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Subscribe to RSSFlorida moved up its primary date to Jan. 31 today, breaking national party rules and setting off a domino effect that likely means the beginning of the GOP presidential nominating process will be in early January 2012.
In a 7-2 vote, the Florida Primary Selection Committee decided to move up its date.
The first domino fell in New Hampshire, traditionally the first primary in the nation, preceded only by Iowa’s caucuses.
New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, who has unilateral control to set the Granite State’s date, moved up the presidential primary filing period to begin Oct. 17 and ending October 28, signaling the New Hampshire primary contest will be moved up in the calendar.
"Unfortunately, we'll be unable to have the upcoming presidential primary on the second Tuesday in March and will continue to honor the tradition of our first-in-the-nation presidential primary," Gardner told NBC News. "Because we cannot rule out of the possibility of conducting the primary before the end of this year, we are, regrettably, as we were four years ago, forced to move the presidential candidates filing period to October.”
Gardner watched the full Florida committee debate via a website in his Statehouse chambers and was visibly surprised as the members in the Sunshine State discussed going so early as Jan. 3rd.
"I don't know how I can be surprised by anything anymore,” said Gardner, who’s been setting the primary date since 1976, “so we will wait and see on the rest. We will continue to be first. … It is my intention to move the primary up so we preserve the tradition."
Gardner is watching South Carolina and Nevada closely and will set the date after they have announced.
South Carolina will also not be announcing its primary date today and probably won’t until next week, according to Matt Moore, the South Carolina GOP’s executive director.
South Carolina, along with the other carve-out states, will wait until all other non-carve-out states’ primaries are set before announcing its own, Moore said. And if New Hampshire is waiting until later in the fall, the same is true for the Palmetto State.
"We want to make sure that the four early states are playing from the same sheet of music," Moore told NBC.
Moore also said that party is not ruling out announcing a Tuesday election instead of a Saturday election. Connelly said yesterday that he was leaning toward holding the election the Saturday before Florida’s election (four days before), but Moore said holding the election on a Tuesday would be cheaper (no overtime costs for keeping schools, etc., open) and that having adequate time between their primary and Florida’s is a concern.
Iowa’s Republican Party Chairman says the Hawkeye State will wait on Gardner and New Hampshire.
"Only Secretary of State Gardner has that authority in New Hampshire,” Matt Strawn tells NBC News in an email. “Once he sets the date for New Hampshire's primary, Iowa will then act accordingly and set the date of our First in the Nation Caucuses."
*** UPDATE *** A South Carolina source says the four early states are working together, and they will likely announce their dates jointly. Gardner is in close contact with his counterpart in Nevada's, talking almost daily lately.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Here's the statement from the Florida GOP:
"Today, under the authority provided them by Florida statute and their selection by Governor Scott, Speaker Cannon and Senate President Haridopolos, the nine members of the Presidential Preference Primary Date Selection Committee chose January 31st as our state’s date. As I have said before, the Republican Party of Florida was always prepared to work with the date selected by those with the legal authority to do so. We appreciate that the Committee engaged in a thorough process. That process included discussion of a range of dates from January 3rd to March 6th or later, so this compromise of January 31st properly reflects the importance Florida will play on the national stage. We look forward to having a great primary, and then hosting a world-class convention for our party’s nominee. Florida will be the most important state in our efforts to defeat Barack Obama."
*** UPDATE 3 *** South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly condemned Florida's move:
"Today's decision by Florida is hugely disappointing and could have been avoided. Rogue states have once again dictated the Presidential nominating calendar. I call on my fellow RNC members and all Republicans to strongly condemn Florida's decision to hold their primary on January 31. States who have worked so hard to maintain the nominating calendar should not be penalized and the offenders, including Florida, should lose their entire allocations of delegates at the National Convention. Rules matter and the four traditional early states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina) did everything they could to avoid this unfortunate situation. South Carolina's primary date will not be announced today."
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Why does this remind me of the game; Leap Frog Gone Rogue?
What if any, are the penalties for FL breaking the rules?
Is it any wonder Teapublican voters earned the title of 'me firsters'? lol
I believe Fla. loses 1/2 of their delegates for breaking the rules.
When it comes to elections, Florida shouldnt try to attract any more attention to itself.
Bwahahaha...awe to be important in the primaries. One thing I like about this is that, we should get the show on the road faster with the selection of the Republican nominee for the POTUS. I only wish our elections cycle was mandated to be 4-6 months. None of this campaigning for years. Oh and while you are at it, throw some term limits in the mix for everyone. If the POTUS can only server 2 terms (if elected to the second), so should the members of the House and the Senate, right, right? Who is with me YEAH! (just channeled my inner Howey D.)
:)
Richard, you are correct. They will lose some delegates for leap frogging, however it will increase campaign spending in FL and other states who choose to move their primaries up.
Nothing in politics surprises me anymore... Politics, more than anything else, seems to make adults behave like children. Everybody wants to be first in line... Carried to it's extreme, the states will start having primaries the day after a new president is inaugurated, just so they can be first!
Why not hold all the primaries on the same day? That way no states will be inconsequential? I live in Indiana, and I don't even know why we have a primary, because by that time there is always a clear front runner that most people vote for because nobody wants to "go with a loser".
Hey Feisty--I love the "leap frog gone rogue" image--conjures up a picture of Christie trying to....oh-- maybe I don't want to see that! Thank you for the laugh!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
FR and Others -- Seems like you forgot that the democrats did the same thing in the last presidential primary --
The democrat national party stripped Florida of its delegates last year (2008), along with Michigan, when both states scheduled their primaries in January in violation of DNC instructions.
"Is it any wonder Teapublican voters earned the title of 'me firsters'? lol" So are you saying that the Tea Party is just like the democrat party?
In the sense they are both steaming piles of sh*t, I would say yes.
You are also correct James and they paid for it. Again, politricking at it's finest from both parties.
I cannot say I blame Florida.
They, like a lot of other late primary states, are tired of having the contest decided months before it gets to them. Personally I believe all primaries should happen on the same day nation wide. Cut the crap of these little states 'picking' candidates and have a true mini-election before the general. Especially places like Iowa and New Hampshire which really do not represent the vast makeup of the Republican party of today.
Also Florida may lose half their delegates and they may not. Florida will send all their delegates to the convention regardless of the date that is picked. If the primaries are close for any one candidate they will essentially 'dare' national not to seat them. National will cave. If it's a blow out it won't matter and they will probably be seated anyway to not appear exclusionary and thwarting the will of the people in Florida.
Have fun campaigning over the Holidays folks............
I agree with a few of the above posters....the primaries need to all be held on the same day for this to be fair. I'm in Illinois that has a later primary, and I can't count how many times the person I would have liked to have voted for has dropped out by the time we come up to vote.
"james-1937467
"Is it any wonder Teapublican voters earned the title of 'me firsters'? lol" So are you saying that the Tea Party is just like the democrat party?"
No. The Teapublicans are much, much worse in all respects. It is really not fair to try to compare Democrats to a dysfunctional bunch of losers.
The Republican strategy is to break rules, and lose 1/2 the delegates because they think the state will go blue?
I predict come Nov 2012 there wont be many blue states left....
Tea Party = Nazis + KKK
Does this mean good news for Cain?
Cain/Palin 2012
Right Cniht,
Lets all have the same pick of the litter that the first states do.
Well Mark and Domenico, we know where y'all will be spending the New Year's Holiday. Dang that darn Florida always causing trouble lol. Sorry guys, couldn't resist.
If Mark & Domenico invite us to their New Year's Eve party in Des Moines, I think we should all go!
I like that idea SF, maybe some of IA posters will join us.
On the othe rhand, when they come to Fl for some of the 'shows' will be glad to entertain them.
I'd join. But only if they hold it in a 'secret treehouse', of course!
I'm sure our Iowa friends will probably want to put us all up---all the hotels will be taken by disgruntled media types!
I live 40 minutes from Des Moines ... bundle up!
Feisty, from what I understand the punishment for Fl is they will lose half of their delegates. Which can be a problem if there are many different winners of the various primaries....as I see it it will spice things up from our perspective. Perhaps Mark and Co can address this in better detail.
Thanks Gingerbread Mamma - I remember hearing something to that effect a while ago.
Just curious why it wasn't included in the article...
PS: You're a lady who needs NO spicing up! ;o)
because its a toothless rule. At the convention, nobody wants to piss off anybody else. They'll be seated and FL knows it.
Huh, nothing on Buffett today guys?
Anyone think the intrepid reporters at FR heard what Warren had to say about Obama's new tax?
Jo Ling - here's your chance - go out there and WOW 'em.
Ol'Warren better keep his eyes on the skies watching for drones.
