If you had a gun to your head and had to vote for a republican who would it be?

[Conan71]

John McCain
Joe Lieberman

We had the chance and blew it.
But then, John blew it for himself with Palin.

He lost some swing votes, but after eight years of Bush, there was no chance in Hell of McCain winning.  He was portrayed as being far too in lockstep with Bush on the wars and economy.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Sad....very, very sad.

[nathanm]

He lost some swing votes, but after eight years of Bush, there was no chance in Hell of McCain winning.  He was portrayed as being far too in lockstep with Bush on the wars and economy.

To be fair, it was McCain himself who portrayed himself that way. He misread the political landscape.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Yeah,...true.  He "sold out" in many respects.  Should have picked Lieberman as his running mate and told the Teabaggers to shove it.  He just didn't quite hold to his convictions/beliefs.

I bet if he got another chance, he wouldn't screw up like that again!

[Gaspar]

At this point, I'd vote for Herman Cain.  He's black enough to be president.  (Before anyone tears into me about a racist comment, anyone remember the comment by DNC handlers that Obama was white enough?)  Seriously.  I like his business acumen, he doesn't invoke his religion at every turn, and he understands what it takes to inspire confidence in business since he's actually hired and fired people.

I'd seriously love to see where the vote would go if black America realizes nothing has improved for them under the Obama administration.  It might seriously be a turning point in the GOP sending a message of self-empowerment rather than more chump change being thrown at them for their vote.

As far as the reality of the ticket, I say Romney and he will pull a wild card out of the House or Senate for a running mate.  The ONLY way I could see him picking Bachman for a running mate is A) if her numbers are still as good in the primaries as her polling was in Iowa or B) He intends to throw the WH back to Obama for four more years to ensure a complete GOP shellacking in 2016 of the WH and both houses of legislature.

I think she will need to be on the ticket because of her raciest tea party support. 

[Ed W]

To be fair, it was McCain himself who portrayed himself that way. He misread the political landscape.

The tea party crowd would have us believe that McCain lost because he wasn't far enough to the right. Their influence on the primaries could force out a moderate like Huntsman - who may be a viable candidate in the general election, but will face enormous opposition from the ultra-right in his own party. 

Americans are centrists, despite the loud insistence otherwise from the tea partiers, neo-cons, and other marginalized factions.

[Conan71]

The tea party crowd would have us believe that McCain lost because he wasn't far enough to the right. Their influence on the primaries could force out a moderate like Huntsman - who may be a viable candidate in the general election, but will face enormous opposition from the ultra-right in his own party. 

Americans are centrists, despite the loud insistence otherwise from the tea partiers, neo-cons, and other marginalized factions.

You forgot to mention hard line liberals as being on the fringe as well.

Anyone have current numbers on what percent of voters call themselves Tea Partiers?

[Hoss]

You forgot to mention hard line liberals as being on the fringe as well.

Anyone have current numbers on what percent of voters call themselves Tea Partiers?

This website from May says about 30 percent, but doesn't specify if it is voters or non-voters.  This is just a cursory check, mind you.

http://www.patriotactionnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/tea-party-support-plummeting

[heironymouspasparagus]

I think that 30% must be including a lot of people who have some sympathy to certain items on their agenda - like me.  I like some of the things said, but the mass of the stuff is just noise without an actual plan (rational or even non0-rational), or recognition of reality.

[Conan71]

I think that 30% must be including a lot of people who have some sympathy to certain items on their agenda - like me.  I like some of the things said, but the mass of the stuff is just noise without an actual plan (rational or even non0-rational), or recognition of reality.

That may be the biggest problem they have: no unified message so it really does leave it open for others to criticize them as being looney or fringers.  

For instance:  I'm a huge 2nd Amendment advocate.  But I think showing up at campaign rallies bearing arms is a dumbass provocative move.  Those people are the Code Pink of the right.

With no cohesive, unified message, people are free to simply believe the whole movement is comprised of gun-toting neanderthals who want to shoot liberals.

All this said, if truly 30% of all politically-active Americans consider themselves Tea Partiers, they are hardly fringers.  My understanding is they are composed of Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and Democrats.

[Teatownclown]

All this said, if truly 30% of all politically-active Americans consider themselves Tea Partiers, they are hardly fringers.  My understanding is they are composed of Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and Democrats.

Total fringers.....racists all.....

[heironymouspasparagus]

What I was getting at was that they really aren't anywhere near 30%.  There are only about 8 or 9 million people in Oklahoma, Idaho, and Georgia.  And not all of those are tea baggers, so even if we count all of them, that's only about 3% of the population.  Let's pad it by a factor of 3 or 4 to make it like typical crowd estimation techniques, and we are left with about 10 to 12% tops.

[nathanm]

Since Herman Cain's offense was brought up, let's let Mr. Stewart respond:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-28-2011/oh--for-fox-sake---who-s-the-biggest-a--hole-?xrs=share_copy

(I'd embed, but apparently I'm not allowed to use the flash tag, despite the button being there)


                  

[heironymouspasparagus]

Now THAT'S funny!!!

Like he doesn't imitate voices ALL the time!

And NO one has picked up on how he got into the story...the d**do wheel!

[nathanm]

That's the [simulated male privates] wheel to you, buster!