View Full Version : Election season: Primaries
catherine
12-16-15, 12:27am
Watching the GOP debates tonight and hearing the pundits talk about what happens if Cruz wins Iowa and Chris Christie does well in NH. Does anyone else agree with me that the primary system doesn't make sense? The early states basically elect the nominees! What happens in just a handful of states determines who prevails and who drops out for the most part.
Not sure why it was set up this way, but it clearly is faulty--does anyone agree with me?
Any thoughts on the debates? I thought Rubio did really well, and Jeb did better than usual.
Williamsmith
12-16-15, 2:50am
Rubio wants to follow the same foreign policy that got us where we are today. Clearly vying for the establishment seal of approval should Jeb Bush continue to flounder despite all the financial propping up. Neither represents any departure from the self destructive meddling in foreign countries brought about by large scale donors to campaigns that benefit from international proxy warmongering.
Cruz is a talking head with a temper that he does well to hide. He would spend us into the stratosphere on military buildup. He is not well liked in Washington because he can't play well in the sandbox. When he is involved, nothing gets done.
Christe is an even bigger blowhard. He hugged his way out of any chance to win the nomination. He loses 100 pounds and I'll give him a second chance.
Trump doesn't even believe half the things he blurts out. He's just seeing how stupid he has to get before even the dumbest of his supporters tosses him aside. He will go independent and sabotage the establishment candidate.
Rand Paul gets it. Trouble is nobody gets him.
Cusinich...? Is that even how to spell his name. He is the next one out.
Fiorina......makes a nice running mate. Or Treasury Secretary.
Dr. Carson..... Needs to go back to medicine where he can make a difference. His racial play is going nowhere in a party filled with racists, both in and out of the closet. Even if he could express himself eloquently and make repeated good points, I don't think he could get traction again. He greased his wheels and took the brakes off back when he wrote the book with lies to make himself seem like more of a story.
All pretty unwhelming characters. Yawn.
Hillary Clinton has to be thinking she's the luckiest worst candidate the Dems have to offer. I'm sure she already has the decorations for the White House picked out.
freshstart
12-16-15, 3:08am
I agree with you that the system does not make sense. I did that vote trading thing where Gore was a shoe in here in 2000 so I voted for Nader here and the other person in a non-Gore state voted for Gore, not Nader.
I'm a lib, I lasted a few minutes in, turned it off, turned it back on when Carson was comparing America to a failing patient that needs a team to heal him, weak; obvious metaphor and I just can't take him. Turned it back off. Before this memory and cognitive stuff happened I was a political junkie and I got really into Presidential Elections. My 3 best friends are staunchly Republican and wicked smart lawyers so I had to have my sh** together to debate with them. Now, I barely put a toe in those waters, I cannot keep up at all anymore. It's almost peaceful not chasing down the latest info and worrying that an idiot like Trump could get elected, well, I am worried about that. It's so strange to not adamantly have a dog in this race, I'm contributing to Bernie but will settle for Hillary.
Presidential Elections did not help my LTR. It is sooooo much better not getting every single thought bubble from a GOPer or a GOP pundit in my inbox upwards of 20x a day, plus texts and phone calls. I believed two people can vehemently disagree on everything political but still find a way to share core values and love each other. I was wrong, lol. Ok, rambling again.
freshstart
12-16-15, 3:15am
for some reason I can't quote you William, I don't want Christie to lose 100 lbs. I still like to watch him fall out of that chair when I need a laugh, it's been a year and I still laugh. My new debating skills: best prat fall
catherine
12-16-15, 7:38am
I'm not saying I'm voting for any of these guys.. I'm just saying I thought Rubio spoke intelligently with more meat behind his positions than anyone else, especially the others engaged in the Tough Guy P*ssing Contest (Annie Get Your Gun, anyone? "Anything you can bomb, I can bomb better. I can bomb anything better than you. No you can't! Yes I can! No you can't! Yes I can! It won't take a crisis, To drop the bombs on ISIS. I will never shirk-a Takin' out a burqa.")
