# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=226 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 227 --- ## [How likely is it that a Trump wins helps progressive goal more than a Clinton win?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-a-trump-wins-helps-progressive-goal-more-than-a-clinton-win/750209)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-a-trump-wins-helps-progressive-goal-more-than-a-clinton-win/750209 "2016-05-07T04:09:44Z")
Okay, I thought I’d make a thread about this specific topic, since it’s come up so often in other threads. There is a non-zero number of Sanders supporters who see absolutely no reason to support Clinton, and in fact se… --- ## [What would the Trump-Clinton debates be like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-trump-clinton-debates-be-like/745835 "2016-05-07T03:48:45Z")
Spinoff from this thread. While Sanders is now something of a possibility, it still seems far more likely Clinton will be the Dem nominee for POTUS. Meanwhile, Trump is still leading the Pub pack. Assuming that lineup… --- ## [Peak SNP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-snp/754090)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-snp/754090 "2016-05-06T18:48:47Z")
I think the SNP has reached a peak in its popularity, and the recent election has now shown this to be the case, it couldn’t form a majority in Parliament (I’m aware it’s designed to prevent a overwhelming majority gover… --- ## [Time for a deep explanation! (Of the US Political System)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-a-deep-explanation-of-the-us-political-system/753462)
**Author:** [@ianclark01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianclark01)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-a-deep-explanation-of-the-us-political-system/753462 "2016-05-06T18:13:40Z")
Which I cannot give! However, it is clearly time that somebody with an egg-shaped head and a lot of time explained why the US political system is such a pile of total garbage, from electioneering, to legislating, and ev… --- ## [So apparently our distaste for our candidates is record high](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-our-distaste-for-our-candidates-is-record-high/754013)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-apparently-our-distaste-for-our-candidates-is-record-high/754013 "2016-05-06T16:20:34Z")
I think it is something we all knew, but it is nice to see the data. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americans-distaste-for-both-trump-and-clinton-is-record-breaking/ --- ## [Overly early predictions for November 2016](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-early-predictions-for-november-2016/754050)
**Author:** [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-early-predictions-for-november-2016/754050 "2016-05-06T08:39:17Z")
My first approximation of the Electoral College map for the 2016 Presidential election. Now, right now this is very rough. The map comes from 270 To Win - you can fill in your own guesses and post links too! Then I we… --- ## [The Democratic party has rejected Clintonism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-party-has-rejected-clintonism/752172)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-party-has-rejected-clintonism/752172 "2016-05-06T07:55:19Z")
A new column from Matt Bai making a point I’ve been making for awhile. Hillary Clinton is running in an environment where she is forced to repudiate pretty much all of her husband’s record. Embracing Obama is smart, i… --- ## [Problems with polls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-polls/729789)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-polls/729789 "2016-05-06T03:11:41Z")
I can’t find a link to the radio bit I heard today that made me want to post this but the same points are made here: multiple factors have made polling less meaningful now than it was even just a few years ago and aggreg… --- ## [Another election stolen from Bernie Sanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-election-stolen-from-bernie-sanders/751144)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-election-stolen-from-bernie-sanders/751144 "2016-05-06T02:48:39Z")
http://www.inquisitr.com/2944765/bernie-sanders-dropped-from-d-c-ballot-due-to-democratic-party-error/ This is ridiculous! The DNC and Hillary need to play fair. Let the voters speak, and stop stacking the deck agains… --- ## [Trump links Rafael Cruz to JFK assassination; cites National Enquirer as authority](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-links-rafael-cruz-to-jfk-assassination-cites-national-enquirer-as-authority/753799)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-links-rafael-cruz-to-jfk-assassination-cites-national-enquirer-as-authority/753799 "2016-05-06T02:26:34Z")
