General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAn online presidential 2012 test - who is your candidate?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/fullpage?id=15177995Who did you get?
Autumn
(48,950 posts)The boxes I selected were all too conservative for my tastes but it was the closest to my beliefs. Basically BS choices.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)and shows how limited the choices are that are presented to the American people as feasible - but it's the candidates who are the ones who are limiting our choices.
I, of course, got Obama.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)for example, I'd like to repeal the Health Care Reform Act and replace it with Medicare for All. I'd also like to invest more in education, but none of it should go to charter schools.
Perhaps this is useful for some barely-engaged soul, otherwise it's BS.
TBF
(36,563 posts)kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Of course I got Obama first and Huntsman as second as well.
And I agree with you about the healthcare law. We should have a national program or medicare for all.
subterranean
(3,760 posts)And I bet that some of them may be surprised that Obama comes out on top based on their answers.
As for us DUers, the survey just reemphasized that despite Obama's shortcomings, he's still a better choice than any of the Republican candidates. But we already knew that (well, most of us, anyway).
FedUp_Queer
(975 posts)It doesn't actually ask what you think. It asks which you chose of the candidates. I, too, cringed at many of the choices. I know my candidate would really be none of the above...which I think a lot of people would fall into.
Sarah Ibarruri
(21,043 posts)golddigger
(3,804 posts)#1 Obama
#2 Paul
#3 Romney
quakerboy
(14,856 posts)Apparently I agree with Paul when it comes to national security, Romney on education, and Obama on everything else.
However, the options on about half of the questions were almost offensively limited. Instead of finding an answer that I agreed with, I had to look for the least offensively wrong answer. That's how I ended up with Romney on one question. There was no good answer, but Romney's was the most vague. I am sure he did not mean it the way that I would mean the same phrase. There were a handfull of other answers where the choices came out "I agree with this 0%, this 0%, and this 10%, so I guess thats the one i pick, even though I dont really agree with it...". That a sad state of affairs. You would think that with as big a country as we have, there would be different candidates with different stances on various issues, but there is not. On several important issues, only slight shadings of 1 viewpoint are shared by every candidate available.
As to Paul, what can I say? When he agrees with me, he is right, no matter how wrong he is on virtually everything else. Of the current "major" candidates he is the closest to correct on foreign policy. Get our nose and our troops out of other peoples business and do it now, no more mucking about. That's just about the only thing he is correct on, but in that one arena, his proposed policy is better than Obama's.
napoleon_in_rags
(3,992 posts)Muskypundit
(717 posts)Just another testament as to how far to the middle Obama went.
Shandris
(3,447 posts)I mean, when the outcomes can ONLY include Obama and then 7 crazy rightwingers, you're going to have a lot of interesting responses. But still...I got Obama (with his own picture), then NEWT GINGRICH?! How is that even possible?
Muskypundit
(717 posts)And ignore the whole thing XD
karynnj
(60,949 posts)So, I guess on some answers they took the version of Newt that was semi sane.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)
karynnj
(60,949 posts)more in common with Obama and Huntsman than Romney does! (I bet he likes that as little as we like getting him.)
Most questions had only one or at most two answers a Democrat was likely to chose.
DCKit
(18,541 posts)Jeebus, I could see Huntsman, he made it past the 6th grade.
Confusious
(8,317 posts)He says so many crazy things, one has to loop around from the right, back to the left, and sound good to you, somewhat.
Even crazy people have moments of lucidity.
joshcryer
(62,536 posts)But people weren't paying attention.
alp227
(33,271 posts)rbnyc
(17,045 posts)That was painful. For many of the questions, none of the answers were good. SUCKS!!!!
zipplewrath
(16,698 posts)Was that there wasn't really a "candidate" for me. Most of the responses were to "timid" or soft and didn't go nearly far enough in one sense or another.
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)I answered opposite to what I believed. I got
1. Bachman
2. Santorum
3. Perry
I also feel sick that one of these people could be the nominee.
quakerboy
(14,856 posts)With so many wrong answers, how do you pick the most wrong?
