2016 Presidential Horse Race

[phgreek]

O'Reilly is just brutal to Rand. He's either hammering him or completely dismissing him as a legitimate candidate. Like it or not, O'Reilly has a huge audience and Rand could use their support to make a run. I don't know why Rand wouldn't make an appearance on O'Reilly's show to better explain his position, especially with respect to foreign policy. I think he'd be able to shut Billo up for the next year and his audience will see that he has the potential to be a great candidate.

...I mean in theory I guess so. The problem I have is, the interviews I've seen, Oreilly tends to burn too much time arguing and not enough time asking freakin questions....and shutting his pie hole. If you want rand to hit that audience, he'd be better off with a Sunday sit down with Chris Wallace IMHO. I actually watch that now and again, and while he challenges supposed factual assertions, he seems to shut up enough to get something out of a discussion.

 

[RDU Irish]

...I mean in theory I guess so. The problem I have is, the interviews I've seen, Oreilly tends to burn too much time arguing and not enough time asking freakin questions....and shutting his pie hole. If you want rand to hit that audience, he'd be better off with a Sunday sit down with Chris Wallace IMHO. I actually watch that now and again, and while he challenges supposed factual assertions, he seems to shut up enough to get something out of a discussion.

Good choice not to argue with idiots. He can hit most of the same audience on Hannity with a more pandering host and control the message.

 

[RDU Irish]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/0...ting-ron-pauls-supporters.html?_r=0&referrer=

Rand Paul just sacrificed his presidential campaign for his libertarian principles

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

How about calling him Dr. Paul in the article? We could use a president that has taken the Hippocratic Oath.

 

[GoIrish41]

...oh this should be good.

Dirty Hillary, or right of center...

thats like asking if he wants rat poisoning or hemlock

Not a big Hillary fan, although she will almost certainly get the nomination and the WH in '16. Right now, I'm liking Bernie Sanders -- I like his honest, common sense approach. If I had to choose a favorite on the GOP side, it would probably be Rand, but I don't think he has a much better chance to win than Bernie. And, I don't think he has a shot in Hell of getting the GOP nomination. Other than him, I think Rubio probably gives the GOP the best shot at giving Hillary a run, but I don't think he is going to get the nomination either. Too many cooks in the GOP kitchen, and they are all going to bloody one another in the primaries and push each other too far right to appeal to mainstream American voters. This has been the way of the world for the past three cycles, and I don't see it changing in 16. If it came down to Hillary and Rand, I'd have to give Rand some consideration, but in the end, I probably would end up holding my nose and voting for Hillary.

 

[phgreek]

Good choice not to argue with idiots. He can hit most of the same audience on Hannity with a more pandering host and control the message.

...That might be true, is he a Rand Guy? If so I suppose he'd carry the water pretty well. From the times I've seen him, he runs over dissenters pretty brutally...not high on discourse but probably pretty good if you have a message to Send and he likes you.

 

[RDU Irish]

...That might be true, is he a Rand Guy? If so I suppose he'd carry the water pretty well. From the times I've seen him, he runs over dissenters pretty brutally...not high on discourse but probably pretty good if you have a message to Send and he likes you.

He is an equal opportunity boot licker when it comes to Republicans and boorishly obnoxious with any Dems. I find Hannity unbearable, same song day in and day out with very little original thought sprinkled in.

 

[wizards8507]

Not a big Hillary fan, although she will almost certainly get the nomination and the WH in '16. Right now, I'm liking Bernie Sanders -- I like his honest, common sense approach. If I had to choose a favorite on the GOP side, it would probably be Rand, but I don't think he has a much better chance to win than Bernie. And, I don't think he has a shot in Hell of getting the GOP nomination. Other than him, I think Rubio probably gives the GOP the best shot at giving Hillary a run, but I don't think he is going to get the nomination either. Too many cooks in the GOP kitchen, and they are all going to bloody one another in the primaries and push each other too far right to appeal to mainstream American voters. This has been the way of the world for the past three cycles, and I don't see it changing in 16. If it came down to Hillary and Rand, I'd have to give Rand some consideration, but in the end, I probably would end up holding my nose and voting for Hillary.

