2016 Election Thread (My God Kill Me Now)

[Jocephus]

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
I'm the cult of personality

[Michael]

Let's just agree that the socialist label is a substantial general election risk but that we don't know how much especially when the alternatives have their own serious baggage.

That's fair, however I think some baggage is worse than others. I also think some candidates baggage is better known and better reflected in their poll data right now.

Anyone want to discuss the liberal wonks turn against Sanders?

Are you referring to articles like this written by Paul Starr?

[MrSaigon]

Everyone already knows that. Those who don't will find out that he's actually not a super leftist socialist and would have passed for a republican in the 60's--i.e. the good old days.

I really don't think the average American is really paying attention right now. I think once those commercials of Bernie calling himself a socialist are run on repeat things may get really hairy.

That said, The Bern is awesome.

This has been surprisingly true in a couple interactions I've had with extended family.

Honestly, I don't blame them. This part of the election cycle is useless for the vast majority of Americans. I've read most people don't really start paying attention making up their minds until the last few weeks of a election. I think that's completely understandable.

Yes, except that they're the MAD AS HELL types.

[pioneer98]

I've been having this same debate in my own head about whether to caucus for Bernie or Hillary on Monday. I'm actually tempted to caucus for O'Malley. Odds are high he's not going to get to the 15% threshold. If he does, I wouldn't even regret it that much. Assuming he doesn't, it will give me a chance to see whether Hillary or Bernie are ahead, and by how much. If Bernie is behind, I will easily switch to him. If Bernie is ahead....Not sure. It's really easy to vote for Bernie as a protest against the establishment. I'm finding it harder to imagine him as president. If he won, he'd get blocked every bit as bad as Obama, if not worse. Unless in the longshot that the Democrats took back the Senate and (dream big) the house.

On the other hand there are days when I'm so sick of it all that I just feel like, screw it, I'll go for Bernie and if we end up with Trump or Cruz, then we deserve them anyway. And I'll start looking more seriously at whether Canada has companies with a need for my skillset.

[Schlich]

Are you referring to articles like this written by Paul Starr?

that article is the heaping pile of dookie that has resulted from the wonks coming out, taking all of the bad criticisms levied and leaving none of the good ones.

[Michael]

On the other hand there are days when I'm so sick of it all that I just feel like, screw it, I'll go for Bernie and if we end up with Trump or Cruz, then we deserve them anyway. And I'll start looking more seriously at whether Canada has companies with a need for my skillset.

Did all the Nader supporters end up moving to Canada?

[Schlich]

What frustrates me most about "Hillary is a realist/Bernie is an idealist" line of thinking is that it completely dismisses Bernie's career. He hasn't been twiddling his thumbs and shouting platitudes for 30 years. He has gotten a lot done. He knows how the game works. Hillary has more foreign policy experience. That's it. And it hasn't looked good on her.

[Michael]

ITT I'm the pragmatic dad from Braveheart

[Arthur Dent]

Anyone want to discuss the liberal wonks turn against Sanders?

Are you referring to articles like this written by Paul Starr?

Yeah, exactly. There have been a bunch of these since approximately the last Democratic primary debate where it became clear Sanders has a real shot at the nomination.

[Schlich]

Ok but seriously that article is terrible and full of flat-out falsehoods, read the decent criticisms from Klein and Yglesias and Coates and Krugman, and read their rebuttals.