Because We Have a Problem: 2016 Forcasting List

[Antilogic]

Some of it is. The VP candidates usually aren't fellow primary competitors (unless they drop out early like Biden did), but rather are people who would be considered good presidential contenders in the next couple cycles, elder statesmen that cover a particular deficiency of the candidate's, or for region-balancing shenanigans.

 

[bhsup]

Not sure how this will affect Hillary, if at all, but..

Check out my unimpeachable (ha, see what I did there?!) sources!

Bill Clinton's phone sex was 'eavesdropped by MI6 and used by Israel for blackmail'

Halper also details Clinton’s “hit list” which included Hurley, American showbiz legend Barbra Streisand, actress Gina Gershon and Eleanor Mondale, daughter of the former vice-president Walter Mondale.

HILLARY & BARBRA’s BITTER FEUD EXPLODES

Hillary, 65, has had it in for Barbra, 71, since rumors first surfaced in the early ’90s that President Clinton was carrying on a secret affair with the diva. Barbra had been a huge supporter, giving a concert to raise money for Bill’s White House campaign. She also sang at his inaugural gala.

But the bad blood between the women exploded when Babs spent the night as a guest in the Lincoln Bedroom in 1993 while Hillary was in Little Rock tending to her dying father. On the day Hillary returned to the White House, there was talk of a major fight, and the next morning, the president had an unexplained scratch on his face.

This is what you people get for making me search for this damned thread. Keep it on page one from now on.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Bill falls for Babra. Bill has Awful taste. Bill is married to Hill.

Combined they form HillBilll! and together are able to defeat Babra.

 

[_random_]

Because we're sick nerds and we're already looking at 2016, why not make a thread of potential candidates?

Republicans:

Paul Ryan-Even with a Romney loss, Ryan is popular enough with the business wing in the Republican party that he can have a national role again if he wants it. He's young, and will be in budget policy discussions for good or for ill in over the next few years.

As desperately as some folks wanted it, nope.

Bobby Jindal-Gov of Louisiana Sure he screwed up that speech that one time, but he's young and ambitious enough, and most people think he's going to make a run at it eventually. Jindal is really smart (rhodes scholar), has education and health care bonafides, is {very} conservative, and oh yeah, isn't an old rich white guy. There are some negatives (weirdo religious stuff, Louisiana is a sheethole still), but I think he'd be a force

One of many candidates this cycle who was good in theory, but got no traction.

Ricky Rubio-By this time, assuming he doesn't shoot himself in the foot, he'll be ready

Of the Republicans who ever had a shot at the nomination, the one who likely would have performed best in the general. Rubio-Kasich is like the obviously strong winning ticket, but I guess it was too obvious.

John Thune-Senator, South Dakota Because a white guy with a strong jaw needs to win every year. Has the conservative credentials for the red-meat crowd.

Who was even trying for that role this year? Most of the major candidates had pretty lousy jawlines. I guess Pence fills the niche somewhat.

Chris Christie-Gov NJ-You know this guy already.

Four years ago, I figured this guy was a lousy governor and would be a lousy president, but after watching him debate I figure he must have been a damn good prosecutor.

Bob McDonnel- Gov, VA-Because we need a white southerner. He's also conservative enough for the Tea crowd, but is decently popular in a purpley state.

He couldn't have done much worse than the Virginia governor who did run.

Scott Walker-Gov WI

If any of the candidates could be said to have dropped out too soon, it'd be him. Not that he could have won, but he could have been Rubio but better.

Nikki Haley-Gov SC

Seems on paper like a very strong contender for 2020, but I don't know if we'll see the sorts of changes in the Republican primary electorate that would lead to them making sensible decisions.

DEMOCRATS
Joe Biden Technically a possibility

I was really bummed when this didn't happen, because The Onion would have produced some top-notch content.

Martin O’Malley-Gov of Maryland The press keeps saying this may be a thing, but I find the guy boring as hell, and doesn't bring a lot to the table

Very good call there.

Andrew Cuomo-Gov of NY-The favorite, based on his sky high ratings in NY, his hand in getting gay marriage passed, and even his willingness to get tough with unions.
Cory Booker-Major of Newark, NJ, Superhero Kind of a longshot, but he's a lot like Obama. His personal story is dynamite, he's got some fairly hefty policy bonafides, and he's ambitious. He's also the best at twitter among any politician.

The Clinton powerhouse was probably as important as anything at keeping these folks (and Warren, and probably a lot of people who'd have liked to run) out. It is interesting to imagine how things would have gone without Clinton (or Biden) to act as an obvious successor candidate to Obama.

Elizabeth Warren -Progressive blogs love her, but she has to win her seat in MA first, and I wouldn't bet on that. Not likely to have a lot of midwestern appeal either. Bleh.

Sanders fulfilled this role and probably did it better than Warren would have. And he won primaries in Michigan and Minnesota and Wisconsin and fought Missouri to a draw, so that there was that.

Brian Schweitzer-Gov of Montana-A guy the more blue collar Democrats could really get around. Tough and plain-spoken, has bipartisan appeal, record of accomplishment. Not as sexy for the progressive wing though.

As I recall, he endorsed O'Malley, which basically means he's not super progressive but also didn't feel like endorsing Clinton. The fact that he has no qualms with pissing off Clinton means he could have made a run and been an interesting presence, but some homophobic remarks in 2014 probably would have bit him in the ass.

Who did I miss?

That rascally old populist whose controversial rhetoric has been characterized as racist:

Spoiler You know who :