# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/21 "2015-01-21T22:16:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > People who followed politics knew who he was, and so he was “up and coming” in that sense, but then, the same is true nowadays of Cuomo, or Schweitzer, or O’Malley. None of those guys is a “name”, in the sense that people outside of their constituencies who don’t follow politics would have heard of them, but then, neither was Obama a “name” when he started running. > > And running makes you a name. Consider a Republican example, Sarah Palin. Everyone knows who she is: She’s a “name”. But they don’t know her because of her half-term governing one of the country’s least-populated and most-remote states. They know her because she was running for vice president. She doesn’t get introduced as “Ex-Governor Palin”, she gets introduced as “Ex-Vice-Presidential Candidate Palin”. Barack Obama was a superstar from the moment he gave the 2004 convention speech. He was second to Hillary Clinton in the polls as soon as he expressed an interest in running. He had 17% of voter support. By contrast, 2016 polls show that Clinton is the only candidate drawing double digit support and all the candidates other than Joe Biden are unknown by a majority of voters. I also don’t think you can make a Presidential candidate a big name during an election in the sense of making him seem special enough for unmotivated voters to come out for him. Obama could accomplish that. Clinton might accomplish that. John Kerry, Al Gore, Dukakis, etc., could not. If the Presidential nominee is a boring old white guy, most of the base will stay home. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/22 "2015-01-21T22:18:35Z")
That being said, Webb, Schweitzer, O’Malley, Cuomo, and Biden would all make fine Presidents. I think the country would be in good hands with any of them. Clinton I’m actually not sure about, although I do think she’ll be the best President we’ve had since 2000, for what that’s worth. But we’ve been setting a low bar lately. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/23 "2015-01-21T23:01:04Z")
Sanders and Warren would make fine presidents. Regardless of what their numbers are, at some point, you have to vote for the candidates you think have the right solutions to the country’s problems, and will actually try to get those solutions passed in the form of laws. Sanders and Warren are the ones who fill that bill, the others … not so much. Especially Hillary. None of them are as bad as a Republican President would be, but some of them … cough Hillary cough … would not be all that much of an improvement on economic issues. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/24 "2015-01-21T23:03:22Z")
Heres the thing though: Sanders and Warren have never run anything. Those of us who are partial to libertarian candidates mostly face the same problem. What happens to libertarianism, or progressivism, when you actually have to govern, as opposed to just proposing bills that won’t get votes in the Senate? Are there NO progressive governors who have demonstrated what is possible in the real world? If not, then that itself says that Warren or Sanders would probably either fail or disappoint you by governing much farther to the right. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/25 "2015-01-21T23:36:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Heres the thing though: Sanders and Warren have never run anything. Neither had Obama in 2008, and I’ve never regretted voting for him. > [@adaher](#): > > Those of us who are partial to libertarian candidates mostly face the same problem. What happens to libertarianism, or progressivism, when you actually have to govern, as opposed to just proposing bills that won’t get votes in the Senate? There’s more than one place from which to “govern.” Congresscritters govern. Including those in the minority party of the moment. > [@adaher](#): > > Are there NO progressive governors who have demonstrated what is possible in the real world? There’s Jerry Brown, if he counts as progressive; his recent record in California is quite impressive. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/26 "2015-01-22T00:17:17Z")
Its too early for a thread that’s why! But Hillary will probably win, barring a non-run or some young, fresh, clean Democrat that sweeps the nation with his/her rhetoric and skills and defeats the same old GOP retreads ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/27 "2015-01-22T00:34:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Heres the thing though: Sanders and Warren have never run anything. Those of us who are partial to libertarian candidates mostly face the same problem. What happens to libertarianism, or progressivism, when you actually have to govern, as opposed to just proposing bills that won’t get votes in the Senate? > > Are there NO progressive governors who have demonstrated what is possible in the real world? If not, then that itself says that Warren or Sanders would probably either fail or disappoint you by governing much farther to the right. As Brain Glutton mentions, Jerry Brown’s tenure in California has been excellent. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/28 "2015-01-22T00:50:01Z")
Jerry Brown is certainly excellent, but he’s more of a heterodox than a true progressive. He’s seen some opposition from his left. If we all agree that Jerry Brown is as far left as we can realistically go, then I’m a happy camper. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/29 "2015-01-22T04:46:06Z")
