Iowa Caucus 2016

[On Guard for Thee]

That's good, because you can't vote unless a U.S. citizen. Americans will vote for their next president, regardless of a candidates age. Thirty-five years is the minimum age to take office...there is no maximum.

Always good to include a statement of the obvious, I guess. Sorry about your guy Trump. Getting beat by a guy who he seems to think is a Canadian must have really stung.

[August1991]

I agree. Sanders because if the support he was able to generate in such a short time and Rubino in that the Republican establishment now has a contender they can embrace and start contributing to.

If Sanders does even nearly as well in SC as he did in Iowa, then the Democratic race may open up. (Frankly, I suspect Sanders has no chance in Nevada or SC.)

As to Rubino, as a Canadian, I would prefer Christie: Jersey/Maryland corrupt, but my kind of RINO.

Edited February 3, 2016 by August1991

[Topaz]

Only time will proof, if the rich can get away of breaking the law and on US radio, they keep talking about Clinton's e-mails and how the FBI is/should arrest for breaking the law, so we'll see if there is double standard for the rich. The Clinton's are as bad as the Bush family.

[Derek 2.0]

As to Rubino, as a Canadian, I would prefer Christie: Jersey/Maryland corrupt, but my kind of RINO.

In my opinion, Rubio checks all the boxes. He's young, scandal/controversy free, could help bring back Hispanics to the GOP fold (lost since GWB left office), a fiscal conservative, and though a religious man (by Canadian standards), comes across more subdued and comes from modest means...and is not as divisive as most of the others.....

I read/watched over the last couple of days a good point made by a talking head.....Rubio has the most endorsements from sitting lawmakers, Cruz has none....This could indicate that Rubio has the chops to be the establishment candidate of course, but could also indicate that he is generally likable among his peers.

I would take a young Rubio versus a Clinton baggage train in the general election any day of the week and twice on Sunday....

[biotk]

Bernie Sanders' speech.

There's a few people crapping their pants just watching this guy - the Koch brothers, Wall Street, the medical insurance industry.

:D

I love how many people on the left think that people like the Koch brothers are crapping in their pants about how well Sanders is doing, instead of celebrating that their efforts to undermine Hilary Clinton at every turn, and split the left into factions warring with each other, have greatly increased the chances the Republicans winning it all this fall. It is not like they have even been trying to hide their efforts.

"I hate Hilary. She is a terrible person. Fox news and Koch brothers financed PACs tell me so."

"I sure am feeling the Bern. Bernie, Bernie, Bernie."

"Sanders could actually win this. Look at his matchups against Republican candidates. They are around as good as Clinton's, and often better."

"Look, Sanders tied in Iowa and will win NH."

"We have the momentum!! It is going to be a socialist revolution!!"

"Wow!! This is historic. Sanders won the Democratic Presidential nomination!"

"Hey???? What the hell???? Why is it that the Republican attack machine which has non-stop attacked Clinton for 25 years is now attacking Sanders after being completely silent about him for over a year?? It is almost like they were trying to fool us. People will surely not believe the lies they spread about Sanders (even though I believed and spread the lies they spread about Clinton)."

"Oh no, Sanders popularity keeps on falling."

"Feeling a different kind of Burn. 'My eyes! The goggles do nothing!'"

"Surely President Cruz/Trump/Rubio will not replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a far-right pro-life justice??"

Edited February 3, 2016 by biotk

[Argus]

In my opinion, Rubio checks all the boxes. He's young, scandal/controversy free, could help bring back Hispanics to the GOP fold (lost since GWB left office), a fiscal conservative, and though a religious man (by Canadian standards), comes across more subdued and comes from modest means...and is not as divisive as most of the others.....

That he's better than Cruz or Trump is setting a pretty low bar. This is the guy who wants to close the US embassy in Cuba again, after all.

[Shady]

A Cuban embassy is probably the 77th most important issue. Nobody cares about that because it has little importance.

[On Guard for Thee]

I love how many people on the left think that people like the Koch brothers are crapping in their pants about how well Sanders is doing, instead of celebrating that their efforts to undermine Hilary Clinton at every turn, and split the left into factions warring with each other, have greatly increased the chances the Republicans winning it all this fall. It is not like they have even been trying to hide their efforts.

You don't think Trump has split the GOP, especially when he threatens to go rogue if they try to dump him? I think that's more likely what's causing the Koch's their bowel discomfort.

[Argus]

A Cuban embassy is probably the 77th most important issue. Nobody cares about that because it has little importance.

It seems to be the most important thing in the world to Rubio.

[Shady]

It seems to be the most important thing in the world to Rubio.

Not at all. I don't even know if it's been mentioned in any of the debates, let alone the stump speeches I've seen the last few months.

[Derek 2.0]

That he's better than Cruz or Trump is setting a pretty low bar. This is the guy who wants to close the US embassy in Cuba again, after all.

Odd that a grandson of Cuban refugees would hold animosity towards the Castro regime.......none the less, Rubio's contention (along with most in the GOP) over Obama's Cuban policies is that he sidestepped the legal process of going through Congress and not receiving any human rights concessions from the Castro regime in exchange for lessening the sanctions.

[Derek 2.0]

I didn't hear much about this going into the primary:

Republican Ben Carson Tuesday called for the firing of a Ted Cruz campaign staffer who said the retired neurosurgeon was planning to drop out.

In essence, some Cruz Staffers sent out mass emails suggesting Carson was about to pull out of the race.......I'm not a huge Carson fan, to me he seems both soft spoken and odd, but none the less, this just strengthens my opinion that Cruz is a weasel.......

And it just makes it more likely that Carson, when he does drop out, will endorse someone else........If Bush, Christie, Kasich and now Carson supporters got behind Rubio in mass, he would have a commanding lead over Trump and tons and tons of money.

