2012 Presidential Candidates

Declared 2012 PFP & Socialist Presidential Candidate
Political Activist

Virginian born Stewart Alexis Alexander is the perfect model of a concerned citizen. An average American turned political activist, the cleaning company owner and "automobile sales consultant" (as his filings for California's 2006 Lieutenant Governor elections showed), is also the Chairperson for the Socialist Party of California as well as the Executive Director of the African American Civil Liberties Union.

Alexander, who once served as a reserve in US Air Force March Joint Air Reserve Base, will be participating in his fourth top-tier election following defeats in Los Angeles Mayoral (1989), California's Lieutenant Governorship (2006), American Vice-President (2008) and California's gubernatorial (2010) elections. His first brush with politics was back in a very non-Orwellian 1984, when he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nominee, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

However, it was his time spent as host of a talk show on KTYM Radio in Los Angeles that probably gave him the final push to make the giant leap into competitive politics. The years spent listening to the cry of the masses and the perennial problems of the proletariat may have been the trigger behind Alexander's decision to enter the 1989 Los Angeles mayoral election.

The father of two (including a stepson from his second marriage) is at the very heart of it, an idealistic, left leaning, middle class American; and as befitting his political ideology, the Murrieta resident will center his campaign on worker's rights and civil support infrastructure.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from Minnesota

Tea Party darling, the 55-year old Michele Bachmann is renowned for her straight talking and often, controversial stances. Her incredible fund raising ability will come in handy now that she has decided to take the plunge for the GOP presidential nomination. She raised an astounding $13 million for her 2010 reelection campaign, no small feat for a House election.

Her candidacy suffered a huge setback earlier this year with her speech in the Iowans For Tax Relief event last January, where her questionable reinterpretation of facts involving slavery, the constitution and our founding fathers drew flak from just about everyone outside the Republican Party. Her subsequent televised response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, in her capacity as the Congressional Tea Party chair, also met with lukewarm reception, with a few senior party figures voicing their displeasure at her apparent attempt to draw attention away from Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was selected to provide the official party response.

However, true to form, Bachmann responded in style with a rousing speech to 11,000 Republicans attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on February 9. Her ability to rally the grassroots and the conservative base of the party ensures that Bachmann will continue to hold a significant influence in the eventual outcome of the nomination race.

Bachmann shone in the New Hampshire GOP Presidential Debate recently with a polished, confident and articulate display. She appeared to have elevated her usual fiery and aggressive delivery to another level, and under the able hand of veteran Republican strategist, Edward Rollins, the former Reagan National Campaign Director in the 80's, Bachmann suddenly has established herself with the leading pack of the race. While she still has some way to go before catching up with Romney, Palin and Giuliani (yes, Giuliani), her conservative power base is fully capable of giving the time she needs to get some traction in her campaign.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman, Politician & Media

As soon as news broke in January 2011 that 65-year old former pizza baron, Herman Cain, had launched a presidential exploratory committee, the first question in the minds of most political pundits was: Does Cain possesses the requisite political pedigree to last the distance, never mind to win the actual race? After all, despite being a high-flying executive in the corporate world, as well as a much-respected figure in the Republican speaking circuit, Cain's single attempt for public office came in 2004 when he contested the Republican Party's nomination for the Georgia Senate seat. He was soundly defeated by Congressman Johnny Isakson by a margin of 27 points.

Of course, things are different now. Following a grueling 40-city Tea Party rally in 2010, Cain finished second behind Ron Paul in a straw poll conducted among Tea Party activists during a summit held at downtown Phoenix last February. Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, his other potential opponents for the Republican nomination, came in third and fifth respectively in the poll.

Cain, a devout Christian from a middle class upbringing, typify the American rags to riches story. His father held three jobs, and his mother worked as a maid, just to put Cain through school. He did not disappoint them, excelling in his studies and earning his degree in Mathematics from Morehouse College, before obtaining his MSc in Computer Science from Purdue while working for the US Navy.

