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GOP Mess in Iowa: Romney Stalls, Giuliani's Flailing, Huckabee Scares the DC Establishment

By David Smith, The Observer UK. Posted December 30, 2007.


Heading into the Iowa caucuses, the Republican field is in historic disarray with no obvious contender to take on the Democratic nominee.

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Clad in an orange and grey hunting jacket and an orange cap, Mike Huckabee raised his 12-gauge shotgun, took aim and fired, bagging a pheasant for the benefit of watching reporters. As another shot flew over their heads, it became too much for one journalist who cried: "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Don't shoot. This is traumatizing." Huckabee the hunter had demonstrated himself a "regular guy," hoping to consolidate his lead in the Republican polls before Thursday's Iowa caucus, the first step to gaining the party's nomination for President.

His nearest rival, Mitt Romney, had shot himself in the foot by claiming to be an avid hunter, only to then confess he targeted mostly "small varmints." No such question marks over Huckabee, who said he not only hunted ducks, deer and antelopes but could eat varmint too. "I figured out you could put grease in a popcorn popper and heat that thing up and you could cook anything," he said of his student days. "So we fried squirrel."

There is growing unease among Republican organizers that the Grand Old Party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan could meet the same fate as Huckabee's squirrel. The presidential campaign has failed to produce a champion to take on Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or whoever wins the Democratic nomination. Instead the struggle for the party's soul has exposed fissures in policy, disarray over what it now stands for and distractions both banal and bizarre, "redneck stew" included.

Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who does "not necessarily buy into traditional Darwinian theory," and is celebrated for losing more than 100lb in weight, appeals to Christian evangelicals but not fiscal conservatives. Romney, a Mormon forced to backtrack over a claim that he saw his father march with Martin Luther King, appeals to social, economic and foreign policy conservatives, but not those who regard his religion as a cult.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor praised for his leadership after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, for his part plays well with so-called "security moms" concerned about terrorism, but less well in the heartland because of his liberal views, three marriages and performance 10 years ago on Saturday Night Live as a granny in a floral dress. The resurgent Senator John McCain can trump varmint hunting with his Vietnam War record, but has refused to toe the party line on tax cuts and campaign finance reform.

And the one man none likes to mention as they burn up miles in Iowa is President George Bush.

The party is seen as divided, stale and saturated by religion. It has left jaded activists nostalgic for the certainties of the Reagan era and, after losing control of Congress in 2006, panicking about a meltdown in 2008.

Frank Luntz, pollster and political consultant, said there is no mistaking the mood in Iowa and New Hampshire, which holds its primary next week. "Every time the response is the same," he said. "The Democrats can't wait for election day, they are so excited about the prospects and the candidates. The Republicans are much more nervous and much more dissatisfied. There's some disillusionment with the fortunes of the party. There's tremendous fear about the Democrats taking it all, and a sense that they have neither the messenger nor the message."

The destiny the Republicans fear is that of the Conservatives in Britain in 1997: an unpopular leader overshadowed by a long-serving predecessor, a loss of direction and unity, a charismatic opponent promising change, and a hammering at the polls that spells years in the wilderness. The Republicans have plenty of candidates, but none has captured the imagination or threatened to dominate the landscape. Whereas the Democratic debates have shown an embarrassment of riches, including a woman and a black man with star quality, the Republicans have lined up mostly grey-haired men in suits and has lacked an ace. Whereas the Democratic race is thrilling -- Clinton, Obama and John Edwards are virtually neck-and-neck -- quantity rather than quality is the Republican byword.

Adam Nagourney, writing in The New York Times, said: "It is hard to think of another campaign when Republicans have seemed less excited about their choices ... what is worrying Republicans these days is that this tepid rank-and-file reception to the best the party has to offer suggests that the Republican party is hitting a wall after dominating American politics for most of the last 35 years." George Ajjan, a Republican pundit and analyst, said: "It's definitely not a healthy party, that much is clear. The root of it is that from 11 September, 2001, until now the Republican party became a George W. Bush personality cult where it was follow the leader, throw principles to the wind and support the agenda, whatever it might be at any given moment.


