# Is there a Democratic candidate for POTUS I can support? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 20, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714 "2019-11-20T17:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/141 "2019-11-22T01:30:31Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Are you saying you’d vote for the D Senator if you could vote for a more acceptable Prez? > > Legislation could improve Obamacare and lower costs for everyone, but you want Moscow Mitch to block any improvements out of spite. OK, I guess, as long as your guns are happy. Oh, I don’t vote about gun ownership. Personally, I would prefer the repeal of the National Fire Arm Act and I think people should be able to own whatever they want but it is at best a fifth or sixth issue for me. I am quite happy with the status quo though over warren’s proposals. I don’t like the wealth tax, how she Is getting to universal health care, her transition to renewable energy, her plans for educations and in general I think every one of her plans is wrong. So, yes, I’d rather shut down the government for two years then give her free reign. On the other hand I think Cory is a terrible representative who is one of Trump’s biggest toadies and has sold the state out at every opportunity and I would love to vote for Hickenlooper or whoever is running against him if doing so won’t completely screw the country. Nothing is more damaging then leaving trump as president so trump with a Dem senate isn’t a viable solution. I keep hoping for a dem I can vote for. Tracking the 16 crazies to find out the one I agree with has no chance got depressing early in the primary season so now I follow threads like these with hope and am resigned to doing serious research when I actually have choices to “vote” for. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/142 "2019-11-22T01:36:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s not crazy talk. It’s non-debatable,\* objective fact. > > Honestly, I do not believe that I have the power to make it happen with a wave of my hand. It’s going to take ALL of us to make it work out, and it’s patently clear that it needs to happen. > > I’ll tell you this much, though. If the Republican Party is eliminated per my instructions, and the planet collides with the sun (or some other extinction event occurs) as a consequence, I am willing to bear full responsibility for the demise of our species. > > In the words of a fuckstick who hates America: What have you got to lose? > \*in keeping with this, I will not be debating it. In all sincerity, what do you have to lose by moving to another country? You hate this one, by your own admission. Your proposed solution isn’t going to happen. Who knows? You might be happy somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/143 "2019-11-22T01:37:42Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I got 90% match on Bill Weld. I don’t know who Bill Weld is. 88% on Gary Johnson. Those were my top two. Highest Democrat was Andrew Yang at 59% - except Yang is a nutjob. Williamson was last at 20%, and Harris, Castro, Warren, and Sanders at below 30%. My results closely match yours. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/144 "2019-11-22T02:24:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s not crazy talk. It’s non-debatable,\* objective fact. > > Honestly, I do not believe that I have the power to make it happen with a wave of my hand. It’s going to take ALL of us to make it work out, and it’s patently clear that it needs to happen. > > I’ll tell you this much, though. If the Republican Party is eliminated per my instructions, and the planet collides with the sun (or some other extinction event occurs) as a consequence, I am willing to bear full responsibility for the demise of our species. > > In the words of a fuckstick who hates America: What have you got to lose? > \*in keeping with this, I will not be debating it. You might sing a different tune a couple decades from now when the Republican Party follows the full circle again and comes out on the left of the Democrats. There was a crossover about a century ago. It is bound to happen again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/145 "2019-11-22T04:48:12Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I got 90% match on Bill Weld. I don’t know who Bill Weld is. 88% on Gary Johnson. Those were my top two. Highest Democrat was Andrew Yang at 59% - except Yang is a nutjob. Williamson was last at 20%, and Harris, Castro, Warren, and Sanders at below 30%. It ranked the candidate I least like at the top. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/146 "2019-11-22T13:05:30Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > … 88% on Gary Johnson. … Andrew Yang at 59% - except Yang is a nutjob. Since you’re a Moderator you may be able to correct the typo in your post, despite missing the 5-minute window 🙂 : > [@Dictionary](#): > > ☎ … **nut·job** > > /ˈnətjäb/ > noun INFORMAL > > noun: nut-job > a crazy or foolish person. _Ex_.: Gary Johnson ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/147 "2019-11-22T13:27:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Have you ever tried [the I Side With Quiz](https://www.isidewith.com/elections/2020-presidential-quiz)? I tried that as a lark. My result was John Kasich. I think that’s actually probably an accurate result. Highest Democrat was John Delaney. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/148 "2019-11-22T13:39:30Z")
I did the quiz too, and Trump came out on top, followed by some Republicans and Garry Johnson. Biden was the top Democrat, and I allegedly agree with him 47%. Apparently my disagreements with Trump aren’t policy-based. Go figure. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/149 "2019-11-22T14:33:22Z")
