What's wrong with Kasich? He's a conservative, that's what. For many NYT readers that's grounds for disqualification. Many of those hypocrites despise Trump but want to see him as the Republican nominee because he's the only candidate who makes Hillary look like a wise choice.
4
"seems like" only if you forget this disregard for abortion rights. He may look "presidential" but only for those desperately looking for a Trump alternate.
10
seems more like Sisyphus to me
4
Of course Gov. Kasich won the election. Ohio is no Wisconsin. Of course, midwesterners have additional burdens to overcome, not least of which is finding their state on a map. John, you're only a pawn in their game.
3
One thing for sure, John Kasich is no Dwight D. Eisenhower and no moderate.
21
Kasich succeeded in defunding Planned Parenthood in Ohio. That's all I need to know to know he is not for me.
32
Republicans had a deep bench of shallow candidates.
17
I agree that Gov. Kasich is non-appalling. He is merely terrible.
23
Katich is polite but he's no moderate.
22
The least unsavory on the menu.
7
He IS appalling. Less so doesn't mean not. We have always had at least one non-appalling candidate in the Republican field, even if he had no chance at the nomination. This year there is no such person. All are completely unacceptable. As difficult as it may be for Gail Collins to acknowledge the new reality, it IS the new reality. The Republicans didn't move the center, and the center is not where John Kasich is. We don't have the right wing crazy one anymore (Reagan or Goldwater) and the conservatives and the centrists. We have nothing but right wing crazies. The GOP has become a party in which only reactionaries bother to run for the presidential nomination. Pretending otherwise won't change that reality. Only a stunning, staggering, broad and unequivocal defeat at the polls might bring a temporary change in this APPALLING situation. The situation is our problem, not the candidates.
21
Talk about media bias. Kasich is the only "non appalling' choice? More than half the states have already voted and nearly 70 percent have chosen Trump or Cruz. What contempt you show here for voters.
8
Standing next to Frankenstein & the Wolfman, all men look handsome. So Kasich is Type 1 Diabetes compared to Trump Cancer or Cruz Heart Attack. America can do better but not with anyone with an (r) behind their name in the White House or Congress.
America can be a better country. We don't have to invent a plan, there are dozens of better countries in the world & all we have to do is follow their example. Just look up & feast your eyes on Canada. The Canadian government doesn't make life hard on working people or the poor.
Health Care comes with your Canadian citizenship. A good education isn't free, but it's affordable. Canadians aren't warlike people. All their leading political parties are sane. They were accepting of Americans fleeing Bush & those fleeing Obama. They may object to the millions of Americans crossing their border if Trump is elected.
We really don't have to worry about President Kasich. The bloodthirsty GOP voters won't give him anymore victories this year. His sensible talking puts them to sleep, they're only interested in candidates promising a Mad Max America. If they'd only think about that.....GOPers, that's not really a good thing.
The GOP Convention in July might spell the end of the toxic Republican Party. We have our lawn chairs & popcorn at the ready for the spectacle of sucker-punches & pepper spray that's sure to happen. There's no telling what Trump supporters denied will do. Then there's the Cuban voo-doo that will be unleashed. Oh joy
America can be a better country. We don't have to invent a plan, there are dozens of better countries in the world & all we have to do is follow their example. Just look up & feast your eyes on Canada. The Canadian government doesn't make life hard on working people or the poor.
Health Care comes with your Canadian citizenship. A good education isn't free, but it's affordable. Canadians aren't warlike people. All their leading political parties are sane. They were accepting of Americans fleeing Bush & those fleeing Obama. They may object to the millions of Americans crossing their border if Trump is elected.
We really don't have to worry about President Kasich. The bloodthirsty GOP voters won't give him anymore victories this year. His sensible talking puts them to sleep, they're only interested in candidates promising a Mad Max America. If they'd only think about that.....GOPers, that's not really a good thing.
The GOP Convention in July might spell the end of the toxic Republican Party. We have our lawn chairs & popcorn at the ready for the spectacle of sucker-punches & pepper spray that's sure to happen. There's no telling what Trump supporters denied will do. Then there's the Cuban voo-doo that will be unleashed. Oh joy
15
The issue here is solidarity of American Christians. You can call them evangelicals, conservatives, liberals, democrats or republicans....but they will remain American Christians. Deal with that.
First, the word is American Christians...and not evangelicals.
Second, most Americans of Hispanic extraction are not in favor of killing, butchering illegal Mexicans, they are Catholics and will vote for a president who will defend the American Christian churches. Blacks have had no relief with bozo (barack hussein obama) warming his buns in the oval office for eight years and are still looking for someone to help them with their plight of injustice, bigotry and racism. Someone who will change their existence as second class American citizens.
Third, the population of the U.S. is a little over 300 million, population of humans on earth is over 7.4 billion of which 1.2 billion are Catholics opposed to homosexuality. There are also 1.3 billion Chinese which do not recognize same-sex marriage nor homosexual civil unions, Islam religion has 1.62 billion members comprised primarily of Muslim believers who do not condone homosexuality, communist countries also do not condone homosexuality. Power and control over 7.4 billion humans on earth is impossible. Deal with that.
First, the word is American Christians...and not evangelicals.
Second, most Americans of Hispanic extraction are not in favor of killing, butchering illegal Mexicans, they are Catholics and will vote for a president who will defend the American Christian churches. Blacks have had no relief with bozo (barack hussein obama) warming his buns in the oval office for eight years and are still looking for someone to help them with their plight of injustice, bigotry and racism. Someone who will change their existence as second class American citizens.
Third, the population of the U.S. is a little over 300 million, population of humans on earth is over 7.4 billion of which 1.2 billion are Catholics opposed to homosexuality. There are also 1.3 billion Chinese which do not recognize same-sex marriage nor homosexual civil unions, Islam religion has 1.62 billion members comprised primarily of Muslim believers who do not condone homosexuality, communist countries also do not condone homosexuality. Power and control over 7.4 billion humans on earth is impossible. Deal with that.
4
Gail, I think we've heard this before.
"Compassionate conservative."
How did that work out for the country?
"Compassionate conservative."
How did that work out for the country?
7
Let's stop talking about the "Republican establishment," which draws forth images of kind, WASPish, somewhat patronizing white old men concerned with the maintenance of democracy in a capitalist society. Yes, the establishment once existed and they understood that democracy was crucial for the regulation of inequality, which was inevitable in a capitalist world. But the "Republican establishment" has been usurped by right-wing Machiavellian, Manichean "donors" whose sole purpose is the gaining of power through any means possible. Personally, I prefer the term "reactionaries," but "donors"will do.
9
Face it - The GOP has not one single viable candidate who could, by any stretch of rational imagination, run this country. Not one.
10
Not much of a boulder if all Kasich can collect are Ohio votes; If the Republicans are serious about winning this election they need to get a whole lot smarter. The only man who can get them there is Donald Trump, so better they get off his back and assist him; But GOP dinosaurs are too scared they will loose their last twenty plus years of D.C. employment. How can you get them back to the farm after they've seen Paris?
2
It speaks to Kasich's feeble campaign that as the sitting Governor he still could not get 50% of voters to support him in his own state. Trump got the 35% of voters he's been getting in every other state. But how did 13% vote for Cruz and 3% for Rubio? His "aw shucks" shtick doesn't even sell with a plurality of voters that know him. Pathetic. As repellent as the prospect is trump get the nod by default. Sigh ...
7
Sure there is that thing about the downtrodden, Gail. But let's not forget that America twice (well, once, since the first time he was appointed president) went the garden path with a "compassionate conservative."
"Fool me once...fool me twice..."
"Fool me once...fool me twice..."
7
Less appalling is not necessarily "non appalling".
Just because the Republicans appear to be switching from using a 'jackhammer' against democracy to their more traditional approach of using a 'sledgehammer' against democracy, we cannot fall prey to accepting that as a good idea.
I'm thinking that we should get the hammers out of politics, and revert to more humane and organic approaches to governance.
Just because the Republicans appear to be switching from using a 'jackhammer' against democracy to their more traditional approach of using a 'sledgehammer' against democracy, we cannot fall prey to accepting that as a good idea.
I'm thinking that we should get the hammers out of politics, and revert to more humane and organic approaches to governance.
5
Republicans began with 17 unqualified candidates.
And all that has been proven in the last miserable 6 months is that they are still unqualified and if we should be left with any of them as POTUS the country would have drowned itself in an almost empty bath tub.
And all that has been proven in the last miserable 6 months is that they are still unqualified and if we should be left with any of them as POTUS the country would have drowned itself in an almost empty bath tub.
13
What a sad state of affairs. John Kasich is the most "moderate" person on the Republican side, and the best you can say about him is, "Sure, he'll force you to bear your rapist's baby, but at least he won't strip you of your health care while you're pregnant." I'd be marginally less concerned about a Kasich presidency than I would about a Trump or Cruz one, but the fact remains, like all Republicans, if elected he will strip women of their reproductive rights, he will send our boys and girls back to the Middle East to get their legs blown off (the Democratic TV ad I want to see on the eve of the election is a horribly disfigured Iraq War vet saying, "Don't let the Republicans send your children to war"), and his top priority is going to be lowering taxes on the wealthy and transferring the burden to the middle class and the poor. Sorry, but the Republican Party has outlived its usefulness. It's gotta go.
20
Trump has thus far saved us from JEB!?! and Rubio. For that we can be grateful. As long as Trump loses in the general election.
Kasich is no better than Cruz in his ideology and programs. But if Kasich can draw enough primary votes to block out Cruz, I will be content.
Not exactly happy, since all the Republican choices are abhorrent.
But what's new about that? I'd have to look back to Teddy Roosevelt to see a Republican president for whom I might have respect.
Kasich is no better than Cruz in his ideology and programs. But if Kasich can draw enough primary votes to block out Cruz, I will be content.
Not exactly happy, since all the Republican choices are abhorrent.
But what's new about that? I'd have to look back to Teddy Roosevelt to see a Republican president for whom I might have respect.
