# The 2016 Republican candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444 "2015-01-09T22:38:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/241 "2015-01-22T02:23:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Disregards, > BLD This is not helpful. We have enough vitriol in these partisan threads without trying to slip in little, mocking parodies of other posters. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/242 "2015-01-22T02:56:50Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > This is not helpful. We have enough vitriol in these partisan threads without trying to slip in little, mocking parodies of other posters. > > Knock it off. > > [/Moderating] In that case, I demand a special Board-rule against **Shodan’s** always-annoying sigline. If we can’t mock it, at least we won’t have to look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/243 "2015-01-22T03:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **adaher** : > > I agree with half of your argument, but politicians should be a little more honest. Like Reagan, who when asked in the early days of his administration at a press conference if his budget was ready, turned to his budget director, who nodded, and Reagan said, “This young man tells me we do.” Isn’t that the sort of question he should have asked his budget director before the press conference? And it’s not like it’d be dishonest to just answer the question “Yes, I have a budget prepared”. He doesn’t need to say “Yes, the guy I delegated it to has finished it”, even if he did delegate it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/244 "2015-01-22T03:58:09Z")
You’re right, he didn’t HAVE to expose that he didn’t know that, as a matter of fact he should have known it before the press conference. I just like that he was comfortable enough in his own skin to just ask an advisor in front of a nationwide audience. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/245 "2015-01-22T11:12:44Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Well, I see that Ben Carson [wants Congress to recall Federal judges](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ben-carson-remove-judges-gay-marriage) who vote for gay marriages. (Hey, if you’re going to fire judges when they reach a different conclusion than you do on your pet issue, why bother having an independent judiciary?) > > And the Huckster, OTOH, just [wants the states to ignore Federal court rulings](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/huckabee-states-ignore-supreme-court-gay-marriage) they disagree with. Didn’t we settle the issue of nullification 150 years ago, give or take a few months? And [Bobby Jindal is claiming](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/21/bobby-jindal-defends-no-go-zones-myth-foxs-john/202225) that the repeatedly-debunked myth about the ‘no-go zones’ is factual, that these zones of Sharia law in Europe actually exist. Because John Bolton said so. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/246 "2015-01-22T11:14:38Z")
Okay, so that’s Ben Carson imploded, what about the rest? I’m particularly interested in Walker, Ayotte, and Haley. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/247 "2015-01-22T12:35:30Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > This is not helpful. We have enough vitriol in these partisan threads without trying to slip in little, mocking parodies of other posters. > > Knock it off. > > [/Moderating] Understood, but I have to agree with BrainGlutton. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/248 "2015-01-23T01:02:08Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Okay, so that’s Ben Carson imploded, what about the rest? I’m particularly interested in Walker, Ayotte, and Haley. Walker is one of the frontrunners. He’s a solid governor, but his big weakness is polarizing. There’s a lot of smoke around corruption investigations, but no fire as of yet. And we as know about such investigations, when dealing with such a polarizing figure, they can often be partisan-motivated. My own opinion is that after 24 years of partisan warfare it would be nice to elect someone the other side doesn’t hate. We’ve got lots of Republicans who Democrats can at least learn to tolerate. Nominating Walker is provocative. But if he ends up being the best option we have, I’ll take him. Ayotte and Haley probably aren’t running. Ayotte isn’t ready. Haley is, but I’m concerned about South Carolina’s rapid descent back into recession while the rest of the nation is just starting to get roaring: > **[Bureau of Labor Statistics Data](https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LASST450000000000003)** Have any Haley policies led to this, and what are her plans to address South Carolina’s recent jump in unemployment? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/249 "2015-01-23T02:07:55Z")
There’s a nice profile of Huckabee - who seems to be running hard - in the latest _Time_ magazine. His best line, about Romney: “Most people want a President who’s like the guy they work with, not the guy who’s laying them off.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/250 "2015-01-23T12:29:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In that case, I demand a special Board-rule against **Shodan’s** always-annoying sigline. If we can’t mock it, at least we won’t have to look at it. Well, you don’t _have_ to, just sayin… ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/251 "2015-01-23T15:09:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In that case, I demand a special Board-rule against **Shodan’s** always-annoying sigline. If we can’t mock it, at least we won’t have to look at it. Hasn’t he admitted that sometimes he uses it as sarcasm? Because if that’s the case, we should either be able to mock his use of it or have him not use it it when he clearly doesn’t mean it. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/252 "2015-01-23T20:31:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In that case, I demand a special Board-rule against **Shodan’s** always-annoying sigline. If we can’t mock it, at least we won’t have to look at it. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Understood, but I have to agree with BrainGlutton. > [@PlainJain](#): > > Hasn’t he admitted that sometimes he uses it as sarcasm? Because if that’s the case, we should either be able to mock his use of it or have him not use it it when he clearly doesn’t mean it. Of course you can mock it. You just have to do it in the pit. Sign offs are allowed. May all your days be puppies and kittins, D. Smurf ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/253 "2015-01-24T00:40:30Z")
