# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=300 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 301 --- ## [Another relevant race: Israel v. Iran?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384 "2012-08-15T23:35:26Z")
Now, this is just one liberal blogger’s speculation, mostly, but I thought the basic issues were worth musing on: There’s a lot of discussion within the post itself and in the commentary over whether any of this specul… --- ## [Paul Ryan, Radical Pro-Lifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-radical-pro-lifer/631376)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-radical-pro-lifer/631376 "2012-08-15T21:12:14Z")
Michelle Goldberg’s piece at the Daily Beast gets the basics down. Here’s the key part: If this were to become general knowledge, it would be hard for me to understand why any woman outside the Crazy 27%\* would vote f… --- ## [Dubya Vs. Romney](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-vs-romney/628172)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-vs-romney/628172 "2012-08-15T18:59:26Z")
If they were your only choices, who would you choose to be president and why? Ignore the question of constitutionality. --- ## [Bill Clinton Vs. Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-clinton-vs-obama/628178)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-clinton-vs-obama/628178 "2012-08-15T15:14:13Z")
The same as my Bush Vs. Romney thread Out of B. Clinton and B. Obama, who would you choose to be president and why? Ignore the question of constitutionality. --- ## [What's up with Jesse Jackson, Jr?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-jesse-jackson-jr/627806)
**Author:** [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-jesse-jackson-jr/627806 "2012-08-14T23:19:39Z")
Jesse Jackson, Jr left on a medical leave June 25, 2012. Here is TPM’s take on it: Category: Muckraker - TPM – Talking Points Memo They are commenting on the “vague and sometimes anonymous statements to the media that h… --- ## [What is the Republican Party actively doing to discourage racism in their party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2012, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285 "2012-08-14T07:47:11Z")
In what way is the Republican Party letting it be known that racists are not welcome there? How are they actively making racists uncomfortable? --- ## [1912 US Presidential Election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1912-us-presidential-election/630901)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1912-us-presidential-election/630901 "2012-08-14T06:33:31Z")
A hundred years ago three Presidents faced off in one of the most divisive elections in our country’s history. The incumbent President William Howard Taft and his VP \*\*James Sherman \*\*(later replaced by Nicholas Murray … --- ## [I don't think Mitt Romney even really wants to be president anymore...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-mitt-romney-even-really-wants-to-be-president-anymore/630353)
**Author:** [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-mitt-romney-even-really-wants-to-be-president-anymore/630353 "2012-08-14T03:58:56Z")
Am I crazy? Am I the only one? For some reason lately I’ve been getting this nagging feeling that Romney doesn’t really want to even be president anymore. I remember watching him in 2008 campaigning, and such, and he see… --- ## [WI: Romney Ran As A Rockefeller Republican](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-romney-ran-as-a-rockefeller-republican/631313)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wi-romney-ran-as-a-rockefeller-republican/631313 "2012-08-13T23:05:46Z")
During his years as Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney essentially was a socially liberal and economically moderate Rockefeller Republican like current Mayor Michael Bloomberg. So what if Romney ran on his record as g… --- ## [Discussion of a pro-Obama ad: its tone, content, and implications](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-of-a-pro-obama-ad-its-tone-content-and-implications/630871)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 136\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-of-a-pro-obama-ad-its-tone-content-and-implications/630871 "2012-08-13T16:16:41Z")
A blog discussion of a liberal super PAC ad that draws a connection between a blue collar worker’s wife’s death by cancer and Bain business dealings. Most of the commenters on this particular blog tend to be liberal, bu… --- ## [How conservatively would Mitt Romney govern?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-conservatively-would-mitt-romney-govern/631252)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-conservatively-would-mitt-romney-govern/631252 "2012-08-13T04:04:10Z")
This is an offshoot of various other threads and observations about how little some in Mitt Romney’s base seem to trust him, and about how many of those describe him as “not really conservative.” Should Romney be electe… --- ## [Obama administration undermines classroom order in pursuit of phantom racism.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-administration-undermines-classroom-order-in-pursuit-of-phantom-racism/631178)
**Author:** [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-administration-undermines-classroom-order-in-pursuit-of-phantom-racism/631178 "2012-08-13T03:52:23Z")
Do unequal number of suspensions by race = racial discrimination? Seems Arne Duncan & co are making some flawed assumptions and unfairly maligning teachers. --- ## [What if no one wanted to be the VP nominee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-no-one-wanted-to-be-the-vp-nominee/631185)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2012, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-no-one-wanted-to-be-the-vp-nominee/631185 "2012-08-12T08:14:12Z")
Vice President John Nance Garner once famously referred to his office as “not worth a bucket of warm piss”. And really, it seems like kind of a boring job. The VP’s only constitutional responsibilities seem to be stay… --- ## [Paul Ryan is VP candidate. But who’s your daddy? Who your daddy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-is-vp-candidate-but-who-s-your-daddy-who-your-daddy/631201)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-is-vp-candidate-but-who-s-your-daddy-who-your-daddy/631201 "2012-08-11T20:02:00Z")
ME! Dats who!:wink: I hope you all (especially the Mods) can indulge my ego on this one. In this thread and in THIS one, as well as several others, I pointed out Wisconsins own Paul Ryan and how he’d be a star in Repub… --- ## [Romney picks Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-picks-ryan/631186)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-picks-ryan/631186 "2012-08-11T12:16:36Z")
MSNBC announcing it’s a done deal. --- ## [Young Republicans More Likely To Be Socially Moderate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054 "2012-08-11T09:55:36Z")
