Republican Candidates

[Aloha_Shooter]

By all means, vote for Paul if you want another 4 years of Obama. Complain as much as you want about Bush or McCain (and I had my gripes), Obama is 10x worse. I'm thinking Cain-Bachmann could thump Obama-Biden and I generally like both Cain and Bachmann.

[Outlaw1]

I have no idea what the hell most of y'all are talking about. Most of my view on politics is based on a line used by Rip Torn when he plays Sheriff Hank Pearson in the movie Extreme Prejudice.

"Well hell, Jack! The only thing worst than a politician is a child molester!"

Just because they say something in a group of people does not mean they will keep that same logic in the next similar situation. Perry has done a fairly good job here on the home front. Other than that I don't have much of any knowledge of the other candidates.

[ghettodub]

Only person I'd vote for on that list is Ron Paul, and I even have a few issues with him. Cain is decent, but it would really depend on who his running mate is for me to make a decision on that. I have problems with a few of his social stances...

[BPTactical]

Paul is grounded in his Constitutional stance, which I think spooks lots of folks. His foreign policy stance is what really dings him. I think quite a few see him as a "frumpy old man". I personally think he doesn't stand a credible chance unfortunately.
Caine has a frankness and honesty that is refreshing. He is not a spit shined politico and I really think people are sick and tired of the slicked back hair, polished politician (Perry, Romney). Caine has a chance to take it.
Bachmann has "Palinitis", she has made a couple of faux pas that hurt her. VP yes, Pres no.

[bchase75]

+1 for Ron Paul, and I think its a damn shame that he has almost no chance of getting elected. My biggest beef with our government is that its for sale to the highest bidder, Democrats and Republicans alike, and I think the primary reason the mainstream media is ignoring Paul is because he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would compromise his principles for special interest money. I guess we'll see what happens in the primary, but I'm not optimistic.

[roberth]

So you people who like Ron Paul. You're willing to let China, Russia, or India take over the title of 'Leader of the World', I eliminated the word Free because none of those countries are free.

[onedeadpirate]

Sadly, I do not think that there is much that will stop China from being the number 1 economy in the world in the next few years. They have been making good business decisions lately while our government has been spending like an 18 year old with a no limit credit card. That being said we still have more aircraft carriers.....for now.

I do not understand why you guys think Ron Paul's domestic/defense policy is crazy. What I believe to be crazy is that we have troops and bases in almost 200 countries around the world. How many foreign bases are on US soil? And Lord knows if there was, all of us on this board would be pissed and ready to fight the foreign army occupying our country, friend or foe.
Bringing our troops home within our borders will strengthen our defense not weaken it. We have the biggest, baddest, most well trained, and technologically advanced army ever in the history of the world. That will not change by bringing troops home to defend our borders. A lot of you guys have served over seas. Did your training all of a sudden disappear once you got home? I don't think so. We will continue to be a militaristic power in the world because this is a great defense, but we must fix our fiscal problems now or there won't be any more money to support a number 1 military.
Shouldn't our "National Guard" be here defending our borders and helping with disasters rather than policing the world? Let the rest of the world have the freedom to govern their land the way they want and stay out of it until there is an eminent threat to our country. We have been bullying the world for 60-70 years now and honestly I think the rest of the world would not be too sad to see our country crumble from the inside out. Like what has happened throughout history time and time again to other empires. Only there has never been quite so big as ours. What was that old saying again? "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

[ghettodub]

Sadly, I do not think that there is much that will stop China from being the number 1 economy in the world in the next few years. They have been making good business decisions lately while our government has been spending like an 18 year old with a no limit credit card. That being said we still have more aircraft carriers.....for now.

I do not understand why you guys think Ron Paul's domestic/defense policy is crazy. What I believe to be crazy is that we have troops and bases in almost 200 countries around the world. How many foreign bases are on US soil? And Lord knows if there was, all of us on this board would be pissed and ready to fight the foreign army occupying our country, friend or foe.
Bringing our troops home within our borders will strengthen our defense not weaken it. We have the biggest, baddest, most well trained, and technologically advanced army ever in the history of the world. That will not change by bringing troops home to defend our borders. A lot of you guys have served over seas. Did your training all of a sudden disappear once you got home? I don't think so. We will continue to be a militaristic power in the world because this is a great defense, but we must fix our fiscal problems now or there won't be any more money to support a number 1 military.
Shouldn't our "National Guard" be here defending our borders and helping with disasters rather than policing the world? Let the rest of the world have the freedom to govern their land the way they want and stay out of it until there is an eminent threat to our country. We have been bullying the world for 60-70 years now and honestly I think the rest of the world would not be too sad to see our country crumble from the inside out. Like what has happened throughout history time and time again to other empires. Only there has never been quite so big as ours. What was that old saying again? "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

That ^

The point about the nat'l guard has bugged me for ever. We need to strengthen our own defenses...

[Bailey Guns]

Yeah... Ron Paul is all about the Constitution, restricting federal spending and not spending money unless it's constitutionally mandated. Oh, yeah. Except he REALLY likes pork, apparently:

1. $25,000 for the Brazoria County Sheriff to establish a “Children’s Identification and Location Database.”

2. $8 million for the marketing of wild American shrimp.

3. $2.3 million for shrimp fishing research.