Gosh those things are effective.
Drones are like what Jay Leno used to say about Doritos........take all you want....we'll just make more!
Hmmmm.....I wonder if Florida would be "thrilled" (an understatement) about a Romney/Rubio ticket in 2012??.....whaddyathink? I don't think hanging chads would even matter anymore.....regardless!
Hmmm, Florida 20
00. Oops!Well, this time at least, the Dems are flexible. All this date-changing is sure going to affect the opposition, tho. This hassling about primary and caucus dates is a bad idea for the republicans.
I can't remember the last time a republican had a good ideal for America.
They have plenty of protection for the rich just none for the people of this country. So far their best ideal is stealing from the poor to give to the rich ala Norquist.
Romney's best ideal is to hire the same bush economic advisers that got us where we are today.
Perry best ideal is to kill social security the ponzi scheme.
Cain's best ideal is a advertising trick 9-9-9. Easy to remember bad for our country.
Paul best ideal is to take our country back to the 1700's. He wants a every state for itself mentality. The me first party only on state level.
Gingrich best ideal is that republicans need another contract to sign and pledge to above America.
Bachman best ideal is to default our country, but won't call it a default because she doesn't believe in defaulting.
Maybe mixing up the primaries will make their candidates look better.
What you really need to learn is your ABC's.
Vote for Anybody But Conservatives.
It is simple and easy to remember.
Learn your ABC's and move American to the future.
Smaller, more effective government. Fiscal responsibility. Constitutionally limited government. Free markets.
You know, all things liberals oppose.
Hope that helps.
Would this be the continuing gift from Reagan, Bush or Bush?
Or is this the continuing gift from Reagan, Bush or Bush?
Wait - this is the continuing gift from Reagan, Bush or Bush, right?
... do you see where I'm going with this, yet?
Actually, you're not helping. All of the principals you cite are wonderful in theory. Too bad not a single one of your conservative heroes actually practiced said principals.
Let's face it -- sniping people on these boards isn't accomplishing a single f*cking thing.
If you really feel like helping, I would be of a mind to advise you to vote for individuals, regardless of party affiliation, who can walk the walk (and the fine line) of social and fiscal responsibility.
You seem to very confused AF. One of these days you'll understand why there is a Tea Party.
Yeah, you're clueless.
Temper, temper AF - you're getting like Clara. She's off the rails too.
Then why do Liberals keep whining about the Tea Party?
And who might those be AF?
So, nothing, JoAnnaSmith1? All bluster; duly noted.
... and who is AF? This is YJSW. Less rage when typing, okay? The knee-jerk posting won't be nearly as obvious to the casual observer.
YJSW.........jas1 projects a lot, she also goes off the rails a lot, that means she's got nothing.
GBM,
I've lurked here for a number of months, but usually keep my mouth shut. JAS1's behavior isn't new to me. I felt finally compelled to call her out.
A good afternoon to you. :) I enjoy reading your posts.
". Less rage when typing, okay?"
See what you have to do if you want to keep Smith calm and relevant, YJSW, is what I do most of the time:
Politely thank her for her contributions, and ask that she keep 'em coming. She'll try to jab you a few times with something completly irrelevant ("Off the Rails", or 'Wears high-heels" or something), but it will make for a more pleasant experience.
For you, anyway.
Welcome aboard, YouJustSaid What! Love that name. And "less rage when typing"--they should all take that to heart.
Hope you'll join us this afternoon for Happy Hour at the Dew Drop Inn----rumor has it Feisty is buying the first round because her questions was chosen for the Boiler Room. There is a hint of fall in the air here today so I'm thinking of having spiced cider myself.
I sure am! Please join us...
There will also be plenty of champagne on hand in honor of Clara's Birthday! ;o)
I feel ya, Steeler Fan - it was a crisp 53 degrees this morning on the commute here in Iowa.
In so long as we all take a breather from politics, I'll see all y'all for cocktails at the DDI. Hell, I'll buy the second round after Fiesty.:)
American First--Lets start with just points 1 and 2.
