GOP's Top 10

[libertybele]

I'm not so sure that I agree with eliminating candidates from debate; but I'm not so sure that there is another solution at this point in the debate game.  I am amazed that Trump made it in!  Then we have Ben Carson.  Really?  Who the hell is Ben Carson?  No political experience whatsoever...we all know too well how that has worked out for us.  This also eliminates the only female who has her hat in the ring; I see that as a huge mistake.   


GOP’s top 10: Who is making the debate cut

The unlucky number for Republican presidential candidates in this election cycle is not 13. It’s 11.

Whoever falls into that position in the national polling averages will be excluded from the first two GOP debates of this cycle, making it much harder to be seen as a credible contender.

By contrast, whoever squeezes into 10th place will have a podium reserved for them on the main stage and a bigger chance of making a breakthrough.

If the debates were held right now, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry would be the lucky 10th person — though just by the skin of his teeth.

Perry’s average showing across the most recent five nationwide polls, excluding one from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, is 2.4 percent. Former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich both average 1.6 percent and would be forced to sit out the debates.

Businesswoman Carly Fiorina would also miss the cut as things stand, with her average of 1.4 percent support. That would leave the GOP with 10 men on the stage, an image party leaders might want to avoid.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would also miss the threshold. His current average is 0.6 percent, though he has a reasonable expectation of improving, because the five polls in question were all taken before his official campaign launch.

The 10 Republican candidates who would be included as of now are, in descending order of average poll rating: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, retired neurologist Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, businessman Donald Trump and Perry....

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/243988-gops-top-10-who-is-making-the-debate-cut

[Belle]

So at first I thought these rules were coming from the Commission on Presidential Debates, but appears its from Fox.   & then, I thought, wow, it would eliminate Lindsey Graham & Rick Santorum, great!  On the other hand, in my opinion, none of those excluded can make it to the nomination.  Sadly, Carly Fiorina would be a fantastic contributor to the discussion, but I think the liberal GOP control machine is fearful of her intelligence & enthusiasm.  I do wish Trump & Huckabee were also eliminated, as they are instigators & their only contribution would be to tear down any viable candidate.   

Hey, how about some excitement in these debates?  Behind each candidate place a special photo behind the individual to remind voters where they stand.  So, for example, with Christie, it could be the photo & him & Obama arm in arm pre-Sandy pork; with Bush, a photo of 3 X 4 = 11; or with Huckabee...I never met a tax I didn't like.  All in cynical jest, of course!

P.S. I only read, no AP links; is youtube okay?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Ubjg_o8vg

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/Mike-Huckabee-tax-hikes-Arkansas/2015/05/05/id/642721/

[Chris_]

Hey, how about some excitement in these debates?  Behind each candidate place a special photo behind the individual to remind voters where they stand.  So, for example, with Christie, it could be the photo & him & Obama arm in arm pre-Sandy pork; with Bush, a photo of 3 X 4 = 11; or with Huckabee...I never met a tax I didn't like.  All in cynical jest, of course!

I liked the idea of having Congressmen and Senators wear NASCAR-style uniforms with all their sponsors on them.

[libertybele]

Without a doubt $$$ is key in winning the presidential nomination.  However, with that being said, and to give credit where credit is due, Santorum came in second just behind Romney with a fraction of the money behind him.  However, he was allowed into the debates.  So...I am thinking that eliminating candidates from debates is doing a disservice to the voters as many rely on the debates to forum their opinions. 

To be fair, include ALL in debates and in further fairness; give each candidate a 3-5 minute opportunity to state what would make them a better president than the others.

[Belle]

 I wish Carly would be included in the debate.  She comes across as honest & feisty!  Ben Carson, I do admire him so much.  My dream would be a West/Carson ticket; the liberal media would be freaking out because they couldn't play the race card.

Chris:  Love that photo!  Does this mean, if I come up with at least $15,650, I can affect policy change?!?

[libertybele]

I wish Carly would be included in the debate.  She comes across as honest & feisty!  Ben Carson, I do admire him so much.  My dream would be a West/Carson ticket; the liberal media would be freaking out because they couldn't play the race card.

