Republican Primary Megathread (poll now updated)

[Ashmoria]

jeb bush has prestige, no job and no way he will be president unless someone dies and leaves it to him. so he may as well take 2 months to run for the VP job he wont win. and he has as many home states as mitt romney does.

No no no no. It's part of the Bush family plans. The shrub messed up Jebs chances.

So Jeb becomes the VP for Mr. Opus Dei.

Mr. Opus Dei tries to start a new crusade and is removed. Jeb becomes President and the Bush family becomes the first family to have three Presidents.

The same for Mittwitt. He tries to become a democrat and is removed......

jeb endorsed mitt today.

really the ONLY way jeb gets president is if he is VP and the president dies. thats enough to make a sane man not pick him for VP. but jeb has an untainted prestige that hasnt been tarnished by tea party claims of RINO. i dont know if anyone can talk him into it but he would be almost as good a boost for the ticket as picking sarah palin would be.

[The Black Forrest]

No no no no. It's part of the Bush family plans. The shrub messed up Jebs chances.

So Jeb becomes the VP for Mr. Opus Dei.

Mr. Opus Dei tries to start a new crusade and is removed. Jeb becomes President and the Bush family becomes the first family to have three Presidents.

The same for Mittwitt. He tries to become a democrat and is removed......

jeb endorsed mitt today.

really the ONLY way jeb gets president is if he is VP and the president dies. thats enough to make a sane man not pick him for VP. but jeb has an untainted prestige that hasnt been tarnished by tea party claims of RINO. i dont know if anyone can talk him into it but he would be almost as good a boost for the ticket as picking sarah palin would be.

Oh I know he endorsed Mittwitt. I thought the tinfoil hat was a clue

I wonder what Jeb is getting in return for the endorsement?

[Kaeshar]

No no no no. It's part of the Bush family plans. The shrub messed up Jebs chances.

So Jeb becomes the VP for Mr. Opus Dei.

Mr. Opus Dei tries to start a new crusade and is removed. Jeb becomes President and the Bush family becomes the first family to have three Presidents.

The same for Mittwitt. He tries to become a democrat and is removed......

jeb endorsed mitt today.

really the ONLY way jeb gets president is if he is VP and the president dies. thats enough to make a sane man not pick him for VP. but jeb has an untainted prestige that hasnt been tarnished by tea party claims of RINO. i dont know if anyone can talk him into it but he would be almost as good a boost for the ticket as picking sarah palin would be.

I don't know about an untainted prestige in other respects.

[Tmutarakhan]

Also, CNNs situation room earlier said about that the republicans have a rule saying that if you don't have at least five states, you're not eligible for the nomination, so unless Gingrich manages to grab a few more states, he'll be shut out of the nomination for sure.

Does it seem like the Republicans are making up the rules as they go along?

[Wikkiwallana]

Also, CNNs situation room earlier said about that the republicans have a rule saying that if you don't have at least five states, you're not eligible for the nomination, so unless Gingrich manages to grab a few more states, he'll be shut out of the nomination for sure.

Does it seem like the Republicans are making up the rules as they go along?

There are rules now?

[New Chalcedon]

You know, I predicted this.

It will be the final nail in Mitt Romney's coffin, and it will all be self-inflicted.

“Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign,” Fehrnstrom responded. “Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.”

I've been predicting for weeks that Pander Bear will immediately tack back to the middle and try to pretend he didn't say all the whacked out ultra-conservative things he's said in this campaign.

When he does, the GOP's right wing will abandon him like the Titanic.

You've all heard me say this: The difference between Democrats and Republicans is that we Democrats vote for the lesser of two (or more) evils, while Republicans refuse to vote for anyone they don't truly believe in. Democrats may not like Obama's record of compromise with the GOP, but they'll vote for him because they don't like Mitt Romney any more than Republicans do.

But Republicans won't follow suit. They'll just close their legs and flip Mittens off.

No matter how much they hate Obama, when push comes to shove, they'd rather have Obama as President than soil themselves by voting for Romney. If he tacks back to the right, he'll lose the right - and without the right, he can't beat Obama.

