Unless some big skeletons come out of the closet, folks better not underestimate Bachmann. The Left will try to spin her as a Palin clone. Nothing could be further than the truth. If McCain had chosen Bachmann as his VP, he'd be in the Whitehouse. Attractive woman, well experienced handling the media (unlike Palin, she seems to enjoy dealing with the media, deals with the media extremely well and uses the attention to propel her higher), is very well informed on the issues (both domestic and foreign) and is very intelligent. She can certainly win the R primary, and if the economy doesn't rebound quickly and strongly, she can beat Obama in the general.

What's-her-name with the disgustingly long hands & fingers was discussing this very notion on O'Reilly's show last night. Christie would be a very good balance to the ticket if Mitt can convince him to jump in. But I think Bugatti is correct that Christie wants to be the lead dog.

 

I'd strongly consider a ticket with Christie as President, Romney as Vice-President. I would modestly consider it the other way around.

 

I love, love, love Christie. I'm lukewarm about Romney.

I'd strongly consider a ticket with Christie as President, Romney as Vice-President. I would modestly consider it the other way around.

 

I love, love, love Christie. I'm lukewarm about Romney.

I couldn't imagine Romney stepping aside.

Unless some big skeletons come out of the closet, folks better not underestimate Bachmann. The Left will try to spin her as a Palin clone. Nothing could be further than the truth. If McCain had chosen Bachmann as his VP, he'd be in the Whitehouse. Attractive woman, well experienced handling the media (unlike Palin, she seems to enjoy dealing with the media, deals with the media extremely well and uses the attention to propel her higher), is very well informed on the issues (both domestic and foreign) and is very intelligent. She can certainly win the R primary, and if the economy doesn't rebound quickly and strongly, she can beat Obama in the general.

She's toned down some of her rhetoric in recent months, obviously with an eye toward the presidency or at least elevating her profile in Republican circles.

 

At times in the past, however, she has sounded downright loony-tunes.

I'd strongly consider a ticket with Christie as President, Romney as Vice-President. I would modestly consider it the other way around.

 

I love, love, love Christie. I'm lukewarm about Romney.

 

You've piqued my curiosity. Why so warm to Christie & not so much with Romney?

 

FWIW, I'm totally with you on Christie, but not at all lukewarm about Romney. I just don't trust the guy. Perhaps I'm wrong on him, but I don't trust him. I know I won't vote for him in the primary, and I'm 95% sure I wouldn't vote for him in the general. I'm not sure who I would vote for if the Ky. Republican primary were held today. Like a lot of R's, I'm less-than-enthused about the current field of candidates.

You've piqued my curiosity. Why so warm to Christie & not so much with Romney?

 

FWIW, I'm totally with you on Christie, but not at all lukewarm about Romney. I just don't trust the guy. Perhaps I'm wrong on him, but I don't trust him. I know I won't vote for him in the primary, and I'm 95% sure I wouldn't vote for him in the general. I'm not sure who I would vote for if the Ky. Republican primary were held today. Like a lot of R's, I'm less-than-enthused about the current field of candidates.

 

#1 Christie is blunt and to the point. There's absolutely no questioning what he intends, what he plans to do. He spells it out in plain terms. He tackles the problems and doesn't back down. He's like a bully. Granted, normally I'm not at all drawn to that type of personality. But I've seen 3 interviews with him, and read several others. In my opinion, he's not a politician at heart. He's a business man and problem solver, and he has a no-nonsense approach. I can't say I agree with all his political positions. But I highly respect him for what he tackles and the way he does it.

#1 Christie is blunt and to the point. There's absolutely no questioning what he intends, what he plans to do. He spells it out in plain terms. He tackles the problems and doesn't back down. He's like a bully. Granted, normally I'm not at all drawn to that type of personality. But I've seen 3 interviews with him, and read several others. In my opinion, he's not a politician at heart. He's a business man and problem solver, and he has a no-nonsense approach. I can't say I agree with all his political positions. But I highly respect him for what he tackles and the way he does it.

 

Well, that's essentially all I know about him. I know he's really taken teachers unions head-on over tenure & things of that nature. What little I've seen of him is definitely appealing. At this point in his career, he doesn't seem overly concerned with political correctness & is probably more of a maverick than John McCain or Tom Cruise's Top Gun character ever imagined being.

 

Would you mind mentioning which positions you disagree with? Again, not trying to create an argument. Just trying to understand where he might stand on certain issues.

Well, that's essentially all I know about him. I know he's really taken teachers unions head-on over tenure & things of that nature. What little I've seen of him is definitely appealing. At this point in his career, he doesn't seem overly concerned with political correctness & is probably more of a maverick than John McCain or Tom Cruise's Top Gun character ever imagined being.

 

Would you mind mentioning which positions you disagree with? Again, not trying to create an argument. Just trying to understand where he might stand on certain issues.

 

Really, just minor ones, like a couple of environmental issues.

 

He's against abortion-fine with me

He's for tax credits/vouchers for parents for school choice-fine with me

He doesn't think being in the country illegally is a crime, but rather a civil issue.-agree

He's for same-sex civil unions, but against same-sex marriage (like me, seeing a distinct difference)-agree

He's for strict enforcement of his state's gun control laws.-agree

One of his campaign platforms was that the state's environmental agency was too big and "killing business" and has vowed to make it a target in his ultimate goals of creating jobs and getting the "fiscal house in order". This is where I largely disagree with him. But it's minor, as I have next to no knowledge of their regulations, etc.

