Osler's Razor

Whether or not she's right about the party as a whole, their behavior on those issues was disgusting and inexcusable.
 

I think she is absolutely right. I am by no means a card-carrying Republican, but as a fairly conservative person I find it appalling that anyone in this country would cheer at the prospect of the uninsured dying in the streets. Even looney-toon and/or libertarian savant Ron Paul wouldn't accept that outcome.

The death penalty is a more complex issue, but I cannot fathom celebrating it with raucous jubilation. Even staunch supports ought to appreciate with some solemnity the gravity of a criminal justice system that kills its worst offenders.

I think Huntsman brings a lot to the table, and I'm glad that his campaign (unofficially, at least) is willing to call out the bad apples before they ruin the barrel. Let's just hope they can find a way to make up some ground on the horse race.
 

You've left out the rebuttal to Reidy, the daily kos, and others who attributed what 1 unknown person shouted at the FL debate to the whole party/movement: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46196

I do think Perry missed a great opportunity when he was asked the death penalty question. He could have said something about how he spends his nights thinking more about the victims of brutal murderers, but he's shown a general lack of preparation in the debates.

However, in discussing "mayhem" shouldn't we mention who is actually causing/inciting mayhem in Europe, and what ideology those individuals profess? And I guess if lil' Jimmy Hoffa gets his way, they'll cross the pond.

Finally, it seems the cheering for Perry's answer about the death penalty fits with the national response to Bin Laden's death.

Oh, and I completely agree with those who say Huntsman would be more successful running against Obama as a moderate democrat.

Other Kendall
 

Gary Johnson 2012!

I definitely have to echo what CTL said about Perry coming across as unprepared. Whether he is or not, he has definitely shown that he is not the best at thinking quickly on his feet and giving thorough answers that explain the topic in a clear and concise manner.
 

Other Kendall: those murders by right wing terrorist Anders Breivik were pretty scary, and inspired in no small part by Americans. I'd hate to see them exported over here.
 

I too was horrified by the cheering for executions; even if you support capital punishment at least treat it as the somber sad event it is. And can GOP members believe in a safety net for less fortunate Americans who might need medical care for themselves or their children?

As for Gov. Huntsman, is it even possible for a mature, empathetic (e.g., who doesn't cheer even legal executions) candidate who believes in science to gain the GOP nomination?

The Tea Party faction won't support Huntsman because he's too soft (i.e., a compassionate human, willing to collaborate with Democrats, unwilling to pledge otherwise).

The Christian Right faction, eager to turn the GOP into the Christian Party (as they define it which seems quite anti-Christ like in attitude) won't support him because he believes in evolution and domestic partnerships.

Consequently the GOP candidate is apt to be exactly the kind of person who will not attract Independents nor conservative Democrats.

How easy for the Democrats to paint the GOP as the party of mean spirited anti-science demagogues! Ironically, today's GOP may be assuring President Obama's re-election.


How can conservatives move the GOP toward a more rational, compassionate view? Or are conservatives just squeezed out of the conversation completely now?
 

538 says the longer a party is out of the White House, the more moderate its candidates are. This is a voter tolerance test for Republicans and will give the GOP establishment the proof it need to point out to the far right that the majority of voters will not embrace either extreme.
 

"who believes in science"

When you look up irony in the dictionary I think this is one of the examples.
 

Also, Osler, what is up with this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMNaIKnlPE&feature=player_embedded#!
 

RRL-

Goldy Gopher has many talents.
 

The Republican party of today does not resemble any party in our past. Their do not advocate conservatism only retreat. They argue about who created the most jobs while in public office while declaring that government can not affect job creation. They fear the wealth and power of the few and their creations like the "Tea Party". They saw Rick Parry's compassion for immigrants and at risk girls as an unattractive position for the party. They now have chosen to only stand together to protect those with the power to elect them to office.
They don't mind being papered with the remarks that Jon Huntsman's aid used because they know the outbursts appeal to their base. Republicans strong... Obama weak. They don't flinch, they don't say I'm sorry. Their base wants them strong like Neanderthals who were brutes but lacked what humans possessed, the ability to collectively solve problems. This caused their extinction. With any luck the folks on the stage and their strident base will become extinct and a sensible dialog can begin.
 

