Rand Paul is the only viable candidate that the Republican Party has. He is the ideal for the party in the sense that he has common sense approaches to the issues that really matter, mirroring a lot of his father's views. He's also the most likely to compromise with the other side of the isle, as Bush or Romney are nowhere near as moderate as Paul is. Yes, one can say that Romney's healthcare overhaul in Massachusetts, the same model the PPACA was modeled after, makes him open to compromise, but his sheer ignorance of it during the 2012 presidential election shows that it's all about politics for him. Bush has a family legacy of starting wars to look up to, and God knows we would all be complete fools to even consider the idea of electing another Bush to the White House. Rand Paul seems like the only one who won't sell himself out for political points and support. He is the closest thing to the actual ideals of Republicans, anyway. He's the anti war, anti overreaching government, pro-American, pro-civil Rights man that the Republican Party needs. Rand 2016.
5
The Bushes are not above leaking Romney tax evasion files. They could get at the documents.
1
It is possible that Bush/Romney would split the vote of the less crazy and give Paul a win. Then, Hillary or another Democrat would make Paul look like Goldwater- except Paul is crazier and less intelligent than Goldwater was.
7
If Mitt challenges Jeb Bush...Bush will laugh and kick sand in his face and call him names! And Rand Paul will garner little or no attention no matter what goofy stuff comes out of his mouth.
2
Now that the tea party has faded into irrelevance, Mr. Paul's traditional libertarian beliefs can take on a more full throated voice on the debate stage. This will raise the hopes of his followers up until the point that they are again dashed by the GOP establishment when it decides which Tweedledee or Tweedledum to move forward into the general election
5
Almost anyone excluding a Democrat would be better than a diluted tri-fecta of Bush's. I for one do not hold it against Mr. Romney for his very intelligent handling of his own and public wealth, something none of the Bush neo-postics have ever been able to handle conservatively.
2
Mitt Romney who hides his money in off-shore accounts to avoid paying taxes and does not disclose his income tax returns. No way will we have president with that selfish baggage. The rationale is pretty easy - Romney wants to be President sooo badly. Don't ask him what he can do for the country, ask him what the country can do for him.
26
If we vote for Romney, Bush, Clinton etc., we will get a deeper crisis and the collapse. These people support Big Business. They won't do something significant for Americans. They will continue the Obama's policy. Maybe in the different way but the results will be the same.
3
Is Romney really considering running or is he just trying to make it harder for Jeb Bush to get the nomination? The longer that Romney waits, the more likely he just wants to keep donations to Bush. After all, there is no love between the two of them. Let's wait and see.
2
Again an article all about the horse race and the handicapping but nothing about the outsize role Iowa and New Hampshire plays in our nomination process. That these two rural states draw so much attention is a disservice to true democracy.
8
Where did this anti-rural bias come from? Why is urban any better? And who ever said we have "true democracy"?
3
Actually N.H. and Iowa being first is exactly what we need. Two smaller rural states leading the process takes some of the power aways from New York, Florida, Texas, Ohio, and California. If we change the system only the big states will matter. That would truly be a disservice to our democracy.
3
I kind of enjoy the spectacle of republican candidates swarming over Iowa in order to be selected as the "most likely to be out of the race the soonest" caucus winner. By highlighting the weakness of the candidates in an otherwise irrelevant event, like a pre-season game, it helps fine tune the positions of the eventual winners. It also provides the nation some comfort in seeing how unlimited campaign donations of various elites are turned into corn field fertilizer without ever affecting the out come of the races.
4
RE Mitt Romney's & Jeb Bush's presidential aspirations: it's time for these two guys to go away, retire and do charitable works but not waste the time of the hard working American taxpayers, they deserve far better choices….I think of the line from Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple": it's either very old meat or moldy bread (or words to that effect), and that is what Mitt & Jeb remind me of…..way past their shelf life. Neither are qualified as leaders and both seem to suffer from big egos and obvious feelings of entitlement which strikes me as un-American w/ their so called family "dynasties" …in the USA we do not have aristocrats and I find their attitudes to be very offensive in that sense. Neither one deserves to be POTUS.
16
Bravo, Sandra! Wish I had written your point of view. I would like to see a female leader before I die. Europeans seem to have no problem with a woman as head of State. Are we still too young and insecure to do something that has not been done before.
8
It seems that the Republican camp is knee-deep in retread candidates. A field of election losers, one-termers, talk show hosts, sound-biters, freshmen, etc. Romney was never convincing as a leader; he wanted to win, perhaps, to satisfy his ego. He never appeared as a candidate ready to govern in any way. He will just show up for work for his employers - not we, the people, but his handlers and campaign financiers.