And Geez, lay off the fat jokes about my homie! I didn't vote for him originally and I wouldn't vote for him now, but come on--a little respect!
Hillary Clinton has to be thinking she's the luckiest worst candidate the Dems have to offer. I'm sure she already has the decorations for the White House picked out.Sure she does. She still has everything from last time. http://articles.latimes.com/2001/feb/10/news/mn-23723
I'm not republican but the ones that looked like they could handle the presidency without putting us in danger or embarrassing us internationally were Rubio, Paul, Fiorina, and Bush.
And none of them have much of a chance at this point. It worries me.
The evening pretty much moved me from leaning toward Rubio to supporting him.
freshstart
12-16-15, 10:43am
I'm not saying I'm voting for any of these guys.. I'm just saying I thought Rubio spoke intelligently with more meat behind his positions than anyone else, especially the others engaged in the Tough Guy P*ssing Contest (Annie Get Your Gun, anyone? "Anything you can bomb, I can bomb better. I can bomb anything better than you. No you can't! Yes I can! No you can't! Yes I can! It won't take a crisis, To drop the bombs on ISIS. I will never shirk-a Takin' out a burqa.")
And Geez, lay off the fat jokes about my homie! I didn't vote for him originally and I wouldn't vote for him now, but come on--a little respect!
something is still wrong and I cannot trim quotes, sorry. I have no business laughing at Christie, not being exactly svelte myself and having spent a year and half falling on and off things, I should be sympathetic. It just happened around a time he was saying such outlandish things, that the video felt like a message from the cosmos!
catherine
12-16-15, 10:55am
I have no business laughing at Christie, not being exactly svelte myself and having spent a year and half falling on and off things, I should be sympathetic. It just happened around a time he was saying such outlandish things, that the video felt like a message from the cosmos!
It's not you, freshstart--it's just that last night I was following the comments on the debate on Twitter, and I was AMAZED at how people had nothing positive to say about Christie but there were tons of fat jokes--there must have been hundreds of mean slurs ("Fatass") photoshopped pictures of him eating meatball subs, and all kinds of other fat jokes. It made me realize that fat shaming crosses gender lines--and that people would probably elect a president of any religious persuasion or ideology over a fat one.
Just from a veracity and rectitude standpoint, Trump is either dumb on the issues or has a habit of not telling the truth. I've looked him up on politifact and his fact checker reviews are terrible. I think Cruz is conniving, ambitious, and slick like a fox. I would not trust either them as a president. Those would be my last choices. The only moderate of the front runners is Bush and he would be my pick on the Republican side, but I'm not crazy about any of them including Hillary.
I've never really thought about the primaries being unfair.
The Storyteller
12-16-15, 10:58am
The evening pretty much moved me from leaning toward Rubio to supporting him.
Can you explain why?
I recorded the debate but haven't seen it yet. From most reports I have read he did badly. Curious what your take is and why.
catherine
12-16-15, 11:04am
From most reports I have read he did badly. Curious what your take is and why.
Really? I have read that Bush and Cruz did great, and Rubio also did well.
I think Bush did MUCH better than in the past.
I just don't like Cruz, so it was hard for me to judge his debate performance impartially.
But Rubio was strong and knowledgeable. I found him easy to listen to, with the right amount of passion and intensity, but without turning it against people. I like his more moderate stance on immigration, but then again, I'm not Republican--I'm interested in hearing LDAHL's take.
catherine
12-16-15, 11:09am
I've never really thought about the primaries being unfair.
They definitely are.. not just because candidates drop out before people like me in NJ get a chance to vote or not vote for them, but the media coverage skews public perception, which then has time to stew before later primaries take place.
As a market researcher, I would never go into a focus group, and then say to 2 out of 8 of them, what is your opinion of XX? And then have them explain their choice to the whole group, and then later ask the other 6 what they think and expect an unbiased answer. Of course they are going to be biased--they will change their mind. Iowa does not represent the populace of the whole US, and neither does NH or South Carolina or Florida, so why should we let them drive pubic opinion?
