Then there were four.

It's like American Idol - entertaining to watch, but the winner is meaningless to me. Obama has my vote unless Paul wins. Then it would be interesting.

Sorry, but no clever quote from The Crow comes to mind. It's so 20-years ago.

Jason, like your wave length.  Not sure about some other posters though.  When others say with disrespect, "is this the best the GOP can field"  I agree, but I also said it with Obama.

Media goops everything up so much in the way it frames the presentation of politicians these days I'm challenged trying to sort it all out. It makes my head hurt. It throws all of them into sound bite hell and makes me suspcious they've all lowered the bar and are vying for the emotional decision in the end. Do we ultimately vote for the one we feel will do the least amount of harm or the most good? Not that I'm totally cynical, but I just wish for straight forward well expressed ideas and solutions that don't predate the industrial revolution. We don't need to go backward to return the USA to greatness. We are a great nation and our opportunity is to move forward. Thanks Jason for sharing your thoughts. You and your opinions are relevant, that's the point.

In my opinion, the only Republican I would have chosen... who I thought was the least of the evils... was Jon Huntsman.  But, I have to share how I see all of this, as far as which Republican to pick.  None of them.  Or any other Republican, for that matter.

Here is how I see it:  Whomever you pick, even Huntsman, is only the guy who gets to sit at the front of the bus.  But if he, or she, or whomever, turns around and looks at the rest of the passengers in that bus... it doesn't change.  There are SO many who ride that Republican bus who just make no sense whatsoever.  Too many over-the-edge extremists... both political and religious... who are just pushing their agenda, and the agendas of those over-the-edge folks who follow them.

There are many Republicans who have their heads on straight... and who have brains that work fairly well.  It's is just there are so many of them in positions of authority in Congress who I simply do not trust.

Some of the things that Santorum is pushing could come straight out of Iran.  I do not want to live my life by having to obey laws he would love to pass that come directly from his (Santorum's) religious beliefs.

Sure... these guys scare me... but the rest of the fanatics on the Republican bus scare me even more.

The debates are almost better than some football for spectator entertainment.  My take is that there are three fictional characters and Romney.  Romney has a chance of winning in 2016, and that's really the prize all four are shooting for in this campaign.  Obama has waged war on business since his innauguration, but he appears to be losing the war and will be rewarded for all he failed to do.  No matter who is responsible for what, all politicians take credit for anything perceived by the voters as good, and all politicians blame the opposition for everything perceived as bad. 

Jason,  Satire aside, I think your assessment is spot on.  Personally, I think all Mr. Obama needs to do is sit on the sidelines and smile...the Republicans are going to defeat themselves.  I am not saying I am for, or against, Dems....I just don't think it matters what they do, or don't do.  Current debates remind me of a school yard...lots of pushing and shoving....no real blows.  

Jason, we voted in Arnolg here in CA because he was a businessman and look what happened!  He tried to run the state like a business and we didn't back him when push came to shove.  I personally think that will happen because politics and the way a business is run are two different things!

Fortunately, we are not electing a First Lady.  Our CURRENT First Lady is a disgrace with her spending and lack of respect for the White House and the Office of the President

Wallace:  Obviously Michelle Obama is quite different from Laura Bush, and from Hillary Clinton, and from Barbara Bush.  Each was their own person, in their own way.

How nice to see you being so "positive" so early in the morning.  I am sure you will want to join me in complimenting President Obama for his wonderful "State of The Union" address last night.  I thought he was great.

Just stopped by to say hi Jason.  :)  Not going there.

Jason...Friday should be entertaining!   Nuff said!

I wanna have fun with you and jen and debe!!!  ;)  Okay..had to change the subject. And just for the record...I ordered an Obama coffee cup with his birth certificate on it...and it does say he was born in Hawaii...so there.

Jason, thanks for this post.  It was actually fun, as were the comments by everyone here.  Never knew political commentary could be so civil.  I admire each and every one of you for that.

Let's see if I can at least come up with one frivolous, non-meaningful comment, as are most when it comes to politics.

I think that bringing up the First Lady as part of the consideration is very important.  We see a hell of lot more of her (or him, some day) that we do the V.P.