Sunday, April 01, 2007

Which Presidential Candidate Is Right 4 You?

Select Smart has their presidential candidate selector set up for the 2008 presidential race now. Some of you might remember taking their quiz as I've linked to them before here. No third party candidates are included.

Here's my results after taking the selector quiz. Pleased with Ron Paul, of course, but surprised at some of the other top candidates. Also glad to see Clinton and Edwards at the bottom of the list.


Take the quiz yourself and see which candidates most match your qualifications. You might be as surprised as I was with some of the candidates.

(100%) 1: Rep. Ron Paul (R) Information
(80%) 2: Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) Information
(71%) 3: Gov. George Pataki (R) Information
(71%) 4: Sen. Joseph Biden (D) Information
(68%) 5: Sen. Sam Brownback (R) Information
(62%) 6: Sen. Barack Obama (D) Information
(62%) 7: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) Information
(57%) 8: Gov. Bill Richardson (D) Information
(57%) 9: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Information
(57%) 10: Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R) Information
(54%) 11: Gov. Mitt Romney (R) Information
(54%) 12: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) Information
(51%) 13: Ex-VP Al Gore (D) Information
(51%) 14: Sen. John McCain (R) Information
(48%) 15: Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) Information
(48%) 16: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) Information
(42%) 17: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) Information
(40%) 18: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Withdrew from race.
(40%) 19: Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) Information
(40%) 20: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D) Information
(34%) 21: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) Information
(34%) 22: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) Information
(0%) 23: Sen. George Allen (R) Withdrew from race.
(0%) 24: Sen. John Kerry (D) Withdrew from race.
(0%) 25: Sen. Russ Feingold (D) Withdrew from race.

36 Comments:

At 7:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one but an unthinking ignoramous would be surprised by Fred's ultra-reactionary matches. And I'm not surprised by my matches:

(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama
(88%) 2: Rep. Dennis Kucinich
(82%) 3: Gen. Wesley Clark
(82%) 4: Sen. Christopher Dodd
(79%) 5: Sen. Hillary Clinton

 
At 8:43 PM, Blogger Hayduke said...

I have to say Fred is even more out of touch than I thought. So if we are going to show how far Fred and I are apart philosopically I guess I need to post my top five also.

(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama (D)
(90%) 2: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
(88%) 3: Ex-VP Al Gore (D)
(82%) 4: Gen. Wesley Clark (D)
(78%) 5: Gov. Bill Richardson (D)

 
At 8:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why were you surprised Fred? Seems to fit your reactionary views perfectly.

 
At 9:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fred on many topics I can really understand your point of view; however when it comes to politics you seem to relate to extreme conservatives like Newt Gingrich and Bob Barr which makes me think when it comes to politics you'll overlook plenty. Just my opinion.

 
At 10:15 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

I actually don't mind Gingrich all that much, although I haven't followed him all that closely. The few times I've listened to him I've often agreed with him.

Wasn't happy with the tone of what I heard him say in regards the invasion of Iraq the other day, though.

As far as Bob Barr, I've long felt he had a definite libertarian streak. He also has had a strong religious right- winger streak.

That may or may not be changing. As I've noted here before, he seems to have let his hair down a bit since leaving congress and seems to be realizing that things he's supported in the past have contributed to a stronger government than he might actually believe in.

It certainly remains to be seen how far he'll actually go along the less- government path, but I'm always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt.

As an aside, one surprise I got when I got my Select Smart results was Democrat Russ Feingold at the bottom of my list of candidates.

He was the sole vote in the Senate against the PATRIOT Act. I'd even heard he was reconsidering his supposed rabid anti- gun sentiments. I would liked to have thought he'd have at least a few more positions a bit closer to mine.

According to Select Smart, he doesn't.

 
At 10:19 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Oh; I suppose I should ask you why finding common ground with certain conservatives on some issues means "I'm overlooking plenty"?

As much as I'm confused by the rather pleasant Right vs. Left mix of the candidates Select Smart gave me, I find it much more to be proud of than those who end up with strictly Right or Left Wing candidates at the top of their list.

 
At 9:24 AM, Blogger Carol said...

(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama (D) Information
(89%) 2: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Information
(83%) 3: Gov. Bill Richardson (D) Information
(80%) 4: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) Information
(78%) 5: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D) Information
(76%) 6: Ex-VP Al Gore (D) Information
(70%) 7: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) Information
(69%) 8: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Withdrew from race.
(65%) 9: Sen. Joseph Biden (D) Information
(64%) 10: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D)

 
At 10:07 AM, Blogger Rose said...

