2016 Elections

[GoCubsGo]

http://nypost.com/2016/06/25/clinton-wh ... e-officer/

Some people would come in to work in the morning, and they were barely walking, they would drop stuff off at the office, and go to the restroom where they would come out minutes later happy as a clown.”

Sounds like me after the morning coffee dump.

[O Really]

More like a book review than a "news" article. The Post didn't bother to mention what the author's colleagues who worked with him had to say about his ummm, "observations" and disclosures. Most common comment is that he never came close to having the access he claims.

[Vrede too]

Either he's lying or he's cowardly for not resigning if things really were that bad. Either way, he's dishonorable for breaching the implied (at least) mandate for SS discretion and confidentiality that protectees must expect in order for their protectors to be effective.

It feels a bit like Swiftboating. It doesn't matter if it's true, he'll make money off of the niche market that wants it to be true.

[Vrede too]

Anybody catch Obama's speech today? Wow, where the hell has that guy been for the last 7 and a half years?

In the GOP.

It probably wouldn't be good in the long run, but I can see the attractiveness of an asshole like Trump.

Obama’s approval rating at highest level since killing of Osama bin Laden

Apparently, Americans appreciate strength and conviction, albeit lame duck, more than they dislike leftism.

[GoCubsGo]

I think history will treat him very kindly, possibly Reaganesque. No indictments in his administration, recovering economy and kept us out of war.

Of course today's numbers could also reflect the current alternatives. I'd vote Obama in a heartbeat for a third term.

[Vrede too]

I'd vote for him over the 2 presumptive nominees.

... kept us out of war....

:?:

[O Really]

I'd vote for him over the 2 presumptive nominees.

... kept us out of war....

:?:

Didn't start any new wars?

[Vrede too]

I'd vote for him over the 2 presumptive nominees.

... kept us out of war....

:?:

Didn't start any new wars?

Libya, Syria, ISIS, plus the repercussions of drone warfare elsewhere, whether one approves or not.

[GoCubsGo]

I'd vote for him over the 2 presumptive nominees.

... kept us out of war....

:?:

Didn't start any new wars?

Libya, Syria, ISIS, plus the repercussions of drone warfare elsewhere, whether one approves or not.

Libya wad the classic "lead from behind" moment, this was NATO 's back yard and Italy and France were the lead players with the US providing mainly logistical support.

I'd argue that Syria was primarily a humanitarian effort although failed. That was a no win scenario.

ISIS was and is inevitable by Obama withdrawing us from Iraq. Obviously not just a US problem, but we are better equipped to intervene without boots on the ground.

So yes, he has not gotten us into a boots on the ground, long term unwinnable Vietnam or Iraqi clusterfuck (as Syria would have been).

[Vrede too]

We don't know how Iraq/Syria/ISIS will sort out yet, but there is a war and we're in it with lots of bombing and some boots on the ground. Then, there was also Obama's escalation of the Afghan clusterfuck.

[Vrede too]

Clinton Leads Trump on Orlando Massacre Response, Trust to Handle Terrorism (POLL)

Ut-oh, Trumpettes, your idol can't even win on this issue, one of his centerpieces.

[Vrede too]

We're gonna see lots more GOP candidates running against Trump and the GOP.

[Vrede too]

FiveThirtyEight: Donald Trump Has A 20 Percent Chance Of Becoming President

... Our polls-plus model, which considers economic conditions along with the polls, is more optimistic about Trump, giving him a 26 percent chance.

Still, Trump faces longer odds and a bigger polling deficit than John McCain and Mitt Romney did at the same point in their respective races. He needs to look back to 1988 for comfort, when George H.W. Bush overcame a similar deficit against Michael Dukakis to win....

FiveThirtyEight: Who will win the presidency?

