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DeniseNY
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I think he was a Congressman for a while, from Texas. I also seem to recall that he may have (unsuccessfully) run for Senate.
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Cat
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This thread is pretty depressing. There is no consensus, and that’s why I don’t think any Republican Presidential candidate has a snowball’s chance of beating any Democrat Presidential candidate right now.
The economy is (supposedly) picking up, and President Obama is claiming credit for the lowest unemployment numbers in six year.
Many people are afraid that a Republican President will send ground troops overseas.
Various domestic incidents/tragedies (e.g. Ferguson) are being touted as evidence of racism, and Republicans are perceived as insensitive to race issues.
The fight for “women’s rights” is still very much alive, and Republicans are seen as the Party dominated by rich white men.
It doesn’t help that the Republican candidates keep saying stupid things, and that these get picked up by the media and magnified. Vice-President Biden also says a lot of stupid things, but we all just laugh at him. The Republicans get crucified over anything that they let slip out. I think the best thing the Republican candidates could do is hire a PR manager who monitors absolutely EVERYTHING that they the candidate says and does, and stops him/her from making a comment that will come across as racist, sexist, anti-gay, fanatical, war-mongering, pro-rape, etc.
The media is very much in the corner of the Democrats and reports everything slanted in their favor. (e.g., according to my daughter who lives in St. Louis, the media reports that audience and musicians cheered the protests that interrupted the symphony concert are totally exaggerated.)
The entertainment industry is also very much in Democrat Camp, although there is a small contingent of people in that industry who are conservative, pro-life Republicans. But they tend to keep it quiet because they want to keep working and not get blacklisted.
It’s all a mess.
I would like to see a Republican candidate for the Presidency who can get along with all the other politicians win Washington. President Obama campaigned claiming that he would heal Washington of divisions, but he has done just the opposite, and acts like an obnoxious snob around the Republicans in Congress. I’m so tired of this and would like to see a “nice” guy or gal with good social skills run for the office.
The economy is (supposedly) picking up, and President Obama is claiming credit for the lowest unemployment numbers in six year.
Many people are afraid that a Republican President will send ground troops overseas.
Various domestic incidents/tragedies (e.g. Ferguson) are being touted as evidence of racism, and Republicans are perceived as insensitive to race issues.
The fight for “women’s rights” is still very much alive, and Republicans are seen as the Party dominated by rich white men.
It doesn’t help that the Republican candidates keep saying stupid things, and that these get picked up by the media and magnified. Vice-President Biden also says a lot of stupid things, but we all just laugh at him. The Republicans get crucified over anything that they let slip out. I think the best thing the Republican candidates could do is hire a PR manager who monitors absolutely EVERYTHING that they the candidate says and does, and stops him/her from making a comment that will come across as racist, sexist, anti-gay, fanatical, war-mongering, pro-rape, etc.
The media is very much in the corner of the Democrats and reports everything slanted in their favor. (e.g., according to my daughter who lives in St. Louis, the media reports that audience and musicians cheered the protests that interrupted the symphony concert are totally exaggerated.)
The entertainment industry is also very much in Democrat Camp, although there is a small contingent of people in that industry who are conservative, pro-life Republicans. But they tend to keep it quiet because they want to keep working and not get blacklisted.
It’s all a mess.
I would like to see a Republican candidate for the Presidency who can get along with all the other politicians win Washington. President Obama campaigned claiming that he would heal Washington of divisions, but he has done just the opposite, and acts like an obnoxious snob around the Republicans in Congress. I’m so tired of this and would like to see a “nice” guy or gal with good social skills run for the office.
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Path_Finder
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Obama’s approval ratings are in the 30 percentile last I see, I’ve seen most jobs created or at least a good number of them are taken by immigrants and are low wage jobs. Ferguson really shows how the Democrats try to sow discord around the nation, being divisive. Have a platform that champions immorality that turns one stomach.
Obama both times would not have won with the high African American turnout and they won’t get that with a much less charismatic figure like Hillary and Biden right now, is saying gaffes all over.
It’s been one disaster after another, the American public is now in majority wanting to send troops over to the Middle East to combat ISIS. The Democrats dropping the ball in Iraq has seen scores of people slaughtered in actions many call genocide.