10
How sad is that? A guy who runs a state where voting lines in African American areas make it look like a third-world country where voters have to wait sometimes more than 8 hours to exercise their franchise to vote and a governor who has done everything he can to destroy women's right to choose at every level.
21
Great country, great people, awful leaders. Something is broken.
10
Absent his views on abortion, Kasich is the most sane amongst the GOP candidates.
Kasich vs. Sanders would be the ideal state of things, as a Trump nomination followed by a Hillary indictment would be chaos.
Kasich vs. Sanders would be the ideal state of things, as a Trump nomination followed by a Hillary indictment would be chaos.
3
It's quite amazing that Kasich is saluted as ".. the only non-appalling option the Republicans have." I wonder if Planned Parenthood and Ohio women dependent on them for reproductive health services would agree.
10
Trump and Cruz are terrible candidates. The only two that are actually worse are Clinton and Sanders.
1
Please realize that it was the Democrats who switched party for the primary that allowed Kasich to win. Otherwise, forget him.
2
The "Shock and Awe" line Kasich uses in his performances might be funny if it had no historical precedent. I would vote for Pee Wee Herman before this guy. I wonder where he might stand on abortion if one of those daughters he trots on stage were raped and became pregnant with a seriously disabled fetus.
4
For what it's worth, I'm not clear why everyone is so certain Trump would lose in a contested convention. I'm no fan of the guy, but give the devil his due: One thing this man CAN do is persuade and negotiate. He truly is a deal-maker. That's his core skill.
You can argue about his business acumen or fitness for higher government, but he has a long track record of convincing people to give him what he wants.
A convention is the perfect setting in which to apply that talent. All he has to do is glad-hand the right folks and he's in.
You can argue about his business acumen or fitness for higher government, but he has a long track record of convincing people to give him what he wants.
A convention is the perfect setting in which to apply that talent. All he has to do is glad-hand the right folks and he's in.
2
"Now he’s having dreams about a contested convention where delegates flee from the specters of Trump and Ted Cruz into his arms."
Dream on John Kasich. Those convention delegates of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are ideologically driven away from establishment republican politics as we are witnessing the deconstruction of the GOP.
Dream on John Kasich. Those convention delegates of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are ideologically driven away from establishment republican politics as we are witnessing the deconstruction of the GOP.
2
What happened to the Moderate Republicans in this country? While I'm not a Republican, I do value the 2 party system and the debate that results. While I would not exactly put Kasich in the moderate column, he does at least speak in a positive tone vs the shenanigans we saw in the debates among the other candidates.
With that said, what is truly frightening is the violent tone, especially by Trump, and the crude way he categorizes and calls people out. I don't believe we have seen this since McCarthy & I'm hoping we don't see it any time soon.
With that said, what is truly frightening is the violent tone, especially by Trump, and the crude way he categorizes and calls people out. I don't believe we have seen this since McCarthy & I'm hoping we don't see it any time soon.
1
He's the Scott Walker, Paul Rayn but older. His record is Ohio is mixed and doesn't bear up under scrutiny. He would respectfully lose but not bring down the party, or at least allow the GOP to continue to have a winning strategy as a minority party by pretending to be for moderation while actually being very right of right.
4
According to reports from Ohio yesterday, there was a very large cross over vote of Dems to the Republican primary- many of whom were anti Trump voters who held their noses and voted for Kasich. Even with that, he only beat Trump by 11 points in his home state. Not really a boulder- more like a pebble.
3
I think we wake up in 12 months to find an even more gerrymandered intractable Congress and that this was all just a form of Kabuki theater to ratchet "the political spectrum" even further (hellooo down there) to the right. Attila (Hun I'm home!) and Vlad (of impaler fame) tried this to get the Soccer Mom vote, but was not as effective.
2
I know many Hilliary supporters in Ohio who decided she would survive without their votes, and that it was more important to vote in the primary for honest, generally moderate, and competent Kasich.
Their goal: keep Trump from claiming Ohio's delegates, and try to help create a brokered Republican convention.
Their goal: keep Trump from claiming Ohio's delegates, and try to help create a brokered Republican convention.
3
Now that trump is not participating in the next debate, perhaps gov. Kasich will enlighten us more on his positions
1
Kasich is not going to be the nominee. How can he get the nomination when he could not even clear 50 percent in his own state?
3
Kasich, now a blocker for Republicans to help defeat Donald Trump, would make a typical Republican President, bad for most of us, super great for wealthy, super great for big business and of courser super great for John Kasich.
A small government, anti union, no tax or regulation candidate, he tries to portray himself as the second coming of Bush 43, without Dick Cheney.
A small government, anti union, no tax or regulation candidate, he tries to portray himself as the second coming of Bush 43, without Dick Cheney.
3
I have to disagree with Gail Collins here. Kasich is NOT what she says he is. Just ask the mayors of the major (and minor) Ohio cities. He plays games with state income tax to appear to be a small government, low tax governor but he is pressuring the cities to take up the slack or suffer immensely. It is not surprising that he won in Ohio. He is the sitting Republican governor after all. As for his interest in the "poor and downtrodden", just look at his real time budget and how he keeps them poor and downtrodden. Just agreeing that Muslims shouldn't be discriminated against, doesn't make him a hero. That is common sense. Spare me. Every Republican candidate is bad. Very BAD.
9
"He’s signed an absolute mountain of anti-abortion bills — nearly half of the clinics in the state have shut down during his tenure. His enthusiasm for giving public funding to private, for-profit schools has been scandalous. And on the economic front he has the usual conservative contempt for taxing residents according to their ability to pay."
And that is why no one with a functioning brain cell will vote for Kasich and the reason that Hillary Clinton will be the next President -- that and the fact that she is far more qualified for the job than anyone running and she is the sanest person in the race.
And that is why no one with a functioning brain cell will vote for Kasich and the reason that Hillary Clinton will be the next President -- that and the fact that she is far more qualified for the job than anyone running and she is the sanest person in the race.
9
Yes, the bar for good Republican presidential candidates has come down a bit. Gail says Kasich is "... the only non-appalling option the Republicans have...". Even if you didn't agree with everything Eisenhower or Bush senior did & said, they were reasonably sincere, decent, intelligent people you could have some respect for. But the militaristic plutocratic oligarchy, given absolute power by Citizens United, don't want us to have candidates like that anymore (in either party), because rational, compassionate people who occasionally think for themselves, can't be reliably controlled. So citizens united against Citizens United & decided that if there must be a plutocrat in charge at least let's have one who thinks for himself a little (when he does think) & is not a puppet, because he has his own money. Let's have a real plutocrat instead of a proxy puppet plutocrat.
I think recently conservatives have come to realize that ALL their candidates are appalling, except maybe not that less ostentatious guy on the margins who snuck in without being noticed till now, Kasich. And so, even though it's probably too late, they're turning to him.
Vote Non-Appalling in 2016! Vote Kasich! He won't "make America great again", but he might make it "Non-appalling" again. Like I said, the bar has come down a bit.
I think recently conservatives have come to realize that ALL their candidates are appalling, except maybe not that less ostentatious guy on the margins who snuck in without being noticed till now, Kasich. And so, even though it's probably too late, they're turning to him.
Vote Non-Appalling in 2016! Vote Kasich! He won't "make America great again", but he might make it "Non-appalling" again. Like I said, the bar has come down a bit.
4
Yes - but didn't he defund Planned Parenthood in his state? How is that a " non-appalling " option.
31
He's still appalling, especially if one is female. Go Hillary!
36
Oh my! Gail Collins sans Arthur Brook talking about politics, pure bliss! Seriously, Gail, who did you anger in your management to warrant an AEI parrot who offers non sequitur comments ad nauseum? Such odd branding: NYT and American Enterprise Institute, the paragon of the well debunked Neocons. What does anyone from AEI have to offer except stale leftovers from their "masterful" book on "Strategery," rather imperialism for others at America's expense in both blood and treasure? Like, Arthur Brook, I digress.
Yes, Kasich is amazingly bad, but as you well note, all options are even worse. Either way, Clinton bests Trump in head to head polling, and Sanders simply annihilates all GOP candidates. Kasich is thrifty, and he's managed to stay afloat despite having less money than all candidates---all because he solely won his own state? Rubio ahead by 30 delegates and with five million more to spend, and several wins, quits because he didn't win his state?
At the end of the day, there will be a third party candidate for the conservatives. If Trump loses to the GOP's convention chicanery he'll run, if Trump wins, the AEI poobahs will run a pro war candidate, it's in their DNA. Seriously, if you're going to team up with someone, Dick Cavett would be an excellent choice, he's decent, smart, and he's not always trying to slip in product placement that endangers lives of our military.
Yes, Kasich is amazingly bad, but as you well note, all options are even worse. Either way, Clinton bests Trump in head to head polling, and Sanders simply annihilates all GOP candidates. Kasich is thrifty, and he's managed to stay afloat despite having less money than all candidates---all because he solely won his own state? Rubio ahead by 30 delegates and with five million more to spend, and several wins, quits because he didn't win his state?
At the end of the day, there will be a third party candidate for the conservatives. If Trump loses to the GOP's convention chicanery he'll run, if Trump wins, the AEI poobahs will run a pro war candidate, it's in their DNA. Seriously, if you're going to team up with someone, Dick Cavett would be an excellent choice, he's decent, smart, and he's not always trying to slip in product placement that endangers lives of our military.
5
Helping the downtrodden? Kasich?
You mean as long as they're not union members, right?
You mean as long as they're not union members, right?
27
Go Kasich! I like him and he is a practicing Christian so he is going to feel some kind of way about abortion. But he also expanded Medicaid to make sure the poor rec'd healthcare. Being a Christian, to me, is a balance between being morally upright and compassionate, and nobody's perfect, but I am comfortable with him. I am also a Democrat.
9
Kasich only seems sane because of the people sharing a stage with him. On his own, he's as bad as the governors of Wisconsin, Kansas, and the ex-governor of Louisiana, Jindal.
