# Handicap the GOP nomination race **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 21, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463 "2007-10-21T12:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/261 "2008-01-08T16:31:30Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] He’s _got_ style; he’s easily the most effective speaker of the bunch. And on substance, all five of the main contenders’ policies are really just sound bites; it’s downright scary. For substance, go Dem. [/QUOTE] This last part is not fair, John McCain’s policies are not just sound bites. Here are his [issues](http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/), he goes into plenty of detail on [Healthcare](http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm) and [Energy](http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/13bc1d97-4ca5-49dd-9805-1297872571ed.htm). You and I might not agree with all of his policies, but dismissing his as sound bites is unfair. His energy plan is actually pretty solid and at least he addresses adding more nuclear which most candidates are avoiding talking about. I am not a fan of his Health care plan, but he is a fiscal conservative and his policy is consistent with this position. Jim ---
**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:** [January 8, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/262 "2008-01-08T16:39:01Z")
There’s more than one way to increase your chances: [Huckabee gives out free coffee to voters at the polls](http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/01/08/huckabee_coffee_for_a_vote/) > [@](#): > > Outside the Brookside Congregational Church, Huckabee waded into crowd to greet voters on their way into the polling place. > > He ran into Joe Legay, 70, and asked who Legay who was voting for. > > “I’m independent,” Legay said, ducking the question. > > “So I have one more chance, what can I do? Can I pour you coffee?” Huckabee asked,then poured him a cup of coffee from a doughnut shop coffee container. “Where else than in New Hampshire does a candidate come out and personally pour coffee?” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/263 "2008-01-08T17:42:38Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] This last part is not fair, John McCain’s policies are not just sound bites. Here are his [issues](http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/), he goes into plenty of detail on [Healthcare](http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm) and [Energy](http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/13bc1d97-4ca5-49dd-9805-1297872571ed.htm). You and I might not agree with all of his policies, but dismissing his as sound bites is unfair. His energy plan is actually pretty solid and at least he addresses adding more nuclear which most candidates are avoiding talking about. I am not a fan of his Health care plan, but he is a fiscal conservative and his policy is consistent with this position. Jim [/QUOTE] You’re right - McCain’s policies aren’t just sound bites. _Mea culpa._ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/264 "2008-01-08T18:11:41Z")
Rudy’s pretty much are, though. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/265 "2008-01-08T18:35:14Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Rudy’s pretty much are, though. [/QUOTE] Rudy reminds me of Kevin Nealon’s Subliminal Man character on SNL. He finds a way to slip “911” into every sentence. I think he does it when he’s ordering coffee at this point. "Hi nine eleven, I’ll have a vanilla latte nine eleven and one of those biscotti nine eleven. By the way, I was the mayor of New York on 911 nine eleven. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/266 "2008-01-08T19:00:55Z")
_Onion_ Headline: “Rudy to Run for President of 9/11” PS: And I can’t tell you how glad I am that its not working. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/267 "2008-01-08T19:15:04Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Rudy’s pretty much are, though. [/QUOTE] Agreed, that and several other reason have knock Rudy from my first choice to 5th of the candidates. I would vote for Obama, HRC, Richardson & McCain all before Rudy at this point. If he had run as himself instead of pandering to the right, 9/11 Mayor of America, I would still support and still be a Republican. His lack of coherent policies and pandering have lost him one formally loyal supporter. My Decision came only last week, shortly before the caucus. Jim ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/268 "2008-01-08T19:18:22Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] … have lost him one formally loyal supporter. .. [/QUOTE] Another good reason to bolt from the Forces of Darkness. On our side, we have casual Fridays. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/269 "2008-01-08T19:41:00Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Another good reason to bolt from the Forces of Darkness. On our side, we have casual Fridays. [/QUOTE] Hell, on our side we have casual Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays AND Fridays. And naked Sundays. And cookies. And soda. And potato chips. (We have to have the cookies, soda and potato chips…the medical marijuana gives us the munchies somethin’ fierce…) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/270 "2008-01-08T20:25:04Z")
I trust, sir, that you are not making light of my personal glaucoma prevention program. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/271 "2008-01-08T20:39:46Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] I trust, sir, that you are not making light of my personal glaucoma prevention program. [/QUOTE] Far be it from _me_, sir, to hinder your attempts to keep your vitreous viscous… ---
