NationStates Jolt Archive

After watching both of the NH Presidential Debates tonight, any impressions of them? Anything particularly impressive? Surprising? People who you liked or didn't like? Issues that you liked or didn't like? Funny Quotes that people may not have spoken just quite right?

I like when Romney said "We need to bring the Muslim world to modernity." That just made me give a little chuckle.

I like when Romney said "We need to bring the Muslim world to modernity." That just made me give a little chuckle.

Wow, really? I wish I had been watching...

Didn't watch it, don't care. I will watch debates a bit when the real election gets going. Not that it would get me to vote for the dems.

Didn't watch it, don't care. I will watch debates a bit when the real election gets going. Not that it would get me to vote for the dems.Whoa. I actually agree on all three points...

Whoa. I actually agree on all three points...

You wouldn't vote for the democrats? Why not?

They kept out Kucinich!

You wouldn't vote for the democrats? Why not?

He's a German, you dope. :D

He's a German, you dope. :D

If he lived here, you dope. :D

Out of the Republicans, McCain seemed to be the best. I was surprised by Huckabee's performance and he has done a good job adapting to the different crowd in NH without changing positions. Romney is like Chancellor Palpatine. Thompson seemed like a senile old man about to wet himself. Ron Paul makes sense sometimes and then loses me completely.

The Democratic debate was FAR better than the Republican one, however. John Edwards was passionate and full of vim. Obama seemed to lose steam and go flat half-way through, but he made no major mistakes. I thought Clinton got the better of him on healthcare though. Clinton did a great job, I think and really changed my mind about her. She seemed passionate, knowledgeable, and competent. I liked the speech she made on calling for change vs being able to deliver change. She has proven she would be a good president even if she is not as progressive as I would like. Richardson seemed irrelevant and foolish, but got a few good lines out, backed up Clinton, and was pretty funny.

Overall, Edwards is still my first choice, but Clinton replaced Obama as my number two. On the Republican side, I would be able to stomach John McCain, but the rest disgust me in various ways. We fundamentally view things differently. They were great debates and should be able to help people make up their minds.

Now: sleep!

I especially enjoyed the Republican discussion on the topic of health care. There was a general consensus among the candidates that public health care is a bad idea, with Canada as the butt of many a joke. Of course, soon after one of the candidates (I think it was McCain...) suggested the idea of importing Canadian pharmaceuticals to lower drug costs.

The Canadian health care system is "broken," except when it can save Americans money.

**infinite facepalms**

EDIT:


I mean, I said jokingly in one debate, if we go in the direction of socialized medicine, where will Canadians come for health care?



You made a statement about European nations; they all get health care. Well, somebody -- some people here in New Hampshire have been to Canada. I don't think they want that system



How should that -- how could that happen? How could pharmaceutical companies be able to cover up the cost to the point where nobody knows? Why shouldn't we be able to reimport the drugs from Canada?


http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/01/05/us/politics/20080105_RDEBATE_GRAPHIC.html#video

You wouldn't vote for the democrats? Why not?Too far right.

He's a German, you dope. :D

If he lived here, you dope. :D

The insane irony of this is that I've never lived in Pennsylvania, which is where I'm registered to vote in US elections. I voted for Kerry the last time, but I won't be going for the lesser evil this time around.

I demand that New Ampshire change the spelling of its name!

Thread titles like this really confuse me. :confused: I suppose NA will sink back into obscurity in a few days and we can go back to using NH in it's proper sense. :mad:

Ron Paul owned them all.

The Big Three were all a bunch of insincere saps: Huckleberry Finn, Mitten, and Mr. 9/11.

By the time the Democrats came, I was half bored and sort of listened.

I liked that they all shook hands and hugged. I swear I saw Obama and Paul talking and thought that was awesome. They are the best for this country.

Ron Paul owned them all..

Derf HuckleLaniMcRomny all used Ron Pauls talking points to try sway the sheeple. Ron Paul doesn't pay lip service to the constitution and has been an ardent supporter. The whole muslim thing in the begining was propaganda and the only way we are going to get out of this is by stop funding the war machine at our future generations expense. Everything is connected to money and the dollars is tanking hard and fast - need I say it "the Amero" will be touted as the only way to save our economy and by joining with Mexico and Canada as a larger economic base. Stop believeing the lies and the doublespeak - turn off your tv and talk to your neighbors and your grandparents and parents, they will tell you that this is the same old thing and leads to nowhere but ecnomic depression and loss of civil liberties and a poorer quality of life.

Derf HuckleLaniMcRomny all used Ron Pauls talking points to try sway the sheeple. Ron Paul doesn't pay lip service to the constitution and has been an ardent supporter. The whole muslim thing in the begining was propaganda and the only way we are going to get out of this is by stop funding the war machine at our future generations expense. Everything is connected to money and the dollars is tanking hard and fast - need I say it "the Amero" will be touted as the only way to save our economy and by joining with Mexico and Canada as a larger economic base. Stop believeing the lies and the doublespeak - turn off your tv and talk to your neighbors and your grandparents and parents, they will tell you that this is the same old thing and leads to nowhere but ecnomic depression and loss of civil liberties and a poorer quality of life.

