Who will run in 2012

[SubGod22]

A few names have popped up today. Gov. Pawlenty has hired someone to be in charge of an exploratory committee or something.

I thought I just saw a headline that Romney has announced the same.

And some former Democratic Gov. of LA. Buddy Roemer I believe.

[SubGod22]

Former Louisiana Governor Roemer Takes Presidential Plunge Despite Iowa 'Problem'

Mitt Romney Announces Exploratory Committee for 2012 Presidential Bid

Pawlenty to Hire Ayers as Campaign Manager

I guess Pawlenty did the Committee thing a few weeks back but just hired Ayers. Still, these are the only three I've seen with anything "official" yet.

I'm curious if any Dems will challenge Obama. That would make things interesting...

[Shirley Schmidt]

I'm curious if any Dems will challenge Obama. That would make things interesting...

I never for the life of me thought that I would say it but I would welcome a run by Hillary against BO.

[SubGod22]

I'm curious if any Dems will challenge Obama. That would make things interesting...

I never for the life of me thought that I would say it but I would welcome a run by Hillary against BO.

Polls show her as being stronger against the Republicans than Obama. At least they did a week or two ago when I saw some.

[shock]

Palin/Nugent '12

Has a ring to it.

[SB Shock]

I'm curious if any Dems will challenge Obama. That would make things interesting...

I never for the life of me thought that I would say it but I would welcome a run by Hillary against BO.

Polls show her as being stronger against the Republicans than Obama. At least they did a week or two ago when I saw some.

I doubt the democrats will have anybody legitimately challenge Obama. Odds are Obama will when a second term because:

1. Money, Money (Obama will have plenty, Republicans won't)
2. Lack of Quality Republican challenger

Romney is the Republican front runner - but this is guy who mandated health insurance in Massachusetts and has other baggage - the biggest question is where has he been since the last primary? If he was a true leader he wouldn't have been playing the role of "invisible man". He is the hold your nose candidate.

Palin - gag me with a spoon.

Pawlenty?? I guess if you don't fall asleep during his speech.

Huckabee?

Trump? I guess he might nullify (1)

Gingrich? He doesn't have very good fundamentals and they are not going to get better.

Sorry, I keep looking for another Ronald Regan and I just don't see him in this cast of characters. Republican's priority needs to be to expand the hold on the house and take back the Senate.

[Maggie]

So who would you like to see run? I had this conversation with a very liberal friend of mine two weeks ago; and the names I tended to favor seemed to be better fits for a 2016 run.

It is true that President Obama (despite his poor performance) must, at this time, be considered the prohibitive favorite but he will not be unbeatable. My liberal friend also agrees with this – she is not very happy with the President right now albeit for different reasons.

[SubGod22]

Santorum Announces Presidential Exploratory Committee...

[wu_shizzle]

So who would you like to see run? I had this conversation with a very liberal friend of mine two weeks ago; and the names I tended to favor seemed to be better fits for a 2016 run.

It is true that President Obama (despite his poor performance) must, at this time, be considered the prohibitive favorite but he will not be unbeatable. My liberal friend also agrees with this – she is not very happy with the President right now albeit for different reasons.

Given the current group of Republican retreads and wanna-be's, I say we go young.

Marco Rubio has more legislative experience than Barack did, so why not?

[SubGod22]

Some interesting numbers from Rasmussen

They mean little right now, but it was interesting to me.

[SB Shock]

So who would you like to see run? I had this conversation with a very liberal friend of mine two weeks ago; and the names I tended to favor seemed to be better fits for a 2016 run.

None of the guys (or girls) they are talking about now. I do like Representative West. But he's not ready for a run.

I also kind of like Christy (mainly because he annoy democrats so much). But I don't know really where he stands on all the issues.

It is true that President Obama (despite his poor performance) must, at this time, be considered the prohibitive favorite but he will not be unbeatable. My liberal friend also agrees with this – she is not very happy with the President right now albeit for different reasons.

He is another recession or foreign policy fiasco away from being dumped.

[SubGod22]

Sounds like Michelle Bachmann may throw her hat into the ring soon.

