Republican Primary Megathread (poll now updated)

[Dvardis]

I like how after every state he wins Romney is like "ok gg everyone, now on to attacking President O-" and everyone else is like "NO! There are still x states left to vote! OMG you'll never guess what Gingrich said at the water cooler the other day."

The super long drawn out primary battle only really exists at this point because... people say there's a super long drawn out primary battle. Or maybe that's Obama's advertising campaign at work

[Sane Outcasts]

I like how after every state he wins Romney is like "ok gg everyone, now on to attacking President O-" and everyone else is like "NO! There are still x states left to vote! OMG you'll never guess what Gingrich said at the water cooler the other day."

The super long drawn out primary battle only really exists at this point because... people say there's a super long drawn out primary battle. Or maybe that's Obama's advertising campaign at work

No, it's because there are still four candidates fighting for the nomination, 'battling', if you will, to become the candidate. While Romney has the advantage, none of the others show any signs of dropping out and every intention of digging in to keep fighting Mitt until the convention.

Personally, it looks to me like the closest thing to victory Santorum, Gingrich, or Paul will get is to deny Romney the delegates he needs to become the nominee. None of them have a hope of becoming the nominee short of a miracle, but they're determined to pull Romney down with them for some reason. Until one of them decides to do the right thing for their party and drop out, this primary will stay a long drawn-out battle.

[Farnhamia]

There's been so much fraud concerning the Republican primaries and Caucuses, both on the grounds and on the television, I have no faith any results are legitimate. Everything from missing ballot boxes to ending a Caucus early to prevent a certain candidate from winning, or nearly winning. Any voting machine that is electronic should be assumed illegitimate, anyway.

Would be nice for a good candidate to run for president who isn't under the Republican or Democratic ticket, however rules and regulations make that near impossible. It's all about exposure, and those two parties own all of it.

How much fraud? You mentioned two instances out of all the causcuses and primaries.

The minor parties run presidential tickets every four years. The reason they're minor parties is because they run wing-nuts and no one votes for them. If you got enough signatures in your home state, you could get on the ballot in November.

[Free Soviets]

Personally, it looks to me like the closest thing to victory Santorum, Gingrich, or Paul will get is to deny Romney the delegates he needs to become the nominee.

yeah, though that is looking like an increasingly long shot for them. it might have worked if any of them were both a) semi-credible candidates and b) running real campaigns. but they are just letting mittens rack up points uncontested.

[Farnhamia]

Personally, it looks to me like the closest thing to victory Santorum, Gingrich, or Paul will get is to deny Romney the delegates he needs to become the nominee.

yeah, though that is looking like an increasingly long shot for them. it might have worked if any of them were both a) semi-credible candidates and b) running real campaigns. but they are just letting mittens rack up points uncontested.

As Nate Silver has it in the Times, it's becoming a race between Mitt Romney and himself.

Before an election in 1983, Gov. Edwin W. Edwards of Louisiana declared, “The only way I can lose this election is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” We’re getting close to the point where it might take a major revelation for Mr. Romney to lose, something that substantially and permanently alters the way voters view him.

If, for instance, Mr. Romney faced a period comparable to the one that Mr. Obama did in 2008 when the Jeremiah Wright tapes drove up Mr. Obama’s unfavorable ratings, he could begin to fall below the delegate thresholds that he needs to reach, and superdelegates could be slower to endorse him. Because of the way this year’s Republican calendar is structured, with so many delegates being awarded so late, Mr. Romney could be more vulnerable to something like this than candidates in past nomination races.

[Farnhamia]

Jeb Bush endorses Romney!

Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said Wednesday that he was endorsing Mitt Romney‘s bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and urged his party to bring the divisive primary to a close and coalesce behind Mr. Romney’s candidacy.

“Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall,” Mr. Bush said in a statement announcing his endorsement.

Job creation? Seriously, Jeb?

[Hittanryan]

Jeb Bush endorses Romney!

Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said Wednesday that he was endorsing Mitt Romney‘s bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and urged his party to bring the divisive primary to a close and coalesce behind Mr. Romney’s candidacy.

“Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall,” Mr. Bush said in a statement announcing his endorsement.

Job creation? Seriously, Jeb?

"Fiscal conservatism" is equally funny, especially coming from a Bush.

"Pay no attention to the deficit behind the curtain."

[Siochain]

Ron Paul everyday forever. LIBERTY!
edit: I didn't see the poll asked who would win. I think Romney will. However I am definitely writing No Paul No Vote for me. No other candidate can even remotely compare. So once again I say LIBERTY!

[Farnhamia]

Ron Paul everyday forever. LIBERTY!
edit: I didn't see the poll asked who would win. I think Romney will. However I am definitely writing No Paul No Vote for me. No other candidate can even remotely compare. So once again I say LIBERTY!

