The 2016 Presidential Candidates Thread

[CarolKing]

It's too late for Michael Bloomberg to join the race. He's thinking about jumping in. He should have started sooner. He must think that Hillary can't win. He'll screw things up for the democrats and Trump will win. That must be what he wants to happen. Anybody but Bernie, he will fuck up Wallstreet.

 

[CuckFumbustion]

She's OUR liar.

I hear ya on that sentiment.
"He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch." FDR describing Anastasio Somoza García

I'm sorry you took my response as anything more than a feeble attempt at humor. Excuse me. Someone might think I'm stoned. May the first candidate who is without sin cast the first stone.

What no takers? Your feeble attempt at humor was good enough to make this feeble mind have a laugh.

If you are going to follow politics ya gotta pause and have a sense of humor or this might happen. ----> <-----A tin foiled covered dunce cap.
10 more months then the real worrying begins.

 

[cybrguy]

I supported Obama early on when nobody thought he could win. He was a mainstream democrat! I love Bernie but he is too far to the left for this electorate. If Obama had campaigned with Bernie's platform I would have voted for Hillary.

I supported Obama, but I would have never voted for him if I thought there was any way that was going to put Sarah Palin a heart attack away from the Presidency. Even then it was obvious what a wack job she was and that is a risk I would not have been willing to take.

All this talk about voting your conscience, I get it. It's great to vote your conscience and in most situations it is the right thing to do. But if I KNOW that voting my conscience would severely hurt my country, I would have NO PROBLEM doing the right thing rather than what would make me feel better in the short term.

 

[Chill Dude]

It's too late for Michael Bloomberg to join the race. He's thinking about jumping in. He should have started sooner. He must think that Hillary can't win. He'll screw things up for the democrats and Trump will win. That must be what he wants to happen. Anybody but Bernie, he will fuck up Wallstreet.

I not so sure about that. Bloomberg is basically a moderate and I believe his strategy is to run as an independent if it's clear that It will be Sanders and Trump or Cruz.. His thinking is that Sanders is too far left and Trump and Cruz are too far right, therefore, there is no Candidate with mainstream moderate positions in the race. Actually, I'd be very surprised if he would run against Clinton as he is only a little to the right of Clinton politically.

 

[Gunky]

I supported Obama, but I would have never voted for him if I thought there was any way that was going to put Sarah Palin a heart attack away from the Presidency. Even then it was obvious what a wack job she was and that is a risk I would not have been willing to take.

All this talk about voting your conscience, I get it. It's great to vote your conscience and in most situations it is the right thing to do. But if I KNOW that voting my conscience would severely hurt my country, I would have NO PROBLEM doing the right thing rather than what would make me feel better in the short term.

Well it's ok. Let Bernie and his supporters make their case. My guess is once we get past New Hampshire Hillary starts winning a lot of primaries.

 

[cybrguy]

So, apparently Jeb has now called for legislation to overturn Citizens United.

Can you smell the fear? His whole war chest is a function of Citizens United...

 

[KimDracula]

I wish the Democrats could get people mobilized for Congressional races like they do for President. When that happens then some big things can get done again.

 

[Joel W.]

The shakeup.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) — Hillary Clinton, facing a a tougher than anticipated challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination from Bernie Sanders, is preparing to take a new look at her campaign structure, she said Monday.

Several people close to the campaign, particularly in Bill Clinton’s orbit and among donors, acknowledged discontent within the operation and feel the campaign was too slow to recognize and deal with the threat posed by the Vermont senator.

These concerns were magnified after Clinton eeked out a win in Iowa, carrying the state by less than 1%, and the fact that the former secretary of state is trailing Sanders in polls ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. According to a CNN tracking poll released Monday evening, Sanders is leading Clinton in New Hampshire 61% to 35%.

 

[His_Highness]

Up until today I was a registered independent. Today I made the change to become a registered democrat with one day left before missing the deadline.

Why change now.....because while I feel that 'most' politicians are inherently dishonest (Reason I was an independent to begin with) .... there's only one candidate running who I feel has the morality I require, feels the same as I on the majority of the issues and has decades of political experience as well.

It's kinda sad though because in the back of my mind is a nagging feeling that being the most honorable is somewhat naive in this day and age.

Anyway...Big Thanks to you folks who convinced me to make the change by having such contrary opinions to my own.

 

[Chill Dude]

Well it's ok. Let Bernie and his supporters make their case. My guess is once we get past New Hampshire Hillary starts winning a lot of primaries.

I think you are probably right, but I can't rule out a momentum shift if Bernie somehow wins big in New Hampshire. But, even then, he has a major uphill climb in the states following NH. If he wins big in NH, and is able to push for even higher support with the crucial under 30 voters, and somehow does better than expected with the black vote in SC... Then anything is possible... Not probable, but possible..

Even if Bernie's support starts to diminish, I think it's great that he's able to push Clinton further to the left. Clinton needs to be carful not to alienate the young voters that support Bernie with about 80% to Clinton's 20%..if that happens the young crowd may stay home for the general election. As you know, the youth vote typically won't come out in huge numbers unless they are really excited and totally believe in the candidate.. Just my 2 cents...

Go Bernie!!!