Hutzpa
(11,461 posts)nt.
Delphinus
(12,514 posts)was first, followed by Bachman and Paul. I was shocked at the two 'pubs!
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)subterranean
(3,760 posts)Did that happen to anyone else?
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)The Genealogist
(4,739 posts)A glitch or a Faux Snooze type "error?"
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I mean I have to be Obama since I am pro-choice, pro-education, pro-environment, pro-tax the billionaires, pro-gay marriage.
gateley
(62,683 posts)other options -- all of them -- were just too horrific to even consider.
Not GREAT options for us, either, but that's the reality of what we're dealing with at this time.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)1. Obama
2. Huntsman
3. Perry---WTF?!?! Must have been the immigration question---I didn't really see a choice I liked.--I'm going to go scrub myself with bleach--just the thought of agreeing with Perry on anything makes me feel icky...
tblue
(16,350 posts)Some of the questions had no answers that really suited me though.
flor-de-jasmim
(2,279 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)redqueen
(115,186 posts)The answers showed just how fringe loony rightwing this country has become.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)The Genealogist
(4,739 posts)There were several questions in there that I saw no answer which i thought was good. I had to choose the least bad answer to make the quiz work.
Luciferous
(6,586 posts)most of the questions though.
styersc
(2,847 posts)I wonder what he would get if he took this survey.
izquierdista
(11,689 posts)When it got to "What can we do to strengthen security along the US-Mexico border?" there were only silly answers. Decriminalize drugs and take away the narcotrafficers source of income wasn't on the list.
graywarrior
(59,440 posts)Cherchez la Femme
(2,488 posts)from hiring them below minimum wage.
Upgrade those jobs to a living wage -- for US citizens
OswegoAtheist
(609 posts)1. We must pass a Constitutional Amendment outlawing gay marriage
2. This should be up to the individual states
3. Traditional marriage is between a man and a woman, but I support civil unions
4. My views on gay marriage are evolving. But no law should ban gay marriage outright.
Where the fuck is the "Yes, it's a civil right for all Americans" option?
Oswego "Didn't bother finishing the test" Atheist
tblue
(16,350 posts)And I guess no one would answer with a resounding yes. And that's a doggone shame.
FreeState
(10,702 posts)Fred Kroger and Gary Johnson.
sakabatou
(46,099 posts)silverweb
(16,410 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Ron Paul was 2nd and Huntsman was 3rd.
a kennedy
(35,917 posts)yikes.
TDale313
(7,822 posts)Oh, and the picture I had for Obama was Gingrich. SMH. Plus, I have to agree that the questions point out just how slanted to the right our options are.
11 Bravo
(24,305 posts)I did not find an acceptable answer for border security. My thought is, take away the incentive by SEVERELY penalizing businesses that make exploitation of immigrant labor attractive.
I also did not like the education choices. My thougth being that we need to keep student to teacher ratio's lower, and invest heavily in PUBLIC schools.
RFKHumphreyObama
(15,164 posts)1. Obama
2. Huntsman
3. Paul
Which sounds about right.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)followed by Newt (!) and Perry (!!)
snooper2
(30,151 posts)You want to build a super duper double fence?
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Sorry.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)progressoid
(53,125 posts)Charlemagne
(576 posts)The craziest, most draconian answers I could think of and I got Michelle Bachmann. There are people who really think like that???
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)I think some folks don't factor that into their political strategy.
Ferret Annica
(1,701 posts)But some of those questions were framed strangely.
WI_DEM
(33,497 posts)aletier_v
(1,773 posts)They didn't ask me if I'd vote for a mormon, though.
Robb
(39,665 posts)...Who is "Jimmy McMillan?"
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)How come there was no "Gay marriage is a right" response?
