# Ben Carson for President thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 31, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554 "2015-08-31T22:58:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/221 "2015-10-10T02:14:26Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I swear he sounds like he’s strung out on Vicodin or some other pain killer. And what is up with his [talking with](http://media.salon.com/2014/07/ben_carson.jpg) his [eyes closed](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2dndd6JrY1r4gei2o6_400.gif)? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/222 "2015-10-10T06:45:24Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > What’s amazing to me is that he thinks a wholesale cut of 3-4% of the budget (which he would likely exempt defense due to his other priorities, but whatever) would come close to balancing the budget. An intelligent debate with Carson’s views is an oxymoron, but note that many departments have fixed equipment and administrative costs(\*), so, for example, a 3% cut to Homeland Security’s airport security operation might cause a 5% layoff of the grunts actually doing the passenger screening. And these departments have already been cut to the bone by on-going spending freezes, etc. (\* - many of the administrative costs have been imposed deliberately by the GOP as part of their Cripple and Starve strategy). As I mentioned in a thread just a few hours ago (though I can’t do the subject justice outside the Pit), the idea that government has grown is largely propaganda. Federal government employment has shrunk steadily from over 5% (as a percentage of total employment) in 1952 to only 2% today. Interest on the debt, Social Security, etc. are always included when the dumbos talk about federal government “size.” And since tax breaks are focused on corporations and the very rich, most Americans don’t feel the shrinking government in the form of lower taxes. It’s always fun to ask the loonies where they’d make cuts. Some emphasize foreign aid (most of which now goes to the two countries Dubya broke), or Congressional salaries. Others, like Carson, just want each department to cut that line item called “waste” on page 3. I could be wrong, but my guess is that Carson is _not_ actually a blithering dolt. He and Trump are just putting on shows; Trump wants his reality TV show back; Carson is auditioning for a gig as FoxNews expert (though on what subject? Medicine? Gun rights?? Foreign policy??? :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/223 "2015-10-10T07:24:05Z")
Carson is neither an idiot nor putting on a show. What he’s doing is spouting right-wing talking points he’s heard over his lifetime plus whatever his right-wing advisors are tutoring him on. He needs more viewpoints on his team. Or at least just place a call to Robert Reich or Paul Krugman and say, “Hey, can you spend a couple of hours telling me what you think is most important for me to know?” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/224 "2015-10-10T12:51:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Carson is neither an idiot nor putting on a show. What he’s doing is spouting right-wing talking points he’s heard over his lifetime plus whatever his right-wing advisors are tutoring him on. He needs more viewpoints on his team. Or at least just place a call to Robert Reich or Paul Krugman and say, “Hey, can you spend a couple of hours telling me what you think is most important for me to know?” He’s saying incredibly stupid things, like the thing about how, for a shooting, he wouldn’t ‘just stand around, waiting to be killed’ (is he seriously suggesting that the victims were just waiting to be murdered???), and anything at all he says about evolution or science. If he’s not an idiot, he’s doing a great impression of one. No idea why your standards are so low for this guy – he says dumb stuff all the time. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/225 "2015-10-10T13:08:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Or at least just place a call to Robert Reich or Paul Krugman and say, “Hey, can you spend a couple of hours telling me what you think is most important for me to know?” 😃 Great parody! And I suppose Mike Huckabee needs a chat with Richard Dawkins to fine-tune his understanding of creationism. Thanks, **adaher**! Sometimes you seem too serious. It’s good to hear you tell a joke! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/226 "2015-10-10T13:10:13Z")
I hate to say it, but Sarah Palin may have more on the ball than this guy. I listen to him talk, and I don’t wonder “how did he get to be a famed neurosurgeon?”, I don’t wonder “how did he get into med school?”, I wonder “how in the hell did he graduate from high school?” ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/227 "2015-10-11T21:05:46Z")
