LoL Maybe they mean "average" for them.

And even by those standards, I think this is a below-average crop.

If the poll was taken only in Rick Perry's state of Texas where education is stifled or only taken by people that Michele Bachmann personally home schooled, they would have all been considered brilliant.

Average or below average in the rest of the country maybe.

I think "average" is a bit of an overstatement for many conservatives... Didn't Michael Savage/Weiner (a popular right wing hate radio jock) offer Gingrich a million dollars to drop out?

Also too:

Charles Krauthammer: "Gingrich has his own vulnerabilities. The first is often overlooked because it is characterological rather than ideological: his own unreliability. Gingrich has a self-regard so immense that it rivals Obama’s—but, unlike Obama’s, is untamed by self-discipline.

Ross Douthat: "[Gingrich’s] candidacy isn’t a test of religious conservatives’ willingness to be good, forgiving Christians. It’s a test of their ability to see their cause through outsiders’ eyes, and to recognize what anointing a thrice-married adulterer as the champion of "family values" would say to the skeptical, the unconverted and above all to the young."

Joe Scarborough: "When [Gingrich] puts on his political helmet he is a terrible person. … Let me tell you something: the Republican establishment will never make peace with Newt Gingrich. They just won’t! They won’t. This is an important point. Because the Republicans I talk to say he cannot win the nomination at any cost. He will destroy the party. He will re-elect Barack Obama and we’ll be ruined. That’s going to happen. I mean Newt Gingrich would possibly win 100 electoral votes."

Dennis,

How are you today, fine I hope. Gee I see you beat Feisty to the first post. I would say that the republican field is average, which is better, IMO, than the below average President we have now. Let's face it with the way the news media and the opposing party now beats up on candidates no wonder we can't get good or excellent nominees any more. Who would want to go through the vetting that we see today.

Interesting.

But man, given this poll the results of the USA/GALLUP poll are even worse for Obama.

So let's go with the republican candidates suck. SO what explains that Newt and Romney beat him head to head, AND that he has suffered a 9 point swing against him in the so called critical swing states?

Let's face it it, regardless of the GOP suckage, per Gallup Obama loses Colorado, Iowa, Florida Mich., NH, NM Virginia, NC, and the home of Anna Molley and Scott Walker.

I guess the inference is - if the GOP guys are 'average' Obama is something less.

Or do we not like the Gallup poll, but do like the NBC/Wall Street poll?

Maybe Domenico will have an article on that poll or better yet one explaining how it is Obama has managed a full 9 point slide?

Hi Sarge,

Either the Lower Chamber by majority or the Upper Chamber by use of the filibuster (or 1 objection) can make any President appear to be ineffective especially when their #1 goal, for all of the country, is to defeat the current President in the next election.

Pay backs are a bitch. If the GOP wins the WH that President will be lucky if he has a full cabinet by year 2.

"I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican—that I'm someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive," - Mitt Romney, 2002.

I don't think the word "average" is a good fit for this crowd. But whatever, I'm not the target demographic.

Romney is going to win this thing one way or the other. Newt doesn't stand a chance regardless of what the polls say. I'm actually a tad disappointed, I think Newt winning the nomination would be much better for the country for the reasons Andrew Sullivan points out below.

Awww Shucks Spank...Guess we should just forget the election and anoint one of your draft dodgers as the victor.

Betcha the ONLY states the Pres loses is Iowaaaa and perhaps VA. Betcha a nickle Spank!

@ nisl --

A million dollars might tempt most Democrats, but that was WAY too low to be a serious attempt to bribe a self-respecting Republican, especially one who proudly proclaims he didn't need to lobby because he was making $60,000 per speech, and then it turns out that he made $1.6 million lobbying, anyway.

Savage is either trying to send a strong message to Newt, or he is trying to make it look like Newt is above temptation by mere money. That might play well with the Tea Party, but the rest of us aren't fooled.

Sub-par would a better description.

Just your "average" group of morons! Everything is relative.

An average GOP candidate would be miles ahead of the far below average, failure we have now as a resident of the White House.

They winced when they said "average" too...

As it now stands, President Obama GREAT

The GOP Poor

Now everybody hold your noses and vote!!

The NBC/WSJ poll -- which was conducted of 1,000 respondents (and 271 Republicans),

I'm not much for polls. Can someone explain to me what this means?

FR: A majority of registered Republican primary voters in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll view their presidential field as "average,"

When they added in Obama, the "average" went to "complete failure".

Dennis: Everyone wants an average leader … Right ??

"Average" is certainly better than what we have now.

What we're looking for is someone that just takes of the business at hand without out the continuous complaining and finger pointing. That sure isn't "All Drama" Obama.

Dennis,

If I remember right the democrats held up a lot of Bush's appointees as well. That is the way politics is played, most of us don't like it but we do nothing about it. I have said before I like a split government, President from one party and a congress from the opposing party. (I do not really like a split congress). Most of Clinton's accomplishments was because of a split government and forced compromise. Clinton knew how to play both sides of the aisle and was a politician. President Obama is not a true politician in that he had little experience (few years in Ill politics and 3 or 4 yrs as a Jr. Senator). Obama, IMO, lets his ego get in the way and he believes he knows best and should be given everything he wants.

This is a field of total deadbeats, government obstructionists, greedy liars and right-wing ideologues... yeah, average sounds about right.

Are you talking about the reasonableness and the averageness of the President's proposals, such as the American Jobs Act and provision for Infrastructure and the creation of two millions jobs;

And have traditionally been bi-partisan.

Is the word you are really looking for "mainstream"?

As in, mainstream, commonsense, ABC proposals to create jobs and lift our economy.

Latest polls show President Obama beating every single one of these "average" GOP candidates by a good margin. Most by double-digits. Romney by single-digits.

.

Average is being nice here. I would say "less than mediocre" fits the current GOP candidates.

Dasvet - Lord help us if any GOP wins the WH. I certainly do not want religious rhetoric forced down my throat, I like clean drinking water, and I can watch my job be exported to another country, and the 99% get richer than they already are.

Sarge,

The last Congress = 3 time more filibusters than any other Congress (2 years) in history.

More Federal court vacancies that at any other time in history of our great country.

Enough Said !!

So everyone has an opinion, but no one knows what that sample size comment means?

Mark Murray - can you explain it?

This what they're saying publicly and they know that poll results will be shared. Privately, when they take off their "party" hats the numbers are probably a lot worse.

I figure it's a 25% game for the GOP primaries. 25% will back Romney, 25% will back Gingrich, 25% will back one of the others, and 25% will still want none of the above.

Average for a three-ring circus, maybe.

Dennis...pay back is a bitch... remember the health care debate.....right, what debate. It was Obama and the Democrats jamming it down our throats...Remember the 1 trillion stimulus package debate.....right, there was no debate, just Democrats jamming it down our throats...Pay back is a bitch aint it...

To defeat the main threat to our country's freedom, Obama, our main goal has to be the defeat of the current resident of the WH. Just as removing Hitler, was the main goal of WWII. Funny, how that works, isn't it?

Overlord --

This is a field of total deadbeats, government obstructionists, greedy liars and right-wing ideologues... yeah, average sounds about right.

They're so vain, they probably think this song is about them ....

I think American's in this poll called it right. It's an average field.

I have yet to hear any new ideas for the economy or jobs.

What a misleading title and poll. 27% of the respondents were republican. How can you say a majority of GOP find average when the the vast majority of the poll(73%) weren't republicans.

And what were the others. Independents or Democrats. Not to mention giving large credence to a poll that only contains less then .01% of the voting population nothing but foolish.

TO: Spanky-who wrote:

"Interesting. But man, given this poll the results of the USA/GALLUP poll are even worse for Obama..."

Huh? President Obama is head in key Republican-leading states, such as Florida. So you've (once again) got your "bad" and "good" on backwards.

You haven't been listening to your own Republican Leader either, who thoroughly recognizes, and even warned everyone, that Republicans have no chance at all in winning the "popular" vote.

I suppose that's why they call Republicans "demagogues", because Republicans try to lie their way through, trying to make people THINK you're ahead when you're far behind because the GOP knows people love a winner, so you try to PRETEND you're winning, when you're snot.

The main threat to America is the "starve the beast" policies of the Republican party that got us into this mess.

Love the jobs, jobs, jobs promise in 2010 and then the turn toward making Obama a one term President.

Republicans the party of bait and switch.

TO: steven-2959680 who wrote:

"What a misleading title and poll. 27% of the respondents were republican. How can you say a majority of GOP find average when the the vast majority of the poll(73%) weren't republicans..."

Steven, ALL of the people polled were Republicans -- ONLY Republicans are having a Primary this election because Democrats already have their nominee, and neither Democrats NOR Independents can vote in the Republican Primary because Republicans have a CLOSED Primary (which means ONLY registered Republicans can vote in the Primary).

Read it again genius.

A majority of registered Republican primary voters in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll view their presidential field as "average," while only one in five say it's "strong."

The NBC/WSJ poll -- which was conducted of 1,000 respondents (and 271 Republicans),

Taking these two statements together, directly from the story (Which apparently few of you either bothered to read or chose to ignore and spew your usual venom) I come to the conclusion that NBC is just a two-faced lying, Head Line writing shill for Obama.

What say you guys lead the 6:30 news with this crap.

Brian Williams ought to be proud of you Mark and Domenico.

No wonder you're stuck on this third rate blog reporting what GOP candidates said at breakfast.

Keep it up, maybe you can work your way up to Chelsea Clinton's assistant.

to nisl-

'' Didn't Michael Savage/Weiner (a popular right wing hate radio jock) offer Gingrich a million dollars to drop out?''

I'd give savage a million dollars to drop dead.

What they don't tell you is all these "average" Republicans beat the Socialist Obama

I'd hate to see or hear what they consider "BELOW AVERAGE"?..Well we may get to see real soon if they can find another what they consider average candidate...

A more telling poll would be one taken among former GOPers who have left the party out of disgust. Romney is the only one running for president--the only thing he's been doing for the past decade or so.

The rest of the clown car is running for vice president/Fox noise commentator, with the exception of Huntsman, and only his version of God knows why he's flagellating himself over this.

American Girl -

 Umm, the story actually says 1000 respondents (and 271 republicans). Just because the republicans are having a primary doesn't mean they are the only ones being polled. How about you read the story again and tell me how this poll didn't include Democrats and Independants, instead of slinging insults.

I think Ron Paul needs to win, he is the only person there that can take votes away from the Obamanation.
Before you say Ron Paul is crazy, please cite exactly what you disagree with and contrast why you think that way compared to why Ron Paul does. Otherwise your opinion is worthless because you obviously dont understand why you think the way you do and why Ron Paul thinks the way he does.

