Comments on: Where Are All The Republican Candidates? http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/ Reality-based political commentary Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:35:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Friday Talking Points [157] — Eight Point Nine « Democrats for Progress http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13312 Friday Talking Points [157] — Eight Point Nine « Democrats for Progress Sat, 05 Mar 2011 02:12:50 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13312 [...] are ignoring — Republicans have been strangely quiet on the presidential candidacy front, and unlike four years ago, none of the big-name candidates has actually made any sort of announcement about running. Perhaps [...] [...] are ignoring — Republicans have been strangely quiet on the presidential candidacy front, and unlike four years ago, none of the big-name candidates has actually made any sort of announcement about running. Perhaps [...]

]]> By: ChrisWeigant.com » Friday Talking Points [157] -- Eight Point Nine http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13310 ChrisWeigant.com » Friday Talking Points [157] -- Eight Point Nine Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:51:52 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13310 [...] Where Are All The Republican Candidates? [...] [...] Where Are All The Republican Candidates? [...]

]]> By: Moderate http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13306 Moderate Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:08:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13306 I think a lot of it is the name recognition factor. The front-runners are all fairly well known, and I think a few of the lesser lights might be reluctant to throw an unknown name into the mix before some of the big guns come out. Look at Cain. I think he's done irreparable damage to his campaign by coming out into a completely open field with zero name recognition. Everyone's first thought was "Who?" and since there's nobody else to take the focus away from him, he comes across like that kid from school who always hung around in the corner at parties because nobody knew who the hell he was. I think a lot of it is the name recognition factor. The front-runners are all fairly well known, and I think a few of the lesser lights might be reluctant to throw an unknown name into the mix before some of the big guns come out.

Look at Cain. I think he's done irreparable damage to his campaign by coming out into a completely open field with zero name recognition. Everyone's first thought was "Who?" and since there's nobody else to take the focus away from him, he comes across like that kid from school who always hung around in the corner at parties because nobody knew who the hell he was.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13302 dsws Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:44:21 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13302 I too was wondering whether Citizens United is behind this oddly vacant field of challengers. I was thinking that perhaps political strategists have decided it's impossible to scare anyone out of running. Then there's the example of Howard Dean: as the early front-runner, he was the one for everyone else to attack. The supposedly-inevitable nomination of Hillary Clinton didn't go too well either. I too was wondering whether Citizens United is behind this oddly vacant field of challengers. I was thinking that perhaps political strategists have decided it's impossible to scare anyone out of running.

Then there's the example of Howard Dean: as the early front-runner, he was the one for everyone else to attack. The supposedly-inevitable nomination of Hillary Clinton didn't go too well either.

]]> By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13296 Chris Weigant Thu, 03 Mar 2011 07:25:01 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13296 tommymccarthy - Well, thank you for the kind words on the "Commenting Tips" page! I did work hard on that, but have wondered ever since if it's actually helped anyone or not. I did have to fix an html tag or two in your first post, but in your second comment, you seemed to have mastered the technique. I posted a comment for you under the "My Class Warfare Rant" article thread that I think you'll be interested in, too, just FYI. :-) Everyone is encouraged to check out the "Commenting Tips" page, no matter what your skill level may be. -CW tommymccarthy -

Well, thank you for the kind words on the "Commenting Tips" page! I did work hard on that, but have wondered ever since if it's actually helped anyone or not.

I did have to fix an html tag or two in your first post, but in your second comment, you seemed to have mastered the technique.

I posted a comment for you under the "My Class Warfare Rant" article thread that I think you'll be interested in, too, just FYI.

:-)

Everyone is encouraged to check out the "Commenting Tips" page, no matter what your skill level may be.

-CW

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13293 Michale Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:39:30 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13293 I'll have what HE'S ^^^^^ having.... :D Sorry, just COULDN'T resist.. :D Michale..... I'll have what HE'S ^^^^^ having.... :D

Sorry, just COULDN'T resist.. :D

Michale.....

]]> By: tommymccarthy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13285 tommymccarthy Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:17:55 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13285 By Jove I think I've GOT it! As in life.. the mistakes highlight the successes! I always assume I'm the dullard in the class (a well-founded assumption when it comes to computers). Simply put: Everyone ("experts" included) should,..as time permits.. Scroll to the bottom of the page...adjacent to "LEAVE A REPLY"..and click on the purple-highlighted "Commenting Tips" link ... Suffice to say: There's good stuff in there....easily understandable too! For only the 100th time....Thanx Chris Regards TM By Jove I think I've GOT it!

As in life.. the mistakes highlight the successes!

I always assume I'm the dullard in the class
(a well-founded assumption when it comes to computers).