The politics of Cain is like the man himself; grounded, pragmatic and conservative, for he is after all, as he likes to point out, an ABC (American Black Conservative). He favors a return to the gold standard, small government and free enterprise. A confident and articulate speaker, Cain would be a formidable opponent in any debate, and his lack of political experience means he has no baggage to worry about.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present Herman Cain, the classic dark horse for the 2012 Republican nomination

Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Former Chair of the Libertarian Party of Texas

Registered on May 16, 2011 with the FEC to run for President in 2012, Roger Gary has been a Libertarian since 1977 and has served his home state of Texas as an elected official for his party. In 1993, he was elected to the San Antonio River Authority where he served as Director. In 2010, Gary placed third as a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission in a four-way race with 139, 978 votes - more votes than the Texas gubernatorial candidate received.
Serving as State Chair of the Libertarian Party for Texas, Roger V. Gary has stated that he prefers to campaign at the local and state levels. He hopes in running for Libertarian candidate for president that he can bring positive attention and more voters to understand Libertarian principles and to join the party.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Speaker of the House

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives was once one of the brightest stars of the Republican Party. Together with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Gingrich masterminded the Contract with America campaign that saw the Republicans wresting control of the House from the Democrats for the first time in 40 years. He became the de facto head of the party and led the Republicans with a no-holds barred and bruising approach against the Clinton-led Democrats that at one stage, even saw the federal government shutting down. However, his abrasive style eventually saw him losing control of the House, and he resigned from his position as Speaker under threat of mutiny.

Yet, those who believe that Gingrich is a spent force and belongs to another era of partisan politics should do some quick rethinking, preferably with a calculator close by. In the one year period between 2009 to 2010, Gingrich raised a total of $32 million for his then undecided campaign; a figure which is more than ALL of his fellow Republican presidential aspirants - combined - managed to amass. The 67-year old may have burnt many bridges in Washington during his time there, but he remains one of the most recognizable Republican figures in the country, and in the absence of a nationally recognized Republican candidate (barring Romney and Palin), this may very well become a deciding factor.

The intellectual Gingrich, who has spent the majority of the past decade writing semi-historical works of fiction, is known as an out-of-the box thinker, and is perfectly capable of standing toe-to-toe with the cerebral President Obama. His grasps on most of the issues affecting the country is second to none, although, there are concerns that his position sometimes appears to shift in concert with prevailing public sentiments. He is also a very formidable opponent in a debate, a fact that many would willingly attest to. The thought of a debate involving Gingrich, fellow Republican Ron Paul and President Obama has left many salivating at the prospects.

However, Gingrich continues to be saddled with baggage involving his private life, and there is a fear that he will once again emerge as a divisive figure within the party and ruin the chances of Mitt Romney, who still remains the party's most viable candidate to take on Obama.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Utah and Ambassador to China

A former Mormon missionary.
Scion of billion dollar chemical empire.
Fluent in Mandarin.
High school dropout (he obtained his G.E.D a few years later).
A personal friend of President Barack Obama.
Perceived by some as evasive.

Hardly a convincing choice as the Republican nominee for next year's presidential election now, is he? But if one were to look deeper, the affable Huntsman may very well turn out to be the savior of the Republicans comes 2012.

The thoughtful, bipartisan thinking and media savvy motorcycle-riding former aide to both former presidents Reagan and Bush (H.W), exudes a breath of fresh air into the sometimes all too predictable Republican nomination process.

Huntsman is a conservative who is respected by the liberals, a blue blood that is at ease with the average Americans, a devout Mormon with rock music sensibilities and a nationalist that still calls Chinese Vice President, Xi Jinping, a friend.

Huntsman is a contradiction, an enigma, a complex personality; and because of his personal fortune, has never been beholden to anyone. His term as the Governor of Utah saw him maintaining a consistently, ridiculously high approval ratings in excess of 70%. In fact, he won reelection for his second term by capturing an incredible 77.7% of the vote - an almost unheard of figure in modern top-tier politics. The respected Pew Center on the States cited Utah as the best managed state in the country during his tenure.

