Bachmann running neck and neck with Romney in Iowa

[Razgovory]

Timidity?  Republicans frequently scream their craziness from the tops of buildings.  What would a less timid GOP do?  Blow up the buildings?

Get elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility and then actually act fiscally responsible. That's courage.

Why would they do that?  They don't even believe in fiscal responsibility.

[MadImmortalMan]

Why would they do that?  They don't even believe in fiscal responsibility.

Their voters do. Which is why their voters are rebelling against them.

[dps]

Why would they do that?  They don't even believe in fiscal responsibility.

Their voters do. Which is why their voters are rebelling against them.

Yeah, that's the main reason so many primaries were won last year by challangers who had Tea Party support.  The so-called Republican Establishment had got to the point that nobody much trusted them to be fiscally conservative anymore.

[Razgovory]

Why would they do that?  They don't even believe in fiscal responsibility.

Their voters do. Which is why their voters are rebelling against them.

I doubt it.  If you asked them "Should the Government be fiscally responsible?", they'll probably say yes.  As would about anyone else. Get into the details of what that actually means and you run into a lot of problems.  You'll likely find that many them are against raising taxes or cutting spending on things they benefit from. 

Take Social Security.  http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/06/the-tea-party-and-social-security.html

78% of the population in Missouri is against cuts in Social Security.  59% of Tea Party members are.

[MadImmortalMan]

So...TP folks are more likely to favor cutting SSA than the average Missou resident.

[Razgovory]

So...TP folks are more likely to favor cutting SSA than the average Missou resident.

True, but by no means a majority.  They aren't serious.

[CountDeMoney]

Obviously a bit biased. What's the view of our languish Republicans and Independents of Bachmann? How good or bad is she? Does she have a chance?

Considering her first real exposure was going on Hardball with Chris Matthews and calling for an investigation of House members for possible Socialists after the 2008 elections, and how she's demonstrated that she's the alternative for individuals who think Palin is too intellectual, I'd say she's a win-win!

[Caliga]

I doubt it.  If you asked them "Should the Government be fiscally responsible?", they'll probably say yes.  As would about anyone else. Get into the details of what that actually means and you run into a lot of problems.  You'll likely find that many them are against raising taxes or cutting spending on things they benefit from. 

The issue isn't whether or not Tea Partiers have seriously thought through what they are in favor of cutting and how all that would work, but that they are in favor of 'fiscal responsibility' (in vague terms or no), and so as a candidate wanting to appeal to them you have to, on at least the same vague level, proclaim your support for this.  Obviously if Bachmann were to, by some miracle, be elected, she'd ditch these people and their agenda as soon as she no longer needed them, since as we all know the President isn't an autocrat when it comes to federal spending.

[mongers]

I like the reference to Bachmann Turner Overdrive in the OP. 

[Caliga]

I like the reference to Bachmann Turner Overdrive in the OP. 

Ha, I didn't notice that before you pointed it out.

[KRonn]

I can't take Bachmann seriously. She says some things that appeal to fiscal conservatives but she's a loose cannon in some other things she says and does. She's too extreme on the right and I think many GOP voters will see that too, and after her initial gains she'll eventually fade.

[Viking]

is it true she couldn't tell the difference between The Duke and John Wayne Gacy?

[grumbler]

is it true she couldn't tell the difference between The Duke and John Wayne Gacy?

No, that's not true.  What is true is that she evoked the "spirit" of John Wayne, whom she claimed was from Waterloo, Iowa, her home town.  John Wayne Gacy lived briefly in Waterloo, but she was not referring to him. The Duke was from Iowa, and his parents briefly lived in Waterloo, but he never did.

[Razgovory]

I doubt it.  If you asked them "Should the Government be fiscally responsible?", they'll probably say yes.  As would about anyone else. Get into the details of what that actually means and you run into a lot of problems.  You'll likely find that many them are against raising taxes or cutting spending on things they benefit from. 

The issue isn't whether or not Tea Partiers have seriously thought through what they are in favor of cutting and how all that would work, but that they are in favor of 'fiscal responsibility' (in vague terms or no), and so as a candidate wanting to appeal to them you have to, on at least the same vague level, proclaim your support for this.  Obviously if Bachmann were to, by some miracle, be elected, she'd ditch these people and their agenda as soon as she no longer needed them, since as we all know the President isn't an autocrat when it comes to federal spending.

The thing is, every one is for "fiscal responsibility".  Just like everyone is for "keeping America safe".  It's a platitude.

[Viking]

is it true she couldn't tell the difference between The Duke and John Wayne Gacy?

No, that's not true.  What is true is that she evoked the "spirit" of John Wayne, whom she claimed was from Waterloo, Iowa, her home town.  John Wayne Gacy lived briefly in Waterloo, but she was not referring to him. The Duke was from Iowa, and his parents briefly lived in Waterloo, but he never did.

oh well, it sounded too unbelievable for even the most extreme poe.