GOP Cage match Round 1: Palin vs. Romney

Recently there's an unstated rivalry in the GOP primary race. This was brought to my attention today because of a couple of articles I saw. (here and here) This combined with my previous post breaking down the GOP candidates gave me the idea for one on one cage match analysis of two candidates per week. Each week I will give my readers a chance to express their opinions on the match up for the week and select the winner. The winner of each week will face off a winner from a previous week. This should take all summer long since there are so many announced and rumored candidates. Theoretically we'll have enough response from my readers to have a good idea of who the candidate should be at the end of the primaries. Of course we could find that my readers are lop sided, idealistic, or just plain wrong and then we'll just have been entertained for several weeks.

So the cage match for this week is arguably the battle of the heavy weights and I'd wager good money that one of these two will be the front runner by years end...of course I could be completely wrong too. I pit them against each other so soon in the process because they've already gone one-on-one this week and since only one of them is a candidate it seems fair to put them both in the ring as candidates to see who comes out. 

*cue Michael Buffer voice over*

In the Blue Corner standing at 6' 2" at an undisclosed weight and packing the baggage of mandatory healthcare coverage and a pair of flip-flops courtesy of the pro-choice Massachusetts political environment.  

We have the Massachusetts Mormon, the Brother from Boston, runner up in 2008 and a favorite of the middle -of-the-road-Republicans....Miiiiittttt Romneeeey!

In the Pink Corner standing 5'5" and weighing *slap* never mind...a girl never shares that. Carrying Tina Fey, a Governorship-cut-short, and a lip-stick wearing pig the Airhead from Alaska, the Tea-Party Pretty, the Patriotic Princess and the favorite of the hater-media and crazy-conservatives....Saraaaaah Paaaaaalin!

Round 1: Sarah opens the round by calling Romney to the carpet on RomneyCare on the very day he announces his "formal" campaign. Romney counters by proving he won't stoop to cheap theatrics. Palin pulls out the big guns and denies Romney coverage by having a clambake in the same state as Romney. Romney, on his heels, pulls up a giant wad of cash and slams it right into the retro-chic glasses of Palin. 

Round 2: Both candidates are looking strong. Palin skates around the ring on roller blades like any skilled hockey mom. Romney shuffles lightly in his patent leather loafers and un-buttoned long sleeve shirt. Romney starts the round with a sold hit with his big-business cred. Palin absorbs the blow by using folksy rhetoric. Getting into it now they both reach into their historical candidacy as the first Mormon and the first Woman Presidents if they win. This round is a draw.

Round 3: The candidates are showing signs of fatigue. Mitt has a single hair out of place and Sarah has some mascara running. Romney seems ready to end this with big name endorsements in the business sector. Palin reaches to her grass roots populist cred and paid gig on Fox News. This is gonna be a close one.
*ding ding*

Both candidates are standing tall. This is going to the score card.

Please leave your comments below and help me decide who moves on in the Summer GOP Cage Match. 

Think about this next time you fill up.

Gassing Up with Obama from RightChange on Vimeo.

Quick reference for GOP Candidates

I'd like to create a "hit list" of the positives and negatives of the top candidates (announced and not) for the GOP race. I'm going to try and hit the basics and then leave the comments sections for your input on the things that you think I missed.
In no particular order...at least not one that I care to admit.

Mitch Daniels, Governor of Indiana (not announced)
Pros:

• Fiscal conservative; lowered taxes and eliminated $200million deficit and turned it into a $1.3Billion surplus
• Strong history of results in a state that needed serious help
• Family values even in the face of his wife leaving him for another man then returning
• Rides a motorcycle :-)
• He's short :-)
• Excellent speaker 

Cons:

• He's almost exclusively concerned with fiscal matters saying that "social issues" need to take a back seat
• Slow to enter the race (this speaks to the ever elusive "fire in the belly")
• Not well known (this could be remedied if he gets himself some serious press coverage with outrageous populist rhetoric)
• He's losing his hair :-) (like I should talk)

Mitt Romney Former Governor of Massachusetts 

Pros:

• Legit business credentials that he can bring to the biggest economy in the world
• Governor of a liberal state (shows he can get things done with bipartisan atmosphere...better than Obama with both houses who barely passed Healthcare)
• Speaks well and isn't afraid to use red-meat rhetoric (this has changed from 2008)
• Family values (being Mormon actually helps here)
• Already dispelled "Mormon Issue" with his awesome speech in 2008
• Awesome hair and movie star looks ;-) tell me otherwise ladies.

Cons:

• He's Mormon...Yeah I still think there's folks that are that bigoted
• He has unquestionably flip-flopped on social issues...largely legit explanations but still gotta hang the summer footwear on his neck
• RomneyCare...he's gotta separate the difference between a State solution and a Federal solution we are a Republic and he's got to explain what that means to those who aren't smart enough to understand what that means

Herman Cain 

Pros:

• He's black...yup I think he will prove that the GOP is not racist and that as a Tea Party favorite he can unite the apparent division in the party
• Legit business credentials as CEO of Godfathers Pizza (He should be President because his chains gave me all you can eat buffets through high school)
• He's so right on all the issues social and otherwise 
• He's popular with the Tea Party, like it or not the Tea Party will dictate the discussion for this primary season
• He has the "fire in the belly" and to spare...when he speaks people listen and are informed, entertained, and convinced

Cons:

• He's black...yup there's a group of insane bigots 
• He will undoubtedly stick his foot in his mouth due to his being so flamboyant and unscripted
• He has no middle ground...he sees things in very stark terms and this will not win everyone over
• He's a Tea Party favorite...this will be something that the moderates and white collar Republicans won't like

