U.S. 2016 Presidential Elections - Democrats' Discussion

[Argentarino]

Ah yes, the 2016 elections: that beautiful season where Democrats call Republicans "fascists" and where Republicans call Democrats "communists." Anyway, I saw a thread about Republican candidates for the 2016 GOP primary and I decided that I would start a thread for the Democrats. Granted, there is one notable Democrat who has declared her candidacy, but there are so many more potential candidates, it would be rude not to consider them. So, who would you support, and why? If your option isn't listed, say who it is in the thread.

Declared:
Hillary Clinton

Potential*
*Those who are openly exploring the option to run or who are considered to run by the public

Joe Biden
Lincoln Chafee
Andrew Cuomo
Kirsten Gillibrand
Amy Klobuchar
Martin O'Malley
Bernie Sanders
Brian Schweitzer
Mark Warner
Elizabeth Warren
Jim Webb

Personally, I support Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland. I originally was going to support Hillary Clinton, but in the end, Governor O'Malley blew me away. Yeah, he isn't that well-known in political circles, but he has administrative experience that Hillary doesn't have - as a former Senator or even as a former Secretary of State. He has also led the state of Maryland to a relatively good place. Here's some info on what he accomplished as governor, from here: a remarkable drop in crime statistics, number one national ranking of public schools, $1b cash reserves, 8th fastest post-recession national recovery rate, and number one rank for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. That being said, he would have a long way to go as a candidate if he ever declared. Hillary definitely has a bigger war chest than O'Malley, not to mention invaluable name recognition.

So, fellow Democrats, who would you support?

[United Russian Soviet States]

I hope the Democrats self destruct.

[New Werpland]

I hope the Democrats self destruct.

Why?

[Argentarino]

I hope the Democrats self destruct.

Why?

Don't feed the troll. Just ignore him.

[New Werpland]

Hillary, because she's going to be a big advantage over the Republicans and I'm not taking a chance while the Kochs raise 500 million or whatever.

[New Werpland]

Why?

Don't feed the troll. Just ignore him.

I should have learned...

[The Liberated Territories]

I find Jim Webb tolerable.

[United Russian Soviet States]

I hope the Democrats self destruct.

Why?

The party is stupid.

[Romalae]

Why?

The party is stupid.

Very well-developed, thoughtful critique.

[Spoder]

Even if I were a registered voter, I don't think I'd even consider voting for a candidate from either of the major parties.

[The Great Warrior Rivers]

I'm glad that Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are getting a lot of votes in the thread poll right now. I hope they run together if and when the time comes. We need them in the White House.

[Romalae]

I'm glad that Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are getting a lot of votes in the thread poll right now. I hope they run together if and when the time comes. We need them in the White House.

I wish. But Elizabeth Warren is not running, as she has said repeatedly. Perhaps progressives should accept that she's more likely to be effectual in her current role?

[Republic of Coldwater]

If they can magically field a Democrat like Calhoun (minus the racism), or Cleveland, they have my full support.

[United Russian Soviet States]

Bernie Sanders would never be able to win in America. We still have anti-socialist sentiment here.

[The Great Warrior Rivers]

I'm glad that Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are getting a lot of votes in the thread poll right now. I hope they run together if and when the time comes. We need them in the White House.

I wish. But Elizabeth Warren is not running, as she has said repeatedly. Perhaps progressives should accept that she's more likely to be effectual in her current role?

Maybe.... Bernie then?

[Argentarino]

I wish. But Elizabeth Warren is not running, as she has said repeatedly. Perhaps progressives should accept that she's more likely to be effectual in her current role?

Maybe.... Bernie then?

I don't know about Bernie Sanders. I mean, don't get me wrong, I agree with him on a lot of things, but I don't think he'd be a practical enough guy to win the election and hold onto the White House. But that is up in the air.

[Second Blazing]

John Huntsman could take on Hilary if he switched parties.

[Delkora]

If they can magically field a Democrat like Calhoun (minus the racism), or Cleveland, they have my full support.

Yes, they should run an upstanding man like John C. Calhoun, who supported slavery and secession. Or Grover Cleveland, who stood in the way of voting rights and advocated imperialism.

If you're looking for candidates like this, you need look no further than the Republican Party.

[Romalae]

If they can magically field a Democrat like Calhoun (minus the racism), or Cleveland, they have my full support.

Yes, they should run an upstanding man like John C. Calhoun, who supported slavery and secession. Or Grover Cleveland, who stood in the way of voting rights and advocated imperialism.

If you're looking for candidates like this, you need look no further than the Republican Party.

One look at that poster's signature and you'll see what we're working with here.

I wish. But Elizabeth Warren is not running, as she has said repeatedly. Perhaps progressives should accept that she's more likely to be effectual in her current role?

Maybe.... Bernie then?

Not happening, realistically speaking.

[The Nuclear Fist]

This is a bad election for us. If we try and field a more progressive candidate, we'll find much fewer voters rallying around our flag. The best thing we can do right now is support Hillary. The alternative is handing the presidency to the GOP, and we've seen the extremist Tea Party types fester in them and rot the whole thing.

I don't want any of those fucks in power. Hillary may not be great, but they'll fuck us all raw and demand payment for the privilege.

[Romalae]

This is a bad election for us. If we try and field a more progressive candidate, we'll find much fewer voters rallying around our flag. The best thing we can do right now is support Hillary. The alternative is handing the presidency to the GOP, and we've seen the extremist Tea Party types fester in them and rot the whole thing.

I don't want any of those fucks in power. Hillary may not be great, but they'll fuck us all raw and demand payment for the privilege.

Unfortunately, you are exactly right.

[Spoder]

This is a bad election for us. If we try and field a more progressive candidate, we'll find much fewer voters rallying around our flag. The best thing we can do right now is support Hillary. The alternative is handing the presidency to the GOP, and we've seen the extremist Tea Party types fester in them and rot the whole thing.

I don't want any of those fucks in power. Hillary may not be great, but they'll fuck us all raw and demand payment for the privilege.

I don't want Hillary in power either.

I don't want any of them in power.

[Silentvoice]

Either Warren or Sanders.

[The Nuclear Fist]

This is a bad election for us. If we try and field a more progressive candidate, we'll find much fewer voters rallying around our flag. The best thing we can do right now is support Hillary. The alternative is handing the presidency to the GOP, and we've seen the extremist Tea Party types fester in them and rot the whole thing.

I don't want any of those fucks in power. Hillary may not be great, but they'll fuck us all raw and demand payment for the privilege.

I don't want Hillary in power either.

I don't want any of them in power.

You can ride that beautiful idealism into the sun if you want, buddy. Me, I'm going to keep on living in the real world, and here in the real world we accept that sometimes we have to make hard choices. Sometimes we have to be pragmatic.

And the pragmatic choice here is Hillary. Or would you rather let one of the GOP lot take the reigns with a senate and house stacked in their favor, on top of the presidency?

We can either grind our teeth and wait out the worst of it or let nutters take us back to that wonderful world of 1890?

Personally I'm not fond of living in filth and poverty, with no respect to who I want to love and no help when I'm in need.

[The Fair Republic]

Probably O'Mally or Webb but Hillary is going to win. Her war chest is too large