Gingrich? Seriously?

[Schrodinger's Cat]

But in the end, it's got to be Romney, right? I mean, he just seems far and away the most capable to me. Maybe I'm partial towards him because he was governor of my state, but is the Mormon thing really enough to keep him out?

I mean, yeah, he's a Mormon, but he seems to be a lot less beholden to his religion than someone like, say, Perry. He doesn't have the moral failings of Newt. And he mostly comes across as intelligent and politically savvy.

Which is more damaging to Romney, the fact that he is a Mormon, or the fact that he was a governor of Massachusetts whose policies tended to reflect that state's liberal constituents?

 

[Spindrift]

There's no way Gingrich can credibly run under a "Christian Values" banner. That's too surreal even for the current political milieu.

The nominee has to be Romney. The real question is whether some half-known religious crazy will then run on some kind of anti-Mormon, "True Christian", Bull Moose ticket. If so, the election is over, and we can hand it to Obama. If not, then we might just have ourselves a ball game.

But a year is a long time.

One would think that there's no way Gingrich can credibly run at all. But apparently he is. So him trumpeting Christian values is plausible if not inevitable.

 

[marksman]

If Romney's base is debating which of his two heresies (Mormonism or liberalism) makes him most unpalatable, he's got a real problem, solved only by the fact that his competitors are even more obviously unelectable.

 

[Vorticity]

But in the end, it's got to be Romney, right? I mean, he just seems far and away the most capable to me. Maybe I'm partial towards him because he was governor of my state, but is the Mormon thing really enough to keep him out?

I mean, yeah, he's a Mormon, but he seems to be a lot less beholden to his religion than someone like, say, Perry. He doesn't have the moral failings of Newt. And he mostly comes across as intelligent and politically savvy.

Which is more damaging to Romney, the fact that he is a Mormon, or the fact that he was a governor of Massachusetts whose policies tended to reflect that state's liberal constituents?

VP candidate Rick Perry: A good, "clean", Texas Christian on the ticket, who will vouch for his old friend Mitt Romney.

Problem solved.

 

[Spindrift]

VP candidate Rick Perry: A good, "clean", Texas Christian on the ticket, who will vouch for his old friend Mitt Romney.

Problem solved.

He'd get a lot of votes in Texas if that's what it takes to get him out of the governor's mansion. Probably why most of his funding comes from Texas. It's an easy sales pitch. "Give us some money so we can ship Rick Perry to Washington."

 

[Upchurch]

VP candidate Rick Perry: A good, "clean", Texas Christian on the ticket, who will vouch for his old friend Mitt Romney.

Problem solved.

I'd put money down that if Cain doesn't win the nomination, the winner will, as McCain did before him, pick a minority as running mate to counteract the "old rich white guys" thing.

 

[Spindrift]

I'd put money down that if Cain doesn't win the nomination, the winner will, as McCain did before him, pick a minority as running mate to counteract the "old rich white guys" thing.

In what sense was Sarah Palin a minority? Idiots who become governor?

 

[Upchurch]

In what sense was Sarah Palin a minority? Idiots who become governor?

Sadly, those are probably in the majority.

I was referring to women as a minority group, which may or may not be the case. YMMV.

 

[Spindrift]

Sadly, those are probably in the majority.

I was referring to women as a minority group, which may or may not be the case. YMMV.

Women in high political office, I guess would be a minority.

 

[BenBurch]

I'd put money down that if Cain doesn't win the nomination, the winner will, as McCain did before him, pick a minority as running mate to counteract the "old rich white guys" thing.

Trouble is that it didn't help, and in fact, damaged McCain seriously.

If they are going to pick a VP for that sort of thing, they need somebody reliable with a spotless reputation.

In Illinois we have such a person, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. The only Republican I voted for that year.

But she is neither exciting nor is she far-right-wing. And Illinois would suffer a serious loss if she left state government.

 

[Spindrift]

Trouble is that it didn't help, and in fact, damaged McCain seriously.

