I am ready to fall in love. I want to fall in love. All I need is someone to fall in love with. My heart beats fast in anticipation of finding The One and making a commitment.
No, my wife has no cause for jealousy. I’m just looking for a candidate to support in the current field of 3127 declared or possible Republican candidates. I’m waiting for one of them to come and sweep me off my feet. But I’ve to play hard to get this election cycle. I’m waiting, candidates – single, unattached, and available. I’m an Iowa Republican and I’m a public speaker! With the caucuses coming up you might find me quite a catch. But my heart will not be easily won.
Ah, the caucuses. It won’t be that many months from now that I will head off on a cold Iowa night to a local school to meet with a gymnasium full of other local Republicans to talk about who we want at the top of our ticket to stop the HRC Express. The last caucus in 2012 was the first one I’d ever attended and it is an interesting experience. Iowa has a special place in the electoral process because our caucuses (as weird as they are) come first in the nation. If you move the date of your primary up, we just move our caucuses up. We are going to caucus before you vote – count on it!
The caucuses are pretty simple. One registered voter can speak on behalf of each candidate, then we vote on who we want to be our nominee. Then we elect delegates to the state convention who actually select the delegates to the national convention. The caucus is non-binding, so the real winner is the guy who gets supporters to the convention. But it’s a fun night where we talk about how much better all our candidates are than anyone the other side has! We join hands, sing Kumbaya and have a group hug and trudge through the snow to our cars.
Last time around, I went in supporting a candidate who was a fairly late riser in the race. No one else had volunteered to speak for him, so I stepped to the mic. My guy actually won our precinct vote and made a strong showing statewide. But he fizzled pretty quickly after that and my ardor for him definitely cooled. He’s back in the race this year, but he’s lost my affection and isn’t likely to get it back. We are never, ever, ever getting back together.
So, fellas (and Ms. Fiorina) I’m here for the taking. My heart is ready and I’m willing to be won. And there are lots of options – more than Match.com and Christian Mingle could find for me if I were single and dating. Here is a list of candidates I found on the interwebs. Is there a candidate or two whose not on here? I’m guessing by Wednesday there will be.
Declared Candidates
- Skip Andrews – never heard of him. Pro-life AND pro-pot. Hmmm.
- Michael Bickelmeyer – never heard of him. Sounds a little weird.
- Kerry Bowers – never heard of him. Military background.
- Ben Carson – like him. Can he win?
- Dale Christensen – Never heard of him. Entrepreneur.
- Ted Cruz – Top-tier candidate.
- John Dummett, Jr. – Never heard of him. Conservative.
- Mark Everson – Never heard of him. Former IRS Commissioner.
- Carly Fiorina – Only woman. Must learn more.
- Lindsey Graham – well-known. Why don’t I like him?
- Chris Hill – Never heard of him. Military guy.
- Mike Huckabee – One of ours. I like him. Is he presidential?
- Michael Kinlaw – Never heard of him. Tea Party Texan.
- George Pataki – Pro-abortion. Not for me.
- Rand Paul – top-tier candidate. Foreign policy reservations, but worth a look.
- Rick Perry – top-tier candidate. Is he presidential?
- Michael Petyo – Never heard of him. Businessman.
- Marco Rubio – top-tier candidate.
- Brian Russell – Never heard of him. Entrepreneur.
- Rick Santorum – top-tier candidate. Just don’t think it’s happening.
Seems like the major candidates are Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, (maybe) George Pataki, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, and (maybe) Rick Santorum. If they declare, then Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker could join the list. Maybe Kasich as well.
Exploratory Candidates (One step short of Declaring)
- Jeb Bush – Many think he is the frontrunner.
- Chris Christie – Pro-abortion. Not for me.
- Bobby Jindal – I like a lot of what I hear.
- Dennis Michael Lynch – Never heard of him. Businessman/media guy.
- Donald Trump – I would move to another country.
- Scott Walker – Lots to like about him.
Potential (Two Steps from Declared?)
- Bob Ehrlich – Who?
- Jim Gilmore – Who?
- John Kasich – Maybe.
- Peter King – Maybe.
- Rick Snyder – Who?
By my count, that is twenty declared candidates, six exploratories, and five potentials. Using common core math, that totals somewhere in the neighborhood of a whole passel of GOP candidates. I’ve never heard of several of these guys. Many of them I wouldn’t vote for under any foreseeable circumstances. There are a few of them I find interesting.
But I reall y want to fall in love. I want to find a candidate I’m passionate about, one I think will make a difference. I’m not interested in another Bob Dole (look him up you whippersnappers), or John McCain or Mitt Romney – a candidate that I only vote for because he’s not as bad as the other candidate. I want someone I believe in!
So, what am I looking for in a candidate? I can tell you this: my heart will not be easily won. I’ve been burned before by good-looking politicians with their slick patter who made big promises but delivered nothing. Don’t expect me to fall easily gentlemen (and lady). If you want my vote you are going to have to earn it.
Let me tell you what I’m looking for.
1) My candidate has to oppose abortion in more than just words every four years.
It is amazing how many candidates suddenly become pro-life when election time rolls around. I never completely trusted Mitt Romney’s convenient conversion on the topic. When he was a Massachusetts politicians he embraced abortion, but as soon as his aspirations turned national, his conscience kicked in and he suddenly saw the light about the evils of abortion. I’d like to think people can be convinced, but the timing is too convenient.
But what I want is someone who shows a willingness to make this a priority legislatively. Frankly, Republicans have used pro-lifers but have not served the pro-life interests, except in a few Supreme Court appointments. I’d like to see a candidate who has a track record that demonstrates that abortion is not a political tool.
I won’t vote for a pro-abortion candidate, but I respect those who state their convictions on the topic rather than those who check the pro-life box on issue sheets but are unwilling to do anything about the issue when they have the power.I made a commitment years ago that if someone didn’t have the basic moral sense to realize that killing a baby in its mother’s womb was wrote, he or she would not get my vote. I stand by that. But I want to see more than just lip-service.
Is there a candidate who really cares about the life ethic?
2) My candidate must be committed to the First Amendment.
Baptists in Colonial days were champions of religious freedom. Why is that? Because they were a persecuted minority. The established churches in the colonies restricted their freedoms and they reacted by championing the separation of powers between the church and the state.
Then, somewhere along the line, we became part of the power structure, especially in the Deep South, where Baptists were part of the dominant culture. Instead of advocating religious freedom we became the proponents of controlling the halls of power. And it worked for a long time. But during the Obama administration, we’ve lost our place in those halls. Obama has shown constant hostility toward conservative Christianity like we’ve never seen before. Can you remember a sitting president who has had the temerity to tell the church what it needs to preach and how it needs to change its doctrine and practice?
