# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=256 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 257 --- ## [Ben Carson Announces Presidential Campaign](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-announces-presidential-campaign/719193)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-carson-announces-presidential-campaign/719193 "2015-05-04T23:58:27Z")
What is the over-under on number of caucuses and primaries before he’s out? --- ## [Presidential candidate named Washington, Lincoln, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-candidate-named-washington-lincoln-etc/715502)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2015, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-candidate-named-washington-lincoln-etc/715502 "2015-05-04T10:02:44Z")
It seems to me that having a candidate surnamed Washington, Lincoln, or some other famous president could be a small advantage in presidential elections, at least as far as some swing voters or relatively ignorant/don’t-… --- ## [Hardliner or moderate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardliner-or-moderate/718859)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardliner-or-moderate/718859 "2015-05-03T04:24:19Z")
Simple, straightforward poll: Liberals: Would you prefer that your side nominate a centrist moderate who has a 70% chance of winning, or a strongly liberal candidate who has only a 40% chance of winning? Conservatives:… --- ## [Chicago Mayoral Election 2015](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-mayoral-election-2015/708985)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 232\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-mayoral-election-2015/708985 "2015-05-02T20:05:19Z")
Let’s discuss the upcoming Chicago Mayoral Election. I hope that Rahm Emanuel is reelected as Mayor of Chicago. I certainly intend to vote for him. There really is only one acceptable challenger: Bob Fioretti. Fioretti … --- ## [If X wins the election, I'm leaving the country!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-x-wins-the-election-im-leaving-the-country/718113)
**Author:** [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-x-wins-the-election-im-leaving-the-country/718113 "2015-05-01T00:37:49Z")
So once again the familiar refrain of celebrities threatening to flounce off should some candidate they oppose win, and once again the rest of us are reminding them not to let the door him them on the way out. This time… --- ## [Mrs Clinton's vulnerabilities which could be exploited in a Primary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-clintons-vulnerabilities-which-could-be-exploited-in-a-primary/718376)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-clintons-vulnerabilities-which-could-be-exploited-in-a-primary/718376 "2015-04-30T22:00:59Z")
In 2007-08, she was thought of as the presumptive candidate, until some guy called Barack Obama showed up. Obama brilliantly exploited her support for Iraq War and the general feeling of disgust with the establishment. T… --- ## [If Hillary doesn't run, what would your reaction be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-doesnt-run-what-would-your-reaction-be/717158)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-hillary-doesnt-run-what-would-your-reaction-be/717158 "2015-04-28T21:05:13Z")
There seems to be remarkably little enthusiasm. Here is a poll. --- ## [Wisconsin Supreme Court election & referendum today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-referendum-today/717065)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-referendum-today/717065 "2015-04-28T18:15:27Z")
Story here. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, one of the court’s liberal minority, is up for re-election and being challenged by conservative Judge James Daley. It’s technically a nonpartisan election, only, it isn’t. There… --- ## [Kentucky election: Fulbright for Senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-election-fulbright-for-senate/718459)
**Author:** [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-election-fulbright-for-senate/718459 "2015-04-26T02:35:47Z")
I don’t live in Kentucky, so I don’t get to vote for or against Gil Fulbright. Even so, as Fulbright points out toward the end of the video, there seems to be a very clear choice between two options. The … --- ## [Does declaring earlier increase a candidates chances of winning their party Prez nomination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-declaring-earlier-increase-a-candidates-chances-of-winning-their-party-prez-nomination/718506)
**Author:** [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2015, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-declaring-earlier-increase-a-candidates-chances-of-winning-their-party-prez-nomination/718506 "2015-04-25T07:57:08Z")
Ted Cruz was the first major candidate to declare for 2016; Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton then Marco Rubio shortly thereafter. It appears others like Carly Florina, Crhis Christie and others are waiting in the weeds. I rem… --- ## [Has ALEC issued a standard-form Junk Bill law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-alec-issued-a-standard-form-junk-bill-law/718464)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-alec-issued-a-standard-form-junk-bill-law/718464 "2015-04-24T19:19:34Z")
