Hypothetical: you're a Republican, and you really want a Republican in the White House.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

Who do you vote for?

Right up front, this is a hard game to play. Every one of the Republicans at the kid's table and the "adult" one are a horror show. Bush is polling lower than low, Walker's getting the same. Rubio, Cruz, Jindal--they know these people will never be President, and I can't imagine anyone actually wants that. Carson? Yeah, aside from the crazy, he has a GOP-melanin problem that will only manifest if he rises in the polls. Chris Christie? They don't like him. Fiorina? Sure, she's getting some anti-Trump sympathy points this week, but sympathy points don't put a person in the White House. I'm sure I've missed a couple of glue huffers and other GOP luminaries, but you get the idea--the Republican field is bankrupt, and if my guess is correct, even Republicans are feeling that way.

So...Trump. Undoubtedly, some percentage of his support is from mean, aging, dumb Republican males who are into his brand of brash, loudmouth, know-nothing politics. Aside from those people, I'm beginning to wonder if some Republicans are supporting him because they know their entire field is corrupt. And they'd rather see Trump break shit on a national stage than to support a Democrat. Is a Trump vote a kind of weird protest vote for some Republicans?

Put another way, if you can even manage to imagine such a thing, who would you vote for if you were a Republican, and voting Republican was more important to you than any other consideration? I can't empathize with these people, and I don't even want to, but I do find myself wondering what the 2016 race looks like to them. They're between a rock and a stupid place.

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

1. Thinking like a

repuke causes brain damage so I'm going to pass on this exercise.

[Shandris]

2. All the Republicans I know want Carson.

That's my entire family save me and two others, plus a smattering that I know from churches I've attended in my youth. I know it's cute to pretend Republicans are all racist, but that's one of the dumbest memes posted here constantly.

Furthermore, some of them have been talking about him for at least 2 years. Only one looked into Trump (that they've told me), but didn't feel he was an authentic candidate (which I agree with...for the moment).

Personally, if I were still republican and believed voting helps (it doesn't...not that I don't still vote anyway), I'd vote Trump. Why? Because he's dumb enough to make people really start to think "Hey, maybe I should pay a little attention to this small number of people who have stolen my future, my past, my present, and are looking at stealing the same from my children and everyone else on the face of the planet".

Until then, people will still believe that this world is going to get somewhere with a monetary system that's 6,000 years old now. We don't wear clothes from six years ago, we don't often discuss history from six decades ago, we can't even NAME who was related to us six generations ago...but money? Yeah, that has to stay the same for another 6,000 years. After all, about 100 families have 99.99 percent of it. I'm sure they're looking forward to 'sharing' it after a few hundred years. Had a change of heart, they have!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

4. I appreciate your reply, while still maintaining Republicans have a racism problem.

Of course not all Republicans are racists, but a good percentage of them are.

Aside from that, it will be interesting to see what happens with Carson. I'd call him a policy lightweight (he is), but that would sound pretty naive given his competition.

[Shandris]

10. I'll happily grant the 'high percentage'. It's simply the 'all'...

...that I don't like, as my family is very far from racist (on the whole, naturally).

Yeah, his policy is pretty slim, but compared to the opposition he's almost perfect (in a strictly comparison, remaining hypothetical sort of way of course). Interestingly, my family -- most of whom truly loved GWB, Gods help them -- cannot stand the idea of Jeb. No more dynasties they say, and they mean it.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. What I say is they are all bigots, and Carson most certainly is a raging anti gay bigot

Those who were adverse to bigotry and horrific denigration of others would not support such a man.

[Shandris]

13. Well, you're entitled to be wrong about people, I suppose.

We all are, and that's okay. People can choose to continue buying into the divisive psyops for the elite, but I'll have no more part of it.

[cheapdate]

22. So, Carson isn't staunchly opposed to equal legal rights for gays and lesbians?

[Shandris]

25. Dunno. Don't care because he's not my candidate.

If you want to play along with the agenda too, hey, more power to you. I won't. Deal with it.

[JI7]

28. you are the ones who tried to claim people who supported CArson are not bigots, and racists love

black people like Ben Carson who attack other black people. look at the black people they support.

and look at the ones like Michael Steele who they don't support.