The republican party lowering the bar once again

the hole field is septic tank crap

ron paul is forefather meterial

☑ Ron Paul 2012

The correct response is "well below average".

The entire field is mainly a bunch of losers from yesteryear.

It says something powerful when the front runner is on his third wife and was censured by the House of Representatives and fined $300,000 for ethics violations when he was a Congressman.

Yet, he is by far the best of the bunch running.

What say you guys lead the 6:30 news with this crap. Brian Williams ought to be proud of you Mark and Domenico. No wonder you're stuck on this third rate blog reporting what GOP candidates said at breakfast. Keep it up, maybe you can work your way up to Chelsea Clinton's assistant.

Hey WCA: Unless you think you can do a better job would you kindly lay off our hosts on this site? I think the guys do an admirable job at what they do. It is a difficult thing to dig up these news items from sometimes obscure sources, collate and verify the data, sculpt a story of reader interest and still maintain journalistic integrity, with currency and relevance, and do it on a tight timeline.

Maybe your tastes are better served elsewhere.

Average field to choose from? I'll vote for Daffy Duck if he runs and has conservative values.

After 3 years of our current president, I wonder how the majority of democrats would rate their solitary choice for president..... I am guessing it wouldn't even be "average".

This is a great example of taking a non-story and trying to create a story out of it. Everything will change before the election. Right now the candidates are concentrating on getting their stories out in the early primary states, and the rest of us only know what bits and pieces we pick up on the news. Once a republican candidate is chosen then the rest of the country will get to know him quite well, and THEN the polls will all start to matter. Until then, they are pretty meaningless.

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

Yes, it's about time we at least got some average candidates.

Better than the incompetent buffoon we have trespassing in our White House now.

Spanky @ 1.5

This is actually not the case. Stop trying to use one poll as a talking point generator:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/president_obama_vs_republican_candidates.html

The only one who has a chance to beat Obama, since we are going off of polls, is Romney. He is 0.8% away from Obama in all of the most recent polls while everyone else is at least 6% down on Obama at least.

You can't lower the bar much lower than Obama. In fact, NO lower. Any one of the GOP candidates would be markedly better than the traitor now in office.

So they're average, so what? Avergae will work in this case because the guy they'll be running against next year is way the hell blow average!

Must be using the 'no Republican left behind' standards. If the bar is set low enough then all these candidates would be outstanding ...

They are all out standing in their field - another turnip must have rolled off the truck ...

This isnt a symptom of the candidates, it's a symptom of the party as a whole. The GOP can keep rolling these extremists out there, and the same results will follow. The GOP voters are more anti-Democrat than they are pro-GOP candidates, which is insane. They'd cut off their noses to spite their faces. If there was a sex offender living next door, they'd rather kill their kids to protect them, rather than move away.

You folks can read whatever you want into these polls. The fact is, anybody running against the weak President we have now will have a very good chance of beating him. Unless of course, Obama's class warfare tactics work. There are allot of folks out there right now that no longer think it is wrong to take more of one persons personal wealth to support the failings or bad luck of others. That only works until there are no longer any left to take from and the political system that was created by the left to maintain power runs out of sources to steal from to support the entitlements they bought votes with. An Obama victory will send this country into a deeper hole than we find ourselves in now.

If this is average, what does the GOP consider below average--farm animal excrement?

@AmericanGirl,

I dont know what you have read but the poll numbers Spanky referred to about battleground states were published here and commented on today. I think you need to review your info as your numbers obviously have taken a nosedive since you last checked, and it is not looking good for BHO. But at least it is looking good for America.

As far as the poll cross section, as I read it this is not the poll they are posting above here but a new poll that will come out later today with some sort of new revelation that supports Obama given that only 27% of those polled are GOP. I am sure there will be an oversample of Dem and it will be part of the cheerleading for Obama this site is known for.

I have read a new poll today that lists more GOP as extremely motivated or very motivated for the upcoming election. The Dems were lagging in this category as well. So even with a candidate on the GOP side that is "average" There seems to be quite an interest and motivation to vote. Why do you think that is?

ABO 2012

@GOPisexstinct,

and still maintain journalistic integrity

Thanks for the chuckle. I almost fell of my chair laughing. If cheerleading for one party is integrity, then job well done guys. While there is no site that has balance, to pretend any of them have integrity is one of the funniest things I have heard in a while. If they had integrity in reporting, they would be fired and replaced by the next cheerleader for Obama.

ABO 2012

Did I miss something? When did Webster’s Dictionary change the definition of abysmal to 'average'?

Dennis, I hate Ohio State more than is healthy, but you do make good, astute, observations.

Not to be too much of a lefty liberal, as I don't think Obama has done as could as he have done, but if he is running against Newt Gingrich, he will win big. Newt really doesn't capture the Tea Party crowd that well, and they probably will not show up if it is a choice between him and Obama. He also is too conservative to win over many independents or Hispanics, and that will basically leave him on very poor ground because almost all liberals hate his guts.

Romney is such a better option for them, but they hate him so much they would rather loose outright Newt than try to win with Romney.

An average Republican President is way better than our current great Socialist President.

What a bunch of huey! Romney is flat out fantastic and reminds me of Reagan everyday! That's pretty darn great! Backbone, courage, stands by his morals and values, integrity, character and honor even if it's not popular like Gingrich.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Their all losers except Huntsman"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio

Average

Everyone wants an average leader … Right ??

It would be nice to have someone in the white house now that is at
least average.

The entire republican party is below average in brains, common sense, civility, and politics, but they are above average in stealing, crying, complaining, acting like babies, thieving, yelling, and decieving the American people!! I never thought I would see the Circus on TV but instead of it being Ringling Bros, it's The republican party Circus that has more clowns and animals than participants and spectators!! "Ruck the Fepublicans"

@Geowill,

And realclearpolitics has what track record? When was their poll? Is it a real poll or assumptions based on demographics and the last election cycle. At least Gallup and Rasmussen are respected and have a history of being correct once the vote is made with their predictions and polls.

But go ahead and fool yourself. Be my guest and deny reality. You are obviously an Obama supporter so you should be good at this by now.

As for me, I will sleep well knowing there is a very good chance BHO will lose, regardless who the opposition is. And there is a fair chance it will be a landslide victory for the GOP.

The Gallup poll is very recent and trumps common assumption based polls such as RCP which "assume" BHO will take New Mexico based soley on hispanic population. The Gallup piece is an actual poll in all the battleground states. And your choice is sucking wind.

And every poll I have seen in any of the battleground states has BHO no where near 50% and in most he is low 40 percentile. And he IS the candidate at this point. If he cant pull upper 40s at least in these states when he is the only choice on the Dem side, it is not a good sign. I can see uncertainty on the GOP side as the candidate has not been named yet, and honest answers based on head to head are hard to come by when the candidate you currently support is not in that head to head they are asking about. But given his low numbers and the percentages thinking the country is on the wrong track, and disapprove versus approve numbers for BHO I suspect this info on the battleground states will get worse for him as time progresses. It obviously is already worse than they thought it was, which is what this story today was about.

But go back to your dreamland. You know, the one where BHO is ahead in the polls and will win based on that. Because it is only a dream. When you wake up a new reality will be here. You wont like it, but I will.

ABO 2012

Patriotic--Then why don't republicans in utah want Huntsman if he's so great? You'd think they'd know...well I do know why and pretty much the entire state is voting for Romney. The entire state breathed a sigh of relief when he left for China. Huntsman doesn't even come close to Romney's greatness! Sorry John! Huntsman faced a pretty good situation when he became Governor...but only because Romney did such a great job with the Olympic Games, leaving behind a large surplus of money and a state in good condition. That's not why the state doesn't like Huntsman...but Huntsman owes Romney a lot!

KevinQ--Oh yes...nothing like that circus under the big top most expensive by a long shot inauguration with Obozo in the center ring, that Obozo just had to have for his grand coronation. Michelle as the bearded lady and the clowns giving written racist speeches masquerading as prayers! That was the most blasphemous over the top outrageous joke of an inauguration. The beginning of the fleecing and theft of the peoples money, led by the clown in chief himself and followed up with TARP, hijacking of 1/5 of the American economy to force the American people into Obozocare bondage, and OWS flash mobbing of all business establishments in America. I'm sure the white house will have been shaken down when he leaves next year!

bolsen, Romney, really. Courage????? Is his courage to stand by his convictions why he has at least two opinions on every subject? The Mitt Romney of 2002 would have no problem being elected President. Of course he would never get the Republican nomination. It really does not matter which "average" candidate gets the nomination, the Political Ads are going to be fantastic.

Hey bolsen, Huntsman is a man of "Integrity" The rest are losers. The worst is Newt the Crook. Hes a dirty little boy that needs a bath.

You republicans wanna know how Obama is gonna win 2012?

SIMPLE:

watch the republican debate

27% of the respondents were republican. How can you say a majority of GOP find average when the the vast majority of the poll(73%) weren't republicans.

steven,

Grammatically, the story indicates that 51% (about 138) of the 271 Republican respondents rated the GOP candidates as "average". The story does not tell us how many of the 1,000 overall respondents felt the same. My guess is that registered Republicans look on the group of candidates more favorably than the nation as a whole.

The full results will be released later today.

Do any of you gone out on a first date and realize your in a place you dont really want to be. I always solved it this way. Walk back and admit I made a mistake, pay for dinner and tell her its not her fault (its really is!) Sound familiar AG?

I'll vote for Daffy Duck if he runs and has conservative values.

Which of the GOP clowns has conservative values?

They don't want to keep things they way they are, and they don't want things to return to the way they used to be. So in what language are they 'conservative'?

Mitt Romney spits on the Founding Fathers with every other breath.

Obama gives a good speech but he absolutely never does what he says he's going to do and his advisors don't appear to have a single clue about how to run an economy so it's no wonder Obama does such a poor job on the economy.

Really, an average Republican president would be loads better than what we have now.

Sixty-one percent of Republicans say they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting for president next year, compared with just 47% of Democrats.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-12-12/2012-election-swing-states-poll/5

If they all reach up really high they may possibly touch the soles of President Obama's shoes! Talk about a sad bunch of candidates - oh my!

dsdsherm - there are a couple of other pretty good polls. Survey USA (independent), PPP (democrat). Most media sponsered polls are unreliable - they often maintain control over question language and sampling types used to gain results more favorable to their opinion.

