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US Republican Race

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Rob42

John Solomon (38)
There's always a few crazies who pop up in presidential primaries, but usually they don't last as long as they have this time - probably a reflection of how frustrated Americans are about the state of their nation and especially the antics in Washington. Mind you, they haven't actually had an actual primary poll yet - they start just after new year. That will clear the air a bit.

Though I don't think Ron Paul is a crazy - at least some of his support will be from people who grudgingly respect his consistnecy over the years, sticking to his libertarian line even when it was unpopular - compared to the chopping and changing of philosphy by his opponents.
 

kambah mick

Chris McKivat (8)
Ron Paul will hit some big hurdles closer to the Conventions. He is not mad enough to win over the rat bag right and while his financial libertarianism seems like a good idea to Conservatives when they are thinking it cuts social welfare, it is not nearly so attractive to the big busines donors who see possible cuts to business welfare such as steel subsidies, farm subsidies, etc etc. He will lack the hefty donors required to foot it with other candidates.
 

Bullrush

John Hipwell (52)
Ron Paul will hit some big hurdles closer to the Conventions. He is not mad enough to win over the rat bag right and while his financial libertarianism seems like a good idea to Conservatives when they are thinking it cuts social welfare, it is not nearly so attractive to the big busines donors who see possible cuts to business welfare such as steel subsidies, farm subsidies, etc etc. He will lack the hefty donors required to foot it with other candidates.

F**k I hate politics. I'm not a massive Ron Paul fan or anything but what the hell has this really got to do with whether the guy can do a good job or would be a good president???
 

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
I wish the Aussie system was more like this, having a group of crazies allowed to throw there hat in the ring and claim a right to run.

It's fantastic theatre.
 

bryce

Darby Loudon (17)
Isn't there enough theatre in Australian politics?

Sometimes I wish we had a primary system though, but not for that reason. Voters/members of parties being allowed to vote for the leader could mean that we'd have party leaders who are there because they stand for something, display intelligence and therefore appeal to voters, rather than because they are the most skillful at arse kissing, back stabbing and party room manoeuvring.

But then again, you probably would end up with a similar sideshow like in the US, where the winner is usually the one with the most funding, as well as the willingness to do anything to win votes.
 

kambah mick

Chris McKivat (8)
I strongly believe that a good political system would be to do the exact opposite to what the Americans do, within a democratic system. Any system which delivers two terms of George Bush followed by a group of contenders such as we see now is obviously deeply flawed.

I also believe our electoral system should be the template for democratic countries world wide. The US system would be derided by commentators the world over if it were adopted by nations such as India or Russia as it is riven with built in rorts and corruption.
 

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
Making these guys go through this selection process leaves them with about as much dignity and credibility as an X-Factor contestant who had to cry over a personal history of hardship to make it through to the next round.
 

Bullrush

John Hipwell (52)
I know this is the thread for the Republican Candidate Race but I read this and just thought it was awesome:

Obama Openly Asks Nation Why On Earth He Would Want To Serve For Another Term

January 4, 2012 | ISSUE 48•01
Obama_Openly-R_jpg_635x345_crop-smart_upscale_q85.jpg
President Obama urges voters to give him one reason—one goddamn reason—why he should run for president in 2012.

