Why Don't Republicans Just Win the 2016 Election?

[Marvan Buren]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

 

[Frank Apisa]

I think the answer has to do with the title of another thread working that starts out, "If the Republicans were smart..."

I laughed when I saw that title.

Anyway...I wanna see where this one goes, so I'm just posting to keep it on my "participated" list.

 

[Marvan Buren]

I think the answer has to do with the title of another thread working that starts out, "If the Republicans were smart..."

Ah, but Republicans are smart - and quite politically savvy. How else do you explain the 2010 Congressional elections? In his first two years in office, with Republicans objecting to his every move, Obama with the help of Congressional Democrats pulled our economy from the brink of depression. And yet, the Republicans crushed the Democrats in the 2010 mid-terms brilliantly focusing on Obamacare but also, incredibly, blaming the "sluggish" economic growth on the Democrats.

Republicans know how to win. Which makes their rejection of Kasich totally incomprehensible.

 

[Casper]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

Many others do not understand either, it is as if Republicans are sometimes their own worst enemy.

 

[Crusdr57]

Kasich is gaining some momentum. I hope he does well in NH.

The attractions to, and attention given to Trump and Cruz expose the not so intelligent mind-set of many of the American voters. (Not to mention HRC.)

I can't explain why he's not doing better, he does have some good ideas, etc. but he rarely registers above mediocre...maybe it's the 'fruit-ninja' hand moves.

Yes, Republicans are sometimes their own worst enemy.

 

[Fiddytree]

Hillary Clinton would be more legislatively successful than Bernie Sanders, so why are Democrats in such a rush to uproot her and put in Sanders, who has almost no chance to be successful in instituting policy, let alone making it work?

Internal Party debates matter.

 

[OpportunityCost]

Because Kasich has already proven he will govern like a center left DEMOCRAT. You guys want him so bad write him in on the democrat ticket. He's thoroughly an establishment Republican, its the same as voting for Jeb or Rubio. No one wants to.

Its kind of the same reason why Hillary is having problems, that and no one trusts anything that she says anymore.

 

[Marvan Buren]

Because Kasich has already proven he will govern like a center left DEMOCRAT. You guys want him so bad write him in on the democrat ticket.

Au contraire, mon ami. Kasich is Hillary Clinton's (and my) worst nightmare. If he gets the nomination, he'll win the election, reverse everything that Obama has accomplished and stack the Supreme Court with justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump or Cruz would be decided underdogs against Hillary and even if they did manage to win, the Democrats would have enough votes in the Senate to block their every bumbling initiative and they would so alienate voters that the Democrats would retake Congress in 2018.

Go Trump! Go Cruz!

 

[Mr Person]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

The GOP is being torn apart in a battle of factions; the harder right faction typically is more invested in the GOP primary process, and so for the last few election cycles, only those presenting themselves as farther right candidates have a reasonable chance of becoming the nominee.

There's a reason McCain worked so hard to shed his "maverick" image, and there's a reason Romney worked so hard that he was "severely conservative".......and not the moderate Republican ex-governor of MA that he used to be.

There's a reason why anyone who looks like he might be willing to compromise with the Dems or take a position that is centrist gets labeled "RINO" and booed out of the room...

 

[Mr Person]

Because Kasich has already proven he will govern like a center left DEMOCRAT. You guys want him so bad write him in on the democrat ticket. He's thoroughly an establishment Republican, its the same as voting for Jeb or Rubio. No one wants to.

Its kind of the same reason why Hillary is having problems, that and no one trusts anything that she says anymore.

^^ example.


Kaisch is a moderate Republican, just like Huntsman was. So, he gets labeled as a RINO. They didn't stand a chance in the primary because they just won't satisfy the farther right. So the GOP ends up running a nutter or someone pretending to be a nutter, and the independents either vote Dem or sit home.

 

[OpportunityCost]

^^ example.


Kaisch is a moderate Republican, just like Huntsman was. So, he gets labeled as a RINO. They didn't stand a chance in the primary because they just won't satisfy the farther right. So the GOP ends up running a nutter or someone pretending to be a nutter, and the independents either vote Dem or sit home.

You are entirely missing the point. Its a Republican nomination. There is no moderate party. Like it or not moderates don't make up enough votes in either primary to win the nomination.

Both parties run to the center after the nomination process.

 

[upsideguy]

Hillary Clinton would be more legislatively successful than Bernie Sanders, so why are Democrats in such a rush to uproot her and put in Sanders, who has almost no chance to be successful in instituting policy, let alone making it work?

Internal Party debates matter.

If Hilary did not have her warts of trust (mostly about her stupid use of a private server) and loyalty (sleeping with the enemy in that she got paid high six figures to speak to Wall Street Managing Directors), she would be a run away nominee (and our next president) for the reasons you mentioned.

She is not a run away nominee, for the reasons I mentioned.

