Vote 2008 - The Caucuses

[Hammer]

Caucuse season is well under way in the states now, with Barrack Obama coming out on top in the Democrat caucus and Mike Huckabee getting the Republican majority, so what are your thoughts on the candidates?

Personally, I reckon that Hillary has managed to slip up once too often in the debates to manage to get the nomination, but she will still get a lot of support. It's just a shame that she and Obama actually seem to hate the sight of each other, because they could be an amazing joint ticket. I fully expect to see an Obama-Edwards joint ticket emerge.

On the Republican side of things, quite frankly they all seem utterly batshit crazy - it's almost like the Republican party is trying to stereotype it's self to get the smell of Bush out of the carpets. If I had to pick one, I'd go for Ron Paul, because I'd love to see how he'd apply his Libertarian beliefs in office.

[pANDAS Radio]

Yet again we have a Clinton and Cock Uses being mentioned, good to see the world never really changes.

[Foxglove]

I am finding this fascinating but I think it is a little early to predict winning candidates for the presidency. After all Bill Clinton was pretty far behind in the early caucuses in the year he was voted president. I agree that the Republican candidates seem batty but if Obama is to keep up his push for the White House, he needs to find a few more policies and rely a little less on charisma and youth.

[pANDAS Radio]

Why not? Worked for Blair & Clinton. And to a certain extent he and Hilary are also relying on the Big Brother effect. I.E. "hey, nobody black/gay/transexual/female has won this before".

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

I am finding this fascinating but I think it is a little early to predict winning candidates for the presidency.

Way way too early for that. Aim of the thread is to pick the nominees only.

Originally Posted by pANDAS Radio

Why not? Worked for Blair & Clinton. And to a certain extent he and Hilary are also relying on the Big Brother effect. I.E. "hey, nobody black/gay/transexual/female has won this before".

Actually, no Obama isn't all. He's been deliberately playing down the race issue through his entire campaign. When questioned about it he's replied several times that the it's not about the colour of his skin at all, but about his policies, which contrasts directly with the line taken by former candidates like Jesse Jackson, who deliberately used his skin colour to get votes.
The Republicans have been very quiet about the race issues as well, although several hardline right media figures were spreading stories about his father being a Muslim (no idea if he was or not, but Obama is a practising moderate Christian) and the fact that Obama attended a Muslim school in Indonesia for four years.

Hillary is pretty much the same. For the most part, it's commentators discussing her sex, not her. She has used her sex to try and appeal to female votes, unsucessfully in Iowa though - according to exit polls, Obama got 35% of the female vote there, while Clinton only got 30%.

[Foxglove]

Ha ha - I meant I am sitting on the fence still really. I am not totally convinced by any of the democrats and I wonder if Guiliani will pull out the 9/11 card to help him along?

I am not sure I can pick out obvious nominations yet. It seems like a hugely popular time for politics in the States though - which can only be a positive thing

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Ha ha - I meant I am sitting on the fence still really. I am not totally convinced by any of the democrats and I wonder if Guiliani will pull out the 9/11 card to help him along?

I strongly suspect he will - his campaign media seems to be portraying him as 'tough on terrorism, tough on the causes of terrorism'. But he doesn't have much experience dealing with rural issues (hence why he didn't campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire).

Originally Posted by Foxglove

I am not sure I can pick out obvious nominations yet. It seems like a hugely popular time for politics in the States though - which can only be a positive thing

Yep. Both the Iowa and the New Hampshire primaries have had pretty high turnouts, so hopefully we might be seeing a reversal in the lack of political interest that has affected the States (amongst others) over the past 20 odd years.

[Potatojunkie]

America should switch to having a poll on AN—it makes far more sense than the entire caucus system. Even if you kept the "I just like voting in polls" option.

[Addy]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Ha ha - I meant I am sitting on the fence still really. I am not totally convinced by any of the democrats and I wonder if Guiliani will pull out the 9/11 card to help him along?

I am not sure I can pick out obvious nominations yet. It seems like a hugely popular time for politics in the States though - which can only be a positive thing

The BBC says that this will be the most closely fought election for ages (let's ignore the legitimacy questions over the Bush victories) and I'm inclined to agree.

I accidentally clicked for Clinton in the vote but Obama was who I'd like to see get it. 4/8 more years of Clinton is something the world can do without I reckon, I'd love to see the new ideas of Obama. It would certainly make a nice contrast to right now.

The republicans all seem insane and determined to appeal to stereotyping, and not a one is the kind I'd vote for.

Still, a long way to go yet and Clinton won't back down until long after she's officially been beaten (if she is, in the end)

[Stew]

As much as I'm neutral of Obama, he's probably the one candidate that will be able to get a Democrat win in the election.

Hell, if he wins the nomination and has an experienced VP on the ticket the black vote could explode and the Democrats could romp it, he's ahead of Clinton by about 12% in some polls I'm looking at - and that's just female voters.

[Addy]

Originally Posted by Stew

As much as I'm neutral of Obama, he's probably the one candidate that will be able to get a Democrat win in the election.

Hell, if he wins the nomination and has an experienced VP on the ticket the black vote could explode and the Democrats could romp it, he's ahead of Clinton by about 12% in some polls I'm looking at - and that's just female voters.

Edwards seems a natural partner for him I'd say, and if he does that then I reckon you're right, they could storm it.

Edwards also beat Clinton in Iowa, of course, and is also firmly all about "change" as the buzzword for the Democrats.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Addy

Edwards seems a natural partner for him I'd say, and if he does that then I reckon you're right, they could storm it.

Edwards also beat Clinton in Iowa, of course, and is also firmly all about "change" as the buzzword for the Democrats.

Edwards talking about change reminds me of Clinton and Gore, the only problem could be that Obama and Edwards are too similar. It'll also depend on whether or not Edwards will concede he isn't winning the nomination and spots a role as VP or whether he considers it his last real chance and goes for a crazy-assed independent role and takes some votes from Obama.

Let's hope Obama takes a lead well before super tuesday and a solid Obama and Edwards partnership can stand up at the Democratic conference and announce their joint-ticket.

[Zero]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

and I wonder if Guiliani will pull out the 9/11 card to help him along?

Already has - http://www.altnation.com/forums/curr...ani-ready.html

[Semprini]

I can't see a single Republican on that list that stands a chance of beating Obama. Hillary Clinton's biggest enemy is herself.

With 'change' appearing to be the buzzword on most lips over there, now might not be the best time for her to draw attention to the fact that if she wins, there could (by 2016) have been either a Bush or a Clinton in the White House for 28 years. (36 years if you count Bush 41's time as VP)

[mysterio]

Heartened by John McCain's win, he's the only Republican with any credibility. He's about as hated by his party as Hillary is by hers though.