Seems the Democrats can only play race cards, calling the Republican Party the party of this or that as Republicans hold about 30 governorships of the 50 states with people like Martinez, Jindal, Haley, not exactly the whites the leftwing’s scurrilous accusations go on about. Democrats have their long sordid history of Jim Crow laws, only casting dispersions seems to work. Being divisive.
Obama both times would not have won with the high African American turnout and they won’t get that with a much less charismatic figure like Hillary and Biden right now, is saying gaffes all over.
It’s been one disaster after another, the American public is now in majority wanting to send troops over to the Middle East to combat ISIS. The Democrats dropping the ball in Iraq has seen scores of people slaughtered in actions many call genocide.
Seems the Democrats can only play race cards, calling the Republican Party the party of this or that as Republicans hold about 30 governorships of the 50 states with people like Martinez, Jindal, Haley, not exactly the whites the leftwing’s scurrilous accusations go on about. Democrats have their long sordid history of Jim Crow laws, only casting dispersions seems to work. Being divisive.
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Irishgal49
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I’m not Republican.
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Path_Finder
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I don’t support same-sex marriage, racism, abortion on demand, funding of the biggest abortionist in the USA, late term abortions, infanticide. I’m not a Democrat.
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Ridgerunner
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One wonders whether the electorate will elect anyone who lacks a “rock star” image. In reflecting on the 2012 election, it’s saddening to realize in how many ways Romney was right. Yet, people rejected him.
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ishii
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LBJ and carter were affected by factors and dynamics that are not present today. Bush the elder was a patrician from the northeast. reagan was not a southerner: he was an actor from Hollywood, governor of California. I don’t think being from the south automatically prevents someone from appealing to swing voters. But I don’t see any candidate from the south - save for Rand Paul or bobby jindal - appealing to the swing voters. We don’t need an evangelical preacher to get the religious right excited - just need a solid conservative.
Ishii
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powerofk
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The problem is that there really is no consensus as to what CONSERVATISM is, honestly. When the GOP loses, the consensus ends up being “well, so-and-so wasn’t Conservative enough.” But, the fact is, just as the Dems are divided among unions, environmentalists, feminists, and racial, religious, and “sexual orientation” minorities, along with young people who want to save the world, who all have their own agendas (often, actually, with completely different goals that they feel compelled to accept for their party), the GOP is divided among business leaders, evangelical Christians, hunters/farmers/ranchers, veterans, and national security enthusiasts. Each of them consider something different to be the most important part of “true Conservatism”. And that, right there, is the crux of the issue.
Evangelicals consider the most important part of “true Conservatism” to be adherence to Christian social teachings, especially when it comes to abortion and homosexual “marriage”. But, a lot (though not all) of “business” Conservatives don’t worry about that as much as having fewer government regulations for their business or tax cuts. In fact, many “business” Conservatives changed their views on homosexual “marriage” due to someone in their family considering himself/herself of a homosexual orientation, simply because it wasn’t that important to them. Vets are GOP primarily due to them feeling that the Dems deserted them during Vietnam.
GWB was from the evangelical wing of the GOP. McCain was from the veteran’s wing, and Romney from the business wing. Each of these was considered a pure Conservative by their own wing of the party, but looked on suspiciously from other parts of the party. Case in point - McCain was considered a “maverick”, but he never voted against the veterans. GWB was a born-again Christian, but increased spending substantially across the board. Romney had run many successful businesses, but was Mormon, and had changed his stance on abortion only when he started running for President. The GOP needs to figure out who they are as far as a Presidential party is concerned.
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RGCheek
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So why not look for a candidate that appeals to all three? Because the several groups are now in contention with each other. Social conservatives don’t like seeing people abandoned essentially in economic terms and want to protect SS and welfare programs for reasonable use in their view. Business people have had there way for the last 20 years hammering the working class over and over such that average after-tax worker individual income adjusted for inflation is lower than it was in 1973. The military conservatives are not getting their way with guys like McCain in charge and you can just look at the VA fiascos exposed this year for proof of that if you need it. He also short-circuited several efforts to trace/free POWs in the 1980s as well.
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Ridgerunner
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One would think it would be enough if conservatives figured out who the LIBERALS really are before they turn up their noses at a person who is far more conservative but perhaps not as perfect as they would want them to be.
