GOP 2016: Playbook's Top 5 most likely to win - Our 1st ranking of the Republican presidential race

The Politico ^ | February 15, 2015 | Mike Allen

[Baynative]

“And one of the most important roles for the men and women in this room is to look each candidate in the eye and say, ‘Don’t talk; show me.’

If you say you support liberty, show me where you stood up and fought it.

If you say you support religious liberty, show me where you stood up and fought for it.

If you say you oppose Obamacare, show me where you stood up and fought against it.

If you say you oppose the president’s unconstitutional executive amnesty, show me where you’ve stood up and fought.

If you say you support life and you support marriage, show me where you stood up and fought.

If you say you’ll stand up to the Washington establishment, the career politicians of both parties, that gave gotten us in this mess, show me where you stood up and fought.

If you say you oppose Common Core, show me where you where you stood up and fought.

And if you say you stand with our friend and ally, the Nation of Israel, show me where you stood up and fought.”

[laweeks]

I want to see a Cruz/West ticket . . . that’ll drive Gloria Allred crazy and make her start digging through garbage cans to find 3 or 4 women who’ll claim he patted them on the ass 30 years ago.

And, believe me, if our candidates becomes very strong, the Demorats will run a 3rd candidate to try to screw everything up.

[Baynative]

Pence was my man the last time. I don't know why he faded because it wasn't due to the usual media attacks.

But this time around I see no one standing as firm as Ted Cruz and the media's early animosity tells me I'm correct in my early judgement.

[Liz]

The best GOP candidate is Mike Pence. Check him out.

You got that right.

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LOOKS AND TALKS PRESIDENTIAL---has a record of winning.

>

Indiana Gov Mike Pence---dedicated pro-lifer.
As a US Cong/man, spoke at the March for Life.

PENCE ON IMMIGRATION---all the right moves: http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mike_Pence_Immigration.htm

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Gov Pence wants child immigrants sent home
nwitimes.com ^ | July 29, 2014 | Dan Carden / FR Posted by Tailgunner Joe

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wants the 245 unaccompanied child immigrants recently placed with Indiana relatives or sponsors sent back across the nation's southern border as soon as possible. In a letter sent Tuesday to President Barack Obama, the Republican said while he feels "deep compassion" for the children and believes they should be "treated humanely and with decency and respect," there is no place for them here. "Failure to expedite the return of unaccompanied children thwarts the rule of law and will only continue to send a distorted message that illegally crossing into America is without consequence," Pence said.

Pence demanded the president provide proof that Hoosier families the children have been placed with have legal immigration status and requested "real-time" updates when child immigrants are moved into or out of Indiana.

The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement currently provides monthly updates. The governor also bemoaned that Indiana will be required to educate and provide health care for the children until they leave. "States should not be asked by the federal government to deal with the consequences of a failed national immigration policy," Pence said.

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., said in a statement he shares Pence's concerns. "The best way to stop this humanitarian crisis is to reunite the children who have come to America with their families in their home countries," Coats said. "Doing so will deter more children from making the dangerous journey to the United States."

Indiana State Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford, went a step further. Steele claimed in a letter sent Tuesday to his southern Indiana constituents that Obama personally encouraged the flow of immigrant children and declared Indiana is unable and unwilling to assimilate them. "How far can you push a citizenry by increased taxation to pay for all these children before they revolt?" Steele asked.

Neither state nor federal taxes have increased due to this year's surge of unaccompanied child immigrants. In fact, Indiana's corporate income tax rate decreased 0.5 percent on July 1. A total of 30,340 unaccompanied child immigrants -- many fleeing horrific gang violence in Central America -- have been placed with U.S. relatives or sponsors through July 7, according to the federal refugee office. Just 0.8 percent have come to Indiana.

The refugee office said before a child is released, relatives and sponsors must verify their relationship with the immigrant child, pass a background check and in some cases a home study. All immigrant children receive pre-release vaccinations and medical screenings, and sponsors must agree to cooperate with all immigration proceedings. ####

[Lurkinanloomin]

There won’t be a Bush III. Jeb is the designated loser this time around, like Romney and McCain before him.

He already converted once to Catholic, I think.

[Liz]

A President Jeb Bush would continue the momentum and direction of the Obama Sultanate....... but Jeb is not yet a Moslem, I think. Perhaps he will convert?

ROTFLOL---good one.

[Baynative]

British betting odds for republican nomination 2/15/15

[Baynative]

Love is strange - "Not that there's anything wrong with that"

[Jim Noble]

His big unknown: actual voters

Oops.

[OrangeHoof]

You know a liberal site is going to diss Cruz’ accomplishments. He’s probably 3rd. I’ve seen no momentum from Rubio (Bush probably hurts his candidacy most because he hits all the same notes Rubio does) and it’s very hard to gauge Paul’s appeal but, if it’s like his father’s, it was more noise than actual momentum.

[Lurkinanloomin]

That’s the winning ticket.
The RNC will do whatever it takes to prevent that.

[OrangeHoof]

Here’s my problems with Jeb:

1) How is he going to be different than W? The media thoroughly trashed W (undeservedly in some cases) and W didn’t fight back after 2005, allowing them to crucify him without any response. So what the low information public thinks is that Bush was a failure and Jeb will need to somehow distinguish himself as different from that with anything he says being met with “same old Bush” retorts to tie that albatross around his neck. No other GOP nominee will have to defend himself against that.

2) He takes one of the best talking points off the table when we campaign against Hillary - the thought that no family should be given so many years in the White House. A Hillary presidency is essentially Bill’s third term. Do we really want to return to scandal-ridden sleaze running our country? If Jeb is our nominee, that talking point disappears.

3) Terri Schiavo. Do we really want that bloodletting all over again?

4) Several candidates were not raised on the family’s empire and perpetuate the “party of the rich” meme. I realize Democrats already get away with being two-faced about family fortunes but it makes it easier to sell the GOP as the party of average Americans when the nominee came from their class.

[lonestar67]

Or

How politico would like us to perceive the GOP field

[ncalburt]

Gee Good old Water Gun pal of Slow Joe Biden, !Mikey who literally spits out the talking pints handed to him from his wife , the DNC staffer. She gave this slimy stooge the Dem left wing media playbook so early.

It's nice to hear what the Dem plants like Mikey will be spitting out for the next two years.

[rcofdayton]

If Bush or Christie are nominated, I will vote third party. I will not vote for a liberal.

[Lisbon1940]

Ability to govern is something positive? Why do you think people like Walker and Perry are weak on immigration? They are governators. Anyone who has served a full term or more as a Governor is out for me.

[elpadre]

Successful Governors make the best presidents - and my first choice - I like Walker and Perry.

[Labyrinthos]

Remind me again where JeB finished in the lastest polls.

[TomGuy]

1) How is he going to be different than W?

W was a Compassionate Conservative.

Jeb says he will be a Reform Conservative.

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[What the H is a 'reform' conservative?]