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[User 463088]

As an Ohioan, I just want to say Kasich is NOT this cycle's John Huntsman. Kasich is as much of a Koch-ite as Walker. Kasich is just better at hiding it than some of the other wackjobs out there.

When Kasich tried to destroy unions in Ohio, we slapped it back down. Kasich had the intelligence to pretend to understand and move on. Yes, he expanded Medicaid, but he wants to repeal the ACA. He's not a moderate. He just plays one on TV. He might be one of the least bad options out there, but he's still really, really bad.

 

[Vyer]

It's pretty straightforward. Right now his position on things is secondary to what represents. Is he qualified to be president? Can't say either way. But his appeal is simple. Politics and the current crop of politicians have a system they work in. Its almost formulaic in the way they act, approach, view things, etc.

Trump simply represents someone who is not cut from the same cloth. He doesnt play the game by their rules. That alone has a HUGE appeal in people who think the political system is fubar and most of the people who are part of that system are to caught up in it.

Trump could rattle the cage...and there are a lot of people who feel the cage needs a good shaking.

However that appeal is only going to get him so far. In my opinion he has to approach this in phases. In the next phase hes going to have to start talking about more details to pull those are willing to rattle the cage but not burn it to the ground.

To many people are discounting him, I really do think hes the potential black swan at least for now.

heh. Trump is very much cut from the same cloth. He's a rich and powerful old man who has been part of the elite crowd for decades and dipping his money into politics for just as long. You don't think that lots of the candidates on that stage with him wouldn't bully or say awful shit about other races or women or whatever else just like Trump if they thought they could also get away with it? Hell, most of them have said some pretty fucking insane shit on their own. The only difference is that Trump has less hinging on this than any of them. He's a rich celebrity. He doesn't give a shit what's going to happen to his political career if this goes belly up, because he doesn't have one. But 'not giving a shit' doesn't make you a better human being when you are given a position of power.

Trump isn't rattling a damn thing. He's just got more of his own feces to fling through the bars.

 

[Jack Remington]

This is also true. Trump's Walter White and the GOP elite is Skylar. (unfair comparison to that character and what the GOP actually is)

This is pretty unfair to the GOP elite. They didn't fuck Ted.

 

[Link]

This is also true. Trump's Walter White and the GOP elite is Skylar. (unfair comparison to that character and what the GOP actually is)

Someone Photoshop Trump's hair onto this gif:

I feel it would get a lot of mileage.

 

[Meus Renaissance]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

Someone Photoshop Trump's hair onto this gif:

I feel it would get a lot of mileage.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of Trump gifs tbh, there's so much potential.

 

[G_Berry]

'Murica

 

[PlayALLtheGames]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

Cause for concern? If you live here you're subjected to this circus of a political system every day, so this doesn't incite any more concern in me than anything else.

The America where our standard for politicians are much, much higher is, sadly, generations away. For now, I don't give a shit how well Trump does among conservatives, as long as he doesn't end up in the White House.

 

[BoboBrazil]

Does Trump have a PAC yet? Is he accepting donations?

 

[funkystudent]

This is hilarious and then its kind of terrifying once you start thinking about what it says about US politics.

 

[Scoops]

Does Trump have a PAC yet? Is he accepting donations?

To my knowledge the only donation to his campaign thus far was from himself. So no.

 

[Konka]

Does Trump have a PAC yet? Is he accepting donations?

You don't exactly need one when you're a billionaire.

He does have a donation page on his website.

 

[DEO3]

Obviously those of us on the left are eating this shit up, but does the right know that I wonder? Or are they totally energized by this shit show? Do they understand how bad these candidates are making them look?

And if someone could post some polls showing that these guys actually are unelectable, that'd make me feel a lot better about enjoying all this.

 

[Neoweee]

Obviously those of us on the left are eating this shit up, but does the right know that I wonder? Or are they totally energized by this shit show? Do they understand how bad these candidates are making them look?

And if someone could post some polls showing that these guys actually are unelectable, that'd make me feel a lot better about enjoying all this.

Nate Silver, 538:

Donald Trump Is The Nickelback Of GOP Candidates

His unfavorable score is really, really high. That means that as the pool of candidate thins, they'll be defaulting to non-Trump candidates in droves.

He doesn't stand a chance. Pretty much everybody but him is going to improve in polls as Jindal and pals "suspend their campaigns".