Lately it seems that states have been calling for bans on using food stamps for “junk food” It just hit the news that Maine’s Republican governor le Page wants to ban using food stamps for junk food. This comes on th… --- ## [Why Aren't 'Birthers' Hysterical About Ted Cruz Too?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-birthers-hysterical-about-ted-cruz-too/715832)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-birthers-hysterical-about-ted-cruz-too/715832 "2015-04-21T17:36:23Z")
Section 1, Article Two of the US Constitution sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as president of the United States: (Emphasis mine.) Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970 in Alberta, Canada. Cite. S… --- ## [Hillary to raise 2.5 billion dollars.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-to-raise-2-5-billion-dollars/717962)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-to-raise-2-5-billion-dollars/717962 "2015-04-20T17:51:19Z")
Nestled in this New York Times article about the launch of Hillary’s campaign is this nugget of information: “Mrs. Clinton’s supporters and outside super PACs \[are\] looking to raise as much as $2.5 billion”. Hmmm, sound… --- ## [Voting today! Did you vote electronically?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-today-did-you-vote-electronically/717059)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-today-did-you-vote-electronically/717059 "2015-04-18T14:05:02Z")
Today is voting day for many local elections in the USA. I just came back from the polls, and was #432 for my precinct. We have paper ballots, but you can use the (single) electronic voting machine. I used the electro… --- ## [Hillary went straight demographic warfare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-went-straight-demographic-warfare/717600)
**Author:** [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-went-straight-demographic-warfare/717600 "2015-04-18T02:17:11Z")
Populist demographics is Hillary’s tactic to win the White House. It’s blatant that she will ignore the white male vote and seek to collect everyone else. This will be an ugly, divisive election season. I think it will… --- ## [What politicians past and/or present were ACTUALLY dumb?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-politicians-past-and-or-present-were-actually-dumb/717475)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-politicians-past-and-or-present-were-actually-dumb/717475 "2015-04-15T18:14:11Z")
Let me preface this by saying that most, most people who make it to the level that they do politically are not dumb people. Even people like Ted Cruz are Ivy League kids, so I doubt that they are legitimately dumb people… --- ## [I want to be POTUS.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-potus/717344)
**Author:** [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-be-potus/717344 "2015-04-15T12:18:52Z")
But I could never survive the campaign trail. As soon as my posts here became public, I would be finished. So, I presume if you want to have a political career, you need to be squeaky clean. Or at least, don’t inhale. --- ## [When does Hillary announce her candidacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-hillary-announce-her-candidacy/703622)
**Author:** [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-hillary-announce-her-candidacy/703622 "2015-04-12T22:45:57Z")
Now that the midterms are over (except for possible runoffs), it’s time to focus on the next hot button topic: When (and, to a lesser extent, where) will Hillary Clinton announce that she is running for President? Assu… --- ## [X candidate "frightens" the establishment: what do you take that to mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-candidate-frightens-the-establishment-what-do-you-take-that-to-mean/717285)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-candidate-frightens-the-establishment-what-do-you-take-that-to-mean/717285 "2015-04-12T17:57:29Z")
You see this language pop up sometimes. A candidate’s extremism (usually) “frightens” the establishment of that party. An example: Do you take this “fear” language as fear of them as candidates because the establishme… --- ## [re: Illinois gubernatorial campaign, 1968](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-illinois-gubernatorial-campaign-1968/717450)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-illinois-gubernatorial-campaign-1968/717450 "2015-04-12T01:47:28Z")
Richard Ogilvie instituted the Illinois State Income Tax during his term 1969-1973. Aside from the fact that he had a Republican legislature, how did he accomplish this? What was his campaign like? How did he approach… --- ## [Rand Paul Leading Clinton in Iowa Poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-leading-clinton-in-iowa-poll/717226)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-leading-clinton-in-iowa-poll/717226 "2015-04-11T21:53:49Z")
