I confess to a toss-up betwixt Bernie and Hillary

[Tab]

I know others have decided long ago.

First, either Bernie or Hillary is better than anyone on the right can provide. I can pick a candidate over there that I could live with, but I doubt that person would be elected, and anyway, I long ago gave up trusting the "new" Republican party to do anything of value.

1) I lived in Burlington, VT while Bernie was mayor. It was one of the best times in my life. Sort of a San Francisco or Boulder, CO on the east coast. Bernie's a known quantity. He's a bit of a firebrand but honestly passionate and, except for a few situations where he learned more info, he's been pretty consistent with his positions throughout.

2) I'm confident Hillary will do a good job. I know she's her own person, but she also has top-level help, not the least from her husband - who was very astute politically - but also others used to working at the very top level, and I assume Obama too.

So, either win with me. I'm inclined towards Bernie just because I want to see what happens. I'm happy with Hillary, though.

I'm having trouble finding anyone on the Republican side. Maybe a weak alternative is Chris Christie. Even so, I'd only do that if both Hillary and Bernie had some electoral trouble, which I doubt for both. Regardless, I'm going for the democratic nominee whoever it might be.

And, don't forget - the nominee gets to name the next few supreme court justices as the current ones retire. That is NOT something I want to trust to the Republicans. For that matter, I'd be happy with Adam Sandler as the democratic nominee.

[JonLeibowitz]

1. Can I add a note?

Overall I think you are being very reasonable (not that my opinion is worth anything). As for Chris Christie, from a previously NJ resident, please god no. He is a buffoon and a horrible person to boot: see bridgegate. Also see his hypocrisy on Federal intervention in state policy as evidenced by conflicting positions on marijuana legalization and gambling policy. He is just god-awful.

To my mind, the only sane Republican who even considered running is Jon Huntsman and he declined to run.

[Tab]

4. No, I just meant he would at least be acceptable, although not optimal

But I'd go with Christie just because he's not a whacked as Trump or Cruz.

Unfortunately, the bigger picture, as you alluded to with Huntsman, is that the people who would be good either have too much respect for themselves, or just the smallest skeleton in the closet, but without the organization to make that skeleton disappear.

I think I'd make a good president, but I can't imaging surviving the nomination process.

[Uben]

2. I'm with ya Tab

Either of them is a win for me. Clinton undoubtedly has more experience, but Sanders campaign gives us a bit of hope for change. Not a lot of hope for change if congress isn't controlled by adults, ie democrats. A president can only do so much without the ability to get things through congress, as we have witnessed the past 8 yrs. However, I believe Obama did outstanding with what he had to work with!

[Chemisse]

3. Another undecided voter here.

Both candidates have their pros and cons. But I'll be happy to support either one in the general election.

As far as the Republicans go - ugh! The choices are bad, worse, disastrous and catastrophic! How to decide?

[Brother Buzz]

5. I'm not making a decision until I at least see my sample ballot

And then, it may be a moot point, what with California's June primary.

[elleng]

6. You've made a serious mistake.

Why O'Malley?

Martin O'Malley:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

O'Malley's Plans

15 Goals to Rebuild the American Dream
https://martinomalley.com/category/15-goals/

Addiction treatment and prevention
https://martinomalley.com/policy/addiction-treatment-and-prevention/

Criminal Justice Reform
https://martinomalley.com/policy/criminal-justice/

Making College Debt Free for all Americans
https://martinomalley.com/policy/make-college-debt-free/

Holding Wall Street Accountable
https://14d2r744okfe40r1ug1oqm6y-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OMalley-Wall-Street-Reform.pdf

Expanding Social Security
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/expanding-social-security/

Homeland Security
https://martinomalley.com/vision/homeland-security/

Immigration
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/immigration/

National Service
https://martinomalley.com/national-service/

Environment
https://martinomalley.com/climate/iowa/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/agenda/

Foreign Policy
https://martinomalley.com/policy/truman-national-security/

Gun Reform
https://martinomalley.com/policy/preventing-and-reducing-gun-violence/

