General Discussion

Algernon Moncrieff

(5,961 posts)

46. It's a complex political calculus

Sat May 7, 2016, 12:44 AM

May 2016

I'm surprised Ben Sasse is not swallowing his pride and endorsing Trump, as he is putting his political future in extreme jeopardy. I didn't think he had that in him.

The fact that the Bushes despise Trump is clearly driving part of this, but I think there is more to it: few Republicans would admit this, but any Democratic President is a) unlikely to get a lot through Congress and b) is likely to be a one-termer. On the other hand, in the event that Trump wins, he'd likely be a one-termer, and he could damage the Republican brand for a generation. Take the argument further: a Republican-lite party that is more like Bush 1 or Ford -- fiscally conservative but not strident on conservative social issues -- could appeal to white suburbanites. They may be looking ahead to the inevitable split in their party, and hoping to reinvent themselves for 2020.

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More and more likely: A third-party "real Republican" candidate for president. [View all] Hortensis May 2016 OP

Great. I hope every one who ran for POTUS this time starts his or her own party. merrily May 2016 #1

If only the Democratic Party vt_native May 2016 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2016 #3

Your comment is unwarranted and disgusting. ViseGrip May 2016 #33

Your comment is unwarranted and disgusting. stonecutter357 May 2016 #52

Strong women are generally considered less "likable." It's a thing with some men. n/t pnwmom May 2016 #58

She's less likeable because she's less trustworthy... tex-wyo-dem May 2016 #78

That's just the perception with Hillary. Fact checkers say she's one of the more truthful. pnwmom May 2016 #80

That's a good one...you're funny! tex-wyo-dem May 2016 #82

www.politifact.com pnwmom May 2016 #83

What she says, and what she really means are two... tex-wyo-dem May 2016 #87

The limousine liberal world. Katashi_itto May 2016 #55

This message was self-deleted by its author Esse Quam Videri May 2016 #4

Are you available to be drafted as the Democratic Party's real Democrat? 1StrongBlackMan May 2016 #7

We already did. IamMab May 2016 #15

Ah, the "no true scotsmans" argument FLPanhandle May 2016 #26

You know that your statement runs counter to all Democratic values, right? A majority Squinch May 2016 #35

DINOs are easy to run when you have corporate backers. Katashi_itto May 2016 #56

Um, no. It's that not enough people like your candidate. By a factor of multiple millions. Squinch May 2016 #61

Gosh, he did. Looks like the country will be in for a shitty four years. But hey your corporate Katashi_itto May 2016 #64

Does it mean you are going to go away? Squinch May 2016 #65

No Katashi_itto May 2016 #66

You mean you aren't going to do a GBCW thread and leave DU in a flurry of fury at the oligarchs? Squinch May 2016 #67

Honestly why don't you give some thought to these limp wristed comebacks. Katashi_itto May 2016 #68

Limp wristed, huh? And of course you don't see it as a victory. That's because you lost. Squinch May 2016 #69

God more mouth breathing? Katashi_itto May 2016 #71

The end game is clear Egnever May 2016 #72

Yup. La Lioness Priyanka May 2016 #75

I think they are in the minority of BS supporters, but they certainly are obnoxious. Squinch May 2016 #88

I thought Bernie out raised and out spent Hillary La Lioness Priyanka May 2016 #74

Corporate backers do not mean just money. Katashi_itto May 2016 #76

News Flash! Dems don't want Bernie period! They want a Democrat. leftofcool May 2016 #81

Well, that lets Hillary out. Katashi_itto May 2016 #85

Obama clearly ran to the left of Hillary, but governed like the Second Clinton. For the life of me, WhaTHellsgoingonhere May 2016 #92

I could see them doing that. I think at this point they are fighting to sufrommich May 2016 #5

Yup! Here are the 10 top names on #NeverTrump list. Hortensis May 2016 #11

I figured Romney, but Paul is an interesting choice. thesquanderer May 2016 #20

Maybe it depends on who they want to pull more votes from. thesquanderer May 2016 #23