Yes, liberty. The liberty to have your rights jerked around by the state legislature with no Federal protections, the right to have the value of your money subject to the whims and foibles of the gold market, the right to watch the environment befouled by corporations intent only on squeezing profits from the very rocks. Brilliant plan.

[Hittanryan]

Ron Paul everyday forever. LIBERTY!
edit: I didn't see the poll asked who would win. I think Romney will. However I am definitely writing No Paul No Vote for me. No other candidate can even remotely compare. So once again I say LIBERTY!

Ron Paul? I think you mean "STATE GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP!"

[Kaeshar]

How the heck anybody would mistake authoritarianism for libertarianism* (they are in fact, suppoused to be polar opposites), I have no idea, but its pretty clear that Ron Paul intends to violate the constitution, among other things.

*One answer would be that they are being lied to of course, but once you look deeper and think more critically, its harder to see how one would mistake authouritarianism for libertarianism.

[East HC]

Mitt Romney will win because he just won Illinois.

[Mike the Progressive]

I'm happy to see Romney win.

I'm mildly annoyed to see Romney win, knowing those conservative pasty-wasty jagoffs that are my fellow pro-statehood Puerto Ricans who gave him the votes he pathetically and desperately pandered out of them.

Look, I'm not thrilled about who is running, but of who is running, I'd rather have Romney as the GOP nominee than Santorum or Gingrich. Chances are that I'll probably vote for Obama anyway, mostly out of disappointment with the current Republican Party.

[Kaeshar]

If anything, its April that could end the race. Romney got 41 delegates and Santorum only got 10 (according to CNN anyway), while I don't know who will win Louisiana, the big prize next month is the New England area.

While Santorum is likely to win his home state (home states matter more in the general anyway), I think Romney will come out as the main winner here.

Also, does the GOP establishment and people have to be screaming in Gingrichs ear with a megaphone to get him to drop out? He keeps losing to Ron Paul who has no chance of winning anyway.

TBH though, Gingrich and Paul are just stubborn old men, and yes I know Gingrich is almost 10 years Ron Pauls junior.

[Farnhamia]

If anything, its April that could end the race. Romney got 41 delegates and Santorum only got 10 (according to CNN anyway), while I don't know who will win Louisiana, the big prize next month is the New England area.

While Santorum is likely to win his home state (home states matter more in the general anyway), I think Romney will come out as the main winner here.

Also, does the GOP establishment and people have to be screaming in Gingrichs ear with a megaphone to get him to drop out? He keeps losing to Ron Paul who has no chance of winning anyway.

TBH though, Gingrich and Paul are just stubborn old men, and yes I know Gingrich is almost 10 years Ron Pauls junior.

Or May. Nate Silver, in the article I linked above, goes through the primary calendar. As for Santorum and Pennsylvania, the last time he was on the ballot there the voters repudiated him by 17 points. Granted, that was a general election, but still.

[Hittanryan]

I'm mildly annoyed to see Romney win, knowing those conservative pasty-wasty jagoffs that are my fellow pro-statehood Puerto Ricans who gave him the votes he pathetically and desperately pandered out of them.

Look, I'm not thrilled about who is running, but of who is running, I'd rather have Romney as the GOP nominee than Santorum or Gingrich. Chances are that I'll probably vote for Obama anyway, mostly out of disappointment with the current Republican Party.

(Puts on a black hood, imitates Ian McDiarmid) Good...goooood...let the left FLOW through you!

[The Black Forrest]

Jeb Bush endorses Romney!

Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said Wednesday that he was endorsing Mitt Romney‘s bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and urged his party to bring the divisive primary to a close and coalesce behind Mr. Romney’s candidacy.

“Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall,” Mr. Bush said in a statement announcing his endorsement.

Job creation? Seriously, Jeb?

What do you have against China and India! They need jobs too.

Allow companies to export the jobs! Add in 40-60 million foreclosures and it will create hundreds of thousands of new Entrepreneurs!

What do you have against the free market and the 1 percenters!

[Kaeshar]

If anything, its April that could end the race. Romney got 41 delegates and Santorum only got 10 (according to CNN anyway), while I don't know who will win Louisiana, the big prize next month is the New England area.

While Santorum is likely to win his home state (home states matter more in the general anyway), I think Romney will come out as the main winner here.

Also, does the GOP establishment and people have to be screaming in Gingrichs ear with a megaphone to get him to drop out? He keeps losing to Ron Paul who has no chance of winning anyway.

TBH though, Gingrich and Paul are just stubborn old men, and yes I know Gingrich is almost 10 years Ron Pauls junior.

Or May. Nate Silver, in the article I linked above, goes through the primary calendar. As for Santorum and Pennsylvania, the last time he was on the ballot there the voters repudiated him by 17 points. Granted, that was a general election, but still.

