2016 elections - because it's never too early

[DGuller]

I think that in due time, his debate gamble would be viewed as one all-in move too many.

[Barrister]

It does get everyone talking about Trump again, and not anyone else.  Which seems to work for him I guess.

Clearly didn't work for him in Iowa.

We'll see.  Iowa was neck and neck between him and Cruz, and Iowa caucuses are a very Cruz-friendly jurisdiction.  Previous winners include Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee.  And Trump had little ground game to get out voters.

Trump is up 20 points in New Hampshire though this time with no really obvious 2nd place challenger (Cruz, Rubio, Kasich and Jeb! all hovering around 10%).

Trump seems guaranteed to win New Hampshire.  He just needs to try and ensure there's no strong showing by someone else for all the anti-Trump voters to coalesce around.

[derspiess]

Rand Paul is now gone.  Hopefully, that convinces Fiorina and Christie to go next.

Not surprising

Guess I'm Cruzing now.

[garbon]

It does get everyone talking about Trump again, and not anyone else.  Which seems to work for him I guess.

Clearly didn't work for him in Iowa.

We'll see.  Iowa was neck and neck between him and Cruz, and Iowa caucuses are a very Cruz-friendly jurisdiction.  Previous winners include Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee.  And Trump had little ground game to get out voters.

Trump is up 20 points in New Hampshire though this time with no really obvious 2nd place challenger (Cruz, Rubio, Kasich and Jeb! all hovering around 10%).

Trump seems guaranteed to win New Hampshire.  He just needs to try and ensure there's no strong showing by someone else for all the anti-Trump voters to coalesce around.

I guess I'm just saying with the only actual data point that we have for Trump performance, being the most talked about does not mean you get the most votes.

[Barrister]

Trump talking about Ted Cruz.

Turning to Cruz, he accused the Texan of being behind efforts that have damaged Ben Carson's campaign. He added that a mailer in Iowa sent by Cruz's campaign that revealed neighbors' voting participation was malicious: "He insulted Ben Carson by doing what he did to Ben Carson. That was a disgrace.... He's a man of insult."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/02/in-a-return-to-new-hampshire-donald-trump-returns-to-form/

[Grey Fox]

How long before a Cruz run USA nukes someone? Is Vegas taking bets?

[DGuller]

How long before a Cruz run USA nukes someone? Is Vegas taking bets?

I am, I am!

[alfred russel]

How long before a Cruz run USA nukes someone? Is Vegas taking bets?

If Cruz is elected, I'm going to postpone my vacation plans to Mecca.

[lustindarkness]

How long before a Cruz run USA nukes someone? Is Vegas taking bets?

Is that one of hiS campaign promIseS? 

[DGuller]

I broke lusti's code.

[lustindarkness]

I broke lusti's code.

What are you talking about?

[derspiess]

I wonder why you never hear right-wingers threatening to go to Singapore or some place if a Democrat gets elected.

I have land in Argentina upon which I may someday build my hacienda...

[Eddie Teach]

How long before a Cruz run USA nukes someone? Is Vegas taking bets?

If Cruz is elected, I'm going to postpone my vacation plans to Mecca.

Were you gonna pretend to be Mooslim?

[Berkut]

I have now read more on Ted Cruz, including his own website. 

I am disturbed by what I read.  I thought separation of Church and State is one of the cornerstones of democracy.  His 10% flat rate tax is pie in the sky unworkable.  His idea of eliminating the IRS seems either a simple name change (that must be what he means) or insane.  His insistance that marriage is between a man and a woman is seriously behind the times.  I don't understand his opposition to Obamacare and Net Neutrality (!).  His support for gun ownership flies in the face of reality.  His statement that what is good for the US is what is good for the world sounds unstatesman-like. 

You guys seriously elected him to the position of US senator on these platforms? 

The answer is that a significant part of the US electorate at this moment is simply crazed.  And too many independents enable this crazed electorate by not decisively rejecting the candidates supported by the crazed electorate.  It also doesn't help that the political system is designed to only keep two parties viable, so coupled with the unmoored moderates they don't pay the price for poor governance.

I don't think "moderates" get Ted Cruz elected.

I think he gets elected because there are few, if any, moderates in the places that vote for him.

He gets elected only in those places where the dumbfuckistan vote swamps the moderates and Dems.

[alfred russel]

Were you gonna pretend to be Mooslim?

I will probably visit Mecca after I have visited almost every other inhabited place on earth, assuming I still have the urge to travel. I think I've got some time to work out a strategy to get in.