2016 U.S. Presidential Election -

[Picklechu]

I didn't see a thread for this, so I decided to go ahead and create one. As candidates are starting to declare, I figured that this would be a topic that people would want to talk about.

The Democrats are likely to nominate Hillary Clinton, although she will possibly be challenged by one or more second- or third-tier candidates in the primaries, such as Martin O'Malley (the former Governor of Maryland), Jim Webb (former U.S. Senator from Virginia), Bernie Sanders (an independent U.S. Senator who caucuses with the Democrats and is a self-described socialist), and Joe Biden.

The Republican side is significantly more chaotic, and will probably dominate the media narrative until at least January, as there are currently around twenty candidates actively considering bids.

As for third party and independent candidates, it's looking like the Green Party and the Libertarian Party, to a lesser extent, will nominate the same candidates as they did in 2012, at least at the top of the ticket. They're unlikely to affect the outcome regardless, unless one of the lawsuits against the Commission on Presidential Debates proves fruitful.

Personally, at the moment, I'm undecided whether I'm going to get behind Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio, although that could easily change.

 

[Picklechu]

Lincoln Chafee, who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from 1999-2007, then as Governor of Rhode Island from 2011-2015 (as an independent until 2013, when he switched to the Democratic Party) has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination. People are generally pretty surprised at this, although he can definitely draw a strong contrast with Clinton.

 

[Mourning Dove]

I'm personally not very optimistic about future presidents. Eight years ago when I was voting for the first time I was young and naive and thought "Hope" and "Change" could actually happen. But nowadays politics (especially dumb shit from Teapartiers and other lobbied right-wingers) give me headaches and face palms. What's the point of being a voting citizen if the candidate sponsored by the richest asshole always wins?

I have left-leaning political stances if you couldn't notice!

 

[Trickie]

I think I already know which way I'm going to be voting.

★ ☆ ★ Vote Turd Sandwich 2016 ★ ☆ ★

 

[CatParty]

i'll tell my work i need to either come in late or leave early to vote, but i'll just be drinking or sleeping

 

[Francis York Morgan]

Personally, at the moment, I'm undecided whether I'm going to get behind Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio, although that could easily change.

If the GOP is going to keep getting candidates like Cruz or Rand Paul, then Jeb's got the nomination.

 

[Oglooger]

I'm not looking forward to voting as my vote don't really matter, it's all about the electoral college.

 

[JU 199]

(power level) I'm half american. I'm rather fascinated in the country culturally and politically.

@Picklechu What do you think of Ted Cruz as a candidate and a person/politician?

 

[exball]

Normally I'm democratic but the idea of Hilary Clinton as president terrifies me.

 

[NegaCWC]

The Democrats are likely to nominate Hillary Clinton, although she will possibly be challenged by one or more second- or third-tier candidates in the primaries, such as Martin O'Malley (the former Governor of Maryland), Jim Webb (former U.S. Senator from Virginia), Bernie Sanders (an independent U.S. Senator who caucuses with the Democrats and is a self-described socialist), and Joe Biden.

Lincoln Chafee, who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from 1999-2007, then as Governor of Rhode Island from 2011-2015 (as an independent until 2013, when he switched to the Democratic Party) has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination. People are generally pretty surprised at this, although he can definitely draw a strong contrast with Clinton.

Here's my barely informed opinion on this matter: out of all the Democrats who might be running against Hilary, Webb is the only one that I can see actaully amounting to anything in this election. I don't think he can beat Hilary in the primaries, but maybe by starting a campaign he might gain more recoginition and then try to get Hilary to pick him up as VP. Hilary might benefit from having Webb on the ticket because he can help the Dems win Virginia, a state with thirteen electoral votes that has become competitive in recent years.

 

[Red_Rager]

Decisions, decisions. Would I rather be shot or hung? That is the question.

In seriousness though I haven't been paying attention to this election. I am not optimistic about whoever lands on the ballet for either party.

