More US election stuff

[jeremyp]

Nope, will still be Rubio. This sort of stuff is minor.

We'll see.

[jeremyp]

Nope, will still be Rubio. This sort of stuff is minor.

Middle of the pack finish for Rubio in NH. He looks to be out of it.

[Nearly Sane]

Middle of the pack finish for Rubio in NH. He looks to be out of it.

It's a long and winding Road and NH is not a crucial Republican state

[jeremyp]

It's a long and winding Road and NH is not a crucial Republican state

The Trump band wagon is rolling on though.

[Nearly Sane]

Indeed it is but he won't be the nominee

[L.A.]

Surprising showing for Sanders, I can't imagine anyone describing himself as a 'Socialist' could ever get anywhere near the Whitehouse (without finding themselves in a rifle sights)

[Nearly Sane]

Of course, perhaps my certainty that Trump won't win the nomination is wishful thinking


http://www.vox.com/2016/2/10/10956978/donald-trump-terrifying

[L.A.]

Of course, perhaps my certainty that Trump won't win the nomination is wishful thinking


http://www.vox.com/2016/2/10/10956978/donald-trump-terrifying

But there is nothing like a raving 'Lefty' to swing the electorate to the Right  . . .  so who knows!

[Nearly Sane]

Sanders is fairly mild left in global terms, the Democrat nomination has only a tangential impact on the Republican one.

[L.A.]

Sanders is fairly mild left in global terms, the Democrat nomination has only a tangential impact on the Republican one.

To us yes, if he were a British politician I expect he would be far too right-wing to be in Corbyn's shadow cabinet. However in America is is regarded as pretty far left, in fact he used the 'S' word, and for a lot of Americans Socialist equates to Communist (which equates to a pact with the Devil).

So if he did manage to get the Democrat nomination, I would predict an overwhelming win for a right-wing Republican president, possibly Trump.

[Nearly Sane]

To us yes, if he were a British politician I expect he would be far too right-wing to be in Corbyn's shadow cabinet. However in America is is regarded as pretty far left, in fact he used the 'S' word, and for a lot of Americans Socialist equates to Communist (which equates to a pact with the Devil).

So if he did manage to get the Democrat nomination, I would predict an overwhelming win for a right-wing Republican president, possibly Trump.

Strangely the polls, which while at thus stage are not very useful, don't back that up at all and Sanders does better than Hillary against most of the possible nominees.

The point remains though that whether Trump gets the nomination isn't going to be that much influenced by what the Dems do.

[L.A.]

Strangely the polls, which while at thus stage are not very useful, don't back that UK at all and Sanders does better than Hillary against most of the possible nominees.

The point remains though that whether Trump gets the nomination isn't going to be that much influenced by what the Dems do.

At this stage the parties have not really started attacking each other but that doesn't mean that they are oblivious to the other side's candidates. If the Democrats are perceived as swinging to the left the Republicans will be more inclined to swing  to the right. That might be good news for Trump.

[Nearly Sane]

At this stage the parties have not really started attacking each other but that doesn't mean that they are oblivious to the other side's candidates. If the Democrats are perceived as swinging to the left the Republicans will be more inclined to swing  to the right. That might be good news for Trump.

More likely Cruz, I would suspect, but there is an alternative possibility that a distinctive candidate on the left  would mean good news for a more centrist candidate in the right. The whole picture is also more complex than simple right/left Since some of Trump/Sanders support is the same as it is anti beltway. They both appeal to the anti Establishment crowd. Thinking about it, there may be a case that it is actually the Republican candidates who make Sanders more credible. The one likelihood of a Sanders v Trump election is a Bloomberg independent run.

Given the way the nominations run, there isn't really much opportunity for one sides choice influencing the other unless they have a race so tight that it goes to the convention undecided.

[L.A.]

The whole picture is also more complex than simple right/left Since some of Trump/Sanders support is the same as it is anti beltway. They both appeal to the anti Establishment crowd. Thinking about it, there may be a case that it is actually the Republican candidates who make Sanders more credible. The one likelihood of a Sanders v Trump election is a Bloomberg independent run.

I'd more or less agree with that, but when the real fight starts, Sanders would be tarnished with the 'Commie' label - and that would make him unelectable.

[jeremyp]

Indeed it is but he won't be the nominee

You're sure of that, are you? Seems to me that people said the same thing about a certain Jeremy Corbyn.

Serious commentators dismiss Trump, but serious commentators are outnumbered by the ordinary rank and file of the GOP. I think Trump will very likely get the Republican nomination and he will then be trounced by whatever professional politician the Democrats go for. 

[Nearly Sane]

You're sure of that, are you? Seems to me that people said the same thing about a certain Jeremy Corbyn.

Serious commentators dismiss Trump, but serious commentators are outnumbered by the ordinary rank and file of the GOP. I think Trump will very likely get the Republican nomination and he will then be trounced by whatever professional politician the Democrats go for.

Sure? Pretty much. At this stage previously Pat Robertson might have been leading. I'm not dismissing Trump because of his views but in part because the Republicans as a party are quite ruthless. They will want a professional too, and I think the most likely one, simply because they are the best chance the Republicans have of winning, is Rubio.

But, of course, I could be wrong. Virtual drink on it Trump v Rubio?

[jeremyp]

Sure? Pretty much. At this stage previously Pat Robertson might have been leading. I'm not dismissing Trump because of his views but in part because the Republicans as a party are quite ruthless. They will want a professional too

You are failing to differentiate the active Republicans from the ordinary people that do the voting in the primaries. Sure, the party hierarchy want a professional, but they don't get to choose.

But, of course, I could be wrong. Virtual drink on it Trump v Rubio?

Done.

[ad_orientem]

The American presidential election: Who cares?

[L.A.]

The American presidential election: Who cares?

If you don't need to live in this world I don't suppose it will affect you.

[jeremyp]

The American presidential election: Who cares?

The election of the leader of the most powerful nation on Earth? A leader whose actions directly affect the lives of 300 million people and whose foreign policy affects the rest of us? A leader who has the power to destroy all human life?

You really really should care.

[ad_orientem]

They're all just as bad as each other. It makes no difference who wins. It's all just guff.

[Nearly Sane]

They're all just as bad as each other. It makes no difference who wins. It's all just guff.

How brown is Putin's ring?

[Shaker]

How brown is Putin's ring?

If anybody knows, ad_o will ...

[ad_orientem]

Very droll. However, it will make no difference who wins. America will still be the basket case it's always been, with hillbillies at home with shotguns and hillbillies abroad with assault rifles.

[Khatru]

I saw some footage from last night's Republican "debate" (I use the term in its loosest sense). 

I really don't understand how anyone can support any of the characters on that stage.  It looked like a casting call for a Political satire.  These people are so plastic I'm surprised the stage lighting didn't reduce them to puddles of foul-smelling gloop.