There was a poll a week ago that said Santorum was polling high in Pennsylvania above Romney, but anything can happen between now and April 24th.

[Farnhamia]

Jeb Bush endorses Romney!


Job creation? Seriously, Jeb?

What do you have against China and India! They need jobs too.

Allow companies to export the jobs! Add in 40-60 million foreclosures and it will create hundreds of thousands of new Entrepreneurs!

What do you have against the free market and the 1 percenters!

The free market? Have you been there lately? 10 bucks for a fucking paperback? 75 bucks for a pair of goddamned blue jeans? There's nothing free about the free market.

I don't agree with Mr. Bryan of Nebraska on much, but I do on this: "There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them."

[Tmutarakhan]

If anything, its April that could end the race. Romney got 41 delegates and Santorum only got 10 (according to CNN anyway), while I don't know who will win Louisiana, the big prize next month is the New England area.

While Santorum is likely to win his home state (home states matter more in the general anyway), I think Romney will come out as the main winner here.

Also, does the GOP establishment and people have to be screaming in Gingrichs ear with a megaphone to get him to drop out? He keeps losing to Ron Paul who has no chance of winning anyway.

TBH though, Gingrich and Paul are just stubborn old men, and yes I know Gingrich is almost 10 years Ron Pauls junior.

Or May. Nate Silver, in the article I linked above, goes through the primary calendar. As for Santorum and Pennsylvania, the last time he was on the ballot there the voters repudiated him by 17 points. Granted, that was a general election, but still.

The voters who hate him are the Philly/Pittsburghers, who will not be voting in the GOP primary. In the rural boonies, Santorum's their guy.

[Farnhamia]

Or May. Nate Silver, in the article I linked above, goes through the primary calendar. As for Santorum and Pennsylvania, the last time he was on the ballot there the voters repudiated him by 17 points. Granted, that was a general election, but still.

There was a poll a week ago that said Santorum was polling high in Pennsylvania above Romney, but anything can happen between now and April 24th.

You could be right. Pennsylvania is an odd place. They let only the State sell booze and then hide the stores they sell it in.

[The Black Forrest]

What do you have against China and India! They need jobs too.

Allow companies to export the jobs! Add in 40-60 million foreclosures and it will create hundreds of thousands of new Entrepreneurs!

What do you have against the free market and the 1 percenters!

The free market? Have you been there lately? 10 bucks for a fucking paperback? 75 bucks for a pair of goddamned blue jeans? There's nothing free about the free market.

I don't agree with Mr. Bryan of Nebraska on much, but I do on this: "There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them."

Silly girl! That's because the government made them do it. There is no price gouging the free market.

But I agree. Went to my kids book fare and the prices for paper backs. I have a kindle and the price of some books are more then the paper backs.

[Farnhamia]

The free market? Have you been there lately? 10 bucks for a fucking paperback? 75 bucks for a pair of goddamned blue jeans? There's nothing free about the free market.

I don't agree with Mr. Bryan of Nebraska on much, but I do on this: "There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them."

Silly girl! That's because the government made them do it. There is no price gouging the free market.

I really do wonder what the hell happened to the price of books, though. When I worked in the bookselling trade, an expensive paperback was $1.95. Many of them were around a buck, or less (I was reading one over the weekend from the 50s, and it cost 35 cents).

[Jari Head]

If anything, its April that could end the race. Romney got 41 delegates and Santorum only got 10 (according to CNN anyway), while I don't know who will win Louisiana, the big prize next month is the New England area.

While Santorum is likely to win his home state (home states matter more in the general anyway), I think Romney will come out as the main winner here.

Also, does the GOP establishment and people have to be screaming in Gingrichs ear with a megaphone to get him to drop out? He keeps losing to Ron Paul who has no chance of winning anyway.

TBH though, Gingrich and Paul are just stubborn old men, and yes I know Gingrich is almost 10 years Ron Pauls junior.

Got that mostly right, Paul's a stubborn old men, Newt's just stubborn.

[The Black Forrest]

Silly girl! That's because the government made them do it. There is no price gouging the free market.

I really do wonder what the hell happened to the price of books, though. When I worked in the bookselling trade, an expensive paperback was $1.95. Many of them were around a buck, or less (I was reading one over the weekend from the 50s, and it cost 35 cents).

You are not kidding. I remember years ago, my calc book costing about $40. Visited my old uni and just for grins was wandering the bookstore and saw it on the shelf. $160. Checked the revisions. None!

At least with text books; they have a trapped market. You really don't have a choice. Maybe the used but I am told they star limiting them so people will buy the new.

Paperbacks are a joke.

Now I am seeing the news papers are starting to shrink. They are smaller in size and less pages and the price is more.

Seeing that in food slowly as well. Less given priced higher.