Newt - cheater, lobbyist, liar

Romeny - bankrupt companies, thousands lose jobs, flip flopper

Paul - Tea Party, need I say more whacko

Perry - on drugs

Bachmann - just dumb

Huntsman - probably the only sane one, maybe

Santorum - who's that??

Vote Romney/Gingrich if you want Obama to win. Vote RON PAUL if you want him to loose. When looking for videos on past actions of these candidates all searches usually end you up at youtube.

When you search Youtube by candidates, look to view counts and use it as your own honest poll. Its way more people than just this report of 376 polled, Your going to see a explosion of hundreds of thousands, if not millions more over all the other candidates.. (and that includes OBAMA)

Whats the only oath we ask the President to put his hand on a Bible in public and swear to us? Yep, I believe Ron Paul is the peoples President we have dreamed of but never knew. Do your own poll. See what his beliefs are about while you do your own poll. If we study what our Sons of Liberty fought for and look at Thomas Jefferson's intentions and compare those principles to Ron Paul, we will find Ron is the closest thing to Thomas Jefferson we are every going to see in our generation. We should hold this mans record sacred like we should hold the most sacred office of our country. The Presidency of our United States.

Bring all our troops home and end all the war programs. Your soliers have given more contributions than all the other candidates combined now. Including Obama. What does that tell you. They are there and they want you to vote for this man and bring them home. They know they can trust him. Also Ron has been millitary and served.

Stop foreign aid untill we get our own house in order 1st.

Get us out of debt to the Communist China.

End FEMA . It is a waste. They are always broke spending billions on things they don't disclose and honestly don't look like its going to be for our own citizens good. When disaster comes they always come to congress to ask for funds and we say what. They say sorry, its gone. Ron says ok but this should stop. When disaster comes, give it straight to the people in effect. Let them rebuild, they could use the work!! Ask the Iowans this year.. Not some beauracrats buddies who bring in their own contractors to rob the tax payer doing bad work 2 or 3 times on purpose (it appears) and over charging the tax payer unregulated. Grow some courage and end this corrupt department. Ron does what he says!

End the department of Education. If we talk to teachers they will tell you that the Feds No Child Left Behind program is a scam. Its rigged to make our children's schools to go broke unless And more than ofton in an attempt to survive the teachers are reduced to lying about your kids grades. So many problems on this topic . You need to do your own research and see if you feel billions of tax dollars will be worth any of those moronic ideas to you. Not to mention its unconstitutional. More money you could be using with Ron to pay down your countrys debt. Its your money.

Our country needs a leader who can say the OATH without fumbling (obama) Live it without fumbling (all of them but Ron) AND be trusted to MEAN it. His record is 40 years flawless.

The lobbyist will never even go knock on his door because its been closed for 40 years. That speaks VERY HEAVY. "He who will not barter nor bargain for the Presidency."

He only wants to be paid the average median income as President because he thinks that if its what we make, Why should a politician make more?

I could go on forever. But please, You need to discover him yourself. You'll see why his supporters make their own signs and act so energetic.

As a Republican, unfortunally, I have to agree with the article "Average" at best I could not vote for Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman (never heard of him), Texas Rep. Ron Paul (he continues to get elected apparently the people in his district like him, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (has been a good Gov., although I don't agree with all his decisions, Mitt Romney (Liberal), Rick Santorum you have to be joking, that leaves Newt Gingrich not a great choice but look what they are running aganist a looser President that has bankrupted the country to pay back his Wall Street and mafia Buddies who helped put him in office.

Laura:

And on the Democrat side.....

Obama - totally inept, as proven over the past three painful, miserable years.

Basic test questions.

1. Before President Obama which presidents had the highest budget deficits not including FDR?

2. Which president GW Bush or B. Obama had to give the first stimulus package to fight the current economic problems?

3. Upon entering office which president had a budget surplus to work with GW Bush or B. Obama?

4. What is the starting date for the current economic down turn/recession according to most economic experts?

5. Who had to resign from office over ethics violations while in congress Gingrich or Obama?

6.Who has killed more terrorist leaders Bush or Obama?

7. Which politicans have increased their personal fortunes working for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?

8. Which political party wrote the NAFTA bill? Which party voted it in as law?

9. Which political party wrote the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act that over turned the Glass Steagall Act allowing banks to engage in the hyper risk taking that caused this recession and housing bubble bust?

10. Do you believe that congress should place the people's welfare above partisan politics and getting re-elected?

Wendy - keep telling yourself that Obama has bankrupted this country. That's the reason the GOP is so average - they'll believe all the stupidity their "leaders" espouse. President Obama was voted into office by the majority of the American people - he didn't steal office like Bush - twice! President Obama will be voted back in in 2012 because he is honest, intelligent and the best thing we've got right now.

Calling a Party of No candidate average is insulting to the truly average.

WTF....Are you people s**tin' me ??...This is the biggest bunch of losers ever...The debates are better than most sit-coms...The prez is a shoe-in in november....Thank GOD.....

You have enough issues dealing with whats happened to my city, Detroit!

The GOP candidates are average-- for Republicans. The field is comprised of their typical politicos. Perhaps the people who were polled were simply speaking to that.

Name one Republican in the country who would make a good dog-catcher, let alone a good president. Maybe we should be glad they aren't scraping the bottom of the barrel again like they did with Bush/Cheney?

Here is the real questions. #1 Can you name a candidate that you think will beat Obama and say why without mentioning Obama and his record? #2 Can you name a candidate that you think should get the nomination and give the reason without talking bad about the other candidates? If the answer to these questions is no then you have no chance of winning the independents vote.

Laura, you're being unfair. Perry is not on drugs, he's just dumb. Bachmann on the other hand, seems to be both dumb and drug-addled and maybe psychotic as well.

A majority of registered Republican primary voters in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll ...

The NBC/WSJ poll -- which was conducted of 1,000 respondents (and 271 Republicans),

Taking these two statements together, directly from the story (Which apparently few of you either bothered to read or chose to ignore and spew your usual venom) I come to the conclusion that NBC is just a two-faced lying,

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Nobody is lying to you, you just don't understand what the article says.

The story does not report on how the 729 non-Republican respondents rated the GOP candidates, but a majority of the 271 registered Republicans polled think the field of GOP candidates is "average".

These are the same people who think that the President of the United States is a Socialist, Marxist, foreign-born, Indonesian, atheistic, Communist, Muslim, Mau Mau, terrorist, who hates 'white' people and was given degrees from Columbia University and Harvard because he is black and not because he is smart, and has never read the Consttution of the United States even though he was a professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago for over a decade, and that SOMEHOW those 'facts' managed to escape notice of everyone but themselves.

Alwaysanother,

We do not live in the Reagan Era Dude when politics weren't strictly one side against the other. Reagan had Tip Oneal to deal with and he was a reasonable man. Look who Obama has to deal with, McChinless of Kentucky who with his 41 Senator cronies have managed to FILLIBUTER every damn pieces of legislation put forth, That is unless it was more tax cuts for the rich so Obama could extend unemployment benefits before last Christmas.

Reagan was a horses ass dude, he started the Bankrupting of America with his Military Madness, union busting and outsourcing American job while cutting the progressive tax rate from 70% to 35% on millionaires and left this country 4 Trillion dollars in debt. Clinton added 1 Trillion, Bush senior added a couple, while GW Bush added 6 trillion plus another 1 trillion to Obama's first year in office while handing this president a Great Rrecession.

Please look what Repugs do to the damn country before they get voted out??

The problem is Americans are just plain stupid and think a new President can wave a magic wand and save America in one term while the Repugs do every thing to stall any recovery. The only solution is TERM LIMITS on all Politicians, but it ain't going to happen because the keep voting against it..

I have heard Ron Paul being called many things, average is not one of them.

Well, Dennis, Columbus, Ohio, the one we have now, if you want to call it a leader, is far less than average. It's more like pathetic.

If not for the stupid Tea Party in Congress we'd be making progress. These jack-a$$es are definitely on their way out. They are a FAILED teabagging experiment. Just look at the approval ratings. This is a condemnation of TP crap and nothing else...

Newt is popular with the TP and will fail like the TP. The general population does not like him and most women really dislike him for good reason. So it's not looking too good in Teapublican land right now...

Laura

You are presenting some false surface reflections of people

Newt - cheater, lobbyist, liar

Past - infidelity - YES. Currently infidelity - NO or we would have found out by now. Does this disquality Newt - ANSWER did it disquality Bill Clinton?

Lobbyist - NO - he was a consultant advisor to the lobbying group, actually lobbying - NO.

Lair - First, he IS a politician. But what you are referring to is the college course he taught and distributed through a Non-Profit organization. Did he tell the whole truth during the congressional investigation - NO - something less.

But the people you read and repeat conveniently omit the following:

Three years after he signed the reprimand and paid the fine the IRS Ruled that the content of the course was a-political in, did not promote as specific candidate, and because so, not only did the Non-Profit do nothing wrong and neither did Newt!

Romeny - bankrupt companies, thousands lose jobs, flip flopper

First of all, your emotions betray you. You should not make judgements based on emotions over less than half information. People will take advantage of you.

ROMNEY - worked for McBane, which buys up Failing AND bankrupt companies. Fixes ineffecient management, sells of unprofitable sections to other companies and then sells the profitable company for a big profit. These are jobs that were going to be totally lost, so actually his company provides a service to business.flip-flopper is the whole story

I don't think flip-flopper is the whole story. I see him as like the first high priest to Israel in the wilderness. Where Moses was receiving God's Ten Commandments, He was pressured by the people to build a golden calf to be their god. So he makes the calf for them and then when Moses returns says "It's not my fault, this is what the people wanted, besides I threw their gold into the fire and the calf is what came out. And that sums up Massachusetts care.

That is not a leader, that is a follower. This Nation needs a prinicpled leader, not gelatine!

Paul - Tea Party, need I say more whacko

If Paul was of the tea party - he would be the leader. Enough said.

Perry - on drugs

That line looks like there was nothing really negative you could say about him! I just say, he's not my choice - and neither is Newt - but I haven't made up my mind yet - lots to consider yet.

Bachmann - just dumb

I don't know any lawyer is dumb, especially those involved in Tax law. Her real problem is that her ability to present her thoughts and appeal to the general public are about those of a tax accountant, but not as bad as an IRS agent.

Huntsman - probably the only sane one, maybe

The establishment of the Republican party likes him, and they liked McCain, Dole, both Bushes, but not Reagan. Your version of sanity will not get a republican elected - it will get Obama re-elected. Why have democrat - lite when you can have a democrat on steroids?

Santorum - who's that??

Nailed this one, but this is because the media want's nothing to do with him and he does not create controversy.