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YIKE'S
Posted by: pacto on Dec 30, 2007 6:59 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All of the candidates are pretty scary as far as I am concerened,and the scariest is that it`s true for both partys. woe is America.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: YIKE'S Posted by: Bibsi
» RE: YIKE'S Posted by: carbon-based
» RE: YIKE'S Posted by: peacefullaim
» RE: YIKE'S Posted by: Sissy
» RE: YIKE'S Posted by: carbon-based
» Berchtesgaden Posted by: war_on_tara
» RE: Berchtesgaden Posted by: Lesha
» YIKE'S Posted by: starvinmarvy
Only Ron Paul
Posted by: ronheri on Dec 30, 2007 7:26 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Of all the candidates from both parties only one stands out as the obvious choice in 08. Dr. Ron Paul is the only one for a clear path out of Iraq; Just Leave. It was wrong to go in and wrong to stay. Our foreign policy of empire building has wrecked our economy. We need much less government, not more. We must return to a sound monetery policy. Goodbye to the central-bankers (Federal Reserve). Dr. Paul knows more about history and economics then the rest of the field combined. His sincere desire is to restore our Freedoms and the Constitution and reclaim our country from the corporate-elite. Ron Paul can win and save America. Thats my hope and prayer for 08.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: Bibsi
» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: Lauren
» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: left_libertarian
» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: constitution, what constitution
» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: Joe
» I'm glad to learn this Posted by: war_on_tara
» RE: I'm glad to learn this Posted by: war_on_tara
» RE: Only Ron Paul Posted by: yellow
Tom
Posted by: disc golf on Dec 30, 2007 7:28 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Apparently, the writer of this column failed to notice that Ron Paul IS a Republican (atypical to be sure), and IS a viable candidate if virtually everyone in the media wouldn't keep ignoring him! He recently won the Republican side of the independent Internet Contest and will help to restore America's greatness. If the Republicans were not AFRAID to have them on their debates (Fox refused to invite him in their upcoming debate), the world would truly see what a great candidate he is. He will help to restore America as a nation run by the Constitution and not overrun by special interests. I don't agree with all his views, but most of them. If you want the freedom to purchase any safe dietary supplements (which is a right that could be taken away any day now, as has happened in many European countries), ONLY Ron Paul will guarantee this right. Ron Paul IS a Republican and he COULD win the election--if only our corporate-controlled media wouldnt be so afraid of mentioning his name!

Tom, Nutritionist
http://tompetrie.net

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Is this censorship? Posted by: carl baydala
» RE: Tom Posted by: inspired1
» RE: Tom Posted by: Sissy
» RE: Tom Posted by: Lauren
» RE: Tom Posted by: Sissy
» RE: Tom Posted by: left_libertarian
» RE: Tom Posted by: Sissy
» RE: Tom Posted by: Joe
» RE: Tom Posted by: Sissy
» RE: Tom Posted by: left_libertarian
» RE: Tom Posted by: Sissy
» RE: Tom Posted by: left_libertarian
» RON PAUL IS A DUPE..... Posted by: Michiganman
» RE: ON PAUL IS A DUPE..... Posted by: left_libertarian
» Your slam of my..... Posted by: Michiganman
Wow!!
Posted by: graffen48 on Dec 30, 2007 7:33 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Can you picture Obama, Clinton, or Edwards in that Elmer Fudd get up,lol. C'mon people, the days of posing with a gun should have ended with Teddy Roosevelt!!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

HUCKABEE'S STAR RISING
Posted by: ih2005 on Dec 30, 2007 7:41 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Huckabee's tough on immigration, recognizes the need to not succumb to internationalists, the blame-America-first crowd. And he is the only hope for true tax reform. It will only by scrapping the tax code, that the 35,000 lobbyists in Washington - who are there to game it - will be returning to more productive endeavors. Special interests will find it harder to co-opt legislators against the ordinary, hardworking Americans who foot the bill. Mr. Huckabee articulates the far-reaching ramifications of enacting the FairTax - unlike all of his opponents who will succeed only in bringing the U.S. economy to its knees (at which time they might learn, again, how to humble themselves before a Power greater than themselves).

