Why are the GOP primaries so much nicer than ours?!

[bidenista]

Does it come down to the fact that Repubs know to keep their powder dry for the GE? Or am I just failing to see all the divisions?

It seems to me that the Repub candidates are managing a much more civil primary process than the Dems, and I'm worried that the American people will be left with the impression that we're the "nasty" ones. Even though the Repukes are some of the worst candidates they've ever had, touting some of the nastiest ideas.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. because they are stirring Democrat camps up against each other

[cali]

2. lol

it seems to me you know very little about the history of repuke primaries- or even the current on. For pete's sake, the repuke race has been just as nasty as it always is.

[bidenista]

6. i dunno

I was watching the latest GOP debate, and it seemed like a meeting of slightly argumentative buddies (old, disgusting, neo-Klan buddies) rather than a warzone. Compare that to the way the Clinton and Obama camps are behaving, and the way the CANDIDATES THEMSELVES - not Repukes posing - treat one another.

[cali]

12. they've had some very nasty debates and the usual crap

went on in SC; push polling, nasty crap about McCain and Romney, etc.

[Skwmom]

3. Because they are already playing for the general election.

If Clinton is the nominee, she'll continue her sleaze politics and the Republicans will hammer her on this, bringing back up the dirty tricks played in the primary.

They are playing for the moderates, independents, and fed up Democrats.

Why do you think McCain keeps hammering home INTEGRITY? Because it is going to be about integrity and the Clintons have none.
The Republicans sense the mood change in the public. The Clintons are still playing the political game as if it's the 90s.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. No one who's been watching GOP debates would believe they're playing for

"moderates, independents and fed up Democrats."

They're pandering to their base just as hard as ever.

[baldguy]

4. Do you see much variation?

[MonkeyFunk]

5. I don't think they are

I think people who spend any time on DU, and in this forum in particular, are in a giant echo chamber where the smallest offense is magnified a million times, and the fake outrage is perceived as real and divisive.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. because hillary isn't in their primary

remember, ours was just as civil before Hillary lost Iowa.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

8. Only seems that way because the media is largely ignoring the Lame Duck Party

Nobody cares what they do because they're not expected to win. Not saying it couldn't happen, but go read NYT's endorsements of Clinton and McCain and see which one you think they're rooting for.

[lonestarnot]

9. What's to say about an old man, a 9/11 nutball, a religious easter egg hunter, and a morm?

Will any of them be fairly elected this time? NO.

[goldcanyonaz]

10. Because they have Jesus with them?

[rasputin1952]

13. You are only seeing a somewhat well-honed attempt at

"masking".

They have this thought that if they make things look, "orderly", they will get the masses to accept they are the party of "control"...:eyes: They are the party of "control" all right, the bush cabal is trying to set up a monarchy!

In all reality, they are far more despondent this time around than I've ever seen them. Body language speaks volumes, and I rarely watch these buffoons, but when I do, I see little more than a serious attempt at treading water before drowning. They have nothing, they know it, and it is all now, simply a case of trying to make chaos llook like "order"...:D

[sufrommich]

14. If you look just under the surface,Bidenista

you begin to see that there is really quite a bit of turmoil in the GOP.They are just better at keeping it under the radar than we are.If McCain wins Florida,the sharp knives will be drawn. Interesting OP question.:thumbsup:

[robbedvoter]

15. They are busy manipulating ours. See media coverage stats:

Obama: 47% positive, 16% negative.
Clinton: 27% positive, 38% negative.
McCain: 12% positive, 48% negative
Giuliani: 28% positive, 37% negative
JEDNE

Net numbers

Obama +31
Giuliani -9
Clinton -11
McCain -36

[SaveAmerica]

16. Because they're waiting for their masters to tell them who to support

and then they do it without discussion or debate. By nicer do you mean more boring?

[bidenista]

17. no

I mean civil. They don't go at one another like crazed ferrets.