Palin will she run or not?

[scandal 951]

don't worry about not voiting. I voted 7 times in the last election so I got ya covered

You must not live in Illinois. That's a newbie voting record in these parts

[Ready to do it 101]

Two words... "my father"

Let me explain. For the past half century or so you have so many straight ticket conservative Republicans. My father being one. It doesn't matter who the candidates are or what the issues are, he's voting straight conservative. It's the way he is, the way he has done it for half a century, and it's the way all the old school folks are.

I was having a conversation with him last week about how I never vote and the reason is because there is never a candidate that actually builds a platform on the most important issues to me. I.e. I am EXTREMELY against violence of any kind. Further, I believe in survival of the fittest (thus no social programs), I believe every man and woman on every continent in the world should have the opportunity to life, liberty, and happiness... and provide for their family, regardless of race, religion, and where they are born. Thus I have no problem with illegal aliens. Further, the most important issue to me is my pocketbook. That being said, there really has never been a candidate that works for me.

Next, election after election we hear the same promises over and over again from both sides of the aisle, only to be disappointed. None of the elected ever accomplish what they campaign on, their methods change, and before you know it they are simply backing ideals that they think will get them votes next time around when they had an opposite view only two years ago.

Back to my father, he actually agreed with me that Ron Paul would be the best leader of our country. I almost flipped when I heard that. Coming from the mouth of someone that should be chomping at the bit that Rick Perry is a candidate, he actually told me he likes Ron Paul. What does that tell me? It tells me that there are people, who have voted Republican election after election just because they think that person or party is best for them, who are now actually looking at all the issues and logically thinking about what would really be best for this country. Democrats are doing the same. What did Obama promise for democrats? Close Guantamano, bring back our troops, push toward an amnesty, and make amends with other countries. We're at war in more countries now then when he started. Democrats and republicans alike are becoming fed up with the wars, the shitty economy, the inability for congress to look past party lines, etc. When the dust settles, many many folks are going to put their trust in Ron Paul simply because he is saying the same ###### he said 4 years ago and has been saying for many years. In an era when these politicians change their opinion on something more often than it rains where I live, a man sticking to his principles means so much. Especially when so many are looking for just any sort of hope. So, what you have is a bunch of candidates that in the whole scheme of things are basically all the same. They have their issues and they change thier ideals based on what people want to hear. Ron Paul sticks out like a sore thumb. He is so different and has stuck to what he believes that people even as conservative as my father are paying attention. When I hear that, I know something is brewing. Many democrats and many republicans are going to jump on board simply because he is so different and so true to his ideals. Once they are on board, they aren't going to jump off. On the other hand, the folks choosing between Perry and Romney will change their mind over and over again leading up to the primary. Then after the primary, if Paul is victorious my sense is anyone who voted for him in the primary will stick with him like glue. If Perry, Romney, or Bachman win then yes people will go back and forth... Obama or the winner of those three, changing their mind week after week. Ironically, which is the same thing all these candidates do... with the exception of Ron Paul. I hope that answered your question. I appreciate your kind words about my post, even though you have different views.

In any event, how/why would you believe that a vote in the winter/spring for Paul automatically translates to a vote for Paul in November?

[scandal 951]

don't worry about the beans incident, that too shall pass.

Uh-oh.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The River Jordan is drying up, he'll be back soon enough.

Real soon, the way this board is going

[scandal 951]

Two words... "my father"

Let me explain. For the past half century or so you have so many straight ticket conservative Republicans. My father being one. It doesn't matter who the candidates are or what the issues are, he's voting straight conservative. It's the way he is, the way he has done it for half a century, and it's the way all the old school folks are.

I was having a conversation with him last week about how I never vote and the reason is because there is never a candidate that actually builds a platform on the most important issues to me. I.e. I am EXTREMELY against violence of any kind. Further, I believe in survival of the fittest (thus no social programs), I believe every man and woman on every continent in the world should have the opportunity to life, liberty, and happiness... and provide for their family, regardless of race, religion, and where they are born. Thus I have no problem with illegal aliens. Further, the most important issue to me is my pocketbook. That being said, there really has never been a candidate that works for me.