We who were once the moral majority have become the minority. And we have found ourselves described as homophobes, threatened with sanction both criminally and civilly, fired or eliminated from consideration for hiring, and in other ways pushed to the cultural fringes.
Many of you will be inspired by those candidates who make grandiose statements about “taking America back.” Go for it. I’d love to see a return to conservative values, though I doubt that genie can be put back in the bottle. But my concern is to find a candidate with a passion for freedom – freedom of speech, of religion, and of the press (Obama has been pretty tough on all of those).
The rapid erosion of these freedoms ought to be a huge concern to us. It should have been so all along, even when we were a voting majority. But now that we are heading back toward those days when we are outside of the power structure in America, protecting our freedoms becomes much more important.
3) My candidate needs to tell the truth, be wise and competent.
Sure, I’d love an evangelical candidate who shares my doctrine and beliefs. But, to quote the old cliché, I’m not voting for President, not Pastor. I am willing to vote for someone who shares my political values but not all my doctrinal views if that person demonstrates wisdom, conviction and honesty.
- I’m sick of candidates who say stupid, ridiculous and extreme things to curry favor with voters. Tell me what you really think, don’t tell me what you think I want to hear.
- I’m sick of candidates who shape their views to their audience like Hillary changes her accent!
- I’m sick of conservative candidates who say stupid things. People tell me Ted Cruz is a pretty good candidate. But how does a serious candidate make a stupid joke about a man who is in the process of burying his son? The mainstream press hates conservatives and you can’t be that stupid.
- I’m sick of inflated records, hidden histories and all those things.
4) My candidate must hate war but not be afraid to fight for right.
Many of my friends have adopted a much more isolationist foreign policy than I am comfortable with. History has not been kind to those with power who stand by and watch while evil men do evil.
Going in to Iraq and Afghanistan has been anything but an unqualified success and it is hard to argue that perhaps the US has been too quick to intervene, that our motives have often been wrong, that our strategies have been suspect, and that our ethics have not always been pristine. But it is easy to let the pendulum swing too far in the other direction, to over-compensate by becoming isolationist.
I don’t want a war-monger for a president, some blood-thirsty guy who gets his jollies from bombing people. But we need someone who values American military strength and is willing to use it in wise ways (we can have LONG debate about what that is). Finding that balance is tricky, but I want a candidate with a sound philosophy for the use of American force on the worldwide stage. I’m not voting for a “bomb-‘em-all” candidate or a “bring-‘em-all-home” candidate. Both are mistakes.
My candidate needs balance.
5) My candidate needs to look for sensible solutions, not pander to our worst selves.
I often cringe at what I see on conservative political websites and the things that are shared on social media. Extremist rhetoric, harsh “solutions” to social problems, opinions that echo of racism, and all too often a disregard for fact-checking and truthfulness.
We see this in issues like immigration. Of course, it’s time to secure the border. I have no idea why we don’t do that. But there are also, according to estimates, around 12 million people living illegally in America today. Among them are a few criminals, but most of those undocumented people hold down jobs, have families and otherwise abide by our laws.
Are we really going to round up 12 million people and ship them back to their home countries? Really? That is four times the population of my state! And we are going to fund a police force to go door to door, root out all the illegals and send them back to the border?
I want a candidate who does something more than sound like Ann Coulter when talking about immigration issues. Too many are afraid to have reasonable discussions of immigration because the blood-thirsty and xenophobic conservatives on the far right raise the chant of “amnesty” whenever you move off the “ship ‘em back to the border” position. We must both secure the border and figure out a way to handle the 12 million people who live here today in a just, decent and reasonable way.
There are a host of positions like this, where candidates are sometimes tempted to throw red meat to more extreme elements among my party instead of seeking intelligent and workable solutions. I want a candidate who doesn’t just stop at sound bites and feeding party passions. I’d like to see someone go beyond that. Too many candidates are so afraid of being labeled as moderate or liberal that they refuse to even consider reasonable and rational approaches on issues. My candidate needs to stand up to the extremes and the fear-mongers.
Unfortunately, he’d probably not get the nomination.
I’m Waiting
Is there a candidate for me among those who have declared? Will one come forward and win my heart? I hope so. I hate the idea of saying President Clinton again – didn’t care for it the first time around!
Before some of you warn me to leave the GOP behind, I will just say – give me a candidate who can win and I’ll consider it. Who was the last 3rd party candidate to win? I don’t know. Let me think. It was…hmmm…uh.
The eternal optimist (if you knew me, you’d know that’s a joke), I continue to sit along the wall at the dance waiting for someone to walk over and invite me to the floor. I’m waiting. I really want to fall in love. I want to be passionate about a candidate.
On the other hand, chances are pretty good that in the end I’m going to have to comfort myself with the fact that my citizenship is in heaven and I eagerly await a Savior from there! I will have to put my hope in Christ and not in politics. I will have to remember that while America needs God, God does not need America and the kingdom will survive whatever happens to our nation.
But still, it would be nice to have a candidate to be enthusiastic about!
When you find the candidate that fits your list, please let me know. I am in agreement with your criteria with the addition of least one or two other filters.
Bob Dole–he’s that guy who sold those little blue pills, right? Besides being staunchly pro-life, my ideal candidate would seek sensible environmental regulations, oppose the Keystone Pipeline, and invest serious money into research to wean us off oil as much as possible for less pollutant alternatives. He would also oppose fracking. I’d also like a guy who would stand up to the NRA, favor an assault rifle ban (with certain exemptions–I understand some farmers need a fairly powerful rifle to fend off creatures such as wild boars) and push for stronger and more consistent background checks. I’m not sure I’m… Read more »
Some general thoughts from another voice, I support the Keystone Pipeline, fracking, and big oil. I support drilling for oil anywhere you can find it. If someone likes driving a car or flying in a plane, rather than always walking or riding a bicycle, I would think they should be for oil too. The above makes our country more energy independent. They make the price of gasoline cheaper, something important for ministers who do a lot of driving. A pipeline is safer than shipping oil by truck or train. Oil pays billions in taxes. All energy involves some amount of… Read more »
I.d vote for you.
Don’t bother coming to Iowa if you speak ill of ethanol. (You may be right, but high corn prices are GOOD for us)
Dave,
How about the politician when asked about ethanol, who replied,
“Some of my friends are for ethanol.
Some of my friends are against ethanol.
And I stand with my friends!”
David R. Brumbelow
Points for the “O Brother Where Art Thou” allusion .
