2019-2020 US Elections Megathread I- It Begins

[Major-Tom]

Trump's approval ratings nationwide tend not to deviate from the 38% to 45% range (excluding outliers from unreliable pollsters such as Rasmussen). I'd argue that his base is about 40% of registered voters, and they'd stand by Trump if he was caught making out with Giuliani on live television.

In other words, scary, sure, but no surprise.

Honestly? That exact scenario would be firmly in the idgaf category. Trump empirically isn't a good person, obviously. Something like that is far less likely to make me change my vote than, say, his declaration of that border emergency.

Trying to run against a candidate's moral character when that candidate's character is 0% of their selling points seems a bit unproductive.

It's my attempt at hyperbole and far-fetched scenario, like when Trump declared he could shoot someone in Fifth Avenue and not lose any votes. Disgusting rhetoric, sure, but he wasn't wrong. His base is incredibly loyal is essentially what I'm saying.

I do agree with your overall idea, though, that the nominee running against Trump would be wise to focus on policy and the high road.

[Bienenhalde]

Nope, the Contra Democratus vote is a real thing and should not be underestimated

+1

I would like Trump to take a long walk off a short bridge into the Atlantic. But if literally no Democratic candidate is willing to put forward policy positions that are at least vaguely centrist, my hands are pretty much tied. Idiot in the White House or not, sacrificing the Executive Branch over personal dislike isn’t rational voting.

Have you considered supported William Weld's primary challenge against Trump?

[Liriena]

The results of the poll above really scare me. I mean, lets go Bernie, but the fact that Trump is a front runner? Have we not learned a thing? Is this some sort of joke that I'm missing out on?

He's the only Republican choice in the poll. But also, NSG does tend to show an overrepresentation of right-wing voters in polls.

[Telconi]

+1

I would like Trump to take a long walk off a short bridge into the Atlantic. But if literally no Democratic candidate is willing to put forward policy positions that are at least vaguely centrist, my hands are pretty much tied. Idiot in the White House or not, sacrificing the Executive Branch over personal dislike isn’t rational voting.

Have you considered supported William Weld's primary challenge against Trump?

A serious primary challenge on a sitting president is basically a recipe for certain loss.

[The South Falls]

Have you considered supported William Weld's primary challenge against Trump?

A serious primary challenge on a sitting president is basically a recipe for certain loss.

Especially such a polarizing one as this.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Bill Weld is terrible and should go become a Dem tbqh

[The South Falls]

Bill Weld is terrible and should go become a Dem tbqh

I mean, look at the president. Terrible is on both sides, laddy.

[Valrifell]

Nope, the Contra Democratus vote is a real thing and should not be underestimated

+1

I would like Trump to take a long walk off a short bridge into the Atlantic. But if literally no Democratic candidate is willing to put forward policy positions that are at least vaguely centrist, my hands are pretty much tied. Idiot in the White House or not, sacrificing the Executive Branch over personal dislike isn’t rational voting.

It's more existential threat to the prestige of the office and the trust in the institutions of the Republic. Believe it or not acting in the most transparently partisan way isn't great for national morale.

[Telconi]

+1

I would like Trump to take a long walk off a short bridge into the Atlantic. But if literally no Democratic candidate is willing to put forward policy positions that are at least vaguely centrist, my hands are pretty much tied. Idiot in the White House or not, sacrificing the Executive Branch over personal dislike isn’t rational voting.

It's more existential threat to the prestige of the office and the trust in the institutions of the Republic. Believe it or not acting in the most transparently partisan way isn't great for national morale.

I'd rather than than someone acting partisan while pretending they give a rat's ass about the other side.

[South Odreria]

Have you considered supported William Weld's primary challenge against Trump?

A serious primary challenge on a sitting president is basically a recipe for certain loss.

What does that have to do with Bill Weld?

[Luminesa]

The results of the poll above really scare me. I mean, lets go Bernie, but the fact that Trump is a front runner? Have we not learned a thing? Is this some sort of joke that I'm missing out on?

He's the only Republican choice in the poll. But also, NSG does tend to show an overrepresentation of right-wing voters in polls.

Maybe in polls, but...not really in population?

[Telconi]

A serious primary challenge on a sitting president is basically a recipe for certain loss.

What does that have to do with Bill Weld?

He's a primary challenger, to a sitting president?

