Who will be the next president

[Argus]

The way it's looking like this is going to play out is the House will vote no, there will no vote in the Senate because of filbustering. At that point, Obama is basically done like dinner. He can sit in a corner for the next few years but no one is going to pay him or his agenda (presuming he finds one) any attention.

I had thought the demographics would lean to a Democratic victory next time around, too, simply because the Republicans are so full of screwballs and wackos, and so clearly racist towards blacks, Hispanics and other minorities. But after this I think the US will be looking for a strong, decisive leader -- even if he's not especially bright and even if they don't necessarily agree with all of his agenda(see Ronald Reagan after Carter). That would seem to give the Republicans a pretty good shot at taking control of the White House, and quite possibly the Senate as well.

That would see the end of "Obamacare" and pretty much relegate Obama to a footnote in history, an unimportant caretaker president who accomplished nothing in his two terms. Hard to see where even Blacks, in the future, would want to look on him with any great degree of pride.

I don't agree with all of Chris Christie's beliefs, but if he can get past the wackos in the tea party to be their nomination it's hard to see anyone on the Democratic side stopping him. I think after Obama the country won't want a woman in control simply because, sexist or not, women aren't seen as being as tough and decisive as men. And Clinton comes with a lot of baggage.

[Topaz]

I'll said before and I say it again the US NEEDS at least three parties,so voters really have a choice. The republicans and the democrats have really ruin the US's respectability and very high debt. Put a woman in there, a NEW face!

[Moonlight Graham]

Obama isn't done, people forget quickly, especially if another crisis occurs. Hillary Clinton will probably be the next POTUS, the train keeps a rollin'.

[Argus]

Obama isn't done, people forget quickly, especially if another crisis occurs. Hillary Clinton will probably be the next POTUS, the train keeps a rollin'.

I don't think so. I didn't think so when he announced it. My first instinctive thought was "if they say no he's had it" and that seems to be the way all the pundits are taking it now too, not just the conservative ones on FOX but the liberals on MSNBC too. Hell, he hasn't even got support from MSNBC on this! Not even from the black ones! If this goes south, as it looks like its going to he is going to look like a complete idiot with no leadership or judgement and no influence. He won't just have been ignored by the Republicans that will be voting him down. The Democrats are the ones who are really going to wipe him out.

Americans don't forgive or forget weakness in a leader any more than Canadians do. Canadians can't stand a weak, indecisive leader. That's how Martin got squashed, how Dion got hammered. And congress certainly won't. That pack of venal, self-serving blowhards will ignore anything and everything he suggests from then on because he won't have anything to buy them off with. This becomes a lame-duck administration the moment he has to announce that he'll accede to the wishes of congress and back off on Syria. And, of course, he'll have zero influence abroad afterwards, either. Not that he seems to have a helluva lot now. For all the world hated George Bush it doesn't seem to think much of "Mr Conciliator".

[Moonlight Graham]

If this goes south, as it looks like its going to he is going to look like a complete idiot with no leadership or judgement and no influence.

Americans don't forgive or forget weakness in a leader any more than Canadians do. Canadians can't stand a weak, indecisive leader.

The world will realize, if the vote doesn't pass, that Obama doesn't have absolute power in foreign policy in the US, nor should he, nor did the Founding Father want for him to have it. Yes, I suppose this will weaken his seeming influence in the world.

(Assuming Assad did launch those chemicals) If the vote does pass, and Obama launches missiles at the Syrian regime, and Syria responds by launching more chemical weapons, Obama will be effed politically and strategically, and he will have little choice but to escalate the conflict, and then the world will blame Obama for the fallout. Obama is totally screwed, unless Assad doesn't call his bluff. The best way for Obama to get out of this situation politically is to lose that vote.

[Argus]

The world will realize, if the vote doesn't pass, that Obama doesn't have absolute power in foreign policy in the US, nor should he, nor did the Founding Father want for him to have it. Yes, I suppose this will weaken his seeming influence in the world.

You understand nothing about America or their constitution. Obama already has the authority to order an attack on Syria. I can't recall a president going to congress like this in the past, and certainly not after spending days ratcheting up the tension and with ships in position to strike. He went to Congress for backup because he lacks confidence and strength of will and character. It was a feeble attempt to provide himself with cover, ignoring the oft repeated phrase "The buck stops here", and it's likely going to fail. If it does his influence in the world is done, and even in the US his name will become synomyous with weakness, much like Paul Martin earned the term Mr. Dithers.

I also think historians will look back on his decision to ask permission of a congress that hates him as one of the dumbest political decisions made by a president in a century or more.

[Shady]

Hillary Clinton has a good shot. The media will go to bat for her as the first female president. For Republicans, I think Chris Christie is the favourite. Also Jeb Bush and Bobby Jindal have outside shots.

[GostHacked]

Hillary Clinton should not get back into the White House.

Not sure if she actually got this banned from theaters, but if so, we can understand why. She is not a nice person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOy6ZagodUE

[Argus]

Hillary Clinton has a good shot. The media will go to bat for her as the first female president. For Republicans, I think Chris Christie is the favourite. Also Jeb Bush and Bobby Jindal have outside shots.

I think this will go against Clinton (who I've never liked) in that, as I said, the US will want a strong and decisive leader, and in cultural terms, most will figure that means a man. Also, Obamas poor performance, and the way this has shown the Democrats to be scattered and divided is bound to help offset how the Republicans are scattered and divided.

Chris Christie can talk like a real person. Clinton can not. Obama can't either. Bush, for all his flaws, could. As could Bill Clinton.

[Argus]

Hillary Clinton should not get back into the White House.

Not sure if she actually got this banned from theaters, but if so, we can understand why. She is not a nice person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOy6ZagodUE

I don't think the US will be looking for 'nice' next time around. Honestly, is Harper nice? But people still voted for him over the 'nice' Stephan Dion. Canadians don't dislike nice, nor do Americans, but they want tough, and they don't mind mean on occasion either.

[GostHacked]

I don't think the US will be looking for 'nice' next time around. Honestly, is Harper nice? But people still voted for him over the 'nice' Stephan Dion. Canadians don't dislike nice, nor do Americans, but they want tough, and they don't mind mean on occasion either.

Not just that, she is a liar. During this doco, you can hear her saying that she both supported the Iraq war and then she says she did NOT support the Iraq war.

There is not being nice, and then there is the ruthlessness of Hillary Clinton. IF she ends up on the ballot, then this should be a must watch before you toss your vote at her. Can't take an hour and a half out of your time to determine the country's course for the next 4 possibly 8 years?

Hillary Clinton is damaged goods. Don't let her near the Whitehouse ever again. Her handling of the Benghazi incident is proof to that. She is only fit to lead if the continual degradation of the USA is on the agenda.

[Michael Hardner]

Ghosthacked - do you really expect us to watch a 1 1/2 hour film from citizens united, that starts out with a pile of ad homminem statements against Clinton ?

You should be able to support your claim that she waffled on the Iraq war without making me watch a movie that's so long that it requires popcorn.

Here - I'll do it for you. ... Took me 30 seconds - her nuanced positions are outlined on her Wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

[PIK]

I think it will be republican and someone we don't know yet. That is the only way for them to win is to get rid of all the big names that they have now, and go with someone new.

[GostHacked]

Ghosthacked - do you really expect us to watch a 1 1/2 hour film from citizens united, that starts out with a pile of ad homminem statements against Clinton ?

I don't expect you to do anything. But how many movies have you sat through as of late? How many hours of TV do you watch on a weekly basis? I watched a marathon of a TV show yesterday and still managed to watch this Clinton thing twice in the last week. Don't waste your time, and don't waste time complaining that you don't want to waste time.

And those statements that Hillary gets are well deserved. You call it ad homenim, I say it fits.