Worse, he's gone too far to the Dark Side to be convincing as a moderate, either. Mitt Romney's reputation as a "well-oiled weather-vane" will not only make any claims of moderation seem as insincere as they actually are, they'll leave the American electorate with a foul, slimy taste in its mouth. Nobody likes a panderer; people will vote for a panderer (sometimes) if he's halfway good at lying (cf. Bill Clinton, who was a very artful liar), but it won't vote for a cheap liar - and Mittens is no Slick Willie.

No, Mittens' prevarication and constant positional adjustment is just outright revolting; he makes John Kerry look like a rock of fortitude. Add in the wealth, the aloofness, the insensitivity to hardship, the fact that he looks and acts like the guy who handed you your last pink slip:



Yeah, that guy, and I can't see Mittens surviving this race. He's a dead man walking if he tries to pull a left turn.

And in going down, he'll take his Party with him.

---

tl&dr: If Mittens tries to go back to the center, Obama could be caught with a dead girl and a live boy, and still win.

Don't count on it. If there's something that 15-odd years of following politics has taught me, it's that the attention span and memory span of the public can be measured in minutes. He'll tack to the centre, be fawned over by the fourth estate (who always love a "moderate" - just witness the way they put Sens. Snowe and Collins on pedestals) and go on to steam into the general with unlimited amounts of money from his ultra-rich backers to keep on lying about himself, Obama and the country and not get called on it.

[Gauthier]

Don't count on it. If there's something that 15-odd years of following politics has taught me, it's that the attention span and memory span of the public can be measured in minutes. He'll tack to the centre, be fawned over by the fourth estate (who always love a "moderate" - just witness the way they put Sens. Snowe and Collins on pedestals) and go on to steam into the general with unlimited amounts of money from his ultra-rich backers to keep on lying about himself, Obama and the country and not get called on it.

Except that little tidbit now known as Mitt-A-Sketch is going to keep the public's attention focused, especially since Frothy and The Lizard are both using it as part of their efforts to remain relevant.

[The Black Forrest]

You know thinking of the "etch a sketch" comment; it's not far off the mark. People tend to be rather stupid about such things. How many voters actually look into the issues? How many are swayed by sound bites?

People declare Sarah Palin to be a "breath of fresh air" and Joe the Plumber to be "spot on" about things.

So yes; they can give the plan a shake start spouting the right crap and their will be people who buy the message.

[Gauthier]

You know thinking of the "etch a sketch" comment; it's not far off the mark. People tend to be rather stupid about such things. How many voters actually look into the issues? How many are swayed by sound bites?

People declare Sarah Palin to be a "breath of fresh air" and Joe the Plumber to be "spot on" about things.

So yes; they can give the plan a shake start spouting the right crap and their will be people who buy the message.

The fact that Obama is President is an argument against the voting public being a swarm of morons with short term memory damage.

[Forsher]

You know thinking of the "etch a sketch" comment; it's not far off the mark. People tend to be rather stupid about such things. How many voters actually look into the issues? How many are swayed by sound bites?

People declare Sarah Palin to be a "breath of fresh air" and Joe the Plumber to be "spot on" about things.

So yes; they can give the plan a shake start spouting the right crap and their will be people who buy the message.

The fact that Obama is President is an argument against the voting public being a swarm of morons with short term memory damage.

But he was black. There are too many rationalisations that can explain his position.

[Gauthier]

The fact that Obama is President is an argument against the voting public being a swarm of morons with short term memory damage.

But he was black. There are too many rationalisations that can explain his position.

And they were harping on about him being an Illegal Kenyan Muslim. A public that stupid would have swallowed it hook line and sinker and today we'd be praying for McCain to stay alive lest that fruitcake of a woman becomes President.

[The Black Forrest]

You know thinking of the "etch a sketch" comment; it's not far off the mark. People tend to be rather stupid about such things. How many voters actually look into the issues? How many are swayed by sound bites?

People declare Sarah Palin to be a "breath of fresh air" and Joe the Plumber to be "spot on" about things.

So yes; they can give the plan a shake start spouting the right crap and their will be people who buy the message.

