Political Roundtable Part XXVII

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Pete honestly said "why don't I throw my hat in the ring and see what happens" and he was successful beyond his wildest dreams.

I wish we lived in a universe where Pete Buttigieg was the rightmost candidate on the political spectrum in the United States. We could have calm, rational discussions about how much intervention is needed by the government in the economy and what is the least most interventionary way to do it. I wish conservatives were represented by intellectuals with compassion.

Is there any chance the failed candidate(s) pocket the campaign moneys raised during their failed efforts?

What happens to the money?

[dckingsfan]

Did Idiot, Jr really say Dems want millions to die from coronavirus - so it'll help them with the elections? And did Pence really refuse to admonish him for it?

Pretty interesting spin, no? Make any kind of statement and it is twisted into, Ds support the coronavirus... so, now you aren't just a baby killer - you are an elderly killer. Just saying...

[dckingsfan]

Rush Limbaugh's gloating.

He is/was right about timing and acceptance or lack of for a gay candidate.

So looks like Buttigieg is dropping out. What doesn’t get talked about enough is that he’s the first openly gay candidate to not only run but win a primary. There was no chance for him this election but I think he has a bright future ahead of him. He should make a run for Senate in Indiana or Governor even.

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TBH, I had written Mayor Pete off before I even knew he was gay. I seriously doubt being gay was the reason he's losing. He's 38 years old and only risen to Mayor of... Indiana. He was never more than a longshot. Maybe sometime in the future? He'll probably give his support to Biden - that shouldn't hurt Biden.

He actually ran a terrific campaign - better than Beto.

[Pointgod]

Did Idiot, Jr really say Dems want millions to die from coronavirus - so it'll help them with the elections? And did Pence really refuse to admonish him for it?

Yes he did. Trump and his whole family (except for Tiffany and Barron of course) are a malignant evil. This why he doesn’t deserve any credit for his response. He cares more about the stock market, reduced CDC funding and is claiming that Democrats want millions to die, keep in mind this is in a country where the MAGA bomber and tree of life synagogue shootings happened because of Trump stoking hate. I don’t want to hear any bs about both sides, these people are just **** evil.

[Ruzious]

Did Idiot, Jr really say Dems want millions to die from coronavirus - so it'll help them with the elections? And did Pence really refuse to admonish him for it?

Yes he did. Trump and his whole family (except for Tiffany and Barron of course) are a malignant evil. This why he doesn’t deserve any credit for his response. He cares more about the stock market, reduced CDC funding and is claiming that Democrats want millions to die, keep in mind this is in a country where the MAGA bomber and tree of life synagogue shootings happened because of Trump stoking hate. I don’t want to hear any bs about both sides, these people are just **** evil.

I can forgive and forget a lot of things, but Doofy Jr went so far over the line there - there's going to be repercussions for that. Call me over-sensitive or over-reacting, I don't give a flying bleep - sorry mods. He drew the line in the sand, and there will be repercussions one way or t'other.

[bsilver]

Pete honestly said "why don't I throw my hat in the ring and see what happens" and he was successful beyond his wildest dreams.

I wish we lived in a universe where Pete Buttigieg was the rightmost candidate on the political spectrum in the United States. We could have calm, rational discussions about how much intervention is needed by the government in the economy and what is the least most interventionary way to do it. I wish conservatives were represented by intellectuals with compassion.

Is there any chance the failed candidate(s) pocket the campaign moneys raised during their failed efforts?

What happens to the money?

"The Federal Election Commission has strict rules about what federal candidates can and can't do with leftover campaign money, and the biggest directive is that they can't pocket it for personal use.

Here's what a campaign committee is allowed to do with any lingering cash: it can donate the funds to charities or political parties; it can contribute $2000 per election to other candidates; and it can save the money in case the candidate chooses to run again. However, those regulations don't apply to the relatively new super PACs (Political Action Committees); this is only the third election where they have played a role, and there are currently no rules to stipulate what happens to that money beyond that it cannot go to fund another federal candidate. Much of that money tends to be returned to its original donors, used to wrap up the failed campaign, or donated to back a state-level candidate. The goal, however, is always to spend all of that money."

[Pointgod]

Good, we need some clarity. So we don't have people saying "well I woulda won but so and so wouldn't drop out and split the vote"

I think what most people don’t realize is that money plays a big factor. Both Pete and Klobachar’s strategies were to over perform early on in an effort to get some of the money flowing to keep their campaigns afloat. It’s kind shows the perverse problem with money in politics. If you don’t overperform early, then you don’t have money for the later states but if you don’t spend early on you won’t survive until the later states. That’s why elections need to be publicly funded. Imagine how much different the election might look if candidates like Castro, Booker and Harris were able to stay in to Super Tuesday.

