Official 2016 GOP thread: Is it really going to be Donald Trump?? (4 Viewers)

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

This morning the media consensus seems to be: Fiorina won, Trump lost. I won't believe Trump lost until I actually see him go down in the polls. They said he lost last time too.

As for Carly, I'm probably not the right guy to ask because to me she spouts such nonsense about nearly everything. But she is very composed and forceful about it.

Who's THEY?

THEM. THOSE GUYS.

Cool. Thanks for the clarification

 

[Steve Tasker]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Curious why you have Ted Cruz in the top section?

 

[Slapdash]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Trump and Carson are crushing the polls, each should be in.

 

[Sinn Fein]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Curious why you have Ted Cruz in the top section?

Mostly as a contrast to the the Democrat nominee - whoever it is, they will be old and white.

Given that the electorate seems to be favoring "out with the old, in with the new" I'd make him a serious contender on the GOP side. Not sure he could win the nomination, but he is one of the few I'd give a chance to excite voters if packaged correctly.

Admittedly, I don't know all of the positions of the GOP candidates, but I think the general election is about energizing voters, and showing leadership - irrespective of positions. Cruz has a young, vibrant look about him that I think can be harnessed as a great contrast to Sanders/Clinton/Biden

 

[Sinn Fein]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Trump and Carson are crushing the polls, each should be in.

What do they have - 30% support? I would not call that "crushing" it. They are winning because there are too many candidates. Narrow the field to 6, and then see where everyone stands.

The democrats have kept the field small by the party establishment, and big money donors, keeping the riff-raff out (I think they have done themselves a dis-service by going all in with Hillary - there should have been 2-3 well-supported young democrats in the field, if for experience and nothing else). The GOP can do the same, if they start putting their weight and money behind certain candidates - and letting the funding dry up for the fringe.

 

[Abraham]

Kasich / Rubio is the right ticket.

 

[Sinn Fein]

lol - I got Cruz and Rubio mixed up :racist:

Still, Cruz would be a good contrast to the Democrat

 

[Sinn Fein]

Kasich / Rubio is the right ticket.

I tend to agree, though I think if Fiorina continues to come on strong, and Clinton wins the Dem nominee, she would be a good addition to any ticket. That would keep GOP women from defecting to an "historic" election.

 

[Abraham]

Doesn't Rubio in the ticket deliver Florida, which is a must have for the GOp in the general?

 

[shady inc]

i think the next debate, the producers or moderators should be able to cut off the candidates microphone at any time. If a candidate doesn't keep it short or keeps rambling on, cut the mic and move on to the next question or next candidate

 

[joffer]

Doesn't Rubio in the ticket deliver Florida, which is a must have for the GOp in the general?

FL most likely is a must have, but Rubio on the ticket doesn't necessarily guarantee it. he certainly helps.

 

[Hilts]

Doesn't Rubio in the ticket deliver Florida, which is a must have for the GOp in the general?

Doesn't Jeb theoretically deliver the same?

 

[tom22406]

I will second whoever said CNN did a horrible job with the debate last night.Clearly they wanted a fight and to get Trump in as many times as possible while basically ignoring a few of the others.

Still haven't changed my mind in that the only Republican I would consider is Rand Paul.He was spot on with his pot talk and also hit some great points about ISIS and also got in a few jabs at Trump.

I'm still in shock Trump is leading this group but I really shouldn't be given the current state of the party.

i did not watch but i was reading about the pot exchange

this is what i read Paul said:

“Under the current circumstances, kids who had privilege like you do don’t go to jail, but the poor kids in our inner cities go to jail. I don’t think that’s fair,” Paul said, directing his comments to Bush.

I do not disagree, but i wonder if he thinks pot is the only place that happens. Because it is not. Pot, coke, alcohol, theft, drunk driving, etc etc etc. And not just kids. Wealthy people avoid jail much easier than poor people. It doesn't seem like a weed thing to me, other than the amount of weed arrests we have brings the real issue of justice differing by economic status to light

Maybe this will clear it up for you on his stance,said this in an interview with Bill Maher a few months back.