1) the concept that self reliance and personal responsibility is a better tool to deal with economic problems versus using the government to create an entitlement state of reliance, tort reform, tax reform, entitlement reform, deficit spending under control in order to prevent the degradation of our kids and grandkids standard of living, welfare reform with welfare to work, How about education reform needed after decades of throwing money at the issue but fought tooth and nail by the teachers unions and democrats? This is just the short list and we could go on and on
2) give me an example of the rich literally taking from the poor. Do you mean because the rich pay the highest level of overall taxation based on the new OECD study than any country in the world? Do you mean that because they pay half of their working income thats not a fair share? Are the poor contributing or just taking $900 billion in social welfare programs annually from the federal government up 80% since Obama took office? Isnt that the rich giving to the poor? Or is the University of Michigan study that showed that prior to Obama taking office, over a 16 year period the bottom quintile poor, 80% moved up to next two quintiles of income. That showed the existing poor getting richer on a percentage basis than the rich. Its just that the poor are replace with a new group of legal and illegal immigrants to replace the old poor. Give me examples of the rich taking directly from the poor because all I see is government mandated attempts at creating equality when historically the path to financial independence is via self reliance and personal responsibility and not the government.
JoASS1 is clueless!
I do so wish I could find an appropriate venue to get my bluster on. Alas, perhaps I am too discerning and have been unable to find just the right victims. In my college days I preferred poop house walls and it appears that someone else here should go back to the good old days in the toilet. One of my favorites back then (found in the philosophy department) was: "What do you think of Immanuel Kant?" Answer: "I prefer an automatic one myself." One of them Kants may be hereabouts, I'll wager.
grump,
window pane or blotter?
huh?.............
I'm thinking blotter... definitely the blotter! LMAO!
Rod, either is fine by me. Philosophy and ephemera go together.
Do you suppose Kant is reading this? One's appreciation must be broad of scope and humor is fun-damental.
what? No 'sunshine'?
Oooo ... I KNEW IT, GRUMPS!
There is no escape. Perhaps window pane is best --- one could maybe escape. I would recommend screaming like a little girl while doing so.
YJSW -- you knew what and when? It's not really stalking. You are just fun to follow about.
I love derailing crazy people.
Can I count off-shoring labor as stealing? I thought the extension of tax breaks for these "job creators" was going to benefit the nation at large.
If you're going to besmirch welfare, fine. Just do it even-handed. Corporate welfare is at an all-time high. It is a rarity for "conservatives" to moan and groan about that. I think it has something to do with the greater ease in kicking someone destitute and already in the gutter.
You want people off the soup lines? Get them some f*cking jobs at a living wage.
Pops warned me off acid. All y'all are nuts.
I knew it was something in the water (or something), per our convo yesterday. ;)
Welcome to the 'boards. We're all crazy down here. Except me. And me.
And me.
A while back I was out shopping and found some $300 running shoes made in China. NAFTA and most favored trade nation status to China were sold to the American public by telling them that products would be cheaper to manufacture overseas and the public would see savings at the cash register. Oh, for a while that was true. Remember wal-mart when it's slogan was buy American? Now, major manufactures are making the profits and we, the stupid consumer, are paying higher prices for items made overseas than we were paying for American made products (when we still made things). Now we send our money and jobs to China, etc. Me make nothing and consume everything. We owe everyone and have no savings as a country or as individuals.
Welfare is one of the two ways out, I think. We will all be on welfare and we will all be needing it so don't besmirch welfare. Besmirch -- what a wonderful word. So, how can we bring those manufacturing positions back home (second way out) and put people to work making something? This is going to really hurt.
The Republicans don't want to do any of those things you mentioned but they sure will tell the voters what they think we want to hear. Anything to win the election, then it's back to the same old garbage. If they had wanted to have smaller government and balance the budget, then why did they keep voting for all of the Bush policies that put is economic peril?
All of the primaries should be on the same day and no more than 9 months before the election.
TJSW, My little rant at 6.24 reminds me of the South Park episode Goobacks. "They took our jobs."
Oh, Kittykat, don't be silly. You actually believe that one party caused all of this? Who signed NAFTA? Who made China our most favored trade nation? Clinton did. And the two presidents since him, one republican and one democrat (note that all three received campaign funding from Asia), have not done anything to repair the damage. And the union leadership? They said nothing and are just as much to blame as Congress and the Presidents involved. As long as each party can handily blame the other for this mess there is no solution. We are so screwed by both parties.
My fellow armchair economists and I were at the pub last night talking about the "how to ..."
You're right, grumps it is going to hurt. As a nation, in order to recapture the corner on manufacturing, we're going to have to work for a bit less to ensure some sort of reasonable competitiveness for wage costs.
