Skip to main content

Today's Poll: Which of the top three finishers in Iowa has the best shot at beating Obama?

By Howard B. Owens
Cj Gorski

Ron Paul. He is the only Republican that Independents and Democrats would vote for, and would bring the youth vote away from Obama back to the Republicans. At the same time Republicans have to stop only worrying about discrediting and beating the president and worry about the issues our country is facing. Our country comes before party. To bad our two party system will always work as followed.

>Party A voted in
>Party A messes up
>Party B says they'll fix what Party A did
>Party B is stopped from doing what they need to do by Party A
>Party B loses next election
>Party A messes up again
>Repeat

Jan 4, 2012, 9:43am Permalink
Jeff Allen

I voted for Bush twice, the second time holding to the argument of what is "best for the country". I will not do it again. Voting outside of your core set of principles for the good of country is not good for the country at all. It simply means we as citizens have acquiesced to voting on odds and not conscience. My support is behind Rick Santorum. I know he is a looooong shot and I understand the whole splitting the vote being a victory for the other side, but I must lay my head down at night knowing that I voted for what is right, not what is politically expedient. Most will say that I am wasting my vote, but nothing is wasted when it is done with full faith, conscience, and principle.

Jan 4, 2012, 10:03am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Ron Paul is not the answer either. What I see is just another man playing political games. This is a man who has things written in his own newsletter and then when it is scrutinizes; claimed he had no idea it was written and published. I can only imagine what would cross his desk in the White House that he will sign and not know what it is for. He believes we caused 9-11, that is not a fact. He thinks the war on drugs is useless and only hurts doctors. Wants to weakness our national defense because, he feels if we leave others alone; and then they will leave us alone. A FALSE BELIEF! They will only be inspired to attack harder and view us as weak. He jumps ship for his own benefit to get himself in higher office. For example, goes to Party A to get a Party A nomination, so when that fails, jumps to Party B to get a Party B nomination. Well you can figure it out. He should stop wasting his supporters’ money and just run third party period! I am amazed that people have no issue bringing other candidates’ past issues up but, GOD forbidden if, we bring past issues up about Ron Paul. Ron Paul is too wreck less in his believes. What it comes down too, is the negatives of his ideals out weight the positive. Of course this is my opinion and will obviously not be share by all.

A POLITICIAN IS A POLITICIAN, NO MATTER HOW HE SPEAKS!

Jan 4, 2012, 10:10am Permalink
Cj Gorski

Santorum recently said that if he became President he would attempt to annul all gay marriages. He is ready to start the third undeclared war this decade specifically "against Islam" and Iran. He was ranked the third most corrupted congressman in 2006. Seriously no one was even talking about this guy last week and now he's Fox News poster boy of the week and he's everywhere. He's the Huckabee of 2012.

Jan 4, 2012, 10:17am Permalink
Jeff Allen

Seriously CJ, third most corrupt congressman as rated by who? CREW, that's who. The only time a Democrat makes their list is when it is so obvious that they would give away any shred of credibility they may posses by non inclusion. Santorum never said he would "annul" gay marriages. He supports a Constitutional amendment to redefine marriage as between a man and a woman key word there is "supports" since the President has no power in the Constitutional amendment process. He can voice his support, but that's as far as his power goes. I do not support such a Constitutional amendment. A President Santorum could not annul gay marriages. Santorum said our war on terror is a war against radical Islam, the word radical is key and completely accurate. Please use facts and not talking points. I do not agree with Rick Santorum 100% of the time but he is the one in the race that on issues most important to me , I can vote for with conviction.

Jan 4, 2012, 10:48am Permalink
Daniel Jones

A three way split at the top, where unlike Hillary and Obama there's serious policy differences driving a wedge between the candidates and their supporters? Being a member of the party that's usually a clustermess when it comes to primaries, I am quite enjoying watching this. Keep it guys and in the mean time enjoy Obama's new campaign song. Four more years!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEVczA8PLU

Jan 4, 2012, 10:50am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Yeah, only the idiots of society would vote for Obama, for another four years. Meaning instead of voting for his abilities as a leader (BTW, non-existent). They will vote based on his ethnic group and his support of a lazy America for Government Control. Obama has dragged this country down further than any other President in history. This is the most lazy and control freak President we ever had. We have all these issues yet, he takes his families on numerous vacations and golfing trips. He self admitted, that he knew his appointed "Super Committee" was doomed for failure. Come on knucklehead what are we paying you for? Oh yeah, we are paying for your exotic vacation and golfing trips.

Jan 4, 2012, 4:17pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

If this week alone is any indication of what we have to look forward to... Gripes about recess appointments and use of czars as circumventing the Constitution during campaign, then creates another czar and uses a recess appointment to force him through, doubling down on hypocrisy. Promises not to use signing statements during campaign, then uses them liberally including this week when he issued a signing statement with 17 points if disagreement, 17 points, that is what a veto is for! Of course doing it on New Years Eve when nobody is watching is the epitome of cowardice. Remind me again why this is the hope and change we were looking for?

Jan 4, 2012, 12:17pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

Thanks Bob, any of the candidates are free to contact me about the position, I do have a proven track record having finished 5th in the 4 way race for the 26th Congressional Seat!!!

Jan 4, 2012, 12:40pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

As long as the Republicans remain in their current fixed positions as part of a circular firing squad they have reduced their odds from possible to improbable.

If Romney prevails he will emerge as a damaged candidate and a third party that represents the right wingers will run a third party candidate. Any thought that Ron Paul will take votes from Democrats is delusional, he will do for the Republicans what Ralph Nader did for the Democrats in 2000. Rick Santorum with the help of Newt Gingrich will upset Romney in South Carolina and possibly Florida and provide the kind of lift that gives a right wing candidate a foundation for a third party run by those who share a purity of ideology. Should one of the "conseravtives" who accurately represent the base of the GOP prevails women, minorities, moderate independents will break for Obama.

It will be a nasty, brutish and painful primary season for Republicans providing grist for the pundents and entertainment for Democrats as they turn inward and devour each other. At this point and continuing on the current course, this election is Obama's to lose.

Jan 4, 2012, 1:28pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

I wish I could disagree with you on this Ed, but it is a pretty fair summary of the current Republican race. The circular firing squad is especially accurate.

Jan 4, 2012, 1:35pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

1.) What happened to "Ron Paul will win Iowa, take it to the bank"?

2.) Unless he plans on destroying Rand's political future in the process, which I have a hard time believing, Ron Paul isn't going to run as a third party candidate. Congressman Paul had his shining moment, it wasn't as bright as many thought, and now he can go back to planning for retirement. Maybe he can get his own gig on "Info Wars" or work with Jesse Ventura on "Conspiracy Theory".

Jan 4, 2012, 2:03pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

I have this vision... It's August 30th, 2012, Tampa, Florida... St. Pete Times Forum... thousands of people, signs and hats and banners... former Reagan chief of staff, James Baker is addressing the delegates from the podium... arc lights flood the rafters in white light... an angelic form descends from the heights draped in saintly cloth... Oh, Sarah! Oh, Sarah! ...Your second coming! She steps barefoot upon the battered contenders: Romney, Bachmann, Newt, Santorum and Perry... "And I this day am here to tell thee that thou art able to give them strength, ... I am here to deliver thee."

Jan 4, 2012, 2:36pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

1.) What happened to "Ron Paul will win Iowa, take it to the bank"?

Who said that?

The only time I read that was in a humorous context by Daniel Jones on another thread.

Jan 4, 2012, 5:08pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

"What happened to "Ron Paul will win Iowa, take it to the bank?" Who cares? He will not win anyways because, he is too unstable. Once again this election will be about the lesser evil. In my eyes I do not care who runs against Obama. Obama is more evil than any of the Republican Candidates or Ron Paul. Yes, Dave if, Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination I will vote for him. Even though I disagree with many of his policies. He cannot be worst then Drama Obama.

Jan 4, 2012, 5:26pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

John Quincy Adams

Jan 4, 2012, 5:57pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

This election cycle is quickly establishing that we are the subjects of the ancient Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times", regardless of who the Republican choice is and the short term as well as long term consequences that will follow. The next cpouple of months will to say the least be interesting.

Jan 4, 2012, 8:42pm Permalink

Authentically Local