[closg00]

Dems only option after Super Tuesday is to do what Republican's did for Trump, embrace him 100% and DON"T waiver, sell the sh__it out of him or risk getting swept out of power

[Pointgod]

Dems only option after Super Tuesday is to do what Republican's did for Trump, embrace him 100% and DON"T waiver, sell the sh__it out of him or risk getting swept out of power

Is this directed to a particular candidate or any candidate that wins the nomination?

[Zonkerbl]

I sympathize with the group of Dems who want this election basically to be about whether you want an ahole as President or a nice guy. I think that's what all our lizard brains dislike about Trump - he's a lying, arrogant, bully. He's unlikeable. Biden is likeable. That's why there's a sense if you put Biden up against Trump people's good nature will prevail and Trump will get trounced.

Put Bernie up against Trump and it's a referendum on what kind of ahole you want to be President, one who swings for your team or the other team. That's a riskier proposition and a much easier problem to solve for Trump.

Look at Biden's "flubs." Do *any* of them involve him mocking a disabled reporter, or bragging about sexually assaulting women? Every time Biden messes up it just draws attention to how different his personality is from Trump's.

[Pointgod]

I sympathize with the group of Dems who want this election basically to be about whether you want an ahole as President or a nice guy. I think that's what all our lizard brains dislike about Trump - he's a lying, arrogant, bully. He's unlikeable. Biden is likeable. That's why there's a sense if you put Biden up against Trump people's good nature will prevail and Trump will get trounced.

Put Bernie up against Trump and it's a referendum on what kind of ahole you want to be President, one who swings for your team or the other team. That's a riskier proposition and a much easier problem to solve for Trump.

Look at Biden's "flubs." Do *any* of them involve him mocking a disabled reporter, or bragging about sexually assaulting women? Every time Biden messes up it just draws attention to how different his personality is from Trump's.

For all the talk about the Democratic Party being diverse and a broad coalition, it’s amazing that the two leading candidates are two, very old white men(Bloomberg is a joke that shouldn’t even be acknowledged). There’s definitely something broken about politics and the way that candidates are covered that needs to be changed.

At the end of the day it’s going to be two old septuagenarians yelling at each other for the Presidency. I get that Bernie energizes his base but so many of his supporters refuse to acknowledge that some people are tired of the divisiveness and constant fighting. Bernie has shown that this won’t change, and him as President just means that he’ll continue to fight his own party.

[Kanyewest]

I sympathize with the group of Dems who want this election basically to be about whether you want an ahole as President or a nice guy. I think that's what all our lizard brains dislike about Trump - he's a lying, arrogant, bully. He's unlikeable. Biden is likeable. That's why there's a sense if you put Biden up against Trump people's good nature will prevail and Trump will get trounced.

Put Bernie up against Trump and it's a referendum on what kind of ahole you want to be President, one who swings for your team or the other team. That's a riskier proposition and a much easier problem to solve for Trump.

Look at Biden's "flubs." Do *any* of them involve him mocking a disabled reporter, or bragging about sexually assaulting women? Every time Biden messes up it just draws attention to how different his personality is from Trump's.

For all the talk about the Democratic Party being diverse and a broad coalition, it’s amazing that the two leading candidates are two, very old white men(Bloomberg is a joke that shouldn’t even be acknowledged). There’s definitely something broken about politics and the way that candidates are covered that needs to be changed.

At the end of the day it’s going to be two old septuagenarians yelling at each other for the Presidency. I get that Bernie energizes his base but so many of his supporters refuse to acknowledge that some people are tired of the divisiveness and constant fighting. Bernie has shown that this won’t change, and him as President just means that he’ll continue to fight his own party.

Although Bernie is also the first Jewish candidate that has a viable chance of winning this large in the primary.

By the way, I don't think nominating Joe will end the fighting either(you could make a case it would be less) . For instance, I talked to moderate democrat who is likely to support Biden who was bashing Bernie/Warren/Castro.

[dobrojim]

Good, we need some clarity. So we don't have people saying "well I woulda won but so and so wouldn't drop out and split the vote"

I think what most people don’t realize is that money plays a big factor. Both Pete and Klobachar’s strategies were to over perform early on in an effort to get some of the money flowing to keep their campaigns afloat. It’s kind shows the perverse problem with money in politics. If you don’t overperform early, then you don’t have money for the later states but if you don’t spend early on you won’t survive until the later states. That’s why elections need to be publicly funded. Imagine how much different the election might look if candidates like Castro, Booker and Harris were able to stay in to Super Tuesday.

I've said it before so pardon me if this is repetitious.

Elections would be so much cheaper if they were publicly funded when you consider the total
costs to society at large. Private donations often result in legislation with narrow benefits
(as far as who benefits) and broad costs. The return on investment for donors is very high.

[dckingsfan]

Good, we need some clarity. So we don't have people saying "well I woulda won but so and so wouldn't drop out and split the vote"

I think what most people don’t realize is that money plays a big factor. Both Pete and Klobachar’s strategies were to over perform early on in an effort to get some of the money flowing to keep their campaigns afloat. It’s kind shows the perverse problem with money in politics. If you don’t overperform early, then you don’t have money for the later states but if you don’t spend early on you won’t survive until the later states. That’s why elections need to be publicly funded. Imagine how much different the election might look if candidates like Castro, Booker and Harris were able to stay in to Super Tuesday.

I've said it before so pardon me if this is repetitious.

Elections would be so much cheaper if they were publicly funded when you consider the total
costs to society at large. Private donations often result in legislation with narrow benefits
(as far as who benefits) and broad costs. The return on investment for donors is very high.

I actually think Yang had the best idea on the matter...

[Kanyewest]

There are a couple posts in my Facebook feed who are going to be voting for Warren today. That being said , it feels like throwing away your vote (ie Nader or Jill Stein) in what is probably going to be a head to head against between Biden/Sanders.

If I had to guess more than half of the Warren supporters I know may end up supporting Biden (although that probably doesn't bear out in a national average). I also think people who have either Sanders or Biden as a close second are probably going to vote for that candidate on Super Tuesday.

[Kanyewest]

Also if Warren struggles as expected today, I wonder if she will drop out and who will she endorse. I think she will either endorse Sanders or not endorse at all, but I wouldn't rule her out as someone who endorses Biden like Beto, Pete, Amy (and a non-endorsement may be like an endorsement for Biden anyways).

I remember people were saying that Sanders should drop out if he was 3rd and coalesce around Warren when he was behind- but I am not seeing those same people saying that Warren should drop out... yet- that could change after Super Tuesday.

[Zonkerbl]

I absolutely encourage people to vote for Warren if they think she's the best candidate. Yell at Bloomberg to drop out if you feel inclined, but Warren absolutely is allowed to still be in the race.

I think she is taking more votes from Bernie than from Biden, fwiw.

[I_Like_Dirt]

If I had to guess more than half of the Warren supporters I know may end up supporting Biden (although that probably doesn't bear out in a national average). I also think people who have either Sanders or Biden as a close second are probably going to vote for that candidate on Super Tuesday.

I think you're quite probably right on both counts and would also suggest that Warren's supporters actually do lean Biden on a national average. It's obviously up in the air, but anyone who hasn't already bailed on Warren for Bernie, simply isn't going to do it. This is also where I've been suggesting since before this race began that Bernie was probably going to have to face a choice: stepping back and let Warren take a charge and actually have a shot at trying to get at least some of the ideas he supposedly believes in passed, of continuing on as is and ultimately falling just short again but at least getting the glory for taking his shot. He chose the latter. And while this still may play out entirely differently, I don't get the impression that's actually what's going to happen. And I say this as a person who thinks both Bernie and Biden are two of the worst candidates that started out in the race, but would probably lean Bernie if those were the only two options.

Edit:

Another example of how Bernie really does cost himself a fair bit is his relationship with Warren. A lot of people looked at the whole Warren/Bernie spat about their private conversation as though Warren was just trying to score political points. The thing is, she really didn't have a lot to gain from it. Maybe it was a desperate attempt to try and move in on Bernie's political turf, but the flipside here is that if there was any actual truth to it, by far the biggest fallout would be Bernie actually damaging any trust Warren might have had in him, both from anything he may or may not have said, and then his reaction thereafter. It might be nothing, but there sure seems like there should be some common ground between those two candidates and getting the sense that Warren really doesn't trust Bernie the same way that a lot of the other less progressive candidates clearly trust Biden begs a fair few questions.

[Ruzious]

I absolutely encourage people to vote for Warren if they think she's the best candidate. Yell at Bloomberg to drop out if you feel inclined, but Warren absolutely is allowed to still be in the race.

I think she is taking more votes from Bernie than from Biden, fwiw.

Absolutely Warren should stay in it. She's earned it at least as much as the other candidates. Let's at least wait till she really has no chance before comparing her to Ralph Nader or Jill Stein.

[Kanyewest]

I absolutely encourage people to vote for Warren if they think she's the best candidate. Yell at Bloomberg to drop out if you feel inclined, but Warren absolutely is allowed to still be in the race.

I think she is taking more votes from Bernie than from Biden, fwiw.

Absolutely Warren should stay in it. She's earned it at least as much as the other candidates. Let's at least wait till she really has no chance before comparing her to Ralph Nader or Jill Stein.

538 gives her a .1% chance of getting a plurality of delegates. I suppose neither Ralph Nader or Jill Stein never had that much of a chance of getting the presidency.