[talaniman]

But Tom, who cares who the repubs run for president, righties always say ANYBODY is better so what's the big deal?

You guys CAN'T lose, right?

[tomder55]

This is the primaries. I don't have to settle for "anybody " yet.

[paraclete]

What a storm in a tea cup, newt or mitt or donald or... why don't you just have write in a candidate

[talaniman]

LOL, that would be something! Mickey Mouse ends up winning the primary with a write in vote!

[paraclete]

It's a plan!

[tomder55]

Mickey Mouse already occupies the highest office in the land .
The Trumps debate is down to 2 candidates... Newt and Santorum.. Bachmann dropped out yesterday. Now if only Santorum would drop out then Newt could debate himself.. He has enough contradictory posititions and is so full of himself that he could easily fill the time.

[speechlesstx]

I'm saying it now, Romney will be the guy. It will be over after New Hampshire. So who is going to be his running mate?

[tomder55]

Assuming you are correct (I can't make that call yet until I see how this recent Santorum surge goes )... then there are many good choices for Veep for Romney . He will need to balance the ticket with a conservative and someone who isn't from the Northeast( sorry Christie)

Bob McDowell of Va,
Bobby Jindal of La.
Marco Rubio of Fla.
Michelle Bachman
Haley Barbour of Miss. Who faces term limits this year.
Susana Martinez of NM.
John Kaisich of Ohio .

Paul Ryan Rep Wisconsin .
Thad McCotter Rep Michigan.

My guess would be McDowell or Kaisich. Virginia and Ohio are swing states.

Wild card... I keep hearing rumors about Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico .

[speechlesstx]

There's also speculation about Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio. I could be wrong on Romney, Santorum's surge seems to be for real. I Just don't know how long he can hold out.

[excon]

Hello again,

So, it's Mitt's turn, huh? I don't know WHY you do this to yourselves.. There's DOZENS of Republicans who could beat Obama. We've talked about 'em. But, Romney isn't one of them. Oh, he MIGHT win... But, how is he going to argue about Obamacare, when he's got Romneycare? And, that's the ONLY thing Republicans got.

Shades of Sharron Angle...

Let me see, two more Supreme Court appointments, and Citizens United is HISTORY!! Thank you, Republicans!

excon

[speechlesstx]

I don't think I've made any predictions until now so I haven't done anything to myself. I just think it's going to be Romney. You do remember of course that Obama and Clinton went at this a long time after weeding out the other 6, so it isn't just Republicans.

[tomder55]

It would be typical of the Repubics to pick someone like Romney . They like to select moderates that lose.

[talaniman]

Lol, that's only because the right wing hates everybody but the right wing. All the righties are fighting each other, even the book tour candidates, the closet moderate is the frontrunner, hollering conservative, and the smartest, most experienced and accomplished republican is never mentioned, Huntsman.

[tomder55]

I'm not willing to make a call until after Fla or even as late as Super Tues.
If the Ronulans infiltrate the Iowa caucus(s) and Paul takes Iowa then it will be wide open until the multi-state primary days.

I can see split decisions until at least Fla . Paul Iowa ;Romney NH ;maybe a tossup in SC with Gingrich and/or Santorum in play .
If Mittens takes Iowa I think his NH win will make him inevidible .

I shudder to think of the campaign with both the President and Romney staking claim as best managers of the new normal . Romney isn't change .He is a more efficient competent manager .

Yes this could come down to VEEPs . Rumors are still swirlling about Evita becoming 2nd fiddle or even Evan Bayh .
Obama needs to recapture the PUMA voters who he abandoned as "bitter clingers " .

My political prediction for 2012 (based on absolutely no inside information): Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden swap places. Biden becomes Secretary of State -- a position he's apparently coveted for years. And Hillary Clinton, Vice President.

So the Democratic ticket for 2012 is Obama-Clinton.

