2nd Republican Debate (May 15th, 2007)

[freedom78]

This just started three minutes ago, but I thought I'd get a topic started.  I'm a little worried that, with the death of Jerry Falwell today, this will be little more than a 90 minute memorial in an attempt to cater to the religious right.  We'll see, I suppose.  Let's just hope Tommy Thompson can control his bowels. 

[SLCPUNK]

Not to hijack, but did anybody see Mitt on 60 minutes the other night?

[Bill 213]

Not to hijack, but did anybody see Mitt on 60 minutes the other night?

I missed it this past Sunday....anything interesting?

[SLCPUNK]

Not to hijack, but did anybody see Mitt on 60 minutes the other night?

I missed it this past Sunday....anything interesting?

Interview

[GeraldFord]

Here's a fun drinking game:

Whenever someone says the word "Reagan," you have a drink.

[SLCPUNK]

Here's a fun drinking game:

Whenever someone says the word "Reagan," you have a drink.

I say "Hannity" when I poop.

[Timothy]

Here's a fun drinking game:

Whenever someone says the word "Reagan," you have a drink.

I say "Hannity" when I poop.

I say O'Reilly .

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Ron Paul's comments were interesting. He should be running as a democrat. 

[Gordon Gekko]

The GOP establishment must be scared of Paul-he is the only one of the GOP candidates who actually represents a different point of view. The rest of them are cookie-cutter spin-doctor clones mouthing the same mealy-mouth bullshit Bush has been shoving up our collective asses for the last six years. People who call themselves 'Republicans' are a bunch of goddamn sheep, with their little ruling class telling them who is winning, fag boy Matt Drudge, mega rich fascist Murdoch telling them who matters and who doesn't, all their little Nazi talk show hosts, you fuckers are pathetic.

[freedom78]

Come on...tell us how you REALLY feel!

[Gordon Gekko]

Everything Paul said, with the exception of the War in Iraq, was rock-bottom core conservative principles: low taxes, small government, all of it. Why are the press organs of the reichwing ignoring him? And why is Fox Noise trying to destroy him?

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Guiliani is not a cookie cutter republican. That is why I like him.

[freedom78]

Everything Paul said, with the exception of the War in Iraq, was rock-bottom core conservative principles: low taxes, small government, all of it. Why are the press organs of the reichwing ignoring him? And why is Fox Noise trying to destroy him?

Because the libertarian wing of the party is currently in hiding due to a few things:

1.) Bush's government expansion and increasing deficits
2.) Social Conservatism, which is at odds with the "live and let live" ideals of libertarianism
3.) Republican interventionist philosophy (neo-conservatism)

...or, to sum up, you can't be a neo-con are still stick with all the small government stuff.  Intervention is expensive!

So, he's pretty much the exact opposite of Bush, because Bush has really fucked up what it means to be a Republican. 

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Bush has conviction, but it can also be sen as stubbornness. Why Iraq is so fucked up now. McCain is right, Bush really mismanaged the war by not listening to the generals. 

[The Dog]

Guiliani is not a cookie cutter republican. That is why I like him.

Hmm, I don't know, I think he is Wubya v2.0

[Booker Floyd]

Hmm, I don't know, I think he is Wubya v2.0

Thats also why he likes him.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Hmm, I don't know, I think he is Wubya v2.0

Thats also why he likes him.

Don't put words in my mouth. The fact that you are ever so critical of those who do not share your opinion is not a sign of intelligence.

I like Guiliani for his social stance on abortion and gay rights. GWB is the complete opposite on those issues.

 

[Walk]

Just like with the first one, Ron Paul won.

[SLCPUNK]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) ? The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party said Wednesday that he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates because of remarks the Texas congressman made that suggested the Sept. 11 attacks were the fault of U.S. foreign policy.

Michigan party chairman Saul Anuzis said he will circulate a petition among Republican National Committee members to ban Paul from more debates. At a GOP candidates' debate Tuesday night, Paul drew attacks from all sides, most forcefully from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, when he linked the terror attacks to U.S. bombings.

"Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years," Paul said.

Anuzis called the comments "off the wall and out of whack."

"I think he would have felt much more comfortable on the stage with the Democrats in what he said last night. And I think that he is a distraction in the Republican primary and he does not represent the base and he does not represent the party," Anuzis said during an RNC state leadership meeting.

"Given what he said last night it was just so off the wall and out of whack that I think it was more detrimental than helpful."

Anuzis said his petition would go to debate sponsors and broadcasters to discourage inviting Paul.

Jesse Benton, Paul's campaign spokesman, said the candidate "is supporting the traditional GOP foreign policy. I think it's a shame when people try to silence the traditional conservative Republican standpoint."

After the debate Tuesday, Paul said he didn't' expect his remarks to end his campaign.

"The last time I got a message out about my position on the war it boosted us up by tens of thousands and I didn't change my position," Paul said. "I think the American people are sick and tired of this war and want it ended."

[freedom78]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) ? The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party said Wednesday that he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates...

"Big tent Party" indeed! 

[The Dog]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) ? The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party said Wednesday that he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates...

"Big tent Party" indeed! 

its almost laughable, have Republicans learned NOTHING from this war?  when you try to silence or smear those with a different POV than yours you only look like a total douche?

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

what's with Ron Paul?
why is he so famous lately?
he sounds like any republican - beside his views on the middle east - ...

?

[Booker Floyd]

he sounds like any republican - beside his views on the middle east - ...

Not really, especially compared to the other candidates. 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

he sounds like any republican - beside his views on the middle east - ...

Not really, especially compared to the other candidates. 

i found very conservative on some issues: abortion, gov'ment influence, libertarianism, secure borders, gays ...
he's right wing alright imo ...

[freedom78]

he sounds like any republican - beside his views on the middle east - ...

Not really, especially compared to the other candidates. 

i found very conservative on some issues: abortion, gov'ment influence, libertarianism, secure borders, gays ...
he's right wing alright imo ...

You're definitely correct.  There's a big difference, though.  The Republican Party has moved completely away from those values, under Bush II. 

So, he's running, essentially, as a protest against the changes in the party.  Here are his values, compared to the party's recent leanings:

Paul v. Rest of party

Isolationism v. interventionism
Cut taxes AND spending v. cut taxes and increase spending

And those are the two biggies that have really defined what it means to be a Republican for as long as I can remember.  He represents those values, while the rest of the field has really gotten away from them.