Republican 2012 Nomination Thread

[kapkomet]

I wish Joe Biden would answer questions speaking Mandarin. But it would be totally fake Mandarin.

 

 

Yea, like the orange juice kind. 8)

[StrangeSox]

I wish Joe Biden would answer questions speaking Mandarin. But it would be totally fake Mandarin.

[mr_genius]

Yea, like the orange juice kind. 8)

 

while drinking the orange juice kind. like a ventriloquist but speaking fake Chinese with a wooden Huntsman dummy.

[Soxbadger]

Im not sure many "true" Democrats would vote for Paul (some of his stances are pro-life, extend tax cut on wealthy, wants to give Dr's who commit malpractice a tax credit, eliminate income, capital gains and death tex, etc). I personally find him more palatable than many of the republican candidates because hes not as focused on social policies.

 

At least he has the guts to stick by small govt in most cases and at the end of the day I really do prefer a smaller federal govt, I just really dont trust the people who claim they are for it.

[Balta1701]

Im not sure many "true" Democrats would vote for Paul (some of his stances are pro-life, extend tax cut on wealthy, wants to give Dr's who commit malpractice a tax credit, eliminate income, capital gains and death tex, etc). I personally find him more palatable than many of the republican candidates because hes not as focused on social policies.

 

At least he has the guts to stick by small govt in most cases and at the end of the day I really do prefer a smaller federal govt, I just really dont trust the people who claim they are for it.

It's the very specific small government though. For example, he has repeatedly attempted to itoduce "life begins at conception" laws at the federal level which would clearly compel abortion bans, which he also supports. He also is happy to support corporate rights over individual rights, for example, since I'm still waiting for a coal plant to pay me back for my lungs.

[Milkman delivers]

Paul would be decimated in a national election.

 

Expound? I'm sure card-carrying Republicans would vote for him over Obama, and I've heard a good amount of talk that some Democrats would jump over to him for one election.

[StrangeSox]

Expound? I'm sure card-carrying Republicans would vote for him over Obama, and I've heard a good amount of talk that some Democrats would jump over to him for one election.

 

He'd get some left-leaning support, for sure. He'd get most of the libertarians, but that's a relatively small group. He'd get some Republicans, but some of his domestic policies and his especially his foreign policy is 100% against the Republican party platform. While party tribalism would give him some "hold-your-nose" Republican votes, a large percentage of reliable GOP voters would simply sit at home. Recent polling is already showing Republican enthusiasm fading in the face of their possible candidates.

 

As he receives more and more mainstream coverage, his wacky economic ideas (eg gold standard, massive federal budget cuts that would plunge us into a depression) and their disastrous effects as well as issues like his racist and homophobic newsletters will get more press scrutiny. He'd struggle to get many independents at all, and as these other paleoconservative issues are highlighted, the anti-war, anti-war-on-drugs younger left-leaning crowd will become disaffected with him.

[StrangeSox]

It's the very specific small government though. For example, he has repeatedly attempted to itoduce "life begins at conception" laws at the federal level which would clearly compel abortion bans, which he also supports. He also is happy to support corporate rights over individual rights, for example, since I'm still waiting for a coal plant to pay me back for my lungs.

 

Those personhood bills would also have the wonderful effect of outlawing many forms of contraception.

[StrangeSox]

hes not as focused on social policies.

 

He would love to completely eliminate all forms of the social safety net. That's pretty core to his philosophy.

[Soxbadger]

Thats why I said in "most cases".

 

None of them are willing to go as small as I would, nor are they willing to be as laissez-faire. I really dont fit well into a party system.

 

 

[Soxbadger]

Strangesox,

 

Thats not what I meant by social policies.

 

I meant against gay marriage, war on drugs, etc. I consider welfare etc to be economic policies as ultimately the goal is to not have unemployed etc.

[StrangeSox]

Paul's supported DOMA.

[Reddy]

But he actually served in the Air Force, not just the National Guard.

 

The way I see it, Paul might be the only candidate that could pull in some Democrats. Hell, I'd consider myself more of a Democrat than a Republican, and I know quite a few like-minded individuals. As long as Republicans would vote for him, he could give Obama a run for his money.