The only thing that makes him a 'man of the people' is that really bad haircut. Otherwise, he's a right wing supply side worshiping socially repressive Republican through and through.
He's anti-union, anti-public school, anti-abortion, slashing any sort of social safety net while giving away endless amounts in tax breaks to the wealthy and hundreds of millions in corporate welfare.
He's a terrible governor, is driving Ohio into the ground, and would make a worse President. His attitude toward the public is the same as the one that led to the lead poisoning in Michigan.
But if you're looking for at least four years of another Bush Presidency, he's certainly your guy.
The only thing that makes him a 'man of the people' is that really bad haircut. Otherwise, he's a right wing supply side worshiping socially repressive Republican through and through.
He's anti-union, anti-public school, anti-abortion, slashing any sort of social safety net while giving away endless amounts in tax breaks to the wealthy and hundreds of millions in corporate welfare.
He's a terrible governor, is driving Ohio into the ground, and would make a worse President. His attitude toward the public is the same as the one that led to the lead poisoning in Michigan.
But if you're looking for at least four years of another Bush Presidency, he's certainly your guy.
52
We suffered through Nero W. Bush who fiddled while New Orleans burned (or drowned) and read a children's book while the Twin Towers came down. And instead of leaning away from such ineptitude, we've pushed forward Caligula Trump as a reasonable successor. How long before the Visigoths bash down our walls?
1
Like many other long-time Republicans, I cannot stomach Trump or Cruz, and would vote for neither if they win the nomination. If we don't nominate Kasich, then it's a third party for me, or write in Mickey Mouse on the ballot. Even Hillary looks attractive vs. Trump.
3
Dear Tricky Dick Enthusiasts:
What we have to combat is a Trump/Cruz ticket. Kasich is a non-entity. Trump would be happy to cede all "social programs" to Cruz because he doesn't care about these anyway and Cruz does. Thus, on a national and local level we must sow discord between their two camps beginning immediately. That ticket, as improbable a winner as it sounds, would - if elected - send America truly over the cliff.
What we have to combat is a Trump/Cruz ticket. Kasich is a non-entity. Trump would be happy to cede all "social programs" to Cruz because he doesn't care about these anyway and Cruz does. Thus, on a national and local level we must sow discord between their two camps beginning immediately. That ticket, as improbable a winner as it sounds, would - if elected - send America truly over the cliff.
3
Kasich a "boulder!" Are you kidding me? Kasich is just the pebble with only one primary victory and that in his home state. His only case is to be nominated for Vice President as a popular governor in a key swing state. Donald Trump has triumphed and the Republican Party is a cold corpse. The only non-Trump scenario would mean a Trump third party candidacy and a guaranteed Hillary victory. In either case, G.O.P. now stands for Ghost of a Party. And please stop shedding crocodile tears for a party that used blatant bigotry, misogyny, and racism to gain power to feed their wealthy donors.
38
We have dealt with our own Kasich here in Wisconsin for awhile, Scott Walker. The two are virtually indistinguishable from one another. Don't be fooled, he is no moderate. His only positive, he appears rational.
65
Unlike many national journalists, Gail Collins recognizes John Kasich’s very glaring faults which are being overlooked due to his even worse competition. I agree with Ms. Collins’ points about his failure to support women’s health issues, his obedience to the .01 percent of wealthy contributors, and his uncritical support of charter schools. I want to add that he signed off on stopping the development of more wind farms in Ohio in 2014. His claim of balancing the state budget was advanced by cutting state support for municipal governments and school districts. After announcing the latter cuts, he warned the local governments and school districts not to raise local taxes in order to maintain necessary public services. He served as my state senator, U.S. congressman, and governor, and I have not be charmed enough to vote for him yet. He was extremely fortunate in 2014 that his gubernatorial opponent self-destructed by driving with an expired license.
51
At this point, Kasich is a pebble, not a boulder.
5
Two things to know about our Governor Kasich. First, he was one of the few Republican governors to accept Obamacare and Medicaid expansion in Ohio, despite the efforts of legislators from his party. Second, as Gail Collins pointed out, he has done everything in his power to eliminate access to safe abortion in Ohio. This will soon include a bill he is expected to sign that will make it illegal for women to have an abortion after learning their fetus has Down's syndrome. Like most candidates these days, we have to take the good with the bad.
9
Yes, his abortion views have drastically cut down on the numbers of abortion providers. ( At least he supports it for rape and invest victims--unlike Cruz!)
He also is only Republican candidate who has consistently said he believes in climate change.
He has been in favor of expanded trade deals, and worked hard to bring many Asian contracts to benefit especially the car, windpower and solar energy companies in Ohio.
His support of charter schools--to help low income students in high risk neighborhoods, especially--have been hated by school unions.
He firmly believes no one should be forced to be in a union, and he has just made it possible for state employees to opt out of their healthcare Union if they wish. So many who favor unions detest him.
He is the only Republican who told one of his critics at a public rally last week: "I don't know about you, lady. But when I reach the Pearly Gates, I will have to justify how I treated the poor."
He also is only Republican candidate who has consistently said he believes in climate change.
He has been in favor of expanded trade deals, and worked hard to bring many Asian contracts to benefit especially the car, windpower and solar energy companies in Ohio.
His support of charter schools--to help low income students in high risk neighborhoods, especially--have been hated by school unions.
He firmly believes no one should be forced to be in a union, and he has just made it possible for state employees to opt out of their healthcare Union if they wish. So many who favor unions detest him.
He is the only Republican who told one of his critics at a public rally last week: "I don't know about you, lady. But when I reach the Pearly Gates, I will have to justify how I treated the poor."
1
No one is voting for Kasich, except in his home state, where they woke the dead. Let's face it, the Republican mainstream or elitists, however you want to phrase it, appear more angry and insulting than Trump, if that is possible. And why wouldn't they? They've been riding the gravy train. Ooops! The train is pulling in to the station. Time to get off. One does not have to like or dislike Trump to know that some of the American public, maybe a great many, are not happy with the way things have been going. It is all tied to our economy, and the Republicans have used and abused their base to the point of starvation. We may not like the idea that someone could promote not allowing a particular people to immigrate, even if it is temporary, but at the same time there is no argument made for why we even need to have immigration. There are no jobs, and unless someone addresses the fundamental problem, there will only be very unhappy people and a generation or two without a future. It is sad to say, but the racial divide in our country is really not an issue. It is really all about economics and having a job and an education that allows you to live a productive life. You wonder why black voters have not glommed on to Trump's campaign, since there is more likelihood that he will do more for them and the economy in on Administration than the Democrats will do or have done in a life time. People need to look beyond the color of their glasses, rather than be used like a tool.
4
Reubenr seems to be suffering from delusions of Trump " the great white hope". Blaming immigrants for the country woes take away the focus from what the Republicans have been doing for years, slowly killing the programs of the New Deal & the Great Society. Trump isn't going to reversed that either. Trump is a empty vessel just like a lot of his business ventures. Reubenr should look into that before casting his vote. He should start looking at his FL resort where he only wanted to hire non-American workers
2
Just remember Trump is to the left of Kasich regarding issues liberals care about. Trump is left of Clinton on some issues (although Sanders has been pushing her left)
7
Let us not overlook that Kasich was unable to get a simple majority of the votes of his home state, where he is well known. Not all that favored a son, apparently. Mr. Sanders of Vermont--what did he manage? 90%?
14
It's all an amusing illustration of how everything in politics is relative. To call Kasich "moderate," as some people are now doing, is hilarious, and completely ignores his destructive policies. The Republican choices are a bit like asking people to choose whether they want to be devoured by a rabid hyena, or a crocodile, or take their chances with a rattlesnake ( the least appalling predator).
16
Watching the GOP primary process this time around has been like watching a National Geographic video tracking a mud slide beginning with a dam bursting, water gushing over hill and dale on its way to a cliff. While John Kasich has in his favor a number of qualities sorely missing in the two frontrunners -- experience, sanity and the recognition that we live in a large, diverse and divided country with three branches of government in a world that does not subscribe to the notion that it must do as it is told -- the reality is the majority of citizens outside of Ohio don't know much about him as of yet and while unlikelier things have been known to happen, he appears to have an extremely steep hill to build to keep the mud from covering everything in its path.
5
I'm not sure where this "aw shucks" good guy image comes from. Kasich rarely smiles, and when he was interviewed by a local political reporter here in Michigan, he behaved more like an old snapping turtle, alternately whining about and snarling at his "media" coverage. He finally snapped that he was no longer sure he favored "freedom of the press". Moderate, indeed.
15
Kasich cannot go all the way, unless he gets very lucky at a brokered convention, which would be very bad for Republicans. However, Kasich can be a spoiler for both Trump and the Republican Party. Forget about whether he could win against Mrs. Clinton. He cannot. So, it is a waste of time to talk about that as a possibility.
The Republicans would be well advised to cut a deal with Trump and make the best of it. They should then immediately start to do what they can to challenge Mrs. Clinton in the general election. She is vulnerable, but not if the Republicans really mess things up at their convention.
The Republicans would be well advised to cut a deal with Trump and make the best of it. They should then immediately start to do what they can to challenge Mrs. Clinton in the general election. She is vulnerable, but not if the Republicans really mess things up at their convention.
1
How on earth does the "greatest county" get to this place? By going to the most base level approach to politics: fear mongering and its a race to the bottom.
The correlation between the decline of our education system and the GOP candidates is clear as day. And the party that has pummeled the education system is having their chickens come home to roost.
The correlation between the decline of our education system and the GOP candidates is clear as day. And the party that has pummeled the education system is having their chickens come home to roost.
10
Kasich' isn't the only one having dreams about a contested convention where delegates flee from the specters of Trump and Ted Cruz into his arms. . . .
Kasich is unelectable. Many Trump and Cruz supporters will either go third party or stay home if the Party tries to ignore the will of the voters.
