The Candidates are Coming [GOP]

[sindatur]

I'm sure Johnson can hang. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Johnson swing a couple early primaries. His marijuana decriminalization platform may appeal to young voters, but I'm not sure if young female voters will shy away from Johnson or not. It's really a question of who he gets to spearhead his campaign, and whether or not he could build up enough momentum to penetrate beyond the tea party base. The only thing I'm uncertain about is where the primary thrust of his tax policy will be directed; will the middle class continue to get the shaft, or does Johnson have the balls to fill in some of the corporate tax loopholes?

[Rawedge Rim]

God forbid we should experience a little bipartisanship...

Jesus, I sure hope we don't. Both parties suck.

Heh...which is why I often say [anyone sick of reading it yet?] I wish we could disband political parties.
In a way, they really run like a mix of the worst qualities of a union and the board of a public corp.

might as well stand on the beach and command the tides to cease. Human nature creates a party structure in just about any government that comes up.

[Vraith]

Jesus, I sure hope we don't. Both parties suck.

Heh...which is why I often say [anyone sick of reading it yet?] I wish we could disband political parties.
In a way, they really run like a mix of the worst qualities of a union and the board of a public corp.

might as well stand on the beach and command the tides to cease. Human nature creates a party structure in just about any government that comes up.

Yea, I know, you're right. I don't mind local/regional self-organizing groups. But I can't stand the top down, national, dictatorial hierarchy. In many ways, I find the whole 2-party structure essentially un-American...it's a concentration of power antithetical to freedoms...a duopoly isn't much better than a monopoly when they work together to suppress competition.
But I know I'm pissing into the wind.

[Tjol]

If we as a people stopped giving money to national parties, and instead gave our monies to specific candidates...

Well, then again, I've never given money politically. But the only times I've ever even thought about donating money (that is when I had disposable income that I could give) was to individual candidates.

Does any American on these boards ever donate to the national parties? And if not, how is it that the national parties exist as organisations, rather than loose affiliations?

[sindatur]

If we as a people stopped giving money to national parties, and instead gave our monies to specific candidates...

Well, then again, I've never given money politically. But the only times I've ever even thought about donating money (that is when I had disposable income that I could give) was to individual candidates.

Does any American on these boards ever donate to the national parties? And if not, how is it that the national parties exist as organisations, rather than loose affiliations?

Well one chunk, I think comes from checking the "Donate a dollar" box on your tax filing forms.

I imagine Organizations are more likely to support a party, rather than a candidate, Party depending upon which ideology they favor.

Get out the Vote campaigns are often aimed at numbers a Party may gain or lose, so, they don't care who the candidate is, as long as they are the right party.

[Tjol]

If we as a people stopped giving money to national parties, and instead gave our monies to specific candidates...

Well, then again, I've never given money politically. But the only times I've ever even thought about donating money (that is when I had disposable income that I could give) was to individual candidates.

Does any American on these boards ever donate to the national parties? And if not, how is it that the national parties exist as organisations, rather than loose affiliations?

Well one chunk, I think comes from checking the "Donate a dollar" box on your tax filing forms.

I imagine Organizations are more likely to support a party, rather than a candidate, Party depending upon which ideology they favor.

Get out the Vote campaigns are often aimed at numbers a Party may gain or lose, so, they don't care who the candidate is, as long as they are the right party.

I used to donate via tax returns...but so many of the health based organisations started legislating good health with the semi-myth of second hand smoke laws here in California. As I always say, I don't smoke, but I have a problem with going on a witch hunt for smokers when second hand smoke isn't half the pollutant auto exhaust is... and we all seem to be just fine with auto exhaust.

Once health interests started trying to legislate instead of educate, I didn't want my money being used by them anymore.

[Vraith]

Alright. This guy has lots of buzz, lots of potential support if he decides to run [he's the only one even close to Romney in most places...and leads or is within margin of error if Bachmann and Palin aren't on the list] and then there is this:

The event was Perry's idea but was financed by the American Family Association, a Tupelo, Miss.-based group that opposes abortion and gay rights and believes that the First Amendment freedom of religion applies only to Christians.

Lots of people even here were flabbergasted by Obama's "religious ties" and how "anti-American" they were.
How do you feel about this guy?

[sindatur]

Alright. This guy has lots of buzz, lots of potential support if he decides to run [he's the only one even close to Romney in most places...and leads or is within margin of error if Bachmann and Palin aren't on the list] and then there is this:

The event was Perry's idea but was financed by the American Family Association, a Tupelo, Miss.-based group that opposes abortion and gay rights and believes that the First Amendment freedom of religion applies only to Christians.