As for climate change, there's entirely too much SMUG in the air over America. We need to work to clear out the Air, America. *wink

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» "TOUGH" on IMMIGRATION Posted by: inspired1
» Huck's Son Is A Dog Torturer Posted by: rgoalierob
» RE: Two less to vote for Posted by: Sissy
An Opportunity for the Left
Posted by: EKSwitaj on Dec 30, 2007 8:17 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
With the Republicans in disarray, this is our chance to move the Democrats back to the left. We must not waste this opportunity by falling for the trap of nominating a 'moderate' nor can we allow ourselves to be fooled by pretty rhetoric about change without a legislative record to back it up. This is why I'm supporting Dennis Kucinich.

If not now, when?

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» RE: An Opportunity for the Left Posted by: dustdevil
» RE: An Opportunity for the Left Posted by: shinseiji
Aren't supplements considered FOOD?
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Dec 30, 2007 10:18 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And therefore unregulatable? I know that in Europe people's freedom to keep themselves healthy using cheap supplements, is gone--because Big Pharma has figured out that with them, people stay healthy, don't get sick, and therefore won't need their dangerous 'remedies'. I don't think that can happen in this country. I hope not, we've lost so much else already--I mean, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and now, freedom to stay healthy??!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

New bill re supplements?
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Dec 30, 2007 10:27 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What's its name and number? We can vote out the people who voted it in that way. Many of us with bad family histories depend on supplements to keep ourselves cancer-free among other things.

You say that Kennedy sponsored this monstrosity(Why the hell would he do that???!)?and that Bush had approved it, but you didn't say if the bill had cleared committees and actually been ratified. Wonder if there's a site to go to that can tell you what your government is doing behind your back...and of course, not a mention of this in America's FAUX news networks. Way to go, Rupert.

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» My Home is WORTHLESS! Posted by: lnardozi
Christianist "Sure thing" proves he can go head to head with Cheney's bloodlust
Posted by: xbj on Dec 31, 2007 12:00 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No greater way on earth to prove what an murderous anti-Christian asshole bastard you are.

Brilliant, Huckleberry, just brilliant.

Oh, your bass playing SUCKS too.

Merry Christmas. May you never get inTO the Temple in the first place so Jesus won't have to nuke your sorry ass out of it.

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» Huck versus the tornado Posted by: war_on_tara
Punditry parade
Posted by: inspired1 on Dec 31, 2007 12:46 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So astute, so knowledgeable, it almost seems like the author knows what he is talking about. The ending plausible scenario of Republicans gathering around Rudi, reminisences of how their campaigning beat Kerry in 2004...

Only problem is: it's all a complete fabrication. Not the part about the absurdities of the preeening and posturing near-humans posing as presidential candidates while the US Constitution burns in the background, but the bit about Republicans having legitimately won the White House in 2004. That little lie kinda takes the believability out of the observer.

Like 2000, the vote in '04 was STOLEN, even if MSM won't bite.

All the smoke and mirrors of both parties' presidential primary parades cannot cover the spectacle of all our national institutions being at risk from homegrown thugs who threaten the very fabric of our society while the candidates and media maneuver together in a bizarre dance designed to make us think "things are all right."

The whole substance of what is referred to as "our national debate" completely miss all significant marks, as the dollar tanks, we take taxes to torture and hide, a US city is ravaged by a storm and sold off to the highest bidder while its victim-citizens are ignored, we threaten to invade a country because it might be learning about how to enrich uranium, while nearby a "friendly" nuclear power hosting our "declared enemies" kills off its own candidates for election, and we continue to sending our children to die and kill for democracy!!

No one seems to notice the building of the largest embassy in the world in a country with only an hour or two of electricity a day. The missing billions and the overcharging for services mal- or never delivered hasn't hit the radar of the "fiscal conservatives" who talk of guns and immigration?

Hello?? Is anybody THERE?

Enough of this vapid bread and circus reporting on the HorseRace. We should expect more from Alternet.

Why ask the readers to play along with this shadow game?

