I visited Tucson this week. My visit happened to coincide with the GOP debate in Arizona. On the night of the debate, I visited a bar near my hotel. I walked into the bar at about the halfway point of the debate. Gingrich was speaking. The room was full of laughter. I looked around for the source and spotted a knot of people standing near a big screen. As I approached another round of laughter broke out. The bar was full of people laughing. When Santorum started to speak somebody yelled, “Asshole”. Another yelled, “Jag off.” People howled with laughter. I laughed with them.
It got me thinking. If the patrons of a middleclass bar in Tucson are laughing at the GOP candidates, what chance do they really have?
I left before the debate ended and stopped in at my hotel’s bar before heading back to my room. I found a different audience there. Salesmen and management types working for the Rain Bird corporation, plus a couple of barflys and hotel staff. I asked those sitting at the bar what they thought of the debate, the response was unanimous, “Fuck the debate.” When I asked why, they all responded with a slightly different version of the same story. Essentially, they think that the candidates are nuts.
- Santorum – too worried about why other people do in their bedrooms, plus way to religions.
- Gingrich – A failed politician who has questionable morals.
- Paul – a complete loon.
- Romney - A rich out of touch elitist who’s not even a Christian.
I think the GOP is in deep trouble. Whatever fantasy they have running through their minds will not pass the ballot test. None of these candidates have the respect of the people on a level that will assure a win. And none of these candidates will beat Obama. That’s a lost cause.
Logging you in...
AndrewHall 95p · 684 weeks ago
Mojoey 107p · 684 weeks ago
BartDrom 33p · 684 weeks ago
From your lips to Dog's ear, Mojoey.
therealwhateverman 119p · 684 weeks ago
Personally, I like Mitt Romney, or rather, I like what he was. Living in Massachusetts, I thought he did a rather excellent job of bringing the state's books from the red into the black. And I like the way he kept his religion out of the spotlight. He might have been a social conservative in his private life, but the public, he was a social moderate. Despite the campaign rhetoric, I think he'd be the same kind of person in the White House as he was here.
But when you get right down to it, he's having to appeal to the religious conservatives to get elected as President, and I hate that. For that reason alone, I prefer Obama.
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In the context of your post, the Republican party is unable to put forth a candidate that unites voters. They're all scary or sketchy in one way or another. I consider myself an independent, and would vote Republican if the right person were running for office, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon.
Personally, I think the state of the Republican candidates represents the state of the individual Republican voters: desperate.
Mojoey 107p · 684 weeks ago
therealwhateverman 119p · 684 weeks ago
Ditto. Substantive change in a complex society must, if it's going to be positive, be gradual.
BartDrom 33p · 684 weeks ago
See, now, as a NH Independant myself, I'd use the word "vapid."
deleted8470268 143p · 684 weeks ago