2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Martinus]

We all made predictions going back years. Can we get off Tim's back please? It's a bit childish.

It's the endless volume of it that annoys some.

And the freshman's zeal with which they are made.

[Martinus]

John McCain and Romney must feel crappy now.  They run decent honorable campaigns as people with real skills and experience and go down to defeat only to watch Mr. Celebrity Apprentice serial casino bankrupter waltz in the Oval Office.  Life ain't fair.

As this chart shows, all three of them got basically the same number of votes - in fact Trump got the lowest number. What differed is that they ran against a good candidate:

http://imgur.com/TOGIbcP

[Tonitrus]

Every time there was a major charisma gap, the more charismatic candidate won the Electoral College, every time.  Even if they weren't the most popular nationwide, they were able to tailor the message well enough to win the states needed to win the election. Charisma is everything.

Yeah, but if you're saying that Trump is all that charismatic, then the Democratic nominee in 2020 has to run against him, and then there wouldn't be a charisma gap. 

Besides, who do the Democrats have who has charisma?  Bernie?  He has some charisma, yes, but:  A)  he'll be 79 in 2020, B) he's a wacko socialist, and C) he's not technically even a Democrat.  Biden?  Maybe, but he'll be 77, and arguably he'll have 47 years of baggage by then (he entered the Senate in 1973),  Joe Manchin?  I like Manchin, but I'm not sure that he's really all that charismatic (I doubt I'd know anything about him if he wasn't from WV) and he's probably too conservative to win Democratic primaries in a lot of blue states.  Andrew Cuomo?  Maybe, but does he really have charisma, or just a recognizable name (and maybe people are tired of political dynasties).  Elizabeth Warren?  Maybe, but if Bernie is too liberal to appeal to Valmy, so is Warren, and a Democrat isn't going to win if they can't appeal to the Valmys of this country.  Al Franken?  Hmm.

There was some scuttlebutt earlier in this election about Howard Schultz (Starbucks CEO) running...maybe a billionaire to beat a billionaire in 2020?

Or Jeff Bezos...there was some flak between him and Trump for a bit (and his net worth would make Trump look like a pauper).

[Martinus]

How the fuck does Jeff Bezos have charisma? He seems very unlikeable.

[Tonitrus]

I never said that he has charisma. 

I also don't buy that there was much of a charisma gap.  Trump isn't charismatic...unless you're an Alpha Beta.

[Syt]

There was some scuttlebutt earlier in this election about Howard Schultz (Starbucks CEO) running...maybe a billionaire to beat a billionaire in 2020?

Or Jeff Bezos...there was some flak between him and Trump for a bit (and his net worth would make Trump look like a pauper).

We already had a Battle of the Billionaires, and rehashes usually don't live up to the original.









Though I wonder if Vince will get Donny to appear on WWE again now.

[Martinus]

Let me guess - Trump won? 

Damn. 8 years of Trump? 

[Syt]

Let me guess - Trump won? 

Vince McMahon is a weird creature. Behind the scenes, by all accounts, he can be pretty crazy and very petty (like firing one of his stars on the day of their wedding). But he'll happily let himself be humiliated in front of the cameras if it's good for ratings/cashflow (up to a point).

[DGuller]

Every time there was a major charisma gap, the more charismatic candidate won the Electoral College, every time.  Even if they weren't the most popular nationwide, they were able to tailor the message well enough to win the states needed to win the election. Charisma is everything.

Yeah, but if you're saying that Trump is all that charismatic, then the Democratic nominee in 2020 has to run against him, and then there wouldn't be a charisma gap. 

Besides, who do the Democrats have who has charisma?  Bernie?  He has some charisma, yes, but:  A)  he'll be 79 in 2020, B) he's a wacko socialist, and C) he's not technically even a Democrat.  Biden?  Maybe, but he'll be 77, and arguably he'll have 47 years of baggage by then (he entered the Senate in 1973),  Joe Manchin?  I like Manchin, but I'm not sure that he's really all that charismatic (I doubt I'd know anything about him if he wasn't from WV) and he's probably too conservative to win Democratic primaries in a lot of blue states.  Andrew Cuomo?  Maybe, but does he really have charisma, or just a recognizable name (and maybe people are tired of political dynasties).  Elizabeth Warren?  Maybe, but if Bernie is too liberal to appeal to Valmy, so is Warren, and a Democrat isn't going to win if they can't appeal to the Valmys of this country.  Al Franken?  Hmm.

There was some scuttlebutt earlier in this election about Howard Schultz (Starbucks CEO) running...maybe a billionaire to beat a billionaire in 2020?

Or Jeff Bezos...there was some flak between him and Trump for a bit (and his net worth would make Trump look like a pauper).

Why not Mark Cuban then?  Apart from anything else he's a reality show star.

[Tonitrus]

Because Mark Cuban is an pompous, egotistical asshole?

Oh wait....

[Admiral Yi]

Dude *never* takes the deal. 

[celedhring]

I just hope the Dems don't go for Michelle Obama. I like her, but 1) I despise dynasty politics 2) Would prefer she builds her experience in smaller office before.

Plus I don't think she would help them much in regaining the entitled white vote.

[Martinus]

How about... Hillary Clinton?

[Zanza]

How about someone new? They must have governors, Obama admin secretaries or senators that have talent and ambition.

[garbon]

How about someone new? They must have governors, Obama admin secretaries or senators that have talent and ambition.

Presumably he was just being snarky. I would say there is little to no chance the Dems spring for Clinton again in 4 years. She's been defeated (at different stages) in two cycles, she's done.