Always,

First Obama had two years of an all democratic congress and fought with them and couldn't get anything done.

He got everything he was looking for except cap & trade and some other or minor stuff. His problem is chose to focus on healthcare, probably the most divisive and sucked up almost all the publicity too.

The arguing wasn't so much between him and Congress it was more congress with itself. The Democratic house wanted the public option, and the Democratic Senate did not. Then once that finally was settled with out the public option, there were continous negotiations with democrat hold-outs. Some was legitimate, like I cannot support tax payer funded abortions or I will lose my seat. Most of the others was about securing enough campaign support, and goodies to vote for something they knew would cost them their seat if they didn't bring something home to their district.

Second Obama is not a statesman,

Agreed, Statesmen are openly accepted by the other nations and revered for their actions. Obama is only fully revered by the majority of his own party which is 34% of the registered voters.

Forgot one aspect.

Yes, the Republicans did slow things down. They did offer a huge amount of amendments to which over half were adopted. Many of those adopted would minimize cost and clarify language and cross referencing that would cause confusion.

Yes, a lot of that was to delay the inevitable, but the largest delay was the hold-outs from the Democratic party itself.

Alwayanother,

I take it back dude, Your a Repug troll who refuses to see what your good buddy Bush and Darth Vader did to this country before they left it to Obama. Obama's an a$$ for lots of reasons but he didn't start two unfunded wars and give tax cuts during the same fricking wars.

I like how your kind uses fuzzy math by not counting the massive war deficits, or the 4 trillion dollar tax cuts during two wars, or the Medicaid part D and Prescription Drug giveaways you never add to the budget and never paid for?? All of these are in Obama's budgets for Americans to look at. I wonder why Obama's are higher???

And what Faux news website did you get your facts about Reagans massive credit card debt he left for furture Americans??? It was almost 4 trillion dollars Dude.... Were you even there while his massive War Machine was being created???

McCain was average. I'm not sure what to think about these candidates. No one seems to have the ability to pull the republican party together. Even when a nominee is selected, I don't see all of this fighting within the party stopping. Especially if the tea party runs it's own candidate as an independent. Which just may happen.

Even my Republican friends don't call them average. Words like extreme, bat crazy do however, come up alot!

Since Soros and the rest of your Democrat Socialist/Marxist/Communists who control your party with their money, have sucessfully eliminated the one outstanding Republican Candidate, Herman Cain, you all think belittling the rest of the candidtes is going to work? We have a surprise for you coming up! A good chunk of your constituants have decided they love Democracy and freedom more than they love Obama.

What's average down there? C- or D+? In my daughter's high school that pretty well meant brain dead.

Feisty, my friend, you know very well that, if you want to talk politics, you can't be allergic to nuts.

Is Moron a religion in red-universe. Is that how you become average, by being a born again Moron?

Feisty - I really like Andrew Sullivan's take on what led to the current state of the GOP:

But in many ways, this is all a simple result of the intellectual and ideological collapse of the Republican party. All they have, it seems, are some visceral reactions to social change - Latino immigrants, gay spouses, tolerant Millennials - and an argument that remains unchanged for thirty years, regardless of a hugely changed world.

So we have a Cold War mentality without the Soviet Union - and a crazy endorsement of pre-emptive war and torture as core elements of American exceptionalism! We have a myth of massive new regulations by the Obama administration. We have more tax cuts, as if Reagan's supply side policies have been vindicated in the long term. And we have more tax cuts, while revenue is at 50 year lows. Or we have truly utopian ideas like abolishing the Fed, bringing back child labor, and fracking our way out of climate change. The whole caboose is a sign of a party that has long since unmoored itself from the country it exists in. If one of the GOP's problems is that it has lost the last two generations, nominating a 68 year-old curmudgeon who told OWS to get a job and take a bath is not likely to help. Newt's still a boomer, with all that boomer baggage.

But here's what he'd do. He'd clarify dramatically the options in front of us. In refusing any tax hikes on the wealthy, and pledging to end Medicare as we have known it, and proposing a pre-emptive war on Iran as Israel's proxy, he'd help put the real GOP agenda on the table. To have that destroyed by Obama, and to have him handily re-elected would reform that party in a way nothing else would.

I always said it would get worse before it gets better. The hope now is that it will get much, much worse, and thereafter much, much better. But it's just a hope, not a prediction. Only a fool would predict anything at this point.

If fierce Republican partisans see their field as "average," just think how bad it looks to the rest of us. In fact, the 2012 field is worse than the ones they ran in 2008. Does anyone think 4 years of "unemployment" has made Willard more fit to lead? Does anyone think Gingrich is more qualified than McCain? Ron Paul 2012 vs 2008 is just 4 years older. Mike Huckabee is a far better man than any of the other clowns running this year. About the only good thing I can say about this year's field is that they have been entertaining.

Al -- that's exactly what I've been saying, too. In 2008, I said many times that I preferred any Democrat who was running to any Republican who was running; and in 2012, I prefer any of the 2008 Republicans to any of the 2012 Republicans.

And, in case you're wondering, that includes preferring the 2008 Romney to the 2012 Romney. ;-)

Does anyone think 4 years of "unemployment" has made Willard more fit to lead?

Actually I think he is a better candidate than he was 4 years ago, but that doesn't mean he is more fit to lead. And maybe Romney only looks more polished because of the crowd on the debate stage.

Does anyone think Gingrich is more qualified than McCain?

I'm not sure he is more qualified than Palin, much less McCain.

Ron Paul 2012 vs 2008 is just 4 years older.

I'm no expert on the Paul campaign, but isn't his operation this time around more robust? Paul isn't concerned about reelection to the Senate this time either. But yes, his policy proposals are still 25% sane and 25% WTF and 50% unworkable wingnut pipe dream.

Mike Huckabee is a far better man than any of the other clowns running this year.

I'm not sure I agree, but I could certainly see him in first place right now if he were in.

About the only good thing I can say about this year's field is that they have been entertaining.

In the same way car crashes are entertaining. It is like the whole country is rubber necking the massive clown car pileup.

So ideology, are you saying that Mormons are Morons?

Anna, Feisty, nisl, etc... You people are all insane. That is all.

Give it a rest - Is that a picture of Ron Paul next to your name? And you call us crazy?

After the election, when Ron Paul moves back to the tree to make cookies with the rest of the Keeblers, you are going to be so crushed.

Ron Paul will never win the Republican nomination. The only way he will appear on the ballot is if he runs as a third party candidate, and I don't think he has the guts.

Yes we went from average then to below average now.

Give it a rest - Is that a picture of Ron Paul next to your name? And you call us crazy?

Actually, when I clicked on the picture I thought I was looking at GWB! And a return to him would be even crazier!

Compared to Obama these guys are rocket scientist..It's all you have...Attack Attack everyone but Obama...Can't talk about all the great things he's done for America...You know...talk about how the President has brought the country together in these difficult times. Or how his ! trillion stimulus jobs bill did the trick and got the country back to work...Or how he was going to have the most transparent administration ever...Put debates on bills on C-span so the American people can see who is fighting for them.....nope can't mention that....Well I guess that all you got.....Just keep Attacking people with ideas...keep spewing your MSDNC drivel...We are all laughing at you and your weak attacks on our candidates.....One of them will be the next President....Then you can do what your best at...being a miserable, useless, human being.

@nisl You said "After the election, when Ron Paul moves back to the tree to make cookies with the rest of the Keeblers, you are going to be so crushed". You "people" (and I use that term very loosely) always resort to name calling and verbal assaults to back up your arguments. If that doesn't work you just try it again. What if I were to say "After the election, when Obama moves back to the tree to pick bananas with the rest of the ________, you are going to be so crushed", what would you think? Would that make me sound like an @!$%#? That's exactly what you sounded like nisl.

Dr. Ron Paul has more intelligence in his pinky finger than Obama has in his entire body.

Ron Paul 2012: Join the Revolution

@WCA

No ... simple enough for you?

scott-2329078

You're welcome to your opinion, but it would be nice if got your facts straight:

*From 2007 to 2009 America shed 400 million jobs. The stimulus passed by the Democrats, and signed by President Obama, stopped that job loss and created between 1.75 million or 3.4 million jobs (depending on which economist you ask.)

If you don't believe me here is a link to Polifact:

http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2011/dec/04/chris-christie/chris-christie-claims-barack-obama-did-nothing-t/"

LMAO.....Anyone Average is ten fold better than what we currently have in the White house..........

Dr. Ron Paul has more idiocy and blind ideology in his pinky finger than Obama has in his entire body.

There, I fixed it for you.

You "people" (and I use that term very loosely) always resort to name calling and verbal assaults to back up your arguments

Are you trying to be funny or are you really that dense? Question: What comment was I responding to? I was responding to the comment where you call me insane. I guess wingnuts get to call names but everyone else has to be nice? F that.

Would that make me sound like an @!$%#?

It would make you sound like a racist goon, which, given your comment, is probably fairly accurate.

If the rethugli-cons really believe their field of candidates is "average" it just proves that the dumbing down of America has been exceptionally successful within the rethugli-con party.

What a B---S--- poll read the fine print 1000 respondents only 271 are Republicans.!!!!!

What do you expect from Democratic poll takers. Just some more Media trying to play with your minds.

For some of you that is easy!!! you just vote the TICKET....

I seriously think Romney will be the choice come 2012, forget religion in the end the only thing that will matter is SMARTS ......

Silly Feisty Red Head... Socialism is for Europeans.

President Obama is far from an average Socialist. He is an outstanding Socialist! He's managed to attempt a circumvention of almost all of our foremost Constitutional rights.

"The goal of Socialism is Communism." - Comrade Lenin

I think I would take an average redhead for President at this point.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

presidential field as "average

Oh my, didn't we try an 'average' President not too long ago?

I'll take a double scoop of vanilla with NO nuts, please!

Yep Feisty Redhead from Roselle, IL, we did elect an average President in 2008, perhaps even a below average one at that. Community thug, then elected by the citizens of IL to the Senate where he had a stellar record of voting 'present', then elected President and given the Nobel award for ...... what?

Now look at his level of non-achievements, and is he below average? He does talk a game, but doesn't follow up with policies to back his statements.

In reading your comments, I'd say you have more than two scoops of nuts aboard honey.

Now look at his level of non-achievements, and is he below average?

No, he is far above average.

He passed a big stimulus bill, a landmark healthcare reform bill, student loan reform, an end to the Bush torture regime, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a hate crimes bill, a successful rescue of the American car industry, resuscitation of the NLRB, passage of New START, the death of Osama bin Laden, withdrawal from Iraq, a decent start on rationalizing Pentagon procurement, repeal of DADT, credit card reforms, unprecedented gas mileage improvements, a second stimulus in 2010, and passage of financial reform legislation.

