Chantilly Say posted:

Well, no wonder he can't keep the weight off writing a book like that.

Nameless_Steve posted:

Debate & Discussion > 2016 Presidential Primary: "Glasses Make You Smexy" Edition

Captain_Maclaine posted:

Not that it matters a bit, but isn't Dean likely on the Clinton blacklist for his opposition to the DLC in 2004 and his backing of Obama early on in the 2008 primary?

My Imaginary GF posted:

Yes, unless the situation calls for a white male and Webb is found with a live boy or dead girl, Dean goes Munch, and Emanuel can't be used, in which case Nixon is the last one left alive.


While you keep your friends close, you keep your enemies closer. Which party hosts their convention first in 2015?

Joementum posted:

I somehow forgot to post this earlier in our discussion of unfortunate Presidential candidate family photos.

Mr Ice Cream Glove posted:

Ben Carson

HUGE PUBES A PLUS posted:

Christian homeschool textbooks already teach that the Trail of Tears was a good thing for Native Americans because so many of them gave their lives to Christ.

Joementum posted:

Scott Walker took a selfie in the White House.



Nailed it.

B B posted:

I'm counting at least 2.

Joementum posted:

Quinnipiac poll of Iowa Caucus-goers



Peep them gender splits on Huckabee and Rand.

Deep Hurting posted:

He talks like a person recovering from a recent head injury.

ChickenRiceNPeas posted:

That video was entirely too long.

Still I wouldn’t underestimate Ben Carson as a candidate. He won’t win, but he could give the front-runner a run for his money. He seems to be able to talk about conservative issues without coming across like a idiot/nut-job.

De Nomolos posted:

I fail to see any charisma anywhere in this election, actually. Maybe Deval Patrick if Hillary was out? I've barely seen anything of the guy.

I'm talking about candidates that can maybe win. Christie is going nowhere and Trump will not run.

The GOP field is like the 1988 Dem field. A bunch of people no one outside their own states cares about, with no charisma (all of them), fighting to stop the one candidate who would be guaranteed to lose (all of them).

Vienna Circlejerk posted:

I dunno, maybe Dick Morris knows something's afoot. I sure wouldn't want to be in Hillary's shoes.

PupsOfWar posted:

mebbe they were thinking of Tampa


we got one of those runnin for guddiner

Joementum posted:

Here's an ad for Ted Cruz's new book A Time for Truth, which is in no way a campaign ad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltW1X7X03m8

Joementum posted:

The latest in Mike Huckabee's scampaign: a cure for the diabetes.


But there's one big problem for Huckabee in this miracle of cinnamon and chromium...


His people keep saying that he's ended all his relationships with these hucksters (heh), but they just keep coming.

Freudian posted:

He looks like Stephen Hawking.

quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) _ AP Source: Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to launch presidential campaign on Monday.

Joementum posted:

And of course, since this is Ted Cruz we're talking about, he's not just announcing, he's being a dick about it at the same time.


... and delusional.


His campaign book, A Time for Truth, shares its title with a bestseller by former Treasury Secretary Bill Simon which was about the need to reign crushing austerity down on New York City.

Joementum posted:

Obama was born in America to a US citizen mother.
McCain was born in an American territory to a US citizen mother.
Cruz was born in Canada to a US citizen mother.

Will this matter in the primaries? One of Ted's opponents thinks it might.


Trump should call on Cruz to release the (long form) essay he was required to write to renounce his Canadian citizenship. The people have a right to know.

Joementum posted:

Even Mike Lee won't endorse Cruz.

Joementum posted:

Under Cruz's bill, if the Ambassador tries to get off the plane in the US and claim diplomatic immunity, any American is allowed to shoot him and say, "It's just been revoked "

ewe2 posted:

Sie liebt dich, ja ja ja! There are no words, really.

Alter Ego posted:

As stupid as the idea sounds, the fact that Jeb Bush is dieting so rigidly could actually hurt him in the primaries. Part of bonding with voters is eating whatever horrible local food they put in front of you (see: Fred Thompson eating moose chili).

...but since when was Obama a "tea-sipping President"? The man ate at Ben's Chili Bowl and like every other junk food joint in DC. Oh, right, I forgot. He put loving Grey Poupon on his burgers, that elitist.

William Bear posted:

Harsh. Huckabee's wife is asking the crowd, if they invited Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Madison, and Adams over, could they justify the current state of America to them?

Fried Chicken posted:

Google "Iraq intelligence work group stove piping" and you should have a good start. They created a special group paralleling the work of the intelligence community that, rather then being reviewed and checked by the experts, went straight to the White House. The group was filled with think tank apparatchiks instead of intelligence people, and somehow what they found in the course of their amateur sleuthing exactly matched what they had written policy papers on before. Then when r intelligence community did check their work and found it was bullshit, it didn't matter because theirs was in desks months ago and was already being used in media appearances

Also run through "Downing Street memo" and "Judith Miller New York Times"

ShutteredIn posted:

That's... an interesting way to look at American history I suppose.