 

[dabluearmedbandit]

fudck all govmint analchest 4 lyfe fegs

EDIT: Honestly though, I'm probably going to vote Republican just to vote against Hillary. What's that joke about never voting for anyone, just always against someone? That's how the last few elections have been for me.

 

[KatsuKitty]

2016 really won't be a year that knocks anyone's socks off for the choices.

I'm not thrilled about Hillary (especially because of her hawkishness on war) but I think considering how right the Supreme Court is, I think I would like to see another Democrat in office. Other than that though, she's terrible.

If the GOP can put someone up truly stunning (and I'm less than thrilled with everyone put forth except maybe Rand Paul), I could see myself voting Republican. Rand Paul is someone I can definitely get behind. He doesn't toe the GOP line, which lets him be the better of two parties.

 

[Cubanodun]

Any candidate who manage to piss off the government of my country is A-OK in my book

 

[nad7155]

They are all the same.

Don't care.

 

[Hat]

I've personally got my eye on Cruz.

 

[Picklechu]

(power level) I'm half american. I'm rather fascinated in the country culturally and politically.

@Picklechu What do you think of Ted Cruz as a candidate and a person/politician?

I hate him with a furious passion, and will seriously consider voting for Gary Johnson if he somehow wins the Republican nomination. Fortunately, I think that the best he can do is to become the primary foil to the establishment candidate in the primaries.

 

[NegaCWC]

I hate him with a furious passion, and will seriously consider voting for Gary Johnson if he somehow wins the Republican nomination. Fortunately, I think that the best he can do is to become the primary foil to the establishment candidate in the primaries.

If anything, I think he'll mainly be a foil for other anti-establishment candidates. Rand Paul is officially running while Ben Carson, Rick Parry (lol srsly) and Rick Santorum are all formally exploring a candidacy. My understanding is that all of the aforementioned people and Ted Cruz are vying for the same votes. I suspect that they'll merely divide the Tea Party/Religious right wing of the GOP while the moderates will all coalesce around the establishment candidate.

 

[Picklechu]

If anything, I think he'll mainly be a foil for other anti-establishment candidates. Rand Paul is officially running while Ben Carson, Rick Parry (lol srsly) and Rick Santorum are all formally exploring a candidacy. My understanding is that all of the aforementioned people and Ted Cruz are vying for the same votes. I suspect that they'll merely divide the Tea Party/Religious right wing of the GOP while the moderates will all coalesce around the establishment candidate.

There are a lot of unknowns, but several candidates are going to be competing for the anti-establishment vote, and they'll be competing at different levels of viability. At the top are Ted Cruz and Rand Paul (and, depending on how things go and if Cruz, Paul, and others get pushed out early, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker; the primaries will likely come down to an establishment and anti-establishment pick, and lots of different candidates can fill those roles). In the middle tier, you have Ben Carson, and Mike Huckabee (and possibly Rick Perry). At the bottom, you have John Bolton, Jim Gilmore, Rick Santorum, and Donald Trump; personally, I don't think that any of them aside from Santorum will actually run, although Gilmore might jump in.

This phenomenon carries over to the establishment side of things, too. At the top on that side of the primaries is Jeb Bush (and possibly Rubio and Walker). In the middle tier is Chris Christie and John Kasich (assuming he runs). At the bottom are Lindsey Graham, Peter King, and George Pataki.

In addition, as can sort of be implied form the above, some candidates are trying to "triangulate" in the field, including Rubio, Walker, Carly Fiorina, and Rick Perry.

The whole thing is really more of a plane than a spectrum.

 

[JU 199]

I hate him with a furious passion, and will seriously consider voting for Gary Johnson if he somehow wins the Republican nomination. Fortunately, I think that the best he can do is to become the primary foil to the establishment candidate in the primaries.

Thanks man. I think you mentioned you were a Republican operative in another thread. Who would you vote for in your own party?