2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Razgovory]

It appears as if the GOP strategy of not governing for 8 years is having unexpected consequences.

[Phillip V]

The Battle for 2nd Place in Nevada

Cruz has now pulled ahead of Rubio by less than a 100 votes:  http://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/primaries/results/nevada

[Legbiter]

[jimmy olsen]

Cruz is gonna win Texas* on Super Tuesday, so even if Rubio wins a few states, Cruz is going to earn more delegates than him, though the Donald will win more than both combined. So how is the GOP establishment, who he loathes, going to convince him to withdraw?

*If Cruz doesn't win Texas, Trump will and the race will be over right then and there.

[jimmy olsen]

Also with 88% of the vote in, Trump has 45.6% while Rubio and Cruz combined have only 45.4%

[celedhring]

I'll hold my hands up regarding Trump. I genuinely thought he would fade as primary voters went with more electable choices when facing the real thing and not the questions of a pollster. I guess it's a bad idea to bet on the sanity of the Republican base these days.

[Phillip V]

I'll hold my hands up regarding Trump. I genuinely thought he would fade as primary voters went with more electable choices when facing the real thing and not the questions of a pollster. I guess it's a bad idea to bet on the sanity of the Republican base these days.

Rubio will continue to campaign hard building up his national profile and network, but probably refuse to go nuclear against Trump.  He is figuring out the best way to become Florida Governor in 2018 and then run for President again in 2020 or 2024.  Time is on his side.

[lustindarkness]

It is sad to see just how stupid the masses are.

[The Minsky Moment]

Ever since Reagan the Republicans have been running campaigns on the premise that "conservatism" is a positive ideological attribute that attracts voters, whereas "liberalism" is a bad word.  When the Tea Party rose to prominence, a variety of commentators observed that the sentiments expressed, while admittedly pretty incoherent, were not exactly consistent with ideological conservatism.  This campaign has confirmed it: a very substantial part of the GOP base - perhaps a majority - is not "conservative" in the ideological sense. 

[DGuller]

Ever since Reagan the Republicans have been running campaigns on the premise that "conservatism" is a positive ideological attribute that attracts voters, whereas "liberalism" is a bad word.  When the Tea Party rose to prominence, a variety of commentators observed that the sentiments expressed, while admittedly pretty incoherent, were not exactly consistent with ideological conservatism.  This campaign has confirmed it: a very substantial part of the GOP base - perhaps a majority - is not "conservative" in the ideological sense.

That's not surprising at all.  A lot of GOP voters were kept in line with wedge issues, not ideological agreement.  Yes, once someone was hooked on intolerance, they'll reason out why tax breaks for the rich is good for them, but that kind of reasoning is brittle.  Trump smashed that.

[celedhring]

I'm actually pretty fine with a Trump primary win. The benefits are two-fold:

a) It would allow us ROTWers to point and laugh at America.
b) It should deliver the presidency to Hillary, since independents/moderates would flock to her.

[Barrister]

I'm going to call it now - Trump is going to be the nominee.

Trump wins 45% of the vote in the Nevada caucuses.

[Martinus]

I'm going to call it now - Trump is going to be the nominee.

Trump wins 45% of the vote in the Nevada caucuses.

Welcome to yesterday. 

[Martinus]

I'm actually pretty fine with a Trump primary win. The benefits are two-fold:

a) It would allow us ROTWers to point and laugh at America.
b) It should deliver the presidency to Hillary, since independents/moderates would flock to her.

I gotta say I have a bit of a soft spot for Trump, more as a character than an actual politician.

[Phillip V]

Trump lands his first congressional endorsements

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/duncan-hunter-endorses-donald-trump-219725