Why is the Republican presidential field such a yawn?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Scintillating is not a word I would use to describe the current field of Republican candidates hoping to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012. Stultifying is more like it.
So far, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has emerged as the front-runner. But that may not last, and he's already lost this race once. The universal health care plan that passed in Massachusetts on his watch, which has been compared to "Obamacare," isn't helping him. Neither is the criticism that he has trouble talking to "real" Americans. Some say that being a practicing Mormon could hurt him, too.
But the other candidates aren't exactly dazzling GOP voters either.
There was buzz about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's performance the other night at the CNN debate and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty seems to be campaigning his heart out, but so far neither is likely keeping Obama up at night. Rick Santorum is barely registering on voters' minds. Lack of experience is hurting former pizza CEO Herman Cain. And U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who has a small and devoted following, likely will find out the third time is not a charm.
People don't know too much about Jon Huntsman, who is going to announce he's running next week. He was a very popular governor in Utah, but he was also the ambassador to China under Obama until he resigned earlier this year and he, too, is Mormon. Texas Gov. Rick Perry may throw his cowboy hat in the ring soon, too, and some say he could shake up the field. But so far, it's been a snooze.
Even voters from the candidates' own states aren't excited. According to a report on Politico.com, polling data show most of the current candidates have higher unfavorable ratings than favorable ratings in their own states. And some would not even be able to win their states in a general election. 'Nuf said.
Feet to the fire, come November 2012, most Republican voters will pull the lever for whichever candidate represents their party, no matter how dull or charismatic, but if independents and frustrated Democrats don't get excited about the candidate, Obama's a shoe-in for a second term.
Here’s my question to you: Why is the Republican presidential field such a yawn?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Larry in Rhode Island:
There is no diversity in the Republican Party. Everyone must think and act the same. There is no room for anyone else. It's been said millions of times, but it's true, they only cater to the rich. It baffles me how a middle class person could possibly vote for them, but obviously they did, since they took back the House. This country has gotten very scary, and I fear it might get worse.
Jeff in Georgia:
Mr. Cafferty, I'd much rather have an experienced, intelligent, competent, patriotic bore than an unvetted, detached, narcissistic empty suit that is elected based on meaningless slogans and media hype.
Bob in Kansas City, Missouri:
A yawn? The whole lot of them spouted nothing more than the party line Monday night, "Everything wrong is Obama's fault. We can fix it with more tax breaks." Give it up. Standing for no more than their status quo has gotten very, very old.
Russ in Pennsylvania:
The Republican field is only a yawn to those who are interested in sound bites, but no substance. You have a true conservative in Ron Paul who speaks and votes consistently on the message of property rights, sound money and liberty, yet the mainstream media and citizens want to spend more time reading Sarah Palin's emails. Everyone gets what they deserve in the end.
Nate in North Carolina:
Jack, there's no Sarah Palin. You remember that interview with Katie Couric. At least President Obama has charisma that matches his intelligence. Whether or not he uses his intelligence is each person's opinion. This is what the current presidential field lacks. Yes they may have a level of intelligence, but where is the charisma?
Overby:
What's wrong with a yawn once in a while? It appears the Democrats have all the 'exciting' ones, Clinton, Rangel, Spitzer, Weiner etc. Maybe people will want a yawn this time around after all this disgusting excitement.
Steve in Illinois:
Oh, I don't know about that...Paul/Bachmann would be most entertaining!
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Just wait til Palin and Perry throw their hats in.
Because to get the nomination, the candidate must appeal to the typical Republican primary voter and this has culled the grown-ups from the field.
Yawn???? Are you kidding me???? These people are solid gold to the comedians of America. Best . . . campaign . . . ever!
The Republican Party is the problem.The message that the GOP has been sending out lacks spirit and movement, it is sluggish and reeks of "no," all the time. Think of the USA as a family, which we are like it or not, and all mom and dad are doing is nothing and saying no all the time. The Republican Party is stuck in a rut and these Republican candidates are merely reflecting this.
What a joke! Any one of these people will do a better job than the appointed One that you and the rest of the Main Stream Liberal Media help get elected. Do you really think we all drank the kool-aid Jack?
Mark
It's either one extreme or the other with republicans.
Boring to the bone - or burn up the PC trying to get to the truth.
Bait and switch fools a lot of the voting people (look at the "jobs, jobs, jobs" mantra in 2010. Then in 2011 it's abortions, guns, legislating our morals - anything BUT jobs.
Boring is ok for awhile. The lies will start soon enough. Just wish they would stop with the bigotry and hate.
Jack: The Republicans are boring for the following reasons: they want to continue giving oil companies $4 billion of our money; they want health insurance companies to be able to control your health issues; they believe in giving the top 5% of wage earners huge taxcuts while the deficit climbs; they are against collective bargaining for unions, but it is okay for individuals to neogiate for more money and benefits; and they believe in nuclear power even though they see the disaster in Japan; and finally they want to go back to the failed past of the Bush Administration. Yes, it makes me yawn, and then it makes me sick.
That’s because the Republicans are so boring. That is until they try to take our rights and retirement funds away from us.
Because, minus Ron Paul, all of the candidates have proposed the same worn out Republican talking points to fix the economy. There is no excitement because there is no independent thinking going on.
– Paul from Santa Ana, CA
The Republican field is a such a yawn because we've seen this before. They are the same types of people advocating the same concepts that have been proven to be frauds that benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. Oh yeah, and they make the Jesus lovers happy too. Remember the last time we elected a religious right wing fanatic? See Iraq. See Enron. See Medicaid Part B. See the complete collapse of Americas moral authority in the world.
We've seen this play before and it was a play only worth seeing once.
They all seem like the Stepford Wives. They quote from the same book of bull, and want to turn the country back to the year 2000 to re-insitute the same policies that got us into this current mess. The sad part is that they don't seem to realize no one is buying it or them. It's like watching the Seven Dwarfs – Sneezy – Rick Santorum, Sleepy – Mitt Romney, Dopey – Herman Cain, Doc – Ron Paul, Happy – Michelle Bachman, Bashful -Tim Pawlenty and Grumpy – Uncle Newty. Snow White has left the building. Maybe they should too.
None of the candidates have real "game changing" ideas to fix the economy and get Americans back to work. So who cares! The Republican candidates will need to spend more money to get Americans back to work and they do not want to say that. Americans need "a new deal" and until someone can come up with a sound idea to make change Obama is it.
It might be a yawn but even a half trained monkey would be better than what we currently have. Obama hasn't fixed anything he's only made it worse.
Jack,
The field was 100% predictable. "Cut ... cut ... cut!" "No ... no ... no!" I could train a parrot to appear in the next debate.
Seriously, Jack, the nation needs a competitive race, regardless who wins. It would create priorities and focus ... but it won't happen with this gang.
Rick
Medina, OH
because it is the same old boys' club; same thugs that have been on the stage for so long, they have turned feeding off the federal system into a career. newt, romney, paul, pawlenty, bachmann, huntsman...they have all been on some public dime at some point. they pretend to hate govt but they can't do without it...hypocrites.
It's been said a yawn represents a gasp for more oxygen. Clearly liberals are all gasping for more of that free air before the republicans take over in 2012 and cut off all the give aways
For one reason Jack it is way to early to be starting the run for 2012. Why not wait till later then people would be more interested in the candiate. Most are has beens trying to recapture their glory days. Ain't going to work. Leopards do not change their spots.
Who says it is a yawn???
