The 2016 US American Election Thread

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But was this debate enough to move the needle significantly on the polls? Or in the voting box, I'm not sure it was.

At this point, its pretty rare that knockout punches are delivered in debates anymore, the last outright knockout punch I remember in any leadership debate was Mulroney tearing John Turner a new one in a leadership debate.

And I think Reagan in a presidential debate against MD.

At this point, the battle is for the what 5% undecided voters who really aren't going to decide until their sitting in the ballot boxes.

I personally think that there should always be a final debate on the night of the vote so that people go to the box with a fresh memory of the candidates.

The number of undecided voters is actually still quite large for being so close to an election

[Drak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The problem is, the worse Trump does, the more it will appeal to his base. When he is rude and has childish outbursts, they view it as strength and fighting back at Hillary. When he makes uninformed statements about the Iran deal being the worst deal in history, they don't understand anything about the deal, and that reflects what they have been told 1000 times about the Iran deal. When he comes across as unprepared or failing to understand the issue or policy discussed, they view it as him not being a politician, and they like his ignorance is a positive. Trump won over his supporters by acting like a third world strong man dictator and throwing out empty nationalistic slogans, playing off of the fear and frustration of people. Not to mention playing off of racism and poorly educated and poorly informed voters. I've seen a lot of interviews with passionate Trump supporters who have never voted or paid attention before. These people have no concept of the issues, and are turned off by the policy answer Clinton gives. There were several times she used political terms to explain her policies, and I guarantee many people supporting both candidates didn't understand her point. Even simple things like referring to countries as states. Sure, it is correct and in politics even the preferred term, but she needs to speak to the people. Anyone with a firm grasp of the issues is already voting for her. Keep it terms that have meaning to the common person.

True. But the base is a lost cause regardless. Independents, undecideds and the women demographic is key. In that regard, Trump should be dropping down after last night.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I do not understand your opposition to Hillary from that stance, though I respect it.

Things like this humanize Hillary to me:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ary/?tid=sm_tw

There is no part in my heart for that kind of schlock.

[CaptainCrunch]

Fair enough, I'm going more from historical then the actual polls, but the fact remains that neither of these guys needs to fight for their base, because their base isn't going to change their vote no matter what. Even the semi undecided democrats and reps probably will get to the ballot box and even though they might say they aren't going to vote their declared party they will vote their declared party.

I don't think that the mechanics are there in the States to have the massive protest votes and strategic voting that we see in the system up here.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

At times it looked like he was coming up with his stance on issues on the fly.

He does this constantly. This is how he comes up with his stances - someone asks him a question he hasn't really thought about, he looks away, "thinks" about it for half a second, and whatever happens to come out of his mouth is now his position on that issue.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But was this debate enough to move the needle significantly on the polls? Or in the voting box, I'm not sure it was.

At this point, its pretty rare that knockout punches are delivered in debates anymore, the last outright knockout punch I remember in any leadership debate was Mulroney tearing John Turner a new one in a leadership debate.

And I think Reagan in a presidential debate against MD.

At this point, the battle is for the what 5% undecided voters who really aren't going to decide until their sitting in the ballot boxes.

I personally think that there should always be a final debate on the night of the vote so that people go to the box with a fresh memory of the candidates.

I don't know, I think this debate performance won't exactly swing the polls, but it will further harden the cap on his upside. He's been unable to consistently poll above the low 40s, and I think with this debate he's probably capped himself at about that amount, barring some bombshell revelation about Clinton. In this election low 40s is still potentially enough to win if third party votes are strong and the electoral college breaks your way. But I think any chance of him getting even close to 50% of the popular vote disappeared last night.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The number of undecided voters is actually still quite large for being so close to an election

Do you think many of them simply stay home? Talking with a friend from New York this morning and she's upset of the choices and level of debate, but beyond that she, in frustration, exclaimed that this may be the first federal election she stays at home for. She said she could've lived with a handful of candidates from either side, and for her what is playing out is worst scenario possible.

I'm curious if low voter turnout helps or hurts either of the candidates. Viewing the current polls Trump more than likely either needs independents to show up on November 8th, or else hope that apparent independents or supposed Hillary supporters have played their cards close to their chest and either change their mind on the 8th or have planned to vote for Trump all along and have claimed otherwise either to pollsters or peers to avoid social pressure.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Four years of hating on Hillary every day will unite them pretty well. Now what kind of candidate will they be uniting behind? We'll see, but obviously the battle for the party begins after the election with three groups duking it out: the alt-right, the Christian coalition, and the moderates.

Theyve had 8 years to bond and coalesce over their hatred of Obama...and it got them to this Trumpster fire they have now. Whats four more years gonna do?

[peter12]

Both parties are dying a slow death as the Boomer culture that formed them is also passing away.

The Republicans just got there first.

[GirlySports]

how did Trump win the nomination.. i still don't get that.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

how did Trump win the nomination.. i still don't get that.

Idiocracy. It's a real thing.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

how did Trump win the nomination.. i still don't get that.

And how the #### can Cruz still vouch for this guy.

Like wtf seriously.

[GirlySports]

biases aside, do you guys think the moderator was fair or unfair?

[CaptainCrunch]

One of my partners is a girl Minny, she was telling me that she had the TV on in the other room so she could listen to the debate while doing some work and she kept wondering why Trump was so angry.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Lester was weak at controlling things. I know Trump is a loud prick, but as we've consistently seen in this campaign when people stand up to him, he backs off quickly. He was pretty fair for the most part though.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

And how the #### can Cruz still vouch for this guy.

Like wtf seriously.

It's Ted Cruz. The guy's a cowardly wet lipped weasel.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But was this debate enough to move the needle significantly on the polls? Or in the voting box, I'm not sure it was.

At this point, its pretty rare that knockout punches are delivered in debates anymore, the last outright knockout punch I remember in any leadership debate was Mulroney tearing John Turner a new one in a leadership debate.

And I think Reagan in a presidential debate against MD.

At this point, the battle is for the what 5% undecided voters who really aren't going to decide until their sitting in the ballot boxes.

I personally think that there should always be a final debate on the night of the vote so that people go to the box with a fresh memory of the candidates.

Binders full of women hurt Romney quite a bit.

[photon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But was this debate enough to move the needle significantly on the polls? Or in the voting box, I'm not sure it was.

That's what I was thinking too, though a few things I listened to or read after brought up was the group of dems that have moved away from her since the convention, those (combined with Trump's behaviour) she might have reassured enough to bring back in.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

biases aside, do you guys think the moderator was fair or unfair?

I think he was fair if appearing somewhat weak. But in ref terms he let them play, so I guess that's ok. Twitter is saying he was very anti-Trump with the questions he asked.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

biases aside, do you guys think the moderator was fair or unfair?

Trump interrupted 51 times. Clinton 17 times.

Lester directed the most pointed questions at Trump, when he did get involved.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

And how the #### can Cruz still vouch for this guy.

Like wtf seriously.

Since when has Cruz had principles? He would juggle Trump's balls in his mouth of he thought it would mean political points. He was only strongly opposed to Trump because he thought that would help him