Huntsman 2012 – Surging in New Hampshire. Next Santorum?

Survey sez that Huntsman is surging in New Hampshire with just three days to go before the election.

Will it matter?

Jon Huntsman 2012

2012, Politics, Idealism and Choices … and about Ron Paul, too.

“Ron Paul, for all his faults, is the only Republican who gives a damn about civil liberties and isn’t a neocon warmonger.”
— Bruce Barlett, 2011.12.23

Bruce Bartlett, former Reagan economics guru, 2008 Obama voter, and Ron Paul critic … that Bruce Bartlett.

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I accept that Ron Paul will never be able to explain racist comments which appeared in some of his newsletters.

Racism is unacceptable to me. I reject all things racist. However, when I look at the 2012 election options: choices are slim — and that includes whether to vote for President Obama.

For now I will continue to support Ron Paul. He has 30 years of actual votes to consider. Maybe he has some darkness in his heart but when it comes time to vote he is one of the few to vote for liberty for all and to demand actual transparency in our government. … I would vote Huntsman given the chance but he will never appear on my ballot in Virginia so for now I will continue to support our crazy ol’uncle Ron Paul.

Politics makes for strangeness in life.

I am an idealist at heart but we need to admit that idealism doesn’t pay bills, protect your civil rights, guarantee balanced budgets, or prevent wars.

We need to move beyond voting for people that say that would do X, Y and Z given the chance. Inevitably most, once elected, vote the party line or flip due to some ‘new perspective’.

New perspective is good but when has President Obama ever had the backbone to use a veto when he threatened it? And when has he led from the front battlelines of an issue rather than at the 11th hour once the poll results are in?

As for Republicans, may God save us.

Gingrich would be darkness with a grandfatherly face. He would challenge the power of the courts to enforce laws, he would/has shutdown the government to make his point-of-the-day, and he is beholden to those that support him with contributions of hundreds of thousands or recently even a $20,000,000 contribution. Please don’t tell me that Gingrich is the answer. I will vote Obama first.

Perry. Am not voting Perry.

Santorum and Bachman – see Perry. All are social conservatives. If fear of racism is a qualifier for whom you vote then race-based policies are more likely to come from social conservatives than libertarians. Am not accusing any of racism, but since I am discussing Ron Paul and the prospect that racism is the boogeyman that we should fear in 2012, well my thoughts are as stated above.

John Huntsman – yes, could vote for him. He will not appear on Virginia’s state ballot so my remaining option is Romney.

Romney – I could possibly vote Romney but that is not a guarantee. Romney was generally a good governor of Massachusetts but he has repudiated much of what he achieved or previously believed. He is a serial flipflopper. Romney is an opportunist — although a good hearted opportunist. He means well. Yet Romney will veer significantly towards the right if that will get him votes. And he will veer back to the center too if that is where the electorate resides. I like the center, but I don’t like pandering veerers.

Ron Paul – while he is accused of having made racist commentary in his newsletters he is one of the few to have voted against almost every law restricting our rights and freedoms. He did so when only several others in his party had to guts to vote for freedom in the face of fear after 9/11. He has been willing to buck his party on so many occasions that his American Conservative Union (ACU) ranking in the mid-2000s were so low that he qualified as one of the most liberal congressmen in the Republican party. Yes, he is America’s crazy ol’uncle. He says sometimes the most astounding, and upon repeated occasions, maybe even embarrassing things. But his heart is good and his proven action in voting has been predictable and for the greater good.

So yes, I continue to support Ron Paul in 2012. I do so contradictory to many of my ideals. But politics is about more than ideals. It is about working with the cards that you’ve been dealt.

2012 is a year of really, extremely bad choices. So my bad choice is Ron Paul … for now.

I voted blue, red and libertarian – November 8th, 2011

=^) I voted today.

We made voting a family affair.

Half of my votes were blue.
Half of my votes were red.
I know that probably gives you something like the bird flu.
But I’m independent — as I’ve previously said.