5
So Gail, are you pushing a Trump-Kasich ticket? It is very clear to Trump that unless he puts Kasich on the ticket he is doomed. Will Kasich lick the Trump boot? Strange things have happened this year., after all it did not take long for Carson and Chrisite to lick the Trump boot. The other day Kasich promised to go after Trump, but that was yesterday. Today Kasich knows he can be a king maker, or spoiler. My bet is spoiler.
3
The "other day," i.e. the latest repub debate, Kasich cravenly promised to support the repub nominee, whoever he turns about to be.
Katich is no moderate. And the only reason the media keeps painting him as one is because they are as uneducated and ignorant as the majority of the U. S. electorate.
Katich is no moderate. And the only reason the media keeps painting him as one is because they are as uneducated and ignorant as the majority of the U. S. electorate.
8
Kasich in a mainstream politican, which many Americans are wanting to vote against. Kasich represents the establishment and power brokers who want to nullify the American voters and continue Washington's correpted business practices. Trump may not represent a political revolution, but could be the beginning of a political evolution where the peoples' votes actually count by making up their own minds instead of what the media has been paid to tell us.
6
He also has fought the battle against women's health choices and will not be forgiven for being so forceful about it.
13
This just gives strength to my theory that Trump, Cruz, Rubio and all the others were just put into the primary race to make Kasich look reasonably sane. Then, when Kasich gets the nomination, the GOP faithful can exhale and say "It could have been worse".
I can see the campaign posters now: John Kasich! He's not nearly as nuts as those other guys were!"
I can see the campaign posters now: John Kasich! He's not nearly as nuts as those other guys were!"
5
To point out the painfully obvious: Kasich is not running for the Democratic nomination.
Since the Times will find "awful" anyone running as a Republican, no one cares about the Times opinion of Kasich, Trump, Cruz or any of the also-rans. Kasich may be the Democrats favorite Republican candidate, but as the primaries and caucuses have shown, Republicans are not interested. They see him as a continuation of business as usual. The Times would like that, but clearly Republican voters would not.
Since the Times will find "awful" anyone running as a Republican, no one cares about the Times opinion of Kasich, Trump, Cruz or any of the also-rans. Kasich may be the Democrats favorite Republican candidate, but as the primaries and caucuses have shown, Republicans are not interested. They see him as a continuation of business as usual. The Times would like that, but clearly Republican voters would not.
3
That Kasich, a man far to the right of Barry Goldwater on social issues, is now considered a Republican moderate shows just how far to the right that party has gone.
And Ms. Collins could have added James Garfield, who lasted six months, to that list of Ohio presidents. Perhaps Ohio's slogan should be "Mother of Presidents Who Don't Finish Their Terms."
And Ms. Collins could have added James Garfield, who lasted six months, to that list of Ohio presidents. Perhaps Ohio's slogan should be "Mother of Presidents Who Don't Finish Their Terms."
9
I'm thinking Trump may be the lesser of the GOP evils. Yes, he's a jerk and a bully but he's not a religious nut. Anytime a candidate starts thinking he is doing God's will, or that God spoke to him, it scares me. Both Cruz and Kasich are ultra right wing. And, even though Trump talks about his religion a little, he's not avid and he's got to play to "them" a bit!
6
I can't believe what I'm about to say. Though I wouldn't dream of voting for a conservative like Kasich, when compared with the Fascistic Trump and the carpet bomber Cruz, Kasich seems somewhat sane. Somewhat.
That, in a nutshell, and nutshell is the appropriate term, encapsulates the GOP of 2016. Can't wait till these clowns hit Cleveland. Let's hope for a contested convention. Then we'll really see the circus come to town.
DD
Manhattan
That, in a nutshell, and nutshell is the appropriate term, encapsulates the GOP of 2016. Can't wait till these clowns hit Cleveland. Let's hope for a contested convention. Then we'll really see the circus come to town.
DD
Manhattan
9
Best deal for us would be to have the Republicans throw Trump out who in turn would be smart enough to change his rhetoric, show his left side leanings, be more honest with us and also join with Bernie Sanders who would also need to make some changes to his rhetoric before they run as independents. This couple would have no problem getting a real majority and when doing so would eliminate this oligarchy which has run the American system of government for the last 150 years. This would start a change in the American government where after most of Congress was also replaced get us on a path to a real democracy.
2
In what universe do you think that Sanders is so devoid of ethics that he would jettison his life long beliefs to be on a Trump ticket. I am a Hillary supporter, but this is obviously a pipe dream (nightmare?)
2
If the Republican fat cats try to steal the nomination from Trump, they will destroy the party, since Trump will take away their base for good by starting a working-class white party of his own. This is by far the most numerous base the Republucans have had. Without it, they can't elect a dog-catcher outside of Greenwich and Boca.
6
So Kasich won his own state! Wow that must really be a major event. Kasich has from this point forward has no place to go at least in this years race to the GOP nomination. Pretending that there is life there is foolish and defies simple arithmetic.
4
What flavor of awful do you prefer? I 'm pretty sure I am not eating at the R-table!
7
Non-appalling? Anti-doing-anything about climate change. Pro-torture. Thinks higher interest rates create jobs. No path to permanent residency for undocumented immigrants. I am appalled.
8
I'm not surprised that the media, with it's anti-Trump venom, would somehow try to spin Kasich's win as a triumphant moment. A look at his performance in Illinois, which was supposed to be a good "rust belt" kind of state for him, shows his true appeal (which is to say very little) when put on equal footing. The man is misogynistic and dull as dishwater - are the GOP elders going to whiff on backing him as they did with Rubio? Or is he just a sycophant willing to "take one for the team" by sponging off votes" to lead to a brokered convention?
2
Calling Kasich a political moderate? My ninth grade English teacher Mrs. Lowe would have us all rushing to the dictionary to look up the meaning of the word "moderate." I did and this is what I found:
1. Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme: a moderate price.
2. Not violent or subject to extremes; mild or calm; temperate: a moderate climate.
3.
a. Of medium or average quantity or extent.
b. Of limited or average quality; mediocre.
4. Opposed to radical or extreme views or measures, especially in politics or religion.
As Gail rightfully notes, Kasich's politics ARE extreme and far to the right, so he is not a political moderate.
All I can figure is the media folks are using definitions 2 and 3b in referring to Kasich, which has more to do with his demeanor than his politics. He does not appear to be a "violent" man and he certainly is "calm" as in snooze (#2), but #3b seems most accurate description of Kasich, meaning "mediocre."
Kasich just doesn't talk as mean as the rest of the nasty GOP candidates but Kasich in the White House with a Republican House and Republican Senate would be a disaster. See Kasich's policies at
http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Kasich.htm
Although Kasich does say: "I attended a gay wedding," so does that make him a moderate in Republican eyes?
1. Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme: a moderate price.
2. Not violent or subject to extremes; mild or calm; temperate: a moderate climate.
3.
a. Of medium or average quantity or extent.
b. Of limited or average quality; mediocre.
4. Opposed to radical or extreme views or measures, especially in politics or religion.
As Gail rightfully notes, Kasich's politics ARE extreme and far to the right, so he is not a political moderate.
All I can figure is the media folks are using definitions 2 and 3b in referring to Kasich, which has more to do with his demeanor than his politics. He does not appear to be a "violent" man and he certainly is "calm" as in snooze (#2), but #3b seems most accurate description of Kasich, meaning "mediocre."
Kasich just doesn't talk as mean as the rest of the nasty GOP candidates but Kasich in the White House with a Republican House and Republican Senate would be a disaster. See Kasich's policies at
http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Kasich.htm
Although Kasich does say: "I attended a gay wedding," so does that make him a moderate in Republican eyes?
8
I have no doubt that job #1 for President Kasich would be to appoint another Scalia to the Supreme Court. That's appalling enough for me.
8
Everyone knows Kasich won't be nominated.
He is going for VP. There is now plausibility to the notion that he can swing the magic state of Ohio in a general election. This is every election strategist's dream.
He is going for VP. There is now plausibility to the notion that he can swing the magic state of Ohio in a general election. This is every election strategist's dream.
2
Kasich is running for the 2020 nomination. Becoming one the the three left standing is an important step for that to happen.
Trump is the boulder, steamrolling the Republican elite. But the boulder is going to be stuck at the bottom of the valley once the general election hits. The exact things that will give him the nomination will lose him the presidency.
Maybe Republicans will come to their senses and Kasich will be the craziest one in their 2020 field of candidates. No, I don't think so either.
Trump is the boulder, steamrolling the Republican elite. But the boulder is going to be stuck at the bottom of the valley once the general election hits. The exact things that will give him the nomination will lose him the presidency.
Maybe Republicans will come to their senses and Kasich will be the craziest one in their 2020 field of candidates. No, I don't think so either.
26
Do not be too hard on McKinley! He was very popular. Oh, yes, he was also an imperialist. At least he promoted TR. And expressed sympathy with striking miners until they started blowing up railroad bridges; then the Governor had little choice but to call in the militia.
"Non-appalling"? Just because he is not as extreme as Trump or Cruz does not mean he's not appalling. Based on his record in Ohio, he's every bit the horror show the other two are . . .
7
Sad to think the 'lesser-of-all-evils' GOP candidate Kasich is perceived as "moderate" only because his demeanor is civil.
Once you look at all of the horrible policy decisions he's made, decimating women's rights, public education, local funding of police/fire/emergency departments & giving massive tax cuts to those at the very top—
you realize he's simply a hair's width less extreme. He also ignores the separation of church and state, declaring he wants to create a federal agency to promote "Judeo-Christian" values abroad should he become president.
Moderate? I don't think so.
Once you look at all of the horrible policy decisions he's made, decimating women's rights, public education, local funding of police/fire/emergency departments & giving massive tax cuts to those at the very top—
you realize he's simply a hair's width less extreme. He also ignores the separation of church and state, declaring he wants to create a federal agency to promote "Judeo-Christian" values abroad should he become president.
Moderate? I don't think so.
