2016 USA Presidential election thread II: And. Here. We. Go!

[chazzyphizzle]

id say there's a fair bit of difference between a donald trump type running as opposed to say...jon stewart or fuck even bill o'reilly would put up a better fight than trump did imo

[Tyrath]

Tell that to Reagan!

Reagan at least spent 8 years as governor first didn't he?

[kisada]

honestly i think trump's biggest issue (besides his repeatedly new levels of insanity every week) was his lack of a functional campaign. being a dumbfuck shitgoblin is one thing. but being that dumbfuck shitgoblin with a powerful, modern ground game and an overall organized campaign would have made this into a different election for him.

[Andalusian girls]

Looks like somebody got some new polls back. It's a good statement (and really what most Republicans should be saying), but I don't think it saves him.

Wonder what the breaking point will be for Rubio to fully bail on Trump.

saves him? he's led Murphy in the last 28 polls and during that time his aggregated lead has oscillated between 2-6 and he presently sits in the happy center at 4.2

it could be that a conservative senator known for his foreign policy credentials who serves on the Foreign Relations + Intelligence committees is uncomfortable with our primary geopolitical opponent manipulating our domestic politics by way of cyber-espionage.

[kuronosan]

I would totally take a BJ from Madonna.

[thetruepandagod]

honestly i think trump's biggest issue (besides his repeatedly new levels of insanity every week) was his lack of a functional campaign. being a dumbfuck shitgoblin is one thing. but being that dumbfuck shitgoblin with a powerful, modern ground game and an overall organized campaign would have made this into a different election for him.

If Trump had even a fourth of the competency of some of the people pumping out memes for him he would have crushed this. I'm sure even a 14 yr old knows you should prepare for a debate and has more command over the english language than what has been on display in every single one of his speeches/rallies.

[Zealot]

I'm going to tweet her my ballot after I vote because like

Maybe she was joking

But what if

[thetruepandagod]

I'm going to tweet her my ballot after I vote because like

Maybe she was joking

But what if

I'll consider it if Huma offers.

[Cantih]

She did do that sex book back in the 90s.

[kisada]

not sure what their polling grade is but silver just retweeted this

ECPS
‏@EmersonPolling
UTAH Topline
@Evan_McMullin 31%
@realDonaldTrump 27%
@HillaryClinton 24%
@GovGaryJohnson 5%
Undecided 12%
Results at http://theecps.com

[Andalusian girls]

Reagan at least spent 8 years as governor first didn't he?

two-term governor of California, quite popular. ironically his two signature legislative achievements there were signing a bill that legalized abortion in the state (six years before Roe v. Wade), despite him being personally pro-life the idea was to end backroom abortions, and introducing the first no-fault divorce laws in the country.

it's a point often made but despite the postmortem apotheosis Reagan would have a difficult time surviving in the doctrinaire GOP of today.

[Quicklet]

I actually see it the opposite way. The general public has a really short memory and as long as no new bombshell(something akin to the 2005 tape) comes out and Trump does as well tonight as he did in the last debate I think he could rebound. The more time goes by the more people can rationalize themselves back into voting for him. I don't think he has a chance of winning but I don't see it getting any worse if things continue as they are.

There is definitely more out there on Trump, and it's almost guaranteed to come out. Just a matter of if it comes out pre-debate or post-debate.

saves him? he's led Murphy in the last 28 polls and during that time his aggregated lead has oscillated between 2-6 and he presently sits in the happy center at 4.2

it could be that a conservative senator known for his foreign policy credentials who serves on the on the Foreign Relations + Intelligence committees is uncomfortable with our primary geopolitical opponent manipulating our domestic politics by way of cyber-espionage.

This is a guy who swore he wasn't running for Senate up until the point he was. I'm sure there's a sincere component to Rubio's statement, but let's not pretend like he would be saying this if he thought it would hurt him in the polls.

