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Debate: Who Are Your Top Five Republican Choices for President 2012
Pundit Press ^ | 9/17/10 | Aurelius

Posted on 09/17/2010 9:40:18 AM PDT by rightistight

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To: rightistight

David Petraeus? Does anyone know where he stands on any particular issue?


21 posted on 09/17/2010 10:13:42 AM PDT by upsdriver (The revolution begins on Nov. 2 to take back our country. The American people vs the ruling elite.)
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To: BuffaloJack

I like Paladino. I donated to him, before and after his primary win (and I live in Texas...donating to a yankee was tough!!).

I really like Allen West, and I donated to him both in 2008 and this year.

Still, I don’t think either are the right choice for a Palin VP. I think it needs to be somebody who is less in the spotlight this cycle. That probably won’t happen...they’ll probably force a squish to ‘balance’ out the ticket, but that is a mistake.

We need a strong conservative who is not currently up for election, and not currently in Washington. I really like Jindal, but they’ll refuse to consider another new governor.

Jan Brewer would work, but they’ll also like somebody with international experience.

Condi Rice could be a great choice...somebody like that.


22 posted on 09/17/2010 10:17:01 AM PDT by TexasGunRunner (Spay or neuter your pet coons, especially the bearded marxist variety!)
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To: rightistight
My top 5 choices:

1. Jim DeMint - Strong across the conservative board. Clearly is taking charge of the rebellion within the Senate. Willing to take risks to further the conservative cause, but usually comes out stronger for it.

2. Mike Pence - Sharp, aggressive and well-tuned conservative Rep.

3. Sarah Palin - Strong conservative, absolutely fearless. The most charismatic of all in my book.. someone who can fill stadiums.

4. Michele Bachmann - Like Palin, a fearless, powerful conservative voice, a very sharp political infighter.

5. Paul Ryan - Brilliant mind, especially on fiscal issues. Very analytical and thoughtful in the arguments. Doesn't let emotion take hold.

The Reserve Bench (looking to the future):

1. Bobby Jindal -- Brilliant, absolutely shines especially in a crisis. Still quite young at 38; wisely building executive experience. Bombed in speech in 2009, but was hamstrung by glowing adoration for 0bama at the time.

2. Chris Christie -- Has said he's not interested in the Presidency, but his kick-ass approach is a plus in my book. Maybe after a term as NJ's governor and a drop of some 100 pounds, he may show some interest in running after all. I need better insights into his social stances, but on fiscal matters, he's formidable.

3. Bob McDonnell -- as Governor of VA, has done a stalwart job of bringing the fiscal situation under control. He pushed for, and got, a lot of needed budget cuts. A good leader, and a deceptively great presence. He could position himself for 2016 if he so desires.

Not making the cut:

1. Tim Pawlenty -- always late in coming around to an issue. Comes across as a weak-kneed, finger-in-the-wind politician. Aside from the fact he's bought into Globull Warming, it's somewhat hard to tell exactly what he stands for.

2. Mike Huckabee -- has a few strong points, but is weak on immigration issues... also the fact he early-released that murderer tells me he's too much of a bleeding heart.

3. Mitt Romney -- Strong presence, but comes across as untrustworthy, as he's flip-flopped on several issues. His Mormon religion is a turn-off to many.

4. Newt Gingrich -- Though he's a "no," his presence in the primary debates will force his GOP competitors to bring their "A" game. He's a brilliant strategic thinker, but has wayyyyyy too much baggage and tendency to "reach to the other side."

5. George Pataki Uh, no. To liberal.. a history of a gun grabber.

6. Jeb Bush Has a few upsides, but... no more Bushes. Been there and done it.. twice.

23 posted on 09/17/2010 10:17:03 AM PDT by ScottinVA (The West needs to act NOW to aggressively treat its metastasizing islaminoma!)
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To: ansel12
Barbour has joined with Mitch Daniels in calling for us to drop social conservatism, he will attract a lot of the moderate crowd that can’t stomach Romney, or at least that don’t want to fight the Romney baggage at this stage.

Unless Barbour makes it clear that he supports life and will protect the traditional family, he can take a hike. What, we should vote for him because he's kind to oil companies? Please!

24 posted on 09/17/2010 10:17:11 AM PDT by Walts Ice Pick
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To: exit82

Let’s not kid ourselves. Palin.

There can be nobody else. She’s got more balls than the rest of that group combined.


25 posted on 09/17/2010 10:17:12 AM PDT by ObamaMustGo2012 (Obama Must Go In 2012)
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To: OldDeckHand

You mention “experience” twice in your post, but after AKA Obama, that should never matter anymore. Ever!


26 posted on 09/17/2010 10:20:40 AM PDT by ObamaMustGo2012 (Obama Must Go In 2012)
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To: OldDeckHand

You mention “experience” twice in your post, but after AKA Obama, that should never matter anymore. Ever!


27 posted on 09/17/2010 10:20:53 AM PDT by ObamaMustGo2012 (Obama Must Go In 2012)
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To: ScottinVA

6. Jeb Bush Has a few upsides, but... no more Bushes. Been there and done it.. twice.

I agree with most of your analysis and points. Jeb would be a great choice for a VP. Proven, conservative, not in office, not from DC. As shallow as it is, I just can't get past his name, and I doubt anybody else can either. I think he came to the same conclusion, which is why he has removed himself from consideration.