@Amy,

We shed 400 million jobs? How many people are in the US? But I certainly dont doubt that they reported it this way.....

but it would be nice if got your facts straight:

Is it nice in La-La Land? I always wanted to visit. I hear it is a nice place to visit, but you dont want to live there.... You may wish to re-read what you write before asking others to get their facts straight.

ABO 2012

OoOoOo Winemaker, your in trouble now! Better take down all your sites and make sure your bank accounts are secure. You know who doesn't take much to being talked down too. Kinda like "mother Nature" in the old Oleo commercials. Check your ground straps the lightening can be ferocious.

Amy, We lost 400 million jobs in a country that has apopulation of 310 Million and a working population of 160 million?? Wow, every working person has lost their job 2 1/2 times in two years. And you libbies call GOP voters uneducated? Amy, are you really that slow of mind?

Rick - Romney is the #1 SECOND CHOICE from a number of polls. This means IF, Gingrich falters, he probably would be the choice. But that was also said when Herman Cain was topping Romney.

@nisl You said "It would make you sound like a racist goon, which, given your comment, is probably fairly accurate.". WOW! I was pointing that out about you! "Being funny" is a two way street. I took your post the wrong way and it looks like you took my post the wrong way.

@nisl You said "It would make you sound like a racist goon, which, given your comment, is probably fairly accurate.". WOW! I was pointing that out about you! "Being funny" is a two way street. I took your post the wrong way and it looks like you took my post the wrong way.

Sorry about the multiple postings. My internet went haywire.

What's sad is that "average" is the BEST the GOP has to offer. We have an intelligent, way above average President that has helped repair the country's image worldwide; has worked to increase employment even while the GOP has tried to keep that from happening; is trying to get laws passed to bring the wall street crooks to justice; is trying to help the middle class instead of bowing to the top 1%, etc. But all the GOP offers is more of the same lunacy and dishonesty. Actually "average" is way too good for the crooks the GOP is running!

Give it a rest - Nope, I understood your post perfectly. Nothing I said was racist, unless you really think Ron Paul is a Keebler Elf. The following, however, is clearly racist:

"After the election, when Obama moves back to the tree to pick bananas with the rest of the ________, you are going to be so crushed", what would you think? Would that make me sound like an @!$%#?

That doesn't surprise me that much, there are plenty of racist bones in Ron Paul's closet, I'm not surprised his followers have similar issues.

Here are some great Ron Paul quotes that show who the diminutive cookie maker is:

1. ‎”We don’t think a child of 13 should be held responsible as a man of 23. That’s true for most people, but black males age 13 who have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such.”

2. “What else do we need to know about the political establishment than that it refuses to discuss the crimes that terrify Americans on grounds that doing so is racist? Why isn’t that true of complex embezzling, which is 100 percent white and Asian?”

3. ”Six-hundred-thousand Americans died in the senseless Civil War. No, he should not have gone to war. He did this just to enhance and get rid of the original tenet of the Republic.” -Regarding the Civil War

4. ”Given the inefficiencies of what DC laughingly calls the criminal justice system, I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal. These aren’t my figures, that is the assumption you can gather from” the report.”

5. “Contrary to the claims of the supporters of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the sponsors of H.Res. 676, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not improve race relations or enhance freedom. Instead, the forced integration dictated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 increased racial tensions while diminishing individual liberty.” -On the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

6. “The Criminals who terrorize our cities – in riots and on every non-riot day – are not exclusively young black males, but they largely are.”

7. “I wouldn’t vote against getting rid of the Jim Crow laws.” -When asked if he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act.

8. “Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5 percent of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty and the end of welfare and affirmative action.”

9. “Immigrants can spread diseases for which we may have no immunity. There is also the question of crime and culture. Many immigrants come from countries with different legal structures and are not willing to behave in the way we expect American citizens to behave.”

10. “There is no such thing as a hate crime.”

PS - If you call people names, like you did upthread, don't take offense when the people you insult turn and insult you back. Your squirmy whining is unbecoming.

@nisl,

And most of these things cost enormous amounts of money. Can you elaborate on how he paid for it?

And how many NON-Government jobs did it create? Lets take them all shall we?

1) Passed a BIG stimulus bill. Shovel ready jobs and such right? Did unemployment go down when he got this passed and it started to be implemented? It was historic in size. Massive amounts of money. But no real results. And it did not have the effects he touted when selling this stimulus, so by HIS standards, it failed.

2) Landmark Healthcare bill - When he had the ability to get anything through. he chose an unpopular choice that may not even be able to implemented due to constitutionality. And this is a success? And 55% percent STILL want it repealed. And again, at what cost? How many jobs have been and will be destroyed due to this burden to business?

3) Student Loan Reform- Why would this be a success? All he did was suck in a bunch more bad debt for the taxpayer to be on the hook for as I see it. If you take out a student loan, know the terms and conditions and risk versus reward. If you are old enough to attend college it is time you take responsibility for your choices. Dont take out a huge student loan and major in art. Better yet, we need to reform it so you CANT take out a student loan to major in something with little or no chance of success or ability to become gainfully employed. That is reform I would agree to. I see no success here. I see a cost.

4) End to the torture regime- And this did what for the American people? This created how many jobs? It was worthy of attention over the economy why? I personally liked the torture techniques. If you attack us, I am not one for making you comfortable. And I believe enhanced interrogations got us valued info. At least it didnt cost us money.

5) Lilly Ledbetter was an act of Congress- BHO signed it. He had only 2 choices, sign it or veto it. It is part of his job. No suceess story here.

6) Hate crimes bill- Dont know of this one, but assume again he did his job and signed legislation. Bravo.

7) Rescued the American Auto industry- He had no choice but waste taxpayer money on this as it was the only way to preserve the Unions. He screwed the bondholders and propped up the unions. free markets should have run their course. The automakers could have unloaded the unions which initially bankrupted them emerged as a competitive player. Or it got liquidated and the bondholders get some of their investment back. But the way this played out was not good for the markets and these companies didnt fix the root cause and will be bankrupt again. It is a momentary fix, a bad decision, and cost us money we didnt have.

8) NLRB needs to be eliminated. It costs jobs. It impedes business. If I were Boeing, I would move it all overseas. This is why businesses move away from here. You hear about budensome regulations? Think EPA and NLRB. The governement has no right to tell business what they can and cannot do in this way.

9) New Start Gave away the farm and the Russians are still laughing at us. It was and is a terrible mistake in foregin policy. To list this is laughable. Putin is in power over there, and we will enter into this based on trust. How niave.

10) Death of Bin Laden - Ok, this was a success. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but wont try to dumb it down. Cudos here.

11) Withdraw from Iraq- Wasnt this on the time schedule originally proposed by GWB? I thought he initially said we would start getting out immediately if elected?

12) Decent start on Pentagon yada yada- Have no idea what you are talking about here.

13) Repeal DADT- This is good why? Why would this be a success? I expect the army will lose a few good men, as they will have no desire to stay in service with an openly gay person in their barracks. When they repealed it they should have also offered full honor discharges to anyone not wishing to stay in the military under the new rules. I suspect there would have been a few takers. And rules of war dictate this cannot work. I would suspect the instances of friendly fire will skyrocket in the next heated conflict. And no straight man would want to be in conflict and close quarters with an openly gay man beside him.

14) Credit Card Reforms- Ok, more regulations to protect the most irresponsible. The CC companies will pass on the costs of this in one form or another. In reality these reforms only benefited those that were late payers, over the limit etc. Now the responsible get to bear the burden of the fees these idiots typically paid. And regulations on a private company. If you dont like the credit card rules, dont have one. Seemed simple without legislation. If you are stupid enough to agree to terms of 79% interest, then all these laws wont save you. You are too stupid to survive. But ultimately the consumer gets to pay more for these regulations now.

15) Gas Mileage improvements- And the cost of the average automobile is beyond reach. And I dont see it. In the 1970s I owned cars that routinely got 40+ MPG. In 50 years I see no improvement in this. Ok, now we can do 50 for a super expensive cars that is mostly battery. And again, this is burden on the companies to meet guidelines. Why is it good to have the government tell the car companies what they must do? What happened to free markets? This just costs money.

16) Second Stimulus - Because the first one worked so well, right? How much did this cost?

17) Financial reform legislation- Not needed. If the goverment had not pushed banks to make loans to people who did not qualify for houses they could not afford in guise of helping the poor and home ownership, we would not be in thismess. And there would be no need for reform. The Dems pushed this financial ruin we are in. They pretended Fannie and Freddie were fine when all the red flags were waving around them.

If this is your list I contend the majority of these either cost money we did not have, added burden and cost to businesses (which costs jobs), were not in our best interest, or infringed on Free Markets when the government got involved in things they had no business being in. NONE of these created any private sector jobs or incentive for private sector to expand and create jobs.

In short he spent more money than any in history to create more burden on business, kill jobs, expand government and unions, and screw the American People.

The only thing he is Far Above Average on is being the worst president in history. The only one who can look at these "accomplishments" and the current economy and be happy about it is Jimmy Carter. He is not longer the worst.

ABO 2012

jollyoldsoul1

OoOoOo Winemaker, your in trouble now! Better take down all your sites and make sure your bank accounts are secure. You know who doesn't take much to being talked down too. Kinda like "mother Nature" in the old Oleo commercials. Check your ground straps the lightening can be ferocious.

Yep, the turdbird can be an issue.....someone from this site is attempting to break into my account. But then again, I understand that information is often provided to someone by the site controllers who will crack the codes.

But then again, she does like to troll several who annoy her.

1) According to the CBO it created 3 million jobs

2) If you think Obama had the chance to get "anything" through you weren't paying attention

3) The student loan program in question was always federally backed, the change merely stopped letting third parties banks profits for loan processing

4) Torture is anti-American, I get that right wingers love them some torture, but historically America is opposed to the practice.

5 and 6) That argumentative tactic will makes the accomplishments of most every President null and void.

7) I, and most economists, disagree.

8) NLRB is important and should not be eliminated

9) No, New Start didn't give anything away. It was supported by a lot of Republican foreign policy experts as well as Democratic foreign policy experts.

10) Pass

11) We have been getting out of Iraq since he was elected, and you are correct that the Status of Forces agreement was set during the Bush years. Still, do you think McCain would have gotten out? Because McCain doesn't.

