2016 Presidential Horse Race

[yankeehater]

The group that will determine the election.

Yes....so in my small sample group it did not go well for the Dems tonight.

 

[Bluto]

Correct. Same reason in 2012 the left went after and destroyed Herman Cain very early. He was their worst nightmare.

I think African American Republicans not named Colin Powell do a pretty good job of destroying their own credibility by consistently saying the most off the wall shit, but hey...

 

[BGIF]

Yes....so in my small sample group it did not go well for the Dems tonight.

I was switching channels post debate trying to find a focus group with independents.

The Luntz group on Fox was all Dems broken up into self declared liberals and moderates.

 

[BGIF]

Time has an unscientific poll

Democratic Debate: Vote Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders


At this time Bernie has 67%, Webb and Hillary are tied for second with 15%, O'Malley has 2, and Chaffee 1.

 

[pkt77242]

Ben & Jerry's founder shares Bernie Sanders ice cream idea - CNNPolitics.com

 

[BGIF]

Webb Making A Move

Webb Making A Move

Time has an unscientific poll

Democratic Debate: Vote Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders


At this time Bernie has 67%, Webb and Hillary are tied for second with 15%, O'Malley has 2, and Chaffee 1.

Vietnamese for Webb are stuffing the poll.

Jim Webb 19 %
Bernie Sanders 64 %
Hillary Clinton 14 %
Lincoln Chafee 1 %
Martin O'Malley 2 %

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Nothing really stood out to me during this debate. Basically, I got what I was expecting.

My main takeaway, and it was stated during the "after show," the Dem debate had a lot more substance than both Rep debates combined. For me, it really points out just how out of touch Republicans are with the vast majority of the country. I've watched all three debates and both Rep debates were a circus show centered around Trump and all the he-said, she-said. Sprinkle in religious freedom, abortion/Planned Parenthood, tax cuts (to the wealthy), and immigration and you've pretty much summed up all that Republicans talk about. It's aggravating as shit.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Nothing really stood out to me during this debate. Basically, I got what I was expecting.

My main takeaway, and it was stated during the "after show," the Dem debate had a lot more substance than both Rep debates combined. For me, it really points out just how out of touch Republicans are with the vast majority of the country. I've watched all three debates and both Rep debates were a circus show centered around Trump and all the he-said, she-said. Sprinkle in religious freedom, abortion/Planned Parenthood, tax cuts (to the wealthy), and immigration and you've pretty much summed up all that Republicans talk about. It's aggravating as shit.

Part of the reason is that there is more unpredictability in the GOP field. The primary voters are not simply picking the spouse of a previous president (and are rejecting the son/brother of previous presidents).

The Democrats talking about democratic socialism and "consciousness-raising," bashing the NRA (an organization that wins nearly every political battle it fights), praising affirmative action, welfare for illegals, etc., are not really "in touch" with the country. The Republican positions on immigration, tax cuts, affirmative action, religious freedom, gun control, etc., are far closer to the middle than the Democrats' positions. Contrary to popular belief, the GOP's weaknesses are not on "social issues" but issues like support for Social Security/Medicare, which are very popular with the public. (This doesn't mean the GOP position is wrong: those programs will go bankrupt soon, and somebody will have to deal with it).

Notably, crime is becoming an issue again. The Democrats, of course, do not blame the criminals for crime but instead blame everybody else. This could be a problem for them, just like it was in the late 60s/early 70s.

 

[RDU Irish]

Yes....so in my small sample group it did not go well for the Dems tonight.

I fell asleep pretty early. The race to be "more progressive" was just as bad as the Republican race to be "most pro-life". Understanding it is a primary, these guys will run to the middle (except Sanders) as soon as they win the nomination just like the Republicans.

CNN questions were very lame. Can you get more nuanced than a direct "does anyone here consider themselves a capitalist" - no shit, none of the Democrats want to admit they support a capitalist system?

How anyone can believe a single word coming out of Clinton's mouth is just beyond me. She panders, panders some more and then throws some pandering on top just to be sure.

Bernie Sanders is an angry old man. He scares me.

