Yeah, I've noticed how American politics feels like it's always ramping up for an election of some sort. Except for right after a presidential race--but shortly after that it's midterm elections, and then primaries for the next presidential race are starting.
Current thoughts on Republican primaries:
1. Jon Huntsman: remember the Obama-Boehner bill when the Republicans were artificially creating a debt ceiling crisis? The bill that ultimately had deeper cuts than the bill we eventually got? But that some Republicans were too whiny to actually take because they didn't want a single cent of tax increase? Huntsman was the only one of the candidates to vote for that bill/support that bill. Making him the token sane candidate.
2. Ron Paul. Ron Paul...kinda isn't sane (talking about switching to a gold standard during a recession--what's he going to do? Use billions of taxpayer dollars to buy money?) Although most of his crazy ideas are ideas I find acceptable--like...government getting out of the marriage business is egalitarian, even if it's not the solution I would default to. And the one nice thing Ron Paul is is consistent--he's had the same message since 1980, and all the big television stations try to ignore his existence or downplay his success, which makes it sound like they're worried he won't be very corruptable.
unranked. Gary Johnson. Apparently he's been in at least one debate, but I don't remember him, nor have I ever heard him talked about. Another token libertarian.
4-9. lol everyone else sucks. Bunch of losers who signed the NOM pledge because they're either spinless or zealous nutbags. I'm not sure whether it's worse to be a spinless flip-flopper like Romney or Gingritch, or completely insane like Santorum or Bachmann.