What do you think the general election will be all about?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

When it gets down to two (or if we are lucky three with Trump)...what will be the main campaign issues on both sides? Many of the typical talking points are moot now.

For us? Wealth inequity? Climate change?

For them? More War, ISIS, Border Fences? Roll back ACA? Reverse marriage for all?

[leveymg]

1. Arrogant Money vs Stupid Money = low turnout election

Could go either way. Either way, we are f-cked.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Exactly....low turnout. So....what does that mean? How should a candidate

position for that? I personally think a Dem should campaign on "stay the course"

[NYCButterfinger]

2. I want it to be about foreign policy.

What type of country are we? Why are we giving foreign aid to every country? It's affecting the economy. I want a strong national defense, but not being the world policeman. A running mate like Amb. Tim Roemer would be a good choice for a VP to have more discussion on foreign policy.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. Foreign aid is a truly piddly amount of our budget.

So no, it's not actually affecting our economy. Many other first world countries give a higher percentage of their GDP in foreign aid than we do.

Can't say I know much about Roemer, so I can't speak to his creds as a VP possibility.

[Exilednight]

12. That depends on how you define foreign aid. If you include

Military spending based on military deployments, then yes it is effecting our economy.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

15. That's a pretty stretchy view of 'aid'.

We weren't exactly welcomed with flowers and parades, after all.

Throw out Saddam, fine, that's 'aid'. Stay and occupy for the next 12 or 15 years, not so much.

But we do need to stop being 'Team America, World Police'.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. I'd say it depends on who the candidates are.

The main issues change depending on who is in the running.

If it's Bernie, it'll mainly be wealth inequality and (now) racial injustice in the justice system from his side.

If Hillary, more focus on the justice system, things generally referred to as women's issues, not so much on the wealth inequality except in terms of supporting higher minimum wages.

On their side, the things you guessed.

[BillZBubb]

5. BENGHAZI! of course.

That's all the repubs have got.

[HFRN]

6. assuring business as usual, for TPTB

and i dont think anything spells that out better than Clinton-Bush

just like 1992

you want NAFTA? you're in luck - we've got both kinds

you can have NAFTA(Bush), or NAFTA(Clinton)

[patricia92243]

7. Jobs - and all that has to do with that.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. YES - I have seen it - Perry talking abysmal growth in GDP. Of course he

talks lower business taxes - but....I wonder..how many people will this appeal to? Does this election hinge on the 5-6 % who are jobless ?

[DFW]

8. If we're lucky

They'll worry about ACA and climate change. There are a lot of farmers in rural states they always used to be able to count on that will be less inclined to vote Republican if their fields are dry and they go broke while their candidate says it isn't happening. Also, there are over 10 million people who are now health insured that weren't when Palin was running for Vice-President. There will be more than a few Republicans among them who will vote against being returned to the former status quo against their will.

If we're unlucky, and they nominate someone who will recognize that nuanced approaches are needed toward hot issues like immigration, global warming and income inequality if they want to keep all their former voters intact. This is not 1980, and for the first time, they have seen what happens when a clueless fanatic former candidate gets exposed for what they really are (Palin). They know what happens if they nominate one. It'll be easier to formulate an effective campaign with a faceless failure whose record can be easily manipulated (e.g. Fiorina) than a crook whose performance record is easily exposed (Walker). So far, among the whole crowd (assuming Kasich has no chance), Bush still looks to be their man--at this point. He'd be a real threat if he changed his name to Williams or Rogers, but as long as he doesn't, he'll have that Bush name to weigh his chances down.

[olddots]

9. 5% real issues and 95 % bullshit

It will be like the Olympics only lives will be at stake .

[DURHAM D]

10. What it won't be about -

* TPP

* Keystone

[restorefreedom]

13. i am not so sure

tpp= JOBS a major issue
keystone xl = CLIMATE CHANGE a major issue

sooner or later hillary will have to be clear on her position. these are two key issues. if she wants a prayer of getting the nom, she will have to own her positions on these issues.

sorry if that is an inconvenient truth.

[tabasco]

11. For the republicans - FEAR.

Primarily fear of Islamic people and minorities.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. Would like to say people are smarter than that --- but saw a poll that said people are

against the Iran deal. Of course...they advertise, we do not. I have said this a zillion times...why doesn't Obama use the PSA... people have said there are no rules restricting it's use. Jesus...he could have educated people about ACA. It's the law, damn it

[NV Whino]

14. Who has more money

[hollowdweller]

16. Well if it's Bush Vs Clinton we have a clue what it will be about.

The Bush family wins by trying to seem serious and taking the high road while putting forth vicious personal attacks to their opponent.

With Dukakis it was that he let murderers loose and was a ACLU supporting liberal. They said he was soft on crime.

With Gore it was that he was an egghead who would take peoples guns and when that just barely worked they used their personal connections to make sure the election recount went in their favor.

With Kerry it was that he was sort of a sissy and a liar about his war record.

So if it's Bush VS Clinton it really won't be about the issues of the day, it will be about a coordinated personal attack on Hillary.

The question is how will the Clintons respond???

First Bill is the only one who was able to defeat a Bush despite all the attacks.

Second thru his friendship with Bush 1, Bill Clinton probably has a few connections inside the Bush network now and might get the heads up on the strategy. Talk about third dimensional chess.

Third Hillary has at least some republican friends and defenders thru friendships she forged while in the senate. It will be interesting to see how these guys respond and if they join in the Bush's character assassination strategy.

[annabanana]

17. If it's not about GOTV

We're in trouble

[Agschmid]

21. Yup.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. You are saying that the campaign issue will be GOTV?

[madville]

20. How Hillary is pro-TPP and how Trump opposes it

If he's their candidate of course

[JackRiddler]

24. Bush or Clinton, Clinton or Bush.