> [@CGav8r](#): > > If you don’t mind me asking: What does her having a grandchild have to do with anything? I don’t remember it coming up when Mitt was running (who is a tad older than her, BTW). It’s her first, by her only child, and _Game Change_ made it clear that by the end of the 2008 campaign she was sick of campaigning and really wanted to spend more time with family. That was partly why Obama had to try so hard to persuade her to become SecState. **Shodan** , Bill Clinton was, I’d say, more a hindrance than a help to Hillary in 2007-08: recurring rumors of affairs even after he left office (including with a Canadian female Member of Parliament); remarks about that upstart candidate from Chicago which irritated and/or appalled Ted Kennedy and many black elected officials; kibitzing with campaign staff and second-guessing Hillary’s top advisors, etc. He’s irrepressible. Relations between the two became so strained that they were communicating through aides by the end. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/30 "2015-01-22T04:55:28Z")
And that raises the question about whether he’s going to be a hindrance if she tries to run again. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/31 "2015-01-22T06:06:08Z")
I’m rooting for Cuomo ironically, just in the hope that Sandra Lee will become First Lady. That’s eight years of pure entertainment right there… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/32 "2015-01-22T16:44:24Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > **Shodan** , Bill Clinton was, I’d say, more a hindrance than a help to Hillary in 2007-08: recurring rumors of affairs even after he left office (including with a Canadian female Member of Parliament); remarks about that upstart candidate from Chicago which irritated and/or appalled Ted Kennedy and many black elected officials; kibitzing with campaign staff and second-guessing Hillary’s top advisors, etc. He’s irrepressible. Relations between the two became so strained that they were communicating through aides by the end. I wonder how much that had to do with her losing to Obama. And will it happen again in 2016? I have also heard rumors that Obama despises Bill’s intestines, although I cannot evaluate the likelihood of such rumors. I can’t see Obama putting his weight (however much that will count) behind Biden despite his being the VP. Will Obama weigh in behind his former SecState? Will that tie Hillary to his coat tails? Obviously it is way early, but for better or worse the President is part of the Washington establishment, and Hillary has no chance to sell herself as an outsider or a fresh approach to Washington. Obama won because he was an alternative. I wonder if some other alternative will come out of the second tier and beat her again. Or will she step into the nomination as the heir apparent? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/33 "2015-01-22T16:54:40Z")
Obama will not step in for either Biden or Hillary against each other. He’ll endorse the Democratic nominee and do whatever he/she asks in the campaign. I think Obama can tolerate Bill in small doses. I doubt that he hates him because they have such similar politics. There can’t help but be some resentment towards Bill over the 2008 campaign. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/34 "2015-01-22T17:13:27Z")
Obama and Bill may have hated each other at some point, but Bill was such a help in 2012 (and Obama was so complimentary) that I think they’ve long put that behind them. In the last few years, they’ve been nothing but complimentary of each other. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/35 "2015-01-22T17:27:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Obama will not step in for either Biden or Hillary against each other. He’ll endorse the Democratic nominee and do whatever he/she asks in the campaign. Obama better have a reasonable response when someone brings up some of the things he said when he was running against Hillary the last time. ([Cite](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/14/obama.clinton/), [cite](http://www.factcheck.org/2008/01/clinton-obama-slugfest/)), and [later](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-usa-politics-clinton-idUSKBN0GA0TI20140810). Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/36 "2015-01-22T17:36:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Obama better have a reasonable response when someone brings up some of the things he said when he was running against Hillary the last time. ([Cite](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/14/obama.clinton/), [cite](http://www.factcheck.org/2008/01/clinton-obama-slugfest/)), and [later](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-usa-politics-clinton-idUSKBN0GA0TI20140810). > > Regards, > Shodan What are you referring to within the cites? Which quotes? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/37 "2015-01-22T19:52:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What are you referring to within the cites? Some of the things Obama said when he was running against Hillary, and later. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [January 22, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/38 "2015-01-22T19:54:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Some of the things Obama said when he was running against Hillary, and later. > > Regards, > Shodan What things? I’m curious which quotes you think Obama will need a “reasonable response” for. I didn’t see any that looked like they would require anything more than “it was a tough campaign and Hillary was a tough opponent”. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/39 "2015-01-22T20:06:57Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What things? I’m curious which quotes you think Obama will need a “reasonable response” for. I didn’t see any that looked like they would require anything more than “it was a tough campaign and Hillary was a tough opponent”. Especially since he later judged her good enough to be SoS. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400/40 "2015-01-22T20:45:11Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What things? I’m curious which quotes you think Obama will need a “reasonable response” for. I didn’t see any that looked like they would require anything more than “it was a tough campaign and Hillary was a tough opponent”. You know, _things_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-democratic-candidates/710400.md?page=3)