Who would be Obama's worst nightmare opponent?

[BoWanZi]

I'm just thinking that the repubs don't have much of anyone to put up against Obama in 2012. Palin? She is a joke and everyone knows it. Gingrinch? Too much baggage. Huckabee (if he ran)? Too religious. Trump? Not running and seriously? And so on.

I just don't think that the repubs have much of a chance due to not having a good candidate against Obama.

It seems to me that 2012 might be pretty easy for Obama to win.

I just don't know of any big popular repub candidates. There are probably a few old white men repub candidates but meh.

[blondeatlast]

1. Obama! (Beat y'all to it--and Im NOT serious, he ain't my style of Dem, but

he isn't a RRRepublican, either).

[LibertyFox]

2. This guy

http://www.theonion.com/video/zombie-reagan-raised-from-grave-to-lead-gop,14385/

[BoWanZi]

4. Ohhh, zombie reagan! "Reagan smash, Reagan smash!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdZbZl28nU

[ZombieHorde]

3. 2008 Obama?

Just kidding. The Republicans are currently in a tight spot. All the guns, gay weddings, and mosques in the world probably won't be able to save them this election. Perhaps they will surprise us with a new scare tactic.

[Johonny]

14. :)

[underpants]

18. Great points all. I have a scare tactic right under our very noses

ZOMBIES!!!!!

[ZombieHorde]

32. We do need to channel more money into developing a zombie plague.

I would have a difficult time not voting for anyone who promises to unleash zombies upon the world.

[underpants]

38. What, you might vote Republican?

Just kidding I know you wouldn't unless..... you need BRAINS!!!

[hlthe2b]

5. Well, any Republican that would be a threat in the general election...

Could never get past the primary, given the extremist nature of the "base," so that is a good question. That is the big dilemma that has resulted from years of RW pandering to the Xian Right, the greedy corporatists and the racist teabaggers.

[sufrommich]

7. Yep, they've dug themselves a deep hole. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. GOP musical chairs. The last one standing when the music stops gets

thrown to the lion.

[trotsky]

8. Hard to see a Repub taking him down.

I am much more worried about losing Congress completely. It's going to be really tough to hang on to the Senate. Obama had better bring some gigantic coattails with him next year.

[Canuckistanian]

39. You think so?

I think more people would like a strong Dem Senate to keep the batshit insane Repub-controlled Congress in check.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Uh...let me see...hmmmmm....

NO ONE!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

[Motown_Johnny]

10. Someone moderate who has no chance at the (R) nomination so he/she isn't running

Lindsey Graham comes to mind but even he wouldn't have much of a shot.


As long as Obama can appeal to the middle and we can split off some of the teabaggers into a 3rd party RW nut job this election could be pretty easy for him.

[JDPriestly]

11. I think that the core donors in the GOP will try to pollish ol' Romney up,

but the Sarah Plain, Michelle Bachmann, old time religion Teabaggers won't go for it.

This may be the year we see a third party divide Republicans. Actually, we may see four parties. The Ron Paul folks may decide that as long as the Republican Party is already divided, they have a chance to get enough support to take over at the primaries and the Convention.

It is going to be quite a show.

And the worst of it is that the economy is so bad on Main Street and Obama has been so ineffective in delivering change in any area that a lot of the people who supported him in 2008 may just not bother to vote.

Obama had such great promise. How sad that he has performed so badly. And don't blame it on Congress. It's Obama's job to speak directly for the people and push a people's agenda in the faces of members of Congress. Instead he appointed the likes of Geithner and Bernanke to manage our economy. It's a travesty.

[Bucky]

12. The *strongest* GOP contender, Huckabee, just dropped out. But "nightmare"?

It's a weak field and the Republicans have spent a generation chasing off their big guns. If they don't grow the fuck up real fast, they're gonna lock themselves out of the White House for 20 years. Obama simply isn't going to deliver them a Lewinsky type scandal to build up an Obama-fatigue problem like Clinton did in the 90s.

The Republicans have created an election winning marketing strategy, but only by rejecting a working governing philosophy. Huckabee was the only one of this year's pack with the brains & temperament to overcome that problem. That's probably why he's holding his belly-fire until 2016.

2012 is Obama's to lose--he only needs to drag a percentage point off of unemployment stats and avoid boning his interns to get reelected. This is why the Republicans are trying to wreck the economy now: it's their only hope.

Y'know, some days I'm just blown away by my own wisdom

[corpseratemedia]

13. It's interesting that the corporate whore media make every attempt to never ever mention the

anti-war republican candidates (Paul, Johnson). Don't worry I'm not a republican I just wanted to mention how whorish our media is. How terrified they are of a person holding their free-market ideology "values" but doesn't want to spend all taxpayer dollars exclusively on military engagements. Watching today I was thinking how undemocratic TV is (I know not original ok), how they should be able to hear us speak back to them, every single one of us who does, in real time, when they spew their bullshit, which of course is mostly non-stop. That would be great..and real.

The rest of the Republicans are so unpopular Obama would have to work very hard to lose. But then our Democrats did kind of snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or something like that with the "fucking retard" etc. remarks of 2010. And look what we are getting now for it!!!!

[Tesha]

15. Candidate Obama.

That guy would wipe the floor with President Obama.

Tesha

[bkerr3]

16. whoever runs, this birther parody is funny!

...new birther parody video by "Loose Bruce" Kerr, as featured on the Dr. Demento Show, to the tune of the West Side Story song, here's "I WASN'T BORN IN AMERICA" <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miiTsKBDP7M>

Enjoy!

[npk]

17. The only credible candidate is Romney

But he is too far to left for the Rethugs tastes.

You know that "horrible" health care bill he signed into law in Massachusetts was his final nail in the coffin.

Sadly Obama's true threat is from within. If a strong Democrat challenges him, it could allow Gingrich to win a narrow victory.

[Broderick]

22. He has religious

obstacles too, and will never overcome. The field is so weak he may be the nominee, and by default Obama wins. Let's hope that is the case because 2 or maybe 3 years is not enough time to get things done. It is a sad state of American politics, whereby a president has to go into campaign mode before the mission even starts. Fact of life here. Fundraising is so outdated in a country that needs leadership in tough times. I wish there was another way, and I certainly want to see money out of politics in my lifetime. Maybe perhaps it will happen, but I guess I live in a rose colored glasses world......

[npk]

29. Yep. I couldn't agree more

Sadly a president never stops campaigning. As for seeing money out of politics, I see no chance of that ever happening.

[Broderick]

36. When campaigns and media

brag about a million here, and a billion there being raised - it is maddening and saddening. A candidate is proffered as viable based on it. It is all about the money. That is why nothing changes no matter who is president or who is elected anymore. We are beholden to who can galvanize with money and advertising. I was told by many, why waste money on advertising? I beg to differ. It works. Sadly. As an aside, you used to be able to watch a 30 minute program and get 26 - 27 minutes of a show - now it is a mere 20 minutes. 10 minutes is advertising. I blame TIVO - just kidding. I blame the actual benefit to the advertisers and media companies. As another aside, (being long winded), the pharmaceutic companies spend a mere fraction on research and development compared to marketing. I am amazed at the number of drug commercials, and even more astounded when I pick up a prescription for someone in my family or myself.

[FarLeftFist]

19. Bernie Sanders. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. LOL!

I don't think so!

[Rowdyboy]

20. Colin Powell-not saying I have any respect left for him but he's still a media heart-throb....

Thankfully the Republicans are far too stupid to nominate someone who could actually win.

[Bucky]

31. Yes, he could run on a national security platform and defeat the president

...in 2004 :eyes: Seriously, after the Republicans chewed their own right foot off, their ability to pivot got seriously compromised.

[Rowdyboy]

37. -If I had a high opinion of the American electorate I would agree with you 100%

Sadly, we disagree.

Hell, W Bush almost beat Al Gore in 2000 and Gerald Ford almost did the same to Jimmy Carter in 1976. The folks doing the electing are not always logical-or even rational-or even sane.

I live in Mississippi-I know illogical, irrational and insane. I'll feel safe when the 270th electoral vote is tallied in Obamas column.

[Bucky]

43. Spoiler alert

Number 270 will come from California. Expect a long night with a happy ending.

[Bucky]

44. Hmmm, I just did some math. If Obama loses VA, NC, FL, IA, and NV in 2012

He still wins. Go here to play with it ==> http://www.270towin.com/

[Bucky]

46. Just for shits, I had Obama lose Maine as well.

He still won, although it wasn't pretty.

[Rowdyboy]

53. Thanks.....I will-I love these damn things....

So much depends on next year. Control of the supreme court to begin with.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MissDeeds]

25. +1

[TBF]

30. I agree. nt

[eissa]

23. Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels?