JaneV2.0
12-16-15, 11:49am
...
And Geez, lay off the fat jokes about my homie! I didn't vote for him originally and I wouldn't vote for him now, but come on--a little respect!
Ah, fat-shaming--a favorite ploy of the schoolyard bully of any age. I'm with you; I can't stand Christie--speaking of bullies--but there's plenty to criticize him for without resorting to puerile attacks.
They definitely are.. not just because candidates drop out before people like me in NJ get a chance to vote or not vote for them, but the media coverage skews public perception, which then has time to stew before later primaries take place.
I see your point. Yes, it does seem unfair, especially since the demographics of the early states are not representative. I suppose the intention of staggering the primaries is to let the candidates focus on smaller audiences rather than spreading their time over the whole country, but it doesn't make perfect sense on the whole. I think candidates that drop out also consider national polls but the early states probably have some influence on that.
Can you explain why?
I recorded the debate but haven't seen it yet. From most reports I have read he did badly. Curious what your take is and why.
He struck me as the candidate with the best command of the facts, and the least likely to resort to attention-grabbing, showboating rhetoric. I could picture him doing well in a debate with Mrs. Clinton. I could also see him working constructively with our friends, enemies and frenemies without the feckless appeasement or unproductive belligerence we've seen on display in both parties. I also like his solidly conservative approach to most issues without a fixation on ideological purity. I could see President Rubio and House Speaker Ryan accomplishing some great things.
William F. Buckley, of sainted memory, once said something about voting for the conservative candidate most likely to win. I think that after we get through the Iowa and New Hampshire sideshows that will be Rubio.
I see your point. Yes, it does seem unfair, especially since the demographics of the early states are not representative. I suppose the intention of staggering the primaries is to let the candidates focus on smaller audiences rather than spreading their time over the whole country, but it doesn't make perfect sense on the whole. I think candidates that drop out also consider national polls but the early states probably have some influence on that.
One proposal I've heard and liked was to schedule three to five big regional primaries, rotating the order between election cycles to address that issue.
iris lilies
12-16-15, 1:09pm
If only the good peoples of Iowa and New Hampshire were choosing the candidates. That's a group I would trust more than big city easterners or westerners.
Recent history has has shown that Iowa winners often go nowhere when it comes to candidate selection.
William F. Buckley, of sainted memory, once said something about voting for the conservative candidate most likely to win. I think that after we get through the Iowa and New Hampshire sideshows that will be Rubio.
British oddsmakers this morning had the full field ranked as Clinton on top, followed by Rubio, Trump, Cruz, Bush then Sanders. What especially made me chuckle was that Carson is now at #12, one notch below Joe Biden.
catherine
12-16-15, 1:57pm
What especially made me chuckle was that Carson is now at #12, one notch below Joe Biden.
Yeah, Carson imploded last night. One tweet asked how many Xanax he had before getting on the stage. Then he chided Wolf for ignoring him, but then totally blew off an opportunity to weigh in on national security metadata. I think he's done, personally.
But I did read this article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/bernie-sanders-will-become-president_b_8780730.html) in HuffPo stating that Bernie is going to win. It made me happy, although I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen. The article does make some valid points, though.
The Storyteller
12-16-15, 1:58pm
He struck me as the candidate with the best command of the facts, and the least likely to resort to attention-grabbing, showboating rhetoric. I could picture him doing well in a debate with Mrs. Clinton. I could also see him working constructively with our friends, enemies and frenemies without the feckless appeasement or unproductive belligerence we've seen on display in both parties. I also like his solidly conservative approach to most issues without a fixation on ideological purity. I could see President Rubio and House Speaker Ryan accomplishing some great things.
William F. Buckley, of sainted memory, once said something about voting for the conservative candidate most likely to win. I think that after we get through the Iowa and New Hampshire sideshows that will be Rubio.
Thanks. Interesting take.
.
Williamsmith
12-16-15, 4:00pm
Yeah, Carson imploded last night. One tweet asked how many Xanax he had before getting on the stage. Then he chided Wolf for ignoring him, but then totally blew off an opportunity to weigh in on national security metadata. I think he's done, personally.
But I did read this article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/bernie-sanders-will-become-president_b_8780730.html) in HuffPo stating that Bernie is going to win. It made me happy, although I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen. The article does make some valid points, though.
By the time it gets to the caucuses , throw out the left (Bernie). Throw out the right (Trump) and look for the most center candidate. That's the way it works. Clinton.......Rubio. So Sayeth the crystal ball.
Trump is just in it for the entertainment, I hope he is serious about not going Independent. It would be wrong for one person to put Clinton in the White House.
By the time it gets to the caucuses , throw out the left (Bernie). Throw out the right (Trump) and look for the most center candidate. That's the way it works. Clinton.......Rubio. So Sayeth the crystal ball.
Trump is just in it for the entertainment, I hope he is serious about not going Independent. It would be wrong for one person to put Clinton in the White House.
I guess it depends on how you look at it - after I throw out the right (Clinton), all I'm left with is Bernie. A lot of democrats are not too keen on Clinton.
Sanders vs. Trump - or Cruz - would be an odd outcome - nobody for the center to vote for without going way to the left or way to the right.
And Geez, lay off the fat jokes about my homie! I didn't vote for him originally and I wouldn't vote for him now, but come on--a little respect!
As big as he is you should be demanding a LOT of respect! ;)
It's not you, freshstart--it's just that last night I was following the comments on the debate on Twitter, and I was AMAZED at how people had nothing positive to say about Christie but there were tons of fat jokes--there must have been hundreds of mean slurs ("Fatass") photoshopped pictures of him eating meatball subs, and all kinds of other fat jokes. It made me realize that fat shaming crosses gender lines--and that people would probably elect a president of any religious persuasion or ideology over a fat one.
If he wasn't such a bully maybe people wouldn't be so mean in their comments about him. After all, no one calls Santa Claus a fat-ass...
Rubio wants to follow the same foreign policy that got us where we are today. Clearly vying for the establishment seal of approval should Jeb Bush continue to flounder despite all the financial propping up. Neither represents any departure from the self destructive meddling in foreign countries brought about by large scale donors to campaigns that benefit from international proxy warmongering.
Cruz is a talking head with a temper that he does well to hide. He would spend us into the stratosphere on military buildup. He is not well liked in Washington because he can't play well in the sandbox. When he is involved, nothing gets done.
Christe is an even bigger blowhard. He hugged his way out of any chance to win the nomination. He loses 100 pounds and I'll give him a second chance.
Trump doesn't even believe half the things he blurts out. He's just seeing how stupid he has to get before even the dumbest of his supporters tosses him aside. He will go independent and sabotage the establishment candidate.
Rand Paul gets it. Trouble is nobody gets him.
Cusinich...? Is that even how to spell his name. He is the next one out.
Fiorina......makes a nice running mate. Or Treasury Secretary.
Dr. Carson..... Needs to go back to medicine where he can make a difference. His racial play is going nowhere in a party filled with racists, both in and out of the closet. Even if he could express himself eloquently and make repeated good points, I don't think he could get traction again. He greased his wheels and took the brakes off back when he wrote the book with lies to make himself seem like more of a story.
All pretty unwhelming characters. Yawn.
Hillary Clinton has to be thinking she's the luckiest worst candidate the Dems have to offer. I'm sure she already has the decorations for the White House picked out.
I feel like I could have written this exact same post. (except that I think you were trying to reference John Kasich, not Dennis Kucinich.) I'm not sure how I feel about that... >8)
ApatheticNoMore
12-17-15, 1:19am
If he wasn't such a bully maybe people wouldn't be so mean in their comments about him.
yea but it doesn't just work like that, no end of fat jokes, and people who maybe are as overweight as Christie, get hurt even reading the Twitter feeds, and they *aren't* Christie. It's like making fun of Hillary for her looks. Ok yea plenty of reasons to dislike or even hate Hillary, but a lot of nice older women who aren't Hillary might look something like Hillary.
yea but it doesn't just work like that, no end of fat jokes, and people who maybe are as overweight as Christie, get hurt even reading the Twitter feeds, and they *aren't* Christie. It's like making fun of Hillary for her looks. Ok yea plenty of reasons to dislike or even hate Hillary, but a lot of nice older women who aren't Hillary might look something like Hillary.
