Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XI

[Matt]

None of the Kennedy scandals created the worst recession since the Great Depression. Plus, they had an assassination (two assassinations) to build sympathy off of. The Bush famiiy will eventually rebuild its credibility, but it won't be in time for Jeb to further his career. His son on the other hand....

 

[Hotwire]

I'd have to agree with that assessment. He was popular, and hasn't had any major controversies.

However the family name is a double edged sword. If you want to mobilize liberal voters, put a Bush on your ticket.

Except, all the Democrats need to do is point out that Jeb was Governor when "Stand Your Ground" got passed. An we all know how well that's doing right now.

 

[hippie_hunter]

None of the Kennedy scandals created the worst recession since the Great Depression. Plus, they had an assassination (two assassinations) to build sympathy off of. The Bush famiiy will eventually rebuild its credibility, but it won't be in time for Jeb to further his career. His son on the other hand....

I would say that Clintonian banking polices (co-developed with the GOP controlled Congress) had the biggest hand in creating the Great Recession than Bush's policies. Bush was just simply incompetent and often forgot that certain regulatory agencies had a job to do.

I think that Jeb has the skills to overcome Georgie's massive shortcomings. I wouldn't be surprised to see George P. Bush develop political ambitions.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Except, all the Democrats need to do is point out that Jeb was Governor when "Stand Your Ground" got passed. An we all know how well that's doing right now.

Yeah, that's not going to be an issue in the long run. The gun lobby and America's devotion to the Second Amendment will take care of that pesky issue.

 

[echostation]

the choice as described by someone at work so beautifully put - If you care about the economy, then obviously Romney is the choice. If you care about the other issues, well then Obama is your man. They're both good but those are where the issues lie.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Last I checked the economy was recovering. That's gotta sting.

 

[Schlosser85]

A lot of people, including myself, don't see this alleged economic recovery.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

The job market's getting incrementally better. Not fast enough, but it is improving. The proof is in the dropping numbers (and no, a 2% drop can't all be attributed to temporary government jobs). That's why the GOP is harping more on gas prices than jobs these days.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Jeb Bush is actually very popular. He left office with over a 60% approval rating and is still considered to be highly looked upon by Republicans and Floridians. Jeb was always considered to be the more competent (by far) of the Bush children and is seen by many as George H.W. Bush's true heir of the Bush legacy.

George W. Bush is one thing, but don't underestimate the abilities of Jeb Bush.

I think the point is, fairly or unfairly, the "Bush" name has been poisoned among indies and even most mainstream Republicans. I'm sure a lot of Floridians do like Jeb. But outside of Florida, voters would be extremely wary of voting for a Bush again. He'd be a drag on the ticket in other swing states like OH and PA.

 

[Schlosser85]

I agree. The Bush name has a stigma attached to it, and Jeb is too close with Dubya.

 

[Pagan]

I would say that Clintonian banking polices (co-developed with the GOP controlled Congress) had the biggest hand in creating the Great Recession than Bush's policies. Bush was just simply incompetent and often forgot that certain regulatory agencies had a job to do.

I think that Jeb has the skills to overcome Georgie's massive shortcomings. I wouldn't be surprised to see George P. Bush develop political ambitions.

Bush and Clinton both trusted Greenspan and his Randian economic theory that the financial institutions would regulate themselves. Never figuring "too big to fail" into the equation. Both Graham-Leach-Bliley and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 blew things up.
Then you have Bush come in and slash revenues on an economy trying to curb the deficit spending. Then creating two off budget wars. Then opening up the vault and handing out free money with no strings attached.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Then you have Bush come in and slash revenues on an economy trying to curb the deficit spending. Then creating two off budget wars. Then opening up the vault and handing out free money with no strings attached.

But that didn't create the Great Recession, that was just fiscal ******edness.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Last I checked the economy was recovering. That's gotta sting.

Not really. Gas prices are far too high, economic growth is incredibly small, the latest jobs numbers really don't paint a rosy picture, and of course inflation is killing it here.

 

[Pagan]

But that didn't create the Great Recession, that was just fiscal ******edness.

It compounded it. it fueled (and is still fueling) the crazy derivatives market. the one where all the money is tied up making bets on other money and not actually working to create any jobs. but it does make it easy to drive oil prices through the roof.

 

[hippie_hunter]

That was the Bush Administration forgetting that certain agencies had a job to do. But the core root of the Great Recession were bad banking policies that allowed the housing crisis to occur.

 

[Chris B]

Romney's pro-life though. And that will be enough for Christian conservatives to vote for him over Obama, regardless of who the VP is. Hell, Ridge allows Romney to continue to cater to the right on social issues because Ridge will please moderates/independents and send a message of Romney not being a far-right extremist (even if the things that he says indicates otherwise).

