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[Dragon]

Looking at the GOP race I see a lot of people in the race but I don't see anyone (right now) that is even close to him (in the early polls).

Question:
Do you think anyone can overtake him and win the GOP nomination?... And if so; Who and Why?


On a side note, I recently read an article on Jon Huntsman (I believe it was in Esquire), and he seems like a pretty decent guy.. (of course a lot of the polls are showing him in last place right now... Any thoughts on him?

[EWSoccer64]

First off,  Huntsman is a liberal Republican.   That is enough to eliminate him right away in this cycle.   Second, outside of Utah, he has very low name recognition.

Personally, I favor Pawlenty at this point.  His rational conservatism and his experience as a governor are attractive, and he has many positions that dovetail with my views.  He was widely expected to do very well early on, but has faded before catching fire.

Romney is clearly the frontrunner, but he is held back more by his Mormonism than Obama was his race.  (While there are some studies that say up to 5% of white Americans would never vote for a Black person, no matter what their positions, that is vastly outweighed by the automatic supportive vote by the African-American community - 98%?).   Romney is distrusted by the Tea Party as being too liberal, changing his positions too often, and havign been the Governor of Taxachussets.   

Herman Cain? - Gained no traction despite his business experience and being a darling of the Tea party.   Talks a good line, but unless he dumps $100 million of his own money into the campaign, it is over before it begins.

Bachman, Santorum, etc - no staying power, not broad enough in appeal or experience.

Ron Paul - may end up with about 15% of the total primary votes this time around, unlikely to carry a single state.   A certain loser in the general election.  This is his retirement party.   And that is too bad, as the libertarian wing of the Republicans should be stronger rather than weaker.

Trump - A joke.

Palin - A very polarizing figure.   Could win the nomination, but a certain loser in the general election since the media are  all in" against her.  And many Republicans acknowledge this.

Newt - He is toast.  Write him off.   Besides, he had too many personal flaws for many of the Republicans to become comfortable with him, and he is always too ensared by his own braininess and strivign to make a deal.

So right now, the election is Romney's to lose.  Could he beat Obama in the general election.?  Yes, but right now I judge it as too early to tell.

[EWSoccer64]

Just came across this.  It is Steve Wynn, who was a big Dem Supporter and Contributor in 2008.   And you also have Warren Buffet, who had been a confidant and advisor to Obama, speaking out against his policies today.   Apparently only GE and GM are left as Obama corporate clients.
It will be interesting if Republicans go to a straight Ford loyalty and Dems go to a straight GM loyalty.  Of course, no one buys Chrysler anyway....


>>>>>
Who doesn't love a good rant?

We certainly do, and as usual, Steve Wynn, the CEO of casino company Wynn Resorts, delivered on his company's quarterly conference call today.

Via Seeking Alpha, here's the crux of it:

I believe in Las Vegas. I think its best days are ahead of it. But I'm afraid to do anything in the current political environment in the United States. You watch television and see what's going on on this debt ceiling issue. And what I consider to be a total lack of leadership from the President and nothing's going to get fixed until the President himself steps up and wrangles both parties in Congress. But everybody is so political, so focused on holding their job for the next year that the discussion in Washington is nauseating.

And I'm saying it bluntly, that this administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime. And I can prove it and I could spend the next 3 hours giving you examples of all of us in this market place that are frightened to death about all the new regulations, our healthcare costs escalate, regulations coming from left and right. A President that seems, that keeps using that word redistribution. Well, my customers and the companies that provide the vitality for the hospitality and restaurant industry, in the United States of America, they are frightened of this administration.And it makes you slow down and not invest your money. Everybody complains about how much money is on the side in America.

You bet and until we change the tempo and the conversation from Washington, it's not going to change. And those of us who have business opportunities and the capital to do it are going to sit in fear of the President. And a lot of people don't want to say that. They'll say, God, don't be attacking Obama. Well, this is Obama's deal and it's Obama that's responsible for this fear in America.

