# Cook up the most incendiary/polarizing Presidential race possible **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 21, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125 "2014-08-21T19:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/1 "2014-08-21T19:00:33Z")
Rule: Presidential candidates can only be current or former senators, governors, or representatives. (No “Limbaugh/Beck vs. Maher/Colbert” races.) I think it would be hard to find a more polarizing election race than: **Rick Santorum + Sarah Palin** vs. **Barbara Boxer + Elizabeth Warren** Or maybe: **Ted Cruz + Ron Paul** vs. **Hillary Clinton + Nancy Pelosi** ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/2 "2014-08-21T19:39:06Z")
I like the ticket Berkeley Breathed came up with several years ago in _Bloom County_ – Jesse Jackson and Jesse Helms — on the same ticket. “Jesse and Jesse! Let’s outrage EVERYBODY!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/3 "2014-08-21T19:49:43Z")
Rick Perry & Lou Gohmert v. Bernie Sanders & Dennis Kucinich. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/4 "2014-08-21T19:55:02Z")
McCain & Palin vs. Hillary Clinton & Dianne Feinstein. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > I like the ticket Berkeley Breathed came up with several years ago in _Bloom County_ – > > Jesse Jackson and Jesse Helms — on the same ticket. > > “Jesse and Jesse! Let’s outrage EVERYBODY!” Running against Jesse Ventura, a solo candidate (hey, he’s Independent…). ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/5 "2014-08-21T19:55:21Z")
For the Pubs, I’d go with Todd Akin as the head and then either Bachmann or Palin as a running mate. On the left its a bit harder, because no matter who is chosen will be portrayed as the most Liberal candidate ever to be seen whose election will destroy America. But you could probably go with say Al Sharpton and maybe Keith Elison to bring out the anti-Muslim hysteria vote. ETA: didn’t see the previously elected requirement. Replace Sharpton with Jesse Jackson Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/6 "2014-08-21T19:56:17Z")
Bernie Sanders/Brian Schweitzer (“BS/BS 2016!”) vs. Ted Cruz/Scott Walker ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/7 "2014-08-21T19:56:40Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > For the Pubs, I’d go with Todd Akin as the head and then either Bachmann or Palin as a running mate. On the left its a bit harder, because no matter who is chosen will be portrayed as the most Liberal candidate ever to be seen whose election will destroy America. But you could probably go with say Al Sharpton and maybe Keith Elison to bring out the anti-Muslim hysteria vote. Don’t forget Barney Frank. (Who would be great, by the way) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/8 "2014-08-21T20:10:44Z")
Governor Mitt Romney vs. Former Governor Mitt Romney. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/9 "2014-08-21T20:58:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Governor Mitt Romney vs. Former Governor Mitt Romney. No! When they shake hands at the debate the resulting Mitt/AntiMitt explosion will destroy the planet! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/10 "2014-08-21T21:09:04Z")
Virginia Snow/Ted Cruz vs Bob Conley/Al Franken ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/11 "2014-08-21T21:14:40Z")
Al Franken/Barney Frank vs. Dan Quayle/Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/12 "2014-08-21T21:27:02Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Al Franken/Barney Frank vs. Dan Quayle/Sarah Palin. I doubt Dan Qualye would seem nearly as polarizing when compared to the modern batch of republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/13 "2014-08-21T22:00:47Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/14 "2014-08-21T22:01:55Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Rule: Presidential candidates can only be current or former senators, governors, or representatives. (No “Limbaugh/Beck vs. Maher/Colbert” races.) Don’t forget the rules! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/15 "2014-08-21T22:07:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I doubt Dan Qualye would seem nearly as polarizing when compared to the modern batch of republicans. I just like the idea of Palin and Quayle both wearing shirts that say “I’m with stupid,” and arrows pointing at each other. Also, it’d be really funny if Sarah Palin punched Quayle in the stomach. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/16 "2014-08-21T22:37:43Z")
Palin + Bachmann? ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/17 "2014-08-22T11:06:37Z")
Hillary Clinton + Dick Cheney vs Sarah Palin + John Kerry **And** to make it more fun, the President & Vice President exchange positions weekly. Might be the first election in which _no_ votes are cast. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/18 "2014-08-22T14:14:54Z")
Abraham Lincoln + Hannibal Hamlin v. Stephen Douglas + Hershal Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/19 "2014-08-22T14:31:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I think it would be hard to find a more polarizing election race than: > **Rick Santorum + Sarah Palin** vs. **Barbara Boxer + Elizabeth Warren** > Or maybe: > **Ted Cruz + Ron Paul** vs. **Hillary Clinton + Nancy Pelosi** Boxer is relatively unknown. Warren, too. They’re not comparable to Pelosi; even the politically unaware know that Pelosi is (at least in right-wing narrative) the liberal-in-chief, and everyone knows who Hilary is (though I have never figured out why she is so unpopular). For a really polarizing race you need preexisting hate. Pelosi + Eric Holder seems like it’d be the ultimate right-wing-hate ticket. For the other side I’d go Gohmert + Steve King, but they are relatively unknown to the wider public too. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125/20 "2014-08-22T18:33:31Z")
Hillary Clinton + Dennis Kucinich vs. Sarah Palin + Todd Akin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cook-up-the-most-incendiary-polarizing-presidential-race-possible/696125.md?page=2)