2012 Presidential Debates start next Spring

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

The midterms ended just last week, but we’re already in 2012 mode. The GOP will hold a Presidential debate in Spring 2011 at the Ronald Reagan Library in nearby Simi Valley:

Just a few months after the 2010 mid-term elections ended, the 2012 presidential cycle will begin. Politco and NBC News will co-sponsorthe first Republican presidential debate “during the spring of 2011,” the website reports today. The debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

A spring presidential debate, though it comes months before caucusing begins in Iowa or most Americans are paying any attention, is becoming a tradition of the now elongated presidential election process.

Talking Points Memo

Too soon?

The Dems did the same thing in 2007, holding their first presidential debate in April.

The only question now is who on the GOP side is going to run for President? If Mitt declares again, it’s safe to say he’ll be an SCV favorite, as he was in 2008. The McCain + Palin ticket in 2008 won in the SCV, but only by a thousand votes. I’m not sure SCV moms identify with Sarah Palin. There’s also a few wild-cards: Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, is the new & improved (and much larger) Bobby Jindal. And perennial troll Newt Gingrich is acting like he’s going to run.

Comments (9)

Your Web GuruNovember 12, 2010 at 2:32 pm

I can’t see how anyone can take Gingrich seriously as a candidate these days with the absurd stuff he says in public. He speaks to a certain right-wing constituency, but doesn’t have what it takes to win a majority. Palin might be able to ride a wave of populism to a nomination, but she absolutely no knowledge of world politics and has demonstrated her ability to make mountains out of molehills remarking on unverified “news” topics. Also, one cannot run a country via Twitter. Romney? Maybe. He flip-flopped on so many issues however that it will come back to bite him yet again. Jindal? Too nerdy and has no presidential air. How about Gov. Perry of Texas? Good looking, stately, speaks his mind, big on limited government and has a commanding presence. Throw him in the “maybe” pile.

Bill ReynoldsNovember 12, 2010 at 4:34 pm

I can’t see how anyone can take Obama seriously as a President these days with the absurd stuff he says in public. He speaks to a far left wing constituency, but doesn’t have what it takes to connect with the majority of voters any longer. Hillary might be able to ride a center-left wing wave of iberalism to a nomination, but she absolutely has no principles whatsoever. Ask Bubba.

Coastal SageNovember 13, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Bill, I am not even a “far” left winger, but Obama doesn’t speak for me, nor do I listen to him. He’s just another clueless young wind bag from Harvard, manipulated by a weird combination of special interests: health insurance companies, Wall Street investment banks, cattlemen and public employee unions to name a few. I didn’t like him from the day of his win in the Iowa Caucuses, didn’t vote for him and didn’t contribute to him. You’ll find that the honest progressives in this country do not support Obama now and many were not bamboozled by him or by his master spin meister David Axelrod before the 2008 election. Axelrod, by the way, has been the brains behind getting some of the most sophisticated charlatans in recent history elected to public office. While Rahm Emanuel readily admitted that he was simply playing a game, Axelrod will not admit he and Obama have no soul. Of course, the institutional Democratic Party will block any legitimate progressive candidate from having any shot at taking the nomination away from Obama. I was in D.C. when Carter was President, and see Obama as a clueless but less honorable version of the same. I cannot imagine that he will be re-elected, given that sane Republicans I know are talking about voting for Sara Palin. The large contingent of young voters in my family circle are furious with Obama, and outright say that they will not vote for him again. I am not comfortable with any of the prominent, seemingly competent candidates in waiting, including the vacuous flip-flopper Mitt Romney and the preening Mayor Bloomberg. After very careful thought, I can say that the only person whose wisdom and philosophy makes me comfortable, as a possible President, is Pat Buchanan. Of course, the Newtster and his pals will never let him be nominated. Yet, in my mind Buchanan could be the next Ronald Reagan, working class Irish, old, battle hardened by experience and wise. I am very pessimistic about the future of the United States politically and economically. Like Prince Lvov, Alexander Kerensky and the White Russian progressives in 1917-1919, I am mentally preparing to leave for my own version of Paris. I just haven’t found it yet. Vancouver is just too cold and wet and the Europe of today is simply out of the question. I do not want my granddaughters and great-granddaughters to be force to wear the veil. Better to leave here than have my children and grandchildren wind up in a Gulag because, like Trotsky’s children, they might be intelligent and thereby dangerous to the state.