 

[User 463088]

Obviously those of us on the left are eating this shit up, but does the right know that I wonder? Or are they totally energized by this shit show? Do they understand how bad these candidates are making them look?

And if someone could post some polls showing that these guys actually are unelectable, that'd make me feel a lot better about enjoying all this.

On occasion, I have a bit of self-loathing and spend five or ten minutes on RedState and other conservative blogs. They think the reason they don't win elections is because they don't nominate "real" conservatives. They think their best chance of winning is someone to the right of people like McCain, Bush and Romney. They want to make sure that whoever they put up is more conservative.

So, yes, I think the genuinely think some of these candidates (Cruz, Huckabee, Paul, Walker, etc) are great for America and for their party. If one of these "pure" candidates can be nominated, they think they'll win in a landslide.

We, in the rational based community, think these people look bad. The problem is, some GOPpers have drunk their own Kool Aid so long, they really think America wants more Right Wing Nutjobs in power.

It's like they acknowledge they're losing, but they don't quite get why they're losing.

 

[speculawyer]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

Ask Republicans, not Americans. This is their shit show.

 

[mclem]

I approve of the quotemarks in the OP.

 

[titiklabingapat]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

Liberals have known these people exist ever since GWB. Thankfully, they also know that how Trump does in conservative circles have no bearing on how he does well in the general election. Indeed, there are indications that as the Republican party becomes more extreme, the general election make up seems to be moving to the left.

 

[Log4Girlz]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

Long story really. There is a tremendous amount of anti-intellectualism in the US.

 

[reckless]

Nate Silver, 538:

Donald Trump Is The Nickelback Of GOP Candidates

His unfavorable score is really, really high. That means that as the pool of candidate thins, they'll be defaulting to non-Trump candidates in droves.

He doesn't stand a chance. Pretty much everybody but him is going to improve in polls as Jindal and pals "suspend their campaigns".

Walker having the lowest unfavorable rating is pretty scary.

 

[Konka]

Walker having the lowest unfavorable rating is pretty scary.

He's got nearly 30% unaccounted for at 56% positive 13% negative. Trump is 100% accounted for at 47/43. It'll go up when people figure out who he is.

 

[Link]

Walker having the lowest unfavorable rating is pretty scary.

Only because a lot of people are unfamiliar with him.

 

[Rebel Leader]

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of Trump gifs tbh, there's so much potential.

 

[RDreamer]

Walker having the lowest unfavorable rating is pretty scary.

It'll be interesting what happens and the field starts dwindling. I expect Bush and Trump to really lay it on him thick how fucking terrible he is in Wisconsin. He can hide his record here with commercials and stuff, but when fellow republicans are telling him it sucks during a debate I think he'll crumble.

 

[VRMN]

He's got nearly 30% unaccounted for at 56% positive 13% negative. Trump is 100% accounted for at 47/43. It'll go up when people figure out who he is.

47/43 is only 90% accounted, though the general point stands. Most people know how they feel about him.

 

[Konka]

47/43 is only 90% accounted, though the general point stands. Most people know how they feel about him.

Ah yeah, brain fart.

 

[Eusis]

What freaks me out isn't that Trump is in first place, but that Ted Cruz is in second. He's the nuttiest, most dangerous nutjob of the bunch, but that doesn't stop the GOP base from liking the guy.

This. Seeing that practically makes me want to root on Trump in comparison.

 

[Fatalah]

Trump is on a serious roll right now!

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Nate Silver, 538:

Donald Trump Is The Nickelback Of GOP Candidates

His unfavorable score is really, really high. That means that as the pool of candidate thins, they'll be defaulting to non-Trump candidates in droves.

He doesn't stand a chance. Pretty much everybody but him is going to improve in polls as Jindal and pals "suspend their campaigns".

Even based on this methodology Jeb is 10th (!!!) in likability.

 

[Ganzlinger]

I for one welcome our new president overlord.

 

[Downhome]

Trump is on a serious roll right now!

You need to focus on what truly matters...

 

[gutter_trash]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

I can't believe that i missed that Mike Hukabee segment, when people quoted him, I didn't believe it.

now I am hearing the sounds coming out of his mouth, wow. Break things, okay

 

[Steve Youngblood]

These poll numbers should be a cause for concern even amongst liberal Democrats. How is it that a man so absent decency, maturity, intelligence and self-awareness be considered a candidate for President after that debate? Is this the standard to which Americans are willing to accept - the type of politics they want?

