Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

"The Republican party's not going to change on this issue. In my opinion it would be suicidal if it did."

Mr. Santorum, you come from the asshole of the country that hasn't improved it's culture or education over 200 years.  I agree that the disctrict that you are from so gerrymandered so horribly that the mouth breathers would never vote for someone not wearing a white hood; however, as recent trends have shown the rest of the nation is catching on to concepts like being a decent human being.  I do however, appreciate your efforts to hold back the GOP from any relevancy in the next two generations.

Please, proceed.

the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

To be fair, he is right. The modern GOP voting base would disappear if the RNC came out in favor of gay marriage. It would be similar to what happened to Democrats when they added the pro-choice stance. I think those of us that know him from Pennsylvania are too close to the douchebag, "I had a no-show job with the state while I was doing lines of coke in Harrisburg." Santorum and not the Santorum that has become the de facto voice of a very large and powerful section of the GOP.

hubiestubert: In fairness, what happens in Convention and Congressional bathrooms isn't exactly "embracing" so it's got a kernel of truth to it...

So you're telling me they don't even have the decency to give a reach-around.

"I'm sure you could go back and read stories, oh, you know, 'The Republican party's going to change. This is the future.' Obviously that didn't happen,"

WTF did he say there?

/Made in America (unlike the other guy, but I'm not really saying that) wink wink nudge nudge

He's right, it would be political suicide for them. How many people out there have the GOPs opposition to gay marriage as the lone reason they wouldn't vote for Republicans? And how many of their current supporters would go elsewhere if they did support gay marriage?

Damned if the do or don't

The GOP will never be a force unless they stop defining themselves as "Other than this list of people we don't like."    Idiots.

ko_kyi: The GOP will never be a force unless they stop defining themselves as "Other than this list of people we don't like."    Idiots.

The Republicans have held the House of Representatives for nearly 18 years straight, except for a 4 year window (2 of which they controlled the Senate and Presidency). They will never stop being a force in your lifetime.

Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

The only time since Nixon that trend was interrupted was 1996.  And that should tell you just how far south Pat Buchanan went.

Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Santorum won 11 states, Romney 42 (that number is padded in that some of the later states were after he was already the presumptive nominee).  Santorum had a solid showing given he had no money and little local organization.  Basically, the "anyone but Romney" voters in the rural states.  He'll have more backers/money for the 2016 run and his campaign will be exactly what repubs have been saying for the past 8 years, "we would have won if we nominated a truly conservative candidate", and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

Hagbardr: I'm sure they'll widen their stance when public opinion and demographics favor it.

One and done.

Rick Santorum is trying way too hard to become George Wallace of the 21st century.

the opposite of charity is justice: Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Santorum won 11 states, Romney 42 (that number is padded in that some of the later states were after he was already the presumptive nominee).  Santorum had a solid showing given he had no money and little local organization.  Basically, the "anyone but Romney" voters in the rural states.  He'll have more backers/money for the 2016 run and his campaign will be exactly what repubs have been saying for the past 8 years, "we would have won if we nominated a truly conservative candidate", and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

FooDog: Rick Santorum is trying way too hard to become George Wallace of the 21st century.

He'll need better material to do that.

midigod: "I'm sure you could go back and read stories, oh, you know, 'The Republican party's going to change. This is the future.' Obviously that didn't happen,"

WTF did he say there?

He is saying that in the past people have said that the GOP needed to become more progressive on social issues and that never happened........and they've been getting their asses handed to them in elections but that is beside the point.

Lost Thought 00: the opposite of charity is justice: Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Santorum won 11 states, Romney 42 (that number is padded in that some of the later states were after he was already the presumptive nominee).  Santorum had a solid showing given he had no money and little local organization.  Basically, the "anyone but Romney" voters in the rural states.  He'll have more backers/money for the 2016 run and his campaign will be exactly what repubs have been saying for the past 8 years, "we would have won if we nominated a truly conservative candidate", and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

The damage is already done.  His last presidential bid will haunt him in any future campaigns.

Lost Thought 00: ko_kyi: The GOP will never be a force unless they stop defining themselves as "Other than this list of people we don't like."    Idiots.

The Republicans have held the House of Representatives for nearly 18 years straight, except for a 4 year window (2 of which they controlled the Senate and Presidency). They will never stop being a force in your lifetime.

Gerrymandering is powerful, but not permanent. Education is powerful and lasts a generation.  They are on the loosing side of social issues which in my opinion sways voters more than fiscal policy.

tnpir: This thread is going to be epic.

I think it would be neat if Fark would put an indicator next to each user that said how many people had them favorited.  Then let me set a filter based on that.

Lost Thought 00: Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

The only way that could ever happen with Santorum as the candidate is if they find a way to run a campaign where he never interacts with the press or the public. The minute a question can be asked, any hope of keeping Rick away from his social issue rhetoric is gone. One little old lady asking him about the gays and he will be off and running. He simply cannot help it. This is a guy who couldn't stop himself from making contraception an issue.t

the opposite of charity is justice: and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

Not to mention anyone who can look at at a calendar and tell it is 2016 CE, not BCE.

