Thursday, March 18, 2010

Our Nominee for 2012

First of all, I won't be discussing Sam Brownback, Ron Paul, or any other candidate that simply has no chance of getting the nomination... At least for now. They may have better ideas or may be the best people, but my two main concerns are acceptability and electability. If their names appear here, they are acceptable to a conservative such as me. Their electability will be discussed and graded on a 5 star scale.

Newt Gingrich **
No one is more articulate or capable as a proponent of conservatism. But he is not terribly likable and has character issues concerning divorce and a sick wife.

Mike Huckabee *
Can't warm up to the guy that was instrumental in securing the 2008 nomination for John McCain. I believe he may get the nomination, but America will not elect a folksy former Baptist minister to the presidency.

Bobby Jindal *
I suspect this is one competent dude. But until I'm convinced he can give a speech, I don't think he is electable.

Sarah Palin **
I love Governor Palin. Anytime a backwoods mom with a mediocre education rises to be the nation's most popular governor, it's reason to stand up and cheer. But I am yet to be convinced that she can be elected president. She has time to change minds, but the Left did a great job destroying her, and if she had been a stronger candidate, they wouldn't have succeeded.

Mitt Romney **
This was "My Guy" in the 2008 primaries. But he is Mormon, which is a problem for some of the base. And besides, if you don't have the charisma to beat John McCain and thwart Mike Huckabee... Can you beat Barack Obama?

Tim Pawlenty ***
Who? Pawlenty is a very likable conservative who was elected governor of Minnesota, a very blue state. He is "awe shucks" Lincolnesque. I'm not convinced that he can separate himself from the Republican Pack, but he may be the least lampoonable candidate in a nation-wide election.

The landscape will change dramatically in the next twelve months and I hope to do this again regularly.

And the future?

Paul Ryan *****
Conservative, Catholic... Imagine a smart JFK with morals.

Marco Rubio *****
Just tell me where to send my check.

Eric Cantor ****
Don't know enough about him, but from what I've seen...

....
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5 comments:

Grammy said...

Good assessment. An interesting thing about presidential candidates is that relative unknowns can rise unexpectedly and over-run the ususal suspects if they are articulate and have charisma (Barak Obama case in point). I would add our dearly beloved Jim DeMint as a dark horse. He is awesome!

3/18/2010 9:47 AM
SkyePuppy said...

Newt is too much a part of the party machine. He supported hard left with an "R" Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election and only admitted his mistake after the overwhelming lack of support from rank and file Republicans forced her to withdraw from the race (and endorse the Democrat!).

Newt's a tool. He talks right most of the time, but you can't count on him.

I've heard Bobby Jindal when he's been interviewed on the talk shows, and he's fabulous! I don't know what happened to him with that national GOP response speech. Once he perks up his speechifying, he's going to be a force to reckon with.

One more thing. Ron Paul is a Libertarian with an "R". I used to be that L-word for a time, and you do NOT want one in office. Isolationist. Drug legalization. Pro-abortion. (Just to name a few.)

3/18/2010 10:32 AM
Christina said...

I tell you what, I want someone like Mike Pence or Paul Ryan. They aren't afraid to speak up and take the tough stands. I am so sick of the current republican party.

I don't understand why almost no one is willing to take a stand against, well, much of anything this president proposes. He's just a man, people. Grow a backbone! (And yes, I'm mad.)

3/19/2010 10:08 AM
Christina said...

Oh and I don't want Newt, Huckabee or Romney. Maybe that's me looking for the "perfect" candidate, but I'm sick of just "good enough" because all that leaves us with is good for nothing.

And now, I'm done....I think.

3/19/2010 10:10 AM
Tsofah said...

Love Bobby Jindal.

Cantor or Huckabee would make good VP candidates.

3/19/2010 6:06 PM

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