# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=276 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 277 --- ## [It's just over here, over there.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-over-here-over-there/644143)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-over-here-over-there/644143 "2012-12-18T13:34:43Z")
I finally got all my thoughts together about the CT and wanted to share what I posted on Facebook about the incident. I just hate to see all the victims subjected to the same song and dance. People care for a few weeks … --- ## [2012 Japanese Elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-japanese-elections/644316)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-japanese-elections/644316 "2012-12-18T09:12:10Z")
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/world/asia/conservative-liberal-democratic-party-nearing-a-return-to-power-in-japan.html?ref=world&\_r=0&pagewanted=all Yesterday the Japanese people went to the poll in parliamentary el… --- ## [So, how high was your area's voter turnout for the presidential election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-high-was-your-areas-voter-turnout-for-the-presidential-election/643800)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-high-was-your-areas-voter-turnout-for-the-presidential-election/643800 "2012-12-17T14:57:33Z")
In Wisconsin, just over 70% of all eligible voters cast ballots (“eligible voters” is an estimate of the number of citizen residents of voting age). 3,071,434 votes cast, out of 3,515,296 registered voters (as of Nov 5,… --- ## [Should states be able to split electoral votes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-able-to-split-electoral-votes/640813)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-states-be-able-to-split-electoral-votes/640813 "2012-12-17T04:29:55Z")
Rather than states rewarding their electoral votes in a winner take all fashion would it be more fair to be able to divy them up by result percentages? So for a state like Florida that gave Obama 50% of the vote and Rom… --- ## [Will fist fights in Congress happen soon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fist-fights-in-congress-happen-soon/643937)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fist-fights-in-congress-happen-soon/643937 "2012-12-17T01:43:27Z")
Has the hatred between Democrats and Republicans reached this point yet? Right now I’m so disgusted with both parties. The refusal to solve this budget crises yet again is beyond stupid. It’s time to clean out the knuckl… --- ## [Does Obama know that the election is over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-know-that-the-election-is-over/643701)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-know-that-the-election-is-over/643701 "2012-12-16T12:33:12Z")
By the number of emails I’m still getting begging for money, you’d think that he may have missed the news. The answer is still “no”, sir. You’ve gotten all you’re going to get. And by the way: those trips you’re takin… --- ## [Do most people actually realize you reelect Congress every two years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-people-actually-realize-you-reelect-congress-every-two-years/643185)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-people-actually-realize-you-reelect-congress-every-two-years/643185 "2012-12-16T05:10:56Z")
I mean, holy fuck…You hear all this hooplah about the government doing this and that and how no one likes them on the whole (somehow they have climbed back to a 16% approval rate). Yet, you rarely see an huge shifts in C… --- ## [White Evangelicals are half of GOP primary voters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-evangelicals-are-half-of-gop-primary-voters/643689)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-evangelicals-are-half-of-gop-primary-voters/643689 "2012-12-13T15:03:23Z")
Just as point of interest I knew they were a force, but I had no idea they constituted such a huge block of the GOP. White Evangelicals are half of GOP primary voters --- ## [A Republican Rebranding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-republican-rebranding/642382)
**Author:** [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-republican-rebranding/642382 "2012-12-13T12:19:28Z")
To stay viable in national politics, the Republican Party needs to rebrand itself. The current party is too easily caricatured as the “rich white guy” party, and some of it’s core positions are on the wrong side of socia… --- ## [RUA Nut?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rua-nut/642967)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rua-nut/642967 "2012-12-13T09:07:43Z")
Basically, there are only a few issues that determine whether you’re a moderate conservative normal person whom I need to listen to sometimes, or whether you’re a total whackjob whom I can safely and happily ignore. On e… --- ## [Where does unused money donated to political campaigns go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-unused-money-donated-to-political-campaigns-go/643687)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-unused-money-donated-to-political-campaigns-go/643687 "2012-12-13T09:02:41Z")
Where does surplus money donated to political campaigns go after the campaign is over? --- ## [Charlie Crist joins Democrats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401 "2012-12-12T20:06:29Z")
\[ \](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_CRIST\_DEMOCRATIC\_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-08-00-39-05) Will he now run for Governor again, only this time as a Democrat? --- ## [What if there was a limit to campaign spending?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-was-a-limit-to-campaign-spending/643713)
**Author:** [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-was-a-limit-to-campaign-spending/643713 "2012-12-12T02:37:50Z")
Say a limit of $1,000 per donation. Once it reaches 1 million for Presidential candidates, $500,000 for both houses of congress candidates, they can accept no more. Level playing field. Now, creativity enters the pict… --- ## [2016: Obama's America (no, not the stupid movie)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-obamas-america-no-not-the-stupid-movie/641436)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-obamas-america-no-not-the-stupid-movie/641436 "2012-12-12T01:42:02Z")
It’s 2016. Obama’s second term is winding down. What does America look like? What issues has he faced and how did he handle them? Are we better off than we were four years ago? I laughed at the many Doomsday predict… --- ## [Bush arrested! Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush, that is](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-arrested-cayman-islands-premier-mckeeva-bush-that-is/643768)
**Author:** [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-arrested-cayman-islands-premier-mckeeva-bush-that-is/643768 "2012-12-11T23:38:58Z")
Doubtful that many Dopers would follow Overseas territories politics but our Premier was arrested today December 11, 2012. Cayman Islands Premier W. McKeeva Bush was arrested on suspicion of theft, breach of trust, abus… --- ## [Thiessan's Three Points](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thiessans-three-points/643700)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thiessans-three-points/643700 "2012-12-11T20:31:18Z")
