Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Wakefield]

Seriously Andrei, you think Romanians won the cold war alone? 

From the lovely comedy A Fish Called Wanda (1988).

BTW, Otto's character is a jerk, brilliantly personified by Kevin Kline:

Otto: Don't call me stupid.

Wendy: Why on earth not?

Otto: Oh, you English are "so" superior, aren't you? Well, would you like to know what you'd be without us, the good ol' U.S. of A. to protect you? I'll tell you. The smallest fucking province in the Russian Empire, that's what! So don't call me stupid, lady. Just thank me.

Wendy: Well, "thank" you for popping in and protecting us.

Otto: If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking "German!" Singing "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles..."

Was Otto totally wrong?

[Karl Henning]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!

[Todd]

So she has been rather more involved in such things than most academic philosophers in recent times.

I wrote retail politics - ie, stumping for votes.  Eggheads are usually reserved for policy and advisory roles. 

[Todd]

Not yet candidate Chris Christie takes on Social Security and Medicare.  His proposals are mainstream, and means-testing for Social Security is more than appropriate.  If he threw in eliminating the maximum taxable earnings limit, he'd be offering permanent solvency.  But did he effectively kill his campaign before it officially started?

[Gurn Blanston]

Not yet candidate Chris Christie takes on Social Security and Medicare.  His proposals are mainstream, and means-testing for Social Security is more than appropriate.  If he threw in eliminating the maximum taxable earnings limit, he'd be offering permanent solvency.  But did he effectively kill his campaign before it officially started?

I like Christie, always have, damn the torpedoes! He does things to appease his own personal convictions, and not because of the political correctness of them. He's aggressive and abrasive, and seems to favor the middle class vs the upper;  IOW, he's f******. Not a prayer. If they can't get him any other way (and they'll try all of them) they'll fall back on the health issues he will inevitably have from being a fat guy. 

[Karl Henning]

It will be interesting to see how he walks back the GW Bridge incident.

[Jubal Slate]

May the best dipshit win.

[Ken B]

I like Christie, always have, damn the torpedoes! He does things to appease his own personal convictions, and not because of the political correctness of them. He's aggressive and abrasive, and seems to favor the middle class vs the upper;  IOW, he's f******. Not a prayer. If they can't get him any other way (and they'll try all of them) they'll fall back on the health issues he will inevitably have from being a fat guy. 

I mostly agree. I like his bite-me personna, and the fact he's actually pretty middle of the road on most things. despite what morons many say, the GOP picks moderates for its presidential candidates, but I just don't see him winning the nomination. My money is tentatively on Walker.

[Todd]

If they can't get him any other way (and they'll try all of them) they'll fall back on the health issues he will inevitably have from being a fat guy.

That's already an issue, but would become more of an issue.  I like how he handled it on Letterman (by pulling a donut out of his jacket and taking a bite).  I think he has bigger issues when he campaigns.  He too easily takes political bait when speaking.  He's too New Jersey.  He can't win.

It will be interesting to see how he walks back the GW Bridge incident.

He escaped politically, so I doubt it would be a major issue for most voters. 

[Todd]

May the best dipshit win.

I understand the sentiment, but I would call them pandering weasels before calling any of them dipshits. 

[Jubal Slate]

I understand the sentiment, but I would call them pandering weasels before calling any of them dipshits.

That works.

[Todd]

That works.

I also like Paul Tsongas' old characterization of Bill Clinton as a Pander Bear.

[Karl Henning]

Oh sure, compared to Hillary's email-gate - the bridge is the real concern, and I'm sure that's how the media will play it.

I posted earlier about Hilary's credibility problem, or at the least, mentioned that almost half the electorate holds an unfavorable view of her.  And of course, there are reasons.

[Mirror Image]

I couldn't care less about who's going to succeed Obama.

Then why make a post here?

[Florestan]

Then why make a post here?

So that I can follow the thread. 

[Karl Henning]

Another well-kept secret is that the media are not a monolith . . . but the media who wish, can play up that bugbear 

[Karl Henning]

Your point is well taken.  And I know that we both understand that Fox have their own tendentious blindspots.

I do hope that part of this cycle will be a matter of holding Hilary accountable.

[Ken B]

Your point is well taken.  And I know that we both understand that Fox have their own tendentious blindspots.

I do hope that part of this cycle will be a matter of holding Hilary accountable.

All news outlets are tendentious. That's why it's better to read multiple bullshitters sources.

[ibanezmonster]

All news outlets are tendentious. That's why it's better to read multiple bullshitters sources.

That's why the only way to find truth is realize that everyone is full of it. 

[Todd]

The Republican Party is the party of innovation.