# 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:** 51
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1002 "2015-03-10T22:13:50Z")
This field has more candidates that can straddle that line. Walker by definition is acceptable, since he did win three times in a blue state. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1003 "2015-03-10T22:51:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, that’s the GOP’s basic problem right there; any presidential candidate acceptable to what is now the party’s base will be unacceptable to the voters in the general election. An interesting take on the possible effects the the RNC primary rules change by the [National Review.](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/386913/new-rnc-rules-stymie-conservativesin-primaries-henry-olsen) It still remains to be seen how states schedule primaries within the new rules. Along with the compressed time frame the new rules have the potential to change some of the internal party dynamics we’ve all gotten used to. I hope this does produce a net effect that pushes the fringe…er base… more to the margins. The National Review seems to have a different take on it. Still they cut some time out of the primary season. That’s a solid win IMO. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1004 "2015-03-10T22:57:25Z")
I’m not a fan. This idea that LESS vetting of candidates through the grueling process is good seems misplaced to me. And these candidates need vetting badly. They’ll quickly coronate a candidate, he’ll fall flat on his face by Labor Day, and then they’ll learn. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1005 "2015-03-10T23:00:38Z")
And _then_ they will draft Romney! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1006 "2015-03-10T23:03:47Z")
Nah, they’ll take all those hundreds of millions in money that would have gone to the nominee and use it to hold the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1007 "2015-03-10T23:23:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m not a fan. This idea that LESS vetting of candidates through the grueling process is good seems misplaced to me. And these candidates need vetting badly. > > They’ll quickly coronate a candidate, he’ll fall flat on his face by Labor Day, and then they’ll learn. Except that one of the lessons learned from 2012 is that when you give the fruitcakes a stage, they say stupid shit. In typical GOP fashion, rather than uninviting the fruitcakes, they’re trying to limit the number of times they get on stage. Also, Jindal is accomplished? Really? Have you looked at LA lately? It’s a fucking train wreck in ways that are attributable to Jindal’s tenure. Dude, you talk about Obama’s approval numbers negatively ALL THE FUCKING TIME. Jindal is currently sitting at 27%! [Cite](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDYQqQIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthehayride.com%2F2015%2F03%2Fthe-mess-jindal-has-made-of-louisianas-budget-is-going-to-destroy-his-political-career%2F&ei=3Hv_VKzEB4aWgwTdvYGwCA&usg=AFQjCNGzz254Km62ZjUbK-QleJUvLp5oMQ&bvm=bv.87611401,d.eXY) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1008 "2015-03-10T23:34:59Z")
None of the fringe candidates said anything that mattered. It was Senate nominees that sunk the party. The real reason is that the party doesn’t want competition. both parties still seem to be under the impression that it’s better to just decide on a candidate quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1009 "2015-03-10T23:41:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > None of the fringe candidates said anything that mattered. It was Senate nominees that sunk the party. > > The real reason is that the party doesn’t want competition. both parties still seem to be under the impression that it’s better to just decide on a candidate quickly. You’re just going to ignore the stuff about Jindal, huh? Funny that. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1010 "2015-03-10T23:44:42Z")
I can’t defend Jindal right now. It’s too much even for me. I’ve moved on to Lindsey Graham. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1011 "2015-03-10T23:58:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I can’t defend Jindal right now. It’s too much even for me. I’ve moved on to Lindsey Graham. > [@adaher](#): > > Bobby Jindal is a two term governor with real accomplishments and is a decently big name. That was EARLIER FUCKING TODAY! Seriously, do you even READ the shit you write before you hit submit? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1012 "2015-03-11T00:07:28Z")
I didn’t say he was great, only that he had accomplishments. He’s helped clean up Louisiana’s dirty political culture. He handled Hurricane Gustav far better than Kathleen Blanco handled Hurricane Katrina. He improved the state’s bond rating. But sure, I take his low state approval ratings very seriously, which is why I’m changing my earlier judgement that he’s viable. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1013 "2015-03-11T00:23:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I didn’t say he was great, only that he had accomplishments. He’s helped clean up Louisiana’s dirty political culture. Sure he has. All those companies with regulatory issues before the state just _happened_ to give money to his [wife’s charity](http://www.thewire.com/politics/2011/03/how-bad-bobby-jindal-charity-scandal/35582/). Complete coincidence. Note that link is from 2011. Back when you were solidly on the Jindal bandwagon. > [@](#): > > He handled Hurricane Gustav far better than Kathleen Blanco handled Hurricane Katrina. Yeah, he had a Democratic President running FEMA instead of GWB’s horse show buddy. Funny that. > [@](#): > > He improved the state’s bond rating. Welp, not quite so fast with that one… [Moody’s sounds warning on La.’s fiscal state](http://theadvocate.com/news/11495564-123/moodys-sounds-warning-on-las) Relevant quotes: “Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols expressed confidence that Louisiana’s bond rating would not worsen.” "But State Treasurer John Kennedy said Nichols “is the only person in the Milky Way who thinks Louisiana is in good shape financially. (snip) Each year, for the past seven years, we have spent more than we took in,” Kennedy said. “We filled the hole with nonrecurring revenue, budget gimmicks and pretend ‘efficiencies’ that never materialized. … There are consequences to being fiscally irresponsible.” Hmmm…7 years. How long has Jindal been Governor again? > [@](#): > > But sure, I take his low state approval ratings very seriously, which is why I’m changing my earlier judgement that he’s viable. So, let’s recap the adaher history here. How many of your guys have won? And how many turned out to be, in any way, competent? And yet you keep talking as if you’re Moses down from the Mount. Why in God’s Name should _anyone_ listen to you anymore? Some humility might suit you better. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1014 "2015-03-11T00:52:58Z")
That’s enough. Don’t make it personal. That goes for all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1015 "2015-03-11T03:31:17Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > That’s enough. Don’t make it personal. > > That goes for all of you. Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1016 "2015-03-11T03:53:10Z")
Lindsey Graham? Did he really say Lindsey Graham? I’m gonna have to scroll up, I can’t believe…well, I’ll be damn, he did say Lindsey Graham! Didn’t he sign with HBO to do an all male remake of _Steel Magnolias_? ---
**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:** [March 11, 2015, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1017 "2015-03-11T08:15:17Z")
Would it be fun to organize an auction, in which Dopers bid to estimate the chances of various contenders winning the nomination? If there’s interest I’ll start a Game Room thread to discuss the rules, then a Thread Games thread for the actual bidding. (In real life, there’d be money on the line, but we’d just do it here with pretend money.) ---
**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:** [March 11, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1018 "2015-03-11T11:38:21Z")
Lindsay Graham has been wrong on pretty much every foreign policy issue since 2001. I do declare that he’d be a wonderful candidate for the Republican party. Run, Lindsay, run! ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1019 "2015-03-11T14:04:52Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Would it be fun to organize an auction, in which Dopers bid to estimate the chances of various contenders winning the nomination? > > If there’s interest I’ll start a Game Room thread to discuss the rules, then a Thread Games thread for the actual bidding. (In real life, there’d be money on the line, but we’d just do it here with pretend money.) I’ve got $10 on the the self-centered, lying, crazy a-hole. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1020 "2015-03-11T14:17:57Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > I’ve got $10 on the the self-centered, lying, crazy a-hole. You’ve got a tenner on every candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1021 "2015-03-11T14:24:56Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You’ve got a tenner on every candidate? You’re right, that is a bit vague, huh? How about $10 on the weasly, pandering, hypocrite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=52)