I love how FOX is promoting their Feb. 3rd programming- "America's Two Passions- FOOTBALL AND POLITICS!"

But I'm a political junkie and love this time of year. I do think the primaries have been moved up WAAAAAAY too early, but I digress.

What was your take of Thompson dropping out of the race? Why did he lack such "Ooomph!" And will his presense, which originally was thought to put a Conservative voice into the race, now work in breaking up the conservatives since there is no "classic" conservative in the race (unless you want to say that Ron Paul is, but he has NO chance!).

As for the Democrats- you have to love the fighting Hillary and Obama are doing. I feel their constituents love it and it ultimately may make what should be a cakewalk for the Democrats to the Presidency into a real race.

I'm surprised Huckabee has been met with such scorn- but feel he brought it on himself when one of his staffers criticized Rush Limbaugh back in December. Before then, Huckabee was actually praised by Rush.

What are the board's thoughts?

If all the people who say "Ron Paul cant win", would actually vote for him...HE COULD WIN!

It didn't seem like Fred Thompson really wanted to be there. I will support Mitt Romney. I find it interesting the way Giuliani has campaigned. He better win in Florida.

Fan1- I think the big thing about Paul- and why he didn't make the rise that Huckabee did- was that he doesn't support keeping an involvement in Iraq.

Republicans have had to defend that action for the past six years. They aren't about to just say "Ooops! We were wrong!"

It doesn't matter if there wasn't a Congressional Act authorizing the war or not, or whatever the situation. That is going to be the biggest campaign topic out there this summer and after the conventions- and it's what is KILLING Paul.

Otherwise, as I said, I think he'd be the darling of the race.

Go Huckabee. Don't make me call Chuck Norris or the Nature Boy... The lethal combination of a roundhouse kick to the face followed by the figure four leglock is enough for anyone to say: "I LIKE MIKE!"

Agreed Pitt. The economy should be the biggest issue. If American's really wanted it fixed, they would atleast consider Paul. He is the only one in my opinion, who wants serious change.(Oh God I just said the magic word!)

Romney

First of all Fred Thompson quit running for President? How on earth could you tell

Ron Paul is this generation's Ralph Nader. Hey....every generation has to have one

My hope is for a Giuliani vs. Obama election. As an independent voter, I just don't think the libs NOR the cons are what the country needs at this point in our history. G. vs. O. is probably as close as you can come to some moderation in this field of candidates.

Of course others' mules mileage may vary.

McCain or Huckabee.

I prefer Huckabee, but I don't see a Baptist preacher getting elected.
Can't bring myself to vote for somebody from Massachusetts (or New York for that matter).

But most importantly...anybody but Hillary. I am not a registered Republican, but I've never voted for a Democrat for President (and yes, I have voted for some Independents). I do listen to what the Democrats have to say. I sat down and listened to the Democratic debate Monday night, and all of the memories of all of the crap from the Bill Clinton administration all came rushing back. They think it's cute to lie and play games. I'm not going to paint Bill as an evil man, but personally I hated his presidency. He did some really good things while in office, but the bad outweighed the good. If we get Hillary, it's more of the same.

And finally, I think it's a good thing for Congress and the Presidency to be occupied by differing parties!

What are we discussing........voting for a new President of ETSU?

Obama or bust for me

If its Hillary vs Mitt Romney/Huckabee I might just have to abstain from voting. I`d need a good supply of alcohol before voting for any of those 3.

Huckabee, only Southerner, If you consider Arkansas a southern state.

I have been interested at different times in McCain, Huck, Romney and Paul. Perhaps 2 of those should just get together as Pres and VP.If their egos could take it.

Would have considered Fred a few years back but he was never really interested.

"I not a real politician but I play one of TV. "

Obama and Hillary are getting pretty personal. Not sure one of them would be VP for the other.

Chatta-Buc84 Wrote:Can't bring myself to vote for somebody from Massachusetts (or New York for that matter).

This is the geographic bigotry I have often spoke of, but it's okay.

My question is why Party Leaders- on either side- would embrace a candidate from Massachusetts. It's not 1960.

Huckabee would be our clinton...a pandering populist who will take us down a path of mediocrity at best. McCain is a liberal in sheeps clothing. Check no further than the McCain/Feingold bill and his plea for amnesty. If McCain gets the nod we lose, because america will choose a democrat liberal over a republican liberal anyday. The same goes for Huckabee. Ron Paul isn't even worth mentioning. Romney isn't perfect but I believe he is the closest thing in the pack to a true conservative...Rudy might be an interesting presidency and if he gets the nod I could support him, but he isn't my first choice.

The most qualified man to be president has no desire to be president...Dick Cheney. So much for him being power hungry.

CHENEY!

You are a Nixonian Republican, aren't you?

Although, it could be looked at that Nixon was in fact very liberal- with pulling troops out of Vietnam and establishing free trade with China and such.

I just like how each race is turning out to be "who do we hate the least". People will grow tired of Bill and Hillary and probably go Obama. As far as a republican, iraq, economy, border will be the issues and the dems will continue to ignore them by crying about welfare, healthcare and civil rights.

I honestly don't know who's going to win the republican side. Huck's too baptist, Romney's too slick, McCain's a liberal to many republicans, Guilianni is still a historian (and not even winning in FL right now, drudge has a link to him being third at the moment 1/24/08), Ron Paul is a wacko. I thought RP would calm down during the debates to try and get some serious vote swings but the guy is just out there in left field.

Nick, what makes Ron Paul wacko? Because he wants out of the middle east? Because he want's to go back to constitutional sound money? People say RP is wacko, but have no basis for it. I can take criticisms on policy, but to call a candidate wacko, just bugs me.

The mainstream media ignores him. Pretends he doesn't exist. Instead of asking him real questions at debates, Fox asks him if he has any electability, and what does he think of 9/11 conspiracies. The candidates openly laugh at him on stage(which is real presidential by the way). In my opinion, the media portrays him as wacko, and the sheeple follow.

Yeah, I probably should have seen this coming. The guy is out there Fan1. Some will agree with his thinking but it's never going to be a plurality in this country.

I just look at voting from the voter perspective. Here we have all these people more interested in American Idol than the presidential debates. They get in their cars, go vote for someone they were told to vote for by their daddy or mommy to vote for. There's no changing that. Oh I said change :)

Ron Paul. He is the ONLY fiscal conservative running now. He is the only one that will do something effective and truly corrective about our impending *severe* economic recession and dollar crisis.