Webb seemed reasonable but angry. Reminds me of the Marine dad in American Beauty.

Chafee is about as creepy as Ted Cruz in pure mannerisms. While I like his moderate stances, I don't see him having the presence of a president.

The other guy was just blah.

Love the imagery of a Democratic debate in the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. What a party of the people. My first question would have been - where you staying tonight? Bernie probably would have said Fremont street, Hillary in the presidential suite of the Wynn and the other three probably staying up all night hitting strip clubs and playing blackjack.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Also lots of praise for Denmark's welfare state. Not much discussion of Denmark's (strict) immigration policies, though. Has it occurred to any of the Democrats that there might be a connection between the two?

 

[connor_in]

Did it concern anyone that HRC is proud to have R's as an enemy? and lists them equivalent to Iranians?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Did it concern anyone that HRC is proud to have R's as an enemy? and lists them equivalent to Iranians?

I don't think she listed then as equivalent to Iranians at all. Not even close to what happened IMO.

 

[Corry]

How about Webb going John Rambo, and admitting to killing a guy. Moment of the night IMO.

Winner for me was Hilary. Most prepared, seemed to most presidential, I laughed at the girls take longer in the bathroom joke.

 

[RDU Irish]

I'd lock Webb in a room with Putin and feel good about the 'Murica coming out on top.

When I look at the Republican stage I see a great cast for advisors/cabinet/VP etc. Dems, not so much. I'm not sure what strength any of these guys have that I would want as an advisor. I would want Hillary working my campaign though, that is something she has experience with.

 

[connor_in]

ANDERSON COOPER: Which enemy that you made during your political career are you most proud of?

CLINTON: Well, in addition to the NRA, the health insurance companies, the drug companies, the Iranians; probably the Republicans.

 

[connor_in]

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I realize that I have an inherent dislike for Hillary. I can't stand her forced laughs or her rehearsed answers or he faux-smoothness. She's probably, to the majority of people, very likable but I can't stand the woman.

Please Bernie, please keep the momentum and build on it.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

I thought the debate was fantastic for entertainment purposes. Still very early in the process. I also thought Anderson Cooper performed well, and was tougher than I anticipated he would be.

Webb: No one had more common sense on stage than this guy. Wondered wtf he was doing up there.

Chafee: Goodbye

O'Malley: Get a cup of coffee. And stop. Cutting off. Sentences. Like. This.

Sanders: wants $15 min wage, another stimulus, and a political revolution. Oh boy! Only thing worse than his policies are his accent. Unbearable. Really sad that the Democrats have NO ONE else to challenge a woman running on last name alone and is being indicted by the FBI.

Hillary: Performed very well but has a long way to go.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

I realize that I have an inherent dislike for Hillary. I can't stand her forced laughs or her rehearsed answers or he faux-smoothness. She's probably, to the majority of people, very likable but I can't stand the woman.

Please Bernie, please keep the momentum and build on it.

You want to see America collapse that quickly huh?

 

[BGIF]

Webb On A Roll!

Webb On A Roll!

Democratic Debate: Vote Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders

The 5 Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage for a debate Tuesday night. Who do you think won?

Jim Webb 30 %
Bernie Sanders 57 %
Hillary Clinton 11 %
Lincoln Chafee 1 %
Martin O'Malley 2 %

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

You want to see America collapse that quickly huh?

Let's just say your version of America and mine aren't compatible.

 

[phgreek]

You want to see America collapse that quickly huh?

Well, if we have to keep doing this, we may as well let people get a picture of total dysfunction, and ultimately collapse. I'd rather it happen while I'm here...and can do something to hand my kids a better country...I say if we are headed left, lets sprint there so we know we don't ever want to be there, and get it the fuck over with.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Let's just say your version of America and mine aren't compatible.

Forget me. Your version of America and Bernie's policies conflict with basic math.

Almost forgot: we heard Hillary target the NRA a number of times. I don't remember any candidate using the words "Islamic terrorism" at any point. Nice.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Forget me. Your version of America and Bernie's policies conflict with basic math.

