The 2012 Republican Primary thread, early edition

[YOhio]

I was speaking of the General only. Primaries are different

Obama vs. McCain true
Bush vs Kerry fail (Kerry was taller and more 'refined-looking' than GWB)
Bush vs Gore fail (? - perhaps a wash, but Gore was too wooden and too close to Clinton)
Clinton vs Dole true (Clinton was far more 'healthy looking', though shorter)
Clinton vs. Bush true
Bush vs Dukakis true
Reagan vs Mondale true
Reagan vs Carter true
Carter vs Ford true (hair vs bald, though Ford was taller)
Nixon vs McGovern true-ish (battle of receding hairlines)
Nixon vs Humphrey and Wallace true
Johnson vs Goldwater true (Rockefeller could have beaten Johnson, but his divorce caused him the primary)
Kennedy vs. Nixon true (Nixon probably lost due to his sweaty appearance during the debate)

The only times the appearance of the candidate really made a difference were Kennedy/Nixon, Bush/Clinton, Clinton/Dole and Obama/McCain. The other elections were essentially a wash with goofy looking old white guys going up against the same.

[oxcoug]

The only times the appearance of the candidate really made a difference were Kennedy/Nixon, Bush/Clinton, Clinton/Dole and Obama/McCain. The other elections were essentially a wash with goofy looking old white guys going up against the same.

While this is true it's also true that no nominee in the TV era has been grotesquely overweight - I love Christie but weight will be an issue that many Americans are increasingly sensitized to. I think it would be a factor. Marginal, but it cld have an impact.

[falafel]

While this is true it's also true that no nominee in the TV era has been grotesquely overweight - I love Christie but weight will be an issue that many Americans are increasingly sensitized to. I think it would be a factor. Marginal, but it cld have an impact.

Everyone is fat these days. When we will have our first fat president (in the modern age)? I need someone I can relate to!

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Christie would have been mocked constantly.

I've seen SNL's take on the GOP debates and DVR some of the late night shows and Romney is a pretty hard target for these guys. All SNL can come up with is having Sudekis say "vote for me because I'm not black like Cain and I'm not crazy like the rest of the candidates." I paraphrase of course. I think any mormon jokes will get lame pretty quick.

[LA Ute]

Christie would have been mocked constantly.

I've seen SNL's take on the GOP debates and DVR some of the late night shows and Romney is a pretty hard target for these guys. All SNL can come up with is having Sudekis say "vote for me because I'm not black like Cain and I'm not crazy like the rest of the candidates." I paraphrase of course. I think any mormon jokes will get lame pretty quick.

A friend of mine who was once morbidly obese (he has remained pretty fit for 7-8 years now) told me that based on his own experience, he didn't think Christie, at his present weight, could handle the physical rigors of a presidential campaign, and the weight issue probably figured into his decision not to run for that reason also. I thought that was an interesting take.

[happyone]

A friend of mine who was once morbidly obese (he has remained pretty fit for 7-8 years now) told me that based on his own experience, he didn't think Christie, at his present weight, could handle the physical rigors of a presidential campaign, and the weight issue probably figured into his decision not to run for that reason also. I thought that was an interesting take.

As one who has been morbidly obese, I would agree with your friend. At my heaviest, I just couldn't do much physically.

[myboynoah]

Oh, btw, Palin isn't running.

[oxcoug]

Debate Game Day now on CNN!

[falafel]

Debate Game Day now on CNN!

I'm thinking of heading down to the stadium to see which giant candidate's head Corso puts on.

[oxcoug]

I'm thinking of heading down to the stadium to see which giant candidate's head Corso puts on.

That's David Gergen's job tonight.

[oxcoug]

Kevin Madden, Ari Fleischer and David Gergen disagree on which hockey strategy metaphor works best for Mitt -

Fleischer says he's become "a great goalie" and is "deflecting pucks" Gergen thinks he "needs to go on offense and put it in the net" and Madden wants to talk about something Wayne Gretzky says.

Getting good!

[falafel]

That's David Gergen's job tonight.

Did he already put on Perry's head?

[oxcoug]

Did he already put on Perry's head?

Didn't see but having just watched the hyper-dramatic CNN intro to the debate I think the theme of this debate might be something like "Pirate Republicans of the Caribbean!"

[SoonerCoug]

What a bunch of clowns on stage tonight.

[oxcoug]

What a bunch of clowns on stage tonight.

Says the guy who let someone else run off and get grass stains on his brand new Jordans.