[Shandris]

29. I'm not entirely sure what it is you're even saying. I am 'the ones' who 'tried'...

...to claim 'people who supported Carson'...<snip>. No, I am the single person (I actually assume that 'ones' was a typo, but you could mean/think I'm part of some group, so I left that part in to be clear) who said that there are some Republicans who, like it or not, simply aren't what a lot of people here think they are. No more, no less. That so many think that's some kind of unforgivable statement SHOULD be alarming in and of itself, but for some reason that fact seems to slide past people (read: the agenda works amazingly well).

Furthermore, you keep referring to who 'they' support, yet you have literally no way of knowing what 'they' think of Michael Steele since 'they' means 'my family'. Did you miss that part by chance? It seems to make the most sense, at least.

[JI7]

43. people who support ben carson ARE bigots

[cheapdate]

30. I'm simply asking for you to clarify your outlook on Ben Carson.

This is a discussion board. The name of this forum is General Discussion.

It was proposed that Ben Carson is a bigot with regard to LGBT equality -- that is, that he opposes full legal equality for that group of people.

Your reply, "Well, you're entitled to be wrong about people, I suppose" was ambiguous, but could reasonably be taken to mean that you dispute the proposition that Carson is a bigot.

As for my alleged desire to "play along with the agenda" (the "agenda" having something to do with "divisive psyops for the elite&quot I don't really have much of a desire to try to untangle that statement. But if you care to elaborate, then be my guest.

[Shandris]

38. "I'm not playing along with a divisive agenda, but here...let me try to play...

...'freeze the poster' with some divisiveness, okay?"

Yeah, nah, it's cute though. Too bad I won't see it again, I suppose.

[cheapdate]

39. It was a straightforward question.

You've chosen to answer with yet another riddle.

I believe it's safe to assume that asking you the same question again would only beget another riddle.

So, good day. I'd like to say it's been enlightening. I have an agenda to plan!


(edit : in support of my "divisive agenda", saw this tidbit on the front page, "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," -Ben Carson on NBC's "Meet the Press." 9/20/2015.)

[gollygee]

41. Divisive psyops for the elite?

You think speaking out against bigotry is "divisive psyops for the elite?"

[gollygee]

42. I know racist people voting for Carson

Racist people are perfectly happy to exceptionalize one person of color, while remaining racist.

[TwilightGardener]

3. They like Trump because he just opens his mouth and whatever comes out, comes out.

Unapologetic insult comic, simple prescriptions for complex problems, self-funded billionaire. Come on, they love this shit.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

5. No doubt some do.

But aren't there some Republicans who are just ashamed of the entire, sorry field? I hope so.

[brer cat]

8. I know some who changed their

registration to independent. I am going to be curious to see who they vote for, if they are willing to say.

Not all republicans are stupid, racist, or bigots. I would hope by now they are all independents if not dems.

[moonscape]

6. I'm going to get tired of repeating my prediction, but Rubio:

Conservative, young, energetic, a little experience but not too much, quick (if awful) on his feet, passionate ...

I think he poses a real threat (Florida), could take it, and terrifies me.

My bet is on him to be their nominee.

[madville]

9. I think at a minimum

He's their VP.

[Chan790]

12. I don't think he even can win a GOP FL primary...

so he's about as viable as Jim Webb on the Democratic side. I don't know why these already-loser candidates are still in it except Fuck I already declared, I might as well stay in just in case I become the default front-runner if all the other primary candidates in my party's primary race are killed by a falling lighting-rig in a debate I wasn't even invited to value.

[stevenleser]

35. He and Jeb are getting crushed by Hillary & Sanders in polling in FL last time I checked

IIRC.

I don't think they have any reason to be on the ticket.

[spanone]

7. i'd sit this one out and change my party affiliation immediately

[onecaliberal]

14. ^^That^^

[Solly Mack]

15. I'm twisted. Seriously twisted at times, but even I can't go there mentally.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

16. I really do know what you mean.

But...whether you and I can even conceive of it or not, one of those jokers is going to get the nomination. I'm trying to understand who that will be, and why. But yeah, I'm having a hard time with this.

[Solly Mack]

18. There's a part of me that thinks Trump will drop out.

He's having fun now and he's rubbing the GOP's nose in it but good. I think there will come a time when it stops being fun to him. And, yes, I do think he's that shallow. (and that petty)

He's a businessperson, so he'll want something for dropping out - and he'll get it.

Palin showed us that the GOP will nominate anyone. Well, Shrub showed us that, but we know republican voters aren't afraid of voting for the biggest idiots in the world, but the establishment $$$ republicans are more than a little anxious these days. I think they're scrambling behind the scenes like mad to work out a solution that takes Trump out of the running. They'll offer anything they have to get Trump out.


