Poll: Who would you prefer to see running in the general election?

[Robin in Tx]

Now that we know who the "final four" are, so to speak, I'm curious who you would like to see up against each other in the final run:

[mcconnellboys]

Gee, I don't like any of these choices, LOL.....

Regena

[Robin in Tx]

LOL! I started to put a "None of the Above" selection. Should I go back and try to edit the poll? :)

Robin

[Amy in NY]

I voted, Robin, even though I don't like any of these choices either.

Maybe you should go back and put in a 'none of the above' although we won't get that choice in real life.

Amy

[Tia in Wa]

We have a large bilboard in our area that displays political sayings and a couple months ago it read " In the general election can I just vote no?"
I wish I could do that. Since I can't I would like to see Clinton and Mc Cain. The lesser of lots of evil.

[MaryM]

I'm hoping for Bloomberg!

[nancypants]

Also none of the above. It's quite clear that I won't be happy with any of the possible next presidents. All of the choices are what I would call... nauseating. I guess it's good that I'm not living in the U.S. and don't have to listen to any of them on a daily basis! LOL (I'm not really making light of the importance of it... just trying to.) :rolleyes:

[Peek a Boo]

yeah... who was it that called it "electile dysfunction" ???
The inability to become aroused w/ any of the 2008 Presidential candidates!!!

I need a heavy dose of Vote-agra, LOL!

[Mamagistra]

I would be delighted to see Ron Paul running against anyone. :)

[godpoetry]

I do not like any of these. I think our country is headed for trouble.

[Tea Party Girl]

I'm not sure how to vote, either!

Does ANYONE like any of these candidates? Can we hear from you? Where art thou? (We've been studying pronouns in Rod and Staff 6...did I use the archaic one correctly?).

[Daisy]

I think I'm writing in this one. I think he'd fit in nicely with the competition.

Wily Coyote

[Colleen]

I can't vote in this poll because I am in denile. I wouldn't vote for any of these...um...I'm going to be nice and just say, "people". I wouldn't vote for any of these people. Even while I've been in the Bush countdown, seemingly f-o-r-e-v-e-r, I've known the next-in-line would likely be a real disappointment to me, too. But one little corner of my heart still held out hope that Al Gore would come to my rescue. Not that I consider him an ideal, but compared to the rest of the options, I'd be in seventh heaven with him in the Oval Office. Alas, no.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I'm not sure how to vote, either!

Does ANYONE like any of these candidates? Can we hear from you? Where art thou? (We've been studying pronouns in Rod and Staff 6...did I use the archaic one correctly?).

Yes, you did use it correctly (yay!!), but I don't think I'm allowed to discuss the answer to your question here. :cool:

I felt life I've risked my board privileges on politics enough for one day. I'm still holding my breath that they're going to email me and say, "No board for you! NEXT!"

[Colleen]

Yes, you did use it correctly (yay!!), but I don't think I'm allowed to discuss the answer to your question here. :cool:

I felt life I've risked my board privileges on politics enough for one day. I'm still holding my breath that they're going to email me and say, "No board for you! NEXT!"

Ya know, I read the board rules before responding to Robin's post and there's nothing in there about avoiding politics. I'm pretty sure there was a "no politics" rule previously ~ or did we all just make that up?

[Kate CA]

But one little corner of my heart still held out hope that Al Gore would come to my rescue.

Ah ha! And now I know! :cool:
And we can further discuss offline! :)
Kate

[Laura in VA]

:D He's hilarious!

[lynn]

nt

[rivendellmom]

I'm a Ron Paul fan also- don't know why he never gets any press...

[Sandra in NC]

I would be delighted to see Ron Paul running against anyone. :)

My 15 yo is a big Ron Paul fan and he still thinks Dr. Paul has a chance at the Republican nomination. "Are you going to vote for Ron Paul?" he asks, and I tell him I'll have to see how we're doing in May (we have a late primary in NC). If Obama is the clear choice at that point, then I can vote in the Republican primary for Ron Paul.

