2016 USA Presidential election thread I: The warm-up

[Serra]

We're a week from Iowa, and there's big news in the polls! Gilmore is not in last place!! In the latest polls, Gilmore (1%) beats Santorum (0%)!!! A week from Iowa, Jim Gilmore's stock is on the rise!

Democrats: Hillary (all but one of the last five polls have her above 50%), Sanders (fluctuates between the high-twenties to low-forties), O'Malley (single digits in all but one).

Republicans: Trump (34%), Cruz (20%), Rubio (11%), Carson (8%), Bush/Kaisch (4%.)

[Serra]

And this is where we've come.. Glenn Beck is a voice of reason:

Glenn Beck condemned Donald Trump on Monday morning, calling him "a very dangerous man" after the billionaire businessman said his voters would stand by him even if he shot someone.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/25/politi...ous/index.html

[tyven]

You're never the voice of reason when you are backing Cruz. I think most would agree Trump > Cruz

[Salodin]

Thank god Trump is in the lead. For awhile there I was worried Cruz would get the nom over Trump.

[Marootsoobutsu]

I think a lot of the folks backing Cruz are doing so simply because he had some steam,and he was seen as better than Trump.

But really, of everyone in the Republican debacle, Cruz is pretty much the only (maybe Carson) person I'd rather have /less/ than Trump. Don't get me wrong: Trump needs stopped. But it can't be by bringing Cruz in; he'd be worse for this country than LBJ was.

[Inshiya]

Cruz would be worse for this country than if Bin Laden was resurrected and elected.

[Quicklet]

I think a lot of the folks backing Cruz are doing so simply because he had some steam,and he was seen as better than Trump.

But really, of everyone in the Republican debacle, Cruz is pretty much the only (maybe Carson) person I'd rather have /less/ than Trump. Don't get me wrong: Trump needs stopped. But it can't be by bringing Cruz in; he'd be worse for this country than LBJ was.

Cruz is basically the "pure" Republican candidate. He is an incredibly smart, privileged elite who decided to exploit the Tea Party movement to gain power, so it's no wonder that people like Glenn Beck and Erick Erickson support him. He is by far the most disliked Senator in Congress though, which tells you something if not even any Republican colleagues want him to win.

The general wisdom suggests that Cruz getting the nomination would lead to an electoral disaster of Barry Goldwater proportions.

Also it bears mentioning that Cruz just seems like a weird dude:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqpHTFJO4mE

[Byrthnoth]

Trump - crazy, regularly says crazy things, might be a deep cover democrat. He's a big enough douchebag to be used by your mom. Has no real strategy beyond riding the Trump Train as far as bravado will carry it.

Cruz - Crazy, regularly says crazy things, also crazy unlikeable. Behaves in this way as part of a complicated political strategy.

Rubio - probably crazy, but say fewer crazy things and doesn't seem like too much of a douchebag. Has a plan, probably. I haven't heard any substantial coverage of his policies because the media only references him as "the sane one"

Bush - JEB (an acronym) has endorsed crazy ideas in the past, likely as part of a complicated political strategy. It is unclear how crazy he personally is, but he doesn't seem like too much of a douchebag. He's so beat right now that I bet he wishes he'd never run.

Carson - First off, the man is a mix of crazy and stupid usually reserved for weird uncles. Secondly, his campaign is flagging and no one with power wants to revive it.

[DrClout]

Welp, I'm caught up on the Republican side of things.

[Bregor]

Is this where I post if I want to feel the Bern?

[tyven]

Welcome to the bern barn

[Serra]

Is this where I post if I want to feel the Bern?

There's probably a thread in the NSFW forum for that.

[Xno Kappa]

Sorry if posted before; young Ted Cruz outlines his aspirations.

[Bregor]

Is anyone watching the debate? Bernie's bit with being an athlete was killer

[notorious bum]

I watched most of Bernie's, don't care to see the same robo-talks after. Bernie nailed both predictable Hilldog audience questions. His presence is undeniable in town hall format.

[myreality]

Is anyone watching the debate? Bernie's bit with being an athlete was killer

[Sho]

Trump - crazy, regularly says crazy things, might be a deep cover democrat. He's a big enough douchebag to be used by your mom. Has no real strategy beyond riding the Trump Train as far as bravado will carry it.

Cruz - Crazy, regularly says crazy things, also crazy unlikeable. Behaves in this way as part of a complicated political strategy. Architect of the 2013 government shutdown. Slams Obamacare, then has his wife cut off his healthcare and signs up through Obamacare himself. Caucuses with hyper right evangelicals and gun lobbyists. Only Senator in the US Senate that is hated by the entirety of said Senate on both sides, and especially by his boss, Leader
Mitch McConnell (R). Crowned Prince of the House Tea Party Caucus & House Freedom Caucus.

Rubio - probably crazy, but say fewer crazy things and doesn't seem like too much of a douchebag. Has a plan, probably. I haven't heard any substantial coverage of his policies because the media only references him as "the sane one." Abandoned the Tea Party Caucus in late 2014.

Bush - JEB (an acronym) has endorsed crazy ideas in the past, likely as part of a complicated political strategy. It is unclear how crazy he personally is, but he doesn't seem like too much of a douchebag. He's so beat right now that I bet he wishes he'd never run. Governor of Florida during the highly controversial Florida Recount during the 2000 elections.

Carson - First off, the man is a mix of crazy and stupid usually reserved for weird uncles. Secondly, his campaign is flagging and no one with power wants to revive it.

Added more content for accuracy and relevancy.

As a man who has met and worked with Ted Cruz in the past, he is the scum of the earth.

[Fiye]

I know someone by the first name of Chelsea who worked under him at some point in her life. She echos your words Sho.

[notorious bum]

Look at this delicious nugget of ignorance that we missed.

http://mic.com/articles/133483/hilla...all#.QzkQ4eTNz

Also saw someone mention that she stated that more people died in the civil war than all of the wars of the 20th century. Is she getting public speaking guidance from GWB?

[kuronosan]

Sanders dropping knowledge on tax increases. Unfortunately most people are too stupid to understand how not paying $4000 a year to insurance companies but paying it instead to a national plan is equivalence at worst.