 

do you know a single thing about Huntsman? He's the most moderate candidate in the campaign. He supports environmental reforms, civil unions, is actually religiously tolerant - teaches his adopted indian daughter about hinduism. How awesome is that? He also supports lowering taxes and all that other GOP fiscal policy.

 

I'd vote for him over Obama.

 

I wouldn't vote for the Dept of Education cutting, National Endowment for the Arts cutting, Health care destroying, pro life, anti gay Ron Paul if my life depended on it. And I know y'all wont believe me, but I'm NOT crazy liberal. I just seem like it compared to all these Right wing wackos these days.

[Reddy]

Huntsman is a clueless high school drop out and his only 'skill' is having super rich parents. I would vote for Obama over Huntsman.

he... has been an ambassador to Singapore and China and successfully ran an entire state with 90% approval ratings. No skills? Seriously? Why do you even post that ignorant s***?

[StrangeSox]

do you know a single thing about Huntsman? He's the most moderate candidate in the campaign. He supports environmental reforms, civil unions, is actually religiously tolerant - teaches his adopted indian daughter about hinduism. How awesome is that? He also supports lowering taxes and all that other GOP fiscal policy.

 

I'd vote for him over Obama.

 

I wouldn't vote for the Dept of Education cutting, National Endowment for the Arts cutting, Health care destroying, pro life, anti gay Ron Paul if my life depended on it. And I know y'all wont believe me, but I'm NOT crazy liberal. I just seem like it compared to all these Right wing wackos these days.

 

No, openly supporting Huntsman does a good job of ensuring everyone that you're not a liberal. Huntsman's economic plan, like every other Republican plan, results in massive tax cuts for the wealthy (particularly for the investor class, capital gains and dividends rates get slashed) and minimal cuts if not increases for everyone else while almost eliminating many social services. Oh, and he's back-tracked on some of his global warming acceptance and he wants to cripple the EPA.

 

Weren't you campaigning pretty hard for Edwards 4 years ago? I'm not sure how you could go from what Edwards policies were to Huntsman without some serious political/philosophical changes.

[Reddy]

No, openly supporting Huntsman does a good job of ensuring everyone that you're not a liberal. Huntsman's economic plan, like every other Republican plan, results in massive tax cuts for the wealthy (particularly for the investor class, capital gains and dividends rates get slashed) and minimal cuts if not increases for everyone else while almost eliminating many social services. Oh, and he's back-tracked on some of his global warming acceptance and he wants to cripple the EPA.

 

Weren't you campaigning pretty hard for Edwards 4 years ago? I'm not sure how you could go from what Edwards policies were to Huntsman without some serious political/philosophical changes.

those philosophical changes are just hating Obama hard. Him signing the NDAA was the last straw. I mean, if it's any of the leading GOP candidates I'll sure as s*** vote for him, but I won't be a huge fan.

 

I disagree with Huntsman economic policies true - but I feel like he's actually a decent friggin' human being and he WONT try and pass bulls*** defense of marriage acts and overturn Roe v. Wade etc etc. That s*** pisses me off more than the economic stuff. I'm a broke actor anyway.

[StrangeSox]

I'm pretty sure any of the GOP candidates save Paul would have signed the NDAA, or maybe threatened to veto it because it didn't mandate detaining US citizens.

 

I don't like Obama. I won't be voting for him. But I sure as s*** won't be voting for someone with far-right conservative ideology, either. And make no mistake, that's what Huntsman is. That the rest of the candidates are so terrible that they make his ideas look sane and rational by comparison isn't exactly a compliment. I can't imagine what you agree with Huntsman on that Obama doesn't also agree with.

[Reddy]

I'm pretty sure any of the GOP candidates save Paul would have signed the NDAA, or maybe threatened to veto it because it didn't mandate detaining US citizens.