I’m with you fellas.
No allusion.
That politician joke was around years before the movie.
David R. Brumbelow
Not to mention that some of our younger Southern Baptists drink ethanol!
Rick, what about the other 15 or so GOP candidates 🙂
The list is so long I wouldn’t be surprised if my name was on it. Though, I’m not sure I’d support myself for office.
David, no big problem with your views. I do have one issue with this statement: “””” If someone likes driving a car or flying in a plane, rather than always walking or riding a bicycle, I would think they should be for oil too.”””” This is a common argument made by those that are “pro-oil, pro-drilling.” However, it is a bifurcation fallacy. Walking is not the only alternative to Big Oil. Recently I saw an add for a “Smart Car” that runs on compressed gas. There are “solar-driven” cars. I had an engineer in a church that was part of… Read more »
Just hold your nose and vote democrat. It sounds like that’s where you’re really at…
That kind of thinking hurts the GOP. If you aren’t down the line with all the Tea Party thinking on all issues, you must be a democrat.
I’m pretty sure that Mike is FAR from a Democrat.
Not sure if you were joking…Hope so.
Nope. No amount of nose holding will get me to vote for someone who is pro-choice on the abortion issue. My thing is: I see certain gun control issues and environmental issues as an extension of pro-life. A person wants a hand gun for personal protection or a rifle for hunting, after solid background checks, more power to them. I’m not going to own them, but I don’t have an issue with it. But there’s really no reason for the general public to have access to assault weapons, especially hordes of them. Petroleum is a pollutant. While we should seek… Read more »
Should add, the “extension of pro life” part should be obvious with weapons… The environment, it’s where we live, it’s where our children and grandchildren will live. We should be seeking to provide them the healthiest environment possible to produce the highest quality, most disease free life… Pro-life shouldn’t stop at the womb.
“…Far from a democrat…”
Don’t know – but his described candidate could be – Jim Webb, former one term democrat senator from VA who is actually running against Hillary for democrat presidential nomination.
Whenever news sites come out with those “which candidate do you match with” quizzes, I tend to end up matched in the low 50% with both democrat and republican, and in the mid 70% with the Green party… But green party tends to be pro choice and pro legalizing certain drugs I’d rather not see legalized… So that’s a no in a potential candidate. The quizzes that map you on a political spectrum grid always put me in a 3rd quadrant no man’s land with no party or candidate. I have no problem being an odd duck, I’ve played that… Read more »
Sounds like Lindsey Graham. (#2 guest at the white house).
As for the assault weapons ban, go ahead. I already have mine. That’ll cut down on those shooting back (j/k…sorta).
Dave, I’m not sure if you really are hoping to “fall in love” with a candidate, or if you are just using that as a rhetorical device to make the point in your next to last paragraph. In my case, I’ve pretty much made up my mind I’m not going to “fall in love” with any political candidates, of any political party, ever. I will likely vote. And I will spend some time—hopefully without overdoing it—trying to understand the issues and trying to vote responsibly, following the dictates of my conscience. But I have pretty much come to grips with… Read more »
Honestly, I’d love to find a candidate I could be enthusiastic about. But, guilty on the rhetorical device thing.
Since David B. isn’t running, I have basically the same opinion as David R.
In some ways, I secretly (I guess not so secret after this) hope that someone who gets most conservative Christians really excited does not win, because it would only serve to get their focus off of the Lord and onto the virtues of “their man” (or woman, as the case may be). The only problem with this theory is that last time it kind of backfired, in that, instead of fawning over their favorite son, who did not win (whether that was Romney, or someone else), they re-channeled all that energy into hating the guy who did win. I would… Read more »
I’m thinking the best option for the interests of the Kingdom of God may well be a moderate Republican. 😉
Like? Trump?
Hey with that we could get a twofer – The Donald for Prez and Miller moving to another country! 😉
Ouch. Actually, in my book, Trump is the personification of evil. But that does kind of ruin my theory, doesn’t it?
Bad news, Cline. I can still moderate Voices and delete your comments from another country.
Where’s the like button on Dave Miller’s last comment?
Wow! David, your opening remarks were enough to generate warm fuzzies, feel good stuff, and then you came to the list of candidates and the bottom drops out. Talk about depressing. And just wait until the folks behind the scenes start to pull the strings for the person they want. All of a sudden, there will be a rush to a certain person, everything will be positive, all negatives will be muted, if admitted, It is not that none of the candidates are qualified or will not make good presidents, but hidden strings do work and the puppets do dance.… Read more »
correcto Next to last line, “give us a clear winner…”
Regarding foreign affairs, we need someone who is understood by those who would be our enemies to be strong. That’s not to say that he’ll send in troops or bombs at the drop of a hat, but that he won’t waffle around when it comes time to act, and that he knows the right course of action to take in order to accomplish the right goals. But also that he is willing to build the right kind of trust with other countries, not based on a two-faced con artist act, but based on a position of moral courage. Also, this… Read more »
Jim,
Or maybe he’s not open to that now but is awakened by it.
Dave,
Four words: Bobby Jindal, political hack.
Yours truly,
A Louisiana Resident
Not a fan, eh?
That’s one way of putting it 🙂
Jason, you mind elaborating on that one a little. I like what I know of Bobby Jindal. I have been paying attention to him for years. I think he might make a good president.
Anything I should know?
Tarheel, In the last 6 or so years, Jindal has run our state into the financial ground with his loyalty to Grover Norquist. I’m a fairly conservative guy, but even I know that you can’t cut income (i.e., taxes) without also cutting spending (i.e., state services). In the last 6 years, Louisiana has virtually defunded both state health care and higher education. In a state that has not one Democrat elected official higher than State Senator, Jindal is less popular than the current POTUS, and it takes alot to be less popular than Obama in Louisiana! And for those who… Read more »
“Mike Huckabee – One of ours. I like him. Is he presidential?”
Better presidential material than the current one! Gov. Huckabee has political savvy, good grasp of domestic and international issues, proven Christian integrity, and a wealth of common sense … therefore, not electable.
I highly recommend Gov. Huckabee’s new book “God, Guns, Grits and Gravy” if you wonder where he stands on issues that matter to Christians (or should).
Al Mohler for President!
Hillary … Hillary … Hillary …
Why take a demotion from Pope?
Perhaps if Mohler was elected POTUS he could sign an executive order where all new SBC entity heads would have to be his Calvinist disciples. Oh, wait…
Adam, you’re a bad, bad boy – slap your hand sir!
