Which of the candidates comes closest to being a "Traditional Republican"?

2016-02-07T12:22:26-05:00

When answering the survey, PLEASE, do not base your answer on your personal like or dislike of any particular candidate as a person or on what their party affiliation is.

PLEASE base your answer solely on the degree to which the candidate comes close to the "Traditional Republican Platform" as PUBLICLY STATED (which should not be confused with "What the Republicans Have Traditionally DONE".

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 7 at 2016 12:38 PM

2016-02-07T12:38:33-05:00

I think Mr Rubio is the traditional Republican of this election cycle!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 7 at 2016 1:10 PM

2016-02-07T13:10:36-05:00

The issue with the "modern" Republican Party is that it is nowhere close to the "traditional" Republican Party. If we were to define the current President by traditional terms, he would be a moderate Republican in most cases.

This actually excludes most of the Republican candidates in many ways. Just pushes them too far along of the spectrum. That leaves Ms. Clinton and Sen. Sanders. Based on Republican literature, and public statements made by Sen. Sanders, I don't really see much in direct conflict. Not goal wise, just "methodology."

Likewise, Ms. Clinton's official responses over the years have actually been very "moderate" if looked at in a similar lens (remembering this is all relative). She has either towed Administrative line (as SoS), party line (as Senator), or supported her husband as First Lady in an era where Left & Right weren't quite as divided.

I'd have a real hard time deciding between the two, but would give a slight edge to Ms. Clinton just because she is less vocal regarding disagreement from Party Platforms, whereas Sen Sanders has the ability as an Independent to speak his mind more freely, giving him more deviation from ALL parties.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Feb 7 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-02-07T13:21:38-05:00

Really, Co!onel? Are you the top of the line version of a certain Marine Corps Captain?
Including the likes of Sanders (who is at best a graduate of the Karl Marx Klown Kollege); Clinton (a superwoman capable of declassifying documents on a single server), and Trump (the man who would be king with going) traditional Republicans is good farce.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 1:53 PM

2016-02-07T13:53:39-05:00

I'd say look at their voting records. In my opinion Cruz aligns mostly with the US Constitution and conservative principles. As far as the next closest being rubio, I could never support him after he joined the gang of 8 after running as a tea party conservative, nor after his vote to confirm john "swift boat" kerry.

https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates

2016 Presidential Candidates

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Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 2:06 PM

2016-02-07T14:06:12-05:00

Cruz is by far the best conservative and based on his views on smaller, responsible government, the Constitution, and foreign policy, if you consider a "traditional " republican to be someone like Ronald Reagan, Cruz comes closest

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 2:11 PM

2016-02-07T14:11:52-05:00

Traditional Republican is a term that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. A traditional republican in 1970 vs. a traditional Republican in 1995 vs. a traditional Republican today. That phrase has shifted considerably to the right in recent decades.

I would have added Bush and Kasich to the list. I believe Kasich would have been the best choice for traditional Republican.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Feb 7 at 2016 2:30 PM

2016-02-07T14:30:46-05:00

What do you mean by traditional? There are no more JFK democrats. Now they are only Obama Democrats. Aligned with Bernie Sanders. So when you say traditional do you mean Reaganest? Or do go by Big Oil, only for the top one percent. Racist, homophobes. Like Obama calls them.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 7 at 2016 2:38 PM

2016-02-07T14:38:30-05:00

I voted for Cruz, but don't understand what the "traditional Republican Platform". Generally, a new platform is created each presidential election by the RNC.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Feb 7 at 2016 3:40 PM

2016-02-07T15:40:30-05:00

I expected to vote for Coke or Pepsi. Bummer.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 4:40 PM

2016-02-07T16:40:39-05:00

People who voted for Clinton should be considered and armed and dangerous. Just saying!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 4:49 PM

2016-02-07T16:49:00-05:00

Coca Cola!

Response by BG David Fleming III made Feb 7 at 2016 6:07 PM

2016-02-07T18:07:53-05:00

I would have said Cruz, but not after what he did to Ben Carson!!! Say he withdrew from the race! What a dirty trick!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 7:03 PM

2016-02-07T19:03:14-05:00

If one holds Reagan up as the example, then I would say HRC comes closest. Fiscal moderate and social libertarian.

Chris Christie and John Kasich are also there.

Cruz, Carson and Rubio are all far too religious, while Cruz adds craziness and dishonesty on top of his religion-based discrimination.

Trump is in it for the ego, and doesn't match either party.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Feb 7 at 2016 7:34 PM

2016-02-07T19:34:38-05:00

You could put Mikey Mouse in office and still achieve the same results

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Feb 8 at 2016 2:50 AM

2016-02-08T02:50:23-05:00

I'm sorry, COL Ted Mc, I cannot conceive of a correct answer.

The "Traditional Republican Platform" is as precise as the PG movie rating. What was PG in 1980 is no where near a PG today. Can anyone compare the "Republican Party" of Teddy Roosevelt and McKinley to today's Republican Party? What about Eisenhower? Barry Goldwater? Of course not! Yet they all bear the title and mantle of "Republican Party."

As a physicist, I know that EVERYTHING (except light) is anchored against its frame of reference. Ditto with any "tradition".

Gimme a target, Colonel, and I'll answer your question. None of these men look or act anything like Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, or Eisenhower. If you pick a definable category, say, "Constitutional Constructionist" - I can give you my OPINION that Ted Cruz comes closest. If you pick "Fiscal Conservative" I'd go with Rand Paul.

The "Traditional Republican Platform" has changed so much over the last half century, that I'm afraid we're all looking at different standards.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Feb 8 at 2016 8:17 AM

2016-02-08T08:17:16-05:00

Tougher question than it sounds. Depends on how far back you go for traditional. I picked Cruz as closest to the Republican platform of today which is modeled on Reagan Republicanism, but with a pass on the small gov't part. Like you said, not the same as conservatism or small government Republicanism.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Feb 8 at 2016 7:19 PM

2016-02-08T19:19:36-05:00

Clearly it would be Jeb Bush! I don't understand why you chose not to put him on your pole.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 8:16 AM

2016-02-09T08:16:29-05:00

Clinton and sanders are not republicans so i would say Rubio.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Feb 9 at 2016 9:30 AM

2016-02-09T09:30:33-05:00

The real problem with this question COL Ted Mc is that for the most part the answer is none of them. Nor do they come close to the stated Democrat platform. Politcs in Washington has gone from the business of the nation to lining of pockets, while figuring out who can be blamed for the lack of production, while not raising enough attention that voters vote for a new person. There are two parties that are controlled by the same corporations. I am voting for the Donald on this simply because, while he is his own brand of crazy (in my opinion), he is the only candidate on this list that is not a Washington insider. If you had included him, I would have said Ben Carson.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Feb 9 at 2016 4:49 PM

2016-02-09T16:49:44-05:00

Easy choice.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 11 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-02-11T11:20:52-05:00

Funny story. This morning my 10 Year old grandson said, he didn't like Trump, but he was better than the rest of the field, especially Hillary and Bernie. I had to agree.