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[SlaveNoMore]

Secret_Agent_Man
It says closest to Edwards and furthest from Thompson. I don't buy that. I am just to the right of the Y-Axis, mid-altitude (upper right quadrant).

Social Progressive, Economic Conservative (barely) -- in other words, the empty quadrant -- for purposes of these primaries. If candidates would say what they really thought, I think Giuliani would be up in this quadrant.

S_A_M

This survey works like a charm - I'm stunned.

Closest to Rudy; furthest from Barack.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop


As Yglesias says:

• Romney's a pathetic liar and he's running on a shitty agenda, but in a pinch you can say that the man has a track-record of managerial competence that Huckabee and McCain distinctly lack.

Romney's managerial competance is vastly overrated, and the stuff of sound-bites rather than substance.

Romney was a wretched manager of the Government in Massachusetts - talented people fled his administration, he was known for a random approach to budgeting that led to sudden shifts out of left field, he was unable to get his legislation through because the first thing he did in office was alienate the key legislators. He spent much of his time grandstanding, placing higher priorities on his public image in Texas than on how the state was managed. He did not run for a second term and probably would have lost had he run. When he left office, his unfavorables exceeded his favorables among Republicans. I will be shocked if he breaks 50% in the Republican primary here - he may eke it out because the others are so divided, but he couldn't win it in a one-on-one with almost anyone.

Ask the guy what his greatest achievement in government is, and you'll complete wishy-washiness. Taxes and Revenues? Both went up - to a great extent because he used executive powers to raise fees where he could, and because he couldn't negotiate effectively with the legislature. Balanced budget? The legislature overroad almost all his vetos - they drafted the budgets and passed them despite him. Social Conservativism - well, we have Gay Marriage in Massachusetts. Education? It was the area that took the steepest hits in funding during his administration. Ask Hillary the same question, she'll have twenty items to line up.

Yes, Romney showed that when you start out in life bankrolled by a father who leads one of the biggest companies in the country, you can be successful as a financier. This should not surpise anyone. But he hasn't shown that he can run a large, complex organization like a government.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Romney's managerial competance is vastly overrated, and the stuff of sound-bites rather than substance.

Romney was a wretched manager of the Government in Massachusetts - talented people fled his administration, he was known for a random approach to budgeting that led to sudden shifts out of left field, he was unable to get his legislation through because the first thing he did in office was alienate the key legislators. He spent much of his time grandstanding, placing higher priorities on his public image in Texas than on how the state was managed. He did not run for a second term and probably would have lost had he run. When he left office, his unfavorables exceeded his favorables among Republicans. I will be shocked if he breaks 50% in the Republican primary here - he may eke it out because the others are so divided, but he couldn't win it in a one-on-one with almost anyone.

Ask the guy what his greatest achievement in government is, and you'll complete wishy-washiness. Taxes and Revenues? Both went up - to a great extent because he used executive powers to raise fees where he could, and because he couldn't negotiate effectively with the legislature. Balanced budget? The legislature overroad almost all his vetos - they drafted the budgets and passed them despite him. Social Conservativism - well, we have Gay Marriage in Massachusetts. Education? It was the area that took the steepest hits in funding during his administration. Ask Hillary the same question, she'll have twenty items to line up.

Yes, Romney showed that when you start out in life bankrolled by a father who leads one of the biggest companies in the country, you can be successful as a financier. This should not surpise anyone. But he hasn't shown that he can run a large, complex organization like a government.

Since Romney isn't supported by anyone on this board, I'm not sure who you're arguing with.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Hypothesis: New Mexican women are much better looking than the men there. Corrollary: the women are okay looking but all men are fugly.

I love, love, love the green eyes that a lot of multiple generation New Mexicans have. It's an almost bright green that sort of startles you the first time you see it, because it contrasts so well with olive toned skin.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
This one seems better than most, but who knows?

Apparently I'm closest to John Edwards and farthest from Fred Thompson. I'm southeast of Obama and east or slightly northeast of the other Dems. Some of the questions are hard to answer, and tweaking my answers a bit might change things a lot. My brother, whose views are pretty similar to mine, says he's on the right side of the y axis, while I'm on the left side.

1. Paul
2. Rudy
3. McCain
4. Richardson
5. Romney

I am most unlike Fred Thompson, just like the rest of the country.

I'm not surprised Richardson came out so high on the list. I still think he's probably the best overall qualified candidate for the job. I hope he gets a Sec of State position with whoever wins.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Romney's managerial competance is vastly overrated, and the stuff of sound-bites rather than substance.

Romney was a wretched manager of the Government in Massachusetts - talented people fled his administration, he was known for a random approach to budgeting that led to sudden shifts out of left field, he was unable to get his legislation through because the first thing he did in office was alienate the key legislators. He spent much of his time grandstanding, placing higher priorities on his public image in Texas than on how the state was managed. He did not run for a second term and probably would have lost had he run. When he left office, his unfavorables exceeded his favorables among Republicans. I will be shocked if he breaks 50% in the Republican primary here - he may eke it out because the others are so divided, but he couldn't win it in a one-on-one with almost anyone.

