I think it might be better for us for this GOPer thing to end soon.

[DCBob]

They are getting tons of attention by all media which gives them credibility just by providing the coverage. Although there have been some benefits from the incredibly dumb and extreme things the candidates have said, I think its time to end this clown show and get on to the real campaign. I think the President's team will function better once they know for sure who their opponent is going to be.

Just my opinion with the disclaimer I might be totally wrong..

[NAO]

1. George Lakoff pointed out yesterday that repetition is a reinforcing factor

Geroge Lakoff, the noted cognitive linguist had a column in yesterday's HuffPo about this problem.

The Santorum Strategy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/santorum-strategy_b_1338708.html

excerpt:

The Santorum Strategy is not just about Santorum. It is about pounding the most radical conservative ideas into the public mind by constant repetition during the Republican presidential campaign, whether by Santorum himself, by Gingrich or Ron Paul, by an intimidated Romney, or by the Republican House majority. The Republican presidential campaign is about a lot more than the campaign for the presidency. It is about guaranteeing a radical conservative future for America....

...

...Liberals tend to underestimate the importance of public discourse and its effect on the brains of our citizens. All thought is physical. You think with your brain. You have no alternative. Brain circuitry strengthens with repeated activation. And language, far from being neutral, activates complex brain circuitry that is rooted in conservative and liberal moral systems. Conservative language, even when argued against, activates and strengthens conservative brain circuitry. This is extremely important for so-called "independents," who actually have both conservative and liberal moral systems in their brains and can shift back and forth. The more they hear conservative language over the next eight months, the more their conservative brain circuitry will be strengthened...."

[DCBob]

2. Exactly... the ignorant masses can be easily manipulated by repitition..

and the GOPers are very very good at that... in fact thats about all they got.

[Raine1967]

3. I'm mixed about it.

I think you are right when you say "President's team will function better once they know for sure who their opponent is going to be. " This I totally agree with. I will admit that I believe the Campaign has been doing opposition research on all the candidates. It would be nice to see a focus on one GOP candidate.

(I look forward to Obama in a debate with any of these candidates.)

That said, the longer this primary race goes -- the more people see how weak, inefficient and misguided these candidates are. Currently they are eating their own. In essence, they are doing the work for the Obama campaign.

These guys have all got tons of attention for over a year now, the longer this goes on, the more self-identified Republicans will feel just burned out on them. I don't see any breakout candidate. The 'Meh' factor is playing a big part here.

I am pretty sure the Obama campaign is prepared for any one of these clowns and as long as they are out there spending money fighting against themselves, O can prepare.

[DCBob]

4. That sums it up nicely.

I feel much the same way... but now I am leaning towards getting on with the real show and ending the clown show.

[Raine1967]

5. Oh, Me too.

I'm ready for the big dance.

I am tired of seeing these men out-race themselves to the bottom. At this point it hurts the nation as a whole. It's making a mockery of our election process.

[grantcart]

6. Juxtaposition

Right now they are on the stage and look a little funny to most people.

When they are put on the same stage in close juxtaposition the contrast will be glaring.

Right now they can say anything and it goes unchallenged. When it goes to one on one an entirely new dynamic will take place.

The longer they continue to fight in this antagonistic way the deeper the divisions in the party will go because they really don't like each other or admire each other which was not the case with Obama and Clinton.

Also the longer it goes the less time they will have to put together a working team including a VP candidate.

It would be a concern if they were driving up numbers and there were tens of thousands showing up to see a Republican.

Just wait until the President starts appearing before crowds of a hundred thousand while the Republican nominee draws a few hundred.

Also the longer it goes the more the Republicans have to spend their money and the longer the President can accumulate money.

[RBInMaine]

7. Nah, let the clown car roll on and on. The more they talk, the more people hate them.

[hayrow1]

8. I don't want this to be over until the Repuke Convention.....

I always like it when the 11th Commandment is broken all the time be every one of the clowns.

[Rosco T.]

9. Remember what Lenin said...

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth"

[marlakay]

10. As soon as its over though

They will attack harder than ever on Obama instead of each other.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Aw heck no.

Remember 2008? Barack Obama didn't have a fraction of the "southern problem" that Rmoney does. Heck, he took South Carolina before most of us were convinced he could win the nomination. (I was one of those fence sitters between him and Hillary).

Difference being, MOST Democrats would have ended up happy with either of them, but the Republicans don't have that luxury. Especially if Rmoney is place or show tonight in both states.

Let them keep showing off the mass divisions in the party (and each others glaring weaknesses like this).

2008 wasn't settled until June, as I recall. Plenty of time and money to still spend on each other. They haven't even hit the top states like NY, TX, CA and PA yet.

[morningfog]

12. Media always covers trainwrecks.

It doesn't mean anyone likes them. The media can only tell you what to think about, not what to think. The media is covering the goppers race to the bottom, but they are not causing people to like any of the candidates more.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

13. Absolutely not. The longer their freakshow drags on the better. Let them spend their money and spew

their nonsense. It will come back to bite them.