2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Tonitrus]

 

[derspiess]

It was lap band surgery, which has a fairly high failure rate.  He should have gone for the gastric sleeve thing.

[Valmy]

When you disagree with the agenda being pushed, isn't it your moral obligation to obstruct?

Obstruction is one political strategy out of many, not a moral imperative.  There are other ways to impact and change agenda than that.  But most of those might make the other party look good, so obstruction is better.

[derspiess]

When you disagree with the agenda being pushed, isn't it your moral obligation to obstruct?

Obstruction is one political strategy out of many, not a moral imperative.  There are other ways to impact and change agenda than that.  But most of those might make the other party look good, so obstruction is better.

I'm not of the opinion that obstruction is *always* the best route.  Sometimes it's best to compromise.  Sometimes it's not.

[Valmy]

I'm not of the opinion that obstruction is *always* the best route.  Sometimes it's best to compromise.  Sometimes it's not.

Sometimes I think the Republicans were so upset by Clinton always taking credit for their work that they decided to just not do anything good while a Democrat is in office ever again.

[Razgovory]

I suppose you can justify a coup using the same principles.

[dps]

Why do you think he would get shellacked in the general?

Too New York-- his name & accent won't play well in the heartland.  Too far left.  Esablished anti-gun record.

He was making some good inroads toward the middle by taking on the teacher unions but I'm not seeing a whole lot else now that would help grab the center.

I'd say the gun thing would be a good way to do so... Plus, eastern Republicans read better to the Heartland. More in keeping with the socially liberal, fiscally conservative that we like.

Given that the only Republicans to be elected President in the last 50 years were 2 from Texas and 2 from California, I'd say your analysis is questionable at best.

[merithyn]

Given that the only Republicans to be elected President in the last 50 years were 2 from Texas and 2 from California, I'd say your analysis is questionable at best.

Are you trying to equate the Republican party today to the Republican party of even 15 years ago, much less 50? Besides, Reagan may have lived in California when he was elected, but he was from Illinois.

[dps]

Given that the only Republicans to be elected President in the last 50 years were 2 from Texas and 2 from California, I'd say your analysis is questionable at best.

Are you trying to equate the Republican party today to the Republican party of even 15 years ago, much less 50? Besides, Reagan may have lived in California when he was elected, but he was from Illinois.

Illinios still isn't the east coast.  Bush the Elder, granted, was originally from Massachusetts.

The degree of similarity between the Republican party of today and that of 15 or 50 years ago isn't the point.  If eastern Republicans are so much more acceptable in the heartland, Romney would have done better last year.

[merithyn]

Illinios still isn't the east coast.  Bush the Elder, granted, was originally from Massachusetts.

The degree of similarity between the Republican party of today and that of 15 or 50 years ago isn't the point.  If eastern Republicans are so much more acceptable in the heartland, Romney would have done better last year.

Romney did better than expected in the midwest. Can you imagine how Paul Ryan or Newt Gingrich would have done?

[Neil]

Illinios still isn't the east coast.  Bush the Elder, granted, was originally from Massachusetts.

The degree of similarity between the Republican party of today and that of 15 or 50 years ago isn't the point.  If eastern Republicans are so much more acceptable in the heartland, Romney would have done better last year.

Romney did better than expected in the midwest. Can you imagine how Paul Ryan or Newt Gingrich would have done?

Probably roughly as well.  You're too close to the problem to judge effectively.

[Phillip V]

Here is a game where you can play out your 2016 scenarios/fantasies (includes 2012): http://270soft.com/us-election-games/president-election-game-2016/

[derspiess]

This should be enough to make grabon's head explode:

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/21/camille_paglia_it_remains_baffling_how_anyone_would_think_that_hillary_clinton_is_our_party%E2%80%99s_best_chance/

Any hopes, fears or predictions for the presidential elections in 2016?

As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s. A governor with executive experience would be ideal. It's time to put my baby-boom generation out to pasture! We've had our day and managed to muck up a hell of a lot. It remains baffling how anyone would think that Hillary Clinton (born the same year as me) is our party's best chance. She has more sooty baggage than a 90-car freight train. And what exactly has she ever accomplished — beyond bullishly covering for her philandering husband? She's certainly busy, busy and ever on the move — with the tunnel-vision workaholism of someone trying to blot out uncomfortable private thoughts.

I for one think it was a very big deal that our ambassador was murdered in Benghazi. In saying "I take responsibility" for it as secretary of state, Hillary should have resigned immediately. The weak response by the Obama administration to that tragedy has given a huge opening to Republicans in the next presidential election. The impression has been amply given that Benghazi was treated as a public relations matter to massage rather than as the major and outrageous attack on the U.S. that it was.

Throughout history, ambassadors have always been symbolic incarnations of the sovereignty of their nations and the dignity of their leaders. It's even a key motif in "King Lear." As far as I'm concerned, Hillary disqualified herself for the presidency in that fist-pounding moment at a congressional hearing when she said, "What difference does it make what we knew and when we knew it, Senator?" Democrats have got to shake off the Clinton albatross and find new blood. The escalating instability not just in Egypt but throughout the Mideast is very ominous. There is a clash of cultures brewing in the world that may take a century or more to resolve — and there is no guarantee that the secular West will win.

Luv me some Camille

[garbon]

Camille hates Hillary and also wrote an op-ed in support of Sarah Palin (though admittedly during that period when we hadn't all learned how dumb the grizzly mom is). I don't love Camille for her take on politics.

[CountDeMoney]

Camille's part of that wing of the Democratic left that thinks the party's gone too lamestream and thinks George McGovern would still have a chance today, if only he were alive.