# 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:** 88
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1742 "2015-06-30T15:38:51Z")
According t MSNBC last night, Donald has no ownership interest at all in either Apprentice program. He is a hired actor/host, period. NBC is considering continuing the programs by hring somebody to replace Donald. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1743 "2015-06-30T16:18:15Z")
> [@jakob](#): > > I think Trump could surprise this summer So could the Yellowstone Supervolcano. That doesn’t mean it would be worth the mess the rest of us would have to clean up. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1744 "2015-06-30T16:35:37Z")
Despite his mouth I don’t think Trump would be a terrible President. He reminds me of Rick Scott. No one likes him, but Florida hasn’t gone into a ditch under his leadership. It’s actually come out of the ditch better than any of the other states that were hit hardest by the housing crash. We’d all hate him, but he would probably be the only drama in the country for 4-8 years. Which when you think about it, isn’t so bad. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1745 "2015-06-30T16:40:13Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Despite his mouth I don’t think Trump would be a terrible President. He reminds me of Rick Scott. No one likes him, but Florida hasn’t gone into a ditch under his leadership. It’s actually come out of the ditch better than any of the other states that were hit hardest by the housing crash. > > We’d all hate him, but he would probably be the only drama in the country for 4-8 years. Which when you think about it, isn’t so bad. Except the part about his “foreign policy.” And SCOTUS appointments. And probably 1000 other things if I knew more about what he says he wants to do. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1746 "2015-06-30T16:45:25Z")
That’s the thing, we still don’t know much about Trump other than that he really, really, really hates illegal immigration and NAFTA and China’s MFN status. A protectionist President would be disastrous, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1747 "2015-06-30T16:51:21Z")
Rand Paul [spews some incredibly stupid shit in TIME magazine about marriage and contract rights.](http://time.com/3939374/rand-paul-gay-marriage-supreme-court/) Basically, he goes full libertarian on this issue. Here’s my favorite part: > [@](#): > > Do consenting adults have a right to contract with other consenting adults? Supporters of the Supreme Court’s decision argue yes but they argue no when it comes to economic liberties, like contracts regarding wages. > > It seems some rights are more equal than others. Let’s unpack the stupidity: 1. Supporters of the decision likely believe that rights of contract are not unlimited in _any_ sphere. 2. It’s an apples-and-oranges comparison: the decision was about _who_ can enter into a marriage contract, if we want to phrase it that way, rather than what the _terms_ of the contract might be. 3. He’s right that some rights to contract are more equal than others - but they’re way greater in the economic sphere than in the marital sphere, not the other way around, as he implies. Specifically, the marriage ‘contract’ is one-size-fits-all. You can supplement it if you want, with prenuptial agreements and the like. But everyone who gets married still has to enter into the basic contract. Employment contracts have to adhere to a handful of boundary conditions, but other than that, there’s a ton of freedom. An employer can pay an employee $7.25 an hour, or $1000 an hour. No paid leave, or 6 weeks’ vacation and 4 weeks’ sick leave. A generous contribution to a pension fund, or nothing. A generous health insurance plan, or nothing. Or anywhere in between. 1. But of course, the freedom to determine the details of one’s employment contract are all on the employer’s side, unless you’re one of the lucky few who can literally write your own ticket. Any employer is going to have its standard contract, with just a limited amount of flexibility. The ‘freedom’ is all on the employer’s side; almost none of it is experienced by the employee. And that’s just from three sentences. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1748 "2015-06-30T16:59:49Z")
It’s not all that stupid, actually. If marriage is actually limited to two adults, then it is like any other contract in that limits can be set. However, if multiple marriage is the end result of all this, then marriage is actually being treated as a special contract which the government may not regulate or interfere with. Which will mean the next logical progression will be sacredness of economic contracts. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1749 "2015-06-30T18:03:33Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not all that stupid, actually. If marriage is actually limited to two adults, then it is like any other contract in that limits can be set. However, if multiple marriage is the end result of all this, then marriage is actually being treated as a special contract which the government may not regulate or interfere with. Which will mean the next logical progression will be sacredness of economic contracts. Can’t see how that rebuts anything I’ve said. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1750 "2015-06-30T20:31:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > [A pretty frank editorial about Christie.](http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/after_14_years_of_watching_christie_a_warning_he_l.html) > > Christie will announce today for his campaign which will last less than 7 months. He’s out after Iowa. I was going to post that article. An astonishingly frank editorial, well worth reading. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1751 "2015-07-02T08:20:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Trump is not going to be in the race until January. He has 120 days from the time of announcing to the time he has to file his FEC papers, complete with actual financial disclosures. He is not about to do that. Actually [he did do that](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-president-2016-official-119295.html). ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1752 "2015-07-02T16:17:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s the thing, we still don’t know much about Trump other than that he really, really, really hates illegal immigration and NAFTA and China’s MFN status. > > A protectionist President would be disastrous, I guess. No one involved with the Birther nonsense should be even remotely considered for high office. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1753 "2015-07-03T21:08:40Z")