And “Voters are divided 50 – 49 percent on whether the e-mail scandal is important to their vote. While 37 percent of voters say they are less likely to vote for Clinton because of this issue, 58 percent say it will m… --- ## [If the election was held tomorrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-election-was-held-tomorrow/717268)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-election-was-held-tomorrow/717268 "2015-04-11T07:18:47Z")
Let’s say a bizarre warp in the time-space continuum opened up and as a result the 2016 Presidential election was held tomorrow. For legal reasons, only candidates who have already announced their candidacy are able to r… --- ## [I don't think Hillary can win.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-hillary-can-win/716184)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 226\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-hillary-can-win/716184 "2015-04-10T13:49:52Z")
It’s March of 2015, so naturally the 2016 election season is well underway. Pundits are pondering the tough questions. Can anyone stop the Martin O’Malley juggernaut? Will Bernie Sanders make his opponents quake in th… --- ## [Jeb Bush marked 'Hispanic' on Fla. voter registration form](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-marked-hispanic-on-fla-voter-registration-form/716956)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeb-bush-marked-hispanic-on-fla-voter-registration-form/716956 "2015-04-10T05:35:40Z")
OK, so why should I care about this? The last thing I want is another Bush in the White House, but what’s the significance of this? Did he gain something by doing this? The article mentions nothing. --- ## [Why isn't Marco Rubio considered a legitimate 2016 contender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716)
**Author:** [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-marco-rubio-considered-a-legitimate-2016-contender/707716 "2015-04-09T14:03:56Z")
I don’t see much in the way of major flaws with Rubio. He’s young, handsome, intelligent, understands the issues, has experience, comes from a Hispanic background, and comes from a critical swing state. With every other… --- ## [Will there be a shake-up in Ferguson, MO's next city elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-a-shake-up-in-ferguson-mos-next-city-elections/714937)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-there-be-a-shake-up-in-ferguson-mos-next-city-elections/714937 "2015-04-08T15:04:14Z")
In Ferguson, the elections are in April in odd-numbered years (which probably depresses voter turnout and needs to be changed). See also. I’m not clear if that means one is coming next month. But, if so, perhaps we ca… --- ## [Was Pence of Indiana considering a run for the nomination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pence-of-indiana-considering-a-run-for-the-nomination/716870)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pence-of-indiana-considering-a-run-for-the-nomination/716870 "2015-04-08T13:56:46Z")
I can’t keep up with all the Republicans who have hinted they might put their names forward for the nomination, so two questions: Was Governor Pence considering putting his name forward? If so, what impact will the… --- ## [The untold story of the 4 O'Clock Caucus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-untold-story-of-the-4-oclock-caucus/716967)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-untold-story-of-the-4-oclock-caucus/716967 "2015-04-08T03:34:06Z")
Since its politics I’m posting it here. Activities like this formed critical friendships and bonds between Democrats and Republicans. It made it possible to find compromise on difficult issues and actually govern the co… --- ## [Statistician in Kansas Tracking Down Electoral Fraud](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistician-in-kansas-tracking-down-electoral-fraud/716950)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistician-in-kansas-tracking-down-electoral-fraud/716950 "2015-04-07T20:27:57Z")
A Wichita State University statistician in Kansas is tracking down electoral fraud, and is suing some Republican elected officials to gain access to the paper tapes that Kansas voting machines use to record votes permane… --- ## ["2010 U.S. Election" forum is now "Elections"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-u-s-election-forum-is-now-elections/541624)
**Author:** [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-u-s-election-forum-is-now-elections/541624 "2015-04-06T04:26:39Z")
The 2010 U.S. Election forum is now the Elections forum. This forum is subject to the following rules: This forum is for discussion of elections and electoral politics. Discussions of electoral strategy and tactics, p… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=255) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=257)