364 replies to this topic

[Peeves]

Ron Paul may survive through the primaries with his 20% or so vote. Heck, he may even run as an independent.

If he does, the key question is whether his candidacy will affect the result in November. Where does he draw his votes?

I reckon that Paul-voters come equally from Republicans & Democrats but with a larger chunk of non-voters. Paul is a neutral Nader.

Movement? Nader?
Paul is certainly a movement, rather in the lower bowel and now at his zenith, his 'nadir' approaches with his baggage.

[Manny]

I reckon that Paul-voters come equally from Republicans & Democrats but with a larger chunk of non-voters. Paul is a neutral Nader.

It's an interesting comparison and Ron Paul has something to say about that. This is from 4 years ago-



Important quote from this video-
Wolf Blitzer- "So you want to stop Obama, is that what you're saying?"

Ron Paul - "Well no, uh, I want to change THE SYSTEM".

Also Nader at 7:55 in the video-
Wolf Blitzer- "It's unrealistic to assume a third party candidate is going to be the POTUS."

Ralph Nader - "No, but we can push the two parties to address what's troubling the American people, economically, politically, socially..."

Edited by Manny, 16 January 2012 - 08:19 AM.

[GostHacked]

What is funny is that Paul is still running the race while the few the media called 'Top Tier' candidates have dropped out. Bachmann was considered top tier..

[Manny]

Regarding the OP, Santorum is being propped up by the evangelist right wing as their nominee of choice. It should be pointed out that his position is morally conservative, not politically/ fiscally conservative and this word has been abused at this time to mean something else. When we hear that he is a "conservative" candidate it means he has christian views, or rather views that many christian conservatives agree with.

[Shady]

Bachmann was considered top tier..

Really, when? For like a week maybe?

[GostHacked]

Really, when? For like a week maybe?

It does not matter how long she was considered top tier. She simply was. And now she is gone!!

[Shady]

It does not matter how long she was considered top tier. She simply was. And now she is gone!!

Ok, but if the choice for Republicans was ever between just Ron Paul and her, she'd win in a landslide.

[GostHacked]

Ok, but if the choice for Republicans was ever between just Ron Paul and her, she'd win in a landslide.

Sure sure, so why did she drop out? Why would you vote for a quitter?

[Shady]

Sure sure, so why did she drop out?

She dropped out because she didn't score high enough in Iowa.

[kimmy]

It does not matter how long she was considered top tier. She simply was. And now she is gone!!

Michele Bachmann was considered top-tier the day she won the Iowa straw-poll. Rick Perry entered the race the very next day and she was not top tier at any time afterward. Finishing with 5% in the Iowa caucus which is as close as she can get to home turf was the end of her road.

Like Ron Paul, Rick Santorum has never been considered top tier in this race, and yet he remains and has proven much stronger than supposed top tier candidates Bachmann, Perry, and Cain.

I will say this much for Santorum: as much as I find some of his views (particularly in regard to the right to privacy) and his statements (his comments about gay people) deplorable... of the remaining candidates, he is the one I find most likeable strictly from a personality standpoint.

I sometimes find Ron Paul very likeable too: he sometimes comes across as a genuine, caring, self-deprecating grandfatherly figure and when he is in that mode he is quite lovable. On the other hand he sometimes comes across as a bit of a fanatic and a guy whose motivation is planted in academic concepts rather than the real world, and when he gets into that mode it is a little off-putting.

Newt Gingrich I just find obnoxious and arrogant. He's clearly a very smart guy, and nobody knows it better than him. He seems compelled to take every opportunity to show off his knowledge and his preparedness, and to me it usually just comes off as a guy saying "hey everybody, look at me, I'm a big fat know-it-all!"

Romney leaves me cold. He's polished, he's slick... everything he says seems pre-meditated to come across as a crowd-pleaser. And while a lot of people probably do find that appealing, I have the opposite reaction... I don't find it genuine or sincere. We've all met people who when they talk we know they're saying stuff they think we'll like rather than stuff they actually feel, and to me Romney comes across that way. Of the four remaining candidates, he is the one who most comes across as a politician, and that's not really intended as a compliment.


Rick Santorum, on the other hand, I find just the opposite. I'm apparently one of the few women in Canada who finds Stephen Harper a likeable guy, but the reason I do is that in some ways he reminds me a lot of my dad. Rick Santorum is in the same vein: he reminds me of a regular guy. He has an authenticity and normalcy that the others lack. Of the four of them, Santorum is the only guy I could imagine as a co-worker or a neighbor. I could never vote for the guy, but of course I'm not their target voter anyway, and wouldn't be even if I were an American.



-k

[-TSS-]

Interesting really that Romney being a mormon is such a problem but we're talking about the republicans, so it shouldn't be a surprise.

[Shady]

Interesting really that Romney being a mormon is such a problem

Actually, it isn't.

Anyways, it looks like Santorum's daughter was admitted to the hospital yesterday.

[GostHacked]

I sometimes find Ron Paul very likeable too: he sometimes comes across as a genuine, caring, self-deprecating grandfatherly figure and when he is in that mode he is quite lovable. On the other hand he sometimes comes across as a bit of a fanatic and a guy whose motivation is planted in academic concepts rather than the real world, and when he gets into that mode it is a little off-putting.

I am not a fan of everything he says either. You are not going to get it 'all' with any one candidate.

Newt Gingrich I just find obnoxious and arrogant. He's clearly a very smart guy, and nobody knows it better than him. He seems compelled to take every opportunity to show off his knowledge and his preparedness, and to me it usually just comes off as a guy saying "hey everybody, look at me, I'm a big fat know-it-all!"

It's really ironic to say he is against the establishment, when he is the very defenition of 'establishment'.

Romney leaves me cold. He's polished, he's slick... everything he says seems pre-meditated to come across as a crowd-pleaser. And while a lot of people probably do find that appealing, I have the opposite reaction... I don't find it genuine or sincere. We've all met people who when they talk we know they're saying stuff they think we'll like rather than stuff they actually feel, and to me Romney comes across that way. Of the four remaining candidates, he is the one who most comes across as a politician, and that's not really intended as a compliment.

Agree, he is too practiced, he doed not feel natural at all. The only person I really know little about is Santorum.

[kimmy]

Anyways, it looks like Santorum's daughter was admitted to the hospital yesterday.

His 3 year old daughter has a genetic defect called Trisomy 18. From what I am reading about it, children with this condition often die before their first week of life, and most die before their first birthday. She has already beaten the odds by living as long as she has, but her life will always be at risk and it must weigh on Rick (and the rest of the family) constantly.


-k

[Shady]

Santorum could have a pretty good night tonight. I think he has a reasonable good shot in 2 of the 3 caucuses. A strong showing could relegate Newt to the back of the pack. Although he'll probably carry on because of his dislike for Romney.