Politics is a Sport: Pre-Caucus Thread

[ICantSpellDawg]

Which one is the head of the liberal conspiracy? He/she/it gets my vote!

Clinton.

[Don Corleone]

I had to hop off the Romney bandwagon. One of the things I liked most about him was that he was playing to his own competency. But somepoint in the last 2 or 3 weeks, he started running attack ads against Huckabee in Iowa and McCain here in New Hampshire. Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy, and it lends credence to the criticism that he's a 'say anything' candidate.

I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell, mainly because he's running a campaign that all but says "Don't vote for me", but Fred's got my vote these days. I used to say anybody that wants the job should automatically be disqualified. He's as close to that as I've seen, and I like his policies for the most part. I do wish he'd consider the flat tax though.

[Odin]

I had to hop off the Romney bandwagon. One of the things I liked most about him was that he was playing to his own competency. But somepoint in the last 2 or 3 weeks, he started running attack ads against Huckabee in Iowa and McCain here in New Hampshire. Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy, and it lends credence to the criticism that he's a 'say anything' candidate.

I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell, mainly because he's running a campaign that all but says "Don't vote for me", but Fred's got my vote these days. I used to say anybody that wants the job should automatically be disqualified. He's as close to that as I've seen, and I like his policies for the most part. I do wish he'd consider the flat tax though.

To be honest Don I would have wagered you to be a McCain man myself (and I dont think he's such a bad choice). Romney is too polished, he is a CEO and CEO's make for poor presidents in democracies.

But Fred? I dont know Don it seems to me he came in with a lot of hype and pomp and circumstance and just went fizzle.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Romney rules, but I think he will lose tonight and then in NH. I hate Huckabee and I won't vote for him if he is the nominee.

I'l probably end up voting for Ron Paul when he eventually decides to run as a 3rd party (I hope). I mean C'mon. We're gonna lose this thing anyway we might as well show the country that we aren't all on board the global ship Unanimous. Screw Giuliani and Huckabee. I'd be more likely to vote for McCain than them.

[Don Corleone]

To be honest Don I would have wagered you to be a McCain man myself (and I dont think he's such a bad choice). Romney is too polished, he is a CEO and CEO's make for poor presidents in democracies.

But Fred? I dont know Don it seems to me he came in with a lot of hype and pomp and circumstance and just went fizzle.

I was a McCain man in 2000. But I cannot get past the immigration debacle and McCain-Feingold. Reading the tea-leaves behind these two policy stances, McCain has a fundamental lack of respect for the average citizen. There's no other way to interpret it. He doesn't believe you and I should be able to put our money together and run an ad that runs counter to what Ted Turner has decided CNN has to say today. And he doesn't think you or I have the right to keep people from breaking the law and then turning around and living off our our hard work (granting social security to illegal immigrants). Sorry, can't go there.

Plus, my family are all submarine guys, and McCain always votes against submarine appropriations. Just kidding on that last one.

As for Fred, well, as I see it there are five viable Republican candidates right now.

Giuliani: No right to self-defense. Believes in subsidized abortion through the late term. Sorry. I respect his honesty, but can't get past these two fundamental points.

McCain: See above.

Huckabee: A social conservative that may very well outspend Democrats. Somebody referred to Bloomburg as what Democrats 'used' to be. So is Huckabee. He's a populist that will buy votes and has no macro-economic common sense.

Romney: See above. I've got too many questions about his character in light of his latest ad campaigns.

That leaves Fred, by default. Remember my comment about Romney being the leper with the most fingers? Well, he lost two more over the holiday and Fred now holds the lead with me.

[Odin]

I was a McCain man in 2000. But I cannot get past the immigration debacle and McCain-Feingold. Reading the tea-leaves behind these two policy stances, McCain has a fundamental lack of respect for the average citizen. There's no other way to interpret it. He doesn't believe you and I should be able to put our money together and run an ad that runs counter to what Ted Turner has decided CNN has to say today. And he doesn't think you or I have the right to keep people from breaking the law and then turning around and living off our our hard work (granting social security to illegal immigrants). Sorry, can't go there.

