2016 Presidential Horse Race

[Cackalacky]

My charitable version is that he knows exactly what he's doing and that's playing to his base.

He is a Seven day Adventist and a biblical literalist. I can't grant him any more charity than acknowledging that he knowingly rejects vast swaths of accumulated human understanding. Putting him in any sort of position of power is frightening.

 

[Circa]

The crap Carson has taken is weak and petty because the left fears him as a candidate. Big time. He said there are aspects of Sharia Law that don't line up with our Constitution, and he is exactly right. My guess is the women and homosexuals in the US would be the first to agree with him.

and who is left? I consider myself democratic for personal reasons. But I have agreed on most of his points. Could It be big media and anal retentiveness drives this political arena?

 

[ACamp1900]

Part of me thinks the freak out level of leftists would be entertaining if Carson won... Sittin back like , ' now you know how everyone else felt over the last jackass n chief'

 

[pkt77242]

The crap Carson has taken is weak and petty because the left fears him as a candidate. Big time. He said there are aspects of Sharia Law that don't line up with our Constitution, and he is exactly right. My guess is the women and homosexuals in the US would be the first to agree with him.

The problem is
1. that he didn't say that originally, he only said that after he got some blowback for his original comment which was that a Muslim shouldn't be President.
2. Why doesn't this apply to some Christians? Shouldn't we say a person like Huckabee shouldn't be President due to his beliefs? Shouldn't anyone who will put their religion before the Constitution (no matter the religion) be excluded from the Presidency?
Ben Carson Says a Muslim Shouldn't Be President

GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson said he would not support a Muslim presidential candidate, calling Islam inconsistent with the constitution in an interview on Meet the Press Sunday.

“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” he said. “I absolutely would not agree with that.”

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who now sits near the top of GOP polls, is known for his devout Christian beliefs. On Sunday, he suggested that not all faiths are equal when it comes to holding elected office. “If it’s inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter,” he said.

Carson also noted that he would consider voting for a Muslim for Congress, depending on the candidate’s policy views.

 

[connor_in]

Just so you realize, all you guys ripping Carson...eight years ago y'all would be being called racists.

 

[Cackalacky]

Just so you realize, all you guys ripping Carson...eight years ago y'all would be being called racists.

 

[phgreek]

Part of me thinks the freak out level of leftists would be entertaining if Carson won... Sittin back like , ' now you know how everyone else felt over the last jackass n chief'

...I cringe, but if someone R outside Bush, Kasich wins, I'll still get to laugh at the sniveling, ledge jumping, "I'm leaving the country" shit...I don't wish for it, but if it happens, the glass is half full view is...oh well, enjoy it for what it is.

Think about the howling if someone like Chafitz or Gowdy took the speaker of the house gig, and Ben Carson won the Pres....I'd have to buy some shares in Orville Redenbacher...

 

[IrishinSyria]

This reminds me of Powell's speech from 7 years ago:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYELqbZAQ4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

But the really right answer is: what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7 year old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be President?... This is not the way we should be doing it in America. I feel strongly about his particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington cemetery. And she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star. Showed that he died in Iraq. Gave his date of birth, death of death. He was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have a Star of David. It had a crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. His name was Karim Rashid Sultan Khan. And he was American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11. And he waited till he could go serve his country and he gave his life. We have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way.

 

[Cackalacky]

Part of me wonders why one would wish half the country be in a state of panic and mania over the other part choosing a candidate that actually has No qualifications to run the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Maybes it's just me....IDK

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Currently watching Trump's Vegas speech from yesterday. I seriously fucking hate that guy. Thirty minutes in and he hasn't said one word about his plans for "Making America great again." It's all media bashing, chest thumping "I'm so rich and know people" bullshit. No joke.

Why am I watching? I'm not a party voter. I tend to follow as many of the top candidates as I can. But as far as Trump goes...God help us if this dude gets elected.

 

[kmoose]

Part of me wonders why one would wish half the country be in a state of panic and mania over the other part choosing a candidate that actually has No qualifications to run the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Maybes it's just me....IDK

Does the another part of you wonder why one would wish to fvck up the ENTIRE country by continuing to elect people who make their living off of lying, obfuscating, and supporting whatever side of the issue forks over the most money?