I think the field is diverse. The only yawn was the debate. John King did not address one question to foreign policy, but made sure we all knew preferences on thin/deep dish; spicy/regular; johnny cash/elvis. That and his constant grunting was the only yawner
Louise
Atlanta, GA
Jack, thats easy. They are all pandering to the more conservative elements (teabaggers, birthers, birchers, neocons,etc) of the party and by doing so they appear to be a " Mirror" rather than a "Beacon" which is what most Americans desire.
Why is the Republican presidential field such a yawn?
Because they are the party of NO NEW IDEAS and SORE LOSERS.
Just look at the current candidate pool
2 Mormons each with residency issues – Romney and Huntsman
1 Bat crazy Woman Who Doesn't Understand the US Consitituion – Bachmann
A Black "Birther" – Cain
An Adulterer with money issues – Gingrich
A Fruitloop just Goggle him- Santorum
A Racist – Paul
and
A GOP Apologist – Pawlenty
When Palin throws her bra into the ring Tina Fey will make MILLIONS.
I am confident Obama will be a 2 term president. Thank God!
Jenna
Roseville CA
Because all the Republican candidates have almost exactly the same beliefs, and they all have the same standard hackneyed Republican solutions to all the problems of the nation: Cut taxes for the wealthy, eliminate regulations for corporations, and eliminate all social spending.
Then we'll all be wealthy, have good well-paid jobs, and affordable quality healthcare.
Magic.
This field of candidates is "electrifying"....
Too bad that their weary, re-cycled "high voltage" rhetoric is at odds with their "low voltage" list of solutions.
I see nothing positive with this bunch,
Thanks for posting such an easy question; you saved me so much time.
Now, I can go play with my Legos............
same ol status quo sellouts...whether its the democratic internationalists or the so called moral conservatives , the country proves money worshipping , when they destroy the water supply and the health of the citizens , after using economy excuses as they saturate our 21st century progress with the continued subsidies and tax breaks for those who are regurgitating fossil fuels before we get access to technology advancement the venture capitalists have stolen, including General Electric...but the 2 party thinks its bettor that repression makes for more profit margins
There has been so little happening in Washington that it is giving politics a bad name. A bunch of talk and then nothing changes. I think we are waiting for the whole country to go broke before we do anything. No one can pin Obama down on anything and no one wants to hear what the Republican candidates have to say. Everybody is complaining and no one offers solutions. The only Republican candidate who is intereting is Newt but carnival acts don't hold your attention long.
Because they all have to pass the absurd litmus test required by the wingnuts. They're not allowed to think independently.
Hi Jack – (Hey, that sounds like I'm taking over your show)
Anyway...It seems clear that the Republican Party Candidates all have to speak from a 'Religious' viewpoint in order to be in tune with their base. However, when you use 'dogmatic' beliefs (all of which are man-made and human-derived) to interface with the modern world, you are simply not going to appear to be very bright.
In a sense, Bill Maher is right....there is simply no 'proof' to any of these belief systems, and most informed people understand this. From the behavior of many of these folks (like Gingrich) it is clear that they do not believe all the dogma either – they just pander to those that do in order to get their votes. Then they go right on about their cheating and lying as usual.
The Republicans need to separate church and state, and start using common sense. Isn't there a saying that goes "Many will come in my name"? In all the issues that separate Republicans and Democrats, religion is the main difference. Since, by logical reasoning, all the religions on Earth (but one) 'must' be wrong, then let's get this fundamentalist nonsense out of our politics.
Richard/Canada
Jack, they are hoping that between now and November next plus 1 the majority of the American electorate will be in a Rip van Winkle like state, and their energized base and Tea Party will be the only ones voting. I will vote but not for anyone. Again, I will be voting against which ever party has the stupidest platform, headed by whatever imbecile and bobble head doll that party has deemed fit to run.
I'm sorry Jack, what was the question ?
David, las Vegas
Let's see, There's Newt Gingrich who told his wife he wanted a divorce as she lay in the hospital with cancer. So much for Mr Compassionate, don't judge me on the past. He'll have the public's interest in mind. Mitt Romney is against health care, except in Massachusetts. He'll want to take the country to the extreme right and load the Supreme Court. And then there's the Alaskan wonder. All to the right of the Taliban.
Jack this election is a joke. Right now we are up to our eyelids in a cesspool of foreign owed debt. Our politicians are standing on their tip toes saying. "Don't make waves". Meanwhile the democrats are trying to raise a billion dollars to blow on Obamas political campaign and we know that billion dollars is not coming from 25 dollar private pledges. It is coming from lobbyists and some that do not reside inside of this country. The republicans are not appealing because anyone that is standing in a cesspool is not real appealing and that also goes for the democrats.
How many times can you hear that tax cuts will help the economy despite the fact that they have been in effect since early in the Bush administration and the economy has gone straight down? How many times can you hear that wars are a good thing, despite the fact that they have cost trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives? How many policies can you advocate that destroy the middle class and the rights guaranteed by the Constitution? It's not only stupid, but consummately boring.
The Republican presidential field is a yawn because it's a repeat of the same ole ideology that wrecked this country. The GOP is so filled with "anti-this" and "anti-that" that they no longer appeal to the Main Street voter. They preach trickle-down economics which in reality is trickle-up bonuses for the rich. We say "jobs," they say "we get it," then once in office they go after women's reproductive rights, cutting taxes for the rich, cutting services like Medicare and Social Security that help the middle class and poor, and they do all this to make themselves and their rich friends even more rich and powerful. It's the same ole, same ole, same ole pack of lies.
Because they are Republicans?
The Republican presidential field is such a yawn since Obama is such an orator that describes the problem very well – than has a solution that seems like it will work – (but it seems that it never does, putting the poor people is worse shape). Republicans are stating what the real situation is, and we don't want to hear the tough solutions, even though we know what is really necessary, if we study the problems! But we don't need an orator that sounds good, we need a businessman or problem solver, he/she can get experts on foreign relations after elected! WE NEED TO SOLVE OUR DEBTY/DEFICIT PROBLEM NOW!!
Because it becomes boring when all they do is attack the democrats and not each other. It like every one of them is reading from a script handed out by the GOP. They need to get into it and distinguish what makes them different from the other candidates. If Trump and Palin joins the race I would watch every debate because they are a hoot. They make everyone laughed with Palin interpretation of the midnight ride of Paul Revere and Trump taking credit for everything good and constantly patting himself on the back. This would definitely get rid of the boredom and make more people tune in.
Because the credible candidates have to be so careful to not say anything to irritate that small percentage of the population (the far right wingnuts) that has the huge media microphones and sign that ridiculous Grover Nordquist pledge not to raise taxes period that it seems to me it scares them off from running and leaves us with what you see – very shallow and in some cases scary candidates.
The Republican Party hasn't yet offered any solutions to job creation (the pledge they ran on in 2010. Where's the jobs, GOP – isn't that what you were asking the President in 2009 and 2010? A clue for you GOP and Washington in general – more jobs on American soil equals more revenue WITHOUT raising the tax rates!!!!!!!
They may be a field of yawners, but unless Obama actually supports an issue without caving, then one of these yawners may be elected (God forbid). Obama sounds like he wants to be a one-term President. If that's the case, he should do an LBJ and withdraw so another Dem can run. 3 wars and a lousey economy is enough reason to flee.
Jack, I hate to ding you for the loaded liberal question you have posed. The Republican presidential field is only a yawn to you liberals. To us who are worried over "The Change we can't believe in" its a breath of fresh air.
Maybe because they are mostly 'recycled' candidates. And there is nothing new being said, nothing with substance and definitely nothing moderate to make things interesting. Obama was different–in more ways than one. Republicans keep chanting the same old tired things:no taxes, Obama did it and tax breaks for the rich are good for us. Oh and then they still chant: anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-gun control and definitely they are stilll the party of NO–NO Obama, NO compromise and NO help for middle class Americans. So where is the change from the Bush years that got us nowhere?