Those questions are designed to skew the results - just one example:
Would raise taxes and/or reduce spending if necessary to reduce the deficit and balance the budget in keeping with the philosophy of the Concord Coalition.
Would not be concerned with the deficit. Would not raise taxes nor reduce spending to balance budget


Who can really answer that question? To say you are against raising taxes, by inference is to say you don't care about the deficit.

That question's wrongly skewed by its very nature and many of the other questions are just as bad or worse.

 
At 10:09 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

For me Fred it's not only what they did while in office that makes those two unsupportable; while they were rabidly trying to convict Bill Clinton, they were of course, committing adultry, and then stuck it to their wives in the most lawyerly way. Google up their stories if you care to know. I'm sure they'd be fun to golf with, or drink beer, but there are certainly better, more qualified people to have shaping policy. I don't think these guys could pass a background check with the EPD. Their histories are kind of well known-that's what I meant by overlook plenty.

 
At 11:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll go for Fred Thompson.

 
At 11:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

And to think that Rob Arkley once called Fred a left-wing extremist.
My choice- Cynthia Mckinney 100%

 
At 12:17 PM, Blogger Hayduke said...

Rose is correct in that the questions were skewed but it is hard to tell in what direction. The results do pretty much swing as expected depending I would imagine on the issues covered such as the war in Iraq, Stem Cell Research, Abortion, Gun Control, and so on. So in most cases the liberal vs. conservative viewpoints were obvious.

 
At 3:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sam Brownback ahead of any democratic candidate?

Wow Fred, that's a sad sight

 
At 4:07 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama (D) Information
(86%) 2: Gov. Bill Richardson (D) Information
(86%) 3: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Information
(86%) 4: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) Information
(78%) 5: Ex-VP Al Gore (D) Information
(76%) 6: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D) Information
(76%) 7: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) Information
(74%) 8: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Withdrew from race.
(70%) 9: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) Information
(64%) 10: Sen. Joseph Biden (D) Information
(47%) 11: Rep. Ron Paul (R) Information
(41%) 12: Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) Information
(41%) 13: Gov. Mitt Romney (R) Information
(41%) 14: Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R) Information
(33%) 15: Gov. George Pataki (R) Information
(33%) 16: Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) Information
(31%) 17: Sen. John McCain (R) Information
(21%) 18: Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) Information
(19%) 19: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) Information
(17%) 20: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) Information
(15%) 21: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) Information
(9%) 22: Sen. Sam Brownback (R) Information

 
At 4:10 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

Rose - I agree that the questions were loaded in favor of a libertarian ideology. The bias is very clear in failing to distinguish between fair trade and protectionism.

 
At 4:12 PM, Blogger Rose said...

1. What would be your ideal candidate's position on WAR & PEACE?
Would have a voting record and history of expressing reluctance to commit troops to war.
Would have a hawkish stance, such as supporting the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war.


That is a skewed question - with deliberately inflammatory language. (The Bush Doctrine of preemptive war)

To be equal "expressing reluctance" would have tpo be worded "planning to cut and run."

 
At 4:15 PM, Blogger Rose said...

4. What would be your ideal candidate's position on SOCIAL SECURITY?
Make it solvent, including raising the earnings ceiling and/or the retirement age if necessary to do so.
Consider other options, including privatization.


This question is horribly skewed also - they all are - both should say make it solvent, the way it is worded implies that anyone who thinks outside the box is not for keeping it solvent.

It's bullshit.

 
At 6:34 PM, Blogger ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ said...

I looked at the "poll" and the bullshit detection meter went off the scale. Why bother?

 
At 7:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What I find interesting is Obama is near the top of everyone's list. He was at 62% on Fred's right-wing list. Much higher on others. Clever middle of the road position by Obama?

 
At 8:05 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Indeed. I'm wondering what issues I agree with him on, since I know next to nothing about him. Same with many of the others.

Hey, c'mon folks, it's just a quiz, not a conspiracy.

 
At 8:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

We need a Republican President.

 
At 8:46 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

We already have one, 8:23, and as far as I'm concerned, he's been a disaster. Sure, he's addressed some important things that needed addresseding, but he never went anywhere with most of them.

That said, I felt Clinton was the worst president in my lifetime, back when he was around. Why I felt that way escapes me now.

Now I feel Bush has been the worst president. I can't help but wonder if I'll feel the same way about whoever the next one is?

Some might say I'm just getting more jaded and/ or cynical regarding politicians in my old age. I like to think I'm just paying closer attention.

 
At 10:05 PM, Blogger Rose said...

Maybe we oughtta rewrite the quiz to be more "fair and balanced" - but we don't know the scoring criteria.

Partisanship is the disaster. Congress working to kill their own president, voting along strict party lines.

Who needs them if we already know how they will vote? Tell 'em to stay home. We'll just put a chock mark on whichever side they belong to, they don't even need to show up to vote.