Is there a reason anyone would vote for Carson for President? I mean like maybe one? Crane ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/228 "2015-10-11T21:27:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Carson is neither an idiot nor putting on a show. What he’s doing is spouting right-wing talking points he’s heard over his lifetime plus whatever his right-wing advisors are tutoring him on. Clearly he never saw Star Wars. 🙂 “Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him”? - Obi-Wan Kenobi But thank you for acknowledging that most of the talking points coming from the right wing are idiotic. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/229 "2015-10-11T22:04:18Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They sent him to less friendly(ie, non-Fox) venues before he was ready. He should have gone with the Clinton strategy of refusing to talk to the media for as long as possible. The only reason he is doing better than all the other non-Trump candidates is precisely because he \*did \* do interviews with anyone who would have him. It is the only way he can compete with Trump for the low-information, critical-thinking-challenged voter. They just hear the talking points that appeal to anger, fear and hate, and nod their heads. They apparently don’t notice he is sleepwalking through all of his appearances. So long as his name is out there more than Rubio, Jeb and the rest, he can creep up on Trump. And for the same reason as Trump; the media can’t get enough of what they would have called gaffes in previous campaigns. Outrageous is the new sagacious. It is working for him, as the polls indicate. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/230 "2015-10-12T14:41:08Z")
Fear#229, Agreed, but you’re criteria for Carson are the same as the appeal to Trump. Why Carson? What differentiates him from Trump? Crane ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/231 "2015-10-12T21:55:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Carson is neither an idiot nor putting on a show. What he’s doing is spouting right-wing talking points he’s heard over his lifetime plus whatever his right-wing advisors are tutoring him on. He needs more viewpoints on his team. Or at least just place a call to Robert Reich or Paul Krugman and say, “Hey, can you spend a couple of hours telling me what you think is most important for me to know?” Carson’s head would explode. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/232 "2015-10-12T22:25:15Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Carson’s head would explode. Physician, heal thyself! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/233 "2015-10-13T12:22:24Z")
Best joke I’ve heard lately is that it’s been revealed that Ben Carson once left a sponge in the brain of a patient. The patient was recently contacted and he said “It’s all right! It’s gonna be HUGE!” ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/234 "2015-10-14T00:23:18Z")
Best joke I’ve seen lately is Ben Carson’s web site: [https://www.bencarson.com/issues](https://www.bencarson.com/issues) Strictly trivia. Some people are seriously considering this guy for President? You jest! Crane ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/235 "2015-10-14T05:32:21Z")
Five straight polls showing Carson with a lead over Clinton, his RCP average lead is 5.6%: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general\_election\_carson\_vs\_clinton-5119.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_carson_vs_clinton-5119.html) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/236 "2015-10-14T05:56:16Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Five straight polls showing Carson with a lead over Clinton, his RCP average lead is 5.6%: > > [2016 General Election: Carson vs. Clinton | RealClearPolling](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_carson_vs_clinton-5119.html) My head just exploded. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/237 "2015-10-14T07:11:54Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > My head just exploded. Then you’d better not look at the Carly vs Clinton numbers… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/238 "2015-10-14T07:17:19Z")
That’ll explode MY head. Carly’s appeal is based on a severe misunderstanding of what makes a good President and I’m not sure it’s curable. She sounds good, so she must BE good. But those numbers say less about Carson or Fiorina than they do about Clinton. She still hasn’t hit bottom. She’s the worst performing Democratic candidate by a wide margin now. She’s in a near dead heat with Donald Trump. Donald Trump! ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/239 "2015-10-14T07:41:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’ll explode MY head. Carly’s appeal is based on a severe misunderstanding of what makes a good President and I’m not sure it’s curable. She sounds good, so she must BE good. > > But those numbers say less about Carson or Fiorina than they do about Clinton. She still hasn’t hit bottom. She’s the worst performing Democratic candidate by a wide margin now. She’s in a near dead heat with Donald Trump. Donald Trump! Do they say anything about the American electorate or Republicans? If you consider that Clinton would make a worse president than Fiorina - then the system is very very broken ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554/240 "2015-10-14T07:52:51Z")
Clinton would make a much better President than Fiorina. Fiorina hasn’t been as well vetted as Clinton. I suspect she wouldn’t be able to stand up to a hostile media any better than Clinton has. Carson, on the other hand, seems to be playing the media perfectly despite no real training in handling them. No matter what he says, his support never seems to go down, and it’s not just among Republican voters. His general election polling and favorables are the best in either party except for Biden. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-for-president-thread/729554.md?page=13)