Rank the Republican contenders by order of craziness.

[Smallc]

Jon Stewart bashes democrats for not being left enough.

Actually, no.

Your missing Cain's point. His point was that the government isn't going to get you out of being poor, that's something a person has to do on their own, and if you want out of it bad enough, you'll figure a way out of it.

Sure, that's a great point, but there was more to what he said.

He still believed in God and was a catholic was he?

Sure, that's what he said.

[Bob]

Smallc, I will tell you what many others realize about you - you have a very bad grasp of the American right. It would be tiresome to go through your posts, point-by-point, and refute your assertions about the Republican party, your perceptions of its base, the broader American conservative movement, and the degree of religiosity among those vying for the Republican nomination. Unfortunately, your ignorance of these people and their politics is, in my view, typical among most Canadians, particularly the Canadian left. You put this sad reality on display.

[Bob]

Blueblood, it must be hard for you to take Smallc's perception of the media when he actually tells us, with a supposedly straight-face, that Jon Stewart actually goes after the left. Jon Stewart is a hard-leftist. He never met a leftist he didn't like. You can see the venom in him when he goes after those on the right, with argument grounded in his leftist worldview, and the light-hearted buddy-buddy demeanor he uses to chastise those on the left.

Edited October 21, 2011 by Bob

[Smallc]

Smallc, I will tell you what many others realize about you - you have a very bad grasp of the American right.

No, but they have a pretty bad grasp on reality right now.

It would be tiresome to go through your posts, point-by-point, and refute your assertions about the Republican party, your perceptions of its base, the broader American conservative movement, and the degree of religiosity among those vying for the Republican nomination.

In other words, you don't have anything.

Unfortunately, your ignorance of these people and their politics is, in my view, typical among most Canadians, particularly the Canadian left. You put this sad reality on display.

I'm not on the Canadian left. You just can't see that because you're so far right, you make Michelle Bachman look tame.

[Smallc]

You can see the venom in him when he goes after those on the right, with argument grounded in his leftist worldview, and the light-hearted buddy-buddy demeanor he uses to chastise those on the left.

I take it you've never watched The Daily Show.

[bush_cheney2004]

..I'm not on the Canadian left. You just can't see that because you're so far right, you make Michelle Bachman look tame.

It's Michele Bachmann...with one l and two n's. Looks like member Bob was right!

[Bob]

I take it you've never watched The Daily Show.

I must've seen at least fifty episodes of that show. Perhaps more.

[Smallc]

I must've seen at least fifty episodes of that show. Perhaps more.

Sure you have.

[Bob]

It's Michele Bachmann...with one l and two n's. Looks like member Bob was right!

You must be reading Smallc's posts and just shaking your head. Let me tell you, his obliviousness of American politics is extremely common among Canadians. Now, I don't fault anyone, especially Canadians, for being ignorant of American politics and American political culture, but it's quite rich to see someone who is so ignorant portray themselves as something else entirely.

As a side note, we need an American comedian to do a counterpart to Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans" illustrating just how common massive ignorance of America is on Canadian streets.

[maple_leafs182]

I like Cain, he seems the most honest of them all and doesn't try to pander and give the safe politically correct answer as most of the others. Refreshing, and a big part of his appeal.

Most politicians do lie and spin and give the safe bullcrap answer. Yet most people don't like politicians because they are this kind of lying insincere slime. If more politicians could instead try to be honest while also straddling a line of not completely offending everyone will ridiculous comments and to be professional, maybe people would actually get behind a real leader. There have been some honest ones out there, but most of them are too incompetent to get anywhere.

Cain is definitely not the most honest of them all, Ron Paul is. Has Ron Paul ever lied, has he ever flip flopped like the other candidates. Wait, he use to be for the death penalty now he is against it.

Cain is inconsistent...he tells the people it is their fault for being poor and having no job then he goes on to say it is Obama's fault for the terrible shape the economy is in. So is it Obama's fault or is it the peoples fault that they have no job.

Also, when Cain is asked what is stopping any future government from upping the 9-9-9 to 10-10-10 or higher, he just says that won't happen...of course that can happen.

None of these "conservative" candidates have even offered up any real spending cuts except Ron Paul. All the candidates say they need to get government out of the way and let the free market work, I don't think they even know what a free market is, I think they use that term because they know it is one of the terms that makes republicans feel good inside. A true free market would not have a central bank.

[Smallc]

You must be reading Smallc's posts and just shaking your head.

Yes, because spelling a name wrong (that's a very uncommon spelling) proves a great deal.

Now, I don't fault anyone, especially Canadians, for being ignorant of American politics and American political culture, but it's quite rich to see someone who is so ignorant portray themselves as something else entirely.

Then why don't you explain it, oh wise one?

As a side note, we need an American comedian to do a counterpart to Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans" illustrating just how common massive ignorance of America is on Canadian streets.

Aren't you, like, halfway around the world, in some socialist strip of land the size of my house?

[bush_cheney2004]

You must be reading Smallc's posts and just shaking your head. Let me tell you, his obliviousness of American politics is extremely common among Canadians....

It's typical...we got this during the 2008 campaign cycle too. You should have seen them when Bush was running for a second term back in 2004. I laughed at their disbelief when Bush was declared the winner over Kerry...hence my forum name. Canadians for the most part don't have an organic understanding of such things, any more than I would have of Canadian politics. They watch American TV and media and think they are experts on America.

