Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat on February 24, 2012 at 1:47pm

The strategy proposed by some progressives, to give Obama a weak opponent by voting for Santorum in the primary if possible (e.g. open primaries), could backfire.

"President Santorum" would be scary!!

Permalink Reply by Dogly on February 24, 2012 at 2:19pm

I agree, Grinning Cat, this is no time for games.  I was shocked when Obama won (glad, but shocked).  It is less unbelievable in America today for a Santorum to win.

Permalink Reply by Greg LeGore on February 24, 2012 at 2:39pm

Agree with all of  you - it makes me (and probably others on this site) that some people want to 'take back' America from people such as ourselves - meaning, roll back many of the wonderful human rights gains of the past 50 years.  In another 50 years, maybe an openly atheist candidate will be able to run for, and be elected, to state or nation-wide office.

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on February 24, 2012 at 3:12pm

I thought Reagan and Bush the lessor couldn't possible win - to this day I'm still amazed that they did.

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on February 24, 2012 at 10:06pm

I agree, sort of.  My batting average is really bad.  I also thought Clinton would not win.  I am not going to jinx it by believing Obama will - also, the American electorate seems to be psychotic these days.

Permalink Reply by Michael OL on February 25, 2012 at 1:09am

From time to time, the American political system goes insane.  This is nothing new, and not necessarily a cause for alarm, as generally the system equilibrates.  Santorum will have his admittedly scary interval of fame, but the inevitable closer scrutiny will derail his candidacy.  This year's crop of Republican candidates has been pathetically weak.  The most credible Republicans simply chose not to run.  Amongst the remainder, none had a coherent message, which is why one after another "front runner" collapsed.  Santorum is simply the default choice of an obsolete and demographically collapsing bloc (angry blue-collar whites).

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on February 25, 2012 at 10:47am

The system may equalize again, but it can leave a lot of harm in its wake.  For example, McCarthyism.  And Jim Crow in the south, with segregation in the north.  Illegitimate wars that kill thousands, deplete resources, and wreck the economy.  Some say Huntsman was a credible republican, but the primary electorate didn't care for him.  I agree I did not here a coherent message from him.  I hope that you are right in your optimism but eternal vigilance is the cost of maintaining a free democratic system.  

Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on February 25, 2012 at 11:46am

Huntsman's problem was that he was too reasonable.  In order to win the Republican primary you have to be bat-shit insane.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on February 25, 2012 at 11:55am

Damn, you beat me to it.  I was going to say something to that effect.  Being reasonable doesn't win you any points with the bulk of the Republican base, nowadays.

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on February 25, 2012 at 12:36pm

Not to derail (and I do have a capacity for endless tangentiality), but what is it about the fecal matter of bats that causes mental dysfunction?  I've long wondered if bats excrete LSD or something.  Most animals excrete feces that are actually quite useful for improving soil fertility.  Rabbits, and many other animals, obtain vital nutrients via copraphagy.  Coffee beans, eaten by civets and pooped out to create Kopi Luwak–civet coffee, make a highly sought, supposedly extra delicious coffee.  Not that I would try it.  And guano, which can come from bat feces, is well known as a rich fertilizer.  But bat shit creates insanity.  I'm intrigued.  

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on February 25, 2012 at 1:38pm

They use it to fertilize psychedelic mushrooms.

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on February 25, 2012 at 2:02pm

This warms my heart.  Where else but on Nexus could I learn such important things?

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next ›
• Page