[Andalusian girls]

every report and private leak i've read on the matter indicates he was sincere about leaving the Senate and the GOP had to engage in a full court press to get him to change his mind.

as for conflating self-interest with honestly held values, well. it's politics.

[Olo401]

not sure what their polling grade is but silver just retweeted this

ECPS
‏@EmersonPolling
UTAH Topline
@Evan_McMullin 31%
@realDonaldTrump 27%
@HillaryClinton 24%
@GovGaryJohnson 5%
Undecided 12%
Results at http://theecps.com

That's the third poll showing this state to be 3-way contested, and the first with McMullin leading. If this trend continues he'll be the first 3rd line candidate to receive electoral votes (the usual way) since George Wallace in 1968.

[archibaldcrane]

he'll be the first 3rd line candidate to receive electoral votes (the usual way)

Nevar forget John Edwards single EV in 2004!

[archibaldcrane]

not sure what their polling grade is but silver just retweeted this

ECPS
‏@EmersonPolling
UTAH Topline
@Evan_McMullin 31%
@realDonaldTrump 27%
@HillaryClinton 24%
@GovGaryJohnson 5%
Undecided 12%
Results at http://theecps.com

https://twitter.com/darth/status/788...041708032?s=09

[arus2001]

Say what you will about lobbying, but the only thing keeping politicians from going totally taking bribes corrupt is the fact that their job in Congress pays about as well or better than what they get in the private sector.

You plan for the austerity period just seems to be vindictive at best without solving anything. If anything it would be seen as the most un-American requirement set in motion because you're "stripping people of their success"

Not saying they'd lose all their stuff forever, just that they'd actually have to walk a mile in the shoes of those less fortunate to truly get a grasp for what they go through. Sorta like with what Bane brought up about his issues. In time, if it seems like the population under the poverty line has significantly diminished and the wealth of the nation seems more fairly distributed, I don't really see anything wrong with further revising or even abolishing the concept. Until then, the minimum wage not being enough to live on and our medical system being a mess doesn't really seem to sink in when they're making $170k or more a year (and just how much they've been working lately is questionable...) and are included in a more robust healthcare system than your average citizen might have access to. That sense of urgency is simply lacking. I'd also posit it'd expose them to a greater view on issues like drug use, infrastructure problems in the area they wind up in, and the education quality of those they live around/work with.

I understand where it may come off as vindictive, but just hearing about things from an office or occasionally driving around to make appearances doesn't really give the full effect of the harder to see issues. And if it turns out they can't handle it and bail out, how could we fairly expect them to represent the people who don't have that option? Further, with how connected the world is today and will continue to grow more so, how they handle those stresses will be more readily documented. Temp boss advocates they're kind, a hard worker, and a problem solver? Sounds like some good qualities we'd want. Find out they're catty, shirk duties, blame everyone else, and perhaps even get fired? Yeah, we might not wanna elect them.

Plus limiting pay is exactly what encourages criminal behavior.

Yeah, I get how it would breed the temptation. I'd almost say public offices of such level should dictate financials being constantly under a microscope, perhaps for a period even after they get out of office to try and catch delayed payoffs. "When will you release your tax returns?" probably shouldn't even be a question you have to ask. Want in the field? That info comes into play right off the bat. And while I have no doubt people would still try to game the system, it just feels like we've been doing hasn't been working, either. As evidenced by both the current candidates pretty much being universally reviled and nearly everyone wanting November to come and go already.

Anyhoo, gonna take my idealist cap off, knowing everything I said won't always or want to play nice with reality.

[Aerin]

Not sure I feel like watching this last debate knowing Trump is going to try and turn it into a freak show

[kisada]

feel the same

[Zealot]

All Hillary has to do in this debate is not do anything to turn off any voters. She doesn't need to try and break new ground or sway anyone else to her side. The onus to convince people to change their vote is entirely on Trump, and to the tune of millions of voters. It's Hillary's debate to lose, but the fact remains that she can lose it and still maintain a +4 lead nationally.