Ben Carson: Viable Candidate?

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I just saw Ben Carson on "Charlie Rose". He was being interviewed by Al Hunt.....

Here are some things, he said:

"Day one, of the Carson Administration: Shore-up the military".

Long-term: "Putin and the Chinese".

Income Tax: "10%, across-the board".

Will cut ALL Federal programs, across-the-board----EXCEPT for Defense (nuclear program: antiquated; Navy's in bad shape).

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From his website: https://www.bencarson.com/issues/

Pro-life.

Keep Gitmo open.

Protect the 2nd Amendment.

Putin's Russia is dangerously belligerent; and, is actively destabilizing Ukraine.

Stand by Israel: Our Bulwark Middle East Ally.

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Ben Carson has always, sort-of, given me the willies----too soft-spoken, sort-of whiny----seemingly, mealy-mouthed; though, I've never thought he was. Anyway, he's on my radar, now, and I'm gonna be paying closer attention.

Soft spoken is mealy mouthed? Admit it, you're a " liberal". I personally would much rather see him in then another Bush or Clinton, though of coarse he doesn't stand a snowballs chance because he isn't an insider.

Carson is a personally fascinating guy but I do not like or support his beliefs, I think he is as viable as any of the other Republicans running however. I think he will be on the short list for VP or a cabinet position for almost any Republican.

I think viable in this context means "has a chance of being elected". Even if you think Carson's views are no more electable than Bush's, say, surely you concede that Bush, Rubio, and several others are much more likely to be in the White House in two years?

Who?

Well he is a political outsider that has never sought elected office before which obviously makes an uphill climb but that is also something that has tremendous appeal with the electorate right now who so hates Washington. Carson is very conservative but seems very soft spoken and not the firebrand maybe some voters are looking for at this time but might make him more palatable to the mainstream, it is hard to predict who rises and falls tho and Carson is in good position to make a move as he has better favorables compared to the rest of the field. I don't think his views deviate much your standard conservative Republican and if he's willing to play ball he will be a guy a lot of these candidates will be calling for a cabinet position or maybe VP. I think he's going to be looked at as a guy who might be able to bridge the gap between the warring factions of the GOP.

The media has a considerable amount of power here, they could showcase Carson's background and promote his candidacy to the point that he is the frontrunner if that's what they wanted to do. That's how McCain got the nomination in 2008, we all saw the random flavors of the month in 2012. Trump is basically getting 24/7 coverage.

I'm not sure what will happen, Trump is in uncharted water and I'm not sure what will be the thing that stops his candidacy in it's tracks if there even is one. Jeb looks like a punching bag, I think Walker is the stronger establishment candidate with a much broader range of support but I think he' a pretty lame campaigner.

Maybe the debate will tell us something, I got my popcorn ready.

Uhh, mccain has been in washington representing arizona since 1982.

He was hardly a dark horse candidate in 2008. That wasn't even his first presidential run.

The MSM started pumping up his candidacy after it "died" and got him the nomination after Giuliani imploded

Giuliani was never a credible candidate.

Mccain was the RNC establishment choice for both 2002 and 2008. He didn't make it in 2002 because Bush out-campaigned him.

You make it sound like roger ailes can just choose who gets the nomination.

You can't equate a virtual unknown with no political experience with an elder statesman.

Giuliani's campaign was probably always doomed due to his disconnect with base voters but the campaign was ran exceptionally stupidly too by ignoring the early small states, he led in almost every poll up until the time it counted. Other than his leadership during 9/11, he didn't have much to campaign on that primary voters would respond to and people got tired hearing about 9/11 so it was over for Rudy.

They can't choose who gets the nomination but they can manufacture "surges" by providing positive coverage. The Iowa Caucus in 2012 is probably the best example of this, Fox News comes up with some insane Santorum surge in Iowa out of nowhere with no organization to speak of and the polls followed the coverage. Barack Obama's candidacy in 2008 could be another example considering all the positive coverage he got in his campaign against Hillary. The media carries significant sway over polls which many voters unquestionably follow.

he doesn't stand a chance because he's a retired neurosurgeon in the middle of a bunch of politicians and a businessman, and he's literally called Obama a psychopath so he's probably more mouthy than is good for a political career(even by the loose standards of the right)

if you want a live example of Fox pumping up a candidate turn on their coverage right now, they've been gushing about Carly Fiorina for like an hour.

carly fiorina couldn't get elected as a town dog catcher.

He invoked saul alinsky in the debate? seriously?

This dude needs to run for an alderman position in his city and work his way up.

I supported Carson until he revealed himself to be a huge pro Military Industrial Complex, pro Drug War candidate. I like Rand Paul and I like Ted Cruz.

Uh, the Black guy and the woman have to be on the team to win.

Teflon Donald of the New York Family is the Boss of Bosses, and takes no disrespect from other crime families.

Bush is tall with good hair, he would do well as Secretary of State.

A win gets to appoint a thousand people to jobs like living in Paris with a free house, and party money.

Even a fourth tier country is still a business windfall.

In the debate several smart men were running for Whitehouse Chief of Staff.

The American people will vote to throw out the illegals, and build a wall along the border.