2016 Election Thread

[Squirrel]

I've also said before it's been uninspiring for me casting a vote in the past several elections. But … as I said … my female vote matters to me. Until voting for a 3rd party candidate isn't going to end up being a vote for a Republican, I will vote Democrat every, single, time. I actually thought about not voting for Obama the last two elections, only because I'm in Illinois, and there was no way the state wasn't going to go for him. But … you just never know … just. couldn't. not. do. it.

[TheLeviathan]

No I totally understand, you just hear the Supreme Court angle relatively often and I'm not sure it's really all that important.

 

Both parties, while controlling the Presidency, have shown a capacity to elect fair minded people.  

[Squirrel]

 

No I totally understand, you just hear the Supreme Court angle relatively often and I'm not sure it's really all that important.

 

Both parties, while controlling the Presidency, have shown a capacity to elect fair minded people.  

True. However … it's enough of a concern from my perspective. I still think it's a very precarious thing. And if the votes are there in the Senate, it would worry me a great deal in today's climate. As with everything, there is increasing lobbying around Justice nominations/appointments, and I only see that getting worse. And in this next presidential term or two … for me, I just really feel like there is too much at stake.

[mikecgrimes]

I like Sanders' authenticity but he's too far left for me. He seems like a great guy and we agree on a lot of things but some of his policy gives me pause.

 

Also, I *really* doubt he wins the nomination.

. I'd love to know what the polls would show if biden Warren or even a lesser Amy klobuchar type was in the race from the start. My guess is they would already be leading.

[biggentleben]

 

. I'd love to know what the polls would show if biden Warren or even a lesser Amy klobuchar type was in the race from the start. My guess is they would already be leading.

 

I think you'd be surprised. I know I'd be actively out campaigning against Klobuchar, not that she has much of a national presence anyway. Biden's a different story, but he's been painted as such a buffoon by Faux News and such without any defense from his own party, akin to Quayle, and how he was hung out to dry by the Republican Party during Senior Bush's presidency.

[DaveW]

A Sanders against Trump battle for the presidency would be one for the history books.

[Hrbowski]

 

A Sanders against Trump battle for the presidency would be one for the history books.

Which one would choose Jesse Ventura to be his running mate?

[TheLeviathan]

 

Which one would choose Jesse Ventura to be his running mate?

 

Gorilla Monsoon.

[Craig Arko]

I think The Body has already expressed interest for Trump; I wonder if Jon Stewart would run with Sanders?

[Shane Wahl]

By the way, with my "politics analysis" cap on: Bernie Sanders is *the* best opposition that the Clinton campaign could ever ask for:

1. The numbers are serious enough to show that there is no vacuum of opposition, so this dissuades others from entering the race.

2. The numbers are not going to be serious enough, certainly not to even come close to losing the primary (even if, somehow, Sanders wins a few state primaries/caucuses).

3. There's no money for him to compete in more than a dozen states (he only has three offices right now--I don't even know where they are, but I assume Vermont, New Hampshire, and Iowa?).

4. He is a man of integrity and has declared a non-negative campaign. This saves her from dealing with venom from left and right.

5. She can effectively co-opt the progressive message (so many clowns actually believe he will "move Hillary to the left") to win over many of his supporters for the general election.

6. Related to 5, she can even officially offer him some position, and since he is an established politician it could be a real offer (as opposed to offering some spot for Jill Stein or somebody, which would never even be on the table).

 

 

I do wish he would win, though. That said, if Clinton loses the nomination again, I really think that both Bill and Hillary are going to get seriously homocidal.

[Mike Sixel]

I could vote republican for president......if the congress was not republican. But controlling both? Too scary for me.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

No I totally understand, you just hear the Supreme Court angle relatively often and I'm not sure it's really all that important.

 

Both parties, while controlling the Presidency, have shown a capacity to elect fair minded people.  

I agree the most recent nominees have been (somewhat) reasonable but could you imagine what kind of Scalia-esque monstrosity we might get if a GOP Congress gets to vote on a SCOTUS nominee presented by a GOP President?

 

The mind reels.

 

Right now, most of the Supreme Court is (somewhat) reasonable. The two exceptions are Thomas, who is a blundering ass, and Scalia, who is very intelligent but seems to derive more enjoyment from being a prick than reasonably evaluating a case.

 

The thought of getting another Thomas or Scalia on the court scares the hell out of me.

[kydoty]

 

I could vote republican for president......if the congress was not republican. But controlling both? Too scary for me.

 

You could always vote for Deez Nuts.

[mikecgrimes]

It's been a while time to update my evaluation of the field.  First the Democrats while I see an opening for Sanders I can't imagine someone like Biden not taking it, I put his chances at around 2%, It's really hard to say what will happen with Clinton.  My gut tells me Democrats don't make the mistake of going with her when other options exist so I put her at about 40%, while I think that leaves it for Biden Warren or someone like that you can't overlook Martin O'Malley, I'm going a hair over Sanders at 3%.  It feels as if Biden wants it most so I'll go 30% for him 20% for Warren and 5% for everyone else.