Citrate1007: Education is powerful and lasts a generation. They are on the loosing side

Evidently grammar and spelling education is not as long lasting as you claim.

It would seem Santorum and other idiots of his ilk have forgotten a basic , simple principle of politics.

 The idea is to get votes. Generally that is done by favoring positions held by the majority of the voters.


I'll so enjoy watching another dismal showing by these backwards asshats..

Philip Francis Queeg: Lost Thought 00: Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

The only way that could ever happen with Santorum as the candidate is if they find a way to run a campaign where he never interacts with the press or the public. The minute a question can be asked, any hope of keeping Rick away from his social issue rhetoric is gone. One little old lady asking him about the gays and he will be off and running. He simply cannot help it. This is a guy who couldn't stop himself from making contraception an issue.t

Perhaps, but if he's put against Joe "Foot-In-Mouth Patient 0" Biden, he could come out as the one that pisses off the fewest people.

Bendal: If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Good news: It was. Invest in popcorn and alcohol.

/Well, for certain values of "Good."
//I hate mobile Fark's shiatty quote function.

Lost Thought 00: Philip Francis Queeg: Lost Thought 00: Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

The only way that could ever happen with Santorum as the candidate is if they find a way to run a campaign where he never interacts with the press or the public. The minute a question can be asked, any hope of keeping Rick away from his social issue rhetoric is gone. One little old lady asking him about the gays and he will be off and running. He simply cannot help it. This is a guy who couldn't stop himself from making contraception an issue.t

Perhaps, but if he's put against Joe "Foot-In-Mouth Patient 0" Biden, he could come out as the one that pisses off the fewest people.

What has Biden ever said that is anywhere near as divisive as Santorum's core political positions?

Lost Thought 00: the opposite of charity is justice: Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Santorum won 11 states, Romney 42 (that number is padded in that some of the later states were after he was already the presumptive nominee).  Santorum had a solid showing given he had no money and little local organization.  Basically, the "anyone but Romney" voters in the rural states.  He'll have more backers/money for the 2016 run and his campaign will be exactly what repubs have been saying for the past 8 years, "we would have won if we nominated a truly conservative candidate", and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

You are just precious.

Lost Thought 00: He's right, it would be political suicide for them. How many people out there have the GOPs opposition to gay marriage as the lone reason they wouldn't vote for Republicans? And how many of their current supporters would go elsewhere if they did support gay marriage?

Damned if the do or don't


I kind of agree with him in that embracing gay marriage would probably be suicide for the GOP, but only in the short term. In the long term, I think it may indicate a change of course away from the social conservative bullshiat the party currently espouses. Though I'm not convinced the Republicans have any kind of long term strategy anyway, so my point is moot, i guess.

the opposite of charity is justice: Bendal: the opposite of charity is justice: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

If the GOP follows recent history, the candidate who came in #2 in their primary elections will be their frontrunner in 2016. If that was Santorum, that election campaign will be epic.

Santorum won 11 states, Romney 42 (that number is padded in that some of the later states were after he was already the presumptive nominee).  Santorum had a solid showing given he had no money and little local organization.  Basically, the "anyone but Romney" voters in the rural states.  He'll have more backers/money for the 2016 run and his campaign will be exactly what repubs have been saying for the past 8 years, "we would have won if we nominated a truly conservative candidate", and Santorum will get stomped in the general election as he scares away every woman voter, every minority voter, every independent voter.

I think santorum will probably run, but I doubt he'll be the GOP nominee. He'll have been out of office for about a decade by then and you have the potential for (relatively) stronger candidates that he'll have to compete with. (despite what Republicans may say, I'm willing to bet they warm up to Christie when the primaries start). Santorum did surprisingly well for someone with almost no organisation or money, but he was among a very weak field of candidates and hucksters.

Philip Francis Queeg: Lost Thought 00: Philip Francis Queeg: Lost Thought 00: Don't underestimate him. He's a skilled politician and surprisingly good at connecting with people if his handlers can keep his rhetoric away from social issues. He may stand a real chance depending on who the Democrats put up. He'll never be accused of not putting every ounce of effort necessary in doing the dirty work of campaigning. He's the type of guy that will literally knock on every door in the country if he has to.

The only way that could ever happen with Santorum as the candidate is if they find a way to run a campaign where he never interacts with the press or the public. The minute a question can be asked, any hope of keeping Rick away from his social issue rhetoric is gone. One little old lady asking him about the gays and he will be off and running. He simply cannot help it. This is a guy who couldn't stop himself from making contraception an issue.t

Perhaps, but if he's put against Joe "Foot-In-Mouth Patient 0" Biden, he could come out as the one that pisses off the fewest people.

What has Biden ever said that is anywhere near as divisive as Santorum's core political positions?

Just off the top of my head,

"You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.... I'm not joking."

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."

Irrelevant, horrible human being says what?