U.S. Presidential Election 2016 (Sponsored by Betty Croker's Hamburger Helper)

[bruhnaldo]

I honest to God think Trump has a much better chance than what the media would like you to believe.

When it comes down to Trump vs. Hillary I think there's a a good deal of people who would, as was previously alluded by others, see Trump as more of a centralist candidate than a true conservative republican. What many have said as a slight against Trump being the republican nominee (his documented liberal leanings on certain issues) could help him rise above Hillary.

If you really think about it, Hillary is the exact politician that Trump has been railing against this entire time anyways. I think a lot of Americans might weigh up the lesser of two evils and say "Maybe we need to try a different, less politically inclined direction." Especially when it comes to people 40+ and 50+. They'll try to draw parallel to the Reagan administration and convince themselves that way.

I think Hillary has a strong base in place but I struggle to see how her policies and rhetoric will actually win over any voters. Not saying Trump's is much better, but the sensational fanaticism that Trump pushes is done so in a way that can romanticize, as opposed to the grating rhetoric that Hillary generally comes out with.

It's also worth noting that this is still America and there's a large portion of the country (not a majority by any means) that will treat the election like American Idol/Big Brother and vote strictly for things that really have nothing to do with either candidates policy.

All in all, there's a lot of factors that could easily favor Teflon Don that I'm not so sure Hillary will be able to combat in a way that doesn't come off as (more) snobbish (than Donald is).

[Henry]

Ted Cruz is "Lucifer in the flesh", says John Boehner.

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36163188

[ItalAussie]

I can't see Trump winning the general election.

But I didn't think he'd get this far, so what do I know?

[Lewis]

Does he have any sort of constituency beyond pissed-off white people (and isn't it actually just pissed-off white men)? Other than with the help of a bizarrely low turn-out, where does he find the numbers to avoid an absolute battering?

[GS]

Does he have any sort of constituency beyond pissed-off white people (and isn't it actually just pissed-off white men)? Other than with the help of a bizarrely low turn-out, where does he find the numbers to avoid an absolute battering?

This is it. Given his misogyny, you can't see him winning the percentage of the women's vote he would need. Similarly, he's surely going to get battered in any area of the country where there's a large non-white vote. How does he overcome that plus a system already weighing in favour of the Democrats? I can't see it.

[Hux]

It's been a fight for second for quite some time. This explains why the financial industry has been backing Clinton: the industry is apolitical (not to mention chock full of professional gamblers).

Finance had backed Rubio and Bush prior to their departures, but now the vast majority of contributions are going to the pantsuit.

[phonics]

Anyone seen the WhiteHouse Correspondents Dinner this time around? Any good?

[ItalAussie]

I thought it was one of Obama's best, He had some cracking lines.

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/1/11549262...ondents-dinner

There was definitely an edge to the comedy which he wouldn't have had at the start of his term.

[GS]

I thought it was one of Obama's best, He had some cracking lines.

And on the sixth day, He created Obamacare and saw that it was good.

[ItalAussie]

And on the sixth day, He created Obamacare and saw that it was good.

No idea what you're driving at.

[GS]

You capitalised the pronoun for no reason whatsoever.

It doesn't matter.

[Disco]

You'd think Ital of all people would get that.

[ItalAussie]

Oh! Didn't catch that. Actually meant to be a period at the end of the first part, rather than a comma.

[phonics]

The only thing playing into Trumps hands is that this will be the most unpopular election of all time meaning a low turnout could help him. The only problem with this being that he's so unpopular it's record breaking.

[GS]

I thought it was one of Obama's best, He had some cracking lines.

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/1/11549262...ondents-dinner

There was definitely an edge to the comedy which he wouldn't have had at the start of his term.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIDEGN4Js40

I think this is great.

[Spoonsky]

How was Obama at 23.7% unfavorable back in 2008? Straight racism or what? All he talked about was HOPE and UNITY.

[ItalAussie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIDEGN4Js40

I think this is great.

That's great. Biden and Boehner were really good sports about it, too.

[Henry]

How was Obama at 23.7% unfavorable back in 2008? Straight racism or what? All he talked about was HOPE and UNITY.

There was a lot of smearing going on at the time if you remember - Muslim, Kenyan, socialism, black supremacy and so forth.

The increasing polarisation/ dislike for politics is very evident from those stats as time progresses.

[GS]

It seems Trump is going to win Indiana well, surely effectively tying up the nomination.

Grim.

[mugbull]

Cruz is out boys. Glorious day.