Tim Pawlenty Governor of Minnesota

Pros:

• Very good Governor of a liberal state with solid performance and support from his own state
• Seems to ride the Republican planks like they were made for him
• Moderate on almost all issues but sufficiently conservative for even the furthest to the right
• Well groomed...this is important no matter what you say
• Socially conservative enough
• He's not Mormon...he is basically the Evangelical alternative to Mitt Romney

Cons:

• While he's given some spirited speeches he's not particularly powerful
• He's not well known...he doesn't seem to be able to correct this issue even with four years to try and correct the issue
• He is not well connected...money will have a lot of influence in this years campaign with Obama set to raise $750 million for his campaign

Michelle Bachmann

Pros:

• Enjoys broad Tea Party support
• She's got the "fire in the belly"
• She speaks truth to power in a way that is easily understood (rhetoric for the blue collar and red-neck)
• Her gender will help her gain notoriety and name recognition in the media overcoming the fact that most people don't know her name
• She's got the conservative planks covered REALLY well

Cons:

• Enjoys broad Tea Party support and for moderates this will be the sole reason for not voting for her
• She's "too" salt of the earth and may come off less serious despite her taking on serious issues
• Her gender will make her a target and there are simply some women/men who will not vote for a female President
• She's going to have "see Russia from my house" moments because she's so vocal about things

Newt Gingrich former Speaker of the House
Pros:

• The head of one of the greatest eras of prosperity in recent history
• Smart- he knows his stuff on just about every political topic out there
• Bedrock Republican meaning that he's what the foundation of the current Republican party was built on
• He's relatively well known and admired for his time as Speaker
• His connections are going to give him some help with money

Cons:

• He pissed off a lot of folks by knocking Paul Ryan's budget suggestions
• He's a Bedrock Republican and that means he's the foundation of the current Republican party...some say that's a bad thing
• Evangelicals still aren't going to be happy with his marital situation

Sarah Palin former Governor of Alaska

Pros:

• She about the most well known potential candidate out there after her entry as a celebrity in 2008
• The Tea-Party is her party and if she doesn't run her endorsement could be king-maker 
• She was a wildly popular Governor who was creative in finding real solutions to her states problems
• She's hot! She'd be the best looking President ever if she ascended to the throne in the Oval Office

Cons:

• She's a girl and that's going to be a liability for some voters...particularly Republicans
• The Tea-Party is strong but are they strong enough to move the whole Republican establishment?
• She is not liked by WAY too many people and she isn't going to be able to fix that easily

Ron Paul Congressman for Texas

Pros:

• Has got to be one of the smartest men in the Republican party
• His fiscal policies are exactly what America needs and no one, not even Romney, has made as well a reasoned argument on fiscal matters as Ron Paul
• He's Liberterian which means he'll bring in a voting block that is important to merge into the Republican party eventually

He has one of the most consistent voting records and has voted his conscience and not party line

Cons:

• He's cracked in the head. This guy still thinks we shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq or Afghanistan. The legality is beyond question. If you disagree let me know
• He's a Liberterian and there's a lot of fundamentalist Republicans that have forgotten about the Big Tent
• He's ancient as in just about dead ancient...agism aside he would be by a wide margin the oldest president in a first term and a second term would almost certainly be out of the question

Alright...that's my list. I know there's Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, John Huntsman Jr., and there's still hope that Chris Christie will change his mind, but I'm sticking with this field for my purposes. If you've got more bullets that I missed for any of these or have another candidate suggestion leave it in the comments. Now hit up the poll to the right and tell me who you're favorite is.

Which economist is right?

This is an awesome video. "Economists say" is a common phrase heard in the media and this video puts two of the most notable economist in a "grudge match" over what theory of economics should be the policy of our government. At the end of the video pay close attention to the type of people drawn to each economist. Which type of person are you? Leave your comments below.

I'd also like to give a great big shout out to @freakonomics on Twitter. They directed me to this video. You can buy their books below.

Calls of Racism are a Red Herring

Image via Wikipedia
Some blacks see racism in 'birther' questions

Yes, that's an actual headline from the AP today. Here is my response to that article and the inane assertions it makes about those loony "Birthers".

As much as I dislike the "Birther" folks and as much as I think they're cracked in the head I still don't think they are racially motivated. I have yet to see someone categorically provide evidence that the "Birthers", the Tea Party, the Republicans, Conservatives, or anyone else labeled racist by the left, have acted purely or even mostly because President Obama is of African heritage. Naming someone racist because they feel like the policies and direction of this administration are wrong is a Red Herring and should be called out as such. 


In many ways it seems the President is trying to change the focus as much as the "Birthers". He claimed that the "Birther Movement" was taking the focus off of the economy...but the stories on the economy eclipsed the "birther" stories by several factors of 10...by bringing this stupid joke to the level of legitimacy that he has he removes the focus from him and the inept management of the economy to the idiots of the "Birther" movement. Good political move...sad...but calculated. Now the media would like to turn this into a racial thing rather than what it is...a calculated political maneuver to distract the public from the bad news on the economy. This collaborative effort on the part of the media and the White House is counter productive and only exacerbates the Presidents real problems in getting a split legislative body to correct the cumulative financial idiocy of the last 3 decades.

Below are some articles that seem to disagree with me.

Related articles

• Yes, Birtherism is Racist (As is Donald Trump): Three Videos Tell You Why - Source: AlterNet (curmilus.wordpress.com)
• Conservative 'Birther' Issue Is All About Racism (dekerivers.wordpress.com)