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[Gary Whitta]

There was a lot of talk on the Meet the Press roundtable today about the possibility of a new contender emerging late in the race. I still think it could happen, although a major third-party contender seems more likely. When the hell is Bloomberg going to step up?

 

[Open Source]

I'm comfortable leaving it at that. Open-ended investigations are not a good thing.
This conversation is so 1990's that I had to put on some flannel.

Clinton was a dirtbag who committed perjury and various other stuff (Filegate, etc.) for his own political benefit. The Republicans were dirtbags who launched one investigation after another for their own political benefit. But OPEC was in shambles, the WWW took off, and no one took Al Gore seriously, so everything was great.

As far as the issue of hypocrisy goes, I think Gingrich is fair game on marriage/socialcon issues, Fannie Mae, and bunch of other topics. Romney's record at Bain should be brought up and his tax records scrutinized. Of course, I think Obama is fair game for living the life of a 1%er, and limo libs in general for living lavishly while giving very little to charity (aside from their politically oriented non-profits). And I also think that medical records and college transcripts should be out in the open, too. Transparency!

 

[PhoenixDark]

Romney did an effective job of attacking Perry in the debates, but Gingrich is a far more formidable opponent; Romney's attacks were more democrat-esque than the gut punches typically thrown in these republican debates. Also the field is smaller, meaning Romney won't be able to rely on others (mainly Bachman) doing the more vicious attacks.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I missed quite a bit here, but is it Mitt's offshore accounts that allows him to pay 15%, or the fact that tax on capital gains is lower than on regular income?

Also, he should probably just claim that TurboTax made him do it.

It's a guess right now based on his own words ("probably closer to the 15 percent rate than anything else"). Since the lion's share of his taxes must come from the long-term capital gains rate (15%), it's quite possible his effective rate is even less after deductions, tax shelters, charitable contributions, etc. Depends on how much "income" he has to report in the highest tax bracket.

 

[Gary Whitta]

I don't think Romney has the stomach for a dirty negative campaign (which the general against Obama will most certainly be) which is why his SuperPACs have been throwing all his punches for him.

 

[thekad]

Of course, I think Obama is fair game for living the life of a 1%er, and limo libs in general for living lavishly while giving very little to charity (aside from their politically oriented non-profits).

lol

 

[Byakuya769]

Did I just see that being rich automatically makes you a hypocrite on income inequality issues?

 

[Arde5643]

Did I just see that being rich automatically makes you a hypocrite on income inequality issues?

It's just like how having an iphone means you're a hypocrite about supporting OWS.

 

[Plinko]

There was a lot of talk on the Meet the Press roundtable today about the possibility of a new contender emerging late in the race. I still think it could happen, although a major third-party contender seems more likely. When the hell is Bloomberg going to step up?

I honestly can't think of one candidate that could win.

 

[Gary Whitta]

Did I just see that being rich automatically makes you a hypocrite on income inequality issues?

I hate that shit. Buffett FTW!

I honestly can't think of one candidate that could win.

You don't think Bloomberg would have a shot?

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

There was a lot of talk on the Meet the Press roundtable today about the possibility of a new contender emerging late in the race. I still think it could happen, although a major third-party contender seems more likely. When the hell is Bloomberg going to step up?

I... don't think the climate is optimal for a billionaire to jump into the race at the last minute this year.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I wonder if Perry's endorsement carries any weight there. You think this'll still be a contest in April? I suppose that depends on Gingrich's performance in Florida.

Oh, I made a mistake, I thought Texas was on Super Tuesday (Mar 6)

I'm not sure about Perry's weight. Perry was running 4th in his own state in some polls I saw.

 

[Gary Whitta]

I... don't think the climate is optimal for a billionaire to jump into the race at the last minute this year.

Again though it's less to do with how much money you have and more what your attitude is toward the economy/taxes. I don't think people dislike Romney because he has money, it's because it ties in with his policies about lower taxes for the rich.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I hate that shit. Buffett FTW!



You don't think Bloomberg would have a shot?

He wouldn't even carry New York City, nevermind how a Jewish billionaire would go over in, like, 47 other states.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I would like Bloomberg as a choice for President, but I just can't imagine a socially liberal Republican doing well in a national election. He'd have to be an awfully charming guy and Bloomberg is not that guy.

