Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Gurn Blanston]

I did not watch the debate but people I think sane were underwhelmed by Kasich. Depressing. This is inherent I think. I don't want a bomb-thrower like Trump even if I were to agree with him on more issues. But people like that get lost in the circus atmosphere, unless they have a lot of charisma. I'd like to see something more like a Firing Line approach, where a tough but not unfairly hostile interviewer presses the candidates individually, for an hour or two. Pipe dream I guess, but if you watch some old debates or probing interviews on say PBS from 40 years ago the level of debate will blow your socks off, so it can be done.

I actually DID watch the debate, most of it anyway.

Kasich rose the most in my estimation, but at least part of that is based on 'yes, but look at the competition' sort of thinking, I fear.

Rand Paul actually seemed a bit better than before, I think he is over letting Trump unnerve him.

Jeb looked better. He needs to come up with a way to deal with the (unfair but inevitable) constant blaming of his brother's actions on him. Whatever it is, he needs to do it quickly.

My favorite is still Chris Christie, but I don't consider him to be electable.

Walker is right out (always was though).

Fiorina needs to be careful about sounding strident. That's a loser for a woman, whether it is fair or not to say it. She is miles better than Sarah Palin ever thought to be though. Probably better than Hillary for that matter. (Is that really saying anything though?)

Carson would be a nice guy to know, but that's about it.

By and large, anyone who is intent on turning this into a Religious State, while simultaneously decrying the Muslim countries for being Religious States, is handing me a tar baby that I don't care a damn about unsticking myself from, so they need to appeal to someone else.

[Karl Henning]

"Oh, but a Christian religious state would be ever so much better!"   

[Gurn Blanston]

"Oh, but a Christian religious state would be ever so much better!"   

I understand Spain used to be one; let's ask what they thought. Inquisition? Hmmm... that could work!   

[Pat B]

As a foreigner, I'm very interested in your thoughts on who you believe the top 2 or 3 candidates from each party are (most likely), at this point?  Thanks. 

In terms of likelihood IMO:
Republicans: Jeb Bush (establishment), Cruz (right wing), Kasich (moderate), Trump (not-a-politician)
Democrats: Hillary Clinton (establishment), Sanders (left wing)

My preferences are Kasich (with none of the other Rs even close) and probably Webb.

[Ken B]

My preferences are Kasich ... and probably Webb.

Odd that our preferences should align. What are the chances we'll get that?

[Pat B]

Odd that our preferences should align. What are the chances we'll get that?

Either of them would do great in the general, but I am not optimistic about their chances in the primaries.

[Karl Henning]

Trump, who was a driver of the "birther" movement that claimed Obama wasn't born in the U.S, first responded with feigned exasperation -- "We need the question," he said, to laughs -- but let the man continue

[Gurn Blanston]

Trump, who was a driver of the "birther" movement that claimed Obama wasn't born in the U.S, first responded with feigned exasperation -- "We need the question," he said, to laughs -- but let the man continue

While not conceding that the whole topic has an iota of validity, for the sake of argument, if Obama IS a Muslim, so what? AT least at this point (no telling what the future holds, beyond my (fortunate) demise), the Constitution doesn't mandate being a Xtian as a qualification for POTUS...  So WTF anyway?

[Brian]

the Constitution doesn't mandate being a Xtian as a qualification for POTUS...  So WTF anyway?

We've had several non-Christian presidents (e.g. Thomas Jefferson) and several presidents for whom church attendance was a very, very low priority (e.g. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln).

[Ken B]

We've had several non-Christian presidents (e.g. Thomas Jefferson) and several presidents for whom church attendance was a very, very low priority (e.g. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln).

Hmmm. I think you are overstating about Washington. There is good reason to believe he was a deist, but he was pretty consistent over the years in attending church in the polite gentlemanly fashion. That is, he owned a pew, he showed up on major occasions, and desultorily otherwise.

[Karl Henning]

While not conceding that the whole topic has an iota of validity, for the sake of argument, if Obama IS a Muslim, so what? AT least at this point (no telling what the future holds, beyond my (fortunate) demise), the Constitution doesn't mandate being a Xtian as a qualification for POTUS...  So WTF anyway?

Precisamente, fellow Haydnista!

[kishnevi]

While not conceding that the whole topic has an iota of validity, for the sake of argument, if Obama IS a Muslim, so what? AT least at this point (no telling what the future holds, beyond my (fortunate) demise), the Constitution doesn't mandate being a Xtian as a qualification for POTUS...  So WTF anyway?

Because every Muslim is working to re-establish the Caliphate, ergo he is secretly working on behalf of ISIS.

They really think this.

[ibanezmonster]

If Obama is a Muslim... lol, pretty much all of his principles are the opposite of a typical Muslim. If he is, he's the strangest Muslim ever.

[Ken B]

Because every Muslim is working to re-establish the Caliphate, ergo he is secretly working on behalf of ISIS.

They really think this.

Who does?

You know it's a big country. Amongst 300 million you can find someone who believes anything. So I don't doubt you can find a wingnut or two. But you seem to be implying a largish group. Who exactly?

Incidentally, in 2007 two Clinton staffers were caught circulating rumours Obama was a muslim.

[kishnevi]

Who does?

You know it's a big country. Amongst 300 million you can find someone who believes anything. So I don't doubt you can find a wingnut or two. But you seem to be implying a largish group. Who exactly?

A lot of right wing folks. Not necessarily a largish group, but not smallish either.  I run into some of them online.
The more rational version, which does not depend on whether he is or is not a Muslim, argues that he is, from childhood experience and political ideology, too sympathetic to Muslims, to the detriment of  US interests.  That version is actually one I myself tend to agree with.

[Ken B]

A lot of right wing folks. Not necessarily a largish group, but not smallish either.  I run into some of them online.
The more rational version, which does not depend on whether he is or is not a Muslim, argues that he is, from childhood experience and political ideology, too sympathetic to Muslims, to the detriment of  US interests.  That version is actually one I myself tend to agree with.

Rather vague isn't it? The people who think that way are the people who think that way?
Anyway, I tend to agree with that version too. Not just US interests. I think he fumbled the the ISIS development horribly, to the detriment of millions, and maybe millions more to come. One of the things I like about Trump is he seems to see that. Do I trust him to handle it better? Nope. But I've been wrong before. (It's why Paul is my last choice amongst the candidates. I'd campaign for anyone the dems nominate to defeat Paul, despite liking many of his other positions. Fortunately he has less chance than Christie. )

[Karl Henning]

Incidentally, in 2007 two Clinton staffers were caught circulating rumours Obama was a muslim.

Emphasizing our shared point that La Clinton and her machine are underhanded cynics 

[Ken B]

Emphasizing our shared point that La Clinton and her machine are underhanded cynics 

Oh indeed.

[Karl Henning]

You know it's a big country. Amongst 300 million you can find someone who believes anything. So I don't doubt you can find a wingnut or two.

I had a dream once, that there were only two wingnuts in the country . . . .

[Ken B]

I had a dream once, that there were only two wingnuts in the country . . . .

I bet they were senators.