US Presidential Contenders

[Dio]

I cared so much that I spent the time hunched forward squinting while I edited 8pt. .css code.  Rusty will tell us.

[Unorthodox]

I see [Sleezebag] gets the lead sound bite on my evening news...

[Dio]

I see [Sleezebag] gets the lead sound bite on my evening news...

This does not come as that great of a surprise since Donald [Sleezebag] is currently the leading candiate for the GOP party. . .

[Buster's Uncle]

...Who said the most outrageous thing.

-He'd had to, even if he woke up an adult this morning; it's his niche now.

[Rusty Edge]

We just finished watching the DVR version of the debate. Didn't see any news or commentary.

They gave [Sleezebag] the most pointed questions, and also the most talking time. So however you look at it, it wasn't fair.

I shouldn't have been surprised that the two guys that annoyed me the most were from the city of New York and the state of New Jersey. Something to do with their humility and open-mindedness, I guess.

My wife declared that if [Sleezebag] is the nominee she will skip the presidential election for the first time in her life.

Rand Paul ( no secret, I wish his Dad were president ) spoke a lot of truth
( again, I admit my bias ) , but failed when it came to looking presidential. He came across as a smirking jerk. Well, maybe that's honest on his part.
I'd call him a loser, but he may already be at his support floor, and may not fade much.

Sadly, it seemed to me like he's the only guy that believes that it's up to Congress to declare war. Many of the other's sounded like it's the president's prerogative to start one.

Doctor Ben Carson, the Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon,  came across as the intelligent fellow he must surely be, and very likeable. I'd consider him "the winner," in that I think he'll get the most "bounce" in the polls relative to his previous showing.

All of the governors made their own records sound good. As a whole they seemed better qualified than the rest of the field, being better politicians and leaders.

Speaking of governors, mine, Scott Walker, got to make his first impression. Regardless of everything else he said about government , he made it clear that he was an unqualified pro-lifer, ( unqualified means that he doesn't make exceptions for abortions, even to save the life of the mother.)  and a firm Baptist.

I can't help but think that he has alienated a lot of women, even in his own party. Sure, he may get support from the Christian activists in the primaries and Iowa caucus, but I think his life-long presidential ambition just became long term unobtainable, and he doesn't even know it.  He's become the biggest loser.

There's Huckabee, the only veteran presidential candidate, looking very polished and Christian, but not really giving credible answers.

There's Christie, who thinks The Patriot Act is quite underpowered. I would have said curse words to him had I shared the stage.

There's Jeb Bush, who seems to have more charisma than his dad and brains than his brother, and knows that many are averse to extending the Bush dynasty, but accepts that the bar is set higher for him and pledges to earn our confidence.

Finally, we have Kasich of Ohio, a purple state that decides presidential elections. He barely qualified for the debate. He lacks charisma. But his claims about his record were impressive, he has solid credentials as a fiscal conservative, and he seems like an otherwise moderate and reasonable  fellow, who seems more interested in trying to make the Affordable Care Act work for the poor in his state than repealing it. A guy who opposed gay marriage, but now accepts it as the law of the land and recently attended a wedding. Maybe a guy who can govern a divided state can govern a divided country, because he recognizes that he serves everyone.

He probably stands no chance in the primaries, but I'm thinking he'd make the best president, all candidates and parties considered.

I guess he's now my preference.

[Zoid]

Why settle for the lesser evil?

Cthulhu Announces He’s Running For President, Promises To Eliminate ISIS By Destroying Reality
ZACK ZAGRANIS JULY 12, 2015


Cthulhu emerged from the black depths of the Pacific Ocean and proceeded to answer questions about hot button issues such as gun control, Obamacare, and how to handle the growing threat of ISIS.

Though the aquatic deity’s presence drove most of the reporters insane, a few were able to stave off the madness long enough to report that Cthulhu’s plan to handle ISIS involves unraveling the very fabric of reality. “Now that’s how you handle terrorists!” said FOX News commentator Bill O’ Reilly who was covering the conference by satellite. “Just wipe ’em all out of exist-” O’Reilly started to continue before the otherworldly timber of Cthulhu’s voice caused his head to burst like a rotten melon hitting pavement.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper managed to ask the ancient entity what his thoughts were on health care before Cthulhu’s answer—he favors a universal system where everyone dies—caused him to melt into a puddle of viscous fluid.

Cthulhu pleased conservatives and liberals alike when he promised to end both abortions and gun related casualties by turning everyone on Earth into pulpy heaps of charred flesh and sinew. The Great Cthulhu was oddly silent on the subjects of marriage equality and race relations, however it can be assumed that Cthulhu’s plans to annihilate all life in the universe is on an equal opportunity basis.