His time in the Republican administration of the 80's and early 90's saw him rising from an ordinary aide to the United States Ambassador to Singapore (the youngest ever at 32) within a few short years. Huntsman is a formidable man indeed. But the most frightening thing about the father of seven is, he appears to have no skeletons in his closet; and that just might prove to be the clincher for the Republican voters and delegates in the coming months.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of New Mexico

Gary Earl Johnson, the former two-term Governor of New Mexico, announced his entry into the Republican nomination race for the 2012 Presidential Election on April 21, 2011. The 58-year old, a renowned triathlete and construction company owner, has decided to bypass the presidential exploratory phase and is centering his campaign on the promise of 'fixing' the 'mess' that the government is in.

The Republican, known for his strong Libertarian inclination, is an enigma to the party's grassroots. The practical and conservative approach he advocates during his days as the Governor of New Mexico contrasts strongly with his more recent comments, which has grown increasingly 'Ron-Paulish' in recent years. However, Johnson remains one of the few gubernatorial qualified success stories in recent years, and therein lies his appeal with the party cadres and grassroots.

His entry into politics was a low-key affair, driven mainly by a core of loyal backers. The then inexperienced Johnson was hardly given a chance in the run up to the New Mexico gubernatorial race in 1994, especially after being rebuffed by the state Republican Party who 'suggested' that he should instead seek a seat at the State Legislature first .

However, his doggedness saw him scrapping past his Republican challenger in primary, Richard P. Cheney, by a mere 1%, winning 34% of the ballots. The win was all the more impressive considering his campaign was funded almost entirely from the $500,000 he himself contributed to the campaign. However, with the Republican Party machinery firmly behind him in the actual election, Johnson soundly, although very surprisingly, defeated the incumbent Governor, Democrat Bruce King, by an impressive 50% to 40%. He repeated the feat four years later by triumphing over Democrat Albert Chavez by another comprehensive 55% to 45% margin to win the reelection - a particularly impressive feat in a state with a 40% Latin population.

His time in New Mexico was typified by his aggressive cost cutting measures aimed at eliminating the state's budget deficit and spending growth. Johnson, armed with the lessons learnt building his construction firm, was known to be a decisive, yet collaborative operator whose is most often remembered as the Governor who never increased taxes during his tenure as Governor of New Mexico.

Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Businessman

For Idaho-born Cody Robert Judy, the 2012 presidential election would mark his second attempt for the presidency, after running as a write-in candidate under the Democratic banner in the 2008 presidential election. The 46-year old businessman also ran for Utah's House and Senate seat in 2002 and 2004 respectively, both times, again, as a write-in Democrat.

The self-professed constitutionalist initiated a lawsuit against John McCain and the Republican National Committee in 2008, challenging McCain's eligibility for the presidency on the grounds that McCain was not a "natural-born citizen," citing the fact that the Republican nominee was born in Panama and naturalized by an act of Congress. The case was declared moot after McCain lost the election to Barack Obama.

Judy also filed the first Brief of Amicus Curiae on the matter of Captain Pamela Barnett's official petition to the California Secretary of State in 2008, requesting a delay in the voting of members of the Electoral College until a full investigation has been conducted on the constitutional eligibility of Barack Hussein Obama to serve as President of the United States.

Judy's campaign manifesto will be centered on three fundamental subjects, dubbed as the Ropes Initiatives Platform, which read as,

%u2022 A Strong Defense Initiative
America's future generations should not have to face indentured servitude.

%u2022 America's Natural Resource Excavation Initiative
America's natural resources of gas, coal, and oil may be the only thing we have left to assure our future generations that politicians haven't sold them into slavery.

%u2022 America's Enforced Borders Initiative
Securing America's borders by any means necessary, including authorizing the use of its military ingenuity, intelligence and deadly force, to maintain the nation's independence and security.

Judy believes that this is the time in our history to send Washington DC a message regarding the constitutional crisis and crumbling economy. To him, the message is clear: We vote for people who defend the Constitution.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Political Consultant & Gay Rights Activist

Fred Karger is a man of many firsts.
He was the first candidate to register his candidacy to the Federal Election Commission.
He is the first openly gay candidate running for the White House.
He is the first Jewish presidential candidate for the Republican Party.

