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The Republican Debate ...

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina

I scare myself at times because I'm a pretty open minded chap.  One school of thought may say I have no principles and can be easily persuaded to something other than what I actually believe.  To that school of thought, Screw Off~!

But I am open minded and want to learn and evolve and (God Forbid) challenge my own beliefs, experiences, and intellectual bias .. so, I watched with great interest this particular debate on who is eventually going to challenge the current President of America as we know it.

Full disclosure, I voted for Obama.  And I don't regret that at all. 

But that doesn't mean I will vote for him again ...

if there was a ballot tomorrow and Huntsman and Cain were on a Ticket, I would challenge my own beliefs.

I may and probably would vote for that particular ticket.  The issue becomes, is that ticket viable and is there chemistry? Probably not.  But that's my Dream Team at this moment from the Republican Side and many of us know how "Dream Teams" tend to work out.

But more than that, I do question this Big Government Loathing I see going on.  I personally don't like Big Gov anymore than I like my Parents telling me who I should be hanging out with. However, let me ask a question for ALL those who want to either minimize the Government or totally dismantle it and are running for the office:  Are your Salary & Benefits going to pay that price too?  Afterall, if you aren't important anymore, should you be paid and treated like you are?

I want the best to lead our Country, our Economy, and our Families.  I don't really want to punish them for running for an unpopular position.  And let's be honest about it, do you want your personal life and position on anything to be out there for everyone to scrutinize?  Snooki, you are not. 

Quick rundown..., Newt threw in the towel and proved how intelligent and television worthy he is.  Bachmann is smart, very smart.  Not my cup of tea, but for the Liberals that paint her as other than that, they are just as ridiculous as Conservatives who say Huntsman wouldn't make a good candidate.  He is very good.  JFK ... without the womanizing thing, at this point.  And Rick, a conversation piece for anyone who thinks freedom extends to the social side.  Mitt, I can understand why he may not be the darling.  But he may be the best bet ....

other than Perry whom I would wager has a better chance of starring in an underground porno than he does of beating the incumbent. 

Is our Country divided?  Yup.  Should it be?  Conversation for the ages.

And I dig conversation ....

 

Leslie Ebersole
Swanepoel T3 Group - Saint Charles, IL
I help brokers build businesses they love.

People hate big government, unless they are direct beneficiaries....and most are. Other than Warren Buffet, who gives up benefits?

Oct 11, 2011 04:07 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I've vote for a Cain/Huntsman ticket... Huntsman/Cain... prhaps not.  Of course being a Georgian, I've been a Cain fan for years and years.

Oct 11, 2011 04:41 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

People are selfish... all of us 

Oct 11, 2011 04:56 PM
Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

You believe Mitt has the best chance because he is closest to your belief system. I am not trying to insult you or belittle, but Mitt is not a conservative. Government health care? WRONG!

The government has screwed up the post office. Hell, the government couldn't make a profit on a whorehouse in Nevada and people want them telling us how to run our lives?

Oct 11, 2011 05:05 PM
Broker Nick
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Congratulations - This post is now featured in Silent Majority Group of Active Rain!

Oct 12, 2011 01:04 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

@ Mr Maynard... There you go making assumptions about the author. He doesn't believe Mitt has the best chance because he mirrors anything close to his beliefs - it's because the rest of them have failed to garner enough steam to impress the media, the republican party honchos and win key endorsements.

Now about this opinion piece:  As for a Cain/Huntsman ticket - I would be listening carefully and watching for that chemistry you so astutely mentioned. Besides, I like big ideas that demolish old, broken systems (READ: TAX CODE) and shakeup those in comfortable positions. It suggests there might be something worthwhile in it for the average Jane and Joe. And Huntsman is a smart guy. I just adore smart guys. Like YOU :)

Oct 12, 2011 01:14 AM
Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

Jennifer: I don't think I made any assumptions. I have read a lot of Jason's blogs and comments. He is an admitted liberal (I am an admitted conservative). Mitt is the closest to a liberal running, so...I never said he "mirrors" I said he is the "closest" to his belief system. Big difference, IMO.

It is just like when McCain was anointed by the media, he was the closest to the liberal side. Thus, the lesser of evils (in the medias eyes). (Admittedly, that election was pretty crumby from the conservative side.)

And why haven't the others garnered any steam? Because the talking heads say "Romney is the most electable", "Cain doesn't have a chance", "Bachmann is crazy", "Palin is stupid", etc. Unfortunately, a vast majority of Americans get their news in sound bites or only in the first paragraph or two of a story.

Why no "steam" from the Republican party honchos? Simply because they don't want to rock the boat. They fear losing their power/money/donations/graft if a true conservative gets in. Shrinking government means less chances to line your pockets and buy votes. (We seem to agree based on what you said in your second paragraph about shaking things up.)

Why does the liberal media like Romney? Because he is closest to their belief system and if you can't have a true liberal make the "best/most electable" from the other party the candidate who is closest to what you want/like.

Sorry Jason, felt I needed to address her post.