Yes, yes the GOP base are all a bunch of sadists. The same people who nominated John McCain—who ran against inhanced interrogation, in favor of state intervention to bail out homeowners, and was agnostic on illegal immigration—and George W. Bush— Who significantly increased entitlement spending, massively increased aid to fight AIDS in Africa, pushed an amnesty bill, and often said things like, “When someone hurts, government has to move”—the last 3 presidential elections.

Yes, because some California GOPers who aren’t used to governors staunchly defending legal executions applauded in poor taste, and because Florida GOPers applauded personal responsibility in a hypothetical question about a young man who could afford healthcare but chose not to purchase it… Because of this the GOP is a bunch of narrow-minded Neanderthals who need salvation from the condesending snark of Jon Huntsman.
 

Things I've learned about myself today:

-I, as an American, may have inspired some nutjob in Norway to kill people. My bad.

-I will not vote for people that are "soft" (and in this case, "soft" apparently means "Democrat"

-OR, I will not vote for people that aren't Christian enough, which is demonstrated by their Christian actions, which are viewed as non-Christian by the rightwing

-I am anti-science. I don't know how one can be "anti-science," but I am totally it.

-I am also "mean spirited." This I totally agree with.

-I advocate "retreat," which is strange because I thought I advocated Taco Tuesdays and KY wrestling night at the Continental Cowboy.

-I want a candidate that is "strong like Neanderthals who were brutes but lacked what humans possessed, the ability to collectively solve problems. This caused their extinction." I don't care to treat the claim seriously, but I would like to be anti-science for a moment and point out that we don't actually know what caused Neanderthals to go extinct, or whether they went extinct at all. There are various theories out there, but all of these are nothing more than hypotheses at this point.

Oh crap, there I go being anti-science again.

By the way, have you ever thought, "maybe conservatives don't want to work with us because we spend so much of our time talking about how they are dumb and mean." No, never crossed your mind?

I'm going to go club a baby seal to death now while screaming, "damn you science!" over and over again.
 

Can I have some baby seal? And a lemon wedge.
 

A very important reason for becoming an American citizen was getting the right to vote . Since my vote didn’t account for anything where I came from, I take the right to vote very seriously. I have to agree with RRL in that Neanderthals’ extinction was never proven, perhaps just their form of organized society may have become extinct. In fact the last bastion of such a society was none other than Switzerland when in 1971, after giving Swiss women the right to vote, they had to disband. However Swiss Neanderthals still live happy productive lives managing banks, but I digress. Anyway this new aspect is just one more example of GOP taking dissension to a whole new realm. Even if I don’t vote for the GOP I’m still an American (and have no desire to emigrate again) living in the country they want to take over leading. Where would it be my place at the table? Or am I to eat off the floor, which no lemon wedge would make palatable.
And speaking of palatable, baby seal is very gelatinous, a lemon wedge won't help, Prof!
 

Baby seal tastes a lot better when it is seasoned with the tears of the 5 year old that watched you bludgeon it to death.
 

RRL, I think you forgot to specify making sure to bring any 5 year old but one from Alaska, since the latter won't yield the lachrymal seasoning suggested.
 

Gov. Perry should have, with words or gestures, tried to stop the crowd's applause of executions the moment it started. He should have immediately disavowed the unseemly celebration of the killing of prisoners. That he did not is a failure of leadership.
 

I didn't know RRL made this list.

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/07/25/278677/islamophobic-right-wing-blogger-breivi/

RRL, are you David Horowitz or Pamela Geller?
 

And y'all wonder why I left the State of Florida for NC. That debate spoke volumes.
 

I would like to thank anon 1:53 for making my point. John McCain has been acused of not arousing his base enough to get elected, even when he denounced his previous reasonable positions.

Thanks also to RRL for his not taking seriously scientific thought.The thought that Neanderthal and other advanced apes extinction can be traced to their exposure to humans has been made clearer by establishing and tracing their DNA. Scientific concensus should inform us. The principle differences between humans and apes are collective problem solving, ability to expand their civilization, thanks to task sharing, and an aesthetic mutation. We also are the one species who haven't hesitated to cause the extinction of other species.
Not all republicans are sadists, but today it sadly doesn't hurt. That even moderate or responsible conservative have to pander to the apes in us was shown when Mitt Romney, when asked who would a good choice for V.P.,stated his ideal V.P. would be Dick Cheney "who did everything right" Enough said Anon 12:27