Despite heavy casualties, the Cult Of Cthulhu considers the press conference a success and plans are underway for Cthulhu to embark on a national speaking tour starting with New Hampshire. Many cities in the Granite State have begun evacuating their citizens in preparation.

[Unorthodox]

I guess he's now my preference.

Think he won over hEt, too. 

Him and the doctor. 

That said, this first primary, especially, let's face it, is about getting sound bites that the masses hear ad nauseum on their drive to work. 

[Sleezebag] had no shortage of sound bites, and they can be played to either his strength or detriment.  NPR this morning mostly panning him, while the local news affiliate chopping up bits to make him sound stronger. 

[Buster's Uncle]

No surprises there.

It's beginning to sound like I lost...

[Unorthodox]

It's going to take time to whittle down [Sleezebag]. 

His negatives are too well known for harping on them to work, but people hate politicians THAT MUCH.  Thus far the "campaign" has played PERFECTLY to that, too.  YOU CAN'T GO NEGATIVE ON [Sleezebag].  Why? BECAUSE he's so polarizing.  Thus far, all the candidates that have attacked him have targetted his well known negatives, which just plays fully into his hands because he has a ready made "that's because I'm not a politician/I'm not politically correct/ the system is broken" answer, and IT WORKS. 

Last night, questions directed his way were PURPOSELY focused on the apparent negatives he has.  And, while I THINK this is attempting to be done to make the public wake up to the fact he has no chance in hell on a national stage, it's NOT how to tackle him in the primaries when the average Joe is going on name recognition and sound bites. 

Maybe I'm just THAT pessimistic in thinking the public is inherently stupid, but that's my stance. 

You want to take down [Sleezebag], you gotta stump him on the actual issues that he is in no way ready to handle.  One of the smartest things Kasich did that I saw (before I took Talia shopping for a skirt) was to NOT dismiss [Sleezebag] out of hand over the boarder issues like other candidates did (or attack him on it, that's a losing proposition), but rather acknowledge [Sleezebag] has struck a chord, but there are other solutions than just his sound bite answers. 

[Geo]

So, instead of the 'Yes we can!' motto last time, the mainstay will be 'No I'm not!' this time?

[Buster's Uncle]

Eh, this is clown college - the Democrats will have a more interesting primary season...

[Unorthodox]

So, instead of the 'Yes we can!' motto last time, the mainstay will be 'No I'm not!' this time?

If they really hit that hard, it MIGHT actually work.  ESPECIALLY against Clinton, who is as close to the embodiment of a sleasy career politician as you can get.  (and don't get me wrong, I'm not totally against a sleasy politician.  Sometimes that's what you need)

[Geo]

If they really hit that hard, it MIGHT actually work.  ESPECIALLY against Clinton, who is as close to the embodiment of a sleasy career politician as you can get.  (and don't get me wrong, I'm not totally against a sleasy politician.  Sometimes that's what you need)

I can imagine.
Of course, it's far out of my bailiwick. It's just that from my point of view (and probably quite a number of the good ol' continent politicians) the 'devil you know' sounds more comfortable then a new powerful person on the other side of the Atlantic callin' in 'favors'.

[Rusty Edge]

No surprises there.

It's beginning to sound like I lost...

Maybe so. We'll see.

Interesting Uno analysis. You know how I said that Crankypants Rand Paul has a floor level of support? Well, [Sleezebag] has a floor level as Mr. Maverick. What % that is, I don't know.

Walker and Bush were the only ones in striking distance, and I don't know if they will get much traction from this.  I do think that this appearance was the best version of Jeb I've ever seen.

There's still the matter of how [Sleezebag]'s not being a team player as far as the Republicans are concerned will play out. If I were a party activist,  [Sleezebag]'s insinuation- "Nominate me, or I'll throw the election to Hillary" would urine me off!

Will people see [Sleezebag] as an unprincipled egocentric opportunist autocrat that would become an annoying Chief Executive? I don't know.

For the record, I admire [Sleezebag] for his ability as a deal-maker.

It remains to be seen what the Republican rank and file think. Bush the Old Standby?
Walker the Wonder Boy? We're Chumps for [Sleezebag]? I don't think like they do, so I don't know. As best I can remember the mindset, and the reigning obliviousness to women, I'd go with the "Walker is the second coming of St. Ronald Reagan" prediction.

[Unorthodox]

Interesting Uno analysis.

I know jack about politics, but I have a decent thermometer on the general public.  Getting the general public to answer a poll question is a lot easier than getting them to vote, though. 

I think the most telling anecdotal thing I can say is that the FedEx delivery guy on at work is a recent immigrant with a remaining thick Mexican accent, and LOVES [Sleezebag].  Absolutely ADORES him, told everyone watching the debate yesterday, and was THRILLED today.  The promise of jobs and the "I'm not a politician" far outweighs any negatives in his eyes.