Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XI

[enterthemadness]

Don't look now, but Gary Johnson is on track to qualify for matching funds. 18 states down, 2 to go. Got til May 2nd. Just needs $79 from two states combined, Mass and Conn.

Found out during his online townhall via yowie/his site that once he got $40,000, he submitted app to FEC. Then a new goal added another 10K to make it 50K needing to be raised. He should get to 50K by the deadline. A person in chat room said like it should be 250K he gets. All I know is matching funds is a good sign for a third party.

Although a person said in chat room box during online townhall, that Libertarian Party is only on ballot for 31 states. Most others said 50, then one guy said it's 49. So I dunno...Johnson said it's 50.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

As Schlosser pointed out, the myth of the wholesome, perfect 50s was just that; a myth. It was an ugly, xenophobic, ignorant time. The white Christian male just loves it, because he misses a time when he could feel superior to other people based on his skin color, religion and sexual organs as opposed to the actual content of his character.

My grandfather was barred from joining the local country-club because he was Jewish. But he had it easy compared to other minorities. I don't think black people could even live in the suburb period.

 

[Matt]

If Romney takes Virginia, he's going to take North Carolina. As a matter in fact, he's more likely to take North Carolina. Even the Obama campaign is starting to admit that Romney is the favorite in North Carolina.

True. Though Romney is going to capture Virginia with or without McDonnell, IMO. I just don't see Virginia going blue this time. I think that Ridge brings the most to the ticket as he brings PA.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Yeah, I'm thinking that as well. But there is no way in hell that Romney is going to choose Ridge. I'm starting to lean towards Portman.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I don't know specifically who he'll pick, but my money is on an old white guy.

 

[Superman]

I don't know specifically who he'll pick, but my money is on an old white guy.

LOL You think? t:

Then again, That's what Obama picked too so we can't say much about them doing it.

 

[hippie_hunter]

And you really can't blame them either for wanting someone who won't overshadow Romney.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Oh I don't. My prediction sounded funny but I really meant it.

 

[Matt]

Yeah, I'm thinking that as well. But there is no way in hell that Romney is going to choose Ridge. I'm starting to lean towards Portman.

The thing is, I don't think Portman delivers Ohio. Romney's campaign must realize that. Portman won his senate seat on the merit of running against an old, lifetime Ohio politician who has lost more elections than he's won (who also had the disadvantage of serving as Lt. governor alongside an unpopular governor). Portman isn't a popular politician in Ohio. He was just the one who happened to be there against a weak candidate. He won't deliver Ohio nor will he win Romney any votes elsewhere. Portman is an incredibly safe choice because he won't piss anyone off. But he also won't do much for the ticket. I'm not saying Romney needs a game changer like Palin, but he does need someone who can at least do something for the ticket at that isn't Portman.

 

[Franklin Richards]

How old is Kay Bailey Hutchison?

 

[Matt]

Gotta be close to 70. Kay Bailey Hutchison wouldn't be a terrible choice for Romney, but she really brings nothing to the ticket aside from bolstering support among demographics who would vote for Romney anyway. Women aren't going to vote for Romney, no matter what.

Conventional wisdom says that Romney needs to pick someone who shores up the conservative base. I disagree. Conservatives, Christians, etc will vote for Romney no matter what because he has an R by his name. Going for a right leaning moderate makes a hell of a lot more sense to me.

 

[Schlosser85]

Some conservative Christians won't vote for Romney because he's a Mormon.

 

[Matt]

They say that. I don't buy it. In their eyes it is sort-of-Christian vs the Muslim. They are going to vote for the former. Hell, a lot of that was just artificial drama....a way for the media to keep the primary (and their ratings) going. Find the few fringe lunatics on the street who say that they won't vote for the Mormon and then act as if it represents even a sizable minority. It doesn't. The Christian conservative will vote for Romney. Granted, it won't be like 2004 when you had the Amish voting for Bush (Rove was good)....but it won't be 1992 either.

 

[SV Fan]

Going for a right leaning moderate makes a hell of a lot more sense to me.

One thing you have to factor into making a pick like this is how disenfranchised the base will be. Disenfranchised means you may not get a few people going out to vote at all, and while most may make an effort to vote that is all they probably will do instead of campaigning hard trying to drum up votes for Romney.

 

[Matt]

Obama's mere presence energizes the hard right base.

 

[DACrowe]

And the hard right base's mere presence (personified in the crap on Fox News) energizes the otherwise beleaguered liberal base. It's a self-feeding cycle.