[elth]

Remarkable. Something really changed for Trump just before New York - his polls shot up 10% in about a week, after he'd struggled to clear 35% for about a year before that. And it's held up in all of the primaries since, including tonight where he's outperformed his long term average in Indiana by 12.5%.

Whatever it was, he seems to have convinced enough people that it's all over. Again, utterly remarkable and if he doesn't kick off WW3 and nuclear winter us all, the number of political science PhD's based on this race might exceed the number of votes Rubio got.

Nice consolation night for Sanders.

[ItalAussie]

You have to think that a result like this is probably going to make other nations a bit more wary of the US in general. That much power even potentially in the hands of individuals who are that unpredictable will surely lead to some serious international side-eyeing.

[Bartholomert]

Does he have any sort of constituency beyond pissed-off white people (and isn't it actually just pissed-off white men)? Other than with the help of a bizarrely low turn-out, where does he find the numbers to avoid an absolute battering?

Yes.

People agree with him, America is a fundamentally conservative country, and they absolutely hate the cowering obsequious un-American retreat from undisputed global power that they've had to swallow in the name of tolerance and so called necessity. Time to make America great again. All hail the God Emperor.

[ItalAussie]

It occurred to me the other day that Trump is basically Silvio Berlusconi.

The real question is whether America is Italy.

[Vim]

And he rounds off his campaign by elbowing his wife in the face.

[John Arne]

Jab, then an elbow. That's the biggest impact he'll have in American politics.

[Davgooner]

America is a fundamentally conservative country,

Hmmm.

[John Arne]

I don't think I have ever meet an American under the age of 35 who is a republican. Many of the older people I meet are, but never the young-middle aged ones.

Maybe it's just that those who travel more, tend to be more liberal.

[niko_cee]

Younger people, in general, tend to be more liberal. It's only when you have something you want to keep hold of that your turn to the other side.

That and about 99% of Americans never leave the motherland, so your Republican voters are probably in there.

[phonics]

Think it's up to 13% of Americans have a passport these days...

[Pepe]

I don't think I have ever meet an American under the age of 35 who is a republican. Many of the older people I meet are, but never the young-middle aged ones.

Maybe it's just that those who travel more, tend to be more liberal.

I have.

[Vim]

I'm pretty sure Trump and activists like Milo Yannopoulos (sp?) are bringing some young voters to the Republican party, actually.

[Henry]

Yes.

People agree with him,

You haven't said which people. Cite some polls.

I predict that when he gets his ass handed to him in the general election, you'll be crying about some conspiracy or other designed to keep him out.

[Disco]

One of the benefits of Harold getting banned is that I'd completely forgotten that Milo tosser even existed.

[bruhnaldo]

I don't think I have ever meet an American under the age of 35 who is a republican.

Hello. I'm "Bruh". Nice to meet you.

[bruhnaldo]

Also shout out to Milo DA GAWD.

I love that little homo.

[Pepe]

Kasich gone too.

The Donald.

[Byron]

That's it. The whole has turned upside down.

[phonics]

Hello. I'm "Bruh". Nice to meet you.

Toggle Spoiler

They really should nuke you guys off the map.

[bruhnaldo]

Lmao. Florida is certainly a very, very interesting place.

[GS]

Trump with the nomination. Horrendous day.

[Henry]

Kasich gone too.

And promptly being considered for the VP nod, apparently. Probably why he was staying in.

[Vim]

I read somewhere he was staying in to get some connections and lay the groundwork for a possible 2020 bid.

Either way, Trump v Clinton is an absolute shitfest for several reasons. I think both are part Berlusconi, in that Trump has the same humour and Clinton has the same criminality. Between the two, I much prefer Trump, not that my opinion matters.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd rather have dinner with Trump, but I'd probably rather Hillary was president.

[GS]

You couldn't vote for Trump based on some of his public statements. Clinton's a shitehawk as well, but less so. In a battle of the lesser evil, Clinton gets your vote unless you're a loon.

[Vim]

I just can't seem to bring myself not to absolutely despise Hillary.

[GS]

As do most people, but the fucking state of this - http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/02/po...ists-families/. You can't vote for him, unless you're a loon.

[Bernanke]

McCain endorsing Trump is just sad.

[Spoonsky]

People, especially young people, let their personal hatred of Hillary cloud their decision. It's absolutely no decision between the two. Clinton will continue Obama's policies and philosophy, Trump will be very dangerous to a lot of vulnerable people in this country.

[elth]

I don't really get the visceral hatred for Clinton. She's just a politician with a long history of doing politician things.