Why can't the Republicans find a decent candidate to challenge Obama?

1. 86

   crankaliciousposted 12 years ago

   Why can't the Republicans find a decent candidate to challenge Obama?
   
   I'm likely to vote for Obama anyway, but none of the potential Republican candidates even seems viable. It's interesting given Republican hatred of Obama that a decent candidate isn't out there. Newt Gingrich? Seriously? I think in any year where Gingrich thinks he has a chance, Republicans have a serious problem. And I kind of like the guy.

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2. 67

   ElderYoungManposted 12 years ago

   It's really more that they don't have a position more than they don't have a candidate.  Anyone that gets up and tries to sell us more tax cuts for the rich and more cuts to services and education for the working class has no real chance.  If a Republican had the right message, they could challenge President Obama.  I mean, he hasn't exactly been able to deliver on reforming the whole corporate welfare system, look at the bailouts.  But the Republicans have actually benefited from his administration and no one they can put up has a better message.

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3. 86

   My Esotericposted 12 years ago

   I suppose "decent" is one of perspective.  I know one of my most intelligent followers, who is also pretty Conservative, would probably find several of candidates decent; I won't posit which ones but would guess it wouldn't be Romny or Huntsman, not that he doesn't consider them decent, but they don't reflect his views strongly enough.  Me, on the other hand, consider Romney the only, of the ones I have studied, I think would make a reasonable President (my choice is Obama) and actually has a chance of winning once he can stop lying (that is what politicians do, you see) about what he truly believes in order to get nominated; independents are still upset with Obama and may not go back to him and if a moderate Conservative is running, the Liberal Democrats may not vote.
   
   Back to your question.  The rest of the field are not decent in your view, and in mine, because they are so far to the right.  But, they are decent, popular, nominatable, and electable because they strike a chord with the right-wing element of the Conservative wing of the Republican Party. To the rest of us, they are decent cadidates meaning they are not electable in a general election, however, unless the economy has tanked again.  For most of them, they are so far to the right that even if unemployment and growth remains where it is, I feel it is Obama's election to lose.

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4. 61

   PoliticsNOWposted 12 years ago

   Because the Republicans hve been hijacked by the Nut Jobs know as the Tea Party.  A corporate funded group hell bent on defeating Obama no mattter who suffers along the way.  They could not care less about you as shown in the Debates.  They cheer if you die because you can't afford health insurance.

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5. 59

   HSanAlimposted 12 years ago

   The reason  the Republicans cannot find a decent candidate is because none of them are leaders and they are all too influenced by corporate fund contributions.
   Unfortunately that's the system.

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6. 71

   stephaniedasposted 12 years ago

   Because there is no one decent in Washington anymore, and I mean no one.

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7. 62

   KaisaJordanposted 12 years ago

   The Republicans can not find or come up with a serious candidate because they are not focusing on the problem at hand. Their focus is on Obama and not the economy.

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8. 69

   satice_jposted 12 years ago

   I have been considering running for President lately. I am a more often SAHM and so why not I say to myself!.Even though the thought runs through this head of mine, I still think there is no opposition because Obama is the man!
   
   Republicans have yet to get off the bandwagon.

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9. 73

   Eric Pradoposted 12 years ago

   Probably because it is like trying to find water in a flame. It just doesn't seem to exist.

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10. 64

    wingedcentaurposted 12 years ago

    It's a mistake to judge the field by the primaries. I'm sure you know as well as I do, that the politicians you see on the primaries, Democrat or Republican, are not the politicians we see in the general election, when they "tack to the center" and become more "reasonable," and so forth.
    
    What I'm saying is that this field of Republicans may not seem "decent" now, but just wait until the general election and you'll see them become infinitely more "decent" as usual. Yes, their records are on thing, but its not like we mere voters are encouraged to challenge candidates on issues, and its not like we are given much knowledge by the mass media about candidate's records or anything, i don't know.... substantive or anything like that.
    
    Remember, the Republicans are trying to out-Republican each other in the primaries (which these days, as opposed to the days of Eisenhower means, out-Right Wing each other). But whoever makes it to the general election, no matter how not "decent" he or she seems, his or her handlers will make darn sure they rehabilitate their image to make them more attractive to the "general electorate" and "swing voters."

