Why I really want Rick Santorum to be the GOP nominee

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
39,526
33,069
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A referendum on conservatism.

I've listened to all the conservative blowhards who claim Obama is a liberal if you pit conservatism up against liberalism, conservatism wins every time.

Rick Santorum is clearly the most conservative candidate of all the Republicans so we would finally have the answer to this theory. Since Santorum and Obama are the most polar opposite of all the candidates it would also answer where on the political spectrum the country lies.
 

Juddog

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2006
7,851
6
81
A referendum on conservatism.

I've listened to all the conservative blowhards who claim Obama is a liberal if you pit conservatism up against liberalism, conservatism wins every time.

Rick Santorum is clearly the most conservative candidate of all the Republicans so we would finally have the answer to this theory. Since Santorum and Obama are the most polar opposite of all the candidates it would also answer where on the political spectrum the country lies.

They are not polar opposites. Obama sits at a slight-left from the middle moderate position. Obama's opposite would be Mitt, who sits slightly right of the mid, not Santorum who is far to the right.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
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How you arrived at this conclusion is beyond me. Santorum being defeated by Obama equals a referendum on liberal vs conservative ideals?

kk
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
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This election will not be a referendum on anything. I expect neither party to come away with either a decisive victory or defeat.
 
Nov 30, 2006
15,456
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A referendum on conservatism.

I've listened to all the conservative blowhards who claim Obama is a liberal if you pit conservatism up against liberalism, conservatism wins every time.

Rick Santorum is clearly the most conservative candidate of all the Republicans so we would finally have the answer to this theory. Since Santorum and Obama are the most polar opposite of all the candidates it would also answer where on the political spectrum the country lies.
If you look at their voting records you'll see that Santorum is much more liberal than Romney.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
Santorum is more culturally conservative (the only bad kind of conservative), but not more fiscally conservative.
 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
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The funny thing is, Ron Paul is the most fiscally conservative candidate in his party and he's unelectable. LOL.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
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The funny thing is, Ron Paul is the most fiscally conservative candidate in his party and he's unelectable. LOL.

Of course he isnt because Republicans arent about small govt anymore. They may talk the talk but havent walked the walk in over a decade.
 

LOL_Wut_Axel

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2011
4,310
8
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They are not polar opposites. Obama sits at a slight-left from the middle moderate position. Obama's opposite would be Mitt, who sits slightly right of the mid, not Santorum who is far to the right.

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If you actually knew anything about the political compass/spectrum you'd know Obama is still in right, but to the center and not the far right. Obama is in no way, shape, or form a Liberal or a Leftist. Being more to the left than far right doesn't make you a Liberal or even a Centrist.
 
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ichy

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2006
6,940
8
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Rick Santorum is the worst of both worlds, socially conservative but not particularly fiscally conservative. IMO if he wins it'll be a referendum on Santorum/Mike Huckabee style conservatism which will hopefully be dealt a crushing death blow. Then maybe we can go back to having Republican candidates who actually believe in fiscal responsibility and don't feel the need to constantly suck up to fundamentalist idiots.
 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
Of course he isnt because Republicans arent about small govt anymore. They may talk the talk but havent walked the walk in over a decade.

Maybe then conservatives should admit that the 'small government' platform isn't really popular among Americans in general and we should focus more on 'better government' rather than cutting it down.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
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Maybe then conservatives should admit that the 'small government' platform isn't really popular among Americans in general and we should focus more on 'better government' rather than cutting it down.

Why? Why should small govt conservatives give up their beliefs so the knuckle draggers can expand govt? Better govt is an oxymoron. It is another phrase for "more govt". Which always ends in disaster.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,068
55,589
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Why? Why should small govt conservatives succumb their beliefs so the knuckle draggers can expand govt? Better govt is an oxymoron. It is another phrase for "more govt". Which always ends in disaster.

If 'more government' always ends in disaster, isn't the logical position to hold 'no government'?

I imagine you don't hold that position.
 
Nov 30, 2006
15,456
389
121
Rick Santorum is the worst of both worlds, socially conservative but not particularly fiscally conservative. IMO if he wins it'll be a referendum on Santorum/Mike Huckabee style conservatism which will hopefully be dealt a crushing death blow. Then maybe we can go back to having Republican candidates who actually believe in fiscal responsibility and don't feel the need to constantly suck up to fundamentalist idiots.
This.
 

Slew Foot

Lifer
Sep 22, 2005
12,379
96
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The party of Lincoln has been hijacked by the party of Jesus. The sooner the religitards crawl back into their hole, the better for everyone.
 

Mursilis

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
7,756
11
81
Maybe then conservatives should admit that the 'small government' platform isn't really popular among Americans in general and we should focus more on 'better government' rather than cutting it down.

Are you kidding? "Small gov't" is incredibly popular when it's time to pay for gov't. That's why people elect Republicans, to keep our tax bills low. Now you're right that when it's time to request services from gov't, "small gov't" is anathema - that's why we elect Democrats, to hand out the freebies.
 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
Why? Why should small govt conservatives give up their beliefs so the knuckle draggers can expand govt? Better govt is an oxymoron. It is another phrase for "more govt". Which always ends in disaster.

The reason why we have shitty government is a circular one: Because we have so many idiot republicans who pretend they want small government, fight with democrats over everything, and get the shitty government they deserve. If republicans didn't exist, we would have had, for example, a better universal healthcare law (one with a public option) rather than having Democrats try to negotiate with obstructionist retards. Go to countries like Canada, Germany, any of the nordic states, even Singapore, and you'll see 'big government' work just fine because the people are pretty much on the same page over what they want.
 

Mursilis

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
7,756
11
81
The reason why we have shitty government is a circular one: Because we have so many idiot republicans who pretend they want small government, fight with democrats over everything, and get the shitty government they deserve. If republicans didn't exist, we would have had, for example, a better universal healthcare law (one with a public option) rather than having Democrats try to negotiate with obstructionist retards. Go to countries like Canada, Germany, any of the nordic states, even Singapore, and you'll see 'big government' work just fine because the people are pretty much on the same page over what they want.

It's going awesome in Greece!
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
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The reason why we have shitty government is a circular one: Because we have so many idiot republicans who pretend they want small government, fight with democrats over everything, and get the shitty government they deserve. If republicans didn't exist, we would have had, for example, a better universal healthcare law (one with a public option) rather than having Democrats try to negotiate with obstructionist retards. Go to countries like Canada, Germany, any of the nordic states, even Singapore, and you'll see 'big government' work just fine because the people are pretty much on the same page over what they want.

You live within a fantasy world. Big Govt would be just as shitty as it is now if we lived under a single party rule. The reasons are obvious. Lack of accountability, big govt is subject to human imperfections ect. And the fact you try to pin this all on Republicans shows how effing blind you have become.

The people may be on the same page in those countries due to being a much less diverse demographic? And working is subjective anyways. I personally dont find the govt forcing me to tip a server 20% regardless of quality of service(norway) working.