RON PAUL is now officially an emblem of the two-party system, therefore Mitt Romney is automatically president and you are thrown out of your mom's basement.

About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Don't blame me; I voted Vermin Supreme.

The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

I have heard that in NH one may change party affiliation at the polling place on voting day. These 2k or so votes were cast by Democrats who had the option to register Republican for the day and chose not to, voted against the only candidate (a sitting president) with a write-in vote for a candidate of another party.

Says a lot to me.

Vermin Supreme placed nearly as well.

The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Uh, why isn't there a "stupid" button.

Those were Democrats writing Ron Paul in on Democratic ballots!

It's a funny thing which ordinary republicans ignore. The things they don't like about Ron Paul are the things that Independent and Democrat voters do like about him.

Larofeticus: It's a funny thing which ordinary republicans ignore. The things they don't like about Ron Paul are the things that Independent and Democrat voters do like about him.

sounds like a guy who can bring people together

TFA: Given the insignificance of the voting act under these rules, it is reasonable to assume that many dissatisfied voters stayed home. The numbers bear this out. NH has 223,151 registered Democratic voters, and only 60,996 (27%) turned out. Secretary of State Bill Gardner had predicted a turnout of 75,000 voters in the Democratic Primary. Were write-ins valid for delegate assignment, the numbers would have likely been even higher.

Second, Ron Paul is the second most popular candidate among Democrat voters in NH.

Err, also when you have an election where there's only one candidate, most people will stay home. That doesn't necessarily indicate dissatisfaction at all.

Also, yes, RP was the second most popular, but he still lost like 25 to 1. Still noteworthy, but not exactly like RP got 30% of the vote. Still a tiny minority of voters.

Honestly, RP is one of the saner Republicans running, but no self respecting Dem should vote for him regardless of what they think of Obama's first term. Paul's great on foreign policy and opposing government overreach. On most other things he's nuts. Not a friend of women's reproductive rights, or gay rights, or a whole host of other things Democrats tend to stand for. Just because he's great one 30% of Dem issues where most other GOP candidates are great on 0% of them doesn't suddenly make him a great vote for a Democrat to make. Hell, in many ways he's way to the right of most of his cohorts. Unless you love Republican ideals on the economy and on social issues (albeit hidden behind a "let the states ban gay marriage and abortion, it's their right!" facade), Ron Paul is not your guy.

I'm not in love with Obama but I am able to recognize that he is still far, far, far closer to my own ideals as someone on the left with a dose of libertarianism than anyone else running (I'll give it to RP that victimless crimes are garbage). Ron Paul's great ideas like getting us out of stupid foreign engagements that don't help us and not pissing off Muslims as much as possible are balanced out by his crazy ideas like "It's okay if the states do crazy things, but hell no to the feds doing it." EG, the federal gov. shouldn't be able to ban flag burning, but not because it's against the first amendment. It's because only the states should be able to ban that.

He's also said that recognizing gay marriage federally would be "an act of social engineering profoundly hostile to liberty". No joke. I know Obama is still iffy on gay marriage, but for a goddamn libertarian to say that with a straight face makes me want to throw up. For a guy who thinks that individual liberty trumps all, Paul is remarkably okay with taking cues on social issues from the Bible.

GAT_00: Yes, there are insane Democrats who live in the State of New Hampshire. Whoopty-shiat.

Clarified TFY.

Dave Lister: The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

I have heard that in NH one may change party affiliation at the polling place on voting day. These 2k or so votes were cast by Democrats who had the option to register Republican for the day and chose not to, voted against the only candidate (a sitting president) with a write-in vote for a candidate of another party.

Says a lot to me.

49,000 people showed up to vote for the president where only one was needed

Kanemano: 49,000 people showed up to vote for the president where only one was needed

Party Loyalists^TM are much like church-goers in their devotion. They're not there for their own sake, they're there to make sure others see their presence.

Shaggy_C: Kanemano: 49,000 people showed up to vote for the president where only one was needed

Party LoyalistsTM are much like church-goers in their devotion. They're not there for their own sake, they're there to make sure others see their presence.

So they're attention whores then?

Shaggy_C:

Party LoyalistsTM are much like church-goers in their devotion. They're not there for their own sake, they're there to make sure others see their presence.

I figured it mostly those people who vote out of sense of civic duty. Even without a real choice if they're Democrats this time around, lots of people vote whenever there's an election.

Tanishh: Honestly, RP is one of the saner Republicans running...

When Ron Paul is the "sane" guy, it's time to find a new party.

cameroncrazy1984: spawn73: The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Uh, why isn't there a "stupid" button.

Those were Democrats writing Ron Paul in on Democratic ballots!

Or Republicans who switched their party affiliation on the day of the primary, which is legal in NH.

Or undeclared independents who are allowed to vote in both primaries.

MrEricSir: Tanishh: Honestly, RP is one of the saner Republicans running...

When Ron Paul is the "sane" guy, it's time to find a new party.

THIS

The Forever War™ is the only sane choice.

RON PAUL is so awesome that he can win second place when he isn't even running.

SomeoneDumb: I figured it mostly those people who vote out of sense of civic duty. Even without a real choice if they're Democrats this time around, lots of people vote whenever there's an election.

