[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

Rhetorically, I don't think the Conservative candidates that could win the primary (Mitt or Perry) can best Obama in a debate.

Aidenfury19

That bit does. not. matter.

If Republicans voted on the basis of debate results then Bush would have lost both times. They vote on the basis of who they feel they can relate to and who looks "presidential". Simply by virtue of him being mixed race and from a multicultural background there is a good 20-33% of the Republican Party that would NEVER vote for Obama.

This is the same proportion of the party that firmly clings to the belief that Obama is a foreign born Muslim, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden were buddies, and that nuking Iran/Syria/North Korea is actually a good idea.

They're a minority but they also move the party because they're by far the most vocal component of it. They're of an extremely narrow and narrow-minded religious perspective, they have very compartmentalized minds, and they instinctively distrust if not hate people who they feel are outsiders, which actually means most of the U.S. population.

Rush Limbaugh could get on the air tomorrow and tell them that Obama gave a speech to the Premier of the PRC in a yellow polkadot bikini and they would not only believe him, they'd consider that lie sufficient basis for attempting to impeach. Unfortunately I do not believe I'm exaggerating on this point as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and others continue to tell whoppers even larger than this without consequence or loss of credibility on the part of their listeners.

I can agree with nearly all ofthat, however the debates and rhetoricare for the mushy middle independents who are more important the Republicans than their dominionist base because like you said, they will always vote against someone like Obama.

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]Then why would you, to some degree, support Perry? airshocker

Because I honestly don't think it will be a similar Presidency.

Perry bears an eery resemblance to Dubya, IMO.

coolbeans90

I'm afraid lots of other people see that as well.[spoiler] [/spoiler]

[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]He should be Obamas new VP. He would get more independents. DroidPhysX

At a serious cost to the Progressive vote. That would obliterate the democratic left wing vote as well as the youth vote.

Many lefties (not me) sat on their hands in the 2010 elections because the change wasn't coming fast enough. A move like that would cause that to happen again.

[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

Funny how that works (2008 all the Democrats were onthe "I'm not Bush" line of politics). I don't think the "I'm not Obama" will work as well because Conservatives have turned the idea of Obama into a caricature, something that won't work well when they share a stage debating him.

Rhetorically, I don't think the Conservative candidates that could win the primary (Mitt or Perry) can best Obama in a debate.

DroidPhysX

On the topic of Perry, I have no idea why fiscal conservatives would ever support him. If they hate Obama, they should hate Perry.

Exactly! "Big" Government? Rick Perry. Lots of those "awful" Government Jobs? Rick Perry.

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

[QUOTE="coolbeans90"]

I like him. Calm, level-headedness is severely underrated these days. Unfortunately, he's taking votes away from the only viable candidate of the "big three", Mitt Romney.

coolbeans90

I don't see why he's a viable candidate. First of all, it's like he suddenly woke up one day and decided to be a "hardcore conservative". Not to mention he talks more about how bad Obama is as a leader than he does his own policies.

He stands the greatest chance of winning both the primary and general election and isn't nuts, unlike numerous competitors of his.

Yes, the change of a few political positions is a point of weakness, but minor in comparison to various other candidate's. And, everyone is running on the fact that they are not Obama.

Funny how that works (2008 all the Democrats were onthe "I'm not Bush" line of politics). I don't think the "I'm not Obama" will work as well because Conservatives have turned the idea of Obama into a caricature, something that won't work well when they share a stage debating him.

Rhetorically, I don't think the Conservative candidates that could win the primary (Mitt or Perry) can best Obama in a debate.

Right now, I don't believe Bachmann has a chance in hell. She's a good fundraiser, but that's about it. Perry is about to sap her tea-poweras he tries to play lone ranger for the "don't tread on me" crowd. Ultimately I believe it will come down to Perry and Mitt, andPerrywill eat him alive in the primary.

I like him. Calm, level-headedness is severely underrated these days. Unfortunately, he's taking votes away from the only viable candidate of the "big three", Mitt Romney.

coolbeans90

Long time no speak coolbeans :D

Who are the big three you're talking about? Mittens,Bachmann, and Perry?

He should be Obamas new VP. He would get more independents. DroidPhysX

At a serious cost to the Progressive vote. That would obliterate the democratic left wing vote as well as the youth vote.

He's setting himself up for 2016 after the Tea Party looses 2012 for the Republicans. Voting Republicans will likely realize that only the Establishment candidates can bring them White House for the next few elections.