The WSJ pollsters asked Republicans and "strict" independents the following question:
Let me read you a list of people who might seek the 2012 Republican nomination for president. If you were voting today in the 2012 Republican primary for president, which one of the following candidates would you favor?
The top 5 answers were:
- Mitt Romney
- Mike Huckabee
- Sarah Palin
- Newt Gingrich
- Ron Paul
I wouldn't vote for any of them. In fact, they all give me the willies, albeit in different ways. You've got a dog abusing, serial flip flopper. A thin skinned, self-righteous guy with a bad case of foot in mouth disease. A vapid reality TV star with a (to me) inexplicable popularity. A womanizing ego maniac. A gold bug and general loon.
If somebody sane and electable (Tim Pawlenty? Mitch Daniels?), doesn't break through, 2012 is going to be ugly.
At least I can count on the Libertarians to nominate some nut job on whom I can waste a protest vote.
Update: Glenn Reynolds linked (thanks) and commented:
based on the past two years I’d vote for a syphilitic camel if he ran against Obama
A syphilitic camel? Do camels get syphilis? And what about all the spitting?
I wouldn't vote for Obama either, of course. I do not like Obama in a box. I do not like Obama with a fox. I do not like Obama in a house. I do not like Obama with a mouse. I do not like Obama here or there. I do not like Obama anywhere. I do not like Obama. I do not like Obama, you bet your mama.
So who might I vote for? After giving it some serious thought, there is always one fall back option:
