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Yes, the proverbial LOW road,
guaranteed mediocrity,
equally dismal futures.
Who would/might be YOUR top FIVE picks?
Republicans
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) Ayotte, who is up for reelection in 2016, is already being discussed as a vice presidential pick.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) Tea Party favorite has said she might run again in 2016.
Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour Barbour is well liked by the GOP establishment and was included in a Republican National Committee straw poll in January.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)
Blackburn denied a report she is mulling a bid.
John Bolton The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is leaving the 2016 door open.
Scott Brown Brown is the underdog in his race against Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
Jeb Bush Bush fatigue would be a significant obstacle for the former Florida governor.
Herman Cain Jon Stewart prayed on the air that Cain would run again.
Ben Carson - Carson is a rising star in the GOP.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Bridge-gate hasnt deterred Christie, who sounds like hes going to be a candidate.
Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) Tea Party star must convince kingmakers that he can beat Clinton.
Mitch Daniels The ex-governor of Indiana decided against running in 2012 because of family concerns.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin The former House member is in the mix of speculation.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam He says hes not interested in running.
Newt Gingrich The 2012 presidential candidate and ex-Speaker might run again. Asked by Fox Newss Greta van Susteren about throwing his hat in the ring, Gingrich responded, Ask me that in January of 2015.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Haley is always mentioned as a possible candidate.
Mike Huckabee - Huckabees poll numbers are quite good.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal The former House member knows policy inside and out, but he would have to stand out amid the many personalities that will be on the 2016 stage.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich Will Kasich and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman both run? Regardless, Ohio is a must win for the GOP in 2016.
Rep. Pete King (N.Y.) A frequent critic of Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand Paul (Ky.).
Rep. Steve King (Iowa) A kingmaker in Iowa and a hard-liner on immigration.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez - The first female Hispanic governor is not expected to run for president. But she will be a leading vice presidential candidate.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) She has a bright future, though a presidential run in 2016 probably isnt in the cards.
Sarah Palin The RNC put her in its straw poll, but most think the former Alaska governor will remain on the sidelines.
Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) Paul, who is up for reelection in 2016, looks like a sure bet to run for president. Of all the possible 2016 GOP hopefuls, Paul has arguably had the best 2014.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Pence is a dark horse who shouldnt be overlooked. The former House member was Tea Party before the Tea Party existed and is well respected by social and fiscal conservatives.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry - Comebacks are common in politics, but can Perry pull it off? He has two things going for him: The border crisis has put him front and center on the national stage, and the right has rallied behind him in the wake of his indictment in Texas.
Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) Portman, who is up for reelection in 2016, is headed to New Hampshire next week.
Condoleezza Rice The former secretary of State routinely comes up in this conversation, but the chances of a Rice bid are remote.
Rep. Mike Rogers (Mich.) The retiring House member and soon-to-be talk-radio host hasnt ruled out a run.
Mitt Romney The rumors of another Romney run continue to persist.
Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) - Rubio will have to decide whether to run for president or reelection in 2016. As he said, you cant be on the ballot for two different offices in Florida.
Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) He seems more intent on becoming Ways and Means Committee chairman than running for president.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval Its more likely that Sandoval would challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2016.
Rick Santorum - The former Pennsylvania senator is being overlooked in the 2016 race. He did, after all, win the Iowa caucus in 2012.
Joe Scarborough The host of MSNBCs Morning Joe is certainly eyeing a return to public office. Will it come sooner or later?
Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) He probably wont run but will be discussed as a possible No. 2 on the ticket.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder He faces a challenging reelection race in November.
Sen. John Thune (S.D.) Thune nearly ran in 2012, and he has more than $9.5 million in his campaign war chest.
Donald Trump Trump might run, but dont bet on it.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Walker first has to win reelection this year.
Allen West The former congressman from Florida is mulling a bid.
a two tiered system
Well said. I wonder how long tax payers will continue to enable the administration. Maybe it is time to slow down work, earn less, take all legal deductions, lower your taxable income and spend less.
HARUMPH!
IF(Takers > Makers)
THEN America = null
Well said.
The ‘Progressives’ say that the views expressed in the article are extreme. But they are the core values this nation were built on.
Obama recently said the ‘center will not hold.’ Where is his center? Certainly he does not believe the welfare state is the center? He cannot be that ignorant of history.
You know, I was thinking about this in regard to the Brown case.
I would be considered a “have” and he would be considered a “have not”.
I went to work at 16 and have been employed mostly since that time (worked p/t and stayed home with kids some of that period) .
Brown was l8 and wasn’t working, he was out assaulting store owners and stealing.
I am considered a “have” because I worked all my life. He’s a “have not” because he didn’t want to work, he wanted to rap and steal.
Give(produce, create) and it shall be given unto you. Always demand that more be given to you and you will never have enough.
There’s your two Americas.
What he said!^^^^
Nailed it!
Excellent essay. I wish the GOP would take it to heart.
It's about PERSONAL irresponsibility, Bob. The people that do not take PERSONAL responsibility for their OWN lives and those of their FAMILY members are the real problem.
The so-called 'men' who will not raise their own children, but let the government provide for them are the focus of all that is wrong today.
The glorified 'single moms' with several children of different fathers do not care where the money comes from, and if there are no strings attached, then all the better for them.
The destruction of the black family as a cohesive unit creates generations of dependency that in turn creates even more of the same.
Increasing the allotment of money and other subsides only worsens the situation.
They system is not 'broken', it was developed to work that way, and it's doing a fine job.................
There are not two Americas, just one.
There is America and those that respect and enjoy her. Then there are those that don’t; who disrespect and hate her.
Two Americas, coming closer each day to proving the truth to Lincolns maxim that a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
We are already there and elections are not going to resolve this. There is going to be a resolution conflict in the next several years. We are one Bundy ranch away from the kickoff.