matter who the Republicans run in 2012, unless they fundamentally shift ideology (particularly foreign policy), they have no shot and Obama will be a 2 term president.

I think that the pendulum will swing back soon enough. I doubt that Ron Paul stands a cold chance in Hell
 
I think that the pendulum will swing back soon enough. I doubt that Ron Paul stands a cold chance in Hell

It probably will swing back, but I'm not sure people will eagerly accept another neo-con administration who promises armed conflict with Iran, an agressive stance towards Russia and China, and a continuation of the Patriot Act (although Obama did renew it, he campaigned against it). I'm not so sure that is going to get the job done. I would consider Romney and Huckabee to be the early favorites, and I didn't quite see how their administration would differ significantly from the Bush administration. And I highly doubt the American people would want another Bush administration.

I won't dispute you on Ron Paul. But I don't think it's because of his ideas, I think it's the messenger. He has no chance, but I think his ideas do. If someone else could arise who is perhaps more "presidential", I think that platform would win a general election. However, it won't happen in 2012. Maybe in 2016, after Obama's 2nd term, the Republicans will admit their platform sucks and change their ideology.
 
I'm not voting for any republican or democrat unless s\he has a proven track-record of pragmatically pushing libertarian solutions at every opportunity. There's only one person who currently fits this description: Ron Paul.

See you in the funny papers.
 
Ron Paul has a greater influence on history by losing than McBama has by winning. They don't make a single significant decision, they are actors playing a role. Ron Paul is his own man. He will be remembered thousands of years from now as one of the first visible libertarian politicians, just like Socrates is remembered to this day while that generation of the ruling politicians in Athens is not.
 
Ron Paul has a greater influence on history by losing than McBama has by winning. They don't make a single significant decision, they are actors playing a role. Ron Paul is his own man. He will be remembered thousands of years from now as one of the first visible libertarian politicians, just like Socrates is remembered to this day while that generation of the ruling politicians in Athens is not.


....and people called Obama supporters a cult.....
 
A cult of personality is when you agree with someone uncritically and give them power over your life. It is very well documented that I have always been critical of Ron Paul on a number of issues (ex. I support phasing out all limits to immigration, etc). Furthermore, I support Ron Paul precisely because his intention is to reduce the power that the cult of the state currently has over my (and everyone else's) life!
 
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Which has the best chance of winning? Patraeus, hands down. Too bad he has no chance of actually running.

I disagree about Petraeus. Candidates who have no experience in politics generally make lousy candidates IMO. Look at the lackluster performance of Wesley Clark.
 
A cult of personality is when you agree with someone uncritically and give them power over your life. It is very well documented that I have always been critical of Ron Paul on a number of issues (ex. I support phasing out all limits to immigration, etc). Furthermore, I support Ron Paul precisely because his intention is to reduce the power that the cult of the state currently has over my (and everyone else's) life!

You just compared Ron Paul to Socrates. :lol:
 
I disagree about Petraeus. Candidates who have no experience in politics generally make lousy candidates IMO. Look at the lackluster performance of Wesley Clark.

Not to mention his views aren't widely known or if he's even a Republican.

But then again, someone who hand picked a guy like retired Lt Col. John A. Nagl as part of his brain trust can't be all bad.
 
Ron Paul? If he weren't so lazy, he could fund his own campaign. He should stop trying to steal the voters' hard-earned money and pull himself up by his bootstraps.
 
A cult of personality is when you agree with someone uncritically and give them power over your life. It is very well documented that I have always been critical of Ron Paul on a number of issues (ex. I support phasing out all limits to immigration, etc). Furthermore, I support Ron Paul precisely because his intention is to reduce the power that the cult of the state currently has over my (and everyone else's) life!

A cult of personality is when you agree with someone uncritically and give them power over your life. It is very well documented that I have always been critical of Neo on a number of issues (ex. I support phasing out all human machine interaction, etc). Furthermore, I support Neo precisely because his intention is to reduce the power that the machines currently have over my (and everyone else's) life!

A cult of personality is when you agree with someone uncritically and give them power over your life. It is very well documented that I have always been critical of Jesus on a number of issues (ex. I support phasing out all involvement with believers of Jebus etc). Furthermore, I support Jesus precisely because his intention is to reduce the power that the false Gods currently have over my (and everyone else's) life!

Ron Paul. The One.
 
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The only libertarian politician who has been elected to U.S. congress. That's a fact.

He's only pretending to be a republican. He ran as a Libertarian in 1988.
 
The only libertarian politician who has been elected to U.S. congress. That's a fact.

He's only pretending to be a republican. He ran as a Libertarian in 1988.

...and therefore he'll be remembered thousands of years from now. Just like Socrates. :lol:
 
...and therefore he'll be remembered thousands of years from now. Just like Socrates. :lol:

Yes. What other legacy from American politics do you think will be remembered several thousand years from now, after all the lies about Lincoln and FDR fail to withstand the test of history? Thomas Jefferson and Ron Paul. The Rise and Fall of the American Republic.
 
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