"I'll do everything to end the war on drugs. The war on drugs has become the most racially disparate outcome that you have in the entire country. Our prisons are full of black and brown kids. Three-fourths of the people in prison are black or brown, and white kids are using drugs, Bill, as you know…at the same rate as these other kids. But kids who have less means, less money, kids who are in areas where police are patrolling…Police are given monetary incentives to make arrests, monetary incentives for their own departments. So I want to end the war on drugs because it's wrong for everybody, but particularly because poor people are caught up in this, and their lives are ruined by it."

 

[B-Deep]

did trump really go with vaccines cause autism?

This time it was Donald J. Trump who vigorously asserted a connection between vaccines and autism, telling an emotional story of an employee whose “beautiful” baby fell ill with a fever after having a vaccine and, he said, became autistic. While the two candidates who are doctors — Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon – said that childhood vaccines were safe and important, even they shied away from the strict schedule set out by the medical profession..

 

[ffldrew]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

 

[B-Deep]

I will second whoever said CNN did a horrible job with the debate last night.Clearly they wanted a fight and to get Trump in as many times as possible while basically ignoring a few of the others.

Still haven't changed my mind in that the only Republican I would consider is Rand Paul.He was spot on with his pot talk and also hit some great points about ISIS and also got in a few jabs at Trump.

I'm still in shock Trump is leading this group but I really shouldn't be given the current state of the party.

i did not watch but i was reading about the pot exchange

this is what i read Paul said:

“Under the current circumstances, kids who had privilege like you do don’t go to jail, but the poor kids in our inner cities go to jail. I don’t think that’s fair,” Paul said, directing his comments to Bush.

I do not disagree, but i wonder if he thinks pot is the only place that happens. Because it is not. Pot, coke, alcohol, theft, drunk driving, etc etc etc. And not just kids. Wealthy people avoid jail much easier than poor people. It doesn't seem like a weed thing to me, other than the amount of weed arrests we have brings the real issue of justice differing by economic status to light

Maybe this will clear it up for you on his stance,said this in an interview with Bill Maher a few months back.

"I'll do everything to end the war on drugs. The war on drugs has become the most racially disparate outcome that you have in the entire country. Our prisons are full of black and brown kids. Three-fourths of the people in prison are black or brown, and white kids are using drugs, Bill, as you know…at the same rate as these other kids. But kids who have less means, less money, kids who are in areas where police are patrolling…Police are given monetary incentives to make arrests, monetary incentives for their own departments. So I want to end the war on drugs because it's wrong for everybody, but particularly because poor people are caught up in this, and their lives are ruined by it."

i get that

but my point still stands

the legal system is skewed towards the wealthy, pot arrests are just displaying a symptom of that

 

[kface]

Trump, Paul and Kaisch are the only ones that aren't batsh$t crazy.

I know some will comment on Trump but honestly I think he knows what he is doing. I think if he were to win the presidency he would actually be fairly calm about it all and not spend his first 4 years trying to defund planned parenthood and instead focus on creating jobs and getting things going (even thought the economy is officially humming along). he says big things to keep the attention on him. It's smart

The rest are just crazy.

 

[whoknew]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

It sounded like Christie was the only one who was in the drugs are always evil camp. Maybe Carly also. She made an emotional argument about her kid. The rest - I think - seemed to be ok with leaving it to the states.

I could be wrong about that, but that was my impression.

 

[Slapdash]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Trump and Carson are crushing the polls, each should be in.

What do they have - 30% support? I would not call that "crushing" it. They are winning because there are too many candidates. Narrow the field to 6, and then see where everyone stands.

The democrats have kept the field small by the party establishment, and big money donors, keeping the riff-raff out (I think they have done themselves a dis-service by going all in with Hillary - there should have been 2-3 well-supported young democrats in the field, if for experience and nothing else). The GOP can do the same, if they start putting their weight and money behind certain candidates - and letting the funding dry up for the fringe.

They're combining for over half per RCP.

 

[Steve Tasker]

lol - I got Cruz and Rubio mixed up :racist:

This makes a lot more sense.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Trump, Paul and Kaisch are the only ones that aren't batsh$t crazy.

I know some will comment on Trump but honestly I think he knows what he is doing. I think if he were to win the presidency he would actually be fairly calm about it all and not spend his first 4 years trying to defund planned parenthood and instead focus on creating jobs and getting things going (even thought the economy is officially humming along). he says big things to keep the attention on him. It's smart

The rest are just crazy.

