[RESULTS ARE FINAL] 2016 Election for President of the United States | Donald Trump Victory

[cr47t]

Discuss the upcoming United States presidential election, and the presidental debates.

(Below image provided by Winter)

[Tojin]

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Tojin, please keep in mind that this isn't Miscellaneous (with posting a sole reaction image) and you need to provide something of worth to the discussion. 

Thanks.

 

Judging from the results in Iowa thus far, I'd probably think Trump will take it on the Republican side in a few days, though it will be a close one between him and Cruz. The other candidates are too far behind to really account for much, but anything can happen.

 

Democratic side, I really don't know who will win so far (right now, it's pretty much a tie between Sanders/Clinton, bar a small percentage point in Sanders's favor).

 

I don't have a particular party that I back, since both of them have their share of flaws (and good points), but when it comes time for our primaries (in August), let's see who convinced me enough to vote for them. (Though, I don't really care much for Trump or Cruz)

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Your primaries are in August, Sakura? o.o

I don't mean to be rude, but your primary will probably mean nothing. o.o

[Mr Dr Professor Spaz]

I found an interesting article about Trump:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/moderate-republicans-donald-trump-tea-party-conservative-fringe-2016-120675

 

And thus I've probably found the reason for his position in the polls.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Your primaries are in August, Sakura? o.o

I don't mean to be rude, but your primary will probably mean nothing. o.o

 

Don't blame me, Striker, Hawai'i usually has them in the second half of the year (why we don't get them earlier, I don't know).

If I remember correctly, ours are on August 13th.

 

Then again, they usually don't make that much of an impact overall (given none of the candidates ever come here to campaign anyway, and Hawai'i isn't one of the states that majorly decide things). So yeah, if a candidate doesn't win our votes, it really won't bother them.

 

But that's another story.

 

-----

Come to think of it, the Republican debate is today (in another few hours).

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Well Trump can't do half the things he want's to do, easily or at all. But the ability for our leader to not be a politically correct dimwit would be nice. Trump winning the WH honestly depends on what Daesh does at this point. Anything the scale of paris happening on American Soil will make Trump a shoe in

[epicmemesbro]

The governor is apparently against Cruz, calling him "extreme", and it didn't help Cruz when he made that Duck Dynasty ad. Although Iowa isn't really a game changer...

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

The governor is apparently against Cruz, calling him "extreme", and it didn't help Cruz when he made that Duck Dynasty ad. Although Iowa isn't really a game changer...

Not like people love Terry Branstad anyway

[Aerion Brightflame]

It should be kinda obvious that Trump is just playing a political game here; He's says controversial stuff to appeal the right wing nuts (I don't mean that the right wing is nuts inherently, I mean the actual insane people in the far right), and when he wins the nomination he'll be more of a moderate to win votes from the centre. It's not exactly shocking, it's how this process works. You make the assumption that die hard republicans will vote Trump anyway, so you appeal to the people who actually matter; The undecided centre. 

 

I say will get in, because frankly he will. He is simply the best major candidate for the party right now; Ted Cruz, the only person in the running, is actually worse than he is. Trump is appealing to the nutters, Cruz legitimately is one from what I've read. 

 

So the Republican side of this probably doesn't matter. 

 

The Democratic side of it really does matter, since it might end up defining the whole process. If Sanders wins Iowa, and then Virgina (I think), he gets momentum and name recognition across the country. He starts catching up to Clinton in nation wide polls, and he can probably take it long. (Especially since there's an implication somewhere that Hilary has spent way too much money on Iowa, and is not prepared for a long campaign). Now, the DNC as far as I know could still avoid naming him, but given the gradually building recognition that's unlikely. 

 

Whereas if Clinton wins, it's a lot different. Even if it's close, the media can downplay Sanders, and kill his momentum. And he probably loses off of that. Which is a shame, because hell he seems like the most respectable candidate. Which is impressive coming from the 74 year old socialist. Especially since he's actually more likely to get things through the Republicans than Hillary will ever be able to. 

 

More than that, it would be sad to see the status quo maintained. A status quo that is frankly in a disgusting position, and barely seems like a democratic process. Bernie winning here would help start the idea that change is possible if people make it happen, that you are resigned to a stale, stalled political culture. 

 

But that's going to the actual election, not this thing. 

 

Either way, it's all incredibly interesting to think about. And that's speaking as a Brit instead of an American; I think everyone should be taking an interest in this election. It could spell massive global consequence to goverment, and to how a new generation will define things. 

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

While it is obvious Trump is playing the game, it's also obvious he's not really cut out for such a position. Sadly the two-party system thrives on forcing each side to pick the candidate that will likely "win" rather than the best one. Because when it comes down to it the majority mostly care about the title. A Republican or Democrat. Not a person or a person. It's sick and it's twisted.

[The Amazing Avian]

While it is obvious Trump is playing the game, it's also obvious he's not really cut out for such a position. Sadly the two-party system thrives on forcing each side to pick the candidate that will likely "win" rather than the best one. Because when it comes down to it the majority mostly care about the title. A Republican or Democrat. Not a person or a person. It's sick and it's twisted.

Which is exactly why George Washington didn't want it to be a thing in the first place. Sanders is really the only good candidate but it's unlikely he'll win because Hillary and Trump own the media.

[Aerion Brightflame]

Which is exactly why George Washington didn't want it to be a thing in the first place. Sanders is really the only good candidate but it's unlikely he'll win because Hillary and Trump own the media.