What's wrong with a yawn once in a while? It appears the Democrats have all the 'exciting' ones...Clinton, Rangel, Spitzer, Weiner etc...maybe people will want a yawn this time around after all this disgusting excitement.
Because voter demographics indicate an Obama reelection if the economy improves even a little bit.
While evaluating what the typical Republican represents I've come to the conclusion that the majority – NOT ALL: Are stiff necked, humorless, kind of mean spirited, take themselves WAY TO seriously, are stuck in the present while always looking to the past and have no real vision for the future. In a word – BORING.
Jack let them make it interesting by having a true debate on each subject they are front running. Let’s spend 2 or 3 hours hearing what they would do about Medicare, Medicaid, VA Benefits, SSA, SSI, RyMed, Same Sex Marriage, Abortion, what is their solution to the Health Care Industry and the Health of the Country, Jobs, The Economy and the many issues that they have all the one liners attacking Obama for but none of the answers.
Jack, permit me to answer with a few analogies: Republicans read the Wall Street Journal while Democrats read the National Enquirer. Republicans are conservative - Democrats are liberal. Republicans frequent libraries while Democrats frequent bars. Republicans go to church, Democrats go to jail. Republicans read the news, Democrats make the news. So who is more interesting
- A conservative church goer reading the Wall Street Journal in a library or a liberal in the National rag throwing back a few after getting out of jail.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
tampa, fl with the average median age of the candidates looking to be about 85, you can't expect them to be too animated. most have to be woke up to take a viagra, or to vote.
Shush Jack, I'm trying to sleep.
Because it's so predictable, Jack. We already know that they are going to trip all over themselves trying to out do each other in making up the most despicaple lies about President Obama. Every time I listen to one of them, I feel like I lose IQ points. Why doesn't the "lame stream" media just ignore their antics until they've settled on a candidate. It will save us all a lot of brain cells.
Republicans represent only Americans with safety cushions, stock portfolios, financial assets and golden parachutes who are loath to relinquish even one nickel to the hardworking employees who made them successful. The GOP has no platform to govern voters who they have traditionally beaten like rented mules. The Republican Party is poised to co-opt the idealistic agendas of Tea Party candidates and Libertarians alike. No campaigning Republican can do a better job than our incumbent Obama.
Because they are boring individuals saying the same thing over and over again.
Simple...The Republicans moved way to far toward the right and therefore pretty much excluded the more moderate and reasonable Republicans.
Because, Jack, they have no solutions to America's problems.
They are truly boring people. They spent an entire evening
at the CNN debate bashing President Obama, and it was like
waiting for grass to sprout without any sunshine or water.
They are dull and dry, and totally inept. Wealth does not
necessarily mean "bright light". Thank you
The Republican field is only a yawn to those that are interested in sound bites, but no substance. You have a true conservative in Ron Paul who speaks – and votes – consistently on the message of property rights, sound money and liberty, yet the MSM and citizens want to spend more time reading Sarah Palin's emails. Everyone gets what they deserve in the end...
Ron Paul in 2012...
Both parties rot!!
The reason why the current candidates are a yawn is because they are just cheerleading and bashing Obama. It was only yesterday that we had for 8 years their rotten party at the helm and look at what happened while George was sleeping? The financial sector was IMPLODING!!
They all sound so fake, like cheerleading Palins the other night, only much smarter. They want gov't to back out of business so the financial and corporate sectors can RUN WILD again, for round 2, not that Obama and his WELFARE state is any better. The only one so far that has a chance is Ron Paul who really isnt a politician by trade.
However, at the end of the day, the entire legislature and both parties are DESPICABLE!!!!! Just look at all of the current issues, budget, and topics including the situation in Libya that they are taking Obama to court on. EVERYTHING is a mess. How foolish we would be to think one candidate/party or another would really fix anything!
This is going to be a nauseating/sickening campaign season as all of our politicians and candidates have DESTROYED the public trust and lie so badly!
The Republican field is a yawn because they don't have anyone with a personality or a true leader even though they think they do. The debate on CNN last Monday was a joke at best. They act like a bunch of kids that have been spoiled and they are the class of the rich and famous that get their Bush tax cuts and create nothing.
Actually, it's only a yawn to the sane. To the 27%* who buy the guff these twits put out, it's manna from heaven. And as each clown tries to out-crazy the others, it just seems like meaningless babble to the rest of us.
And if it don't mean a thing, it ain't got that swing. That's why we doze off when we hear it.
Bob Clayton
* "Some of the people all of the time" is how Lincoln put it.
Jack, there's no Sarah Palin. You remember that interview with Katie Couric. At least President Obama has charisma that matches his intelligence. Whether or not he uses his intelligence is each person's opinion. This is what the current presidential field lacks. Yes they may have a level of intelligence, BUT WHERE IS THE CHARISMA? Or, at least someone with juicy gossip. ("Just like Paul Revere when he told the British you can't take our guns"), LOL.
no brainer question!!!!!!
They're such a yawn Jack because most are already previous losers like Romney, Palin, Gingrich, Paul, etc., and because their old disproven economic agenda has not been good for America. Finally, their broken promises of creating jobs was substituted by the attempted destruction of Medicare and cuts to Social Security while further enriching the undeserving wealthy. Need more?
how many brains does it take the republicans to take a office like the oval office???? are they in it for the money???
It's a yawn and it's frustrating because:
A.) No candidate stands out from the background.
B.) Instead of stating how to solve the economy and where they stand on the wars, the Republican Candidates just state that Obama is destroying jobs, stopping the drilling for new oil, etc.
C.) They are confident that Obama is a one-term President and are not striving to connect with the Independents.
D.) Instead of dealing with real issues, they bring up abortion, gay marriage, etc.
E.) They don't have a solutions' plan, just an enemies of free enterprise list that lists Obama and the Democrats.
F.) They state that the government does not have to do anything, but simply step out of the way of free enterprise–which will have outstanding results. That's not very reassuring.
G.) They do not answer the good questions that reporters put to them. Instead they avoid the question by providing an answer from left field that they have already rehearsed.
Conclusion: They do not know any better than Obama on what to do and still get elected. And, that is most frightening.
Intrest,"Yawn", just no intrest
The race isn't won or lost yet Jack. The grandstanding that Obama did made him the shining star with no substance. Lets see what prevails down the road. I see some newcomers that could have some viable solutions to our current financial disaster. One of which supports a consumer tax to replace the current income tax. No loopholes for anyone. Fear is that the Democrats would adopt it without doing away with the income tax. There is hope but it sure isn't with the current ship of fools in power.
Gerry
Ash Fork, Az.
There is NO diversity in the Republican Party. Everyone MUST think and act the same. There is NO room for anyone else. It's been said millions of times, but it's true, they only cater tot the RICH. It baffles me how a middle class person could possibly vote for them, but obviously they did, since they took back the House. This country has gotten very scary, and I fear it might get worse.
Because all of the candidates spout the same old right-wing ideology that we have heard over and over and over for the past decades – tax cuts solve all woes, etc – instead of real ideas for solving our real problems. The ideology became boring long ago and there is nothing new there to get anyone excited. Anyone except a hard-core far-right ideologue, that is.
Why do you and others in the media continue to ridicule the republican candidates. Backman is an exciting speaker and has the same qualifications as obama had when he ran; she is a lawyer, congress member and a business women; ron paul is right on with solving the debt like ending the wars, cutting defense, ending the derivatives speculative market and eliminating the federal reserve. Obama has no solutions just more talk of change. Let the people decide the next election not the propaganda polls by the media.
