Any of the Democratic candidates could beat any of the pukes.

[arely staircase]

Last edited Mon Sep 7, 2015, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Their best shot would be Bush or Kashich vs Sanders. Our best shot is HRC vs Trump. But regardless, I see Dem victory.

[LongTomH]

1. In a fair fight; but, when was the last time the Republicans won in a fair fight?

It's always 'October Surprises,' voter disqualification, voting machine 'red shifts,' etc.

[arely staircase]

3. Well sure winning for us means winning by an unsrobbable margin. Nt

[tularetom]

2. Clinton won't beat anybody. Sanders at least has a shot at it. O'Malley might if he can hang on.

Actually, I do believe any of the Dems could be favored over some of the bottom feeders like Jindle, Christie, Fiorina, Graham, or Pataki.

[arely staircase]

4. Sanders is our least ealectable candidate in a general.

He would spend the entire campaign explaining how he isnt "that kind of socialist".

[Krytan11c]

5. Right because that's what he's doing now

His campaign would actually look similar to what is going on now, but with actual media coverage, allowing for his populist message to reach more people.

[bobclark86]

10. That's because the GOP doesn't see him as a threat...

Put him as the nominee, we'll see their tactics change from ignore to obliterate.

[AgingAmerican]

12. He is their biggest threat

Hence their pretending he doesn't exist. They do not have an answer to his clear message and bullshit will not win the day against Sanders.

[arely staircase]

13. Hardly

The socialist label is a non starter in a general.

Edited to say it will be at best a huge distraction. HRC isnt spending millions of dollars to make Bernie defend/denounce everything ever done in the name of socialism. The pukes will.

[AgingAmerican]

11. Red scare doesn't apply anymore

But your concern is noted

[arely staircase]

14. Socialist is right up there with atheist as far as political albatrosses go nt

[AgingAmerican]

16. With 70 year old FOX viewers

Millennials don't give a rats ass about it, and those who do see it as positive

[arely staircase]

17. With a majority of voters

Neither millenials nor fox veiwers are that big a demographic.

[Krytan11c]

18. Millennials have the highest population of any age demographic

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/01/16/this-year-millennials-will-overtake-baby-boomers/

According to pew research.

If a candidate can excite them that candidate will win. I see Bernie exciting them so far and think it will continue.

[SonderWoman]

20. And the lowest voter turnout:

[peacebird]

26. Check their turnout for 2008, when Obama excited them. Then prepare for the BernieBump in 2016!

[Cal33]

35. Yes. Your suggestion would make a fairer comparison.

[AgingAmerican]

19. Scare tactics won't sway anyone

Except those who have already made up their mind.

[HappyPlace]

22. I think Millenials are kinda OK with Socialism.

They didn't live through a Red scare, I don't think it's a problem.

[HappyPlace]

6. All the more reason to vote with our heart and soul and not out of fear. nt

[Peacetrain]

7. Me too!!!

Any of our candidates would be a much better choice.

[cali]

8. I don't think so.

[Ron Green]

9. If any of ours can beat any of theirs, why not nominate

the best?

Bernie Sanders.

[arely staircase]

15. He isnt imho

HRC is much better

[Ron Green]

21. Well, here's a fundamental disagreement, isn't it?

You say say that Hillary Clinton is a much better candidate than Bernie Sanders. I can imagine your reasons are that she's experienced on the world stage, that she is very well connected in Washington and especially within her party, that she will get lots done due to her ability to work across the aisle, that as a woman she would bring a new perspective to the White House... am I leaving anything out?

Of course my argument, well expressed by many on these threads, is that she is the very flower of the lobby-driven, bought politics that's brought us to this untenable place. And that Bernie Sanders courageously calls this out, offering a way for reasonable people on all sides to build a new way.

So you tell me - did I fairly express your argument? If not, what is it about HRC that REALLY makes her a better choice?

[Jamaal510]

23. I saw an article on FB today

that said that Donald Trump is actually out-polling all the Democratic candidates now. The GE is more than a year away, so I'm not going to read too much into that poll, but it's still sad and somewhat astonishing to see how he is even polling as high as he is. He shouldn't be taken seriously as presidential material whatsoever.

[Ron Green]

24. So many people are desperate for a straight-talking Daddy who tells them what to do.

Not politically correct, not afraid to give voice to their fear and racism.

It truly is sad; these aren't very thoughtful people, yet are convinced they're much smarter than the "sheeple" fooled by Obama's socialism.

[DanTex]

25. Except for Bernie, who would lose to anyone except Trump.

[stevenleser]

33. Trump worries me more with every passing day. He's outpolling both Hillary and Sanders now.

I think he poses a real danger.

[DanTex]

34. Interesting. Why is that?

My beliefs on Trump are still the conventional: "would love to run against him but think the GOP will eventually nominate someone more electable."

[stevenleser]

36. Support for him has turned into a movement IMHO. He has between 30-40% of the Repugs behind him

and the vast majority of the other 60-70% have him listed as their second choice.

Nothing he does seems to hurt him, in fact anything he says that would really hurt other candidates just seems to make him stronger.

A lot of the independent voters I talk to seem interested in voting for him.

[DanTex]

37. Hmm. The poll numbers are a little disconcerting, yes, but I still think

that ultimately people will recognize what a jackass he is. The Republican primary electorate is a pretty small fraction of the whole nation. He's already managed to totally alienate Latinos. Plus the media would be against him.

If Trump becomes president, I don't know how I could travel around overseas with a straight face. It was bad enough under Bush.

I remember a couple years ago apartment hunting in NYC I looked at a place in a Trump building, good apartment, but I just thought I couldn't live with myself if it said "Trump" everytime I walked into my home.

[Garrett78]

27. The Dem just has to win Florida.

The vast majority of states are decided. Florida would seal it for the Democrat. As would Ohio+Nevada. Or Ohio+Colorado. Or Ohio+Iowa. Or Nevada+Colorado+Iowa.

So, who can win Florida? That would depend in part on who the opponent is.

Anyway, if any of the Dem candidates can win, then nominate the most progressive one of the bunch. Of course, that isn't how it works. Money and perception rule the day, and I'll be shocked if Clinton isn't the nominee. So, can Clinton win Florida or one of those combinations I mentioned above? That's what the whole kit and caboodle boils down to.

[DrDan]

28. There was a similar post about Rand Paul a few years back

And look where we are

[morningfog]

29. I agree that any D could take and pug.

However, there are things that could disrupt that. A scandal, for example. Or a major blunder/gaffe at the most inopprotune time.

I think for the most part, for the pig to win, they would have to be damn near perfect and our person would have to flub in a signifcant way.

If one is voting in the primary solely on this consideration, who is least likely to impose in a scandal or gaffe?

[Android3.14]

30. Come on, arely, we all know who has the best shot, and it is not HRC

All the Rs hate her, half the Democrats think she is a corporate puppet with a 10 percent to 30 percent deciding Anyone But Hillary, and the vast sea of unwashed independent voters will split about 50/50. Combine that with a campaign with the luster of day-old oatmeal, and the conclusion is obvious.

That's the arithmetic, and it adds up to Bernie Sanders.

[Puddy]

31. Thanks.... I was starting to get worried. :)

[TSIAS]

32. I'm not so sure

For a while I've held faith in the demographic trends and assumed any Democrat would beat any Republican. However, if the Democratic candidate is so far underwater in regards to favorable/unfavorable it could open the way for a candidate like Rubio or Kasich to win.

If one thing is clear, presidential elections aren't really about the issues. I'd still make the Democrat a favorite, but I'm not as convinced that Clinton has what it takes to carry us to victory.