12) Pass - we can talk about it later

13) Repealing DADT is good because bigotry towards gays is beneath a country that believes in human rights.

14) Personally, I like regulation because I realize a lack of regulation leads to poor outcomes.

15) If you look into it you will find you are wrong.

The only thing he is Far Above Average on is being the best president in history.

There, I fixed it for you.

Guess what...Romney sucks, Gingrich sucks, O'bama sucks. Grats on your establishment candidate choices America!

dsdsherm You really should try forming your opinions by looking up facts rather than relying on fox to inform you. You really do make yourself look bad reciting the sound bites that have no basis in reality.

You are entitled to your own opinion but you are not entitled to your own reality.

Redneck redhead hasn't made a creative comment

Run along little troll or should I say previously banned re-reg?

You are a typical tea bagging recipient who has no moral compass to play by the rules!

Your days are numbered, so, enjoy playing on the basement computer & chomping on your Cheeto's while you can!

Tick Tock, little buddy tick tock... lmao at how transparent you are! ;o)

Give em hell Feisty!

@BigAl

...or go to...

@nisl You are a bigot. Making fun of ANY person based on skin color and physical appearance is racist. Do you understand this? I'm guessing that you cannot comprehend this. You people (liberals), for some reason, need to have a racial divide in America.

Also nisl, the next time you try to write a propagandapiece about somebody you may want to include "sources". Just taking a list off the Internet and pretending it is real doesn't make it real. Your quotes above are not from Dr. Paul. They were from a newsletter that happened to have his name on it.

okay ... Hand, slap him.

Average is a step up from the inept and unqualified occupant we have now

Newsflash - Dubya Bush has been out of office for almost three years.

And yet he still gets credit for so many things around here.

Like the current tax rates.

Spanky- you are off topic ... C-O-R-Z-I-N-E ... rhymes with Jail-time ... go gettum' boy ... woof.

In order to act competently a lawyer must pursue his or her duties diligently. An attorney�s duty to clients encompasses both knowledge of the law and an obligation of diligent research and informed judgment. See Wright v. Williams (2nd Dist. 1975) 47 Cal.App.3d 802, 121 Cal.Rptr. 194. The degree of care expected in discharging his or her duties diligently is that of any lawyer of ordinary skill and capacity in performance of a similar task. See Goebel v. Lauderdale (6th Dist. 1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 1502, 263 Cal.Rptr. 275. By accepting employment to render legal services, an attorney impliedly agrees to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as lawyers of ordinary skill commonly possess and exercise. See Lucas v. Hamm (1961) 56 Cal.2d 583, 15 Cal.Rptr. 821, 364 P.2d 685, Kirsch v. Duryea (1978) 21 Cal.3d 303, 146 Cal.Rptr. 218, 578 P.2d 935; Heyer v. Flaig (1969) 70 Cal.2d 223, 74 Cal.Rptr. 225, 449 P.2d 161; see also Goebel v. Lauderdale (6th Dist. 1989) 214 Cal.App.3d 1502, 263 Cal.Rptr. 275 (a lawyer has an obligation to represent his client with such skill, prudence and diligence as lawyers of ordinary skill and capacity commonly possessed and performed in the tasks undertaken); Ishmael v. Millington (3rd Dist. 1966) 241 Cal.App.2d 520, 50 Cal.Rptr. 592

Sorry, but shouldn't the reaction to the current slate of candidates be something other than, "Meh."?

TO: Spanky-who wrote:

"And yet he [GWB] still gets credit for so many things around here.

Like the current tax rates."

Spanky, the Bush Tax Cuts were extended, so yeah GWB can have credit for cutting revenues and increasing his spending on his 2 wars, AND he can have credit for his $4 Trillion Dollar Deficit he left for us to pay and no money to pay it with.

American Girl- Those tax cuts are now owned by Barack Insane Obama.

If the tax cuts are so great, why are you conservatives so eager to disavow them and pin them on someone else?

They are the Bush Tax Cuts. They were EXTENDED by Obama under pressure from a REPUBLICAN congress.

TO: P. Walker-2000111 who wrote:

"American Girl- Those tax cuts are now owned by Barack Insane Obama."

Why, because Republicans don't have anybody capable of taking responsibility for anything they do in Washington?

That, my friend, is EXACTLY why we don't want anymore Republicans in Washington, because they accept NO responsibility, NO accountability, and NO memory of the "insane" things they do, and the American People will NOT put up with that anymore.

So if I understand you American Girl, you want to increase government, government spending and keep the masses down on the Progressive Plantation?

Yep, bush may have increased the debt, but now to the amounts by Obama, and this guy wants to spend even more! Where are they getting the funds to accomplish everything in the Progressive agenda? Tax the rich? Won't even begin to cover the debts involved, will it.

When it comes to inventing things to blame on the GOP, you Progressives take the cake. There is NO accountability in the progressive side - Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are two who don't accept accountability at anything they do.

Oh damn....... Which cask do you want to be buried in. I have a few extra flash bangs if you need one.

Spanky How exciting, you have a new lap dog following your posts... Our friend from north of the border Idealogy whose posts are eerily similar to the old lib regulars. That dog whistle is mighty powerful to reach across borders.

AmericanGirl,

When BHO extended the Bush Tax Cuts we should have made him change the name to the Obama Tax Cuts. maybe that would have made it easier for you to understand. It is ot for the Republicans to take responsibility. They were the Bush Tax Cuts when they were put into place. They were set to expire.

Obama extended them. At this point would you not agree that Bush lost ownership of them?

That, my friend, is EXACTLY why we don't want anymore Republicans in Washington, because they accept NO responsibility, NO accountability, and NO memory of the "insane" things they do, and the American People will NOT put up with that anymore.

Are you really that obtuse? It seem YOU have no memory and want no responsibility of what your party owns. If extending these tax cuts is insane as you suggest, then you need to realize the insanity rests with Obama and that is the exact reason you don't want any more Democrats in Washington.

Please do us all a favor. Stop voting. Unless you can have a clue, dont vote.

ABO 2012

Forrest, How are you today, hope everything is going good. What, in your opinion, makes some one average, above average or below average? How do you judge average, is it based on common sense, education, money, job status, or some other measure?

If it is based on accomplishments, I think all the politicians we currently have running, or currently service are below average.

@sfcret the post is a critique of Republican presidential candidates.

How do you judge average, is it based on common sense, education, money, job status, or some other measure?

If it is based on accomplishments, I think all the politicians we currently have running, or currently service are below average.

Except for the one who overcame prejudice, loss of a father, a deceased mother, and modest means to become president of the Harvard Law Review, a star student, a community organizer, then an author, politician and statesman.

Oh yeah, and in his spare time he became our first black President,.....or, as I like to call him,....my President.

He ain't black, he is African, white, with a little arab thrown in. He got to Harvard on affirmative action, not qualifications ( Obama said his grades were mediocre). The most unqualified person ever to occupy the White House. Jimmy, the peanut man, just lost his title.

Wonderful reply, GOPisextinct.

Thanks Jack. BTW: I like your stuff. Keep it comin' will ya'?

Hi Sarge, I had my first of a series of six weekly cancer treatments this morning. Ha the treatments which will save my life if they don't kill me. Actually I'm good enough, just a little extra grumpy maybe, just part of my own personal plan to help the doctors make the cancer so miserable it packs up and leaves.

My comment is directed primarily at the two leading candidates, and is in regards to their personal integrity, both of which have flip flopped on every major issue, one was already run out of his position as Speaker by his own party for ethical violations, the other was already turned away as a presidential candidate by his party in the last election cycle. So it seems to me that they have already been previously deemed below average by their own party, and only look a little better now relative to extremely poor candidates such as Bachmann and Santorum. Neither of them represent many of the stated core values of republicans very well, and it seems to me that the republican party has lowered the bar on themselves if these guys now represent an average republican candidate for the highest office in the nation.

Jack and GOP.....Both of you deserve each other...Two people that post useless drivel for the rest of us to laugh at....And about the books Obama wrote...Who wrote the first book...it sure was not Obama. I read his second book, and I think he surely did write that one...two completely different writing styles..One wrote extremely well, the second read like my 11 year old wrote it.. Any explanation on the first author...

TO: Forrest Grump 2.0 who wrote:

"Wow it makes "average" sound pitiful, I think calling someone average is now an insult."

That's because we know if Republicans call themselves average, that's a lie too and they're far below.

So, yes. If a Republican is willing to call himself "average" he's really dyslexic trying make himself sound "smart".

Forrest---*hugs* to you as you take this journey to health. I think you should think of the cancer as tiny Republicans who have invaded your body. Use visualization to attack them!

Forrest, I swear you ought to get you a radio show or something. You presented an answer to sfcret's question so clearly, it will be days before anyone can come back with a rebuttal.

Hope the treatment works. I know you have a positive attitude so all the best.

Hi Forrest.

Glad to hear that help is ongoing. Wishing you the best of health. Good observations. The GOP has set the bar so low only an ant can get under it,......... and by scraping his little belly at that.

Steeler Fan, if tiny republicans invaded my body I would have to kick my own ass! Cancer is what it is and can't help itself, the republican party could do better for themselves and the nation if they wanted to.

Kingofmyhill the treatments will work fine, I will be fine, you are all too kind to me, and I thank all of you for it.

Grump, I've been where you are, I believe, fifteen years ago. I have been cancer free as far as I can tell since that time. I may not agree with you politically, but my thoughts are with you on this one.

Way to go Forrest.

Thank you Dasvet, and everyone, I appreciate all your well wishes, I am not going anywhere, I got that gig in DC coming up, and lots of other unfinished business, this will not be a terminal illness, just a speed bump to slow me down a little for a few weeks. Thank goodness, I have a great health-care plan, otherwise I am not sure I could afford to survive the surgery and treatments, the first thing these hospitals and surgeons want to remove is your entire wallet!

Dasvet

He got to Harvard on affirmative action, not qualifications ( Obama said his grades were mediocre).

Prove it. How about some references.

I like your attitude, Grump. After I got over the big letter "C", and the "why me's", I was fine with the diagnosis.

Scott 2329078:

Seriously?

I have to know,....and I'm serious.

Is the avatar picture an intentional joke?

Also I think you were trying to write "one written extremely well".......

Sorry, but most people don't offer a built-in opportunity to be sarcastic, derisive and ironic in one half a sentence. You are a rare find.

bravo... excellent observation.

Yes and now the Repubs have a bill in Congress that would require drug testing of anyone who is collecting unemployment. Can you imagine?

You mean they arent doing that already? Come on down to Detroit, 50 cents on the dollar for medical Marijuana or a few rocks. Any street anytime!

