2016 Election
Mar 17th 2016, 9:23 am
#6091
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Mar 17th 2016, 9:27 am
#6092
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Mar 17th 2016, 10:33 am
#6093
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA USA
Posts: 1,206
Re: 2016 Election
Evidently the Republican Establishment is wracking its collective pea brain to find a way to deny Trump the nomination if he falls even one delegate below 1237. That may be Hillary's best hope, because it would tear the Party apart and split the anti-Hillary vote between Trump (as Third Party) and Establishment Guy (Kasich?). Is there any other reason for Kasich to continue his run, other than to split the anti-Trump vote and be Establishment Guy? Although splitting the anti-Trump vote is almost as stupid a move as Kasich could make, if it weren't all about Kasich and his insufferable ego.
I think the idea that Kasich stands the best chance of beating Hillary is someone's pipe dream, whatever the early polls might have suggested. It would be McCain redux and she'd wipe the floor with him, as he would pull every possible punch, while regaling us with stories about how he balanced the federal budget all by himself, saved the country after 9/11 at the Pentagon, all by himself, and saved Ohio from itself all by himself. Trump, on the other hand, would take her on full tilt. He may already have fatally labelled her through his Barking Dog ad the way he killed off "low energy" Bush and "Little Marco."
Still looking for my guy, but it ain't Kasich, as you all might have guessed.
I think the idea that Kasich stands the best chance of beating Hillary is someone's pipe dream, whatever the early polls might have suggested. It would be McCain redux and she'd wipe the floor with him, as he would pull every possible punch, while regaling us with stories about how he balanced the federal budget all by himself, saved the country after 9/11 at the Pentagon, all by himself, and saved Ohio from itself all by himself. Trump, on the other hand, would take her on full tilt. He may already have fatally labelled her through his Barking Dog ad the way he killed off "low energy" Bush and "Little Marco."
Still looking for my guy, but it ain't Kasich, as you all might have guessed.
Last edited by FlaviusAetius; Mar 17th 2016 at 10:39 am.
Mar 17th 2016, 11:44 am
#6094
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: 2016 Election
I think there are two angles to this, possibly conflicting.
1) Would Trump be easier to BEAT in the general than Cruz, and
2) Would Trump be better for the country than Cruz, should one of them actually beat Hillary.
I just can't wrap my head around a good answer to these questions. I think the answer to #1 really depends on just how many 'crossover' angry white male voters will crawl out of the woodwork and vote for him. I think he'll inspire a strong negative vote, but if he also gets people to cross over, that could be a disaster. Cruz, on the other hand, is too far right to win the Independents. So perhaps, Cruz is a more PREDICTABLE opponent.
And should we be faced with either a Cruz or a Trump victory ... who will screw the country the most? Cruz, we know, will try to do all the things he said he'll do - defund PP, ban gay marriage, kill Obamacare, etc. But what will Trump REALLY do ... I honestly can't predict. I don't think he gives a stuff about gay marriage or PP, and I think he'll approach Obamacare from a strictly financial viewpoint. But really, who knows what floats around in that head. His unpredictability is the biggest concern I guess.
1) Would Trump be easier to BEAT in the general than Cruz, and
2) Would Trump be better for the country than Cruz, should one of them actually beat Hillary.
I just can't wrap my head around a good answer to these questions. I think the answer to #1 really depends on just how many 'crossover' angry white male voters will crawl out of the woodwork and vote for him. I think he'll inspire a strong negative vote, but if he also gets people to cross over, that could be a disaster. Cruz, on the other hand, is too far right to win the Independents. So perhaps, Cruz is a more PREDICTABLE opponent.
And should we be faced with either a Cruz or a Trump victory ... who will screw the country the most? Cruz, we know, will try to do all the things he said he'll do - defund PP, ban gay marriage, kill Obamacare, etc. But what will Trump REALLY do ... I honestly can't predict. I don't think he gives a stuff about gay marriage or PP, and I think he'll approach Obamacare from a strictly financial viewpoint. But really, who knows what floats around in that head. His unpredictability is the biggest concern I guess.