And I also voted for a Libertarian. I admit to not following the Soil and Water Conservation election too closely. Not at all actually. So when presented with the names of four people with whom I have not the slightest familiarity I decided to use my right as a voter and write someone’s name in. I know a very fine Master Gardener that is actively involved in all the stuff that such people get involved in … although I’m not sure what those things are other than involving soil and water and such … so I chose to write in Al Alborn’s name as my choice for the Soil and Water Conservation board position. It was a vote well cast. I prefer to vote for people that I know, understand and believe will bring something to the position. Al was clearly the best choice compared to the other four … even if swear and affirm that I may well like them too if only I knew something or anything about them.

Election 2010 – Follow the Money. Find the Influence.

The Center for Responsive Politics is celebrating its 27th anniversary as the nation’s premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more transparent and responsive government.

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• Inform citizens about how money in politics affects their lives
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The CRP pursues its mission largely through OpenSecrets.org, a comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis.

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Want a third political party? 46% of Americans say they do.

Want a third party? Lots of talk making the rounds about forming a third party.

You may even see some news stories saying half of all Americans want a 3rd political party. See page 13 of a recent NBC/WSJ poll that says 46% want a 3rd party (1).

Wanting is different than WANTING. It is no small task to start a third political party. The odds are also stacked against you being successful because you actually have to win elections or receive a huge number of votes before you become a full participant in the political process. Example: Ross Perot was able to participate in the 1992 presidential debates but was disqualified in 1996’s debates due to many factors that place special challenges in the path of third party success (2).

This question about wanting a third party has historically gotten a 45-51% support response. And “strongly” wants has always averaged 30%.

My Prediction

Republicans will run alternative candidates on as many “existing” third party tickets as possible in 2010, mostly against moderate Republicans. End result: Either a split vote leaving moderate Republicans losers or just the threat of a third party run scares off moderate Republicans that don’t have a firm storyline about what they believe and a strong relationship with their constituents. Third party end runs will only work in the South and the eastern seaboard.

Sources:

1 – http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/091027_NBCPoll.pdf

2 – In Ross Perot’s case, despite having got 18% of the presidential election vote in 1992, America’s Commission on Presidential Debates placed many hurdles in his path in 1996: he needed ballot status in all 50 states, his standing in the polls needed to reach a certain percentage, attendance levels at his rallies indicating he was a viable candidate with real supporters, a consideration of the likelihood that he will ever be president, and the opinions of a host of pundits on the value of his presence on the political scene (if he is just a spoiler then inclusion would be free publicity for a non-serious candidate).

Maryland Republicans: $703 In The Bank & No Plan for 2010

Being a curmudgeon, I tend to be a bit grumpy about politics.

I’m not a good cheerleader. I believe that too much cheerleading leads to failure to look both ways when crossing the road … and when that happens: Splat!

It also bothers me greatly when there is no apparent sense of introspection as to how one got whereever they are.

Up in Maryland, the state Republican Party is running on fumes with $703 in their bank account per the last public accounting, and they have yet to publicly name  a single figure as probably running for state office in 2010.

In the last two elections Maryland Republicans encountered a real smackdown by voters. Republicans now hold only 36 of 141 seats in the House of Delegates and 14 of 47 in the Senate.  At national level, Maryland Republicans have just one house member.

State Republicans seem to be of two minds:  one group believes that it can capitalize on President Obama’s falling poll numbers, and the turbulence caused by the health care debate. That’s it? No call to action? No state initiatives? No ‘Maryland of Tomorrow’ vision? Bang Obama and hope people think that is worthy of their vote?

The second mindset is represented by Vincent Pacelli,  running for county commissioner in Carroll, “I think success should be defined not necessarily by who’s in Annapolis but by what happens at the local level.”  Carroll County is one of the very few Republican counties in the state (51% of registered voters).

How refreshing. I could like Vincent Pacelli. Compete on ideas and show that Republicans understand what the voters want by dealing with realworld local issues.