I really like DeMint, but we need somebody from outside DC. He is the least corrupted, but we need somebody from the outside.

28 posted on 09/17/2010 10:22:08 AM PDT by TexasGunRunner (Spay or neuter your pet coons, especially the bearded marxist variety!)
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To: ScottinVA

Adding to my earlier list. I’m not interested in Mitch Daniels or Haley Barbour. Asking for a “truce” on anything with the Left is tantamount to a surrender.


29 posted on 09/17/2010 10:25:20 AM PDT by ScottinVA (The West needs to act NOW to aggressively treat its metastasizing islaminoma!)
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To: rightistight

While there is much to commend Petraeus, the problem is ( assumign that he wanted to run ) that he’d have to resign from the Army by year’s end, and he would be portrayed as quitting and abandoning the troops in Afghanistan..


30 posted on 09/17/2010 10:26:14 AM PDT by ken5050 (The meek shall inherit the earth, but no way Kendrick Meek beats Marco Rubio)
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To: Walts Ice Pick

From http://www.gop12.com/2010/09/barbour-sympathizes-with-truce.html

When asked about comments by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, that said the GOP should call a “truce on the so-called social issues” to focus on fiscal matters, Barbour said he supported the sentiment.

A candidate’s stance on abortion “ain’t going to change anybody’s vote this year,” he said.

So what will?

More Barbour:

“.... if somebody goes to campaign for governor candidate x, I would hope that somebody would stay focused on the issues that matter to the campaign: jobs, the economy, taxes, spending, debt, deficits,” Barbour continued.

“You run down rabbit trails, you’re wasting— you’re using up valuable resources that could be used to talk to people about what they care about.”


31 posted on 09/17/2010 10:26:17 AM PDT by ansel12 ([fear of Islam.] Once you are paralyzed by fear of Mohammedanism...you have lost the battle.)
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To: rightistight
Rephrase the question - Who Are Your Top Five Viable Republican Choices for President 2012? - and the answer is most likely None of the Above.

Petraeus could be viable in the future, but wouldn't it be something more than tacky to campaign while you are leading a war? Worse yet would be to give up his post - incidentally, one of the many things that will doom Palin. And she, like Romney or Huckabee or Bush, have to answer for their long time away from elected office. Romney has way too much explaining to do, period!

A governor is most likely, so perhaps Pawlenty or Christie, though the former's lack of fire has been noted.
32 posted on 09/17/2010 10:29:58 AM PDT by Egregious Philbin
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To: ScottinVA

MY LIST EXACTLY...
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON!


33 posted on 09/17/2010 10:31:34 AM PDT by DefeatCorruption
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To: rightistight

Romney needs to just go away.


34 posted on 09/17/2010 10:31:48 AM PDT by b4its2late (Ignorance allows liberalism to prosper.)
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To: upsdriver
Not really, General Patraeus is an empty vessel into which people can pour their own impressions and ideology.

The first campaign for public office shouldn't be for President. Let him run for Governor or Senator first, win, govern and/or legislate; and then we can see.

35 posted on 09/17/2010 10:31:52 AM PDT by allmendream (Income is EARNED not distributed. So how could it be re-distributed?)
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To: ObamaMustGo2012
"You mention “experience” twice in your post, but after AKA Obama, that should never matter anymore. Ever!"

That's an interesting point of view. You think because America selected a President who had and only less than 3-years of state-wide office experience, they're going to ignore experience again, even after they've become fairly disenchanted with Obama?

Do you really think that's likely? Or, do you think that experience is probably going to play a much bigger part in the decision making process of the general electorate?

36 posted on 09/17/2010 10:32:32 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: rightistight

I actually kinda like Herman Cain.


37 posted on 09/17/2010 10:36:33 AM PDT by 68stanger (If you are interested in time travel, meet me last Thursday)
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To: ansel12
"Barbour has joined with Mitch Daniels in calling for us to drop social conservatism"

Whew, could you take him more out of context if someone paid you to do it?

This is EXACTLY what he said at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

"I'll put my bonafides up against anybody as a social conservative," he added, noting that as governor, Mississippi was voted the safest state in the country for an unborn child. "But that ain't going to change anybody's vote this year because people are concerned about job, the economy, growth and taxes... you are using up valuable time and resources that can be used to talk to people about what they care about."

emphasis added

Do you disagree with that statement? To quote Mr.s Carville and Begala, it's the economy stupid. That's ALL Barbour was saying.

38 posted on 09/17/2010 10:38:41 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: rightistight

palin/bolton all the way


39 posted on 09/17/2010 10:39:37 AM PDT by chicken head
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To: allmendream

I don’t mind a person outside government running for president, in fact, I would applaud them. I do want to know their beliefs before I support them, however. As far as serving in the Senate goes, once a person becomes enmeshed “inside the beltway”, they become tarnished in my eyes. I would prefer a successful governor or business owner from outside the cesspool of Washington.


40 posted on 09/17/2010 10:40:19 AM PDT by upsdriver (The revolution begins on Nov. 2 to take back our country. The American people vs the ruling elite.)
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