He's for medicinal marijuana, but opposes the New Jersey bill allowing just that. I find that to be a conundrum.

He's for charter schools-me too

 

I'm pretty much for just about everything he is for. I would be more excited about him as a candidate and pretty much (barring any shift in the positions above) would be 100% behind him all the way. As a candidate, he'd make me be for someone, more than against someone.

Really, just minor ones, like a couple of environmental issues.

 

He's against abortion-fine with me

He's for tax credits/vouchers for parents for school choice-fine with me

He doesn't think being in the country illegally is a crime, but rather a civil issue.-agree

He's for same-sex civil unions, but against same-sex marriage (like me, seeing a distinct difference)-agree

He's for strict enforcement of his state's gun control laws.-agree

One of his campaign platforms was that the state's environmental agency was too big and "killing business" and has vowed to make it a target in his ultimate goals of creating jobs and getting the "fiscal house in order". This is where I largely disagree with him. But it's minor, as I have next to no knowledge of their regulations, etc.

He's for medicinal marijuana, but opposes the New Jersey bill allowing just that. I find that to be a conundrum.

He's for charter schools-me too

 

I'm pretty much for just about everything he is for. I would be more excited about him as a candidate and pretty much (barring any shift in the positions above) would be 100% behind him all the way. As a candidate, he'd make me be for someone, more than against someone.

 

Wow! Thanks for the info!

 

Christie will certainly find very few friends in educational circles, but that's become somewhat standard (I would think) for Republican candidates. Curious to see how his illegal immigrant stance sits with the party. Same with the gun control.

 

What I don't see that I'm curious to see is his tax/spending/jobs/economy take. On the surface he seems to be a pretty sound conservative from a fiscal standpoint.

 

But it's your very last comment that appeals to me the most--that he could be a candidate one could solidly support, as opposed to just "not being that other guy."

Wow! Thanks for the info!

 

Christie will certainly find very few friends in educational circles, but that's become somewhat standard (I would think) for Republican candidates. Curious to see how his illegal immigrant stance sits with the party. Same with the gun control.

 

What I don't see that I'm curious to see is his tax/spending/jobs/economy take. On the surface he seems to be a pretty sound conservative from a fiscal standpoint.

 

But it's your very last comment that appeals to me the most--that he could be a candidate one could solidly support, as opposed to just "not being that other guy."

 

He's the only person in my lifetime (since Ross Perot) that I actually find myself in definite, strong agreement of his political platform. I believe, for the tax question, his position is that he wants to lower taxes, especially for businesses, but not before the "house is in order". I know he said he wouldn't raise taxes. I don't have a lot of knowledge of his economic platform, shamefully on my part.

 

I think that as far as social issues, he's is pretty much the closest that will ever come to my "ideal" candidate. Education especially. He's not even a candidate and I'm his biggest supporter. :lol:

He's the only person in my lifetime (since Ross Perot) that I actually find myself in definite, strong agreement of his political platform. I believe, for the tax question, his position is that he wants to lower taxes, especially for businesses, but not before the "house is in order". I know he said he wouldn't raise taxes. I don't have a lot of knowledge of his economic platform, shamefully on my part.

 

I think that as far as social issues, he's is pretty much the closest that will ever come to my "ideal" candidate. Education especially. He's not even a candidate and I'm his biggest supporter. :lol:

 

He certainly sounds like my kind of guy. I just wonder if he'll have the guts to tell the American people that there are going to have to be some major, major sacrifices to make for us to get "the house in order." The one thing I appreciated about John McCain during 2008 was when he told Michigan that the jobs they lost weren't coming back. That was a truth those folks didn't want to hear, but it was truth nonetheless.

 

But then, McCain back-pedaled on the issue of the Bush tax cuts (the first set of cuts). He had originally voted against them (rightly IMO) because he felt (rightly IMO) that you don't cut taxes during war-time. Then the second time around he voted for them & I think that hurt him.

 

I hope Christie can maintain that level of candidness whether he seeks higher office at some point or not.

He certainly sounds like my kind of guy. I just wonder if he'll have the guts to tell the American people that there are going to have to be some major, major sacrifices to make for us to get "the house in order." The one thing I appreciated about John McCain during 2008 was when he told Michigan that the jobs they lost weren't coming back. That was a truth those folks didn't want to hear, but it was truth nonetheless.

The country is in desperate need of a guy like that. It is why he is as popular as he is. No skirting around issues and conjuring up some kind of political answer that really is not an answer.

Christie has the luxury of not running and that allows him to be more blunt. Unfortunately, the vast majority of candidates lose this edge that makes them popular when their pollsters and advisors start telling them the impact some of these comments have on votes. Christie doesn't have to worry about any of his comments costing him votes.

She's toned down some of her rhetoric in recent months, obviously with an eye toward the presidency or at least elevating her profile in Republican circles.

 

At times in the past, however, she has sounded downright loony-tunes.

 

Agreed. She doesnt come across well with some of her whacky comments. No doubt that she has intelligence. Big doubts about her ability to come across well.

Dick Morris just stated, and I amazingly agree, that Marco Rubio is a much more realistic VP candidate because of the need for the Republican candidate to garner some Latino votes.