The author is a Carly supporter. Isn’t that nice? Her record is one of getting pounded by Barbara Boxer, fired at HP, and being the female version of Mitt Romney. So...just say Carly can’t win, and you’ve pretty well summed it up.
If the issue is who actually has a chance to win, I’d put forward the names of Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Christie, Bush, Santorum, and Huckabee for discussion.
I am not saying they are all conservatives. We would have to be honest about Bush and Christie that they are not. Therefore, take them off the list.
Trump claims to have seen the light and become a conservative. That’s no different than Romney, so I’m willing to entertain the notion. Trump is also the only guy in the field who can self-finance without owing his decisions to some backroom daddy warbucks. That’s a strong calling card. Naysayers need to be honest, too. Trump has been the target of round-the-clock assaults from all media since his announcement, and that includes so-called conservative media. He has been the target of every debate moderator, nearly every other candidate, and even the liberal cardinals in the catholic church don’t like him, so he gets talked against at church. What this all means is that he has run a gauntlet that should be acknowledged. When all you know is getting punched, then you’ve either got to punch back or get knocked out. I LIKE that he’s a FIGHTER. He can buy enough air time to win, and he stands a decent chance of winning some purple states like New Jersey.
Cruz is not a personal wonk. Nor is he photogenic. He’s not going to be on GQ anytime soon, but he would intellectually dwarf any of the other candidates. He is the most solid conservative on the list, and he could hold his own in any debate. He has not been given a chance to speak in any debate so far. He is my first choice, and if he can hold on while the field narrows, then eventually they’ll not be able to shunt him off into some corner and ignore him. Can he win? It will be a tough pathway to victory, but the Christian conservatives will flock to support him. He could win.
Rubio has been an accepted conservative his entire political career until recently when he was hoodwinked on the comprehensive immigration bill. He was a young senator, and he should have known, and I’m sure he’s smart enough to have actually known, but I’m willing to forgive that gross error if it is between Rubio and Hillary/Biden/Sanders. I think he’d have Florida, and also great appeal in Ohio. I think he could win.
When all the conservatives were gone last go-around, Santorum was still standing. I was supporting him over Romney and still would. If the same thing transpires — which I seriously doubt — I would do the same thing if it were Santorum versus and of the liberal Republicans. Could he win? He would be competitive in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and social conservatives would not stay home. He’s not well funded. Again, a tough path to victory, but it is a possibility.
Huckabee has some serious appeal in flyover country and virtually none on the coasts. He looks country, sounds country, and speaks country. He also has made major missteps with immigration and social safety net. He is stellar on life, defense, natural family, and foreign affairs. If one assumes that the coastal states are lost anyway, then the big question becomes: could Huckabee win Ohio? I don’t think so. Huckabee should be taken from the list.
The real choices at this point are Trump, Cruz, and Rubio with Santorum if he somehow survives the primary process which I seriously doubt this time.
I saw Bobby Jindal last Saturday and he was terrific. I think he would sell if he had more face time. He’s got a great story and a track record. He moved ahead of Cruz in our book. So now it is Jindal, then Cruz, then ??
Scratch Rubio from that list. I will not vote for him after he did a 180 on Amnesty. He cannot be trusted.
Of course he is, but I think we are intelligent enough to make our own choices and don’t need anyone to tell us who to vote for. At least I don’t.
I am not saying they are all conservatives. We would have to be honest about Bush and Christie that they are not. Therefore, take them off the list.
I would pare down that field way further than Bush and Christie.
Trump claims to have seen the light and become a conservative. That’s no different than Romney [...]
There it is. There is no difference. And the reason is that in both cases, their electioneering does not match their record. One would be best served looking at Trump's long term record to winnow out his true position, and in that, one would find no Conservative conviction whatsoever - Just like Romney, indeed. In the end, I don't think he can win the general election. He will not win over the SOCON Christian Right, and that, in and of itself is his death knell. He has no military or foreign policy experience, so I think the DEFCONS will be looking elsewhere. He has no Constitutional chops, so the CIVLIB/Libertarians will have nothing to vote for. Even in his only stronghold, finance and business, serious FICONS do not like his methods any more than Romney's. To Wit: Trump is incapable of harnessing any of the Coservative factions, and will fail to loose the Conservative juggernaut. He may well win the nomination, but without the Conservatives, he cannot win the election... Exactly like Romney.
Cruz [...] would intellectually dwarf any of the other candidates. He is the most solid conservative on the list, and he could hold his own in any debate. He has not been given a chance to speak in any debate so far. He is my first choice, and if he can hold on while the field narrows, then eventually they’ll not be able to shunt him off into some corner and ignore him. Can he win? It will be a tough pathway to victory, but the Christian conservatives will flock to support him. He could win.
By and large, I agree. He can certainly carry the Christian Right, and that, along with his undeniable chops as a Constitutionalist and lawyer are his strong suit.But what does he offer the DEFCONS beyond an almost sure guarantee of obedience to the Constitution? And while he is book-learned in economics and foreign policy, his real-life experience is negligible. In that, he offers little to the FICONS either. Don't get me wrong - He can win over both the Military and the financial conservatives, because, while he doesn't have the specific experience they are looking for, he does have a long, long record of accomplishment, and generally falls well within the parameters of Conservative thought, even in those areas where he might otherwise be found lacking. He can rely and lean upon his record, as can we. There will be no surprise in Cruz's actions, and if there are, it can be readily believed that any such will fall toward our favor. For this reason, I consider Cruz to be the only option. I think he is the only one capable of leading the way for all Conservative factions, and I think he is the only one capable of waking the Conservative giant.
Rubio has been an accepted conservative his entire political career until recently when he was hoodwinked on the comprehensive immigration bill. He was a young senator, and he should have known, and I’m sure he’s smart enough to have actually known, but I’m willing to forgive that gross error if it is between Rubio and Hillary/Biden/Sanders. I think he’d have Florida, and also great appeal in Ohio. I think he could win.
i don't think he can overcome the Gang of 8 stuff. The immigration thing is huge, and he hasn't been considered trustworthy since. furthermore, he cannot win the Christian Right as a Roman Catholic, which makes him a non-starter as much as Trump. No Military experience, no Foreign Policy, no Business experience... Since his record is called into question, I don't think he stands a chance.
When all the conservatives were gone last go-around, Santorum was still standing. I was supporting him over Romney and still would.
While I probably could pull the lever for him, He will not win the Christian Right as a Catholic, and as such cannot win the general election. Sad, but true.
No one else, to include Trump, is Conservative. No one. I would gladly pull the lever for Cruz. I could pull the lever for Santorum. I might get talked into Rubio (though I doubt it), though I would have serious misgivings.
Except for that part about Rubio.