2012 GOP, who's it going to be?

Hugin · 2012-02-10T12:05:48.000Z

Jason Townsend:

Eh, that seems to be taking the anti-Romney portrait of Romney pretty literally. He’s certainly to-the-manner-born and thinks the Presidency needs him, the better sort of person, and all of this vote-grubbing and vision-thing flailing are means to that end.

But however inadequate he is by my metrics of political preference - pretty goddamned - the fact is the GOP have jilted him and jilted him and jilted him, and if he did what Jeff said I’d shake his hand and pat him on the back. There are Republicans and then there are Republicans.

The current crop makes me nostalgic for half of the Bushies, and I’d never have believed that possible. Santorum and his backers are more or less fascists. That was a total bullshit label when it was applied to mainstream politicians in the 1960s and it’s kept that bullshit connotation, but aside from a paper-thin, formal commitment to something they call democracy, they’re fascists.

Except is more like some crazy person keeps showing up at your door going “I love you! We’re engaged now!”, and then being sad when they’re jilted. No one deserves to be come President. And Romney’s willingness to lie, brazenly and repeatedly, on top of his apparent complete lack of any actual convictions besides wanting to amass money and political power is pretty scary, if in a more subtle way than the likes of Santorum. If, by my political standards Santorum is some kind of venomous, walnut brained monster, Romney is a life-force sucking soulless revenant, empty eyed, lurching ever forward, unkillable.

JeffL · 2012-02-10T12:45:29.000Z

Rightbug:

This betrays a misunderstanding of the fundamental nature of Romney. Romney craves the Presidency with ever fiber of his being and he will say and do anything in an attempt to get people’s support. His political desperation is one of the things that people are so turned off by.

If you meant to say this “displays” a lack of understanding - no, if I thought he’d actually do it, THAT would display a lack of understanding of Romney (and just about every other politician that runs for president.) That was just my dream. ;)

Calistas · 2012-02-10T12:54:02.000Z

If you are a moral vegetarian then how do you deal with the fact that hundreds of mice die per acre of farmed field (due to the farming process) whereas only one cow, say, dies for the same amount of protein. If you are a vegetarian because you don’t like animals dying you should eat more meat. Far, far fewer animals die for meat protein than vegetable replacements.

Tin_Wisdom · 2012-02-10T12:56:50.000Z

Mark Asher:

Anyway, what has Obama done to marginalize faith? Er, I mean how is he “crushing” faith?

The only thing that anyone could reasonably point to is his current issue with the Catholic hospitals regarding insurance coverage for contraceptives.

Jason_Townsend · 2012-02-10T12:58:59.000Z

Durns:

Nitpick
To the ‘manor’ born. As in, you grew up wealthy and privileged in a big fancy house.
/Nitpick

It’s actually manner; various sources will confirm. Sorry, wasn’t using the idiom to entrap people. The other version is popular enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a spelling variant, but the idiom referred to one’s manner.

Ken_at_Popehat · 2012-02-10T13:19:30.000Z

Jason Townsend:

It’s actually manner; various sources will confirm. Sorry, wasn’t using the idiom to entrap people. The other version is popular enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a spelling variant, but the idiom referred to one’s manner.

At least if you believe that the phrase was coined by Shakespeare.

[INDENT] HORATIO: Is it a custom?
HAMLET: Ay, marry, is’t:
But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honour’d in the breach than the observance.
[/INDENT]

Though the Brit sitcom was “Manor.”

arctangent · 2012-02-10T13:54:13.000Z

I’m pretty sure Shakespeare predates the creator of “To the Manor Born” by a few years at least.

Jason_McCullough · 2012-02-10T14:16:49.000Z

Calistas:

If you are a moral vegetarian then how do you deal with the fact that hundreds of mice die per acre of farmed field (due to the farming process) whereas only one cow, say, dies for the same amount of protein. If you are a vegetarian because you don’t like animals dying you should eat more meat. Far, far fewer animals die for meat protein than vegetable replacements.