Could that be an asset in these angry days? Even Hortensis May 2016 #37

They want to run a strong candidate with a chance of beating Clinton and Trump. The OP is wrong. JimDandy May 2016 #60

Other people they could put up... thesquanderer May 2016 #24

Add Scott Walker malaise May 2016 #62

I didn't remember that Johnson was the libertarian candidate. That could have legs. thesquanderer May 2016 #91

Nope. Not going to happen. vi5 May 2016 #6

Vi5, it IS happening. Google "third party run" Hortensis May 2016 #9

It's 6 months away..... vi5 May 2016 #10

Remember, they don't have to get on all state ballots Hortensis May 2016 #12

"govern from the center" vi5 May 2016 #13

I enjoyed the worry about "increasingly powerful left wing." Hortensis May 2016 #16

Forgot to mention, I'll be happy if you're right. :) Hortensis May 2016 #32

I think the calculation is going on now gratuitous May 2016 #36

People as disparate as Bill Kristol and Eric Erickson Hortensis May 2016 #8

Yes. All they need to do is find a candidate who can throw it to the house, no need to win outright. thesquanderer May 2016 #21

THIS!!!!!! hamsterjill May 2016 #25

Texas, Florida... thesquanderer May 2016 #30

Paul Ryan hamsterjill May 2016 #34

Speaking of libertarians: The Libertarian PARTY Hortensis May 2016 #51

That's one of 2 "all"s, though. The other is Hortensis May 2016 #31

I don't see how they could possibly pull it off. Midwestern Democrat May 2016 #48

It's not specifically about the swing states, it's also about the blue-ish ones. thesquanderer May 2016 #57

I don't think anyone is going to take that chance. Nitram May 2016 #14

You don't believe they can prevent Trump from Hortensis May 2016 #17

No Hortensis, that is not what I said. I said that a third party conservative candidate Nitram May 2016 #18

Oh, sorry. Sure. A symbolic run could be paid for Hortensis May 2016 #19

Ahh no, it doesn't work that way. former9thward May 2016 #38

Um, dark money ads can generate a lot of donations. Hortensis May 2016 #39

No, other candidates can't. former9thward May 2016 #42

True, forgot that important little limitation. Hortensis May 2016 #43

It's a complex political calculus Algernon Moncrieff May 2016 #46

I've never even heard of Ben Sasse. And I'm a political junkie. KamaAina May 2016 #22

Me either, but apparently he's very well regarded Hortensis May 2016 #28

Young, very conservative Senator from Nebraska Algernon Moncrieff May 2016 #47

I will believe it when someone declares their intention to run. Agnosticsherbet May 2016 #27

what a crazy year oldandhappy May 2016 #29

I think I'd be really afraid to fall asleep again! Hortensis May 2016 #53

Who would it be? The republicans themselves didn't seem to like any of the "real" republicans that hughee99 May 2016 #40

Just saw this on Twitter octoberlib May 2016 #41

This begs the question Egnever May 2016 #44

Good point. But what if it was a very high-road campaign, Hortensis May 2016 #49

I think this is the scenario they would be shooting for. Egnever May 2016 #73

they didn't care to save the nation from Dubya Skittles May 2016 #45

Didn't save from? Didn't they ELECT that buffoon twice? Hortensis May 2016 #50

I think it would be interesting if they do... Many have said, if there are 2 Pub candidates in the glowing May 2016 #54

I'll bet you..... sendero May 2016 #59

Can they set the rules for the convention still, have delegates free to vote any way they want? L. Coyote May 2016 #63

If that happens, hopefully that candidate will eat into Trump's votes GOPblows431 May 2016 #70

split their vote all the way to the polls and a democratic win! Demonaut May 2016 #77

There is a frightening scenario in that. Egnever May 2016 #79

Ben Sasse has rejected Running as a 3rd Party Presidential Candidate. Feathery Scout May 2016 #84

If fRump got most of the gop vote in primaries, why would those voters change? lindysalsagal May 2016 #86

my understanding is that it is too late to get on a lot of ballots dembotoz May 2016 #89

Not Likely, Republicans Know This Would Hand Democrat's The Election Corey_Baker08 May 2016 #90