Rick Santorum's candidacy ...

*WhoWee*

Quote by ThomasT

WhoWee suggested that Santorum is his own worst enemy. I suggested that, wrt about half of America, he isn't. Wrt the Christian Right we could say that Obama is his own worst enemy. And so on.

Please stay focused on Santorum - comments about Obama are off topic.

*WhoWee*

Quote by ThomasT

Of course. I just commented on your "he's his own worst enemy" comment. Wrt who is he his own worst enemy? Obviously, imo, not wrt extreme Christians.

His fundamental base? Yes, I agree. But you seemed to suggest that his comments were hurting him. And I agree that his comments hurt him wrt people outside his fundamental extremist Christian base.

When a candidate's opinions/policies are based on a belief in the canons of ancient mythology, then I think this affects his fitness wrt the responsibilities of the chief executive. That is, the single most important thing to consider about Santorum is, imo, the fact that he's a theistic religious fanatic. This apparent fact is, by itself, enough for me to exclude him from consideration. And, this apparent fact is, by itself, enough for many Americans, maybe about half eventually, to consider him the only acceptable candidate.

I don't think the general public is so one dimensional in their thinking that only social issues or religious beliefs will determine the fate of the candidate - unless the other issues (economy, foreign affairs, pending legislation, recently enacted legislation, court appointments, budget/failure to budget, taxes, deicits) are not equally considered.

*WhoWee*

If we can advance this - I think Santorum was his own worst enemy (with his base including the TEA Party) when he called politics a team sport in the AZ debate.

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

Please stay focused on Santorum - comments about Obama are off topic.

It's not off topic if it helps to illustrate a point about the topic.

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

I don't think the general public is so one dimensional in their thinking that only social issues or religious beliefs will determine the fate of the candidate - unless the other issues (economy, foreign affairs, pending legislation, recently enacted legislation, court appointments, budget/failure to budget, taxes, deicits) are not equally considered.

I don't that the other issues are equally considered. That is, I don't think they're as important to Santorum's base, or those outside his base, as his religiosity.

*WhoWee*

Quote by ThomasT

It's not off topic if it helps to illustrate a point about the topic.

I'm not certain that is correct.

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

If we can advance this - I think Santorum was his own worst enemy (with his base including the TEA Party) when he called politics a team sport in the AZ debate.

Ok, that might well be the case. Do you happen to have a link for that handy. If not, I'll Google it.

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

I'm not certain that is correct.

Apparently it isn't, at least as far as you're concerned.

Anyway, your points are taken.

*WhoWee*

Quote by ThomasT

I don't that the other issues are equally considered. That is, I don't think they're as important to Santorum's base, or those outside his base, as his religiosity.

You don't think the economy, deficits, and foreign affairs (for instance) are as important to Santorum's base as his "religiosity"?

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

You don't think the economy, deficits, and foreign affairs (for instance) are as important to Santorum's base as his "religiosity"?

No. That's my current opinion.

*WhoWee*

Quote by ThomasT

Ok, that might well be the case. Do you happen to have a link for that handy. If not, I'll Google it.

Sure.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...4VR_video.html

"Santorum: 'Politics is a team sport' (1:26)
Feb. 23, 2012 - When discussing his support of the No Child Left Behind policy at the Republican debate on Wednesday night, Rick Santorum said he took 'one for the team' to support a policy that was a priority to President George W. Bush. (Feb. 23) (/Courtesy of CNN) "

He was booed. Even Rush Limbaugh commented:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73223.html

"Rush Limbaugh said he “cringed” when Rick Santorum blurted out during Wednesday night’s Republican debate that “politics is a team sport” to explain his voting record – a line that his opponents have quickly seized on to paint the GOP candidate as a clear-cut Washington insider.

“Santorum is getting creamed. I cringed when I heard him say this. Santorum is getting creamed for the team player comment,” Limbaugh said on his radio show Thursday. “I heard it, I looked at [my wife] Kathryn, and I said, ‘There’s going to be hell to pay for that one,’ because I knew that Santorum opponents, both from the left and right, were going to harp on it.”"