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» RE: Punditry parade Posted by: marxalot
» RE: Punditry parade Posted by: curiousgeezer
» RE: Punditry parade Posted by: xbj
» RE: Punditry parade Posted by: inspired1
» RE: Punditry parade Posted by: xbj
Religion = civilization collapse
Posted by: AsteroidMiner on Dec 31, 2007 12:49 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Mike Huckabee is more dangerous than George W. Bush. If Mike Huckabee
becomes president, he could cause the collapse of civilization. See "The Long
Summer" by Brian Fagan. Climate change has caused the collapse of many
civilizations, and is well on the way to causing the collapse of our civilization.
Religion has contributed to the collapse of many civilizations in the past.
Christianity contributed to the collapse of the Greenland Viking civilization
according to "Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared
Diamond. Religious extremism is an indication that civilization is about to
collapse. In order to avoid collapse, we need to do the opposite of what Huckabee
advocates. We need to abandon old values that will lead us to make global
warming worse, and accept new values that will stop and reverse global warming.
Drastic action is required to prevent us humans from going extinct according to
"Six Degrees" by Mark Lynos.

Notice that the Mayor of Atlanta's prayers did not work. Huckabee will not be
able to conjure up a god to help end the drought either, because there is no god.
Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, China and California are also having the same drought.
The only cure is to put the climate back the way it was before we messed with
Mother Nature. If we keep on obeying old christian values like trying to "subdue
the earth," the drought will only get worse. The next dust bowl will be far worse
than the last one. YOU will be among those who starve. Nature cannot be fooled
or subdued, not even by Huckabee.

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Bless the British
Posted by: Sparks56 on Dec 31, 2007 1:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you want a cogent, objective, literate view of American politics, read a British newspaper.

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» The most obvious evidence of what? Posted by: Joshua Holland
GOP Mess? No, don'think so...
Posted by: Commander Keen on Dec 31, 2007 3:09 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hello from old europe,

maybe I'm wrong (I hope so!), but stop daydreaming and take a short look at the top democratic candidates, what do you see?
A Black
A Woman
And look up their names, "Barack Sadam Husssein Osama, oops, Barack Hussein Obama" and "Hilary CLINTON"
*Every* republican will vote for the republican candidate whoever this will be, just because he/she positively wants none of these two to become president of the US.
And so will a heck of a lot of democrats vote. I'm sorry guys, but you'll have the next republican president!
I'd strongly suppose to fight the republican candidats anywhere, anyhow, anytime. They seem to be altogether crap. Don't let you fool yourself, if you think the republican candidates are ridiculous and un-electable you are already broke.
The outcome of a republican president for everybody worldwide would be quite the same as told by Shakespeare in Henry V:
"...did this King succeed:
Whose State so many had the managing,
That they lost France, and made his England bleed"



Bye,

Commander Keen

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picking candidates
Posted by: bitsfick on Dec 31, 2007 4:16 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In case you hadn't noticed the lying mainstream news picks our candidates.

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» RE: picking candidates Posted by: peacefullaim
» RE: picking candidates Posted by: Lauren
» RE: picking candidates Posted by: Sissy
Jeb
Posted by: US Citizen on Dec 31, 2007 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sounds like a Jeb Bush moment.

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» RE: Jeb Posted by: Lauren
» RE: Jeb Posted by: Sissy
Huckabee all the way to the presidential debates
Posted by: Jasonix on Dec 31, 2007 5:25 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think everyone who hates the Republicans should vote for Huckabee in the primaries. Think about it - we give the aging Christian Right just enough extra support to give one of their own the nomination, and then when he debates Obama or Edwards (hopefully), the first question in the YouTube debates will be "Mr. Huckabee, do you believe that the end of the world will be within your lifetime because Israel is re-united as a nation, and that America has to fight side-by-side with Israel to bring about the apocalypse and the return of Jesus Christ? And when Jesus returns, will most Jews, mainline Protestants, and Catholics be speedily dispatched to Hell for all eternity because they don't subscribe to your interpretation of the Bible?" That will be the end of Mr. Huckabee.

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Huckabee and the Evangelicals
Posted by: Sissy on Dec 31, 2007 5:41 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is one little issue that I'm not seeing much discussion of.

Since religion became part of the American political landscape, perhaps first beginning with the star gazing Reagans, the evangelicals, right wing, moral majority, whatever, have been having their own way. Just look at the mess they have gotten us into and its the MAJORITY of the people in this country's FAULT! Had we gotten off all of our collective butts, paid attention, voted, there is not a doubt in my mind that the intention of the Founding Fathers, that we separate church and state, that while we have religious freedom, its not what we rule by, as a result, we would have had a much stronger, unified country.

