Is it too soon to speculate on 2012 primaries?

[Balog]

I see all kinds of names being tossed around already. The usual suspects like Huckabee  and Romney  as well as seemingly every R governer in the union.

The way I see it, modern presidential campaigns start very far in advance of the actual election cycle, so we should be able to tell who's gearing up for a run by who is doing the most serious fund raising right now, right?

[Gowen]

The also-rans will try to get their name out early, but usually an unknown comes out and shines to get the nod.  It's early, that can get traction will and those that don't will drop.  I think that Huckabee's roll in sticking us with McCain will prove his undoing.

[Waitone]

First or second primary or caucus is critical to future fund raising.  Can't produce a win in the first few and it is over.  At least it used to be that way.  Budget realities may change how primaries are conducted.  Dick Morris thinks the republican primary will in essence be conducted on FOX in a series of debates.

We'll see.

[Boomhauer]

I'm hoping for Allen West. I like his style. Plus hearing the leftists, Dems, and the race pimps scream "Uncle Tom Race Traitor!", and generally getting their racism on (and there will be a few "slips" with the use of the N-word by that side, too) on national TV would be an interesting experience...

[MillCreek]

Doesn't Romney have the largest war chest right now?

[Monkeyleg]

Doesn't Romney have the largest war chest right now?

No, I think Palin does.

Oh. Wait. You meant money.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Yeah, it's too soon to tell anything.  Things won't begin to solidify until the summer and fall.

For now, just wait and watch.  And keep an open mind.

[TommyGunn]

No, I think Palin does.

Oh. Wait. You meant money.

[French G.]

I speculate that any viable candidate will be unelectable once all the own party flung poo settles. I speculate that a centrist will be picked and then people will stay home in apathy because "he ain't no different than Obama." Then I speculate that we will get the government we deserve, a 2nd term where re-election is not a concern. Well, not re-election as we normally think about it. Maybe the 2015 Supreme court will get rid of those pesky term limits by a 7-2 margin, with those last two bitter clingers Roberts and Thomas dissenting.

[AZRedhawk44]

Dingbat Huckabee has a new book out with a garish 100% red cover and backdrop.  Noticed it at Barnes & Noble today.  Resisted the urge to flip all the display copies backwards, like I used to do with any Michael Moore video I'd see at the video store.

[Perd Hapley]

Can someone refresh my memory on what's wrong with Huck?

My theory, not that I'm any good at calling these things, is that some of the better candidates will not want to run against Obama, just based on the strength of his '08 campaign. They'll prefer to wait until '16, when they can run against someone who's not Obama.

Of course, the smarter move might be to capitalize on the Tea Party groundswell soonest, and before the GOP House (and maybe by 2016 a GOP Senate) has a chance to stupid their party out of favor again.

Then again, I'm still not seeing a clear leader on our side, anyway. And I don't want another potential leader like Palin or Jindal to make the mistake of hitting the national spot light before they're ready for it.

[AZRedhawk44]

Can someone refresh my memory on what's wrong with Huck?

He's a populist.

He's a closet pro-union guy.

He's as two-faced as McCain.

He's all slick and no traction.

[TommyGunn]

Can someone refresh my memory on what's wrong with Huck?

My theory, not that I'm any good at calling these things, is that some of the better candidates will not want to run against Obama, just based on the strength of his '08 campaign. They'll prefer to wait until '16, when they can run against someone who's not Obama. ..........

I don't recall Obama's campaign in '08 being all that strong.  He blew it with his response to the "Joe the Plumber" matter and the Romanesque columns business with his nomination was overblown, tacky, arrogant and *****.
What I recall is a poplation tired of Bush, frightened of a horrible economic downturn, and eager to buy into a cheap campaign slogan ...."hope and change."

Of course, McCain's lackluster campaigning also came into play.  One moment .... there was ONE MOMENT where he was inspirational, the "will you work with me" imploration, which was spoken with a heartfulness that was very effective.  But it was one moment, a few seconds, and that just doesn't cut it.  Everything else was blahhhhh, who cares, I wanna be prez', blah blah. 
Having said that, I must admit some trepidation about who will run in '12.   Our best bet will be the economy will still stink (yeah that's a cheery prospect.. ..) or some international incident will occur that will highlight Obama's weak points.