 

[Fletch]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

Its not that complicated really. Kasich hasn't run a particularly good campaign; he hasn't looked particularly good in the debates; and finally, Trump has sucked up so much of the media attention that Kasich has gotten lost in the crowded field.

 

[Fletch]

The GOP is being torn apart in a battle of factions; the harder right faction typically is more invested in the GOP primary process, and so for the last few election cycles, only those presenting themselves as farther right candidates have a reasonable chance of becoming the nominee.

There's a reason McCain worked so hard to shed his "maverick" image, and there's a reason Romney worked so hard that he was "severely conservative".......and not the moderate Republican ex-governor of MA that he used to be.

There's a reason why anyone who looks like he might be willing to compromise with the Dems or take a position that is centrist gets labeled "RINO" and booed out of the room...

Maybe you haven't noticed, but there are no moderates running in the democrat primary either. In fact, if any party is being pulled to the wacko fringe it is the democrats. And Kasich problem isn't that he is a moderate--which he is not. It is that he has had difficulty expressing himself and distinguishing himself from a crowded field.

 

[Sabanist]

^^ exactly. For any democrat to throw stones at the republicans for being polarized, lolololololol. Really?

 

[upsideguy]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

Because the Republicans are in love with their guns....

 

[cpwill]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

As a conservative, I feel the same way about Jim Webb. How'd he do in the Democrat Caucus?

 

[cpwill]

Its not that complicated really. Kasich hasn't run a particularly good campaign; he hasn't looked particularly good in the debates; and finally, Trump has sucked up so much of the media attention that Kasich has gotten lost in the crowded field.

Also, helped to implement Obamacare in his state, expanded Medicaid, told GOP voters that Jesus wanted them to increase the welfare state, go to gay weddings.

 

[cpwill]

Nate Silver: If you want to stop Trump, you want Kasich out.

 

[Linc]

Nate Silver: If you want to stop Trump, you want Kasich out.

Looks like another big turn-out for the GOP.
The large field of five certainly helps Trump.
Just wondering why so many like Romney, Adelson, and Sandoval have withheld their support from Rubio.

As for Gov. Sandoval/NV, he's moved up to a close #2 behind Rubio as my VP prediction with Trump.
Only 30 delegates tonight.
Next Tuesday will be quite a show for both parties .

 

[cpwill]

Looks like another big turn-out for the GOP.
The large field of five certainly helps Trump.
Just wondering why so many like Romney, Adelson, and Sandoval have withheld their support from Rubio.

Adelson, I don't know. Romney and Sandoval, I have to assume, did so because it was felt that it wouldn't be good for Rubio.

As for Gov. Sandoval/NV, he's moved up to a close #2 behind Rubio as my VP prediction with Trump.
Only 30 delegates tonight.
Next Tuesday will be quite a show for both parties .

Best tweet I've seen thus far: "I'm starting to think that this is the last season of America, and the writers are just going nuts."

 

[NeverTrump]

If John Kasich were to be nominated by the Republican Party, he would become our next President. Kasich is successful, popular, experienced, competent, trustworthy and even likeable. In the election, he would undoubtedly win Ohio, be favored in Pennsylvania and several other blue “Rust Belt” states, and if he selects Rubio as his running mate, Florida would be his as well.

Furthermore, once he is elected, he would do everything that Republicans say they want. He would work with Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, appoint Conservative judges, reduce taxes at every level to make America more competitive, roll back intrusive regulations, and be guided in all his decisions by his strong Christian values.

So what gives? Why are Trump, Cruz and Rubio so far ahead of Kasich when two of them are despised by nearly half of all Republicans and the third has Obama’s resume and is promising a return to the disastrous militaristic foreign policy of Bush 43?

Someone, please explain. I just don’t understand.

Simple Trump has brought in about 100,000 new people who are the low-information reality TV watching voters that only want to hear what HE has to say. THAT's IT! They aren't Republicans in the traditional sense and I cringe at the thought of the future of the party if he were to get his grubby hands on the majority of delegates. It still hasn't happened yet, it's still not over yet. Most Republicans and these are the traditional Republicans, of which I include myself to be a member of, are not even considering voting for Trump. That's why you have the fights between Rubio, Cruz and Carson. Leaving Kasich behind this early on. But it's still VERY, VERY early.

However, I have been keeping a close watch on Kasich's campaign in this thread here: http://www.debatepolitics.com/us-pa...74-john-kasichs-alarming-power-2016-race.html. He has a lot of power in this race, he has been running a very smart, sneaky, and calculating campaign. He does have a clear path to victory moreso than any of the others. That is for sure. However, in order for that to happen, specific things needs to happen in the next three weeks in order for that to happen.

 

[MTAtech]

The OP thinks that John Kasich is the GOP savior. This is the guy who just signed a bill defunding Planned Parenthood. John Kasich signs bill to defund Planned Parenthood - CNNPolitics.com