You're absolutely right. Reading article comments or twitter feeds is likely to be a brutal thing that's not for the feint of heart, regardless of whether the topic is Christie or anyone else. Unfortunately that seems to be how it goes. And this book was a fascinating read into how devastating it can be and possible reasons for why it happens: http://www.amazon.com/So-Youve-Been-Publicly-Shamed/dp/1594487138/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450333257&sr=1-1&keywords=so+you%27ve+been+publicly+shamed
Years ago a blogger I follow who lives simply, but elegantly, in a van, was written up in a yahoo article and the comments section denigrated to "uncle glenn lives in a van down by the river." If only rude comments could be reserved for jerks like Christie it'd be ok, but that doesn't seem to be how it works.
I see today Donald Trump has Vladimir Putin's endorsement. He referred to him as "outstanding and talented".
A compliment from one narcissist to another
Williamsmith
12-17-15, 1:10pm
Trump is the only candidate open minded enough to suggest that relations between USA and Russia could be improved and is in the best interest of both countries. That's a sad comment on the current Republican field.
I could easily picture Trump and Putin signing a Nonaggression Pact.
iris lilies
12-17-15, 4:27pm
I could easily picture Trump and Putin signing a Nonaggression Pact.
Funny, I can see either of them blowing up the world just because one of them threw shade toward the other, although my gut reaction is that Putin is calmer in this scenario.
I can see Putin seeing what Trump really is, and knowing how to deal with him...
catherine
12-17-15, 5:10pm
Well, he got Putin's endorsement, but not the Scots':
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3362241/Donald-Trump-loses-legal-battle-stop-offshore-windfarm-built-view-Aberdeenshire-golf-resort.html
Way to go, Scotland, for putting Trump in his place!
I can see Putin seeing what Trump really is, and knowing how to deal with him...
Thus demonstrating the difference between a blustering bully and an authentic thug?
Thus demonstrating the difference between a blustering bully and an authentic thug?
Ayup.
freshstart
12-18-15, 3:56am
(except that I think you were trying to reference John Kasich, not Dennis Kucinich.)
I had to go google that he didn't switch teams!
Williamsmith
12-18-15, 9:43am
I had to go google that he didn't switch teams!
Just goes to show how forgettable both of them are...
IshbelRobertson
12-18-15, 10:25am
Catherine
Quoting the Daily Fail can be dangerous so I try to avoid reading it, but in this case I made an exception!
Trump is still harrassing the old woman and her son who refused to sell to him, he insists their land is an eyesore.... Good for them.
Trump and the Scots parly were bosom buddies at one time, he said jump, they asked how high. It's a truism that thieves aye fa' oot :D.
Here's a Scotsman article supporting my last statement!
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/donald-trump-axed-as-scots-business-ambassador-1-3971000
Thus demonstrating the difference between a blustering bully and an authentic thug?
You have to believe Putin is enjoying the fantasy.
Williamsmith
12-18-15, 11:26am
This is why I am convinced that support for Mr. Trump within Republican registered voters has been largely a hoax perpetrated on the Republican National Committee to punish them for the past milk toast nominees they put forward against the Dems.
The Independents, and a lot of them have left the Republican Party like me, have joined in the merriment. It is rewarding to see the establishment squirm the closer it gets to the convention. Since the whole run up to the nomination has been a grand show anyway in the past.....why not make it a real circus and teach the establishment that the voters see the back room shenanigans and we are calling you out. Now deal with our misfit. By the time Trump is done he will have alienated half the world population. As Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does." I've taken to calling him Forrest Trump of the Bubba Trump Shrimp Company. Only instead of being naive and honest, he's a loud mouth blowhard with narcissistic intentions.
