2019-2020 US Elections Megathread I- It Begins

[The South Falls]

That's true. He did have some parliamentary influence.

"He had some parliamentary influence" is a pretty tame way of saying a framed headshot of LKY still adorns the bedrooms of PAP parliamentarians, and made it virtually impossible for any other party in Singapore to gain a majority.

No, I meant the other way round. But yes.

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

The right which is more integral takes precedence.

And who decides which is more integral?

The one which provides the most utility to society. The philosophy of utilitarianism is the foundation of a democracy.

[Northern Davincia]

And who decides which is more integral?

The one which provides the most utility to society. The philosophy of utilitarianism is the foundation of a democracy.

Until you hit the utility monster.

[Valrifell]

And who decides which is more integral?

The one which provides the most utility to society. The philosophy of utilitarianism is the foundation of a democracy.

Except utilitarianism as a philosophy is younger than the concept of democracy.

Much younger.

[Hediacrana]

Bit of a shame Beto is not in the options -- I mean, he would not be my favoured candidate, and I get that he doesn't meet the criteria of this poll, but for better or worse, chances of him not running frankly seem pretty low to me at this point, and I bet results would look look quite different if he was in there.

He's been pretty adamant about not running in every single interview he's been asked and hasn't taken any steps to prepare for such a campaign. Unlike, say, Warren or Booker who have essentially declared their intention months ago and just didn't voice it yet.

According to the WSJ, Beto "doesn’t plan to make a final decision on a presidential bid until at least February." And while he's weighing his options, he's going on a speaking tour to meet voters outside Texas.

So yeah, not all that adamant at all. I think it's almost certain he's going to run, and not unlikely that he'll actually get through the primaries.

[Valrifell]

He's been pretty adamant about not running in every single interview he's been asked and hasn't taken any steps to prepare for such a campaign. Unlike, say, Warren or Booker who have essentially declared their intention months ago and just didn't voice it yet.

According to the WSJ, Beto "doesn’t plan to make a final decision on a presidential bid until at least February." And while he's weighing his options, he's going on a speaking tour to meet voters outside Texas.

So yeah, not all that adamant at all. I think it's almost certain he's going to run, and not unlikely that he'll actually get through the primaries.

Since making that post (and because of it) I've actually discovered he's somewhat walked back on his claims about not wanting to run for president.

I welcome it, he has a kind of appeal that I don't think very many other candidates can replicate and with him being so new on the national stage the only scandal he has are his political positions that we know of.

[Hediacrana]

Since making that post (and because of it) I've actually discovered he's somewhat walked back on his claims about not wanting to run for president.

I welcome it, he has a kind of appeal that I don't think very many other candidates can replicate and with him being so new on the national stage the only scandal he has are his political positions that we know of.

Ah, okay. Yeah, I have mixed feelings about it myself. Winning from an incumbent is hard, and he seems like a candidate who could pull that off. Which would be great. On the other hand, his positions are not nearly as progressive as I would like.

[Bombadil]

Trump will call him Beaten Beto, it will get annoying.

[Valrifell]

Since making that post (and because of it) I've actually discovered he's somewhat walked back on his claims about not wanting to run for president.

I welcome it, he has a kind of appeal that I don't think very many other candidates can replicate and with him being so new on the national stage the only scandal he has are his political positions that we know of.

Ah, okay. Yeah, I have mixed feelings about it myself. Winning from an incumbent is hard, and he seems like a candidate who could pull that off. Which would be great. On the other hand, his positions are not nearly as progressive as I would like.

I'll take him as the farthest left I can realistically get. He's also most likely going to try and attack from the left while also presenting as the most likely candidate to win through his fundraising escapades.

Trump will call him Beaten Beto, it will get annoying.

Too many syllables, "Bad Beto" is more likely. Though O'Rourke might just own it.

[Bombadil]

Ah, okay. Yeah, I have mixed feelings about it myself. Winning from an incumbent is hard, and he seems like a candidate who could pull that off. Which would be great. On the other hand, his positions are not nearly as progressive as I would like.

I'll take him as the farthest left I can realistically get. He's also most likely going to try and attack from the left while also presenting as the most likely candidate to win through his fundraising escapades.

Trump will call him Beaten Beto, it will get annoying.

Too many syllables, "Bad Beto" is more likely. Though O'Rourke might just own it.

I'm telling you it will be 'Beaten Beto', I am sure of this. He'll go on and on about how he was beaten by Ted Cruz, how he'll be beaten by Trump, on and on until you want to throw up.

[Valrifell]

I'll take him as the farthest left I can realistically get. He's also most likely going to try and attack from the left while also presenting as the most likely candidate to win through his fundraising escapades.



Too many syllables, "Bad Beto" is more likely. Though O'Rourke might just own it.

I'm telling you it will be 'Beaten Beto', I am sure of this. He'll go on and on about how he was beaten by Ted Cruz, how he'll be beaten by Trump, on and on until you want to throw up.

Oh fuck, you're right.

Are you Trump?

[Kowani]

I'm telling you it will be 'Beaten Beto', I am sure of this. He'll go on and on about how he was beaten by Ted Cruz, how he'll be beaten by Trump, on and on until you want to throw up.

Oh fuck, you're right.

Are you Trump?

His vocab's too big, they can't be. Might be his therapist...

[Cannot think of a name]

I'll take him as the farthest left I can realistically get. He's also most likely going to try and attack from the left while also presenting as the most likely candidate to win through his fundraising escapades.



Too many syllables, "Bad Beto" is more likely. Though O'Rourke might just own it.

I'm telling you it will be 'Beaten Beto', I am sure of this. He'll go on and on about how he was beaten by Ted Cruz, how he'll be beaten by Trump, on and on until you want to throw up.

I would not bet against this because I can't afford the loss.

[Bombadil]

I'm telling you it will be 'Beaten Beto', I am sure of this. He'll go on and on about how he was beaten by Ted Cruz, how he'll be beaten by Trump, on and on until you want to throw up.

I would not bet against this because I can't afford the loss.

I'd be too depressed to collect on it.

[Puldania]

so basically warren but the whole training is already done

Too far, dude.

What do you all think of Larry Hogan? He seems like a pretty moderate moderate and enjoys wide support among dems and republicans. The idea of him running has been floated around a bit.

Not a fan. I'm only voting for a Democrat, and no, I will not be voting for Bernie, because he's not a Democrat. #KamalaBeto2020 or #HillaryKamala2020

Welp, looks like 2020 is shaping up to be another election of "who sucks less" for President.

Seriously, with a nation as large as the US, how can we NOT find better people to run for POTUS?

We've got plenty of great democrats. Its a shame the far left is often too blinded by Bernie to realize it; he's trained them to instantly hate any Democrat who doesn't embrace him.

God you really are an idiot.
I'd rather vote Republican than Kamala Harris.

[The of Japan]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

[Major-Tom]

Ojeda! Ojeda!

I'll never fully understand the appeal behind Ojeda. I mean, I agree with him on a good number of issues, but I'm doubtful that the Democratic Party's frontrunner should be a one term WV State Senator who voted for Trump.

I harbor no hatred or even dislike towards the guy, hell, I want him to continue a path in WV. But for President? That's the last thing the Democratic Party needs.

[Pasong Tirad]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

The Democratic Party's working on it.

[The of Japan]

I'll never fully understand the appeal behind Ojeda. I mean, I agree with him on a good number of issues, but I'm doubtful that the Democratic Party's frontrunner should be a one term WV State Senator who voted for Trump.

I harbor no hatred or even dislike towards the guy, hell, I want him to continue a path in WV. But for President? That's the last thing the Democratic Party needs.

I strongly disagree, I like his appeal, his outsider nature, his fighting nature, his ads, his populism, and he feels much less divisive and controversial than Warren, O Rourke, Harris, Clinton, Bernie, or Biden.

He'll be able to win over Trump supporters, if his West Virginia Race is anything to go by. Sure he lost in West Virginia, but he was able to close a gap of 30+ points. If O Rourke is seen as successful for closing a 6.4% Statewide gap, Ojeda should be considered successful for closing a 30+ District gap in one of the reddest districts and states in the country.

Trump beat him in this race, but he likely couldn't in a Presidential race if Ojeda gained fame.

Will Ojeda be acceptable to progressive democrats though?