Politics .....



.....And I wonder why I've neen depressed so much these past couple of years .....

[Perd Hapley]

I don't recall Obama's campaign in '08 being all that strong.  He blew it with his response to the "Joe the Plumber" matter and the Romanesque columns business with his nomination was overblown, tacky, arrogant and *****.
What I recall is a poplation tired of Bush, frightened of a horrible economic downturn, and eager to buy into a cheap campaign slogan ...."hope and change."

Of course, McCain's lackluster campaigning also came into play.  One moment .... there was ONE MOMENT where he was inspirational, the "will you work with me" imploration, which was spoken with a heartfulness that was very effective.  But it was one moment, a few seconds, and that just doesn't cut it.  Everything else was blahhhhh, who cares, I wanna be prez', blah blah. 

I feel the same way, but I also found his celebrated oratory skills unbearable. If I'm in the minority on one, maybe it's true of the other. Or to put it another way, I can't entirely dismiss his style of campaigning, even if it leaves me ice cold.

[KD5NRH]

Norris/Nugent all the way.

[Hutch]

Obama took down the Clinton Machine before being blessed with Bush/McCain/Palin as a general election opponent.  I don't presume to know enough about what it took to beat Hillary, but that was a much tougher struggle than the baby-seal-hunt general election.  Don't underestimate his team.

[Waitone]

Can someone refresh my memory on what's wrong with Huck?

Two points which haven't been made:  First, he's a musical instrument playing, small state southern governor who far more oily than need be. Didn't work out well last go'roud.  Second, even his political enemies say he is far too accommodating to ruling elites.

So let's put it in a nutshell.  Huckabee is a pseudo-populist who sucks up to the elite.  He is a relocated New England republican, a political combination we do not need.

[TommyGunn]

Obama took down the Clinton Machine before being blessed with Bush/McCain/Palin as a general election opponent.  I don't presume to know enough about what it took to beat Hillary, but that was a much tougher struggle than the baby-seal-hunt general election.  Don't underestimate his team.

You're right but this isn't really what I consider "true" campaigning; it's "behind-the-scenes" "cloak & dagger" stuff.  There's no doubt he did a good job via Clinton, however, that really involves having people with the know-how, where-withal and  *POWER*  to accomplish the dirty deeds.
How a candidate presents himself to the electorate is another matter.

[longeyes]

He's a populist.

He's a closet pro-union guy.

He's as two-faced as McCain.

He's all slick and no traction.

[Huckabee] And soft on illegal immigration (like most of them).

[longeyes]

A gray man in a gray suit with a gray middle-of-the-road pseudo-conservative posture is not going to win either the election or the hearts and minds of the Great Unbrainwashed.  If the GOP wants to have a future they're going to have to nominate someone who can really turn the nightmare around without pulling punches or relying on b.s.  There aren't too many out there who fit that bill far as I can see.  Col. West might be one.

[French G.]

Reply #8

I speculate that any viable candidate will be unelectable once all the own party flung poo settles.

Reply #9



Mmmm, psychic this one he is. Mmmm.  

Just having fun. I have already accepted that we will get a less than ideal candidate and Obama will probably get re-elected, most likely on the backs of Congress being a circus the next two years and he can point and say that the new republicans did it. As opposed to the circus that got us here. My handicapping is 1% chance of accidentally getting a good canditate, 70% chance of Obama defeating whoever gets nominated, 99% chance that Gore/Bush 2000 will look completely free and fair after this next one is over.

[Jocassee]

I have a friend who does consulting down in Columbia who says he has been working with Newt's people. Come to think of it I think Drudge said he was going to declare next week.

[RocketMan]

Newt, another unelectable candidate (should he actually get the nod).

[French G.]

Yep, folks on both sides have wagons of pre-positioned poo to fling at Newt. Sad, he's not exactly a dumb guy.

[RoadKingLarry]

2012
The stupid party will run the same ole establishment jackwagons they always do, the names may be different but that's the only change.
Obama will get relected, the "tea party" wave will fizzle and the dems will retake the house and make gains in the senate.
Then in December the world will end so no biggee.