 

[DACrowe]

Also, I have to say I don't get why Romney people are pushing Rubio so hard (he's clearly being vetted). He may help in Florida with Cuban-Americans, but he brings nothing to the table anywhere else because he is a far-right fire-breather that Romney is going to pretend during the general he's not and most hispanic voters disagree with Rubio's platform. It's not nearly as bad, but it's similar to when McCain picked Palin to pander to women voters.

I still think it probably will be Portman. If one thing defines Romney, it is cautious predictability. Portman offers him that. ON a side note, it's going to attempt at ruining the (stage) name of one of my favorite actresses.

Oh well.

 

[hippie_hunter]

And the hard right base's mere presence (personified in the crap on Fox News) energizes the otherwise beleaguered liberal base. It's a self-feeding cycle.

The hard right fringe lunatics don't motivate the liberal base as much as Obama's presence does for the conservative base. It's nowhere near being close. The right's hatred of Obama makes the left's hatred of Bush look sensible in comparison.

Romney really doesn't have to worry about motivating the conservative base at all. Obama has already done that job for him. What Romney really needs to focus on is the independent vote. Meanwhile Obama faces the tenuous task of motivating his base while not alienating the independent vote. If Rick Santorum were the nominee, he would have been able to do that with ease.

 

[DACrowe]

Obama didn't have to do the job for Romney. They were this outraged that he was elected president back in February 2009. Anything he's done while in office is incidental in their hatred for the man. Can't imagine why.

 

[Pagan]

Obama didn't have to do the job for Romney. They were this outraged that he was elected president back in February 2009. Anything he's done while in office is incidental in their hatred for the man. Can't imagine why.

Social conditioning pogrom run by the right wing media.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Some conservative Christians won't vote for Romney because he's a Mormon.

I'm curious to see if that will come up. The candidate's religion usually becomes an issue.

 

[Superman]

Also, I have to say I don't get why Romney people are pushing Rubio so hard (he's clearly being vetted). He may help in Florida with Cuban-Americans, but he brings nothing to the table anywhere else because he is a far-right fire-breather that Romney is going to pretend during the general he's not and most hispanic voters disagree with Rubio's platform. It's not nearly as bad, but it's similar to when McCain picked Palin to pander to women voters.

I still think it probably will be Portman. If one thing defines Romney, it is cautious predictability. Portman offers him that. ON a side note, it's going to attempt at ruining the (stage) name of one of my favorite actresses.

Oh well.

Rubio lying about his past won't help much with Cuban-Americans either.

Don't you find it funny that the same Right Wingers who are having a fit about Obama's past and where he was born are willing to look past Rubio's lies about his past that have been proven to be lies.

Obama tells the truth about his past and is called a liar and not fit to be POTUS by Right Wingers.

Rubio lies over and over again about his past and is called the next VP pick by the same Right Wingers.

Gotta love that double standard Right Wingers have.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Obama didn't have to do the job for Romney. They were this outraged that he was elected president back in February 2009. Anything he's done while in office is incidental in their hatred for the man. Can't imagine why.

Maybe because Obama has pretty much always looked down upon the right. When you say things like how the rural people are a bunch of xenophobes who cling to their Bibles and guns, it's going to be hard to overcome that. Or how throughout his career in the Senate he pretty much took a steaming crap on anything that social conservatives stand for (originally supported gay marriage, had a solid pro-choice record, etc.), it's going to be hard to be liked from that crowd when you don't throw them a bone.

It's things like that. He never really tried to be liked by the right to begin with.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Gotta love that double standard Right Wingers have.

I find it rather hypocritical to criticize the right for their double standards (which do exist) when the left has been showing the exact same double standards towards Obama.

 

[SV Fan]

Romney really doesn't have to worry about motivating the conservative base at all. Obama has already done that job for him. What Romney really needs to focus on is the independent vote. Meanwhile Obama faces the tenuous task of motivating his base while not alienating the independent vote. If Rick Santorum were the nominee, he would have been able to do that with ease.

Obama's best bet is to villainize the Republican party as a whole(especially the far right parts of it) and tie Romney up to that. That would be enough to scare alot of people into voting Democrat while not pissing off independents.

It's things like that. He never really tried to be liked by the right to begin with.

The problem is if you look at Obama's record as POTUS, he is a centrist. He's basically bended over backwards on many issues to appease the Republicans with little or no compromise coming from the other side.