Bachmann is a Tea Party regular but Monday's event is notable since it took place in the "first in the south" primary state of South Carolina. She has been spent time in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and is a prolific fundraiser, packing away $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2011.

And during the speech, Bachmann suggested 2012 will be the Tea Party's time.

"Because in 2012, that's our chance to win the Triple Crown, the House of Representatives, the United States Senate. And we'll send a change of address form to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

[Maggie]

So who would you like to see run? I had this conversation with a very liberal friend of mine two weeks ago; and the names I tended to favor seemed to be better fits for a 2016 run.

None of the guys (or girls) they are talking about now. I do like Representative West. But he's not ready for a run.

I also kind of like Christy (mainly because he annoy democrats so much). But I don't know really where he stands on all the issues.

It is true that President Obama (despite his poor performance) must, at this time, be considered the prohibitive favorite but he will not be unbeatable. My liberal friend also agrees with this – she is not very happy with the President right now albeit for different reasons.

He is another recession or foreign policy fiasco away from being dumped.

Obviously, I am not enamored with any of the usual suspects either. Representative West needs to stay where he is and continue to “make trouble” – I doubt a run at the Presidency has even crossed his mind.

Christie declared he would have to commit suicide in order to put a lid on rumors he will run. He certainly would have a firm grasp on the domestic side and would run rings around our commander-in-chief. But I doubt he will pull the trigger.

Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio are always on the tip of my tongue. Three months ago I might have made the argument that while they are impressive men they might not be ready – those days may be firmly enounced in my rearview mirror. In any event, both have said no thanks.

There are others out there but they have to prove they can actually get elected.

So I suppose I will just hang out - waiting on Godot. Which may not be such a bad thing right now.

[Maggie]

Anyone who wants to unseat President Obama is going to have to adopt some version of Ryan’s budget plan. And I agree with this author, I am not sure I trust any other member of the GOP to be able to clearly and concisely defend the plan – I only trust Ryan at this point. No one else has the arguments and facts on the tip of their tongue. Ryan knows this cold.

I hope he changes his mind.

Ryan’s budget plan will continue to be debated in congressional office buildings, at family barbeques, and on street corners. But if there is one weakness in the recent public rollout for the “Path to Prosperity,” it is that it is a singular document tied to a singular man — one with a preternatural ability to explain it. In order to sell Paul Ryan’s plan, you have to be Paul Ryan.

Thus, if the consequences for the nation are as dire as Ryan predicts, it may not be hyperbolic to say the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. Without his dogged determination, the desire within Congress to avert fiscal Armageddon simply wouldn’t exist. And if Ryan were to be caught in some kind of scandal, his plan would likely never cross the lips of another member of Congress.

But it is his willingness to be the nation’s fiscal whistleblower that has catapulted Ryan into the political stratosphere. He is now the nation’s foremost Obama nemesis — and although he’s eight years younger than the president, Ryan looks more and more like the adult in the relationship. In a presidential debate, Ryan would be the last candidate Obama would want to see walking across the stage to shake his hand.

Mr. Ryan Goes to Wisconsin

[SubGod22]

Former New Mexico Governor, Adventure Seeker, Mountain Climber Faces Tough Odds to Win GOP Nomination

If you have never heard of Gary Johnson you are not alone. He may not have strong name recognition nationwide but that is not stopping the former Republican Governor of New Mexico from kicking off a run for the White House, despite the likelihood he'll face a crowded and well-funded field of competitors.

Unlike many better-known GOP hopefuls, Johnson, 58, is skipping the exploratory stage and throttling into the 2012 race, announcing his intentions today in Concord, New Hampshire, hoping his libertarian credentials will appeal to voters in a state where "Live Free or Die" is more mantra than motto.

"My entire life I have watched government spend more than what it takes in and I just always thought there would be a day of reckoning with regard to that spending and I think that day of reckoning is here," said Johnson.

While it seems out of the ordinary for a serious bid, the fast-forward campaign is par for the course on Johnson's part. When he ran for Governor in 1994 it was his first political race and he won. The self-made millionaire, who built his fortune in the construction industry, won reelection in 1998 in a state dominated by Democrats. During his time in office he vowed not to raise taxes and vetoed 750 bills.