 

[cybrguy]

As much as I love and respect Madeline Albright, she is too prickly for the kids and it is a mistake to bring her out front. And while her statement about "a place in hell" may work for my generation who have been through it, I don't think it will work for young women who have never experienced the fight for their rights in the same way.

 

[howie105]

So, apparently Jeb has now called for legislation to overturn Citizens United.

Can you smell the fear? His whole war chest is a function of Citizens United...

Wow, I thought Bush was getting most of his funding from other sources can you point me to you information source on this revelation?

 

[cybrguy]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/jeb-bush-eliminate-citizens-united/index.html

Only problem for poor Jeb would be that being President doesn't allow you to "eliminate" supreme court rulings...

 

[CarolKing]

I don't think the caucus should be in the same state order every year. It doesn't seem fair that the same states are always first. What about the states that are the few that are last? It doesn't seem right.

 

[KimDracula]

I don't think the caucus should be in the same state order every year. It doesn't seem fair that the same states are always first. What about the states that are the few that are last? It doesn't seem right.

I think the biggest negative here is that places that aren't really representative of the wider electorate get such inordinate influence on the race. Caucuses are anachronistic, undemocratic farces that need to be scrapped altogether.

 

[howie105]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/jeb-bush-eliminate-citizens-united/index.html

Only problem for poor Jeb would be that being President doesn't allow you to "eliminate" supreme court rulings...

Thanks I have the context now, appreciate your help.

 

[Chill Dude]

If people truly want to know what is happening they need to listen to Elizabeth Warren first and foremost. Possibly what this person has to say is more important than any other American leader, even in the middle of the presidential election, she is our most important leader and advocate of the middle-class bar none. Our nation needs this woman in leadership.

News: Elizabeth Warren endorses Bernie Sanders for president - publicly

Huge endorsement!!

Edit: wait... I can't find any breaking news that confirms that Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Bernie.. Are you sure about that??

 

[Joel W.]

So according to Nate Silvers, 538 site, Iowa's voters, age 17-29 voted Bernie by 84%, age 30-44 went for Bernie by 58% but ages 44-64 goes to Clinton by 58% and over age 65 was Clinton by 69%

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-young-democrats-love-bernie-sanders/

My fear is that it takes 4-8 years of very bad times (republican leadership) to get these kids out and vote but we will see.

 

[CarolKing]

Hillary Clinton does better when she can talk with people without yelling with a monotone voice. In my opinion she is hard to listen to when she is talking to a large group. It's almost robot like.

When she talks during an interview or like a town hall meeting when she is speaking to an individual she comes off much more kind and thoughtful. She can come across strong and she doesn't have to speak in that robot voice that doesn't sound sincere.

 

[Gunky]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slat...itchy_repetitive_speech_in_new_hampshire.html

Rubio, however, appeared to get his wires crossed again in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Monday, giving this glitchy, repetitive portion of his stump speech:

“We are taking our message to families that are struggling to raise their children in the 21st century because, as you saw, Jeanette and I are raising our four children in the 21st century, and we know how hard it’s become to instill our values in our kids instead of the values they try to ram down our throats.
“In the 21st century, it’s becoming harder than ever to instill in your children the values they teach in our homes and in our church instead of the values that they try to ram down our throats in the movies, in music, in popular culture.”​

Ram down our… throats… jeez, is it getting hot in here? While it’s not the worst stump blunder by any stretch, coming on the heels of Saturday’s record-scratch of a performance, it’s not a great look for Rubio, who’s now facing growing calls to release his birth certificate to quiet claims he was constructed from the ground up in the basement of a Miami-Dade County Best Buy.
It will be interesting to see how the Rubio folks try to spin the new speaking style, but here are a few tried-and-true options the campaign may wish to employ before hitting the panic button:

1. Turn the Marco Rubio off and then back on again.
2. Take Marco Rubio’s cartridge out and blow on it.
3. Clear Marco Rubio’s cache and delete his browser history.

If the Marco Rubio’s still not working, make sure he’s plugged in before calling customer service for help. It’s always embarrassing when the not-plugged in thing is the right answer.

 

[little maggie]

Another interesting Rubio story:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/08/3747089/marco-rubio-event-profile/

 

[lwien]

Did anyone watch the new Samantha Bee show tonight on TNT? This show should be required viewing for everyone in this thread.

For a first show, it was great. This could be the true Jon Stewart replacement. You could tell how much time she spent on the Daily Show.

 

[grokit]

Bernie won't win south carolina.
But if he somehow does, it'll be over a lot sooner than I thought
By super tuesday we'll know what's up


New book, old book:

Available as paperback, e-book or audiobook

edit: you can watch the speech for free; it's 8.5 hours long!

 

[grokit]

I really think that much of this country is on the ropes, hence the trump phenomenon

I wish the Democrats could get people mobilized for Congressional races like they do for President. When that happens then some big things can get done again.

It's not that simple, because of gerrymandered congressional districts in republican-controlled states.

 

[grokit]

I question if we have a democracy any longer.

You're not the only one!

Jimmy Carter: ‘America no longer has a functioning democracy’

“America has no functioning democracy,” Carter said at a meeting of The Atlantic Bridge in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday.