2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

[Handyman]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

And Bob, here is what some of your fellow conservatives think on the matter...taken from the Priceless post you obviously overlooked:

Last night, Stephen Hill, who is serving in the Army in Iraq, had the courage to come out as gay to a national audience and ask the Republican presidential candidates about how they’d handle troops like him. The audience responded to his question with boos, and Rick Santorum said he’d reinstate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (a promise he doubled down on later in the evening).

The big question today, even among conservatives, is: Why did none of the candidates stand up for the soldier? Here are some of today’s reactions to the offensive moment:

- Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer: “Booing a soldier serving our nation is uncalled for. If I were on stage, I would make that point.”
- The Hill’s Ballot Box: “None of the Republican candidates responded to the audience’s reaction.”
- Christian Post: “Santorum, who has never served in the armed forces, did not address the boos, but explained his position by saying ‘sexual activity has absolutely no place in the military.’”
- National Review: “Whatever you think of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or homosexuality, Hill is risking his life on behalf of his country. It is troubling, and revealing, that Santorum’s answer entirely defined Hill as a gay man first and as a soldier second, if at all.”
- GOProud: “Tonight, Rick Santorum disrespected our brave men and women in uniform, and he owes Stephen Hill, the gay soldier who asked him the question about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, an immediate apology. That brave gay soldier is doing something Rick Santorum has never done – put his life on the line to defend our freedoms and our way of life. It is telling that Rick Santorum is so blinded by his anti-gay bigotry that he couldn’t even bring himself to thank that gay soldier for his service.”

 

[walrus]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Can't believe any one would trash Larry Flynt the job Creator

 

[Rover]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Can't believe any one would trash Larry Flynt the job Creator

Well done, sir.

 

[unofan]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I'm not familiar with that story, so I won't comment on it. Sorry I don't parrot every story and issue you wish me to. But then, some of us try to think for ourselves. Yes, I know, a novel concept.

Oh come off it, Bob. You dug up some story on Larry Flynt for which Google News has 78 stories linked, but missed out on the top political story of the day with over 3200 stories?

There's plausable deniability, then there's willful ignorance.

 

[Foxton]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

And Bob, here is what some of your fellow conservatives think on the matter...taken from the Priceless post you obviously overlooked:

Where is our usual military fanboy conservative mouthpiece to say how outraged he is the someone insulted a military man?

 

[French Rage]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Cheer executions? Check.
Cheer for sick people to die? Check.
Boo soldiers serving in Iraq? Check.

<iframe src="http://videos.mediaite.com/embed/player/?layout=&playlist_cid=&media_type=video&content=NGJNXW3PJXZ5TG47&read_more=1&widget_type_cid=svp" width="420" height="421" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

Classy!

Where did Santorum get all of the straw he used in his reply?

 

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Simply put once this primary is over Romney will have zero appeal down South. Hard core christian conservatives aren't going to vote for him. They'd just as soon stay home.

I think they'll do what everybody else does and vote for "the lesser of two evils," particularly if he "balances the ticket" with an evangelical. Even if Romney himself doesn't motivate social conservatives, there will be lots of talk about SCOTUS nominees and I'm sure conservatives in purple states will load up on ballot initiatives for red meat issues (abortion, gay marriage, assisted suicide, whatever works).

The same people who might otherwise stay home for a moderate Republican spit blood whenever they see Obama's face. The spite vote will be enormous.

 

[Rover]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Where is our usual military fanboy conservative mouthpiece to say how outraged he is the someone insulted a military man?

I'm curious where huskyfan is too as she's supposed to be strong on supporting our veterans according to herself.

 

[Rover]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I think they'll do what everybody else does and vote for "the lesser of two evils," particularly if he "balances the ticket" with an evangelical. Even if Romney himself doesn't motivate social conservatives, there will be lots of talk about SCOTUS nominees and I'm sure conservatives in purple states will load up on ballot initiatives for red meat issues (abortion, gay marriage, assisted suicide, whatever works).

Kep that doesn't make any sense. Why would conservatives in purple states load the ballot with gay marriage initiatives when the public outside of deep red states supports the idea? This isn't 2004 anymore and the landscape on this issue has moved dramatically. Frankly I hope they do try something like that. The booing crowd notwithstanding, you notice an avoidance of DODT repeal issues in the GOP contest because its a terrible issue for the GOP. Either you take a stand against the base, or you take a stand against combat veterans (who happen to be gay). The trick to winning Presidential elections is to broaden your appeal, not restrict it.

EDIT: Assisted suicide also polls favorably. Abortion depends on the question (witness overturn of South Dakota law a few years back).

 

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

It's both wrong and incredibly stupid to boo an active duty soldier, serving in a war zone. If he were a Korean War turncoat, spewing propaganda, that would be different. And it's also wrong and incredibly stupid for none of the candidates to stand up for the guy as serving his country and deserving of our respect and thanks. Because he is.

 

[unofan]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Kep that doesn't make any sense. Why would conservatives in purple states load the ballot with gay marriage initiatives when the public outside of deep red states supports the idea?

Because it's all about turnout. And the anti-(whatever) crowd makes up in vigor what they lack in numbers. There's a lot of people who, when asked, will say they're pro-gay marriage or pro-assisted suicide, but it's not normally as pressing an issue to them as it is for the anti-group (abortion excepted).

 

[Foxton]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Kep that doesn't make any sense. Why would conservatives in purple states load the ballot with gay marriage initiatives when the public outside of deep red states supports the idea? This isn't 2004 anymore and the landscape on this issue has moved dramatically. Frankly I hope they do try something like that. .

See prop 8. Social conservatives are easy to rile up and get to the polls it's why the republicans have shifted so far to the right.

 

[Rover]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

See prop 8. Social conservatives are easy to rile up and get to the polls it's why the republicans have shifted so far to the right.