[Moonlight Graham]

Cain is definitely not the most honest of them all, Ron Paul is. Has Ron Paul ever lied, has he ever flip flopped like the other candidates. Wait, he use to be for the death penalty now he is against it.

You're right that Paul seems very genuine, I thought of him after making the post. I don't know who is more honest, I don't know enough about Cain, I think they are both quite honest compared to the average politician.

[Moonlight Graham]

Blueblood, it must be hard for you to take Smallc's perception of the media when he actually tells us, with a supposedly straight-face, that Jon Stewart actually goes after the left. Jon Stewart is a hard-leftist. He never met a leftist he didn't like. You can see the venom in him when he goes after those on the right, with argument grounded in his leftist worldview, and the light-hearted buddy-buddy demeanor he uses to chastise those on the left.

I'm going to organize an "Occupy Bob" movement and i'm going to get all the hardest of the hardcore leftwing bleeding-heart hippies with names like "Rainbow" and "Waterdrop" (and "Moonlight") I can find and we're going to camp out on your lawn while singing acapella folk tunes and eating salads with organic dressings. This would destroy your soul. This is your Halloween nightmare.

[jacee]

I'm going to organize an "Occupy Bob" movement and i'm going to get all the hardest of the hardcore leftwing bleeding-heart hippies with names like "Rainbow" and "Waterdrop" (and "Moonlight") I can find and we're going to camp out on your lawn while singing acapella folk tunes and eating salads with organic dressings. This would destroy your soul. This is your Halloween nightmare.

[Argus]

So define crazy. Just because some are religious and believe in something. That's not crazy.

Depends. If you think praying to God to save the economy is a good economic strategy, that's crazy.

[Argus]

You do know that in both Canada and the USA any citizen has the right to run for public office. Why shouldn't religious people? There have been religious people running the USA since 1776 and its the largest economy in the world. We've had atheists running china and the ussr that have murdered millions of their own citizens. The three top tier candidates are all religious in their own way, they are very successful, and have at one point done a respectable job at being in charge of something, does that make them crazy?

You can, in the context of religion, believe any silly thing you want. However, if you want to run the country and deal with real-world economic issues then I don't think religion can be more than a moral guide. It certainly can't teach you how to deal with economic problems.

Personally, I think Mormons are kind of nutty. And their religion still practices ostracism, which I consider more than a little sinister.

I'm also leery of having a guy in charge or morals laws who needs to wear special underwear to have sex with his wife so he doesn't see anything forbidden...

Cain, who thinks the answer to the growing public outcry about too much wealth in the hands of too few people is to raise taxes on 84% of the population and massively lower them on the rich is kinda crazy too. I mean, who runs for president with an economic plan that's never been reviewed by an economist? Who tells reporters that it's their own fault the unemployed don't have jobs?

Then you've got Rick Perry threatening to have Texas secede from the union and talking about having the fed reserve chairman charged with treason... Duh!

And Michele Bachman. Come on. Seriously now. Michele Bachman? What bunch of fruit loops ever elected her to anything?

[Argus]

And I'll say once again, how bout them democrats... You don't think democrats don't act like wing bats

Has a democratic candidate for president proposed doing away with social security and medicair?

[Argus]

Yet Obama has that same imaginary friend as gw bush. Did god tell Obama to enact stupid economic policy?

Has Obama demanded that 'intelligent design' be taught in schools? Has Obama rejected evolution?

[Shady]

Has a democratic candidate for president proposed doing away with social security and medicair?

Of course not. They love big government. Instead, they propose universal programs regarding everything under the sun.

[Smallc]

Of course not. They love big government. Instead, they propose universal programs regarding everything under the sun.

But the thing is, most people love those programs, so why not fix them, instead of removing them?

[Shady]

But the thing is, most people love those programs, so why not fix them, instead of removing them?

Yes, people love free money and benefits. That's nothing new. Who's talked about removing them?

[Argus]

Ah but it shows that great men can be religious, yet still accomplish great things.

In times past the world and its cultures weren't sophisticated enough to understand how silly many of the religions were, or the nonsense preached by those who ran them. I think at this point in time, though, an educated person who grows up in a sophisticated western culture who still deeply believes in some of the wacky behavioral requirements of these religions has got to be a little screwy. I'm not saying you can't be a believer, but if you still believe in shunning people who offend your religion, including your wife or husband or children, well, that puts you into way too tight a mindset with your religious leaders for my comfort. And if you purport to be a serious man who wants to lead the nation getting up on stage and screaming out "Help us, Oh Lord!", with face contorted by emotion, just doesn't seem to me to be an indication of a sophisticated mindset.

[Argus]

And that's the Jon Stewart types of the media world ramming that down our throat. Do I know that Bachman, Palin, Perry, and Santorum are going to impose their religious doctrine on the US? Do you?

Without question. They've already tried in their previous jobs.

[Shady]

In times past the world and its cultures weren't sophisticated enough to understand how silly many of the religions were, or the nonsense preached by those who ran them. I think at this point in time, though, an educated person who grows up in a sophisticated western culture who still deeply believes in some of the wacky behavioral requirements of these religions has got to be a little screwy. I'm not saying you can't be a believer, but if you still believe in shunning people who offend your religion, including your wife or husband or children, well, that puts you into way too tight a mindset with your religious leaders for my comfort. And if you purport to be a serious man who wants to lead the nation getting up on stage and screaming out "Help us, Oh Lord!", with face contorted by emotion, just doesn't seem to me to be an indication of a sophisticated mindset.

We're all entitled to our opinions.