LeftishBrit
(41,451 posts)I got President Obama unsurprisingly, followed by someone called Jon Huntsman. WHO is Jon Huntsman?
racaulk
(11,550 posts)Although the question about gay marriage was total bullshit as none of the answers matched my beliefs. I had to choose the "evolving" response as it was the choice that was least offensive of those presented. Unfortunately, that has to be my choice in real life as well.
aletier_v
(1,773 posts)I thought it was more positive than "evolving and against an outright ban".
joshcryer
(62,536 posts)...positions, at least, as far as I can tell. I chose "states rights" but even then I find that bullshit.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)But that's because I hacked the test to include sensible answers where all the ones offered were right-wing talking points.
Generic Brad
(14,374 posts)Live long and prosper with full Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)I saw the 2009 movie but I'm not enough of a Trekker to have retained that detail.
Now, having read the Wikipedia article on it, I see that you have given me high praise, and I thank you!
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)Bucky
(55,334 posts)Is he even old enough to be president?
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)I even switched browsers.
But based on the questions I saw each time ... I'm voting for Obama and not one of the GOP whack jobs.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)I did it 3 times trying to be honest, and it crashed at the end each time.
And so, I tried one more time ... but this time, I picked the most evil right wing option I saw.
And of course THEN it worked!!!!
When I picked what I thought were the most evil right win positions ... the result was ....
1) Bachmann
2) Perry
3) Santorum
aletier_v
(1,773 posts)He doesn't have enough presence to be evil.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)they picked from the various candidates.
Perry has said all kinds of insane things.
TheKentuckian
(26,314 posts)Pigheaded
(164 posts)Weird I think
joshcryer
(62,536 posts)Shame.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I'm a moderate...left of center. My answers would've been between a couple of the choice answers given, but I had to select either a definite left or a definite right answer.
It wouldn't have changed the result. I just noticed that that poll would work only for those who are definitely left or right, but it's the middle ones that decide elections, isn't it? And the ones who are left or right don't really need to take a quiz, I think.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)so I would vote for someone who didn't hold my view on that issue, since it's not as important to me as others. And I would hold one or two issues so important, that I wouldn't vote for someone who didn't hold my view on those issues, even if he held my views in all other respects.
TheKentuckian
(26,314 posts)If you occupy a mid-way spot between these positions then you are an arch conservative in the mold of Anthony Kennedy, stradling the line between right and reactionary, radical regressive.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)"arch conservative."
The truth is....I am a moderate. Definitely far left on some issues, right of center on one or two issues, and left of center on most issues. I am pretty much mainstream. More often than not, I end up voting for the one who wins. That's because I am mainstream America. There have been exceptions...Bush, for one, of course. But early on, for example, I decided to vote for Obama and poo pooed those notions that he couldn't win because of his race and experience. I knew that he could. Mainstream America was thinking like that.
I do not have a party affiliation.
TheKentuckian
(26,314 posts)right. If you occupy the middle ground between the options presented then you would be extremely conservative but be given an aura of moderation by contrasting one's self against reactionaries and radical regressives.
In most western democracies both parties would be to the right of of the prevailing conservative coalitions. Mid-way between them makes you fairly rabidly conservative from the jump.
barbtries
(31,298 posts)though some of the choices really sucked. for instance why can't i just say i support equal marriage rights for everyone.
Denninmi
(6,581 posts)I know how Charlie Brown felt when he kept getting lumps of coal.
No way I would vote for any of those R asses - but if I was forced to under penalty of death, it would be Huntsman.
Many of the questions were totally rigged -- no true choice -- for example, in the Gay Marriage question, full equality wasn't even offered as a choice.
Rig the questions, and you rig the results.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)this makes no sense at all
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)killbotfactory
(13,566 posts)Although on a couple issues, on which I really didn't agree with any choice, I chose an answer a republican gave.
zappaman
(20,627 posts)Kidding!
Some guy named Barack Obama who lots of people in this forum seem to dislike.
GReedDiamond
(5,542 posts)...what I really believe, I got 1) Obama 2) Paul 3) Huntsman.
When I went back and answered with what I considered to be the most radical, far-right, lunatic-sociopath choices, I scored 1) Bachmann 2) Santorum 3) Perry.
What fun!
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)1) Bachmann, 2) Perry, 3) Santorium
And I'm pretty sure that she is in fact the craziest of the bunch.
center rising
(971 posts)zappaman
(20,627 posts)alp227
(33,271 posts)MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)There was no answer for me on immigration or marriage equality but I'm guessing that no one running shares the same views I have on those particular issues. Even the Obama answers were sucky in several questions.
jmowreader
(53,162 posts)The least-offensive answer was "My views on gay marriage are evolving..." but I really wish they would have had a "Same-sex marriage should be legal. Period." answer.
That answer is to the left of everyone running for president including the incumbent, which may explain why it's not on there.
Rochester
(838 posts)I agreed with Obama 4 times, with Huntsman 3 times, with Romney twice. The other two it didn't show me who I agreed with, it must have been someone else.
Obama's my guy naturally, but I guess Hunstman is perhaps the least objectionable of the R's.
aletier_v
(1,773 posts)regardless of their answers.
Tanelorn
(359 posts)aletier_v
(1,773 posts)Oops, no, I guess it's Bachmann.
Hard to tell the difference sometimes.
progressoid
(53,125 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)I had no idea he was running this time. He must be a "stealth" candidate.
boxman15
(1,033 posts)Last edited Tue Dec 20, 2011, 02:00 AM - Edit history (1)
I'd imagine it would be something like
1. Obama
2. Huntsman
3. Paul
EDIT: Finally got it to work, not that anybody cares haha.
1. Obama
2. Paul
3. Romney
garybeck
(10,085 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Number #2 was Huntsman
and I'm not saying who #3 was - LOL
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Obama
Huntsman
Mittens
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)I was unable to find an answer that I agreed with and it would not let me continue unless I picked something. Because I won't say I agree with something that I don't agree with I had to stop, I guess that means no candidate is a good match for me which is exactly how I feel. No matter who wins the next election I don't anticipate having anything to celebrate.
Ms. Toad
(38,575 posts)And I have the same sense of discouragement.
cascadiance
(19,537 posts)"The problem is the supply of jobs. We must prosecute those that hire illegals which would destroy demand for hiring of illegals and reduce the problem by making it less attractive for them to come over the border. We must also stop subsidizing big ag firms so that they don't "dump" farm products with corn, etc. below cost in to other countries that forces farmers there out of business and forces them to look for jobs up here instead."
If we had an answer like that and one for having a single payer option for health care amongst others, then we'd have a more interesting poll that would point to how a big chunk of Americans are UNREPRESENTED by what we have in Washington now and why Occupiers are out on the street everywhere.
mrs_p
(3,236 posts)And there were many questions that had all answers way too conservative.
Jon Ace
(255 posts)elana i am
(814 posts)slay
(7,670 posts)although to be fair - there is nobody to the left of Obama - and there desperately needs to be!
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)slay
(7,670 posts)pretty sure
slay
(7,670 posts)must have answered the romney one different.. some of those are terrible questions and show just how badly we need a truly progressive candidate.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)It just goes to show the people should frame the answers and not the politicians
mvd
(65,908 posts)I got Paul for #3 because I want everyone out of Afghanistan and the defense budget cut significantly.
I got Romney on #9 for putting modify No Child Left Behind, but I'm not sure why.
Not enough liberal answers, though, and there was no outright pro-gay marriage rights answer.
veganlush
(2,049 posts)...the picture showed Newt the fruit in the number one spot! The text said #1 Obama, #2 Romney, #3 Paul
but as mentioned, the picture in the number one spot, bigger than the other two, was Gingrich. WTF?
aletier_v
(1,773 posts)blue_onyx
(4,211 posts)1. Obama
2. Huntsman
3. Paul
Ms. Toad
(38,575 posts)Several questions had no answer I found even close to acceptable. Very discouraging.
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)Which apparently leads to Obama.
Sounds familiar, somehow.