What I see there people have know respect for old retired or young how can they belive they can win being against thew people you mite as well be russian they make know sence .Obama is the worst humanbing ever but still reslly see americans need help he will win and america will fail. It makes me sick. chuck paree anderson in
Because they are all the same. They are only interested in trying to look like they are better then the Dems and everyone else. And they are trying to bring the country back to the 1940's. They have all forgotten that it is 2011 and you can't go back.
A participant in Reagon's economic package (Classic Economics-no government regulation/Supply-side economics, transfer of wealth to rich) stated it best: The Republican candidates keep advocating the same theory (tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts) and things have changed economically and they have not. All these candidates are just offering us a rerun of George W. Bush Reagonomics, Ronald Reagon Reagonomics...it well only cause a deep recession from massive cutting of government spending (1981) and massive new debt (1989, 2008) from non-taxing of the rich and big business (not enough increase in government revenues after stimulus because rich tax rates too low). These candidates haven't learned from their party's economic failures. They plan to do it all over again with massive government cuts that well deflate the economy (recession) and make it worse. They offer no solutions and aren't worth watching or listening to. They are the problem. It's the economy: Massive debt from excessive tax cutting that over time transfers wealth from the middle class to the rich shinking the middle class leaving a middle class to wealth-less to drive the economy any longer and provide enough tax revenue.
Jack,
You ask: Why is the Republican presidential field such a yawn?
The current field includes political has-beens: Gingrich, Willard Romney (his name is NOT Mitt) R. Santorum. Also running are the extreme radicals: M. Bachmann and Andy Martin, Ron Paul and Roy Moore.
There are a couple of interesting possible candidates: Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, and Tom Miller.
Tim Pawlenty, Buddy Roemer and John Bolton are too little known by the public and would not look to those making the real choice, as winners They are that small club of billionaire Republicans who fund and own those elected. They only meet together on rare occasions and stay out of the media, they just own it. When they decide on their choice the money will flow and the media will crow. It is coming, just not yet.
The so called the Republican ideology has hit a dead-end with no room for maneuvering to right or left. Now, apparently, they are trying the reverse gear, but unfortunately, the recession they had caused is right behind them. It looks like a car with blown engine is waiting to get fixed by its owner, not mechanic.
Oh, I don't know about that...Paul/Bachmann would be most entertaining!
IL
A yawn?, the whole lot of them spouted nothing more than the party line Monday night, "Everything wrong is Obama's fault–we can fix it with more tax breaks"....Give it up, standing for no more than their status quo has gotten very, very old.
Today's America have been duped into thinking change, with a twist of coolness and daring is the answer to our future. They then translate this myth into worshiping a "pied piper" candidate to lead them off a nearby cliff........................which is what the reality of today's fiasco in Washington is.
What we really need is to pick up 5 or 6 good U.S. history books (one won't do it) and learn from our past.
The only hope for our future is for far less government, minimal taxation, and a return to individual accountability and responsibility. There are no short cuts promised by a "pied piper".
A candidate who brings on a yawn from the main stream populice is in fact the answer.
Learn from past disastrous mistakes.
These candidates presented as well as those not yet debatable are not a yawn. They are the product of an information aged culture that expexts a savior to arise and revolutionize the manner in which our country and the world deals with issues. Politicians in general seem to be involved in advancing their careers and perhaps fulfill their campaign promises. Our current president is a great example of that. There no longer exists a middle of the road candidate nor a constituency that is not polarized. Getting anyone, including Congress to agree on an issue without banter is prehistoric.
Intrest, "Yawn", just no intrest
Mr. Cafferty, I'd much rather have an experienced, intelligent, competent, patriotic bore than an unvetted, detached, narcissistic empty suit that is elected based on meaningless slogans & media hope
"Your whole country is a YAWN. Jack! Y-our A-lways W-anting (but doing,) N-othing. What is Obama going to do to help Porto Rico?
Do the Rico's already illegally in the USA, really want more immigrants to come. Obama is running scared, and you know it! So it's a whole new team running this time for the GOP, and you know that too! There'll be lots of cat-fights on both side of the fence. The Obama's are weak and divided, so what chance do the Democrats have!"
The republican candidates are such a yawn for one reason; they're Republican! If you look in the Sumerian dictionary you will find republican defined as: Boring, drool, unexciting, yawners. The last eciting republican was Ron Regan. The last mean and nasty republican is (fill in the blank).
Because the rhetoric is always the same. Gays, abortion, interpreting the Constitution, God, private enterprise, the same old same o. What we want to hear is, here are the jobs.
We dare not hold our breath waiting for often mentioned, private enterprise will provide them. It is they who sent jobs out of the country, and are squeezing their remaining employees to work harder for less wages.
The unemployed villagers yawn as they cry wolf over, and over, and over, and, over.
Don't believe everything the democrats say... Clearly, they are very nervous so they are propogating these lies...
If that N.H. was any indication it's a yawn because the field is totally elite. While it's true for both Dems and GOP, these Repubs have absolutely no idea what it's like to have 3 kids and a $30,000 annual salary .
Peter
Langley B.C.
Do you mean yawn or clown? Eve of Texas
Because no reasonable person can say with a straight face that tax cuts and deregulation creates jobs after the net negative job growth during the Bush administration. Or say that global warming is a liberal myth during a record tornado season following years of increasing global temperatures. Or that they support their Big Pharma and biotech company donors while also banning the teaching of evolution in biology classes. Or call for free markets and deregulation while complaining that our foreign trading partners "don't follow the rules" as was said during the debate this week.
Not yawning here Jack. And if one of them wins the Presidency, I may be able to get my first good night's sleep in three years!
Because too many voters are more interested in celebrity then leadership.
Perhaps because they are really boring and actually have little new to say.
A parody of Macbeth's soliloquy might sum it up – Politicians are now but walking shadows, poor players who strut and fret their hour upon a stage and then are heard no more. Theirs are tales told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Shakespeare must have personally known some of these candidates.
Simply this Jack; President Obama, dispite everything, is going to be difficult to defeat. Any Republican who looses to Obama in 2012 will have no chance in 2016. A smart Republican (Chris Christie) who desires to be POTUS will wait for 2016.
We need Donald Trump. He's proving to be very colorful and I'm bored.
Republicans. Yawn. What's new about that, Jack? Jon Huntsman's Dad and I go way back in business, these are shrewd and tenacious people. You heard it here, Jon Jr. will become President some day.
Carol in Northampton, MA
Jack,
Because they are out of touch with the reality the United States faces. They are more concerned about the social issues at a time when the economy should be at the forefront. But I'm not happy with Obama either. While I understand that he wanted to guarantee people with pre-existing conditions couldn't be denied health insurance from companies such as BlueCross BlueShield, nothing was done to combat the ridiculous prices that people have to, or will have to, pay. And let's not forget about unemployment. Neither party has a concrete plan, that I can tell, to get the unemployment below 9%.
No real ideas, acting as righr wing ideologes, 1890's sweatshop economic mentaqlity.
It's not like Ghostbusters where you can pick a 200 foot marshmallow man to represent you if you want. We have what we have to work with, besides the results seem about the same no matter who's in there or what they say while running. My point, who cares...
The "broken record" of their bigotry on gays, women's rights, and their self-serving attitudes on tax cuts for the rich (or, basically themselves), are so far afield from what this country needs, in leadership, that none are appealing.
So far, Huntsman is looking like the only possibility.
It's not a yawn, it's a circus act full of clowns trying to impress the far right fringe. Popcorn sales are going to skyrocket! If I were the GOP, I'd dump the birchers, baggers, dominionists, and all other such haters, and try to gain back some semblance of respectability. But that's just me.