By the self-righteous, sanctimonious, greedy, hypocritical, self-serving current politicians, most of whom reign supreme in the Republican party, we are now at a cross roads. And you know what, I think we pragmatic liberals just might win this time......if we, like the republicans don't screw up. Why? Because a vast majority of the American people are finally paying attention. The ones who have sent and many who have sacrificed their sons and daughters in a uncalled for disasterous war, who have seen greed greet them at the gas pump, who have seen what incompetance handling of our most basic needs has done, what disengagement of our powerful leaders has wrought...all of this I feel confident that this tiny little minority that has raised so much havoc with our lives for the last 7 years plus years before, will feel the sting of defeat.

Am I too optimistic?

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» RE: Huckabee and the Evangelicals Posted by: US Citizen
» RE: Huckabee and the Evangelicals Posted by: peacefullaim
Republicans in disarray
Posted by: Democritus on Dec 31, 2007 6:53 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ron Paul got it partly right when he issued a lightly disguised criticism of Huckabee by way of the quotation: "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." Paul said that it was Sinclair Lewis who said it, whereas it was probably Upton Sinclair. In any case, all the Republican candidates, save Paul, are either wrappers or cross-carriers. So all of them, again, save Paul, are at least half-way up the fascist path.

Does this mean, as some contributors have held, that Paul is the best candidate? Perhaps he's the best Republican candidate, but it's clear to me that he's not the best one to lead this country. Anyone who is against government funding of education and Social Security is against our keeping pace with the rest of the world and against giving our seniors a decent retirement. Paul's libertarian principles are fine when it comes to getting us out of foreign entanglements and refusing to sponsor any wars on drugs or terror, but he goes too far when he refuses to recognize the areas in which government can do better than individuals in promoting the general welfare.

So the best candidate--the one whose positions are best for all our citizens--is Dennis Kucinich. Instead of wondering which Democratic candidate will fare best against the Republican nominee, the thing to do is to vote one's conscience; because, whoever the Democratic nominee, that person will fare better than anyone among the scattered forces of the GOP.

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My favorite verse from the Book of Proverbs - for GOP voters
Posted by: war_on_tara on Dec 31, 2007 7:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." - Proverbs 26:11

I'm sure Mike Huckabee could cite the verse number off the top of his head. And he's counting on the sentiment!

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WHAT A SORRY ASS COLLECTION OF PEOPLE
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Dec 31, 2007 7:55 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Am I supposed to consider any one of these men capable of running the country ? The whole bunch wouldn't know where to start. ANNA

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The MSM
Posted by: Azraelsjudgement on Dec 31, 2007 8:34 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Everyone should just vote for whoever the MSM ignores and attacks. That is the best way to know who is best for regular citizens. In this case Ron Paul for republicans and Kucinich or Gravel for the Democrats. You could make a case for Edwards but I believe he is part of the CFR.

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» I like the way you think Posted by: Missing Piece
» you mean corporate news has a bias? Posted by: Missing Piece
Huckabee Turning into a Nut Case Will Give Romney an Opening (Despite Incorrect Jesus Version)
Posted by: sofla100 on Dec 31, 2007 8:45 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As Huckabee opens his mouth, and makes serious foreign policy gaffes (i.e. Pakistan) and has to backtrack on what he says constantly (not having mouth in gear before speaking), the Repubs. will start to jettison him. Another latest from him is that on abortions he would "punish" the doctors but not the women involved. Such logic.

However, this will give Romney an opening. Mostly the right Evangelicals haven't liked him due to his "incorrect" Mormon Jesus Version. They, of course, having the correct version (LOL). At any rate, he will be seen as still able to be supportable due to his positions and conservatism. Therefore, my prediction is to look for the Repubs. to float Romney as the alternative now. Since the others have mostly all flubbed up or screwed up in one way or another.

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birdma
Posted by: bird-ma on Dec 31, 2007 9:34 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why didn't you mention Ron Paul, who is now polling in 3rd place above Guiliani in Iowa? You may be surprised when his anti-war message, economic wisdom, and his dedication to preserving our liberties does well at the caucuses. We can't fund ANY of the social programs we'd like to by continuing to go into debt--paying the interest on that debt, via taxes, to banking cartels. And we are vulnerable to having foreign entities such as China (who own much of our debt) having more influence on our future. Wake up, people! Get yourselves educated about the dangers of our economy!!!