It seems like the RNC put up with Trump at first because they had someone who could spout outrageous things about Clinton, but none of that would stick to the party because everyone knew he was just a blowhard. Then he developed a base. Its not too hard to imagine Reince Priebus and his underlings waking up in a cold sweat after dreaming about an independent Trump run (assuming he is not the nominee).
What's bothering me the most right now is how the DNC scheduled its debates. The last few (Nov. and Dec.) on Saturday nights, including the Sat. night before Christmas, and on a Sunday during NFL playoff games (Jan.). If there was a way to keep up appearances, but for all practical matter keep Sanders and O'Malley far from the limelight, that would be it. Everybody knows who Clinton is and everybody, I think, pretty much assumes O'Malley will be a running mate at best. That leaves Sanders out in the cold. By the time the Dem debates get back to weeknight, primetime scheduling (on Feb. 11) Iowa and New Hampshire will already be in the books. The schedule seems designed to keep voters from hearing what Sanders has to say in the most critical weeks before the primaries start. Why? That is purely a rhetorical question, btw.
Another interesting and somewhat unsettling issue is how the media is making what the media does into "news". Robert Reich had a column this morning in which he said...
Today, for example, the Washington Post ran a story about how Donald Trump continues to steal the limelight in major media – media like the Washington Post. “The day after the Democratic debate, much of the attention shifted to a candidate who wasn’t on the stage: the boisterous Republican front-runner, Donald Trump.”
Wait a moment. Whose attention shifted, exactly? The attention of major media like the Washington Post. According to this same article, such a shift in attention, “underscored Trump’s improbable and persistent dominance in the presidential race.”
It's a complete tautology. Attention shifts to Trump and he remains dominant because the major media report on him far more than they report on anyone else. And they incessantly report on him because he’s bombastic, puerile, and egomaniacal, and will say just about anything to get the media to report on him.
Reich is unabashedly liberal and a Sanders supporter, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about this. Its to the point that you have to do some legwork to find out what anyone except Trump, and to a lesser degree Clinton and even less for Cruz, had to say. Regardless of the reason behind the trend an uninformed citizenship can't be in the best interests of our country.
But the joke's on them.
People are increasingly using the Internet/twitter/etc for their news. The major broadcasters are less relevant all the time.
I know all about sanders, getting multiple day updates via Twitter.
Williamsmith
12-21-15, 3:58pm
But the joke's on them.
People are increasingly using the Internet/twitter/etc for their news. The major broadcasters are less relevant all the time.
I know all about sanders, getting multiple day updates via Twitter.
I am less interested in Bubba Trump than I am almost anything on a cerebral basis. On a purely entertaining basis.....he makes me laugh. The Republican establishment created him....now they can deal with him. And the media knows they are undermining the republican establishment by ignoring everybody else who has something semi intelligent to say ...and boy is that getting hard to find in the republican debate.
And didn't we have a hint of things to come when they had warm hugs for Alaska governor Sarah "What mags do I even Read?" Palin. Oh you meant mags as in reading material, I thought you meant those things I slam into semiautomatic soldier of fortune looking sporting rifles that make me feel Impotant......I mean Important.
They have it as a foregone conclusion that Hillary and Bill will be running the show next. And so we all should pay attention to who really is running the show and it has to do with who owns the mainstream media outlets? They are collecting the advertising money and who is throwing money Hillary and Bills way? Whatever represents the monied interests now that are being nurtured for growth in the current Obama greenhouse.....no climate change pun intended. Bankers......military entrepreneurs..........dot com liberals.......Wall Street racketeers.
So how does Mr. sanders fit into this paradigm. Well, while you get your internet, Twitter, Facebook, updates about your favorite neighborhood grump, the rest of the Democratic machine is laughing their fat asses off at how gullible his fan base really is. Who do you think intentionally dangled the glitch in front of staffers noses? Hell, they had to do it twice before anyone took the bait. Sanders is just a stooge to make the "process" look legitimate.
I truly wish he had something to offer.