The fact that Obama is President is an argument against the voting public being a swarm of morons with short term memory damage.

Not really. The people were sooooo tired of the shrub.

What startled many people was the fact Obama could give a good speech.

Hell look at things now; we are already seeing short term memory with the problems being Obamas fault......

[Alien Space Bats]

Don't count on it. If there's something that 15-odd years of following politics has taught me, it's that the attention span and memory span of the public can be measured in minutes. He'll tack to the centre, be fawned over by the fourth estate (who always love a "moderate" - just witness the way they put Sens. Snowe and Collins on pedestals) and go on to steam into the general with unlimited amounts of money from his ultra-rich backers to keep on lying about himself, Obama and the country and not get called on it.

Except that little tidbit now known as Mitt-A-Sketch is going to keep the public's attention focused, especially since Frothy and The Lizard are both using it as part of their efforts to remain relevant.

Then, too, you're assuming that the Democrats won't remind the American people of Mitt's little honesty problem.



Rest assured, when you have ad material this good, you use it.

[Ashmoria]

The fact that Obama is President is an argument against the voting public being a swarm of morons with short term memory damage.

Not really. The people were sooooo tired of the shrub.

What startled many people was the fact Obama could give a good speech.

Hell look at things now; we are already seeing short term memory with the problems being Obamas fault......

aye. if jesus had run on the republican ticket (with sarah palin as vp nominee) obama still would have won. (without palin it would have been an historical landslide for obama)

the race was in the democratic primary and mr obama had to beat out a pretty good field with his scant experience. he wasnt the best candidate "on paper" (that was probably john edwards). its hard to argue that with that field it was intelligence that got mr obama the nomination.

[Ashmoria]

Except that little tidbit now known as Mitt-A-Sketch is going to keep the public's attention focused, especially since Frothy and The Lizard are both using it as part of their efforts to remain relevant.

Then, too, you're assuming that the Democrats won't remind the American people of Mitt's little honesty problem.


Rest assured, when you have ad material this good, you use it.

the democrats wont matter as much as the base howling in the social media outlets about how mitt betrayed them. they already dont like him much.

[Sane Outcasts]

Then, too, you're assuming that the Democrats won't remind the American people of Mitt's little honesty problem.


Rest assured, when you have ad material this good, you use it.

the democrats wont matter as much as the base howling in the social media outlets about how mitt betrayed them. they already dont like him much.

They can be a howling annoyance, sure, but the question is how much that annoyance will affect votes. Put Mitt next Obama and they'll vote for Mitt every time because a Mormon flip-flopper is less terrifying to them than a socialist Muslim Kenyan.

I'd rather simply see Mitt hold the Tea Party as close allies and try to run with their agenda as his platform. Nothing will drive the much larger bloc of moderate and undecided voters to vote for Obama faster.

[Ashmoria]

the democrats wont matter as much as the base howling in the social media outlets about how mitt betrayed them. they already dont like him much.

They can be a howling annoyance, sure, but the question is how much that annoyance will affect votes. Put Mitt next Obama and they'll vote for Mitt every time because a Mormon flip-flopper is less terrifying to them than a socialist Muslim Kenyan.

I'd rather simply see Mitt hold the Tea Party as close allies and try to run with their agenda as his platform. Nothing will drive the much larger bloc of moderate and undecided voters to vote for Obama faster.

they wont vote for obama, they'll stay home.

or maybe they'll vote but they wont drag their friends with them, knock on doors, put up a lawn sign, talk about how great mitt is down at the eagle's club. they'll snort with disgust when the preacher suggests in his sermon that jesus wants them to vote for mitt.

id rather have him keep to the idiot agenda too but his man said thats not what they are planning.

[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

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.

The thing is Romney has a significant lead—more so than John McCain had at this stage for instance (at least going by pure numbers). If he were running a more organised campaign the nomination would have been all but decided by now. The other candidates in the race have no chance of winning and very little chance of blocking him—but they've been emboldened to stay in simply because the Romney campaign isn't controlling the media narrative the way it ought to be going purely by money and popular support.