There are those who say that conservatives elected Obama in 2012 by not voting or by voting for alternative candidates. One wonders how they could have possibly been so foolish.
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adawgj
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Don’t like the GOP party, but I do like Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, and Rick Santorum.
Not sure if I would vote for either one though.
Not sure if I would vote for either one though.
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Path_Finder
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Will pray for your conversion.
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Path_Finder
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I’ll say it again, the South is solid Red, if someone comes to the fore, that’s who we should vote on. Those votes are counted on but it is fairly sorry to consider someone from where the vote is so strong to try to squeeze in Ohio or other swing states that often don’t swing anyway. Oh sure, nominate a Scott Walker so maybe one can get Wisconsin or nominate a Hispanic like Rubio because we want to please Hispanics but forget the base who actually votes solidly for the candidate.
Scott Walker would be an excellent choice, he has to win his governorship for the 3rd time in 4 years and guess what? He’s an Evangelical.
Reagan was moved to California when he was about 26. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan You can’t tell me he didn’t learn a lot of his commonsense when he was younger but yet, when you address Bush Sr., he is now the Patrician from the Northeast.
We certainly are seeing parts of Reagan’s background as being shortchanged.Also, if you are calling someone from the Southwest, Texas or the South an Evangelical Preacher, perhaps you could tell us whom this is? I’m not aware of any of these potential candidates as being preachers. If this is a label with a negative connotation, we should see it for that. The likes of Rick Perry has done a lot for the right to life and please, we don’t need to hear some patronizing “good he did that but I’m not for him”, no, I’m for what he has done just like I am for what Walker and Christie have done.
A solid Conservative. I do think the Leftist machine is so active that perhaps Huckabee couldn’t make it through the process, it might leave others though as being possible. Perry may be hurt a little bit by that indictment, I don’t know.
Texas, Oklahoma’s and North Dakota’s economies are soaring but the State with the most energy that could be obtained through fracking at least a few months ago was New York, we merely have to put into action the same as the boom states.
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powerofk
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And see, that, right there, is the problem. Reagan was, first and foremost, a foreign policy conservative. Reagan claimed to be an economic conservative and a social conservative. However, one could easily say that Clinton was more economically conservative than Reagan, as Clinton, with a GOP Congress, eliminated the general welfare program, balanced the budget, and repealed the Glass/Stegall Act. And Reagan really wasn’t deeply religious, either. Ford and Carter were both much more religious than Reagan; Reagan just understood the power of the “Values Voters” and was able to get them to back him by adopting the main objectives that they had at the time - being against abortion and Communism. Honestly, the reason Reagan was able to pull his coalition together so well was due to the fact that he was a polished actor and was able to convince people that he really believed what he said - whether he believed it or not.
GHW Bush was also a foreign policy conservative - in fact, foreign policy was his main area of expertise (I actually believe he would have made a better Secratary of State than President), and he even had a diplomatic award named after him. But he knew little about economics, and when re-election came around, appeared astounded by things that everyday Americans had seen for several years on a daily basis (such as scanners at check-outs).
GW Bush was a religious conservative. There’s a reason why Dems created a map of the US after the 2004 elections which dubbed the states that voted for GW Bush “Jesus-land”. Both of GW Bush’s victories were extremely narrow, and Dems are still fuming over Florida from 2000 and Ohio from 2004.
The main losers during this time? Dole and Romney - both primarily economic conservatives, and McCain. I’m keeping McCain out of this, because, in 2008, the GOP could have nominated Jesus Himself and the Dems could have nominated a rock, and the Dems would have won. But, honestly, GOPers who are primarily economic conservatives seem to have a hard time winning. Why? Well, for one, religious conservatives might not believe that economic conservatives actually care about their causes. That may very well be the case, as even many GOP governors seem, well, kind of annoyed when religious conservatives try to push the so-called “culture wars”. And Romney famously didn’t adopt a pro-life stance until 2006/2007, when he announced his first candidacy for President. IIRC, as governor of MA, Romney had a pro-“choice” view. As for Bob Dole, he really couldn’t differentiate himself from Clinton - who had ended up doing just about everything the economic conservatives wanted, anyway.
