How a Republican can -easily- win...

[Bogie]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to outline my platform for my administration after I'm elected. The prime focus is the economy. ONLY the economy. Grow business, grow jobs, grow our nation. So I pledge to not do ANYTHING that involves gay marriage, abortion, or any of that other crap. NOTHING BUT THE ECONOMY. If I do a good job with that stuff, then we can tackle all the other issues during my second term. Thank you."

[charby]

...and my 1st executive order will be to end Homeland Security"

[birdman]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to outline my platform for my administration after I'm elected. The prime focus is the economy. ONLY the economy. Grow business, grow jobs, grow our nation. So I pledge to not do ANYTHING that involves gay marriage, abortion, or any of that other crap. NOTHING BUT THE ECONOMY. If I do a good job with that stuff, then we can tackle all the other issues during my second term. Thank you."

Awesome...can I vote twice?  Please? What if I'm homeless or in college? :)

[TechMan]

Awesome...can I vote twice?  Please? What if I'm homeless or in college? :)

birdman, you can only vote twice if you a D after your name and are voting for a person with a D after his/her name.  You may also vote twice if you are taking a dirt nap, but only for the latter of the above condition.

[birdman]

birdman, you can only vote twice if you a D after your name and are voting for a person with a D after his/her name.  You may also vote twice if you are taking a dirt nap, but only for the latter of the above condition.

Crap.  What if I pay a ton of taxes...do I get to be fairly represented?  Others get to vote twice.

[AZRedhawk44]

Even better:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to outline my platform for my administration after I'm elected. The prime focus is the economy. ONLY the economy. Grow business, grow jobs, grow our nation. I will do this by REDUCING the scope of government involvement in business restrictions.  Government will SHRINK under my administration.  So I pledge to not do ANYTHING that involves gay marriage, abortion, or any of that other crap. NOTHING BUT THE ECONOMY. If I do a good job with that stuff, then we can tackle all the other issues during my second term. Thank you."

[Balog]

A candidate who was serious and explicit about his desire to shrink entitlements and cut fed.gov would draw out the eaters and .gov employees by the millions.

[grampster]

Can I be Secretary of the Treasury?   I will provide you with 2 lbs of thick cut bacon a week during your term as compensation for the appointment.

[Bogie]

Wright bacon? It's like meat candy.

[Perd Hapley]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to outline my platform for my administration after I'm elected. The prime focus is the economy. ONLY the economy. Grow business, grow jobs, grow our nation. So I pledge to not do ANYTHING that involves gay marriage, abortion, or any of that other crap. NOTHING BUT THE ECONOMY. If I do a good job with that stuff, then we can tackle all the other issues during my second term. Thank you."

Yawn. Same old fallacy we keep hearing from you. This refusal to take a stand on social issues would be suicidal. The social issues can draw small-government social conservatives to the polls like crazy (see the 2004 election). Waffling on social issues alienates a huge chunk of the Tea Party base. (Of course the Tea Party is not a social issue movement, but many of its members are socially conservative.)

Any Republican who wants to win will promise to shrink govt (as AZRedhawk suggested) and never let himself be caught compromising on the social conservative side. That being said, I agree that the economy will probably be the most important issue. But a politician can shrink govt. and stay socially conservative at the same time.

[RoadKingLarry]

Wright bacon? It's like meat candy.

2nd best bacon available, 1st is what I raise myself

As to a winning GOP platform? In reality there isn't one and we will likely end up with Romney on the ticket iwth a weak sister tea party wanna be for a the VP slot. I think I'd rather see Obama ge a 2nd term than that. at least then we'd have a better chance at a real re-start.

[TommyGunn]

. I think I'd rather see Obama ge a 2nd term than that. at least then we'd have a better chance at a real re-start.

NO! NO! NO! NO!  A zillion times NO!

Geeesh....even PeeWee Herman would be better.  Heck, Darth Vader would be an IMPROVEMENT.

[Jim147]

The government should leave all social issues alone.

If we ever get an American party, I might vote for that.

jim

Hey charby, Palin wants to stay in your hood for a few nights.

[makattak]

NO! NO! NO! NO!  A zillion times NO!

Geeesh....even PeeWee Herman would be better.  Heck, Darth Vader would be an IMPROVEMENT.

Darth Vader might actually be an improvement, yes. I don't think he could collapse the system any faster, but at least he'd run it efficiently into the ground.

Otherwise, Obama IS better than a moderate go-along-to-get-along Republican. That type of Republican will only slow our decent into the abyss, ensuring that conservatives are blamed for the collapse.

If we are to collapse, I want liberals clearly at fault. Otherwise, the rebuilding will be impossible.

Thus, unless we get a REAL conservative for the Republicans, I would prefer Obama win and complete his destruction of this nation.

[AZRedhawk44]

2nd best bacon available, 1st is what I raise myself

As to a winning GOP platform? In reality there isn't one and we will likely end up with Romney on the ticket iwth a weak sister tea party wanna be for a the VP slot. I think I'd rather see Obama ge a 2nd term than that. at least then we'd have a better chance at a real re-start.

Much like mccain palin.

Yep.

Rather let the dems get the policy lose on record when it goes dow the tubes due to either socialism or socialism-lite.

At least then we reboot on a field based from competition.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Otherwise, Obama IS better than a moderate go-along-to-get-along Republican. That type of Republican will only slow our decent into the abyss, ensuring that conservatives are blamed for the collapse.

