Current Governors:
Walker vs Kasich-The unionbuster Walker is undoubtedly the most dangerous Republican candidate in this race, so I’d choose virtually anyone over him. But Kasich additionally is quite tolerable compared to most other candidates.
Jindal vs Christie-Christie. They are both terrible people, but Christie is a bit better on the issues.
Past Governors:
Perry vs Huckabee-Huckabee. Even with his recent spate of inane quotes, Huckabee still seems to be one of the few more sincere politicians.
Pataki vs Bush-Pataki obviously. Far better on the issues.
Current Senators:
Rubio vs Cruz-Rubio is less nutty.
Graham vs Paul-Graham mostly because I’m fairly interventionist and on economic issues Graham is more moderate.
Others:
Santorum vs Carson-Santorum has reinvented himself in recent years as a champion of working-class populism and the need to push for policies amenable to blue-collar voters. While hardly a good ideology, it is far better than what most of the GOP is peddling.
Fiorina vs Trump-Trump’s quasi-populist tendencies are preferable to Fiorina’s typical neoliberalism
I thought it would be more fun to put like-against-like for the first round as much as possible. Santorum got matched against Carson in part for the religious beliefs but mostly so I could pair the two “businesspeople” against each other.
Walker vs Kasich Kasich at least isn’t an insane tea partier.
Jindal vs Christie The crook vs the dope. At least the crook might be competent.
Past Governors: Perry vs Huckabee Perry may be an imbecile, but he’s not a theocrat.
**Pataki **vs Bush Hard to ignore Bush’s defective genetic history.
Current Senators:
**Rubio **vs Cruz Easy pick here- we can’t have the reincarnation of Joe McCarthy. Graham vs Paul Graham isn’t that bad a guy for a Republican, Paul is.
Others:
**Santorum **vs Carson Tweedledee vs Tweedledumber. Santorum at least has some knowledge of civics.
**Fiorina **vs Trump Only one has said publicly that Mexico is not our friend.
Current Governors:
Walker vs Kasich
Jindal vs Christie
Past Governors:
Perry vs Huckabee
**Pataki **vs Bush
Current Senators:
**Rubio **vs Cruz
Graham vs Paul
Others:
**Santorum **vs Carson
Fiorina vs Trump
Kasich and Christie are relative moderates who I think could reach across the aisle to get things done.
Huckabee, while I hate his social views, seems to at least put lip service to caring about the poor. Pataki didn’t piss off anyone in NY and Bush seems to be in the mold of his brother, so Pataki gets the win there.
Rubio and Paul I think are the serious contenders with actual policies.
In the Other category, Santorum has actually been a politician, so he actually has a chance of having a real coherent policy even if I would disagree with it. For Fiorina vs Trump, that’s dumpster fire vs tire fire - I went with the one that will provide better material for late night comedians.
I have to ask, since that was the intention. Why are so many of you favoring Fiorina? She was an utter failure. Trump at least can claim to be successful at what he does. Compared to Fiorina anyway.
Fiorina failed once after achieving a great deal. Trump has driven his businesses into bankruptcy four times. Global embarrassment-wise, he’d also make George W. Bush look like a revered world icon.
Because Trump is irrational, a conspiracy theorist, and nuts. Fiorina was just a kind of crappy CEO. Trump would potentially do much, much more damage to the country, in my view.