**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:** [January 8, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/272 "2008-01-08T23:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Onion Headline: “Rudy to Run for President of 9/11” > > PS: And I can’t tell you how glad I am that its not working. I don’t think Guiliani and his people really thought threw how tough a sell this was going to be. They can’t base their whole platform on how well Guiliani did on 9/11 itself - it’s history now. So his campaign has basically been how he’d be a good president to have around if there’s another major terrorist attack. Which is a pretty pessimistic theme to run on - winning campaigns are based on hope not despair. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/273 "2008-01-09T02:56:11Z")
Looks like a McCain win in New Hampshire. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/274 "2008-01-09T05:12:49Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] You’re right - McCain’s policies aren’t just sound bites. _Mea culpa._ [/QUOTE] Neither are Fred Thompson’s. Here is a list of his white papers: [Social Security](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx) [Thompson Plan for Tax Relief and Economic Growth](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/taxrelief.aspx) [Thompson Defense Plan](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/defenseplan.aspx) [Israel](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Israel.aspx) [Education](http://www.fred08.com/Virtual/Education.aspx) [Immigration and Border Security](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Immigration.aspx) You may not agree with any of it, but you can’t accuse him of having sound bites for policy. I think he has the most detailed policy proposals of any candidate in the race, doesn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/275 "2008-01-09T20:58:36Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Neither are Fred Thompson’s. Here is a list of his white papers: [Social Security](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx) [Thompson Plan for Tax Relief and Economic Growth](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/taxrelief.aspx) [Thompson Defense Plan](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/defenseplan.aspx) [Israel](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Israel.aspx) [Education](http://www.fred08.com/Virtual/Education.aspx) [Immigration and Border Security](http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Immigration.aspx) You may not agree with any of it, but you can’t accuse him of having sound bites for policy. I think he has the most detailed policy proposals of any candidate in the race, doesn’t he? [/QUOTE] I may agree with it or not, but I’ve been to that website a number of times before now, _and all that stuff wasn’t there_. What, did someone wake him from his post-Christmas nap and tell him he had to actually have some _positions??_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/276 "2008-01-09T21:05:40Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] I may agree with it or not, but I’ve been to that website a number of times before now, _and all that stuff wasn’t there_. What, did someone wake him from his post-Christmas nap and tell him he had to actually have some _positions??_ [/QUOTE] I had similar problems with Obama & Edwards a few months ago. Clinton & McCain were apparently way ahead of the curve in setting up their websites. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/277 "2008-01-09T23:00:55Z")
[New poll of Michigan voters](http://www.rossmanmartin.com/press_releases/article_read.cfm): > [@](#): > > According to the latest Rossman Group/MIRS/Denno-Noor survey, the GOP contest in Michigan is now shaping up as a battle between Mike Huckabee (at 23 percent), Mitt Romney (at 22 percent) and John McCain (at 18 percent). Further back in fourth place, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani continues to drop (eight percent). > > Trailing are Fred Thompson (at 4 percent), and Ron Paul (at 3 percent). Poll was taken January 6-7, MOE 5.8%, which means they’re less than 90% sure that Huck’s really ahead of McCain. And [a 3-pack of new SC polls](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/sc/south_carolina_republican_primary-233.html#polls) shows Huck leading by somewhere between 7 and 19 points. So Michigan could go any which way (kept on saying Huck should’ve gone straight there from Iowa!), but Huck looks in good shape in SC. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/278 "2008-01-09T23:45:57Z")
[Florida](http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/01/08/giuliani_sinks_to_fourth_in_florida.html): > [@](#): > > A new Datamar poll in Florida finds Mike Huckabee leading the Republican presidential primary race with 24% support, followed by Mitt Romney at 20%, Sen. John McCain at 18% and Rudy Giuliani now back in fourth place at 16%. > > Two months ago, Giuliani led the GOP race. With little chance of winning the other early states, he has been campaigning nearly non-stop in Florida for several weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/279 "2008-01-10T02:37:02Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] I may agree with it or not, but I’ve been to that website a number of times before now, _and all that stuff wasn’t there_. What, did someone wake him from his post-Christmas nap and tell him he had to actually have some _positions??_ [/QUOTE] He’s had those papers trickling out for at least three or four weeks now. However, his web site sucks, so maybe they were there and you couldn’t find them, or maybe they only recently were posted on the web site. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/280 "2008-01-10T11:13:45Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] He’s had those papers trickling out for at least three or four weeks now. However, his web site sucks, so maybe they were there and you couldn’t find them, or maybe they only recently were posted on the web site. [/QUOTE] IOW, I did my due diligence with respect to Gramps, having been to his website several times during the fall, quite possibly including early December (I didn’t keep a log, thankyew), and finding only soundbites. If he realized only a few weeks before the first primaries, when this campaign had been going for about a year, and he’d been officially in the campaign for nearly three months after having been about to declare his candidacy since early summer (remember when he was going to declare on July 4?), that he needed some positions, I’m sorry, but that’s his bad. His ‘positions’ were soundbites for way too long, way too late in the game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463.md?page=15)