# Handicapping the 2012 GOP presidential nomination **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 12, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160 "2011-02-12T21:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/401 "2011-06-01T18:46:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Out of how many respondents? I don’t think they posted the actual poll yet, but their last Iowa GOP primary poll had 481 respondents. So probably a number around there. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/402 "2011-06-01T19:14:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Out of how many respondents? 400-something, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/403 "2011-06-01T19:35:01Z")
OK, so that’s not all _that_ far removed from 1%, then. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/404 "2011-06-02T12:02:03Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The latest PPP Iowa caucus poll puts John Huntsman’s support at 1. [Not 1%, just 1](http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/05/jon-huntsmans-supporter.html). > > Guy has some ground to make up before the Primary. On the bright side, he has the easiest task of doubling or even tripling his support. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/405 "2011-06-02T12:34:18Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The latest PPP Iowa caucus poll puts John Huntsman’s support at 1. [Not 1%, just 1](http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/05/jon-huntsmans-supporter.html). > > Guy has some ground to make up before the Primary. To be fair, his chances, such as thy are, are pegged on doing well in New Hampshire. Yes, he still has a long way to go. _But_ there a lot of New Hampshire GOP primary voters looking for someone to vote _for_. He is not known so far but he also has no negatives. He is intelligent and articulate. His current low standings don’t reflect too much, what dooms him is that he is too moderate to excite the GOP base. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/406 "2011-06-02T23:09:42Z")
I’m rooting for NJ Gov. Christie to jump into the race. What could be more entertaining than a candidate who takes a state helicopter to his son’s baseball game, and has a state limo show up to cart him the last 100 yards from the football field where the helicopter landed to the adjacent baseball field? And yeah, he’s refusing to reimburse the state for the cost of the helicopter flight. Sweet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/407 "2011-06-03T12:01:49Z")
I just noticed, in the videos, that the Palin family vacation is the Sarah & Piper Political Tour. Crane ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/408 "2011-06-03T14:44:15Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’m rooting for NJ Gov. Christie to jump into the race. What could be more entertaining than a candidate who takes a state helicopter to his son’s baseball game, and has a state limo show up to cart him the last 100 yards from the football field where the helicopter landed to the adjacent baseball field? > > And yeah, he’s refusing to reimburse the state for the cost of the helicopter flight. Sweet. 🙂 You seen the blubber on that pork star? You seriously think he could walk a hundred yards? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/409 "2011-06-03T18:08:12Z")
Not to be outdone by Bachmann’s interesting spin on American history, here is Sarah Palin’s take on Paul Revere: > **[Sarah Palin - Bus Tour - Paul Revere Video](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-cnn-anchors-deadpan-reaction-to-sarah-palins-version-of-paul-reveres-midnight-ride/)** > > Sarah Palin is in Boston today, meeting with supporters and other curious elements and chatting about how meaningful being in such a historic region is to her on her One Nation tour. Of course, this means Sarah Palin is talking about history, and CNN... ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/410 "2011-06-03T19:40:05Z")
What I don’t get is, can’t she hire a speechwriter? I mean, even Palin has to be capable of reading off something pre-written, and the speechwriter could be some wonk that nobody ever actually has to see-- She’d still get all the attention. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/411 "2011-06-03T19:41:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You seen the blubber on that pork star? You seriously think he could walk a hundred yards? Maybe that could be the first step in his couch-to-5K program. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/412 "2011-06-03T19:50:29Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Not to be outdone by Bachmann’s interesting spin on American history, here is Sarah Palin’s take on Paul Revere: > > [Sarah Palin - Bus Tour - Paul Revere Video](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-cnn-anchors-deadpan-reaction-to-sarah-palins-version-of-paul-reveres-midnight-ride/) [I got the horse right here!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxAX74gM8DY) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/413 "2011-06-03T20:12:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What I don’t get is, can’t she hire a speechwriter? I mean, even Palin has to be capable of reading off something pre-written, and the speechwriter could be some wonk that nobody ever actually has to see-- She’d still get all the attention. Why would she need that? She’s obviously more than capable of speaking off the cuff. It’s not her fault that you didn’t study US History. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/414 "2011-06-03T22:58:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Why would she need that? She’s obviously more than capable of speaking off the cuff. It’s not her fault that you didn’t study US History. No shit. Everybody knows that Revere would have made Chuck Norris his BITCH if they’d been alive at the same time! I mean, that time he single-handedly defeated the British at Concord and then captured Benedict Arnold whilst bringing guns to Washington’s Army? Dude, the Norris could only hope to tie Revere’s shoes (if he had laces which he didn’t - he strapped guns to his feet and ran on those). ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/415 "2011-06-03T23:16:10Z")
The amazing part is that her base doesn’t understand the problem. They think she’s right - after all she’s home schooling her daughters. Crane ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/416 "2011-06-05T19:13:10Z")
Mitt Romney damaged himself further, saying… “I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that. It’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors.” Sure he hedged it with “may be,” but that ain’t gonna cut it in today’s Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/417 "2011-06-05T19:24:11Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Mitt Romney damaged himself further, saying… > > “I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that. It’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors.” > > Sure he hedged it with “may be,” but that ain’t gonna cut it in today’s Republican party. I guess, though two years ago, the same thing was part of the official GOP platform, the sitting Republican President believed the same thing (granted they weren’t in any huge rush to do anything about it) and the GOP Presidential nominee had recently been one of the prime movers behind a cap-and-trade plan. I guess the reaction to Romneys statement will be a good measure of how much the GOP has changed in the last two years. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/418 "2011-06-06T13:51:22Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Mitt Romney damaged himself further, saying… > > “I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that. It’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors.” > > Sure he hedged it with “may be,” but that ain’t gonna cut it in today’s Republican party. Really, he pretty much just skullfucked Saint Ronnie on stage. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/419 "2011-06-06T16:52:20Z")
Noted slimeball and homophobe Rick Santorum has now [declared himself](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/culture-warrior-rick-santorum-jumps-in/?hp)as running (or slithering) for the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160/420 "2011-06-06T16:55:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Noted slimeball and homophobe Rick Santorum has now [declared himself](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/culture-warrior-rick-santorum-jumps-in/?hp)as running (or slithering) for the nomination. Yep, I heard that this morning on NPR. I needed the chuckle. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination/571160.md?page=22)