This misses the part where you have to raise grain to feed the animals, which also kills the field mice.

Freezer-TPF · 2012-02-10T14:21:53.000Z

Jason McCullough:

This misses the part where you have to raise grain to feed the animals, which also kills the field mice.

Not to mention the behavior of one Little Bunny Foo Foo.

Jason_Townsend · 2012-02-10T14:22:42.000Z

Jason McCullough:

This misses the part where you have to raise grain to feed the animals, which also kills the field mice.

The best-laid posts o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.

Fargull · 2012-02-10T16:30:46.000Z

Just stumbled upon this little gem and thought I would post it here.

The Parable of Mitt Romney’s Dog

I did not know you could use romney as a verb…

Ed_Solomon · 2012-02-10T20:31:56.000Z

Freezer-TPF-:

Not to mention the behavior of one Little Bunny Foo Foo.

That guy’s just a dick.

But he does have a catchy theme song.

Calistas · 2012-02-10T20:36:49.000Z

Jason McCullough:

This misses the part where you have to raise grain to feed the animals, which also kills the field mice.

Depends where you live. That isn’t how much livestock is raised here, for example.

Jason_McCullough · 2012-02-11T10:57:11.000Z

The final number varies based on where you eat and where you live, and in some areas that really suck for agriculture but are great for certain kinds of grazing eating animals would come out ahead. In general, though, the vast bulk of meat people eat is fed on agriculture inputs.

charmtrap · 2012-02-11T11:05:45.000Z

Santorum’s up by 15:

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum hasn’t led a national poll all year, but now that we’re eight states into the primary (in which Santorum has won the majority of delegates in three of them) he’s finally done in it. Public Policy Polling (D) released their national GOP numbers showing Santorum in first with a huge 15 point lead, besting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 38 - 23. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, fading in national polling, falls to 17 percent while Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) gets 13.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/ppp-santorum-takes-lead-nationally?ref=fpb

Mark_Asher · 2012-02-11T11:56:32.000Z

Santorum leading in the polls is to me just as incredible as if Ron Paul was leading. The party elders have no control anymore.

And Romney is so desperate to be a true conservative now. He’s “severely conservative,” which sounds an awful lot like being severely constipated. His problem is he doesn’t have a lot to point at to prove it. Once he supported abortion rights. He instituted socialized healthcare as a governor. His values are mercurial. He just lusts after the Presidency.

JeffL · 2012-02-11T11:58:21.000Z

I love it. What the country needs is for the GOP to completely fall apart, and the Tea Party to be seen as the culprit, such that they can reassemble as a reasonable conservative party. (I know, for many here “reasonable conservative” is an oxymoron, but we need to rational parties.)

Calistas · 2012-02-11T12:00:36.000Z

Jason McCullough:

The final number varies based on where you eat and where you live, and in some areas that really suck for agriculture but are great for certain kinds of grazing eating animals would come out ahead. In general, though, the vast bulk of meat people eat is fed on agriculture inputs.

Buy New Zealand (and Australian, damn them) imported beef and lamb! It is the only ethical choice.

Menzo · 2012-02-11T12:03:20.000Z

JeffL:

I love it. What the country needs is for the GOP to completely fall apart, and the Tea Party to be seen as the culprit, such that they can reassemble as a reasonable conservative party. (I know, for many here “reasonable conservative” is an oxymoron, but we need to rational parties.)

Except the Tea Party pretty much has already fallen apart. Santorum leading is all about the religious wing and them having nobody else to turn to other than a Mormon (nuh-uh) and a thrice-married philanderer (ugh).

AaronSofaer · 2012-02-11T12:03:59.000Z

Calistas:

Buy New Zealand (and Australian, damn them) grown! It is the only ethical choice.

There’s an… [word for raising animals that’s the equivalent of agricultural] … co-op that sells meat at the farmer’s market in Baltimore every Saturday.

Their animals are all ethically raised and killed, so I have no qualms about buying their meat. But it’s expensive!