Yousaidjustwhat--I agree and I would eliminate all corporate welfare. The government shouldnt be in the business of picking winners or losers in business and I would eliminate all loopholes and corporate subsidies. I dont know if I besmirched welfare as much as the reliance on entitlements. What do you think is better economic policy--self reliance and personal accountability for your own behaviorial choices or permanent collection of some type of government entitlement? A social safety net is absolutely necessary but when the government says that under their definition of poor and we now have over 40 million people in their definition of poverty do you know what that means? That means they make less than $22k a year but not counting any government assistance at all, welfare, EIC, food stamps, government living subsidies, medicaid etc. The average poor person under these statistics owns a car, has air conditioning and all the modern appliances, two TVs including one flat screen, a DVD player, a CD player, an Xbox a WI, two pairs of $200 dollar Nikes and a personal residence larger than the upper middle class residence of a European let alone the rest of the world along with free health care and a food diet that makes this person 30 pounds over weight. There are millions of people including children that need our safety net assistance but lets not get too over wrought on our definition of poverty.
As for offshoring--thats much more complicated than you make it seem. Do you really think its a zero sum game and that if they kept the job here in the US making your version of a living wage, it would have no impact on such business and jobs here? Lets take the car companies for example, if they cant compete against Toyota, Hyundai on price how do they keep those people employed? You realize if they cant compete on payroll cost which makes up the largest portion of a products cost they will lose all the jobs in the US and everyone loses. What about their ability to then compete overseas selling more GM cars, Cocacola etc here that creates more jobs in the US. Besides its not just offshoring, you do realize that legal and illegal immigration pushes down the wage rates as they will work for less and take your job away so not sure how you eliminate market competition for marketable work skills. Not that we cant do more to make sure that other countries play fair and compete fair like china making their currency float. They artifically keep their currency tied to the dollar so they can compete better with our products but thats a different issue than offshoring.
YJSW, whew!!! I thought you had run away and left me to fend for myself.
Right on all counts above, including more pitchers.
The other thing we should be doing (but aren't) is to quit f--king giving technology and patents away to anyone who wants it. They should be paying through the nose for technology developed over decades in the US by US workers. It just irks the dickens out of me that we have given oil exploration and refinement freely to China (and many other technologies as well) and the developers of the tech get nothing. Did you talk about that at the pub?
Kirk, you are missing the obvious. Those corporations receiving welfare contribute heavily to campaigns and such. Now, a politician wouldn't want to bite the hand that feeds him would he? And kittykat would have you believe that only republicans have their hands in corporate America pockets.
A quick look at history is revealing: half of the Rockefeller family were republican while the other half were democrat. So, whoever won the election didn't matter, the family was covered. This strategy remains popular today.
I'd buy Kirk and grumps a beer at this point .. well past Noon and all that.
Kirk - of course I've over-simplified. It's a message board ;) In brief: tariff imports, one-time-only illegal immigrant amnesty, THEN strengthen borders.
Oh, and do the thing that grumps is talking about.
Youjustsaidwhat--if you live in chicago I am all for it. I could use a few beers as long as they are domestic beers and not made by those damn foreigners. Grumps I realize your comments and only makes my point more of getting rid of them. But to both of you, I would love to have that discussion and agree with much of what you guys are saying and I appreciate the more intelligent discussion rather than the personal name calling.
Sorry to say, about 5 hours west of you, Kirk. With that said, domestic is fine by me! I have friends that swear by Heniken. I just swear at it.
Kirk and YJSW, a rather cynical friend of mine posits that we are in WW III at this point. Throughout history the nature of battle has changed and the winner had some new weapon that he could use effectively. For example, the long bow used by the English during the 100 years war with the French changed everything. Now the Central Communist Party of China is using capitalism, our desire for things and our greed against us as one might use a weapon. Just imagine the US borrowing money from China to fight a war in Afghanistan when the Chinese have the mineral rights in that country. It is happening as we speak and do you think they are going to share when all is said and done?
Maybe my friend is right about this being WW III and we are too eager to have stuff to see it.
Things are really bad in Europe right now. Last time I was in Spain my daughter-in-law's brother, who works for the local electric company, told me that Spain is out of coal. Imagine being a country out of coal. Jesus H. Christ! They buy coal from Canada and the US and ship it by boat to Spain to generate electricity! What a mind boggling idea. The rest of Europe isn't much better off.
What a crummy thought going into the weekend ;) Enjoy yourselves the next few days, regardless of impeding Chinese world domination.
