US President 2016 - the Great Horse Race

[angelo]

No matter who the candidate to run up against Clinton will be, it should be a cakewalk to the White house for them.

 

[Ford]

No matter who the candidate to run up against Clinton will be, it should be a cakewalk to the White house for them.

A few things:

First, Clinton is for the most part polling ahead of every single Republican candidate. If the election were held today, she'd probably win.


Second, don't underestimate the ability of the Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. By just about any measure, Obama was the weakest incumbent since Carter, but the GOP couldn't close the deal.


Finally, while the right wing certainly hates Hillary with a passion uncontested, people in general don't share that hatred.


It will be anything but a cakewalk, and considering the current GOP field, you might want to practice saying the words "President Clinton."

 

[Jarhyn]

No matter who the candidate to run up against Clinton will be, it should be a cakewalk to the White house for them.

A few things:

First, Clinton is for the most part polling ahead of every single Republican candidate. If the election were held today, she'd probably win.


Second, don't underestimate the ability of the Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. By just about any measure, Obama was the weakest incumbent since Carter, but the GOP couldn't close the deal.


Finally, while the right wing certainly hates Hillary with a passion uncontested, people in general don't share that hatred.


It will be anything but a cakewalk, and considering the current GOP field, you might want to practice saying the words "President Clinton."

Actually, even a good number of us liberals hate Hillary. How hard is it really to see that she's more artificial than a barbie doll? Everything about her is pandering to opinion polls, but she's careful to always hedge and hem and haw. She has no values of her own. There's no honesty in her, and she honestly makes me sick. I want a democrat. I want a woman. I don't want it to be Hillary.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

A few things:

First, Clinton is for the most part polling ahead of every single Republican candidate. If the election were held today, she'd probably win.


Second, don't underestimate the ability of the Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. By just about any measure, Obama was the weakest incumbent since Carter, but the GOP couldn't close the deal.


Finally, while the right wing certainly hates Hillary with a passion uncontested, people in general don't share that hatred.


It will be anything but a cakewalk, and considering the current GOP field, you might want to practice saying the words "President Clinton."

Actually, even a good number of us liberals hate Hillary. How hard is it really to see that she's more artificial than a barbie doll? Everything about her is pandering to opinion polls, but she's careful to always hedge and hem and haw. She has no values of her own. There's no honesty in her, and she honestly makes me sick. I want a democrat. I want a woman. I don't want it to be Hillary.

I have this dream that maybe, just maybe, liberals may have a say in our nominee... which would mean it wouldn't be Hillary Clinton, but rather someone that may have at least a tiny bit of liberalism in them.

 

[Harry Bosch]

I have this dream that maybe, just maybe, liberals may have a say in our nominee... which would mean it wouldn't be Hillary Clinton, but rather someone that may have at least a tiny bit of liberalism in them.

The problem is that liberals don't vote as much. They often throw away their vote or even stay at home. Their support is squishy, therefore they don't get as much attention.

 

[Ford]

Actually, even a good number of us liberals hate Hillary. How hard is it really to see that she's more artificial than a barbie doll? Everything about her is pandering to opinion polls, but she's careful to always hedge and hem and haw. She has no values of her own. There's no honesty in her, and she honestly makes me sick. I want a democrat. I want a woman. I don't want it to be Hillary.

I have this dream that maybe, just maybe, liberals may have a say in our nominee... which would mean it wouldn't be Hillary Clinton, but rather someone that may have at least a tiny bit of liberalism in them.

Take it up with the Democratic Party, then.

I'm not terribly thrilled with the prospect of a second, less saxophone-playing President Clinton, but the fact is that since 2008 the Democrats haven't even been thinking about an alternative to Hillary. Had Obama lost to Mittens the Pander Bear, there might be a few more Democratic candidates lining up for 2016, but all the money would likely still be on Clinton. That didn't happen, of course, but if the former First Lady/Senator/Secretary decided "ah, screw it, I'm gonna stay home and manage my Twitter account instead" then the Democrats (liberal dreamers included) would be up shit creek without a paddle.

The Republicans have been fighting over who gets the chance to be the next GOP President since about January 21st of 2009. Their bench of candidates is filled with people who probably shouldn't even be allowed to tour the White House let alone live in it, but at least they have a bench.

The Democrats? Nothing. It's like it never occurred to them that they'd have to come up with a candidate to fill Obama's shoes. The only person other than Hillary that gets name-checked when talking about the 2016 Democratic nod is Elizabeth Warren, and that's only because every single person with a microphone or a television camera feels compelled to ask her if she's running even though her answer is always an emphatic "no."


