# 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:** 64
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1262 "2015-04-19T11:53:25Z")
If you are referring to current levels of deportation, which involve hundreds of thousands, sure. That’s Democratic policy too. The immigration reform bill only applies to those who arrived a few years ago(forget the exact year). Anyone who has come in, or will come in, after that year is going home eventually. If we’re not willing to do that, which is actually fine by me, I don’t mind open borders, then we have to give up on higher wages, because labor supply will always be plentiful, especially at the bottom. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1263 "2015-04-19T12:00:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If you are referring to current levels of deportation, which involve hundreds of thousands, sure. I was quoting you. What do you mean when you say “mass deportation”? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1264 "2015-04-19T12:10:59Z")
Pre-executive order policy. Well, actually that’s current policy since his order is held up in court. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1265 "2015-04-19T16:05:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If it’s instead an admission that we are never going to be willing to do mass deportation . . . **Of course** we are never going to be willing to do mass deportation. Can you imagine the social and economic disruption of deporting 7 to 12 million people?! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1266 "2015-04-19T16:56:46Z")
The Republican policy will be “Whatever Obama and Clinton want to do is wrong”, of course. That’s why \*\*adaher \*\*is evading the question - he doesn’t know what Clinton will propose yet. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1267 "2015-04-20T07:19:20Z")
Just noticed [Ted Cruz’s campaign logo](http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ted-cruz_logo.png). It is kind of hard to decide what it evokes. There is something of a resemblance to the right-wing French FN party’s logos; one might also see it as an American flag in flames; or, it is similar to, umm, the logo of al Jazeera. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1268 "2015-04-20T08:44:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The Republican policy will be “Whatever Obama and Clinton want to do is wrong”, of course. And furthermore, “If only Obama/Clinton’s position was the exact opposite of the one they currently hold now, we would totally support them (even if we’ve previously been in favor of his/her current position), and the fact that he/she doesn’t hold the opposite position is proof of his/her lack of ability to lead.” > [@](#): > > That’s why \*\*adaher \*\*is evading the question - he doesn’t know what Clinton will propose yet. She’s gotta be fer it before he can be agin it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1269 "2015-04-20T12:19:56Z")
Why Lindsay Graham is the most interesting candidate in the race: > **[One anecdote that shows why a Lindsey Graham presidential campaign would be...](https://www.vox.com/2015/4/18/8446565/lindsey-graham-immigration)** > > When Graham disagrees with the conservative base, he doesn't pander or dodge. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1270 "2015-04-20T12:29:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Why Lindsay Graham is the most interesting candidate in the race: > > [One anecdote that shows why a Lindsey Graham presidential campaign would be fascinating | Vox](http://www.vox.com/2015/4/18/8446565/lindsey-graham-immigration) Nice to see some sanity from that unabashed warmonger. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1271 "2015-04-20T12:39:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Nice to see some sanity from that unabashed warmonger. Sanity doesn’t get you nominated in the GOP. You can’t tell the right wing base anything but that these Mexicans are here to get freebies and take jobs away from Americans. They’ll still nominate Bush, but he’s going to have to go hard right on immigration to get 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:** [April 20, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1272 "2015-04-20T13:57:02Z")
Of course, no Republican is willing to support the only plan that would 100% completely stop illegal immigration. In fact, that plan is for some reason viewed as a hard-left position. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1273 "2015-04-21T11:32:07Z")
That’s because it is, or a libertarian position. It’s also very unpopular and would cost you unions for good. Which is why Democrats can’t ever come out for it explicitly. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1274 "2015-04-21T12:02:50Z")
Republican candidates, gentlemen. Stay focused. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1275 "2015-04-21T13:17:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Nice to see some sanity from that unabashed warmonger. He \*has \*recently come out against insurrection and a Second Civil War, at least. Give him that much. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1276 "2015-04-21T13:19:11Z")
Graham’s always been considered one of the sane members of the GOP. What I like about him is that he doesn’t retreat from positions where someone disagrees with him. And he even debates average people as if they were his equals! What politician ever does that? Even his friend John McCain, he would get condescending if someone disagreed with him. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1277 "2015-04-21T13:23:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Graham’s always been considered one of the sane members of the GOP. What I like about him is that he doesn’t retreat from positions where someone disagrees with him. And he even debates average people as if they were his equals! What politician ever does that? Even his friend John McCain, he would get condescending if someone disagreed with him. One of the big drivers of my 2016 vote will be “who is least likely to get us into war with Iran, or another ground war in the Middle East” – on this, Graham is probably dead last. Hillary’s not great on this either, but so far she seems to be better than all the Republicans so far. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1278 "2015-04-21T13:24:38Z")
Except for Rand Paul. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1279 "2015-04-21T13:29:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Graham … even debates average people as if they were his equals! They aren’t? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1280 "2015-04-21T13:33:21Z")
Politicians tend to regard themselves as among the elites, as undeserved as that opinion is. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1281 "2015-04-21T14:07:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Except for Rand Paul. Not based on his most recent rhetoric, including signing the incredibly dumb letter to Iran meant to undermine negotiations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=63) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=65)