downpaymentblues: This is going to get really nasty, really fast.

Good. It's supposed to. Now that the Clown Shoes are out, we can get to it.

That's the problem with the Perpetual Debate Circle, is that nothing much has been said, but folks have been lulled into the spectacle, without much for substance. Which is pretty much the point. Doing something as opposed to something useful. We needed things to get ugly a while back, and knock Bachmann and Perry the fark out of the ring entirely. To actually hit Cain, not let him drop out for his bullsh*t Troll campaign.

This cycle has been remarkable in that it hasn't been anywhere near as ugly as it should have been, considering the heavy baggage that so many of the candidates all hold. And that is perhaps the problem, folks all realize where their opponents are vulnerable, but have been unwilling to go after them, because then that will open the Number Ten Can of Whoop Ass on themselves in retaliation...

Huntsman bailed too early. Not that he would've done all that well in SC, but he was the only not-Romney/not-crazy/not-corrupt one left.

Now he's got four years to improve his political instincts.

downpaymentblues: This is going to get really nasty, really fast.

If only Gingrich had done anything questionable in his past that Romney could exploit. Anything at all.

ultraholland: Christie suggested that Gingrich was too much like Obama, and "we don't need another legislator in the Oval Office." He reminded Gregory that Obama jumped directly from a position as a legislator to the presidency, making the argument that executive experience was vitally important for the next president to draw a stark contrast with how Obama has governed.

people who were governor prior to taking the Presidency:

Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, Martin Van Buren, James Polk, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford Hayes, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush

Too bad for Romney he can't run on his record as governor.

To be fair, they're all an embarrassment to the country, not just their farked up party... That includes Christie, too.

ultraholland: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, Martin Van Buren, James Polk, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford Hayes, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush

You bolded the wrong one.

keylock71: To be fair, they're all an embarrassment to the country, not just their farked up party... That includes Christie, too.

Aaaaaand that's one vote of many for Corzine the crook from Goldman Sachs. Anybody, no matter how verminously sleazy or staggeringly incompetent, can be washed clean if they carry the magic talisman with the D on it, amirite?

Gulper Eel: keylock71: To be fair, they're all an embarrassment to the country, not just their farked up party... That includes Christie, too.

Aaaaaand that's one vote of many for Corzine the crook from Goldman Sachs. Anybody, no matter how verminously sleazy or staggeringly incompetent, can be washed clean if they carry the magic talisman with the D on it, amirite?

No one was talking about Corzine as he never ran for president. But I think you'd find most Ds here and elsewhere think he's a douche of high order.

I would argue no one could possibly be cleaned once they've carried the talisman with the GS on it.

But you go on being your bad partisan self.

Gulper Eel: keylock71: To be fair, they're all an embarrassment to the country, not just their farked up party... That includes Christie, too.

Aaaaaand that's one vote of many for Corzine the crook from Goldman Sachs. Anybody, no matter how verminously sleazy or staggeringly incompetent, can be washed clean if they carry the magic talisman with the D on it, amirite?

Huh? Corzine's probably a piece of shiat, too. There, feel better?

...And I don't vote in New Jersey.

Remember last year when the GOP was openly masturbating at the thought of the Obama-Clinton fight going right down to the bitter end? Schadenfreude biatches, schadenfreude.

Gulper Eel: Aaaaaand that's one vote of many for Corzine the crook from Goldman Sachs. Anybody, no matter how verminously sleazy or staggeringly incompetent, can be washed clean if they carry the magic talisman with the D on it, amirite?

If you're linked to Goldman, it doesn't matter what your party affiliation is. We all know who you serve.

I_C_Weener: downpaymentblues: This is going to get really nasty, really fast.

If only Gingrich had done anything questionable in his past that Romney could exploit. Anything at all.

I heard the real reason Gingrich wasn't allowed on Air Force One was because he left a floater in the President's toilet.

Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: hubiestubert: This cycle has been remarkable in that it hasn't been anywhere near as ugly as it should have been, considering the heavy baggage that so many of the candidates all hold. And that is perhaps the problem, folks all realize where their opponents are vulnerable, but have been unwilling to go after them, because then that will open the Number Ten Can of Whoop Ass on themselves in retaliation...

Dunno... I think Newt is crazy enough to unleash mutually assured destruction. It would be the perfect thing to finally cleanse the party of the moderate elements that are holding it back. Sure, he'll go down in flames too, but he'll be the creator of a new, more ideologically pure GOP.

The problem is that it's not the Moderates that have the skeletons in the closets. It's the folks like himself, like Mitt--who has a LOT of folks with deep pockets beholden and visa versa--who have the most to lose. Though, I can only imagine what would have happened if Michelle Bachmann had stayed in the closer we got the Convention. Her? She would lose the Dogs of War and cry Havoc! just because she is what she is: batsh*t crazy. Which, I suspect, is why she got persuaded to step down. Polls? Those don't affect her. Numbers? Not big on those. Facts? Never stopped her before. She got something to step off the platform, and I suspect that we'll see that favor paid out over the next term.

To be fair: that is pretty much the deal that I think that Gingrich is lining up for. To become so popular that he has to be bought off. He is sort of like Joe Arpio in that. He will stay in so long as it is profitable, and then he will graciously take whatever is given him to let the real race begin. His own dickishness won't let him just step aside for the good of the party. He's going to drain every red cent he can from folks, and it's not going to go to anyone that doesn't pay him some homage. He wants to be the male version of Phyllis Schafely, and have folks kiss his ring before they go to the general floor at the Convention.

In most countries, he would have been shot in an alley somewhere, but here in the US, we give them corner offices to keep them out of trouble...

Diogenes: No one was talking about Corzine as he never ran for president. But I think you'd find most Ds here and elsewhere think he's a douche of high order.

Enough of a douche that placed in the shoes of a Jersey voter, you'd take Christie instead?

New Jersey doesn't have any great alternatives to choose from, but the Democratic machine there (Cory Booker notwithstanding) has been particularly corrupt for decades.

But you go on being your bad partisan self.

Me? Newt's a crook, Romney's an empty suit, Santorum is a porkmonger in the guise of a Jesus freak, and RON PAUL has no traction beyond the true believers. Jon Huntsman was my horse in the race, but he showed the political instincts of a ball of lint. I voted for Andrew Cuomo in my home state, will be voting for Gary Johnson this fall and will probably vote for Gillibrand and Schumer as my senators again since my state's GOP makes the national GOP circular firing squad clown car look like the '85 Bears of politics.

shivashakti: Christie pretty much just says his own thing whether anyone approves or not...

Especially when he's ordering at the drive through. And you better get that shiat right.

shivashakti: I dislike Gingrich as much as the next sensible person with a shred of morals. But just because Christie has supported Romney, let's not pretend that whatever he says is part of the "Romney campaign".

Christie pretty much just says his own thing whether anyone approves or not... This is not a coordinated attack on Gingrich from the Romney campaign. This is just Chris Christie being Chris Christie.

To be fair, there are a LOT of people who don't like Gingrich on their own. Cripes, Little Horfin' Annie Coulter is against the man, and she is hardly a fan of Mittens. The problem is, that Gingrich has that pesky record....

ultraholland: a Teatard acquaintance told me that he couldn't care less about Newt's past indiscretions. I laughed and told him to vote Sideshow/Clowncar in '12 if he liked this GOP circus so much.

It's that farking "home team" mentality. For whatever reason, whether it's how they were raised or some random bullshiat wedge issue that they have to cling to, some people, a lot of people, will vote for their team no matter what. I'm not thrilled with Obama. But there isn't a republican nominee who isn't batshiat crazy and that's not partisan-ism talking. It's just how it is.

ultraholland: sorry, mean to say that the point is there are many people who will actively overlook Newt's record because he's that bulldog in the fight who could really give Obama hell. Newt's supporters are at least as crazy as he is.