Electoral votes (270 to win)

Hillary Clinton 352.4
Donald Trump 184.8
Gary Johnson 0.8

Popular vote

Hillary Clinton 49.0%
Donald Trump 41.8%
Gary Johnson 8.0%

NC - Hillary's odds of winning 59.7%
SC - Trump's odds of winning 61.4%
FL - Hillary's odds of winning 73.2%

Is the drama already over?

[O Really]

I think so. Has been ever since the Trumpster ran the other competitors out of the primary. But there has to be something - artificial or not - to sustain some level of interest. Otherwise nobody will show up to vote and it could turn into a fluke Trump win. It's not really likely that that many would not bother to vote, but complacency/lack of interest could affect down-ballot results. I'm hoping the press will keep trumpeting the "close horse race" and trying to scare everybody with the spectre of a Trump win. I like the Republican senators and Members of Congress trying to run away from him, making themselves look bad either way. I like the loons stepping on their own dicks and giving away a seat they could have made competitive, like in Colorado.

I love the smell of burning Republicans in the morning.

[Vrede too]

Too much fat and carcinogens for me. I'll watch the video.

The only drama may be the Senate and even possibly the House.

[O Really]

I think the House is probably a bit over-optimistic, even with the Trumpster leading the charge to Waterloo. Too much gerrymandering and too much of a tendency for people to say, "toss all the scoundrels out - they're all worthless...except my guy isn't all that bad." Or to keep the devil they know. I think the Dems can definitely make some inroads if they beat every Republican candidate all the way down to dog-catcher with Trump and with things like "s/he voted to let terrorists buy guns". I'd make every one of them either declare their support for Trump (and his more outrageous policies) or declare themselves to be against him, in which case I'd ask why they call themselves Republicans and aren't they really just Dems in disguise.

[Vrede too]

I think the House is probably a bit over-optimistic, even with the Trumpster leading the charge to Waterloo....

True, but I doubt Trump's surprises for us have ended.

[O Really]

I think the House is probably a bit over-optimistic, even with the Trumpster leading the charge to Waterloo....

True, but I doubt Trump's surprises for us have ended.

He's just a laugh a minute.
Truthfully, there was a while there when I was afraid he might could win. I thought when he sucked in all the loons with his wall and Muslim-baiting that he would make nice with the few remaining rational Republicans, then turn his formidable entertaining self toward regular people. He'd have had a chance to collect quite a few that might have been interested in the general election, but didn't follow the primary madness for whatever reason. Counting on short memories, he could even have re-invented most of himself to present to a different audience. I was scared shitless he was going to try it. I should have known better. He can't. And now the emperor's tiny hands are uncovered irrevocably.

[Vrede too]

Veepstakes 2016: A Look at the Potential Vice Presidential Picks for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump's Potential Running Mates

Chris Christie. I'm guessing not.
Joni Ernst. Traitor to her gender? More than being GOP is, of course.
Mike Pence. Not awful as a pick, but IN is not a swing state.
Jeff Sessions. >>> <<<
John Thune. Not awful as a pick, but SD is not a swing state and the High Plains are largely irrelevant.

Hillary Clinton's Potential Running Mates

Elizabeth Warren. I hope not. http://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtopi ... ing#p62297
Julian Castro. Cool, would mobilize Latinos and it would really stick it to the xenophobes.
Tim Kaine. No opinion.
Tom Perez. Montgomery County, Maryland represent!
Mark Warner. No opinion other than vague disease.

I won't even try to guess with Trump. He's a lunatic and many won't want to ruin their political futures.

Who do y'all want Hillary to pick, think Hillary will pick or think Hillary should pick? I'll go with Castro or Perez. BRD bragging rights are at stake.

[O Really]

Not Castro. I like him, and met his mother (before she was anybody's mother) back in the La Raza days. But he's got a light resume, other than academic, and the other side would have a field day with his name.

I wouldn't want to risk a Dem senate seat unless there was a plan for replacement. Most of the list is pretty dull.

Warren is a rock star. Maybe too much of one, but I'd go with her.