23
jf- I don't think they are knee deep in retreads anymore than the dems, Mrs. Clinton hanging around waiting and waiting, but the problem is the Media will not tell you about the real people who might make real nice Presidents if they were not marginalized, sound bit, and otherwise belittled. They catch onto a cliche about a candidate and that is all you hear about them. No one does a journalistic story covering them, but then the Beltway media is full of Bill Clinton's White House, George Stephanopolis, for one, but most of the journalists see thru the Clinton White House Glass, so they see a run for Hilary vs. hmmm...who...BUSH! and the real people out here are sick of it.
2
I would like to see the Elizabeth Warren run! Europe and other countries have women running their countries for centuries. Why does the US, the most freedom loving country since George Washington never had a female President?
4
The Republicans will nominate whoever can marshall enough money and the power structure to run a national campaign the good old way Lee Atwater did. Both Jeb Bush and Romney can raise that amount of money (although some wacky individuals can hang on for awhile if they can get bankrolled by one billionaire like Sheldon Adelson).
But whoever can mobilize the most efficient team of dirty tricksters to smear and knock out the other candidates has the inside track. Too many experienced GOP insiders are still buddy buddy with the Bushes or can get something from supporting Jeb. Watch all those old hands crawl out of the woodwork eventually and pick off anyone who opposed Jeb. Bush will raise the most money to run attack ads and pay those expert enough to create them.
This is the same Bush family who gave us "Willie Horton" and the swift-boating of John Kerry. Until the other candidates can raise that kind of money and attract and bankroll the kind of brain trust that knows how to run that kind of smear, Jeb's path is clear. And it won't be pretty to watch......
But whoever can mobilize the most efficient team of dirty tricksters to smear and knock out the other candidates has the inside track. Too many experienced GOP insiders are still buddy buddy with the Bushes or can get something from supporting Jeb. Watch all those old hands crawl out of the woodwork eventually and pick off anyone who opposed Jeb. Bush will raise the most money to run attack ads and pay those expert enough to create them.
This is the same Bush family who gave us "Willie Horton" and the swift-boating of John Kerry. Until the other candidates can raise that kind of money and attract and bankroll the kind of brain trust that knows how to run that kind of smear, Jeb's path is clear. And it won't be pretty to watch......
13
Willy Horton was a story that came out of the democrat primary's part of the dirt dug up by Al Gore's team, according to Slate magazine.
Romney won't run. He's just a pathetic little man desperate for attention. Every now and then he gets some reporter or other to listen to him or he gets on Fox News to do some half hearted mean spirited ranting but that's as far as it will go.
12
Paul's bowed out since this was written.
4
Paul Ryan?
Paul Ryan's bowed out but Rand Paul's still in it.
2
I still want to hear Romney address the Medicare fraud guilt at Damon Labs which was owned by Bain and occurred while Romney was a member of Damon BOD.
14
Hopefully, not enough to get him nominated again! Obviously, he has nothing to do except count his money and continue to grow his family...even larger. And his ties to his church.
2
I think we need to be more careful than ever of supporting politicians from male-dominated, fundamentalist religious backgrounds. The mutual understanding and acceptance between these jokers in a time when we need to beat back radical Islam is dangerous to our way of life.
19
Romney, Bush, Paul are all better alternatives to what we have now. Thank you.
4
Why? What has any of them ever done that shows they would have done a better job of pulling us out of the great (G.W. led) recession or provide people with health care?
Without facts to back up your assertions, you're just spouting nonsense.
Without facts to back up your assertions, you're just spouting nonsense.
16
They will continue the Obama's course. They represent Big Business. And all their actions will be oriented on Big Business. Just what we have now in America.
ObamaCare and Amnesty are connected. And these programs give a lot of money to the big companies. And the majority of politicians do nothing to prevent the consequences because these corporations finance them.
ObamaCare and Amnesty are connected. And these programs give a lot of money to the big companies. And the majority of politicians do nothing to prevent the consequences because these corporations finance them.
2
Romney, who served as the Governor of Massachusetts, headed the Salt Lake City Olympic Games organizing committee, and headed major corporation has experience in organization and executive decision making. Bush served as the governor of Florida twice, he has experience in organization and executive decision making. Obama, who worked as a "community organizer," has experience in causing trouble.
In Massachusetts, the belief persists that Romney and family parked its money in illegal, off-shore, tax haven schemes and that he and the family participated in the U.S. tax amnesty for individuals and corporations.
That offer a few years ago gave tax evaders confidentiality if they came forward, admitted they had participated in the tax fraud, and paid their taxes, interest and penalties.
How could Romney run for president if it surfaced that the man who coined the spin that "47 percent" of all Americans are freeloaders was the ultimate freeloader?
Romney's been ducking and weaving on his tax returns since he first ran for the US Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994. Most Massachusetts residents, even his supporters, believe he evaded paying his fair share of taxes by parking his and family money in illegal off shore tax haven schemes. That's why, they believe, Romney refuses to release his tax returns.
