Palin v Clinton for 2016

[Hauldren Collider]

[giblets]

Why do you think it took her so damn long to realize she couldn't beat Obama in the primaries? It's not rocket science, gribbler.

The primaries were unusually close that year. It was not at all obvious who would win.

[Boris Godunov]

Why do you think it took her so damn long to realize she couldn't beat Obama in the primaries? It's not rocket science, gribbler.

There's a pretty big and obvious difference between making a decision like that when you're in the midst of the campaign versus the situation now.

Clinton will be 69 in 2016. By all accounts, she hated campaigning in 2008 and has no desire to do that sort of thing ever again. There are no reports of her saying anything except that she won't run again.

People were saying the same thing you are about Al Gore after 2000, in spite of the fact that he repeated he had no intention of running again. And in 2004 he made no move, despite being the obvious front runner, as Democrats widely believed he'd been cheated out of the Presidency and could make a Jacksonian comeback.

[giblets]

It wouldn't matter. If the economy is doing well and Obama is viewed well, Biden would win.

Or Biden just wins the popular vote but loses the electoral college because Florida's stupid electoral process caused some of Biden's votes to not get counted.

[Boris Godunov]

Your political prognostication abilities have been proving lacking as of late, now haven't they?

[Hauldren Collider]

By 2004 Gore was a punchline, not a front runner.

[giblets]

I would totally make an avatar bet about Hillary not running.

[Boris Godunov]

Or Biden just wins the popular vote but loses the electoral college because Florida's stupid electoral process caused some of Biden's votes to not get counted.

I doubt the public will be suffering some sort of fatigue at an Obama sex scandal that would compel Biden to distance himself from the president during the election.

[notyoueither]

The social stuff was extremely important to many female voters. Just because the Romney campaign kept saying 'that's not what this election is about' does not make it so.

As for the republicans having a 'popular economic' platform, why the hell do you think Obama just won? Raise defence spending while slashing healthcare and social programs as deeply as possible? Seriously, that's a popular platform?

These are Yanks. They do not like the tea.

[Boris Godunov]

By 2004 Gore was a punchline, not a front runner.

http://articles.cnn.com/2002-11-17/politics/gore.poll_1_al-gore-new-poll-strong-leader?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

Believe me, I was in on the 2004 primary wars, and the Democratic base was very eager for Gore to run. It was a big disappointed when he reiterated he was out (and even then some believed he'd still jump in).

I like how you talk about about a period when you were what, 9 years old, as if you know what the hell you're talking about.

[Ben Kenobi]

The thing the GOP seems incapable of comprehending is this: Fiscal responsibility is the big tent. People can get behind it, especially if the economy remains tepid under Obama.

We've done that twice now, and this has been proven to be false.

all the miserable single-issue voters (prolife hardcores, hetero-only marriage, gun lovers, whatever) who hate him/her in the primaries would fall in line in the general

Also proven to be false. Enough of them stayed home both in 2008 and in 2012. In 2008, they would have lost anyways, but this year, they cost Romney the election. Turnout was 62 million in 2004. It's possible that we've see the high point of republican turnout for the foreseeable future by Bush.

[notyoueither]

Then good riddence to bad rubbish.

[Jon Miller]

White, Hard-social conservative, social conservative, Hard-economic conservative, economic conservative.

I think the Republicans will have to lose at least 1 (possibly 2) to have a good chance in a strong economy.

JM

[Jon Miller]

Although I don't think the position, abortion is wrong but legally I am OK with it, is a Hard conservative position. Nor do I think that position is defensible.

JM

[Ben Kenobi]

I think the Republicans will have to lose at least 1 (possibly 2) to have a good chance in a strong economy.

They just did that twice and lost. Neither McCain nor Romney were strong economic or social conservatives.