That would be swell if they were going to get any gain from it. However, the anti-Obama crowd is the same as the put gays back in the closet crowd, and they're coming out anyway. You get marginal benefit from this, but a big downside particularly with young voters, suburban mom's etc. Launching a social conservative war in swing states is the last thing the GOP should be doing. Their focus needs to be 100% on the economy. This logic is like fighting the last war instead of planning for the next one. In 2004 Karl Rove successfully figured out a way to shore up a weak incumbent by capitalizing on an issue the public was overwhelmingly against. The simple fact is the public is not overwhelming against abortion, gay marriage or assisted suicide anymore. In fact its in favor of all three of those issues, so why would you put that to a ballot question in a swing state? IF feasible and legal, there may be some benefit from a govt worker pension ballot question. Anti-union laws are losers as it got two GOP senators recalled in Wisconsin and a ballot initiative to restore union rights in Ohio.

 

[Foxton]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

That would be swell if they were going to get any gain from it. However, the anti-Obama crowd is the same as the put gays back in the closet crowd, and they're coming out anyway. You get marginal benefit from this, but a big downside particularly with young voters, suburban mom's etc. Launching a social conservative war in swing states is the last thing the GOP should be doing. Their focus needs to be 100% on the economy. This logic is like fighting the last war instead of planning for the next one. In 2004 Karl Rove successfully figured out a way to shore up a weak incumbent by capitalizing on an issue the public was overwhelmingly against. The simple fact is the public is not overwhelming against abortion, gay marriage or assisted suicide anymore. In fact its in favor of all three of those issues, so why would you put that to a ballot question in a swing state? IF feasible and legal, there may be some benefit from a govt worker pension ballot question. Anti-union laws are losers as it got two GOP senators recalled in Wisconsin and a ballot initiative to restore union rights in Ohio.

Their gain is that they get elected. it doesn't matter what the public wants as prop 8 showed, it's who turns up at the voting booth. Social conservatives go out in droves to vote based purely off someone telling them to. It's life or death that they get their way.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

11 Muslim punks have just learned a very valuable lesson about the limits on the First Amendment. Not all speech is protected. Not every forum is open. I don't have a First Amendment right to disrupt worship services at someone's church or synagogue or mosque. This suggestion, that First Amendment "rights" trump everyone else's rights, is a holdover from the 60's. And dates from Hitler's SA, which he would use to break up your political meeting and to break your skull if you opened your pie hole at his meeting. Now, of course, these punks are going to play the Islamic "victim" card. These things always follow a dreary predictable script.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/irvine-11-guilty_n_978408.html

 

[Foxton]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

11 Muslim punks have just learned a very valuable lesson about the limits on the First Amendment. Not all speech is protected. Not every forum is open. I don't have a First Amendment right to disrupt worship services at someone's church or synagogue or mosque. This suggestion, that First Amendment "rights" trump everyone else's rights, is a holdover from the 60's. And dates from Hitler's SA, which he would use to break up your political meeting and to break your skull if you opened your pie hole at his meeting. Now, of course, these punks are going to play the Islamic "victim" card. These things follow a dreary predictable trajectory.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/irvine-11-guilty_n_978408.html

Wrong thread but wow, that's just hilarious, and you're just the icing on the cake. Apparently in your world this is a crime.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Indiana and Virginia are going Republican. as is Florida. and Ohio. and Michigan. maybe Pennsylvania. perhaps North Carolina. perhaps Wisconsin. Obama's disapproval polls in CALIFORNIA are 50/50. some one tell me how electorally Obama can win. heck, I'm no longer sure he can even win the nomination. there are alot of Democratic senators up for re-election and they are not going to want his dragging them down. there is even an outside chance the GOP gets the super majority in the Senate. even Jimmy Carter didn't have it so bad.

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I'm curious where huskyfan is too as she's supposed to be strong on supporting our veterans according to herself.

Guess not.

 

[joecct]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Indiana and Virginia are going Republican. as is Florida. and Ohio. and Michigan. maybe Pennsylvania. perhaps North Carolina. perhaps Wisconsin. Obama's disapproval polls in CALIFORNIA are 50/50. some one tell me how electorally Obama can win. heck, I'm no longer sure he can even win the nomination. there are alot of Democratic senators up for re-election and they are not going to want his dragging them down. there is even an outside chance the GOP gets the super majority in the Senate. even Jimmy Carter didn't have it so bad.

There are 13+ months left until we get to pull the lever and strange things happen in the political world. Bush 41 was @ a 90% approval rating in 1991 and lost in 1992. Clinton had Monica and blew Dole out. Dewey beat Truman. etc. I'm not going to count BHO out until the polls close on election day in 2012. Plus there are going to be enough shenanigans on both sides to keep the courts busy.

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Indiana and Virginia are going Republican. as is Florida. and Ohio. and Michigan. maybe Pennsylvania. perhaps North Carolina. perhaps Wisconsin. Obama's disapproval polls in CALIFORNIA are 50/50. some one tell me how electorally Obama can win. heck, I'm no longer sure he can even win the nomination. there are alot of Democratic senators up for re-election and they are not going to want his dragging them down. there is even an outside chance the GOP gets the super majority in the Senate. even Jimmy Carter didn't have it so bad.

What were GWB's poll numbers in late 2003? What were Clinton's in 1995? How astronomic were GHWB's numbers in 1991?

When running against a "generic" opponent Obama might not do as well. Put a name to his opponent and his numbers suddenly get better.

As was pointed out earlier in this thread, both Perry and Romney have electoral problems vs Obama come November 2012. Perry is not winning Michigan or Pennsylvania or Wisconsin. Even if you flip NC, VA, IN, FL, NC and OH (and the one EV in Neb) Obama still wins.