# I almost feel sorry for the Republicans
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [September 3, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813 "2008-09-03T04:07:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/41 "2008-09-04T02:24:28Z")
The forces at work that drove McCain to make the ill considered pick of Vice President in the first place are entirely the fault of the party itself. The party will not allow a course change of any kind in their ideology, and were uncomfortable with McCain for that reason in the first place. When it was revealed to the powerful conservative base that he wasn’t going to go with Mittens or Pawlenty but instead his close friend and abortion tolerating Lieberman they went ape and threatened a riot at the RNC. Palin is a wad of gum on a breaking dam.
Gustav is bad press because it reminds America of just what a clusterfuck the Republican party made of the last hurricane.
Sorry, my heart bleeds cold kool-aid for them.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/42 "2008-09-04T04:53:31Z")
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> From everything I’ve read, Goldwater paid fundamentalists scant attention.
That’s true. However, he pushed the party rightward, and deliberately marginalized the moderates. This set the stage for the deal with the crosswaving devil that followed. He certainly didn’t pander to the religionists himself, but the party’s slide began with him.
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### Author:  [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/43 "2008-09-04T05:28:01Z")
It was inferred that Republicans were evil.
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### Author:  [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/44 "2008-09-04T05:40:35Z")
> [@AHunter3](#):
>
> Hurricane Gustav comes roaring in and causes them to tamp down and virtually cancel the first day of the Republican convention
> .
Which shows that God, at the very least, isn’t voting Republican. Remember how, a couple weeks ago, Focus on the Family prayed for:
> **[Focus on the Family wants Obama Drowned Out. Literally.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=479273)**
>
> From the London Times: They might want to rethink this based on the track record: Pat Robertson called for God to smite Disney World for being gay-friendly, and the next major storm ran smack into Virginia Beach (home of Robertson’s Christian...
> [@](#):
>
> A Christian fundamentalist group is praying for a deluge to drown out Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in two weeks’ time.
>
> Focus on the Family is asking for “abundant, torrential” downpours to flood Denver and silence Senator Obama when he accepts the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination on August 28.
>
> “Would it be wrong to ask people to pray for rain of Biblical proportions,” asks an umbrella wielding Stuard Shepard in a video put out by the ultra conservative evangelical group. He asks for the rain to start “two minutes before the acceptance speech begins.”
Can anyone point me to an interview with these deluded people about if they want to rethink the notion that Godis their personal Republican errand boy?
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/45 "2008-09-04T06:17:32Z")
> [@Maastricht](#):
>
> Which shows that God, at the very least, isn’t voting Republican. Remember how, a couple weeks ago, Focus on the Family prayed for:
> [Focus on the Family wants Obama Drowned Out. Literally. - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=479273)
>
> Can anyone point me to an interview with these deluded people about if they want to rethink the notion that Godis their personal Republican errand boy?
What difference does it make. They’re a small group of crackpots, most of whom aren’t really in agreement anyway. At any rate they’re hardly representative of mainstream Christianity or Christians themselves.
Need I point out that Michael Moore (facetiously, I’m sure) has claimed hurricanes during the Republican convention prove God exists?
Crackpots exist on both sides of the spectrum. They are exceptions and don’t prove the rule.
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/46 "2008-09-04T06:19:15Z")
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> Know what I really hate? McCain could have chosen Olympia Snowe of Maine, or Kay Baily Hutchinson, both women with massive experience and integrity to burn.
How do you know they weren’t approached and either turned it down (understandable, given today’s media climate) or perhaps didn’t survive the vetting process?
Not that I’m saying Palin’s a bad pick (which I’m not), I just don’t think it necessarily follows that more well-known female conservatives weren’t approached for the job.
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### Author:  [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/47 "2008-09-04T12:22:50Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#):
>
> How do you know they weren’t approached and either turned it down (understandable, given today’s media climate) or perhaps didn’t survive the vetting process?