Between Cruz and Trump, IMO, Trump would be far worse as president. He's deliberately pretty much started a race war and is threatening riots if he doesn't get the nomination. For months, he's shown us who he is and told us what he'll do. There's really no need to try guess what kind of president Trump will be, he's spelled it out in many, mostly monosyllabic, tweets and bleats.
This is not a conclusion I'm happy with but Trump winning the Republican nomination would mean Trump being one campaign away from the presidency. That dog won't hunt.
Mar 17th 2016, 11:50 am
#6095
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: 2016 Election
Between Cruz and Trump, IMO, Trump would be far worse as president. He's deliberately pretty much started a race war and is threatening riots if he doesn't get the nomination. For months, he's shown us who he is and told us what he'll do. There's really no need to try guess what kind of president Trump will be, he's spelled it out in many, mostly monosyllabic, tweets and bleats.
This is not a conclusion I'm happy with but Trump winning the Republican nomination would mean Trump being one campaign away from the presidency. That dog won't hunt.
This is not a conclusion I'm happy with but Trump winning the Republican nomination would mean Trump being one campaign away from the presidency. That dog won't hunt.
Mar 17th 2016, 12:04 pm
#6096
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: 2016 Election
Interesting question. I'm not so sure Cruz would have won if Trump had never entered the race. I think the establishment vote would have been much stronger maybe even to the point that someone like Jeb would have come through in the end.
Never rely on the American electorate to do the right thing.
Never rely on the American electorate to do the right thing.
Mar 17th 2016, 12:05 pm
#6097
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: 2016 Election
I honestly don't know which one would be the tougher opponent for Hillary. I'm thinking it would be Trump but Cruise has been good at coalition building. If Trump had never happened, Cruz would have already won the primary.
Between Cruz and Trump, IMO, Trump would be far worse as president. He's deliberately pretty much started a race war and is threatening riots if he doesn't get the nomination. For months, he's shown us who he is and told us what he'll do. There's really no need to try guess what kind of president Trump will be, he's spelled it out in many, mostly monosyllabic, tweets and bleats.
This is not a conclusion I'm happy with but Trump winning the Republican nomination would mean Trump being one campaign away from the presidency. That dog won't hunt.
Between Cruz and Trump, IMO, Trump would be far worse as president. He's deliberately pretty much started a race war and is threatening riots if he doesn't get the nomination. For months, he's shown us who he is and told us what he'll do. There's really no need to try guess what kind of president Trump will be, he's spelled it out in many, mostly monosyllabic, tweets and bleats.
This is not a conclusion I'm happy with but Trump winning the Republican nomination would mean Trump being one campaign away from the presidency. That dog won't hunt.
Mar 17th 2016, 12:12 pm
#6099
Mar 17th 2016, 12:19 pm
#6100
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: 2016 Election
Mar 17th 2016, 1:28 pm
#6103
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: 2016 Election
Then you don't want to click on this link. Nope, no way, you just don't. It should remain blue at all costs.
Obviously, NSFW/NSFL. You've been warned.
Obviously, NSFW/NSFL. You've been warned.
Mar 17th 2016, 1:35 pm
#6105
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA USA
Posts: 1,206
Re: 2016 Election
I haven't been watching, but is she trying to show him he should drop out and support Hillary? If so, is he as stubborn as Kasich about staying in until the convention? He has the funds to do that.
Personally, I'm at a loss, as my guy is out of the running and I don't feel the Bern for either Trump or Cruz. Like Leslie, I guess I have to figure Cruz is the lesser of the two evils. Although the polls show he and Hillary are in a tight race, I think his appeal is too narrow and she wins in the end.
Strategically, I like Trump's chances in the general, but his nomination will likely lead to the dissolution of the Republican Party. Most on this thread would be thrilled at the prospect, but it won't be good for the country. We really need 007 to make it look like an accident.
Personally, I'm at a loss, as my guy is out of the running and I don't feel the Bern for either Trump or Cruz. Like Leslie, I guess I have to figure Cruz is the lesser of the two evils. Although the polls show he and Hillary are in a tight race, I think his appeal is too narrow and she wins in the end.
Strategically, I like Trump's chances in the general, but his nomination will likely lead to the dissolution of the Republican Party. Most on this thread would be thrilled at the prospect, but it won't be good for the country. We really need 007 to make it look like an accident.
