Anyone else a little antsy about the Dem nomination

[Beet]

being decided on a Mindless Rolling Steamer basis? Even after all this time, I'll admit... part of me wishes Hillary would just step aside for someone younger. It doesn't have to be someone antagonistic to her. Her endorsement would carry nearly as much weight as the strength of her potential candidacy. What I hate the most is those people who don't like Hillary solely because she's a Clinton and we've had "two Bushes" already. I really don't think her being married in the past to a former president is relevant whatsoever. I am worried this crap could drag her down in the General, though. People seem to have a resentment about it that they never had for the Kennedy brothers or even Shrub.

[BaconBacon96]

I'm just annoyed Biden isn't taken more seriously.

[crash1984]

There is still about two years before the primary season starts and a lot could happen within that time. Case in point look at Christie. Most people thought he would be one of the big contenders come 2016 but with the recent scandals there is a good chance he will not run. I think most people expected Hillary to win the primaries in 2008 but she did not.

[Mister Mets]

I'm looking at this from the point of view of an outsider, but if Hillary essentially has a coronation, the Democrats will avoid a discussion of President Obama policies they're not as sold on.

That's just something I find interesting.

[whanztastic]

I'm just annoyed Biden isn't taken more seriously.

[eric82oslo]

I'm just annoyed Biden is still taken so freaking seriously. Even more seriously than Elizabeth Warren, which I'm sure is both a huge shock to me as well as to most other politically active Demcrats. I personally think it's only those who don't follow politics closely who still take Biden seriously, at least more seriously than the big political talent and star which Warren has been for quite a while now.

Biden is a clown btw, and always has been. He's never been a politician in the right sense of the word.

[BaconBacon96]

I'm just annoyed Biden is still taken so freaking seriously. Even more seriously than Elizabeth Warren, which I'm sure is both a huge shock to me as well as to most other politically active Demcrats. I personally think it's only those who don't follow politics closely who still take Biden seriously, at least more seriously than the big political talent and star which Warren has been for quite a while now.

Biden is a clown btw, and always has been. He's never been a politician in the right sense of the Word.

Warren is not running for president, she has stated so repeatedly.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

So you've completely abandoned your Hillary support, Beet?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Yeah, I want a brawl in both camps. Something's gonna have to entertain me. And don't hate on Joe Biden, possibly in the top five greatest living Americans as it stands right now.

[Mr. Morden]

Jonathan Bernstein has a great 3-part series of posts on this general topic of Clinton, her seeming lock on the Democratic nomination, and the effect on the party:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/hillary-clinton-is-in-the-driver-s-seat-isn-t-she-.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/is-hillary-clinton-s-lead-in-polls-for-real-.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/hillary-clinton-and-the-missing-democratic-debate.html

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He also makes a point I've made here before, which is that it's wrongheaded to think of party nomination battles as purely a contest for voters, as if they're acting as independent agents.  Sure, the voters ultimately have to pull the lever for their chosen candidate in the primary.  But in a primary contest, you usually have a large number of voters whose allegiance to a particular candidate is paper thin.  They're happy to vote for any of several candidates who fall within the party mainstream, and so they're heavily influenced by cues from party elites (which doesn't just mean elected officials, but also journalists, cable news personalities on "their side", etc.), and you can have a big bandwagon effect.

[Tender Branson]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/hillary-clinton-is-in-the-driver-s-seat-isn-t-she-.html

That headline is quite ridiculous, because:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=186579.0

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/hillary-clinton-is-in-the-driver-s-seat-isn-t-she-.html

That headline is quite ridiculous, because:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=186579.0

She's in the driver's seat, yet she's forgotten how to drive!  If she manages to blow this election, it'll be the perfect metaphor.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k445V4XXo3o

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

Column in the Daily Beast about the generation gap among female Clinton supporters, with the younger ones wanting her to run, and the older ones having mixed feelings:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/11/hillary-clinton-supporters-are-divided-over-her-potential-2016-run.html

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[Chancellor Tanterterg]

If nothing else, a coronation would mean that she wouldn't be forced to develop a strong response to attacks relating to any weaknesses she has as a candidate until the GE which is dangerous.  It really hurt Romney that the donors quickly made Gingerich shut up about Bain and Romney's taxes b/c it allowed Romney to just ignore the issue rather than developing a response to said attacks before Obama inevitably used them in the GE.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I'm just annoyed Biden is still taken so freaking seriously. Even more seriously than Elizabeth Warren, which I'm sure is both a huge shock to me as well as to most other politically active Demcrats. I personally think it's only those who don't follow politics closely who still take Biden seriously, at least more seriously than the big political talent and star which Warren has been for quite a while now.

Biden is a clown btw, and always has been. He's never been a politician in the right sense of the word.

There is a right sense to that word?

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

If nothing else, a coronation would mean that she wouldn't be forced to develop a strong response to attacks relating to any weaknesses she has as a candidate until the GE which is dangerous.  It really hurt Romney that the donors quickly made Gingerich shut up about Bain and Romney's taxes b/c it allowed Romney to just ignore the issue rather than developing a response to said attacks before Obama inevitably used them in the GE.

True. Another example would be the 2008 primaries, which helped Obama tremendously. Especially the "elitist" controversy, something that he got to address head on rather than just trying to shed that perception, like Kerry's hunting embarrassment.

[Ogre Mage]

I'm just annoyed Biden isn't taken more seriously.

Biden has high name recognition and consistently bad poll numbers in presidential polling, so perception of him is already baked in and not in a good way.  In 2008 he got 1% in the Iowa Caucuses and then dropped out.  There isn't a reason to take him seriously.

[exopolitician]

Id rather have someone else, someone new and more appealing than Clinton. I'm not enamoured with her, but if she is the Democrat with the best chance I will have to hold my nose and support her.

I just really really really wish Warren would consider running.

[Bull Moose Base]

I'm just annoyed Biden isn't taken more seriously.

Biden has high name recognition and consistently bad poll numbers in presidential polling, so perception of him is already baked in and not in a good way.  In 2008 he got 1% in the Iowa Caucuses and then dropped out.  There isn't a reason to take him seriously.

Biden's name recognition is a lot lower than Hillary's. And in voter familiarity with Hillary and him, the disparity is even wider. Also, there's a better explanation for his poor polling (both in 2008 and now) than what people think of Biden himself, e.g in 2008, his competition. In 2014, his boss and his balls.

[Ogre Mage]

I'm just annoyed Biden isn't taken more seriously.

Biden has high name recognition and consistently bad poll numbers in presidential polling, so perception of him is already baked in and not in a good way.  In 2008 he got 1% in the Iowa Caucuses and then dropped out.  There isn't a reason to take him seriously.

Biden's name recognition is a lot lower than Hillary's. And in voter familiarity with Hillary and him, the disparity is even wider. Also, there's a better explanation for his poor polling (both in 2008 and now) than what people think of Biden himself, e.g in 2008, his competition. In 2014, his boss and his balls.

If Biden performed so poorly in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses because of his "competition" then that is essentially an admission he was a weak candidate.  He finished behind Obama, Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson. 

As far as his current numbers, if he was only polling badly vs. Hillary that would be one thing.  But he looks mediocre against a lot of other potential opponents as well and as the sitting Vice President he has much higher name recognition than they do.

The Vice President has admirable qualities but his numbers are what they are.  And that is a huge red flag in terms of him getting the nomination.