# The 2016 Democratic Candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400 "2015-01-20T18:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/201 "2015-03-19T19:57:05Z")
Biden’s gaffes are legendary. In the same sense as the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot: Lots of people talk about him having so many gaffes, but none ever seems to actually come up with any evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/202 "2015-03-19T20:41:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Biden’s gaffes are legendary. In the same sense as the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot: Lots of people talk about him having so many gaffes, but none ever seems to actually come up with any evidence. Are you kidding? There’s a million! Including: “Stand up, [Chuck!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2mzbuRgnI4)” (youtube) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/203 "2015-03-19T20:43:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Biden’s gaffes are legendary. In the same sense as the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot: Lots of people talk about him having so many gaffes, but none ever seems to actually come up with any evidence. [Took me a 10 second google search](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VAzOIT4Ef8) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/204 "2015-03-20T02:24:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Perhaps because he is too likeable to take seriously. He has a seriousness deficit. Fairly or not, Biden’s image is that of a joke-cracking lightweight. He’s not running anyway or there would be at least tome sign of it by now. Probably too old anyway. Look for him to slide from the VP mansion over into a K Street office where he can continue gladhanding. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/205 "2015-03-20T02:27:11Z")
Yeah, but despite the gaffes he’s a very serious man well versed in the issues, both domestic and foreign. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/206 "2015-03-20T06:36:42Z")
As always with Clinton, it’s the sheer number of ethical lapses: > **[Hillary Clinton's money problems keep getting worse](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hillary-clintons-money-problems-keep-215312443.html)** > > Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and... ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/207 "2015-03-20T17:32:26Z")
Well, sure, if you include all the imagined or merely overinflated ones. Despite all that, even according to [your favorite poll site](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/president/), she still leads every single Republican challenger by double digits. What do you make of _that_? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/208 "2015-03-20T19:55:43Z")
OK, so at what time in that YouTube link do the gaffes start? All I see is a dude being honest. Which I know is rather unusual for a politician, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always accidental. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/209 "2015-03-20T19:57:56Z")
Example: “This is a big fucking deal” is not a gaffe but the truth. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/210 "2015-03-21T03:12:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Well, sure, if you include all the imagined or merely overinflated ones. > > Despite all that, even according to [your favorite poll site](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/president/), she still leads every single Republican challenger by double digits. What do you make of _that_? It’s called name recognition. As a candidate, she’ll only drop. If only she could figure out a way to not run until Labor Day 2016. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/211 "2015-03-23T04:21:37Z")
Vox makes the argument that some of the Obama administration’s successes are Biden successes: most notably the management of the stimulus, the successful dealmaking with the Republicans, and getting the President to support gay marriage. > **[Why Joe Biden can't get no respect](https://www.vox.com/2014/9/18/6354359/joe-biden-hillary-clinton-2016)** > > There's a cultural rift between Biden and the party he seeks to lead. Both Clinton and Biden worked in the administration. I don’t know that you can argue that Clinton was the more positive influence. But if anyone wants to try to make that argument, go ahead. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/212 "2015-03-24T12:51:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > As a candidate, she’ll only drop. Yes! Another \*\*adaher \*\*prediction! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/213 "2015-03-24T12:55:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes! Another \*\*adaher \*\*prediction! 😉 Yeah…that’s worth a good 8 years of President H. Clinton. And quite likely a repeal of the 22nd Amendment and another 8 years… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/214 "2015-03-24T13:15:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If only she could figure out a way to not run until Labor Day 2016. If only they **all** could! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/215 "2015-03-24T13:33:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > As a candidate, she’ll only drop. As if there were something else you guys could try to throw at her to up her negatives. 😉 How well has that worked for you over the years? > [@](#): > > If only she could figure out a way to not run until Labor Day 2016. Yes, the more she campaigns, the better positioned she’ll be. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/216 "2015-03-24T15:45:20Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Interview with Martin O’Malley.](http://www.salon.com/2015/03/13/a_lot_of_us_are_disappointed_and_angry_martin_o%e2%80%99malley_makes_his_case_to_salon/) Thanks for that! Quite good. Someone mentioned upthread Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) maybe running for President; he said recently that he isn’t interested. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/217 "2015-03-24T16:22:39Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes! Another \*\*adaher \*\*prediction! 😉 My record is not actually that bad. > **[Election predictions here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736556)** > > You all know I love predictions and my accuracy is always worth remarking on, which I guess makes it remarkable. So I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. For bonus points, predict an upset somewhere where a candidate has a lead outside the margin... ---
**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:** [March 25, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/218 "2015-03-25T15:02:32Z")
O’Malley is running the kind of campaign libs want from Elizabeth Warren: [Martin O’Malley is running the campaign people want from Elizabeth Warren - Vox](http://www.vox.com/2015/3/23/8272423/martin-omally-glass-steagall) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/219 "2015-03-25T15:08:22Z")
Well yeah, but he’s not as well known. In the Democratic primary, it’s about celebrity, not policies. The only way a Howard Dean type can emerge is if there are no celebrities in the race to start with. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/220 "2015-03-25T15:20:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > In the Democratic primary, it’s about celebrity, not policies. Jesus, get over the 2008 election already! ‘Boo hoo, Obama only won because he’s a _celebrity_.’ It was bullshit back then and it’s bullshit now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=12)