Who else is there? Joe Biden has gone from gaffe machine to "hey, do we still even have a Vice President?" Jim "I'm a Democrat...for now" Webb is thinking about the possibility of maybe looking into forming an exploratory committee to investigate whether or not he feels like running for President. Then there's that one guy who plays guitar. That's it.


The Democrats have put themselves into a position where they don't have any choice but Hillary Clinton.

 

[arkirk]

I have this dream that maybe, just maybe, liberals may have a say in our nominee... which would mean it wouldn't be Hillary Clinton, but rather someone that may have at least a tiny bit of liberalism in them.

Take it up with the Democratic Party, then.

I'm not terribly thrilled with the prospect of a second, less saxophone-playing President Clinton, but the fact is that since 2008 the Democrats haven't even been thinking about an alternative to Hillary. Had Obama lost to Mittens the Pander Bear, there might be a few more Democratic candidates lining up for 2016, but all the money would likely still be on Clinton. That didn't happen, of course, but if the former First Lady/Senator/Secretary decided "ah, screw it, I'm gonna stay home and manage my Twitter account instead" then the Democrats (liberal dreamers included) would be up shit creek without a paddle.

The Republicans have been fighting over who gets the chance to be the next GOP President since about January 21st of 2009. Their bench of candidates is filled with people who probably shouldn't even be allowed to tour the White House let alone live in it, but at least they have a bench.

The Democrats? Nothing. It's like it never occurred to them that they'd have to come up with a candidate to fill Obama's shoes. The only person other than Hillary that gets name-checked when talking about the 2016 Democratic nod is Elizabeth Warren, and that's only because every single person with a microphone or a television camera feels compelled to ask her if she's running even though her answer is always an emphatic "no."


Who else is there? Joe Biden has gone from gaffe machine to "hey, do we still even have a Vice President?" Jim "I'm a Democrat...for now" Webb is thinking about the possibility of maybe looking into forming an exploratory committee to investigate whether or not he feels like running for President. Then there's that one guy who plays guitar. That's it.


The Democrats have put themselves into a position where they don't have any choice but Hillary Clinton.

So we're to go back to a well with only poisoned water in it and be thankful we have that? Clinton is a war hawk and a corporatist and a WalMart director. Who the hell wants that? Name recognition is her only plus. Hell! Let's see if we can get a guy we can call Satan. He ought to win in a landslide. Well, maybe not...Romney didn't make it. The fact is that this political game should not be a game, but the American public just thinks of it in terms of a game. We have real issues hanging over all of our society and we get this fucking game!

 

[Terrell]

For those of you, on the left, that don't want Hillary Clinton, who is your realistic alternative? Who would you take, that's willing to run, and has a realistic shot at winning?

 

[lpetrich]

It happened. Hillary Clinton launches 2016 presidential bid

The long-awaited announcement was preceded by an email from campaign chairman John Podesta to supporters, which was first reported by the Associated Press. Podesta says Clinton will first head to Iowa to talk to voters. She'll hold a formal campaign kickoff next month, according to the email.

Yes, Iowa, that kingmaker state. Also reminds me of Bill Clinton's bus tour.

Yet concerns about dynasties in politics and whether Clinton's nomination is a pre-ordained conclusion will follow her. Potential rivals such as Martin O'Malley, the former Maryland governor, have knocked the idea of whether Clinton's nomination is inevitable.

But it looks like it will be a coronation. Perhaps Hillary could wear something like this:

Source:  Imperial State Crown at  Crown (headgear)

 

[Harry Bosch]

It happened. Hillary Clinton launches 2016 presidential bid Yes, Iowa, that kingmaker state. Also reminds me of Bill Clinton's bus tour. But it looks like it will be a coronation. Perhaps Hillary could wear something like this: Source:  Imperial State Crown at  Crown (headgear)

Buddy: we have two more years! It's too early to whine this much!

 

[arkirk]

It happened. Hillary Clinton launches 2016 presidential bid Yes, Iowa, that kingmaker state. Also reminds me of Bill Clinton's bus tour. But it looks like it will be a coronation. Perhaps Hillary could wear something like this: Source:  Imperial State Crown at  Crown (headgear)

Buddy: we have two more years! It's too early to whine this much!

So Harry, is Hillary your choice? Nobody but the Republicans with their billions have enough money to do anything about it anyway.