 

On the Republican side a lot has developed and yet next to not much is clear.  One things for certain despite leading most polls the term Front runner in regards to Trump is mostly driven by Democrats.  Mote then 50% of Republican voters HATE him, and not the I will never vote for Jeb type thing.  Either the guy is an idiot or he knows exactly what he's doing and that would be destroying the image of the Republican party further either option leaves him undeserving of any consideration for the nomination.   I'm trying to come up with a reason to go 5% or something but when a solid majority of the party hates you it's a clear 0%.  Trump hurts the candidates who want to run out the clock so despite fearing Bush would benefit I now feel Trump hurts him still I have to give him a solid 20% shot.  The other clear frontrunners are Rubio and Cruz.  Cruz is where the tea party support will end up as the field clears, the #s of Paul Carson and to some extent Trump suggest the Tea Party might have the advantage I'm going 30% Rubio is the solid all around safe option but currently is lagging in the polls I'd go 30% if he was polling higher but for now 20%.  It's tough to figure out who else has any advantage, the media wants Kaisich that might be good for 10% I guess I have to give the remaining 20% to the field.

[formerly33]

 

Either the guy is an idiot or he knows exactly what he's doing and that would be destroying the image of the Republican party.

This. I'd have to say that if it was the former he'd just be posting on the off-topic forums of a website like Twins Daily, so let's say it's the latter ... unfortunately.

[mikecgrimes]

Rick Perry drops out.  We are officially down to 16 with only 12 polling above 1 percent.  While Perrys 1% support won't make much difference in future polls if next to none goes to Trump it could be the start of something that will become noticeable once a few more candidates drop hopefully following next weeks debate.  

[Craig Arko]

[twinsnorth49]

This. I'd have to say that if it was the former he'd just be posting on the off-topic forums of a website like Twins Daily, so let's say it's the latter ... unfortunately.

Well, I'm sure no insult was taken by anyone there....

[formerly33]

 

Well, I'm sure no insult was taken by anyone there....

Who ... myself?

[Shane Wahl]

Carly Fiorina does something as vile as anything Trump has done. Media fall over themselves in praise. She jumps in the polls.

 

The GOP . . .

[mikecgrimes]

 

Carly Fiorina does something as vile as anything Trump has done. Media fall over themselves in praise. She jumps in the polls.

 

The GOP . . .

 

Wait she was involved in Bengahzi and the cover up?  or did she just say some words that you didn't like.  

 

Democrats ...

[mikecgrimes]

When people think the 47% comment was a gaff I don't worry much about what Democrats get offended by.  The 47% was honest political analysis.  The people that are net winners when it comes to tax and spend are in overwhelming majorities going to favor Democrats.  That's fine although it has and will continue to lead to bad political decisions by both Democrats and Republicans the fact that a single Republican is willing to refuse to defund planned parenthood (while funding other women health programs ) tells us that way to many don't have the political courage to do what they know is right.

 

 

[mikecgrimes]

 

 

Wait she was involved in Bengahzi and the cover up?  or did she just say some words that you didn't like.  

 

Democrats ...

 

And before anyone jumps on me I think I know what happened in Benghazi but I do not know for certain.  It would have been nice if Hillary didn't destroy her server as it leads me to think I'm right.  If I'm right it's a really big deal which is not in anyway comparable to the lives lost in Iraq, if I'm not it's just 4 lives that when compared to the Iraq war is while just as significant to the 4 familes not comparable to any disagreement you might have with the war Bush and Senators like Clinton started.  Yes they've gone over this for a few years now, but the key details are still not in.

 

I'm never going to spell out what we are pretty certain happened as I'm not willing to be proven wrong, but I hope your side knows what we are thinking.  It would be really easy for Clinton to clear things up if we happen to be wrong.  Instead her staffer is going to obstruct the process by pleading the 5th to avoid any criminal charges.

[TheLeviathan]

How anyone can complain straight faced about lies helping a politician from either party is beyond me.

[stringer bell]

Scott Walker out. Not really a surprise, but a lot of people liked his chances a few months ago.

[mikecgrimes]

Scott Walker is out.  I know he struggled in the debates but I'm shocked how far he fell in the polls.  I think it just came down to him not being anybodies first choice, but he had to be in the top 3 or 4 among most.  I was ready for Rand Paul to drop and this might give him a little boast to push him above the bottom of the pack.  In the latest poll's his support was next to nothing but what little he had should mostly go to Paul Cruz or Bush.  Again next to none will go to Trump.

[TheLeviathan]

Everytime I even looked at Scott Walker I couldn't get past the thought of: "This guy is a total gomer.  What the hell is he even doing on that stage?"

 

Good riddance.

[Hrbowski]

At least Walker went out of the race taking a shot at Trump:

 

"I encourage other Republican presidential candidates to consider doing the same so the voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive conservative alternative to the current front-runner."

 

I think it is good that he dropped out, he was never a favorite of mine.

[Craig Arko]

I think the next time I could vote for a Republican Presidential candidate is when somewhen with the stature and will to think for him(her)self of a Colin Powell is that candidate.

 

I always felt the U.S. missed an opportunity with him, but he was too smart to play the game. But he's the kind of person the GOP should be courting with everything they've got. Then perhaps they will do good things for the citizenry, and not just personal ambitions to be king (queen).

[Mike Sixel]

I do love that, currently but probably not sustainably, the Republican candidates are being consumed by their constant statements that government is inherently evil (despite all actual evidence), and that three outsiders are leading the field. It won't last, but it is fun to see the law of unintended consequences once again rearing its ugly head.