King of Solomon posted:

Most of this is pretty standard Republican rhetoric, but the line about term limits caught me off guard. Did I miss that being a common Republican position somehow?

Joementum posted:

Primary polls? More like primary s!


I give it better than even odds that Fox changes the debate entrance criteria by August.

Joementum posted:

They could include all the candidate, either doing one-on-one sessions with each candidate and a panel of moderators, like the Palmetto State Forum from 2012, or multiple debates on the same day with randomly picked candidates.

Another option: just rig it. There's a clear list of plausible candidates, so just do that. I'd invite Bush, Walker, Rubio, Paul, Cruz, Kasich, Perry, Huckabee, Santorum, and Christie. Maybe Reince would rather have Carson than Santorum. That's a perfectly reasonably decision to make too. Oh, and if you can't tell Donald Trump to get lost, you aren't much of a political organization. The RNC should insist on his exclusion no matter what criteria are used.

Mr Hootington posted:

I had a ton of fun at the Bernie event and I need more campaigning in my life. Thank God for the Des Moines Register (pro click for those that like this crap).

Some upcoming events that I may attend and give trip reports if people don't mind:

4th of June: Donald Trump will be in my town at an open to the public event. I'm definitely going to this one.

5th of June: Lindsey Graham will be in Waterloo, Iowa. It is a possibility if things align for me.

6th of June Joni Ernst's Inaugural Roast & Ride: Rubio, Graham, Fiorina, Carson, Huckabee, Perry, and walker will all be there throughout the day. It is in Boone Iowa and will be a treasure. It is $30 per adult and frankly that is money I can donate to the Dems instead of her.

6th of June: Scott Walker will also be making a campaign fundraising stop for Chuck Grassley. The event has a yet unknown ticket price (I have to call monday). Depending on the price I may go to this instead. want

In July there is The Family Leadership Summit 2015. This event is free. I just have to register. I'll talk with the girlfriend and see if we can make a day trip out of it. This has Jindal, Huckabee, Cruz, Carson, and Santorum and would be the honeypot for me. I know a few people that love these guys and if I could get a picture with one or two I would be in heaven.

site posted:

So what's the point of Graham entering the race? Is he the guy the moderates send in the primaries? What's his purpose?

Joementum posted:

This is an actual interview transcript from the Des Moines Register.


June 16th can't come fast enough.

The Nastier Nate posted:

I'm certain Trump will never officially announce, and if he does there is absolutely no chance he sticks around till Iowa. Trump may be alot of things, but he's not dumb. He knows that if he legitimately ran and ended up in something like 6th place or worse, whatever ego and (littlle) credibility he has would be completely shot and open himself up to a ton of criticism as a joke candidate. Right now he can sit in his gold tower and basically say "I would be the president ever and if I ran I'd win YOOOGE...but I just don't want to."

On a more serious note, I would like a reporter to ask Rand Paul if he thinks Edward Snowden is an american hero (who is the only reason Paul was able to give his theatrical fillibuster), and if he were president, would he let him return to the US with a pardon.

Raskolnikov38 posted:

Dude to Perry's left looks like he took a nasty punch to the face at some point.

The Onion posted:

Former Texas governor Rick Perry announced Thursday his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election, hoping to fare better than he did in his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in 2012. Here’s what you need to know about Perry:

Campaign Slogan: “I Studied This Time”

Experience: Effectively and efficiently led bungling of 2012 presidential campaign

Policies: Tough on crime, specifically homosexuality

Death Penalty Record: Undefeated, 234-0

Political Base: Unsettling white guys in wraparound Oakleys

Biggest Political Asset: Looks pretty presidential on muted TV at airport

Biggest Liability: Public forums

Greatest Political Accomplishment: Provided underserved minorities and mentally retarded individuals with access to quality executions

Oh, And: Was recently issued felony indictment for abuse of power as Texas governor

Joementum posted:

KiteAuraan posted:

"IS THAT!? IT IS! JOHN MCCAIN HAS JUMPED INTO THE RING AND IS HELPING GRAHAM! HE HAS A CHAIR! AND CRUZ GOES DOWN! WHAT A BRUTAL TAG TEAM BEATING!"

Joementum posted:

Ted Cruz to supporters: running for President sucks, please send me money to make it suck less.

Mr Ice Cream Glove posted:

They will all come together for ROAD TO MAJORITY



This Wednesday through Saturday

http://www.roadtomajority.com/