So, look to the more establishment Republican candidates. One of them will be the nominee.

Or not. They nominated McCain/Palin after all.

I'm most likely wrong. I don't feel strongly about what I typed, so I won't be defending it. Well, I do think Trump will drop out - but not before he has a little more fun.

I'm not saying what he is doing is funny - it isn't. I'm saying he's having fun.

[NV Whino]

17. Kasich

[DisgustipatedinCA]

20. I'd say he is the most sane of the group

But isn't he sitting somewhere around 1%? Maybe Republicans will gather some sanity around them and nominate Kasich, but I'm not seeing it just yet.

[NV Whino]

21. The minute he entered the race I predicted he would be the nominee

Purely because he is the least crazy.

I think Rubio might be the VP nomination. Or it could be Carly. One (relatively) sane paired with one crazy.

[stevenleser]

36. That's because you are thinking like a Dem and not a Tea Party crazy

If the most sane person got it, Huntsman would have been the nominee in 2012.

[NV Whino]

37. Good point.

And you're right about Huntsman. The GOP really missed the boat on him. I think he could have pulled a lot of Dems into the fold.

[greatlaurel]

24. Mr.Twitchy? He has more skeletons in his closet than Walker.Ohio rightwing media has covered for him

The fact that he worked for Buzz Lukens should have buried him before he ever started. His charter school and R(J)obsOhio scandals will sink him nationally. He and his GOP owners are robbing the citizens of the state of Ohio blind.

[LuvLoogie]

26. You forget that those are all pluses in "screw you" bagger land.

[hay rick]

19. Kasich.

He can draw "social liberals" and I think pandering to the ultraconservative Republican base ordinarily makes sense in the primaries but may not be necessary in 2016 as long as there are several candidates remaining in March to split that vote. The Republican base may shun him in the primaries but they will view him as a necessary lesser-evil vote in the general. I see Kasich inheriting the role everyone expected Bush to play before people started seeing him as cold, clumsy, and uncomfortable...TV is not his friend.

[nevergiveup]

23. To be a Republican

one must be stupid. So to answer this question I must play the role of being stupid. Playing the stupid role I find myself liking Trump.
I hope that helped.

[ryan_cats]

27. Who do you vote for?

Who do you vote for?

Hillary Clinton in the primary and God forbid, the general election.

Not a hard game to play at all.

[Garrett78]

31. Kasich-Rubio (OH-FL) is probably their best bet.

Last edited Sun Sep 20, 2015, 05:11 AM - Edit history (1)

The Republican nominee *must* win Florida and probably needs Ohio, too. Kasich and Rubio are at least capable of seeming reasonable (relatively speaking).

Carson provides the perfect cover for racists. "I can't be a racist, I support Ben Carson." But, of course, there are plenty of racists (and deniers of both white privilege and institutional racism) who support individual persons of color. There are even people who are racist and married to a person of color.

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. Kasich - hands down

Whatever he might believe or not believe - I think he would appeal to independent and almost certainly carry Ohio.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. I think the question is, as a Republican WHY do you want a Republican in there?

(Distinct, mind you, from the question "as a presumably sentient being, why do you want a Republican in there"? Which is asked with different inflection and a totally different meaning)

Point being, there are a whole bunch of different Republican Parties right now, and they can't even come together in this sort of "yes we have different priorities, but---" way. They all have completely different core motivations, some of them in direct conflict with each other.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

34. If I were a Pub I would vote for the Donald because he hates Mexicans the most

Conservative hate for Hispanic Immigrants has been growing over the last 15 years. Most have moved beyond black hate and that hate has been shifting to Hispanic Immigrants

Whom ever hates the most and articulates the best hate will win the hearts and minds of the conservatives
.

The Carson support is really a very cynical way for them to say see we like us some black folks our hate towards Obama was not raced based.

A majority of Conservatives do not and will not support via votes or $'s a non white with political power.

[Kang Colby]

40. I think your theory is spot on...

In a hypothetical with Trump as a GE candidate, I think there will be lots of non-tea party republicans, some independents, and even a few democrats who vote Trump as a "protest vote" of some form or another. Each group with their own collective and individual reasoning that I won't try to understand in detail. Generally, I think it is a desire to simply witness a nut like Trump "break stuff" on the national and international stage that gives them this desire.

Plus, a lot of people will vote for him due to name recognition alone and nothing more.