(06-14-2011 09:47 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 09:00 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:22 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  So, people from Alabama, Texas and Tennessee are not going to vote for the President? Shocking!?! I'm pretty sure he isn't counting on those electoral votes coming in. Not a big fan of his economic policies, so for me he's got a lot of work to do in order to get my vote. However, I really didn't see anything last night that made me stand up and take notice. I wish Giuliani would run as he would get my vote hands down.

My mind is open about who I'd vote for. I'm a registered Republican but I've crossed lines before and I may do so again depending on how things are going come election time.
There are people who wouldn't vote for President Obama even if he achieves world peace and has the economy booming so much that everyone is living like Tom Brady.

A Romney/Bachmann ticket would suit me just fine if the election were held today, but who knows what will transpire before election day? I'm a registered Republican also, but wouldn't hesitate to cross over if I believed it to be the right thing to do. For those who refuse to vote because they do not like any of the candidates are to be pitied, IMO. Texas, Tennessee and Alabame aren't the only states that produce slackers and anyone believing otherwise are kidding themselves.

Romney/Rice may end up being the ticket.

I'd love to see Cain/Paul as a ticket. Might not be able to beat Obama but those two have the plan.

(06-14-2011 10:55 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  I'd love to see Cain/Paul as a ticket. Might not be able to beat Obama but those two have the plan.

A plan doesnt matter unless you win.

(06-14-2011 10:56 AM)playfailstogain Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 10:55 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  I'd love to see Cain/Paul as a ticket. Might not be able to beat Obama but those two have the plan.

A plan doesnt matter unless you win.

that post was wishful thinking, nothing more. I don't expect Ron Paul to win the nod obviously, I just hope he can have an influence on White House decision-making somehow.

(06-14-2011 10:36 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  does anyone on here consider themselves to be more Libertarian than Republican/Democrat?

On social issues, I'm very Libertarian. There are probably quite a few things I object to on religious grounds that I could accept being legal.

I'm a small defense guy as well believing that the people of most of the world should be allowed to screw up their lives as they see fit and after the British experiment of trying to change the world, don't know that an outside fix is the best way.

On trade, don't believe in free trade with nations not playing by the same basic set of rules. Canada, Japan, Europe, I'm for free trade. China, Malaysia, India, products from there and similar places should be subject to significant tariffs to deter the profitability of relocating jobs to places that don't play by the same rules as the others.

I'm comfortable with social programs that all Americans participate in such as unemployment insurance, social security, and medicare but have issues with the middle class vs. the poor mindset that is the natural progression of other programs.

here's a great little quiz that helps illustrate where you sit on the political spectrum. It's super short, try it out.

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz

Completely agree with you.

(06-14-2011 11:10 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 10:36 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  does anyone on here consider themselves to be more Libertarian than Republican/Democrat?

On social issues, I'm very Libertarian. There are probably quite a few things I object to on religious grounds that I could accept being legal.

I'm a small defense guy as well believing that the people of most of the world should be allowed to screw up their lives as they see fit and after the British experiment of trying to change the world, don't know that an outside fix is the best way.

On trade, don't believe in free trade with nations not playing by the same basic set of rules. Canada, Japan, Europe, I'm for free trade. China, Malaysia, India, products from there and similar places should be subject to significant tariffs to deter the profitability of relocating jobs to places that don't play by the same rules as the others.

I'm comfortable with social programs that all Americans participate in such as unemployment insurance, social security, and medicare but have issues with the middle class vs. the poor mindset that is the natural progression of other programs.

Today's frontpage NY Post Headline:"OBAMA BEATS WEINER".

Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

(06-14-2011 12:03 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

To Obama? seriously? You are that confident.

Z

(06-14-2011 12:14 PM)zeebart21 Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 12:03 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

To Obama? seriously? You are that confident.

Z

Zee, as long as Obama loses the Senate, it won't matter. They can veto any garbage he shoves down our throats! The American people win either way.

(06-14-2011 12:03 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

Seriously?

9% unemployment, $3.50 gas, inflation is up, and you think the guy is unbeatable?

(06-14-2011 01:27 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 12:03 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

Seriously?

9% unemployment, $3.50 gas, inflation is up, and you think the guy is unbeatable?

All I can say is, you have a very short memory.

(06-14-2011 01:49 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 01:27 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 12:03 PM)HILTOPWKU Wrote:  Does not matter who runs. They will LOSE.

Seriously?

9% unemployment, $3.50 gas, inflation is up, and you think the guy is unbeatable?

All I can say is, you have a very short memory.

No. I'm old, with a very good memory... I remember Carter.