7
It's clear that Ms Collins doesn't live in Ohio and she hasn't done her homework concerning Kasich. He may be the least appalling of the remaining Republican candidates, but, as my father was fond of saying "if you want to appear tall, hang around short people." His record is appalling here in Ohio. He's just as crazy when it comes to tax policy as the rest of the GOP, he tried to make Ohio a "work for less" state and was taken down by Ohio voters via referendum, his education policy has taken Ohio from 5th in the nation for k-12 education to 23rd today - and yes, he can do that sort of thing TO the whole country.
If Kasich is on the ticket come the fall you can rest assured that reporters and columnists that do a wee bit of digging will find plenty to show that Kasich is just the least crazy clown in the same car that ran us into the ditch in 2008. He might not be insane regarding Muslims and undocumented workers, but watch your wallet and your job, and teach your children yourself if he makes it anywhere near the White House. Kasich should go back to Lehman Brothers.... oh, yeah, that's the one that was allowed to fail and that started the freefall back in '08... my bad. But he does have THAT experience. More to come later, IF it's necessary.
If Kasich is on the ticket come the fall you can rest assured that reporters and columnists that do a wee bit of digging will find plenty to show that Kasich is just the least crazy clown in the same car that ran us into the ditch in 2008. He might not be insane regarding Muslims and undocumented workers, but watch your wallet and your job, and teach your children yourself if he makes it anywhere near the White House. Kasich should go back to Lehman Brothers.... oh, yeah, that's the one that was allowed to fail and that started the freefall back in '08... my bad. But he does have THAT experience. More to come later, IF it's necessary.
8
The Republican field of candidates was and is pathetic. What do you expect from a group practically required to sign oaths not to ever raise taxes, not to support women's reproductive rights, to support guns for ever occasion, big oil and coal, war over diplomacy and covert racism? Exactly what they got!
4
Ohio, the state of origin of the present columnist, was recently identified as among the most racist states in the nation based on an analysis of the number of tweets using a certain racial epithet: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3061567/Is-region-racist-... Kasich has been correctly identified as the leader of the so-called country-club Republican contingent. The state's high concentration of reactionary, blue-collar patriarchs makes it tailor-made for the Reagan-redux Trump.
2
Gail Collins is like a breath of fresh air in a room getting more toxic by the day. As a Canadian it seems as if our southern neighbors are experiencing some sort of nervous breakdown. How else to explain the lunacy of million support a know nothing demagogue like Trump?! Sheer Lunacy! How does the average American possibly believe this billionaire buffoon (born with a Golden spoon in his mouth) has a clue what it means to live on minimum wage incomes?! Of course this does not even include the ugly racist (us vs. them) xenophobia that is poisoning the U.S. with hatred. UNBELIEVABLE!!
6
Dear Canadian,
We ARE having a nervous breakdown. It's scary.
Among other things, It's as if we never finished the Civil War. It's scary.
We ARE having a nervous breakdown. It's scary.
Among other things, It's as if we never finished the Civil War. It's scary.
3
We're hoping that the majority of Americans will vote for Hillary Clinton. Wish us luck.
2
Does anyone really want a right wing rube/nerd like John Kasich for president. I guess in the Republican crazy world he's better than Trump and Cruz. Kasich talks a lot about crying and praying to show sympathy for those in trouble or in pain, but never offers any solutions. All he can talk about is that he was in congress for eighteen years, that his father was a mailman and that he cut taxes in Ohio. Which means that he and his father where government employees and that he probably cut essential government services for the citizens of Ohio. We need a president who thinks deep thoughts and talks about solutions for the problems that face this country. Like all the Republican candidates Kasich speaks in platitudes and says nothing meaningful. Kasich is the religious right's corn-pone candidate.
7
"He’s signed an absolute mountain of anti-abortion bills"
Sorry, but this is not non-appalling.
Sorry, but this is not non-appalling.
3
Oh come on...he's Cruz with better manners.
6
Universe of difference in their views about immigrants. Kasich nearly became a Catholic priest when young--and that background shows in many of his positions.
1
The sitting Republican governor of his own state got less than half the vote.
6
For a primary, the Ohio turnout often is below 30%. It was up 15% compared to the last primary.
The Democratic vote was drastically down for a primary, and the Republican turnout was up 79%. The under $50,000/year households voted for Trump by and large. The $100,000 and higher nearly all supported Kasich according to exit polls.
The Democratic vote was down because so many from the coal country and Appalachian regions of the state switched to vote for Trump, and the rest of the Democratic switch to Republican ticket this time was to defeat Trump in the primary and support Kasich (who has more than a 70% voter approval rating overall among his Ohio constituents).
As an independent, I found it fascinating. I plan to vote for Hilliary in the general election, but I voted for Kasich in the primary.
The Democratic vote was drastically down for a primary, and the Republican turnout was up 79%. The under $50,000/year households voted for Trump by and large. The $100,000 and higher nearly all supported Kasich according to exit polls.
The Democratic vote was down because so many from the coal country and Appalachian regions of the state switched to vote for Trump, and the rest of the Democratic switch to Republican ticket this time was to defeat Trump in the primary and support Kasich (who has more than a 70% voter approval rating overall among his Ohio constituents).
As an independent, I found it fascinating. I plan to vote for Hilliary in the general election, but I voted for Kasich in the primary.
2
And when it comes to Kasich, don't forget he was working for Lehman Brothers (and getting ridiculously well-paid) when they collapsed and almost brought down the world economy in 2008. It'll be interesting to see how he keeps trying to spin that unfortunate event as this fiasco goes on.
8
It appears that a third of the GOP is irrationally angry and two thirds is shell shocked by what has transpired. It will be an interesting convenion.
1
As an Ohioan, it probably shouldn't be surprising that the author couldn't help herself from condescending about the caliber of presidents that come from Ohio.
1
Gail is from Cincinnati.
1
I voted for Kasich in the Florida primary. It was the closest thing I could find on the ballot to a "non-Trump" candidate," notwithstanding all the similarities Kasich shares with his republican campaign brethren.
Come November, I just don't know what to do.
Come November, I just don't know what to do.
2
So, here's what I'm gauging is the take on what's left of the Republican field:
Cruz: Unspeakably, impossibly bad.
Trump: Ridiculously, obnoxiously bad.
Kasich: Genteelly, deceptively bad.
Kasich wins slightly in a contest of adverbs. But only by comparison. Adjectively, they're still all bad.
Cruz: Unspeakably, impossibly bad.
Trump: Ridiculously, obnoxiously bad.
Kasich: Genteelly, deceptively bad.
Kasich wins slightly in a contest of adverbs. But only by comparison. Adjectively, they're still all bad.
9
Should we say goodbye to the Republican party now, or wait til November? A nice crushing defeat is coming their way and I'm sooooooooo happy for them! Nobody has worked harder for it. They have reached the mountain top and found it barren. Now, down the slippery slope they go: tumble, tumble, bump, bump all the way back to the toxic landfill from which they came.
7
dear concerned, appalled elite NYT readers: the system is broken. meaning nation-state corporate capitalism must disguise who and what is responsible for its on-going monopoly of power and near-bankruptcy of most American citizens. bernie sanders represents the possibility of real change in this country but there is no way he will win the Dem nomination, much less a general election. he is seen by most people as too radical. and let's not forget the elephant in the room: he's Jewish, a fact he's been playing down with all his might because he knows anti-Semitism still exists in this culture at the deepest level of the psyche. as for the young voters carried away by enthusiasm for him, doesn't any remember 1972 and George McGovern? unfortunately -- and I mean it -- not everyone in this country is under 30 years of age.
so that leaves us with a semi-corrupt Hillary Clinton -- someone in the pocket of corporate capitalism -- who at least is on the humane side of things in social issues. get it together, "people," (as Gail keeps saying): if she's not the next president, we'll be facing the final collapse of a rigged system. which although from a moral standpoint might be right, won't look pretty. violence, the curbing of civil liberties, and crypto-fascism are not just things that occur in foreign countries. it's either Hillary or -- quite literally -- bust.
so that leaves us with a semi-corrupt Hillary Clinton -- someone in the pocket of corporate capitalism -- who at least is on the humane side of things in social issues. get it together, "people," (as Gail keeps saying): if she's not the next president, we'll be facing the final collapse of a rigged system. which although from a moral standpoint might be right, won't look pretty. violence, the curbing of civil liberties, and crypto-fascism are not just things that occur in foreign countries. it's either Hillary or -- quite literally -- bust.
2
A whiny, angry irritable, lecturing, hectoring, ridiculing bully who carried out Gingrich's hit Contract For (Against) America to a T and loved every minute of the destruction that resulted. Another in a long line of Republicans who proclaim their love of the poor sinner while hating what they believe is the sin of being poor.
9
With Kasich, it's sort of like being given the privilege of choosing your own punishment, huh, Gail. It's good only because all the rest are heart-stoppingly terrifying. Makes water-boarding seem like a reasonable consequence for smoking in the boys' room.
The biggest danger Kasich poses is, in comparison to the alternatives Trump and Cruz, he is as reasonable as choosing to be beaten unconscious to stop a headache. Hey, you don't notice the pain anymore. Until you wake up, but maybe then it will still be gone. Positive attitudes have been shown to have correlation with disease cure.
Hillary's tide continues to roll in but Bernie hangs on, more by his neck than his fingernails, but I still have hope.
The biggest danger Kasich poses is, in comparison to the alternatives Trump and Cruz, he is as reasonable as choosing to be beaten unconscious to stop a headache. Hey, you don't notice the pain anymore. Until you wake up, but maybe then it will still be gone. Positive attitudes have been shown to have correlation with disease cure.
Hillary's tide continues to roll in but Bernie hangs on, more by his neck than his fingernails, but I still have hope.
2
Ms. Collins has mischaracterized the place of Gov. Kasich in the GOP highway. Gov. Kasich has only proven to be a rock in the road, easily dodged by the Trump bus. Winning his home state is the minimum-required performance for Gov. Kasich to stay in the race. That hardly constitutes a boulder at this point.
On the other hand, I would love to see campaign signs that read: Vote for Kasich - I'm Non-Appalling!
On the other hand, I would love to see campaign signs that read: Vote for Kasich - I'm Non-Appalling!