 

[Ford]

Take it up with the Democratic Party, then.

I'm not terribly thrilled with the prospect of a second, less saxophone-playing President Clinton, but the fact is that since 2008 the Democrats haven't even been thinking about an alternative to Hillary. Had Obama lost to Mittens the Pander Bear, there might be a few more Democratic candidates lining up for 2016, but all the money would likely still be on Clinton. That didn't happen, of course, but if the former First Lady/Senator/Secretary decided "ah, screw it, I'm gonna stay home and manage my Twitter account instead" then the Democrats (liberal dreamers included) would be up shit creek without a paddle.

The Republicans have been fighting over who gets the chance to be the next GOP President since about January 21st of 2009. Their bench of candidates is filled with people who probably shouldn't even be allowed to tour the White House let alone live in it, but at least they have a bench.

The Democrats? Nothing. It's like it never occurred to them that they'd have to come up with a candidate to fill Obama's shoes. The only person other than Hillary that gets name-checked when talking about the 2016 Democratic nod is Elizabeth Warren, and that's only because every single person with a microphone or a television camera feels compelled to ask her if she's running even though her answer is always an emphatic "no."


Who else is there? Joe Biden has gone from gaffe machine to "hey, do we still even have a Vice President?" Jim "I'm a Democrat...for now" Webb is thinking about the possibility of maybe looking into forming an exploratory committee to investigate whether or not he feels like running for President. Then there's that one guy who plays guitar. That's it.


The Democrats have put themselves into a position where they don't have any choice but Hillary Clinton.

So we're to go back to a well with only poisoned water in it and be thankful we have that?

Who filled the well in the first place?



I get it. I really do. You want a genuine progressive with a populist message that will swing independent voters, enough charisma to win over a few Republicans, and a strong enough personality that can actually make things happen once elected. They'll be so popular that the Republican led Congress (and that's unlikely to change, BTW) will be forced to knuckle under while the new President closes Gitmo, melts all our drones down into bottle caps, and tips the balance on the Supreme Court back towards sanity.



But there's nobody even remotely like that in the Democratic party right now. Or if there is, they're keeping a damned low profile. I'm one of those independent voters myself, and if you gave me a candidate like I described above, I'd be more than happy to vote for them. But I'm not gonna get that.


Come the second Tuesday in November next year, chances are really, really good that I'll be looking at a ballot with Hillary Clinton's name on it, and the name of some Republican I like even less. That's the reality.

 

[Harry Bosch]

So Harry, is Hillary your choice? Nobody but the Republicans with their billions have enough money to do anything about it anyway.

At this time, absolutely. And It's not even close. I think that the republicans are bat shit crazy now. No doubt in my mind if repubs take over, we'll shortly be invading the ME again. The neocons are clearly the dominant group in their party now. If Hillary loses, we'll be "nation building" Syria, Iraq (again), Libya, and all the other fucked up countries over there. We'll bankrupt our country.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Yeah, I know the theory lpetrich. And the theory is bullshit. It says "if you agree with one candidate 1% of the time and the other candidate 2% of the time, you should tactically vote for the guy you only agree with 2% of the time."

And that's bullshit designed in order to eliminate the 3rd party menace, since after all the votes belong to the two established parties and not to the voters.

The good news is I agree with the Democrat Party about 50% of the time and the Republican Party about 0%.

Really? Obama ain't exactly Eugene Debs. Hell, he ain't even Jimmy Carter. Although I'm not a progressive, sometimes I try to evaluate him from a progressive point of view, and all I see is disappointment, and when I watch progressives talk about the Democratic Party I see "take the disappointment we have, and call it a victory."

 

[angelo]

No matter who the candidate to run up against Clinton will be, it should be a cakewalk to the White house for them.

A few things:

First, Clinton is for the most part polling ahead of every single Republican candidate. If the election were held today, she'd probably win.


Second, don't underestimate the ability of the Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. By just about any measure, Obama was the weakest incumbent since Carter, but the GOP couldn't close the deal.


Finally, while the right wing certainly hates Hillary with a passion uncontested, people in general don't share that hatred.


It will be anything but a cakewalk, and considering the current GOP field, you might want to practice saying the words "President Clinton."

When was the last time a party held on to the White House three terms in a row?

 

[bilby]

A few things:

First, Clinton is for the most part polling ahead of every single Republican candidate. If the election were held today, she'd probably win.


Second, don't underestimate the ability of the Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot. By just about any measure, Obama was the weakest incumbent since Carter, but the GOP couldn't close the deal.