Right. Experienced Republicans would be discouraged right out of the #2 spot _because of the evil liberal media_. Now they might have been a bit put off by Shrub’s historically horrible approval ratings. You know, the fact that so many Americans–evil, freedom-hating liberals, no doubt–think that Shrub and his merry crew of crooks and incompetents have done a horrible job.
You know, **Starving Artist** , you’re a stellar example of the neocon bloat. When in doubt, lie like a motherfucker, go on the offensive and blame somebody else. You really are a contemptible, dishonest little cunt. You aren’t worth another second of my time or attention.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/48 "2008-09-04T13:02:53Z")
And how sad is it that the evil, nasty, mean media is no longer bringing McCain donuts and paling around with him? Liberal attack dog Peggy Noonan and Democratic cheerleader Mike Murphy \* whispering to each other how the McCain campaign is so over when they think no one is listening. See the bias!
\*For the uniformed Mike Murphy is a McCain campaign advisor and Peggy Noonan a conservative commentator and former Reagan speech writer.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/49 "2008-09-04T13:37:22Z")
[Transcript of the trash talking, for those interested.](http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/transcript_of_noonanmurphygate.php)
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### Author:  [@The\_Walking\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Walking_Dude)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/50 "2008-09-04T14:45:14Z")
> [@AHunter3](#):
>
> I stand corrected. Sorry, the way it’s being reported is that it declined quicklky in strength and veered away from heavily populated areas and did not do much damage.
Don’t fret about it. I just saw your post and went a bit crazy. Gustav’s worst effects were felt in Baton Rouge. The New Orleans metro area would have had more deaths, but we took the warning from Katrina. Of the 1.1 million people in the area, only about 10,000 stayed. Either way, it wasn’t your fault you weren’t aware of the situation. The media didn’t get what they wanted out of Gustav, so they dropped it in a hurry. Either way, now you are more informed and I’m sorry I went off on you. Lots of tornadoes yesterday made it a stressful day.
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/51 "2008-09-04T15:41:32Z")
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> Right. Experienced Republicans would be discouraged right out of the #2 spot _because of the evil liberal media_.
Nah - anybody McCain picks would be excoriated by the SDMB, if for no other reason than accepting the job.
Who was that CNN bitch who was arguing that Palin was a bad mother because she accepted the VP slot, knowing that the MSM would attack her family? This was accompanied with close-ups of Palin’s daughter, just to be sure that the 17 year old girl was front and center.
Then when the McCain spokesman called her on it, she basically just shrugged her shoulders like nobody had any right to expect that the media wouldn’t trash the families of whoever got the Republican nod.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/52 "2008-09-04T16:12:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> Nah - anybody McCain picks would be excoriated by the SDMB, if for no other reason than accepting the job.
>
> Who was that CNN bitch who was arguing that Palin was a bad mother because she accepted the VP slot, knowing that the MSM would attack her family? This was accompanied with close-ups of Palin’s daughter, just to be sure that the 17 year old girl was front and center.
>
> Then when the McCain spokesman called her on it, she basically just shrugged her shoulders like nobody had any right to expect that the media wouldn’t trash the families of whoever got the Republican nod.
>
> Regards,
> Shodan
Don’t think that everyone has forgotten all the jokes from Rush, all my GOP friends, et al, about Chelsea in the early '90s. Just like the GOP to find morals when it helps them politically.
Palin’s daughter has become an issue not because she’s pregnant (that’s merely gossip) but because Palin and the GOP have been all about “abstinence only” sex-ed, and Bristol’s situation shows that not only is that a flawed strategy, (yet another faith-based, anti-science position that Bush has made GOP doctrine), but the hypocrisy of people who take that position.
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/53 "2008-09-04T16:25:31Z")
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> Right. Experienced Republicans would be discouraged right out of the #2 spot _because of the evil liberal media_.
Oh, please. Even Campbell Brown on CNN has castigated Palin for accepting the nomination and thereby putting her daughter in the spotlight of the voracious media coverage that was sure to follow. And how many times around here I read that quality people can be discouraged from seeking office because of the media gauntlet they’d have to endure?
