Elections GOP Road to 2016 Primary Thread

[Makani]

I know you may not agree with this but I think when it comes to tax reform, corporate taxes will not be addressed the way they need too. Both parties are paid off far too much for there to be a chance of that occurring. The most I've heard of anything to address that is lowering the rate for companies bringing back offshore money so in other words, giving them a lower rate for not originally even paying their full tax amount.

Competing country rates also are another reason I don't think much will happen. The biggest things I think may be done are with payroll eliminating the SS tax ceiling (progressive). Social security isn't sustainable in the long run and a move like that will do a lot to help.

Oh, I definitely agree with you. There's no way a bill designed to increase the taxes of corporations (or make them pay what they owe) gets through the House and Senate. I'm only cautiously optimistic because the alternative depresses the hell out of me. I hate the idea that there are some issues that are literally too monetarily entrenched to be fixed. That idea seems profoundly un-American, but I also can't fathom a remedy that doesn't involve pitchforks. Eliminating the SS cap has always been the best answer, but that will be a pretty rough fight depending on how it is handled.

 

[Lead]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2015/CNN_2016R_021815.pdf

New CNN Poll has Huckabee leading a national poll. Disappointing.


National President
CNN/ORC

Huckabee 17
Bush 12
Paul 11
Walker 11
Carson 9
Christie 7
Rubio 6
Cruz 3
Perry 2
Santorum 2
Kasich 2
Jindal 1

 

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Gov. Scott Walker:

 

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Kasich: Boots on the ground necessary to defeat ISIS

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a potential Republican presidential contender, is telling Americans that, like it or not, the fight against ISIS will eventually require boots on the ground if it is to be won.

"Mark my words ... at some point it will require boots on the ground from the world to be able to deal with this problem," he told CNN's Gloria Borger in an interview that will air Sunday on "State of the Union."

When Borger noted that Americans are war weary, Kasich responded that leaders are elected to lead.

Kasich: Obama should have coffee with Netanyahu

Kasich jokes: I get Rand 'confused' with Ron

Pressed by Borger on how he would respond to Paul's critique, Kasich said he had little to say to the senator. He suggested maybe Kentucky's residents weren't dealing with poverty or hunger the way those in other states are.

"I'm not sure I would say much to him. I mean I don't know what he, you know maybe he doesn't work in Kentucky, maybe everybody's fine, maybe there aren't people who are suffering these problems," he said in the interview, which airs in full on Sunday's "State of the Union."

Kasich in interview: Obamacare here to stay

A repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health care law is "not gonna happen" even if the GOP takes the Senate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said.
The Republican governor's comments, in an interview with The Associated Press published Monday, are a major departure from the rest of his party -- and stunning for a potential 2016 presidential contender.

"The opposition to it was really either political or ideological," Kasich said of Obamacare. "I don't think that holds water against real flesh and blood, and real improvements in people's lives."

I got to watch the full interview and I can honestly say Kasich could be a serious candidate. He may be too moderate in some of his stances for the GOP but his charisma can't count him out of the race. He has the right type of underlying message of getting things down and avoiding the static in Washington.

 

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Mike Pence still considering presidential race

Mike Pence continues to keep the door open to running for president.
At the National Governors Association in Washington Saturday, the Indiana Republican said he will not make a decision about whether to run for reelection to a second term in 2016 — or to get into the crowded GOP presidential field — until the end of April at the earliest.

 

[ShoelessRye]

I could see Kasich as Jeb's running mate. A moderate Florida-Ohio ticket would be a huge step in the GOP taking back the WH. Though both have financial industry pasts that could be tied together and attacked.

What does he mean though by -

A repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health care law is "not gonna happen" even if the GOP takes the Senate

GOP of course did take the Senate in 2014 elections. Unless he means Obama would of course veto or he's talking about 2016 when Dems have a strong chance at taking the Senate back. Or means GOP got 60 seats in the Senate so Dems couldn't filibuster any attempt even under a Republican President.

 

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I could see Kasich as Jeb's running mate. A moderate Florida-Ohio ticket would be a huge step in the GOP taking back the WH. Though both have financial industry pasts that could be tied together and attacked.

What does he mean though by -



GOP of course did take the Senate in 2014 elections. Unless he means Obama would of course veto or he's talking about 2016 when Dems have a strong chance at taking the Senate back. Or means GOP got 60 seats in the Senate so Dems couldn't filibuster any attempt even under a Republican President.

I think he means 60 or the possibility of them losing seats in 2016.

 

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Bad budgets hurt 2016 hopefuls

2016 is shaping up as an awfully tough time to be a governor and run for president.
Caught between legal mandates to balance their state budgets and the prospect that raising taxes could derail their national ambitions, several Republican state executives eyeing White House bids are proposing deep budget cuts this month to square their state finances. The moves threaten to damage their standing at home, upset some GOP allies and cause a distraction as they ramp up for presidential campaigns.

 

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Walker’s anti-union law has labor reeling in Wisconsin

At the old union hall here on a recent afternoon, Terry Magnant sat at the head of a table surrounded by 18 empty chairs. A members meeting had been scheduled to start a half-hour earlier, but the small house, with its cracked walls and loose roof shingles, was lonely and desolate.

“There used to be a lot more people coming,” said Magnant, a 51-year-old nursing assistant, sighing.

The anti-union law passed here four years ago, which made Gov. Scott Walker a national Republican star and a possible presidential candidate, has turned out to be even more transformative than many had predicted.