I just finished reading The Bulldozer and the Big Tent about the decline of the Democratic party and how it can be reinvigorated. Very interesting book. I think Obama is the best hope for the Democrats.

For all the respondents to this post who say "none of the above", please visit this site to help you find the candidate who most matches your views. We've got to work with what we've got.

http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html

[Melinda in VT]

I'm not sure how to vote, either!

Does ANYONE like any of these candidates? Can we hear from you? Where art thou? (We've been studying pronouns in Rod and Staff 6...did I use the archaic one correctly?).

Personally, I think any of these four would be a *huge* improvement over the last eight years. I like them all for that alone. ;)

(Ducking, and hoping the current board rules allow this. I did read them.)

[Volty]

I like the choices. I think any of Obama, McCain, or Hillary would be fine presidents. Infinatly better than the embarassing incompetent we have today. Just not Romney, he's too much of a two faced flip flopper and would say and do anything to get elected. Much worse than anyone we've ever seen before. And that's too bad because I respect his business acumen and his talents in saving the Olympics.

Huckabee and Guiliani aren't finished yet. Edwards is. Sadly, Ron Paul is too far outside the Republican mainstream to get traction.

[Dot]

I'm not a big fan of Romney mainly because of his business practices. While running the company, Bain, he used shell companies and offshore tax havens(Bermuda and the Caymans) in order for those investing in him not to pay any US taxes. That stinks, to me, and says what his priorities are.

[Just Me]

I also had a hard time voting in this one. I am a pretty conservative gal, and none of these guys are quite there for me. I am a Huckabee fan.

[KidsHappen]

I have to admit though that the prospects are looking grim. And I really don't like any of the other choices. Every quiz I take puts Hillary above the rest of them but I abhor her stance on socialized medicine and the "it takes a village" mentality. I guess if I had to pick one, I would go with Obama. Not that I necessarily agree with his politics but I think that he would invigorate the country and at least get people involved.

[mcconnellboys]

I won't talk about anyone who's running, LOL, but I will just say, "Bobby Jindal for President!" Now, if *that* young man would run, I'd have to get into politics. Watch for him ladies, I feel certain he'll be running within the next decade and he has a mind like a steel trap!

Regena

[Tracey in TX]

ugh--is it too late to catch the last flight to Belize?

[Gigi]

Well...I am for Romney. And I am only posting because there were negatives posted about him and I wanted to show there are people for him.:D Actually, I have talked to a few people who personally know their family and I am impressed with what they had to say. I also like how on interviews he points out the common ground between the different parties (i.e. environment, health care) and how we can use that to actually move forward.

If I was a democrate I would be voting for Obama because I think he has passion and vision...I just disagree with his policies.:p Personally I think he should have run for governor of Illinois and then for President. I think it would have given him more experience.

On a side note, I will just say I hate the 30 second sound bites.:mad: We can handle conservations and the issues we are dealing with are minimized when we try to reduce them to a few sentences. I feel the debate process would work best if each debate focused on only 2 or 3 topics and the participants actually had to speak longer and show what they really know. I would prefer to hear them speak about the economy for at least an hour than the 5 minutes the current debates give them.:rolleyes:

[sdWTMer]

"Bobby Jindal for President!"

I have heard some very great things about that man! I would have to agree w/ your assessment.

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

NONE of the above.

:eek:

[Crissy]

I like the choices. I think any of Obama, McCain, or Hillary would be fine presidents. Just not Romney,

I'm with Volty. I'll be happy with either Clinton or Obama getting the nomination, and I've always been a fan of McCain.

Just not Romney. I can't put my finger on it, but I really don't care for the guy.

[Stacie]

"Bobby Jindal for President!" Now, if *that* young man would run, I'd have to get into politics. Watch for him ladies, I feel certain he'll be running within the next decade and he has a mind like a steel trap!

Regena


NO, NO, NO. You can't have him...yet! Let him finish up what he's doing for us in Louisiana and then I'm all for sharing. :p In the meantime, we really need him here!