 

[Gary Whitta]

If only there were a real-life Arnie Vinick out there...

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Did Romney say of the 15% figure was before or after deducting his tithings?

 

[The Librarian]

What happens when you don't let Mitt have his turn.
http://cheatsheet.tumblr.com/post/16298046988/watch-what-happens-when-you-dont-let-mitt-have

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I would like Bloomberg as a choice for President, but I just can't imagine a socially liberal Republican doing well in a national election. He'd have to be an awfully charming guy and Bloomberg is not that guy.

Exactly. A centrist superhero candidate being successful is a bit of a fictive media obsession. While extremists don't get far, you can't win by looking weaksauce to both parties either. Even as an independent, you have to pull most of one party or the other.

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Did Romney say of the 15% figure was before or after deducting his tithings?

His effective rate.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/18/BUD91MR4RS.DTL

 

[Puddles]

The perfect Republican candidate doesn't really exist. Reasonable, articulate, and intellectually honest people tend to be liberal, and if they aren't, they're the Jon Huntsman/Mitch Daniels type.

You can't really subscribe to the views of the Republican/Tea Party base without a certain degree of willful ignorance and/or cognitive dissonance. Sorry if that offends anyone; just telling it like it is.

 

[BotoxAgent]

Did I just see that being rich automatically makes you a hypocrite on income inequality issues?

It's not about being rich, it's how you got rich. In Romney's case, he got rich from preying on weak companies. His company does not produce anything worthwhile, only money....to enrich themselves. He's not the same as other rich companies that actually push and create innovation and good products.

 

[Atramental]

The perfect Republican candidate doesn't really exist. Reasonable, articulate, and intellectually honest people tend to be liberal, and if they aren't, they're the Jon Huntsman/Mitch Daniels type.

You can't really subscribe to the views of the Republican/Tea Party base without a certain degree of willful ignorance and/or cognitive dissonance. Sorry if that offends anyone; just telling it like it is.

 

[The Librarian]

The perfect Republican candidate doesn't really exist. Reasonable, articulate, and intellectually honest people tend to be liberal, and if they aren't, they're the Jon Huntsman/Mitch Daniels type.

You can't really subscribe to the views of the Republican/Tea Party base without a certain degree of willful ignorance and/or cognitive dissonance. Sorry if that offends anyone; just telling it like it is.

And ignoring history (Reagan).

Where's an Eisenhower Republican?

 

[Puddles]

Yeah, I'm specifically referring to the Republican party of the last 10 years (mainly the last four).

I'd vote for a George H.W. Bush type.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Yeah, I'm specifically referring to the Republican party of the last 10 years (mainly the last four).

I'd vote for a George H.W. Bush type.

No you wouldn't. You would have been the same easily influenced person that could be convinced that Bush was just like Reagan. Just like every other liberal back then.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I'd vote for a George H.W. Bush type.

http://youtu.be/pJvRUL81ZU8
lol, fail on my part

 

[jamesinclair]

Lies

http://www.secondapps.com/neogaf/

Phone GAF is best GAF

That's what i'm using but after writing to much editing becomes almost impossible

 

[Plinko]

You don't think Bloomberg would have a shot?

No.

I think if Giuliani would have stayed in the public eye with a populist message he could have done well as a late candidate because he could draw in independents.

 

[SouthernDragon]

Rep. Giffords stepping down.

Best of luck to her.

Amazing.

 

[Tamanon]

The strange dynamic of this race is that this might be the first time in a long time that you won't see National Security highlighted as much by the GOP.

 

[Jackson50]

What do you mean that the Bain smears did not stick? I thought polls showed that they had major impact in South Carolina?

If you stretch the definition of major, perhaps. The effect was at most moderate. Although, I am inclined to concur with Nate Silver that the survey results may be a bit dubious. There is likely a high correlation between voters who already supported Newt and their putative evaluation of the Bain attacks. That is, the relationship is spurious. I think the most telling data was the amount of voters who had recently made their decision and factored the debates into their decision.

http://news.yahoo.com/yemeni-president-departs-oman-en-route-us-184227156.html
I'm not so sure that was a good idea. Plenty of good places for treatment elsewhere and we have a really bad historical precedent with this. Granted, the situation is very different this time, but it doesn't make us look good there.