Trade Policy
https://martinomalley.com/policy/trade-policy/

Campaign Finance Reform (Restoring our American Democracy)
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/restoring-our-american-democracy/

Why We Need a Constitutional Amendment to Secure the Right to Vote:
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/news/right-to-vote/

Veterans and Military Families
https://martinomalley.com/policy/veterans/

Governor O'Malley's Elevator pitch

http://nhpr.org/post/video-martin-omalleys-presidential-elevator-pitch

[Orangepeel]

7. Can't decide? Don't worry about it and go for O'Malley.

[Gregorian]

8. I don't see how Hillary could be in that choice, given the qualities of the other two.

After listening to O'Malley, I can see he holds all of my progressive visions as his own. If it were a tossup for me, it would be between Bernie and O'Malley. Clinton isn't on the playing field for me. I don't see how, given two outstanding candidates, you would pick the one that does not really care about true progressive values. Two of these candidates want a better country; one just wants to be president, as far as I can tell.

Sorry to put that so negatively. I don't know how to say it better. Hillary doesn't even compare with O'Malley. And Bernie is as good as we're likely to ever get.

I'm assessing candidates based on their economic vision as well as their likelihood to enter into a war.

I doubt that we'll see anything as rational as democratic socialism in America, but if people knew just how good they could have it, or how bad they have it now, that one thing alone would put Bernie in the White House. Hillary isn't going to entertain the betterment of america's workers. Not a chance. Both the others have and will again.

The choice is establishment versus fresh, healthy alternatives. Why choose anything less?

[Nonhlanhla]

9. We can't nominate Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler is a Republican. Also one of my least favorite actors.

George Clooney, maybe. He looks the part.



Good luck deciding. I just decided for Hillary after last week's data breach debacle, because I wasn't impressed with the Bernie campaign's handling of the situation. But they're both great, as is MOM.

[Tab]

13. I was just trying a funny aside

I just picked one of the "popular" actors I like least. I don't even like his movies. But you're right - George Clooney would be a major step up.

Unless, of course, we can get Jon Stewart to run, but I suspect he prefers to taste the sausage rather than make it.

[Nonhlanhla]

16. I was just kidding around too

Man, Clooney would be a handsome prez! Since Colin Firth cannot run, what with being British and all...

[Tab]

10. I have no problem with O'Malley

but I fully expect Hillary or Bernie to take the nomination, which leaves the question of who wins the general election.

If O'Malley - who would be perfectly fine on the democratic side, except I just don't think he'll pull it off - was in a Fox or CNN debate, he'd be at polling numbers which would put him at the "little kids table" except on the DNC side he'd be there alone.

Anyway, I'm not worried about the republican side. If one gets elected, I won't have any sway over it, I just hope it's someone with some basis in reality. And I'm voting for a democrat even if it's a fictional character (but it won't need to be one). Just trying to figure out who has more sway - Bernie with his solid ideas and grass-roots (if not unconventional) support, or Hillary with her access to the very highest players.

[moondust]

11. Who, once elected, would be more inclined to

forget their campaign promises and strike some awful compromises with the 1% and their lackeys in Congress at the expense of working Americans, in the interest of "getting something done," having a legacy of "accomplishments" to show for their time in office, and ensuring that they can look forward to a well-financed, high-profile retirement someday? Isn't that sort of what NAFTA, welfare reform, repeal of Glass-Steagall, possibly TPP, etc., are/were about?

[Tab]

12. Although I think Bernie would be more true to his campaign promises

I do know people say what they think people want to hear to get into office and do good (or bad) as needed. I'm not referring to Bernie actually, more Hillary and the republican slate.

I don't speak too much of it, but my real reason - aside from just not having someone drive this country into the ground (highly possible given the republican candidates) - is to not be able to set up the supreme court for the next 25 years. Economic policies may come and go, but the SCOTUS can have major effects for decades upon decades to come.

[moondust]

15. Who, once elected, would be more inclined to

manage the SCOTUS nomination process to a desirable outcome without giving up too soon and making bad compromises with the 1% and their lackeys in Congress?

[AgingAmerican]

14. Politics or policy?

Gamesmanship, or governance?