Repub candidates: Who's quit, who's left?

[IDemo]

Donald Trump - trumped by birther pandering, arrogance, bad hair
Mike Huckabee - "my heart says no.” May join Ted Nugent on tour instead.
Mitch Daniels - “If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry.” No disappointment here, Mitch.
Haley Barbour - "We didn't have a problem with the Klan in Yazoo City", plus "no fire in the belly".
Rick Perry - Too busy concentrating on the Texas Legislature. I wouldn't take my eye off those idjits, either.
Mike Pence - Will run for Indiana governor in 2012. He's got some big shoes to fill - about a size 5.
Bobby Jindal - "I'm not running for president in 2012. Period. No ifs, ands or buts, no caveats".

Who's left?

Mitt Romney - Strategy - Attack his own innovative health care plan.
Palin - Scratch. Nobody in the party besides the tea guzzlers wants the Queen of Quit on the ticket. (Does have "fire in the belly", though. Indigestion must be an issue for righties.)
Bachmann - LOL OMG WTF?
Gingrich - Felt passionately about America, again and again and again.
Tim Pawlenty - Motto: "I'm not Michele Bachmann!!"
Herman Cain - Doesn’t know enough to say what he thinks about the Afghanistan war. But if he can't get your pizza to you in 15 minutes, it's free.
Jon Huntsman - Spent the better part of the last two years working for Obama in China. "I'm sure that him having worked so well for me will be a great asset in any Republican primary," Obama joked at a recent press conference.


IDemo's suggested repub candidate for 2012: Forfeit.


Feel free to add any I've missed, I haven't had my full dose of coffee yet.

[malaise]

1. Lovely post

Rec

[Skidmore]

2. Jon Huntsman and that Cain guy (can't remember is first name),

Huntsman is the Bush clan's great hope, I think.

[LiberalLoner]

4. Huntsman seems pretty smart and fairly moderate, might be a real

contender, although his lack of religiosity might make him lose the primary to a more religious candidate.

Herman Cain did very well at the debate, really he won the debate I guess, but his lack of experience in public office might be his downfall. Also, there ARE still some bigots out there, who might very well sit out the election rather than voting for ANY black man, even if it's a black man on their own team.

[starroute]

12. Huntsman's been furiously pandering to the right

To summarize the piece below, he's now suggesting that the stimulus should have consisted of tax cuts instead, saying he would repeal health care reform, supports turning Medicare into a voucher system, agrees with Boehner that raising the debt ceiling should be made contingent on $2 trillion in spending cuts, and believes that economic growth takes priority over preventing climate change.


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_05/political_whiplash_huntsman_sc029709.php

Jon Huntsman is no doubt aware of his predicament. He’s running for president, as a Republican, despite having been a member of the Obama administration. He also has to impress a far-right GOP base, despite taking center-left positions on a range of issues — climate, gays, immigration, economic stimulus, health care, the TARP bank bailout — important to his party.

What’s his solution? In effect, Huntsman has two choices. He can (a) run as a moderate statesman, hope centrist Republicans still exist, and watch the rest of the GOP field to knock each other out competing for the same right-wing votes; or (b) Huntsman can abandon his moderation and scurry to the right just as fast as he can.

As of this morning, Huntsman appears to prefer the latter.

In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America,” the former U.S. ambassador to China maintained a level-headed tone, but nevertheless moved sharply to the right on a range of domestic issues.

[Mz Pip]

3. Bookmarking

Will send this as a reply to the next anti-Obama RW BS I'll get from my cousin.

They've got nothing.

[asjr]

5. At this point in time I am more

concerned about the Republican governors who are in office. They are turning states upside down. They are taking away some of the very things we have fought for over the years. What really gets to me is that they are being able to deny citizens who want to marry someone of the same sex. Who gave them the right to do this? It should be no one's business other than the ones who want to marry. It certainly should be a woman's right to decide what she can or can not do with her own body. I know I am stating what others have said, but why are we sitting back and allowing it to happen? If they could Republicans would resurrect Cotton Mather and run him for president. The people of Wisconsin are owed many thanks for standing up for their rights, but it seems to no avail. Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida and others are now dictatorships. None of this should be happening to the United States.

[Cyrano]

9. Hi, asjr. Your post needs its own thread.

You are absolutely right, and not enough people are aware of the incredible damage being done by too many Republican governors. Living in Florida, I see what our maniac governor is doing to our state virtually every day.

I'd start a new thread on this topic, but I don't want to preempt the issue you've raised.

[asjr]

13. My sister lives in FL and can't

wait to leave. Unfortunately they can't sell their house. Reduced their price $100,000 and still people want them to take less. I hope she doesn't have to take a tin cup and hang out around the intersections in Tampa and Clearwater.

[PuffedMica]

6. The Republicans know they are going to lose to President Obama

The GOP is looking for a volunteer to take the hit for the team. BTW, it will be a career ender for who ever runs against our President.

[zbdent]

11. with today's "liberally-biased media" ... I doubt it ...

I'm buying stock in companies that make turd polish, in anticipation of record profits in the 2012 Presidential election ... there won't be enough left in the world after the media's done with whomever the Republicans put forth ...

[Spyderama]

7. Alternate Excuses

Mittens cannot rid himself of his magic underwear or flip-flops.
Huckleberry cannot keep his hands out of the refrigerator.
TePaw is still homely and boring.
Bachmann Turnip Overdrive is nuttier than Mr. Peanut, although a little prettier.
The Huntsman is a handsome dude, but the nuts who vote in the primaries will choke on his religion.
Sanctimonious Santorum is about as loony as The Newt, but only half as smart.
The Newt has a bad habit of chewing on his feet, even when he is just trying to be reasonable.
Herman has an obvious problem with his constituency that nobody wants to admit.
Paylin will be left behind without a prayer unless she manages to step over the Babygate.

[glinda]

8. It will be Pawlenty for his machine's ability to spin and his "faux" midwestern

appearance. He has connections going back to chairing the Republican Mayoral event with Kochs and other money there.

[uponit7771]

10. Jon Huntsman - FULLY embraced Ryan plan, he's toast

[FarLeftFist]

14. Republicans. DEFAULT!

[krabigirl]

15. Paul and Johnson. Won't get the nomination.