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html Interesting article on how young Republicans (and Millenials in general) are more likely to be socially moderate. Speakin… --- ## ["Kiss my ass" \[Romney and the press\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-my-ass-romney-and-the-press/629962)
**Author:** [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-my-ass-romney-and-the-press/629962 "2012-08-11T05:26:34Z")
Lol. --- ## [Newsweek - embedded campaign reporters this year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsweek-embedded-campaign-reporters-this-year/631136)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsweek-embedded-campaign-reporters-this-year/631136 "2012-08-11T01:04:52Z")
In years past, I’ve always enjoyed Newsweek’s election-wrapup issues, when the reporters they’ve had embedded in the major candidates’ campaign organizations - given near-complete access, with the understanding that they… --- ## [What would the reports have to contain to disqualify Romney?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-reports-have-to-contain-to-disqualify-romney/630681)
**Author:** [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-reports-have-to-contain-to-disqualify-romney/630681 "2012-08-11T00:13:38Z")
I’m not American, but I’ve been following the debate about Romney’s taxes with a fair amount of amusement. I DON’T want to comment on whether he should, or should not release his taxes. Nor on what the Democrats would … --- ## [Do candidates for office ever see mental-health professionals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-candidates-for-office-ever-see-mental-health-professionals/630955)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-candidates-for-office-ever-see-mental-health-professionals/630955 "2012-08-10T14:27:44Z")
I assume they do. Almost everyone I know has seen or sees now a shrink of some sort, often chronically. These are healthy, fully functional professionals who do it as a kind of mental housekeeping, but if political candi… --- ## [The GOP doesn't seem to be a very healthy party these days. It's just racist fury & cultural rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-doesnt-seem-to-be-a-very-healthy-party-these-days-its-just-racist-fury-cultural-rage/630274)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2012, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-doesnt-seem-to-be-a-very-healthy-party-these-days-its-just-racist-fury-cultural-rage/630274 "2012-08-10T10:31:09Z")
The party I joined in my youth, and am still a registered Primary voter for, is almost unrecognizable to me these days. It’s like every stupid racist, anti-scientific, arrogant attitude I despise has rolled itself into a… --- ## [Should we really be trying to turn the economy around?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-really-be-trying-to-turn-the-economy-around/630804)
**Author:** [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-really-be-trying-to-turn-the-economy-around/630804 "2012-08-10T06:17:30Z")
I hate starting threads. I’m not very good at it and I usually don’t know which forum to post them in. That being said, I think that this question most likely belongs here: I live near the IL/Mo border and work in Mo.… --- ## [Okay, now I'm pissed (The Ohio military thing)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-now-im-pissed-the-ohio-military-thing/630385)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-now-im-pissed-the-ohio-military-thing/630385 "2012-08-10T03:40:59Z")
A friend just posted this article about Obama for America v. Husted in Ohio. The friend went on to say how horrible it was that Obama would deny members of the military the right to vote. So, I patiently explained that… --- ## [Blatant lies in political ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blatant-lies-in-political-ads/630848)
**Author:** [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blatant-lies-in-political-ads/630848 "2012-08-10T01:15:05Z")
Rachel Maddow’s Blog brings up an interesting point, in light of recent Romney statements (including an attack ad) that, using the most charitable interpretation, misrepresent the truth entirely. What can be done about … --- ## [Romney and ethics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-ethics/630985)
**Author:** [@onecut39](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onecut39)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-ethics/630985 "2012-08-09T18:59:35Z")
I keep repeating that legal and ethical are not the same thing, Being legal is often compelled behavior. The only thing that prevents unethical behavior is character. The right wing seems to applaud any unethical behavi… --- ## [Did Mitt Romney get a big bailout from Tarp?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mitt-romney-get-a-big-bailout-from-tarp/630949)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mitt-romney-get-a-big-bailout-from-tarp/630949 "2012-08-09T18:57:31Z")
I heard that the reason that Mitt will not release his tax forms is that he got a big bailout (~100 Mil) from the TARP program and he doesn’t want anyone to know about it. Is there any chance this is true? --- ## [How much would it cost to get Kim Kardasian elected PotUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-it-cost-to-get-kim-kardasian-elected-potus/630421)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-it-cost-to-get-kim-kardasian-elected-potus/630421 "2012-08-09T03:30:48Z")
Lets say Kim Kardasian found a bag of unlimited money, and decided she wanted to be President of the USA by 2020, what would the best path for her to take and how much would each stage cost her? I know Ronald Reagan was… --- ## [HMS Romney -- warship for the British](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-romney-warship-for-the-british/630647)
**Author:** [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hms-romney-warship-for-the-british/630647 "2012-08-09T01:49:33Z")
was stationed in Newfoundland and enforced the various tax acts during the Revolutionary War. Royal Commissioners would hide out on it to avoid patriots. I don’t know if this has already been done. Offshore haven for … --- ## [Is Romney secretly brilliant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-romney-secretly-brilliant/630360)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-romney-secretly-brilliant/630360 "2012-08-08T22:25:33Z")
If at all possible, dispence with your political prejudice and try to look at this impartially. Let’s make an assumption that politicians think Americans have a very short memory during elections. Also there a 3 months… --- ## ["If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-got-a-business-you-didnt-build-that-somebody-else-made-that-happen/628503)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 738\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-got-a-business-you-didnt-build-that-somebody-else-made-that-happen/628503 "2012-08-08T20:53:51Z")
Well, refreshing honesty at least, I suppose. So, I know quite a few Dopers here have been in business for themselves. How does this make you feel? And is the private sector still doing fine in your books? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=299) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=301)