Inside the Boiler Room: Evaluating the GOP 2012 field

Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro look at the candidates who are in and those who are still considering a presidential run in 2012.

Edited by Jason Seher. Produced by Jason Seher, Alexandra Moe, Ali Weinberg.

Discuss this post

Congrats NewDayDawning on having your question selected again! ;o)

Drinks are on me tonight GF!

Nice work Mark & Domenico - plenty of food for thought!

The Palin factor has me torn! Half of me says she won't be able to escape the lure of the white hot spotlight!

Other half says, NO WAY she'll give up swinding the Wal-Mart crowd!

One things for sure - it's going to get VERY interesting the next few weeks...

Have a Great Weekend & Thanks Again for keeping thee BEST political blog on the web! ;o)

  • 9 votes
#1 - Fri May 20, 2011 5:53 PM EDT

Ditto from me, Mark and Domenico, but two tiny little quibbles:

1. Being the Luddite that I am, I liked the old low-tech Boiler Room better. The way the posters and stuff keep changing in the background reminds me too much of the electronic ads that change every half inning behind home plate in baseball. They give me a headache. :(

2. Newday would probably never tell you this HERself, but SHE is actually one of us girls. :)

  • 7 votes
#1.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 6:38 PM EDT

Thanks for the kind words, Feisty. All you guys make this a great blog and forum. Have a great weekend, everyone.

  • 7 votes
#1.2 - Fri May 20, 2011 6:38 PM EDT

Mark and Domenico: Thanks for doing such a great job answering my question. Sorry to have discovered this so late, was outside working before the rain comes in. This race is puzzling to me, because no one seems really keyed up about the field. The way the Republicans do things, going in order, you would think that Romney would be the next candidate, but there is SO much floating about, I'm not sure. The word in MN is that Bachmann is considering how long she can keep her seat if she runs, she is thinking through the primary, so it sounds like she wants to get in. People in MN are relieved to hear that...we love to spread the crazy around. Pawlenty? I don't know. When they find out what happened here, he may not be so attractive. But, thanks for the answer, I did want to know what you thought. Have a good weekend.

  • 5 votes
#1.3 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:12 PM EDT

Congratulations NDD.......just to mix things up, I heard Gov Daniels, got hit in the head by a door at his gym and had to have 16 stitches, do you suppose this mishap will have any effect on the race to the WH?. lol

  • 3 votes
#1.4 - Fri May 20, 2011 10:09 PM EDT

I heard Gov Daniels, got hit in the head by a door at his gym and had to have 16 stitches, do you suppose this mishap will have any effect on the race to the WH?

One of the 'oldest' stories in the book - walking into a door! lol

Me thinks, the Mrs. did it with a candlestick in the dining room... *wink wink*

  • 4 votes
#1.5 - Sat May 21, 2011 8:59 AM EDT

You're welcome Mark!

WHOA - I see you're putting in some serious O/T this weekend!

Jacket & a Tie on a Saturday? lol

Lookin good as always! ;o)

  • 2 votes
#1.6 - Sat May 21, 2011 10:50 AM EDT

Congrats Newday, well done!

  • 2 votes
#1.7 - Sat May 21, 2011 4:49 PM EDT

Thanks all! Have a good weekend! Savvy, your turn for the question! : )

  • 1 vote
#1.8 - Sat May 21, 2011 5:13 PM EDT

Mark Murray,

I was unable to read your comments,but they probably critized the GOP for having a fractionalized party with numerous candidates and none having the ability to unseat Obama during this election. According to many libbies on your site, the election is all but over with Obama being rewarded for his failures with another four years.

But I ask you mark, what is wrong with the GOP finding the candidate who will not only buck the establishment candidates, appeal to the many in the country who want to see change from the elitist party rulers and see someone who can actually articulate a path to economic recovery in the country?

The libbies continually demonize the GOP, blame Bush for everything while buying into the mis-stated facts found in liberal talking points published by your organization as well as others? Spin it all you want to, but the pocketbook will rule this election, as will the failures associated with the Obama administration.

Americans are becoming more intuitive about politics, questioning much and not believing the establishment attempts to spin this or that. Now that is from both parties, not just the GOP or the Progressive Democratic Party. Nothing wrong with that Mark. But the libbie element continually spins the number of GOP candidates, the physical appearance of the GOP candidates, while ignoring what they may or may not stand for. Are some GOP candiates floundering today? Of course, for they have the political baggage the masses are tired of. That statement also is directed at the leader of this administration who has spent money we don't have to buy our way out of this recession. It hasn't worked, and anyone who does disagree with the liberal media elected candidate is charged with being racist, a Bush lover or whatever.