You should be able to support your claim that she waffled on the Iraq war without making me watch a movie that's so long that it requires popcorn.

Well you can simply not watch it, and not complain about it.

Just a sample of her doings.

Whitewater

Travelgate

Illegal use of campaign funds.

Flip floppin in Iraq.

[Michael Hardner]

I don't expect you to do anything. But how many movies have you sat through as of late? How many hours of TV do you watch on a weekly basis?

Not really that much.

I watched a marathon of a TV show yesterday and still managed to watch this Clinton thing twice in the last week. Don't waste your time, and don't waste time complaining that you don't want to waste time.

It doesn't matter. I took several seconds of my own time to point to a link so that others can read a concise argument. I did that for you and for them. You're welcome.

And those statements that Hillary gets are well deserved. You call it ad homenim, I say it fits.

Whether or not they have any rationale is besides the point completely. The point is that name calling is a pointless way to engage in debate. Calling somebody a 'power hungry idiot' is name calling, but providing evidence that a candidate has no principles, only ambition and lacks intelligence can be done - properly.

Well you can simply not watch it, and not complain about it.

Why don't you just stop complaining about Clinton, too ? She's not even your president is she ?

I like a place where we're free to complain, as long as we agree to do so with certain acknowledgements - like evidence, decorum... things like that.

Just a sample of her doings.

Whitewater

Travelgate

Illegal use of campaign funds.

Flip floppin in Iraq.

I didn't speak to the substance of the matter, so you can direct your evidence to the thread in general, not to me.

[GostHacked]

Mike for that clip, skip to the 53 minute mark. For her flip floppin on Iraq.

[Bonam]

Not just that, she is a liar.

Name one politician of note who isn't?

[GostHacked]

Name one politician of note who isn't?

That's part of the whole problem now isn't it?

Reagan lied.

Bush Sr lied.

Clinton lied.

Bush JR lied.

Obama lied.

The next President will lie as well.

Call them out on it.

[Michael Hardner]

Mike for that clip, skip to the 53 minute mark. For her flip floppin on Iraq.

Ok. Thanks - I will look at that.

[Bonam]

That's part of the whole problem now isn't it?

Reagan lied.

Bush Sr lied.

Clinton lied.

Bush JR lied.

Obama lied.

The next President will lie as well.

That's my point. Hillary Clinton may be a liar, but that in no way diminishes her chance of becoming president, as she will be just one more in a long and proud line of liars, not only US presidents but all leaders of all nations since times immemorial. Politician is synonymous with liar. Being a good liar is the paramount job requirement.

[Guest American Woman]

Name one politician of note who isn't?

My thoughts exactly.

------------------------------

Furthermore, if everyone retained the same positions/opinions all of their lives it would be quite extraordinary - and most likely evidence of a lack of growth and/or a non-critical mind - and it isn't by any means always synonymous with "lying" and "flipflopping." Not to mention some of the cockamanie misrepresentations of what's actually been said that are out there ....

[Michael Hardner]

Mike for that clip, skip to the 53 minute mark. For her flip floppin on Iraq.

Meh. She plays it like a politician, specifically like a Clinton. No overt lies that I heard.

[cybercoma]

So, I think we can all agree that Elizabeth Warren will be president. Right?

[Michael Hardner]

That's my point. Hillary Clinton may be a liar, but that in no way diminishes her chance of becoming president, as she will be just one more in a long and proud line of liars, not only US presidents but all leaders of all nations since times immemorial. Politician is synonymous with liar. Being a good liar is the paramount job requirement.

Liar or Statesman ? People love snake oil salesmen, and the honest nerd is usually an easy target in an election.

[GostHacked]

Meh. She plays it like a politician, specifically like a Clinton. No overt lies that I heard.

That's the problem they play it like politicians. It's a game to them. And the lies were there.

She supported the war.

She never supported the war.

One of those statements is false. Give them a pass on that, what else will you give them a pass and chalk it up to just 'being a politician'.