They call him "Fraud Romney" in Massachusetts. And apparently with good reason!
That offer a few years ago gave tax evaders confidentiality if they came forward, admitted they had participated in the tax fraud, and paid their taxes, interest and penalties.
How could Romney run for president if it surfaced that the man who coined the spin that "47 percent" of all Americans are freeloaders was the ultimate freeloader?
Romney's been ducking and weaving on his tax returns since he first ran for the US Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994. Most Massachusetts residents, even his supporters, believe he evaded paying his fair share of taxes by parking his and family money in illegal off shore tax haven schemes. That's why, they believe, Romney refuses to release his tax returns.
They call him "Fraud Romney" in Massachusetts. And apparently with good reason!
46
Most people in MA don't think that, only lefties. I thought these submissions were culled loosely for accuracy.
Since the 2012 election, Romney has vindicated for saying this, while saying it isn't polite, but it is factually right on, since he did not use the word "freeloader."
The point is, people who get something from the government largesse and don't pay anything in, Don't Care about Voting for Someone who Says they will Lower Your Taxes.
Government workers don't vote for the woman who promises to cut government workers! State workers the same. Unions, when you say the government workers should not be unionized..etc. It adds up to 47% riding in the cart pretty quickly.
Since the 2012 election, Romney has vindicated for saying this, while saying it isn't polite, but it is factually right on, since he did not use the word "freeloader."
The point is, people who get something from the government largesse and don't pay anything in, Don't Care about Voting for Someone who Says they will Lower Your Taxes.
Government workers don't vote for the woman who promises to cut government workers! State workers the same. Unions, when you say the government workers should not be unionized..etc. It adds up to 47% riding in the cart pretty quickly.
1
Saundra - You appear to be as poorly informed as Romney. Here's some info for you courtesy of another NYT reader.
Breakdown of the 47%:
(According to NPR: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/09/18/161337343/the-47-percent-in-on...
23%: WORKING but Low income. There's no income tax if your income falls below a certain threshold. For a family of four, that threshold was $26,400 last year."
10%: Some Social Security payments are not taxed as income. The elderly also get an extra standard deduction that lowers their taxes, in some cases to zero.
7% WORKING Poor and Children: These include the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, and the child care tax credit. Because of these special benefits, a family of four (two parents, two children) earning up to $45,775 last year would not have had to pay income taxes, primarily because of special credits for children.
6%: Other benefits. This includes itemized deductions, tax credits for education, and the income tax exemptions for everything from disability payments to interest on municipal bonds.
54% OF THE 47% PAY INCOME TAX!!!!
Breakdown of the 47%:
(According to NPR: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/09/18/161337343/the-47-percent-in-on...
23%: WORKING but Low income. There's no income tax if your income falls below a certain threshold. For a family of four, that threshold was $26,400 last year."
10%: Some Social Security payments are not taxed as income. The elderly also get an extra standard deduction that lowers their taxes, in some cases to zero.
7% WORKING Poor and Children: These include the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, and the child care tax credit. Because of these special benefits, a family of four (two parents, two children) earning up to $45,775 last year would not have had to pay income taxes, primarily because of special credits for children.
6%: Other benefits. This includes itemized deductions, tax credits for education, and the income tax exemptions for everything from disability payments to interest on municipal bonds.
54% OF THE 47% PAY INCOME TAX!!!!
2
Uh, exactly WHICH Romney will be running again? The Massachusetts Moderate? The Severely Conservative Right Wing Groveler? The Etch-a-Sketch Practitioner? I look forward to the debates among the Romneys. The only person who might welcome his candidacy is Gail Collins. Bottom line? Obviously, one must look to the brilliant Dr. Seuss for that:
Mitt Romney, will you please go now!
The time has come.
The time has come.
The time is now.
Just go.
Go.
Go!
I don't care how.
Mitt Romney, please go away!
Etc etc
Mitt Romney, will you please go now!
The time has come.
The time has come.
The time is now.
Just go.
Go.
Go!
I don't care how.
Mitt Romney, please go away!
Etc etc
19
Sure, why not? Go for it Mitt! You won't have to run against Obama again because you can only win twice.
Of course, you can lose as many times as you want.
Of course, you can lose as many times as you want.
31
Romney was very open all year about the fact that he wasn't running, wasn't going to run, had no intention of running, and wasn't thinking of running.
I can't wait to see his campaign: I told all of you that the economy was going to recover, didn't I ? Oh, you thought I meant if you elected me ? Well, I never actually said that. I just predicted the recovery and asked for your vote.
I can't wait to see his campaign: I told all of you that the economy was going to recover, didn't I ? Oh, you thought I meant if you elected me ? Well, I never actually said that. I just predicted the recovery and asked for your vote.
14
Don't throw me in that briarpatch Bre'r Fox.
6
Want to know if Romney's running? Monitor sales of Grecian Formula.
11
Obama needs to pull an FDR and run again for a 3rd time. Well, forget running. Just pull a Fidel Castro and declare himself dictator of America. I would rather have that than another Bush presidency and Romney is no better.
Yeah, I will vote for Hillary -- and I grudgingly admit that she's looking better every day now that Jeb, Mitt, Santorum and Huckabee have joined Rand and Christie. Chris Christie would be the best of the bunch and that's not saying much.
Who's going to start a petition to get President Obama to grab a third term?
Yeah, I will vote for Hillary -- and I grudgingly admit that she's looking better every day now that Jeb, Mitt, Santorum and Huckabee have joined Rand and Christie. Chris Christie would be the best of the bunch and that's not saying much.
Who's going to start a petition to get President Obama to grab a third term?
20
You mean pull a Bloomberg.
4
US presidents are limited to two terms.
4
Or a Bloomberg, true that. I left NYC before Mayor Mike's reign so that reference didn't come right to me when penning this comment.
The electoral process in the US, thanks to the Supreme Court, is mired in the oligarchy cesspool. With a few big donors, candidates with minimal popular support can persist, i.e., Newt Gingrich. The opinions of the 99% seem to count for little or nothing. The perception is that with enough financial support, a ham sandwich could win in the primaries.
26
Yeah well your comment is all well and good but I didn't see any Dems bring campaign reform to the table both parties are dirty as hell and that is never going to change.
5
I hate that people like you assume that all Americans are such idiots that they're only influenced by campaign ads. All that campaign money does is fund advertisements and strategists; it doesn't directly buy votes. Saying what you're saying (that "the opinions of the 99% count for nothing") assumes that Americans have no opinions of their own, and that 99% of America just votes the way that the ads tell them to.
5
I'm just appalled at the Jeb Bush candidacy. I don't know which is worse, the nepotism/dynasty angle or the fact that his brother did so much damage to the nation and the world. George W. Bush couldn't even attend the last GOP convention but now he's supposed to be a beloved figure for writing a book about his own father. The first Bush was no prize either. Clearly his Iraq War was badly mishandled and never ended and here we are.
If Mitt Romney is the only Republican who can sink a Jeb Bush candidacy, good for him; I'm all for that.
I do not know what to make of a Hillary Clinton candidacy. She seems very oddly low profile. People I know who are never much interested in politics but always vote think she will not do well.
If Mitt Romney is the only Republican who can sink a Jeb Bush candidacy, good for him; I'm all for that.
I do not know what to make of a Hillary Clinton candidacy. She seems very oddly low profile. People I know who are never much interested in politics but always vote think she will not do well.
8
It is time for Hillary to stop being silent and make a decision already. There really is no "good time" to do it. Just do it!
I don't even necessarily want her but it looks like there really isn't a viable alternative. Elizabeth Warren isn't interested.
I don't even necessarily want her but it looks like there really isn't a viable alternative. Elizabeth Warren isn't interested.
5
Debra, the reason why Hillary is keeping a low profile is because no matter what she says, a media firestorm comes out against her. She gets worse press than deBlasio, if that's even possible.
5
Rand Paul will be attractive to the Tea Party folk no matter if Jeb or Mitt or both run. But, even though I disagree, I hope this article is correct. Nothing could be better for the Democratic Party than a Rand Paul candidate for the Republicans.
16
I think Rand Paul will draw off young independent voters. It is a question whether he has an appeal to the whole republican party because he is more liberal on drugs and incarceration than most conservatives. The dems ARE afraid of the libertarian leaning liberal streak Paul has, on the military, non intervention, non nation building. Constitutional right to pot.
1
Not the Dems Saundra. Paul is as nutty as his old man. The Dems would roll over Paul because he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut. He is trying to tamp down the crazy but it still slips out.
Or perhaps things will be completely different a year from now, and none of these candidates will find favor with the voters. Corporate stooges seem to be on the way out with both liberals and conservatives.
2
interesting Jonathan, I am with you on this, and thinking that the person that gets in the race at the last possible moment will be the candidate and the winner.
2
Mitt Romney just doesn't know when to fold 'em.
28
As a Democrat, I must be dreaming. This is too good to be true.
35
If the democrat candidate were to lose, who would you want to see in the Oval Office?
Like it or not, Romney, a former banker, will have to answer for his secret bank accounts in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland and his refusal, the first in memory, to make public his tax returns. He has something to hide, and using "privacy" as a reason for non-disclosure is rediculous. If he wants to keep information around potential conflicts of financial interest secret he should remain a private citizen.
38
It will be especially troublesome if Jeb releases his returns.
16
The non-release of his tax returns wasn't Romney's biggest problem in 2012. Why would it be any different in 2016?
5
Romney made his tax returns public. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/romney-to-release-2011-tax... In this paper.