Chris:  Love that photo!  Does this mean, if I come up with at least $15,650, I can affect policy change?!?

....hmm Ben Carson.  What do we know about him?  He is a doctor; therefore, educated.  He speaks conservatively.  What else?  What qualifications does he have to be president?  Obama was a junior senator that then ran for president; that turned out horribly.  Carly Fiorina; yes she is feisty, but by her statements on issues or lack of; is considered a moderate conservative.  She was an advisor to John McCain and is known as one of the worst CEO tech's of all times.  She lost to Barbara Boxer did she not?

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Carly_Fiorina.htm

So, I am not quite seeing the attraction for these two.  Perhaps Firorina is a female candidate to go against Hillary; but that's about all I see with her.

[Belle]

Oh, Fiorina & Carson have zero chance of getting nominated, & they probably know that themselves.  But who'd you rather hear in a debate?  Fiorina & Carson vs. Trump & Huckabee.  Carson, who had the courage to stand up to O @ a breakfast dinner that brought him to the public eye.  Fiorina who talks intelligently & doesn't shy away from issues. & anyone would lose to Boxer in liberal California.

[libertybele]

Oh, Fiorina & Carson have zero chance of getting nominated, & they probably know that themselves.  But who'd you rather hear in a debate?  Fiorina & Carson vs. Trump & Huckabee.  Carson, who had the courage to stand up to O @ a breakfast dinner that brought him to the public eye.  Fiorina who talks intelligently & doesn't shy away from issues. & anyone would lose to Boxer in liberal California.

In answer to your question, without a doubt, Fiorina and Carson over Trump and Huckabee; however, I don't see that Trump or Huckabee have a snowball's chance either.  So, with that being said ... why did they bother to jump into the race?  Perhaps Fiorina and Carson to get some recognition for a political seat in the future ... but Trump and Huck??  I question their motives.

[Belle]

Libertybele: " ...but Trump and Huck??  I question their motives." 
 
 Mike's losing run in '08 got him a cushy job on Fox. & with increased name recognition, there's always book deals.  This time around, who knows how lucky he'll get?  A lobbyist job with some major corporation?  His net worth is $5 Million; his annual salary is $500,000. Funny, in 2011 he wrote a book called "A simple Government"; funny because as Governor he was big on taxes & spending.

Donald's net worth is $3.9 Billion.  Maybe he just craves being out there in the public arena.   

http://cnetworth.com/donald-trump/

http://heavy.com/news/2015/05/mike-huckabee-net-worth-salary-bio-2016-republican-president-show-book/

[Belle]

Prediction:  watch Scott Walker's poll #'s start sliding.

"SCOTT WALKER PUSHES OBAMATRADE ON EVE OF VOTE"

"Despite staying largely silent on the issue—he’s quietly supported it for weeks, but hasn’t said anything at all in quite a long time—Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker crossed most conservatives by coming out in support of Obamatrade on Thursday evening in an interview with Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin."

The GOP field of reliable conservatives is dwindling.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/11/scott-walker-pushes-obamatrade-on-eve-of-vote/

[Lacarnut]

Prediction:  watch Scott Walker's poll #'s start sliding.

"SCOTT WALKER PUSHES OBAMATRADE ON EVE OF VOTE"

"Despite staying largely silent on the issue—he’s quietly supported it for weeks, but hasn’t said anything at all in quite a long time—Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker crossed most conservatives by coming out in support of Obamatrade on Thursday evening in an interview with Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin."

The GOP field of reliable conservatives is dwindling.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/11/scott-walker-pushes-obamatrade-on-eve-of-vote/

Walker is a Gov. and does not have a vote in Congress. It amazes me why a politician in his position does not remain neutral on the subject. Repubs have hoof and mouth disease. He did not have to come out one way or the other. I guess just stupidity because in the long run we get the short end of these trade deals and  Americans lose their jobs.

[libertybele]

Walker seems to be adding a few black marks on his record lately.  Now he's open to the idea of running with Rubio.  Certainly not the "dream team" I was hoping for.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/244753-walker-open-to-teaming-up-with-rubio-on-2016-ticket