Posted on 12/03/2011 8:39:04 AM PST by TheRobb7
In the spirit of my last posting "Now That We've Crucified Every Candidate.... (Here's Your Chance FReeper Nation)" and due to the great discussion and fostering of ideas put forth by FReeperNation, here's some other ideas to bandy about as we close in on the Hawkeye Caucai (Rush's label):
1) What do you think are the chances of NONE of the candidates getting the magic number of delegates heading in to the convention in Tampa?
2) If that indeed happens, is it a good thing? Why or why not?
3) Finally, if it DOES happen, what ticket do you think will emerge from Tampa?
I put this to you, The Best Debate Society on Planet Earth.
>> The one thing that would possibly even the playing field a bit would be to have a National Primary Day, with no cross-over voting allowed. That would perhaps be a better solution to all the front-loading.>>
I think you’re close, but I think a better deal would be to have different states front loaded in each cycle so that no state or region becomes too important. The state of Iowa has simply gotten out of control with what is a cottage industry of literally blackmailing candidates into events up there. Folks don’t know it generally, but the Ames Straw Poll and all those other events in Iowa pour money into the coffers of the Iowa Republican Party (and Dem Party when they are in a contest too) and it’s all about Iowan’s getting money from all over the country.
Dirty little secret about all of that mess is the money, as if the stupid hamburger and pancake flipping weren’t bad enough.
And yet, I do think there’s a value in having the candidates having to meet folks on a retail basis for at least part of the process. Just not the same folks evry four years.
Well I hope you feel good about yourself now that you’ve established that you are above it all.
But tell me, when has anything been accomplished on a grand scale when those most responsible were not at least somewhat motivated by personal gain or fame or both? NEVER I suppose.
You know, its a little bit flimsy to claim to be a conservative economically and then worry about what is in it for folks who attempt certain things. Smacks of hypocrsiy.
But you shouldn’t mind. After all, we now know you are altruistic in motivation.
>> Here is some news, the Republican establishment isn’t all that powerful. If a good, solid, charismatic candidate without glaring problems or gaping policy ignorance rises up and is supported by a majority of Republicans, there is absolutely nothing the “establishment” could do to stop that person. >>
Whew. For a while, I’ve thought I was the only one who realized this!
Having some core beliefs and a knowledge of how to get things done is just as important. George Bush had lots of executive experience but other than being anti-islamic, he had no core beliefs. He caved to the Dems on prescription drug coverage, allowed spending to get out of control, failed to rein in Fannie and Freddie, etc.
Ryan isn’t seeking the office, even though many encouraged him to run. That is exactly the kind of person we need.
I have been hoping for a brokered convention.
I hope someone like DeMint.. OR Alan West OR Palin throw their hats in the ring on the second ballot. Not all of them, we’d probably get Romney if we split it too much.
That goes without saying, but having zero experience in running a large, hierarchical organization (as a president) is a recipe for mediocrity at best, and total disaster at worst.
I bet Newt Gingrich understands it!
Maybe you want to read up on the founders of our Country. Many risked, and lost, a great deal personally. Washington himself was a reluctant candidate for president, gained nothing personally from it, and then went home to continue his life as a citizen, not a celebrity.
Money and support flows to that candidate and makes it hard for another candidate to overtake the front-runner. The also-rans sputter out somewhere in the middle of the primary season. If something different happens this year it would be out of the ordinary and unexpected.
There'd be more chance of a brokered convention if there were someone who was obviously presidential material who wasn't in the race, a Grant or an Eisenhower. Palin? Probably not, but if there is a brokered convention, all bets are off.
Cain.
Newt, Perry, or Bachmann. Newt is the least reliable IMO, but he's ahead (flavor of the month?) and I think he could beat Obama. I think Newt is more reliable than slippery Romney.
I wish Perry would quit shooting himself in the foot. Bachmann seems lost.
OK, now that I've thought through this thing in type, here's where I come out:
(last couple of minutes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca5RIREYIuU&feature=related
Why Sarah?
My family. I don't want them hurt.
We want you Sarah. Sarah, you're hurt!
I'm OK. You go home and grow strong and straight and take care of this country.
We've got things for you to do.
America wants you. I know she does.
SARAH!
SAARRRAAHHH!
COME BAAAAACK!
That sounds good in theory, but I still remember what happened to Joe Miller.
>> Maybe you want to read up on the founders of our Country. Many risked, and lost, a great deal personally. Washington himself was a reluctant candidate for president, gained nothing personally from it, and then went home to continue his life as a citizen, not a celebrity. >>
They did indeed RISK their lives and fortunes, but not for certain defeat and not in sacrifice. They risked it knowing that if they were successful, they would be part of changing history and in the end would create a society where they could get their fortunes back. And thats A GOOD THING.
That’s where people get misled - there is nothing wrong with wanting fame and/ or fortune when you successfully do something great - especially if you risked fortunes that you had made earlier.
That’s all good, but it’s not the same as altruism in its purest sense. These men, just like the planners and participants in D Day - knew full well that they were on the precipice of history and that is a large part of what fueled them - and that’s a GOOD thing. But it still did fuel them and to deny it is to deny human nature.
As to Washington, he was a man of very unusual character regarding fame. We was not averse to personal wealth however.
You've proven you didn't even read my post if you think I have a 'rosy view of reality,' but your completely bizarre insult makes you exhibit A in my discussion of the kind of mindset that's destroying this place. Thanks for participating.
Is it possible to stage a write-in campaign for the iowa caucus? Does anyone know what the rules are for write-in votes for Iowa caucuses?
One has to show up in person at the right caucus location. Qualified attendees may name *anyone* they want in the straw vote preference poll, which is phoned in to a party headquarters. But that has to be followed up by sub-caucusing with a group large enough to send a delegate pledged to that candidate to the county and state conventions held later.
Governors tend to win Presidential elections... and be more effective Presidents than Congressmen.
So it’d probably need to be the other way round.
(Though, I’d rather see Rubio as the VP from Florida.)
Well, if it happens... you can be d@#n sure that there will be a *LOT* of horse-trading, a ton of favors being called in, and plenty of promises made as to what the candidate will do in return should they become the nominee and win the Presidency.
That, and I wouldn’t be suprised to see outright bribery as well.
Geez, you sound like someone at a revival shouting “Save me, Jesus!” with your cry for Palin to come riding in on a white horse and save you.
Get up off your knees and help save yourself and save the country.
I laughed at the Democrats in 2008, when they acted as if Obama was their savior, who’s merest presence would heal the nation’s wounds, lower the sea levels, cure Gaia of her “Global Warming”, etc, etc, *vomit*.
And now I’m crying because, in 2012, we are doing the exact same thing; search for our ‘savior’ to come riding in, like a knight in shining armor... to heal our nation’s ills, expurge Obama’s taint, and to make everything all better again.
“Help us, Obi-Wan Palinobi. You’re our only hope!”
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