Ask the guy what his greatest achievement in government is, and you'll complete wishy-washiness. Taxes and Revenues? Both went up - to a great extent because he used executive powers to raise fees where he could, and because he couldn't negotiate effectively with the legislature. Balanced budget? The legislature overroad almost all his vetos - they drafted the budgets and passed them despite him. Social Conservativism - well, we have Gay Marriage in Massachusetts. Education? It was the area that took the steepest hits in funding during his administration. Ask Hillary the same question, she'll have twenty items to line up.

Yes, Romney showed that when you start out in life bankrolled by a father who leads one of the biggest companies in the country, you can be successful as a financier. This should not surpise anyone. But he hasn't shown that he can run a large, complex organization like a government.

Bullshit. He made a fortune at Bain. However he may be lacking on the public side, the guy was a success in the private sector, and he made 100X what his old man did.

Yes, he started on second base, but he's hit .400 for about twenty years since.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Closest to Barrak Obama, furthest from Fred Thompson. I assume that's because Tancredo is out.

I'm in the same quadrant (upper left) as all the other Dems, though I'm a little closer to the y axis, and a little further to the north.

I'm pretty far North, too. I'm totally hugging the line on the left side of the Y-axis, and that puts me about equidistant from Obama and Richardson.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
*sniff* In my heart of hearts, I was really a Bill Richardson supporter, though I knew he was an unbelievable long shot. With the exception of immediate withdrawal, I tended to agree with him on everything, and I thought he had the best, broadest experience of any candidate running, Democratic or Republican.

I'm sorta hoping that he'll stick around in some capacity, maybe VP if Hillary and Barrak manage to piss each other off too much, because his experience would be damned useful in running the country.

If he got the nod, I'd probably vote for him, even if it cost me. He did have the whole package. Why he couldn't catch fire still confounds me. I guess it's because he's too low key and appears like just another fat white guy on the stage.

How a disgusting blight on humanity like John Edwards can remain in the race while Richardson is out baffles me. They Dems had a candidate who could have united a lot of people, could rebuild our international staturs better than anyone else on the stage and would reach out to a whole new voting block.

But instead of him their top picks are:

(a) a sleazy class warrior;
(b) the most divisive woman in political history; and
(c) a guy who's got next to zero experience.

Lovely. The left makes fun of Bush for eight years and then goes out and runs a pile of its own Bushes.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Time for a new poll: Who would you vote for now?

Probably better to keep the voting there and the discussion here, but it's a free country, last time I checked.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Speaking of which, I think you owe a big apology to the people of New Mexico, some of whom are pictured here:

I spend a week in Albequerque once a year. If there's a reason to live there, I haven't found it yet.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Bullshit. He made a fortune at Bain. However he may be lacking on the public side, the guy was a success in the private sector, and he made 100X what his old man did.

Yes, he started on second base, but he's hit .400 for about twenty years since.

Are you saying that just making money gives him managerial skills?

I have no doubt he's made a fortune. But don't underestimate either his father's fortune or mangerial skill - leading AMC to its most successful years was no small feat and made him a bundle. He started on third base.

But do you really think being an investor and running an investment/consulting shop gives you a higher level of managerial skills than running a company like AMC?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Are you saying that just making money gives him managerial skills?

I have no doubt he's made a fortune. But don't underestimate either his father's fortune or mangerial skill - leading AMC to its most successful years was no small feat and made him a bundle. He started on third base.

But do you really think being an investor and running an investment/consulting shop gives you a higher level of managerial skills than running a company like AMC?

Yes, because I want a person who would ruthlessly attack the bottom line, rather than a guy who would run around negotiating with '70s era unions. Romney Sr. was of a different time.

But the bigger question is, why the fuck are we debating whether Romney was a better manager than his dad?

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Probably better to keep the voting there and the discussion here, but it's a free country, last time I checked.

I'll remember that next time I'm stopped for running a red light.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Time for a new poll: Who would you vote for now?

Probably better to keep the voting there and the discussion here, but it's a free country, last time I checked.

Just remember, Ty, Kos wants you to vote for Romney.

[John Phoenix]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
1. Paul
2. Rudy
3. McCain
4. Richardson
5. Romney

I am most unlike Fred Thompson, just like the rest of the country.

I'm not surprised Richardson came out so high on the list. I still think he's probably the best overall qualified candidate for the job. I hope he gets a Sec of State position with whoever wins.

1. Obama
2. Edwards
3. Clinton
4. Richardson
5. Paul

I am most unlike Thompson.

They forgot to ask questions like, "Do you think that the FCC should try to control your entertainment?"