Finally, while the right wing certainly hates Hillary with a passion uncontested, people in general don't share that hatred.


It will be anything but a cakewalk, and considering the current GOP field, you might want to practice saying the words "President Clinton."

When was the last time a party held on to the White House three terms in a row?

Reagan and G.H.W. Bush, 1981-93 - three terms.

The last time the Democrats held the Oval Office for more than two terms was Roosevelt and Truman from 1933-1953

 

[Rhea]

For those of you, on the left, that don't want Hillary Clinton, who is your realistic alternative? Who would you take, that's willing to run, and has a realistic shot at winning?

Hoping people will address this.

There is a lot I would like to see different from Clinton, but I am happy to vote for her over any Republican.
Still, it bears discussing, who else would be good, and why?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I have this dream that maybe, just maybe, liberals may have a say in our nominee... which would mean it wouldn't be Hillary Clinton, but rather someone that may have at least a tiny bit of liberalism in them.

Take it up with the Democratic Party, then.

They don't care what I think. They know I have to vote for them.

I'm not terribly thrilled with the prospect of a second, less saxophone-playing President Clinton, but the fact is that since 2008 the Democrats haven't even been thinking about an alternative to Hillary.

Same thing could be said about '08.

Had Obama lost to Mittens the Pander Bear, there might be a few more Democratic candidates lining up for 2016, but all the money would likely still be on Clinton. That didn't happen, of course, but if the former First Lady/Senator/Secretary decided "ah, screw it, I'm gonna stay home and manage my Twitter account instead" then the Democrats (liberal dreamers included) would be up shit creek without a paddle.

Says you. The electoral college is heavily in Democrat favor these days with Democrats being able to win a lot more states where people actually live. Republicans need to sweep most of the Battleground states. Dems just need a few. Right now, people like Bernie Sanders are looking into being vocal in the primary, which means something. It means that there can be a shift developing in the party back a little to the center.

The Republicans have been fighting over who gets the chance to be the next GOP President since about January 21st of 2009. Their bench of candidates is filled with people who probably shouldn't even be allowed to tour the White House let alone live in it, but at least they have a bench.

And most will be gone before Super Tuesday (is there even a Super Tuesday anymore?).

The Democrats? Nothing. It's like it never occurred to them that they'd have to come up with a candidate to fill Obama's shoes. The only person other than Hillary that gets name-checked when talking about the 2016 Democratic nod is Elizabeth Warren, and that's only because every single person with a microphone or a television camera feels compelled to ask her if she's running even though her answer is always an emphatic "no."

Andrew Cuomo and Mark Scheitzer come to mind. It is honestly way too early for names to make a difference. Three Republicans (two of whom won't make it much past South Carolina) have announced their candidacy. I can't see any of the three making it anywhere.

The Democrats have put themselves into a position where they don't have any choice but Hillary Clinton.

Seeing the election is 18 months away, I can do nothing but laugh off that claim. Besides, there is always Martha Coakley.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

For those of you, on the left, that don't want Hillary Clinton, who is your realistic alternative? Who would you take, that's willing to run, and has a realistic shot at winning?

Hoping people will address this.

There is a lot I would like to see different from Clinton, but I am happy to vote for her over any Republican.
Still, it bears discussing, who else would be good, and why?

That is a good question. We have about a year of the Hillary Clinton Coronation Tour to look forward to. This is going to need something to hold the public's interest along the way. The battle between her and Obama was fascinating and the interest it generated was very helpful to Obama in the general election. It also led to Sarah Palin's VP nomination and that's the kind of quality humour that you can't put a price on.

The Dems need a contender to enter the field if only for the sake of avoiding having the news coverage be that Hillary went to another town and gave the speech she gave the day before.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Hoping people will address this.

There is a lot I would like to see different from Clinton, but I am happy to vote for her over any Republican.
Still, it bears discussing, who else would be good, and why?

That is a good question. We have about a year of the Hillary Clinton Coronation Tour to look forward to. This is going to need something to hold the public's interest along the way. The battle between her and Obama was fascinating and the interest it generated was very helpful to Obama in the general election. It also led to Sarah Palin's VP nomination and that's the kind of quality humour that you can't put a price on.

Sarah Palin's nomination had nothing to do with what Democrat was running. It was a Hail Mary attempt to give McCain's campaign some sort of traction to go up the hill of the '08 election that was made unbelievably steep by an inept W Administration.