[Zurkerx]

Buttigieg raises $7 million

I wonder if he'll dwarf Warren's fundraising total; it would be hilarious if he did.

[Pim Fortuyn]

>Tulsi Gabbard

Disgusting...

[Ngelmish]

What does that have to do with Bill Weld?

He's a primary challenger, to a sitting president?

Is he a "serious primary challenge" though?

[Ngelmish]

Is he a "serious primary challenge" though?

He's a former Governor, and polling about 8-10%.

Decent enough.

I'm talking about Telconi's assertion that the threshold is "recipe for defeat." I doubt Bill Weld can inflict Buchanan levels of damage on Trump, let alone rise to the standards of '76 or '80.

[Telconi]

He's a primary challenger, to a sitting president?

Is he a "serious primary challenge" though?

He's less so the fewer people who say "I think Trump's a douchenozzle so I'll vote for Bill Weld".

[Roosevetania]

I'm talking about Telconi's assertion that the threshold is "recipe for defeat." I doubt Bill Weld can inflict Buchanan levels of damage on Trump, let alone rise to the standards of '76 or '80.

I dunno, it could force him to divert resources, and make him appear weak in a 1v1-debate without Hillary's weaknesses.

I doubt it'll get off the ground. There have only been a couple modern presidential primary challenges, and the last time one was successful was in the 1800s. The RNC may not have debates or even primaries.

Buttigieg raises $7 million

I wonder if he'll dwarf Warren's fundraising total; it would be hilarious if he did.

He's having a nice bump. He might be good in the cabinet (and/or as a candidate in the future), but I think he should have a little more experience.

[Northern Fraion]

Will buttigieg need more money though?

[Roosevetania]

I doubt it'll get off the ground. There have only been a couple modern presidential primary challenges, and the last time one was successful was in the 1800s. The RNC may not have debates or even primaries.

He's having a nice bump. He might be good in the cabinet (and/or as a candidate in the future), but I think he should have a little more experience.

Honestly, he, Biden, Warren, and Bernie are my top candidates right now.

That's interesting, seeing as Biden's camp and Bernie's camp are often very opposed. I find it fascinating that you really like someone like Bullock and someone like Yang. They're very different.

[Ngelmish]

Is he a "serious primary challenge" though?

He's less so the fewer people who say "I think Trump's a douchenozzle so I'll vote for Bill Weld".

So he's probably not terribly damaging. If Trump loses, it won't be due to Bill Weld.

[Northern Fraion]

That's interesting, seeing as Biden's camp and Bernie's camp are often very opposed. I find it fascinating that you really like someone like Bullock and someone like Yang. They're very different.

To be fair my religious beliefs have me cautious of anyone who doesn't want a woman as a wife of being the antichrist-especially Buttigieg-and I still really like him and may vote for him.


I'm not exactly based on consistency in who I like to vote for.

That’s pretty cool actually. That, despite your religious beliefs, you still are open-minded enough to consider him and his ideas.

[G-Tech Corporation]

To be fair my religious beliefs have me cautious of anyone who doesn't want a woman as a wife of being the antichrist-especially Buttigieg-and I still really like him and may vote for him.


I'm not exactly based on consistency in who I like to vote for.

That’s pretty cool actually. That, despite your religious beliefs, you still are open-minded enough to consider him and his ideas.

Hell, I kinda like Buttigieg, and I'm about as reactionary as you get in the States, from a social policy standpoint. I would rather have a genuine-seeming creature like him than an unlikeable politician like Warren or HRC any day of the week.

[Valrifell]

Buttigieg raises $7 million

I wonder if he'll dwarf Warren's fundraising total; it would be hilarious if he did.

Can I just remind everyone for the record that Buttigieg was at a severe disadvantage not only with name recognition but with basic campaign infrastructure and outreach as well? Sanders, O'Rourke, and Harris, had email lists from previous races, as well as an army of willing surrogates to spread the word and work the ground game.

That a virtual nobody was able to work their way up to a mid-top tier candidate with ~150,000 individual donors and 7mil in the bank (which could have been higher had he been more aggressive with fundraising and had better infrastructure in place) is just really impressive and very interesting.

[Valrifell]

Will buttigieg need more money though?

He's gotten this far on what are essentially scraps. Yes, of course, but he definitely didn't have the worst quarter of the declared candidates.

Whether or not the Buttigieg campaign can keep up and maintain this wave into the White House will be interesting to see.