The 2016 Presidential Election Trainwreck

[Maximus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/us...ubio.html?_r=0

Frustrated and flailing as his candidacy threatens to slip away, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is embarking on a scalding effort over the next week to discredit Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, the man he blames for undermining his campaign and whose ascendancy he deeply resents.

And Mr. Christie has a secret ally: Jeb Bush.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/us...ubio.html?_r=0

Threatens to slip away? It was never really here. What a dope.

[Goatnapper'96]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/us...ubio.html?_r=0

Liberals grasping to the narrative that Trump or Cruz will be the Republican nominee. Either still might be but the reality is the "establishment" culling is happening and making it less likely either Cruz or Trump will win. I am sure some of the rivalry bitterness exists but the guys who were going to vote for Christie, Bush and Kasich will forgive Rubio for whatever sins the negative campaigning by the embittered ones throw out.

[All-American]

Threatens to slip away? It was never really here. What a dope.

I don't think that's true at all. Up until the bridge matter, he was a strong candidate, if not the favorite.

[byu71]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/us...ubio.html?_r=0

Anything specific Marco did to Christie? I don't remember a spat between them of any significance.

[All-American]

Anything specific Marco did to Christie? I don't remember a spat between them of any significance.

Took his votes.

[byu71]

Took his votes.

Christie does have a point unless I just haven't followed Marco close enough. What really has Marco done that he could put on a resume to be President of the US. Of course the same could be said for Trump, Cruz and Carson. In otherwords the 4 front runners resume would be very weak when applying for the job.

[Topper]

Christie does have a point unless I just haven't followed Marco close enough. What really has Marco done that he could put on a resume to be President of the US. Of course the same could be said for Trump, Cruz and Carson. In otherwords the 4 front runners resume would be very weak when applying for the job.

If you look at the likely candidates, all are completely unqualified. Clinton? One term Senator, with undistinguished results. Poor results as SoS. Sanders? Apparently, very unsuccessful in his career as a junior Senator from a small state. Trump? Never served office. Cruz? Disliked from Texas with no notable legislative distinctions. Rubio? Junior Senator from Florida.

The most qualified, Kasich and Christie, are the ones least likely to win.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

If you look at the likely candidates, all are completely unqualified. Clinton? One term Senator, with undistinguished results. Poor results as SoS. Sanders? Apparently, very unsuccessful in his career as a junior Senator from a small state. Trump? Never served office. Cruz? Disliked from Texas with no notable legislative distinctions. Rubio? Junior Senator from Florida.

The most qualified, Kasich and Christie, are the ones least likely to win.

For what it's worth, Rubio was the Speaker of the House in Florida before he became a Senator. I agree that Christie and Kasich are better qualified, but they can't win the nomination. In the general election, voters also seem to cast the consideration aside, John McCain vs. Obama -- although I absolutely loath McCain.

If you're looking at Rubio vs. Clinton, Hillary has shown ineptitude and dishonesty at her most important job. I'm not sure why doing a bad job as SoS is better than Marco Rubio's experience. The starting point of Hillary's resume is that she's married to Bill.

[All-American]

If you look at the likely candidates, all are completely unqualified. Clinton? One term Senator, with undistinguished results. Poor results as SoS. Sanders? Apparently, very unsuccessful in his career as a junior Senator from a small state. Trump? Never served office. Cruz? Disliked from Texas with no notable legislative distinctions. Rubio? Junior Senator from Florida.

The most qualified, Kasich and Christie, are the ones least likely to win.

I wish Kasich had caught on, but he just hasn't.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Carson gets rid of 50 staffers, his campaign will be shutting down probably after New Hampshire. I'm not sure why Fiorina hasn't quit.

Jeb will continue being Javert to Marco Valjean.

A lot depends on Cruz coming in third in NH. If he does, Kasich and Christie will probably get out. Leaving New Hampshire, there's a real chance only four candidates will remain.

BTW, the most recent poll shows Rubio in second in NH. If he beats Trump, I'm not sure what it means for South Carolina but I think that would mean he takes the Florida primary.

Edit, I guess Florida isn't until March 15 this year. There really isn't any reason for Bush to carry on after New Hampshire.

[Topper]

For what it's worth, Rubio was the Speaker of the House in Florida before he became a Senator. I agree that Christie and Kasich are better qualified, but they can't win the nomination. In the general election, voters also seem to cast the consideration aside, John McCain vs. Obama -- although I absolutely loath McCain.

If you're looking at Rubio vs. Clinton, Hillary has shown ineptitude and dishonesty at her most important job. I'm not sure why doing a bad job as SoS is better than Marco Rubio's experience. The starting point of Hillary's resume is that she's married to Bill.

I agree that Hillary is not qualified. She has been lousy in her two public positions, but you can bet her handlers will depict her service as having been exemplary. And Rubio is somebody I prefer as compared to her. If she had not married Bill, she would not have been a US Senator or SOS. Nobody would know her name. Nonetheless the best qualified candidates won't get elected.

It is a very odd situation we find ourselves in. Instead of a rational evaluation of qualifications and character, which any rational employer would do, we engage in the most irrational of processes. We are electing for the most power political office, yet tend to elect some who are must unqualified in terms of knowledge and experience. Earlier it seemed candidates needed to serve in various capacities to show some merit or some ability to handle the job.

Hillary has engendered conflict and scandal wherever she has been, as First Lady, and as Secretary of State, yet a substantial minority of the population find her qualified. Once upon a time we had governors from large states so we could see how they functioned in executive capacities over diverse electorates. Now, it is simply a beauty contests among those who can raise campaign funds. It is quite dispiriting to see us go this path.

[SandYFan]

Any chance Bernie wins the pledged delegate votes but then the superdelegates throw in behind Hillary to give her the nomination? Would that cause a division in the party?

[Uncle Ted]

Any chance Bernie wins the pledged delegate votes but then the superdelegates throw in behind Hillary to give her the nomination? Would that cause a division in the party?

Given that Hillary won six out of the six tie breaker coin tosses last week I would say her luck is better than most people's.

[thesaint258]

Any chance Bernie wins the pledged delegate votes but then the superdelegates throw in behind Hillary to give her the nomination? Would that cause a division in the party?

If that happens, Bernie should run as an independent and Ross Perot the Democratic Party.