I did the quiz and am happy to report that Donald Trump was dead last with 3%. I feel like a decent human being today. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/150 "2019-11-22T14:33:25Z")
As expected: 96% Buttigieg 95% Klobuchar (not expected) 95% Sanders 94% Warren . . . 91% Biden . . 29% Kasich (seems a good fellow) . . 3% Trump (that high?) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/151 "2019-11-22T14:43:14Z")
I got Warren on top with 95% and Trump on bottom with single digits. No surprise. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/152 "2019-11-22T15:26:19Z")
Mark Sanford was my top pick, followed by Kasich and, I believe Gary Johnson. Trump was in there somewhere in the top 5, but I didn’t really scrutinize the entire list. Sanford’s not even running, so I’ll probably do what I did last time and vote for Evan McMullin. > [@](#): > > Congressional Republicans have completely lost their moral compass. They stand for nothing if not the defense of a man who clearly threatens the nation and their own power. > [@](#): > > A reminder that to be Never Trump is to be committed to human liberty and equality, decency, honor, truth and knowledge, U.S. sovereignty and security, free enterprise, responsible governance, the rule of law, free nation alliances, and finally, our powers of self-governance. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/153 "2019-11-22T16:36:12Z")
As far as the “Universal” background check goes, the media and politicans would want you to believe that there are _NO_ background checks currently, and guns are as easy to obtain as a soda from a vending machine, this is _NOT_ the case. Background checks already exist, if you go to a gun store or go to a gun show and purchase from a dealer/vendor, you _MUST_ fill out Federal Form 4473, and submit to a NICS (Nationa lInstant Check System) for a background check, this can take around 15 minutes to an hour depending on how busy the system is, there are three results; Proceed; background check passed Delayed; NICS needs more time to check, can take up to 3 days, if after 3 days no disqualifying issues are found, transaction is approved Declined; background check failed, no reason is given to the customer, and often the decline is never investigated (which I think it should be, there’s a reason for decline, maybe it’s criminal activity, maybe it’s a clerical error, maybe erroneous data that needs to be fixed…) Once the Proceed has been given, the sale can be completed, and you go home with your firearm. buy a gun from a store? fill out the 4473, “Proceed”, pay and go home. Buy a gun from a vendor or seller at a gun show, same thing, pass the 4473 what politicians refer to as the “Gun Show Loophole” is actually a “Private Sale” between two individuals that does not take place at a retail establishment, and even that has some rules (which must be voluntarily followed) 1; buyer and seller must live in the same state, buyer from state A can only sell to other residents of state A 2; buyer must not think seller is a prohibited person (felon, domestic abuser, of poor moral character, etc.) 3; both buyer and seller must both be of legal age to own a firearm (no selling to kids) 4; buyer must be the owner of the gun being sold, no selling other peoples property yes, this is reliant on both buyer and seller following the rules (which are common sense anyway), and the sale is under the seller’s discretion in the first place, if i’m selling a gun face to face, and I don’t feel like the seller is trustworthy, i’m not going to sell it… what the “universal” check seeks to regulate are private sales, transfers between family members, gift giving, and loaning a firearm to a friend/acquaintance/family member, and seeks to create a “paper trail” so the government knows the location of every firearm and who owns what… right now, if I wanted to loan/sell/give one of my firearms to a family member, I simply do so… “here, mom/nephew/sister, I think you’d like this gun/here, try my new gun/etc”, if I was handed down a firearm from a family member as a family heirloom, or if I wanted to hand down a gun to a family member, I simply do so, if I wanted to sell /loan/let try out a gun to a friend who I _know_ is a legal, law-abiding citizen, I simply do so, no paperwork is needed, no background check is needed, the government doesn’t need to know. under a _universal_ check system, _every one_ of the above transactions would require the buyer and seller to go through some form of NICS style check system (perhaps family transfers might be excepted), it is creating a “paper trail”, could that trail be used in the future as a record for confiscation, easily. _would_ it? who can currently tell, would _you_ trust the government with that kind of information? what about data breaches, now criminals have a “shopping list” of where to find firearms and houses to burgle… now, _personally_, if I was to sell a firearm privately, I _would_ like to have access to a NICS style system to make sure that the buyer is not a prohibited person, but that’s for a selfish reason, I wouldn’t want to sell a firearm to someone with a criminal background or ill intent, I understand the responsibility of ownership, but do I want to mandate that _EVERY_ transfer of possession be monitored by the Feds, no. If I want to sell a gun to my Mom, I should be able to, she’s a law abiding citizen with no criminal record, of good moral character, and just as law abiding as me, the Feds don’t need to check that transaction, do I want to sell a gun to my best friend since high school and we’ve been in contact our whole lives, a person who’s like a sibling to me? yes, but i’d still like to check his background just to be safe (what, me, paranoid? who wants to know?! 