http://m.en.canoe.com/CNEWS/World/2016/05/03/22629493.html And yet, the man will likely be the Republican nominee. I’ve concluded that Daniel Moynihan was naively wrong. Trump is entitled to his own facts. --- ## [Will the democrats have a contested convention?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-have-a-contested-convention/754004)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-democrats-have-a-contested-convention/754004 "2016-05-06T02:08:03Z")
I keep reading articles about the possibilities of this. Is it likely to happen? And what will be the result if it does? --- ## [Cruz drops out of the race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cruz-drops-out-of-the-race/753852)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cruz-drops-out-of-the-race/753852 "2016-05-05T20:03:54Z")
There’s currently discussion about this in seperate threads, but I thought this deserved its own discussion. It would appear that Cruz was disappointed with his Indiana results, and so he dropped out. But all along, he … --- ## [What if there is no majority in a state? How do the electoral votes work out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-is-no-majority-in-a-state-how-do-the-electoral-votes-work-out/753986)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-is-no-majority-in-a-state-how-do-the-electoral-votes-work-out/753986 "2016-05-05T17:06:59Z")
With the exceptions of Maine and Nebraska, who can split their votes. What would happen if in the presidential election, no candidate had a majority? An independent could get enough votes to prevent either the D or R ca… --- ## [Indiana primary thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-primary-thread/753388)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-primary-thread/753388 "2016-05-05T11:22:14Z")
Getting an early start. It looks like it will come down to this one and California and as of now Trump is easily in the lead. --- ## [RNC vs. Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-vs-trump/753706)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rnc-vs-trump/753706 "2016-05-04T23:23:50Z")
Should a national committee actively oppose a candidate or do they owe it to the rank-and-file to be unbiased. I think they need to run a fair and unbiased campaign and respect the voting party member. Otherwise, we mi… --- ## [What makes Trump a Republican?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trump-a-republican/753811)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-trump-a-republican/753811 "2016-05-04T21:33:32Z")
Does either party have to support a candidate that declares himself/herself to be a member of that party and manages to get on the primary ballot for that party? I’m sure this is a somewhat naïve question. But another … --- ## [Anti Trump riot in California - Seriously?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-trump-riot-in-california-seriously/753736)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-trump-riot-in-california-seriously/753736 "2016-05-04T16:03:46Z")
Check out thevideos. Is this the new strategy from the Democratic party? Oh man - they sooo much inspire me to vote Hillary. --- ## [What happens to the Garland SCOTUS nomination if Trump is elected President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-garland-scotus-nomination-if-trump-is-elected-president/753767)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-garland-scotus-nomination-if-trump-is-elected-president/753767 "2016-05-04T02:03:44Z")
For the sake of the hypothetical, assume the Senate holds no hearings to confirm Merrick Garland, Trump gets elected and Obama does not withdraw Garland’s nomination. Does Obama’s nomination expire when he leaves office… --- ## [Introducing the Jimmy Carter Outsider Index, 2016 Republican Primary Edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-the-jimmy-carter-outsider-index-2016-republican-primary-edition/733295)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introducing-the-jimmy-carter-outsider-index-2016-republican-primary-edition/733295 "2016-05-04T01:30:50Z")
Using polling data from Real Clear Politics, I assemble an index of Republican candidates running as inexperienced outsiders, just like Jimmy Carter did in 1976. It’s a varied lot. It includes Trump, Fiorina and Carson. … --- ## [Was Trump ever bailed out by the government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trump-ever-bailed-out-by-the-government/753781)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trump-ever-bailed-out-by-the-government/753781 "2016-05-03T19:42:06Z")
Really a GQ question, but since it involved politics and politicians I figured I’d ask here instead. I was in a discussion this last weekend where pro and anti Trump people were shouting at each other with great volume … --- ## [Turn Out the Lights, Republicans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-the-lights-republicans/753326)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turn-out-the-lights-republicans/753326 "2016-05-03T18:26:34Z")