Hmmm … SBC’s secret sealed records! In that duct-taped jar buried under Dr. M’s front porch for 15 years … designation of SBC Pope, hand-picked entity heads, theological takeover strategy, etc. … and perhaps climb to POTUS?
Bah! Adam, Mohler has already offended too many Southern Baptist Sovereign Grace ministers. O wait: Are you one of them, too?
Sorry. Ain’t nobody named “Huckabee” ever getting elected president. There’s that and it seems hard to ever get him to look you straight in the eyes.
“Ain’t nobody named “Huckabee” ever getting elected president.”
Shucks, what’s in a name? Think about it … Barack Hussein Obama.
Well played.
Like it or not, BHO sounds authoritative. “Huckabee” sounds like a brand of generic Honey Nut Cheerios.
Well, Gov. Huckabee might have trouble getting elected ’cause his last name is Huckabee. But, it would be worse if his name was George W. Huckabee.
Speaking of being authoritative, he demonstrated wisdom and authority in a pinch when he used a popcorn popper in college to fry up a mess of squirrels for his roommates. You can depend on folks like that when the going gets tough.
I am not sure how it happened, but I seem to have missed the Ted Cruz joke about a man who was burying a son…was it a slam on the veep? I must say that I did really like the one he told in Boston recently about Tom Brady being framed by Hillary – why else would she hide/destroy all her emails….LOL! I like that one because it nails Hillary and states the obvious about Brady (that he is innocent). 😉 I do not mind a little arena pandering like that – ya know – in Boston making a joke… Read more »
Evidently, Ted Cruz has a normal joke he tells about the VP. Let’s face it, Biden is an easy target- he says a lot of really stupid things. But he used the joke at a campaign stop between the death of Biden’s son and the funeral. Bad form.
A president has to know better than that, it seems.
I read recently Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Mike Huckabee are Southern Baptist.
Isn’t there one more who is Southern Baptist?
Of course, the track record of Southern Baptist presidents isn’t that good. Last two were Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
Dave, you could be thinking of Ben Carson. He was asked to speak at the SBC PASTOR’S CONFERENCE but he is not a SB but actually is a Seven Day Adventist. ????
I heard something about that…..
Snarky 🙂
Yes, last time there was a Southern Baptist in the White House, it didn’t go well. If Bill Clinton read his Bible, he never “inhaled.”
🙂
Tarheel, you have to be older than most of the SBC Voices’ whippersnappers to get that one!
Turned 41 last week.
Youngster.
South Carolinian here, Graham won’t win his home state if he makes it here. Shrewd politician, managed his last election masterfully pitting a bunch of nobody’s against each other to suppress and divide the vote that would have been against him in the primaries. No way a Pub was going to lose the general election here
Huckabee
Cruz
Santorum
Rubio
Perry
Carson
Paul
Anybody but Jeb
Rick, what about the other 15 or so GOP candidates 🙂
The list is so long I wouldn’t be surprised if my name was on it. Though, I’m not sure I’d support myself for office.
Rick we agree on something!!!
Anyone but Jeb.
Perry?!!! Above Paul??!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH! 😉
I’m kinda curious Rick; if Huckabee and Cruz were not Southern Baptist would you still have them as your top two? (By the way, I think Cruz would make a FANTASTIC Pres. I’m a little skeptical about Huckabee though).
I may like Cruz better than Huckabee. But I’ve liked Huckabee longer.
(I feel kinda weird talking about guys this way…but at least I don’t want to FALL IN LOVE with any of them like some people I could name!)
And no, when it comes to POTUS, I do not vote denominationally. Reagan was ten times better than Carter, which is to say that a C student Presbyterian was actually a better President than an A student Southern Baptist.
Roughly the order of ones I might could support (it changes from day to day)
Walker
Cruz
Jindal
Kaisch
Haley (gov. of SC) (might be VP)
Carson
Satorum
Rubio
Perry
Paul
Someone not “in” or “known” yet
Will not support – Huckabee or Jeb or Trump or Pataki (probably more in this category)
Tarheel, if you want to line up with your ideological wish list you posted earlier…you’ll need to flip this list.
Huckabee, Trump, Jeb, and Pataki???
😉
Graham and Christie are also in my will not support list.
Just be thankful for Amendment 22 … the two-term limit on the presidency. Nobama! Of course, I guess it’s possible that if all hell breaks loose on planet earth before the next election (e.g., WW III), Congress might authorize keeping the current POTUS in place. Regarding the GOP runners, I keep waiting for someone else to step out of nowhere illuminated by a beam of light from heaven. Surely, surely, there must be somebody else! When the current list have their files opened and the mudslinging starts, they’ll drop like rocks. It’s getting tougher and tougher to raise a national… Read more »
Personally, I will vote for the party and person that lies the least, I will definitely be listening and researching.
If that’s the case, research Rand Paul.
But wait – truth telling can’t be your standard Jess – you support Obama.
Tarheel,
Yes truth telling is my standard, I would support the president for the third term if there were one.
In times like these, Praise God for Amendment 22!
“You can keep your current healthcare insurance if you like it.”
“you can keep your Doctor”
“Benghazi attack was about a YouTube video”
These are all demonstrable lies ….I will stop now.
Jess it’s very clear that you’re not living in any realm of reality regarding anything with which you speak….so I’m just gonna leave ya alone.
Willful ignorance is absolutely incurable.
“I said Benghazi was a terrorist attack from the beginning”
“I’ve done more for Israel’s security than any President ever”
“I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage”
“Didn’t know Jeremiah Wright was Radical”
“I didn’t raise taxes once”
“Mitt Romney Plans to fire Big Bird”
etc., etc.
In the immortal words of William Safire, a “blizzard of lies.”
Wait till you fellows find out that a few hands pull the strings of the puppets in both parties. O, I forgot. Have any of you all have read Carroll Quigley’s Tragedy and Hope, especially p.1139?
For me so far on the Republican side there are only two options- Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Everyone else is either too crazy (Cruz) too corrupt (Jindal) or inelectable (the rest of the field) On the Dem side, I don’t see anything promising yet- though I think some of you are too focused on Bill Clinton’s moral failures, and are missing some of his governing successes. He’s the last guy to really work a bipartisan government. I doubt Hillary can do the same though. I agree wholeheartedly with something Dave said above- we are electing a President, not a… Read more »
“For me so far on the Republican side there are only two options- Rand Paul and Marco Rubio.”
Hey I’m not the only one out there that thinks Paul is the best choice! Yah! But seriously, hes really the only one I can see beating Clinton and he also seems to be the most Constitutional.
I’ve not yet drunk the Paul koolaid. He’s a better candidate than hid dad and I would consider voting for him, but I’m not sure yet.