It seems to me that the best option for the GOP would be, first and foremost, someone who is conservative on foreign policy. Not an all-out war hawk, mind you (Reagan was no war hawk), but at the same time, able to follow through on any threats and/or promises made. Secondly, conservative on social issues, at least enough so that social voters don’t feel that only “lip service” is being performed. Show up to the March for Life and the March for Marraige. Encourage Congress to pass an amendment to the Constitution affirming life in the womb. Ask for PP to be taken out of the federal budget. I think it’s suffices to say, that at the Presidential level, conservatism on economic policy seems to be the least important of the three to people who might consider voting for a GOP Prez.
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Path_Finder
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I did not mind Bob Dole, the internet was not as far reaching then and Fox News was yet to have come on board, so we probably didn’t really know the positions of the candidates as well so to me, Dole was lowkey but probably a fairly faithful conservative actually.
There really hasn’t been a real dyed in wool conservative for quite awhile. That is what is needed. I think we should be able to find someone who fits that bill.
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RGCheek
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I don’t see a significant difference between Romney and Obama on the issues I most care about.
Abortion; Romney says he had a moment of epiphany after years of supporting it as governor of Mass and of course Obama wants abortion to be as easily available as junk food. No difference in any meaningful way - rhetoric with bad record vrs bad rhetoric with bad record. I think records talk and rhetoric walks.
Gun rights; Romney is not a strong 2nd amendment man and neither is Obama.
Unemployment and the economy; Romney was talking about policies that would make Wall Street more profitable, not more helpful to middle class families. Obama has good rhetoric of being supportive of middle class families but no record of such. Records count, rhetoric is only so much air. No diff.
And I could go on more.
Romney was not a choice; he was a smaller liter echo of Obama.
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RGCheek
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Repealing Glass/Steagall was neither conservative nor wise. Reagan was more of a cultural conservative than merely an economic conservative. You seem to take ‘free trade’ to be the conservative view of economics and it is not. To conserve means to find value in the status quo and defend it. Repealing Glass/Steagall was a horrid mistake
One can have a form of faith without being religious. Reagan was not religious but he was a man of faith.
I think I agree with you on this part. Rolling back some of the Gay Marriage court decrees would also help.
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Path_Finder
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Dole, good man in '96.
Bush Dubya in 2000 and 2004, good in some things but a Pat Buchanan type probably would have been better just from my view.
McCain, it was his time. It’s more of what he has said since 2008 that I frown on. Good running mate.
Romney, would have been a good President but nonetheless, came from one of the bluest states there is. Romney’s running mate came from a purple state in Wisconsin.
So, again, I wouldn’t mind seeing a dyed in wool Red State conservative in there.
Rand Paul is now quite a bit all over in his views, I did like him more at one point, I’m not sure if Rubio could easily win reelection in Florida right now.
Bush Dubya in 2000 and 2004, good in some things but a Pat Buchanan type probably would have been better just from my view.
McCain, it was his time. It’s more of what he has said since 2008 that I frown on. Good running mate.
Romney, would have been a good President but nonetheless, came from one of the bluest states there is. Romney’s running mate came from a purple state in Wisconsin.
So, again, I wouldn’t mind seeing a dyed in wool Red State conservative in there.
Rand Paul is now quite a bit all over in his views, I did like him more at one point, I’m not sure if Rubio could easily win reelection in Florida right now.
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Path_Finder
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Romney gets a lot of flack on abortion from some. That’s understandable but it should be pointed out Planned Parenthood spent millions campaigning against him and said this:
So why did the largest abortion provider spend so much money and say all of this on Romney?? They are the opposition, they would have stood the most to lose so I do listen to this. This other is said in places but I don’t buy it.
Romney got the endorsement of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life and many other Pro-Life organizations, I don’t buy the argument against him. He could conceivably run in 2016. Are people always going to dredge up the misleading abortion info up on him? I know they do it with gay marriage too but I don’t think it is that simple. One has to read up on it.
The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled any health care has to include abortion. This is not something that Romney did yet his foes seem to bring this info out.
aboutmittromney.com/abortion_references.htm
Romney also would have handled Russia better and warned us about them.
2nd Amendment, I don’t think Romney would have done great wrong in that either.
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adawgj
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Just an FYI I will never become a Republican.
I’m a moderate and an Independent who sides with Republicans on abortion and fiscal spending and military.
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