The now retired political consultant is the ultimate insider man of Washington. He has been weaving his way behind the scenes for the past three decades - as a strategist, advisor and lobbyist. He has direct experience in nine presidential campaigns, most notably with the successful campaigns of former presidents Reagan (1984) and Bush (1988). He has also been involved in over thirty lower level federal and state elections in various capacities. His consulting firm, the Dolphin Group, has been retained in an advisory and executive role in hundreds of local and state elections. Karger knows the system like the back of his hands.

His decision to run as an independent, while unexpected, wasn't entirely surprising. The conservative heart of the Republican Party can hardly be expected to throw their support behind an openly gay candidate. The repercussions behind his decision have already been felt a number of times since his candidacy was announced, with the most recent being his exclusion from the California Republican Party Presidential Debate in early May. The event organizer, Fox News, claimed that he failed to garner enough polling numbers (1%) to be considered as an automatic entry for the debate; yet allowing another presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum, with lower polling numbers to participate.

This certainly would not have been an unexpected development for the canny Karger, which of course brings into question: why? Pundits have speculated that Karger's candidacy is merely a platform to increase gay awareness among Americans, with an ultimate aim of furthering the cause of same sex marriage. Karger's comment against leading Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, appears to strengthen this argument.

"I just don't think Mitt Romney is well-suited for the job right now. He's got a great record of flip-flops. I think we need some new, fresh ideas." Karger finished his attack on Romney by openly declaring himself as "the anti-Romney candidate."

Their spat began when Romney, a Mormon, refused to support Karger in condemning the Church of Latter Day Saint's opposition to same-sex marriage and their subsequent support of the California Marriage Protection Act ballot

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

Since 1978, Anthony Robert Martin-Trigona has contested in eight senate election primaries (Florida and Illinois), two House of Representatives primaries (Connecticut and Florida), one state senate election (Florida), two gubernatorial primaries (Florida and Illinois) and three presidential primaries - three times as a Democrat and the other thirteen times as a Republican for a total of 16 attempts.

He has also, according to United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit) , initiated "hundreds, if not thousands" of litigations as well as filing "250 civil actions" over the years that eventually led to several restrictions being placed on him for any future legal actions.

However, all these pales in comparison when placed against the success that the "King of the Birthers" achieved as a result of his 'widely discredited' (Jim Rutenberg, NYT, Oct 12 2008) cyber-whisper campaign that states, among others, that Obama is a Muslim, and is hiding the fact "to endanger Israel". He later amended his claim and stated instead that suspected communist sympathizer Frank Marshall Davis is the real biological father of the President, instead of Barack Obama, Sr. He blames the 'confusion' on Obama himself, as he "hasn't told the truth to the American people", as well as 'others' who "exaggerate them (his writings) to suit their own fantasies" (Jim Rutenberg, NYT, Oct 12 2008).

There is no doubting the tenacity and courage of his convictions, characteristics that some may looked favorably upon. But there will be as many, if not more, who will remember his colorful pasts, and that, even Mr. Martin will agree on.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate

The exquisitely bearded 64-year old ex-postal worker is no stranger to controversies, and seems to have quite a knack of attracting the attention of the media. Discounting his bridge-climbing agility, pseudo self-immolation and hit rap single featuring the 'Rent Is Too Damn High Party' theme song (available in iTunes), McMillan does carry one very important point that resonates with plenty of average Americans - the rent is indeed, too damn high.

McMillan, who was awarded with three Bronze Stars during his distinguished army career, appears to take his candidacy very seriously, outlining his opinions on a variety of issues during an appearance in the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington earlier this year and an interview with Revolution Radio. In the radio interview, McMillan acknowledged the threat posed by Obama and remarked that Obama is "a good-looking young guy, and I'm a handsome old dude. So there's gonna be some competition there". McMillan also made an appearance at Northeastern University a month later, speaking to the Political Science Student Association.