*ThomasT*

Quote by WhoWee

Sure.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...4VR_video.html

"Santorum: 'Politics is a team sport' (1:26)
Feb. 23, 2012 - When discussing his support of the No Child Left Behind policy at the Republican debate on Wednesday night, Rick Santorum said he took 'one for the team' to support a policy that was a priority to President George W. Bush. (Feb. 23) (/Courtesy of CNN) "

He was booed. Even Rush Limbaugh commented:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73223.html

"Rush Limbaugh said he “cringed” when Rick Santorum blurted out during Wednesday night’s Republican debate that “politics is a team sport” to explain his voting record – a line that his opponents have quickly seized on to paint the GOP candidate as a clear-cut Washington insider.

“Santorum is getting creamed. I cringed when I heard him say this. Santorum is getting creamed for the team player comment,” Limbaugh said on his radio show Thursday. “I heard it, I looked at [my wife] Kathryn, and I said, ‘There’s going to be hell to pay for that one,’ because I knew that Santorum opponents, both from the left and right, were going to harp on it.”"

Yeah, he came off as a bit weak on that one in the sense that he did something against his principles. I'm not sure what principle he violated. Surely not testing. Spending?

lisab

Quote by ThomasT

Yeah, he came off as a bit weak on that one in the sense that he did something against his principles. I'm not sure what principle he violated. Surely not testing. Spending?

He told the truth...?

Pythagorean

Quote by WhoWee

I'm not certain that is correct.

I agree with ThomasT. Sometimes we have to bring up the other candidates because that's the pertinent factor: how this candidate compares to other candidates. If there was only one candidate, candidacy wouldn't be an issue.

jreelawg

Quote by WhoWee

You don't think the economy, deficits, and foreign affairs (for instance) are as important to Santorum's base as his "religiosity"?

It's not that simple. A good deal of his stances on what should be non-religious issues, are based on his biblical interpretations, and his beliefs of what is and isn't the work of Satan.

For example, he thinks that academia has fallen to Satan, and strongly believes that government should have nothing to do with education. He thinks all schools should be private schools. This in my opinion is a big issue. How will America stay competitive without an education system?

Also, his foreign policy stance is based on the bible. He seams to think we are in a spiritual war. Sure good and evil, but good and evil as he defines it, which includes having the wrong religion, using condoms, raising taxes, environmentalism etc. If you take his Satan speech literally, he thinks the entire world except the US is evil, and Ruled by Satan. I think this view he seams to hold coincides with his very aggressive views on the use of America Military force abroad.

His business side, as I have seen it, is his support of ending environmental regulations, and lowering taxes for the rich. Of this, his reasoning for ending environmental regulations, is that they are inconsistent with his interpretation of the bible.

If war, environmental regulation, and education are not important issues, then I don't know what are.

*WhoWee*

Quote by Pythagorean

I agree with ThomasT. Sometimes we have to bring up the other candidates because that's the pertinent factor: how this candidate compares to other candidates. If there was only one candidate, candidacy wouldn't be an issue.

Your belief doesn't seem consistent with my experience in this thread - I've found it's best not to attempt a direct contrast between candidates as it may de-rail/move the debate off-topic - it's best to stay focused strictly on the subject candidate.

*WhoWee*

Quote by jreelawg

It's not that simple. A good deal of his stances on what should be non-religious issues, are based on his biblical interpretations, and his beliefs of what is and isn't the work of Satan.

For example, he thinks that academia has fallen to Satan, and strongly believes that government should have nothing to do with education. He thinks all schools should be private schools. This in my opinion is a big issue. How will America stay competitive without an education system?

Let's start with this - do you have specific quotes to support your comment - then we can analyze.

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WhoWee	If we can advance this - I think Santorum was his own worst enemy (with his base including the TEA Party) when he called politics a team sport in the AZ debate.