Meanwhile, in Canada you have politicians trying to give comprehensive answers that demonstrate an awareness and deep understanding. This whilst candidates to be President of the US realise they only need to give cliche soundbites to get applause.

How has it come to this? And more importantly, what are Americans doing about it?

I'm not going to defend the spectacle that is American presidential politics too much, but one thing I'll note is that this really is the silly season of the presidential campaign cycle. Cynics might argue that this is always a circus, but this is the time where even fans of this show will concede that it really is just a nonsensical circus. I more likely than not won't be voting for the republican candidate next fall, but even as a liberal I know that Republicans aren't going to nominate Trump as their candidate. The campaigns are a ways off from beginning in earnest.

 

[Jobbs]

I'm not going to defend the spectacle that is American presidential politics too much, but one thing I'll note is that this really is the silly season of the presidential campaign cycle. Cynics might argue that this is always a circus, but this is the time where even fans of this show will concede that it really is just a nonsensical circus. I more likely than not won't be voting for the republican candidate next fall, but even as a liberal I know that Republicans aren't going to nominate Trump as their candidate. The campaigns are a ways off from beginning in earnest.

The entire primaries season on the republican side tends to be a bit of a circus, but even the general ain't exactlty high minded by any reasonable standard. In 2012 the entire Romney campaign "You DID Build That!" was built on taking a phrase of Obama's out of context. We also have one side actively working to make it harder to vote wherever they can by restricting voting hours and locations. People waited in line to vote in areas of Florida for pretty much all day.

I could go deeper and talk about redistricting (incumbents drawing their own district maps to guarantee their re-election) and the general shocking fact that every state, whether it has 30 million people (california) or 30 people (wyoming) gets the same number of senators -- The entire political system is terrible, it's a joke, it's not representative democracy, and fuck this country.

 

[Konka]

The entire primaries season on the republican side tends to be a bit of a circus, but even the general ain't exactlty high minded by any reasonable standard. In 2012 the entire Romney campaign "You DID Build That!" was built on taking a phrase of Obama's out of context. We also have one side actively working to make it harder to vote wherever they can by restricting voting hours and locations. People waited in line to vote in areas of Florida for pretty much all day.

I could go deeper and talk about redistricting (incumbents drawing their own district maps to guarantee their re-election) and the general shocking fact that every state, whether it has 30 million people (california) or 30 people (wyoming) gets the same number of senators -- The entire political system is terrible, it's a joke, it's not representative democracy, and fuck this country.

It was never intended to be. Look you can dislike the system but you criticisms are seem to be based around the idea that you think it's not working like it is supposed to when in fact it's work exactly as it was supposed to. It was purposely designed to make change difficult and to make undoing changes that have been made even more difficult.

In fact, this point in history represents the high point of representative democracy in the USA, considering that your only voters back when it originated were white land owners.

 

[Sir Abacus]

Even based on this methodology Jeb is 10th (!!!) in likability.

To be fair the other options above him were "ebola" and amazingly, "exercise and a balanced diet".

 

[Gotchaye]

The entire primaries season on the republican side tends to be a bit of a circus, but even the general ain't exactlty high minded by any reasonable standard. In 2012 the entire Romney campaign "You DID Build That!" was built on taking a phrase of Obama's out of context. We also have one side actively working to make it harder to vote wherever they can by restricting voting hours and locations. People waited in line to vote in areas of Florida for pretty much all day.

I could go deeper and talk about redistricting (incumbents drawing their own district maps to guarantee their re-election) and the general shocking fact that every state, whether it has 30 million people (california) or 30 people (wyoming) gets the same number of senators -- The entire political system is terrible, it's a joke, it's not representative democracy, and fuck this country.

I read this in Trump's voice.

 

[Jobbs]

It was never intended to be. Look you can dislike the system but you criticisms are seem to be based around the idea that you think it's not working like it is supposed to when in fact it's work exactly as it was supposed to. It was purposely designed to make change difficult and to make undoing changes that have been made even more difficult.

In fact, this point in history represents the high point of representative democracy in the USA, considering that your only voters back when it originated were white land owners.

Farmers and various other bible/gun people in the midwest have their views overrepresented compared to people living in more populous states, particularly in the cities. If you live in a populous city, you do not have equal representation to some farmer living in Montana. You matter less. Everyone should matter equally.

I read this in Trump's voice.

I said it in Trump's voice.

 

[DragonSworne]

Why is Donald Trump more popular now than any previous Presidential run? What is different now? His level of "I don't give a shit"?

 

[lazygecko]

Why is Donald Trump more popular now than any previous Presidential run? What is different now? His level of "I don't give a shit"?

He is popular because his careless demeanor reveals the farce of the system that every other candidate is conforming to. Whether people buy into it or not isn't really as important as the sheer entertainment value. Politics and entertainment are heavily intertwined in US media.

 

[Konka]

Farmers and various other bible/gun people in the midwest have their views overrepresented compared to people living in more populous states, particularly in the cities. If you live in a populous city, you do not have equal representation to some farmer living in Montana. You matter less. Everyone should matter equally.

And that is entirely by design and the whole point of the system, whether you agree with it or not. Gerrymandering for House seats is an issue of course, but the whole point of the Senate, which you seem to take the most issue with, was to ensure that each state has equal representation in the Union. The Senate isn't about representing your views, it's about representing the views of the individual states in the same way that each country of Europe has equal representation in the European Council, regardless of population.

 

[Jobbs]

Why is Donald Trump more popular now than any previous Presidential run? What is different now? His level of "I don't give a shit"?

Republicans angrier than ever, I guess, so yeah.

And that is entirely by design and the whole point of the system, whether you agree with it or not. Gerrymandering for House seats is an issue of course, but the whole point of the Senate, which you seem to take the most issue with, was to ensure that each state has equal representation in the Union. The Senate isn't about representing your views, it's about representing the views of the individual states.

It's wrong. And redistricting is equally bizarre and damaging to our democracy as senate representation and the general idea of an electoral college. Because, again, the electoral college gives way more voice to farmers and other "real americans" than to the actual majority of americans.

 

[water_wendi]

Literally the presidential nominee picks whoever they want.

Most people seem to think Cory Booker or Julian Castro would be Hillary's.

Trump is not of this Earth so I don't think anyone knows.

Maybe there wont be a Vice President?

 

[Link]

Maybe there wont be a Vice President?

I wouldn't put it past Trump to name himself his own VP.

 

[Mike Works]

Long story really. There is a tremendous amount of anti-intellectualism in the US.

That was actually a very short story. You were able to tell it one sentence.

 

[Jobbs]

Ultimately this Trump thing will flame out and he won't get near the nomination. Bookmark it, watch it, believe it.

 

[Crimson_Gold]

Ultimately this Trump thing will flame out and he won't get near the nomination. Bookmark it, watch it, believe it.

Is this before or after he uses the n word in a speech?

 

[Revolver]

On occasion, I have a bit of self-loathing and spend five or ten minutes on RedState and other conservative blogs. They think the reason they don't win elections is because they don't nominate "real" conservatives. They think their best chance of winning is someone to the right of people like McCain, Bush and Romney. They want to make sure that whoever they put up is more conservative.

So, yes, I think the genuinely think some of these candidates (Cruz, Huckabee, Paul, Walker, etc) are great for America and for their party. If one of these "pure" candidates can be nominated, they think they'll win in a landslide.

We, in the rational based community, think these people look bad. The problem is, some GOPpers have drunk their own Kool Aid so long, they really think America wants more Right Wing Nutjobs in power.

It's like they acknowledge they're losing, but they don't quite get why they're losing.

That's exactly the kind of opinions that I hear all the time from right wingers I know IRL and on talk radio. They're convinced if a "real conservative" were nominated that they would win like Reagan used to. To them guys like McCain and Romney were too liberal and they want no part of candidates like Bush or Christie. They absolutely believe the mainstream is desperate for a hardline conservative candidate and can't see winning with anything less. I almost want to see someone like Cruz or Carson make it to the general election just to get crushed.

 

[Jobbs]

Is this before or after he uses the n word in a speech?

It'll collapse whether he has a scandal or not. The republican primaries are always a clown car early on with ridiculous people in the lead for periods of time (Herman Caine led the polls for a while in 2012). Once you get closer to the end of primary season things work themselves out and everyone falls in line behind one of the establishment type picks. I am not sure who exactly that'll be, but it could potentially be Jeb or Rubio. I just know it won't be Trump or any other extra cartoonish person. It just never is.

 

[Kusagari]

"When I'm attacked, I fight back. When I was attacked viciously by those women, of course, it's very hard for them to attack me on looks, because I'm so good looking," Trump said on Sunday morning.

I'm dying.