[US Election 2016] Republican Primary Megathread

[Patridam]

I've been seriously considering moving to the UK with my gf things have gotten so bad.
There's practically no safety net in Texas, thanks Rick Perry, you c-nt.

Texas is as Texas does.

Why not move to one of these states, instead?

Hey I'll gladly trade my place in Pennsylvania for yours in Texas, Gen.

[Grave_n_idle]

I'm frightened at the number of Rand Paul supporter.

Armchair evangelists tend to succumb to party politics once they actually have to leave the house to vote.

It's one of the main reasons I think elections should never be democratised down to something you do at home, in front of your computer.

[Steamtopia]

I'm frightened at the number of Rand Paul supporter.

Gary Johnson, please come back to the GOP and run. Or convince Bill Haslam to run.

It's an internet thing.

[Genivaria]

I'm frightened at the number of Rand Paul supporter.

Armchair evangelists tend to succumb to party politics once they actually have to leave the house to vote.

It's one of the main reasons I think elections should never be democratised down to something you do at home, in front of your computer.

"%60 of the internet thinks that politicians should have to wear a shock collar that goes off every time they lie."

[Diopolis]

Armchair evangelists tend to succumb to party politics once they actually have to leave the house to vote.

It's one of the main reasons I think elections should never be democratised down to something you do at home, in front of your computer.

"%60 of the internet thinks that politicians should have to wear a shock collar that goes off every time they lie."

It would run out of charge too quickly. Use jumper cables wired directly into the powergrid.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

"%60 of the internet thinks that politicians should have to wear a shock collar that goes off every time they lie."

It would run out of charge too quickly. Use jumper cables wired directly into the powergrid.

We're already having an energy crisis!

[Romalae]

I'm frightened at the number of Rand Paul supporter.

It's an internet thing.

I wish there was some polling/survey data about the ideological leanings of Internet users in comparison with the holistic population's ideological leanings. It seems like we can only rely on personal observation. The Rand Paul/Ron Paul crowd is disturbingly large on the Internet, but admittedly the Bernie Sanders types are overrepresented as well. These groups seem larger than they actually are because of their larger Internet presence.

[Myrensis]

1.9%.

Great. I'm sure that increasing efficiency by nearly 2% will change everything.

It's a common theme for the party of 'small government' to demand big government intervention for nigh non-existent problems when it's politically convenient.

.0000013% instances of voter fraud? Our Democracy is on the verge of collapse! We need strict and immediate government intervention and Voter ID laws!!

1.9% fraudulent welfare claims? Welfare Queens are sucking our economy dry! We need strict and immediate government intervention with restrictions and limitations places on all forms of welfare!

67% of all homicides and 60% of all suicides committed with guns? Guns are the God given right of every man, woman, and child! Stay away, Big Government Nazis!

[Diopolis]

It's an internet thing.

I wish there was some polling/survey data about the ideological leanings of Internet users in comparison with the holistic population's ideological leanings. It seems like we can only rely on personal observation. The Rand Paul/Ron Paul crowd is disturbingly large on the Internet, but admittedly the Bernie Sanders types are overrepresented as well. These groups seem larger than they actually are because of their larger Internet presence.

The internet swings more socially liberal than not because it's difficult to get reliable internet in rural areas, which tend to have the bulk of the socially conservative population- both because social-conservative types are attracted to a more rural lifestyle, and because rural areas tend to lag behind urban areas in development. So the social far left is overrepresented on the internet, and they're attracted to candidates who want to legalize drugs and such. While rand isn't exactly a social liberal, people who supported his father aren't exactly known for changing their minds.

[Russiona]

i think George Pataki is the most sensible i'd just love to see George Pataki vs. Bernie Sanders or Martin O Malley

[Steamtopia]

It's an internet thing.

I wish there was some polling/survey data about the ideological leanings of Internet users in comparison with the holistic population's ideological leanings. It seems like we can only rely on personal observation. The Rand Paul/Ron Paul crowd is disturbingly large on the Internet, but admittedly the Bernie Sanders types are overrepresented as well. These groups seem larger than they actually are because of their larger Internet presence.

Extremism is over-represented, yes.

[Grave_n_idle]

Armchair evangelists tend to succumb to party politics once they actually have to leave the house to vote.

It's one of the main reasons I think elections should never be democratised down to something you do at home, in front of your computer.

"%60 of the internet thinks that politicians should have to wear a shock collar that goes off every time they lie."

Lying isn't. in and of itself - a bad thing. Oversimplification, on the other hand, usually is.

This is why democracy doesn't work.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Ben Carson's campaign may already be crashing and burning with the resignations of several top staff members.

[Geilinor]

Ben Carson's campaign may already be crashing and burning with the resignations of several top staff members.

Carson is going to fall because he doesn't know what he's doing. He never wanted to run before people praised that speech anyway.

[Romalae]

Ben Carson's campaign may already be crashing and burning with the resignations of several top staff members.

Carson is going to fall because he doesn't know what he's doing. He never wanted to run before people praised that speech anyway.

