2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Malthus]

If he's a liar, maybe he's just pretending to be a nutbar!

Now, that's a relief. 

[DGuller]

Back when I was graduating high school I got the package to apply to the Royal Military College of Canada.  I don't think I ever actually applied, but I could have and have forgotten about it.

How much pot were you smoking in your younger days?

[The Minsky Moment]

I think Carson is lying, which I don't think should surprise anyone... he is certainly well-educated enough to know what the Pyramids were used for, but is lying about that too because he's trying to pander to his base.  So it turns out there is a pattern of lying for personal gain here.  Not at all uncommon to see from a politician (or wannabe-politician, I guess, in his case).

Maybe.

The idea that someone could be a brilliant neuro-surgeon and yet lack some basic critical reasoning skills may seem odd but it is not exactly impossible.  It's possible to have technical mastery over a subject and yet be generally clueless.  The skill or technique of reasoning generally can be distinguished from having specific knowledge of individual subject matters or disciplines.  Carson wouldn't be the first to be very talented in some scientific and technical field and yet otherwise a jackass - William Shockley is an example that often leaps to mind in this context.

[Berkut]

I think Carson is lying, which I don't think should surprise anyone... he is certainly well-educated enough to know what the Pyramids were used for, but is lying about that too because he's trying to pander to his base.  So it turns out there is a pattern of lying for personal gain here.  Not at all uncommon to see from a politician (or wannabe-politician, I guess, in his case).

The problem for Carson though is that he is selling himself as this ultra-religious, honest, sincere, everyman kind of "good guy".

Sure, so it turns out he is lying about his background, he is hardly the first.

The problem though is that if he isn't his background, what is he? It's not like he has some political career to point at, or some significant accomplishment beyond the "Successful doctor who overcame incredible adversity" schtick.

Personally, none of this matter one bit to me. If his entire backstory was 100% correct, he would still be a nightmare of a choice. The fact that it is almost certainly 100% bullshit hopefully will have enough of an impact among those who would actually contemplate voting for this guy based on his complete lie of a backstory that we can quit talking about him because he will be forced to withdraw. Not likely though, since the type of people who support guys like this are generally well practiced at completely ignoring facts and evidence.

[Malthus]

I think Carson is lying, which I don't think should surprise anyone... he is certainly well-educated enough to know what the Pyramids were used for, but is lying about that too because he's trying to pander to his base.  So it turns out there is a pattern of lying for personal gain here.  Not at all uncommon to see from a politician (or wannabe-politician, I guess, in his case).

The problem for Carson though is that he is selling himself as this ultra-religious, honest, sincere, everyman kind of "good guy".

Sure, so it turns out he is lying about his background, he is hardly the first.

The problem though is that if he isn't his background, what is he? It's not like he has some political career to point at, or some significant accomplishment beyond the "Successful doctor who overcame incredible adversity" schtick.

Personally, none of this matter one bit to me. If his entire backstory was 100% correct, he would still be a nightmare of a choice. The fact that it is almost certainly 100% bullshit hopefully will have enough of an impact among those who would actually contemplate voting for this guy based on his complete lie of a backstory that we can quit talking about him because he will be forced to withdraw. Not likely though, since the type of people who support guys like this are generally well practiced at completely ignoring facts and evidence.

Sadly, I think you are right.

[Razgovory]

I think Carson is lying, which I don't think should surprise anyone... he is certainly well-educated enough to know what the Pyramids were used for, but is lying about that too because he's trying to pander to his base.  So it turns out there is a pattern of lying for personal gain here.  Not at all uncommon to see from a politician (or wannabe-politician, I guess, in his case).

Maybe.

The idea that someone could be a brilliant neuro-surgeon and yet lack some basic critical reasoning skills may seem odd but it is not exactly impossible.  It's possible to have technical mastery over a subject and yet be generally clueless.  The skill or technique of reasoning generally can be distinguished from having specific knowledge of individual subject matters or disciplines.  Carson wouldn't be the first to be very talented in some scientific and technical field and yet otherwise a jackass - William Shockley is an example that often leaps to mind in this context.

It doesn't seem unlikely to me that he's telling the truth, you could be an intelligent and rational person yet still be a Ron Paul supporter.

[Eddie Teach]

People in general are well-practiced at completely ignoring facts and evidence.

That said, I think if reporters can poke a few more holes in Carson's backstory, it'll probably kill his candidacy.

[garbon]

Oh no. I think I actually know a rich gay guy who wants to vote for Trump - though a party of me still hopes it is a joke.

[jimmy olsen]

Hot damn that's hard core!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZQVCFVVVE0&feature=youtu.be

[Eddie Teach]

That commercial makes me think worse of Edwards than Vitter, merely by association with the folks who made it.

[Valmy]

Hot damn that's hard core!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZQVCFVVVE0&feature=youtu.be

That's fucking stupid.

[HisMajestyBOB]

Some of the Republicans who were in the primary are endorsing Edwards.
Seems like Vitter is really disliked.

[Razgovory]

Some of the Republicans who were in the primary are endorsing Edwards.
Seems like Vitter is really disliked.

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is there.

[jimmy olsen]

Hmm...if Carson implodes over this looks like Trump will benefit the most if Fox's polling is right.

Trump would jump from 26% to 34%, while Cruz would only go from 11% to 14% and Rubio from 11% to 16%.

Scroll down to page 5
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2015/11/04/fox-poll-gop-nomination-race-coming-into-focus/

[garbon]

Hot damn that's hard core!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZQVCFVVVE0&feature=youtu.be

That's fucking stupid.

Yeah that is pretty dreadful.