It's civic duty in a general election. In a party election? You're not helping society; you're helping your social club. Thus, you're showing loyalty to your party. Not quite the same, methinks...Even if the big parties have hijacked the system so it's the same polling places and process...

cameroncrazy1984: spawn73: The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Uh, why isn't there a "stupid" button.

Those were Democrats writing Ron Paul in on Democratic ballots!

Or Republicans who switched their party affiliation on the day of the primary, which is legal in NH.

If that's the case, then why didn't they just go vote for Ron Paul in the Republican primary instead, where he was actually a candidate on the ballot and actually had a legit shot at beating Romney and winning first place?

LazarusLong42: Or, you know, there were local and state primaries and issues on the ballot and they came out to vote in those

A very good point, actually. I didn't even consider it - glad you're keeping me honest!

so, did Ron Paul call on every Democratic candidate other than Obama to drop out so Ron Paul can win the Democratic-Republican Party nomination and assume the role of the new Jefferson?

/kidding

DeltaPunch: In other news, Ron Paul also placed second in primaries for the Socialist Party, Communist Party, Nazi Party, Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Whig Party, Rebel Party, Anarchist Party, Ku Klux Klan Party, and It's Gonna Be That Kind Of Party.

Well in that case I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes.

MrEricSir: Tanishh: Honestly, RP is one of the saner Republicans running...

When Ron Paul is the "sane" guy, it's time to find a new party.

Oh, totally. I live with a gay Republican (yes, they exist; I was just as surprised to hear of it as you probably are) who said the other day something along the lines of "You know, it would be incredibly scary if any of these people were elected President" (referring to the GOP race). He hates Obama but he enjoys TDS and CR and obviously gay rights, so the mainstream modern GOP drives him nuts.

I for one miss the old GOP that actually stood for things without being jackasses about it. Guys like Eisenhower were able to lead with traditional Conservative values in hand yet also showed respect for the other side and willingness to compromise or at least go about it with some class. The modern day GOP is equal parts madness and eight year old who just had his toy taken away.

Democrats who vote for a neo-confederate christian dominionist because they think he'll legalize pot, need to have their head examined.

These are probably the sme malcontents who voted for Ralph Nader in 2000

Hopefully they won't fark things up again this time around.

the_vegetarian_cannibal: cameroncrazy1984: spawn73: The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Uh, why isn't there a "stupid" button.

Those were Democrats writing Ron Paul in on Democratic ballots!

Or Republicans who switched their party affiliation on the day of the primary, which is legal in NH.

If that's the case, then why didn't they just go vote for Ron Paul in the Republican primary instead, where he was actually a candidate on the ballot and actually had a legit shot at beating Romney and winning first place?

because everything, all the time, everywhere, is a conspiracy.
Duh

Shame he lost to the Republican who'll get his 2nd term.

fusillade762: DeltaPunch: In other news, Ron Paul also placed second in primaries for the Socialist Party, Communist Party, Nazi Party, Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Whig Party, Rebel Party, Anarchist Party, Ku Klux Klan Party, and It's Gonna Be That Kind Of Party.

Well in that case I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes RON PAUL.

FTFY

Paul costs Romney a lot more than Obama. More power to him.

DeltaPunch: In other news, Ron Paul also placed second in primaries for the Socialist Party, Communist Party, Nazi Party, Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Whig Party, Rebel Party, Anarchist Party, Ku Klux Klan Party, and It's Gonna Be That Kind Of Party.

You forgot the Lemon Party.

DeltaPunch: In other news, Ron Paul also placed second in primaries for the Socialist Party, Communist Party, Nazi Party, Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Whig Party, Rebel Party, Anarchist Party, Ku Klux Klan Party, and It's Gonna Be That Kind Of Party.

Are there mashed potatoes?

/zzzzip
//not obscure

Dave Lister: I have heard that in NH one may change party affiliation at the polling place on voting day. These 2k or so votes were cast by Democrats who had the option to register Republican for the day and chose not to, voted against the only candidate (a sitting president) with a write-in vote for a candidate of another party.

Thankfully in Minnesota - there is no such thing as 'registered party affiliation'. Nothing prevents me from driving my SUV to the Republican primary in Minnesota and voting. Then taking mass transit to the Democratic primary and voting. And ya know - that's not a bad thing.

Kanemano:
49,000 people showed up to vote for the president where only one was needed

If you read the article, at least 2274 people were needed.

Well, that Vermin Supreme certainly has name recognition!
/a definite dark horse candidate.

...and that's what I get for not RTFT.

spawn73: The1andonlyZack: About 25 to 1 Obama beat Paul....is that even noteworthy...really?

Uh, why isn't there a "stupid" button.

Those were Democrats writing Ron Paul in on Democratic ballots!

People also write in "Lizard People" on ballots. People like blood sausage, too. People are morons.

Bunnyhat: Ron Paul doesn't give a damn about governmental overreach unless it's the federal government. He is perfectly content with states passing whatever laws they want restricting whichever freedoms they want.

Yes he does. He wants government to have nothing to do with marriage but has done absolutely nothing to address the over 1000 federal regulations that govern marriage. And yet has no problem supporting DOMA or passing draconian federal laws to prevent federal judges from hearing marriage cases. Ron Paul is not in the least consistent in his positions.

On top of that - he has complete failed in all his time in the House to sell anything he believes in. At least Gary Johnson ran a state for 8 years.

82% for Obama in a useless primary. This is bad news, for JarJar Binks.