If they are going to pick a VP for that sort of thing, they need somebody reliable with a spotless reputation.

In Illinois we have such a person, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. The only Republican I voted for that year.

But she is neither exciting nor is she far-right-wing. And Illinois would suffer a serious loss if she left state government.

The bribe to become her successor wouldn't go to the state coffers?

 

[BenBurch]

The bribe to become her successor wouldn't go to the state coffers?

Heh... Yeah, this is Illinois so who knows any more. Two crooked Governors in a row.

I know Quinn is at least honest but not a really effective politician.

I wish Topinka had won when she ran against Blagojevich, I voted for her then too because I had already heard enough about Blago to know he was a crook. I had a contractor friend who was shaken down but was afraid to go to the press or the BGA because he didn't want to lose the state business.

 

[Arrow]

I think in the end Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich could make it to the finish line for the GOP nomination. Newt has done well in the debates and seems to be noticed of late. Will it last? It's hard to tell. Wouldn't surprise me to still see Herman Cain with high poll numbers also. To this point, the allegations do not seem to be effecting him with conservatives.

"Will Someone Tell Us What Herman Cain Did?"

http://news.investors.com/Article/591170/201111091859/Cain-Scandal-Still-Fact-Free.htm

 

[Rashmi]

What amuses (and torments) me is that in 2008 Romney was essentially the choice of the Stop McCain faction.

I recall Hucklebee having a better chance than Romney to beat McCain. Rush didn't like McCain or Romney if I remember right, and Romney will never have a chance with the true southern Christians.

 

[Spindrift]

I think in the end Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich could make it to the finish line for the GOP nomination. Newt has done well in the debates and seems to be noticed of late. Will it last? It's hard to tell. Wouldn't surprise me to still see Herman Cain with high poll numbers also. To this point, the allegations do not seem to be effecting him with conservatives.

"Will Someone Tell Us What Herman Cain Did?"

http://news.investors.com/Article/591170/201111091859/Cain-Scandal-Still-Fact-Free.htm

Really?

The party of 'family values' wants to give a pass to a potential adulterer? Or is that part of 'family values' that only gets a "Wink, Wink. Nudge. Nudge." and has an expiration date?

 

[Alferd_Packer]

To this point, the allegations do not seem to be effecting him with conservatives.

Good, i hope Cain stays in it. I miss Michele's antics and would hate to lose the entertainment.

 

[Upchurch]

Trouble is that it didn't help, and in fact, damaged McCain seriously.

Yes, but I think that was more from his choice of Palin rather than his choice of a woman.

 

[Vorticity]

Incidentally, the 2012 Republican Primary schedule may be of interest here:

January 3, 2012 Iowa (caucus)
January 10, 2012 New Hampshire (primary)
January 21, 2012 South Carolina (primary)
January 31, 2012 Florida (primary)
February 4, 2012 Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012 Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012 Colorado (caucus), Minnesota (caucus)
February 28, 2012 Arizona (primary), Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012 Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012 (Super Tuesday)
Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Texas (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
etc...

It begins January 3rd, so we really don't have that long to go after all.

 

[BenBurch]

Yes, but I think that was more from his choice of Palin rather than his choice of a woman.

The rest of what I wrote pretty much said that, or was supposed to.

 

[AlBell]

But in the end, it's got to be Romney, right? I mean, he just seems far and away the most capable to me. Maybe I'm partial towards him because he was governor of my state, but is the Mormon thing really enough to keep him out?

I mean, yeah, he's a Mormon, but he seems to be a lot less beholden to his religion than someone like, say, Perry. He doesn't have the moral failings of Newt. And he mostly comes across as intelligent and politically savvy.

Which is more damaging to Romney, the fact that he is a Mormon, or the fact that he was a governor of Massachusetts whose policies tended to reflect that state's liberal constituents?

The bolded part.

Perry was never ready for 'prime-time'. I'm hoping Gingrich pulls it together; Gingrich/Cain sounds ok to me (or Cain/Gingrich for that matter).