IOW Romney ought to be the presumed nominee by now and be going on to act as it but for some reason the media narrative alone is allowing everyone else to stay in the race under the delusion they might get a brokered convention. Maybe someone in the party establishment just really doesn't like him, I dunno.

[Ashmoria]

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.

The thing is Romney has a significant lead—more so than John McCain had at this stage for instance (at least going by pure numbers). If he were running a more organised campaign the nomination would have been all but decided by now. The other candidates in the race have no chance of winning and very little chance of blocking him—but they've been emboldened to stay in simply because the Romney campaign isn't controlling the media narrative the way it ought to be going purely by money and popular support.

IOW Romney ought to be the presumed nominee by now and be going on to act as it but for some reason the media narrative alone is allowing everyone else to stay in the race under the delusion they might get a brokered convention. Maybe someone in the party establishment just really doesn't like him, I dunno.

its hard to say exactly how big a lead romney has. there are still plenty of tricks that can be pulled to get some of those delegates away from him and into someone else's pocket. all that it requires is that the party suddenly sour on romney.

[Jedi8246]

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.

False in every possible way.

[Ashmoria]

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.

False in every possible way.

it doesnt matter to me. i am a woman. ron paul isnt for liberty for women so i can never support ron paul.

all the republicans running on FREEDOM (santorum, romney) are running on freedom for men alone. men and those who already have too much power over you.

[Farnhamia]

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.

False in every possible way.

The United States doesn't need a "boss," we need a leader. President Obama is a far better leader than Ron Paul would or could ever be. The President looks to the future. Congressman Paul has his sites fixed firmly on the past.

[Farnhamia]

Etch A Sketch Becomes a Symbol of Second Chances
By WILLIAM GRIMES
Published: March 21, 2012

It was widely reported that Wednesday on CNN, Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior adviser to Mr. Romney, predicted a fresh start for his boss’s campaign after victory in the Illinois primary. “Everything changes,” Mr. Fehrnstrom said. “It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.”

Mr. Romney’s political opponents seized on the image as a sinister expression of the candidate’s pliability. But to millions of Americans, the Etch A Sketch has offered a precious life lesson: No matter how badly you screw up, you can always make a fresh start. The past does not exist. The Etch A Sketch offers total deniability in a neat rectangular package.

The Etch A Sketch was invented in the late 1950s by André Cassagnes, a French electrician, and the first model was manufactured for the American market by the Ohio Art Company on July 12, 1960. The device is simple and ingenious: a framed plastic screen coated with aluminum dust on the reverse side. Two knobs move a stylus vertically and horizontally, allowing the user to draw pictures as the tip of the stylus leaves a dark line against a light gray background.

If the results do not please, the user simply shakes the screen, causing polystyrene beads to create a fresh surface by smoothing out and recoating the inside of the screen. History, with a flick of the wrist, vanishes.

Over the years, the company has added color and electronic features, but the essential appeal of the device has remained the same. No matter how bad the drawing, how distant the final product from the original intent, the clock can be turned back.

Etch A Sketch geniuses, the sort of fanatics who can reproduce “The Last Supper” or fully rendered scenes from “The Lord of the Rings,” make their work permanent by drilling holes in the box and emptying out the aluminum powder. But their drawings (which can be seen on Ohio Art’s Web site, ohioart.com) run counter to the spirit of the thing, while the Romney campaign seems to get the point, instinctively. It’s all in the magic shaking of the box.

There’s another lesson, too, should Mr. Romney want to run with the metaphor. For decades, the Etch A Sketch was manufactured at Ohio Art’s assembly plant in Bryan, Ohio. In 2001, the company moved the plant to Shenzhen in China. Shake that.

[Free Soviets]

did you guys all see maddow's utterly epic take-down of romney lying literally all the time? fucking glorious.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-m ... w/46816690

[Ashmoria]

did you guys all see maddow's utterly epic take-down of romney lying literally all the time? fucking glorious.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-m ... w/46816690

i enjoyed it, of course, but the whole time i was thinking about how rick santorum lies even more. at least about the president.