If this group is average, I'd hate love to see the below average group. REALLY! Average?

Beam me up Scotty. No signs of intelligent life on this planet

Average is a statistical measurement of a population. In this case the population in question is Republican politicians. Given the shortcomings of the population this cast of Republican candidates could well be "average." That says more about the population than the candidates.

I agree with you Larry.

The stable that the GOP has on the bench is indicia of what they think of their adherents.

The GOP are not bringing a Calculus text to their town hall meetings. They are bringing first grade readers and finger paint.

All you have to do is yell: "the Democrats hate the troops" or "Freedom isn't free" to their drooling masses and BINGO,...you got yourself a motivated, teeming constituency.

I swear. Being a GOP candidate must be the easiest job on the planet. Their voters are sooooooo low maintenance. Any moron could be the top GOP contender; even that sack of potatoes that didn't know how many Supreme Court justices there are!!!

Effin' seriously? Ask him to name the branches of government, and what office he's running for. He'll blow the answer, I swear to God.

On the other hand we have the waste of protoplasm and member of the "Fortunate Sperm Club" thinks companies are people. So tell his followers they can go home. Companies'll vote for Mitt. They can save their votes.

Fuzzy, you can see less than average every day when you look at Oblama, the unqualified.

Average is a measure of the "middle" of a complete data set, not a sample but the full data. In this case it refers to the Average of Republicans. but the most interesting study could be the standard deviation, to see how spread out the data is, i.e. how low it could go.

so don't be surprise of the average on that data set(population).

Im guessing by all the comments here that you all for the most part consider yourselves "above average" or perhaps "Brilliant" I hate to break it to you..... but the majority of us feel pretty good to be just.....Average.

jolly, half of us have to be above average, I think. You make a good point! :-)

Do the Republicans know that Obama has all of our backs?

Yea he is about to take the clothes off your back. He never has anybody's back except his, wake up from your drunken stupor.

did he put clothes on your back, no he did not, do you know him personally no you don't so quit judging the man he's more of a man than you are any day of the week what a maroon ie bugs bunny so maybe by this time next year we'll see but for some of you white folks the time is drawing near run for this average group of losers, you guys already have two strikes against you this world will not be run by you anymore people of color are waking up get your house in order.

W >>> think your the one that needs to put the bottle down bagger ......inquiring minds need to know, just exactly at what point in time to you act like you know what to do wit dat brain God gave you and actually sound like the adult your supposed to be instead of the nutjob you show yourself to be ???? Is that even possible for you ????

FLEX, NO!

blackjack

Take you and your racist remarks and stay off this post.When you rant and rave like that all you are doing is showing your true intellect.You are just wasting space.

Obama is the greatest!

Obama is not and never has been average. He is the best President since FDR.

Live with it.

You're sick . . . get help.

nisl,......you are my hero.

Take it to em'.

GOPisextinct - Well it is the truth. I don't see why people of our political leanings refuse to admit it.

Obama is not and never has been average. He is the best President since FDR.

WOW! you should have given thought about it before posting it. 80% of the people reading your post fell off their chair laughing. But then again thinking is not the greatest strength of liberals. They are like fish, they don't know they are wet.

Amen, W!!What an idiotic thing for him to say, given the circumstances!

...The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency.... It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America--- Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of Idiots such as those who made him their president....

..The danger to America is not the halfwits the GOP has put forth, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a bunch of moronic clowns like this with the Presidency.... It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Newt Romney presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Newt Romney, who is a mere symptom of what ails America--- Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Newt Romney. It is less likely to survive a multitude of Idiots such as those who made him their president....

There, I fixed it for you.

Imagine, and Barack is WELL below that!

Imagine, and Barack is WELL above that!.

There, I fixed it for you.

The GOP'ers have all ready thrown everything in their arsenal at each other and barely able to keep up to Obama's poll numbers. Obama hasn't even BEGUN campaigning yet. Don't count your chickens too early.

Obama has never stopped campaigning since 2008.

Obama is done

Dream on, dreamer.

If it really does come down to Mitt or Newt (it will be Mitt) then you are correct.

"I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican—that I'm someone who is moderate, and that my views are progressive," - Mitt Romney, 2002.

Obama is behind in most of the polls. Go take a class somewhere. Learn to read.

Obama is behind in most of the polls.

The election is in November 2012, go buy a calender.

He is not behind in most polls either. Total fabrication by the repube party. 17 -2 as of now. We'll see if anymore blind people are with you.

21-2. 21-3. You guys LOSE.

I gotta' side with you boto.

Huntsman is the only one even remotely rational.

I am a life-long democrat black female voter and I wouldn't mind Huntsman for president. At least he seems like he is the smartest one in bunch. My worse nightmare: President Newt or Perry.

boto, this isn't my father's Republican Party, the Party of Eisenhower, Bob Dole and Gerald Ford. Today's Republican Party lines up to kiss Rush Limbaugh's ring and to stick an envelope of cash into a lobbyist's pocket. Please support President Obama.

Amy: boto, this isn't my father's Republican Party, the Party of Eisenhower, Bob Dole and Gerald Ford. Today's Republican Party lines up to kiss Rush Limbaugh's ring and to stick an envelope of cash into a lobbyist's pocket.

It's the lobbyists that stick an envelop of cash into the politicians pocket Ames. You know, like at these $35,800 a plate dinners Obama is so fond to attend. And that's small potatoes to these lobbyists and Obama cash bundlers like at Solyndra that get that money back from the taxpayer 10,000 times over.

Amy: Please support President Obama.

Wall Streets best friend.

Well said JoAnnaSmith1!! It is good to see someone is paying attention.

Dave, the elephant in the room (no GOP pun intended) is that Paul is a doddering old man who looks frail on stage and is likely 2 gin tonics away from yelling "Get off my damn lawn!!!" at young children.

He may be smart, he may be thoughtful, and he may be the cure... but in this media age of Kardashians and The Donald, he should do himself a favour and pack it in. The GOP is more interested in a puppet who only looks Presidential.

Its too bad Ron Paul's budget plan would fix the problems and balance the budget in only 3 years. No one is even mentioning his plan. here is the link for the synopsis. in case anyone really wants to fix this country. No other candidate's or currant budget can even come close to fixing this mess we are in. His plan is worth debating regardless if you like Ron Paul or not. this plan is best for America at this point in time.

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/ron-paul-plan-to-restore-america/

Road, Reagan ran against the same type (unqualified) dem candidate in 1980. That is why any of the GOP candidates will beat Obama in 2012. The dems need a qualified person to run against Obama. Obama could not beat an average dem in a primary in 2012.

I remember 1980, do you? The image that stays with me from the Carter administration is a burned up helicopter in the desert from a failed rescue of American hostages in Iran.

Flash forward to 2011 and the image is of Navy Seals successfully executing Bin Laden in Pakistan. That's the difference between Carter's loss and Obama's reelection.

Amy,

Military successes rarely translate to success at election time. Just ask Bush Senior. What I remember about 1980 was the economy stupid. It has always been the economy stupid. And it will be the economy stupid in 2012, not helicopters or Bin Laden.

Amy, you did not make a lot of sense with that last post.

Dasvet

I make more sense than you do, bud.

Said the monkey on the Obama bars.

Amy, I don't believe you remember any of the Carter years. Remember pulling the Americans out of the Olympics, remember Carter telling and showing people to turn down the thermostats and wear sweaters, remember the gas lines at the service stations being based on license numbers, remember the very high interest rates and the failed so called "luxury tax", and his incompetence as Commander in Chief, and these are just a few of his failures.

Lmao...... I had to read that exchange a few times! Im guessing Amy is "from away"

rplat-

Apparently, you believe your opinions are facts, (majority of Americans) and you attribute them to a group that exist entirely in your mind. That make-believe group obviously agrees with your opinions and accepts them as fact. Sorry, pal, that’s not reality.

rplat,

You connected the dots on that one dude.......I think they use the same math as the President does when he announces a drop in the unemployment rates.

But then again, this is a progressive web site, a progressive media outlet that only knows how to spin the president in a positive manner. Coupled with the site libbies, obama can do no wrong.

Unfortunately, the whines will be, after the loss of the President this cycle, the Republicans were racists, the Republicans hindered the election process by asking for ID prior to receiving a ballot, that the Republicans wouldn't allow enough dead Democrats to vote in Chicago.

Winemaker and rplat--Yup, Wall Street Journal (the sponsor of this poll--you may not know that) is a well-known liberal rag. Yup. Rupert Murdoch's WSJ is left wing and pro-Obama. Yessiree Bob.

Well, we'll just cancel each other out. I haven't voted Republican since 1988, but I'll most definitely vote Republican this time.

Saying I haven't voted Democrat doesn't mean I voted Republican.

We'd be honored to have you do so Brian 1075

Same here. Saying I haven't voted Republican doesn't mean I voted Democrat. Libertarian for the last 20 years. Obama is a fur piece from Libertarian ideals. Do you think John Stossel would ever vote for Obama?

GOPisextinct -

Please do not consider my post at #17 an endorsement.

RoadWarrior -

We probably agree on many things. Nice thing about being Libertarian is the common understanding that protecting personal liberties is one of the primary purposes of our government. How we expect government to do that is always open to reasonable debate.

...and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,

Brian, I voted for Carter in 1976...worst vote I ever cast. Voting for Obama in 2012 would be worse, INHO.

Dasvet

If we had re-elected Jimmy Carter, we'd be off foreign oil by now, heck, we'd be the world leader in alternative energy technology, and we wouldn't have had to fight the last three wars to protect our oil interests.

Please do not consider my post at #17 an endorsement.

Noted Brian, yet at the same time I sense you are not projecting enthusiastic vibes toward the GOP field. I think this country and its people are tired of:

War

recession

and deficits (that "don't matter").

I believe you will see a change in Obama come late Nov 2012. It is THIS Obama that the GOP most fears,.....and that Liberals have most anticipated.

We will laud his arrival.

Dasvet - I consider my worst vote to be for Bush in 2004 although I would not have voted for Kerry under any circumstance. I swore I would never again vote for a lesser of two evils but the slate of prospective Republican candidates is pushing me that way.

Brian, I believe Obama is the worst of many evils. He said he would fundamentally change this country. He has, and it isn't a pretty sight.

with all due respect Dasvet why don't you people quit looking for a scapegoat your voting for these republicans all these years i guess everyting was just rosy at least in your mind. But the truth is most of the problems this country has had is both parties fault every election it's the same thing vote the lesser of two evils why? we the people are getting played and all you so called republicans carrying water for these fools makes you look stupid get some balls and stand with the rest of us and for the one whose not looking for anything out of this election other than fairness.