An interesting, evenhanded overview of a possible campaign by Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio): [John Kasich's presidential candidacy hinges on one last question: Can he raise enough cash? - cleveland.com](http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/05/john_kasich_has_one_last_hurdl.html) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1754 "2015-07-08T16:05:54Z")
Jim Gilmore is running for president. > [@](#): > > [Former Gov. Jim Gilmore says he is running for president and plans a formal announcement in the first week of August. > > Gilmore, 65, Virginia’s governor from 1998 to 2002, broke the news late Tuesday in an exclusive telephone interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. > > He said he does not think any other Republican candidates have addressed what he considers the vital national security and economic concerns facing the nation.]([Gilmore says he will run for president](http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_30b836ff-1768-5bcb-9681-f942acfb711f.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1755 "2015-07-10T03:04:16Z")
[Lindsay Graham wants military retirees to pay more for their health care.](http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/07/09/gop-candidate-military-retirees-must-pay-more-for-health-care.html#) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1756 "2015-07-10T03:59:09Z")
Actually, Obama does to. That was part of the Grand Bargain that the President wanted with Boehner as part of the debt limit talks. > **[The Grand Bargain: Gutting Tricare - the sacred health insurance program for...](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/11/13/1160951/-Tricare-the-sacred-health-insurance-program-for-the-military)** > > I can't tell you how disheartened I was to read last night that President Obama was willing to put any part of Tricare on the table of cuts . The title of this piece is taken directly from Bob ... And as the article points out, Clinton agreed to such changes to the program as well. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1757 "2015-07-10T05:50:28Z")
Jeb Bush just blew Clinton and his GOP rivals out of the water with his fundraising. $114 million. Yikes. > **[Jeb Bush's Money Juggernaut: $114 Million and Counting](https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/24391/jeb-bushs-money-juggernaut-114-million-counting/)** > > The former Florida governor is crushing the field in fundraising. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1758 "2015-07-10T11:38:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Jeb Bush just blew Clinton and his GOP rivals out of the water with his fundraising. $114 million. Yikes. > > [http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/jeb-bush-s-money-juggernaut-114-million-and-counting-20150709](http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/jeb-bush-s-money-juggernaut-114-million-and-counting-20150709) Interestingly, Bush’s $100+ mil comes mostly to his SuperPACs (over which he is supposed to have no control), while most of Clinton’s ~$70 mil is to her actual campaign, which she does directly control. We’ll see how that plays out, but a very impressive haul. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1759 "2015-07-10T12:24:52Z")
Jeb seems to think that the Super PAC model is superior to the traditional model. I don’t think I agree. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1760 "2015-07-11T14:31:51Z")
Jeb! is going for the [common-sense, no-city-slickers approach](http://gawker.com/barack-obama-uses-too-many-big-words-for-baby-man-jeb-b-1717196925?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow) that made Sarah Palin famous: > [@Some loser who thinks his brother is a role model](#): > > You don’t have to be the world’s policeman, but we have to be the world’s leader—and there’s a huge difference. This guy, this president and Secretary Clinton and Secretary Kerry. when someone disagrees with their nuanced approach—where it’s all kind of so sophisticated it makes no sense, you know what I’m saying? Big-syllable words and lots of fancy conferences and meetings—but we’re not leading, that creates chaos, it creates a more dangerous world. Woooh, doggie, all dem big words, jes’ too much for me … But he’s not forgetting to do his masters’ bidding: > [@](#): > > “My aspirations for the country, and I believe we can achieve it, is for 4 percent growth as far as the eye can see,” Bush said. “Which means we have to be a lot more productive. Workforce participation has to rise from its all-time modern lows. It means that people need to work longer hours and through their productivity gain more income for their families. That’s the only way we are going to get out of this rut that we’re in.” As-pir-ations? Wazzat? BTW, we already _have_ better than 4 percent growth. But them book-larnin’ nerds gonna fix ever’damnthing with this commie global-warming hoohah: > [@](#): > > “Ultimately,” he said, “there’s going to be a person in a garage somewhere that’s going to come up with a disruptive technology that’s going to solve these problems and I think markets need to be respected in this regard.” Hope is not a strategy, as you may have heard. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444/1761 "2015-07-12T02:24:33Z")
Latest poll has Jeb! and Trump [in a dead heat](http://huff.to/1TrVBki): [QUOTE=[http://huff.to/1TrVBki](http://huff.to/1TrVBki)] Trump, a billionaire real estate developer, had the support of 15.8 percent of respondents in the online poll of self-identified Republicans compared to 16.1 percent for Bush, a former Florida governor. They were followed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 9.5 percent, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul at 8.1 percent, surgeon and author Ben Carson at 7.2 percent and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at 5.8 percent. [/QUOTE] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=87) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2016-republican-candidates/709444.md?page=89)