NationStates

I will be up front and say that I'm a die hard supporter of the Clintons. I understand that they are much too conservative for a lot of folks here on NSG,but for arguments sake lets say she locked up the Democratic nomination. Do you, NSG, feel that Rand Paul has a good chance of defeating her in the General? If not then which Republican do you think is up to the task?

Personally I think Paul's libertarian-moderate message will be fine and dandy and attract some young people and minorities. However, he will have to defend a fairly conservative voting record. Oh and let's not forget the Republican Primary. I think that in order to win the nomination, he will have to take some hawkish and socially conservative positions and, in doing so, will lose some of the ammunition he currently has against Hillary. If I'm correct, he likes to think of himself as a non-interventionists while Sec. Clinton is just the opposite.

No. GOP Hawks like me will swallow their pride and vote for Hillary, while moderates will be turned off by some of his views. Couple this with the people who will vote Democratic regardless, and it's impossible for him to win.

no

he cant even get the nomination

The Tea Party? Not a chance.

If Hillary runs, the GOP will have a golden chance for victory. Her ratings look good only because she has not been in the crosshairs. Remember Whitewater? The suicide of her attorney? Her failed health plan, which was ridiculed? Now we have her gaffes at State as well.

They will not waste this opportunity on a fringe candidate.

Mrs. Clinton is appealing, attractive enough. I'd hate to see such a pretty woman get spoken down to by whomever this brute may be.

It is possible, but he has to be more socially liberal. He will definitely get the Libertarian and Tea Party vote, no doubt about that. He can support things like ending the PATRIOT Act, stopping the suspension of Hebeas Corpus and limiting foreign intervention to get some votes from social liberals. Couple that with ending the drug war and some other minority outreach strategies, and Rand Paul can beat Hillary.

Murkwood wrote:No. GOP Hawks like me will swallow their pride and vote for Hillary, while moderates will be turned off by some of his views. Couple this with the people who will vote Democratic regardless, and it's impossible for him to win.

You'd vote Hillary to stop Rand?

Geilinor wrote:

Murkwood wrote:No. GOP Hawks like me will swallow their pride and vote for Hillary, while moderates will be turned off by some of his views. Couple this with the people who will vote Democratic regardless, and it's impossible for him to win.

You'd vote Hillary to stop Rand?

Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing

Can Rand Paul beat Hillary- his dad's been trying for the presidency since he's got into office, and, thankfully, he has never suceeded, what can his just as idiotic son do against a seasoned politician with a fairly good record as Senator and Secretary of State?

Geilinor wrote:

Murkwood wrote:No. GOP Hawks like me will swallow their pride and vote for Hillary, while moderates will be turned off by some of his views. Couple this with the people who will vote Democratic regardless, and it's impossible for him to win.

You'd vote Hillary to stop Rand?

Brilliant, vote for someone who holds almost none of your views against a nutter who holds almost all of your views.

Pope Joan wrote:If Hillary runs, the GOP will have a golden chance for victory. Her ratings look good only because she has not been in the crosshairs. Remember Whitewater? The suicide of her attorney? Her failed health plan, which was ridiculed? Now we have her gaffes at State as well.

They will not waste this opportunity on a fringe candidate.

What gaffes at State?

Paul needs to support LGBT rights and soften his stance on abortion if he wants to have a better chance. But the Republican base would never go for that.

Nationes Pii Redivivi wrote:Can Rand Paul beat Hillary- his dad's been trying for the presidency since he's got into office, and, thankfully, he has never suceeded, what can his just as idiotic son do against a seasoned politician with a fairly good record as Senator and Secretary of State?

Anything subtly misogynistic and characteristically right-wing.

The only way Rand Paul can beat Hillary is if he somehow gets past the Secret Service detail. Then he'd be charged with assault.

Soselo wrote:

Nationes Pii Redivivi wrote:Can Rand Paul beat Hillary- his dad's been trying for the presidency since he's got into office, and, thankfully, he has never suceeded, what can his just as idiotic son do against a seasoned politician with a fairly good record as Senator and Secretary of State?

Anything subtly misogynistic and characteristically right-wing.

The right wing has never been subtle about anything, racism, misogyny, etc.

I sincerely hope he does.

Dyakovo wrote:

Pope Joan wrote:If Hillary runs, the GOP will have a golden chance for victory. Her ratings look good only because she has not been in the crosshairs. Remember Whitewater? The suicide of her attorney? Her failed health plan, which was ridiculed? Now we have her gaffes at State as well.

They will not waste this opportunity on a fringe candidate.

What gaffes at State?

Benghazi probably.

Geilinor wrote:Paul needs to support LGBT rights and soften his stance on abortion if he wants to have a better chance. But the Republican base would never go for that.

Which is a catch-22, as if he were to do that he'd have no chance of getting the Republican nomination.

Probably not.

Washington Resistance Army wrote:

Dyakovo wrote:What gaffes at State?

Benghazi probably.

A House committee cleared the administration of wrongdoing.

Geilinor wrote:

Murkwood wrote:No. GOP Hawks like me will swallow their pride and vote for Hillary, while moderates will be turned off by some of his views. Couple this with the people who will vote Democratic regardless, and it's impossible for him to win.

You'd vote Hillary to stop Rand?

Yes. And many NeoCons agree with me. While Rand has a better economic policy, his negative impact on Defense would be greater than Hillary's negative impact on economic policy.

Washington Resistance Army wrote:

Dyakovo wrote:What gaffes at State?

Benghazi probably.

You mean that Republican rain dance which didn't result in shit? "Ben-gha-zi... Ben-gha-zi... Ben-gha-zi... Ben-gha-zi... Ben-gha-zi..."

Geilinor wrote:

Washington Resistance Army wrote:
Benghazi probably.

A House committee cleared the administration of wrongdoing.

Since when have facts stopped the GOP?

Gauthier wrote:The only way Rand Paul can beat Hillary is if he somehow gets past the Secret Service detail. Then he'd be charged with assault.

Damn you.

That was my joke.