[-TSS-]

Obama is going out after two terms in office as did his two predecessors. However, unless the law has changed there is a 10 year-rule for a single person able to serve as President. That is possible if the Vice-President becomes President during the second half of the previous President who has either died or resigned from office.

LBJ became President in 1963 when Kennedy was assasinated. He was elected in his own right in 1964 and he was still eligible for re-election in 1968 but he didn't stand.

If Gerald Ford had won the 1976 election he would still have been eligible for re-election in 1980.

However, if the attempted assasination of Reagan in early 1981 had succeeded and Bush had become President he wouldn't have been eligible in 1988.

So far simple. Here is a theoretical question: Is it possible to have the 10 year-rule the other way round? I mean can a President who has served two terms, 8 years, be nominated as Vice-President of his successor? I guess not but unless it is specifically forbidden by law then it is permitted, isn't it?

It would be very odd if the President who has left office became Vice-President and for some reason became President again through Vice-Presidency he could only serve as President for two more years.

[August1991]

In my opinion, Rubio checks all the boxes. He's young, scandal/controversy free, could help bring back Hispanics to the GOP fold (lost since GWB left office), a fiscal conservative, and though a religious man (by Canadian standards), comes across more subdued and comes from modest means...and is not as divisive as most of the others.....

I have no problem with Rubio as Republican candidate or president. I reckon that Rubio would beat Rodham-Clinton or Sanders.

I just prefer Christie since I think that he could do as well as Rubio, but America would do better. In addition, as a Canadian, Christie is entertaining. To my ear, Christie speaks well.

Edited February 5, 2016 by August1991

[BC_chick]

I like what Sanders has to say but would never vote for him. Maybe 20 years ago but not now. At 74 years old he cannot be counted upon to function properly for at least the next 5 years.

Aging from 74 to 79 is not like aging from 34 to 39. Many of my friends are septuagenarians. A few are still sharp but I have seen many deteriorate very quickly during that age group. Reagan was about 65 when he was first elected and was obviously going senile near the end of his term.

Sanders is only a bit older than Clinton and Trump but he looks a good 15-20 years older than the other two.

On the flip side we have someone like Noam Chomsky who is pushing 90 and still sharp. His hair is still salt and pepper so nobody says he's too old for the things he says and does.

I think Sanders actual age isn't so much the problem as how old he *looks*.

Edited February 5, 2016 by BC_chick

[bush_cheney2004]

Rubio could beat those two old geezers just on looks alone. Taxpayers wouldn't have to buy Depend® underwear for the president.

[BC_chick]

You don't have a clue what would happen any more than anyone else. In the polls he's tied with both so it could go either way.

But crystal ball predictions are always entertaining I suppose.

[bush_cheney2004]

I don't need a clue...but unlike you...I actually get to vote. If Canada can go with a pretty face over substance, so can America.

I wonder if Rubio is big on selfies ?

[Derek 2.0]

I have no problem with Rubio as Republican candidate or president. I reckon that Rubio would beat Rodham-Clinton or Sanders.

I just prefer Christie since I think that he could do as well as Rubio, but America would do better. In addition, as a Canadian, Christie is entertaining. To my ear, Christie speaks well.

I have no issues with Christie either, he reminds me of a Soprano character, but I think he has too much baggage, in addition, his perceived relationship with Obama would alienate him with Southern Republicans.....Attorney General perhaps?

[bush_cheney2004]

All Rubio needs to do is stay in the game and not make any huge blunders. Worse case, he can prolly get VP selection to balance any crazy GOP ticket.

I would vote for Marco Rubio...so would my cat.

[Derek 2.0]

Sanders is only a bit older than Clinton and Trump but he looks a good 15-20 years older than the other two.

Though I agree with hardly anything he has to say, he does seem far more genuine than Clinton, but 74 isn't as old as 74, 35 years ago, when Reagan was sworn in weeks before his 70th birthday........to me, Trump appears far "older" than Sanders.

[Derek 2.0]

I don't need a clue...but unlike you...I actually get to vote. If Canada can go with a pretty face over substance, so can America.

I wonder if Rubio is big on selfies ?

Of the entire field, I think Rubio is probably the one with the most substance (perhaps tied with Bush), and unlike Bush, has no problem conveying it.

[Derek 2.0]

All Rubio needs to do is stay in the game and not make any huge blunders. Worse case, he can prolly get VP selection to balance any crazy GOP ticket.

I would vote for Marco Rubio...so would my cat.

So would I (If I could, maybe his reelection ), from the start, both Rubio and Bush have been my "ponies".....From my understanding, through friends working on his ground game in Texas, his game plan going into the Primaries was called the 3-2-1 strategy....meaning, they wanted to finish third in Iowa, 2nd in New Hampshire and 1st in South Carolina etc......on paper it sounds workable, as we've got to assume the GOP field thins even more after New Hampshire (down to 9 now), and many will endorse Rubio......who now has more endorsements from sitting congressmen, senators and governors then Bush........follow the endorsements and the money will follow........

As I said earlier, if you transfixed the supporters of Bush, Christie and Kasich (and maybe a basement dweller or two), Rubio would have bested Trump and likely Cruz in Iowa........the big question will be who Carson endorses when he drops out or runs out of laundry......Rubio or Trump.

[Shady]

A new poll out has Trump down to 29%, Rubio up to 18%.

[BC_chick]

Though I agree with hardly anything he has to say, he does seem far more genuine than Clinton, but 74 isn't as old as 74, 35 years ago, when Reagan was sworn in weeks before his 70th birthday........to me, Trump appears far "older" than Sanders.

Interesting. I think both Trump and Clinton look much younger than Sanders even though they're all close in age. I think that's why nobody mentions the age of the former, yet the latter is constantly being questioned for his age.