Here’s [an assessment](http://theiowarepublican.com/2015/high-stakes-for-presidential-hopefuls-at-iowa-freedom-summit/), from a decidedly GOP POV, of those GOP proto-candidates speaking at the Freedumb Summit in iowa this weekend. Iowa GOP activist/commentator Kevin Hall goes over what Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, John Bolton, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Scott Walker, and Ted Cruz need to accomplish with their speeches. I still can’t believe John Bolton and Carly Fiorina consider themselves candidates. I can’t believe a nontrivial number of people consider Ben Carson to be a candidate. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/254 "2015-01-24T00:42:19Z")
Carson’s life and accomplishments make him serious no matter what kinds of dumb things he’s said. Those dumb things will sink his candidacy, but his accomplishments entitled him to a hearing as a serious candidate. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/255 "2015-01-24T00:45:39Z")
And in other campaign news, Marco Rubio and John Kasich are clearly warming up for potential runs (Marco, dude, this game’s moved away from you, time to fold and wait for 2020; John, you will surely win the plaudits of the Broderists for being their idea of what a GOP candidate should look like, which will do as much for you as it did for T-Paw), and Jeb and Mitt emerged from a private meeting on Thursday with no visible bruises on either one. Apparently their meeting wasn’t the 0.1%'s version of Thunderdome after all. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/256 "2015-01-24T00:52:56Z")
I think there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Rubio to stay put. His Senate seat is at risk if he leaves it to campaign for President. Same goes for Rand Paul, who will also have to vacate, but he’s less susceptible to such pressure. Seriously though, the Republicans are already going to be in a hell of a fight to keep the Senate, if we lose Rubio and Paul on a Presidential race they can’t win, that’s two more seats in play. Plus Rubio’s just not ready. The governorship of Florida is there for the taking in 2018 and then his Senate seat will be defended in a midterm year. If he does well as governor of Florida, he’ll be a frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2024 or 2030 and he’ll be in his 50s. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/257 "2015-01-24T00:54:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Carson’s life and accomplishments make him serious no matter what kinds of dumb things he’s said. Those dumb things will sink his candidacy, but his accomplishments entitled him to a hearing as a serious candidate. _What_ accomplishments? And no, what he’s done in the operating room doesn’t count, any more than the mathematical theorems I’ve proved qualify me. And who cares about his life? Plenty of people who hardly anyone has or will have ever heard of have life stories that would knock your eyes out. But that doesn’t qualify them for dogcatcher, let alone President. Ditto high IQ. Got one of them too, not that that makes me unusual around here. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/258 "2015-01-24T01:05:58Z")
Ben Carson didn’t just do stuff in the operating room, he was probably the greatest neurosurgeon ever. Supposedly we draw our political class from the best and brightest. That’s not to say he’s entitled to elected office, but given his status he is entitled to at least be heard. The fact that he’s being heard despite not having the money of a Steve Forbes or a Ross Perot, or the cult following of a Pat Robertson, should be considered a GOOD sign of how our democracy is working. And if he ends up disqualifying himself through his own words, that’s also a good thing. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/259 "2015-01-24T01:14:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson didn’t just do stuff in the operating room, he was probably the greatest neurosurgeon ever. Supposedly we draw our political class from the best and brightest. That’s not to say he’s entitled to elected office, but given his status he is entitled to at least be heard. The fact that he’s being heard despite not having the money of a Steve Forbes or a Ross Perot, or the cult following of a Pat Robertson, should be considered a GOOD sign of how our democracy is working. And if he ends up disqualifying himself through his own words, that’s also a good thing. “greatest… ever” is almost certainly hyperbole. He did a really good job with those twins, but “greatest neurosurgeon ever”? Come on. In any case, since then he’s done serious damage to any reasonable consideration that he’s among our “best and brightest” with his statements. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/260 "2015-01-24T01:21:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Ben Carson didn’t just do stuff in the operating room, he was probably the greatest neurosurgeon ever. Tell us how the greatest neurosurgeon ever is entitled to be heard on tax rates, immigration reform, the Keystone XL pipeline, the situation in Ukraine, or, in fact, anything other than neurosurgery. And I second **iiandyiii** ’s question that Carson is the greatest ever. I’m not sure who is, but it’s up to you to back up your claims, **adaher**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=14)