I don't have a dog in this fight, but...

[BigV]

Originally Posted by classicman

I can still hope for a change can't I?
Perhaps the media fascination of this guy will end soon ... I don't see that happening though. See their coverage of Palin, Bachmann et all as a reference. They seem to be fixated on the extremist positions instead of the more rational ones.
(I don't wonder why)

I know you don't wonder why.

I believe the why is mostly two fold, and these two factors exacerbate each other in a positive feedback cycle.

1 -- MOST media is commercially based, and depends, as most corporations do, on making a profit. That profit comes from advertising mostly, and the revenues from advertising comes from advertisers who have been told and expect to have their commercials seen/heard by lots of people. What attracts those viewers/listeners? Spectacle, suspense, a good story. More excitement means more audience.

2 -- MOST presidential candidates for a party nomination know that they have to appeal to the greatest number of voters (for this restricted "election"). The voters in these several elections/caucuses/primaries are interested, motivated, focused voters. These are people who have definite ideas about what they want in a candidate. This includes "independents" for those areas that permit independents to vote. These more keenly interested, highly motivated, more intensely ideological voters have their choice among the competitors for the party nomination. They're looking for someone who is the *most* Republican, or the most (fill in the important issue here) of all the candidates. The result is you hear the candidates *competing* to be more _____ than the next one. This results in a "I'll see your position, and raise you" race to the far end of the spectrum in a race to be the most appealing. "I know you are, but I'm MORE." A race to the extreme.

This is double fucking rainbow awesome for the broadcast media, as each day is a richer harvest of more spectacle than the last one. Since the candidates know this too, they play on the media's hunger for more and more, substance be damned. Point 1 feeds on point 2 and that makes more of point 1, repeat (ugh) until the nomination.

Then it is a race to the center, because this new pool of voters is very different than the previous pools for the candidate who wins a major political party nomination. This race to the extreme then race back to the middle makes for some mental whiplash, but that is a small price to pay to get elected. Which must be done before one can govern.

[Lamplighter]

They're looking for someone who is the *most* Republican,
or the most (fill in the important issue here) of all the candidates.
The result is you hear the candidates *competing* to be more _____ than the next one.
This results in a "I'll see your position, and raise you" race to the far end
of the spectrum in a race to be the most appealing.
"I know you are, but I'm MORE." A race to the extreme.

V's comment above is true. And for Perry, it is business as usual.
In Texas, the candidates traditionally vie for who
is the "most Conservative", regardless of party affiliation.
Romney doesn't have a clue how this works, so his numbers stay constant.

But the thing that is really different this time around is the parties have reversed themselves.
Usually, it's the Democrats beating up on one another in the primaries,
and then have to suddenly realign for the general election.
The Republicans usually fall right into formation with the candidate
based on who is next in line (a la Romney).
I think McCain was the exception, and look where that got them.

If the Republicans are not successful this time, the Roves, Rollins, Norquists,
and McConnolls will squash the Tea Party and their ilk for generations to come.

[Lamplighter]

Governor Rick Perry has released his tax plan which is being touted as a "flat tax"
Below is what I have extracted from a couple of articles,
mainly from today's Washington Post

Washington Post
By Perry Bacon Jr.
October*25, 6:22*AM
Perry calls for major spending and tax cuts

Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry
has released an economic plan full of long-held conservative goals,
including personal accounts for Social Security, an optional flat tax,
major spending cuts and a series of tax cuts.

In almost every way, Perry, who is looking to woo tea party conservatives
who have been reluctant to back Romney,
presents policies to the right of the former Massachusetts governor.

Federal spending cap as % of GDP
Romney:20 %
Perry : 18% and Balanced Budget Amendment
Huntsman: three tax rates: 8%, 14%, and 23%
Cain: 9% on income, 9% on sales

Current special taxes
All candidates: Repeal estate tax
Romney: no taxes on interest, dividend income for less than$200K
Perry: eliminates: taxes on estates, capital gains and dividends
Cain: repeals all other taxes other than 9-9-9

Social Security
Romney: Raise retirement age
Perry: Private savings account outside
Cain: (0%)

Corporate taxes
Romney 25%
Perry 20% OR current tax system
Gingrich: 15% or current tax system
Cain: 9%

Deductions:
Romney: Current system
Perry: keeps mortgage interest and charitable donations
Huntsman eliminates all deductions
Cain: eliminates all deductions

Democrats strongly oppose many of Perry’s ideas,
and they are unlikely to become law, even if Perry is elected president

And besides all that:
Steve Forbes previously announced his support of Perry, and
Perry's plan is based on Forbes' "flat tax" plan from previous years,
but a Forbes Magazine article today says:

Unfortunately, this is one area where the Perry flat tax falls a bit short.
His plan gets rid of lots of special favors in the tax code,
but it would retain deductions (for those earning less than $500,000 yearly)
for charitable contributions, home mortgage interest, and state and local taxes.