I really like him a lot and think he will go places in the national scene one day. It's nice to know others outside of LA are noticing too.

[MelissaM]

Would "no" be an okay answer?

[MOCA]

I think it is interesting that HSLDA is promoting Huckabee.

[Michelle in GA]

I would say none of the above. I don't like any of the choices. I will most likely NOT be voting at all this November.

[mcconnellboys]

I lived in BR about 15 years. My husband grew up there. I've watched Jindal since he graduated early from high school.

My work was in multi-million dollar medical malpractice claims, so we were attached to the governor's office (so they could keep *their* eyes on the money, LOL). As such, I was able to keep apprised of all the different jobs he was tapped for after he returned from college. The amount of work he seems to be able to accomplish is phenomenal, I think. I can't imagine anyone better to help LA at this juncture.

Regena

[Krista in LA]

I really wish there was a true republican left in the top tier. :eek: I'd love to say more about that, but I would probably be breaking board rules if I did. I believe I'll be voting for Fred Thompson in our primary even though he's dropped out. Or perhaps Ron Paul - I think he is a very smart person and probably the best one left in the race.

[Tutor]

I would be delighted to see Ron Paul running against anyone. :)

My dh says he's going to write-in Colbert. I'm writing in RP if he's not the nominee. Gotta stay positive.

[GothicGyrl]

I can tell you this much, since you asked--I will NEVER vote for a republican, especially the two listed. I am so glad Bush is on his way out and that's finally over.

That said, I can't stand the Dems either (I do believe I've always said I hate all politicians)... if I were allowed to register Libertarian or Green or something OTHER than Dem or Republican, and still be allowed to vote in the primaries(what a crock!)--I would.

Since I can't, I registered Dem and I voted for Obama and I don't care if you don't like me for it either. :) Since my gut is telling me it will be Hillary vs one of the others-- Hillary will get my vote and I don't care if you don't like me for it either. :) And no, this country is so not doomed either.

[Baseballmom]

I would be delighted to see Ron Paul running against anyone. :)

He is our choice as well, but it doesn't look good.

[Chris in CA]

Those choices reflect a bad state of the union : (

[Novafan]

Sadly, none of your choices work out for me. :(

[Sebastian (a lady)]

On a side note, I will just say I hate the 30 second sound bites.:mad: We can handle conservations and the issues we are dealing with are minimized when we try to reduce them to a few sentences. I feel the debate process would work best if each debate focused on only 2 or 3 topics and the participants actually had to speak longer and show what they really know. I would prefer to hear them speak about the economy for at least an hour than the 5 minutes the current debates give them.:rolleyes:

I totally agree that the way the media plays the process, AND the way that the candidates agree to it is horrible. I remember loving the Cheney v. Liebermann VP debate back in 2000. Two intelligent, experience men with lots of opinions and ideas just sitting at a desk with one moderator going back and forth. While I didn't vote for him, my respect for Sen Liebermann stems from that debate.

I am incredibly sick of the way that polls, fundraising and little slights dominate the press reporting. I would say that I read a lot of political news and I would be hard pressed to outline significant policy proposals from any of the main candidates.

Instead we are flooded with articles asking if we are ready for a woman/black/Mormon/old president. I honestly think that the voters as a block have no issue with these personal aspects of the candidates. But it sure appears that the press is having a problem getting past them.

[Krista in LA]

I can tell you this much, since you asked--I will NEVER vote for a republican, especially the two listed. I am so glad Bush is on his way out and that's finally over.

That said, I can't stand the Dems either (I do believe I've always said I hate all politicians)... if I were allowed to register Libertarian or Green or something OTHER than Dem or Republican, and still be allowed to vote in the primaries(what a crock!)--I would.

Since I can't, I registered Dem and I voted for Obama and I don't care if you don't like me for it either. :) Since my gut is telling me it will be Hillary vs one of the others-- Hillary will get my vote and I don't care if you don't like me for it either. :) And no, this country is so not doomed either.

