It's not really worth debating the future but you have to at least be aware that Obama is extremely popular, in spite of any missteps or hurdles. Maybe if you're surrounded by people who don't like Obama it's easy to forget just how many supporters he has? 25,000 people in Iowa (that's approximately the same number of people who voted for Romney) showed up to the Demacratic Caucus although Obama was running unopposed just to show their support for the campaign and sign up to volunteer.
Have you checked Obamas numbers recently? Like, in the last year and a half? He got a small bump for a week or so after the Bin Laden hit, then it went up in smoke over the near default. He got a bigger bump when the GOP decided to play chicken with the payroll tax holiday right before Christmas, but just because he managed to preserve that issue for another year (which was all that fight was ever about) does not mean he can ride it to victory.
The only thing Obama really has going for him is that the public hates the Tea Party House more than it hates him, but guess what: Mitt Romney has never been in Congress, and is stomping each of the Tea Party alternatives in turn. Gingrich (the only viable alternative) was not even felled by a scandal or highly public gaffe; Romney just money bombed IA until he could not hope to keep pace. He will keep outspending all challengers, because he can, and mouthing whatever people want to hear, like he has his whole career, until inevitably nominated. Unless Obama gets his act together we will all find out Romneys REAL beliefs after inauguration.
All I can say is "good luck;" the House can and will block any legislation he belatedly attempts, and Obama cannot smear Romney with that like he could Bachmann or Santorum. Meanwhile, Romney will stand aside, sadly shaking his head over the foolishness of DC insiders, and telling everyone how great he is with floundering economies. He will not mention it took tax hikes as governor of MA. He will not say he did it on Wall Street selling off companies whose stock he inflated by first selling their assets and firing their workers (after which they all went bankrupt because they no longer made anything, but Romney was long gone.) And when Obama tries to share those trivial details Romney will just shake his head sadly again at more of the divisive DC politics from which he is trying so hard to save America. *tear*
THAT is why there are no other serious GOP candidates: They know the party financiers and leaders picked the 2012 nominee in November of 2008.
Then again, people looking for an alternative to Romney are not going to consider Huntsman. They're too similar.
I don't care who wins the republican primary- I want the primary season to be drawn out, exciting, and very entertaining. Obama's going to win anyway, and the republican establishment knows it (especially after the Bin Laden kill). That's why it's a circus this year: no one with a serious chance is even trying.
I don't care who wins the republican primary- I want the primary season to be drawn out, exciting, and very entertaining. Obama's going to win anyway, and the republican establishment knows it (especially after the Bin Laden kill). That's why it's a circus this year: no one with a serious chance is even trying.
Have you checked Obamas numbers recently? Like, in the last year and a half? He got a small bump for a week or so after the Bin Laden hit, then it went up in smoke over the near default. He got a bigger bump when the GOP decided to play chicken with the payroll tax holiday right before Christmas, but just because he managed to preserve that issue for another year (which was all that fight was ever about) does not mean he can ride it to victory.
The only thing Obama really has going for him is that the public hates the Tea Party House more than it hates him, but guess what: Mitt Romney has never been in Congress, and is stomping each of the Tea Party alternatives in turn. Gingrich (the only viable alternative) was not even felled by a scandal or highly public gaffe; Romney just money bombed IA until he could not hope to keep pace. He will keep outspending all challengers, because he can, and mouthing whatever people want to hear, like he has his whole career, until inevitably nominated. Unless Obama gets his act together we will all find out Romneys REAL beliefs after inauguration.
All I can say is "good luck;" the House can and will block any legislation he belatedly attempts, and Obama cannot smear Romney with that like he could Bachmann or Santorum. Meanwhile, Romney will stand aside, sadly shaking his head over the foolishness of DC insiders, and telling everyone how great he is with floundering economies. He will not mention it took tax hikes as governor of MA. He will not say he did it on Wall Street selling off companies whose stock he inflated by first selling their assets and firing their workers (after which they all went bankrupt because they no longer made anything, but Romney was long gone.) And when Obama tries to share those trivial details Romney will just shake his head sadly again at more of the divisive DC politics from which he is trying so hard to save America. *tear*
THAT is why there are no other serious GOP candidates: They know the party financiers and leaders picked the 2012 nominee in November of 2008.
This message last edited by Vivien on 09/01/2012 at 08:57:11 PM
Santorum is #2 in Iowa
- 04/01/2012 01:24:13 PM
1742 Views
would you stop using that word? It is gross. *NM*
- 04/01/2012 01:48:45 PM
568 Views
What's your word for it? *NM*
- 04/01/2012 03:43:44 PM
523 Views
Well, there's nothing wrong with Santoruming in the privacy of one's home.
- 04/01/2012 02:35:56 PM
1059 Views
yeah that it so funny
- 04/01/2012 03:05:59 PM
929 Views
he kind of brought it on himself by being so decidedly anti-gay that it pissed lots of people off
- 04/01/2012 04:36:39 PM
972 Views
maybe the gays brought all the gay bashing on themselves
- 05/01/2012 03:18:15 PM
1169 Views
Civility is a social contract
- 05/01/2012 04:39:46 PM
935 Views
so now that the gays have broken that contract they are fair game?
- 05/01/2012 06:37:52 PM
688 Views
Re: so now that the gays have broken that contract they are fair game?