Do you like Sanders' rape fantasies, too? Talk about a war on women...

...That might be true, is he a Rand Guy? If so I suppose he'd carry the water pretty well. From the times I've seen him, he runs over dissenters pretty brutally...not high on discourse but probably pretty good if you have a message to Send and he likes you.

Hannity had always struck me as an establishment hack. He doesn't want to jeopardize his standing with Karl Rove or the money guys at Fox.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[wizards8507]

Sen. Rand Paul Sweeps Polls, Fares Best with Independents Against Hillary Clinton - Breitbart

Rand is slaughtering Mrs. Clinton among independents.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[Black Irish]

If the GOP is going to fight Hillary, which looks very likely, they need to fight smart (asking a lot). Hillary just screams "Establishment Insider!" Don't run Jeb Bush; the GOP will lose that insider-vs-insider war. That goes for Graham, Huckabee as well. Forget about Cruz, Carson, Fiorina, they have no shot. To my mind, the GOP's best hope is with either Rubio or Rand. They need to gamble a little against Hillary, use her insider status against her. The GOP put up safe, establishment candidates the last 2 cycles, and look what happened. If the powers that be think that Jeb is going to fare much better than McCain or Romney, then they deserve to be shut out of the White House for 3 straight cycles.

 

[connor_in]

If the GOP is going to fight Hillary, which looks very likely, they need to fight smart (asking a lot). Hillary just screams "Establishment Insider!" Don't run Jeb Bush; the GOP will lose that insider-vs-insider war. That goes for Graham, Huckabee as well. Forget about Cruz, Carson, Fiorina, they have no shot. To my mind, the GOP's best hope is with either Rubio or Rand. They need to gamble a little against Hillary, use her insider status against her. The GOP put up safe, establishment candidates the last 2 cycles, and look what happened. If the powers that be think that Jeb is going to fare much better than McCain or Romney, then they deserve to be shut out of the White House for 3 straight cycles.

How do you perceive Walker, as he wasn't listed above

 

[wizards8507]

How do you perceive Walker, as he wasn't listed above

Weak chin. No gravitas. Good governor. Not a president.

 

[wizards8507]

With some donors doubting Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio seizes an opening - The Washington Post

 

[Black Irish]

How do you perceive Walker, as he wasn't listed above

Walker fought the good fight against labor union control in his state, and got re-elected even after such a contentious battle. Picking that fight took balls, which is a plus. The negative is that Walker will largely be defined by that in his campaign. I think it'll be hard for him to get a message out because he will constantly be playing defense against the BS gotcha questions about "Why do you hate working class people, Mister Walker?" It's hard to make progress when you're always back on your heels. Maybe he'll be a viable VP candidate for Jeb to boost his ticket's conservative cred.

 

[phgreek]

He is an equal opportunity boot licker when it comes to Republicans and boorishly obnoxious with any Dems. I find Hannity unbearable, same song day in and day out with very little original thought sprinkled in.

kinda my impression as well...

 

[RDU Irish]

Weak chin. No gravitas. Good governor. Not a president.

I think he would do well as a VP, season for 8 years and pick up the flag from there. Definitely young enough to wait for that. Him and Paul would be a great match IMO. Any thoughts on who Paul would pick as VP? (For those of us looking to put the horse well ahead of the cart).

But I agree, not enough gravitas to take over this election.

 

[DomeX2 eNVy]

This guy was never my favorite, but if you lack the social conscientiousness to not make jokes about a guy while he is in the process of burying one of his children; I don't want you representing me or my country. Ted Cruz is an official douche bag in my book and he go fuck himself. If all you care about is saying anything to score political points with your base regardless of circumstances (yes, they all do it to some extent), you will not be a good leader or independent enough to make tough choices. He can't even wait a week. Fuck him.


