Which "real conservative" would have defeated Obama

[emperus]

None of the above.

I agree that Huntsman would have been their best chance.

The party platform would have been an albatross to any candidate though.

Huntsman wouldn't have made it through the primaries.

 

[buckshot24]

None of those people would have beaten Obama. We had a weak ass field this year, plus its damn hard to beat an incumbent president.

 

[techs]

 

[Jimzz]

Jon Huntsman

 

[nextJin]

The only reason I voted for Paul was because of a few reasons and even then it wouldn't have been clear cut.

- He has the youth vote by far (conservatives)
- His ground game was extremely effective; pulling 10,000-15,000 people at his rallies late in the primaries
- His foreign policy was a stark contrast to the Incumbent
- His prediction of the Housing Bubble collapse
- His message of Liberty reflects largely with Americans as a whole
- He didn't have much to be attacked on

His biggest hurdles would have obviously been the overwelhming racist charges brought on by the Democrats and earmarks both of which could have been countered during the course of the campaign with party funding.

Huntsman also could have been a good choice but his problem was he was too far in the middle. You don't win by being in the middle, you win by being far left or right then going to the middle after elected.

The debates would have been difficult because of the "let them die" questions, without a doubt.

 

[Jaskalas]

If you stay committed to the second line, you can change the first line to "winning the next 10 elections". You don't get elected Santa Claus by refusing to provide the presents. You need only look at Europe.

True, but my own platform isn't about removing the presents as much as it's focused on fostering liberty through diversity. By giving power back to the States. To get a party to share that ideal without wedge issues, without the dogma of taking away presents... yeah, not likely to happen.

Republicans speak of small government, but to get a party of small government we will need to get rid of them. Eat the GOP. Reforming would cost us the next election, yes, maybe the next 10 elections, but what good is an opposition party if it's the same coin as the incumbent?

Republicans might win some elections with Neocons leading them, but WE would still lose all those elections. We the conservatives to whom they appeal. Whom they claim to represent. We who want a small, limited government of enumerated powers have lost every election since I've been alive. We don't win with Republicans, they only stand in our way. Republicans co-opt us and prevent us from winning.

For us to win, and I mean really win, we must make sacrifices now. Stop deluding ourselves that Republicans represent us. Start taking the fight to them. Forcibly divorce ourselves from the Neocons and stand tall on our principles.

Hurting the Republicans would give the Democrats some breathing room for dissent among their ranks. It opens the possibility that they can hold power while breaking their own coalition. Maybe instead of 2 parties we'd have 3 or 4. Best case scenario right there.

Someone has to take the lead, might as well be the disenfranchised.

 

[zinfamous]

Huntsman wouldn't have made it through the primaries.

well...he didn't make it through the primaries.

We already know that.

 

[zinfamous]

Huntsman also could have been a good choice but his problem was he was too far in the middle. You don't win by being in the middle, you win by being far left or right then going to the middle after elected.

I don't know if you were watching in 2008, but Obama won by being in the middle. He did it again this year.

 

[davmat787]

Real conservatism must drop the concept of winning the next election.

It has to be about destroying and replacing the GOP. To change the entire structure, to drop wedge issues, to focus the public narrative on the role of government and states. To fight for state's rights.

None of those men would win, the GOP message will not win. To be a half-Dem is asinine. To 'move' to the middle trying to buy votes through corrupt use of taxpayer dollars is abhorrent. I won't tolerate it, and want to see the GOP burn before it becomes electable through that policy.

Drop kick the "electable" Neocons, and by doing so you drop the moderates. You draw a line in the sand and stand on American principles as they were founded. Not as the Democrats define them today. You don't beat them by joining them. You beat them by walking a new, true conservative / libertarian path.

You win tomorrow by making sacrifices today. That sacrifice must be the GOP.

This exactly! And drop the religious pandering BS, that is not what conservatism is about but thanks to the R's any old retard thinks that being religious is a requirement or something.

 

[HomerJS]

None of the above.

I agree that Huntsman would have been their best chance.

The party platform would have been an albatross to any candidate though.

I did't include him beceause Republicans consider him moderate. I agree he would have the best chance in the general. However he was doomed in the primary.

Thread is more of a referendum on conservatism.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Maybe when more of the older party members die off, the GOP will drop the 20th century Christian fundamentalism parts of its platform and choose better candidates.

Fiscal conservatism, self-reliance, states rights, and a smaller federal government are all ideals that can be sold to the general public.

Ending Roe v. Wade, blocking family planning funding, discriminating against gays: not so much.

 

[yllus]

I don't know if you were watching in 2008, but Obama won by being in the middle. He did it again this year.

Romney also significantly boosted his own chances by moving to the middle via the presidential debates - all but fully ruling out boots on the ground in Iran or Syria, stating that women were to be the ones to choose what happens to their bodies, and disavowing his own taxing/spending plans.

 

[Atreus21]

In a reelection year, it is very difficult to win. Good candidates won't waste their one opportunity. So you got a half dozen 2nd tier candidates to run. Not one of them had a chance.

I'd agree with this, except that Romney definitely had a chance. Coming within 2 million of the popular vote is having a chance.

 

[Mursilis]

True, but my own platform isn't about removing the presents as much as it's focused on fostering liberty through diversity. By giving power back to the States. To get a party to share that ideal without wedge issues, without the dogma of taking away presents... yeah, not likely to happen.

