Political Ire

[doodle]

Just curious....

What politician raises your blood pressure at the sound of his voice? I am curious which politicians here are the most maligned.

For me it has to be Eric Cantor. His nasally, haughty tone would be enough to put him on my short list,  but couple that with his mastery of political double speak, and ability to insert the word "probably" into every statement sends me over the edge. This guy is slipperier than a greased weasel.

[moda0306]

Michelle Bachmann....my home district.

[Jan Van]

Well, really I'm tired with the whole lot. I'm really hard pressed to come up with a politician I admire anymore. I know, that's turning your question upside-down, but there's just too many useless, selfish politicians now. Though I also must admit I enjoy watching the current crop of GOP presidential contenders, and I'm really hoping Palin joins the fray. But only because they provide so much entertainment. Not because I would ever vote for any one of them. With the possible exception of Huntsman.

Pandering seems to be the number one quality of most of them nowadays.

[doodle]

Jmourik,

Huntsman is currently the only GOP candidate that could win my vote. He at least has taken a stand against some of the GOP fringe ideas that makes that party unelectable in my mind.

[Jan Van]

He at least has taken a stand against some of the GOP fringe ideas that makes that party unelectable in my mind.

And by doing so has made himself unelectable within the GOP...
Maybe I'm going out on a limb, but I think people like Bachmann, Palin, Perry couldn't win the election. Do they realize they are Obama's best hope? I'd think that Bachmann for example isn't stupid. Obviously she was smart enough to get some good advisers to coach her through all this. She hasn't said anything really stupid in the debates, and actually sometimes made sense. But the I'd think she should be able to take the next logical step, which is "i really want Obama out of the office, people aren't going to vote for me, so i'll step aside and let a more moderate run who has a fighting chance". Or does she only run just to make some waves. Could be. But this line of thinking also holds for Perry, and i'm pretty sure he's dead serious about running... 

[doodle]

I think Huntsman's best chance is to pick up where the McCain straight talk express left off. He needs to be seen as a politician who is willing to cut through the crap and talk straight. If he doesn't win the GOP nomination, I think he would do well running as an independent. Maybe the time to elect an independent in America has come. There is a lot of disillusion with both parties and the present political duopoly in general.

[MediumTex]

Michelle Bachmann....my home district.

The emotion I have when I see and hear Bachmann is the same emotion I have when I see a special needs person.

As far as politicans that really annoy me, Newt Gingrich is one who gives me the gas face.  He used to be a smug and egotistical fellow who also occasionally seemed like a thoughtful guy with some good ideas.  Now he just seems like a smug and egotistical fellow who has overstayed his time on the national stage by a decade or so.

Although he's mostly out of the limelight now, Tom Delay from Houston is also an incredibly annoying figure.

On the Democratic side, Maxine Waters reminds me of a grouchy bag lady who is looking for directions to the methadone clinic:

[Reub]

That's easy...Barack Obama!

[MediumTex]

That's easy...Barack Obama!

Every day, Obama reminds me more of Jimmy Carter--a seemingly intelligent and well-intentioned person who is/was for whatever reason an incredibly ineffective President.

I also predict that Obama will be an outstanding ex-President, just like Carter has been.

Happily, Obama's bin Laden assassination mission turned out much better than Carter's Iranian hostage rescue mission.  If the bin Laden mission had turned out differently it could have been a big disaster.

[doodle]

Obama doesn't turn my stomach the way that Cantor does, but rather leaves me with a feeling of disappointment. I can't exactly put my finger on "what" is missing, but there is something in his personality that doesn't make him the right president for the times we are facing today. We need someone with the bravado of the candidates on the right, but with sensibility and intelligence.

The democrats aren't going to run a candidate against Obama, and from what I see on the right the current crop of frontrunners is unelectable. I really think that an independent Huntsman could stand a chance if no other viable candidates on the right emerge. He is the only counter to Obama that currently says anything that makes sense to me.

[doodle]

Here is a tangential political question....where has the idea on the right that Muslims are trying to implement sharia law in the United States come from? Does this talking point have any basis in fact, or is it simply a baseless statement that some candidates are making to stir up animosity and fear?

Although I am unfamiliar with its details, I assume Sharia law looks a lot like some of the more intolerant ideas that the evangelical right advocates for. In fact, some of the things that Michelle Bachmann says make the Taliban seem progressive.

Simonjester]
implement, and introduce slowly/attempt to get some acceptance for, are two different things. the first is right wing propaganda to rev up the base, the second seems to have some basis in reality, political correctness and minority rights are being used in England and France to promote the idea that sharia law (not french or English law) should be the law that takes precedence in Muslim community's... i suspect it would never actually take hold here because of our constitution and history, but it is a topic where you are bound to hear a slippery slope argument being made.

i am no fan of Michelle Bachmann but the comparison seems a bit over the top and inflammatory.....