# 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:** 44
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/862 "2015-02-26T17:06:16Z")
From CPAC: [Ben Carson’s plan to destroy ISIS is to destroy ISIS.](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/26/live_from_cpac_ben_carson_unveils_earth_shattering_plan_to_defeat_isis/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/863 "2015-02-26T17:07:26Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Oh please. That article was almost as content-free as your posts. They took some quotes, slapped that title on it, then dropped the mic. Lazy. Lazy? They had to find the quotes – and don’t the quotes speak for themselves? ---
**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:** [February 26, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/864 "2015-02-26T17:13:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Lazy? They had to find the quotes – and don’t the quotes speak for themselves? The first quote: > [@](#): > > 1. When Paul spoke out against vaccines: > > “I have heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines." You think that “speaks for itself” to “expose libertarianism for the con job it is”? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/865 "2015-02-26T17:20:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The first quote: > > You think that “speaks for itself” to “expose libertarianism for the con job it is”? Given what we all know about the facts of the matter, indeed it does. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/866 "2015-02-26T17:32:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Given what we all know about the facts of the matter, indeed it does. You’re awfully convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/867 "2015-02-26T18:39:44Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > From CPAC: [Ben Carson’s plan to destroy ISIS is to destroy ISIS.](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/26/live_from_cpac_ben_carson_unveils_earth_shattering_plan_to_defeat_isis/) Ao, Adaher, any comment on Carson’s stupidity? He’s an imbecile and you need to put the pompoms down. Cheering on a chucklefuck just because you love his ideological swagger isn’t a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/868 "2015-02-26T20:40:13Z")
[Chris Christie speaks at CPAC and stinks up the room.](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/26/chris_christies_nixonian_cpac_appearance_why_he_sounded_so_much_like_tricky_dick/) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/869 "2015-02-27T08:08:07Z")
SPLC apologizes to Ben Carson: [www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/splc\_statement\_carson\_feb2015.pdf](http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/splc_statement_carson_feb2015.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/870 "2015-02-27T08:11:24Z")
It also looks like he’s a quick study: > **[At CPAC, Ben Carson Lambasts ‘Purveyors of Division’](https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/31285/)** > > The surgeon-turned-likely-presidential-hopeful opened the conference Thursday morning. Most notable is his call not to get rid of the welfare state, but to get rid of dependency(policy details presumed to follow at a later date). He also said that Republicans have to develop an alternative to ACA before repealing it. As a doctor, he’s going to be expected to produce such an alternative as part of his Presidential campaign. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/871 "2015-02-27T14:20:35Z")
Because nobody else in the party is going to do it? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/872 "2015-02-27T14:45:17Z")
[Newt Gingrich thinks Hillary is too closely tied to the Saudis.](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/newt-gingrich-islamic-extremists-are-trying-to-penetrate-america-by-supporting-hillary-clinton/) I don’t think there are enough rolly-eyes in cyberspace for that one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/873 "2015-02-27T14:49:02Z")
[Scott Walker: I can defeat ISIS because I defeated 100,000 union protesters.](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/26/scott_walker_i_can_defeat_isis_because_i_defeated_100000_union_protesters/) They weren’t **armed,** you idiot. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/874 "2015-02-27T14:56:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > SPLC apologizes to Ben Carson: > > [www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/splc\_statement\_carson\_feb2015.pdf](http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/splc_statement_carson_feb2015.pdf) Shorter SPLC: "Dear Ben, that last punch of ours was a little off target. Sorry about that! Here’s a more accurate punch - enjoy! ---
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/875 "2015-02-27T15:49:30Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It also looks like he’s a quick study: > > [http://www.nationaljournal.com/twenty-sixteen/at-cpac-ben-carson-lambasts-purveyors-of-division-20150226](http://www.nationaljournal.com/twenty-sixteen/at-cpac-ben-carson-lambasts-purveyors-of-division-20150226) > > Most notable is his call not to get rid of the welfare state, but to get rid of dependency(policy details presumed to follow at a later date). He also said that Republicans have to develop an alternative to ACA before repealing it. As a doctor, he’s going to be expected to produce such an alternative as part of his Presidential campaign. Which of these quotes strike you as notably intelligent? ---