I hope that politicians are paying attention; Trump, Carson, et al, may not win this election, but their poll numbers are a CLEAR indication that many Americans are fed up with professional politicians, and we're simply not going to support them anymore.

And someone should just tell the Tea Party to sit down and STFU. The only thing worse than a professional politician is a career politician out at the extreme edge, whether it's the left edge OR the right edge....

 

[Grahambo]

The tenants of Islam are:

1. Prayer
2. Public statement of belief
3. Charity
4. Haj
5. Fasting

Not sure what one of those you'd want to reject.

I like to eat too much so wouldn't be upset if that was rejected.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

The tenants of Islam are:

1. Prayer
2. Public statement of belief
3. Charity
4. Haj
5. Fasting

Not sure what one of those you'd want to reject.

All of those are fine, but in many instances (not all) you left out:

1) No women's rights
2) Cutting off women's genitals
3) Killing homosexuals
4) Intolerance (how many times is the phrase "convert or kill" in the Koran?)

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

The problem is
1. that he didn't say that originally, he only said that after he got some blowback for his original comment which was that a Muslim shouldn't be President.
2. Why doesn't this apply to some Christians? Shouldn't we say a person like Huckabee shouldn't be President due to his beliefs? Shouldn't anyone who will put their religion before the Constitution (no matter the religion) be excluded from the Presidency?
Ben Carson Says a Muslim Shouldn't Be President

He clarified himself by stating it depends on the person's beliefs. No matter what religion, there's no problem with anyone opposing any candidate whose beliefs contradict our rule of law. Get over it.

 

[Buster Bluth]

No matter what religion, there's no problem with anyone opposing any candidate whose beliefs contradict our rule of law.

So you agree the social conservatives/evangelicals who want to run the country as a pseudo-theocracy can get bent?

All of the candidates who lined up to support that dumb broad in Kentucky can exit the race anytime now.

 

[Cackalacky]

Does the another part of you wonder why one would wish to fvck up the ENTIRE country by continuing to elect people who make their living off of lying, obfuscating, and supporting whatever side of the issue forks over the most money?

I hope that politicians are paying attention; Trump, Carson, et al, may not win this election, but their poll numbers are a CLEAR indication that many Americans are fed up with professional politicians, and we're simply not going to support them anymore.

And someone should just tell the Tea Party to sit down and STFU. The only thing worse than a professional politician is a career politician out at the extreme edge, whether it's the left edge OR the right edge....

I don't understand your first statement. Of course I don't want that. I am quite adamant about my disgust over our current political sewer. And have since I began posting. The majority of me wishes we could elect someone from either side that was not a complete cronyist shill lap dog or people who actually respond to the will of the people instead of their donors. Yes I want that but I don't wonder over it. It is a reality and needs to be changed. But I also do not wish mental or psychological turmoil on half the country while planning to enjoy it.

 

[connor_in]

Hillary Clinton's sweeping executive power agenda is unprecedented - Vox

 

[RDU Irish]

I really don't see how Trump or Carson are any less qualified than Obama to be president. I consider Obama a failure largely due to his ineptitude as an executive, which I found very easy to predict upfront. The fact I disagree with his policy stances 95% of the time made it an easy vote against him.

Now if Trump or Carson are up against an able bodied moderate Democrat with executive experience, I might have to ponder the value of my vote. I don't think I could override a 95% policy disagreement with 100% more capability but if it were something like 60% I might be swayed.

Hillary's only executive experience has been running the State Department. And that is proving to be an unmitigated disaster. At this point any of the 50 GOP candidates get my vote over her and it isn't even close. Dems have some work to do as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are not much better, having no executive experience (which is better than horrible executive experience I guess) and being more polarizing in their policy.

 

[kmoose]

But I also do not wish mental or psychological turmoil on half the country while planning to enjoy it.