Because the Republican base requires simple candidates with simple answers.
There isn't a Republican running or not running that I can think of that could give this bunch any pizazz. Palin can excite people but to most she a bimbo. Bachman had her good witch hat on the other night, but she's right behind Palin in the bimbo line. All they do is criticize with no idea of how to fix anything. It's easy to point out problems, but it takes brains to see how to fix them and there weren't any on that stage or in the wings the other night.
Jack, interesting republicans tend to...how do I say it...make a fool out of themselves in a not so good way. Lets see here, Gleen Beck, Bill O'reilly, Donald Trump, Sarah Palin's midnight ride. I think the fields best bet is to be boring to the core and maybe, just maybe, come up will some ideas other than "I will not rest until I" undo everything the other guy campained on, won on, and did during the last four years.
Well Jack, the answer is obvious to anyone who has seen these people. Looks like I'll be voting for Obama come November 2012.
Maybe because the economy is so bad we can't afford to buy as much coffee.
Ralph- Corpus Christi, Texas
I think the reason the Republican party hasn't showed us that it would be any better than what is going on to help bring jobs and a ray of hope to the people. All we heard the other night is more fighting among the political parties and how they want to bring down Pres. Obama. I think I'm not alone in feeling pretty sick and tired of the negative rhetoric and lack of cooperation from the Republicans. We know the Republicans raised the debt many time in their turn at running the government and that is why we are in debt now. Yawn...same-o Republican crap...
Mr. Cafferty:
The voters threw the republicans out. The wish is that they are kept out. Nothing done by them in the meantime has improved anything. Then, the democrats are a mirror image of the republicans, or as we like to say, the other head of the two headed dragon. The democrats need another four years to absolutely show their apathy to the American voter and taxpayer, but still reap the staggering benefits of public office. Then, the democrats will be thrown out, hopefully to be replaced by a responsive grass roots government. Only a media reporter who gets paid for watching all this can stomach any of it.
Because you can tell that none of them are genuine about helping the average citizen. They are all corporate schills who spout the same old policies that have been killing our country for the last 10 years.
I feel it is a realistic lack of leaders in their party. They have foolishly put focus on, groomed and exploited celebrity types such as Palin, Trump, McCain and others, for the White House knowing they have no one with the character or political credentials to "excite" voters in hope their numbers would increase. Also, those in the party at this point in time are extremely singularly motivated politically and are without the necessary "Three Musketeer" mentality and commitment needed to be taken seriously. Couple these with the obvious lack of concern for the under privileged and unemployed, and you end up with afield of candidates such as the one they are stuck with now. Celebrity may be exciting but only goes so far in politics. Leadership is lasting.
Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI
Why? Easy. They're all boring and uninspiring compared to Obama. After all, "yes we can."
Do you need me to spell it out to you, Jack? Because Sarah Palin isn't in yet!
Why?
The better question is when has it not been a yawn Jack.
Jack,
Seriously? I thought by now everyone knew the answer to this question. Democrats, not without their faults, did not get us into this mess. Republicans did. To get excited about any republican candidate would be to get excited about the policies of the Bush years. Nobody wants that.
The Republicans haven't had a new idea that was any use to the country in 40 years and they aren't about to start now. These rubber stamps from central casting are about as interesting as sponges and almost as smart.
Because everyone in the GOP knows deep inside that President Obama has actually done a good job with what he's had to work with and they know when it comes down to it he will win again. That's why the Republican front runners backed out a long time ago. I guarantee you in 2016 they will be fighting over the nomination!!! President Obama just might run uncontested for the first time in history. And he should!!!
Because the GOP is a yawn. They say the same phrases over and over but never deliver and bring more failure than success to America. The last great Republican was Abraham Lincoln. If they want to win, they need to drop the neo-conservatism extremists. Stop calling the Democrats out as being ultra-liberal when the GOP themselves has swung so far to the right.
Republican?????????????
It is not republican, It is recorporation party. it is reoil party. it is re walstreet party. How can a simple American trust republican, who have sold themselves to Big buissneses. It is not party but mistress of corporation, who lives on the thrown bread to the dogs.
Albert
The Republican presidential candidates are a major yawn, Jack. It's simple: they aren't the right people to nominate. People like Rudy Guiliani, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio are the ones people want. They would give Obama a major challenge for the presidential seat in 2012. Rubio & Christie both have great jobs and need more experience, but they'd be great for the office. Guliani SHOULD run, but his health and the company he runs will probably keep him out of the 2012 presidential run.
There is not enough unity in the Republican Party currently to back a single strong candidate. WIthout the unity, the stronger candidates do not want to expend the effort or money going against a strong and entrenched President. The better candidates will most likely wait until 2016.
Hi Jack –
Why?
Well, yawn – we are all still recovering from the last election's sleeping pills...
Best,
Bruce
Because the republicans bring no ideas, they whine about President Obama constantly but never bring any ideas to the tables. They are only there to make themselves and their big business buddies richer at the cost of the middle class.
Ron Paul is right in almost every thing he says im not even kidding just listen to all his answers from the GOP debate he seriously is so smart, idk why people would rather continue supporting the socialist dems
Because everyone is too busy trying to find a job instead of hoping for inept politicians to solve their problems for them. Plus, it's too soon to expect anything good from a candidate.
Aldo
NJ
Jack,
It's because there is no difference between R and D anymore. All politicians are cut from the same cloth.
The mormon church has been running ads for about a year and a half trying to build the image of mormon's as "just like me" good folk. The have showcased people of color and working moms, to show how open they are, but somehow a gay couple has not been profiled yet....wonder why, oh yeah, that multi-million dollar California anti-gay campaign they waged. Oh, and they really aren't in favor of people of color or working moms.
The reason is because these guys are comical.They dont stand a chance against themselves .Obama win by landslide!!
Hey Jack,
People aren't stupid ... there is nothing to get excited about when the Republican Party is tearing down everything, such as Medicare and soon to be Social Security and ObamaCare.
Republicans continue to fund the wealthy people and companies, when we should be implementing the Flat Tax system for all Tax Payers.
I can't stand watching those Republicans anymore
CBM
Santa Clara, Ca
Republicans are generally.....Dull, Boring..... Yawn..... because of their tired old ideology.... I watched the Presidential Debate with all the hopefuls lined up trying to look presidential!!!!!!!!and I heard Michele Bachman announce that she was running for "President of the United States".DUH...Rick Perry is no prize either......it may be up to Huntsmen......these people are all way to far to the extreme to suit me........
Simple, there are NO real leaders left, Lincon, Teddy Rooselvelt and the like are gone. Plus the last one, put a bad taste in everyones mouth.
Jack, people like you and the rest of the media are responsible for calling this a week field. There is great discontent for what is going or should I say not going on in the country. The economy is unstable, there home foreclosures, bankruptcies, and did I mention the high gas prices? People are crying out for change, and the Republicans are the ones offering it. A weak field? I beg to differ.
Phil
Rye
Campaigns are so expensive, intrusive, exhausting and nasty that good people don't want to subject themselves or their families to them. Christie would be fantastic but for the reasons given above, he will not be running. True public servants are forced out and that leaves crooked, power hungry meglamaniacs that have made a career out of screwing the public.
President Obama was scintillating. How's THAT working out for us? I'm not looking for scintillating; I'm looking for competent. In my opinion, there are several competent candidates among the GOP.
This may be a well choreographed plan!!! Start out with low grade candidates that no one wants to rally behind then,you pull out your big name who is so popular that every other candidate will have to endorse,thus unifying the party!!!