4. $3 million to “secure the acquisition of the McGinnes tract, protecting its critical natural resources and helping consolidate refuge inholdings.”

5. $5 million to expand the cancer center at Brazosport Hospital.

6. $200,000 for the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program to fund a “National Health Service Corp Scholar.”

7. $4.5 million to study the effects of the health risks of vanadium.

8. $3 million to test imported shrimp for antibiotics. (Does anyone think there is a big shrimp industry in Paul’s district?)

9. $10 million to repair the Galveston railways causeway bridge.

10. $1.18 million for “Personalized Medicine in Asthma”

11. $100,000 for a “data-driven automated system for nursing students on the Texas Gulf Coast.”

12. $257,000 to “prepare graduates from the doctoral program at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing to assume faculty roles in schools for nursing with a deficient number of doctoral level faculty.”

13. $1.4 million to buy buses for the Golden Crescent Regional Commission.

14. $2 million to buy buses for Galveston.

15. $5 million for highway spending.

16. $2 million to replace facilities for Galveston bus service.

17. $3 million to replace facilities for the Golden Crescent Regional bus facility.

18. $2 million to repair the Galveston trolley.

19. $2.14 million to renovate the Edna Theater.

20. $13 million for I-69 highway project.

21. $30 million the Texas Maritime Academy to refurbish a ship.

22. $4.5 million to maintain Cedar Bayou. Plus another $9 million

23. $15 million for “construction at GIWW Matagorda Bay.” Plus another $5.8 million

24. $100,000 to maintain Chocolate Bayou.

25. $2.5 million to maintain Double Bayou.

The Houston Chronicle had this to say about Ron Paul's pork/special interest spending:

...leads the Houston-area delegation in the number of earmarks, or special funding requests, that he is seeking for his district. He is trying to nab public money for 65 projects, such as marketing wild shrimp and renovating the old movie theater in Edna that closed in 1977 — neither of which is envisioned in the Constitution as an essential government function.

So all you Ron Paul fanboys can ignore the real evidence and continue to support someone who doesn't stand a chance in hell of getting elected. And it isn't because the "mainstream media" is ignoring him. It's because he's a whackjob. But apparently he's been able to convince a lot of people to drink is whacky Kool-Aid.

You guys who claim the MSM is ignoring him should be thankful. If he was really a contender the MSM might start looking a little too closely at Ron Paul and they'd likely get under his Constitutional facade he likes to show off.

[roberth]

Yeah... Ron Paul is all about the Constitution, restricting federal spending and not spending money unless it's constitutionally mandated. Oh, yeah. Except he REALLY likes pork, apparently:

1. $25,000 for the Brazoria County Sheriff to establish a “Children’s Identification and Location Database.”

2. $8 million for the marketing of wild American shrimp.

3. $2.3 million for shrimp fishing research.

4. $3 million to “secure the acquisition of the McGinnes tract, protecting its critical natural resources and helping consolidate refuge inholdings.”

5. $5 million to expand the cancer center at Brazosport Hospital.

6. $200,000 for the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program to fund a “National Health Service Corp Scholar.”

7. $4.5 million to study the effects of the health risks of vanadium.

8. $3 million to test imported shrimp for antibiotics. (Does anyone think there is a big shrimp industry in Paul’s district?)

9. $10 million to repair the Galveston railways causeway bridge.

10. $1.18 million for “Personalized Medicine in Asthma”

11. $100,000 for a “data-driven automated system for nursing students on the Texas Gulf Coast.”

12. $257,000 to “prepare graduates from the doctoral program at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing to assume faculty roles in schools for nursing with a deficient number of doctoral level faculty.”

13. $1.4 million to buy buses for the Golden Crescent Regional Commission.

14. $2 million to buy buses for Galveston.

15. $5 million for highway spending.

16. $2 million to replace facilities for Galveston bus service.

17. $3 million to replace facilities for the Golden Crescent Regional bus facility.

18. $2 million to repair the Galveston trolley.

19. $2.14 million to renovate the Edna Theater.

20. $13 million for I-69 highway project.

21. $30 million the Texas Maritime Academy to refurbish a ship.

22. $4.5 million to maintain Cedar Bayou. Plus another $9 million

23. $15 million for “construction at GIWW Matagorda Bay.” Plus another $5.8 million

24. $100,000 to maintain Chocolate Bayou.

25. $2.5 million to maintain Double Bayou.

The Houston Chronicle had this to say about Ron Paul's pork/special interest spending:

...leads the Houston-area delegation in the number of earmarks, or special funding requests, that he is seeking for his district. He is trying to nab public money for 65 projects, such as marketing wild shrimp and renovating the old movie theater in Edna that closed in 1977 — neither of which is envisioned in the Constitution as an essential government function.

So all you Ron Paul fanboys can ignore the real evidence and continue to support someone who doesn't stand a chance in hell of getting elected. And it isn't because the "mainstream media" is ignoring him. It's because he's a whackjob. But apparently he's been able to convince a lot of people to drink is whacky Kool-Aid.

You guys who claim the MSM is ignoring him should be thankful. If he was really a contender the MSM might start looking a little too closely at Ron Paul and they'd likely get under his Constitutional facade he likes to show off.

I didn't know all that. Thank you.

You posted this over 2 hours ago, where are the fanboys now?