Objective review of Republican candidates for President

[Todd]

Oh, no lie.  Still, as one journo puts it, "The presumptive nominee shouldn't finish third in both major states that voted on Tuesday."

But we're talking about Alabama and Mississippi.

[Karl Henning]

Aye, and not American Samoa ; )

[Todd]

Don't discount them crafty Samoans!

[Karl Henning]

Isn't there unit of currency the Samolian?

[Karl Henning]

Don't discount them crafty Samoans!

I hereby attest that I did not, until reading that article, know that Mitt Romney's son was named Matt. Mitt & Matt . . . .

[Todd]

Mmm, Somoa . . .

[snyprrr]

Is the GOP engaging in open, blatant Election Fraud?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYrICkVC9-o














Yes,... I know.

[Todd]

Romney crushes the competition in Puerto Rico!  Nice to see Buddy Roemer beating out Newt Gingrich and Fred Karger beating out Ron Paul.  Perhaps Roemer or Karger can have a late primary surge?

[drogulus]

     Regarding Ron Paul, I'm reminded of what Hunter Thompson said about Hubert Humphrey in his book about the 1972 election. It's funny, but too revolting to say here, where high standards prevail in spite of my best efforts.

     Read this book, political junkies:

     
     

[snyprrr]

I thought American Conservative Christian Republicans (Churchianity) wouldn't go for a Mormon or a Catholic? How can any self respecting Fundamentalist stand for this, or, are they... have they totally lost sight of their previous watermarks? I haven't found one to ask. What 'religion' is Paul supposed to be?

Santorum is just saying some of the funniest things in the last week, astounding soundbites that surely would find their way into next week's hit piece commercial. He might as well say he defers to the pope.

[Todd]

I thought American Conservative Christian Republicans (Churchianity) wouldn't go for a Mormon or a Catholic?

Why would you think that?  Look at the Supreme Court: all Catholics and Jews.  I admit that I don't follow conspiracy theories and "underground" movements a whole lot, but I'm not familiar with much in the way of outrage at the religious composition of SCOTUS.  There has been the occasional kerfuffle about Obama's religion, but that's more or less limited to nut jobs or cynics trying to exploit nut jobs.  Perhaps religion is not critically important to a lot of people. 

[Karl Henning]

Forget Obama's religion, wasn't he really born in Nepal or somewhere? He's definitely not a US citizen!  We wuz doooped!

[Todd]

Forget Obama's religion, wasn't he really born in Nepal or somewhere? He's definitely not a US citizen!  We wuz doooped!

McCain wasn't born in the USA, either, so in 2008 we had our choice of two non-Americans!

[Karl Henning]

Aliens! I knowed it!

[Florestan]

McCain wasn't born in the USA

AFAIK, between 1903 and 1979 the Panama Canal Zone was a de facto USA territory on which USA jurisdiction and sovereignity applied. Am I wrong?

[Todd]

AFAIK, between 1903 and 1979 the Panama Canal Zone was a de facto USA territory on which USA jurisdiction and sovereignity applied. Am I wrong?

The language of the Constitution states that "[n]o Person except a natural born Citizen" can be President.  That's somewhat vague.  It is my understanding that that any person born to US citizens is considered a "natural born Citizen," irrespective of where the person is born.  Whether the Panama Canal Zone was a US territory or not may or may not be germane.  (It is worth noting that any person born in the US is considered a US citizen, per the 14th Amendment, with no mention of parental origins, so it would be theoretically possible to elect a President born to illegal immigrants.)  So McCain could run and lose, which he did.  For good measure, the Senate passed a resolution in 2008 that validated that McCain was a "natural born Citizen."   

[Karl Henning]

. . . For good measure, the Senate passed a resolution in 2008 that validated that McCain was a "natural born Citizen."

Well, it isn't as if the Senate had more important tasks on their plate, is it?

[Wendell_E]

AFAIK, between 1903 and 1979 the Panama Canal Zone was a de facto USA territory on which USA jurisdiction and sovereignity applied. Am I wrong?

No, you're not wrong, and I'm sure Todd's well aware of that fact.  Anyway, McCain is a white Republican, so it's no big deal.   

I thought American Conservative Christian Republicans (Churchianity) wouldn't go for a Mormon or a Catholic?

Why would you think that?  Look at the Supreme Court: all Catholics and Jews. 

Ah but the Churcianity folk don't get to vote for Supreme Court justices, thank God (just an expression).

[Florestan]

The language of the Constitution states that "[n]o Person except a natural born Citizen" can be President.  That's somewhat vague. 

[...]

For good measure, the Senate passed a resolution in 2008 that validated that McCain was a "natural born Citizen."

Hah! Well, I've always thought that Constitutions were worth less than the paper they are printed on... 

[Todd]

Ah but the Churcianity folk don't get to vote for Supreme Court justices, thank God (just an expression).

True, but they do get to vote for Senators who then vote on whether or not to confirm nominees.  In some states, conservative Christians have a bit more sway than others.  It is thus possible for a minority, or a minority of a minority, to indirectly block presidential nominees.  Happens with some regularity now. 

Hah! Well, I've always thought that Constitutions are worth less than the paper they are printed on...

Sometimes that is the case.