 

Then the obvious solution is to be active and help drive the messages and ideas through without the media. 

 

We live in a digital age, with a wealth of information at our fingerprints. If you actually are willing to try, it's educate oneself and others to get past media bias. Get people educated on a subject matter, get them thinking critically and wonders can happen. 

 

This is kinda off-tangent, but if people do think 'Sanders if the best candidate, but Hilary is gonna win because she has the media following', then don't just sit an accept it. Fight to change that; Do something to help the campaign, be it donate, be it educate others about Sanders, be it canvas for him in advance. Just do something; Because in the end, even if he lost it meant that you were willing to take a stand for the hope of much needed political change. And if you are willing to do that, you can actually make things happen eventually. Complacency is sadly the death of progress in these regards. 

 

I see it a lot here; People express a desire to see something change. But you don't see people fighting for it, trying to make it happen, convinving others that it's needed. And if you don't do that, don't be preactive it's really unlikely to happen. Because you are in the same old system. And old systems aren't going to change unless action is taken to change it.

 

This is more rambling than I'd like, but the points simple; If you think that Bernie, or anyone in this election is the best hope for America, don't just say 'Okay s/he has my vote' and leave it at that. Be proactive, and try to help make it happen. The resignation I see sometimes is just really depressing. 

[vla1ne]

if bernie sanders loses to clinton, i'm voting trump. sanders is easily the best candidate in the race, but short of him, i can at least get some sweet comedy gold.

[The Amazing Avian]

I actually don't care one way or the other. I'm not even a resident and barring marriage or children, it's unlikely I will be anytime within this decade. Patriotism and nationalism are both alien concepts to me since by the time I was old enough to understand them I had grown so disillusioned with the country I didn't care about it. Only reason I don't want to leave is because I've grown up here and job opportunities are better.

[cr47t]

Then the obvious solution is to be active and help drive the messages and ideas through without the media. 

 

We live in a digital age, with a wealth of information at our fingerprints. If you actually are willing to try, it's educate oneself and others to get past media bias. Get people educated on a subject matter, get them thinking critically and wonders can happen. 

 

This is kinda off-tangent, but if people do think 'Sanders if the best candidate, but Hilary is gonna win because she has the media following', then don't just sit an accept it. Fight to change that; Do something to help the campaign, be it donate, be it educate others about Sanders, be it canvas for him in advance. Just do something; Because in the end, even if he lost it meant that you were willing to take a stand for the hope of much needed political change. And if you are willing to do that, you can actually make things happen eventually. Complacency is sadly the death of progress in these regards. 

 

I see it a lot here; People express a desire to see something change. But you don't see people fighting for it, trying to make it happen, convinving others that it's needed. And if you don't do that, don't be preactive it's really unlikely to happen. Because you are in the same old system. And old systems aren't going to change unless action is taken to change it.

 

This is more rambling than I'd like, but the points simple; If you think that Bernie, or anyone in this election is the best hope for America, don't just say 'Okay s/he has my vote' and leave it at that. Be proactive, and try to help make it happen. The resignation I see sometimes is just really depressing. 

This. I'm actually planning to do something about it.

I'm keeping it secret for now.

[vla1ne]

I actually don't care one way or the other. I'm not even a resident and barring marriage or children, it's unlikely I will be anytime within this decade. Patriotism and nationalism are both alien concepts to me since by the time I was old enough to understand them I had grown so disillusioned with the country I didn't care about it. Only reason I don't want to leave is because I've grown up here and job opportunities are better.

we all grow disillusioned at one point or another, loving the country isn't about the name of the country, it's about caring about the people within said country. we (or at least i) vote because we want the best possible person leading, so that the laws passed reflect most closely to what i believe in and want to support. sadly, the main (and by main i mean mainstream) choices this year don't really support anything i believe in.

[cr47t]

we all grow disillusioned at one point or another, loving the country isn't about the name of the country, it's about caring about the people within said country. we (or at least i) vote because we want the best possible person leading, so that the laws passed reflect most closely to what i believe in and want to support. sadly, the main (and by main i mean mainstream) choices this year don't really support anything i believe in.

In that case look at some of the minor candidates (the official candidates that aren't gaining as much momentum.) (ex. kasich, o'malley, etc.)

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Well, it's going to be a long night in Iowa. Seems there are long lines in a lot of the precincts.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Clinton 52.7% Sanders 46.2% O'Malley

1.1%

[~ P O L A R I S ~]

Sanders closing the gap with Iowa City to come. :>

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Sanders closing the gap with Iowa City to come. :>

Got Fam in IC, Hillary won Johnson County iirc

[Nathanael D. Striker]

https://www.idpcaucuses.com/#/state

 

Clinton: 49.8%

Sanders: 49.5%

 

Lovely, a close one.

 

EDIT: Current count has Cruz leading Trump by about 3% with 89% reporting. Sounds like it's being called.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

And Iowa is all done. 49.8% vs 49.6% in Clinton's favor. I call that a statistical tie tbh.

[Aerion Brightflame]

So Sanders lost based off of 6 coin flips supposedly. Like literal coin flips. 

 

That's kinda sad, even if it would've been a tie anyway. 

 

EDIT; Wouldn't have actually be enough to swing it in his favour. But the idea of assigning delegates by virtue of a coinflip is still insane.