Plus, my family are all submarine guys, and McCain always votes against submarine appropriations. Just kidding on that last one.

As for Fred, well, as I see it there are five viable Republican candidates right now.

Giuliani: No right to self-defense. Believes in subsidized abortion through the late term. Sorry. I respect his honesty, but can't get past these two fundamental points.

McCain: See above.

Huckabee: A social conservative that may very well outspend Democrats. Somebody referred to Bloomburg as what Democrats 'used' to be. So is Huckabee. He's a populist that will buy votes and has no macro-economic common sense.

Romney: See above. I've got too many questions about his character in light of his latest ad campaigns.

That leaves Fred, by default. Remember my comment about Romney being the leper with the most fingers? Well, he lost two more over the holiday and Fred now holds the lead with me.

Excellent summary Don. Yes McCain has egg on his face with his coloboration with Mr Feingold, wont argue that one. I know Romney, your spot on. Same with Rudy, how a gun control pro choice thrice married republican could ever hope for the nominee is beyond me.

Huckabee has no chance at outspending the current republican administration, heck they even expanded the federal government with an entire new cabinet level position. But yeah he is a populist.

Fred on the other hand is dreary, really he just dosent seem to set himself apart from anyone on any issue. For all the shortcomings you listed of the others, this makes them intriquing. Maybe Fred is the right guy, but I couldnt tell you because he has done little to inspire me to seek out his platform.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I liked Fred before.

If he can pull off a campaign in this style and win, the subsequent lateration of campaign spending and tactics would -- of itself -- be worth his election.

Here's hoping against polls.

[Xiahou]

But Fred? I dont know Don it seems to me he came in with a lot of hype and pomp and circumstance and just went fizzle.

According to himself, Thompson just plain doesn't like modern campaigning. I don't either.

I really hope Huckabee loses big in Iowa. He's an unelectable distraction. The sooner he goes away the better. I'm so sick of his "Well gosh, aint I a nice guy?" type response to virtually every criticism or policy question...

[Odin]

According to himself, Thompson just plain doesn't like modern campaigning. I don't either.

I really hope Huckabee loses big in Iowa. He's an unelectable distraction. The sooner he goes away the better. I'm so sick of his "Well gosh, aint I a nice guy?" type response to virtually every criticism or policy question...

Well Fred may not like it but he's lost just about all the momentum he had coming in. He was the front runner not to long ago and he hadnt even entered. Huckabee will win, he's a practicing christian, republicans swoon over that.

[Don Corleone]

You heard it here first. If Huckabee gets the nomination, I'm shredding my Republican party membership card, as it will be clear that my style of conservativism is no longer welcome. If elected, Huckabee would be disastrous for America. I'd vote for Hillary or Obama before I'd vote for him, because at least they have a guiding philosophy of government they believe in for all the spending and taxing (one I happen to disagree with, but it IS a theory). Huckabee just buys votes. He's a boss-hog character prettied up really well. And while I respect the man's devotion to his faith and years serving others as a minister, it has scant little bearing on his capabality to lead.

[Lemur]

Intrade is calling Huckabee/Obama. Actually, every trading market that bets on the process is calling that. Doesn't mean they're right, but it's worth noting.

-edit-

Looks like Ron Paul can always be President of Azeroth, assuming he doesn't become President of the United States.

[ICantSpellDawg]

You heard it here first. If Huckabee gets the nomination, I'm shredding my Republican party membership card, as it will be clear that my style of conservativism is no longer welcome. If elected, Huckabee would be disastrous for America. I'd vote for Hillary or Obama before I'd vote for him, because at least they have a guiding philosophy of government they believe in for all the spending and taxing (one I happen to disagree with, but it IS a theory). Huckabee just buys votes. He's a boss-hog character prettied up really well. And while I respect the man's devotion to his faith and years serving others as a minister, it has scant little bearing on his capabality to lead.

I agree 100%

Boss Hogs have no place on my ticket.

I was never a Republican to begin with, but Romney and Paul made me reconsider.