- 06/01/2012 05:29:49 PM
943 Views
So is it OK if just insult the gays who are politically active and push their agenda?
- 06/01/2012 06:16:30 PM
972 Views
If you call them out by name for hypocrisy, then sure.
- 10/01/2012 05:22:34 PM
996 Views
yes but once you have thrown out all civil decency why start getting nuanced?
- 11/01/2012 09:09:13 PM
911 Views
Actually, your response was expected
- 04/01/2012 10:08:33 PM
1026 Views
do you still pretend that it isn't political?
- 05/01/2012 03:14:25 PM
861 Views
I'm sorry
- 05/01/2012 03:52:57 PM
968 Views
funny how it always woks out that way
- 05/01/2012 06:44:55 PM
771 Views
Believe what you will, but my wok skills are poor 
- 05/01/2012 07:32:17 PM
931 Views
- 05/01/2012 07:32:17 PM
931 Views
You should ask one of the gays to help you. I hear the gays are good at cooking. *NM*
- 06/01/2012 01:54:21 AM
612 Views
Santorum is a man who believes you must compare homosexual love to bestiality and pedophilia
- 05/01/2012 04:42:26 AM
938 Views
and Savage is a Man who believes that vulgar personal attacks
- 05/01/2012 03:12:42 PM
1085 Views
Why should a person tolerate intolerance? (Serious question.) *NM*
- 05/01/2012 08:46:05 PM
644 Views
The question boils down to why should someone tolerate what they think is wrong.
- 05/01/2012 10:53:40 PM
903 Views
and when santorum tells you that your lifestyle is worse than pedophilia and bestiality?
- 06/01/2012 03:34:52 AM
857 Views
To be fair...
- 06/01/2012 05:32:31 AM
1001 Views
You are correct
- 06/01/2012 01:21:18 PM
1054 Views
Then it seems like it's a problem of definitions more than anything else.
- 06/01/2012 09:48:49 PM
962 Views
Following the logic to its bitter end. Why do I do this to myself???
- 06/01/2012 10:14:01 PM
1022 Views
Following the logic to its bitter end. Why do I do this to myself???
- 06/01/2012 10:14:01 PM
1022 Views
Those are really not equivalent.
- 06/01/2012 04:18:37 PM
818 Views
Re: Those are really not equivalent.
- 06/01/2012 10:27:11 PM
949 Views
I don't like your definition of tolerance and you're not consistent with it anyway.
- 07/01/2012 01:49:05 AM
982 Views
In case you were curious, I really disagree with your understanding of tolerance. *NM*
- 09/01/2012 08:24:45 PM
599 Views
I find myself agreeing with you recently
So at this point, most of the candidates had a moment at the top. Kind of awesome.
- 05/01/2012 11:22:50 PM
926 Views
that is why Perry is staying in the race
- 06/01/2012 06:20:54 PM
897 Views
He should stay, they should all stay. Trump should get back into it and Palin should jump in too.
- 06/01/2012 07:00:52 PM
835 Views
It would be the joke of the year if Huntsman got a turn.
- 06/01/2012 10:59:36 PM
848 Views
Is he a bigger long shot than Santorum, though? Gingrich? Bachman? CAIN!?
- 07/01/2012 01:34:47 AM
947 Views
Yes, for the reason you state.
- 07/01/2012 03:04:39 PM
908 Views
I really do not agree.
- 09/01/2012 08:51:46 PM
935 Views
Like I said, check Obamas numbers any time in the last year and a half.
- 10/01/2012 11:41:47 AM
818 Views
More like everyone has had a moment running second to Romney.
- 07/01/2012 01:59:25 PM
833 Views
It's not a foregone conclusion yet.
- 07/01/2012 04:03:51 PM
949 Views
It kinda is; Paul cannot even win a majority of Republicans, let alone the country.
- 07/01/2012 09:09:07 PM
921 Views
Ironically, Paul has a better chance of winning the general election than the republican primary.
- 07/01/2012 10:14:07 PM
1009 Views
What's the likelihood of Paul running as an independent/3rd party if he doesn't get the GOP nod? *NM*
- 07/01/2012 10:21:23 PM
344 Views
Not very high, I think. He didn't try it last time either, and it would hand Obama the election. *NM*
- 08/01/2012 01:29:01 AM
463 Views
many states have laws that you cannot run 3rd party after being on the ballot for a party primary
- 08/01/2012 06:12:36 AM
1045 Views
Yes, he and Romney have that in common, but Pauls positions are (mostly) sincere.
- 10/01/2012 03:46:04 PM
1021 Views
give up the hope it is nothing more than a pipe dream
- 09/01/2012 02:57:03 PM
953 Views
All of the republican candidates are pipe dreams.
- 09/01/2012 08:56:57 PM
758 Views
I find Ron Paul absolutely infuriating.
- 09/01/2012 10:44:09 PM
1021 Views
Um...
- 10/01/2012 03:54:53 PM
855 Views
Paul is an equal opportunity infuriator, to borrow Vivien's word.
- 09/01/2012 10:56:57 PM
918 Views
The original santorum 2003 interview for those who want to know
- 07/01/2012 05:32:00 AM
1132 Views
And here is the 2002 op ed where he blamed liberalism causing the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
- 07/01/2012 05:36:39 AM
947 Views