 

I don't like Obama. I won't be voting for him. But I sure as s*** won't be voting for someone with far-right conservative ideology, either. And make no mistake, that's what Huntsman is. That the rest of the candidates are so terrible that they make his ideas look sane and rational by comparison isn't exactly a compliment. I can't imagine what you agree with Huntsman on that Obama doesn't also agree with.

haha that's a good point. I'm probably being irrational... but I'd rather a guy act like a conservative and call himself a conservative than Obama doing it and calling himself a liberal (although isn't it ironic that even being RIGHT of center in most of his policy-making, GOPers STILL call him a left wing extremist?)

[Milkman delivers]

He'd get some left-leaning support, for sure. He'd get most of the libertarians, but that's a relatively small group. He'd get some Republicans, but some of his domestic policies and his especially his foreign policy is 100% against the Republican party platform. While party tribalism would give him some "hold-your-nose" Republican votes, a large percentage of reliable GOP voters would simply sit at home. Recent polling is already showing Republican enthusiasm fading in the face of their possible candidates.

 

Gotcha. I guess I just see Republicans as more of a cohesive group when it comes to Democrats vs. Republicans.

[StrangeSox]

Gotcha. I guess I just see Republicans as more of a cohesive group when it comes to Democrats vs. Republicans.

 

 

They very much have been in the past, but Paul is openly antagonistic to almost everything that's made up the Republican coalition of the last several decades. Just look at how hard Fox News, Limbaugh et. al. go after him, and you can see the problems he'd have getting that large part of the Republican base behind him.

 

But to credit you argument, apparently there was a CBS poll that came out yesterday that had Paul and Obama essentially tied.

Edited January 10, 2012 by StrangeSox

[Reddy]

“You were, the last two years, implementing the policies of this administration in China," said Romney. "The rest of us on this stage were doing our best to get Republicans elected across the country and stop the policies of this president from being put forward.”

 

On Sunday, Huntsman returned to that exchange at his first opportunity.

 

“I was criticized last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first,” he said. “He criticized me, while he was out raising money, for serving my country in China – yes, under a Democrat, like my two sons are doing in the United States Navy. They’re not asking who … [or] what political affiliation the president is. And I want to be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country: I will always put my country first.”

 

Romney retorted: “I just think it’s most likely that the person who should represent our party running against President Obama is not someone who called him a remarkable leader and went to be his ambassador in China.”

 

Then, the punch line: “This nation is divided, David, because of attitudes like that,” Huntsman said to the moderator, to applause.

 

that's the kind of thing I like about the guy.

[Milkman delivers]

do you know a single thing about Huntsman? He's the most moderate candidate in the campaign. He supports environmental reforms, civil unions, is actually religiously tolerant - teaches his adopted indian daughter about hinduism. How awesome is that? He also supports lowering taxes and all that other GOP fiscal policy.

 

I'd vote for him over Obama.

 

I wouldn't vote for the Dept of Education cutting, National Endowment for the Arts cutting, Health care destroying, pro life, anti gay Ron Paul if my life depended on it. And I know y'all wont believe me, but I'm NOT crazy liberal. I just seem like it compared to all these Right wing wackos these days.

 

I said I'd vote for Huntsman. I'd vote for Paul as well (and first). I won't be voting in the general election if it's anyone else.

[Soxbadger]

Didnt notice I was doing other things.

[Milkman delivers]

They very much have been in the past, but Paul is openly antagonistic to almost everything that's made up the Republican coalition of the last several decades. Just look at how hard Fox News, Limbaugh et. al. go after him, and you can see the problems he'd have getting that large part of the Republican base behind him.

 

But to credit you argument, apparently there was a CBS poll that came out yesterday that had Paul and Obama essentially tied.

 

I'd characterize their treatment of him as more "ignoring" than "going after" him. The guy continues to poll pretty well, but nobody pays attention.

[StrangeSox]

I'd characterize their treatment of him as more "ignoring" than "going after" him. The guy continues to poll pretty well, but nobody pays attention.

 

Whenever he's covered by Fox, it's dismissive and insulting.

 

I'd imagine that Paul would face the same problem as the rest, though: once he does start seeing increased coverage, the spotlight will reveal a lot of issues and positions that many people will be uncomfortable with.

Edited January 10, 2012 by StrangeSox