2016 Early Polling Continues to pit Clinton only against GOP potential candidates, Paul on Iraq – Yes his opinion can be stunning!

It appears that all pollsters continue to compare Hillary Clinton, and no other Dem candidate against the pack of 2016 potential candidates. In a situation where not one has officially announced a candidacy - but may have hinted – the best of those past races are generally put to the poll test. The pollsters have decided that must be Hillary Clinton only for the Democrats, and Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee and the 2nd place 2012 GOP candidate – Rick Santorum. In the latest round of Clinton vs. the GOP – she has lost some ground according to Forbes analysis, Clinton is still ahead but has lost ground in key demographics against both Jeb Bush and Rand Paul equally.

Here’s the conundrum – Clinton is likely to either bow out entirely in November, or be ambushed at the Democrat Convention again, by Obama-light – or the new Senator from Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren. Warren, despite protesting too much, has opened the door in recent interviews and is playing the role of 2014 candidate support, a potential sign of things to come. There is also the Governor of Maryland, who has made no bones about a 2016 run. The latter two are most likely to enter the fray.

On the Republican side, there is no telling who may emerge yet as a frontrunner – as the fortunes and the establishment hijacks, no unlike the national Democrats, will muck things up (See John McCain, Mitt Romney). Although Paul is the most likely to capture both the GOP nomination as well as the national title, it remains to be seen what machinations, if any, the GOP will mount against the son of former Congressman Ron Paul. The establishment GOP candidate is someone who is slightly less Democrat than a Progressive.

It is one thing to hold your ground and compromise while maintaining core principles (Clinton, William Jefferson, and Reagan, Ronald), and another thing when the debates are peppered with “I agree”’s from both candidates!

However, Rand Paul (KY) would most likely have the tables turned in such a debate given his issues are conservative, and at the same time, Libertarian, which allows him some leverage and more reasoned though processes. in an op-ed in the Salem, Oregon, Statemen’s Journal, there is absolutely hope in this letter that as a “Republican” (Paul) telling it like it is re: Iraq, blaming both Bush and Obama, if he will be able to take the “heat” from other Republican’s. It is likely as, in any contest that yes, there will be those incredulous naysayers who will insist that the Iraq war was a brilliant move, yet there are those who are more pragmatic and can honestly say – bad idea. Good for Paul, and doubtful that he will back down from that stance – even hotly contested. He will be battling (a la Ronald Reagan – who was almost kicked from the party), the left and the right of the political spectrum. Although so far, the left has flung only bad photographs and some trumped up plagiarism charge. Paul appears, so far, and this early, to be the best bet of those “who might run”.

On a side note: there has been so much to discuss recently that it is difficult to pick one topic at any given time – from the disaster on the US border where daily cries for help are heard from the local media, to the VA scandal to the IRS scandal to the horrific destruction of the middle east by ISIS, to so much more than one can comprehend in an hour – one debacle after another, makes one incapable of feeling nothing but sadness for the state this nation has been brought to under this administration. One does not necessarily blame the President, simply because he is pretty much a figurehead, and is surrounded by those who are acting on their own accord – yet, surely not this much junk could get by one CEO, or one governor, or one small businessman (say an eye doctor) – which begs the question, should we, as a nation, hire another academic for the highest office in the land?

2016 Speculation: Palin, Cruz, Clinton, Bush, Warren, and the Race to the top.

Sixteen of the potential GOP 2016 Candidates imagined by Politico - image Politico.com

The 2016 Presidential election may seem as if it is too far in the future for speculation to begin as to who will run in both parties, and to whom the two major political parties will “anoint” as the eventual winner, regardless of primaries. The speculation began before the first votes were cast in the 2012 election, as President Obama, as was the case with Bill Clinton and George Bush, will not be eligible to run for a third term (regardless of the rumors to the contrary regarding President Obama). Generally speaking those who appear in the early lists generally don’t throw their hats in the ring when it comes down to the wire (see Palin, Huckabee, and Jindel for example in 2011-2012), but for giggles, the early list:

From Politico: : Bobby Jindel (R-Governor of Louisiana) , John Kasich (R-Governor of Ohio), Bob McDonnell (R-Governor of Virginia), Martin O’Malley (D-Governor of MD), Vice President Joe Biden (D) Gov. Rick Perry (R-Governor of Texas) Mark Warner (D-Senator from Va.), Rick Santorum (R-2012 GOP Candidate), Rick Scott (R-Governor of Fl.), Jan Brewer (R-Governor of AZ),Scott Walker (R-Governor of Wisconsin, Susanna Martinez, (R-Governor of New Mexico) Hillary Clinton (D) and Andrew Cuomo (D-Governor of NY), Brian Schweitzer (D-Governor of Montana)(Washington Post), Ted Cruz (R-Senator TX) (Fox News), Sarah Palin (R)(Baltimore Sun), Jeb Bush (R), Marc Rubio (R-Senator FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Bob Portman (R- Senator Ohio), Kelly Ayotte (R-Senate NH) (The Tacoma News Tribune) Mike Pence (R-Governor Indiana), Paul Ryan (R-Congress (WI), Brian Sandoval (R- Governor of NV), John Thune (R-Senate SD), Michelle Bachman (R-Congress MN), Chris Christie (R-Governor of NJ)(Politico), Julian Castro (D-Mayor of San Antonio) (USA Today), Newt Gingrich (R) (Politico) ,Elizabeth Warren (D-MA Senate)(Boston Magazine) - That’s the list for now.

If one were to consider that the GOP has a habit of nominating a candidate (or more to the point, appearing to push a candidate that has lost in a previous election (See John McCain, Bob Dole, Mitt Romney), then logic would dictate that the most likely of the bunch would be Rick Santorum or Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich), however, there’s Jeb Bush in the ring, so one may bet they’ll go the way of the dynasty. (Also consider that neither of the aforementioned would fit the GOP moderate mold.)

On the Democrat side, Hillary Clinton is already ahead in the buzz, however, the Democrats are going to need a hook, and they are going to focus, as they did in 2006-2008, on a little known woman, with little experience and very little national exposure – that’s Elizabeth Warren, darling of the Progressives.

That doesn’t stop the press from seeing a matchup between two political dynasties in a Bush vs. Clinton 2016 match-up(CNN).

What is interesting to this feminist is the fact that there are so many woman and much speculation as to 2016 Presidential runs on the GOP side: Bachman, Palin, Ayotte, Martinez, and Brewer, while on the DNC side one has Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren. Of the women listed, one can see Palin, Brewer, and Martinez going the distance (basing this on experience as Governors and having as far as having a grassroots base in place the tow at the top would be Brewer and Palin). However, to have the party that generally get’s the women’s vote (silly, $9.00 worth of Birth Control is more important somehow than fiscal sanity – which is contrary to feminism as most women must support themselves and their families, being independent of the male), has only two females that are mentioned, Hillary who would fall into the “owe a Presidency” (if she were in the GOP) column, and Elizabeth Warren – who with zero experience, and one slogan (Billionaires!) will be the most likely nominee and one can see a 2008 Democrat convention all over again (where Clinton would be robbed a second time!).

Names no on the list: Huckabee, Huntsman, and those who have yet to crawl out of the political woodwork.

The bigger question, in the course of the next two years, is will a third party emerge, along with a third party candidate, that will fit the bill enough to give the major parties a run for their money. On the GOP: side, there are several that have Tea Party Connections that are strong enough to carry an independent bid, Palin, Perry, Rand Paul (son of perennial Libertarian-Republican candidate, Ron Paul). There is only on one that would hold an Independent party on the DEM side, and that would be Elizabeth Warren, the Progressive Party (should they decide to go that route, which is highly unlikely). It would be healthy for the nation however, to see the large political parties split, as now there is a schism in both (although that argument is rarely framed), the Progressive Socialists who are driven by Unions, versus, the other “groups” that belong to the Democrats, and on the GOP side, the moderate do anything, say anything to get elected semi-fiscal conservatives, versus the social and fiscal conservatives – who would be either an Independent or Tea Party.

In any event, start watching late night TV in February, for who shows up on Letterman, and Leno, and of course, starts making the rounds of all the talk shows – fundraisers aside, (which is how Politico judges who may or may not throw hats into the ring), it is face time with the public in general that usually is a hint of what is to come.. .and the beat goes on.

President Obama Win’s Reelection – Republican’s Retain Control of Congress, Democrats Increase Gains in House – Romney – An Opportunity Lost - Let the 2016 Speculation Begin

President Obama, his children and First Lady Michelle Obama-on his reelection - image New York Daily News

In what should have been an upset according to some pollsters and simple math, turned into a, yet to be determined percentage of the vote in President Obama’s win of a second term. According to the New York Times, the current electoral vote count stands at President Obama with 303 electoral votes, and former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney with 206 electoral votes, 29 are currently undecided. The popular vote, according to the Times, is still ”tight” in a scenario where some pundits over the past few days believed that Romney might win the popular vote and lose the electoral college, or vice versa. What this shows those in the middle – or the moderates – is the deep divide that exists in this nation based on political ideology. One can anticipate that this division will continue throughout the next four years, and the struggle between those fiscal conservatives and those that believe bigger government is the answer, will continue.

