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  1. Paul Dougherty Member
    Paul Dougherty
    @PaulDougherty

    Well, I’d like to thank Gov. Pataki for his valuable contributions to the race:

    Thank you.

    • #1
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    So funny. Poor George and Jim.

    • #2
  3. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    @GovernorPataki is calling his NH supporters this afternoon telling him he will drop his bid for president #fitn

    That will take all of fifteen minutes – twenty tops.

    • #3
  4. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: I felt a mild disturbance in the race, as if a couple of voices suddenly cried out “meh” and slowly shrugged.

    Excellent line, Jon.

    This is going to break Fred Cole’s heart.

    • #4
  5. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    The hits just keep on coming. Why does it seem the best candidates are simply unable to last? I mean first Lindsey Graham and now this?

    Not just an issue for the GOP either, I can only imagine the anguish of Democrats when Lincoln Chafee dropped out and now word emerges that even O’Malley might be in trouble!

    Damn these primaries are rough.

    • #5
  6. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Randy Weivoda:

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: I felt a mild disturbance in the race, as if a couple of voices suddenly cried out “meh” and slowly shrugged.

    Excellent line, Jon.

    This is going to break Fred Cole’s heart.

    That’s when Paul drops out. Expect a request for Ricochet flags at half-staff that day.

    • #6
  7. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    I’m verklempt.

    • #7
  8. David Sussman Member
    David Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Remaining GOP candidates: “Quick! The diet lemon snapple vote is up for grabs!”

    • #8
  9. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    I hate cruelty.

    • #9
  10. Austin Murrey Inactive
    Austin Murrey
    @AustinMurrey

    Seriously though, I swore someone told me he never filed in some states as running for President: what was his motivation?

    • #10
  11. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Austin Murrey:Seriously though, I swore someone told me he never filed in some states as running for President: what was his motivation?

    Having a party on someone else’s dime.

    The other great thing about flirting is the money. While you flirt, you can raise it. And if you don’t run, you can spend it anyway.

    In 1999, for instance, Pataki flirted with a campaign, then gave up and endorsed George W. Bush. In 2007, he did it again. “I was very serious about it” that time, Pataki says now. “But: Mayor Giuliani.” The former New York City mayor was in the race, and Pataki didn’t think there was room for two New Yorkers. So he got out.

    Both times, Pataki raised more than $1 million in donors’ money. Both times, the New York Times reported, Pataki spent it — giving to allied Republican candidates, paying for Pataki’s travels, and paying a circle of Pataki’s own advisers, strategists and fundraisers.

    “I was very serious about it,” Pataki says. “But everywhere I went, people had committed to Mitt Romney.” He pulled the plug but still raised and spent more than $600,000 via a political nonprofit.

    This year, Pataki is raising money again — for a super PAC called “We the People, Not Washington.” Among those leading the fundraising are several Pataki associates who got paid from the money he raised in past flirtations. Aides wouldn’t say how much he’d raised or spent this time.

    • #11
  12. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Roberto:The hits just keep on coming. Why does it seem the best candidates are simply unable to last? I mean first Lindsey Graham and now this?

    Not just an issue for the GOP either, I can only imagine the anguish of Democrats when Lincoln Chafee dropped out and now word emerges that even O’Malley might be in trouble!

    Damn these primaries are rough.

    Just wait until some actually casts a ballot. Then the gloves come off.

    • #12
  13. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Austin Murrey:Seriously though, I swore someone told me he never filed in some states as running for President: what was his motivation?

    Book$, $peeche$, Chick$. Ok maybe not the Chick$, but all that other stuff.

    • #13
  14. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    All is coming about as foretold in Jon Huntsman’s cunning plan.

    • #14
  15. Frozen Chosen Inactive
    Frozen Chosen
    @FrozenChosen

    I’m George Pataki and I’m relevant!

    Oh wait, the complete opposite of that, as Fred would say

    • #15
  16. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    A very jockular headline.

    • #16
  17. Frozen Chosen Inactive
    Frozen Chosen
    @FrozenChosen

    Roberto:

    Austin Murrey:Seriously though, I swore someone told me he never filed in some states as running for President: what was his motivation?

    Having a party on someone else’s dime.

    The other great thing about flirting is the money. While you flirt, you can raise it. And if you don’t run, you can spend it anyway.

    In 1999, for instance, Pataki flirted with a campaign, then gave up and endorsed George W. Bush. In 2007, he did it again. “I was very serious about it” that time, Pataki says now. “But: Mayor Giuliani.” The former New York City mayor was in the race, and Pataki didn’t think there was room for two New Yorkers. So he got out.

    Both times, Pataki raised more than $1 million in donors’ money. Both times, the New York Times reported, Pataki spent it — giving to allied Republican candidates, paying for Pataki’s travels, and paying a circle of Pataki’s own advisers, strategists and fundraisers.

    “I was very serious about it,” Pataki says. “But everywhere I went, people had committed to Mitt Romney.” He pulled the plug but still raised and spent more than $600,000 via a political nonprofit.

    This year, Pataki is raising money again — for a super PAC called “We the People, Not Washington.” Among those leading the fundraising are several Pataki associates who got paid from the money he raised in past flirtations. Aides wouldn’t say how much he’d raised or spent this time.

    What kind of fool would give George Pataki a campaign contribution?!

    PT Barnum was right…

    • #17
  18. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    Why?  Why did this have to happen on my week off?

    Oh cruel fate…

    • #18
  19. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Awwwwrrrriggghhhtt! Now the race should get interesting! Where, oh where, will the Pataki voters go? Trump? Cruz? Jeb!? Political junkies everywhere are waiting with bated breath…

    • #19
  20. Paul Erickson Inactive
    Paul Erickson
    @PaulErickson

    Basil Fawlty:A very jockular headline.

    Thy cup runneth over with sarcasm.

    • #20
  21. donald todd Inactive
    donald todd
    @donaldtodd

    Pataki was perhaps running for a cabinet appointment?  No one in his or her right mind thought Pataki was Mr. Popular or even Ms. Congenial.

    • #21
  22. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    • #22
  23. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Paul Erickson:

    Basil Fawlty:A very jockular headline.

    Thy cup runneth over with sarcasm.

    Not so.  I’m just a simple political pundit.

    • #23
  24. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    Come on guys and gals, if Pataki’s supporters, (be serious there are at least ten) go to Bush his total support will have doubled.  Nobody else will be able to show a comparable graph.

    • #24
  25. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    The nation waits on tenterhooks to learn who the Pataki supporter will switch to.

    • #25
  26. Son of Spengler Member
    Son of Spengler
    @SonofSpengler

    So sad. I remember his entry into the race as if it were yesterday.

    • #26
  27. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Time for the Kasich surge!

    • #27
  28. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Oh well, maybe 2020 will be the year for GP.

    • #28
  29. Son of Spengler Member
    Son of Spengler
    @SonofSpengler

    This means we’re down to only one Yalie in the GOP race now.

    • #29
  30. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Damn. And I understood that Patakistan’s supporter was very athletic, too.

    • #30
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