Opinions are divided over his participation in the race, with some genuinely pleased with the irreverency and humor he brings to the contest. Others remain a little skeptical, questioning his anti-Semitic tendencies and his devaluing of the august chair of the president. However, as the father of two correctly pointed out in the same radio interview, his website does have more page views compared to that of his potential competitor, Sarah Palin.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Career Flight Attendant

Tom Miller is a 46 year old single dad who has been a career flight attendant for the last 23 years. Through his daily interaction with hundreds of American people from every walk of life, plus regular visits to each of our 50 states (along with many foreign countries), he believes his frugal, middle class lifestyle gives him the connection that has been missing from Washington for years. As a private citizen entering the office of Presidency, Miller will not be bringing an entitled or political ideology with him, instead he will be bringing morals, values and principles directly from Main Street America.

Our Republic was founded and built by teachers, farmers and common citizens. Most of these individuals did not have any prior political experience, only a basic education and a love of their country. These average citizens took simple ideas based upon faith, freedom and hard work and created the greatest Nation on earth. Their successful recipe was honored and followed for almost 150 years and the results were the most prosperous nation on earth, the largest middle class ever, the lowest tax rates in history with zero national debt. Now, after 80+ years of electing career politicians from the privileged elite, this dynamic has been destroyed and replaced with a bloated, controlling and self-perpetuating bureaucracy.

Tom has not been groomed nor has he worked his way up the political ladder to be chose for this opportunity. Instead, he is stepping forward from among the people in the private sector to do the job that the career politicians are either unable or unwilling to do. As the son of a decorated WWII Marine, Tom was raised with the original recipe that brought the greatest generation through some of our countries toughest challenges. He has the skill sets, the backbone and the faith that will allow him to make the tough and unpopular permanent decision that are being denied, neglected or only temporarily resolved today. He understands that we must sacrifice the wants of today for the needs of tomorrow in order to give the next generation an America that is stronger and more secure than was given to us.

Thomas J. Miller is a Registered Candidate (Republican), President of the United States of America 2012.
Federal Election Commission ID: P20001947.

Principal Campaign Committee: Reduce Government Miller for President
ID: C00462010.

Our Current President

Born to a Kenyan father and a Caucasian mother, the former community activist and lawyer came into national prominence with a show stopping keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, befitting his reputation as a brilliant orator. In 2008, after a hard fought win against Hillary Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination, the former Senator from Illinois crushed Republican John McCain to become the first African American to claim the presidency.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
U.S. Representative from the State of Texas

Who is Ron Paul?

For so long, Ronald Ernest Paul, the eleven-term Congressman from Texas, has been cast in the role of the misfit, the eccentric and the unelectable; securely kept within the fringes of the Republican Party. He was the supposed cautionary tale used to bring idealistic non-mainstream candidates back into the party line, a warning for those who refuse to toe the established protocols. He was shunned by the mainstream media for his dogmatic libertarian views. And there he was destined to remain, to paraphrase Johnny Castle, kept in the corner, and out of harm's way.

Nevertheless, Paul soldiered on, and aided by his small army of vocal and enthusiastic supporters, he stuck to his guns and never wavered from his convictions. Paul is a constitutionalist, and makes no apologies about it. He believes in small governments, non-expansionist foreign policy, gold-backed currency, personal liberty and abolishing federal income taxes. He holds the most conservative voting record in Congress, and he is also the biggest advocate for the dismantling of the Federal Reserves.

As luck would have it, there was a shift in the national political paradigm in early 2009. The Koch Brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP), initiated the Tea Party Movement, and through a concatenation of events, Ron Paul was co-opted as the spiritual godfather of the movement. The social media strategy advocated by the AFP suddenly thrust Paul into the spotlight, and lodged him squarely into the mainstream web consciousness.

His ideas took hold within the nascent Tea Party Movement, and its cadres began spreading his message. By the time Paul announced his entry into the GOP nomination race on May 13, 2011, he has long left the fringes of the Republican political spectrum, and instead, turning into one of the major figures in the 2012 presidential race.

But the party hierarchy and the mass media still appear to have trouble reconciling the old Paul with his sudden shift in fortunes and new-found popularity with the masses, especially with the highly prized 'first-time voter' demographic.

He has since made huge strides, and elevated himself into a top-tier candidate, sitting, deservedly, with the other A list candidates such as Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. However, there have been growing concerns over his fast eroding influence within the Tea Party Movement, and some fear that the drop-off rates, coupled with the reduced focus from the blogging communities, may damage his chances.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Current Governor of Texas

James Richard Perry is the longest serving Texan Governor in history, having served three elected terms and a single half term in office, after former President George Bush vacated his seat to assume the presidency in 2001.

The former Air Force captain, who once entertained thoughts of becoming a veterinarian, has never hid his preference to remain as Governor of the Lone Star State, claiming it to be "the best job in the world." However, the sparse field of candidates in the Republican nomination race, as well as pressure from the evangelical segment of the grassroots, has forced Perry to reevaluate the matter.

Perry, a dogmatic nationalist and a noted social and fiscal conservative, strategically threw his Stetson into the ring hours before the the Iowa Straw Poll, and with that, turned the focus of the national Press Corps into his direction. He is widely expected to instantly challenge Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann at the top of the leaderboard.

Of course, the question remains whether Perry is capable of reinventing his image to the independents and disgruntled Democrats in time for the election. His hard stance on several explosive issues, such as abortion, firearms, immigration, same-sex marriages and capital punishment, is bound to provoke a reaction outside of the conservative circles. There is also a fear that his perceived similarity with former President Bush would prove to be a millstone around his neck, with anti-Bush sentiments still prevalent among a significant segment of the populace.

Despite this however, Perry's image of the archetypal Republican conservative may very well turn out to be his strongest selling point yet, especially to the increasingly perturbed heartland Republicans fearing an Obama second term.

Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
New York attorney and founder of the Paralegal Institute

Serving as an attorney for over 40 years, Carl Person (pronounced peer-son) registered to run for President on the Libertarian ticket on June 6, 2011. Living in New York for most of his life, the 75 year old recently ran for Attorney General of New York state in 2010, placing third. He previously tried gain a nomination in 2006 with the Green Party for the same position.

Person dropped out of high school at the age of sixteen, but claims to be a small business owner since the age of nine when he ran a paper route during a brief stay in Nebraska. He would later join the Army before eventually being accepted to Harvard Law School, where his father graduated. Person worked for a law firm that had Richard Nixon and John Mitchell as partners at before opening his own law firm, his own small business. He has spent his career a private Attorney General, using litigation, anti-trust, trademark, and foreclosure as his primary foci in legal matters.

Person proposes deregulation of business, education, and healthcare as a means of improving the economy. He has served in the Army, but says that he is anti-war. Person owns over 100 websites, mostly relating to law in which he urges people to "stop paying your mortgages" and student loans. In 1972, he founded the Paralegal Institute, the second school for the training of paralegals in this country. In the 1980's, he created a for-profit court system called the "National Private Court." He is married for more than 30 years, to Lu Ann Horstman, for whom he produced her screenplay, Ramblin' Gal in 1991, and with whom he has a son.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Louisiana

Charles Elson Roemer III began his political career in 1981 in the U.S House of Representatives after winning Louisiana's 4th District election as a Democrat. During his seven years sojourn in Washington, he was famous for regularly going against the party line and throwing his lot with the Reagan-led Republicans.

He left Congress to contest in the Louisiana gubernatorial election, only to lose to the legendary Edwin Edwards, the incumbent, whom Roemer blamed for his father's 1981 conviction in a state insurance corruption scandal and the resulting jail sentence. Roemer returned four years later for another matchup with Edwards, and despite trailing for most of the campaign, Roemer, under a banner of reform and a budget overhaul, surged to victory in the closing stages.

However, the Harvard graduate ambitious agenda of overhauling the Bayou State's $1.3 billion budget deficit and instituting a slew of economic reforms failed to take off. Instead, Roemer was forced to battle an unsupportive legislature on almost every issue. He took a beating in the press on a regular basis, and public support for him dwindled. With almost nothing worthwhile to show during his tenure as Governor beyond the legalization of floating casinos in the state, he faced the very real prospect of a one-term governorship. A late-term switch to the Republicans failed to change his fortune and predictably, Roemer was defeated yet again by his old nemesis, Edwin Edwards. A failed attempt at recapturing the governorship in 1995 led to Roemer settling into private life.

After almost two decades of silence, Roemer's sudden reemergence has left many wondering. With a low name recognition factor and no notable endorsement behind him, it would be safe to say that the man will hard-pressed to make an impression. His comments in an interview earlier this year with an online news site certainly did not help matters, "I don't have a plan, to answer your question, about, you know, you mentioned plan". However, the canny politician with the gift of the gab is not expected to ride quietly into the sunset. Sparks will flow - just wait for it.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Governor of Massachusetts

Mitt Romney is considered by many in the Republican Party to be the front-runner for the 2012 nomination, although his 2008 presidential campaign collapsed after a second-place finish to Mike Huckabee in the Iowa caucus, a state in which Romney had been considered strong. The Harvard graduate and longtime venture capitalist is revered for his financial knowledge. Many believe that Romney is the most qualified candidate to tackle the struggling economy and federal budget deficit.

Earlier this year, the former Massachusetts governor released his newest book, 'No Apology: The Case for American Greatness' and went on an 18-state national book tour. The tour included his third trip to Iowa since the 2008 election, as well to New Hampshire and South Carolina, all early battleground states.

The title of the new book refers to what Romney describes as President Obama's pattern of apologizing for American behavior in speeches abroad, such as his conciliatory speech in Cairo over the summer of 2010 to the Muslim world. Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney spokesman said, "The book is more than a critique of the Obama presidency. The book itself is primarily forward-looking."

It does in fact seem as though Mitt Romney is forward-looking to the 2012 Republican nomination. Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President Bush and 2008 Republican nominee John McCain stated, "Romney is playing things very methodically and deliberatively. I think he understands the physics of this game very well now and is carefully calibrating his approach to 2012."

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former US Senator from Pennsylvania

How does one recover from the biggest defeat (by an 18-point margin) for an incumbent in a Senate election in 30 years? Perhaps more importantly, how does one tackle the problem of having one's name being associated to lube, fecal matter and anal sex (gay activist, Dan Savage, started a campaign in 2003 to popularize an alternate definition of Santorum, in retaliation to Santorum's equating the issue of gay marriage to bestiality and pedophilia) which shows up on the top of every search engine query of his name?

The former Senator of Pennsylvania and rising star of the Republican Party certainly has his work cut out for him. Santorum however, has never been one to shy away from a problem or controversy. A passionate and opinionated man, even his critics readily admit that this articulate socio-fiscal conservative believes in his own convictions, and never plays to the gallery.

His stance on national security, economy, social issues and his rhetoric against gay agenda mirrors those of the Republican conservative grassroots, and being the only recognizable practicing Catholic among the front runners for 2012 GOP race presents him with a unique stranglehold on the religious money. His excellent relationship with Evangelical Protestants offers yet another channel of support among the Christian conservative base.

Santorum captivating oratory skills, his regular TV appearances in the FOX network and his impressive network among Washington's lobbyist lends further weight to his credibility as a potential candidate. In a Republican field that is generally considered as less than inspiring, Santorum has the chance to add another alternate definition to his name: The Comeback Kid.

Declared 2012 Democratic Presidential Candidate
Pro-life Activist

It is rare, but there have been instances when a sitting president is challenged from within the party for a presidential nomination. Randal A. Terry's decision to throw down the gauntlet to President Obama may be a surprise to many, but not to those that know the man.

His story started sometime back in 1986, when Terry, from his Great Buy Used Cars lot at 1020 Front St. Vestal in Binghamton, planned 'Operation Rescue' with Daniel J. Little, his pastor from the Church at Pierce Creek. 'Operation Rescue' was infamous for its sieges of abortion clinics, aggressive protesting techniques and the 'go limp' blockade maneuver. It elevated the previously unknown Terry into the most well-known pro-life activist in the country, and earning himself the image of a political militant in the process.

A quarter of a century and over forty arrests since, Terry is still going strong, albeit, without the radicalism prevalent during the early years of his activism. Perhaps the conviction of former Operation Rescue alumni, James Charles Kopp, for the murder of pro-choice physician Dr. Barnett Slepian in 1998, together with the heightening legal assault by his pro-choice opponents and the over 20,000 arrest of the movement supporters, forced a strategy review.

