South Carolina 2016 Caucuses/Primaries

[bush_cheney2004]

...And I believe right now, hundreds of dem activists are scouring the net and elsewhere, looking for the magic bullet...It's kind of sad that the election of the most powerful nation in the world can be altered by nerds in their mother's basements, but there you are.

No, it's not sad at all. In generations past, Americans used real bullets. The competition for power is real and all kinds of dirty tricks are just part of the game. That's how it got to be the "most powerful nation in the world".

Edited February 21, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

[WestCoastRunner]

Much longer? hell they never stop. It's either POTUS or midterms. Must get awfully redundant as well as boring, not to mention expensive.

If there is one thing you can say about American politics (POTUS) is that it is not boring.

[WestCoastRunner]

More dirty politics at play. Kasich signs bill to defund planned parenthood of 1 million.

[Wilber]

Don't leave out fear of Canadians....Democrat politicians have been doing that too. No Keystone XL, no funding for Detroit bridge/plaza, "Buy American" policies, suspension of general aviation overflight rights, increased northern border security, deportations of Canadian overstays, etc.

It appears to be working.

Right, forgot about those scary Canadians. Where I am right now, they are pretty much propping up the local economy and they are trying to figure out ways to keep them comming.

[Wilber]

I think you're misreading the emotion. It's not fear, it's anger at what a mess Obama has left. This anger is there already, it doesn't have to be coaxed out.

Nope, it is a irrational fear that polititions are fostering for their own advantage. Since 9/11 a total of 48 people have been killed on US soil in Islamic terrorist acts as opposed to the 33,000 Americans who kill each other with firearms every year. The fact is, this administration, and the one before it havd done a very good job of protecting the territorial US from terrorist acts.

[WestCoastRunner]

Nope, it is a irrational fear that polititions are fostering for their own advantage. Since 9/11 a total of 48 people have been killed on US soil in Islamic terrorist acts as opposed to the 33,000 Americans who kill each other with firearms every year. The fact is, this administration, and the one before it havd done a very good job of protecting the territorial US from terrorist acts.

. You can see it in the debates between the two parties. Republicans continually throw out ISIS attacks and keep the country safe while the democrats focus on other issues. This is a no brainer on the approach of each party.

[WestCoastRunner]

What could be very telling, confirming your point, to date, the three Republican primaries have all set historic voter turnouts in each State.......The Democrats are below levels that elected Obama and Clinton.....

Fear is synonymous with ignorance. Its hard to believe the high turnout is in response to anger. Fear trumps all emotions.

[TimG]

Fear is synonymous with ignorance. Its hard to believe the high turnout is in response to anger. Fear trumps all emotions.

There is no difference between Trump's demonization of immigrants and Sander's demonization of the banks/corporations/rich people. Edited February 22, 2016 by TimG

[bush_cheney2004]

Fear is synonymous with ignorance. Its hard to believe the high turnout is in response to anger. Fear trumps all emotions.

That's why it is also used in Canadian elections. Fear and negative campaign attack ads work.

[WestCoastRunner]

There is no difference between Trump's demonization of immigrants and Sander's demonization of the banks/corporations/rich people.

True. However, as been mentioned above, there is a far higher turnout of republican voters then democrats. Hence the fear mongering of safety to American citizens.

[bush_cheney2004]

Right, forgot about those scary Canadians. Where I am right now, they are pretty much propping up the local economy and they are trying to figure out ways to keep them comming.

Great...I knew your original post was just an oversight. Just like scary America is used in Canadian politics, the U.S. also has issues with Canada to exploit during campaign season...and after.

[WestCoastRunner]

That's why it is also used in Canadian elections. Fear and negative campaign attack ads work.

Thread drift.

[kimmy]

I think you're misreading the emotion. It's not fear, it's anger at what a mess Obama has left. This anger is there already, it doesn't have to be coaxed out.

There is a lot of anger at Obama, but there was a lot of anger at Obama in 2012 as well, and they don't even get to vote against Obama in 2016. I can understand that a lot of people think it's really important for the Republicans to win the presidency this time, but I don't expect Hillary to bring out the alarmists quite as much as Obama did.

