When a lump like Sarah Palin can get a huge number of supporters and be a candidate to be president of the USA, I do not know if Obama will win if running against her. It’s proven when Bush was elected the second time, that in the US anything can happen.

Obama for Europe can be the less evil, but on the other side of the pond, there are a lot of people that probably would vote for Sarah Palin.

But I’m just doing some wild guessing here.

The 2004 elections didn't prove much beyond war presidents get re-elected. With the US pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the excursion into Libya seemingly approaching a rapid conclusion, it doesn't look like Obama will be considered a war president come election time 2012. Outside of war time, the state of the economy is usually the best measurable to show the likelihood of re-election. Based on that I'd say Obama's chances are not looking good.

Palin remains as unelectable as ever for mainstream America, her inability to cope with the "limelight" while being Governor of Alaska demonstrated that she is unfit for the US's highest office.

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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ...

It is more pronounced than that, Obama's failings are in part an unwillingness to confront. That pushes his policies toward a perceived center position -- he tends to 'pre-concede' to the extremely motivated, vocal, and well financed right wing voices on issue after issue.

The candidates running for the Tea Party office by and large have been exponents of that motivated, vocal and well financed right wing. So at every debate, they run further and further to the right -- without any real solutions, but simply sound bites which attract support from the crowds they are speaking to.

The only two candidates for the Tea Party nomination who have true 'Republican' (versus Tea Party) leanings, are Huntsman and Romney. Huntsman will likely withdraw early on during the primary hunting season early next year. He is not well enough funded and his 'Republicanism' contrasts too much with 'TeaPartyism' to have any chance. Romney has the funding, and he also has speaking skills. But he is not a 'natural' Tea Party candidate -- he has true 'Republican' roots, doesn't seek to spin up a crowd into rabid response, and (a true sin for some in the Tea Party) is a Mormon, and not a Christian fundamentalist.

Of all the Tea Party candidates, Romney stands the best chance of winning the general election -- but I don't see him winning enough primaries to get there.

The thing is, the Tea Party has been to some degree sensitized to the failings of the other candidates. The polls of the Tea Party have swung rapidly from one candidate to another as their lack of skills becomes manifest. The sequence of Romney alternatives has run from Palin to Trump to Bachmann to Perry. The talk about Christie will fade as soon as the Tea Party realizes he isn't Tea Party nativist material.

It seems to me that Tea Party is sort of a throwback to American history of over 160 years ago. The Federalist party morphed into the Whig Party which (in part due to sectional divisiveness, broke down). The northern wing of that party then went through a phase where it was the 'No Nothing' party (something akin to the Tea Party of today, a nativist, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic party). Eventually that group failed, and out of the remnants emerged the Republican party in the 1850's.

Thats what I'm starting to hear people say over here. Better the Devil you know etc

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With apologies, if I may very quickly sidestep th US election, to repost and update an earlier post in this thread.

ISS Visits
Russia
Private enterprise

Current moonbase plans
China 2024
Russia 2027
Japan 2030.

USA manned missions
Asteroids 2025,
Mars 2035 (1 way)

What I forgot to mention was todays Chinese launch. China space launch. This is the first part of their plan to have a Chinese space station in orbit by 2020. That seems to be preparing the way for their moonbase 4 years later.

OK, back to the US elections.

When a lump like Sarah Palin can get a huge number of supporters and be a candidate to be president of the USA, I do not know if Obama will win if running against her. It’s proven when Bush was elected the second time, that in the US anything can happen.

Obama for Europe can be the less evil, but on the other side of the pond, there are a lot of people that probably would vote for Sarah Palin.

But I’m just doing some wild guessing here.

I think that Obama will win as 'least worst' of the lot.

Thats what I'm starting to hear people say over here. Better the Devil you know etc

Given the collection of buffoons the Tea Party is looking at (the Tea Party replaced the Republican party over a year ago) - I think that Obama will win as 'least worst' of the lot.

The closest the Tea Party candidates have to a competent and perhaps qualified candidate (Romney) won't win the nomination as he is pretty much a Republican and therefore not qualified for the Tea Party nomination.

The boomlet for Christie (because he beat up on the current Tea Party 'evil doer' - public school teachers demonstrates both the paucity of competent candidates and will fail once the Tea Party is made aware of Christie appointing a *Muslim* judge, stating that a Muslim center within 1000 yards of the 9/11 site, and being a moderate on immigration. The Tea Party requires a certain degree of hate as a qualification.

OK, a quick straw poll here, without details, how many think Obama will get re-elected? Just trying to get a feel for the current mood.

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can't we even rib each other?

No.

Superior Minds like yours should not confuse Mush Minds like mine. It is Not Nice.

So Sarge, you must've at least read Euclid's Elements by The Sixth Grade, and also Ptolemy's Almagest?

Looks like The Dems have Bottomed Out and are on The Upswing again. If The Solyndra Debacle and Other Mistakes don't do them in, they may Have a Chance.

Can't Believe how Frakking Crappy are The Repugnants.

Dull

Gotta love the hyperbole. I'll go hang with some blue collar dudes at a bar tonight (provided i can get enough work done beforehand, and leave early enough), and see if they give me the same kind of B.S. you do. Just to double-check. As I already know they won;t.

Absolutely. Obama will continue on despite the numbers. Most of his dis-satisfied base is not upset at what he as done, but that he was not able to accomplish more.

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Janice

OK, a quick straw poll here, without details, how many think Obama will get re-elected? Just trying to get a feel for the current mood.

Cain gave excellent straight-arrow responses. Don't think his 9% will do it though. A smart, decent man who may prove to be too naive when it comes to the issues of the day in politics , foreign policy and Economics. I view his winning of the straw poll in Florida as a statement of general dissatisfaction with the entire crop of candidates.

I actually thought he came in third in the debate. I would put Romney first--perhaps too polished and a little flaky on his defending Romney-care. Next was Gingrich who is the only sharp mind in the race with legitimate cost reducing experience in government.

What did you all think.

Some very well-respected pundits marked Cain and Gingrich as a C-

Herman Cain . . . discuss?

I'll start: he intrigues me.

You missed the point............first to third grader might've learned...

Geez 'O Flip Professor. The Prof v. Idiot can stop at any time now.

I know you are a Prof and you know I'm an Idiot. So, I will show my 3rd Grade Education in Every Post.

Now, some of The Most Famous Men, Seemingly Smart and Richest had only 3rd Grade Educations, but I am not such, and therefore, my opinions reflect it.

So why continue to beat up on me. Berate?

Again, Perry wears some Killer Suits. And Obama will be going on a Vacation as a Privite Citizen after The Next Election.

The New Prez will not be any of The Clowns now Debasing themselves.

Who? Who knows. It won't be me.

Dull

I guess "dull" here means lacking a sense of humor? Sheesh oh cheese, cheese and rice, can't we even rib each other?

Obviously I was being mischievous there, but stranger things have happened. Hubby has a few contacts ....

I could have responded equally mischievous by saying, "Didn't she already serve two terms in office?" ;-)

Chelsea for Prez?

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Janice

Obviously I was being mischievous there, but stranger things have happened. Hubby has a few contacts ....

Absolutely not!

Anyone for Hilary?