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> Now they might have been a bit put off by Shrub’s historically horrible approval ratings. You know, the fact that so many Americans–evil, freedom-hating liberals, no doubt–think that Shrub and his merry crew of crooks and incompetents have done a horrible job.
McCain/Palin are not “Shrub”.
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> You know, **Starving Artist** , you’re a stellar example of the neocon bloat. When in doubt…
Doubt about what?
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> …lie like a motherfucker…
Lie about what, exactly?
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> …go on the offensive
Again, about what. All my comments have been reactive.
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> and blame somebody else.
I’m not ‘blaming’ anybody for anything; I’m just calling them as I see them.
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> You really are a contemptible, dishonest little cunt.
I’m not little.
> [@TVeblen](#):
>
> You aren’t worth another second of my time or attention.
Wow, Palin’s really got people worked up around here, doesn’t she? The fear is palpable (and evident in posts like yours lately), where observations I’ve been making for years around here are setting off tinder boxes everywhere they appear.
Most interesting.
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/54 "2008-09-04T16:33:54Z")
> [@Great\_Dave](#):
>
> Don’t think that everyone has forgotten all the jokes from Rush, all my GOP friends, et al, about Chelsea in the early '90s. Just like the GOP to find morals when it helps them politically.
I don’t know about your friends, but Limbaugh told one joke and it backfired badly, costing him many listeners (and watchers, as he had a t.v. program also at the time). I was one of them.
> [@Great\_Dave](#):
>
> Palin’s daughter has become an issue not because she’s pregnant (that’s merely gossip) but because Palin and the GOP have been all about “abstinence only” sex-ed…
So what? Lots of parents believe their kids shouldn’t take drugs. Does it speak badly of that moral belief if their kids become drug addicts? Does it speak of hypocrisy? Does it make them unsuited to work or lobby for anti-drug measures?
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/55 "2008-09-04T18:56:27Z")
> [@Great\_Dave](#):
>
> Palin’s daughter has become an issue not because she’s pregnant (that’s merely gossip) but because Palin and the GOP have been all about “abstinence only” sex-ed, and Bristol’s situation shows that not only is that a flawed strategy, (yet another faith-based, anti-science position that Bush has made GOP doctrine), but the hypocrisy of people who take that position.
I’m an Obama voter, but I can’t go along with this argument. There is enough reason to condemn abstinence-only sex education — i.e., it fails solely on its own empirically demonstrated lack of merit — without needing to drag the personal lives of its boosters into the debate.
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/56 "2008-09-04T23:49:15Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#):
>
> It’s clearly a sign that God favors the Democrats. After all, God starts with a G, and so does Gustav, and whenever a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast it’s an incarnation of God’s will. Yes, I am certain of this. 😃
I knew it! I knew [Michael Moore](http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2008/20080830000004.aspx) was a poster! You’re a real asshole, Mike, know that?
I feel bad for the democrats. This is going to be the third time in a row they fail to figure out until too late that no matter how enthusiastic a lot of “their” people are for the candidate, it’s not going to get them to get off the couch and actually vote. Then they’ll have to claim that McCain stole the election somehow, because they fail to comprehend how people are too lazy to get their butts to the polls. I bet a lot more democrats would vote if you could do it by phone or text like on American Idol.
I almost want to pat them on their little heads because they think people will actually vote more this time. Given so many didn’t bother to come out enough to get rid of the hated Bush the last time, what makes them think they’ll vote against someone they don’t hate nearly as much this time?
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/57 "2008-09-05T03:29:26Z")
> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Just when I think you couldn’t get more pathetic, you do.
If you want to call posters name, take it to the Pit.
Knock it off.
[/Moderating]
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### Author:  [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-almost-feel-sorry-for-the-republicans/461813/58 "2008-09-06T22:10:33Z")
Three reasons.
1. They are not necessarily voting “against” someone this time, and last time nearly nobody was voting “for” Kerry
2. registration numbers
3. “hope”
That third isn’t really a reason, I just wanted to activate your gag reflex.
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