The Chinese have a major problem. we have to buy their goods for them to prosper.
It is complete b.s. that a state can move up their primaries to benefit one candidate
Isn't this a repeat of the last time around? The RNC caved and gave them full representation as I recall and they will do it again.
I think a populated state will give more insight to the intentions of the populace than Iowa or NH. Good job someone plus it is a real primary not a caucaus.
Not necesarily yank. Can't speak for new hampshire, but here in iowa, I will never try to predict whether iowa will go to the left or right in a national election. Same for who eventually gets nominated for potus. Just increases a candidates exposure level. Even today with all the media attention prior to 2012 not even sure that being first isn't really just a PR move by iowa.
This economy is worse than the Great Depression in one very important way:
In the 1930's, all Americans, rich and poor, were affected and were trying to put America's economy back together.
Today, we see Republican ideologues deliberately trying to make the economy worse for what they believe will give them the White House.
Yep those dang Conservatives trying to stop runaway government spending/waste of our and China's money by this "can I buy your vote?" congress and Potus.
Conservatives talk about slowing spending, but that's not what they care about. Nonsense about Sharia law, New Yrok Islamic Centers, taking away workers' rights and NPR have zero to do will fiscal responsibility. We saw what conservatives think of small government and responsible spending during the lost Bush years.
What's with this I gotta be first all the time. Soon we will be holding
primaries in December. The democrat primary was not decided until late in the
year. Just because canidate wins in Iowa does not mean people in every other
state is going to vote for the same person. They think this is monkey see
monkey do process.
Why don't we just have one day for all PRIMARY's to be held. This is just becoming a "me first" campaign like little children.
What do you expect from a Republican-controlled state?
And what does leap-frogging accomplish? Not much: the four early states jump as well.
And how embarrassing: FL Republicans will unable to seat all their delegates at the convention they are hosting. And they insult their guests (delegates from Iowa, NH, SC, Nev) by disrespecting their first-to-vote status.
But what do expect from a state whose governor stated that the winner of the FL straw poll will be the Republican nominee? With all due respect to Mr. Cain, I think not.
Or from a state that is using taxpayer money to overturn taxpayer-approved anti-gerrymandering amendments?
Florida is rude.
And how embarrassing: FL Republicans will be unable to seat all their delegates at the convention they are hosting. And they insult their guests (delegates from Iowa, NH, SC, Nev) by disrespecting their first-to-vote status.
But what do you expect from a Republican-controlled state whose governor proclaimed that the winner of the FL straw poll would be the Republican nominee? With all due respect to Mr. Cain, I think not.
Or from a state that is using taxpayer money to overturn taxpayer-approved anti-gerrymandering amendments?
Abby...you are so right, as a long time resident of Fl, not all of Fl is rude, but it is dysfunctional politically, thanks to the Republicans and our insufferable Governor, he should be in jail.
NIce to have you posting, come often and make your voice heard. Peace
The corrupt Republican Party (like the Dems) want to marginalize the Ron Paul movement and rush our primary system before he gains more traction. Help Ron expose government corruption. Support a veteran, a doctor and a candidate that is honest, who doesn't flip flop to get votes.
Don’t just be sheep for our you limousine leaders… Cmon, the globalist lackey Obama is only doing what his corporate paymasters are telling him… Dump the economy and make them tons of money with insider deals. He is obviously a New World Order shill that knows he will be exposed as a usurper in chief if he gets out of line! LOL Please libs, wake up, don’t be bigots and play the race card. I don’t support Obama because…. he is as corrupt as Bush. Ron Paul 2012!!!
Ron Paul! Now there's a true American. He's condemning the killing of the terrorist Al-Awlaki as unconstitutional because this guy is an American citizen. How can anyone who declares himself as an American, condemn the killing of a sworn terrorist who denounces everything and anything regarding the USA; who preaches the overthrow of this country and the killing of men, women and children to accomplish it?
What Ron Paul is really doing is not praising this action since it was done under Obama's mandate. How ridiculous can one get? It's another indication that politics rules over what's good for America. Keep praising this idiot and you'll be considered just that, an idiot!!
t
Power brokers (money) will never allow Ron Paul to head their ticket. Supporters should begin now pressing him to run as an independent if they want to be heard in the end
Ron Paul is an idealogue who has actually done very little in the way of actual progress in the many years he has been in Washington. It's a nice place to be in theory, but we need people in government who can actually pass legislation, not vote against it every time.