Dave, I’m on the Rand fence, also. At least he seems to have principles–even when I don’t agree on them all.
I’m thinking that the good he would do would far outweigh the negative.
I’m watching closely.
I think what makes him unique is his foreign policy which I really love.
Er… that what I DON’T like about him. :/
Yeah. His foreign policy is a negative for me – at least my current understanding
Iam a theonomist I know most of my theonomist friends are going with Paul but “I Like MIKE” I have found his answers to all questions put to him to be reasonable. His college roommate at Ouachita was in my sister-in -laws class at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. Her parents were on the Faculty/staff there . He attest’s to Mikes good character. Mike is solid in his theology. I think we need more pastor /politicians in government not less so good to have real evangelical bonafides.I also believe that Christians should prefer Christians in leadership unless that person demonstrates… Read more »
Being 100% honest here. I have NEVER received more anti-abortion literature from any one specific politician than I have Rand Paul, and I live in NC. Never done anything that I know of to get on any mailing list either. Come election time, he practically bombards all the mailboxes in my area. That CANNOT be said for my elected representative Renee Ellmers. She’s one of Boehner’s robots who hasn’t done much to raise a fuss…except beating Clay Aiken and OPPOSING more restrictions on abortions. Go figure. Imma go with what I know. Rand Paul HATES abortion and loves liberty. He’s… Read more »
What specific legislation has he passionately fought for to do something about abortion?
Has he filibustered tgat issue? Has he even given a speech on it? Not really. In fact he’s said social issues (like abortion) are secondary.
I think you have selective reading problems, but that’s fine. Your opinion…and your right (guess who’d fight for it the most) I wish I’d hear some of the same abortion rhetoric out of most of those neocons that use nationalism to drum up “popular” support for us fighting everyone elses battles all over the world. Aint nobody gonna do anything as long as they know some neocon republican is gonna bring american soldiers over to do it for them. I think you’re more offended by Paul’s stance against blind nationalism and foreign adventurism than anything about abortion. He doesnt stroke… Read more »
Yea, Paul is HUGE about Liberty.
Babies in womb subjected to vacuum suction, saline solution and other medicinal/surgical death don’t fall under his criteria for impassioned calls for life and liberty though.
I’m not sure what it is with you and Rand Paul, but your efforts to pretend as if he doesn’t care about the unborn because he doesn’t go about it the way you think he should are ridiculous. What other candidates have filibustered the abortion issue? How would one go about doing that anyway? He supports the bills limiting abortion that come before the senate. You don’t filibuster bills you support. It is clearly false to suggest that because one shows passion about one issue and handles it a certain way that he must not be passionate about other issues… Read more »
I’d like to see the same impassioned pleas and work on abortion and social issues that he gives on other issues.
He could propose bills/amendments to limit abortion or he could filibuster popular bills that don’t contain protections or those that fund planned parenthood.
Adam, I’m not sure what you think that link proves – to me it showed him equivocating by saying I am “generally” and pro-life. He did brilliantly expose a hole in the no exemption mantra of the far left liberal’s – but he didn’t exactly take a strong stand on abortion in that answer – it’s that kind of thing that bothers me most I think about him – he can be so clear and so concise and so dogmatic on certain issues but when it comes to issues of abortion and other important social issues he’s a lot more… Read more »
You can parse his words if you would like. Perhaps you think he is lying on his campaign website (https://www.randpaul.com/issue/sanctity-of-life). If so, I am not sure how you can justify being willing to vote for him if he did receive the nomination. The reality is that the SC justices appointed by a President Paul would be much more likely to uphold the constitution and roll back Roe vs. Wade than any of the other candidates. It doesn’t really matter in the end whether the rhetoric is what you prefer. It matters more who is actually going to do something about… Read more »
Tarheel,
Thank all your conservative supreme court justices for abortion.
More Jessworld willful ignorance.
It has been the biggest disappointment of my adult life that several appointments of conservative presidents have turned out to be weak or even liberal. David Souter is #1.
But there are 4 solid conservatives and 1 who gives a majority when the wind is from the southeast and the moon is waxing.
No, Tarheel, he has at least a point on this one. The Supreme Court brought us abortion on demand and that is where the battles have been fought.
The failure of two or three key appointments has given aid and comfort to the abortion industry.
And the same court is about to deliver the coup de ta to religious liberty, if, as we expect, they vote to legalize same sex marriage. The article in the Washington Post about the calls for harsh treatment against Christians for their stand against such practices makes it plain that all of our liberties are forfeit. I think it was Jefferson who said something to the effect that the Court would become a problem due to its not being elected by the people.
Miller,
1973 SCOTUS was a conservative court?
The idea that the Court has been conservative went by the wayside in the Roosevelt years (Franklin that is). He threatened to enlarge the court in order to get his social programs accepted. And during the Truman administration did not the Court first consider the wall of separation idea from an off-hand remark in one of Jefferson’s letters to a Baptist association? Quite obviously, Jefferson did not believe what the Court has made it out to be, that is, he attended church every Sunday in the Capital building during his presidency, and he considered the Baptist church near Monticello as… Read more »
Plus he said “all conservative…”
Also, for a supporter of Barack Obama to berate anyone on creating more abortion and giving aid to the abortion industry is absolutely laughable he ( and the entire current Democrat party leadership) is the most radical pro-abortion group ever.
And Souter deceived to get his appointment and is not a conservative – never has been on SCOTUS.
I’m just saying that if conservative presidents (Reagan, Bush 1 and 2) had been more careful on their appointments, there would be a conservative majority on the court and a lot of the junk we don’t like wouldn’t have happened. “Justice Bork” would have been nice.
Have you considered the influence of the CFR’s (Council on Foreign Relations) influence on the appointments? The CFR is the means by which certain folks get their desires done in government.
In 1973 the court was not conservative but it was made up of a majority appointed by Republicans.
Nixon appointed 4: Berger, who was chief justice, Blackmon, Powell, Rehnquist.
Eisenhower appointed 2: Brennan and Stewart, ol Uncle Potter.
Kennedy appointed White.
Johnson appointed Marshall.
Franklin Roosevelt appointed Douglas
With six appointments being made while Nixon was either president or vice-president it can be argued Nixon’s court gave us approval of Roe vs. Wade. White and Rehnquist were the dissenters of the decision. White was appointed by a democrat and Rehnquist was appointed by a republican.
Wake up and smell the cooking! POTUS is a tool of other interests. CF. Quigley’s Tragedy and Hope. SCOTUS is also.
I don’t think anyone really imagined then the court becoming what it is today.