The three pronged approach that he envisioned in the fall of 1983 (blockade of clinics, counseling of mothers and shelter for the unwed mothers) was clearly not yielding the results he was hoping for. Changing times calls for innovation, and Terry did exactly that. He was reborn as a touring speaker, author and media personality, an approach that has once again pushed him to the forefront of the debate.

He took the giant leap of submitting his Presidential Form 2 Filers to the Federal Election Commission on January 18 this year and four days later said, "This campaign is about human rights, ladies and gentlemen. It will be first and foremost about the human rights of babies that are being brutally slaughtered and thrown in dumpsters and landfills. But it is also about the human rights of the slave labor force on Obama's plantation."

By all accounts, Terry does not even hold a shadow of a chance, but there are worries that the former Republican could force Obama to alienate a significant chunk of the Democrats by publicly engaging Terry.

Declared 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Libertarian Activist

Roger Lee Wrights has been a Libertarian even since he was in junior high school. This was when he organized protests against the war in Vietnam, as well as in favor of the civil rights movement. Residing in both Winston-Salem, NC, as well as Burnet, TX, Wrights has served the Libertarian Party in both states at the local, state, and national levels.

Running on the motto, "Stop All Wars," the main concern of candidate Wrights is to end costly and ineffective wars. This includes wars abroad, as well as domestic, such as the war on drugs. Wrights follows the Libertarian Party stances on these issues. Foreign policy should be dictated by America as the "good neighbor" rather than the "nosy neighbor" we have become known internationally for involvement in what happens with other nations. Non-intervention is the route to take for ending terrorism and promoting peace.

The war on the American taxpayer must also be stopped, according to Wrights. No country has more people in jail for non-violent crimes than America, where the war on drugs has placed millions of people for decades. Americans can also be eased by stopping expenditures the country does not need, such as international conflict. Wrights insists that we must not slow or cut spending, but stop it altogether for a balanced budget, with the selling off of all government-owned property and contracts.

Healthcare has become a controversial topic during the Obama administration with healthcare and insurance costs soaring. Wrights proposes deregulation as the means of lowering the burden of cost to citizens. Costs of programs such as Medicare and Medicaid would be transitioned into private health insurance plans, deposited tax-free into private savings accounts. If the Food and Drug Administration is abolished, Wrights insists that free-market availability of low cost options will become available to Americans.

Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Businessman

Vern Wuensche (win she) has always taken a small resource and through effort turned it into a successful result.

In 1963 upon graduating from high school with an intention to enter the University of Texas at Austin, he was warned by an instructor that doing so would be prohibitively expensive and that he would likely flunk out. Having only $400.00, he entered anyway, working part time and summers obtaining a BBA and then an MBA, graduating first in his class.

In 1975 after working for several large builders he intended to start his own residential construction business. A banker and a friend told him he would fail. Having only $6,000, he began anyway, and built a business which thirty-five years later has consistently produced a variety of exceptionally high quality projects, each built one-on-one with his 500 customers. Woodmark is Houston's third oldest residential contractor.

In 2007 after being active in politics for forty years he decided to run for President of the United States. He was discouraged by everyone. Having only $36,000, he did so anyway, and one year later, after spending 100 days visiting over 6,000 businesses in 242 towns in Iowa and New Hampshire, he placed tenth in both states.

Vern Wuensche's view on the job he is seeking is that a President improves life for each American solely by the quality of the decisions he makes. He believes a President's job to be an executive job and therefore certain personal qualities are critical to being successful: the person's values, decision making skill, judgment on the issues and inner toughness.

Vern Wuensche believes his own values are the same as those which guided our founders in establishing our Constitution and America as a Christian nation.

Wuensche, in addition to his graduate school business training in decision making, gained practical decision making experience and proved his skill by surviving his business during many difficult times for 35 years.

Vern believes that his judgment on issues in 2008 and now in 2012 are proving to be correct. His views have remained virtually unchanged all his life.

Vern's inner toughness is a consequence of his modest beginnings plus the difficulties he regularly faced in surviving his business which he was never able to take to the next level. Every five years or so one dishonest individual would wipe out his accumulated capital without any chance of recovery since the legal costs would always exceed the recovery amount.