Bubba Trump is standing by waiting to fill the void. One more terrorist attack and a big slice of our population will be willing to start burning down mosques, arresting Muslims and confiscating their money and firearms. The gun registration process will make that easy. Then off to the gulags with them. Hail Bubba Trump!
But the joke's on them.
People are increasingly using the Internet/twitter/etc for their news. The major broadcasters are less relevant all the time.
I know all about sanders, getting multiple day updates via Twitter.
That's all true, but I see two issues. First, people of that certain age, mine, aren't saturated with social media platforms yet. There is still a heavy reliance on traditional media. And second, my age group votes. A lot. And, perhaps more importantly, we vote in primaries. For a change to take place the crowd that's getting the twitter feeds and facebook updates has to show up at the polls. If they do that in large enough numbers we might have an American spring.
I'm 53 -
any demographics on the ages that use only broadcast news?
Rubio wants to follow the same foreign policy that got us where we are today. Clearly vying for the establishment seal of approval should Jeb Bush continue to flounder despite all the financial propping up. Neither represents any departure from the self destructive meddling in foreign countries brought about by large scale donors to campaigns that benefit from international proxy warmongering.
Cruz is a talking head with a temper that he does well to hide. He would spend us into the stratosphere on military buildup. He is not well liked in Washington because he can't play well in the sandbox. When he is involved, nothing gets done.
Christe is an even bigger blowhard. He hugged his way out of any chance to win the nomination. He loses 100 pounds and I'll give him a second chance.
Trump doesn't even believe half the things he blurts out. He's just seeing how stupid he has to get before even the dumbest of his supporters tosses him aside. He will go independent and sabotage the establishment candidate.
Rand Paul gets it. Trouble is nobody gets him.
Cusinich...? Is that even how to spell his name. He is the next one out.
Fiorina......makes a nice running mate. Or Treasury Secretary.
Dr. Carson..... Needs to go back to medicine where he can make a difference. His racial play is going nowhere in a party filled with racists, both in and out of the closet. Even if he could express himself eloquently and make repeated good points, I don't think he could get traction again. He greased his wheels and took the brakes off back when he wrote the book with lies to make himself seem like more of a story.
All pretty unwhelming characters. Yawn.
Hillary Clinton has to be thinking she's the luckiest worst candidate the Dems have to offer. I'm sure she already has the decorations for the White House picked out.
there is much truth is these statements.......I like Bernie but he won't make it. Trump is telling everyone what he thinks they want to hear, regardless of whether he can do it or not.........I like Jeb on the Republican side and think he is a good man, too good to fight with the likes of Trump.
I think Trump might have stood a chance, if he hadn't veered off right after his campaign started. His most recent stuff is just unbelievably crude and obnoxious. He's such an embarrassment to our country. I might have agreed with some of his beliefs, but then he got just plain rude and crude.
That's all true, but I see two issues. First, people of that certain age, mine, aren't saturated with social media platforms yet. There is still a heavy reliance on traditional media. And second, my age group votes. A lot. And, perhaps more importantly, we vote in primaries. For a change to take place the crowd that's getting the twitter feeds and facebook updates has to show up at the polls. If they do that in large enough numbers we might have an American spring.
Here's a link to a Pew study (http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/19/the-demographics-of-social-media-users/) regarding social media usage. A few sound bites...
Twitter is more popular among younger adults — 30% of online adults under 50 use Twitter, compared with 11% of online adults ages 50 and older.
82% of online adults ages 18 to 29 use Facebook, along with 79% of those ages 30 to 49, 64% of those ages 50 to 64 and 48% of those 65 and older.
Here's some demographic info (http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics) regarding voter turnout in elections. Generally speaking, the older we get the more likely we are to be a voter.
Here's a journalism.org piece (http://www.journalism.org/2015/06/01/millennials-political-news/) regarding how different generations get their political news. Mellennials and Baby Boomers are roughly flipped in percentages sourcing from social media vs. broadcast news.
1558
Williamsmith
1-16-16, 7:50pm
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Williamsmith
1-16-16, 10:32pm
Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.” – Charles Mackay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, 1841
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