Mitt Romney, in his concession speech, continued his theme of unity,

“I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters.

This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.

…..

The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work. And we citizens also have to rise to the occasion.

We look to our teachers and professors, we count on you not just to teach, but to inspire our children with a passion for learning and discovery. We look to our pastors and priests and rabbis and counselors of all kinds to testify of the enduring principles upon which our society is built: honesty, charity, integrity and family. We look to our parents, for in the final analysis everything depends on the success of our homes. We look to job creators of all kinds. We’re counting on you to invest, to hire, to step forward. And we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics.

(Full Text of Mitt Romney’s Concession Speech here Via the Boston Globe)

The concession speech given by Mitt Romney was typical of his governance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the opportunity for the nation to have a truly bi-partisan leader has been lost, unfortunately, there are few moderates left in the great political divide that is our nation, the balance being far to the left or far to the right, with little room for discussion and party unity placed before the people whom they are supposed to represent.

In the end, however, it is what it is, another election come and gone, with disappointments and jubilation and to that end, it is hoped that President Obama, with the campaign behind him and in his final term, become the moderate he had presented. It is also hoped that the economy will improve, despite the conventional conservative wisdom that there will continue to be fewer jobs, taxes will increase exponentially on the middle class and the weight and regulations of the Affordable Health Care act will affect the middle class and specifically seniors in both taxes as well as decreased care.

The economy, and the focus on the economy, is not about greed nor rich nor poor, it is, unfortunately, the sad truth that, at one time every American had a chance at personal gain, and that chance has become narrowed, as those who do go onto college find themselves burdened with debt and little in the way of qualified jobs to sustain that debt. The fact that there are only a finite number of taxpayers to the huge demands of the ever growing federal government is of concern as that affects the poorest in this nation. When the tax base is narrowed, and those dependent upon government, the employees of that government (including teachers, firefighters, etc.) and the poor (those receiving benefits) may end up finding themselves with fewer opportunities. The debt of the nation, which is everyone’s reponsiblity through the tax system, will fall short without an overhaul or equitable tax reform. There simply are not enough “billionaires and millionaires” to support the system. It is hoped, that with the election behind him, the President with four years left, will abandon his base, and lead from the center. It may be that those on the right that feel that the President is too far to the left ideologically are dead wrong. It is the hope that they are, as the socialist ideology is one which cannot be sustained in a nation of this size, regardless of the “dreams” of those Progressives who in ivory towers still hold the Soviet Union up upon some sort of pedestal.

Therefore, this is President Obama’s opportunity to truly unite the nation, to become the moderate he has marketed to a majority of American’s. To date, many of us how lean to the right, might have reason to be unconvinced, yet one hopes to be proven wrong, and one prays that the President, and those in the Senate and the House, will temper there “crazy” side and look towards he American people with both compassion for the poor and a need to work towards a common goal of recovery.

That said, it really does go against the grain of human nature as well as the political machines that run the nation, which brings up the need for reform on the political side, and a real need for a third party – a party of the middle, not to the right nor the left, but one that bases its ideology on the side of fiscal sanity. As to the social issues that drive both sides of the aisle, they have all been duped – and why? There will be no movement on Abortion, Gay Marriage, women’s ‘equality”, simply because those are the “political footballs” of both parties, nothing will, nor should it change, as many of those are also religious issues. Therefore those who feel strongly that abortion is morally wrong, that gay marriage is morally wrong, may want to realize these are religious preference issues, not issues belonging to a government that is, in truth, too vested in the political process to change.

As to 2016 – and yes, it starts now, one to watch is the newly elected Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren, or as her Progressive supporters believe, the next President of the United States. As to the Republican side, it is too early to tell, but one should watch Mark Rubio, the Florida Senator. What is unknown is the “third” party candidate, for there should be a third party within the next two years, which rejects the status quo.

Finally, as to those that are emotionally vested in an election, it is fine to be disappointed in a loss, however, it is really only politics, and it is not the end of the world as we know it (unless of course, one is deeply vested in the Mayan Calendar, this all of the aforementioned is a moot point). Find your inner sense of humor, and look at the opportunities ahead, for they are there simply because these United States of America remains a free nation, the only free nation that exists. If however your concern is such that you are compelled to get up and move – head to Arkansas: which has become a solid Republican state (NY Times), the first time since the Reconstruction of 1865!(Historyworld).