PITTSBURGH—Citing three years of exhausting partisan politics, constant gridlock in Congress, and an overall feeling that the entire nation has "completely lost it," President Barack Obama openly asked a campaign-rally crowd Tuesday why he'd want to serve another term as president of "this godforsaken country."
"My fellow Americans, I come to you today to ask, why?" Obama said to 1,200 people gathered inside a gymnasium at Taylor Allderdice High School. "Why can't our congressional leaders work together to create jobs? Why can't Wall Street ever be held accountable? And most important, why on God's green earth would I voluntarily subject myself to this nonsense for another four years?"
"I'm dead serious," the president continued, saying that any reasonable person would have walked away the moment the Senate minority leader announced his main priority—above creating jobs and improving American health care—was to make Obama a one-term president. "I'm asking if anybody out there can come up with even one reason why I'd want to endure this unmitigated shit show for another minute, let alone through 2016. What's in it for me, exactly? Can anyone answer that? Anyone at all?"
After a long silence during which crowd members mostly just shuffled their feet and stared at the ground, Obama said, "Yeah, that's what I thought."
Arguing he'd have to be certifiably insane or some kind of sadistic freak to extend his presidency, Obama asked why anyone with half a brain would willingly open himself up to constant vilification by media strategists, or place himself in a situation that involves so much work for such little reward. He also asked the audience how "messed up and sick" he'd have to be to devote nearly a decade of his life to an unending cycle of political gamesmanship that stifles progress at every turn.
At one point during the 40-minute address, Obama wondered aloud if anyone could blame him for wanting to avoid another four years of idiotic questions about his birth certificate, racist immigration laws, Eric Cantor, citizens who know in their hearts the country must switch to renewable energy but simply refuse to do so, the South, antigay bigotry, and "just all of it, really."
"Today this nation faces difficult questions," Obama said. "For one, how bad must it have gotten for a politician to gladly—gladly—give up the most sought-after elected position in the world? And also, of all the people listening to me right now, is there even one of you who would honestly want to trade places with me? There isn't, is there? And I don't blame you."
In the coming weeks, Obama will reportedly continue to take his anti-second-term message across the country, asking ordinary Americans if they agree that his being on the ballot in November would make him a complete and total moron. Sources within the president's new "One Goddamn Reason" campaign confirmed he is genuinely curious to see if one American citizen can tell him why leaving the White House isn't the best thing he could possibly do for himself and his family.
"I have a pen and some paper right here," Obama said Wednesday morning at a town hall meeting in Ohio. "Let's list the pros and cons of being president. Con: There are people out there who literally want to shoot you dead. Con: We live in a country seriously considering a Newt Gingrich White House. Con: You can help 40 million Americans receive health care, sign legislation that regulates a financial system run amok, give the order to kill Osama bin Laden, help topple Muammar Qaddafi's tyrannical regime without losing the life of one American soldier, end the war in Iraq, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, stave off a second Great Depression, take out more than 30 top al- Qaeda leaders, and somehow everyone still calls you the next Jimmy Carter."
"Can anyone out there name a pro?" continued Obama, gesturing at the silent crowd with his pen. "That's okay. I asked a bunch of people in Pittsburgh the same exact question yesterday, and they couldn't, either."
While many Beltway observers questioned Obama's new strategy, saying the president could hurt his chances of serving a second term by saying he doesn't want to serve a second term, others argued Obama seems to have finally rediscovered his voice.
"Whenever I watch him on the stump asking a crowd, 'Why am I fucking here right now?' or saying things like, 'I think I'd rather die than do this job again,' he's so fiery and passionate I'm reminded of the 2007 Obama," Democratic strategist Karen Finney said. "The one who thought he could make a difference before a broken, nonsensical political system and an insane populace robbed him of his humanity, ripped out his heart, and left him for dead.
terminator.gif
 

matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
Staff member
I am assuming you know it is from The Onion.
How amazing this would be if it actually happened.
 

Lior

Herbert Moran (7)
I hope he stays, if he wins Obama will win. Now I'm no fan of Obama but the GOP of today simply ain't what it was like back with George Bush Senior (I stress not Reagan). Bush Senior was a pragmatic, he believed in increasing taxes, balancing budgets and personal freedoms (pro choice, not anti gay or anti science). For the GOP to be a party which promotes creationism as a popular viewpoint really concerns me. The priority for America should be reducing the deficit, and that needs to be done by both raising taxes and reducing government. I think the UK model of drastically reducing the debt is really what the GOP needs to employ.
 

bryce

Darby Loudon (17)
The priority for America should be reducing the deficit, and that needs to be done by both raising taxes and reducing government. I think the UK model of drastically reducing the debt is really what the GOP needs to employ.

If I were living in America I'd probably prefer to see a focus on growth and jobs. I'm not too convinced that the current UK policy is the best way to go.
 

Lior

Herbert Moran (7)
If I were living in America I'd probably prefer to see a focus on growth and jobs. I'm not too convinced that the current UK policy is the best way to go.

I understand that I really do, but the UK model of drastically eradicating debt to lead to lower interest rates as well as less interest payable under the debt. The USA are currently swamped with deficit deniers. It's ridiculous to talk about radical tax cuts in a time like this. Ron Paul talks about the deficit, and Huntsman does too. Huntsman wants to lower taxes but he at least gets rid of every subsidy and every break for the wealthy in the tax code.

I mean the front runner Mitt Romney, wants an increased military and lower taxes but somehow thinks he can reduce the deficit quicker, it is absolutely ridiculous. You can't have it all. Cuts need to be made left, right and centre. Santorum, Perry and all the other clowns are proposing lower taxes and more military. Perry even says he will go back into Iraq. These guys are complete clowns and fruitcakes. Absolute idiots.
 

Bruwheresmycar

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Not exactly the republican race, but kinda related. Pretty kick-ass speech from Bill Clinton. A nice change from the usual US political scene, someone prepared to actually speak their mind...

 

bryce

Darby Loudon (17)
I assume everyone has seen the Mitt Romney tapes that have popped up in the past few days. Democratic strategists couldn't have made this stuff up. The guy is just the gift that keeps on giving.

Then again, maybe this will actually energise the Republican base?
 
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