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11. 78

    Kathleen Cochranposted 12 years ago

    I don't think the party has recovered from the last Republican president.  Many of the candidates in the field are using a race with an incumbent (always hard to win) to gain name recognition for the next election when it is more likely the party not in the White House will win. And in that election, the Republican big guns will no doubt come out of hiding and go for it.

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12. 60

    KmCeicillaG011011posted 12 years ago

    Ron Paul. He is a republican and he has great points for our country. The reason for him not being on the ballot for the elections was because people refuse to listen to his beliefs. If you want to know more google his name. And learn.

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13. 58

    Modern Greetingsposted 12 years ago

    Republicans are, as stated above, more interested in defeating Obama personally then fixing the problems at hand. Personally I think that "Get him!" attitude is deplorable and incredibly self righteous, how these candidates get elected to state congress, governorships, or what have you is beyond me.
    
    And when it comes down to it, I mean really comes down to it; how can you measure up to Obama. Take away all the smear and trash talking and what do you have?
    
    A president who saved MILLIONS of jobs by restructuring the automotive industry and bailing them out. A president who has killed over a dozen terrorist leaders and turned the war's focus from George Bush's oil campaign to where true evil lies. A president who has fought diligently to do what no other president has tried; universal healthcare! A president who kept us from a depression (Under Bush it would of been a sure thing). And a president who has (for some reason) tried to get input on both sides on things like the debt, war, economy, and regulation.

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14. 0

    icountthetimesposted 12 years ago

    Polling suggests that Romney is a decent opponent to challenge Obama. In the current climate I think Obama would struggle to beat him. I do agree that the rest of the field is very weak though, and I don't see how candidates like Bachmann or Perry could beat Obama.

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15. 66

    Ralph Deedsposted 12 years ago

    Because the Tea Party has extinguished nearly all the reasonable Republican voices and induced the rest to prostitute themselves in an effort to be nominated.

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16. 61

    Brian Weekesposted 12 years ago

    The main reason that Republicans cannot find a decent candidate to challenge Obama is that I am not an American and therefore cannot stand for the Republican vote. If I could then I think I would be a decent candidate.

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17. 60

    grazeilselposted 12 years ago

    no one really wants to preside over the next collapse

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18. 60

    hawkdad73posted 12 years ago

    The candidates they have to choose from show that they are trying way too hard.

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19. 75

    Levertis Steeleposted 12 years ago

    If we cannot be part of a good solution, we should not complain about the problem. Have you ever seen nonvoters complain about the person they put in office by not voting? They have no right!
    
    It amazes me how people rave about Obama's drunk uncle or his fake birth certificate, or his mom's insurance policy. Silly! These people badly want to nail him. I just wish that they would stop the embarrassing, petty accusations.

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20. 52

    michelegoldsteinposted 12 years ago

    I think it's because they have very high and limited expectations and no one with money or who can raise the money fits all their criteria.

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21. 59

    Xenonlitposted 12 years ago

    It is now December, 2011, and it is still unclear why no sober, sane, lucid and scandal free man or woman seems able or willing to step forward. Perhaps it is because they have made such a mess of things that they do not want to clean any of it up.

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22. 61

    Tom Headposted 12 years ago

    Because the only candidates smart enough to beat Obama are too smart to try.
    
    Incumbents tend to win reelection, so the most viable Republican candidates are waiting for 2016. The only candidates running this year are the candidates who know they won't get nominated in 2016 anyway (Romney and Santorum because they lack party support in their respective home states, Gingrich and Paul because they will be too old).
    
    2016 will bring a MUCH more promising slate of GOP candidates. Republicans, don't get depressed. Democrats, don't get cocky.

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23. 59

    cascolyposted 12 years ago

    maybe because the right wing, tea party and other extremists have taken over the republican party and no viable candidate cansurvive the primaries and then win the genral election in which more moderate voices prevail
    
    re gingrich, i'd prefer he jsut get back to writing historical counterfactual histories
    
    http://cascoly.hubpages.com/hub/Gettysb … ch-version

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