[US Election 2016] Republican Primary Megathread

[Patridam]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

I'm fairly enthused by Rand Paul, though I have my doubts over whether the hardliners will let him get th nomination. Otherwise, while I don't totally agree with his poltics (especially on social issues) I also like Rick Santorum.

[Ashmoria]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

I'm fairly enthused by Rand Paul, though I have my doubts over whether the hardliners will let him get th nomination. Otherwise, while I don't totally agree with his poltics (especially on social issues) I also like Rick Santorum.

oh yeah I forgot about rand paul. there is enthusiasm for him. (I don't understand it but it certainly exists)

but you aren't EXCITED about santorum, are you?

[MERIZoC]

A new "I side with" test for anyone who still has an open mind about the candidates, or is simply undecided.

(I got Bernie Sanders, but I'm really putting it here for the Republicans, since we don't have a general election thread yet).

Sanders-98%
Clinton-66%
O'Malley—62%
Bush—51%
Christie—21%
Huckabee—18%
Carson—17%
Paul—16%
Santorum—5%
Walker—5%
Perry—1%
Fiorina—1%
Rubio—1%
Cruz—0% ( )

Gotta say, I love the picture of Perry in that.

[Diopolis]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

I'm a bit excited about Santorum, but not to the extent democrats like Sanders.

[Ashmoria]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

I'm a bit excited about Santorum, but not to the extent democrats like Sanders.

what do you like so much about him?

[Liberty and Linguistics]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

This is an amusing and valid point. Few Republicans are seemingly throwing all their excitement and support behind any candidates. One exception may be some youth and teens who love Rand Paul, but apart from that...

[Geilinor]

I'm a bit excited about Santorum, but not to the extent democrats like Sanders.

what do you like so much about him?

Look at the social issues links in his sig.

[Ashmoria]

so now that jeb (Jeb!) is officially declaring im wondering if anyone is EXCITED about any of these republican candidates.

there are democrats who are very enthusiastic about mrs Clinton or mr sanders. there is real excitement there. is anyone as enthusiastic about one of the republican candidates? if so, who?

This is an amusing and valid point. Few Republicans are seemingly throwing all their excitement and support behind any candidates. One exception may be some youth and teens who love Rand Paul, but apart from that...

yeah but is it because republicans are more down to earth sensible or because democrats like to fool themselves?

[Liberty and Linguistics]

This is an amusing and valid point. Few Republicans are seemingly throwing all their excitement and support behind any candidates. One exception may be some youth and teens who love Rand Paul, but apart from that...

yeah but is it because republicans are more down to earth sensible or because democrats like to fool themselves?

Neither. The Republians already have a well defined base, but whats even more important to remember is that most GOP'ers don't offer anything new, or exciting, frankly. That said, I don't support any of the Democrats...

[Zurkerx]

A new "I side with" test for anyone who still has an open mind about the candidates, or is simply undecided.

(I got Bernie Sanders, but I'm really putting it here for the Republicans, since we don't have a general election thread yet).

http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016 ... /967930780

I got 85% Rand Paul.

[Ashmoria]

yeah but is it because republicans are more down to earth sensible or because democrats like to fool themselves?

Neither. The Republians already have a well defined base, but whats even more important to remember is that most GOP'ers don't offer anything new, or exciting, frankly. That said, I don't support any of the Democrats...

I am a firm believer in going for the best you can reasonably expect. so while the democrats don't fully represent what I would like for this country I am FINE with supporting the democratic party.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I've seen people enthused by Paul, and to a lesser degree Santorum and Cruz. Not so much Bush.

[Geilinor]

I've seen people enthused by Paul, and to a lesser degree Santorum and Cruz. Not so much Bush.

I don't understand any of those fan groups - what do people like about Paul, Santorum, and Cruz? In my daily life, I've never heard anyone talk about supporting them and I haven't even gotten a good explanation from supporters on this site.

[Romalae]

I've seen people enthused by Paul, and to a lesser degree Santorum and Cruz. Not so much Bush.

I don't understand any of those fan groups - what do people like about Paul, Santorum, and Cruz? In my daily life, I've never heard anyone talk about supporting them and I haven't even gotten a good explanation from supporters on this site.

I guess it's that each of those candidates is the representative of a certain faction of the Republican Party (Paul: Libertarians; Santorum: Christian Right; Cruz: Tea Party).

[Vistulange]

Inherently better, I wouldn't say so. I wouldn't really say any system is inherently better. I would say that certain values of a system are inherently better than others, and that in practice use of system's values could benefit another system.

Also, I may have missed this prior, but what is your definition of socialism and social democracy?

The only values America really should get to borrowing from European nations are those concerning the equality of sexualities/genders/races etc. While I respect European values and methods, and their relative effectiveness in Europe, if America were to imitate their methods it would cease to be America.

Which is bad, why? Why should America stay America if it means being backwards?

I don't really have much delineation between the two; since the older definition of socialism is basically communism, so I take Social Democracy and modern Socialism as fairly similar, usually marked by:

No, it isn't. Communism, socialism and social democracy are different things. Get that into your head.

- the presence of a universalist welfare state inclusive of government provided healthcare, education (especially through to the post-secondary level), etc.

