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hootsbox · 4817 days ago · link · · parent · post: Is anyone planning on watching tonight's GOP Debate?
Well, I've watched a couple to see what the candidates have. There are several that have served as governors (and some very successful in terms of job growth, favorable business climates, medical tort reform, etc.), some as Speaker of the House (a very tough position for anyone of any political party), Congress people, Ambassadors, and CEO's of solid companies. You may not like their political persuasion, but they all have had more executive and administrative experience than the current President did when he took office. So, I listened this evening, and I thought the questioners asked some very poignant questions. If I were to give opinion, I would rate Romney, Gingrich, Perry and Cain as the most versed in solution oriented answers. I have heard the personal baggage claims brought up on most (wouldn't it be great if we were all "saints" all our lives!), and some may be true - but to bring something up that happened 20 years prior and has not happened since - whether Democrat or Repbulican or Independent - is mostly hogwash. This is not to say we should not be interested in the private lives (as in conduct or deportment) of public officials is not important (our founders certainly agreed and made many statements to that topic). Certainly habitual private behavioral issues cannot be isolated from public behavior (if you are a thief in private, your probably will be in public for instance). But looking at the record and abilities (not whether someone just looks good or sounds good) is important.
From the half that I watched, it made me more confident that it will be Romney vs. Obama. Personally, I wish a Democrat would challenge Obama, but that's another story.
I don't care much about affairs, other baggage, etc. Yes, it influences me some, but it mostly depends on how hypocritical the candidate is about it. For that reason I lost a lot of respect for Gingrich over the whole Clinton impeachment. One thing I really look for in a President is vision. Not Ron Paul "let's change everything!" kind of vision, but, a certainty that things can be improved, a power of character, and the ability to use different tools to get things done. IMHO, Ron Paul just has a hammer in his tool chest. In this sense Romney seems the most capable. He seems to think about how to make things work. I wish he weren't such a chameleon, though. But Obama does that too. Perry really didn't impress me. Huntsman seems a reasonable choice for VP.
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thenewgreen · 4817 days ago · link ·
Huntsman would make a good running mate, no doubt. Ron Paul does have a "let's change everything!" approach which is not pragmatic, but is certainly entertaining. He also raises questions that others don't and tends to answer questions beyond the veneer, something few politicians ever do. I respect him for that but I do fear that his "hammer" would do more harm than good. At this point, I agree that Romney is the clear front runner, I think he's the only one of them that could actually beat Obama, I really do.
thenewgreen · 4817 days ago · link ·
btw, not sure what you mean by the "baggage claims", I don't think anyone here has referenced any "skeletons" in anyones closet.
thenewgreen · 4817 days ago · link ·
Of this bunch, Romney and Cain seem to be "solution" based, I don't agree with their solutions but at least they are outlining strategy in their responses. I'm not sure that I would put Perry in that category. He seems more rhetoric to me -a bumper sticker, but that's what wins elections, right? I watched the debate and I think it was a very good night for Mitt Romney and not such a great night for Perry. The rest of them were after-thoughts but only because CNBC made them to be so. If it's experience that counts for the next election, I'd argue that Barack Obama has more experience being President than all of them combined :)
Romney's poise in these debates is actually quite impressive though. -The guy's pretty darned polished.