The guy keeps making speeches about redistribution and maybe we ought to do something to businesses that don't invest, their holding too much money. We haven't heard that kind of talk except from pure socialists. Everybody's afraid of the government and there's no need soft peddling it, it's the truth. It is the truth. And that's true of Democratic businessman and Republican businessman, and I am a Democratic businessman and I support Harry Reid. I support Democrats and Republicans. And I'm telling you that the business community in this company is frightened to death of the weird political philosophy of the President of the United States. And until he's gone, everybody's going to be sitting on their thumbs.

Later in the call, he rants again about how hard it is to visit America (due to Homeland Security and visa issues), and what that means for Chinese visitors.

Meanwhile, business in Macau is booming.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/wynn-ceo-steve-wynn-conference-call-transcript-obama-2011-7#ixzz1SVA3O3Cd<<<

[Dragon]

Thanks for all the insight. I will be watching the GOP race closely this year and look forward to watching a debate... (I missed the earlier ones).

Huntsman being what he is, is probably why I liked him LOL  I am very similar in my views ("Right" person at heart, but frequently lean "Left" on some issues).

I for one don't mind That Rom's a Mormon., but I think the bible belt people may not see it the same way.

Please give a shout out on this thread if you hear of a debate coming up or any of the GOP possibles being on air...I want to hear what they have to say.  (Oh, except for Palin though...personally I cannot stand her. ...sorry and I avoid having to see her or listen to her speak at all costs) JMO

Last comment... is it too late for anyone else to announce they are throwing their hat into the ring, or has a deadline passed for that?

[EWSoccer64]

There is no official deadline for entering the primaries, although some states have rules about when you have to register to be put on the ballots.

The most prominent name being mentioned as someone who could through their hat into the race at a late date is Governor Perry of Texas.    He has decent conservative cred, but he comes from Texas.  I'd like to see a nominee come from a Blue state and bring that state over with him.     The second most talked about name is the 300 lb. gorilla in the room (literally), Governor Christie of New jersey.  Bringing New Jersey into the Red Column would be important.   And he has made some big waves since becoming governor.
   Neither would consider stepping down from Governor to become Vice President.   For VP, maybe Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania would be a good choice.  It should lock Penn. for the Republicans.

And while there is no official national deadline to enter the race, there is ever more organizational effort and personnel that need to be set up, and that takes time.   Also fundraising.   So late entrants find the talent and experience already signed up by competing campaigns.

[RamaBama]

Might be interesting to learn more about Huntsman.   

Christie  - - -  who has disavowed interest in running  - - -   might play well.  Would be very interesting getting a Republican from NJ...  that might require a serious adjustment in Dems playbook.

Perry comes from Texas.   While governor of a large state is USUALLY one of the best training grounds for President  (House of Rep member being one of the lamest), Texas is an inadequate training ground.  Granted, it's a large, diverse and powerful state.   However, the structure of state government is such that governor does not carry much power or authority  (much is vested in state commissioners).   California, NY, NJ  ...  maybe Florida?   .... all better than TX for training ground.

The core challenge for any Republican candidate - - -   being conservative enough to land the nomination, but no so conservative that you cannot successfully move back toward the middle in time for the general.   That's the quandary, and it could hurt folks like Huntsman and Romney.   The pandering to the right wing, makes it hard;  there seem to be plenty of Republican voters who - given a choice between voting for a Republican who is not aligned with a core issue or two  (such as abortion, or no revenue increase of any kind), OR not voting for a moderate - could sit out...  even if it facilitates a Dem getting elected.   It's good to have principles, but cutting off the nose to spite the face is not a good strategy.

As one who has voted for both parties over the course of my life, and given $$$  to candidates from each, it's mind boggling to see some of the sub-par folks running as Republicans.   The President's re-election effort will likely be well run (it was last time around).   Still    . . .  if the economy does not improve, even a bozo could have a chance to defeat President Obama.