(06-14-2011 09:00 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 08:22 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  So, people from Alabama, Texas and Tennessee are not going to vote for the President? Shocking!?! I'm pretty sure he isn't counting on those electoral votes coming in. Not a big fan of his economic policies, so for me he's got a lot of work to do in order to get my vote. However, I really didn't see anything last night that made me stand up and take notice. I wish Giuliani would run as he would get my vote hands down.

My mind is open about who I'd vote for. I'm a registered Republican but I've crossed lines before and I may do so again depending on how things are going come election time.
There are people who wouldn't vote for President Obama even if he achieves world peace and has the economy booming so much that everyone is living like Tom Brady.

LMAO LOUD!!!!!! This

(06-14-2011 02:11 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  No. I'm old, with a very good memory... I remember Carter.

I remember the disaster Carter was on just about every front...it's a shame that folks don't ever seem to learn from history or can be bought off with some local boondoggle paid for with federal tax dollars.

Unemployment is now 25 percent higher than when President Zero took office, the deficit is 35 percent higher, and gas prices doubled. At this point, a repeat of the Carter performance is the best case scenario and that is not good.

(06-14-2011 03:25 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(06-14-2011 02:11 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  No. I'm old, with a very good memory... I remember Carter.

I remember the disaster Carter was on just about every front...it's a shame that folks don't ever seem to learn from history or can be bought off with some local boondoggle paid for with federal tax dollars.

Unemployment is now 25 percent higher than when President Zero took office, the deficit is 35 percent higher, and gas prices doubled. At this point, a repeat of the Carter performance is the best case scenario and that is not good.

Exactly my point.

Carter offered one good policy suggestion and it died as fast as he made it. Freeze the importation of oil at current levels and either replace it with domestic production or new technology.

Funny thing about Carter/Reagan race. Reagan barely got over 50% but won 44 states. John Anderson who was a moderate Republican running as an independent helped prevent the election from being close. Reagan would have probably taken a vote percentage closer to what Obama got (just shy of 53% instead of barely over 50%) but still would have won easily in the Electoral College.

Using a person's self-identification of party:
Democrats 22% voted Ford in 76 and 26% Reagan in 80.
Carter went from 77% of Democrats to 66%
Republicans actually supported Reagan less than they did Ford going from 90% in 76 to 84% in 1980 and Carter gained 2 points among Republicans from 76 to 80.
So-called independents voted for Reagan at the same pace as they did Ford 54%.

Carter lost too many Democrats to Anderson (and a decent number to Reagan) and lost more than a quarter of independents to Anderson.

If you start looking at the electoral math, if Obama carries the same states he carried in 2008 he wins 359-179 instead of 365-173 because of reapportionment. If Obama loses every state he lost in 2008 and loses every state (and the Nebraska 2nd district) that he carried by 5% or less he still ends up with 285 electoral votes, 15 more than he needs.

I think Obama is quite beatable but it is not a given by any stretch and merely not being Obama isn't going to win the election.

One point where Obama/Carter analogy falls apart is that we have a different set of circumstances. There is nothing comporable to the Iran hostage crisis, nothing comporable to the failed rescue, nothing similar to the oil crisis at this point. Most importantly in 1980 corporations couldn't afford to do business because high interest rates and high tax rates. In 2012 if the trend holds, corporations are flush with cash to invest just no incentive to do anything. Also if you look back, in 1980 the lowest tax rate was 14% and by the time you hit $29,900 in income it was 37%. At $45,800 it went to 49%. At $60,000 it was 54% and topped eventually at 70% for everything over $215,399. Today the bottom rate is 10% everything over $69,000 is 25% and you hit 35% at everything over $379,150. While no one likes paying taxes, there isn't the burning anger over tax rates today that there was in 1980 because the rates are dramatically lower.

In the rust belt, there is appreciation for the fact that GM and Chrysler were bailed out over GOP objections. Chrysler helped the cause by repaying early. Anyone working for an automaker or supplier is going to hard to swing GOP because of that.

The Ryan Plan on Medicare may not sell well in Florida or Arizona. Florida is usually always in play and has two additional electoral votes. Arizona was an 8 point loss to the hometown kid in Arizona. If there is Medicare backlash Arizona could be in play and they have one additional electoral vote. The Ryan plan could cost the GOP Florida and Arizona.

Ohio is always in play as is Pennsylvania they lose two and one electoral votes respectively. Assuming Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and narrow Obama win Missouri swing GOP with Florida and Arizona stays put Obama still wins by 15 electoral votes. I think New Mexico and Colorado could swing GOP as well but even with them Obama takes 271 of the 270 he needs.

Again, beatable, but to win someone needs more than I'm not him.