I think you are presuming too much. I agree with you more than you think - I also am glad that Bush is on his way out. I also don't like politicians. And I might be voting for a Libertarian or something else at the general election too. And if I was voting in the Democratic primary, I would vote for Obama. You can't make me not like you.;)

[Krista in LA]

I agree with Bobby Jindal and I have hope that in the next couple of decades (he's still young) he will make a difference. But, as Stacie said, you can't have him yet - he just became governor, so he has a lot to do in LA yet! I'm still in shock that LA has the first Indian-American governor in the country. Who'd have thought it?

[GothicGyrl]

You can't make me not like you.

Well then I didn't try hard enough. :) I was just pining for the negative point because if someone will give me a negative for using the word "ebil" (cuz it isn't a word, yanno), then they would for this. And it didn't work--drat it all. ;)

I'll try harder next time, I promise.

[Plaid Dad]

You know, I would really love for there to be just one presidential election in my voting lifetime in which there is a major candidate I can wholeheartedly support. Is that so much to ask?

[Colleen]

I would really love for there to be just one presidential election in my voting lifetime in which there is a major candidate I can wholeheartedly support. Is that so much to ask?

Yep, I hear you.

[MelodyInTx]

It is going to be a tough election. I, like many of you, am not crazy about the choices. Frankly, most of them scare me.

[Robin in Tx]

I hear ya, too.

I do remember being very, very excited about Reagan his first campaign. One would had to have voted for Carter and lived through his administration to understand how that felt at the time, I would imagine... hindsight just doesn't do it justice :).

That will likely be the one and only time I was really excited about a major candidate, unless something very different starts coming down the pike. So I guess I should be glad I got to experience that at least once.

[Colleen]

I do remember being very, very excited about Reagan his first campaign. One would had to have voted for Carter and lived through his administration to understand how that felt at the time, I would imagine... hindsight just doesn't do it justice :).


The mere thought of being excited about Reagan is just so...surreal for me.;) (Spoken by a woman whose parents did vote for Carter and live through his administration and gladly voted for him again.:))

[Karin]

Yes, because I wanted someone who didn't make the final 4 and am doggone mad about it. But not mad enough to break the board rules!!! Plus, I hate talking politics.

[Karin]

But he's not the only pro-homeschooling one there--Ron Paul is, too, but I'm guessing he's not popular enough or doesn't support all of HSLDA's stuff or something.

[Karin]

Yes. And I went through the same problem when I lived and voted in Canada.

[Robin in Tx]

It was unbelievable, the energy and excitement and optimism. Double digit inflation, double digit interest rates, long lines at the gas pumps, Iranian hostage crisis... it was such a dark, depressing, awful time with eveything in the tank. I can't describe how exciting election night was, watching state after state after state go to Reagan. What a shot in the arm it was for public confidence. Regardless of anyone's hindsight political views about his presidency, that moment in time was so hopeful! With any luck, I'll get at least one more chance in my lifetime to witness such an optimistic sweep/landslide.

On second thought, maybe not... for there to be such outcry for change, things have to first get really, really bad. As much as I'd love to experience the optimism that comes with such drastic change, I don't ever want to have to live through anything like the late 70s ever again.

[Robin in Tx]

I tried, but couldn't get back into the poll to revise it. Sorry I didn't think to include it originally!

[mcconnellboys]

LOL, he's the reincarnation of Gandhi. He would have been successful no matter where he was brought up and would be governor of that state now instead of LA if he'd been born elsewhere. He was born to be successful..... Great minds succeed no matter what soil they're planted in.....

Regena

[Colleen]

I can't describe how exciting election night was, watching state after state after state go to Reagan. What a shot in the arm it was for public confidence. Regardless of anyone's hindsight political views about his presidency, that moment in time was so hopeful!

Hmmm...no, I can't say my family felt even the slightest degree of confidence at the thought of Reagan at the helm.

[Melinda in VT]

I remember the Reagan/Carter election very clearly--especially the sinking feeling in my stomach as I watched all the states turn the wrong color. ;)

Not trying to turn this into a political debate, just pointing out that there are always people on both sides of the fence.

