Newt, done. Santorum, a league of his own. Bachmann, done. Ron Paul; sometimes you think he makes too much sense to be president and sometimes can't imagine him being anything else. Mitt, less electable this time than last. Herman Cain, 9-9-9 beats 7-7-7. Rick Perry, "The science of climate change is unsettled": baloney. Presidential candidates from Texas and Alaska should stay home in wide open spaces where their ideas can freely roam. That leaves John Huntsman, paying attention to the math of 2012.
What none want to admit; presidential candidates and presidents -- of any persuasion -- have very few tools, themselves, to alter the path of the economy. America is ill-equipped to be competitive in a world economy where technological advantages we invented can be grafted onto low-cost labor nations 24/7. Of all the candidates, Huntsman-- with his experience in China-- understands this best.
The broad benefits of technology and productivity improvements through the spectacular growth of Silicon Valley masked the obvious signs of industrial weakness straight through Reagan and the Clinton terms. California's loss was Utah's gain. Period.
Bill Gates had more to do with globalizing the world economy than Bill Clinton, and every president since has sold short the American middle class in favor of so called free trade. What presidents can do, is to influence the degree of speculation in the economy. In the modern era, the gamblers have been king of the realm and none more so than George W. Bush, the last "conservative" in the White House. Remember, "The Ownership Society"?
My quik sampling of Republican ether: Rick Perry can win the Republican nomination, but he can't win the presidency. Huntsman seems the most adult in the room, but is there enough sense in the GOP to get him through the primary? So far, not by a country mile.
15 comments:
You are spot on about Huntsman. The other candidates offer Americans nothing but Far Right extremism and incivility.
An America, trying to recover from the Bush years certainly, needs better quality candidates!
"Huntsman seems the most adult in the room, but is there enough sense in the GOP to get him through the primary? "
Gimlete, as a right leaning independent voter, I cannot believe we actually agree on Huntsman. You've written my thoughts. I'm even going to break out my check book to his campaign. He gets it by a long shot, but I have to wonder if some of the zealot's in the GOP do. I said "some" not all, just to clarify!
Go Hunstman!
Huntsman is a liberal. So is Ron Paul. What a surprise that you only like the liberal candidates!
If the Republicans nominate another liberal like Bush and McCain, they might as well kiss their election chances goodbye. America needs a conservative to fix the mess Obama has made.
Huntsman is levelheaded (hence he'll NEVER gett the GOP nomination). The rest belong in a mental institution.
Yes it occurred to me that writing positively about Huntsman might not accrue to the candidate's advantage. :) On the other hand, big oil and coal know the facts are on his side on global warming. They sow seeds of disarray and then complain that there is no order in regulations. Like any polluting industry. On the positive side, Huntsman's money is not exactly from clean, green industry. He apparently tolerated the amazing air pollution that makes Salt Lake City as bad as Beijing some winter days. Plus he has deep pockets and access to big money. Looking at it from oil and coal's point of view, is it a worse nightmare to have Huntsman or a weakened president in the White House? Don't bet they wouldn't support a candidate who can't beat Obama because they like Obama right where he is. For now, big oil and coal are playing Perry's way. But I bet they haven't made up their minds.
"What none want to admit; presidential candidates and presidents -- of any persuasion -- have very few tools, themselves, to alter the path of the economy."
Interesting point. There was an article in "The Atlantic" several years ago discussing this very topic. I wish I could remember when it was published. Would be a good read now.
Listening to GOP Presidential candidates talk about science is like listening to children talk about sex: They know it exists, they have strong opinions about what it might mean, but they don't have a clue what it's actually about.
WoW!
The only choice is , finally, Ron Paul! We need regroup and huddle up before we can move forward. We must alienate 'politics as normal'. We have exported our society and those who received it made it better.
Ron Paul? I want to like him, but then he goes on about no Nuke watchdog in Iran and furthers to lift the sanctions against Iran.
He doesn't sound like a fan of Israel, which would be nuked by Iran if they could. And, he's been pretty anti Israel for a long time.
Hunstman is the best positioned at foreign policy. To me, this matters. I believe one of our greatest threats is China and he is in a superior position above all the candidates on this issue.
Huntsman also believes in science - as do I and most people I know, even normal card carrying Republican's!
However, I think all the GOPer's are pro life, that I don't like. But, as long as they don't mess around with Roe v Wade or any other Federal policy on abortion, I could bite my tongue and vote for Huntsman against Obama. But, he'd be the only current candidate I'd support, I give a thumbs down to the rest of the lot.
Ron Paul is ditzy.
BTW - Ron Paul also thinks global warming is a hoax. It is one of his more sane positions.
Al Gore is a crook and a charlatan who created the global warming scam. If I were king, Al Gore would be in jail and subject to daily water-boarding just for fun.
Cain is the antichrist 999 upside down is 666! BE AFRAID PEOPLE!!!!
Ron Paul a liberal? Thats like saying Chhech and Chong are DEA agents.
This whole field including Obama is making me jones for Lyndon Larouche.
Speaking of Lyndon Larouche...my brother always said he could predict who was going to be president by who my mother voted for...(bless her soul, she wasn't the brightest bulb -- like most of the US voters). Well I prepped her to tell my brother she was voting for Lyndon Larouche. She did it with a straight face, he almost had a heart attack.
I just came from a reception with Gov. Huntsman by far the only hope for the Repulicans to win back the White House.
"Huntsman also believes in science - as do I and most people I know, even normal card carrying Republican's!"
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Diggy, when I wrote this, I was referring to the Evolution issue, not the Gore is a billionaire due to his insider deals on "global warming" now called climate change.
Gore has made a handsome profit from instilling fear, all the while investing in company's who would profit from legislation like Cap N Trade, etc.
I honestly do not want to debate the above for a whole bunch of reasons because that really wasn't where I was going. I just cannot believe it when I hear some of these GOPer's on the Evolution issue
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