It's a yawn because most Republicans have been AGAINST the Obama plan but offer nothing new that they are FOR. Much of the field is made up of entertaining personalities that pander to the extreme end of the party but don't demonstrate any solid leadership, vision or inspirational message or goal for the people. Even the so called debates are not debates where people take up a pro and con position on solutions but its about how they are against the status quo. In the end they will all end up like Obama, promise change but kow-tow to the monied interests of the banks and corporations.........Frustrated Independent that thinks there ought to be term limits for congressmen and senators as well.
Considering the length of time before the election, I may hit the snooze button several more times. Why spoil a good nap?
Boring.... well yes... Because only a boring person, with no real life experience, can survive two years of this silliness. The real candidates will not come out till just before the Rep convention. And the Reps are ABOUT THE MONEY..... Money is boring... until you see they, the Rep cronies, have it all...
This isn't a boring field but a smart field. They are all making sure they don't get over exposed on the national level. This is simply good strategy and I would bet that by Super Tuesday, we will all start realizing that this is an overcrowded field with some interesting, and dumb, players in it.
Jack, Now I understand. The drugs you guys at CNN take to make you believe in liberal ideas also make you sleepy.
The GOP Presidential Nominee will emerge through all this "yawning" situation. That nominee may not be in the mix yet, but it won't be Huntsman either.
One thing is for sure. The Democratic (President Obama) nominee is well known, after being given a chance to "turn things around". He has shown a lack of leadership, hasn't turned anything around, and I predict will not be re-elected.
The next President will be a Republican, even if the one after that is a Democrat.
Republicans are out of touch with the structure of the American Family. Family Values and the traditional family are strongly promoted by the self righteous moral Republican diehards. They court Christians and their social agenda, without realizing that Jesus Christ, the moral role model, did not have a traditional family. Really–12 guys walking around the middle east. Republicans and the candidates for President 2012 can't come up with a fresh new theme that benefits all Americans. Family Values? Excuse me while I yawn.
watched the debate the other night but sorry to say fell asleep in the middle of it.Was it any good?
Dave Savage.
jack,
you ever seen the movie Chicago. we go the 'razzle-dazzle' during the last presidential election, and where has that really gotten us. i for one gave up hope on any change i can believe. volvos are boxy, and 'dull' cars, but those suckers keep going and deliever for years and years. i'm thinking i'd rather have a 'volvo' of a president the next time around, rather than the flashy, cool car that gets me sucky mileage and stalls when it goes over 50.
NC
Is this a trick question? Just look at the last president the GOP gave us. He lied to us, got us into two unnecessary wars, wrecked the economy and couldn't handle complete sentences. And now they've got the tea party pulling them further and further into extremism that will only kill their chances in a general election. Even worse, instead of trying to solve the problems within their own party they're just repeating the same mistakes. At this rate, I think you can count on Obama being a two-termer. The Republicans are a yawn because they're working very hard to be just that and they're too stupid to know it.
Responsible Republican leaders who place a value on compromise and don't get sucked into the social conservative agenda are waiting on the sidelines until this pack of presidential wannabe's expose their lack of appeal to the majority of voters. Their simple solutions to complex problems will become readily apparent when real debates occur.
Rich from Minnesota
The country is in such a mess that no one really knows how to fix it without incurring the wrath of those in power
Ron Paul is the most exciting thing to happen in the GOP, but you would never know this from the mainstream medias lack of coverage, and outright disinformation regarding him.
None of all the republican candidates has anything good to offer,they are just going to drive the car back to the dish. All of them together are no match to Obama
Jack, the CNN group is part of the President Obama group and is not including the other 50% who oppose the Obama group. When all the polls are reviewed as a whole, the Obama group is dropping like a pound of lead, thus providing any Republican who wins the Presidential primary to win the Presidential election come 2012. CNN to believe its a yawn for the Republicans is a huge miss-read on the "feelings" of the American people.
The republicans have no viable candidates and they know it. They have no ideas, no solutions, and no plans. All they have is dogma, an ideology of no taxes – EVER, no regulations – EVER, no unions – EVER, kill the social safety net, and continue the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the already wealthy. If the U.S. workforce ends up in service jobs and retail jobs at minimum wage – they would achieve nirvana.
Jack, Maybe it's because that is the way the moronic main stream media wants to portray the current candidates. If a competency test to vote was required Obama would lose by BIG numbers.
I might be okay to have boring and honesty for a change...Look what we ended up with when we followed the "exciting one" Truth matters...that may be boring sometimes.
The GOP won't get more interesting candidates until it get enough backbone to say that it's going to back candidates that stand for its traditional party principles: freedom for the American people –all the lawabiding American people- and protection from those who would undermine that freedom, whether through illegal trespass on rights [[stealing, assault and other crimes] or through overbearing legislation. The latter includes both overtaxation and overrgulation [but not all regulation], but also regulation of people's private lives and religious or moral views. That means that the party has to stop allowing right wing evangelical zealots to drown out the rational parts of the party. And the press has to stop giving those wingnuts all the attention and scaring level-headed people away from the GOP.
Thanks to reality TV, people think that everything has to be exciting. I prefer my elected officials to be boring, staid, punctual, responsible, and loyal to their spouses. I know that's boring, but so be it.
The yawn comes from the fact that standing together there is no daylight between them. They could have bagged the "debate" format , linked arms and while any one of them answered the questions the rest could have hummed the Battle Hymn of the Republic. This was nothing more than a Bush/Cheney policy revival. Not one good idea on how to get us out of the mess we are in, just self promoting hot air. The real 800 pound gorilla in the room will contiue to be taxes and subsidies for the rich and these folks will never utter those words. All we got about the war was their version of the "light at the end of the tunnel", conditions on the ground non-answer except for Ron Paul who cannot stop talking once he gets started.
Jack, None of the republican possible candidates wants to inherit the mess that George Bush handed to Obama. They will work to build congressional power but the top job. They don't want!!
Because they are Republicans.....
The Republicans field such a yawn because the better qualified candidates have mistresses that would be exposed if they decide to run for President.
Segun, Calgary
The Republican Party is a yawn because the Republican Presidential Candidates that actually have a chance to win are not going to run.
For example, John McCain. He had a chance to become our next president but he failed the people by endorsing the Libya Campaign. Yes this is the same John McCain that embraced Libya not even two years ago.
When well known Republicans like John McCain fouls up, it hurts the party as a whole. Therefore because of the separation in the Republican Party because of the war in Libya, no Republican Candidate who actually has a chance to win is running in this election.
Although I did vote for that George Bush minded radical, "Barrack Obama," I will definitely end up voting for an Independent this time around.
Lets face it – the mess the Bush administration left this country in is more of a challange than any one in their right mind would want. The only solution anyone in that party has is to cut taxes. Come on, when individuals are in debt do they cut their working hours????? The smart ones will wait until Obama finishes his second term to run because they just don't know and don't want the present headaches.
The current field is capable of doing just fine against Obama. The President showed us, in 2008, just exactly where charisma gets us. The American people are more interested in results than an eloquent speaker. Someone with the likes of Michele will do just fine.
The Republican Party is a yawn because the Republican Presidential Candidates that actually have a chance to win are not going to run.
For example, John McCain. He had a chance to become our next president but he failed the people by endorsing the Libya Campaign. Yes this is the same John McCain that embraced Libya not even two years ago.
When well known Republicans like John McCain fouls up, it hurts the party as a whole. Therefore because of the separation in the Republican Party because of the war in Libya, no Republican Candidate who actually has a chance to win is running in this election.