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I am so sick of you Ron Paul zealots!
Posted by: Ellie1 on Dec 31, 2007 9:54 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ron Paul is nothing but an anti-war Republican. He is ultra conservative on everything else, and he is scary as hell.

We also don't need another conservative Texan in the white house.

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Hillary, shut up already!!!
Posted by: graffen48 on Dec 31, 2007 12:41 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The more I see of Clinton, and what she's really all about, the more I can't stand her. She really starts to look more and more like the status quo, almost like she is George Bushes sister or something lol. How she reacted to the Bhutto assassination really sealed her fate with me, bringing up that same old fear crap I'm so sick of hearing. We don't need any politicians to protect us from the big bad world, we need a real leader. God Hillary shut up already about the 9/11 schtick

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Shortcomings on Ron Paul's Positions
Posted by: sofla100 on Dec 31, 2007 1:07 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Although Ron Paul has some good positions especially by being opposed to so-called free trade and the war in Iraq, he does have some shortcomings:

He does not support single provider Universal Health Care, which has been proven as the only really effective solution to ensuring everyone has adequate health care. On this issue, he favors the approach of GW Bush with tax free accounts for medical care etc.

He is a supporter of "gun rights," a position I view as only contributing to the continued mayhem in America's streets as the slaughter continues unabated every day.

He is against the US Dept of Education and has a states rights position on education. He would do away with national funding for local school districts. The problem with this approach is that it would increase disparity between the states and allow rich districts to always have the best resources for educating their children.

He is against abortion rights for women.

Therefore, I have some problems with Ron Paul. Although, I give him credit for his opposition to NAFTA especially.

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objective
Posted by: bill1879 on Dec 31, 2007 3:05 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
please be open minded and look at this link
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/

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» only if you google 9/11 truth Posted by: Missing Piece
» RE: objective Posted by: anncoultersvagina
» RE: objective Posted by: peacefullaim
The Republican mess
Posted by: anncoultersvagina on Dec 31, 2007 5:39 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think its so cute when one cult (Christians) doesn't trust another cult (Mormons). These people are insane.

I like to think that the lack of excitement about the Republican candidates extends further than just the candidates themselves being ridiculous. I honestly think that the amount of conservatives in this country is simply declining as a result of grass-roots education against conservatism and more and more people being struck with the harsh reality of an America which has endured Conservative economic policy for too long and is starting to crack under the pressure.

I want to expand on the above stated "grass-roots education". I used to be that obnoxious liberal who would scream at my conservative friends about how they were wrong about everything, and always met a lot of resistance. After King George was re-selected, however, I completely shut up about it, meaning I was never the one to bring up the topic. Inevitably, my conservative friends periodically make observations about crap going on in the country, and I'll just calmly agree with them and then follow up gently with why the conservatives are to blame for the situation. I like to use a tone which implies that they obviously already knew this, thereby creating a sort of consensus.

Manipulative, yes, but a lot of the conservatives I know are starting to come around. I'm thinking that this is probably happening on a really major scale, hence the lack of excitement for the Republican candidates. The irony of it all is that the only Republican who's legitimately qualified to be President (John McCain) is falling by the wayside while the Mormons and Christians are trying to out-insane each other.

Also, can we cut it with the Ron Paul stuff for once? I will admit that I do respect the man for his convictions and for the way that he makes mainstream Republicans crazy, and I will admit that in a perfect world I would love to live in a country which subscribed to social libertarianism, but there simply has to be a commons and you can forget about universal health care under a man like Paul.

Edwards/Dodd in '08!!!

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» RE: The Republican mess Posted by: sofla100
» RE: The Republican mess Posted by: Cooltruth
» RE: The Republican mess Posted by: Sissy
VOCA, now !
Posted by: HeKnew on Dec 31, 2007 6:56 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A Vote of Confidence Amendment will enable the American voting public to dismiss any elected official who fails in their obligation to serve the people of the United States.