Leading from Behind: How Years of Denials Got Scott Walker In Position to Approve Right-to-Work

In Washington and New York, the middle of February has been covered as a slack, gaffe-ridden period for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. In Walker's home state, none of that's true—he's actually en route to a triumph. The state's Republican-run legislature is gearing up to pass right-to-work legislation, forbidding labor unions from requiring dues or membership as conditions for any private-sector employment. "If this bill makes it to his desk," gubernatorial spokeswoman Laurel Patrick told Bloomberg, "Governor Walker will sign it into law."

In Pre-Primary Pivot to Right, Walker Shifts Tone on Abortion

It was a memorable political ad: Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin spoke directly into the camera in a 30-second spot last fall and called abortion an “agonizing” decision. He described himself as pro-life but, borrowing the language of the abortion rights movement, pointed to legislation he signed that leaves “the final decision to a woman and her doctor.”

That language was gone when Mr. Walker met privately with Iowa Republicans in a hotel conference room last month, according to a person who attended the meeting. There, he highlighted his early support for a “personhood amendment,” which defines life as beginning at conception and would effectively prohibit all abortions and some methods of birth control.

 

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Why Everyone Wants to Know Rubio's 2016 Plans

Will he or won

 

[ShoelessRye]

Rubio will not run because of Jeb Bush mostly. He can't win Florida, he can't make enough noise early to be one of the 2-3 left standing. Iowa, NH, SC, Florida will whittle the field down to 2-3 so he'd have needed a Florida win to stay relevant.

Strategically speaking he's better off running for re-election, which he'd almost surely win and it would help the GOP Presidential Ticket. If the GOP win the WH, he could be grabbed for a Cabinet spot if that's his desire, and Gov Skeletor could appoint a Repub to fill his seat until 2018 special election, which would be mid-term/non-Presidential so the GOP would have a solid leg up at holding it as Dems don't turn out in mid-terms.

I don't think the GOP field is going to be as big as initially thought by most.

 

[Makani]

My favorite part of primary season is watching Republicans backpedal on every piece of moderate legislation they've ever made. Though I agree with Walker about the Christian thing, even if it does seem like a subtle way to jab at Obama. Trying not to alienate those birthers, who I'm sure all vote in primaries. He seems like he is running a smart campaign, but I feel like he is going to get caught between a bunch of hammers and anvils before this is all done.

Also agree on Rubio, he has a sweet deal coming if he stays out of the fray and backs the right candidate.

 

[strangejosh]

Please, for the love of all that is good in this world, no more Bush's in the WH. They are just terrible.

 

[RetiredWisFighter]

Walker is (rightfully so) getting torn to shreds by the local newspapers in Wisconsin over his catering to the Koch brothers. And he's using the media beating up on him to secure more funding LMAO.

Now he's going to sign right to work into law this week. What's funny is there are some unions who support this tool. It's amazing. This guy is more blatantly bought and paid for than Obama and Bush

 

[Lead]

My favorite part of primary season is watching Republicans backpedal on every piece of moderate legislation they've ever made. Though I agree with Walker about the Christian thing, even if it does seem like a subtle way to jab at Obama. Trying not to alienate those birthers, who I'm sure all vote in primaries. He seems like he is running a smart campaign, but I feel like he is going to get caught between a bunch of hammers and anvils before this is all done.

Also agree on Rubio, he has a sweet deal coming if he stays out of the fray and backs the right candidate.

When I first say the headline for the Obama/Christian comment, I was like "here we go" but the conversation made complete sense in context. Walker was trying to explain that some of the questions the media are asking are intentionally disruptive. You use to avoid asking a candidate about their own faith. How silly is it to ask a candidate about another persons beliefs?

Either way, they got the stupid sound byte they wanted from it. If you look at the articles posted, Walker has been very reserved on many of the questions the media has asked him. He did the same thing in this case by just saying I don't know.

 

[Lead]

My favorite part of primary season is watching Republicans backpedal on every piece of moderate legislation they've ever made. Though I agree with Walker about the Christian thing, even if it does seem like a subtle way to jab at Obama. Trying not to alienate those birthers, who I'm sure all vote in primaries. He seems like he is running a smart campaign, but I feel like he is going to get caught between a bunch of hammers and anvils before this is all done.

Also agree on Rubio, he has a sweet deal coming if he stays out of the fray and backs the right candidate.

Both sides do this. Obama beat out Hillary by being more anti-war than her. She proposed a longer troop withdrawal than him and she became the weaker candidate to the primary voters for it.

 

[Hollywood Nicky]

My favorite part of primary season is watching Republicans backpedal on every piece of moderate legislation they've ever made. Though I agree with Walker about the Christian thing, even if it does seem like a subtle way to jab at Obama. Trying not to alienate those birthers, who I'm sure all vote in primaries. He seems like he is running a smart campaign, but I feel like he is going to get caught between a bunch of hammers and anvils before this is all done.

Also agree on Rubio, he has a sweet deal coming if he stays out of the fray and backs the right candidate.

"I don't know I've never talked to him about it" is not running a smart campaign, he sounds like an idiot. it was an easy question and he didn't even have an answer. makes you wonder what will happen later on.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

Jeb Bush like the rest of his family are nothing but double talking asshats.

His stance in drugs alone should keep him out f the White House. How he loathes drugs but used them himself and helped his son and daughter both get away with their crimes.

He's a complete piece of crap and needs to be recognized as just that.

 

[Diamond Jim]

I'll give Christie and Paul one thing. You ask them a question and they seem to tell you what they think right there, popular or unpopular. With Walker he is asked basic questions and he has to get back with a brainstorm answer that he is obviously coached into saying.

 

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"I don't know I've never talked to him about it" is not running a smart campaign, he sounds like an idiot. it was an easy question and he didn't even have an answer. makes you wonder what will happen later on.

Walker's

I