Neither I nor Nixon could be identified as social conservatives – their appointments were right in line with who they were.
Republican does not always equal conservative – was it a Republican court yes – was it a conservative court certainly not.
*Ike
Rehnquist was hey conservative – but he was the only conservative appointed by either ike or Nixon.
Heel, please read the first sentence in my comment.
Words mean things.
“I’m generally prolife” does NOT equal “I am prolife”.
Would you hire a staff pastor who says “look, I generally believe the Bible is the word of God”.
That word generally is a very important one.
I also have issues with his support for the legalization of drugs.
I’m not a graham fan for lots of reasons – but I’ve noticed “rand Paulites” use that talking point quite often when defending his stances on foreign policy rhetoric – which is not altogether different than that of BHO, BTW. (We’ve seen how effective that approach is.)
Rand Paul is not for the legalization of drugs. He recommends lighter sentencing for small-time users and returning jurisdiction for all drug laws (lighter or more strict) over to the states, per the constitution( (#10). Hey, VA could issue the death penalty for career drug traffickers if they wanted.
I like him because I believe that he most represents the America envisioned by the folks who risked their lives and sacred honor to help create it.
The word “generally” would be a red flag. I would ask a potential staff member what he meant. I would then put that on my list of questions to ask his references about. I would find out for sure what he believes about the Bible.
You didn’t answer my question. Do you believe Rand Paul is lying on his campaign website regarding abortion? Again, if your answer is yes, I am not sure how you can justify supporting him even at the bottom of your laundry list of candidates.
I think it’s a whole lot easier to put something on the website or no one will ask you follow up questions – when he was asked a very simple unequivocal question – he gave a very equivocal answer – he could have been much, much, more clear of a strong position but he chose to play word games. Like I said, he is so clear so dogmatic and so unequivocal on so many issues but when it comes to this one he often equivocates. As to the false choice that you posted regarding the general election – I think… Read more »
Adam G,
“Rand Paul is not for the legalization of drugs. He recommends lighter sentencing for small-time users and returning jurisdiction for all drug laws…”
Lighter sentencing is one thing – but doesn’t he support decriminalzation?
Would you stop equivocating and answer my question? When you listed your candidates in this thread, you gave a laundry list of candidates you would support were they to receive the Republican nomination. Rand Paul was on that list. Then you gave some candidates that you would not support. Why is it that you would support Rand Paul for president if he were to get the nomination when you don’t believe him when he says he is pro-life? You say its much easier to put something on the website. Of course it is. It is much easier to make your… Read more »
Heel-
The “war on drugs” has accomplished nothing other than overcrowding prisons, disenfranchising an entire generation of minorities, and overburdening the federal budget with dollars for a “war” that we aren’t winning. Rand proposes changing how we deal with drugs, dealers, and users.
Since the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, I think it’s “high” time for a change.
For interesting and informative reading on the impetus and results of the “war on drugs” read The New Jim Crow chapter 1.
I wonder if Heel and others might dislike R Paul because he consistently has proposed “stand with Israel” legislation?
Huh, dean?
I happen to think that Israel is one of America’s most important geopolitical allies. I support “standing with Israel”.
Adam, I am not equivocating whatsoever I am simply saying that I could vote for him and I general election if I had to but he would not be my choice and I would not be very happy about it – but I will not read this well – will not – vote for him in the primary. You are apparently failing to understand the difference between a primary and a general election – I will not support Rupaul in the primary because I do not trust him as much as I trust other republicans running against him on a… Read more »
I don’t understand the difference between the general election and the primary? Really? I am going on your own statements. You listed several Republican candidates that you would not support whatsoever. At the end of a list of candidates you would support, you put Rand Paul. I am asking why you would support him at all if you do not believe that he is pro-life. You seem to be stating that you will vote for a 3rd party candidate if Jeb Bush and company get the nomination. Why wouldn’t you support a 3rd party candidate if Rand Paul got the… Read more »
Heel, I was just searching for a reason why you have a hard time supporting R Paul. Your reasons make no sense. You say he is weak on abortion and drugs but offer no evidence. He hasn’t filibustered abortion laws but you don’t filibuster established law.Every single scorecard I have seen list Paul as either being # 1 or 2 most conservative among even possible candidates. He is ranked again and again in the top 5 most conservative congressmen in Washington. The pundits that follow these things do not agree with your assessment of Paul. Here is the conservative review’s… Read more »
Adam, again….I am saying that a “generally prolife” candidate is better than one that is essentially pro abortion (read – any democrat in the running or being mentioned – plus the DNC official platform is clearly pro – abortion). In a general election I would be choosing between a democrat and republican (if I want to vote for someone who could actually be president) – in the primary I can choose between several conservative candidates – some of who I trust more on the abortion issue than I do Rand Paul. While “generally profile” (Pauls words not mine, BTW) is… Read more »
To put it another way….I think Paul is, just like *HE* said, “generally prolife” (so that puts him above all known Dem presidential candidates, but below other known/potential republican candidates in my book) – I believe that others in the rep primary competition are more than “generally” pro life…so I will vote for one of them.
However, if Paul is the last man standing and is running against a democrat then that is a horse of a different color.
“If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals — if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.”
-President Reagan
Don’t be skurrd of the small “l”.
Adam, Reagan is correct except for one thing. There is a fundamental difference between true conservatives and libertarianism. Conservatives recognize in some way the fallen nature of man. While they seek limited government, those limits do not mitigate the need for accountability. The goal is to legislate and enforce that legislation so that personal responsibility is maximized and personal irresponsibility is minimized. It’s a delicate balance that can only be upheld by accountability. That’s why we have checks and balances built into the government. If libertarianism is taken to it’s logical extreme, you end up with anarchy. Liberals sell their… Read more »
That’s exactly right Jim!
The hip and cool thing for young people today is to be full-blown libertarian – I know that – I’m just not one – libertarianism is based a little bit too much in the – as Bart Barber put it one time, “the idolatry of autonomy”.
libertarianism isnt anarchism. I think you’re confusing it or at least blurring the lines. libertarianism can have it’s crazies, much like conservatives can have it’s neo-fascists, but libertarians have always been proponents of personal responsibility and accountability. You break it, you buy it. You act irresponsibly, you suffer from it. No welfare state. Less govt and more liberty came from years of service under the idea of “divine right” and realization of what inevitably happens when power is given to the wicked few. Show me the benevolent dictator this side of heaven! small “l” libertarianism isnt anarchy in the least,… Read more »
Adam, What you are describing is conservatism. I know too many libertarians whose sentiment behind their position is to not be held accountable. If your desire is to do whatever you want to, with the government and everyone else out of your business, then libertarianism is your only option. If your desire is to do whatever you want to do and to have government protect that liberty by punishing anyone you think would try to take it away by taking away the liberty they want, you want liberalism. If you want to be able to make your own way in… Read more »
Jim, I think you are taking it to an extreme, or at least confusing libertarianism with libertinism. I wouldnt describe myself as an outright “libertarian”, but I would say I have libertarian leanings. I dont think it’s the boogeyman people should be afraid of. I believe that the folks who established our nation sought to create a system with the most individual liberty as possible, but not without some regulation. I dont think that is at odds with “small L” libertarianism. (please acknowledge the difference between this and anarchy). The least government regulation that is needed (minarchy). Modern conservatism isnt… Read more »
I considered moving to NC just so I could vote AGAINST Ellmers in the next election.