[elegantlion]

I'm siding with Stacie, you can't have Jindahl yet! We need him, it's nice to see he has such support outside of the state.

I vote none of the above as well.

[Robin in Tx]

Oh, I understand that... millions of people voted for Carter and did not rejoice in the Reagan victory. There will always be people who didn't vote for the winning guy, no matter how popular he is... but these are anecdotal to be honest, and not representative of the mood of the general public. Reagan's win was a landslide, politically speaking.

This is all in response to Mungo's wondering if he would ever be excited about a major party candidate, and I was commenting on how I've not been excited about a candidate since 1980. Even Reagan's inauguration was awesome... hostages being released within seconds... after the long, drawn out reprting of that situation on what later became Night Line... I don't think I'll ever feel so much joy as a reuslt of an inauguration again! The general, majority mood was extremely optimistic.

Back to Mungo's lamenting... I think it takes a combination of candidates that are more clearly distinct from each other (not both playing to the same middle road), and an economy and/or state of the union that is in bad, bad shape to arouse the passions of the electorate. In a way, I want to be passionate about who I'm voting for, but in another way I think maybe we're a little blessed that things are not *so* bad that those passions haven't been stoked in a broad, majority way. Sort of a double edged sword, kwim?

I would imagine that many democrats would have a similar feeling about the election of Clinton. After 8 years of Reagan and 4 years of Bush, I'm sure they were very, very energized by their victory. It just seems to take an extreme to get people that fired up. The best leader in the world won't make an impact if his electorate isn't convinced that major change is needed. There has to be contrast for vividness to be appreciated. That's the point I'm trying tomake, in a round about way. I think excitement about a candidate arises from a passionate, almost urgent, desire for serious change. I don't think we've seen that kind of passionate, almost hero worship of a candidate since the Carter/Reagan election. The problems were extreme, the candidates were polar opposite... all that played a major role. It was a critical election. When people are saying that they may stay home and not vote, I think that says more about the state of the union than it does about the candidates - who, quite frankly, are only responding to the pulse of their supporters. Things can always improve, but things must be coasting along comfortably enough for most people this time around...

[Colleen]

Oh, I understand that... millions of people voted for Carter and did not rejoice in the Reagan victory. There will always be people who didn't vote for the winning guy, no matter how popular he is... but these are anecdotal to be honest, and not representative of the mood of the general public. Reagan's win was a landslide, politically speaking.

Yes, in political terms and as far as electoral votes are concerned, it was a landslide, no question. But 41% of the popular votes were cast for Carter (and another 6% or so for Anderson?), so nearly half the population presumably were not "rejoicing" over Reagan.

Even Reagan's inauguration was awesome... hostages being released within seconds... after the long, drawn out reprting of that situation on what later became Night Line... I don't think I'll ever feel so much joy as a reuslt of an inauguration again! The general, majority mood was extremely optimistic.

I think ~ and of course I was only a child, so I am basing this on how my parents and older siblings and others in their circle felt ~ a lot of people were very, very frustrated when the hostages were held just to the point of Reagan's inauguration. Of course it was a relief to see them released, but it was highly frustrating, the intentional timing.

I think maybe we're a little blessed that things are not *so* bad that those passions haven't been stoked in a broad, majority way.

I see your point. Yet, some people feel very strongly that things are bad indeed and while you and I may not be excited about our options, there is a great deal of enthusiasm among the electorate. There is an "almost urgent desire for serious change" in the minds of many people.

[Happy]

I hear ya, too.

I do remember being very, very excited about Reagan his first campaign. One would had to have voted for Carter and lived through his administration to understand how that felt at the time, I would imagine... hindsight just doesn't do it justice :).

That will likely be the one and only time I was really excited about a major candidate, unless something very different starts coming down the pike. So I guess I should be glad I got to experience that at least once.

Oh YES! I loved Reagan. I was thrilled with his administration from beginning to end. So many good things came about for our country.

Media types don't like us to remember how BAD it was during the Carter years or how many things improved during the Reagan terms.