Presently, I doubt that matters. We are already loathed. I doubt our standing could erode further. Rather, we could be attempting to entice him into permanent exile. They may have reasoned it served as a credible commitment while more permanent arrangements are negotiated. Although, given his promise to return, I am a bit skeptical.

Exactly. A centrist superhero candidate being successful is a bit of a fictive media obsession. While extremists don't get far, you can't win by looking weaksauce to both parties either. Even as an independent, you have to pull most of one party or the other.

Right. The media primarily perpetuates the myth of the "radical center." I suppose it is an appealing concept. But it is not viable.

 

[jamesinclair]

Can someone explain to me why mitts dad, a foreigner was able to run for president?

 

[Mike M]

Can someone explain to me why mitts dad, a foreigner was able to run for president?

I think the insistence that "natural-born" means "born inside the borders of US territory" instead of "born a citizen" is a relatively new thing.

 

[thatbox]

 

[Anticitizen One]

 

[Juice]

Can someone explain to me why mitts dad, a foreigner was able to run for president?

It was hotly debated by legal scholars at the time. He didn't come close enough for the matter to be settled, however.

 

[Tamanon]

That explains wanting to cheat on us with Israel.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

I saw my first campaign sign in Charlotte today, it was Newt 2012

 

[Oblivion]

Newt 2012: You Better Start Recovering, America

 

[Tamanon]

I saw my first campaign sign in Charlotte today, it was Newt 2012

I'm about an hour north of Charlotte and we've been getting the PAC ads for the GOP for about a week now. Might just be spillover from SC, but they've been pretty annoying.

 

[maximum360]

Newt 2012: You Better Start Recovering, America

Newt 2012: America, are you ready for an open relationship?

 

[Oblivion]

If Newt does in fact eventually leave America for a younger, healthier and more attractive country, which one do you guys think he'd pick?

 

[Open Source]

Newt 2012: He'll Get Better

(for all the Monty Python fans out there)

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

Newt 2012: Get Money Fuck Bitches

 

[Open Source]

It's not about being rich, it's how you got rich. In Romney's case, he got rich from preying on weak companies. His company does not produce anything worthwhile, only money....to enrich themselves. He's not the same as other rich companies that actually push and create innovation and good products.

This is the sausage-making of the free market. Companies that can't hack it go away. However, unlike Solyndra, they don't take $500mil from taxpayers in the process.

It's easy to hate companies that lay off workers in the name of efficiency. But what is far worse for the economy, and thus workers, is things like zombie banks and other failed companies being propped up indefinitely, as they suck capital that could be invested in companies that are self-sufficient. It doesn't have the same emotional impact, certainly, which is why some people have a more visceral reaction to one than the other. Then they go through all sorts of mental contortions to frame it as a rational thing instead of an emotional thing, because they fancy themselves to be the smart ones.

 

[Particle Physicist]

^^^The free market doesn't exist. It's a bullshit theoretical creation.

 

[elrechazado]

This is the sausage-making of the free market. Companies that can't hack it go away. However, unlike Solyndra, they don't take $500mil from taxpayers in the process.

It's easy to hate companies that lay off workers in the name of efficiency. But what is far worse for the economy, and thus workers, is things like zombie banks and other failed companies being propped up indefinitely, as they suck capital that could be invested in companies that are self-sufficient. It doesn't have the same emotional impact, certainly, which is why some people have a more visceral reaction to one than the other. Then they go through all sorts of mental contortions to frame it as a rational thing instead of an emotional thing, because they fancy themselves to be the smart ones.

Economics 101 is hard, stop confusing people.

 

[RustyNails]

I had a super winning thread title in place for 2012 elections. It was PoliGAF 2012: Romney vs Romney vs Obama. Newt had to completely spoil it and people are now saying he's got a pretty decent chance at the nomination =\ I hope Romney makes it through

 

[Open Source]

^^^The free market doesn't exist. It's a bullshit theoretical creation.

A pure free market is not a stable thing, certainly. It's basically a power vacuum that tends to get filled with monopolies, cartels, and the like. How does the "somewhat free market" sound?