Problem with this is..?

- large and heavily stepped income taxes aimed at highly effective income redistribution and a minute income inequality

"Large and heavily stepped" is not exactly necessary, you know.

- fiscal liberality in the government and the general belief that the government can spend funds better than the individual

What the hell does "fiscal liberality in the government" mean? Social democratic governments can't exactly spend as they see fit, you know. No more than conservative governments can.

- heavy government regulation of corporations and the economy so as to promote stability over (potentially unstable) growth/prosperity

Yes, because otherwise, you get various bubbles and other undesirable economic fallouts. The "invisible hand" theory failed a long time ago.

- not necessarily government ownership of all means of production (that's more communist) but usually government ownership of utilities and transit networks

No, by definition, communism is the state in which the State, as an organization, has ceased to exist along with currencies and classes. And why is state ownership anathema to you?

- large public sector, usually around 30% of the GDP or more

So...that's bad because..?

- (not necessarily part of the definition, but usually goes with) emphasis on environmental protection over economic growth and personal freedoms

Environmental protection over economic growth, I can agree with. Personal freedoms? Not so much. Unless your idea of personal freedoms is measured by the amount of tax you pay, of course.

However I recognize that to you folks here who take those old definitions very seriously that what I am describing is more of what you would call Social Democracy.

We're supposed to take your "new" definitions seriously? Why?

noooo its not that thy don't have principles and values its that ours are EXCEPTIONAL.

that's the gospel according to st Reagan.

We're an exception only in regards that we aren't 'just another socialist social democratic European country'.

Yes, instead, you're American. Big fucking deal. Nobody cares about why you are supposedly a special snowflake. You're a country just like the others with an overinflated sense of importance in some of its citizens about their country.

Also, about the primaries...Rick Santorum. The Republicans need to get stuffed into the trashbin of history for the betterment of the United States.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I've seen people enthused by Paul, and to a lesser degree Santorum and Cruz. Not so much Bush.

I don't understand any of those fan groups - what do people like about Paul, Santorum, and Cruz? In my daily life, I've never heard anyone talk about supporting them and I haven't even gotten a good explanation from supporters on this site.

Paul is largely taking advantage of his father's sloppy seconds, but also draws a few more people who see the son as an electable version of the father. Cruz and Santorum both appeal to southern and middle American social conservatives, and as a dying breed, they tend to be rather fanatical in their attempts to remain relevant.

[Geilinor]

Jeb's going big on the promises, but I doubt that he can keep them. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33137582

In a video ahead of the speech he pledged to protect the most vulnerable and remove barriers to social mobility.

In a separate video, called Making A Difference, he champions the rights of women, ethnic minorities and the disabled.

"My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line and not the back,'' he says.

[Ashmoria]

Jeb's going big on the promises, but I doubt that he can keep them. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33137582

In a video ahead of the speech he pledged to protect the most vulnerable and remove barriers to social mobility.

In a separate video, called Making A Difference, he champions the rights of women, ethnic minorities and the disabled.

"My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line and not the back,'' he says.

surely he'll tell us that the best way to protect the most vulnerable, etc is to give the rich massive tax cuts.

[Geilinor]

Jeb's going big on the promises, but I doubt that he can keep them. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33137582

surely he'll tell us that the best way to protect the most vulnerable, etc is to give the rich massive tax cuts.

That's what I'm worried about, it'll probably be the same old Bush stuff.

[Romalae]

Jeb's going big on the promises, but I doubt that he can keep them. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33137582

surely he'll tell us that the best way to protect the most vulnerable, etc is to give the rich massive tax cuts.

Yes, you see, their success will trickle down to the less fortunate.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

surely he'll tell us that the best way to protect the most vulnerable, etc is to give the rich massive tax cuts.

That's what I'm worried about, it'll probably be the same old Bush stuff.

Essentially, but likely owing more to the father than the son.

[The Black Forrest]

That's what I'm worried about, it'll probably be the same old Bush stuff.

Essentially, but likely owing more to the father than the son.

As in his old man? Possibly but he is a tad more vindictive then him. After he lost the Schiavo affair he wanted the abuse claims against her husband looked into again and if he called 911 fast enough.....

Recently read an article where he said all but Jeb have apologized in one way or another......

Just another person I won't vote for......

[Ashmoria]

Essentially, but likely owing more to the father than the son.

As in his old man? Possibly but he is a tad more vindictive then him. After he lost the Schiavo affair he wanted the abuse claims against her husband looked into again and if he called 911 fast enough.....

Recently read an article where he said all but Jeb have apologized in one way or another......

Just another person I won't vote for......

*Shudder* that and his hiring his brothers foreign policy advisors. no way anyone who wants small government and to stay out of war should vote for him.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Essentially, but likely owing more to the father than the son.

As in his old man? Possibly but he is a tad more vindictive then him. After he lost the Schiavo affair he wanted the abuse claims against her husband looked into again and if he called 911 fast enough.....

Recently read an article where he said all but Jeb have apologized in one way or another......

Just another person I won't vote for......

Yeah, he's not as temperate as his father, true...who was still no great shakes as a President.

[Ashmoria]

listening to jeb's speech....he has a very enthusiastic crowd who love his speech without specifics.