Republican Primaries

[Raskolnikov]

bbarrick8383:

Yep. Some of them are just plain stupid and most of them are wrong.

I agree, but probably not about which ones are wrong or stupid.

What’s government gotten into that it improved, made more cost effective and turned it around to make it better for the people? There’s also the argument that governments restricted by the thing called the constitution for a reason, that we can find better solutions and government should always be the last resort due to it’s inherent nature to get it’s hands on something, screw it up and not let go. What logic!

I would say one example is policing. Modern publically funded law enforcement seems preferable to the Pinkerton guards of the old days. But state intervention is rarely a matter of profit, but of necessity. Public goods like water and electricity that can’t be sold piecemeal to each individual customer must be either provided to all by the state and then taxes must be collected to fund it, or the state must grant a monopoly to a company.

Also, government regulation can and often does improve efficiency. Standardizing the size and shape of power sockets makes appliances produced by any company compatible with any sockets, broadening the customer base as well improving consumer options; essentially, by regulating production and imposing standardization on private companies, the state makes the market freer.

I would say the same concept applies to health insurance (both concepts, actually). One, it is imo a natural monopoly, and so it would be cheapest with one insurance company selling to all customers (hence the phrase, single payet; it doesn’t even have to be the state; could be a state-sponsered private monopoly even); and two, states have proven an inability to regulate the insurance industry. It’s not their fault, but the fact is, insurance is a national and global industry, not easily regulated by local local governments. Same reason why the DEA is generally better at combatting drug cartels than state troopers.

 

[ishii]

I tend to agree. Perhaps the GOP will nominate someone moderate - one can hope, anyway.

Rich - on the one hand you would like to see the GOP nominate a moderate, but yet you also hope that the GOP nominates someone unelectable so we can have four more years of Obama. How does that make sense? Seriously, which is it - do you want a GOP moderate, or four more years of Obama?

Ishii

 

[ishii]

Bachman would beat Obama In fact any of those under consideration for the Republican Party nomination would beat Obama The republican primary will determine who the president of the US will be. The only question is how big the margin of victory is. Bachman would win by a smaller margin than say Romney or Perry would.

I hope you’re right Bob. I think Obama is vulnerable, but I do think the election will be close. Catholics who aren’t pro-abortion should understand that the next president might pick supreme court justices.

Ishii

 

[ishii]

This post reminds me why I think, deep down, Barak Obama is going to be reelected as President. First of all, it’s shrill and over the top. Many Republicans these days, like Republicans during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, are shrill. They can’t simply attack the President’s policy, they have to hurl personal and ideological attacks against the man. They hate the man and not his politics. Most voters see through these kinds of attacks and will avoid voting for a Republican candidate if they feel the attacks are too personal and don’t focus on issues. The second reason I think the Democrats will win the next election is because Republicans seem intent on eating their own. To label Romney a socialist is just the pinnacle of . . . well, let’s just say it isn’t wisdom. Vote for Palin or Paul if you want to, but neither one will ever be more than the individual who ruined the Republican Party’s clear chance for a victory in 2012,

I disagree. I don’t think the post you’re referring to very much reflects the thoughts of the average voter, or even the average conservative voter. Conservatives are disgusted at Obama to be sure, and they may suspect Romney for his comments on global warming and Romney care. I don’t think the average conservative would say Romney is a socialist. The average conservativce sees Obama as a guy who wants to spend money and expand government. And whoever becomes the GOP nominee will have plenty of opportunities to criticize Obama’s performance as president and his failed policies. They won’t need to attack the man, (and I agree that to attack Obama personally would alienate a lot of voters who probably still think he is a basically decent man - even if they disagree with his policies) because Obama is so vulnerable on the issues. Neither Palin nor Paul will come close to getting the nomination this year so I would’t worry about them ruining the GOP’s chances. I am still undecided about the whole Bachmann surge going on - I don’t know if she can attract independents or if she’s too far to the right. I would vote for her, but I would rather see Pawlenty or Romney get the nomination. And I hope they nominate Marco Rubio for Vice President.

Ishii

 

[bbarrick8383]

I would say one example is policing. Modern publically funded law enforcement seems preferable to the Pinkerton guards of the old days. But state intervention is rarely a matter of profit, but of necessity. Public goods like water and electricity that can’t be sold piecemeal to each individual customer must be either provided to all by the state and then taxes must be collected to fund it, or the state must grant a monopoly to a company.

Wow, the Federal government does all that? Not around here. Or in Texas.

Also, government regulation can and often does improve efficiency. Standardizing the size and shape of power sockets makes appliances produced by any company compatible with any sockets, broadening the customer base as well improving consumer options; essentially, by regulating production and imposing standardization on private companies, the state makes the market freer.

Did the standardize the use of Blue Ray over the HDDVD? Nope. Free market can handle that quite easily. As a matter of fact, I think the porn industry usually standardizes what will be the next medium for video.

The state makes the market freer…I needed a good laugh. That’s like giving the umpire the power to make the rules of the game.

I would say the same concept applies to health insurance (both concepts, actually). One, it is imo a natural monopoly, and so it would be cheapest with one insurance company selling to all customers (hence the phrase, single payet; it doesn’t even have to be the state; could be a state-sponsered private monopoly even); and two, states have proven an inability to regulate the insurance industry. It’s not their fault, but the fact is, insurance is a national and global industry, not easily regulated by local local governments. Same reason why the DEA is generally better at combatting drug cartels than state troopers.

Our health care costs are high, and there are remedies to that problem. But we have, bar none, the best health care system in the world. And I find it quite interesting that nobody want’s to implement the free market ideas that could bring costs down, they just want to dump it all on the government. Go ahead, it’s a joke and anyone who promotes it, get’s exactly what they deserve.

ncpa.org/pub/ba649

Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely ok with states implementing their own single payer health care plan if they so choose. But don’t drag me into one at the Federal level.

 

[Tsuwano]

Romney is simply one more pol who thinks that government is the solution to all our problems. When I see a smiling Ted Kennedy as Mitt signs Romneycare, it makes me sick. Rob

Of course he’s a politician, but he’s not a socialist or a fraud as a previous post rather harshly stated. Romney himself would say that he doesn’t think government is a solution to all our problems, though I’m sure he would admit, as most candidates will, that government has a role to play in helping solve some of the major issues of our day . . . and in this, I would agree with him.

 

[Tsuwano]

What a narrow minded analogy. Dunno about any other conservatives, but our local police and fire protection isn’t a top concern when talking about national politics.

There are many cases when local police and fire protection and national politics interact and influence one another. President Bush discovered that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He even writes about it in his recent book. It may not be a top concern when things are running smoothly, but that can change with the arrival of a spring flood in Missouri, wild fires in Arizona, or a shooting spree in Virginia.

 

[Tsuwano]

I disagree. I don’t think the post you’re referring to very much reflects the thoughts of the average voter, or even the average conservative voter. Conservatives are disgusted at Obama to be sure, and they may suspect Romney for his comments on global warming and Romney care. I don’t think the average conservative would say Romney is a socialist. The average conservativce sees Obama as a guy who wants to spend money and expand government. And whoever becomes the GOP nominee will have plenty of opportunities to criticize Obama’s performance as president and his failed policies. They won’t need to attack the man, (and I agree that to attack Obama personally would alienate a lot of voters who probably still think he is a basically decent man - even if they disagree with his policies) because Obama is so vulnerable on the issues. Neither Palin nor Paul will come close to getting the nomination this year so I would’t worry about them ruining the GOP’s chances. I am still undecided about the whole Bachmann surge going on - I don’t know if she can attract independents or if she’s too far to the right. I would vote for her, but I would rather see Pawlenty or Romney get the nomination. And I hope they nominate Marco Rubio for Vice President.

Ishii

I certainly hope that particular post doesn’t represent the average Republican voter. Actually, I’m not sure than many posts on this forum represent the average Republican voter. In the end, I think Gov. Perry from Texas is going to throw his hat into the ring and that he will end up the Republican nominee. I think he is waiting for everyone to get tired of hearing the same old names over and over again. He will come through as a compromise candidate, hoping to draw the two wings of the Republican Party together and selecting as a running mate an individual who represents the weakest element of that compromise. What is your take on Perry?

 

[_Abyssinia]

A Bachmann nomination would alienate young voters, minorities, union members, and on the fence moderate voters. She’s simply far too conservative to appeal to the nation as a whole.

Huntsman is probably the most electable on a national stage but his pro civil union stance and history with the Obama administration are going to dampen his odds of getting the nomination.