4
Oh, you can see where this is going. Kasich will track to the center and disavow much of what he said before and the American voter whose total lack of both historical memory and critical thinking skills will buy it. The plutocrats will spend tens of millions in "dark money" to portray HRC as evil incarnate with thumping background music and a voiceover that would scare an atheist into repenting. This is the playbook now. The question is what does Trump do?
2
Gotta love that ticker-tape celebration and bravado victory speech for a man who's only won the state of which he's the governor.
2
John Kasich does not become a reasonable candidate just because Trump and Cruz are dangerous candidates.
In 2010, he was supported by the Tea Party. In order to pander for votes, he cut funding to Planned Parenthood a few weeks ago. And Ohio is the 6th worse state for infant mortality!
Kasich's tried to pull a 'Scott Walker' with public unions and got his ears pinned back. Now he claims to be union friendly.
Job growth in Ohio is primarily thanks to Obama's bailout of the auto industry and improved economy.
Kasich panders and lies. He is not Sheriff Taylor, "Aw Shucks Aunt Bea". He is a Lehman Bros. shark.
In 2010, he was supported by the Tea Party. In order to pander for votes, he cut funding to Planned Parenthood a few weeks ago. And Ohio is the 6th worse state for infant mortality!
Kasich's tried to pull a 'Scott Walker' with public unions and got his ears pinned back. Now he claims to be union friendly.
Job growth in Ohio is primarily thanks to Obama's bailout of the auto industry and improved economy.
Kasich panders and lies. He is not Sheriff Taylor, "Aw Shucks Aunt Bea". He is a Lehman Bros. shark.
9
Bernie is far less appalling than Hillary, who gives a new meaning to appaling, much like Trump gives to the GOP.
Then there's appealing. But we haven't had appealing candidates since JFK, and it turned out that there were appaling factors about him, too.
A pall is what they cover the casket with at a funeral. That's pretty much where we are these days...right in the midst of funereal.
Then there's appealing. But we haven't had appealing candidates since JFK, and it turned out that there were appaling factors about him, too.
A pall is what they cover the casket with at a funeral. That's pretty much where we are these days...right in the midst of funereal.
3
Everything's relative, Gail, I suppose. By comparison (and comparison only), Kasich appears moderate. But he's still a bedrock, regressive, tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy conservative Republican, and fairly neo-con and theocratic. Just not an ultra-wing-nut or a complete loose cannon. But in previous years he would have been lumped in with the wingnuts. These are strange times when we're busy parsing between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks of the GOP right-wing.
3
Don't be deceived by Kasich's 'moderate' appearance. The article is correct. Not only has he decimated the public schools but, to balance the state's budget, has slashed state funding to the public school districts resulting in huge real estate tax increases...rob from Peter to pay Paul. Then he 'cuts' the state tax. Gee, thanks, John. Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing.
9
The political theater provided by this year's GOP comedy troupe is simply without par in the annuals of United States politics.
For all of this century, the conservative-right has insisted that every electoral defeat was because their - anointed and chosen, mind you - candidate "wasn't conservative enough."
This time around, they offered up card-carrying, true to the bone, undisputed, real live and bona fided Conservatives...and just look to who they're turning.
Oh how fickle,
the Conservative be,
in choosing Flash,
over Pedigree...
For all of this century, the conservative-right has insisted that every electoral defeat was because their - anointed and chosen, mind you - candidate "wasn't conservative enough."
This time around, they offered up card-carrying, true to the bone, undisputed, real live and bona fided Conservatives...and just look to who they're turning.
Oh how fickle,
the Conservative be,
in choosing Flash,
over Pedigree...
1
I wonder how people can vote for any of the candidates the republicans have put forth.
The party of Lincoln ? It isn't now and hasn't been since the end of the civil war.
Our country is in deep trouble when people reward hatred and bigotry with their votes.
The inmates want to run the asylum and it looks like they may.
Ten years down the road (or sooner) they will reap what the republicans have sown.
Can our democracy endure this?
The party of Lincoln ? It isn't now and hasn't been since the end of the civil war.
Our country is in deep trouble when people reward hatred and bigotry with their votes.
The inmates want to run the asylum and it looks like they may.
Ten years down the road (or sooner) they will reap what the republicans have sown.
Can our democracy endure this?
2
The bigger problem for the Republicans, or should I say, huge problem, is not so much Trump, but what about after Trump. The Republican bench has been emptied of any rational candidates and thick with candidates with only one platform---do away with the government. At some point, probably after a Trump presidency, even these alienated white voters, now with no medicare, no social security, no air to breathe, and no water, that may be, just may be they threw out the baby with the bathwater, if there was bathwater.
1
I consider myself politically to the left of the Democrats, and I voted for Kasich last night. I have no intent of actually supporting him, should he make it to the general election, but Trump has to be stopped.
Yes, a number of his policies here in Ohio are pretty appalling - public money to poorly-performing charter schools, defunding of Planned Parenthood, regressive taxation. But he bucked the Republican legislature on expanding Medicaid, and doesn't want to ban Muslims or deport immigrants.
As Gail said, the other options are so really, really, bad.
Yes, a number of his policies here in Ohio are pretty appalling - public money to poorly-performing charter schools, defunding of Planned Parenthood, regressive taxation. But he bucked the Republican legislature on expanding Medicaid, and doesn't want to ban Muslims or deport immigrants.
As Gail said, the other options are so really, really, bad.
59
"And on the economic front he has the usual conservative contempt for taxing residents according to their ability to pay."
Gail, nearly everyone has contempt for taxing residence according to their ability to pay. No one even in the far left advocates such a tax system. In fact the last person to advocate it was Karl Marx.
Gail, nearly everyone has contempt for taxing residence according to their ability to pay. No one even in the far left advocates such a tax system. In fact the last person to advocate it was Karl Marx.
1
The critics of Donald Trump seem so desperate to have an 'establishment' candidate that they are willing to put lipstick on a pig and proclaim her the beauty queen. The governor's economic miracle in Ohio just happens to include three of the ten most economically distressed cities in the country, Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati. The fact that they and their minority populations have been left behind seems to have escaped the notice of pundits.
Ohio's balanced budget is an accomplishment. But it came at the expense of state aid to municipalities and counties that have left huge service gaps. And in the debates the governor basically called for expanded wars in the Middle East and a declaration of war against North Korea.
If this is what an 'establishment' candidate looks like one can see why so many voters are looking to the fringes. This isn't an endorsement for 'the Donald.' But it shows how shallow our politics have become. GOP moderates are applauding Kasich because he's been efficient at accomplishing the mundane and the mediocre. God help us all.
Ohio's balanced budget is an accomplishment. But it came at the expense of state aid to municipalities and counties that have left huge service gaps. And in the debates the governor basically called for expanded wars in the Middle East and a declaration of war against North Korea.
If this is what an 'establishment' candidate looks like one can see why so many voters are looking to the fringes. This isn't an endorsement for 'the Donald.' But it shows how shallow our politics have become. GOP moderates are applauding Kasich because he's been efficient at accomplishing the mundane and the mediocre. God help us all.
3
I call the affliction of the Republican establishment and the conventional main-stream media "Desperately seeking a moderate Republican." They would do better if they realized that person is actually Hillary Clinton. Despite her imitation of Sanders positions, she is an unrepentant "New Democrat," a war-hawk, and believer in the go-light-on-the-financial-industry ideology. She is to the left of the Republican base, but her policies are to the right of what is necessary to revitalize conditions for the majority of Americans, and for the country.
Her delusional comments on the Reagans' record on AIDS, the 'democratic' of Libya, her claim that she fought the insurance companies on healthcare in her husband's administration, her absolute hawkishness regarding Iran, and on and on, aren't the gaffs of a lousy campaigner; they reveal Hillary unvarnished.
Voters have to confront the fact that we are likely to have a choice between two evils. Then we have to try to understand why and how we got there. It's only then that we can begin to act on this downward spiral into irrelevance domestically and internationally. Being the 800-pound gorilla on the international stage, with our outsized military and our willingness to use it be it with big bombs or drones, still only leaves us as a primate in a world where humans should matter.
Her delusional comments on the Reagans' record on AIDS, the 'democratic' of Libya, her claim that she fought the insurance companies on healthcare in her husband's administration, her absolute hawkishness regarding Iran, and on and on, aren't the gaffs of a lousy campaigner; they reveal Hillary unvarnished.
Voters have to confront the fact that we are likely to have a choice between two evils. Then we have to try to understand why and how we got there. It's only then that we can begin to act on this downward spiral into irrelevance domestically and internationally. Being the 800-pound gorilla on the international stage, with our outsized military and our willingness to use it be it with big bombs or drones, still only leaves us as a primate in a world where humans should matter.
4
This 73 year old(I don't know why I always think I have to include that) life long democrat see NO ONE to vote for this year. It is truly sad!!
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If John Kasich remains in the race til the end, Republicans have some options open. No laundry list here, but for examples: If Ted Cruz seems likely to beat Donald J. Trump in a State, Kasich might save money there by not buying air time. If another State on the same day has a primary, and if Kasich has many endorsements there, perhaps Cruz campaigns less in that other State.
Salient facts to keep in mind: Trump often hovers in the 36%-42% zone. Kasich has legislative, gubernatorial, and private-sector experience (which may appeal to voters in May/June states who find themselves in a position to really influence the process). Cruz has been careful in his use of resources, so his "cash on hand" is always healthy. Cruz has more caucus appeal, perhaps. The GOP has few nominating events in the next month, leaving much time for fundraising, strategizing, and endorsing.
Bernie Sanders claims to believe he has time to win a majority of his party's delegates. Certainly there is enough time for Kasich & Cruz, combined, to amass more than 50% of GOP delegates.
A last point about Kasich. Many pundits proclaim nostalgia for a time when Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan could meet over a drink to reach compromise, but Kasich was actually in Government at the time as a young House member. He saw functional government up close, which Cruz has not.
