Comments on: Thompson Unbracketed! (and a review and ranking of all the viable candidates) http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/ Conservatism for punks. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:18:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9907 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:21:26 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9907 And judging by this Drudge-linked column by novelist Erica Jong, she'd better not run for president either, by the way: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/whos-tired-of-pink_b_81087.html And judging by this Drudge-linked column by novelist Erica Jong, she’d better not run for president either, by the way:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/whos-tired-of-pink_b_81087.html

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9901 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:14:08 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9901 I was worried Fred might not, in fact, be too sexy, but it appears he is bringing sexy back, which is essentially the same song. Oh, and as for Avery's heartbreaking, too-late suggestion that Paul is still viable: no, by viable I mean "might very well, in some likely scenario, end up somewhere on a party ticket," and there is simply no recovery from the racist-newsletters scandal. Paul was low in the polls even before, he ain't goin' any higher now, and arguably doesn't deserve to -- but even if he does arguably deserve to, he won't, so I intend never to mention him on this site again (though after all your admirable hard work, you deserve my explicit statement of that plan at least). Turn that libertarian energy to more productive channels now, the sooner the better -- and don't think I'm not saddened and disappointed by the whole thing myself (and after my prior entry, which was lengthy enough, I'm not going to get into any further debates on whether the whole scandal is utterly apocalyptic or only mildly-devastating -- either way, it's over, over, over, over). I was worried Fred might not, in fact, be too sexy, but it appears he is bringing sexy back, which is essentially the same song.

Oh, and as for Avery’s heartbreaking, too-late suggestion that Paul is still viable: no, by viable I mean “might very well, in some likely scenario, end up somewhere on a party ticket,” and there is simply no recovery from the racist-newsletters scandal.

Paul was low in the polls even before, he ain’t goin’ any higher now, and arguably doesn’t deserve to — but even if he does arguably deserve to, he won’t, so I intend never to mention him on this site again (though after all your admirable hard work, you deserve my explicit statement of that plan at least). Turn that libertarian energy to more productive channels now, the sooner the better — and don’t think I’m not saddened and disappointed by the whole thing myself (and after my prior entry, which was lengthy enough, I’m not going to get into any further debates on whether the whole scandal is utterly apocalyptic or only mildly-devastating — either way, it’s over, over, over, over).

]]> by: Christopher http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9848 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:50:22 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9848 I'm a little disappointed in the lack of some sort of "Right Said Fred" reference here. Or perhaps you're too sexy for that. I’m a little disappointed in the lack of some sort of “Right Said Fred” reference here. Or perhaps you’re too sexy for that.

]]> by: Todd Seavey http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9845 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:56:15 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9845 It's complicated, I admit, but, with everyone ranked (in essence) by their _practical usefulness for staving off still-greater statism_, I'm giving McCain bonus points for his ability to keep religionists in the fold (without kowtowing to them too much) in a way that perhaps Giuliani can't and bonus points for his ability to keep moderates in the fold in the general election (in a way that perhaps Romney can't). I admit there's a thin line between pragmatism and passively endorsing the winner -- but in the meantime, _Go, Fred!_ It’s complicated, I admit, but, with everyone ranked (in essence) by their _practical usefulness for staving off still-greater statism_, I’m giving McCain bonus points for his ability to keep religionists in the fold (without kowtowing to them too much) in a way that perhaps Giuliani can’t and bonus points for his ability to keep moderates in the fold in the general election (in a way that perhaps Romney can’t).

I admit there’s a thin line between pragmatism and passively endorsing the winner — but in the meantime, _Go, Fred!_

]]> by: Ken Silber http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9843 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:25:33 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9843 Avery Knapp, can you supply any quote/paper/etc that shows McCain calling for <i>mandatory</i> national service? I've seen this said about him several times, but nothing I've found by him suggests anything other than support for a voluntary program, such as already exist. Avery Knapp, can you supply any quote/paper/etc that shows McCain calling for mandatory national service? I’ve seen this said about him several times, but nothing I’ve found by him suggests anything other than support for a voluntary program, such as already exist.

]]> by: Avery J. Knapp Jr. http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9841 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:19:53 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/01/13/thompson-unbracketed-and-a-review-and-ranking-of-all-the-viable-candidates/#comment-9841 I think I could make a strong case that Paul is at least as viable as Edwards, if there are degrees of viability, however I don't think there are. Prediction markets such as InTrade think so, anyway. And if you were to include Edwards at the bottom, Paul should be at the top. Perhaps the stronger argument is that Edwards should be removed as nonviable (although your viciously-true statements about him made the discrepancy of including him worth it). I would also argue that Giuliani and Romney should be higher than McCain - as Karol says "Anybody But McCain". McCain is responsible (along with Thompson) for the McCain-Feingold destruction of the 1st amendment and voted against Bush's tax cuts. Also, do we really want or need troops in Iraq for 100 years? He also supports mandatory short-term slavery in mandatory national service and supports long-term economic slavery in voting against the Bush tax cuts. If you believe that economic freedom tends to lead toward social freedom, Giuliani should be a tad higher than McCain. Giuliani gives lip service toward tax cuts and ending the death tax - even though he has violent tendencies toward the 2nd amendment. I think I could make a strong case that Paul is at least as viable as Edwards, if there are degrees of viability, however I don’t think there are. Prediction markets such as InTrade think so, anyway. And if you were to include Edwards at the bottom, Paul should be at the top.

Perhaps the stronger argument is that Edwards should be removed as nonviable (although your viciously-true statements about him made the discrepancy of including him worth it).

I would also argue that Giuliani and Romney should be higher than McCain - as Karol says “Anybody But McCain”. McCain is responsible (along with Thompson) for the McCain-Feingold destruction of the 1st amendment and voted against Bush’s tax cuts. Also, do we really want or need troops in Iraq for 100 years? He also supports mandatory short-term slavery in mandatory national service and supports long-term economic slavery in voting against the Bush tax cuts.

If you believe that economic freedom tends to lead toward social freedom, Giuliani should be a tad higher than McCain. Giuliani gives lip service toward tax cuts and ending the death tax - even though he has violent tendencies toward the 2nd amendment.

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