Modern_Matthew
(1,604 posts)ellisonz
(27,776 posts)southmost
(833 posts)but some questions really sucked
ChadwickHenryWard
(862 posts)I am even more discouraged about the slate of available candidates than before taking the quiz.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)With only 1 for each of the last two
I thought the answers did not give enough leeway, did not go far enough
so I agree with Autumn post #1
tomg
(2,574 posts)was my "least right leaning choice from all those folks." Nothing, save for withdrawal from Afghanistan and engagement with Pakistan, reflected the kinds of policies I would hope to be implemented. Typical was my choice on education: "NCLB has to be modified." I have no idea what that means, except that it is so vague I see a glimmer for it to be eliminated.
Ford_Prefect
(8,599 posts)It seems to be one more example of the MSM pretending to offer choice. A real choice would involve using the issues to drive the candidates towards the results we need and want. Obama seems to do as little as he can (or worse) and the others want to do more to make things even worse than they are now.
I got Obama with a side of Paul and Romney (go figure that, eh?) The answers offered seemed like campaign quotes and often ignored central problems in the issues they addressed (Health Care, Education, Mexican border to name 3).
I feel like the patient who is told his chances of recovery are Slim and None. I'll vote for Slim. He's not really the guy to get the job done so we'll have to lean on congress harder. That and get Fox off the Air.
What we really need is a congress that is answerable to US. How we get that this time around as opposed to just trying to keep the loonies and shills out is hard to say, but I suspect it can be done.
indeed
urbuddha
(363 posts)There wasn't any doubt.
ObaMania
(2,054 posts)Romney close runner up followed by Huntsman.
Sounds about right although I've always leaned more towards Huntsman.
nxylas
(6,440 posts)Followed by Paul and Gingrich. Seriously, Gingrich? I think that was a reflection of the lack of a good answer in many of the questions, rather than an indication that I have anything in common with The Mekon.
Rhiannon12866
(255,011 posts)Michele Bachmann and Mitt Romney were runner-ups.
But for only one question apiece.
JCMach1
(29,195 posts)Ewww on that last one...
april
(1,148 posts)mmonk
(52,589 posts)It was kind of indicative of how far right the politics have moved. Many questions only had right leaning answers to them.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)Terrible questions. Very few answers I really liked. Shows how a liberal's policy preferences are not really available in the candidate choices we have. No real liberal option.
-Laelth
dmr
(28,705 posts)NRaleighLiberal
(61,837 posts)Weird test.
Historic NY
(39,999 posts)JustAnotherGen
(38,031 posts)Followed by Huntsman and Romney.
I don't think the included Buddy Roemer as a candidate - because he's a Conservadem in Pub Clothing.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)All of the 'stances' had little caveats, none of which aligned with my beliefs.
Call me a 'fringe lefty', I guess.
lobodons
(1,290 posts)I don't need no stinkin test to know who the best person for the job is!!
ooglymoogly
(9,502 posts)dotymed
(5,610 posts)Response to cowcommander (Original post)
Post removed
geardaddy
(25,392 posts)with Rick Perry (WTF?)
and Ron Paul (2xWTF?)
the questions were bogus.
sarchasm
(1,308 posts)2. Huntsman
3. Paul
mimitabby
(1,960 posts)1monster
(11,045 posts)The problem is that on most of those questions, none of the given answers fit my feelings, convictions, or positions at all. And the closest second choice was a very far distant second.
Which is the way I feel about our choices for President. I wouldn't vote for Ron Paul or any of the Republicans at all, and Obama's positions and actions are too far away from mine for me to be comfortable, but his come closest (and that isn't very close at all).
Maineman
(854 posts)marlakay
(13,262 posts)Obama - 7
Huntsman - 1
Romney - 1
PADemD
(4,482 posts)qb
(5,924 posts)mlevans
(843 posts)ooglymoogly
(9,502 posts)It is a hokey, gerrymandered survey with O being the only "lesser of two evils" outcome possible for a democrat.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,675 posts)GoneOffShore
(18,018 posts)Huntsman - meh a Republic but not a totally crazy Repub
Paul - WTF!!
SharonRB
(28,087 posts)Then Huntsman and Gingrich.