# I Want to be the First on Record to Call the 2012 Presidential Race **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995 "2010-05-02T01:41:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/121 "2010-05-04T23:14:19Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > You know what? I realize it’s impossible, but I’d like to see McCain take another go at it. For all the lackluster moves he made in the last campaign - not least of which was propelling Palin to prominence - the man is still capable of real, fundamental decency and integrity. (His concession speech, for example, was as statesmanlike as anyone could wish.) Odds are that anyone who goes up in 2012 is going to get trounced anyway - McCain has nothing to lose, and might have finally learned to run the campaign with style. Oh, fuck that. Sure, his concession speech was good. And now he’s spent a year and a half throwing a temper tantrum about it. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/122 "2010-05-05T01:52:40Z")
[http://boardstest.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491297](http://boardstest.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491297) I’m sticking with my 1.5 year old pick. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/123 "2010-05-10T03:54:54Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > If the economy continues the pace of its recovery, Obama wins against Jesus himself. If not, Obama loses against Hitler. It’s that simple. My mom would vote for Hitler. He’s white, non-Mormon, tough on illegal aliens, and could yuck it up on Huckabee’s show. But she’d vote for _Hitler’s Even Eviler Zombie Clone_ against Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/124 "2010-05-11T02:48:54Z")
> [@digs](#): > > My mom would vote for Hitler. He’s white, non-Mormon, tough on illegal aliens, and could yuck it up on Huckabee’s show. > > But she’d vote for _Hitler’s Even Eviler Zombie Clone_ against Obama. You’ve forgotten Adolf’s a National _Socialist_, presumably anti-Israel, pro-abortion, and _Catholic_ or even an unbeliever. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/125 "2010-05-11T12:31:51Z")
See, this is the point… as several posters have pointed out, “generic GOP” beats Obama in the polls, a majority of voters really like the “generic GOP” candidate. You get to put the qualities you value into that generic person, who naturally turns out great. In reality though, that “generic GOP” candidate doesn’t exist. None of the GOP field is ‘generic’ and none of them actually match all those qualities that individuals value. When it comes down to the specific GOP candidates, Obama can beat any of them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/126 "2010-05-11T13:25:29Z")
…which is a point which also holds when talking about “generic” Republican Congressional candidates. Will enough swing voters punch the GOP side of the ballot if a flaming raging Teapartier is on it? ---
**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:** [May 11, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/127 "2010-05-11T20:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > See, this is the point… as several posters have pointed out, “generic GOP” beats Obama in the polls, a majority of voters really like the “generic GOP” candidate. You get to put the qualities you value into that generic person, who naturally turns out great. > > In reality though, that “generic GOP” candidate doesn’t exist. None of the GOP field is ‘generic’ and none of them actually match all those qualities that individuals value. When it comes down to the specific GOP candidates, Obama can beat any of them. And in fact, the generic candidate _can’t_ exist. Let’s say that one person finds the gun issue most important, for example, and all else being equal, would vote for whichever candidate seemed friendlier to guns, but is mildly pro-choice. That person identifies as Republican, and therefore tends to think of all other Republicans as being more or less like himself. His “generic Republican candidate”, therefore, is pro-gun and pro-choice. Meanwhile, there’s another fellow whose first priority is abortion (which he opposes), and would also like to see a little more gun control laws put in place. He’s a Republican, too, but his “generic Republican candidate” is anti-gun and pro-life. You’re not going to get a single candidate who will please both of those voters. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/128 "2010-05-11T21:03:44Z")
I think Chronos’s #3 is probably what’s going to happen - we’ll be recovering and Obama will easily get re-elected, so the Republicans will put up a sacrificial lamb without any real chance. That’s the only way Pawlenty will see a nomination, that’s for certain. He certainly does stand behind what he says and has some good ideas, but I doubt he can even deliver Minnesota, so there is that. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/129 "2010-05-11T21:27:23Z")
Its gonna be… Mitt Romney! If he isn’t dead by then. > [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > [http://boardstest.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491297](http://boardstest.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=491297) I’m sticking with my 1.5 year old pick. No, stop, seriously. He wont win. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/130 "2010-05-11T22:01:51Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > You know what? I realize it’s impossible, but I’d like to see McCain take another go at it. For all the lackluster moves he made in the last campaign - not least of which was propelling Palin to prominence - the man is still capable of real, fundamental decency and integrity. I’m capable of going to the gym every day, but history has pretty much shown that I’ll happily abandon that plan as soon as a marginally better option presents itself, or I just don’t feel like it. McCain has integrity except when he doesn’t, which kind of by definition means he doesn’t have integrity. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/131 "2010-05-11T22:20:59Z")
McCain never has enough. He is rich and has a long political career. That is not enough. he is running about with tea baggers and anti-immigration types to get re-elected. Whatever cred he had was punched with Palin and has been knocked out be his flip flopping suck up act of today. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/132 "2010-05-11T22:34:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Won’t happen. It’d look like a desperation move, and even if it is actually a desperation move, the absolute last thing any politician wants is to _look_ desperate. There have been rumors that Biden was only going to serve one term as VP from the day they added him to the ticket. I would not be at all surprised if Biden gracefully withdrew from the 2012 ticket, begging health concerns, long before the primaries even start. He’ll state his intention to serve out his term and then retire. Since Biden has, by all accounts, been an exemplary Vice President thus far, it will be accepted by both press and populace that he’s decided he is simply too old for this shit. Obama will thank him for his service in a memorable speech, and then announce a new vice presidential nominee shortly thereafter. Said VP nominee will likely be a young, moderate up-and-comer that will be groomed to run for the presidency in 2016 - someone like Amy Klobuchar, Jon Tester, or Brian Schweitzer. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/133 "2010-05-11T23:28:48Z")
Biden’s 41 year old son had a stroke today. If he wants to do that ,he has an opening. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995/134 "2010-05-12T00:08:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Said VP nominee will likely be a young, moderate up-and-comer that will be groomed to run for the presidency in 2016 - someone like Amy Klobuchar, Jon Tester, or Brian Schweitzer. Interesting that two of those three are Montanans. I could definitely get behind either of them… They’ve been good for the state. And I do think that Schweitzer could win in 2016: He’s great at intelligent soundbites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-the-first-on-record-to-call-the-2012-presidential-race/537995.md?page=6)