# The 2016 Republican candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444 "2015-01-09T22:38:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/41 "2015-01-13T01:08:33Z")
It appears Romney is going to run again. [Romney considering 3rd run for White House - nj.com](http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/romney_considering_3rd_run_for_white_house.html) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/42 "2015-01-13T01:24:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If Clinton can win with her baggage, anyone can win. Clinton can win because she is a democrat, her advantages don’t apply to republicans. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/43 "2015-01-13T01:57:03Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > I am basically a democrat, but appreciated Jeb when I was in FL and he was the Gov. I even met him at a good old fashioned BBQ for his brother. I made a delivery for the company where I worked and stayed for some BBQ chicken. [shrug] Most Americans outside Florida will not have met him or anyone he knows. And his record as governor [carries its own baggage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Florida,_2000). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/44 "2015-01-13T01:58:05Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > It appears Romney is going to run again. [Romney considering 3rd run for White House - nj.com](http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/romney_considering_3rd_run_for_white_house.html) Some people never learn. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/45 "2015-01-13T02:52:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What baggage? She was First Lady to a popular and successful POTUS whose Admin is still remembered fondly. And the one major policy project of her own was a backroom deal to subsidize private health insurance companies. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/46 "2015-01-13T02:56:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And a lot of Americans still feel that way; but practically none of them would ever vote for a Democrat anyway, so it doesn’t matter electorally. Most Americans recall the Clinton years with, for the most part, aching nostalgia. Cite for people “aching” for Bubba and Hillary, rather than for other parts of the 1990’s? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/47 "2015-01-13T02:58:52Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > And the one major policy project of her own was a backroom deal to subsidize private health insurance companies. Well, she tried to get something done. Americans love 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:** [January 13, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/48 "2015-01-13T03:01:00Z")
First ladies don’t get policy projects of their own. She may have helped with planning and organizing, but anything she planned was ultimately Bill’s project, not hers. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/49 "2015-01-13T03:43:53Z")
Is Cruz running? I look forward to him leading an army of angry, misinformed senior citizens and creating divisions within the republican party. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/50 "2015-01-13T07:48:05Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Cite for people “aching” for Bubba and Hillary, rather than for other parts of the 1990’s? Not to mention Hillary has repudiated a good part of Bill’s legacy. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/51 "2015-01-13T08:05:58Z")
Paul Ryan is out: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/12/ryan\_wont\_run\_in\_2016\_as\_romney\_moves\_toward\_third\_bid\_125230.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/12/ryan_wont_run_in_2016_as_romney_moves_toward_third_bid_125230.html) Smart. He’s young and he’s too much of a specialist(budget issues) to be President at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/52 "2015-01-13T09:04:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Paul Ryan is out: > > [Ryan Won't Run in 2016 as Romney Moves Toward Third Bid | RealClearPolitics](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/12/ryan_wont_run_in_2016_as_romney_moves_toward_third_bid_125230.html) > > Smart. He’s young and he’s too much of a specialist(budget issues) to be President at this point. Specialist. Nice way to describe his goofy ideological views. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/53 "2015-01-13T14:08:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Not to mention Hillary has repudiated a good part of Bill’s legacy. How so? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/54 "2015-01-13T16:24:26Z")
NAFTA is the most prominent example, but come on, we know she’s lying. All Democratic candidates lie about NAFTA to get the nomination. As Obama’s team assured CAnada, “it’s just campaign talk”. ---
**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 13, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/55 "2015-01-13T17:33:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > NAFTA is the most prominent example, but come on, we know she’s lying. All Democratic candidates lie about NAFTA to get the nomination. As Obama’s team assured CAnada, “it’s just campaign talk”. Cite, please. Just as a reminder. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/56 "2015-01-13T17:48:31Z")
[Oh. come on](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/25/barack-obama/clinton-has-changed-on-nafta/). 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 13, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/57 "2015-01-13T17:54:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > [Oh. come on](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/25/barack-obama/clinton-has-changed-on-nafta/). > > Regards, > Shodan I should have clarified – the cite request was for Obama’s statement to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/58 "2015-01-13T18:11:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > He’s young and he’s too much of a specialist Well, you know what Heinlein said about specialization… ---
**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 13, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/59 "2015-01-13T20:23:06Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Paul Ryan is out: > > [Ryan Won't Run in 2016 as Romney Moves Toward Third Bid | RealClearPolitics](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/12/ryan_wont_run_in_2016_as_romney_moves_toward_third_bid_125230.html) > > Smart. He’s young and he’s too much of a specialist(budget issues) to be President at this point. That’s like saying that Jenny McCarthy is a specialist (vaccination issues). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/60 "2015-01-13T23:26:50Z")
> **[Obama, Canada, NAFTA and Some 'Straight Talk'](https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obama-canada-nafta-and-some-straight-talk/)** > > Did Barack Obama's campaign quietly contact Canadian officials to tell them not to take seriously the Illinois senator's tough talk about renegotiating trade agreements? > > CTV, the well-regarded Canadian news network, reported this week that a top... > [@](#): > > CTV, the well-regarded Canadian news network, reported this week that a top Obama adviser contacted the Canadian government to calm fears that the senator was serious about rewriting pro-corporate deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement to benefit workers, farmers and the environment. According to CTV, the Obama adviser told the Canadians that “when Senator Obama talks about opting out of the free trade deal, the Canadian government shouldn’t worry. The operative said it was just campaign rhetoric not to be taken seriously.” > > After that report aired on Wednesday, an Obama campaign spokesperson claimed in an interview with CTV that “no message was passed to the Canadian government that suggests that Obama does not mean what he says about opting out of NAFTA if it is not renegotiated.” > > The problem, of course, is that CTV has a very credible source – a a high-ranking member of the Canadian embassy – who has provided the network with details of the call and a timeline. > > Of course, the source is now being pressured to tell a different story by superiors. But few serious observers of the trade debate – with its history of back channel communications – doubts the scenario as it was first reported. > > Attempts by CTV to get the Obama camp to respond to specific questions about the conversation and the timeline in question have so far proven unsuccessful. > > According to CTV, “the Obama camp did not respond to repeated questions from CTV on reports that a conversation on this matter was held between Obama’s senior economic adviser – Austan Goolsbee – and the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago.” > > CTV did contact Goolsbee, but he’s not cooperating. > > The network reports that “(Goolsbee refused to say whether he had such a conversation with the Canadian government office in Chicago. He also said he has been told to direct any questions to the campaign headquarters.” > > It is starting to sound an awfully lot like the Obama campaign may have gotten caught telling Canada one thing and Ohio something different. > > What’s the bottom line on this story? According to the network: “Sources at the highest levels of the Canadian government – who first told CTV that a call was made from the Obama camp – have reconfirmed their position.” That was always the problem with Goolsbee. Too honest, which is why he couldn’t stay in the administration long. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=4)