GOP Poll Part II, now updated with actual candidates

Let's continue the best GOP candidate (in terms of electability, or ideology, or whatever) discussion here. Poll coming in a few seconds with the actual candidates running (or who have a non-trivial chance of running, like Palin and Perry).

I still vote Ron Paul despite the fact that I know he won't win. I consider him the best candidate in the same way that I consider unicorn the tastiest meat, it's the impossible dream.

Rick Sanatorum? Freudian slip?

If I were actually Republican, Jon Huntsman.

If I weren't, Michelle Bachmann.

Romney is still IMO the only one who actually seems to resemble anything presidential/reasonable.

This poll needed to be made- downtown to the rescue!

(although given the majority of the OT posters, I'm pretty sure the last option will win.)

Have not paid enough attention to it yet to know which one has the best chance.

The best GOP candidate is the one that isn't crazy.

Oh wait.

For laughs: Michelle Bachmann.
For real: T-Paw.
I seriously think Pawlenty can pull it off. Sure, Minnesota is going to have a government shutdown over the budget in two weeks because Pawlenty made Enron's accountants look honest, but on the national level he can just blame the DFL, with some degree of effectiveness too. He is also smart enough to stay well-clear of social issues besides your standard conservatism tinted with religous conservatism.

T-Paw has one of the worst federal tax plans I've ever seen post-war.

Ever.

Ron Paul mostly because of the irrational hatred everyone has for him.

The gold standard is a great idea brah, especially in our economic times. Those liberals are destroying the dollar, so quickly trade me your soon-to-be-worthless dollars for this gold.

Mitt Romney: I hope the MA health plan he championed is ultimately going to sink his campaign unless the GOP decides to go with another socially conservative, economically middle-of-the-road, wishy-washy George W. Bush big-spender type guy. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Tim Pawlenty: He talks big now, but he was another tax fee-and-spender here in Minnesota, supporting useless public works projects like light rail and economically damaging policies like encouraging ethanol use. He only stood up to the DFL in the last couple years of his administration. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Herman Cain: My candidates need to be Little Caesar's or better. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Sarah Palin: Was on McCain's ticket. Enough said. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Ron Paul: I like about 80% of what the guy says, but the other 20% is almost enough to turn me off him. But 80% is better than the 1% I get with Obama. Result: amadeus votes GOP.

Rick Santorum: According to Wikipedia, "Santorum has referred to his grandfather's historical encounter with Italian fascism as an inspiration for his 2012 presidential campaign." I think that about sums it up. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Michele Bachmann: Like Palin, Bachmann might be too socially conservative for my taste. I don't think the meat of her campaign rests in those issues, though. Result: amadeus reluctantly votes GOP.

Newt Gingrich: Green goon and hasn't been relevant in the GOP for 15 years. Result: amadeus commits voter fraud and votes Libertarian twice.

Jon Huntsman: Another technocrat/authoritarian/social engineering type. These people give me the creeps. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Rick Perry: I don't know much about him, but he doesn't sound fiscally conservative enough to justify voting for him. Result: amadeus votes Libertarian.

Gary Johnson: I didn't know anything about Johnson until looking him up just now. Wherever I wrote "amadeus votes Libertarian," add "or writes in Gary Johnson." Result: amadeus votes GOP/writes in Gary Johnson.

amadeus said:

Newt Gingrich: .... Result: amadeus commits voter fraud and votes Libertarian twice.

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I am actually not sure. I'm split between Romney and Perry.

On the one hand, I think Romney will clean up. He also stands pretty close to me on the issues. But there are a few things that I disagree with him on, which makes me waver in my support.

On the other hand, I could go with Perry since he seems to be good enough. But there are two things that really weigh him down in my eyes: 1. "Rick Perry on Immigration: Import farm workers from Mexico. (Sep 2001)" I haven't heard much more about him on the importing, so I'm not sure. 2. He endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President in '08. That is a massive weight, in my eyes.

Having said all that, I shall abstain from voting for the moment until I can get my choices sorted out.

Godwynn said:

T-Paw has one of the worst federal tax plans I've ever seen post-war.

Ever.

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Sure, but does that matter to most of the voters he will attract? Not at all.
"He says he will cut taxes and cut unneeded services, like the post office which since Nixon hasn't recieved Federal funds to operate, but by God, cutting the Post Office will help our budget be balence!"

I heard T-Paw on the radio talking about foreign affairs and it made me wonder if he'd ever looked at a map before.

amadeus said:

I heard T-Paw on the radio talking about foreign affairs and it made me wonder if he'd ever looked at a map before.

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Is he able to see Canada from his backyard?

Godwynn said:

Is he able to see Canada from his backyard?

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No, but he has eaten at a Taco Bell before, so he has experiance with foreign cultures and foreign problems.

Fun Fact: I live less then ten miles from Pawlenty's house and I've been in class with on of his daughters.

madviking said:

If I were actually Republican, Jon Huntsman.

If I weren't, Michelle Bachmann.

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This. I almost like Hunstman.

IglooDude said:

Rick Sanatorum? Freudian slip?

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Dammit! I'm at work, so I wasn't about to google the guy to make sure I spelled it right...