Bill ReynoldsNovember 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm

Coastal, I cannot argue your comments; we are of like mind and I am glad you are here.

john adamsNovember 14, 2010 at 7:27 am

Coastal did you vote for Obama? I really like the thought of President Christie, Rubio or Daniels… Talk about real Hope & Change. Hillary is going to put up a huge fight in 2012. Obama is already looking at dumping Biden and putting hillary on ticket just so he does not have to battle her.

Coastal SageNovember 14, 2010 at 10:42 am

As I said, I did not vote for Obama.

HarrisonNovember 12, 2010 at 5:07 pm

The last time the Republican party nominated an unknown was 1940 – Wendell Wilkie. Therefore the nominee will be either Huckabee, Romney, Palin, or Gingrich. Pence, Pawlenty, De Mint, and Barbour are all unknowns outside of the political world we live in. Whether they can become known through the early primaries is doubtful, even in the day of the internet and mass media.

KevitivityNovember 13, 2010 at 2:12 am

Newt Gingrich won’t run. Mark my words. I hope Palin doesn’t either.

4eyedsueNovember 13, 2010 at 9:46 am

I would love to see Indiana Governor Mitch Daniel’s run. Daniels has managed to lower property taxes in Indiana by an average of 30%, transform a $200 million budget deficit into a $1.3 billion surplus, and insure 45,000 low-income people through a budget-neutral combination of health savings accounts and catastrophic coverage. His approval ratings are above 65% (from Newsweek). And he rides a Harley. I also would like to see former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson run. He is a self-made entrepreneur who founded one of the most successful construction businesses in NM. He’s vetoed more legislation than any other governor in America, successfully reduced spending during his terms, and won re-election in a state where the majority of registered voters were Democrats. He leans libertarian- pleasing Tea Partiers and the GOP alike. However, America might not be ready for his criticisms of our failed war on drugs and his support of legalizing Marijuana. He is also more progressive on social issues. Republicans can and SHOULD do better than Gingrich, Palin, Romney, Huckabee or DeMint. (I think I just barfed a little typing all of those names at once)