I think that people are overestimating Romney's need for a right wing running mate. Romney may not be the most appealing candidate to far right wingers (which is why he had such a tough primary), but they are still going to be out in full force to vote for him. Gary Johnson isn't going to attract all of those voters. The far right wingers will vote Romney because in their eyes it is either him or a Muslim communist. They'll vote Romney. Using the running mate to make a play for independents is the smarter move, IMO.

Problem is that they don't trust Romney when he says he is a social conservative. That distrust combined with an openly pro-choice running mate would pretty much destroy any relationship Romney is able to build with the base.

I do agree though that he needs to be careful about not picking someone too right-wing. That is one reason why I think Portman has emerged as a frontrunner for the job. He's conservative enough to appease the base, but isn't going to turn off moderates and independence.

 

[chaseter]

Here is what I would say if I was Romney:

I am not the most socially conservative candidate ever, but I am a fiscal conservative and a successfully businessman...and...I am the nominee. So, if you want Obama to win 4 more years because you don't agree with social views, then don't vote.

Plain and simple. The hardcore right fringe can be narnars and not vote because Santorum didn't get the nom and help secure Obama another term.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

If Romney spends the election chasing the social conservatives, he will lose. It is the independents that will decide the election and those are who he needs. The social conservatives will vote for him just to stop Obama.

 

[hippie_hunter]

If Romney spends the election chasing the social conservatives, he will lose. It is the independents that will decide the election and those are who he needs. The social conservatives will vote for him just to stop Obama.

Considering that Obama has pretty much **** all over everything that social conservatives root for, yeah they're going to vote for Romney simply to get rid of him. It's exactly as you say, Romney has no need to chase the social conservatives, he already has them in the bag.

 

[SV Fan]

Considering that Obama has pretty much **** all over everything that social conservatives root for, yeah they're going to vote for Romney simply to get rid of him. It's exactly as you say, Romney has no need to chase the social conservatives, he already has them in the bag.

I honestly don 't see why far right republicans hate Obama

Immigration: He's deported more illegals then Bush did in 8 years

Gun Rights: Obama's only law he passed about guns was allowing them to be carried in state parks on the basis of state laws, yet somehow they are feared that "Obama is going to take our guns"

Killing Bin Laden has to be worth some browny points, and if they love their war, hell he's no different then Bush for the most part(of coarse it not enough for some)

 

[Thundercrack85]

Because they're insane. You can't reason with lunatics. Problem is that a lot of politicians play to that, problem is, it can come back to haunt them. McCain ran into that problem, with that crazy racist lady.

 

[childeroland]

Will Rob Portman be Romney's running mate?

 

[SV Fan]

Because they're insane. You can't reason with lunatics. Problem is that a lot of politicians play to that, problem is, it can come back to haunt them. McCain ran into that problem, with that crazy racist lady.

You have to feel sorry for the Latinos. You have to consider how little the Democrats do to get there votes, but by comparison for them they the least of 2 evils.

I predict in 4 to 8 years the republicans will realize how easy the Latinos are to get by just doing the simplest things and they will become a Republican stronghold

 

[Axl Van Sixx]

I would say that Clintonian banking polices (co-developed with the GOP controlled Congress) had the biggest hand in creating the Great Recession than Bush's policies. Bush was just simply incompetent and often forgot that certain regulatory agencies had a job to do.

Bush "forgot"? Please.

Conservatives have an ideological predisposition towards deregulation and privatization, and Bush was simply carrying out those policies. Of course, both Democrats and Republicans bear responsibility for deregulation of the financial markets. Clinton's infamous Commodity Futures Modernization Act set the stage for the derivatives that ended up sinking the global economy. But we need to realize that this was all part of a continuous process that each president played a role in advancing. Deregulation actually began under Jimmy Carter.

Still, hippie, I'm curious - as a libertarian, aren't you supposed to be against almost all forms of government regulation, particularly in the economy?

 

[Pagan]

I honestly don 't see why far right republicans hate Obama

Immigration: He's deported more illegals then Bush did in 8 years

Gun Rights: Obama's only law he passed about guns was allowing them to be carried in state parks on the basis of state laws, yet somehow they are feared that "Obama is going to take our guns"

Killing Bin Laden has to be worth some browny points, and if they love their war, hell he's no different then Bush for the most part(of coarse it not enough for some)

It's his position on gay rights and abortion that they hate. He doesn't think it's right to deny tax paying ,law abiding citizens every right heterosexuals have. In other words he isn't willing to classify them as second class citizens.
And he wants to see Roe v Wade stay as it is.

That's why they hate him.