VOCA, now

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Ron Paul on abortion, in his words, from his website
Posted by: Beck on Jan 1, 2008 6:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All you really need to read is the first sentence, and the LAST, which says it all: "Only then can states properly restore respect for unborn life by criminalizing the act of abortion."

by Ron Paul, Dr. April 30, 2001

As a pro-life obstetrician-gynecologist, I am steadfastly opposed to abortion. I strongly believe that a fetus is a human life, and that a fetus deserves the same legal protections afforded to all Americans. I also believe that the Roe v. Wade decision will prove to be the most flawed Supreme Court ruling of the 20th century. There is no real or imagined "right to abortion" in the Constitution under any serious interpretation of that document. The Supreme Court simply created a nonexistent constitutional right out of thin air to serve the political agenda of the justices.

Thirty years later, the pro-life fight goes on. Well-intentioned pro-life advocates supported a bill in Congress last week called the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, believing it represented a step toward restoring respect for unborn life. Unfortunately, the bill does not accord any human or legal status to fetuses, but rather creates a new federal penalty for harming the mother of a fetus. The reasoning is deeply flawed: if there is to be a greater penalty for harming a pregnant woman than an ordinary woman, it must be based on the harm to the unborn child. In other words, the enhanced penalty must be for the second offense to the second human life. Yet the legislation evades this fundamental truth by refusing to recognize the fetus as a human person. So the Act is seriously flawed and will not engender new respect for unborn life.

Worse yet, the Act serves to legitimize and further entrench the Roe v. Wade decision. Like Roe, the Act federalizes law which the Constitution properly leaves to the states. Constitutionally, virtually all crimes are state matters. The only true federal crimes are those listed in Article I (treason, piracy, and counterfeiting); all other crimes are left to the jurisdiction of the states under the 10th Amendment. Yet Congress finds it much easier to federalize every human evil rather than uphold the Constitution and respect states' rights. Impassioned pro-life Americans might want a federal criminal law protecting fetuses, but in truth the federal government is more likely to pass laws favoring abortion rather than outlawing it. Once we allow federal control over abortion, we lose the opportunity for states to enact pro-life legislation. Numerous states already have laws that punish the act of murder against a fetus. Our focus should be on overturning Roe and getting the federal government completely out of the business of regulating state matters. All abortion foes must understand that the real battle should be fought at the state level, where grassroots respect for life can influence state legislatures.

The tragic irony is that the proposed legislation specifically protects abortionists from prosecution for harming a pregnant mother and her unborn child. An attacker with no knowledge of a woman's pregnancy receives a greater penalty for his deed, while the abortionist with full knowledge of his actions is not charged. So much for increasing respect for life.

Political expediency is never an excuse for ignoring the Constitution. The Supreme Court did so in Roe v. Wade, with tragic consequences. The states are now unable to enact laws to protect the weakest, smallest, and most innocent human lives. A society that does not respect life cannot be expected to respect liberty. Our goal must be to restore respect for the Constitution and states' rights. Only then can states properly restore respect for unborn life by criminalizing the act of abortion.

Keywords: Abortion

Digg This

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2008 elections
Posted by: blind848 on Jan 1, 2008 10:50 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Do you seriously believe there will be an election in November, 2008?...There will be another Reichstag fire, marshall law will be declared and you will begin life in 1984.

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» No elections in 2008? Posted by: drcyflowers
» RE: No elections in 2008? Posted by: graffen48
The Republican party won't easily die
Posted by: drcyflowers on Jan 1, 2008 12:39 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I remember that after Watergate, the press also said that the Republican party was dead. It only took a few years for Reagan to reformulate the conservative message in such a way as to fool blue-collar southerners into voting against their best interests.

Remember, folks, the Republicans have lots of money, power, and the media. The Republican party won't die easily. They'll find a way to make Democrats look bad, or a new message to fool people into voting for fascism.

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How many chapters in the Book of Proverbs?
Posted by: shinseiji on Jan 1, 2008 8:37 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"He rises early each day, runs between six and 10 miles and reads a chapter from the Book of Proverbs."

Yeah right. Does Huckabee have time left in his schedule for anything else?

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Unelectable Chimps
Posted by: Longdream on Jan 2, 2008 6:06 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Every single one of them.

It does my heart good.

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