Predictions: Who will be the GOP Candidate?

[Seabass]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/politics/ ... ?hpt=hp_c1

Rick Santorum won three states yesterday (two of which actually gets delegates, Missouri having fucked themselves up by moving their primary to this early a date, though I think they vote again in a month).

Okay, I'll admit that I'm totally surprised by this. I figured Iowa was his high water mark, having spent most of last year there, and that he was pretty much done. I guess I had just stopped looking at him; I don't think Santorum has ever uttered a single sentence that I didn't despise. I tend to shake my head in wonderment at most GOP candidates, but in his case I genuinely hate his guts.

This is great news for Democrats though. Romney's going to have to keep fighting awhile, and if by some miracle Santorum ends up with the nomination (or perhaps even the VP slot: think Palin) that'll guarantee an Obama win.

I hear you. Santorum is a despicable human being. It is truly shocking to see him doing as well as he is. What the holy fuck is going on in these states??

That is an overstatement, to call him "despicable." I disagree with him on almost everything, though.

The man is a full-on, committed, unapologetic bigot. At least when guys like Obama and Romney say, "marriage is between a man and a woman", you get the feeling that they're mostly pandering, toeing the party line. Santorum leaves little doubt that he actually believes the bigoted shit he gushes. The man is a true believer.

[Audley Strange]

Didn't Metallica write a song about him waaaay back?

[Svartalf]

I hear you. Santorum is a despicable human being. It is truly shocking to see him doing as well as he is. What the holy fuck is going on in these states??

The more appropriate question is: What the holy fuck has happened to the Republican party? The answer is that its train has been leaning further and further to the right for thirty years, and not long ago it went right off the rails.

History and natural evolution happened to the GOP... when you are founded around electing the likes of lincoln president, it's not likely you'll turn out good later.
or, even if flowers and edibles grow out of manure, you still can't turn the raw manure into gold.

[Tero]

Not looking good for Romney. He does not have a handicapped child, like Palin and Santorum. BUT! If things are not going so well with her and Todd, and Romney IS rich, she could become his "mormon" second wife. Then she could pop out another Downs kid for Romney by October. Then he would be all set for Faith and Family.

[Warren Dew]

I hear you. Santorum is a despicable human being. It is truly shocking to see him doing as well as he is. What the holy fuck is going on in these states??

That is an overstatement, to call him "despicable." I disagree with him on almost everything, though.

Actually believing that two billion muslims hate Americans enough to be suicide bombers simply because their religion is different - that's arguably despicable.

Seabass, what's going on is that Santorum does show evidence of understanding the economic problems in the U.S. pretty well, even though his actual solutions are not much better than Obama's. People will tolerate a lot that won't affect them if it actually improves the lot of themselves and their children.

[Gallstones]

Does it matter who the GOP nominee is?

[eXcommunicate]

Does it matter who the GOP nominee is?

It matters in determining by what margin they lose to Obama in November.

[Warren Dew]

Does it matter who the GOP nominee is?

It does for those of us who vote based on who the candidate is, rather than just voting on party lines.

[Tyrannical]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x28_I9o ... e=youtu.be[/youtube]

Interesting video on how Ron Paul is stealing local delegates in caucus States. The first part Maddox explains the delegate process, and at 6:26 the Paul guy comes on. Claims Paul won Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado. Might have won Nevada. Claims Paul is even in the overall current delegate lead.
Oh, and Paul will have at least 60% of the delegates from Maine. Not bad for losing to Romney

[Coito ergo sum]

Dave Mustaine, leader of the heavy metal band Megadeth, is ready to rock out for Rick Santorum.

"Earlier in the election, I was completely oblivious as to who Rick Santorum was, but when the dude went home to be with his daughter when she was sick, that was very commendable,” Mustaine recently told MusicRadar.com. “... You know, I think Santorum has some presidential qualities, and I'm hoping that if it does come down to it, we'll see a Republican in the White House... and that it's Rick Santorum."

Weighing in on the rest of the field, Mustaine called Newt Gingrich an “angry little man” and said Ron Paul will “make total sense for a while, and then he'll say something so way out that it negates everything else.”

As for Mitt Romney, the rocker said, “I've got to tell you, I was floored the other day to see that Mitt Romney's five boys have a $100 million trust fund. Where does a guy make that much money? So there's some questions there.”

Still, Mustaine would pick any of the GOP candidates over President Barack Obama.

"I'm just hoping that whatever is in the White House next year is a Republican,” he said. “I can't bear to watch what's happened to our great country. Everybody's got their head in the sand. Everybody in the industry is like, 'Oh, Obama's doing such a great job. ...' I don't think so. Not from what I see.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/201 ... 14539.html

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

Is anyone actually winning?

I take a passing interest, but don't know the rules! - is it whoever wins the most States? Gets the most delegates? or the number of voters (in Total or by State?).

If it's long and complicated, don't bother explaining.

[Coito ergo sum]

Is anyone actually winning?

I take a passing interest, but don't know the rules! - is it whoever wins the most States? Gets the most delegates? or the number of voters (in Total or by State?).

If it's long and complicated, don't bother explaining.

Most delegates. Each state has a certain number of delegates. States vary in how a candidate wins or loses, and whether it is winner take all. Some are primary states (more like elections) and some are caucus states (closer to bullshit).

Oh, and Romney is in the lead with Santorum surging... http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/delegates

[MrJonno]

Have to admit its fascinating to watch, no equivalent in the UK (not sure I would want a 2 year + election campaign through)

[amused]

Although it's unlikely to happen, you may also see rumblings of the dreaded 'brokered convention' in the event that no one candidate gets enough delegates to win it outright.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokered_convention

[eXcommunicate]

Although it's unlikely to happen, you may also see rumblings of the dreaded 'brokered convention' in the event that no one candidate gets enough delegates to win it outright.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokered_convention

The holy grail for all political junkies.

Have to admit its fascinating to watch, no equivalent in the UK (not sure I would want a 2 year + election campaign through)

It didn't used to be like this. The first primary in 1960 was in March!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic ... ries,_1960