I would bet on her having a primary opponent. I’m still a little agitated that Tillis got the senate nomination here instead of Greg Brannon.
“””Rand Paul HATES abortion and loves liberty.””” This certainly puts him at the starting line for me.
Actually Jack, he’s “generally prolife” – that’s a long way from “hating abortion”.
That would still be a big step forward.
I also realize it could be the disaster that so many other “generally pro-life” candidates have been.
I just think Paul seems highly principled and a “known” quantity. Just something about him.
I don’t admit it in public, but I even liked Ross Perot.
Some are crying jobs in the oil and gas industry, but where those folks when both the Republicans and the Democrats voted to send our jobs to China and elsewhere with the free trade agreements and the World Trade outfit? Did you all know that there use to be electric cars in early 20th century America with recharging stations in various cities? And did you all know that Nikola Tesla wanted to give everyone free electricity, but J.P. Morgan said no and wrecked him, financially. The reason being control. Guess also (not Morgan) who made money from the Gas and… Read more »
I don’t ask for a lot in a candidate. I want one who is: 1: Intelligent 2: Articulate 3: Informed. Yes, of course I want them to have the right stand on the issues, but I’m open to a little variation on some things other than abortion. I want someone who doesn’t sound like an idiot, can think on their feet, and doesn’t simply spout conservative sound bites. Huckabee is, I think, a huckster. I once heard Glenn Beck say he is the most disingenuous person he’s ever met. Jindal was on my radar until he started talking about muslim… Read more »
Glenn Beck called someone disingenuous? LOL That takes a lot of nerve in my book. Other than Rush Limbaugh no one has ever made more of a mockery of Christians and Christianiy than Glenn Beck. He is the very definition of a huckster. And the worst part is, soooooo many Christians don’t just listen to him, they believe he is on our side.
Unreal.
(And I don’t like Huckabee. Just can’t believe that Beck would have the gall to say that anout anyone!)
Ryan,
Yes, I felt that way too, but since Glenn has been known to suck up to evangelicals, I didn’t feel like I could just dismiss it out of hand. I’ve always put Beck in the same category as Ron Paul, a little wisdom surrounded by a whole lotta crazy.
Agreed.
Bill Mac,
Maybe Kasich will run.
He doesn’t seem a blamer.
Doesn’t always toe the party line.
Like to get things done.
I like David Roger’s take and Bill Mac’s assessment. Ben Carson – no chance, zero; maybe cabinet Ted Cruz – Top-tier candidate but a stunt artist; Hil would bury him Carly Fiorina – Has achieved something besides winning an election, very disciplined, sharp; I like her Lindsey Graham – Bachelor, great sound bite guy; no chance; cabinet Mike Huckabee – One of ours, you say? I don’t want him and don’t care if he is one of ours. Talk to one of your senior adults who has gotten on his mail list. He’s running to build the lucrative list and… Read more »
What about a walker/Jindal ticket?
Tarheel,
You spoke of my ignorance, I may be ignorant. If you are going to be a smart butt, first, you have to be smart. Don’t you think?
The whole problem is your word choice – “playing hard to get”. They believe that conservative evangelicals have no other place to go other than the Republicans. That’s why we have leadership shilling for President Obama in every area he thinks is important. They don’t think we will rebel against Boehner, McConnell and the rest. We ought not to play hard to get. We ought to divorce ourselves form the Republican party and choose the best person whether he runs as a Rep or as a 3rd party candidate. If the candidate loses, we are no worse off than we… Read more »
Tom Bryant,
I agree with you, sir.
“And Souter deceived to get his appointment and is not a conservative – never has been on SCOTUS.”
Yes. It is so terribly annoying when someone acts like they are one thing in order to gain a position, but then, once they have the position, they reveal they were something quite different all along, only they didn’t tell you at first, because they secretly wanted to reform you to their way of thinking.
I agree with you, Tarheel. This sort of thing is absolutely inexcusable.
“… acts like they are one thing in order to gain a position … something quite different all along … secretly wanted to reform you …” So which folks on the extensive list of POTUS candidates are “not” that way? We ought to be able to trust the Southern Baptist runners … but remember Clinton and his bad representation of us (I can still remember the news clips of him singing in the choir at Hope AR and carrying his big Bible). On the other hand, Gov. Huckabee has a different look and feel … a tint of the genuine… Read more »
Sorry to pick on you, Max. But something you say here is a good jumping-off illustration for the point I am trying to make… You say, “Lord knows we could use a godly man in the White House again … when did we last have that?” While I guess, all things equal, I wouldn’t mind a good solid Christian being POTUS, the thought does not get my heart racing, either. I would be afraid, number one, how all that power might corrupt an otherwise godly man. Number two, I would be concerned the church at large would get their focus… Read more »
Don’t feel bad about pickin’ on me, Brother Rogers. I encounter that a lot in the blogosphere!
I guess all our thoughts on the next POTUS are either wishful or desperate thinking any way. As your father used to say “A nation gets the kind of leadership that that nation deserves.” I still remember his sermon on “The Leadership Crisis in America.” He built his text around Proverbs 29:2:
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
“””On the other hand, Gov. Huckabee has a different look and feel … a tint of the genuine in what he says and does.”””
I think I can concur with this.
Why does this comment, coming from this person, not surprise me. 🙂
Wow, Rick. Just wow.
You wonder why you are so oft identified as obsessed – you can’t even talk POTUS without bringing up that nonsense!
Chill dude!