Newt Gingrich has an answer for every question. It is always a two part answer:

"Media man, you are a dick for asking that question. Now, let me take a moment to tell you how I would handle a similar crisis that I will create from scratch in my answer to you."

Mugato: ultraholland: a Teatard acquaintance told me that he couldn't care less about Newt's past indiscretions. I laughed and told him to vote Sideshow/Clowncar in '12 if he liked this GOP circus so much.

It's that farking "home team" mentality. For whatever reason, whether it's how they were raised or some random bullshiat wedge issue that they have to cling to, some people, a lot of people, will vote for their team no matter what. I'm not thrilled with Obama. But there isn't a republican nominee who isn't batshiat crazy and that's not partisan-ism talking. It's just how it is.

I don't think I can vote for Gingrich. It better be Romney, or I'll abstain.

Gingrich doesn't have a chance to win the presidency. He does have a totes awesome shot at having his own Fox News show. (See: Huckabee, Palin, et al). Frankly, that medium would suit him best.

ultraholland: sorry, mean to say that the point is there are many people who will actively overlook Newt's record because he's that bulldog in the fight who could really give Obama hell. Newt's supporters are at least as crazy as he is.

I remember them saying the same thing about McCain. He was supposed to tear Obama a new one. Then McCain failed. Then they said McCain would devastate Obama in a Townhall format. He failed again. The last one was truly said and you could tell that Obama wasn't even trying out of respect for the old man.

2 questions:

Have you ever seen Gingritch debate in front on a non-nutjob audience?

Have you ever seen Obama lose his cool?

mrshowrules: Have you ever seen Gingritch debate in front on a non-nutjob audience?

Doesn't matter--he switches modes depending on the audience. You can see that in his after-debate interviews, esp. after the CNN one. He tells a CNN reporter that King asked tough questions and didn't mind since that's his job as a moderator. Then goes on Fox and bashes the hell out of King and the media all over again.

A debate between him & Obama would be an amazing thing to watch. Obama would just tear him down with his own quotes and ridiculous plans. And, unlike the other nominees, wouldn't fall for any of Newt's traps. Newt's a master manipulator but Obama's pretty damn shrewd. And too much of a statesman to lose his cool. It'll be like the JFK/Nixon debate--Newt coming off as a tantrum-throwing blowhard & Obama just cruising through it, looking as smooth as ever.

brigid_fitch: mrshowrules: Have you ever seen Gingritch debate in front on a non-nutjob audience?

Doesn't matter--he switches modes depending on the audience. You can see that in his after-debate interviews, esp. after the CNN one. He tells a CNN reporter that King asked tough questions and didn't mind since that's his job as a moderator. Then goes on Fox and bashes the hell out of King and the media all over again.

A debate between him & Obama would be an amazing thing to watch. Obama would just tear him down with his own quotes and ridiculous plans. And, unlike the other nominees, wouldn't fall for any of Newt's traps. Newt's a master manipulator but Obama's pretty damn shrewd. And too much of a statesman to lose his cool. It'll be like the JFK/Nixon debate--Newt coming off as a tantrum-throwing blowhard & Obama just cruising through it, looking as smooth as ever.


Good point. Gingrich lacks debate discipline which has (thus far) worked in his favour. His audience pandering will not help him against Obama. All Obama has to do is not sound like an idiot and push enough buttons until Gingrich farks himself.

Gingrich is as slick as batshiat but I think if he is pushed over the edge, he is capable of an epic implosion the likes of which no one has ever seen.

mrshowrules: brigid_fitch: mrshowrules: Have you ever seen Gingritch debate in front on a non-nutjob audience?

Doesn't matter--he switches modes depending on the audience. You can see that in his after-debate interviews, esp. after the CNN one. He tells a CNN reporter that King asked tough questions and didn't mind since that's his job as a moderator. Then goes on Fox and bashes the hell out of King and the media all over again.