Next, election after election we hear the same promises over and over again from both sides of the aisle, only to be disappointed. None of the elected ever accomplish what they campaign on, their methods change, and before you know it they are simply backing ideals that they think will get them votes next time around when they had an opposite view only two years ago.

Back to my father, he actually agreed with me that Ron Paul would be the best leader of our country. I almost flipped when I heard that. Coming from the mouth of someone that should be chomping at the bit that Rick Perry is a candidate, he actually told me he likes Ron Paul. What does that tell me? It tells me that there are people, who have voted Republican election after election just because they think that person or party is best for them, who are now actually looking at all the issues and logically thinking about what would really be best for this country. Democrats are doing the same. What did Obama promise for democrats? Close Guantamano, bring back our troops, push toward an amnesty, and make amends with other countries. We're at war in more countries now then when he started. Democrats and republicans alike are becoming fed up with the wars, the shitty economy, the inability for congress to look past party lines, etc. When the dust settles, many many folks are going to put their trust in Ron Paul simply because he is saying the same ###### he said 4 years ago and has been saying for many years. In an era when these politicians change their opinion on something more often than it rains where I live, a man sticking to his principles means so much. Especially when so many are looking for just any sort of hope. So, what you have is a bunch of candidates that in the whole scheme of things are basically all the same. They have their issues and they change thier ideals based on what people want to hear. Ron Paul sticks out like a sore thumb. He is so different and has stuck to what he believes that people even as conservative as my father are paying attention. When I hear that, I know something is brewing. Many democrats and many republicans are going to jump on board simply because he is so different and so true to his ideals. Once they are on board, they aren't going to jump off. On the other hand, the folks choosing between Perry and Romney will change their mind over and over again leading up to the primary. Then after the primary, if Paul is victorious my sense is anyone who voted for him in the primary will stick with him like glue. If Perry, Romney, or Bachman win then yes people will go back and forth... Obama or the winner of those three, changing their mind week after week. Ironically, which is the same thing all these candidates do... with the exception of Ron Paul. I hope that answered your question. I appreciate your kind words about my post, even though you have different views.

If nothing else, you're proving your passion for your ideas. That's great!

A few thoughts.

One - It's nice that you and your Dad have found a candidate you both want to support. That will make for quiet dinner hours when you get together. But a sample space of two (you, your Dad) does not make for a scientific poll. It doesn't constitute a sample space in which one can predict national voting trends within any confidence interval. That's just polling 101. If I tried I bet I could find you 2 people in this country who would vote for Donald Duck and passionately believe he'd be the best President we've ever had. That doesn't mean the DD candidacy is going anywhere in 2012.

Two - stick-to-it'iveness is a positive ideal that Americans gravitate to, and Ron Paul has it. You are right about that. And in recent years we've mocked candidates that have reputations as "flip flops" on the issues - Al Gore, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney. I can even see Rick Perry coming in for such criticism - he was a Democrat who supported Gore once upon a time. Bachmann was a Democrat once upon a time too. But I don't think Paul is the unique and only "stick to it" candidate in recent or current American politics. I think many on the Republican stage can claim it - e.g. Rick Santorum has always been nothing but the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of ####### sex. How much more "stick to it" than the frothy mix can you get??

Three - While people like stick-to-it, it doesn't supersede other attributes. It doesn't supersede for me (and I think for many Americans) pragmatism and a willing to be flexible and compromise to solve difficult issues. Leadership is about bridging divides, it's about listening to the diverse points of view in this country, it's about working within the political system and getting effective legislation out of Congress. Some of that is standing by principles, some of that is bending certain views at certain times for a greater good, and having the foresight and wisdom to know when to do so. Ron Paul says and believes things, passionately. Most of those things I think are silly at best and harmful to America at worst. But regardless of what I think, YOU believe they're good ideas. Ok, what would it take for them to happen - simply making Ron Paul President? No. He would need to to get Congress to pass a whole pile of bills. And for much of his agenda he'd need Constitutional amendments. And for other parts he'd need favorable SCOTUS rulings to see things his way. His go-it-alone approach shows no indication he'd be successful at getting his agenda. At least no more so than any typical President of the modern era, present President included.

[mawilson 2,133]

Ok, what would it take for them to happen - simply making Ron Paul President? No. He would need to to get Congress to pass a whole pile of bills. And for much of his agenda he'd need Constitutional amendments. And for other parts he'd need favorable SCOTUS rulings to see things his way. His go-it-alone approach shows no indication he'd be successful at getting his agenda. At least no more so than any typical President of the modern era, present President included.

Lately I've come to believe that the Executive Office of the President is largely irrelevant and powerless in the greater scheme of things.

Presidents are just figureheads - somebody else is pulling the strings.

George W Bush, Barack Obama or Donald Duck - doesn't make one bit of a difference.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Lately I've come to believe that the Executive Office of the President is largely irrelevant and powerless in the greater scheme of things.

Presidents are just figureheads - somebody else is pulling the strings.

George W Bush, Barack Obama or Donald Duck - doesn't make one bit of a difference.

When did this dawn on you, before or after you opened your eyes?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

If nothing else, you're proving your passion for your ideas. That's great!

A few thoughts.

One - It's nice that you and your Dad have found a candidate you both want to support. That will make for quiet dinner hours when you get together. But a sample space of two (you, your Dad) does not make for a scientific poll. It doesn't constitute a sample space in which one can predict national voting trends within any confidence interval. That's just polling 101. If I tried I bet I could find you 2 people in this country who would vote for Donald Duck and passionately believe he'd be the best President we've ever had. That doesn't mean the DD candidacy is going anywhere in 2012.

Two - stick-to-it'iveness is a positive ideal that Americans gravitate to, and Ron Paul has it. You are right about that. And in recent years we've mocked candidates that have reputations as "flip flops" on the issues - Al Gore, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney. I can even see Rick Perry coming in for such criticism - he was a Democrat who supported Gore once upon a time. Bachmann was a Democrat once upon a time too. But I don't think Paul is the unique and only "stick to it" candidate in recent or current American politics. I think many on the Republican stage can claim it - e.g. Rick Santorum has always been nothing but the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of ####### sex. How much more "stick to it" than the frothy mix can you get??

Three - While people like stick-to-it, it doesn't supersede other attributes. It doesn't supersede for me (and I think for many Americans) pragmatism and a willing to be flexible and compromise to solve difficult issues. Leadership is about bridging divides, it's about listening to the diverse points of view in this country, it's about working within the political system and getting effective legislation out of Congress. Some of that is standing by principles, some of that is bending certain views at certain times for a greater good, and having the foresight and wisdom to know when to do so. Ron Paul says and believes things, passionately. Most of those things I think are silly at best and harmful to America at worst. But regardless of what I think, YOU believe they're good ideas. Ok, what would it take for them to happen - simply making Ron Paul President? No. He would need to to get Congress to pass a whole pile of bills. And for much of his agenda he'd need Constitutional amendments. And for other parts he'd need favorable SCOTUS rulings to see things his way. His go-it-alone approach shows no indication he'd be successful at getting his agenda. At least no more so than any typical President of the modern era, present President included.

I agree with everything he said.

[sly_wolf 199]

I would like to see the winning candidate be determined by a challenge ..... a Mortal Kombat challenge. Whoever lives wins the right to run for President

Edited August 25, 2011 by sly_wolf

[mawilson 2,133]

I would like to see the winning candidate be determined by a challenge ..... a Mortal Kombat challenge. Whoever lives wins the right to run for President

I guess Chris Christie is out then.

[sly_wolf 199]

I guess Chris Christie is out then.

He sounds like a cookie anyways. He would crumble.