If you are a Republican nostalgic for those days of Congressional cooperation with the President, please elect a President like Tip O'Neill!
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If John Kasich remains in the race til the end, Republicans have some options open. No laundry list here, but for examples: If Ted Cruz seems likely to beat Donald J. Trump in a State, Kasich might save money there by not buying air time. If another State on the same day has a primary, and if Kasich has many endorsements there, perhaps Cruz campaigns less in that other State.
Salient facts to keep in mind: Trump often hovers in the 36%-42% zone. Kasich has legislative, gubernatorial, and private-sector experience (which may appeal to voters in May/June states who find themselves in a position to really influence the process). Cruz has been careful in his use of resources, so his "cash on hand" is always healthy. Cruz has more caucus appeal, perhaps. The GOP has few nominating events in the next month, leaving much time for fundraising, strategizing, and endorsing.
Bernie Sanders claims to believe he has time to win a majority of his party's delegates. Certainly there is enough time for Kasich & Cruz, combined, to amass more than 50% of GOP delegates.
A last point about Kasich. Many pundits proclaim nostalgia for a time when Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan could meet over a drink to reach compromise, but Kasich was actually in Government at the time as a young House member. He saw functional government up close, which Cruz has not.
If you are a Republican nostalgic for those days of Congressional cooperation with the President, please elect a President like Tip O'Neill!
2
He's not much of a boulder. Kasich's chances of getting a majority of delegates in eight states are impossible. Under current GOP rules he'll be disqualified. Even Ted Cruz with a majority in four states may not reach the magic number. Of course the establishment could change the rules in the middle of the game to favour their candidate. If they do choose to simply rig the election, a time honoured American tradition, outraged voters would stay away in droves. The GOP would likely lose the White House. They may also lose the Senate, House and/or the Supreme Court after Trump turns his blazing guns on the GOP establishment. And it may not end there. Trump could also form a very successful third party to bury his enemies for good over the long haul.
There is a solution to all this. Let democracy takes it's course.
There is a solution to all this. Let democracy takes it's course.
3
Kasich is one for thirty (not counting contests in territories). He came in 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, and 4th outside of his home state, and he is further behind in delegates after his great victory than he was at the start of the day. The beauty part: by staying in the race, he increases the chances for Trump to win lots of delegates by winning states with 40 percent (give or take of the vote). And, if he does manage to engineer a nomination for himself (despite being way behind) or for Paul Ryan, he can break up the Republican Party. It's hard to see he Kasich campaign at this point as anything more than an ego trip. As for his moderation, under Kasich Ohio joined in trying to block EPA regulation of carbon emissions from power plants. Kasich would incite violence, but a Kasich Presidency would be game over for climate.
3
The perfect is the enemy of the good, said Voltaire. Similarly, the ideal is the enemy of the acceptable or not-as-bad.
Let's be honest. This is the NYT. 90% of the people responding to Ms Collins' column on this comment thread are never going to accept ANY Republican. If they reached a finger toward that lever, the voting booth would blow up when their heads exploded. We are all weighing in on a fight in which we have no dog. We do, however, have a dog in the general election.
Kasich's big virtue is that he is not Trump. As virtues go, this is modest. But if we run the probabilities for November:
Trump beats Sanders, definitely.
Clinton beats Trump, possibly/probably.
Clinton beats Kasich, probably.
Kasich beats Sanders, inevitably.
Is it possible we could have a Pres. Kasich? Yes. But would you prefer a Pres. Trump? I think the republic could survive Kasich. (Nominating Kasich could spur a defection either to a third-party Trump run or a write-in en masse, splitting the GOP, which would strengthen Clinton's chances of a victory.)
Granted, Kasich is not a Rockefeller Republican, but he's the closest thing the party can muster to a moderate, and since we have to live with the Republicans for the foreseeable future - they do comprise nearly half the voting population - we do well to encourage any and every sign of moderation, however modest.
Let's be honest. This is the NYT. 90% of the people responding to Ms Collins' column on this comment thread are never going to accept ANY Republican. If they reached a finger toward that lever, the voting booth would blow up when their heads exploded. We are all weighing in on a fight in which we have no dog. We do, however, have a dog in the general election.
Kasich's big virtue is that he is not Trump. As virtues go, this is modest. But if we run the probabilities for November:
Trump beats Sanders, definitely.
Clinton beats Trump, possibly/probably.
Clinton beats Kasich, probably.
Kasich beats Sanders, inevitably.
Is it possible we could have a Pres. Kasich? Yes. But would you prefer a Pres. Trump? I think the republic could survive Kasich. (Nominating Kasich could spur a defection either to a third-party Trump run or a write-in en masse, splitting the GOP, which would strengthen Clinton's chances of a victory.)
Granted, Kasich is not a Rockefeller Republican, but he's the closest thing the party can muster to a moderate, and since we have to live with the Republicans for the foreseeable future - they do comprise nearly half the voting population - we do well to encourage any and every sign of moderation, however modest.
1
On the Republican side you have 3 very conservative candidates, two of whom, Cruz and Trump, are close to certifiably wacko and beyond the pall (well, at least for me). On the Democrat side, however, things are no better than Cruz and Trump. You have a choice between Hillary Clinton (a remarkable panderer to the electorate as well as a Richard Nixon with a uterus) and Bernie Sanders (whose understanding and ideas about economics are so off base that they make Trump's tax plans seem completely sensible)
1
Yeah, they're better than Cruz and Trump. Much better.
1
I am left questioning the state of a democracy where the "establishment" is rooting for a contested convention where it can throw away the majority of votes and work a back room deal. I am ashamed to say I am also rooting to dismiss these Trump votes, as if they shouldn't count. A contested convention is fine as long as the Republicans can offer up someone sane. What does this say about an electorate that is willing to vote for these potential demagogues? What does this say about our democratic values? The media should spend more time exploring why a plurality of voters are enthralled by such cruel, racist, and misogynistic rhetoric. When a far right-wing politician like John Kasich is considered the moderate candidate, things have gone too far. The candidates, the media, and the voters should all be held accountable. To ignore the voters' culpability is to patronizingly pat them on the head for their stupidity. Voters are making these choices, often against their own best interests. But, they are just as culpable as the other parties involved in this mess. Either we support democratic values and blame, but accept, voters for making their choices; or, we should discuss how and why democracies just don't work anymore. At this point, we should not claim the mantle of a great democracy while rooting for a contested convention where primary and caucus votes are dismissed. We should explore why so many Americans are embracing these terrifying ideals, and do something about it.
82
The problem (strategy?) is that Kasich looks like a reasonable moderate compared with the far right alternatives. The concern is that if he made it to the national election independents and liberals could vote for him because he's to the left of the loudest voices of his party, and he acts like an adult. The problem is that he really is yet another arch-conservative who will continue those approaches that have yet to work...
3
It is all relative, Kasich seems to be saying all the right things but was ignored by the media trolls and republican voters. Only thing is OH speaks for itself with her streets falling apart, crime rate and drug addiction and so much more.
But he is so much better than snake in the grass Cruz and universal hater Donald Trump who is on his way to be the nominee.
Now Hillary`s epic win last night it is important for Democrats to give their support to her if she becomes the nominee particularly for Senator Bernie supporters supporters some of them have promised to sit out.
But he is so much better than snake in the grass Cruz and universal hater Donald Trump who is on his way to be the nominee.
Now Hillary`s epic win last night it is important for Democrats to give their support to her if she becomes the nominee particularly for Senator Bernie supporters supporters some of them have promised to sit out.
3
Poor Ohio (my home state). It only gets attention during presidential election years. Kasich has no more redeeming qualities than the other Republican nominees; he's just from the right state at the right time. But he thinks he's special.
http://trumpdonald.org
http://trumpdonald.org
3
There is nothing unappalling about Mr Kasich
4
Just wondering what has happened to any discussion of the very real issue of Cruz not being a "natural born citizen". Shouldn't this be explored before the Republican convention?
2
At least Governor Kasich - arch Conservative that he is - isn't Rubio or Cruz. - no surprise he won Ohio, his home state. Not agreeing, Gail, that Kasich is "the boulder" between the GOP and Trump - he's a pebble, a smiling crumb in Trump's black leather oxford, and almost toast already. Indeed he "laboured in obscurity for so long!" Kasich crowed in triumph. and at least he won the ultra-Conservative state he governs. But he won't be continuing his victories against Trump, and no way the Republican big-wigs and money-bags and RNC kingmakers will want him to be the VEEP, a heartbeat away from Trump as President.
31
If Ohio is "the mother of presidents," then surely Vermont must be the great aunt. Who can forget Chester Arthur and Silent Cal about whom a reporter who had been on a deathbed vigil apparently declared "hard to tell" when asked if Cal had yet passed away?
This is to suggest that Bernie should hang onto his white towel a while longer. There's still hope for our progressive great uncle from the Green Mountain State. Who knows? Maybe there's hope for us, too. If so, the avuncular John Kasich is hardly the go-to guy to fulfill it.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
This is to suggest that Bernie should hang onto his white towel a while longer. There's still hope for our progressive great uncle from the Green Mountain State. Who knows? Maybe there's hope for us, too. If so, the avuncular John Kasich is hardly the go-to guy to fulfill it.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
3
Kasich is what passes for a mainstream Republican these days. God knows what Trump might be. Ted Cruz has described himself as ideologically pure and the pure are unwilling to compromise on any issue important to them which may be everything. If you have been paying attention to the Republican Party for the last 30 or more years Kasich is what has become a poster boy for Republican moderation. The media has played no small role is this having failed to challenge such basic things as Sam Brownback's guarantee that slashing taxes will bring increased revenue and prosperity. For the people of Kansas I hope it does so. As for my home state of Alabama the rest of the economy drags us down and the drags us along.
1
My prediction is that Kasich will "take one for the team" and wind up as Trump's running mate. Otherwise, the Republican convention in Cleveland (where Kasich is the governor) will devolve into a riot. This would position him to be front runner for the nomination in 2020 and the Republican fat cats would be in charge again.