Oct 12, 2011 03:01 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

No need to apologize, Than.  It's okay that you are a conservative;)  A minor correction; I'm an admitted social liberal and fiscal conservative for the record.  And as I pointed out above, I'd love to see a Cain/Huntsman ticket and it just may get my vote.  We shall see.

Well articulated, Jennifer:)

Thank you Nicholas.  And our bet is still on!

Than - Actually, that is what the polls are showing my friend.  Not that I put too much stock in those, but who else stands a better chance at beating Obama at this point?  And I have noted, I'm really liking Herman Cain. 

Karl Hess, who posts here regularly, wrote an interesting blog on the definition of a Classic Liberal.  You should check it out.  Because that fits me pretty well and it's not about a nanny state or huge spending.

Carol - I can't argue with that.

Tammy - I can see why.  I dig the chap as well.

Leslie - That's an excellent point.  Hyprocrisy is a beautiful thing.

 

Oct 12, 2011 03:25 AM
Mike Carlier
Lakeville, MN
More opinions than you want to hear about.

Cain is likable and maybe even electable.  It would be interesting to see how his 9-9-9 proposal would fare without any exceptions (exceptions -- that's really why our current tax code is so complex).  He has a pocketful of exceptions in the third part, the sales tax.  9% tax on new homes, but not on used homes.  I don't know if the sales tax applies to services, but sales commission might be taxed, along with medical care and drugs, etc.  I can see a clean slate with no modifications for about a day or less.

The debates are a nice diversion, but the real winner of the nomination will be the one smart enough to make deals with the most influential special interests with the deepest pockets.  Yes, it helps to be liked and have good ideas, but success in selling your soul to the right forces is what sets the winner apart from the others.

Jason, your philosophical leanings are probably more mainstream than any of the candidates.  Unfortunately, mainstream philosophies satisfy no special interests. 

Oct 12, 2011 03:53 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Jason, good thumbnail assessment. Also Rick has good hair. Doesn't that make you qualified? Politics is so funny sometimes, why I get huge chuckles out of reading editorial cartoons. We do need solid leadership though, no question. I really think Herman Cain has a strong cold side so watch out for him. The 9-9-9 is way to radical a change for the country even though on paper it makes a little sense.

Oct 12, 2011 04:32 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Sardi, very well said---we may have gone to different schools together :)

Oct 12, 2011 05:40 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Sardi - And then there's that 666 comment of Bachman's that cuts a big bunch of her cred. I like Herman, I want Herman. And I would love to see Newt as his chief of staff. No one up there really understands the US government as he does. And even if government shrinks, the pres does deserve a bit more than he gets.

Oct 12, 2011 07:55 AM
Satar Naghshineh
Satar - Amiri Property and Financial Services Corp. - Irvine, CA

I don't believe the salary is excessive for the job responsibilities. Members of the house are around 175k/yr and the president around 500k/yr.

The only candidate that I feel knows what the issues are and how to solve them is Ron Paul. I like Cain's attitude, but you can tell he has no idea what causes our economic issues. His ideas on foreign policy are flawed as well.

 

Oct 12, 2011 09:38 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Satar - for years, before he started running, he had our economic issues identified, and warned of the crash we had, calling it a debt tsunami.

Oct 12, 2011 01:46 PM
Satar Naghshineh
Satar - Amiri Property and Financial Services Corp. - Irvine, CA

Mike - Yeah, he's hard to understand at first as you need to read up on a lot of what he says to understand the logic behind his stance. To the common American, some of his statements seem crazy because we do not understand the real issue.

Oct 12, 2011 03:32 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Really? If this bunch of morons is the best that the Republicans can field we are truly in a mess. 

Since others are posting links, here's a message from Rick Perry: 

http://russelllewis.posterous.com/and-nowa-message-from-rick

And frankly it seems to be same message we are getting from all politicians these days ;-/

 

Nov 06, 2011 11:47 PM
Kim Quintal
Cornerstone Realty - Fortuna, CA

Fun stuff! 

I liked Cain, but then the 999 came out, and I don't like it.  Doesn't help ME.  Actually costs me more. 

I like Newt.  He's not there to make friends.  I think I could sleep at night knowing he is at the wheel.

No shame in liking Obama.  He is a cool guy.  I'd like to have dinner with him and just talk.  However, fundamentally, he is my opposite.  Can't vote for him, but discussions would be fun.  Great debate.

Question: why do we allow candidates get $ from special interest groups.  I HATE that.

Nov 19, 2011 05:59 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Holy Cow!  Jason I had no clue you voted Democratic.  You amaze me.  I think that there ought to be a division of ideas.  But, I also believe that the Tea Party has taken the Republicans somewhere on a joyride with a blindfold on. 

The Tea Party should have made it own party like the Libertarians or Independents.  To take the GOP and narrow it to such an extent that women feel disenfranchised along with the Latinos and nearly everyone who isn't white, rich and middle-aged is somewhat disheartening. 

You are so right.  And, I bookmarked this because it is so da^$ed refreshing. 

Apr 06, 2012 07:09 AM
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Oh, dabbling my toe in fantasy land was a great way to start the day.  Thanks, Jason, for writing this.  The comments are priceless.

Nov 28, 2012 09:47 PM