US Presidential Contenders

[Buster's Uncle]

That Ben Franklin was a smooth operator...

[Dio]

He was also smooth with the women of France . . .

[Buster's Uncle]

...And England...

[Rusty Edge]

They called the popular vote for [Sleezebag] almost as soon as the polls closed.  The question will be does he get half of the vote and extra delegates.

Amusingly enough, he is trailing Kasich among Manhattan Republicans. If that holds, it's damning in a Cruz not getting endorsed by Senate coworkers kind of way. This is why we have trial by jury of our PEERS.

[Dio]

It was not until the 1960's that the parties implemented primaries to allow voters a voice in the choice of candiates.

[Rusty Edge]

Popular vote [Sleezebag] 60%, Kasich 25%, Cruz 15%
[Sleezebag] should take the lion's share of the delegates, Kasich should win 3 to 6 delegates, Cruz was shut out entirely.

Clinton 58% Sanders 42%
Delegates- I can't find anything, there are 247 at stake, I could presume that this is one of those proportional delegate distribution states on the Democratic side.

There's a report that Sanders skipped out on his press entourage and headed for Vermont, leaving them behind on the runway in State College, PA.  This could mean he's going home to soul search, or that he had an emergency at home. I hope he and his family are okay.

[Buster's Uncle]

For Rusty:

New Yorkers Cower As Clinton Victory Speech Reverberates Across Entire State
The Onion  April 20, 2016






ALBANY, NY—Covering their ears as the thunderous sound violently shook buildings and shattered glass windows, New York residents reportedly cowered in shock and fear Tuesday night as Hillary Clinton’s primary election victory speech reverberated across the entire state. “Thank you all so much—today, you proved once again there’s no place like home,” said the Democratic presidential candidate, as her deafening address, which seemed to come from all sides at once, boomed across the landscape, setting off car alarms and forcing drivers to pull over to the side of the road in all 62 New York counties. “The race for the nomination is in the home stretch, and victory is in sight. You have carried us every step of the way with passion and determination. I am grateful to every one of you.” At press time, sources in the upcoming primary states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania reported witnessing ripples in their water glasses as the opening line of Clinton’s stump speech swelled in the distance.

http://www.theonion.com/article/new-yorkers-cower-clinton-victory-speech-reverbera-52784

[Dio]

For Rusty:

New Yorkers Cower As Clinton Victory Speech Reverberates Across Entire State
The Onion  April 20, 2016






ALBANY, NY—Covering their ears as the thunderous sound violently shook buildings and shattered glass windows, New York residents reportedly cowered in shock and fear Tuesday night as Hillary Clinton’s primary election victory speech reverberated across the entire state. “Thank you all so much—today, you proved once again there’s no place like home,” said the Democratic presidential candidate, as her deafening address, which seemed to come from all sides at once, boomed across the landscape, setting off car alarms and forcing drivers to pull over to the side of the road in all 62 New York counties. “The race for the nomination is in the home stretch, and victory is in sight. You have carried us every step of the way with passion and determination. I am grateful to every one of you.” At press time, sources in the upcoming primary states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania reported witnessing ripples in their water glasses as the opening line of Clinton’s stump speech swelled in the distance.

http://www.theonion.com/article/new-yorkers-cower-clinton-victory-speech-reverbera-52784

 

[Rusty Edge]

That was hilarious.

[Rusty Edge]

I'm wondering if the professional handlers are going to help or hurt The Donald.

He's acting more and more like a serious candidate. For example, today he said that he would make exceptions for abortion in the case of rape, incest, or life of the mother, which last I heard, was where most of America viewed the issue.

He also said he was fine with people using the bathroom in which they felt comfortable, and they were welcome to do so at [Sleezebag] Tower.

For a while he stopped the name calling.

[Buster's Uncle]

It's plumb confusing, since he's going to find a reason to quit...  Why bother?

[Buster's Uncle]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROBTDSK46aU&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;list=PLF396D3CEF0169A35" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROBTDSK46aU&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;list=PLF396D3CEF0169A35</a>

[Unorthodox]

since he's going to find a reason to quit...  Why bother?

I thought that for a long time as well, but he's actually opened his wallet the last few weeks, so I'm not so sure.  While he was not having to spend, and for a while actually MAKING money, it made sense for him to just keep going for publicity sake.  But, he's dumped millions of his own cash in the last few weeks.  Looking like he's serious. 

[Buster's Uncle]

You're not wrong - I wonder if he's decided he doesn't need control of his business, and decided to be President as retirement project...

[Rusty Edge]

I never dared to dream he would go away on his own.

It's more like I have a persistent vision of a fascist America, with intermittent hope that Cruz can stop him...and then I realize it's merely the difference between a populist fascist and a theocratic fascist, and it makes me seriously consider the Oligarchy alternative.

Which leads to the entrenchment question- If we choose one of the above, which form of government are we least likely to get stuck with?  Defying and rejecting both the Clintons and Bushes would have been a turning point away from Oligarchy, but if we don't, we're boiler plating the bureaucracy old boy network. Sure, there's bound to be blowback to whoever ascends the thrown, but all of the Obama hate didn't stop his re-election.

All the next president has to do is choose a war. Then, they can seize more power and stifle dissent.

This fork in the road is the devil's own trident.