And you earlier thanked the Feisty Redhead for her support of you article. Why? To what extent does she add value to the site? Her verbal attacks on anyone who disagrees with her or the MSNBC values? Really? Now why is she not censored as others have been? Sally the moderator continues to ignor questions regarding this question about her and the MSNBC Code of Ethics you profess to have?

During your next Q&A session, why not go into depth on topics that show the failures of this administration? LOL. Or go into issues relating to the pocketbook which will rule the next election?

Query your views.

  • 3 votes
#1.9 - Sun May 22, 2011 1:22 PM EDT

Safecracker,

What you don’t see and should from the Republican run House is that they do not have any better ideas about how to kick start the economy and jobs than our President. If they did then they would have written and voted on bills that would enhance an atmosphere for expanding business and creating jobs here at home. So far not one bill that supports that type of change … not one!

The other part is that no matter how frustrated thevoters are with the current way business is done in Washington the fact is that a large majority of those that want change is that they do not want radical change.
Make some small changes and then let’s see how that works before we try
additional changes.

  • 5 votes
#1.10 - Sun May 22, 2011 2:17 PM EDT

Of all the people who should not be hoping that moderators step in, safecracker, you have to be the first. With what you have posted about Feisty in the past, the guy that should be banned is YOU! Perhaps you would give some consideration to the idea that you appear to be obsessed with Feisty, and that such obsessions are not healthy and speak more about YOU and YOUR issues than her. It almost feels like stalking....

  • 5 votes
#1.11 - Sun May 22, 2011 2:58 PM EDT

It almost feels like stalking....

NO NDD - it IS stalking! LMAO

Little critter sticks to me like gum on the bottom of my shoe! ;o)

Say, wasn't he the little twerp who has 'friends' in high places & was going to out all our identities?

Why I believe so... lol

He's nothing more than another bagger gas bag & not even worth a cursory glance!

  • 2 votes
#1.12 - Sun May 22, 2011 3:13 PM EDT

Yep, that was safecracker! Do you suppose he is unaware that he can hit "ignore author" if he doesn't care to read what we say? Or is it simply that he feels that he must control what EVERYONE reads?

  • 2 votes
#1.13 - Sun May 22, 2011 3:25 PM EDT

Or is it simply that he feels that he must control what EVERYONE reads?

BINGO! NDD! lol

What's even funnier, is he admits he didn't watch the video yet, felt it necessary to launch into a bagger tirade against Mark & Domenico...

Deperate for attention much?

    #1.14 - Sun May 22, 2011 3:31 PM EDT

    It does take a special kind of, well, stupid, to not watch the video, but assume what was said. Can't get much more partisan.

    • 1 vote
    #1.15 - Sun May 22, 2011 3:34 PM EDT

    Sally the moderator continues to ignor questions regarding this question about her and the MSNBC Code of Ethics you profess to have?

    QUICK - Someone call him a WHAAAAABULENCE!

    Little fella appears to be suffering from a chronic case of impotence!

    • 3 votes
    #1.16 - Sun May 22, 2011 3:36 PM EDT

    @Dennis,

    True, change has happened due to Obama, and folks may not need anymore of his type of change.

    @NewDay, posting about Feisty is no different than Feisty complaining about anyone else. As for being obsessed with the old girl, no. God Lord New, what a revolting thought.......

    Partisan, you bet.....nothing new to those of you who can't wait to praise the Troglodyte for her opinions.

    @Feisty,

    Say, wasn't he the little twerp who has 'friends' in high places & was going to out all our identities?

    No Feisty, I only obtained information about you. But, it isn't the correct thing to do to out anyone for their views, no matter how inaccurate your views and comments may be. And the friend in high places just hacked the site to obtain the data. Not difficult when you have access to a Kray.

    Little critter sticks to me like gum on the bottom of my shoe! ;o)

    Ah, cute gradeschool banter. But expected from you. The rest of your rants are not worthy of a response. Why the complaining in the first place? Isn't this post just what you accomplish daily on the site.

    And as for good ole Sally, well, I just would like to see what is the actual MSNBC standard for this supposed Code of Honor that you abuse daily. Nothing else.

    To stock you Feisty would be like chasing a "dingleberry", and I can't stand turds.

    • 3 votes
    #1.17 - Sun May 22, 2011 5:47 PM EDT

    Safecracker,

    Clearly the level headed Republicans realize that they donot have any better solutions for the economic woes and the many other problems our country faces and they also don’t believe that our President is doing serious damage to our country or they would not be choosing to set on the sidelines, in fact there would be 30 of them in the race by now.

    • 2 votes
    #1.18 - Sun May 22, 2011 6:16 PM EDT

    Will be sending a link to moderators of your comment, safecracker, you are in fact, in violation of the COH.

    • 5 votes
    #1.19 - Sun May 22, 2011 7:54 PM EDT

    Wow, Safe cracker, are you high?

    • 2 votes
    #1.20 - Sun May 22, 2011 9:24 PM EDT

    Safecracker is just being Safecracker.

    Oh well.

      #1.21 - Mon May 23, 2011 8:23 AM EDT

      @NewDay,

      Thank you, I hope you do. Perhaps then a response to my query will be made. and if it is in the form of a censor, they others should also be placed in the same category. Oh, but I am not one of the libbies on this site.

      @Amy B.,

      Nope, not on crack, just performing as a Feisty. Perhaps next I'll do a cut and paste like Bev, the self-proclaimed racist from Chicago.

      @Job1,

      Nothing like having a differing opinion, or isn't that appropriate for this site? Should I be moving to the left with my comments to be considered sane?

        #1.22 - Mon May 23, 2011 11:23 AM EDT
        Reply

        Bachman please run.

        • 5 votes
        Reply#2 - Fri May 20, 2011 5:54 PM EDT

        Bachman please run.

        I second that emotion!!! And please give her enough mic cord and she'll hang herself.

        All the Democrats have to do is shut up, and this thing is in the bag for 2012.

        • 4 votes
        #2.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 10:38 PM EDT

        Right now the entire Repub/TP group is looking like we have Clueless Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz, as the Repubs, the TP as Yapping Toto and Palin as the Scarecrow without a brain, Cheney as the Tinman without a heart and Rush as the Cowardly Lion...all tromping down the Yellow Brick Road to oblivion!

        • 1 vote
        #2.2 - Sun May 22, 2011 1:53 PM EDT
        Reply

        The republican field shapes up like the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan, they get hot and then slowly melt down, all the while spewing toxic waste.

        • 9 votes
        Reply#3 - Fri May 20, 2011 5:56 PM EDT

        I know Pres. Obama will probably raise a ton of cash, but I get the feeling he'll only need to spend $12.72 to get re-elected.

        That's assuming the world doesn't end tomorrow.

        • 6 votes
        Reply#4 - Fri May 20, 2011 6:10 PM EDT

        Thanks Indy, that reminds me, tommorow is my 30th wedding aniversary, if I would have forgotten that, the world would have ended at my house.

        • 4 votes
        #4.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 6:56 PM EDT

        Happy Anniversary to you both, Forrest, and many more!

        • 3 votes
        #4.2 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:22 PM EDT

        Thank You very much JoAnne in PA, we have been married 30 years and we have only had one argument, unfortunately that one argument has lasted about 30 years. HA. Actually she is a saint to put up with my act for all this time.

        • 4 votes
        #4.3 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:29 PM EDT

        Ditto what JoAnne said Forrest!

        Congrats to you and the lucky lady!

        I meant to respond earler but was too busy LMAO at your comment!

        After all, Tomorrow could be the 'End of the World As We Know It'! ;o)

        • 2 votes
        #4.4 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:36 PM EDT

        Happy anniversary, Forrest, my best to you both.

        • 3 votes
        #4.5 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:13 PM EDT

        Thank you everyone from me and my wife.

        • 4 votes
        #4.6 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:17 PM EDT

        Hi Forrest

        Happy Anniversary to you and your better half, take her out treat her special, here's to the next 30! Slainte!

        • 1 vote
        #4.7 - Fri May 20, 2011 10:06 PM EDT

        Happy three zero Forrest. You must be doing something right, so keep doing it.

        • 1 vote
        #4.8 - Fri May 20, 2011 10:45 PM EDT

        Till death do us part, that's the deal, the contract, the "working agreement" and a good union man honors his end of the contract and expects "management" to fulfill her end. I'm here to stay. One time some years ago I said "I'm out of here, I'm leaving you. You got to help me pack, where is my suitcase, where is the checkbook, I need your car keys, my car need gas", I said "I'm not kidding around, as soon as you get my stuff ready I'm gone". After I was so mean She said in a kind of strange soft sweet voice "go to bed you nutty bastard" You know what I done right? I went to bed.

        • 5 votes
        #4.9 - Sat May 21, 2011 12:45 AM EDT

        Great story, Forrest. Your wife sounds like she has a great sense of humor.

        • 2 votes
        #4.10 - Sat May 21, 2011 9:22 AM EDT

        She does, not to mention the fact that if anybody was just going to walk away, she knew where her suitcase was, the checkbook was in her purse, and her car had gas.

        • 3 votes
        #4.11 - Sat May 21, 2011 1:37 PM EDT
        Reply

        Gov. Daniels won't have any traction if he runs on reducing the deficit but cannot explain what happened under his watch as President Bush's budget director. It's true that Karl Rove and his bags of money are spoiling for a Daniels candidacy, but people are not enthused. Gov. Palin won't be running. She has become a parody of herself. Even Fox has dropped her appearances to late evening commentary on red-meat issues. It's easy to imagine that a winning candidate MIGHT give Mitch Daniels a cabinet position, certainly Gov. Pawlenty might be in line for one, or Gov. Huntsman...but it's hard to imagine ANY cabinet position that a GOP government would offer Gov. Palin. Pawlenty will probably gain the most from Gov. Huckabee's "void" in the race, although no one is very enthusiastic about him. Because of the divisions in the race, it's also hard to see one candidate becoming a VP candidate for another -- Romney/Bachmann? Romney/Huntsman? Pawlenty/Santorum?

        • 4 votes
        Reply#5 - Fri May 20, 2011 6:46 PM EDT

        kate -

        The VP thing would make a good question for a future Boiler Room segment. I know the conventional wisdom is to pick a running mate who supposedly appeals to a voter bloc that you don't have yourself, or who has stronger credentials in one policy area than you do, but at this point I really don't see who any of the current candidates would consider hooking up with. And considering that they haven't even really ramped up their attacks on each other yet like they will once the debates start, it would seem things are going to get a lot messier before they all kiss and make up at the convention - if they even do that. I'm still wondering how likely we are to see one of them bolt and run as a third party candidate.

        As for a cabinet position for Palin - I don't know, is there a Secretary of Self-Promotion?

        • 3 votes
        #5.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:37 PM EDT
        Reply

        Congratulations NewDay on your excellent question. I'm glad you question was answered.

        Have a nice weekend.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#6 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:39 PM EDT

        You too Beverly!

        • 1 vote
        #6.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:14 PM EDT
        Reply

        Kate, thanks for the moonbat spin, but we Republicans can choose our candidate, thank you, you stick with your leftist failed President and his MSNBC toadies.

        As a conservative, I am very excited about Mitch Daniels. He has been a fantastic Governor, his education reform bill is a home run! Just wait until he gets in the race. People are enthused.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#7 - Fri May 20, 2011 7:41 PM EDT

        Who says Mitch Daniels is dull? FR should have carried this story, the rats who post here might be interested...
        As a Congressional staffer, Mitch Daniels frequently patronized the bars southeast of the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue, including the Tune Inn and Hawk ‘n Dove. He played on Lugar’s team in the Congressional softball league. He even became a Washington Redskins fan.

        Daniels was also intensely loyal to his staff. One former colleague remembered calling him at 2 a.m. to ask him to come over to his place and help him exterminate a handful of rats who had eaten through the wall in his apartment. The duo trapped the rats, and while his colleague beat them with a racquetball racquet, Daniels stabbed the rodents with an ice pick. It worked."

        [Trivia note: the one rodent that escaped, was some years later elected Senator from New York : Chuckie the Rat Schumer]

        I have beaten many an opponent with my racquetball racquet, but never a rat.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#8 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:20 PM EDT

        big Bob numbers,

        here's a tip on anecdotal stories, if they're disgusting,...they probably don't help your case,...

        As you were. (PS. It doesn't appear that you've cited your source,...I don't want nojo calling you out as a plagiarist later)

        {oh, he was trying to tell a joke, the sense of humor lines up perfectly with the Conservative values, just sayin'}

        • 4 votes
        #8.1 - Fri May 20, 2011 8:39 PM EDT

        Musta' been one of those rats with human brains that O'Donnell was going on about!

        • 1 vote
        #8.2 - Fri May 20, 2011 10:47 PM EDT

        My wife had a cocker spaniel that was "intensely loyal" too, but I wouldn't put him in charge of the country.

        He had more than a republican's intelligence, had sex with every pooch in the neighborhood, and was difficult to train. More I think of it, the more republican he sounds......

        Will this be a better country if Daniels is president? That's is what America wants to know.

        • 2 votes
        #8.3 - Sat May 21, 2011 3:55 PM EDT
        Reply

        Where's Reality Check? He must be snoozin... I kept him up late late last night. LOL

        • 3 votes
        Reply#9 - Sat May 21, 2011 12:47 AM EDT

        the larger question will biden step down so new vice president will be in place to run in 2016. evan bayd of indiana?

          Reply#10 - Sat May 21, 2011 11:30 AM EDT

          Evan Bayh is too moderate for the Far Left Party of Government.

          The Party's union thug masters like Richard Trumka would not approve...

          • 2 votes
          #10.1 - Sat May 21, 2011 12:15 PM EDT

          Bob+numbers====You are so full of it. Have a nice day, A. Moonbat

          • 3 votes
          #10.2 - Sat May 21, 2011 1:01 PM EDT
          Reply

          Good job Mark and Domenico - your analysis was objective, and without the cheap shots we frequently get from the media. I am new here and I'll be back (no I am not Arnold).

          That said, too bad some of the people posting comments here don't follow your lead. Obama haters are no better than Bush haters - you are all idiots!

          • 1 vote
          Reply#11 - Sat May 21, 2011 12:59 PM EDT

          Maybe the Republicans could find a good candidate if they put an ad out in the newspapers & twitter. They need someone that hasn't vocally endorsed the Paul RyanoCare plan, and that's willing to negotiate a balanced approach to paying down the Nat'l Debt ... just tapping entitlements "ain't going to work". I'd sure hate to have Boehner's job right now ... I keep waiting for him to break down on TV and cry.

          Oh well, maybe after the 2012 elections the Democrats will take a "balanced" approach ... but they, too, need to take on some frugality.

          • 2 votes
          Reply#12 - Sat May 21, 2011 2:33 PM EDT

          To evaluate the "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) one must use a test for Cognitive Disabilities. Then there is the Mental Behavioral Disturbance Test should be used as well. Now the "Carnival Of Clowns" who "Super Spew" their "Crazy Conservative Crap" on a daily basis. Now "Nutty Newt" scored very low on the test for Cognitive Disabilities. Meaning he is as bumb as Cord Wood. Now old "Nutty Newt" scored very high on the Behavioral Disturbance Tests. Meaning he is just emotionally disturbed at the highest level. Now to make matters worse for "Nutty Newt" is his constant "Flip-Flopping" on all issues. Then there is Romulan Romney who scored low on the test for Cognitive Abilities, and still denies that he passed Health Care Reform. Now there is the test he took for Emotional disabilities, which he scored somewhere in the middle. He did not seem to have any emotions at all, and seemed to be a real fake. Then we have "Bitchy Bachmann" who scored very low on the test of Cognitive Abilities. Even lower than old "Nutty Newt" which just amazed the many doctors present. Now on the test of Emotional Disabilities old "Bitchy Bachmann" scored as high as "Nutty Newt." WOW! It was a busy day of testing, and they just love that Carnival Music. The GOP Clowns started jumping on the furniture, and then "Puppet Palin" started dancing on the tables. That is when the medications had to used in very high amounts, and the doctors are still trying to chase down the "Dizzy Diva Of Dumbness." Old "Puppet Palin" still needs to get her daily medications because she gets very dangerous with guns. If see "Puppet Palin" riding on Elephant, and shooting off a hand gun. Call the authorities right away, and do not try stopping the rambling elephant. What a joke America!

            Reply#13 - Sun May 22, 2011 9:17 AM EDT

            I think that if if Michelle could Bachman turn her campaign into overdrive the GOP would be happy.

            Huh?

              Reply#14 - Sun May 22, 2011 4:39 PM EDT

              "Mommy,mommy"I say--"Who is that funny looking man on TV?"

              "Eat your Lucky Charms,Michael---it's only Newt looking like he always does."

              • 2 votes
              Reply#15 - Sun May 22, 2011 4:47 PM EDT
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