Some Thoughts on the GOP Race and Tuesday’s Debate

So, I’ve been following the GOP race pretty closely, and I thought last night’s debate was a big one. At least for me it really helped to clarify some things. So, here are my thoughts on things thus far:

- Cain has been the most recent surge in popularity, but it’ll be interesting to see what the polls say in the wake of this debate. I think his popularity was because of the boldness of his tax plan (and, like Newt Gingrich, I applaud him for his boldness and for starting a good conversation). That being said, the likely results of his tax plan are starting to come out through various studies, and it looks like it would end up being a significant increase on the middle class (folks like me). I wonder if even Herman Cain realized the full effect his plan would have. After all, he is just a pizza company CEO.

That brings me to my main concern over Herman Cain, he probably knows how to run a good business, but he’s out of his depth when it comes to taxes, foreign affairs, defense, etc. For example, he had no clue what he was talking about when posed with the question of whether or not he would negotiate with terrorists for hostages. In an interview he said he could “see himself authorizing that kind of transaction.” In the debate he said his policy would be to never negotiate with terrorists, but that he would look at each case individually. That doesn’t even make sense.

All Herman Cain has talked about is the 999 plan. I’d love to hear about absolutely anything else at this point.

- Romney is easily the most consistent candidate.  There have been surges in popularity for others, but it hasn’t taken long for any of them to lose their momentum and fall behind Romney again. The most obvious examples have been Bachmann, Perry, and Romney.

I think Romney has done a good job at answering his critics. For example, when confronted with so-called “RomneyCare,” and the fact that it was, in some ways, the basis for Obama’s healthcare plan, Romney pointed out that they came up with a state solution to a state problem (one that the majority of people in the state still like) and that he would never have wanted that plan to be put into effect on a national level. He’s been consistent on his stance that the federal government is too deep into the healthcare system.

I like that he always answers questions directly and doesn’t really change the subject or answer vaguely (like some other candidates coughbachmanncough). I also like that that he has both private sector experience and political experience.

- I’m pretty confident that Michele Bachmann’s election strategy is to change the subject to things that everyone agrees on. She constantly talks about how we need to get rid of Obama and his healthcare plan. She’s talking to REPUBLICANS… they’re on board that ship already. Stop saying it. She really hasn’t said much about what she would actually do once in office, aside for repealing “ObamaCare.”

- Newt Gingrich is the calm voice of reason on the platform. When everyone else gets heated, he usually steps in and everyone seems to stop and really listen to him. I think all of the other candidates really respect him and his experience.

Newt doesn’t seem to be trying to beat anyone. He doesn’t attack anyone and he has no problem agreeing with the other candidates. He seems to be the least like a puppet or, in other words, the least coached. He answers questions frankly and honestly and I nearly always agree with what he says. He also seems to be the most capable of facilitating discussion, which might make him extremely successful when it comes time to deal with both the right and the left.

I don’t think Newt is likely to get the top spot, but I think I’d vote for him if he did.

- I’m not going to spend much time talking about Santorum, because he doesn’t have a realistic shot. That being said, I think he deserves more consideration than he’s getting. Santorum is by far the most stubborn candidate, but he seems generally intelligent; like Romney and Newt, he answers questions directly and his responses seem to be more than just saying what people want to hear in order to gain their votes. My main criticism is that he comes off a little on the angry side.

- I don’t think Ron Paul has much of a shot either. The media had their way with him early on by writing him off (TV media is terrible, by the way). Ron Paul has the most extreme views and plans about cutting government, and while I agree with a lot of the things he says, I don’t see him being able to get much of it done, even if congressional power does shift back to conservatives. I don’t think he’ll get enough support to just dump five cabinet posts. My thoughts about all his plans, though, are this: he just might be right.

My prediction – Romney holds his ground through the rises and falls of the others, wins the GOP nomination, chooses someone other than his fellow candidates as his running mate, and wins the general election in 2012

What I’d like to see happen – Given the current field, I’d like to see Romney win the GOP nomination, choose Newt Gingrich as his running mate, and win the general election in 2012.

One more thought – If Obama does in fact get reelected, Christie wins by a landslide in 2016. I think Christie is bound to be the president at some point, whatever else happens.

Advertisement