Mental and psychological turmoil are a part of everyday life. I'm not saying that we should have no compassion for it, but I am not going to base my vote for President on whether or not my neighbor, Bob the Atheist, is going to be conflicted about it. Nor am I going to vote for "second or third best", just so that my neighbor "Tom the Muslim" can feel good. I don't think that more than 2 or 3% of Americans really give one thought to the President's religion, on a daily basis, anyhow.

I am assuming that you were speaking specifically of Carson, and insinuating that his religious views would alienate half of the country...

 

[Cackalacky]

Like what?

The earth is 6000 years old, the big bang is a fairy tale, and evolution is because it is fom the devil trying to trick us..... oh and my personal favorite....ISIS is like the founding fathers, without the wigs.

I am not scared of Carson because of his political stances but because, legitimately... he ignores a large part of reality. He is very literally half crazy and regarding some aspects of society has the mentality of a child.

My charitable version is that he knows exactly what he's doing and that's playing to his base.

He is a Seven day Adventist and a biblical literalist. I can't grant him any more charity than acknowledging that he knowingly rejects vast swaths of accumulated human understanding. Putting him in any sort of position of power is frightening.

Part of me thinks the freak out level of leftists would be entertaining if Carson won... Sittin back like , ' now you know how everyone else felt over the last jackass n chief'

...I cringe, but if someone R outside Bush, Kasich wins, I'll still get to laugh at the sniveling, ledge jumping, "I'm leaving the country" shit...I don't wish for it, but if it happens, the glass is half full view is...oh well, enjoy it for what it is.

Think about the howling if someone like Chafitz or Gowdy took the speaker of the house gig, and Ben Carson won the Pres....I'd have to buy some shares in Orville Redenbacher...

Part of me wonders why one would wish half the country be in a state of panic and mania over the other part choosing a candidate that actually has No qualifications to run the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Maybes it's just me....IDK

Does the another part of you wonder why one would wish to fvck up the ENTIRE country by continuing to elect people who make their living off of lying, obfuscating, and supporting whatever side of the issue forks over the most money?

I hope that politicians are paying attention; Trump, Carson, et al, may not win this election, but their poll numbers are a CLEAR indication that many Americans are fed up with professional politicians, and we're simply not going to support them anymore.

And someone should just tell the Tea Party to sit down and STFU. The only thing worse than a professional politician is a career politician out at the extreme edge, whether it's the left edge OR the right edge....

I don't understand your first statement. Of course I don't want that. I am quite adamant about my disgust over our current political sewer. And have since I began posting. The majority of me wishes we could elect someone from either side that was not a complete cronyist shill lap dog or people who actually respond to the will of the people instead of their donors. Yes I want that but I don't wonder over it. It is a reality and needs to be changed. But I also do not wish mental or psychological turmoil on half the country while planning to enjoy it.

Mental and psychological turmoil are a part of everyday life. I'm not saying that we should have no compassion for it, but I am not going to base my vote for President on whether or not my neighbor, Bob the Atheist, is going to be conflicted about it. Nor am I going to vote for "second or third best", just so that my neighbor "Tom the Muslim" can feel good. I don't think that more than 2 or 3% of Americans really give one thought to the President's religion, on a daily basis, anyhow.

I am assuming that you were speaking specifically of Carson, and insinuating that his religious views would alienate half of the country...

Sooooo.... from this list of posts please re read and see if you get a clearer picture of why I do not want Carson, specifically as a president. And also who thinks it would be funny and would enjoy to watch half the country experience mental turmoil because a person they don't want got elected (possibly tongue in cheek). My point was that no matter what happens, I would never want that. I just want Republicans to act like Republicans, not half-cocked reality denying kookoo birds.

So your last post is insinuating many things I never said.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think you make good points on Carson that a lot of people discount because they look no further than "he is a neurosurgeon" in assessing his intelligence. He is far from my first choice as a GOP candidate but it really comes down to two people this time next year. Relative to Hillary, I will take the baggage you point out over her any day of the week.

 

[pkt77242]

He clarified himself by stating it depends on the person's beliefs. No matter what religion, there's no problem with anyone opposing any candidate whose beliefs contradict our rule of law. Get over it.