I know Christie announced he's not running, but someone like him or Daniels: nice white governors with little political baggage and normal names. Throw in the usual buzz words -- "jesus," "constitution," "abortion" and voila.

I know things look good for Obama right now, but 18 months is a lifetime. We got the national security issue in the bag now. We just need to pray for:

1) no attacks on US soil
2) lower unemployment numbers
3) reduce troop numbers in Iraq and especially Afghanistan

[Rosa Luxemburg]

34. Who?

[tammywammy]

59. I think Daniels could be the dark horse no one's paying attention to. n/t

[Deep13]

24. FDR nt

[mmonk]

26. A progressive with a microphone.

[Arkana]

27. A ham sandwich.

[Canuckistanian]

42. Virginia Honey-Glazed? Or Aged Kentucky Country Ham?

We need to know which state the ham came from. And if it's on San Francisco sourdough bread, it's game over.

[newportdadde]

28. Jeb Bush but big money seems to want to save him for 2016.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

35. They maybe too frightened but it was supposed to be Jeb 2012

second thoughts?

[Drew Richards]

40. Kristanna Loken

She would Terminate him.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3125971968/nm0518085

[taught_me_patience]

41. Huntsman

He's moderate enough to win some crucial swing states.

[xchrom]

49. Finally - a serious answer.

Handsome, well spoken & worked for Obama.

[oberliner]

50. But not RW enough to "inspire the base"

I think he would have a McCain-like showing against Obama.

[LAGC]

61. I'm not sure the evangelical X-ians will turn out to vote for a Mormon.

Romney has the same problem.

[defendandprotect]

45. Probably Eisenhower who was way to the left of Obama .... but

seriously, I'd like to see Sen. Bernie Sanders do it --

we need two dedicated anti-war candidate --

STRONG SUPPORTERS FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL -- and SOCIAL SECURITY -- !!

AND CHALLENGING TO MIC AND ITS BUDGETS AND ITS DESTRUCTION -- !!


And assurances that after 2012 Goldman Sachs and Wall Street and MIC are out

and citizens are in -

And how about that other TON of stuff Obama has been working on?

T -- New TRADE agreements with Korea and Colombia

O -- New OIL DRILLING --

N -- New taxpayer support/guarantees for a new generation of NUCLEAR REACTORS in US --


Don't think you'll find many Repugs arguing against any of that!!

[seabeyond]

47. no one. there is no one in repug party. that is their problem, right here and now. nt

[Bonobo]

48. A black liberal in the primaries. nt

[defendandprotect]

52. Harry Belafonte -- at age 50!!

[FLAprogressive]

51. Mittens Romney or Jon Huntsman.

[customerserviceguy]

54. I was thinking Romney

but only if the economy was seriously tanking, and Mittens could sell his "I'm a competent businessman" schtick.

Huntsman has zero chance of getting the nomination. If Mittens wins that race, it will be because enough fundies thought he was electable, and he's more electable than Huntsman will ever be.

Of course, that is like saying that Moe is the smart Stooge.

[FrenchieCat]

56. It will be Romney. Fox news will make sure of that......

They don't give a shit about liberal vs. non-liberal, as long as it's someone that will do their bidding......like folks didn't think Bush Jr. would be that bad, till he was.

[BillyJack]

55. Betty White

:silly:

[BlueCheese]

57. Jon Huntsman

Would probably have a hard time getting nominated. But seems like a decent Republican.

Former governor of Utah. Obama's ambassador to China, long support of civil unions, speaks Mandarin and Taiwanese. I could see him winning if the economy is still in the tank.

[Blue-Jay]

58. White Jesus.

[MadHound]

60. A well funded, well known primary threat from the left,

The 'Pugs are nothing but nuts and thugs, and are, despite all the opinions you are going to see to the contrary, really no threat this year. But a serious primary challenge from the left could easily do him in.

[readmoreoften]

62. There's no such thing as a well-funded primary threat from the left.

Candidates get their money from corporations (even Obama, that grassroots schtick was largely manipulated data--the financial and health insurance industries were still his largest supporters, if it was truly grassroots it would be teachers and construction workers, etc) Moreover, the Democratic Party moneyed insiders have a stranglehold on both the progressive segments of the party and they severely debilitate the external left as well.

And that's why activists call the Democratic Party "The Graveyard of Social Movements"