GOP 2012: The Hold Your Nose Tracker

Michelle Malkin.com ^ | October 17,2011 | Michelle Malkin

[Hojczyk]

Yes, I’m still struggling. Like many of you, I am still carefully weighing all the costs and benefits of each declared GOP candidate. As the candidates continue highlighting each other’s unsavory left-wing alliances, I thought it might be helpful to compile a Hold Your Nose Tracker of the current top four front-runners. I’m just giving it to you straight. One way or the other, the plugs will come in handy. This is the hand we’ve been dealt, alas. Same as it ever was. (Flashback February 2008: The John McCain Nose Plugs.)

[CMAC51]

Michelle discounts Cain on two points. His support for Greenspan nd his support for Tarp. She is painting with a very broad brush.

Cain always indicates he supported what Greenspan did in the early 90's. That is not when the credit bubble was created. In the early 90's Greenspans policy was to set interest rates on the basis of commodity prices. It was sound policy at the time and he should have stuck with it.

Cain supported Tarp as it was proposed, federal backing of toxic paper with the paper holders paying a premium to develop an insurance base. It was later that it transformed into a federal give away. Supporting the original proposal does not mean supporting the ghastly mess it became.

The devil is always in the details.

[brownsfan]

I wish there were a way to find out WHY a candidate wants to be president.

Of the two most viable GOP candidates:

I suspect that Romney wants to be president they same way a team wants to win a championship. It’s a destination, a goal, a prize, not a beginning.

My impression is that Cain wants to be president because he honestly believes he can put things right.

Huge difference. That said, I’ll be shocked if Romney isn’t the nominee.

[MrB]

Unfortunately, due to human nature, it’s a matter of course that anyone who seeks power shouldn’t be allowed to have it.

[Daveinyork]

I won’t be holding my nose and voting for a big government liberal Republican this time. When the only choice is between a fast or a slow handbasket, I’m opting out and letting the handbasket go as it will, and preparing for the end.

I heard Paul on CNBC today, and his interview is available here: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000051786

I thought he did an excellent job, and while I think his foreign policy is whacko, his domestic proposals, such as closing about five cabinet departments, make more sense than anyone else’s. And, we need to right our own ship, or we won’t be able to afford to defend ourselves, or anyone else.

However, I don’t think he can get the nomination, and if he did, I don’t think he would win, but I maybe underestimating the American people. I’d love to be proven wrong there. That said, Santorum, Cain, or Bachmann would be acceptible. Romney, Gingrich and Perry would even get through my nose clip. So, if they are nominated, I’m staying home this time. My nose is sore from being clipped while going into the polling place to vote for Republican big government liberals.

[brownsfan]

“Unfortunately, due to human nature, it’s a matter of course that anyone who seeks power shouldn’t be allowed to have it.”

You couldn’t be more correct.

[Slings and Arrows]

If Romney gets it, Zer0 wins. G-d help us all.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I have held my nose every 4 years since Reagan. I keep voting for the Hold your Nose Candidate though because the alternative is so much worse. In 2012, I would vote for Mickey Mouse if he could beat Obama.

[Designer]

Hey, Michelle: Why not look beyond the so-called “front-runners”? I mean you have credence with most Republicans, so just come on out and endorse somebody. They’ll listen to you.

[Designer]

Dave; I think it is something like the history of this country, and the fact that it has been perverted over the past hundred years in the public shool system, and now almost nobody who has a public school education knows anything about our history.

Same thing with our current foreign policy.

[Matchett-PI]

bttt

[brownsfan]

“If Romney gets it, Zer0 wins. G-d help us all.”

You’re looking from a very conservative perspective. When you consider independents and disaffected Democrats, Romney has an excellent chance in a general.

I would vote for a brick over Obama.

[setusfree]

Romney will be a disaster for conservatives.I think he will do very little to reverse the current policies if he gets in.Democrats get what they want and republicans get the blame.I don't see a better scenario for the DEMS.

[EternalVigilance]

I have held my nose every 4 years since Reagan. I keep voting for the Hold your Nose Candidate though because the alternative is so much worse. In 2012, I would vote for Mickey Mouse if he could beat Obama.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

-- Albert Einstein

[GBA]

Paul can be tough to support. As soon as I admit to myself that, of all the candidates, his overall philosophy is the most Constitutional, he'll say something, usually about foreign policy, that makes me cringe.

On the other hand, the world would be a different place if we were less involved and more inclined to leave countries alone and let them solve their own problems.

Meddling is very expensive and we remind me of someone preaching about how we need to clean up the environment, when they can't take care of their own yard or keep their house clean.

I like Rand Paul better. I keep hoping Ron drops out and his son replaces him in the Primary race.

However the primary turns out, I'm not going to put myself through yet another "Vote riNO!" experience in 2012.

McCain finally broke me of that habit.

[NTHockey]

>>I won’t be holding my nose and voting for a big government liberal Republican this time. When the only choice is between a fast or a slow handbasket, I’m opting out and letting the handbasket go as it will, and preparing for the end.<<

That’s two of us. I’ve held my nose once too often. And I’m preparing for the worst as best I know how.

[righttackle44]

Based on the headline, I was going to disparage this writing. But then I saw it was written by Ms. Malkin. Disagree with arguably the best Conservative mind around? I can’t, and I won’t.

[Thomas Newton]

I have a plan to win the 2012 election.

I am going to legally change my name to “None of the Above.”

Thomas Newton

[Daveinyork]

I realize there is no perfect candidate, and we need to pick our battles and priorities. But, some are unacceptibly imperfect. If it’s not Cain, Paul, or Bachmann, I’m staying home.

One thought that I’ve had the makes Paul tolerable on foreign policy is that if the rest of the civilized world insists on committing suicide, then we need to save ourselves before we can save them, if saving them is something we want to do.

Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that the CBO reports that fiscal year 2011 just ended had record federal spending of $3.6 trillion, and a deficit of $1.298 trillion. That’s with an increase of 6.5% increase in federal revenue, including a whopping increase of 21.6% in income tax receipts.

Cuts? what cuts? Paul’s plan to cut five cabinet departments sounds better all the time.

[Astronaut]

My sentiments exactly. I dont want Romney or Cain, but I’ll vote happily for either if it gets rid of the Kenyan. Romney, Cain, or Perry could beat Obama in the general. The only thing that would hand Obama a victory is some idiot like Paul or Palin running as a 3rd party candidate.