Paul Ryan: the elephant in the room

[President von Cat]

Who else are they gonna vote for?

[Jerseyrules]

This makes me sick.  I'm a catholic.  My parents are catholic.  I am a Republican, as are they.  My grandmothers an immigrant from Germany.  We DON'T CARE WHO IS NOMINATED!  At this point, we're satisfied with ANYBODY BUT OBAMA!  Who cares what religion!  And Catholics are Christians too; I don't get what the big deal is.

[memphis]

Not so much that he's Catholic. Is that he doesn't have the southern/country/low class vibe that the GOP desperately needs. Romney already has the grown up college Republican vote. Especially in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio he's gonna need red meat Take Back Our (White) Country crowd. Instead, he went for the best looking Ayn Rand fan in America. I've yet to see Ryan campaign, but I don't get the impression that he can get the job done.

Either the "white working class" vote is more Democratic (or less Republican, alternatively) than the pundits give them credit for, or the Republicans take them completely for granted and really don't care about them.

White working class is absolutely more Democratic than popular conception would lead one to believe. They do lean GOP, of course, but that is much more a function of being white than being working class. In any case, turnout is going to be abysmal amongst these folks, whereas the GOP needs them to come out in droves.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Against Obama, yes. Never you worry.

Agreed.  There may have been a time when they wouldn't (about 100 years ago), but since it's the Republican ticket, of course they will.

[Rhodie]

And quit trying to paint the Republican base as some kind of intolerant group of voters.

Oh they do a good enough job of that themselves. There's no need to paint!

Though to be fair, the Democratic base does just as good a job of intolerance by spewing up anti-rich, anti-religious, anti-military views.

[Iosif]

And quit trying to paint the Republican base as some kind of intolerant group of voters.

Oh they do a good enough job of that themselves. There's no need to paint!

Though to be fair, the Democratic base does just as good a job of intolerance by spewing up anti-rich, anti-religious, anti-military views.

Anti-rich intolerance! Haha love it!

[milhouse24]

It is more about having a "Southern Candidate" on the ticket.  So far, Biden is the closest to a southern candidate. 

Apparently Romney thinks he can keep Virginia and Florida with Ryan. 

The country loves "southerners" and the "southern strategy" proved effective for JFk, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, CLinton, and Dubya. 

Its more important to have a "cultural Southern" on the ticket who cares about conservative Social values, than a specific religious label.  Catholic Santorum would have won the Southern states. 

[Rhodie]

And quit trying to paint the Republican base as some kind of intolerant group of voters.

Oh they do a good enough job of that themselves. There's no need to paint!

Though to be fair, the Democratic base does just as good a job of intolerance by spewing up anti-rich, anti-religious, anti-military views.

Anti-rich intolerance! Haha love it!

Basically classism.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

It is more about having a "Southern Candidate" on the ticket.  So far, Biden is the closest to a southern candidate. 

Apparently Romney thinks he can keep Virginia and Florida with Ryan. 

The country loves "southerners" and the "southern strategy" proved effective for JFk, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, CLinton, and Dubya. 

Its more important to have a "cultural Southern" on the ticket who cares about conservative Social values, than a specific religious label.  Catholic Santorum would have won the Southern states. 

Every presidential candidate has some type of Southern strategy.  The only two Southerners to ever run on the Republican ticket were both Bushes.  And as for Americans loving Southerners, I disagree.  Southerners are still portrayed by the media as stupid, racist, lazy, and unsophisticated.  While this is wrong and untrue, it's sill the perception that many people have.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I doubt it's as important to have cultural Southerners on the ticket as you think. The demographics have changed in Virginia and North Carolina enough that just having the support of cultural Southerners is not adequate for the Republicans to win. Do you really think McCain didn't win cultural Southerners?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Do you really think McCain didn't win cultural Southerners?

Interesting that you define 'cultural South' as inherently and exclusively white.

[Rhodie]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

And why would that be may I ask?

[All Along The Watchtower]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

And why would that be may I ask?

Because the rich, by definition, enjoy enormous privileges not seen by the vast majority of people.

[Rhodie]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

And why would that be may I ask?

Because the rich, by definition, enjoy enormous privileges not seen by the vast majority of people.

So basically whipping up resentment against the rich is okay, merely because they have made more money than the rest of us?

[Beet]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

And why would that be may I ask?

I think that was supposed to be a joke. (One in bad taste maybe, but it's Al.)

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It's not OK to dislike Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Anyone whining about 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' deserves, nay needs, to have their teeth kicked in.

And why would that be may I ask?

I think that was supposed to be a joke. (One in bad taste maybe, but it's Al.)

I was, of course, speaking metaphorically.

[Rhodie]

It's not OK to dislike Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian?

It is, but not because they're rich.

[Donerail]

And quit trying to paint the Republican base as some kind of intolerant group of voters.

Oh they do a good enough job of that themselves. There's no need to paint!

Though to be fair, the Democratic base does just as good a job of intolerance by spewing up anti-rich progressive, anti-religious tolerant, anti-military peaceful views.

[Rhodie]

And quit trying to paint the Republican base as some kind of intolerant group of voters.

Oh they do a good enough job of that themselves. There's no need to paint!

Though to be fair, the Democratic base does just as good a job of intolerance by spewing up anti-rich progressive economically disastrous, anti-religious tolerant offensive, anti-military peaceful appeasement views.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I was, of course, speaking metaphorically.

The point being, and also of course, that it is a position so completely and utterly absurd that if obnoxious deserved to be met with sudden violence, then that particular position would be a prime candidate. It's a vile and revolting stance to hold.

[Rhodie]

I was, of course, speaking metaphorically.

The point being, and also of course, that it is a position so completely and utterly absurd that if obnoxious deserved to be met with sudden violence, then that particular position would be a prime candidate. It's a vile and revolting stance to hold.

To bear no grudge against the wealthy is actually a highly virtuous stance.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

To bear no grudge against the wealthy is actually a highly virtuous stance.

To claim, as you did, that so-called 'anti-rich' 'bigotry' is a 'problem' is a despicable, craven and cretinous stance, you cretin.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Anyways, election time in the U.S always does seem to bring out new idiots. Urgh.