Obama, with the republicans owning House and Senate, would be great. Because the Republicans only stand up to big government when the other party's president is in charge. With a McCain type, they would happily screw us in unison.

[French G.]

Wright Bacon ends and pieces. 3 Lbs, $6 lots of good thick non-fatty pieces of meat in there.

[RoadKingLarry]

Darth Vader might actually be an improvement, yes. I don't think he could collapse the system any faster, but at least he'd run it efficiently into the ground.

Otherwise, Obama IS better than a moderate go-along-to-get-along Republican. That type of Republican will only slow our decent into the abyss, ensuring that conservatives are blamed for the collapse.

If we are to collapse, I want liberals clearly at fault. Otherwise, the rebuilding will be impossible.

Thus, unless we get a REAL conservative for the Republicans, I would prefer Obama win and complete his destruction of this nation.

Exactly my point. We're gonna auger in one way or another with out real conservative reform. Just as well get it over with sooner rather than later.

[Ron]

If we crash and burn now, there are enough folks who understand libertarian/classical liberal economics to help put the ship aright.

20 years from now our educational system will have finally purged any understanding of those principles from the publics consciousness. It will be an even more impossible task to get back to our founding principles.

I'll still vote for the guy/gal who will help turn the ship of state the right direction but I have very little expectation things will get better.

[makattak]

If we crash and burn now, there are enough folks who understand libertarian/classical liberal economics to help put the ship aright.

20 years from now our educational system will have finally purged any understanding of those principles from the publics consciousness. It will be an even more impossible task to get back to our founding principles.

I'll still vote for the guy/gal who will help turn the ship of state the right direction but I have very little expectation things will get better.

There's also a little matter of:

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."

I don't want to push dealing with the collapse of the entitlement state off to my children. Either I will vote for someone who will reform, reduce, and (note that's not an "or")repeal it or I want the Democrats to go full speed ahead and crash it.

[Jamisjockey]

Prediction time.  If, and I mean If the Republicants can make this election all about jobs and only about jobs, I predict Perry will get the nomination and possibly win. 
However.  Perry's mannerisims are a lot like GWB.  Alot.  Expect a new level of dirty politics.
Of course, the GOP usually can't resist wandering into social conservatisim, and Perry is defintely a social conservative.  Expect much pandering to the (R) base....

[seeker_two]

However.  Perry's mannerisims are a lot like GWB.  Alot.  Expect a new level of dirty politics.

This...but with one exception. Perry is the Texas version of Bill Clinton....he can sound good to whomever he's talking to at the time....social conservatives, business leaders, Tea Party, RHINO's, etc.....he's a master at target marketing.

The problem I have with Perry is that he brings a lot of baggage with him into the race, such as:

1. Approving an illegal income tax: http://www.kutnews.org/post/suit-alleges-perry-approved-unconstitutional-income-tax

2. Controversy with the Texas Enterprise Fund: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/report-texas-enterprise-fund-falls-short-on-jobs-904912.html, http://info.tpj.org/watchyourassets/enterprise2/index

3. Selling Texas-built roads to foreign companies: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/perrys-toll-road-sins-mostly-in-woulda-coulda-193585.html

4. Using state funds to bring Formula 1 Racing to Austin, and charges of bribery on the F1 head: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/8648669/Formula-One-chief-executive-Bernie-Ecclestone-formally-accused-of-paying-bribe.html, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/texas-teacher-layoffs_n_860447.html

5. Wishy-washy illegal alien policies: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/rick-perrys-immigration-journey-could-haunt-presidential-race.php, http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/rick-perrys-immigration-journey-could-haunt-presidential-race.php

6. Massive cuts to education in Texas while other business-related projects remain untouched: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7465134.html, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015476534_perry01.html, http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=43525

Perry's been good at letting his policy controversies slide off his back in Texas....but I don't think he'll be as successful in the national media. And I'd rather see him get trounced in the GOP primary by a good candidate than to win the Repub nomination and get blasted by all of this in the general election....and guarantee Obama a second go at gutting our nation....   

[Perd Hapley]

Prediction time.  If, and I mean If the Republicants can make this election all about jobs and only about jobs, I predict Perry will get the nomination and possibly win. 
However.  Perry's mannerisims are a lot like GWB.  Alot.  Expect a new level of dirty politics.
Of course, the GOP usually can't resist wandering into social conservatisim, and Perry is defintely a social conservative.  Expect much pandering to the (R) base....

"Pandering to the base" and "doing what the people legitimately demand" are often the same thing.

But when does the GOP "wander into social issues"? Isn't it usually the Left picking those battles?

[makattak]

"Pandering to the base" and "doing what the people legitimately demand" are often the same thing.

But when does the GOP "wander into social issues"? Isn't it usually the Left picking those battles?

Yes, but when conservatives play defense and not capitulate to the libertines, that's picking a fight!

[Jamisjockey]

"Pandering to the base" and "doing what the people legitimately demand" are often the same thing.

But when does the GOP "wander into social issues"? Isn't it usually the Left picking those battles?

Pandering to the base in this election cycle will be death.  The only way to get independants and (D)'s over is to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs.  On your second point, kind of.  I expect this election cycle to see the left trying to deflect the jobs discussion as much as possible and make it about gay marriage, etc.