The Guest Editorial in Variety (of all places) has some wonderful phrases in it, going 'way off the Deep End: The kicker is that the author of this Republican-bashing freewheeling piece is Rob Long — “a contributing… --- ## [I see no one worth voting for...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-no-one-worth-voting-for/752424)
**Author:** [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-no-one-worth-voting-for/752424 "2016-05-03T13:17:52Z")
What is a fiscally conservative, socially liberal, hetero, gun owning, Athiest with anarchi-liberterian tendencies to do?.. I’m for small government, the smaller the better, microscopically small if possible I hate gov… --- ## [Hypothetical, Sanders wins more pledged delegates, but Clinton wins more votes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-sanders-wins-more-pledged-delegates-but-clinton-wins-more-votes/753704)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-sanders-wins-more-pledged-delegates-but-clinton-wins-more-votes/753704 "2016-05-03T01:24:37Z")
Sanders does better in the caucuses. What if Sanders had won the pledged delegates, but hillary ended up winning 1 million more votes in the primary because Sanders won the caucuses overwhelmingly? On one hand in the Se… --- ## [Could Sanders run as an independent even without his approval?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-run-as-an-independent-even-without-his-approval/753516)
**Author:** [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-sanders-run-as-an-independent-even-without-his-approval/753516 "2016-05-02T20:50:47Z")
Assuming Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, I was looking into whether or not Sanders could run as an independent in California (the way John Anderson did in 1980). California Elections Code Section 8301 says, “A c… --- ## [What result on 4/26 would convince you that it's over for Bernie?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-result-on-4-26-would-convince-you-that-its-over-for-bernie/752759)
**Author:** [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2016, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-result-on-4-26-would-convince-you-that-its-over-for-bernie/752759 "2016-05-02T11:22:32Z")
I think it’s over for him now, but there’s still a few posters who think he can turn this thing around. He’s down by 237 pledged delegates and as a result needs to win the remaining contests by an average of around 17 po… --- ## [Donald Trump and Paul Lepage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-paul-lepage/753387)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-paul-lepage/753387 "2016-05-02T02:33:47Z")
Anybody else seeing a major resemblance between the two? I live in Maine, and Trump scares me. He is just like Lepage. Yes, it is very fitting that Lepage has already endorsed Trump. Lepage is a far rightist, and as t… --- ## [Claims of electoral fraud favoring Clinton. Tin foil hat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claims-of-electoral-fraud-favoring-clinton-tin-foil-hat/753461)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claims-of-electoral-fraud-favoring-clinton-tin-foil-hat/753461 "2016-05-02T00:41:44Z")
Every election since 2000 (maybe earlier) we hear claims of massive electoral fraud. This time it’s from the supporters of Bernie Sanders (of which I am one). I hear over and over how exit polls that used to match the a… --- ## [Is the Sanders campaign using professional trolls online?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sanders-campaign-using-professional-trolls-online/752913)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-sanders-campaign-using-professional-trolls-online/752913 "2016-05-01T20:42:41Z")
Electoral-Vote, a very widely respected political blog has an interesting article about paid trolling online. It was also the subject of a Daily Kos article. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/4/22/1518673/-Bernie-Sa… --- ## [Fox or Onion? We Report ... You Decide](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-or-onion-we-report-you-decide/753411)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-or-onion-we-report-you-decide/753411 "2016-04-30T14:59:15Z")
“Beat like a baby seal”? That’s as subtle as a sledgehammer. “due so now” Yeah, use incorrect spelling to suggest that it’s Fox. Aaaaand the verdict – it really IS FoxNation! http://nation.foxnews.com/2016/04/2… --- ## [Thinking about the realities of cross-over voting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-the-realities-of-cross-over-voting/753203)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-about-the-realities-of-cross-over-voting/753203 "2016-04-30T12:14:26Z")
Say Clinton and Trump are nominated for their respective parties. This does not appear to be a huge assumption at this point. And say the #NeverTrump people are serious about never voting for Trump. This is a much big… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=225) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=227)