Oh wait until Ron Paul get's his third party run going in August! After winning Iowa, and New Hampshire GOP race!

My very best vote ever was when I voted for McGovern in 1972.....after standing in the booth in Orange Co. North Carolina, where I had to register as an Independent to keep from having the local KKK giving use a hard time, wondering....do I really want to vote for this clown, or vote for a crook.....I went with the clown and have never ever regretted it!

You are among the seven who voted for McGovern in 1972. McGovern ran off more democrats from their party than everyone except for Carter, in my lifetime. I have been here quite a few decades. Glad you are proud of backing a big time loser. I did appreciate McGovern's war record.

blackjack, scapegoat or the total failure of a president that we have now? Scapegoat intones that the charge isn't true of his failures. Those failures are glaringly obvious for all to see, even if some are blind.

Dasvet

Funny how the top 10 states on Forbes Magazine's list of best places for business are almost all "Blue" states. That's because rightwingers talk a tough line, but don't know how to govern effectively. Same reason the only people I personally know who get foodstanps are Republicans.

Amy, get into the big cities much? Best places for business evaluations are dependent on a lot of things, and the largest concentrations of food stampers are in the big cities. My state is number two on the best places for business. That , in spite of Memphis's sixty percent on food stamps. Those cities haven't voted for a republican in decades.

Dude......she lives in Portland ME! anyone north of Freeport considers Portland to be Massachusetts,(I think they called them ma$$holes! Amy try Detroit and yes I lived in Maine for years, a little bit north of you. lol!

It took a Perot to split the ticket in 1992 for Clinton to win the election. A Ron Paul third party run is the only way for Oblama to complete his take down of our economy in 2012. Be careful of what you wish for.

Unfortunately Gary Johnson (former Governor of New Mexico, self-made millionaire and, like Ron Paul, a staunch Libertarian) got short shrift from all sides in the primaries.

The people who vote for Ron Paul will overwhelmingly ONLY vote for Ron Paul

Cool! Good to know a percantage of Republicans will not vote for the eventual nominee!

A vote for Paul, is a vote for more class warfare, and wealth redistribution, as it puts Obama back on his marxist goals.

Why would you say that? He polls higher than any other GOP candidate in a 1 to 1 vs. President Obama.

I like many of Ron Paul's domestic ideas, but he is a kook when it comes to foreign policy and Iran. A president's first and main job is to protect and defend our country. If he doesn't do that, the domestic issue is a moot point.

I'm guessing it will be none at all for you.

Ron Paul:

Cuts totaling $1 trillion during the first year of a Paul Presidency would be achieved by eliminating five federal cabinet departments – the Departments of Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Interior and Education.

So let's see.... Cut the Department of Energy and turn this country over to rich oil companies. Considering they already get a federal tax cut sponsored by the republicans, maybe we can do this.

Cut Housing and Urban Development - Yep, let's watch more american cities decay and not adhere to specific housing codes. Or we could privatize it and watch american corporations use asbestos again.

Cut Commerce and watch Wall Street bring this country further down to its knees.

Cut the Interior? HUH??

Cut Education - Why not, the republicans think that Pizza is a vegetable. Let's watch our education system continue to lag behind the rest of the world.

Cuts of this scale will also be accomplished by a Paul Presidency abolishing the Transportation Security Administration and returning responsibility for security to private property owners, abolishing corporate subsidies, stopping foreign aid, ending foreign wars, and returning most other spending to 2006 levels.

Cut the TSA - Yep, I want to make sure that airlines due the right thing and scan for explosives before I get on an airplane. They can't even deliver luggage on time..

Abolish Corporate Subsidies - He will never get the nomination because of this alone.

Stop Foreign Aid - Sure, the 28 billion we spend annual on foreign aid makes a HUGE difference. So much for those starving children in africa huh.

End Foreign Wars - Now that I agree with 100%. However, when/if Iran comes knocking on our door, I hope that each of you can get to a bomb shelter quickly.

Oh - and a constitutional amendment to ensure marriage is between a man and a woman only. Yep, so much for separation of church and state, equal rights for everyone, and taxation without representation.

Yes, Please give him the nomination.. I want to watch Obama crush him in the election.

ItsAboutTime-3704531

A constitutional amendment to declare marriage is between a man and a women is not an infraction of separation between church and state. Separation between church and state simply means for example the catholic church can't produce a candidate to run for office. WOW i just reread your post you're reaching on every comment you made . lol

I say a plan like Ron Paul's is needed - lets suck it up for 3 years balance the budget save on the forth year and rebuild America after that with a balanced plan (Budget neutral) America would be far better off in the long run. i'm looking 50 years down the line.

Please. No Hillary supporters would say that so take off the sheep's clothing buddy. It's kind of pathetic.

Have the Republicans (who control Congress and actually could pass a jobs bill, whose lobbying to weaken bank rules led to the collapse in the first place) passed a jobs bill since promising that in 2010?

NO.

Go back to FOX and try again. Fail.

Before 1940, we had the same thing we have now, a socialist President who could do nothing in eight years about the Depression, same as Obama has done for three years now. WWII bailed out FDR, so give some credit to Hitler.

I agree with you 100%. I'm also a lifelong republican, and totally dismayed by the entire party. Of course, I'm also dismayed by almost everyone we currently have in Washington, from both parties. Sadly, the politicians are in actually a reflection of our society. Scary thought.

Justin, I agree somewhat, but all of the GOP candidates have no problem being Americans, Obama has a major problem with our system. He told us that with his "I will fundamentally change this country" speech, meaning he will take down our capitalist economic system. No matter whom is the final choice to run on the GOP ticket, it is vital to keep in mind that the man, Obama, doesn't like this country very much.

Thats the thing that really bothers me. And I agree he just doesn't seem to like America, and I mean America as it was in years past. As I said before Im going to vote for who I want to, if it works out thats fine. If it doesnt, I own my homes and my moneys in Canadian banks and doing fine. So I will be able to have a front row showing of the carnage with some degree of comfort..

Justin, I agree somewhat, but all of the GOP candidates have no problem being Americans, Obama has a major problem with our system. He told us that with his "I will fundamentally change this country" speech, meaning he will take down our capitalist economic system. No matter whom is the final choice to run on the GOP ticket, it is vital to keep in mind that the man, Obama, doesn't like this country very much.

Dasvet, I think you ability to process reality is seriously impaired for a lot of reasons. The economy was auguring in about 2 years before Obama even sat in the White House. Face it. Republicans destroyed this nation. Obama does not own the economy. Obama owns FIXING the economy. Major difference.

Racism is never excusable, but racism coupled with diseased ignorance of your magnitude is difficult to let pass without comment. PC is one thing, but if I called you mother a slut you'd probably object to that. Me,......I'd just think you were being too,.....PC.

No matter what party you're in ignorant racists like you were supposed to be gone loooooong ago. Take off your white sheet,....you'll type better.

Prove it. Prove, given all the stupid hyperbole from you people, how he's an "idiot" compared to the clown car that is the GOP.

You can spout BS, but the American people will remember in 2012.

Why don't you take 9-9-9 Hermie, liar-lobbyist-adulterer Gingrich, Throw people out of work corporate raider Romney, and hang out in Wasila where you can take in the sights of Russia from her porch.

Please.

Yak, many can see Russia (the old USSR) from a lot of places here in the USA, just by flipping on the TV during an Obama speech.

Wow, Davsvet, what a comebacK! Did you practice that all day? Yeah, we're just like the Soviet Union. Do you know what hyperbole is? Were you even alive during the cold war? Do even know a damn thing about the USSR are or you just another FOX moron?

The Right can't have it both ways. You blame Obama for not fixing mistakes fast enough that YOU caused.

Torture: You started it. Gitmo? Also you. The wars? Yep, you too. The economy? You own that too. Ummmm jobs please? 2010 Elections......???

It's propaganda at its worst and it won't work. Obama isn't my hero, but he will destroy Gingrich. Romney has no chance either.

You people are just delusional now. I'm going to watch FOX on election night so I can see human heads explode like hand grenades.

Hey snoopy...You could be a little more creative with your Faux hippity hop moniker. Last time I checked:

The Iraq war is ended..The AFG will be winding down starting 2012..(Pity you weren't man enough to enlist since you are such a patriot).

The Pres would have closed gitmo except the pussess in your partaaay were too scared to move them to an unused Supermax in Illinois.

And who anointed you as the arbiter of "The American way of life?"

Murder..Redrum Redrum?????? Get the irony? Now please return to the ghetto where you belong puss and STFU.

yakfitguy says, "I'm going to watch FOX on election night so I can see human heads explode like hand grenades."

Nice! I can just imagine the confused look on the cast of Fox and Friends faces. It will go way beyond the usual confusion about how to flush a toilet or how to use a doorknob. It’ll be brilliant.

But don’t for a second think it will be a cakewalk. The Republicans presidential wannabes may not be that sharp, but they know how to sell the American people things we really don’t want.

You mean like Obozo?

I agree nisl, never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter, we had 2 terms of GB43, that should tell you something.

And we'll have ONE term of that moron BHO......that should tell you EVERYTHING.

" Super Liberal" Steve Jobs as you call him wasn't even bright enough to see to his basic hygiene before he founded Apple. His co-workers could not stand working with him because he stank. He also was so stupid he did not get medical help once diagonosed with a cureable cancer until it was too late. Maybe you would follow his advice. This liberal would not.

Maybe you should return you Ipad, Ipod, Iphone (or any smartphone for that matter) as stinky Steve Jobs brought them to you. Better turn in you PC, Laptop, Mac, whatever too. Without Apple, you wouldn't have one.

By the way, what the hell have you accomplished in life? I bet it's nowhere near what Steve Jobs has. Speaking of jobs, unlike him, how many have you created?

Got anything to back up your hateful BS?

yak, you go first with what have you accomplished in life bs. Steve Jobs was a stinky liberal, just like the OWS protesters are stinky liberals. Steve did accomplish a lot, but he died, just like all of us will die. The quote from Steve Jobs was accurate, he was disgusted with Obama, as any thinking voter would realize.

I bathe everyday. I also invented over a dozen products a Product Line Manager, thus employing lots of folks. I know, that's the typical OWS person huh? I guess those Marines in uniform and the union workers are stinky too huh?

Ever thought of checking back into reality Fascist?

I love this thread. Right-wingers out-voted about 5-1. Gives me some hope for humanity.

are you on "crack"? What kind of a date is a canna-date? Were you a special olympics participant? If so, please disregard this post. Chill a little.