2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[Dark Sage]

Know what I think?

I think that Romney, the most likely nominee, is the same position now that he was last time. He got the same amount of votes as he did last time, and more than likely, the same people voted for him. His agenda is basically the same, except that he's a little more focused on opposing Obama. Other than that, he's the same as before.

The difference is overall, he's the frontrunner, because the GOP simply does not have someone with as much appeal as McCain did this time around. The GOP has the second-best candidate this time because the best they had is no longer running. And that does not make things look good for the GOP.

I may be speaking too soon. Anything can happen between now and November. But still...

[Roy Karrde]

Know what I think?

I think that Romney, the most likely nominee, is the same position now that he was last time. He got the same amount of votes as he did last time, and more than likely, the same people voted for him. His agenda is basically the same, except that he's a little more focused on opposing Obama. Other than that, he's the same as before.

The difference is overall, he's the frontrunner, because the GOP simply does not have someone with as much appeal as McCain did this time around. The GOP has the second-best candidate this time because the best they had is no longer running. And that does not make things look good for the GOP.

I may be speaking too soon. Anything can happen between now and November. But still...

I dont see how you could think McCain was the best candidate. He believed that being a moderate in terms of being moderate on Immigration reform and such would help him with Hispanics when it did not. He was not in anyway handsome like Mitt or Obama. And the military service aspect doesn't matter to voters, unlike Romney's success plan for companies and the Olympic committee.

[Dark Sage]

Maybe I misspoke. McCain wasn't the "best" candidate. After all, he did some pretty dumb things. But he was the one that the most registered Republicans liked. (He won the nomination, didn't he?) Romney may be the frontrunner now, but he doesn't have the same appeal that McCain did last time.

[Roy Karrde]

Maybe I misspoke. McCain wasn't the "best" candidate. After all, he did some pretty dumb things. But he was the one that the most registered Republicans liked. (He won the nomination, didn't he?) Romney may be the frontrunner now, but he doesn't have the same appeal that McCain did last time.

Registered Republicans did not really like McCain, infact most hated him. The only reason he was able to win and not Romney was because A: Romney dropped out pretty early in the race. and B: Huckabee was able to split alot of the anti McCain votes with Romney.

You have to remember Republicans were not enthusiastic at all about voting for McCain the only reason they ended up becoming enthusiastic is because he brought on Sarah Palin as VP.

[Dark Sage]

Eh?

Maybe you recall I said he did a lot of dumb things... Most would agree that Palin was one of the dumbest.

[Roy Karrde]

Eh?

Maybe you recall I said he did a lot of dumb things... Most would agree that Palin was one of the dumbest.

In terms of getting the Republican base enthusiastic, I would utterly disagree. Before the Palin nod, the Republican base was down and out. After it not only was the "I am not voting for McCain, I am voting for Palin" vote coming out, but McCain was leading Obama for the first time. Palin not only got the Republican base behind him, but suddenly got alot of interest in the McCain campaign. Admittedly he had no chance in the end, not because of Palin, but because of the economic downfall. But take that out of the picture, and the choice of Palin probably would have been seen as the thing that saved McCain's campaign.

As proof I give you this from the Washington Post.

Love her or loathe her, the data appear somewhere close to conclusive that Palin did little to help -- and, in fact, did some to hurt -- McCain's attempts to reach out to independents and Democrats. But just because Palin doesn't appear to have helped McCain move to the middle doesn't mean that picking her was the wrong move.

Remember where McCain found himself this past summer. He had won the Republican nomination, but the GOP base clearly felt little buy-in into his campaign. A slew of national polls reflected that energy gap, with Democrats revved up about the election and their candidate and Republicans somewhere between tepid and glum.

Enter Palin, who was embraced with a bear hug by the party's conservative base. All of a sudden, cultural conservatives were thrilled at the chance to put "one of their own" in the White House. In fact, of the 60 percent of voters who told exit pollsters that McCain's choice of Palin was a "factor" in their final decision, the Arizona senator won 56 percent to 43 percent.

For skittish conservatives looking for more evidence that McCain understood their needs and concerns, Palin did the trick. It's hard to imagine conservatives rallying to McCain -- even to the relatively limited extent that they did -- without Palin on the ticket. And without the base, McCain's loss could have been far worse.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sh...#ixzz1ibOhHQqT

[Dark Sage]

All I know, Roy, is that when I see this woman making some asinine statement on television (usually on the Fox Network) my heart skips a beat thinking that this was the person who might have been next in line for the highest office in this country.

[Asilynne]

I dont see how you could think McCain was the best candidate. He believed that being a moderate in terms of being moderate on Immigration reform and such would help him with Hispanics when it did not. He was not in anyway handsome like Mitt or Obama. And the military service aspect doesn't matter to voters, unlike Romney's success plan for companies and the Olympic committee.

Mitt isn't very handsome I have to say, Santorum is better looking as is his wife, however I sure hope how good a pres looks isn't a major factor in whether they get voted into office or not! (Then again, an acquaintence from high school did say she voted for Kerry/Edwards just because she thought Edwards was sexy *rolls eyes*)