Republicans speak of small government, but to get a party of small government we will need to get rid of them. Eat the GOP. Reforming would cost us the next election, yes, maybe the next 10 elections, but what good is an opposition party if it's the same coin as the incumbent?

Republicans might win some elections with Neocons leading them, but WE would still lose all those elections. We the conservatives to whom they appeal. Whom they claim to represent. We who want a small, limited government of enumerated powers have lost every election since I've been alive. We don't win with Republicans, they only stand in our way. Republicans co-opt us and prevent us from winning.

For us to win, and I mean really win, we must make sacrifices now. Stop deluding ourselves that Republicans represent us. Start taking the fight to them. Forcibly divorce ourselves from the Neocons and stand tall on our principles.

Hurting the Republicans would give the Democrats some breathing room for dissent among their ranks. It opens the possibility that they can hold power while breaking their own coalition. Maybe instead of 2 parties we'd have 3 or 4. Best case scenario right there.

Someone has to take the lead, might as well be the disenfranchised.

I think, if you really want to go toward a more fiscally conservative future, you need to go all in on the Dems. We're already headed toward becoming Greece - why slow the inevitable? It takes a major crisis to force major change. Time to force that crisis.

 

[mect]

Huntsman was the only guy that had a chance if he had Romney's money.

I don't think Huntsman's problem was a lack of money (the guy has a lot of it). Right now the republicans have a big problem because anyone that can win the primary can't win the popular election. In reallity, I think Romney was about the best candidate the Republican's could hope for in terms of being able to get through the primary and then win the election. I think any of the other front runners from the primaries would have lost by a lot more than Romney did. I agree, however, if Huntsman could have made it through the primaries, I think he could have won the election. He was the only one that was running this year though that had a chance. Unfortunately, I do fear republicans are going to take this as a sign that they didn't elect someone conservative enough. For Romney, the issue wasn't his positions, his issue was that people didn't trust him.

 

[GTaudiophile]

John Huntsman would have won yesterday...

 

[HomerJS]

Maybe when more of the older party members die off, the GOP will drop the 20th century Christian fundamentalism parts of its platform and choose better candidates.

Fiscal conservatism, self-reliance, states rights, and a smaller federal government are all ideals that can be sold to the general public.

Ending Roe v. Wade, blocking family planning funding, discriminating against gays: not so much.

Also end the "wink and nod" to racists. Start speaking out loud against your extremeists. You know the same demand made of moderate Muslims.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Ilike the last choice . We shall see who hasn't a chance . Your victory will not be long enjoyed when you discover the price your going to pay . Lots and lots of snow this year in the northeast . I mean lots really really lots and lots . But thats nothing . 2013 Year of the comet . Most here should be aware of the comet that shows up late in 2013 , well One could call it the year of the comet . But meteors are what man shall endure lots and lots all over the world . Than the final judgement . It shall be the same as the last curse moses gave to Egypt except it will be all your children . Demons and repulsives alike . The big differance . All demons die but some repulsive live to tell the story and to go into the new age . That it from me I laid out your next 3 years for ya . Your still going to have quakes famine drought and SUPER Storms . But I had to tell ya whats coming . Now I promised to leave this forum If there was election . So now I keep my word . Have a nice life with your Messiah baby murdering asswipes. Pope needs to excummuncate ever catholic that is registered demon or he is the same liar as Romney /Obama. Which he is. If you vote for a law giver. his laws fall on you as a burden. Ever baby murdered is shared by all those who want this type of law . My GOD not being real and all.He sure does manifest himmself when testimony is given . lol all the way to your terriable end

So I guess we can all say "Goodbye".......have a good life!!

 

[dullard]

I'd agree with this, except that Romney definitely had a chance. Coming within 2 million of the popular vote is having a chance.

2.68 million and counting as more democratic states come in today. If you consider only votes for Obama or Romney, Romney is down by 4.7%. Close, but not that close.

Like others have said, Huntsman was their best shot. He bailed soon enough to run in 2016. But even that will be difficult if the economy keeps slowly adding jobs.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Mitch Daniels probably could've defeated Obama, but the far-right extremists don't consider him conservative enough.

 

[soulcougher73]

Ron Paul would if the media and GOP focused on him.

 

[techs]

Ron Paul would if the media and GOP focused on him.

That's the kind of crazy that doomed Romney.

 

[Pocatello]

The Republicans can win, but they have to understand realities, they don't understand America, how they lost the Latinos vote, etc, so they need to turn off Fox News.

 

[quest55720]

The Republicans can win, but they have to understand realities, they don't understand America, how they lost the Latinos vote, etc, so they need to turn off Fox News.

Watching fox today just made me ill. All these conservative people come on and blame Romney being to liberal as the reason he lost. They ignore the people who shared their views akin and mourdock lost races they should of easily won because they are to socially conservative.

I just wish santorum would of been nominated and got his ass kicked so the party can move to sanity on social issues. I guess I'll be voting libertarian again in 4 years.

 

[Incorruptible]

Ron Paul would if the media and GOP focused on him.

This. Ron Paul would have absolutely destroyed obama or anyone else in the debates and show America he is the one

Too many idiots in this country some people shouldn't be allowed to vote