Dobs

one of those Governors is the Father of the Constitution, mind you!

This is what I was referring to by the snake oil (in lieu of actual western medicine)

I would like to be Gov. Thomas Dobb of Virginia. Age 39. A Liberal-Conservative Jeffersonian (or its equivalent), similar to James Madison. Dobb is a well-educated Aristocrat and lawyer. He comes from the wealthy Dobb dynasty which has played a pivotal role in Virginia politics since Jamestown. He graduated from William & Mary top of his class and is a successful lawyer and planter. Key contributor to the Founding Documents, Dobb served in the Continental Congress for most of his career, but has recently been elected Governor of Virginia. A leader to many in the intellectual republican movement, his writings are relatively well known across the country, particularly his essays on Constitutional Law, which have been pivotal to the new Constitution itself, Dobb of course was important in securing ratification in Virginia. Slavery will be a tricky subject for Dobb, who personally abhors the institution but whose family legacy and wealth is tied to the hideous blot. Nevertheless, he is a fierce leader on individual and local rights and has been called by some a Father of American Liberty and even the Constitution itself. @Pringles prongle reminder

Snake Oil Salesman and uber progressive. A disaster if he were a serious candidate but he is thankfully not.

Below, I will only discuss the 9 candidates who have declared or declared a date for declaration. There are many who I wish would run, or are still considered potential candidates, but they will be kept off for now. 1) Nikki Haley - Definitely the best candidate running. We need an optimist, a conservative, a fierce leader, a unifier, and someone with executive and foreign policy chops. Haley is the only candidate who checks all those boxes for me. She has my support, the only person who could have taken it away was the likes of Liz Cheney or Larry Hogan. 2) Tim Scott - Definitely the second-best candidate running. He is an optimist, a conservative, a fierce leader, and a unifier. Haley edges him out due to her executive and foreign policy experience, both of which are clearly desperately needed out of the next President. We need a Reagan to get us out of this mess, I'd love to see Scott in Haley's Cabinet and be a real contender down the line. --- Below this line are candidates who I like just as much as the above, but for whom I have serious doubts regarding electability --- 3) Asa Hutchinson - He is my third choice and the most morally acceptable candidate running. He is a pure of heart and decent man, and had he foreign policy experience or a decent shot at winning, he would be my man. He goes the right way on cultural issues when so many don't, and he's been steadfast on Trump where others have been murkier (Both Haley and Scott have their blemishes, but none so dark I am unwilling to forgive.) Still, he does not seem to be launching any sort of credible campaign. 4) Doug Burgum - Similar to Asa, he is a qualified and exemplary Governor. I respect him a great deal and would be thrilled to see his Presidency, as I would with any of the above. Nevertheless, I will believe a competent campaign when I see one. --- Below this line, I could still support these candidates, but they would not light me on fire --- 5) Mike Pence - A good and decent man who has atoned for much of his Trump-era activity. We agree on most policy and he is a pro-democracy conservative. He is too far to the right on cultural issues, but I am willing to forgive that as it is the only real blemish. 6) Chris Christie - I like Christie on policy, I do not appreciate his decorum. His record as Governor is fine. His time to run for President was 12 years ago and his star has faded. --- This is where support for the nominee would become murkier if they were nominated --- 6) Larry Elder - This is where the quality of the field begins to strain and, while I would still support Elder, I would be prepared for a blood bath. He used to be much better but has since fallen apart after his bid for California Governor. Thankfully, he will not be the nominee. --- Below this line I would struggle to support the nominee unless serious changes were made, I would likely vote third party otherwise --- 7) Ron DeSantis - DeSantis is Trump-lite. He still represents a step back for the Republican Party and for America and I could not, in good conscience, support someone so divisive. He flirts with hateful rhetoric constantly and is a bastard child of Trump's GOP. I am willing to accept moderation from him if he can provide it (given his good record in the House, which has soured during his time as Governor), but I am dubious it will ever come. His record as Governor is troublesome, not only supporting hateful legislation but tampering with free market actors as they engage in free speech about that legislation. 8) Vivek Ramaswamy - Ramaswamy is a snake oil salesman and crypto bro. Unless he somehow became a real conservative with actual policies, I could not support him. But because he is so unknown, I cannot say it is impossible for this to happen. --- Below this line, I can never and will never support the nominee, I would most likely have to vote Biden --- 9) Donald Trump - I do not need to go through this laundry list again for everyone, so I'll spare the litany. But the bottom line is that this man represents the destruction of the GOP and massive, potentially irreparable damage for the United States. His big government authoritarianism, collectivist economics, and weak foreign policy are the antithesis of the Republican Party I know and love and should be resoundingly rejected as such. And all that is before we arrive at the fact he was the most anti-democratic, anti-republic, anti-Constitution, and worst, most dangerous President of not only my lifetime, but the nation's. He should be roundly rejected as such and I can never support my party going down this path. Not now. Not ever. He is the only potential nominee that would force me to vote for Joe Biden and the disaster that has been his administration once again, to avert total cataclysm.

1. Georgia 2. South Carolina 3. Texas 4. Florida 5. North Carolina 6. Virginia 7. Alabama 8. Mississippi 9. Louisiana 10. Tennessee 11. Oklahoma 12. Arkansas 13. Kentucky 14. West Virginia

@vcczar Highly reminiscent of an Alternative History you once ran in which I was President Aldridge for 4 terms in the early 19th century, no?

For sure, which is why it wasn't a disaster. Also I will respond to your email.

Yeah, his C- is based on the fact that he did not do terribly much to harm the economy himself, he was just inept at finding the solutions. His Foreign Policy was obviously lackluster, but he did do a lot to re-establish some credibility to the Oval Office. Which is worth a lot to me, enough to bump him to a C.

Dakota please send up a smoke signal if you are being held against your will at your place of employment in violation of labor laws.

It's been out for a while but I think everyone here would like it if you haven't heard it. For some reason I get the vibe that all the users on this forum would approve of it without exception.

Agreed, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Glen Youngkin (and Liz Cheney who can't win a primary) is the GOP's Presidential bench A team

With this guy it’s really more about delivery. It’s worth watching him clown about at least once. Also this is a compilation so it moves quickly from one topic to the next which might suit you.

Yes

Johnny K? Commit politically motivated atrocities? Johnathan Kudelka? Attempt to overturn the government based on spurious conspiracy scribbled on diner napkins? Never!

yes

Ok thanks

@Patine my brother in Christ, please, we're begging you.

To think that Oz is a significantly worse candidate than Fetterman is to miss something, I think. And to not think that Ryan isn't a stunningly and significantly better candidate than Vance to the degree it could swing the race is, again, to miss something, I think.

This was excellent

I'm going to be a contrarian and suggest that blue Ohio and red Pennsylvania will exist contemporaneously.

this is so sad

I'm right here! Sorry about the worry! Just been extra busy.

1. New Hampshire on Crime 2. New Hampshire on Taxes 3. Rally across the border in Massachusetts on Bipartisanship Endorsement: Charlie Baker