Almost forgot: we heard Hillary target the NRA a number of times. I don't remember any candidate using the words "Islamic terrorism" at any point. Nice.

Who gives a flying f*ck about the NRA? How many godd*mn guns do people need? Why is our right to gun ownership/collecting more important than adopting laws that could limit criminals attaining guns?

Last I checked, domestic terrorism has taken a number of lives the last few years yet Isis hasn't done a damn thing here.

I don't necessarily like Bernie's plan for college and I don't believe it'll be approved, should he attain the presidential seat. His other ideas, I'm all for. What else in his plan don't you agree with? The minimum wage? The big business? Gun control?

People keep talking about how Trump doesn't have to answer to anybody, I believe Bernie's long track record show that he is the least beholden to the corporations around him, despite a long, successful political career. Trump's record shows me he's a good capitalist and is good at looking out for numero uno.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Forget me. Your version of America and Bernie's policies conflict with basic math.

Math so basic that every other developed country on the planet has decided to be more like Bernie's mindset than yours.

Almost forgot: we heard Hillary target the NRA a number of times. I don't remember any candidate using the words "Islamic terrorism" at any point. Nice.

Here's some basic math for you, the NRA helps perpetuate a gun violence culture in this country that has killed far more people than Islamic terrorists.

 

[kmoose]

Who gives a flying f*ck about the NRA? How many godd*mn guns do people need? Why is our right to gun ownership/collecting more important than adopting laws that could limit criminals attaining guns?

Last I checked, domestic terrorism has taken a number of lives the last few years yet Isis hasn't done a damn thing here.

I think the key to the gun issue is to focus on better identifying and cataloging the individuals who should not have the right to possess firearms, and not banning specific types of guns. It is the banning of guns that really gets people excited. I think everyone would be ok with expanding background checks, as long as the government puts enough resources into it to make it work quickly and efficiently.

 

[pkt77242]

I think the key to the gun issue is to focus on better identifying and cataloging the individuals who should not have the right to possess firearms, and not banning specific types of guns. It is the banning of guns that really gets people excited. I think everyone would be ok with expanding background checks, as long as the government puts enough resources into it to make it work quickly and efficiently.

The problem is that the NRA doesn't support it and so it will never pass. Even though around 90% of people support expanding background checks.

Here is an interesting survey on gun control

Bipartisan Support for Expanded Background Checks on Gun Sales | Pew Research Center

 

[NDgradstudent]

Here's some basic math for you, the NRA helps perpetuate a gun violence culture in this country that has killed far more people than Islamic terrorists.

Let's look at this "gun violence culture" more closely and compare two jurisdictions that a couple of the Democratic candidates know about: Baltimore and Vermont. They have roughly equal populations.

In 2013, Baltimore had 235 murders. Vermont had 10.

This is common all around the country: rural communities have far lower crime rates than urban communities in general. So people in rural areas should be required to hand in their guns because people in urban areas can't use them responsibly?

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Forget me. Your version of America and Bernie's policies conflict with basic math.

Almost forgot: we heard Hillary target the NRA a number of times. I don't remember any candidate using the words "Islamic terrorism" at any point. Nice.

"..conflict with basic math."

This is bullshit, fed to you by bigots. The rest of the civilized world does this. And even if gdp did take a hit, would you not sacrifice that for higher quality of life?

Would you put gdp ahead of happiness?

We're the laughing stock of the civilized world. We run ourselves to death (literally, look at our heart disease rates compared to other first world countries) that way we can make more money, which we will use to over-consume with, which will result in us needing more money. This country is the fattest rat in the race.

 

[GoIrish41]

"..conflict with basic math."

This is bullshit, fed to you by bigots. The rest of the civilized world does this. And even if gdp did take a hit, would you not sacrifice that for higher quality of life?

Would you put gdp ahead of happiness?

We're the laughing stock of the civilized world. We run ourselves to death (literally, look at our heart disease rates compared to other first world countries) that way we can make more money, which we will use to over-consume with, which will result in us needing more money. This country is the fattest rat in the race.

Great post! Reps!!