No joke… 😛
I will vote for any Republican that is not in bed with the Tea Party. I hate the Tea Party. If all the republican candidates show support for the Tea Party, I will vote for Bernie, because I hate out of control capitalism. I’m for free education, free medical insurance for everyone, and if abortion is going to stand, I want it to be very costly, not free. I’m for term limits, (2). I’m against same sex marriage. I want a fair and balanced trade agreement with other countries. I hate what the Republican Party has become, so please make… Read more »
So you’re a socialist. Just making sure I understand that correctly. It’s cool; most American voters are moderate socialists who don’t really mind government as long as it doesn’t harsh their mellow too much, even if they don’t want to admit that to themselves. What, exactly, is out of control capitalism? Is that where people are free to utilize their resources in the way that they see fit? Because I’m a big fan of that. Sorry you’re not. What, exactly, has the Republican party become? What I see is a group of ineffective representatives that pay lip service to conservatism,… Read more »
Dave Miller,
I just wanted you to know, I hate Iowa State. They stole Steve Prohm from my Murray State Racers. Enjoy Steve, he is a top notch basketball coach.
Although they would like you to think so, the NRA does not equal the second amendment. It is possible to support the one without the other. Also, being for alternative energy does not make one anti-oil. I drive cars and fly on planes and don’t like high fuel prices. But I’ve also been in downtown Beijing with its 5 million cars where the smog is so thick you sometimes cannot see the car in front of you and your eyes burn like fire. We have lots of smart people in this country. We can do better. I’d also like to… Read more »
“””Repeal Obamacare? Not gonna happen.”””
May not have to repeal it. Four or five words in the ACA may doom it. The Court has likely already decided, but not announced the fate of ObamaCare.
I am hopeful, but not overly optimistic.
As long as I’m adding to my list of dream candidate qualities, I’d really like someone who understood that “tough on crime” does not equal incarceration. Surely in a nation of some of the smartest and most creative people in the world, we could figure out ways of punishing non-violent offenders without locking them up. Our prisons do not rehabilitate. Let’s try to send as few people there as possible.
Alternative energy is a bit of a specialty of mine; I worked in that area for about 6 years as an economist. Current alternative energy schemes are not economically competitive without government subsidies…which mean they’re not economically competitive. Corn ethanol doesn’t have the energy content petroleum does. Natural gas would involve an infrastructure and technology shift that isn’t economically feasible on a large scale. The stories you hear about making oil from trees and grass are at the laboratory stage, not the refinery stage. Is it possible to utilize alternative sources of energy? Yeah, of course. But right now they’re… Read more »
Joseph: No one here is suggesting we abandon oil. All new technologies are too expensive in the beginning until their use grows. But the typical Republican position is to stick our heads in the sand and pretend that oil doesn’t pollute and that we have an infinite supply (or for a lot of evangelicals, enough until the Rapture).
Joseph. Like it or not. You, me and everybody reading this thread are “tied” to oil (petroleum, and petroleum gas liguids) FAR beyond what it takes to power our cars and motorcycles. Virtually everything you touch, handle, utilize, wear, eat from, drink from has a petroleum based component not to mention the asphalt roads and highways you move from one place to another upon. The hydrocarbon composition of natural gas liquids is fractionated, seperated by individual components and these components are further refined/developed for use in aerosols, the manufacture of PVC, hard plastics etc……a million different ways in which all… Read more »
The sad thing is the Democrats are all socialists, eroding away our freedoms by the day, and McConnell, Rand Paul and the other Republican Senators (and many Representatives) are doing nothing to stop them; in fact they support the big-businesses that are assisting in the process. The Asian free trade agreement they are fast-tracking for Obama will continue to kill manufacturing in this country, just like NAFTA and GATT before them. Furthermore, we keep letting more immigrants into the country that need manufacturing jobs (this includes both the legal and the illegal). The middle-class is disappearing and the socialists (e.g.… Read more »
Are you a Native American, Nate?
You misrepresent Senator Paul. He has opposed the fast track as far as I can tell…and read.http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/06/exclusive-rand-paul-slams-rubio-over-obamatrade-we-should-read-legislation-before-we-vote-on-it/
I’m a free market guy myself, but you cant sacrifice national sovereignty and congress’ constitutional authority just for “free market” sake. Capitalism is a game between free markets, not a one way street (or “giant sucking sound” if you will).
Adam,
Paul initially stood against it, but in the end he voted with all the Republicans for it. You can look it up on the govt. website. This is the problem with Paul, he is constantly playing all the angles.
Since we haven’t won the war on drugs,
should we just legalize the drugs?
We haven’t won the war against murder either.
People keep getting murdered across the USA.
And we’ve carried on the war against murder for over 200 years.
Does that mean we should legalize murder?
Of course not.
Tax murder? No.
Laws against a practice does not eliminate the practice.
But they do reduce it, stigmatize it, and punish the offenders.
Should marijuana and other illicit drugs be legalized? No.
But do some drug laws need to be changed? Probably so.
David R. Brumbelow
I’m voting for the closest person to Ron Swanson.
I don’t think any of the Republican candidates that have thrown their hats into the ring was born in the U.S. I will have to talk to hospitals in various countries to confirm this. Kenya, you will be getting a call. I sincerely hope we get a candidate that is not stupid.
You may or may not like what he says or what he believes, but when it comes to brains, Ted Cruz is most likely the smartest candidate in the field. Alan Dershowitz claimed he was among the smartest students he ever taught.
I think that several of them are really, really smart – of course Mitt Romney was too – so having a huge intellect does not guarantee election.
Hmmmm…a professor actually remembering him being there and speaking to his academic ability is refreshing – classmates too. We do not hear such with regard to our current President. 😉
It is common on the left wing to attempt to present conservatives as stupid.
Bush has trouble articulating at times and wasn’t a Rhodes Scholar, but he wasn’t slow either. Ivy league grads seldom are.
You can pretty much count on our friends on the Dem side to paint the Republican nominee as stupid. It’s a given.
However, as we have seen, even
People are (I hope) seldom as dumb as they appear, but really, do we want a candidate who is smart but appears dumb?
We need someone who is not only smart but articulate. Someone who can speak off script and gives more thoughtful answers than just conservative sound bites.
Maybe we don’t want a candidate who’s good at telling jokes about the opposition, whose expertise is in mockery and sarcasm. How about someone with actual ideas, as opposed to just opposition? The conservatives around me, all they want is opposition.
1. No political party can declare war on women and expect to win the White House.
2. If there is a Republican president and a Republican Senate and House, it will be trying times for this country. I think giving will drop, and churches will have to tighten their belts. The price of everything will go up, that means family will come first, the church will be on down the line somewhere.
So early in the day, Jess, and you are already drunk!
I secretly hope you really don’t believe everything you say.
Jack,
You’re funny. If I tell you tomorrow is Christmas, you can hang your stocking tonight.
Jindal
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153010941785095