November 14, 2011

A Take on the Republican Field

I thought I would do a quick little post on my thoughts on the Republican field. Because we are talking about the primaries, I am going to use my friend Chris Bastedo's stock metaphor of buy (someone I think might succeed), hold (someone I could succeed), sell (someone who I don't expect to succeed), and sold (someone who I think is a joke). Also, to avoid bias, Chris always lists everyone alphabetically. Therefore, to flaunt my bias, I'm going to start with who I like least and move to who I like best:
  • Jon Huntsman (Sold)
    Huntsman is a RINO and simply is not going to win. His only chance was if the "establishment" portion of the party backed him, and they are backing Romney. I also don't care.

  • Ron Paul (Sold)
    Ron Paul is a libertarian, and a good man. He cares about freedom, which I like, and pushes small government, which I also like. However, he also has very naive views on foreign policy. While this naiveté makes for an adorable Representative, it doesn't inspire confidence for someone aspiring to be Commander and Chief. In short, I like the man, I am glad he is in Congress, and I hope he stays there.

  • Rick Santorum (Sell)
    To be honest, I have trouble with someone who attempts to make everything about values. Santorum is the kind of guy that I would probably vote for in the 90s when we were confident and comfortable. In those conditions, we usually care a lot about values. But right now we have a strife-ridden Middle East and a failing economy. I want someone practical. I just don't see Rick as that guy. (I also question whether value based voting should have a place in federal elections, but I digress)

  • Michelle Bachmann (Sell)
    I think, for this race, Bachmann has had her day in the sun, but it is now past. Overall, I like Bachmann. However, I have found very little of her campaign differentiates her from the other candidates. She has a lot of slogans, and a lot of anti-Obama rhetoric, but I don't see anything that I can't get from someone else in the race.

  • Rick Perry (Hold)
    Perry is a guy with some really good ideas who suffers terribly from foot-in-mouth disease. I also feel like him and Santorum through the most mud around, which isn't really something that gets me behind someone. What I fear the most is if he goes against Barak Obama and says foolish things which cost him the election. Besides, I think we can do better.

  • Mitt Romney (Hold)
    I am sure many of you are surprised that I am saying "hold" for Mitt. Well, to be honest, a large portion of the Conservative base of the Republican Party is trying to find someone other than Romney, and I think there are better choices. Personally, I would be happy with Romney. He does a very good job. I also think he has a fantastic poker face (is he ever not half smiling?). The guy knows his economics, and he understands federalism (which a lot of his nay-sayers apparently don't). But I also think we can do better. He's a Rockefeller Republican instead of a true conservative, and I think a lot of his economic plans are too safe. The radical economic plans of Cain, Gingrich and even Perry are much more exciting and to my liking. In short, I would be happy Romney, but happier with a couple of others.

  • Herman Cain (Buy)
    First of all, I trust his character a lot more than the persons who are criticizing him. I am also exciting about anyone who wants to implement the fair tax (which his 9-9-9 plan is supposed to be an intermediate step towards). I also love his foreign policy, which is essentially appointing other people who know what the heck they are doing and then trusting them. That is what every president without military and diplomatic experience should do. However, I have a couple of concerns: first I little worried that his 9-9-9 plan will be a permanent intermediate step. In other words, I am worried that he'll pass it, and then his term will end before he can implement the next phase towards the fair tax (in government you always have to keep in mind that others with inherit what you do, and may not do with it what you would want). My second concern is a lack of political experience. Solution: Cain is the VP for...

  • Newt Gingrich (Buy)
    I think Newt is the right man for the job. First of all, seeing as we need someone who is going to work well in both the domestic and foreign environments, it is good to have someone named after an amphibian. More seriously though, this is a man who behind the economic boom in the 90s. Additionally, he has extensive experience in federal politics, not only as a Congressman, but also as a leader. He has demonstrated to have a deep understanding of any issue upon which he speaks. He also rhetorically articulate and aggressive, while seeking fairness on the field with his competitors. Apart from a bit of a tarnished past which he has repented of, there isn't anything I can really say which is negative about him.
I want to finish with one last thought: as Americans, we have a responsibility to make informed decisions. If you want to vote, then get informed. If you don't want to bother to get informed, then don't vote. We have the privilege of living in a country where our opinion matters. But like all privileges, it comes with responsibilities. Don't wait until the last minute to read a pamphlet to hand you your opinion in front of the voting booth. Start looking at the people and the issues now. Remember, it's your future too.

8 comments:

Christopher Bastedo said...

Clarification required: Are you ranking these based on your own personal opinion or based on how well they are likely to do in the primary election? If the latter, how can you call Romney anything buy "buy?"

To date I have yet to use any other ranking for Mitt based on the latter criteria.

Jc_Freak: said...

Sorry, let me clarify. The ranking in the list is my personal opinion, but my "stock rankings" are meant to be assessments of how likely they will nominated. As for Romney, I think that most of the Republican Party is trying to find someone else. I've heard a lot of pundits talk about the "not Romney" candidate. So far it seems that Romney has a solid fifth of the party and doesn't have a solid 4/5 of the party. Right now a fifth keeps him in the lead, but it wont win him the nomination.

Christopher Bastedo said...

But in a race of eight people 1/5 can be more than enough to win. That's the issue. And don't forget Open Primary states where Independents or any registered voter can vote. I think there's something like 20 of those states.

Christopher Bastedo said...

Not to say I don't HOPE you're correct, I just don't THINK you're correct.

Jc_Freak: said...

maybe but i currently see it as a four man race where most people want the other three

SLW said...

I have long been appreciative of Gingrich (he's smart, politically savvy, conservative, loves history, and is bold), I just doubt his electability. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat if he got the nomination.

Santorum got beat by 18 points here in Pennsylvania in his last reelection bid. It's silly that he's wasting time running. He would bring nothing to the ticket, so he can't even hope for a VP nomination.

Jc_Freak: said...

I don't see why electability is an issue, at least for nomination. Let's talk about the electability of Barak Obama. 9%unemployment is an improvement, approval polls consistly below 50, greatest achievement is a health care bill that most Americans want repealed, constant embarrassment with foriegn policies, and a constant class warfare rhetoric which is polarizing the nation. That is what unelectable looks like.

Any candidate on the field can beat Obama. It is true that no matter how you look at the numbers, as ESPN would say, you still have to play the game. But, President Obama is not going to be difficult to beat. The question should be who is the best person to be in office. Whoever that person is will probably win if the party gives them the shot.

SLW said...

True, Obama is very beatable, unless the Republicans put up an absolute disaster.

Obama will not win Indiana, Virginia, or North Carolina again. Florida is not likely at all, and he will probably lose in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. This really does have the potential of being a landslide that would give the Reagan victory over the inept Jimmy Carter a run.