Ted Cruz Jokes About Joe Biden, As Biden Grieves For His Son

 

[wizards8507]

I think he would do well as a VP, season for 8 years and pick up the flag from there. Definitely young enough to wait for that. Him and Paul would be a great match IMO. Any thoughts on who Paul would pick as VP? (For those of us looking to put the horse well ahead of the cart).

But I agree, not enough gravitas to take over this election.

My guess would be one of the other primary candidates. It might be necessary to consolidate the anti-Bush vote behind the scenes in order to actually beat Bush. A VP deal could accomplish that. Rubio helps with Hispanics and Florida.

 

[ACamp1900]

Honestly, I mean sincerely, how the living hell is anyone with the name Bush or Clinton seen as anywhere near a front runner... it's a very sad commentary

 

[wizards8507]

Honestly, I mean sincerely, how the living hell is anyone with the name Bush or Clinton seen as anywhere near a front runner... it's a very sad commentary

I mean the Democrats have no viable challenger. And I don't think Bush actually is a front runner in anyone's mind except the media.

 

[GoIrish41]

I mean the Democrats have no viable challenger. And I don't think Bush actually is a front runner in anyone's mind except the media.

Warren would be a viable challenger. Also it does not matter how many challengers the GOP has if none of them could beat Hillary. I have not seen a poll that shows anyone ahead of her.

 

[wizards8507]

Warren would be a viable challenger. Also it does not matter how many challengers the GOP has if none of them could beat Hillary. I have not seen a poll that shows anyone ahead of her.

I posted one yesterday. Rand is beating Hillary among independents 45-37.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[GoIrish41]

I posted one yesterday. Rand is beating Hillary among independents 45-37.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

He would have a better chance of winning the general election than he will securing his own party's nomination. Independents are not going to matter for Rand, because they are never going to get a chance to vote for him.

 

[wizards8507]

He would have a better chance of winning the general election than he will securing his own party's nomination. Independents are not going to matter for Rand, because they are never going to get a chance to vote for him.

Probably, but he has a chance. GOP voters hate the party power structure right now. It's actually an asset to Rand when he's attacked by clowns like Graham and Rove.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[GoIrish41]

Probably, but he has a chance. GOP voters hate the party power structure right now. It's actually an asset to Rand when he's attacked by clowns like Graham and Rove.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

I guess we'll see. A bunch of people clustered at 10 or 11% spells a win for Bush, IMO. Money talks! This is where Citizens United will kick the GOP in the stones.

 

[Wild Bill]

I guess we'll see. A bunch of people clustered at 10 or 11% spells a win for Bush, IMO. Money talks! This is where Citizens United will kick the GOP in the stones.

Nobody wants to be associated with a fucking loser. This is especially true for people with deep pockets. As soon as it becomes clear he has no chance at winning the general election, the money will dry up. I'm guessing it happens within the first couple debates in the primary.

 

[EddytoNow]

He would have a better chance of winning the general election than he will securing his own party's nomination. Independents are not going to matter for Rand, because they are never going to get a chance to vote for him.

Unfortunately for Rand, the independent voters that might vote for him in a general election will not be voting in the Republican primaries.

 

[GoIrish41]

Unfortunately for Rand, the independent voters that might vote for him in a general election will not be voting in the Republican primaries.

Yep

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Ted Cruz mocks Joe Biden, then apologizes - David Cohen - POLITICO

SIAP

 

[wizards8507]

Nobody wants to be associated with a fucking loser. This is especially true for people with deep pockets. As soon as it becomes clear he has no chance at winning the general election, the money will dry up. I'm guessing it happens within the first couple debates in the primary.

It's already starting. The Washington Post had a story today about Rubio going after the Bush donors big time.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.

 

[wizards8507]

Unfortunately for Rand, the independent voters that might vote for him in a general election will not be voting in the Republican primaries.

Why not? His father did decently in the early states, and Rand is much more palatable to the base.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk.