2016 Presidential Election

[LA Ute]

I guess we ought to have a thread on this. I'll start with this interview between Chris Cuomo and Marco Rubio (presently my favorite candidate). The interesting part (to me) begins at about 3:30:

http://youtu.be/op0oB8Jsu5A

What interests me most about this is that the discussion here is more of a debate than an interview. Cuomo even closes the interview by saying he looks forward to "continuing this debate." I really wonder if we'll ever see Cuomo approach Hillary Clinton or another Democratic candidate the same way.


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[U-Ute]

I'll start with this interview between Chris Cuomo and Marco Rubio (presently my favorite candidate).

Mr. "I am not a scientist and so I can't make any decision based on science" Rubio?

[USS Utah]

I figure that from now to election day I should be focusing on who I will give my write-in vote to.

In 2008 it was Bob Gates.

I didn't have to go the write-in route in 2012.

So far, James Stavridis is the front runner in the campaign for my 2016 write-in vote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TnoQBitbNg

[LA Ute]

Carly Fiorina unloads on Trump. The Twitter responses are hilarious.

https://twitter.com/CarlyFiorina/sta...60026916716545

[LA Ute]

The Trump Goes On

http://m.weeklystandard.com/blogs/ho...d_1007525.html


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[U-Ute]

He is the GOP's Id personified.

[LA Ute]

He is the GOP's Id personified.

I prefer to think of him as a non-malignant cancerous growth that will be excised soon.

[NorthwestUteFan]

I prefer to think of him as a non-malignant cancerous growth that will be excised soon.

The GOP has to play nice with him, to make sure he doesn't run as an Independent. If he does it will be all over for the gop in 2016. Maybe they will put a hit on him...

After the last debate he said the Megyn Kelly had "...blood coming out of her eyes, and her whatever". He has obviously spent too many decades believing his own bullshit hype.

[jrj84105]

I prefer to think of him as a non-malignant cancerous growth that will be excised soon.

So an oxymoron that won't last long? That sort of could be the GOP's ID personified.

[LA Ute]

So an oxymoron that won't last long? That sort of could be the GOP's ID personified.

On second thought, he's malignant.

[#1 Utefan]

He is the GOP's Id personified.

LOL. Except he used to be a Democrat and is line with Democrats on several key issues including abortion.

If you want to play that game, I would say that Bernie Sanders is the Democratic party personified which is why he is gaining traction in the polls. Nothing like a disheveled, environmental whacko and Marxist to rally the base.

[concerned]

another view of Carly Fiorina

http://www.latimes.com/business/hilt...mn.html#page=1

[LA Ute]

another view of Carly Fiorina

http://www.latimes.com/business/hilt...mn.html#page=1

That is a pretty standard view of Carly from the left side of the spectrum here in California. Michael Hiltzik is also one of the least credible and at least respected pundits in the state. I personally think he is a hack. This is a guy who was caught commenting, under an alias, on his own blog in order to drive up traffic. Full disclosure: my wife and I worked pretty hard on Carly's Senate campaign in 2010, and we like her personally very much. We're not supporting her this time around, however.


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[UtahsMrSports]

After watching as much of the GOP debate as I could, and knowing what the left has right now, I think I am going to vote for The Moose's Whistle as a write-in candidate, with his good buddy Comrade Crimson as Vice President.

[pangloss]

Want to know more about the Air Force One program? If you read all this stuff, I bet you'll know more about it than Trump.

First, the Air Force program is called the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR).

Trump said he will personally renegotiate the contract and if he can't get the costs down he will terminate it. A termination for convenience is one of the most profitable things that can happen to a defense contractor. If Trump cancels AF1, buy Boeing stock on the share price dip. One of the most profitable contracts I was ever involved with was the Small ICBM termination. T for C is literally money for nothing. Trump doesn't have a clue.



So, why not keep flying the two current airplanes?

"The VC-25A Presidential fleet represents the only passenger carrying 747-200 aircraft in the United States. The aircraft will reach their planned 30 year service life in 2017. Due to this, it is becoming increasingly more expensive to maintain these aircraft. Increased heavy maintenance and parts obsolescence costs require the Air Force to begin planning for the VC-25A fleet replacement. Analysis has shown that it is cost beneficial to replace the VC-25A aircraft and operate a new and more efficient aircraft." (FedBizOps Sources Sought Notice, 2013)


That's how the ball started rolling.

The latest contract action was for $127 million, Jul 15 2016

Here's the FBO page Solicitation Number: FA8625-15-C-6599


This is from a March 2016 GAO report on major DOD programs.

(Quote)
The PAR program plans to replace the current VC- 25A fleet with a new fleet of aircraft to support the President of the United States as Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander in Chief. The PAR aircraft will be a four engine wide-body, commercial derivative aircraft, uniquely modified to provide the President, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the equivalent level of security and communications capability available in the White House.

Current Status
The PAR program acquisition strategy was approved in September 2015 after several years of analysis related to risk reduction, requirements, sustainment, and technology and manufacturing maturity. According to officials, the milestone decision authority approved the PAR program to release a request for proposal to Boeing for design and risk reduction studies. The contract award for this effort is planned for January 2016. The program will seek a waiver from the requirement to conduct competitive prototyping before entering system development and to award a sole-source contract to Boeing for two 747-8 aircraft, which will then be modified to meet required capabilities with existing technologies. Program officials stated that they will participate in Boeing supplier selections for the subsystems and intend to acquire data rights to enable competition to the maximum extent practicable for future modifications and sustainment activities. Program officials acknowledge risks associated with the integration of these technologies but stated that the majority of the mission-related systems required have worked together before on different platforms, and many of these systems havelegacy or related equivalents on the current VC-25A fleet. The two aircraft will be modified and tested in a phased approach. Once development is completed, the aircraft will be delivered as fully capable to support presidential missions, currently planned for fiscal year 2024.

Estimated Program Cost and Quantity (fiscal year 2016 dollars):
Total program (fiscal years 2010-2020): $3,210.6 million
Research and development (fiscal years 2010-2020): $1,987.1 million
Procurement (fiscal years 2017-2020): $282.2million
Quantity: 2

Next Major Program Event: Engineering manufacturing and development request for proposal release decision, July 2016

Program Office Comments: In commenting on a draft of this assessment, the program office provided technical comments, which were incorporated as appropriate.
(End Quote)

Two aspects jump out at me -- 1) $2 billion in R&D - that one hell of a lot of research and development. And 2)Google "how much does a 747 cost?" Google answers "US$351.4 million 747-8F: US$352 million" So the GAO procurement estimate of $282.2 million is very low. Maybe some of the R&D is going into the procurement cost. But I doubt it, mixing different colors of appropriated money is a serious offense.

Here's a little more
Air Force Article "Program works to reduce risk on next Air Force One"


Cheers

[Ma'ake]

Peter Morici is a conservative economist:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...ith-China.html

Essentially, he's saying Trump needs to prepare to bring China to heel, which likely will include a military confrontation.

As aggressive as China has been, they've consistently contrasted themselves against what the US has done in the Mideast, militarily.

"China seeks a peaceful rise"

The Chinese have been indoctrinated to believe their destiny is to become the world's most dominant nation, and that throughout history external powers have held them down. The British, and more recently, the US. Nationally, they're prepared for confrontation.

[USS Utah]

Peter Morici is a conservative economist:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...ith-China.html

Essentially, he's saying Trump needs to prepare to bring China to heel, which likely will include a military confrontation.

As aggressive as China has been, they've consistently contrasted themselves against what the US has done in the Mideast, militarily.

"China seeks a peaceful rise"

The Chinese have been indoctrinated to believe their destiny is to become the world's most dominant nation, and that throughout history external powers have held them down. The British, and more recently, the US. Nationally, they're prepared for confrontation.

Coming soon to the South China Sea -- Maritime Hybrid Warfare:

http://www.usni.org/magazines/procee...warfare-coming

[LA Ute]

Matt Walsh, a very conservative pundit:

"Now, I couldn’t care less about political correctness, but actually, it is a problem that Trump says these things about women. Put aside the fact that Hillary Clinton could hang this around his neck and beat him silly with it. On a more fundamental level, a real man doesn’t talk to women, or to anyone, this way. We have reached a very sad moment in the history of the conservative movement when a desperate, vulgar, juvenile brat can be hailed by the “values voter” constituency as brave and courageous because he calls women fat pigs and tells them to get on their knees. And to label such things merely “politically incorrect” is infuriatingly absurd."

[LA Ute]

I actually know her and she's sharp as a tack and a good person. I'm not sure she can really gain traction:

[mUUser]

I actually know her and she's sharp as a tack and a good person. I'm not sure she can really gain traction......

So far, she's only one of three republican candidates to ask KY County Clerk Kim Davis to either follow the law or quit her job. I like that. She's impressed me thus far.....Kasich is another that has impressed.

[mUUser]

I actually know her and she's sharp as a tack and a good person. I'm not sure she can really gain traction:

I thought she was strong again tonight. It seems she IS gaining strong traction.

Tonight, I think Fiorina, Bush, Christie & Rubio were strongest. Cruz and Huckabee scare me to death and would vote them off the island pronto. Everyone else, including 2 that I've been keeping an eye on (Carson & Kasich) fell somewhere in the middle to varying degrees.

[LA Ute]

You’re A Fool If You’re Supporting Donald Trump (And You’re Being Exploited.)

[LA Ute]

George Will supports Trump's excommunication from the conservative movement:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...ative-movement


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[NorthwestUteFan]

George Will supports Trump's excommunication from the conservative movement:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...ative-movement


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Who does George Will think he is kidding? Maybe he should stick to baseball.

This year’s Republican field is the most impressive since 1980, and perhaps the most talent-rich since the party first had a presidential nominee, in 1856. But 16 candidates are experiencing diminishment by associstion with the 17th.

Has he taken a serious look at the other 16? Each and every one of them carries a bafflingly idiotic position in at least one area shared with TheDonald, but they simply aren't as outspoken about it.

And the most 'talent rich' since 1856? This statement may be true only on account of the sheer volume of candidates. But when you diffuse all this 'talent' across 17 candidates the average candidate looks more like a Big Sky Conference bench warmer than it does a First Team All-American and Heisman Winner.

[#1 Utefan]

Who does George Will think he is kidding? Maybe he should stick to baseball.



Has he taken a serious look at the other 16? Each and every one of them carries a bafflingly idiotic position in at least one area shared with TheDonald, but they simply aren't as outspoken about it.

And the most 'talent rich' since 1856? This statement may be true only on account of the sheer volume of candidates. But when you diffuse all this 'talent' across 17 candidates the average candidate looks more like a Big Sky Conference bench warmer than it does a First Team All-American and Heisman Winner.

Lets see, you are mocking the entire GOP field when the best the DNC can muster is Hillary (Erasing Emails For Dummies) Clinton, Marxist Bernie (I bath once a week) Sanders, and soon to be Joe (I am the dumbest VP since Chester Arthur) Biden? The only half decent candidates in the Democratic field are the two no one cares or talks about. That says as much about the left and their supporters as Trump leading the GOP pack does about the far right.

Seriously dude, you need to take a hard look at your own party and candidates before casting any stones. It diminishes your credibility.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Lets see, you are mocking the entire GOP field when the best the DNC can muster is Hillary (Erasing Emails For Dummies) Clinton, Marxist Bernie (I bath once a week) Sanders, and soon to be Joe (I am the dumbest VP since Chester Arthur) Biden? The only half decent candidates in the Democratic field are the two no one cares or talks about. That says as much about the left and their supporters as Trump leading the GOP pack does about the far right.

Seriously dude, you need to take a hard look at your own party and candidates before casting any stones. It diminishes your credibility.

I am not a Democrat. I am not a fan of HillDogg in any way, and will almost vote against her because other inevitability. Calling Joe Biden the dumbest VP in history is an understatement, and that would include Dan Quayle and I will even be generous and throw in Sarah Palin.

Bernie Sanders has been on-message for 3+ decades about both parties and the entire system being broken, and that we should have a republican democracy WITHOUT having the political system controlled by wall street and big corporations. But he is also suggesting programs that will be economically impossible to implement ($15 minimum wage, free daycare, free healthcare, etc). It would be nice to have a society more like Canada or the Scandinavian countries, but that won't happen. And frankly, America isn't ready to elect a Jew from Brooklyn.

I actually like the fact that Tump is leading the pack. he demonstrates exactly how the system is broken. My fear is that the Citizen's United ruling will end in blood and tears, and the party I expected to stand up to protect the little guy against big government will be the party that turns the guns on us </hyperbole>

Surely the Republicans can find a better option somewhere.

[USS Utah]

Bernie Sanders has been on-message for 3+ decades about both parties and the entire system being broken, and that we should have a republican democracy WITHOUT having the political system controlled by wall street and big corporations. But he is also suggesting programs that will be economically impossible to implement ($15 minimum wage, free daycare, free healthcare, etc).

Don't forget free college educations.

[LA Ute]

Who does George Will think he is kidding? Maybe he should stick to baseball.

Ideology aside, the group other than Trump includes:

Nine current or former governors:

Three former governors of large states who were re-elected twice (Bush, Perry, Pataki)
Three current governors (Walker, Kasich, Christie) who've never lost an election and have been elected twice (Walker more than that) by large margins in purple states
Three other successful governors (Jindal, who is OK; Huckabee, who is a snake oil salesman; and Gilmore -- meh.)

Two U.S. Senators with significant accomplishments;

Marco Rubio (my guy)
Lindsey Graham

You can't write these guys off as dummies. They have good records. Even Huckabee, who I can't stand. It's a good field. The Democrats have Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, neither of whom have records of achievement like most of the guys above.

The rest (Cruz, Paul, Carson, Santorum, who have no chance. Carly Fiorina, who is a smart and capable person but has not chance).

[NorthwestUteFan]

Ideology aside, the group other than Trump includes:

Nine current or former governors:

Three former governors of large states who were re-elected twice (Bush, Perry, Pataki)
Three current governors (Walker, Kasich, Christie) who've never lost an election and have been elected twice (Walker more than that) by large margins in purple states
Three other successful governors (Jindal, who is OK; Huckabee, who is a snake oil salesman; and Gilmore -- meh.)

Two U.S. Senators with significant accomplishments;

Marco Rubio (my guy)
Lindsey Graham

You can't write these guys off as dummies. They have good records. Even Huckabee, who I can't stand. It's a good field. The Democrats have Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, neither of whom have records of achievement like most of the guys above.

The rest (Cruz, Paul, Carson, Santorum, who have no chance. Carly Fiorina, who is a smart and capable person but has not chance).

I was only commenting on those near the top who have a snowballs chance of getting close to the nomination.

Of that entire group, Rubio is probably the standout. But is he even old enough to run? For sure his lack of age will be used against him.

Kasich doesn't seem to want to be there. Christie would need to drop another hundred pounds before he could win a National, because American voters are shallow(.although i think he would be a solid POTUS).

I will thank God every if Cruz truly doesn't get a chance, He terrifies me at his current level of power.

Perry is proof that any village idiot can become a governor, luckily his new glasses add about 55 IQ points to his appearance.

Bush CAN'T win because of his name, but his position on the board at Bloomberg Family Foundation (which partnered with Planned Parenthood to push for less restrictive abortion laws) combined with his 'defund Planned Parenthood' statement, will crush him. Especially since a 'defund Planned Parenthood' statement is effectively defunding Pap Smears. He might as well say, 'I support cervical cancer!'. At least that is what the attack ads will point out.

Sarah Palin looks like a scholar compared to Scott Walker.

Lindsay Graham is too ambiguously gay to win, given all his anti-LGBT rhetoric.

Unfortunately too many ofthe wackos will be pushed to the top during the Hawkeye Cauci and the New Hampshire Primary.

LA, the truth is you are a far more impressive leader than anybody in this field. And don't google 'santorum'.

[NorthwestUteFan]

LA, I think you can break the silence now. You can admit that you were the man in the demon sheep in Carly Fiorina's ad in 2010, weren't you?