# GOP Presidential Candidates: The Elimination Game (Round 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 18, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850 "2015-06-18T14:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [June 19, 2015, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/21 "2015-06-19T09:20:23Z")
**Current Governors:** Walker vs Kasich-The unionbuster Walker is undoubtedly the most dangerous Republican candidate in this race, so I’d choose virtually anyone over him. But Kasich additionally is quite tolerable compared to most other candidates. Jindal vs Christie-Christie. They are both terrible people, but Christie is a bit better on the issues. **Past Governors:** Perry vs Huckabee-Huckabee. Even with his recent spate of inane quotes, Huckabee still seems to be one of the few more sincere politicians. Pataki vs Bush-Pataki obviously. Far better on the issues. **Current Senators:** Rubio vs Cruz-Rubio is less nutty. Graham vs Paul-Graham mostly because I’m fairly interventionist and on economic issues Graham is more moderate. **Others:** Santorum vs Carson-Santorum has reinvented himself in recent years as a champion of working-class populism and the need to push for policies amenable to blue-collar voters. While hardly a good ideology, it is far better than what most of the GOP is peddling. Fiorina vs Trump-Trump’s quasi-populist tendencies are preferable to Fiorina’s typical neoliberalism ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/22 "2015-06-19T09:23:15Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think the seeding would have made more sense. I thought it would be more fun to put like-against-like for the first round as much as possible. Santorum got matched against Carson in part for the religious beliefs but mostly so I could pair the two “businesspeople” against each other. ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/23 "2015-06-19T11:16:26Z")
Kasich Christie Huckabee Bush Rubio Graham Santorum Fiorina ---
**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:** [June 19, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/24 "2015-06-19T11:40:30Z")
Current Governors: Walker vs **Kasich** Kasich at least isn’t an insane tea partier. Jindal vs **Christie** The crook vs the dope. At least the crook might be competent. Past Governors: **Perry** vs Huckabee Perry may be an imbecile, but he’s not a theocrat. \*\*Pataki \*\*vs Bush Hard to ignore Bush’s defective genetic history. Current Senators: \*\*Rubio \*\*vs Cruz Easy pick here- we can’t have the reincarnation of Joe McCarthy. **Graham** vs Paul Graham isn’t _that_ bad a guy for a Republican, Paul is. Others: \*\*Santorum \*\*vs Carson Tweedledee vs Tweedledumber. Santorum at least has some knowledge of civics. \*\*Fiorina \*\*vs Trump Only one has said publicly that Mexico is not our friend. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/25 "2015-06-19T13:22:59Z")
Walker Jindal Perry Bush Rubio Paul Santorum Fiorina ---
**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:** [June 19, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/26 "2015-06-19T13:26:48Z")
Kasich Christie Perry Bush Rubio Graham Santorum Fiorina ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/27 "2015-06-19T13:48:25Z")
With 21 votes in, here’s how things stand: Walker - 4 Kasich - 17 Jindal - 3 Christie - 18 Perry - 11 Huckabee - 10 Pataki - 14 Bush - 7 Rubio 21 Cruz - 0 Graham - 10 Paul - 11 Santorum - 17 Carson - 4 Fiorina - 16 Trump - 5 Note that Paul-Graham and Perry-Huckabee are still neck and neck at this point, while Teddy Boy is sitting on a big fat **zero**. Veddy interesting. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/28 "2015-06-19T14:46:30Z")
**Current Governors:** Walker vs **Kasich** Jindal vs **Christie** **Past Governors:** Perry vs **Huckabee** \*\*Pataki \*\*vs Bush **Current Senators:** \*\*Rubio \*\*vs Cruz Graham vs **Paul** **Others:** \*\*Santorum \*\*vs Carson Fiorina vs **Trump** Kasich and Christie are relative moderates who I think could reach across the aisle to get things done. Huckabee, while I hate his social views, seems to at least put lip service to caring about the poor. Pataki didn’t piss off anyone in NY and Bush seems to be in the mold of his brother, so Pataki gets the win there. Rubio and Paul I think are the serious contenders with actual policies. In the Other category, Santorum has actually been a politician, so he actually has a chance of having a real coherent policy even if I would disagree with it. For Fiorina vs Trump, that’s dumpster fire vs tire fire - I went with the one that will provide better material for late night comedians. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/29 "2015-06-19T15:16:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I thought it would be more fun to put like-against-like for the first round as much as possible. Santorum got matched against Carson in part for the religious beliefs but mostly so I could pair the two “businesspeople” against each other. Well, it definitely forced harder decisions. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/30 "2015-06-19T17:20:29Z")
I have to ask, since that was the intention. Why are so many of you favoring Fiorina? She was an utter failure. Trump at least can claim to be successful at what he does. Compared to Fiorina anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/31 "2015-06-19T17:36:13Z")
Walker vs Kasich: **Kasich** Jindal vs Christie: **Christie** Perry vs Huckabee: **Huckabee** Pataki vs Bush: **Pataki** Rubio vs Cruz: **Rubio** Graham vs Paul: **Paul** Santorum vs Carson: **Carson** Fiorina vs Trump: **Fiorina** ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/32 "2015-06-19T17:39:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Why are so many of you favoring Fiorina? She was an utter failure. There’s nothing to be \*for \*in that pairing. Might as well go for the token (recruited?) female over the clown. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/33 "2015-06-19T18:07:13Z")
Because Fiorina may be a failure but Trump is insane. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/34 "2015-06-19T18:11:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I have to ask, since that was the intention. Why are so many of you favoring Fiorina? She was an utter failure. Trump at least can claim to be successful at what he does. Compared to Fiorina anyway. Fiorina failed once after achieving a great deal. Trump has driven his businesses into bankruptcy _four_ times. Global embarrassment-wise, he’d also make George W. Bush look like a revered world icon. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/35 "2015-06-19T18:30:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fiorina failed once after achieving a great deal. Trump has driven his businesses into bankruptcy _four_ times. Global embarrassment-wise, he’d also make George W. Bush look like a revered world icon. And there’s that [lawsuit](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-accuses-donald-trump-of-deceiving-students/) - is that still going? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/36 "2015-06-19T18:53:01Z")
Mine bolded as well: > [@](#): > > **Current Governors:** > Walker vs **Kasich** > Jindal vs **Christie** > > **Past Governors:** > **Perry** vs Huckabee > Pataki vs **Bush** > > **Current Senators:** > **Rubio** vs Cruz > **Graham** vs Paul > > **Others:** > **Santorum** vs Carson > **Fiorina** vs Trump ---
**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:** [June 20, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/37 "2015-06-20T02:12:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I have to ask, since that was the intention. Why are so many of you favoring Fiorina? She was an utter failure. Trump at least can claim to be successful at what he does. Compared to Fiorina anyway. Because Trump is irrational, a conspiracy theorist, and nuts. Fiorina was just a kind of crappy CEO. Trump would potentially do much, much more damage to the country, in my view. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/38 "2015-06-20T02:24:40Z")
Be kinda hard to do with a -40 approval/disapproval differential.🙂 ---
**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:** [June 20, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/39 "2015-06-20T02:26:45Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Be kinda hard to do with a -40 approval/disapproval differential.🙂 Yes, but we’re asked to pick which one we’d prefer to be President. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850/40 "2015-06-20T03:51:18Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Because Trump is irrational, a conspiracy theorist, and nuts. Fiorina was just a kind of crappy CEO. Trump would potentially do much, much more damage to the country, in my view. Fiorina would be predictably horrible. If I’m stuck with a sucky president, I want her to be predictable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-presidential-candidates-the-elimination-game-round-1/722850.md?page=3)