Would you mind saying that again, but point by point and less like a drunk being dragged backwards out of the pub?

Would you mind saying that again, but point by point and less like a drunk being dragged backwards out of the pub?

I yam what I yam - aguguguguguguguguguah:p

I like when Romney said "We need to bring the Muslim world to modernity." That just made me give a little chuckle.

Wow, how about Mormonism first?

Wow, how about Mormonism first?I didnt mind Mormonism.. until I found out that the their book says Blacks are inherently evil.

Republicans:

Giuliani: Mr. 9/11 since 9/12. Let's not forget he ran a sanctuary city, left with a $5 billion deficit, supports abortion and gay marriage. Impossible to sell to social conservatives. If he gets the nod, it'll split the GOP in two.

McCain: McCain-Kennedy will come back to haunt this guy. So will McCain-Feingold. And he's old - at 72 he would be the oldest president entering office, ever.

Thompson: About as relevant as a typewriter at a blogger's convention.

Ron Paul: He'd be pulling 30 percent or more if the media hadn't sidelined him. Thing is, he doesn't toe the party line sufficiently, so they try to ignore him. Then they ridicule him (listened to Sean Hannity lambast him just today). Speaks honestly, no bullshit. I really want to see the guy win, although it ain't happening.

Huckabee: He's a "none of the above" candidate more than anything else. He appeals to evangalicals because...well, he's a Baptist preacher who, like Ron Paul, doesn't spread much bullshit around. He'll rally the evangelical and social conservative vote, and his populist message would ring home with Reagan Democrats. He's pretty electable if you can get past the fact that he's got no foreign policy experience whatsoever. Then again, Bill Clinton came out of Arkansas, and had no experience either...

Romney: Massachusetts liberal who can't really appeal to anyone outside the Northeast...or apparently enough people in any one location to cause any damage. He dumped millions into Iowa and still lost. NH is going the same way. He appears to be plastic. Imagine a younger John Kerry, sans Botox. He's the one that says Islam needs to be modernized? He has a point. Sharia law belongs in oh, about the sixth century...


Democrats:

Obama: The new guy, who's promising change. He appears to be an example of America - mixed background, sympathizes with the lower and working classes, and is very electable.

Edwards: Leftover from the '04 mess, I think. The money spent on his haircut could have fed an entire Ethiopian village for at least six months. (In fact, that could probably apply to everyone on this list...)

Clinton: Ugh. Hillary scares me and I actively campaign against her. She embodies the worst of the Bill Clinton presidency - HillaryCare, which is actually wealth redistribution from the young to the old.

Think about it - a 25 year old man pays lower premiums than a 55 year old, because generally speaking the 25 year old is less likely to get sick. Problem with her plan (in both variants) is it would mandate a flat rate for everyone, because government programs would be under even more scrutiny for (alleged) ageism, against old people. Uh-uh. I'm already getting screwed up the wazoo for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid taxes, money which I'll probably never see again. I'm not putting another cent towards people that do nothing for me in return. (Seriously, old people drive slow, they are too slow on the golf course, and think we're the arrogant ones.)

But I'm off topic here. Getting back...

Thing about all three Democrat candidates, is basically, except for stances on the war, they are all the same. They all want mandatory healthcare. They all rail against business and the decline of the working class. They will all tax your ass off.

The best election, I think, would be Obama, Huckabee, and Bloomberg.
If it were Clinton and Giuliani, I'd expect a really low turnout. Two Yankees fans? Ugh. Clinton would win because many Republicans wouldn't' vote for Giuliani. I definitely wouldn't.
Obama and McCain? Obama, hands down.
Clinton and McCain? Clinton, because of the same reasons people won't vote for McCain.
Obama and Romney? Obama.

In fact, I think Obama has the best chance of getting elected, out of everybody. Followed by Huckabee and McCain.

Giuliani, Clinton, Edwards, Thompson, and Romney are unelectable. End of story.

Ron Paul: He'd be pulling 30 percent or more if the media hadn't sidelined him. Thing is, he doesn't toe the party line sufficiently, so they try to ignore him. Then they ridicule him (listened to Sean Hannity lambast him just today). Speaks honestly, no bullshit. I really want to see the guy win, although it ain't happening.


In fact, I think Obama has the best chance of getting elected, out of everybody. Followed by Huckabee and McCain.

Giuliani, Clinton, Edwards, Thompson, and Romney are unelectable. End of story.


Ever seen one of those come from behide underdog stories that makes you feel good about the American spirit and gives you hope that by perservering you can accomplish what seemed impossible? Ron Paul , constantly touted as not happening but continueing to gain support and momentum towards the win. Lets see what the next 5 weeks will hold.