Your 2016 Presidential Candidate Speculation Thread

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-to-announce-on-monday-he-plans-to-run-for-president.html?_r=0

I thought he was ineligible, destined, after a triumphant homecoming, to be our Prime Minister one day, but I see he became a naturalized citizen in 2005.

It will be an issue at some point. Maybe just for a single news cycle, but someone will make a stink about it.

Cruz 2016 "your world is on fire"

Hahaha yes this is happening.

http://i.imgur.com/U36DKpM.jpg

Let us dance in the flames.

his whole face and being are so unbelievable

Shouldn't there be a crude rocketship embedded in Cruz's right eye?

It would be pretty awesome of Republicans to nominate someone who's father fought alongside Fidel Castro.

its crazy these days how fully half of the republican field are unelectable trolls in it for the publicity

My only question is, will he entertain me like Gingrich and Cain did in 2012, or--to an extent--Palin did in 2008 (she also got under my skin, as silly as that seems in retrospect)? That's all I ask.

wld be very grateful if palin blessed us with a pretend candidacy this cycle

I'm pretty sure she's already ruled it out. She could never go the distance anyway because it would take work and organisation, but then there was a team for Herman Cain, I suppose..

yeah i mean she just has to show up for the debates m/l

Ted Cruz being "smart" is something I think about a lot. What it says about intelligence, the way people estimate it etc.

otm

you guys think the apocalypse is a pantspisser

also the Clintons are smart, but they are also runny turds so it doesnt matter.

http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/JobsOpportunity672-672x441.jpg

Obama's mom jeans aren't any worse than this flight jacket he got at TJ Maxx.

Every time I hear this or or that lawyer described as "brilliant" I have no idea what the writer means.

http://www.maevemaddox.com/IMAGES/scarecrowdiploma.jpg

Scarecrow a better president than Ted Cruz.

Ted Cruz being "smart" is something I think about a lot. What it says about intelligence, the way people estimate it etc.

newt gingrich does this for me

NATIONAL REVIEW RT @jimgeraghty: You scoff, but Cruz's bid squeezes Huckabee, Santorum, Perry, Walker, Jindal, Rubio, and even Paul. http://t.co/buZCskPdbH

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/415772/shock-imported-cheap-labor-hits-labor-productivity-andrew-stuttaford

it's a fine line with politicians. there are so many times when i think "this guy can't be this dumb. he's just saying dumb things to get the votes of dumb people. and that's evil, but as a means of gaining power it's often a smart move." then there are politicians that i think are truly dumb (louie gohmert strikes me as an actual dumb person that really hits it off with a certain set of white texans).

i always get so much shit for saying this, but ted cruz is smart. i think he falls in the cynical-evil side of the equation.

He's a smart guy like Tyler Perry or Don Henley.

he's going to get real paid so i guess that's "smart"

anyway, where'e Orly Taitz. shouldn't we have heard from her by now j/k

He may be smarter than the people who expect that Permanent Democratic majority any second now.

Yeah, those people are everywhere. *rmde*

i sure heard a lot of em during the last Presidential Olympics

i always get so much shit for saying this, but ted cruz is smart. i think he falls in the cynical-evil side of the equation.

― who is dankey kang (Karl Malone), Monday, March 23, 2015 10:32 AM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ultimately imo there's just lots of different types of intelligence and contexts and chaos and were all just little ants trying to find our way in this crazy world, cruz is kinda hard to judge cause its unclear what his end game is

cruz is kinda hard to judge cause its unclear what his end game is
yeah, with him it's tough to tell whether he lusts for THE PURE ULTIMATE POWER!!!!! or if he actually wants to bring about a permanent conservative wet dream state. probably both!

or if he just wants to set himself up on the conservative speaking/think tank/media circuit post elective office

his actions make most sense in that light imho

like hes just trying to become a conservative icon not actually govern

if he thinks he can actually become president with this approach then he is in at least one way dumb

i think the conservative speaking/think tank/media circuit is his backup option, but he still lusts for the real ultimate power. the conservative icon thing may not end up working this cycle, but from his position it might be his best chance for eventual blood-seeping-through-the-teeth power. he's not going to run as a "moderate", that's for sure. instead he establishes himself as the true conservative. 8-12 years pass, and suddenly it's morning in america again, blood starts shooting from his pores and his eyes roll backward, and suddenly he's the president. or, much more likely, he's just raking in the $$ speaking at conferences and appearing on foxnewsHD+12 or whatever it's called at the time.

yeah prob true good point

Ted Cruz is a true believer who has a lucrative second career in conservative media if President Bush doesn't appoint him to SCOTUS.

Ben Carson, et al run for president so that their agents have leverage when negotiating w/conservative media.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/ted-cruz-liberty-speech-president

...He won easy applause lines with calls for a flat tax, "abolishing" the IRS, securing the border, upholding "the sanctity of human life" and protecting gun rights.

And he had more easy applause lines, such as, "Our rights, they don't come from man, they come from God almighty." And: "The purpose of the Constitution is to ... as Thomas Jefferson put it, to bind the mischief of government." And: "My father gave his life to Jesus Christ, and God transformed his heart." And: "Imagine signing legislation repealing every word of Obamacare."

...Preceding his speech was a Christian rock band which entertained the smattering of reporters and students who arrived early. Many were waving miniature American flags, which were being handed out as students walked into the auditorium. But there was hardly a pro-Cruz consensus in the room.

"It's just a cool opportunity to see him here," said Emily Smith, 21, a junior, before the speech. "Someone who's potentially going to be the next president." But she wasn't ready to support him.

FINALLY, someone in the room that is able to cut through the bullsh-

"I haven't decided. I mean, I think he's great, I think what he stands for is great."

oh

Shouldn't there be a crude rocketship embedded in Cruz's right eye?

Massive lol at this, plus I just misread Santorum as Scrotum, so my morning's off to a good start.

http://www.thefancarpet.com/uploaded_assets/images/gallery/3657/The_Dead_Zone_34083_Medium.jpg

Conservatives Don't Get the Internet, Part One Billion: http://www.tedcruz.com/

read some interesting patter out there that cruz declaring his candidacy outright, not declaring an exploratory committee, is a sign of weakness, that he's lost the invisible primary, and has nothing to do but make a big (and ultimately pointless) splash

and what has his whole career been but making a big and ultimately pointless splash?

wouldn't it be funny if Hillary actually announced she wasn't running after all

idk if the "is he cynical or stupid" circle can be squared, but i do think he is a true believer. it's an article of faith that the country is really super conservative, and if republicans would just be that, then they'll win. the version of history only goes back to the 70s: reagan and GW were right wing and won, HW, mccain and mitt were pussies and lost.

i really think he thinks that just getting out there are fucking shit up to the ultra maximum is just what you do before history breaks around you and you're president. his dad is cuckoo btw.

wouldn't it be funny if Hillary actually announced she wasn't running after all

― Οὖτις, Monday, March 23, 2015 12:13 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

would so love this

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ir7LW1Bq--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/yg2uspphwetez9tvt4qz.jpg

this guys whole body language/facial expression is so out there

its so unnatural

btw is was a mandatory assembly lmao

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wqOI__cKQHA/0.jpg

he looks like he's getting ready for take-off