The 2012 Republican Primary thread, early edition

[Jacob]

Santorum represents everything wrong with the modern Republican party.

I agree.

The crowd likely will be very strongly supportive of Ron Paul and Gary Johnson

Which is why this isn't a good venue for Romney

I find it interesting that Romney is skipping South Carolina completely. He either figures he has no chance of carrying strongly Baptist SC as a Mormon, or else he figures he is the "heir apparent" this time around.

I think he's only skipping it because its not important. He would just stand up there and be attacked from all sides (Ron Paul to Santorum to Pawlenty) with not much to gain because nobody is paying attention and we don't even thing the big-time candidates are involved.

Smart to sit this one out for him. Maybe he learned something form last time, when everybody was attacking him in Iowa as the front-runner. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't pay much attention to Iowa this time around. But he won't be skipping SC.

[Borderline Divine]

Romney loses key advisor

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/04/mitt-romney-loses-support_n_857638.html

[San Juan Sun]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_857638.html

Yawn.

Political operatives angling for higher profile jobs with other candidates isn't exactly news. But if he wants to saddle up with Pawlenty, or any of the other dwarves performing tonight in SC, more power to him.

[oxcoug]

Romney the invisible frontrunner.

Excellent analysis, I think.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...runner/238376/

[San Juan Sun]

My thoughts on the Republican debate, while trying to treat each candidate as if I'd never heard of them before:

Ron Paul - I agree with a lot of what he's saying, but I wouldn't vote for him. I'm not exactly sure why.

Herman Cain - Likable guy. Not sure what else is there.

Rick Santorum - Not likable.

Gary Johnson - If one can be elected governor of New Mexico by the public's fatigue of the Demoratic Party, can't it work for a White House run? No, it can't. This guy was a lightweight amongst middleweights tonight.

Tim Pawlenty - Most impressive guy tonight. Not sure it matters though.

[Jacob]

This should be interesting:

First on The Page: Romney to give major health care address Thursday in Michigan.
Complete with PowerPoint presentation, frontrunner will "lay out plan to repeal and replace Obamacare."
2PM ET at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor.
Halperin's Take: This is smart. Romney won't back off his past statements on his Massachusetts health care law Thursday. The plan he is releasing is an updated version of the one he ran on in 2008.


Read more: http://thepage.time.com/2011/05/10/t...#ixzz1Ly3Qpnd4

Smart move by Romney. He's stuck with RomneyCare hanging around his neck. People think he needs to do a 180 issue some sort of mea culpa. Instead, he comes up with a new national plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. If it the right kind of reform (read less federal intrusion) this could change the conversation for him and make his greatest weakness in the primary less weak.

Will he be accused of flip-flopping? Will he be accused of still being an Obama clone on health care? Probably both, regardless of his plan. But I'm interested to hear what that plan is. He will really be the first Republican to offer the "replace" part of "repeal and replace."

[LA Ute]

This should be interesting:



Smart move by Romney. He's stuck with RomneyCare hanging around his neck. People think he needs to do a 180 issue some sort of mea culpa. Instead, he comes up with a new national plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. If it the right kind of reform (read less federal intrusion) this could change the conversation for him and make his greatest weakness in the primary less weak.

Will he be accused of flip-flopping? Will he be accused of still being an Obama clone on health care? Probably both, regardless of his plan. But I'm interested to hear what that plan is. He will really be the first Republican to offer the "replace" part of "repeal and replace."

Agreed that this is smart. Mitt wants to get the discussion re-directed to Obamacare and what should be done about it, rather than the supposed similarities between Romneycare and Obamacare. Those similarities are quite superficial but that can't be explained in 15-second soundbites.

[RobinFinderson]

My thoughts on the Republican debate, while trying to treat each candidate as if I'd never heard of them before:

Ron Paul - I agree with a lot of what he's saying, but I wouldn't vote for him. I'm not exactly sure why.

Herman Cain - Likable guy. Not sure what else is there.

Rick Santorum - Not likable.

Gary Johnson - If one can be elected governor of New Mexico by the public's fatigue of the Demoratic Party, can't it work for a White House run? No, it can't. This guy was a lightweight amongst middleweights tonight.

Tim Pawlenty - Most impressive guy tonight. Not sure it matters though.

Ron Paul has a bit of that Dennis Kucinich thing going for him... people like his ideas, but can't bring themselves to support someone who might be a Keebler elf.

[Maximus]

My thoughts on the Republican debate, while trying to treat each candidate as if I'd never heard of them before:

Ron Paul - I agree with a lot of what he's saying, but I wouldn't vote for him. I'm not exactly sure why.

Herman Cain - Likable guy. Not sure what else is there.

Rick Santorum - Not likable.

Gary Johnson - If one can be elected governor of New Mexico by the public's fatigue of the Demoratic Party, can't it work for a White House run? No, it can't. This guy was a lightweight amongst middleweights tonight.

Tim Pawlenty - Most impressive guy tonight. Not sure it matters though.

too bad herman cain is extremely bigoted against muslims. He would never be elected.

[Clark Addison]

too bad herman cain is extremely bigoted against muslims. He would never be elected.

I don't mean to sound cynical, but I don't think being bigoted against Muslims is much of a hinderence to being elected in the USA. There are plenty of other things which will keep him from being elected.

[il Padrino Ute]

Agreed that this is smart. Mitt wants to get the discussion re-directed to Obamacare and what should be done about it, rather than the supposed similarities between Romneycare and Obamacare. Those similarities are quite superficial but that can't be explained in 15-second soundbites.

Romney needs to focus on the future rather than get sucked into focusing on the past. This is a good move on his part.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Suggested drinking game for tonight: Take a drink (of your choice) every time a candidate says the word "Constitution" or calls himself a "Conservative".

Party game fail. I predict this will work better at the bigger primary debates next year.

The answer this last time is "3", and all three mentions of the Constitution were by Ron Paul.

too bad herman cain is extremely bigoted against muslims. He would never be elected.

So you answer the same question. Will you hire a muslim to work for you today? Without any caveats? Will religion factor in to your decision at all? Be honest.

[Maximus]

I don't mean to sound cynical, but I don't think being bigoted against Muslims is much of a hinderence to being elected in the USA. There are plenty of other things which will keep him from being elected.

when he has said the things he has, it will hurt him bad.

[Maximus]

Party game fail. I predict this will work better at the bigger primary debates next year.

The answer this last time is "3", and all three mentions of the Constitution were by Ron Paul.



So you answer the same question. Will you hire a muslim to work for you today? Without any caveats? Will religion factor in to your decision at all? Be honest.

Yes. Absolutely yes. I am not in a position to hire anyone, or even close to it, but yes.

[Borderline Divine]

Ron Paul has a bit of that Dennis Kucinich thing going for him... people like his ideas, but can't bring themselves to support someone who might be a Keebler elf.