Boss-2962637
You can add two more data point to Ron Paul's resume:
Tell that the families and friends of the 9/11 attack victims.
Excuse multiple posts. First time posting on First Read.
No problemo - welcome to the mud pit!
Takes a little while to figure things out here but you'll get the hang of it, Abby! Although the conservatives can't seem to figure out how to post first!
"...the conservatives can't seem to figure out how to post first!"
Correction, Steeler- Spanky did once. And, he hasn't been back to his regular job since, either.
all is fair in war and politics.
Lots of weird crap going on in FL these days. It's no doubt due to the wily ways of the crook they have as governor! He jsut has to try an one up New Hampshire who've had the first primary for decades. Believe me, Floridians simply do not compare with the people in NH. We're frugal, and put up with NO nonsense! Due to low turnout in 2010, a bumch a wackos are also in charge up here, a situation that will be clearly remedied in 2012. Right now, were ashamed of our state government and the wackos who are in power!
Let there be NO DOUBT a that a great effort will be made in the 2012 general elections to suppress the DEM vote in both FL and NH. They have all the right people in place. They have the money to do it (courtesy of the Koch Bros who are providing millions to finance the project all across the country). The question is, whether WE the people, to whom this country belongs, are going to tolerate what is sure to be a VERY nasty election. From their viewpoint, the GOP MUST win, or else they will go down in history as the party that nearly bankrupt the country intentionally, just so they could accomplish a longtime goal--the privatization of the entitlements. which is the ONLY was the GOP could eliminate this crushing debt crisis that they intentionally caused!
All that the GOP wants to do is to defeat Barack Obama. They want a Republican President in the Oval Office next term, and they'll put the screws to this Nation to make sure that Obama is a one-term President.
THERE ARE BIGGER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH!! GET REAL!!!
Thanks to their banking industry & Wall Street friends, our economy (for all but the filthy rich) is in turmoil, and all that you want to do is to defeat Obama.
I hope that the GOP is sorely defeated come 11/6/2012. Their childish actions clearly show that they don't deserve the Oval Office.
Dude, no one has swung more $$$ at the rich than Obama.
Stimulus I and II, ramping up the automated campaign (drones cost money, my man), engaging in a third war...
he overtook Bush as the "wanting to give money to bankers and CEO's!!!" president.
Once again, facts have no place in the brain of bigots and hate mongers. It was Bush who started the bail out, once he realized what he had done to this country. Obama came in and executed what Bush put in motion before he left office. The mistake that Obama made was not to increase the bail out--should have been doubled. No one envisioned just how badly Bush screwed the economy.
So, Dude! get your story straight and stop displaying your ignorance.
Obama really doesn't need the GOP's help in screwing him. He's doing a fine job doing it himself.
The GOP says " Put the Country First"...
Hell, they can't even figure out how to put their own Party first!
Let's make one thing clear. Florida did not move the primary up. The overwhelming majority of Republicans in the Florida state legislature moved the primary up. And if you haven't noticed, Republicans are nothing if not in your face arrogant.
Maybe the RNC should have a lottery every Presidential election like in the NBA... the states that lost the biggest percentage of votes - Republican vs. Democrat would get the most chances...
GJW..... the GOP doenst give a ratsass about "other issues". What is important to them is to take back the WH and the Congress so they can accomplish their MAIN GOAL: privatizing the entitlements. The ONLY way they can get rid of this incredible debt that THEY ran up DELIBERATELY is to get the entitlements privatized, funneling all that money into the hands of the corporation, banks and Wall St who just got finished crashing the ecnomy! The extremism that the GOP espouses has NEVER been seen in this country before. This is really a first!
Stop drinking that Koolaid
Republicans never seem to understand that some things are for profit, and some things are for the public good. Do Republicans expect to make profits from public libraries, or highways, or police departments? It's already scary enough that Rick Scott is trying to privatize prisons. If there is any place where making a profit is in conflict with the public good, it's prisons.
Perhaps they can privatize the Federal Reserve Bank. No, wait, the Fed is already private. Well, maybe they can shift course and lay claim to the money the Fed must have in its vaults. Think about it. The Fed loaned over $16 trillion (yes, trillion) after TARP to banks around the globe, and apparently has not gotten much back. That would pay off our national debt in one fell swoop. We'd be sitting pretty, alright, back on even keel. Sounds like a plan to me.
No we do see that, we just want you to pay for your own.