Simply put:
Everyone ("experts" included) should,..as time permits..
Scroll to the bottom of the page...adjacent to "LEAVE A REPLY"..and click on the purple-highlighted "Commenting Tips" link ...
Suffice to say: There's good stuff in there....easily understandable too!

For only the 100th time....Thanx Chris
Regards
TM

]]> By: tommymccarthy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/03/01/where-are-all-the-republican-candidates/#comment-13284 tommymccarthy Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:46:40 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=3560#comment-13284 Early....It's always about the money anymore. Remember last (Presidential) cycle when there was open & early speculation about who <i> could </i> and <i> could NOT </i> survive past Iowa? (Iowa!)... because a poor showing there might cause the money to dry up? Typically, Chris has this base (the money race) covered....i.e. "This race is likely being contested,..out of view of the public"....... no doubt! As the Titanic captain famously said: "I pray I'm wrong..but <i> FEAR </i> I'm right" In this,..the first Presidential primary season since "Citizen's United"... Chances are excellent that every BIT of what we think of as the conventional wisdom is absolutely irrelevant. If I sound like someone in a "Fear-Sweat" about having had the entire electoral process hijacked out from under us....and not even KNOW it yet...it's because I absolutely AM! I've never been a paranoic and have always been averse to conspiracy theories...even those that might seem to align with my own (very partisan) beliefs. But I will admit the following forthrightly: I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH..to feel comfy about the answer to the following question. (Hint to intrepid journalists...particularly those with the initials "CW" here!!..ahem) With unlimited, anonymous, soft money contributions (even from foriegn entities!) now protected "speech" and perfectly legal..... What is to prevent a "stealth candidate" to have ALREADY amassed such a prohibitive war chest as to make all other serious contenders opt out? For Example: What if.. (strictly a facetious example) The "God Fearin' Amerikan PAC"... With P.O.Boxes in Talahasse, Fl., Bhopaal, India, Bejiing, China and Kennebunkport, Maine... Turned out to have 825 gazillion dollars to file on come the FEC deadline next year? or.... What if we learned from a disgruntled, former "GFApac" staffer's tell-all book that they: Merely <i> CONVINCED </i> Newt, Huck, Adeli Stevenson..(otherwise known as Romney),Sarah and the rest...that they HAD the money...but DIDN'T... Thereby winning the Presidency through a BLUFF in a game of "hold 'em" (Texas?) at a table to which the electorate wasn't even <i>INVITED</i>! DISCLAIMER: While I have meant every word of this post, and could continue... I have simultaneously been experimenting with a new (to me) technique for <i>italicizing</i> certain words...which I may or may not have learned from CW.Com. Forgive me for abruptly closing ...to see if it works TM Early....It's always about the money anymore.

Remember last (Presidential) cycle when there was open & early speculation about who could and could NOT survive past Iowa? (Iowa!)...
because a poor showing there might cause the money to dry up?

Typically, Chris has this base (the money race) covered....i.e.
"This race is likely being contested,..out of view of the public".......
no doubt!

As the Titanic captain famously said:
"I pray I'm wrong..but FEAR I'm right"

In this,..the first Presidential primary season since "Citizen's United"... Chances are excellent that every BIT of what we think of as the conventional wisdom is absolutely irrelevant.

If I sound like someone in a "Fear-Sweat" about having had the entire electoral process hijacked out from under us....and not even KNOW it yet...it's because I absolutely AM!

I've never been a paranoic and have always been averse to conspiracy theories...even those that might seem to align with my own (very partisan) beliefs.

But I will admit the following forthrightly:
I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH..to feel comfy about the answer to the following question.

(Hint to intrepid journalists...particularly those with the initials "CW" here!!..ahem)

With unlimited, anonymous, soft money contributions (even from foriegn entities!)
now protected "speech" and perfectly legal.....

What is to prevent a "stealth candidate" to have ALREADY amassed such a prohibitive war chest as to make all other serious contenders opt out?

For Example:

What if.. (strictly a facetious example)

The "God Fearin' Amerikan PAC"...
With P.O.Boxes in Talahasse, Fl., Bhopaal, India, Bejiing, China and Kennebunkport, Maine...
Turned out to have 825 gazillion dollars to file on come the FEC deadline next year?

or....

What if we learned from a disgruntled, former "GFApac" staffer's tell-all book that they:
Merely CONVINCED Newt, Huck, Adeli Stevenson..(otherwise known as Romney),Sarah and the rest...that they HAD the money...but DIDN'T...
Thereby winning the Presidency through a BLUFF in a game of "hold 'em" (Texas?) at a table to which the electorate wasn't even INVITED!

DISCLAIMER: While I have meant every word of this post, and could continue...
I have simultaneously been experimenting with a new (to me) technique for italicizing certain words...which I may or may not have learned from CW.Com.
Forgive me for abruptly closing ...to see if it works
TM

]]>