 
At 10:28 PM, Blogger Hayduke said...

Rose I agree with you that partisanship is a disaster, and we never saw such partisanship as the last six years, and look what a disaster that has been. At least now the partisanship has helped right the boat so we are not taking on so much water. It is my cynical opinion we get the best government when the presidency and congress are in different hands. Kind of keeps the idiots on both sides of the aisle in check, and gives the middle some say in things.

 
At 11:02 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

That's almost along the line of something I've said before here, but not quite: Gridlock is good!

That may be not what you might be refering to, but government supposedly grows less when the Presidency and Congress are divided.

I suggest, it's better for government to grow slower, if it is to grow at all.

Hey...if government takes on a whole bunch of different roles, it can't deal sufficiently with the roles it has you might already support.

 
At 11:47 PM, Blogger Joel Mielke said...

Newt "yellow legal pad" Gingrich?
Which wife is he on now? She'd better get a lawyer, because the "eye of newt" is probably already looking eagerly toward the future.

 
At 2:29 PM, Blogger Shane Brinton said...

I'm glad to see Ron Paul came in ahead of Clinton on my list. I don't know why Kucinich isn't first though.

(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama (D)
(99%) 2: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
(96%) 3: Gov. Bill Richardson (D)
(83%) 4: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D)
(78%) 5: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D)
(77%) 6: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D)
(75%) 7: Ex-VP Al Gore (D)
(72%) 8: Sen. Joseph Biden (D)
(70%) 9: Rep. Ron Paul (R)
(70%) 10: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D)
(69%) 11: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Withdrew from race.
(38%) 12: Gov. Mike Huckabee (R)
(37%) 13: Gov. Mitt Romney (R)
(37%) 14: Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R)
(35%) 15: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R)
(34%) 16: Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R)
(33%) 17: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) (30%) 18: Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
(30%) 19: Gov. George Pataki (R)
(28%) 20: Sen. John McCain (R)
(24%) 21: Sen. Sam Brownback (R)
(19%) 22: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R)

 
At 3:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fred, thank for sharing the "test" I am a bit surprised at my outcome, but even more shocked at yours!

 
At 5:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rank Item
(100%) 1: Sen. Barack Obama (D) Information
(97%) 2: Gov. Bill Richardson (D) Information
(88%) 3: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Information
(88%) 4: Rep. Ron Paul (R) Information
(80%) 5: Sen. Joseph Biden (D) Information
(77%) 6: Ex-Sen. John Edwards (D) Information
(74%) 7: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) Information
(71%) 8: Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Withdrew from race.
(70%) 9: Ex-VP Al Gore (D) Information
(68%) 10: Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) Information
(66%) 11: Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) Information
(62%) 12: Gov. Mitt Romney (R) Information
(61%) 13: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) Information
(59%) 14: Gov. George Pataki (R) Information
(51%) 15: Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) Information
(51%) 16: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) Information
(50%) 17: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) Information
(50%) 18: Sec. Condoleezza Rice (R) Information
(44%) 19: Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) Information
(36%) 20: Sen. John McCain (R) Information
(36%) 21: Sen. Sam Brownback (R) Information
(33%) 22: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) Information
(0%) 23: Sen. George Allen (R) Withdrew from race.
(0%) 24: Sen. John Kerry (D) Withdrew from race.

Despite this here,I'm going with Cynthia Mckinney still.Don't know how Bill Richardson got that high on my list though,I actually like Ron Paul better.

 
At 5:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh crap,my top 3 were the same as Eric's!! What's up with that?

 
At 7:45 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Bottom line is, Esquan looks like he'll become a card carrying member of the Libertarian Party!

Welcome to the club, Esquan.

Sorry for the embarrasment.

 
At 1:13 AM, Blogger Shane Brinton said...

This thing seems rigged. Anybody left of center ends up with Obama as their top candidate.

 
At 7:09 AM, Blogger Rose said...

You got it, Shane.

 
At 10:54 AM, Blogger Hayduke said...

I think you are right ... it is rigged to put Obama on top for any body left of center. Can anyone figure out how? It seems fairly cleverly done. Maybe the rankngs are not actually based upon how you voted. Because you are not shown the underlying logic, this thing could be totally bogus.

 
At 11:05 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The way in which the questions are asked,and how the answers are formulated.The answers which are skewed to the left are more skewed to his precise personal views,whereas our views are probably much more pragmatic and not as narrowly depicted.You probably only had to agree with him on a few of the questions,which was enough to skew the total results in his favor even though you may have either chose neither or disagreed,more often than you agreed with him.

 
At 11:00 PM, Blogger Rose said...

For all you know ALL answers are added to Obama's column. There might be no rhyme or reason that makes any sense whatsoever.

 

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