Lots of people even here were flabbergasted by Obama's "religious ties" and how "anti-American" they were.
How do you feel about this guy?

That's pretty Anti-American and extreme. Who is this you're speaking of? The Quote references Perry, is that Texas Governor Perry?

[Vraith]

Yes...sorry...I could have been more clear.

[Rawedge Rim]

Alright. This guy has lots of buzz, lots of potential support if he decides to run [he's the only one even close to Romney in most places...and leads or is within margin of error if Bachmann and Palin aren't on the list] and then there is this:

The event was Perry's idea but was financed by the American Family Association, a Tupelo, Miss.-based group that opposes abortion and gay rights and believes that the First Amendment freedom of religion applies only to Christians.

Lots of people even here were flabbergasted by Obama's "religious ties" and how "anti-American" they were.
How do you feel about this guy?

That's pretty Anti-American and extreme. Who is this you're speaking of? The Quote references Perry, is that Texas Governor Perry?

I would be willing to bet that if you could somehow go back to 1790 or so and ask the framers of the Constitution and the vast majority of the people of the time; that would be exactly thier interpretation of the First Ammendment.

Now certainly over the intervening 200+ years, that interpretation has expanded to cover nearly all religions, but lets not act like the "Framers" thought exactly the way we do now.

[Vraith]

Alright. This guy has lots of buzz, lots of potential support if he decides to run [he's the only one even close to Romney in most places...and leads or is within margin of error if Bachmann and Palin aren't on the list] and then there is this:
Lots of people even here were flabbergasted by Obama's "religious ties" and how "anti-American" they were.
How do you feel about this guy?

That's pretty Anti-American and extreme. Who is this you're speaking of? The Quote references Perry, is that Texas Governor Perry?

I would be willing to bet that if you could somehow go back to 1790 or so and ask the framers of the Constitution and the vast majority of the people of the time; that would be exactly thier interpretation of the First Ammendment.

Now certainly over the intervening 200+ years, that interpretation has expanded to cover nearly all religions, but lets not act like the "Framers" thought exactly the way we do now.

I'd say it's extremely likely that you are correct. But sometimes an idea is greater than the creator intended [and sometime smaller, too]...which is one of the most important failures of strict "originalist" and similar interpretations. If only one group has a right [Christians, for instance]...then it is the exact opposite of a right.

[Orlion]

That's pretty Anti-American and extreme. Who is this you're speaking of? The Quote references Perry, is that Texas Governor Perry?

I would be willing to bet that if you could somehow go back to 1790 or so and ask the framers of the Constitution and the vast majority of the people of the time; that would be exactly thier interpretation of the First Ammendment.

Now certainly over the intervening 200+ years, that interpretation has expanded to cover nearly all religions, but lets not act like the "Framers" thought exactly the way we do now.

I'd say it's extremely likely that you are correct. But sometimes an idea is greater than the creator intended [and sometime smaller, too]...which is one of the most important failures of strict "originalist" and similar interpretations. If only one group has a right [Christians, for instance]...then it is the exact opposite of a right.

Disagree with the last part. Rights are always attached to membership in a group. So it'd still be a 'right', just not a 'human right'. Everything else is fine though

[sgt.null]

saw tonight on th elocal news that Perry is expected to anounce on saturday. i will be voting against him as i always do. maybe for Ron Paul.

[Cail]

Jeezus, did anyone see these idiots debate last night?


Might as well get used to four more years.

[Vraith]

Jeezus, did anyone see these idiots debate last night?


Might as well get used to four more years.

I tried to watch it, I swear, I really really tried...

[Avatar]

If you can't afford a movie, go to the zoo. If you can't afford the zoo, go see a politician.

--A

[Damelon]

And one drops out. Pawlenty calls it quits.

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Is Perry electable?

[Cail]

None of them are. Bachman and Romney are probably the only ones with a somewhat credible shot. But even still, there are too many Republicans and right-of-center independents who would never vote for either of them.

[Vraith]

Is Perry electable?

I don't think so...but on bad days I worry he might be.
I suspect that both Bachmann and Perry are the kind of candidate that, if nominated, will bring out a lot of people to vote for Obama no matter how angry/disappointed with him just to make sure neither of those two wins.
But it's just a suspicion, not ready to predict yet.