# Mr Candidate goes to London **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 26, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485 "2012-07-26T19:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/221 "2012-07-31T01:08:54Z")
Perhaps he’ll suggest that if Poland had had horses like his wife’s horse, they would have crushed the German tanks. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/222 "2012-07-31T02:41:09Z")
Well, it appears they don’t like Romney [in Poland.](http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/lead-pro-obama-crowd-greets-romney-during-poland-trip_225770.html) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/223 "2012-07-31T04:48:00Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > You see, Israel has bridges and roads and long established universities, so these people didn’t do it on their own. Considering how much American aide that Israel gets in comparison to “Palestine” your scarcasm is somewhat ironic. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/224 "2012-07-31T05:07:55Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Apparently GDP is a measure of cultural vitality and spiritual worthiness, or something. While for obvious reasons the wording especially wasn’t great, the ideas the Governor expressed are to a large extent correct (although its true you have to take into account other factors). ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/225 "2012-07-31T08:34:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, it appears they don’t like Romney [in Poland.](http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/lead-pro-obama-crowd-greets-romney-during-poland-trip_225770.html) It’s a little hard to tell from that article whether the “crowd” was thousands of people or ten people. However (unsurprisingly), [Solidarity are not Mitt fans](http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/30/uk-usa-romney-poland-idUKBRE86T15820120730). He hasn’t gaffed yet in Poland, but he’s giving a speech today… ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/226 "2012-07-31T11:24:46Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > While for obvious reasons the wording especially wasn’t great, the ideas the Governor expressed are to a large extent correct (although its true you have to take into account other factors). How is it possible to believe that without being a bigot? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/227 "2012-07-31T11:57:12Z")
He got the Lech Walesa endorsement, that makes it a worthwhile trip. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/228 "2012-07-31T12:10:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > He got the Lech Walesa endorsement, that makes it a worthwhile trip. Yes, he’s a shoo-in for Poland’s electoral votes now. He still has time to say something stupid, like “I’d be delighted to have your sausage in my mouth”. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/229 "2012-07-31T12:11:52Z")
You don’t think Poles are going to be voting? That’s easy to pull off with our system. Just request 40 million absentee ballots for “expatriate Americans in Poland.” ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/230 "2012-07-31T12:23:50Z")
Well, let’s see: Here are the states with \>5% Polish population: 1. Wisconsin 9.65% 2. Michigan 9.59% 3. Connecticut 8.85% 4. Illinois 8.13% 5. New Jersey 7.35% 6. Pennsylvania 7.28% 7. Massachusetts 5.76% 8. Delaware 5.55% 9. New Hampshire 5.29% 10. New York 5.24% 11. Minnesota 5.21% Call me crazy, but I’m not seeing a lot of electoral votes for Romney there. In fact, I think he gets a big fat ZERO electoral votes from these states. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/231 "2012-07-31T12:34:26Z")
I predict he’ll win one of those, either Wisconsin or New Hampshire. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/232 "2012-07-31T12:37:27Z")
Romney aide [counsels the press corps](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-aide-curses-at-press-in-poland)on their manners: > [@](#): > > _NYT: “We haven’t had another chance to ask a question…”_ > > _Gorka: “Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.”_ ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/233 "2012-07-31T12:37:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I predict he’ll win one of those, either Wisconsin or New Hampshire. Bet you a pound of kielbasa that he wins neither. ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/234 "2012-07-31T13:06:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think Romney is starting to regret hiring Don Rickles as a speechwriter. I guess you were right. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Romney aide [counsels the press corps](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-aide-curses-at-press-in-poland)on their manners: > > NYT: “We haven’t had another chance to ask a question…” > > Gorka: “Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect.” ---
**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:** [July 31, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/235 "2012-07-31T13:18:14Z")
> [@nogravity](#): > > I guess you were right. Mind you, the questions were pretty stupid. And TPM aren’t helping: the “press core”? To sum up: the media are incompetent but positively shine compared to Romney and his aides. ETA: Oop - it’s now been changed to “press corps”. Quick work, TPM. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/236 "2012-07-31T14:10:12Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Who was it that said that England was just a small island that makes things that nobody wants? [Oh wait, it was Romney. In his book, no less.](http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/07/romney-on-britain-just-a-small-island-that-makes-stuff-nobody-wants.html) This is the most offensive of his comments IMO. The others are kind of “meh” and just reveal the guy is a diplomatic lightweight. But “just a small island” with “small roads and houses” that is only “making things nobody wants”. For reference, per capita we export more than the US and are in the top ten manufacturing nations in the world (by value of goods produced). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/237 "2012-07-31T14:29:48Z")
I’ll cut Romney’s aide some slack on snapping at the reporters. I can’t imagine I’d be in a great mood after all of that travel. Plus, working for a candidate who is less than giving to the press (the anti-McCain), has got to be frustrating when you’re the one directly taking shit from the press for it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/238 "2012-07-31T14:32:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Bet you a pound of kielbasa that he wins neither. You could be right, so no bet. Bet me that Romney won’t win Texas, I’ll take that one. Romney is the anti-McCain, that’s why I supported McCain in 2008. He is what he is though, and he’s running against himself basically in this race. It’s hard to imagine a single shortcoming of his that his opponent does not also share. “Kiss my ass” is more polite than, “Geez, guys, I’ve already answered like, eight questions.”, but the substance is the same. These guys tightly control their press access, whereas McCain was one of the most open candidates to the press in history. And look what he got for it. The most cynical campaign in history against one of the most honest men to ever win a Presidential nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/239 "2012-07-31T14:33:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Romney aide [counsels the press corps](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-aide-curses-at-press-in-poland)on their manners: Anyone else reminded of [this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vcCbwVmuBc) (warning, has curse word) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485/240 "2012-07-31T14:42:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > “Kiss my ass” is more polite than, “Geez, guys, I’ve already answered like, eight questions.”, but the substance is the same. These guys tightly control their press access, whereas McCain was one of the most open candidates to the press in history. And look what he got for it. Yeah, they didn’t even have the courtesy to not fact check his statements or call out his delusional and incompetent running mate or his lack of understanding of the economy during a financial crisis. What ever happened to _quid pro quo_? I’m not sure this was mentioned upthread, but Romney also shut the press out of an event in Israel (the one where he made the comment about their cultural superiority to the Palestinians), going back on an agreement between the campaign and the press. Romney essentially doesn’t want people to know what he’d do if elected. He thinks he can win by not being Obama and not offending enough people - although he’s having a problem with the second part right now. This kind of strategy didn’t work for John Kerry, but I think even he managed to offer more specifics than Romney has about what he would do in office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-candidate-goes-to-london/629485.md?page=13)