Your Web GuruNovember 12, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I can’t see how anyone can take Gingrich seriously as a candidate these days with the absurd stuff he says in public. He speaks to a certain right-wing constituency, but doesn’t have what it takes to win a majority. Palin might be able to ride a wave of populism to a nomination, but she absolutely no knowledge of world politics and has demonstrated her ability to make mountains out of molehills remarking on unverified “news” topics. Also, one cannot run a country via Twitter. Romney? Maybe. He flip-flopped on so many issues however that it will come back to bite him yet again. Jindal? Too nerdy and has no presidential air. How about Gov. Perry of Texas? Good looking, stately, speaks his mind, big on limited government and has a commanding presence. Throw him in the “maybe” pile.
Bill ReynoldsNovember 12, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I can’t see how anyone can take Obama seriously as a President these days with the absurd stuff he says in public. He speaks to a far left wing constituency, but doesn’t have what it takes to connect with the majority of voters any longer. Hillary might be able to ride a center-left wing wave of iberalism to a nomination, but she absolutely has no principles whatsoever. Ask Bubba.
Coastal SageNovember 13, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Bill, I am not even a “far” left winger, but Obama doesn’t speak for me, nor do I listen to him. He’s just another clueless young wind bag from Harvard, manipulated by a weird combination of special interests: health insurance companies, Wall Street investment banks, cattlemen and public employee unions to name a few. I didn’t like him from the day of his win in the Iowa Caucuses, didn’t vote for him and didn’t contribute to him. You’ll find that the honest progressives in this country do not support Obama now and many were not bamboozled by him or by his master spin meister David Axelrod before the 2008 election. Axelrod, by the way, has been the brains behind getting some of the most sophisticated charlatans in recent history elected to public office. While Rahm Emanuel readily admitted that he was simply playing a game, Axelrod will not admit he and Obama have no soul. Of course, the institutional Democratic Party will block any legitimate progressive candidate from having any shot at taking the nomination away from Obama. I was in D.C. when Carter was President, and see Obama as a clueless but less honorable version of the same. I cannot imagine that he will be re-elected, given that sane Republicans I know are talking about voting for Sara Palin. The large contingent of young voters in my family circle are furious with Obama, and outright say that they will not vote for him again. I am not comfortable with any of the prominent, seemingly competent candidates in waiting, including the vacuous flip-flopper Mitt Romney and the preening Mayor Bloomberg. After very careful thought, I can say that the only person whose wisdom and philosophy makes me comfortable, as a possible President, is Pat Buchanan. Of course, the Newtster and his pals will never let him be nominated. Yet, in my mind Buchanan could be the next Ronald Reagan, working class Irish, old, battle hardened by experience and wise. I am very pessimistic about the future of the United States politically and economically. Like Prince Lvov, Alexander Kerensky and the White Russian progressives in 1917-1919, I am mentally preparing to leave for my own version of Paris. I just haven’t found it yet. Vancouver is just too cold and wet and the Europe of today is simply out of the question. I do not want my granddaughters and great-granddaughters to be force to wear the veil. Better to leave here than have my children and grandchildren wind up in a Gulag because, like Trotsky’s children, they might be intelligent and thereby dangerous to the state.
Bill ReynoldsNovember 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Coastal, I cannot argue your comments; we are of like mind and I am glad you are here.
john adamsNovember 14, 2010 at 7:27 am
Coastal did you vote for Obama? I really like the thought of President Christie, Rubio or Daniels… Talk about real Hope & Change. Hillary is going to put up a huge fight in 2012. Obama is already looking at dumping Biden and putting hillary on ticket just so he does not have to battle her.
Coastal SageNovember 14, 2010 at 10:42 am
As I said, I did not vote for Obama.
HarrisonNovember 12, 2010 at 5:07 pm
The last time the Republican party nominated an unknown was 1940 – Wendell Wilkie. Therefore the nominee will be either Huckabee, Romney, Palin, or Gingrich. Pence, Pawlenty, De Mint, and Barbour are all unknowns outside of the political world we live in. Whether they can become known through the early primaries is doubtful, even in the day of the internet and mass media.
KevitivityNovember 13, 2010 at 2:12 am
Newt Gingrich won’t run. Mark my words. I hope Palin doesn’t either.
4eyedsueNovember 13, 2010 at 9:46 am
I would love to see Indiana Governor Mitch Daniel’s run. Daniels has managed to lower property taxes in Indiana by an average of 30%, transform a $200 million budget deficit into a $1.3 billion surplus, and insure 45,000 low-income people through a budget-neutral combination of health savings accounts and catastrophic coverage. His approval ratings are above 65% (from Newsweek). And he rides a Harley. I also would like to see former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson run. He is a self-made entrepreneur who founded one of the most successful construction businesses in NM. He’s vetoed more legislation than any other governor in America, successfully reduced spending during his terms, and won re-election in a state where the majority of registered voters were Democrats. He leans libertarian- pleasing Tea Partiers and the GOP alike. However, America might not be ready for his criticisms of our failed war on drugs and his support of legalizing Marijuana. He is also more progressive on social issues. Republicans can and SHOULD do better than Gingrich, Palin, Romney, Huckabee or DeMint. (I think I just barfed a little typing all of those names at once)