I disagree, I think Romney is the most electable because although early in the election, he is doing better if not equal to Obama in national and state polls.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Well said. Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the political support of Paul. That is the power of the Democrat party in a nutshell. Class warfare buys votes. The thing is, they can only go so far with that before it backfires - if the economy continues to lag, the unemployment rate stays high, and Obama continues to do nothing- then a Republican could indeed defeat him. But it would have to be a Republican who wouldn’t be an easy target for the mainstream, Obama-supporting press to smear - and that counts out Bachmann and Gingrich. It would need to be a Republican who can attract independent voters while still keeping conservative base and is a good communicator and preferably a governor. I thought Pawlenty fit that description but I am starting to have my doubts. Romney can communicate, but he might have difficulty exciting the right wing of the GOP, and his Mormonism might hurt him among evangelicals.

Ishii

I agree with your analysis, it needs to be somebody who can keep the conservative base while reaching out to the Independent voters.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

There are many cases when local police and fire protection and national politics interact and influence one another. President Bush discovered that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He even writes about it in his recent book. It may not be a top concern when things are running smoothly, but that can change with the arrival of a spring flood in Missouri, wild fires in Arizona, or a shooting spree in Virginia.

Shooting sprees end when people concealed carry.

 

[Tsuwano]

Shooting sprees end when people concealed carry.

In many cases they also begin with concealed weapons. Be that as it may, the shooting spree of John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo ended with basic police work in Virginia and Maryland. Since the victims of that particular shooting spree were killed in sniper attacks, a concealed weapon would have been little protection for them.

 

[JMJSHJ]

Well said. Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the political support of Paul. That is the power of the Democrat party in a nutshell. Class warfare buys votes. The thing is, they can only go so far with that before it backfires - if the economy continues to lag, the unemployment rate stays high, and Obama continues to do nothing- then a Republican could indeed defeat him. But it would have to be a Republican who wouldn’t be an easy target for the mainstream, Obama-supporting press to smear - and that counts out Bachmann and Gingrich. It would need to be a Republican who can attract independent voters while still keeping conservative base and is a good communicator and preferably a governor. I thought Pawlenty fit that description but I am starting to have my doubts. Romney can communicate, but he might have difficulty exciting the right wing of the GOP, and his Mormonism might hurt him among evangelicals.

Ishii

How do you feel about Gov. Perry?

 

[bbarrick8383]

In many cases they also begin with concealed weapons. Be that as it may, the shooting spree of John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo ended with basic police work in Virginia and Maryland. Since the victims of that particular shooting spree were killed in sniper attacks, a concealed weapon would have been little protection for them.

Bit of a difference between concealed carry and picking people off with a sniper rifle from a trunk.

 

[estesbob]

Rich - on the one hand you would like to see the GOP nominate a moderate, but yet you also hope that the GOP nominates someone unelectable so we can have four more years of Obama. How does that make sense? Seriously, which is it - do you want a GOP moderate, or four more years of Obama?

Ishii

Funny how we never see people demanding the Democrats nominate a moderate.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Rich - on the one hand you would like to see the GOP nominate a moderate, but yet you also hope that the GOP nominates someone unelectable so we can have four more years of Obama. How does that make sense? Seriously, which is it - do you want a GOP moderate, or four more years of Obama?

Yes, I want the GOP to be defeated, but if that is not to happen, I want the most moderate one of them to win. That’s no contradiction. It’s working for victory, but wanting to minimize losses if victory is not to be had.

 

[_Abyssinia]

Funny how we never see people demanding the Democrats nominate a moderate.

If democrats are saying that it is bvecause they know it is very likely Obama will be defeated and they want a moderate Republican as best second choice.

 

[estesbob]

If democrats are saying that it is bvecause they know it is very likely Obama will be defeated and they want a moderate Republican as best second choice.

,Agreed-although I disagree with the Democrat definition of moderate.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

In many cases they also begin with concealed weapons. Be that as it may, the shooting spree of John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo ended with basic police work in Virginia and Maryland. Since the victims of that particular shooting spree were killed in sniper attacks, a concealed weapon would have been little protection for them.

Goes to show that people will break the law when they want to. However, the Virginia Tech massacre would not have been as great a tragedy if the teachers or students were allowed to carry.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

,Agreed-although I disagree with the Democrat definition of moderate.

Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are the democrat definition of moderate. I find them nauseating.