😉 ), _however_ I don’t think the Feds need to have a record of that transaction… a solution which would satisfy “Universal” proponents, _and_ opponents? how about this… a private sale accessible NICS style check system that returns _only_ the three results to the private seller (Proceed/Delay/Decline) but retains _NO_ information, the firearm isn’t even the issue, it’s a background check on the _person_, not a firearms sale/transfer transaction record, its a truly _instant_ and temporary check that generates _no_ paper trail, it’d give the seller peace of mind that the buyer isn’t a prohibited person, and would generate no paper trail ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/154 "2019-11-22T16:42:21Z")
Another candidate-comparison quiz, this one by _The Washington Post_: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/quiz-which-candidate-agrees-with-me/?fbclid=IwAR0lJgDfuOElGSeMzVakr1fBAwUpF7B5wk0ddyR39c9TpjwdlxU-aV25kpQ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/quiz-which-candidate-agrees-with-me/?fbclid=IwAR0lJgDfuOElGSeMzVakr1fBAwUpF7B5wk0ddyR39c9TpjwdlxU-aV25kpQ) ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/155 "2019-11-22T17:11:32Z")
The only Dem’s I agreed with more than 50% of the time were Yang and Biden. Between this and the last survey it seems Yang is probably the best fit for me. In reading some of his stuff he comes across as a crazy technocrat, who isn’t always wrong. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/156 "2019-11-22T17:31:08Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > In all sincerity, what do you have to lose by moving to another country? You hate this one, by your own admission. Your proposed solution isn’t going to happen. Who knows? You might be happy somewhere else. There is no other country. The US does not exist surrounded by a vacuum, and as the second or third most powerful nation in the world, the effects of its policy are not really felt on North Sentinel Island, but they are felt every-fucking-where else. Leaving for a better place is simply not an option. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/157 "2019-11-22T18:11:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Another candidate-comparison quiz, this one by _The Washington Post_: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/quiz-which-candidate-agrees-with-me/?fbclid=IwAR0lJgDfuOElGSeMzVakr1fBAwUpF7B5wk0ddyR39c9TpjwdlxU-aV25kpQ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/quiz-which-candidate-agrees-with-me/?fbclid=IwAR0lJgDfuOElGSeMzVakr1fBAwUpF7B5wk0ddyR39c9TpjwdlxU-aV25kpQ) Interesting… the isidewith quiz put my top 3 matches as; Weld Trump (vomit!) Johnson three bottom choices as; Castro Warren Sanders it categorized me as strong Libertarian the WP quiz said top 3 were; Biden Buttiegeg Klobuchar bottom 3; Harris Sanders Warren Not a fan of Biden though, interesting that both Warren and Sanders list so low in both quizzes, I guess i’m just one of those weird outliers, politically… Trump’s simply not an option for me, oh well, back to Wiggum/Inanimate Carbon Rod 2020, or Vermin Supreme then… ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/158 "2019-11-22T18:28:55Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > There is no other country. The US does not exist surrounded by a vacuum, and as the second or third most powerful nation in the world, the effects of its policy are not really felt on North Sentinel Island, but they are felt every-fucking-where else. Leaving for a better place is simply not an option. Uh…yeah… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/159 "2019-11-22T18:45:39Z")
I had a kid earlier today who isn’t allowed to eat in the cafeteria. I saw him going in there and called him over. He was upset, so instead of just taking him back to my room, I gave him a choice: he could eat in the classroom, or he could eat in the office. “I WANT TO EAT IN THE CAFETERIA!” he shouted. He could shout that all he wanted, but really that just meant he wasn’t participating in the decisionmaking process. What he wanted wasn’t going to happen. So I made the choice without his input. And unfortunately, I think I chose his least-favorite option. When I hear about people voting third party because they don’t like either of the major party choices, it reminds me of this kid. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714/160 "2019-11-22T18:48:03Z")
I got Pete Buttigieg at 93% with Sanders at 92%. Not quite what I was expecting. Gary Johnson was 67% and Trump was 7% [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-democratic-candidate-for-potus-i-can-support/843714.md?page=9)