(April 6, 2016 at 2:31 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(April 6, 2016 at 12:46 pm)MattB Wrote: Personally I don't like anyone running.  

Trump is a idiot, Hillary I don't trust, Sanders is a socialist so I'd need more details on what he proposes, Cruz is Tea Party even if he isn't saying that much.   The others don't know enough.

What is so wrong with socialism? I never understand the American aversion to a perfectly good way of living.

Oh, Americans like their socialist programs just fine so long as they don't have to own the word 'socialism' -- something conservatives rediscover every time they start blathering about doing away with Social Security or Medicare. Of course, our unwillingness to embrace the word results in the socialist programs we do have being funded and administered in a half-assed way, which plays into the hands of the programs' critics.

And 'round and 'round we go.

Ryan is a worthless scum-sucking pile of shit....just like every other republicunt.  He is, however, not stupid.  Why would he want to be associated with the skull-duggery needed to pull off that scenario knowing full well that Trump and Cruz will be calling him every name under the sun and unleashing their fans upon the "establishment"?

Ryan is young.  I can't see him throwing away any future chance to get involved in the current cesspool.

(April 6, 2016 at 3:47 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Ryan is a worthless scum-sucking pile of shit....just like every other republicunt.  He is, however, not stupid.  Why would he want to be associated with the skull-duggery needed to pull off that scenario knowing full well that Trump and Cruz will be calling him every name under the sun and unleashing their fans upon the "establishment"?

Ryan is young.  I can't see him throwing away any future chance to get involved in the current cesspool.

Ryan staying above the fray is the smart move. The question, though, is how compromised and paid-for he actually is. If the party leadership pushed hard for him to step in, would he have the stones to say, "No, not now"?

Unknown.

Ask yourself the follow-up question.  Why would the money men sacrifice their only bargaining chip in a lost cause?  They seem to have already decided that 2016 is a lost cause.

But have they really? I'm not so sure. Bush should have been dead in the water in '04, yet he managed to win. The GOP has a track record of making the unthinkable a reality.

Though I think Clinton would beat either Trump or Cruz handily, she still seems beatable if the GOP could manage to nominate someone who wasn't a raving lunatic or an asshole (yeah, yeah, I know -- just roll with the scenario, however implausible it is). How desperate are they to avoid another Clinton and a continuation of much of Obama's legacy? They might play their bargaining chip if they decide "four more years" is an intolerable prospect.

In my opinion, though, they're better off politically with Clinton in the White House than any of their current candidates. Their 2020 candidate, whoever that might be (Ryan?), would probably be able to surf into office on the wave of vitriol they will have whipped up by the end of her term.

Quote:Bush should have been dead in the water in '04, yet he managed to win.

I heard Paul Begala, a long time political analyst speak in 2005.  He said the lesson of '04 was that "war changes everything.... even if you start the war."

(April 6, 2016 at 12:27 pm)abaris Wrote:

(April 6, 2016 at 2:17 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: What are the numbers of Ryan vs either Democrat?

From an outside perspective there doesn't seem to be that much difference between Ryan and Hilary. Both corporate through and through, business as usual people.

The difference between Hilary and Ryan from where I'm sitting is that Hilary understands economics enough not to try anything too extreme, she won't fix the system but on the other hand she won't try and fuck it up even worse. Ryan on the other hand is an idiot Randbot, his loopy libertardism will have the US economy in a tailspin quicker than you can say hanging chad.

(April 6, 2016 at 5:15 pm)Crossless1 Wrote: But have they really? I'm not so sure. Bush should have been dead in the water in '04, yet he managed to win.

Can you spell treason? The GOP disenfranchised black, native and latino voters across the county, and if breaking the law to get your man into power isn't treason, I don't know what is.

(April 6, 2016 at 6:05 pm)Constable Dorfl Wrote: Ryan on the other hand is an idiot Randbot, his loopy libertardism will have the US economy in a tailspin quicker than you can say hanging chad.

Better than Trump though, I gatherl. The people he surrounded himself with, are from the very bottom of understanding anything. Barring the fact that he himself filed for bankrupcy several times.

(April 6, 2016 at 6:17 pm)abaris Wrote:

(April 6, 2016 at 6:05 pm)Constable Dorfl Wrote: Ryan on the other hand is an idiot Randbot, his loopy libertardism will have the US economy in a tailspin quicker than you can say hanging chad.

Better than Trump though, I gatherl. The people he surrounded himself with, are from the very bottom of understanding anything. Barring the fact that he himself filed for bankrupcy several times.

Who would you prefer for the US president?