Not to mention the others are hell bent on starting a new cold war with Russia and an actual war with anybody else who looks at us sideways.

 

[kface]

Trump, Paul and Kaisch are the only ones that aren't batsh$t crazy.

I know some will comment on Trump but honestly I think he knows what he is doing. I think if he were to win the presidency he would actually be fairly calm about it all and not spend his first 4 years trying to defund planned parenthood and instead focus on creating jobs and getting things going (even thought the economy is officially humming along). he says big things to keep the attention on him. It's smart

The rest are just crazy.

Not to mention the others are hell bent on starting a new cold war with Russia and an actual war with anybody else who looks at us sideways.

Exactly...these people belong nowhere near the white house.

 

[culdeus]

Why do people just naturally assume the runner-up is the automatic VP pick? I just don't understand why people can't just look back in history and see how rare that is.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Why do people just naturally assume the runner-up is the automatic VP pick? I just don't understand why people can't just look back in history and see how rare that is.

Most of their egos won't allow them to settle for runner-up/VP

 

[ffldrew]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

It sounded like Christie was the only one who was in the drugs are always evil camp. Maybe Carly also. She made an emotional argument about her kid. The rest - I think - seemed to be ok with leaving it to the states.

I could be wrong about that, but that was my impression.

It was for medical only - and those that are for the states to decide would have voted against the provisions when pressed for their positions. Only Paul was on the right side of this and he has a snowball's chance in hell.

 

[tom22406]

I will second whoever said CNN did a horrible job with the debate last night.Clearly they wanted a fight and to get Trump in as many times as possible while basically ignoring a few of the others.

Still haven't changed my mind in that the only Republican I would consider is Rand Paul.He was spot on with his pot talk and also hit some great points about ISIS and also got in a few jabs at Trump.

I'm still in shock Trump is leading this group but I really shouldn't be given the current state of the party.

i did not watch but i was reading about the pot exchange

this is what i read Paul said:

“Under the current circumstances, kids who had privilege like you do don’t go to jail, but the poor kids in our inner cities go to jail. I don’t think that’s fair,” Paul said, directing his comments to Bush.

I do not disagree, but i wonder if he thinks pot is the only place that happens. Because it is not. Pot, coke, alcohol, theft, drunk driving, etc etc etc. And not just kids. Wealthy people avoid jail much easier than poor people. It doesn't seem like a weed thing to me, other than the amount of weed arrests we have brings the real issue of justice differing by economic status to light

Maybe this will clear it up for you on his stance,said this in an interview with Bill Maher a few months back.

"I'll do everything to end the war on drugs. The war on drugs has become the most racially disparate outcome that you have in the entire country. Our prisons are full of black and brown kids. Three-fourths of the people in prison are black or brown, and white kids are using drugs, Bill, as you know…at the same rate as these other kids. But kids who have less means, less money, kids who are in areas where police are patrolling…Police are given monetary incentives to make arrests, monetary incentives for their own departments. So I want to end the war on drugs because it's wrong for everybody, but particularly because poor people are caught up in this, and their lives are ruined by it."

i get that

but my point still stands

the legal system is skewed towards the wealthy, pot arrests are just displaying a symptom of that

It certainly isn't something that is a quick fix and I'm positive he agrees with you here(as do I).

He seems to be standing alone on this issue with this group so I view it as a good start if nothing else to get the conversation going.

 

[culdeus]

Also was pretty tired of alot of the "I was the first to....." as if that matters at all.

 

[timschochet]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

I doubt it would be an issue that most people prioritize highly when choosing a President.

 

[timschochet]

Also was pretty tired of alot of the "I was the first to....." as if that matters at all.

I DEFUNDED PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN MY STATE!

 

[Joe Summer]

did trump really go with vaccines cause autism?

This time it was Donald J. Trump who vigorously asserted a connection between vaccines and autism, telling an emotional story of an employee whose “beautiful” baby fell ill with a fever after having a vaccine and, he said, became autistic. While the two candidates who are doctors — Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon – said that childhood vaccines were safe and important, even they shied away from the strict schedule set out by the medical profession..