Perhaps some of the high turnout at Republican events is due to the importance of retaking the presidency, but I also think a lot of it is because of Trump. Trump has got a lot of people to participate who would normally not bother (the same can be said of Sanders, as with Obama in 2008, and to a lesser extent Ron Paul in 2012.) And conversely, Trump's success to this point in the campaign has probably energized a lot of more traditional Republicans who feel it's important to get involved this year to prevent Trump from winning the nomination.

I wonder, though, about the disaffected young vote if their hero Sanders is out. They will not be energized as they are now, and won't be voting for Hilary in the same numbers as they would have for a Sanders for president election. That will be more than enough to give the nod to the Rep side, unless something drastic were to happen.

This is a real concern. Obama won in 2008 in large measure because young voters cared. People thought that Obama was vulnerable in 2012 because young voters would be disenchanted or lose interest, but he won again largely because young voters still turned out to support Obama.

Bernie Sanders has decimated Hillary among voters under 30, and beaten her handily among voters 30 - 45. Hillary can thank old-people for her narrow victories in Iowa and Nevada, but in the general election the majority of old-people tend to vote Republican, so Hillary will have to do something to win over younger voters.

One thing that could get younger voters to the polls to support Hillary would be if the Republicans select a candidate who is so socially conservative (ie, Ted Cruz) that younger voters could be convinced he poses a serious threat to their values. But if the Republicans select Rubio, that might not work.

-k

[On Guard for Thee]

There is no difference between Trump's demonization of immigrants and Sander's demonization of the banks/corporations/rich people.

Yes there is: one is based on irrational fear, the other on rational fact.

[On Guard for Thee]

If there is one thing you can say about American politics (POTUS) is that it is not boring.

I suppose, if the likes of Trump turn your crank. Doesn't do a damn thing for me beyond cause me to roll my eyes.

[WestCoastRunner]

I suppose, if the likes of Trump turn your crank. Doesn't do a damn thing for me beyond cause me to roll my eyes.

Trump is not the only entertaining figure this time around. Let's not forget Obama vs Clinton or bush vs gore. I have been highly entertained.

[On Guard for Thee]

Trump is not the only entertaining figure this time around. Let's not forget Obama vs Clinton or bush vs gore. I have been highly entertained.

Yeah it's good for a few "laughs" I suppose. However when you consider the stakes in play, a little intelligent conversation might be better received.

[TimG]

Yes there is: one is based on irrational fear, the other on rational fact.

Bernie has no more facts to support his fear mongering. You only think differently because you are the target audience for Bernie's fear mongering. Your self-righteous superiority complex is not justified.

[WestCoastRunner]

Yeah it's good for a few "laughs" I suppose. However when you consider the stakes in play, a little intelligent conversation might be better received.

Considering I'm not American I can only be entertained. I recall gore vs bush. I went to bed thinking gore won. Woke up to a bush administration. How is that boring?

Edited February 22, 2016 by WestCoastRunner

[WestCoastRunner]

Bernie has no more facts to support his fear mongering. You only think differently because you are the target audience for Bernie's fear mongering. Your self-righteous superiority complex is not justified.

The difference is the turnout of republicans playing up to the fear mongering of terrorist attacks by Muslims in America. It's shameful.

[bush_cheney2004]

Considering I'm not American I can only be entertained. I recall gore vs bush. I went to bed thinking gore won. Woke up to a bush administration. How is that boring?

Thread drift....Bush v. Gore wasn't decided until weeks later by the Supreme Court. Presidents aren't inaugurated until January of the following year.

[WestCoastRunner]

Thread drift....Bush v. Gore wasn't decided until weeks later by the Supreme Court. Presidents aren't inaugurated until January of the following year.

Oh please.

[On Guard for Thee]

Bernie has no more facts to support his fear mongering. You only think differently because you are the target audience for Bernie's fear mongering. Your self-righteous superiority complex is not justified.

Oh yes he does, but that has been discussed on an appropriate thread.

[On Guard for Thee]

Oh please.

That is certainly rich considering the source, I agree.

[TimG]

The difference is the turnout of republicans playing up to the fear mongering of terrorist attacks by Muslims in America. It's shameful.

That is just self serving crap you invented. Turn out is likely high for any number of reasons including people being fed up with a democratic prez for the last 8 years and the fact that there is a real race going on and someone's votes matters.