Although I did vote for that George Bush minded radical, "Barrack Obama," I will definitely end up voting for an Independent this time around.
Marcus, Texas
It doesn't matter who the Republican candidates are or where they come from. You can dress them all up in different Holloween Costumes, and they all still look alike, talk alike and act alike. It's the same old tired message... We hate the Democrats and we hate Obama even more. We represent the priveledged, the rich and Corporate America. Of coarse we'll tell you what you want to hear and really make it sound good, but what we really will do is get back to the same old tired GOP policies of the past that put us where we are at now. Now tell me Jack... what's so exciting about that?
Jack, I am not yawning. The GOP field is very diverse and each of them brings something to the table that is not present now in this Obama Administration. It is very clear that the Democrats are trying to create a storyline to fit their 2012 election predictions, but Obama is a major disappointment to those who voted for him in 2008, and those of us who saw through him, we will vote for whomever is on that GOP ticket! The Democrats are nervous , with good reason. Obama is a one termer!
Obama was an UNKNOWN and people didn't listen or bother to do their homework before electing him. Hate to say it, but told ya so. He is the worst President ever..
The media does not give Ron Paul adequate opportunity. Anybody that follows him knows that he does not pull punches and knows the constitution better than anyone! He's the only one with a real plan or understanding of the issues. He will reduce big government & pull out the troops. He will not be in 4 wars. He won't print money out of thin air. This country will be the USA again with Paul. You'll probably even censor this post and I'm sure you will not read it on air. Somebody just wants another talking head that will further bring down this country. The buck will stop if Paul is not elected. Take that to your Global Bank!
I don't think the Republican field is a yawn at all. I think all of them are dangerous and a few are borderline insane. All the Republican candidates are Hard-Core Conservatives fighting for a return to the American Monarchy we had 100 years ago. Back then, we were a Kingdom ruled over by corporate titans. Then Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal became the 2nd half of the American Revolution and made the American Dream a reality in the 20th Century. Now, thanks to 30 years of Conservative Supply-side Economics, the American Dream is in its coffin. These Conservative Republican candidates are pushing for policies that would hammer the final nails in that coffin.
Dean
Pittsburgh, PA
The Republican field is such a yawn because anyone smart enough to run knows that they can't really do much more than what little President Obama is doing now, and the problems facing the United States are so daunting, they'd only be setting themselves up to fail. That leaves us with people like Tim Pawlenty, who tightened the highway budget in Minnesota, until the Interstate bridge collapsed. (Great.) Talking a good game won't fix things, so why run? As that great Republican, Abe Lincoln, once said, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
They are a yawn because they do not offer any valid long term solution to the problems we all face. They must know that to do without Medicare, Social Security and even EPA is a simplistic approach that cannot be accepted by middle class citizens; they must know that lowering taxes for the rich will not work either, yet they do not offer any intelligent, long term plan as Germany did 10 years ago when they faced an influx of unskilled, jobless Eastern Germans. It takes discipline, patience and foresight to call on all resources countries have: industry, labor and education and give these 3 agencies the possibilities to plan TOGETHER, to educate & give work to everyone by making products on site without outsourcing jobs. By the way, Democrats lack that foresight too.
Jacqueline – San Diego. CA
The current field can, and will, do just fine against Obama. The President, in 2008, showed the public just exactly what charisma will get someone. The American electorate is more interested in results that work versus a man who can read an "idiot board".
Simple, the brilliant composer Stephen Sondheim could have been describing the 2012 Republicans when he wrote:
Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.
Same old stuff, same old joke.
Jack,
The reason they are such a yawn is because they all sang the same tune! They don't allow indivisuals to go outside the realm. This on one hand makes them look united, but on the other makes the so.... robotic to watch!
To be a good republican means not thinking for yourself but for the good of the party.
Come on guys get with tthe times! We are in a new age and your so.. far away from mainstream!!!
Jesse
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca
The Republican candidates are a yawn because they all went to sleep 30 years ago and haven't awaken since. Additionally, they have only one brain the the GOP and they all have to share it.
Ken in Tacoma, WA
because its the same old wha,wha, they dont like big government control....they are all clones of each other,,they dont like big government
but I DONT WANT BIG RELIGION CONTROL.....dont tell me i cant be gay,dont tell me i cant have a baby out of wedlock,dont tell me i cant be black and have rights and dont you tell me i cant have an abortion!!!!!!!!!
and dont tell me i cant join a union if i want to!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and dont tell me
i cant join the military because im gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The GOP Primary is and will continue to be a Yawner mainly because none of the GOP Candidates are currently willing to take risks. It's all pretty much the same package with slightly different wrappings. The Tea Party seems to have them all too scared of the shadows to make any bold Compromise solutions. Until both the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States can either learn that compromise is praise worthy or they manage to seperate themselves from the extremes the only conversation will be along Party Lines. The Republican Party need look north of the border for a little leason in centering themselves. When the Conservative Party of Canada split there was the Reform Party, a almost far right party, and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, the more centered party of the two. Time showed the people want compromise and don't want extreme views shoved down their throat. The Conservative Party of Canada, formerly the PC Party, easily won and now rules our country. Lesson here is Party Lines or People Policies. Don't think you need to give up fiscal conservatism to achieve compromise as Canadians would never give up either their universal health care nor many of our other social safety nets. You need to make other hard choices but compromise requires more courage in your political system than the current crop of candidates possess. It's the lack of courage to compromise that makes this a samizdat contest.
Because it is 2011. Times have changed, and the GOP will not admit it.
Hey Jack - can I answer this question later? I am searching for all that "hope and change I can believe in"...
This presidential race will be a marathon not a sprint. These seven candidates laid out their postitions on the economy, jobs, taxes, unions, abortion, housing, Obamacare, four wars and a myriad of social issues. The Republicans are making the eviction of this President and his cronies "shovel ready."
It was informative and the candidates showed class by not sniping at each other. The electorate will decide who will face a failing Democratic administration whose policies and actions are actually hurting our economy and our world position. Dewey yawned, Truman won.
Jack, the Republican field of candidates to date are a yawn because those of us who have half a brain in our heads and who are old enough to remember the problems caused by Reaganomics (trickle down theory, tax cuts for the wealthy= jobs theory, complete deregulation and a belief that "the market will take care of everything", etc.) have heard this bedtime story before. Only now I would call it a horror story...look what 30 years of tax cuts to the wealthy and deregulation have brought us–destruction of the middle class, jobs and entire industries lost or outsourced to China, India, wherever the labor is the cheapest. Add to that rising costs of living, stagnant wages for the average worker, a broken immigration policy, et voila, we don't have to worry about Mexico, we are becoming Mexico–1% of the population controls 99.9% of the wealth and power, while the rest of the country lives in poverty.
The Republicans are also a yawn because not a single one of them did anything other than criticize President Obama; not one offered his or her own plan on how s/he would fix the economic mess, extricate ourselves from the wars in the Middle East, etc. Any idiot can point a finger and yell "it's all HIS fault". The Republicans just assume that the majority of Americans are stupid enough to fall for their antics. And anyone who displays such stupidity, such a lack of knowledge about this country, its laws, the Constitution, and our history only makes me hit the mute button or change the channel. Bevis and Butthead are cartoon characters; some of the Republican candidates seem to be modeling themselves after them, and that is truly scary. I want an intelligent, thoughtful, well-read person as President, not someone who revels in her ignorance or who only wants to benefit a very small minority.
Because, Republicans are typically more in tune with current day-to-day politics; Democrats, more often than not, rely on headlines and rumors rather than actually following daily political facts. The current Republican field has yet to define an individual candidate that produces such headlines and positive media attention, and can override the President's core supports. Without an aggressive Republican candidate, President Obama will most likely become a two-term President.