Reminds me of Michele Bachmann when she claimed vaccines caused mental ######ation.

 

[ffldrew]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

I doubt it would be an issue that most people prioritize highly when choosing a President.

It will be a priority to those who rarely vote but want legal weed and will affect the turnout - and that benefits the Democrat. Current polling has it at 52 to 44 for. In Colorado it became the number 1 focus issue on the ballot that year - and it will dominate in Ohio. If it is a prohibitionist running - he will lose.

 

[John Bender]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

 

[timschochet]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

I doubt it would be an issue that most people prioritize highly when choosing a President.

It will be a priority to those who rarely vote but want legal weed and will affect the turnout - and that benefits the Democrat. Current polling has it at 52 to 44 for. In Colorado it became the number 1 focus issue on the ballot that year - and it will dominate in Ohio. If it is a prohibitionist running - he will lose.

Could be. On the other hand, if what you predict happens, the new voters will probably vote Dem whether the Republican is for legalization or not.

 

[ffldrew]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

He's got no problem sending our young men and women to their death in Iraq and Syria. And last night he started hinting at picking a fight with Putin.

 

[The Commish]

wow...came back to get a taste of how the second half of the debate went. Looks like Carly made a complete 180 after I turned it off. Sorta sorry I turned it off. The first half she seemed completely in over her head.

 

[timschochet]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

My main problem with Rubio is that he's way too much of a hawk on foreign policy. He seems to want to fight a ground war against ISIS. He regards Iran as our ultimate enemy and prefers to bomb them in order to take out their nuclear sites. He wants to make Ukraine part of NATO which would commit us to defending them if Russia invades. Last night he called China our enemy. In addition, he's got Vulcan ears.

 

[urbanhack]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

No Bernie???

 

[QuizGuy66]

Does anyone want to bet me that a Republican wins the nomination? Any diehard Democrat out there watching Republicans put on a show. It's crazy that Trump's presence has forced these other candidates to be entertaining.

It's almost like one big joke. I feel like all of these people are going to be in Trump's candidate when he gets elected. Say hello to the people who are going to be running America for the next 8 years.

Otherwise Sanders wins in some flukey youth movement and we get groovy grandpa for the next 8 years. All I know is that ******* have better have a plan for ISIS. He is traditionallly non-war.

Assuming that Trump finally got around to switching his party registration to Republican it seems like there's 100% chance that a republican will win the republican nomination, yes. You can't trick me, Em

-QG

 

[whoknew]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

He's got no problem sending our young men and women to their death in Iraq and Syria. And last night he started hinting at picking a fight with Putin.

He's also against opening/expanding relations with Cuba - as Obama has done.

 

[The Commish]

And isn't the point of the "I was the first to...." sorts of comments to show leadership? I'm more impressed by those paving the road than those driving their BMWs down it years later. Maybe that's just me

 

[Amused to Death]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

It sounded like Christie was the only one who was in the drugs are always evil camp. Maybe Carly also. She made an emotional argument about her kid. The rest - I think - seemed to be ok with leaving it to the states.

I could be wrong about that, but that was my impression.

Christie is even on record calling the war on drugs "an abject failure", yet he seems determined to continue to was billions of $$ a year, clog up our courts, ruin lives with criminal records and deny adults the right to make adult decisions.

 

[jamny]

Cameras caught Jeb standing on his tippy toes for the group photo...twice.

Lolololol

 

[John Bender]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

No Bernie???

I guess I need to educate myself more on Bernie. I'm not sure, from what I know, we sync up on economics.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Why do people just naturally assume the runner-up is the automatic VP pick? I just don't understand why people can't just look back in history and see how rare that is.

Maybe I missed something, but I don't think people are looking at the runner up as VP.

For me, two that stand out, if they don't get the nomination, are Rubio and Fiorina. Rubio is young, and would pair well with someone like Kasich who has more experience ("age"). I think he also increases the chance of carrying Florida - a key battleground state.

Fiorina brings the women into the fold - or at least keeps them from defecting. A female VP is also an historic vote...

 

[ffldrew]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

It sounded like Christie was the only one who was in the drugs are always evil camp. Maybe Carly also. She made an emotional argument about her kid. The rest - I think - seemed to be ok with leaving it to the states.

I could be wrong about that, but that was my impression.

Christie is even on record calling the war on drugs "an abject failure", yet he seems determined to continue to was billions of $$ a year, clog up our courts, ruin lives with criminal records and deny adults the right to make adult decisions.

He came into Colorado for a campaign appearance and said he would bring Colorado's legalization to an end.

 

[Amused to Death]

Interesting conversation on marijuana last night - as it looks like legalization is making the ballot in Ohio. That could kill the republicans if they go with a prohibitionist.

It sounded like Christie was the only one who was in the drugs are always evil camp. Maybe Carly also. She made an emotional argument about her kid. The rest - I think - seemed to be ok with leaving it to the states.

I could be wrong about that, but that was my impression.

Christie is even on record calling the war on drugs "an abject failure", yet he seems determined to continue to was billions of $$ a year, clog up our courts, ruin lives with criminal records and deny adults the right to make adult decisions.

He came into Colorado for a campaign appearance and said he would bring Colorado's legalization to an end.

There's a reason he was the last guy on the right last night (the 11th candidate in a field of 10). And not because of his high polling numbers.

 

[SIDA!]

While the Democratic party is as corrupt as the day is long, the Republican party is similarly inept.

It is too late into the campaign to still have 15 candidates. It time to narrow to the best 6

Ted Cruz

Marco Rubio

John Kasich

*** The top-3 are the best choices to win the general election

Carly Fiorina - strong VP candidate, particularly if Clinton gets the Dem nomination

Jeb Bush - has name and money, but simply lacks the charisma to energize his party.

Donald Trump/Ben Carson - run-off to see who gets the last spot - neither are viable general election candidates

These candidates are where Republican supporters should be stockpiling SuperPAC money. The longer the party wastes time on fringe candidates, the longer it will take to build the brand of the ultimate nominee.

Trump and Carson are crushing the polls, each should be in.

What do they have - 30% support? I would not call that "crushing" it. They are winning because there are too many candidates. Narrow the field to 6, and then see where everyone stands.

The democrats have kept the field small by the party establishment, and big money donors, keeping the riff-raff out (I think they have done themselves a dis-service by going all in with Hillary - there should have been 2-3 well-supported young democrats in the field, if for experience and nothing else). The GOP can do the same, if they start putting their weight and money behind certain candidates - and letting the funding dry up for the fringe.

LOL...so in your world...division winners play for the wildcard spot...but guys who are in fifth place get automatic byes? Awesome.

 

[bakes]

did trump really go with vaccines cause autism?

This time it was Donald J. Trump who vigorously asserted a connection between vaccines and autism, telling an emotional story of an employee whose “beautiful” baby fell ill with a fever after having a vaccine and, he said, became autistic. While the two candidates who are doctors — Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon – said that childhood vaccines were safe and important, even they shied away from the strict schedule set out by the medical profession..

Reminds me of Michele Bachmann when she claimed vaccines caused mental ######ation.

Then hitched up her sleeve to show her vaccination scar as proof.

 

[Willie Neslon]

I just keep coming back to Rubio as my guy here and probably the only person I'd vote for over Hillary.

I know he's not high up in the power rankings and I just don't get why. Is he the most centrist of the base or at least the most reasonable?

He always seems to have clear, concise and well thought out actual answers to the questions asked. He doesn't look like a doofus like most of the others and just has a more "Presidential" vibe to me. He comes off as extremely smart and well spoken.

Am I way off here? Is the base right now just too far to the right to even see what I see with Rubio?

Someone talk me out of him...please (I don't really know if I'm right leaning or left leaning - I switch back and forth depending on the issue - so just looking for someone of like mind to talk me out of Rubio here or tell me why he's and I are both crazy.

He seems good at one thing: memorizing medium length passages and delivering them with minimal flubs. I've never heard him just speak off the cuff. Everything is canned. Cruz is the same way. They're like those dolls where you pull the string and they say one of 8 things.

 

[B-Deep]

my fear on cruz is that his strategy may work

his strategy seems to be keep crazy and prais trump and hope when trump does something REALLY dumb that costs him the nomination Cruz picks up Trump's wackos

it is not a bad strategy