The smartest in the GOP field?

1. 90

   habeeposted 13 years ago

   I'd have to say Newt.
   
   Next would be a tie between Mitt and Huntsman.
   
   Ron Paul and Cain next.
   
   Down at the bottom would be Bachmann and Perry.
   
   I haven't decided about Santorum.

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      kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, Newt would probably be my guess, too. Too bad he's such a slimeball.

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      1. 90

         habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, Newt doth some baggage have. Then again, Bill was no saint, either, yet he was a good president.

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         1. 82

            kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            That's true.

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            quatrainposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            This election is way too important to make it a sexual purity contest.

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      quatrainposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Newt and Huntsman, with Romney a close third. Last would have to be Perry, after last night.

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      Jeff Berndtposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's kinda like being the coolest kid at the nerd table, isn't it?
      
      No, I respect Newt's intelligence, and Ron Paul's. none of the other GOP players have impressed me lately. Cain's flailing, ham-handed response to the sexual harassment story shows that he's not all that "street smart" as some would argue. Rick Perry is probably smarter than he lets on (like W), but he'd also be as good for the country as W was, so that's a red flag right there.
      I could support Colin Powell, but he'll never run, so that's just me dreaming.
      
      Romney is probably the best choice out of the lot; he stands out because he's not as crazy as a really crazy thing, and has demonstrated that he can be a pragmatist instead of an ideologue. But that probably just means that he'll never get the nomination. Oh, well.
      
      Ron Paul would be a good candidate, but the GOP won't nominate him because he wants to defund the military as well as Social Security, and they don't want to cut defense spending even a tiny bit.
      
      My prediction? The GOP will run a right-wing ideologue who will lose points with the mainstream of America for b@t$#!t craziness (take your pick, there are many in the field at the moment) and Obama will win a 2nd term, on the grounds that he isn't nucking futs.

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      1. 61

         Daniel Carterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You might just be right, Jeff. I've thought along these lines myself. If there is no clear Obama replacement—and I don't think the Repubs have one—then I do think that the abysmal lack of a clear demo contender against Obama will cause a default vote for keeping Obama in office.
         
         But this crazy, batsh** world changes in an instant these days, so who knows what could happen between now and Nov 2012.
         
         I wasn't expecting Paterno to get fired when he had already resigned. Crazy batsh** world. (But that's a different can of worms...)

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      Texasbetaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Newt is very intelligent, though every one of his ideas are lunacy. They always have been. Don't forget, his OWN party through him out of office after his Speakership. You all should read the Rolling Stone article this month...you'll learn a great deal about Newt.

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I guess would mean that the GOP is in serious trouble.

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   1. 90

      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Lol, Cags. Newt has a PhD in history. I'd love to see a debate between Newt and Obama.

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         couturepopcafeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         1.  Newt  2.  Cain
         
         Newt has the brain and the experience in the political field.
         Cain has the common sense and the 'street' smarts.
         
         Let's hope they are put on the same ticket in that order - Pres./ VP

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            habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Newt is a little too conservative for me, but I do think he's super smart and could get things done. I just worry about exactly what he might get done. lol. Right now, I like Mitt the most. He's not too far to the right. I'm actually not crazy about any of them that might have a shot at the nomination. Huntsman would have been my #1 choice.

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               Daniel Carterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Newt is very intelligent but doesn't have a lick of common sense. He is a walking billboard for everything gone wrong in his life. He just can't help himself. In that light, I think his intelligence loses its value, to me. Particularly in a high office like the presidency.
               
               I want to like Ron Paul more than I do, but there are just too many red flags the more I know what he's about.
               
               Mitt may be able to turn the economy around, but then he'd own the country. He is incredibly self serving. Huntsman is an extremely smart man. Most people don't know how equitable and sensible he really is. He doesn't follow the normal conservative trends, is more progressive, and did a fabulous job as governor, and then as ambassador. However, he won't win because he's an unknown entity and a dark horse. He would have to pay his dues and try again in 4 years.
               
               And the rest...well...they certainly advertise themselves well.
               
               I think Hilary is going to have to come out of her shell and run again in order to get a good democrat on the ticket. I don't see many other viable options.

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                  habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Hi, Daniel! I wish Hil would run, too. And I just don't understand how Huntsman has been largely ignored.
                  
                  Funny, I used to really dislike Hillary. My best friend, however, is a huge Hillary fan. Since I have so much respect for my friend, I began to learn more about Hil, and she def grew on me! lol
                  
                  I think a couple of moderates (or at least not TOO far to the right or left) should run together - one R and one D - as POTUS and VP. Wouldn't that be a hoot? Hil and Huntsman '12!!
                  
                  Oh, and I agree with you about Ron Paul. Sometimes he makes so much sense, I'm like, "Go Ron!" But then he comes up with something nutty.

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                     kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     "And I just don't understand how Huntsman has been largely ignored."
                     
                     Me either. Granted, I'm a liberal so my opinion doesn't count, but he seems by far the most sensible candidate the GOP has right now.
                     
                     "Oh, and I agree with you about Ron Paul. Sometimes he makes so much sense, I'm like, "Go Ron!" But then he comes up with something nutty."
                     
                     Yup, I'd love for him to get the nomination, because it would make for the most interesting debates since Lincoln-Douglas, but actually become president? Um, no.

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                  2. 61

                     Daniel Carterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     I absolutely detested the Clintons back in the 90's. But the more I let all my biases go and as I discovered that I really didn't believe most anything I was taught, I looked at what they did (warts and all) and realized that despite their faults, they have positively influenced the entire world in many ways. I don't know that I would like Hilary as a person at all. But she is unflappable in almost every scenario. Doesn't even flinch under pressure.
                     
                     Huntsmans are a billionaire family. Jon senior has struggled with cancer and has been a huge benefactor to cancer research and treatment. They understand their position and influence and are pretty philanthropical about their approach to a lot of things. Jon Jr. and Mary Kay are as plastic looking as Mitt and his wife, but they are really great people. He is completely consistent in everything he says and does, unlike Mitt. I've watched them both, since Mitt also took over the 2002 Winter Olympic debacle in Utah, and I've rubbed shoulders on the fringes with people who know them well.
                     
                     Mitt really is a good guy, just a big self-serving ego. And so that makes him inconsistent about what his motives really are. Huntsman has always thought and acted independently of conservative pressure, and scared the liberals. But he's completely consistent, as far as I can tell.
                     
                     As far as dems are concerned, Hilary is the only one I can even wrap my brain around that I would consider voting for. But that story will yet unfold, I'm sure.

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         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That's nice. All it tells me is that he can be more creative in his deception.
         I'm sure.

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         quatrainposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Me too. Newt comes across as more authentic, and equally quick, if not quicker, on his feet.

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         prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         A good sense of history will be good, so that one can see beyond and learn the lessons in the past. Plus he is a career politician, lots of experiences.

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         Texasbetaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Seriously? Huntsman is the only one on the entire stage who isn't either out of their mind or as corrupt as Dick Fuld.

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