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/876 "2015-02-27T15:56:22Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > (policy details presumed to follow at a later date) He’s a quick study all right; spout all the platitudes now and leave out the stuff that might actually mean something. When (and if) these details ever come, who wants to bet they’re the same things Republicans have been trying to do for years? ---
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/877 "2015-02-27T16:39:47Z")
A man who throws around comparisons to Nazism and slavery saying other people are purveyors of division? And I love when people take advantage of the welfare state for their own lives, but when it comes to other people? No soup for you. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/878 "2015-02-27T19:38:12Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Oh please. That article was almost as content-free as your posts. They took some quotes, slapped that title on it, then dropped the mic. Lazy. 😕 Maybe the article was hacked at the time you clicked the link. I’ll save you a re-click. Clicking just now I see 1. [QUOTE=Rand Paul] I never, ever cheated. I don’t condone cheating. But I would sometimes spread misinformation. This is a great tactic. Misinformation can be very important. [/QUOTE] 1. He explains why he opposes ACA: [QUOTE=Rand Paul] With regard to the idea of whether you have a right to health care, you have realize what that implies. It’s not an abstraction. I’m a physician. That means you have a right to come to my house and conscript me. It means you believe in slavery. It means that you’re going to enslave not only me, but the janitor at my hospital, the person who cleans my office, the assistants who work in my office, the nurses. [/QUOTE] A janitor who works at a hospital is suddenly “enslaved” if the hospital serves Medicare patients? 😕 1. Cause of the rise of ISIS [QUOTE=Rand Paul] One of the people I blame for a lot of this, frankly, is Hillary Clinton. The disaster that is Libya is now a breeding ground for terrorists and also a breeding ground for armament. I really do blame Hillary Clinton’s war in Libya for creating a lot of the chaos that is now spreading throughout the Middle East.” [/QUOTE] The contrast between 20 and 21 is startling. 1. Paul explains why he thinks stores should be allowed to bar Negroes from entry: [QUOTE=Rand Paul] But the hard part, and this is the hard part about believing in freedom is, if you believe in the First Amendment, for example, you to, for example-- most good defenders will believe in abhorrent groups standing up and saying awful things, and we’re here at the bastion of newspaperdom (sic) and I’m sure you believe in the First Amendment, so I’m sure you understand people can say bad things. It’s the same way with other behaviors. In a free society we will tolerate boorish people who have abhorrent behavior, but if we’re civilized people we publicly criticize that and don’t belong to those groups or associate with those people. [/QUOTE] 1. [QUOTE=Rand Paul] I don’t think there has been anybody who has been a bigger defender of minority rights in the Congress than myself. [/QUOTE] ETA: Yes, all I’ve posted is the Rand Paul quotes. But they’re rather the point, no? ---
**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:** [February 27, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/879 "2015-02-27T19:50:24Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > 😕 Maybe the article was hacked at the time you clicked the link. I’ll save you a re-click. Clicking just now I see Some of them seem tied to his libertarian ideas. How is his kooky views on the rise of ISIS tied in? How is his misinformation tactic tied in? How are his views on vaccines causing mental illness tied in? Voter ID? The BP oil spill? Benghazi? Plagiarism? Sexism? Someone doesn’t like Rand Paul. Someone found stupid quotes from Rand Paul. Some slapped a title on a bunch of stupid quotes from Rand Paul that point out that Rand Paul is a libertarian because that’s something the author doesn’t like about Rand Paul. It’s incredibly fucking lazy, took no effort, and echoes the vast majority of BrainGlutton’s posts, which require no thought and insight only a cut and paste frenzy. > [@septimus](#): > > ETA: Yes, all I’ve posted is the Rand Paul quotes. But they’re rather the point, no? Well, it’s not like the article had anything else to point to. There was no explanation, no analysis, and no effort. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/880 "2015-02-27T19:59:33Z")
I can’t believe I’m typing this, but: if Jeb Bush wins the G.o.P. nomination I’d be willing to give him a look. Not saying I’d vote for him for President, but that I’d be willing to give him a look. Which is more than I can honestly say of any other R who’s being talked about as a potential Presidential candidate next year. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/881 "2015-02-27T20:19:58Z")
I’m laughing at the CPAC attendees running over each other to attack Jeb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=45)