A debate between him & Obama would be an amazing thing to watch. Obama would just tear him down with his own quotes and ridiculous plans. And, unlike the other nominees, wouldn't fall for any of Newt's traps. Newt's a master manipulator but Obama's pretty damn shrewd. And too much of a statesman to lose his cool. It'll be like the JFK/Nixon debate--Newt coming off as a tantrum-throwing blowhard & Obama just cruising through it, looking as smooth as ever.


Good point. Gingrich lacks debate discipline which has (thus far) worked in his favour. His audience pandering will not help him against Obama. All Obama has to do is not sound like an idiot and push enough buttons until Gingrich farks himself.

Gingrich is as slick as batshiat but I think if he is pushed over the edge, he is capable of an epic implosion the likes of which no one has ever seen.

It's that and his inherent dickishness that is his own worst enemy. He has long been considered one of the smarter folks in a room, and he really doesn't like to share that spotlight. Especially when it runs the risk of meaning that he's NOT the smartest guy in the room. That arrogance and slick fear of being second or third, that is what trips him up. It forces him to make poor choices for staff. It forces him into very intemperate ground to make a point, and forces him into tantrum country.

Not Presidential material. You don't want anyone near the football who has issues like his. Not just that, but can you imagine him in negotiations with Putin? Newt does fine when he stocks the field himself, but against real players, he is an "Also Ran" sort...

mrshowrules: Gingrich is as slick as batshiat but I think if he is pushed over the edge, he is capable of an epic implosion the likes of which no one has ever seen.

It won't take much, if history is any indication...

keylock71: It won't take much, if history is any indication...

Here's is how stupid I am. A few weeks ago, I saw Newt in a few interviews and he seemed quite sensible, genuine and reasonable (even though I disagree with his policies). I posted several comments on Fark indicating that he might have matured over the years and wasn't the same person. As you can imagine, I feel quite silly now.

hubiestubert: It's that and his inherent dickishness that is his own worst enemy. He has long been considered one of the smarter folks in a room, and he really doesn't like to share that spotlight. Especially when it runs the risk of meaning that he's NOT the smartest guy in the room. That arrogance and slick fear of being second or third, that is what trips him up. It forces him to make poor choices for staff. It forces him into very intemperate ground to make a point, and forces him into tantrum country.

Not Presidential material. You don't want anyone near the football who has issues like his. Not just that, but can you imagine him in negotiations with Putin? Newt does fine when he stocks the field himself, but against real players, he is an "Also Ran" sort...

True. Basically, he's like America's version of Akmadinnerjacket.

Newt Gingrich is Boss Hogg with a bigger following. Venal, greedy, corrupt and successful by appealing to the fear of their supporters and stepping on the backs of the underprivileged.

lennavan: Newt has been an embarrassment for the GOP. I mean, it's true. Funny thing is, his example of how Newt was an embarrassment was about the ethics violations, I thought Christie was going to go into the marriage family values hypocrisy.

I'd say the ethics violations are more relevant to how he behaves in office, though the marriage/family values thing is just further evidence that the man simply does not have any ethics or morals and he should be rather easy to destroy.

Mugato: ultraholland: a Teatard acquaintance told me that he couldn't care less about Newt's past indiscretions. I laughed and told him to vote Sideshow/Clowncar in '12 if he liked this GOP circus so much.

It's that farking "home team" mentality. For whatever reason, whether it's how they were raised or some random bullshiat wedge issue that they have to cling to, some people, a lot of people, will vote for their team no matter what. I'm not thrilled with Obama. But there isn't a republican nominee who isn't batshiat crazy and that's not partisan-ism talking. It's just how it is.

If Gary Johnson stood a chance in Hell, I might go with him. As is, I'm assuming a vote for Obama. The Republican mainstream has moved into a mental hospital. It reminds me of that Batman comic where the inmates took control of Arkham Asylum and formed their own court and government.