Hey Jack, maybe it's because the Republicans are only pushing people who have such a loathing (or self-loathing) for women that they'll give a higher citizen status to a zygote (or suspected zygote) than to a living woman–I wonder if they would be so anti-choice if men got pregnant.
After a few minutes watching the "Republican Debate". i realized it was not a debate but an "orgy". they were all so in tuned to sparing each others feelings,and equally lambasting Barack Obama. they could have sent only one of them out on stage to represent them all.
Until these guys have something to say they will continue to be a yawn. They get instant GOP recognition by Oboma bashing so that is all they do. Take Oboma out of their vocabulary and they won't have any thing to say. I thought Gingrich had the most thoughtful and insightful responses and everyone says he didn't even register in the debate. By the way I am not fond of Newt. When you examine these guys they have nothing to say....nothing!
Ron Paul would end the Federal Reserve, he would end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ,he uould end forgain aid in the middle east, that more than a YAWN
I would say that it’s because they have shown themselves to be hypocrites that are far more concerned with there big corporate friends’ profits and less with the well being of the people as a whole. The dems, and the Tea party have been able to back them into a corner on several issues. People, including the wealthy, want government entitlements and are willing to pay for them, and it is apparent that maybe they are not so tough on foreign affairs as they have prided themselves on since the Reagan era. We all know at this point that raising the debt ceiling, and taxes on the wealthy, while not pleasant, must be necessary. All the GOP has left is their hyper-partisan and anti-Obama talking points. But, it seams as if they are all talking out of the sides of their mouths.
Self-satisfied people are ALWAYS boring.
And besides, after putting our country on the brink of bankruptcy, managing to get MILLIONS of hard-working people on the unemployment lines, getting us into several totally unjustified wars, not to mention all the other stupid, mean events of the recent Republican administration(s), just what else can the Republicans do that is EXCITING to them?
Believe me, if they could figure out how to put the rest of the middle class out of work and how to get all the money, they would come up with some dynamo who would electrify their stingy, mean political base!
They are boring because they are dull-witted. Any intelligent person of either party would know that they couldn't do one iota better than Obama can in a hopeless economy. My suggestion is that term limits be imposed on both senators and congressmen, ergo no retirement benefits,; no political contributions be made, with all expenses paid by our government and all be the same; all campaigning be conducted in ten debates, starting no sooner than two months before the election; All senate and congress salaries be set by our voters. These simple steps would cut the financial umbilical cord to taxpayers' money that those bodies now enjoy.
Thank you for the soapbox,
Frances F. Mullon Age 85
Jack:
The reason we're yawning again is because they're singing the same old tune ....helping the rich get richer, taking from the poor and attacking everything the Democrats do, especially the President. There's a reason Obama's slogan "Don't Look Back" helped him win: the Republicans continue to stay safely within the confines of the Good Ol' Boy ways, the rest of us are ready to move forward
Jack, I don't the main problem is that the GOP candidates are boring. I think the main problem is that none of the GOP candidates are qualified to be President. Just look at their past. Romney passed a healthcare law in Massachusetts similar to Obama's healthcare plan. And on top of that, Romney has residential issues and has possibly committed voter fraud. Then you have Pawlenty who, apart from being Govenor of Minnesota, was in favor of Cap and Trade, a position on which he has changed. What is more, Pawlenty is weak. He had a chance to go after Romney and his healthcare plan in MA during the debate, but he did not do that. Then you have Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain, both of whom do not understand the Constitution and what's in it. Also, Herman Cain has never been in political office (and yet, the Republicans complained during the 2008 Election that Obama wasn't qualified to be President because he had only been the Senate for three and a half years. Talk about hypocrisy.) Then you have Newt Gingrich who has been married three times, divorced two times (one time was when his wife was in the hospital with cancer, and yet John Edwards can no longer run for President but Newt Gingrich can?!) And on top of all that, Gingrich has recently been having trouble with his campaign. Then you have Santorum who continues to lie about "enhanced interrigation", aka torture, being used to find Bin Laden when it did not. And he claims that John McCain, who was tortured when he was in the military, doesn't understand how "enhanced interrigation works. And on top of all that, Santorum has a Google problem. Then you have Sarah Palin. Even though she hasn't entered the race, even if she does, she will not succeed because she is stupid, doesn't know anything about our country or our Constitution, and she resigned as Govenor of Alaska before her term was over. Then we have Ron Paul. He is perhaps the strongest candidate currently in the race, in my opinon. He might not get the nomination, but I hope that once people read my comment, they will see why Ron Paul is better than the other candidates.
the only one saying anything is Ron Paul.
The others are just saying Not Obama
Thank god if this is the best GOP can offer. They all found fault with the present administration on every score. No one offerd a viable alternative.
Hey Jack, when was the last time you didn't yawn in church? Same old rhetoric, same old promises, same old stories of what could or will be...but to be fair, that applies to the other party too.
These candidates don't have the "wind" of the Republican Congress behind them because they haven't proven anything to voters since elected.
Because none of them are making promises that they can't keep. President Obama promised everyone the moon. What has he delivered? A health care plan that will bankrupt us? Continuing to fight two wars and add a third for good measure? A solution to the financial crisis that will leave the U.S. in debt for centuries? Maybe we need to change our expectations and stop fawning over candidates who make ridiculous promises.
That's easy. The most prominent GOP candidates all have ties to Bush, and are smart enough not to run. Can't say I blame them–would you want to bring back memories of the Bush years?
Jack, looking out of my Minnesota fishbowl, it's clear that our two fellow Minnesotan candidates are attempting to take on a new identities in their presidential campaigns. I'm not a bit surprised that they have unfavorable status here, since we know what little qualifications either really has in the area of global or national leadership. While the thought of a candidate Pawlenty merely was puzzling, the notion of a candidate Bachmann two years ago would have been seen here as a strong end times indicator.
The Republicans should nominate Al Bundy. Bundy looks like a Republican president.
Jack, the hardest thing to fake is sincerity. Their hearts aren't in it. They are all too intelligent to believe what they are selling except for Ron Paul and Michelle Bachman.
Paul speaks with the confidence of a man who has studied the Constitution. That's on his side even if God is not.
Concerning Bachman, she knows nothing and thinks she knows everything. She is was the obvious candidate for a political career. (Ambrose Bierce paraphrase)
It's the party of conservative politics. The only change they want is regressive. Roll back or do nothing. As long as they are on easy street, they will never change. Dull and unexciting works for them.
Who says the field is a yawn? It features some brilliant Libertarian minded Republicans like Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, and Fred Karger, some profound business leaders like Herman Cain, and charismatic candidates like Michelle Bachman and Jon Hunstman. Not a yawn in the least...
Because the mainstream Republicans (Conservatives) are just bringing the same old, same old. Obama inspired independents by seeming to be a strong, independent (thought he's been the compromiser, he's still been moderate). That's what got people excited. He didn't sound like business as usual. The conservatives on the other hand, are basically anti-choice, anti-gay, (by default as they want to be able to make the societal decisions for everyone) and big on tax cuts, while also championing the deficit, which doesn't even out. We can't attack the debt without raising taxes and/or closing loophopes. Also, the Republicans attempts to attack Obamacare look like little more than partisanship after seeing the Ryan plan and plans to actually cut services. Most Republican leaning independents just don't see the Republican Party being honest in their arguments. It's good to see them moving in a libertarian direction fiscally, but until they drop the social issues and change their tone, most of those independents I mentioned will find themselves unable to get excited. Get some charisma, Gary Johnson! That's the guy whose ideas and record mesh most well with the center.