GOP Primary Megathread!

[KRonn]

I figured Gingrich was down and out but he came on strong the last two weeks, after stopping his dumb ass attacks on Romney and Bain. He just botched all that, I feel.

He stepped those attacks up in the last two weeks.  He paid for a thirty minute documentary about it in SC last week.

He must have changed how he was doing the attacks, because I think they were hurting him before. Before he sounded like he was attacking Capitalism and the Free Market, as much as he was trying to slam Romney. Now he must have refined his attacks. But as I said, Romney should be able to speak to all that, and mitigate some of the damage. He just seemed ill prepared at first.

[sbr]

The county Romney's doing best in is 'Richland'

Is that your county?

Yep.

Actually, I have no idea how primaries work.  Does my vote count toward the total of South Carolinian votes, or is it winner-take-all for counties, or what?

I think it varies by state, I saw somewhere that SC was a winner take all state.  Don't bet any money on that though.

[Sheilbh]

Someone on CNN just compared Romney to 'a mayonnaise sandwich on a silver plate'.  I have no idea what that means

[sbr]

Someone on CNN just compared Romney to 'a mayonnaise sandwich on a silver plate'.  I have no idea what that means

No substance, no matter how nice it looks?

[Sheilbh]

Yep.

Actually, I have no idea how primaries work.  Does my vote count toward the total of South Carolinian votes, or is it winner-take-all for counties, or what?

11 delegates for the state winner, then 2 for each Congressional district (I think).

[Razgovory]

Well at least it's not Ron Paul.

Sorry, I might be crazy, but I'm not that crazy.  For instance, I'm not worried that the UN will invade or otherwise take over the US.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X554O6TwiYM#!

[Razgovory]

Seems like Newt's race baiting bore fruit.

[Ideologue]

I think you're correct, Sheilbh--

South Carolina uses a "winner-take-all" system to award delegates. A candidate is awarded 11 delegates for winning the primary, plus two delegates for each congressional district won. South Carolina has seven districts beginning with the 2012 election.

Hurm.  Well, I guess I helped after all.

[DGuller]

Listening to the focus groups makes my brain shrivel up and die.

[Sheilbh]

Seems like Newt's race baiting bore fruit.

One interesting dynamic in Nevada and Florida will be how Hispanic Republicans vote.  Newt is to the left of the rest on immigration (and was attacked for calling for a 'humane approach'), though his ideas sound hideously dystopian.  I can also see Santorum appealing to proper Catholics, he's a serious, Catholic candidate in his approach.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, campaigned in Miami in 2008.  He ended his speech as Castro would with 'patria o muerte - venceremos!'  Apparently the crowd visibly winced.

Listening to the focus groups makes my brain shrivel up and die.

Oh sweet Jesus.  Some woman has just praised Newt's family values

In the same Florida focus group, which is clearly made up of idiots, they now think Gingrich is more electable.  That's bizarrely one of the more respectable opinions in the room.

[Razgovory]

Listening to the focus groups makes my brain shrivel up and die.

What they saying?

[DGuller]

Listening to the focus groups makes my brain shrivel up and die.

What they saying?

Don't remember, my brain tripped into safe mode within seconds of exposure.

[Razgovory]

Seems like Newt's race baiting bore fruit.

One interesting dynamic in Nevada and Florida will be how Hispanic Republicans vote.  Newt is to the left of the rest on immigration (and was attacked for calling for a 'humane approach'), though his ideas sound hideously dystopian.  I can also see Santorum appealing to proper Catholics, he's a serious, Catholic candidate in his approach.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, campaigned in Miami in 2008.  He ended his speech as Castro would with 'patria o muerte - venceremos!'  Apparently the crowd visibly winced.

Listening to the focus groups makes my brain shrivel up and die.

Oh sweet Jesus.  Some woman has just praised Newt's family values

In the same Florida focus group, which is clearly made up of idiots, they now think Gingrich is more electable.  That's bizarrely one of the more respectable opinions in the room.

Gingrich is clever.  He knows where to use those "Food stamp President" lines, and where not to.  I don't think he's a racist, but he's knows when to play the race card.

I'm unsure if Gingrich would make a good President (ignoring ideology).  One of his biggest problems is that people just don't like him that well.  He's pompous and arrogant and looks down at his nose at people who he believes isn't as smart as he is (which is pretty much everyone).  He also has a bad habit of throwing tantrums and getting all sulky.  And that's just his problems with fellow Republican lawmakers.

Still, part of me likes the man.

[Sheilbh]

I'm unsure if Gingrich would make a good President (ignoring ideology).  One of his biggest problems is that people just don't like him that well.  He's pompous and arrogant and looks down at his nose at people who he believes isn't as smart as he is (which is pretty much everyone).  He also has a bad habit of throwing tantrums and getting all sulky.  And that's just his problems with fellow Republican lawmakers.

Still, part of me likes the man.

And yet I'm odd for liking people like Santorum, Paul and Huckabee who seem quite nice, decent guys and all seem to have convictions of some sort.

I think Newt would be a dreadful President.  He's temperamentally entirely wrong.

[Razgovory]

I agree.