What does he have going for him anyway? Just that he talks a good game to the Christian Right that makes up the conservative base? He doesn't have any real political experience, just a bunch of speaking engagements.

[Borovan4]

Every four or eight years there's always a radical semi qualified black conservative running.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Every four or eight years there's always a radical semi qualified black conservative running.

GOP's token minority candidate.

[Grave_n_idle]

Carson is going to fall because he doesn't know what he's doing. He never wanted to run before people praised that speech anyway.

What does he have going for him anyway? Just that he talks a good game to the Christian Right that makes up the conservative base? He doesn't have any real political experience, just a bunch of speaking engagements.

The cynical side of me says that he's either the 'new Herman Cain', or he's the 'rightwing Obama'. Either way, he appears to serve the purpose of being the least objectionable token candidate.

[The Nuclear Fist]

Every four or eight years there's always a radical semi qualified black conservative running.

He's not even semi qualified, to be honest.

[Patridam]

Every four or eight years there's always a radical semi qualified black conservative running.

GOP's token minority candidate.

The racial disproportion shouldn't be suprising considering like 90% of blacks vote Democrat. I think the radicalness may have to do with how even fairly moderately conservative blacks remain Democrat so it takes a fairly extreme one to go Republican.

[Osterreich-Bayern]

GOP's token minority candidate.

The racial disproportion shouldn't be suprising considering like 90% of blacks vote Democrat. I think the radicalness may have to do with how even fairly moderately conservative blacks remain Democrat so it takes a fairly extreme one to go Republican.

Very valid point

[Neo-Chicago]

I wish there was some polling/survey data about the ideological leanings of Internet users in comparison with the holistic population's ideological leanings. It seems like we can only rely on personal observation. The Rand Paul/Ron Paul crowd is disturbingly large on the Internet, but admittedly the Bernie Sanders types are overrepresented as well. These groups seem larger than they actually are because of their larger Internet presence.

The internet swings more socially liberal than not because it's difficult to get reliable internet in rural areas, which tend to have the bulk of the socially conservative population- both because social-conservative types are attracted to a more rural lifestyle, and because rural areas tend to lag behind urban areas in development. So the social far left is overrepresented on the internet, and they're attracted to candidates who want to legalize drugs and such. While rand isn't exactly a social liberal, people who supported his father aren't exactly known for changing their minds.

Actually, internet's very easy to get in rural areas. Coming from Nowhere, Indiana (not literally, obviously, but you know what I mean), my internet's pretty fantastic. Anyway, I support Rick Perry, although I'd be happy with any republican who's not Jeb Bush or... *shudders* Donald Trump.

[Shazbotdom]

The internet swings more socially liberal than not because it's difficult to get reliable internet in rural areas, which tend to have the bulk of the socially conservative population- both because social-conservative types are attracted to a more rural lifestyle, and because rural areas tend to lag behind urban areas in development. So the social far left is overrepresented on the internet, and they're attracted to candidates who want to legalize drugs and such. While rand isn't exactly a social liberal, people who supported his father aren't exactly known for changing their minds.

Actually, internet's very easy to get in rural areas. Coming from Nowhere, Indiana (not literally, obviously, but you know what I mean), my internet's pretty fantastic. Anyway, I support Rick Perry, although I'd be happy with any republican who's not Jeb Bush or... *shudders* Donald Trump.

Oh, come on. I thought Donald Trump was the Tea Party/Birthers/whatever's poster child?

You're saying it isn't so?

[Ashmoria]

Actually, internet's very easy to get in rural areas. Coming from Nowhere, Indiana (not literally, obviously, but you know what I mean), my internet's pretty fantastic. Anyway, I support Rick Perry, although I'd be happy with any republican who's not Jeb Bush or... *shudders* Donald Trump.

Oh, come on. I thought Donald Trump was the Tea Party/Birthers/whatever's poster child?

You're saying it isn't so?

trump makes you sick with anticipation that he might do well enough to be a contender for the nomination but really he isn't interested in it and will never work hard enough to win. he hasn't even given up his TV show. on the 16th he is going to say "nah" and be on his way.

rick perry on the other hand doesn't have much of a chance and id look forward to saying "good riddance" to the man who wants to be the champion of the working man but is against raising the minimum wage.

[Our Governator]

Actually, internet's very easy to get in rural areas. Coming from Nowhere, Indiana (not literally, obviously, but you know what I mean), my internet's pretty fantastic. Anyway, I support Rick Perry, although I'd be happy with any republican who's not Jeb Bush or... *shudders* Donald Trump.

Oh, come on. I thought Donald Trump was the Tea Party/Birthers/whatever's poster child?

You're saying it isn't so?

Nobody likes Donald Trump. For the case in point, look at his twitter feed. Charles Krauthammer, a conservative columnist and a regular on Fox News, said of a poll that showed that 59% of Republicans said they'd never vote for Donald Trump that Trump deserved it. Trump proceeded to tweet a flurry of insults to Krauthammer. It's like having a middle schooler in national politics.