So conservative columnist Marc Thiessen, with whom I normally disagree, has an interesting column on how the GOP should stick to fighting it out on the current fiscal troubles. I don’t want to take issue with his ‘fight… --- ## ["What Republicans are really up against: population density"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-republicans-are-really-up-against-population-density/643463)
**Author:** [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-republicans-are-really-up-against-population-density/643463 "2012-12-11T18:54:20Z")
That’s the title of a nice little analysis that’s been making its way around the web recently. In brief, there’s a clear trend in the 2012 Presidential Election data: counties with less than 800 people per square mile a… --- ## ["Liberty Movement" (Ron Paul followers) asserts that it's in the conservative driver's seat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberty-movement-ron-paul-followers-asserts-that-its-in-the-conservative-drivers-seat/643528)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberty-movement-ron-paul-followers-asserts-that-its-in-the-conservative-drivers-seat/643528 "2012-12-11T18:30:05Z")
Most of this somewhat turgid article says the GOP POTUS campaign loss happened because the GOP was not hardcore enough and the true believers it needed walked away. It ends by asserting that the GOP needs them desperate… --- ## [Why do Republicans love the payroll tax?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-love-the-payroll-tax/642960)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-republicans-love-the-payroll-tax/642960 "2012-12-11T06:15:44Z")
For the last couple of years there has been a payroll tax “holiday”, which has largely benefited middle class wage earners. The president’s proposal for averting the “fiscal cliff” continues this, while the Republican c… --- ## [Candidates: moving on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidates-moving-on/643078)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidates-moving-on/643078 "2012-12-08T13:37:27Z")
So we know that poor Mittens is so bored that he’s had to buy a new SUV (not American made) and go on a Costco shopping spree. Rick Santorum has revealed his true loony side and gone to World Net Daily as a columnist, w… --- ## [Debunk or support this election claim](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-or-support-this-election-claim/642906)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-or-support-this-election-claim/642906 "2012-12-07T21:11:51Z")
At a recent gathering, I overheard the following claim concerning voters in the recent US Presidential Election: Of those whose paycheck comes from any level of government (federal, state, local, etc.) over 80% voted fo… --- ## [Who serves longer, the average Senator or the average House of Reps person?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-serves-longer-the-average-senator-or-the-average-house-of-reps-person/643187)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-serves-longer-the-average-senator-or-the-average-house-of-reps-person/643187 "2012-12-06T15:29:43Z")
Counting three H of R terms as one complete Senate term, do Senators have more or less turnover than Reps? (Don’t get into oddball cases where someone serves non-consecutive terms, and don’t get into the commonality of … --- ## [Hey, remember how the blacks were going to riot if Obama lost?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-remember-how-the-blacks-were-going-to-riot-if-obama-lost/640227)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-remember-how-the-blacks-were-going-to-riot-if-obama-lost/640227 "2012-12-05T22:57:06Z")
Guess what? Sore losers indeed . . . --- ## [Can a viable Republican candidate survive the primaries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-viable-republican-candidate-survive-the-primaries/641724)
**Author:** [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-viable-republican-candidate-survive-the-primaries/641724 "2012-12-05T22:37:35Z")
Romney has lately said that one of the reasons he lost was the primary contests, i.e. Republicans beating each other up to see who can most appeal to the base. The problem course is that the base is way out there so mode… --- ## [What Foreign Political Parties Would You Support?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foreign-political-parties-would-you-support/641384)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foreign-political-parties-would-you-support/641384 "2012-12-05T20:15:30Z")
As an American and a moderate conservative/conservative liberal… USA-Republican (but would have supported Obama this year) Canada-Conservative Mexico-PAN Brazil-Democrats Chile-National Renewal Party Argentina-Radi… --- ## [Why did Mitt Romney fail with Hispanics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mitt-romney-fail-with-hispanics/642659)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-mitt-romney-fail-with-hispanics/642659 "2012-12-04T15:22:37Z")
Romney was the first Mexican to be a major presidential candidate and yet he got less than a third of the Hispanic vote. Why? --- ## [Florida Republicans Admit Voter Suppression Was The Goal Of New Election Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-republicans-admit-voter-suppression-was-the-goal-of-new-election-laws/642305)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-republicans-admit-voter-suppression-was-the-goal-of-new-election-laws/642305 "2012-12-04T05:56:47Z")
For those who thought that making restrictive voting laws was all about the “integrity of elections” and to ensure “illegal aliens didn’t vote” (we’ll see if the biggest supporter of these theories here, Bricker, rears h… --- ## [How often do you vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-vote/640219)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-vote/640219 "2012-12-04T05:21:28Z")
The poll options are specifically written for the American system, but I suppose this could still apply to anyone living in a democratic country. Select the option that most closely characterizes your voting habits, in … --- ## [Is this the Seventh Party System?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-seventh-party-system/642011)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-seventh-party-system/642011 "2012-12-04T02:21:58Z")
The OP from my GD thread in 2008: The Republican resurgence in 2010 seemed to cast doubt on this analysis, but it seems to have peaked. Now, after the hardest-fought, most expensive election ever, Obama remains presid… --- ## [Romney has little interest in helping the Republican party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-has-little-interest-in-helping-the-republican-party/642751)
**Author:** [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-has-little-interest-in-helping-the-republican-party/642751 "2012-12-04T01:30:15Z")
It’s too bad we didnt get a man of such great character as our next president… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=275) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=277)