Grimey, Congratulations on again being selected for In the Boiler Room. You must have some sort of record. Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

Hooray, Grimey!!! Good question!

Almost everyone turns the sound off the minute they see one of these clowns ..

Hey, Frank "Grimey", terrific question. Also hats off to Mark and Domenico for their answer.

I'll add that a lot of the debate about good or bad if there is a long or short primary depends on the election year and on the candidates involved. The Obama and Clinton primary made both better candidates, both better debaters because both were knowledgeable; it also provided voters with a real sense of who the candidates were both personally and politically. Neither Clinton or Obama attacked the others character, neither did "personal" attacks; they stuck to hitting the differing policy positions, experience vs less experience, they were respectful of the other and told voters their vision, their ideas, etc.

What we're seeing in the GOP side is a lot of really mean, personal attacks on each other. This should not be a surprise because during the last 4 years, since the entrance of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party, we have seen a really nasty, mean spiritedness coming from the GOPTP.

I don't see the GOP picking Huntsman or Gingrich and definitely none of the others besides Romney. Short or long primary for Romney, not sure it matters because both mean trouble of one kind or another for him. Too short, and he becomes the focus of the media and voters--all his Bain Capital baggage, his record as MA Gov, RomneyCare, the flip flops, the attacks by the other GOP candidates will provide ample general election material which likely will not be favorable. Too long, and Romney has to stay far right thus alienating moderate republicans, independent voters. In this hyper-far right GOPTP atmosphere, I would not be surprised if Romney had to remain far right anyway or risk a 3rd party challenge.

There were some rough moments in the campaign between Hillary and the President such as when Ms. Clinton speculated if Obama was up to that 3:00 a.m. phone call.

Seemed to have no problem when he wanted to "reach out and touch someone": Osama bin Laden. Even some RWNJ's on this board were forced to concede Obama's effectiveness in that arena. Poor righties.

In my opinion the spurious and excessive republican "debates" have served no purpose but to provide fodder for late-night comics. The repubs seem to reinforce each others impotent and ineffective ideology far better than the Democrats could hope to do. Democrats could not have exposed so many candidate flaws in such a short amount of time as the republicans themselves did.

It has been said that "familiarity breeds contempt", and the U.S. voting public seems more than "familiar" with this group of ding dongs. I'm convinced that even the small amount of sane republicans left want no part of them in 2012. They wanted no part of Palin either. The result of that is, of course, history. If repubs do show up to the polls, look for them. They will be the ones with the paper bags over their heads. I wouldn't want anyone to know I was voting for any of these bananas either.

If nothing else this political season exposes how tragically dysfunctional the GOP has become. It is a deranged joke of what it once was. The party of Lincoln and Nixon is gone. It has been replaced by a collection of pandering, used-car salesmen, strutting peacocks and prostitutes casting about for corporate Johns.

A joke.

I don't believe most people are paying attention unless they have a primary or caucus coming up. The exposure in those states is likely unending and full of more BS than a cattle ranch. The Democrats are taking notes and no matter who wins the Republican nomination are armed with plenty of ammunition to lay on them. With the economy getting better, albeit slower than we might like, and the final end to one of Georgies little wars, things are looking better for Obama all the time. Taking things one issue at a time as they come along and being steady on his rhetoric President Obama looks far better than any of the GOPtpers will ever look. When the first round or two are over the Republican that will emerge from the crap pile will be Willard Romney. Ron Paul, Michelle Bachmann, and Rick Perry are just plain loco and Newt is so hypocritical that flip flop Romeny looks good by comparison. As for the others people are already saying "who?".

Mitt's flip flopping will offer great fodder for the Democrats and the overall Republican no, no, and no policy will haunt them too. I see a possible landslide for Obama and super majorities in both the Senate and the House for the Democrats.

Yes, the term dysfunctioal seems to fit the Obama administration. Seems Barrack doesn't care for the work involved in being President. Easier to push it all on congress and then berate them for not getting it done to his satisfaction. Easier to vote "present" I guess. Far easier to develop that "No" reflex that all the loser liberals develop soonor or later.

How's that pineapple taste down there in Hawaii Barrack?? Good, that's good. You just stay down there for a few more months. No one will miss you.

ABO 2012