Originally Posted By Dabob2 Coming in second is fine (even a good thing, traditionally) for Republicans in the primaries. The whole "primogeniture" thing. Failing badly, however, is not. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Fred Thompson, Alan Keyes, Gary Bauer, Steve Forbes (who only ran twice because he had the money to finance his ego), Tom Tancredo, et al. Lose badly, and unless you've got tons of money, you're probably out of it for good, as you get that loser stench and no one wants to contribute to you. I imagine that will be the case with Santorum. And we'll finally be rid of him on the national stage; he'll be relegated to the rubber chicken circuit for easy-to-please conservatives, and of course, to infamous "his name means WHAT?" status.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Maybe he can review his "greatest hits" - like the ever-popular man on dog riff. Same with Giuliani - he would have been the worst of the worst in `08, except for Fred Thompson. So what the hell is he doing out there now? It's not like his brand has gotten any fresher in the past four years. And the 9/11 thing plays even less well today than it did in 2008. Two possibilities - one is the same as Palin, a desperate attempt to try and boost his "relevancy" hence his future speaking fees. The other is my personal favorite - he was stumping around NH on the same day that Romney was announcing his candidacy, also in NH - just to undercut Romney. Also just like Palin. And this is one of Romney's biggest probems - he's despised by his fellow GOP politicians - even the ones that aren't running for anything.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Having watched Rudy for years now, my guess is that he saw how ALL of the GOP field has real problems (with the base, with charisma, with reality, or some combination), saw that NO ONE was breaking 20%, heard everyone saying how weak the field was... and then saw his name at the top of the polls after Trump and Huckabee dropped out WITHOUT his even hinting at running... and figured "maybe I can actually win in this field." His ego is certainly healthy enough to think so. I don't think he can. The base just isn't going to vote for a socially moderate New Yorker. The one thing he had going for him was 9/11 (and he ALWAYS got more "credit" for that than he deserved, but he did get it somehow), and that's both receding in memory and urgency now than bin Laden's dead. He led in the polls 4 years ago too... until the base actually started voting. He'll either figure that out and decide to yank everyone's chain and enjoy a few weeks of "will he or won't he?" which will boost his speaking fees - or his ego will get the better of him and he'll think he can really pull it off this time. My guess is that right now he's leaning towards the latter, but he'll think about it some more, realize he can't win, and settle for the former.
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Originally Posted By wahooskipper vbdad...I think you nailed it in your assessment. And, it is still the reason I truly believe I will see a centrist third party in my lifetime. I think there are more Americans floating around somewhere near center that are completely overlooked by the two parties. I think the internet is going to prove the ultimate tool in that regard.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Just gotta say I love how we're just ignoring the troll and not even responding. Essentially his posts aren't even there! Good job, ya'll, and let's keep it up.
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Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "And, it is still the reason I truly believe I will see a centrist third party in my lifetime. I think there are more Americans floating around somewhere near center that are completely overlooked by the two parties. I think the internet is going to prove the ultimate tool in that regard." The problem is that most of the people with the big bucks are on one side or the other. The money bags don't tend to be all that moderate...they have their own interests to look after. The unfortunate reality in this country, at least right now, is that no matter how many people want a moderate centrist in office, unless there are some big money bags that can be convinced to support them they will not be able to compete in an election. These days it is all about the money.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I reported it too. I have just gotten to the point where I do not even acknowledge their existence by saying reported.
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Originally Posted By Dabob2 Probably best to just report it quietly, but otherwise pretend the loser just doesn't exist.
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Originally Posted By dshyates Gogetem obviously suffers from obsessive delusional neuropathy. And he probably voted to cut services for the mentally ill. Irony at it's finest.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 ^^^ The troll grows when it is fed responses to its posts. To keep the beast at a reasonable size onlookers are asked to not feed the beast.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 The problem is that most of the people with the big bucks are on one side or the other. The money bags don't tend to be all that moderate...they have their own interests to look after ------ a very valid point
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The problem is that most of the people with the big bucks are on one side or the other. The money bags don't tend to be all that moderate...they have their own interests to look after ------ a very valid point*** Agreed. Excellent point, actually. I agree with Wahoo though, the internet MAY prove to be the ultimate equalizer. Not now, of course. But at some point, when enough people are online that a truly grassroots moderate could speak to voters without spending much (or even ANY) money at all, then we might see some significant change in the way things operate. Of course, before that happens the money bags will probably simply order their political minions to shut down (or more likely severely curtail...can't interfere with business after all!) the 'net under some false flag terrorist threat or something.