Why do I say this? Because Obama needs to stir the passions and enthusiasms of a Democratic base that's been disillusioned with his cave-ins to regressive Republicans. Hillary Clinton on the ticket can do that.

Moreover, the economy won't be in superb shape in the months leading up to Election Day. Indeed, if the European debt crisis grows worse and if China's economy continues to slow, there's a better than even chance we'll be back in a recession. Clinton would help deflect attention from the bad economy and put it on foreign policy, where she and Obama have shined.

The deal would also make Clinton the obvious Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 -- offering the Democrats a shot at twelve (or more) years in the White House, something the Republicans had with Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush but which the Democrats haven't had since FDR. Twelve years gives the party in power a chance to reshape the Supreme Court as well as put an indelible stamp on America.

Robert Reich blogging at huffingtonpost.com


One name I did not mention on my list for Romney is General Petraeus .

Will Paul defect and run a 3rd party challenge ( I can see all the white sheets already)? Will the N0 Labels tap into Bloomy's $$$$$$ and throw a name into the ring ?

[excon]

Will Paul defect and run a 3rd party challenge ( I can see all the white sheets already)? Will the N0 Labels tap into Bloomy's $$$$$$ and throw a name into the ring ?

Hello tom:

Yes..

Plus, Gary Johnson is now running as a Libertarian and Buddy Rhomer might be the Elect Party candidate. The Donald will threaten to run as usual, and Jeb Bush will jump in at the convention. But, the REAL 9th party candidate will be Sarah Palin.

It's looking good for Obama.

excon

[tomder55]

Lol, thats only because the right wing hates everybody but the right wing. All the righties are fighting each other, even the book tour candidates, the closet moderate is the frontrunner, hollering conservative, and the smartest, most experienced and accomplished republican is never mentioned, Huntsman.

Huntsman has done nothing to distinguish himself in the debates . I like him but if I went by his performance then he is...
Chicago - Mr. Cellophane - YouTube

[tomder55]

Palin won't run independent ;and if there is a serious draft Sarah movement... she could do to the nominee what the Swimmer did to Carter .

Question... will the Progressives run a late challenge to the President ? They isn't happy "campers" these days . They were in Iowa yesterday raising a ruckus over GITMO . If only the compliant press would cover the news... While they were freezing their hoofies in Iowa ,the Pesident played a 7 hr round of golf. Lol It's not like he has to go fish for his shanks .

[speechlesstx]

No Ex, I can pretty well guarantee Republicans will get behind the eventual nominee... which is going to be Mitt. And he's currently doing much better than Obama in polling and that's before we get behind our one guy.

[tomder55]

Going into tomorrows caucus(s) in Iowa the latest polling shows a virtual tie between Romney ,Paul and the surging Santorum .

Santorum's net favorability of 60/30 makes him easily the most popular candidate in the field. No one else's favorability exceeds 52%. He may also have more room to grow in the final 48 hours of the campaign than the other front runners: 14% of voters say he's their second choice to 11% for Romney and only 8% for Paul. Santorum's taken the lead with two key groups of Republican voters: with Tea Partiers he's at 23% to 18% for Gingrich, 16% for Paul, 15% for Bachmann, and only 12% for Romney. And with Evangelicals he's at 24% to 16% for Gingrich, and 15% for Paul and Romney.

Paul still has a very decent chance at winning on Tuesday- it just depends on whether his unusual coalition of young voters and non-Republicans really comes out to caucus. Among actual Republican voters Paul is tied for 3rd place with Gingrich at 17%, behind Romney's 21% and Santorum's 19%. But with independents and Democrats who plan to vote, which we peg at 24% of the electorate, Paul leads with 30% to just 14% each for Santorum and Romney.

Headed for a Photo Finish in Iowa - Public Policy Polling

When will the Republican learn to close their primaries to non-Republicans ? This infiltration and sabotage of the process is what leads to weak candidates .

[talaniman]

Especially when the candidates are weak to begin with.