LOL. He only said that because he got hammered for his first statement. Maybe he really misspoke or maybe he really meant what he first said but the blow back forced him to retreat. He was pretty sure of himself when he made that first comment and didn't leave a lot of room to backtrack, though backtrack he did.

I don't know if he really believes what he says or if he is fear mongering for votes. We are much more likely to have a President push their Christian religious values on the people (and to ignore the Constitution in favor of their Christian values) then we are to have a Muslim (because many people won't vote for a Muslim), yet I don't see him saying that Huckabee shouldn't run for President?

 

[RDU Irish]

The Reverend Wright thing only mattered to Republicans. I think the average American is not all that concerned about the religious aspect and you are piling on a candidate you don't like to begin with. There is zero that any of the Republicans can do to earn your trust and or respect.

 

[yankeehater]

Part of me wonders why one would wish half the country be in a state of panic and mania over the other part choosing a candidate that actually has No qualifications to run the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Maybes it's just me....IDK

Please see 2008.

 

[pkt77242]

The Reverend Wright thing only mattered to Republicans. I think the average American is not all that concerned about the religious aspect and you are piling on a candidate you don't like to begin with. There is zero that any of the Republicans can do to earn your trust and or respect.

Actually I like Kasich and back in 2000 I may have voted for that McCain if McCain had beat Bush but the McCain that ran in 2008 had sold his soul.

As to the religion aspect it matters to the people when it comes to voting.

This poll is from 2012 Atheists, Muslims See Most Bias as Presidential Candidates

Basically 40% of people won't vote for a Muslim and 43% won't vote for an atheist.

 

[phgreek]

Part of me wonders why one would wish half the country be in a state of panic and mania over the other part choosing a candidate that actually has No qualifications to run the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
Maybes it's just me....IDK

Well your concern for experience does not reflect that of the majority of Democrats...at least over the last two elections.

Hoping your Pragmatism rules the day...but it certainly has not in recent years.

BTW, the "why" is human nature...that of revenge, and also looking for the bright side of a flawed situation...commendable you have such a handle on those things.

 

[Cackalacky]

Well your concern for experience does not reflect that of the majority of Democrats...at least over the last two elections.

Hoping your Pragmatism rules the day...but it certainly has not in recent years.

BTW, the "why" is human nature...that of revenge, and also looking for the bright side of a flawed situation...commendable you have such a handle on those things.

I'm sorry, man, Ben Carson has no business in the Oval office. None. He is a fucking crazy person. And I get sick of hearing about how Obama does not or Clinton did not have experience blah blah blah..... because it is a pointless criticism. You know what. No one has experience being the leader of the free world. No one. You may disagree with how they have done their jobs in politics previously but the fact is that both Obama and Hilary have had executive and leadership positions prior to their ascendancy. Whatever. I get it you hate Dems and can't wait to go tit for tat for whatever point someone makes.

OTOH I appreciate it. Its not everyday I get commended for being pragmatic. Yeah, revenge does not do anything to help. Ever. So I don't concern myself with it too much nor wish ill on others. Except Michigan. Fuck Michigan.

 

[ACamp1900]

Its not everyday I get commended for being pragmatic.

Is that like another word for pricktastic? If so I get commended for that all the time... so I win (It's all I do).

 

[Cackalacky]

Is that like another word for pricktastic? If so I get commended for that all the time... so I win (It's all I do).

 

[MJ12666]

I'm sorry, man, Ben Carson has no business in the Oval office. None. He is a fucking crazy person. And I get sick of hearing about how Obama does not or Clinton did not have experience blah blah blah..... because it is a pointless criticism. You know what. No one has experience being the leader of the free world. No one. You may disagree with how they have done their jobs in politics previously but the fact is that both Obama and Hilary have had executive and leadership positions prior to their ascendancy. Whatever. I get it you hate Dems and can't wait to go tit for tat for whatever point someone makes.

OTOH I appreciate it. Its not everyday I get commended for being pragmatic. Yeah, revenge does not do anything to help. Ever. So I don't concern myself with it too much nor wish ill on others. Except Michigan. Fuck Michigan.

Exactly what experience did they have?