[Major-Tom]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

Honestly, I loathe the guy, but he has several paths to re-election;

(1. The Dems nominate a shit-sandwich of a candidate, which is sadly likely....
(2. The base stays as intact as it was in 2016, because, fuck it, it's Trump base, it moves less than an obese man in a marathon.
(3. The economy somehow continues it's bullish path, defying economic predictions and keeps moving full pace.

I find the first and second option most likely, so let's hope the Dems don't nominate a Harris, Castro or Gillibrand. I don't hate any of those names mentioned, but I recognize that electorally, they are weak candidates for a General Election.

[The of Japan]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

The Democratic Party's working on it.

It will be a lot of work, but they may do it

[Pasong Tirad]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

Honestly, I loathe the guy, but he has several paths to re-election;

(1. The Dems nominate a shit-sandwich of a candidate, which is sadly likely....
(2. The base stays as intact as it was in 2016, because, fuck it, it's Trump base, it moves less than an obese man in a marathon.
(3. The economy somehow continues it's bullish path, defying economic predictions and keeps moving full pace.

I find the first and second option most likely, so let's hope the Dems don't nominate a Harris, Castro or Gillibrand. I don't hate any of those names mentioned, but I recognize that electorally, they are weak candidates for a General Election.

*chanting* bernie bernie bernie

[The of Japan]

trump needs a miracle to get re-elected

Honestly, I loathe the guy, but he has several paths to re-election;

(1. The Dems nominate a shit-sandwich of a candidate, which is sadly likely....
(2. The base stays as intact as it was in 2016, because, fuck it, it's Trump base, it moves less than an obese man in a marathon.
(3. The economy somehow continues it's bullish path, defying economic predictions and keeps moving full pace.

I find the first and second option most likely, so let's hope the Dems don't nominate a Harris, Castro or Gillibrand. I don't hate any of those names mentioned, but I recognize that electorally, they are weak candidates for a General Election.

Sanders or Biden most likely will win the primaries, though if someone like Elizabeth warren wins trump will have a good chance.

[Major-Tom]

I'll never fully understand the appeal behind Ojeda. I mean, I agree with him on a good number of issues, but I'm doubtful that the Democratic Party's frontrunner should be a one term WV State Senator who voted for Trump.

I harbor no hatred or even dislike towards the guy, hell, I want him to continue a path in WV. But for President? That's the last thing the Democratic Party needs.

I strongly disagree, I like his appeal, his outsider nature, his fighting nature, his ads, his populism, and he feels much less divisive and controversial than Warren, O Rourke, Harris, Clinton, Bernie, or Biden.

He'll be able to win over Trump supporters, if his West Virginia Race is anything to go by. Sure he lost in West Virginia, but he was able to close a gap of 30+ points. If O Rourke is seen as successful for closing a 6.4% Statewide gap, Ojeda should be considered successful for closing a 30+ District gap in one of the reddest districts and states in the country.

Trump beat him in this race, but he likely couldn't in a Presidential race if Ojeda gained fame.

I'm a populist as well. In fact, I saw your signature mentioned Sherrod Brown, and I myself am a huge fan of Mr. Brown. The issue I have is Ojeda's lack of experience. We have an inexperienced man in office right now, and we can see how great that's going down.

As for Beto? I don't think of him that much.

My main point is that I don't see either the Establishment Brand Dems or the Progressive Dems embracing Ojeda. So if by some amazing, astonishing and near impossible miracle, he won the primary, he'd have already dissatisfied those two respective bases. And I consider that a liability. Ojeda seems to be a decent enough guy, he should've tried his hand for the 2020 WV Governor's Election instead.

[The of Japan]

Honestly, I loathe the guy, but he has several paths to re-election;

(1. The Dems nominate a shit-sandwich of a candidate, which is sadly likely....
(2. The base stays as intact as it was in 2016, because, fuck it, it's Trump base, it moves less than an obese man in a marathon.
(3. The economy somehow continues it's bullish path, defying economic predictions and keeps moving full pace.

I find the first and second option most likely, so let's hope the Dems don't nominate a Harris, Castro or Gillibrand. I don't hate any of those names mentioned, but I recognize that electorally, they are weak candidates for a General Election.

*chanting* bernie bernie bernie

Imagine if Bernie somehow manages to bungle the election (yes I know it is a 1/10000 chance)