2
At best, Kasich seems to be the "less appalling" option, not non-appalling.
7
I'd rather be shot and hit by a .32 bullet, Kasich, than by a 30mm explosive shell, or a hellfire missle, which is either Trump or Cruz, take your pick which is which. I might survive the bullet.
3
I am one of the Democrats who crossed over to vote for Kasich in Ohio. Why? Because I cannot stomach the idea of a presidential ticket that includes the name "Trump". What a disgrace that would be for our country. In the general election I certainly would not vote for Kasich; I do not like what he has done in our State and am tired of him taking credit for jobs that were saved through the auto bailout (that he conveniently forgets!). It saddens me that after 8 years to prepare, neither party has candidates I can energetically endorse. I'll vote for Hillary without enthusiasm and hope Elizabeth Warren is ready to dive in four years hence!
4
Thank you and hats off to all Ohio Democrats who did as you did. The Republicans are helpless in the face of Trump- at least Dems do something worthwhile to save the Republican party from it's monster.
I think it used to be called "compassionate conservatism" but people couldn't say it without laughing.
4
The only difference with the appalling ones is that that he does not throw bombs like the Donald and Reverend Father Cruz.
1
So Ohio's what we have to look forward to if people pull the lever for the Republican Without Rabies.
I can only hope that what the pundits bemoan might happen: A Trump candidacy that discourages ticket votes for Planned Parenthood-hating, war-loving, economics-as-family-of-four let's hold hearings on Benghazi until we find something, and wouldn't it be a good idea to repeal Obamacare again just to stay in practice congresstoddlers.
Imagine John Kasich's surprise, though, if he goes through this entire process only to have Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove, and Matt Drudge wrest the nomination from his women's health-loving fingers and present the prize to Paul ("the reluctant savior") Ryan?
Listen up, working-class white people who have been displaced by technology: You've been played by a party that truly disdains you. This week, The National Review, founded by right-wing intellectual giant William F. Buckley, ran a piece by Kevin Williamson called "The Father Fuehrer," which blasted Trump and his supporters, who, as far as I can tell, make up a large plurality of the GOP electorate.
It appears that those in the right-wing think tanks who monitor the mixture of paranoia and Jesus have erred, that their subjects have stampeded after being spooked by bogus broadcasts. GOP voters yearn to be protected against the Mexicans coming to take their jobs, unaware that to do those jobs the Mexicans will need to swim the Pacific Ocean.
So, Kasich. Slogan: "Next to Trump I look sane!"
I can only hope that what the pundits bemoan might happen: A Trump candidacy that discourages ticket votes for Planned Parenthood-hating, war-loving, economics-as-family-of-four let's hold hearings on Benghazi until we find something, and wouldn't it be a good idea to repeal Obamacare again just to stay in practice congresstoddlers.
Imagine John Kasich's surprise, though, if he goes through this entire process only to have Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove, and Matt Drudge wrest the nomination from his women's health-loving fingers and present the prize to Paul ("the reluctant savior") Ryan?
Listen up, working-class white people who have been displaced by technology: You've been played by a party that truly disdains you. This week, The National Review, founded by right-wing intellectual giant William F. Buckley, ran a piece by Kevin Williamson called "The Father Fuehrer," which blasted Trump and his supporters, who, as far as I can tell, make up a large plurality of the GOP electorate.
It appears that those in the right-wing think tanks who monitor the mixture of paranoia and Jesus have erred, that their subjects have stampeded after being spooked by bogus broadcasts. GOP voters yearn to be protected against the Mexicans coming to take their jobs, unaware that to do those jobs the Mexicans will need to swim the Pacific Ocean.
So, Kasich. Slogan: "Next to Trump I look sane!"
10
Voting in the Ohio primary was very hard this time. I did vote for Kasich, not because I think he is the best person around to be President but it was a vote against Trump. Trump is an abomination and not fit to represent our country. If it comes to Trump vs. Clinton I will hold my nose and go Clinton. What a sad choice our country faces. I am an Independent truly.
8
Just a heads-up for Governor Kasich, you're still laboring in obscurity, John, and this may be the only success that you have to point to in the rest of the campaign. If you're angling to make a speech at the convention, then you had a great strategy. Otherwise -- not so much.
3
I have voted Republican in the Presidential elections for many years. However, if a brokered convention hands the nomination to Kasich who can hardly compete anywhere than his home state, I and my family will sit this one out and I hope that all Trump supporters do the same.
If only Trump supporters should sit this one out.
HRC and Trump are both demagogues. At least HRC sticks to the script of vilifying the right.
HRC and Trump are both demagogues. At least HRC sticks to the script of vilifying the right.
No. Maybe the country just has to hit bottom.
4
40% in his home state? Strong! (LOL) And a visionary too? What is his vision but elect me because of "what I've done"? And the RNC guys will try to push this guy on us with his 138 delegates and one state victory getting only 40% of his own state vote while a sitting Governor? Who is delusional?
4
First, let's get our numbers straight. Gov. Kasich received 46.8% of the votes in Ohio, not 40%. That's better than any candidate has done in any primary state except Mr. Trump in Massachusetts and Mississippi. It is better than Sen. Cruz did in his home state of Texas. Overall, Donald Trump has 37% of the Republican vote so far, entering the process with name recognition on the order of Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton and with people probably knowing more about him than Bush or Clinton. How many people know what TV show Mr. Trump hosted and how many know what job Ms. Clinton had between being First Lady and Secretary of State? (That's assuming that everyone knew she was Secretary of State.) In my math book, 37% was 9% less than 46%. It is precisely this sort of fantasizing and creating numbers out of thin air that is the speciality of Mr. Trump and his party. Doesn't make any difference who one supports in that party. One is expected to create a fictional scenario and then pass it off as something to base a real-world opinion on. If being happy with 46.8% in one's home state is considered delusional, then what are we to say about Mr. Trump acting like he is already the nominee with only 37% of the vote in his home country, where he is as well known as Gov. Kasich in his home state?
1
Believe me I'm no Trump supporter. No Cruz or Rubio either. For that matter no Clinton or Sanders (although as an independent he would be my choice among the group if he was electable). I've known Kasich personally, not a bad guy, but nothing special either. He is and was a "grinder". His strength is and always has been showing up and being there. He's a Republican conservative masquerading as a nice guy. He will do nothing but push us all a little further down the road most of us are unhappy with now if he were to be elected President . And lucky for us all (other than the other possible "choices") that his ascendancy to that office is highly unlikely.
How could any woman, or anyone who cares about women, call him "non-appalling"?
11
I would dig my eyes with a salad fork before I voted for that lying snake Clinton. I thought I could vote for Trump if it came down to him and Clinton, but I just can't see him as a serious candidate. Kasich may not be THE ANSWER, but he is far less troublesome than Clinton or Trump. God help us all if either of those fools get into the White House.
1
Exactly what was the purpose of this post? Granted, you have your opinion. This is not really of great significance. Everyone has an opinion, one per person, no individual opinion more important than any other. Now, when you start with the unsubstantiated premise that Ms. Clinton is a lying snake and a fool, well, you can hardly end up supporting her. On the other hand, you also end up not convincing anyone else you are right.
You gotta love them Republicans: they've entangled themselves in another game of Twister: you know, the GOP party game where Mitch McConnell, Rubio, Cruz, Grassley et al try to put there hands, feet, head, knees and individual hair follicles on different parts of a red-stained carpet so as to please everyone without offending anyone?
Why just the other day, the NYT reports, Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, urged Mr. Trump to condemn violence regardless of its cause while NOT condemning the Hurrumpster's own divisive statements AND supporting his bid for the presidency!
Being all things to everyone is tough, but they never cease trying.
I'm anxious to see out Gov. Kasich navigates this. He's the best the GOP has to offer, unless you want to exhume Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (1908-1957). There's probably a microscopic dollop of life in that corpse. Certainly, Mac would find himself amongst a whole lot of other folks who feel the same way about truth, justice and the American Way.
As they say, the more things rot, the more the stay the same.
Why just the other day, the NYT reports, Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, urged Mr. Trump to condemn violence regardless of its cause while NOT condemning the Hurrumpster's own divisive statements AND supporting his bid for the presidency!
Being all things to everyone is tough, but they never cease trying.
I'm anxious to see out Gov. Kasich navigates this. He's the best the GOP has to offer, unless you want to exhume Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (1908-1957). There's probably a microscopic dollop of life in that corpse. Certainly, Mac would find himself amongst a whole lot of other folks who feel the same way about truth, justice and the American Way.
As they say, the more things rot, the more the stay the same.
4
Oh, Gail, don't knock John Kasich. He's been the only normal person running on either side. Sure, you can find negatives ... but they don't add up to the negatives for Mrs. Clinton, and certainly don't add up to the negatives for (shudder) Messr Cruz and Trump. Let's hope and pray for some sanity on the part of voters from here on.
2
The Republicans are Lucky that they have someone who has cracked their wall or political correctness. The Dem’s need someone equivalent.
Have you ever asked how is it possible that ALL dem contenders support a path to citizenship for 10 million illegal immigrants? Isn’t this an issue worthy of debate WITHIN the dem party? After all SS is supposedly at risk, and currently one out of every 2 children under the age of 5 are already under some form of social welfare.
How about Gay marriage? I’m a Dem and I ferociously believe that a child benefits by having a mother and a father. This makes me anathema to members of my party. Yet, no debate. If I were to speak as such i’d be run out of the party and might lose my job. Where’s the debate?
I am opposed to racial and gender quotas. Where is the debate?
Is it any wonder that much as I am appalled by Trump and his threats to do away with the EPA that I would consider voting for him.
He has reshuffled the deck, taken off the straight jacket held by oligarchical special interests within the Rep party. Now if the Dem’s could speak to fairness instead of the ‘rights’ of their special interest groups’ over everyone else rights maybe that would loosen Trumps appeal.
Have you ever asked how is it possible that ALL dem contenders support a path to citizenship for 10 million illegal immigrants? Isn’t this an issue worthy of debate WITHIN the dem party? After all SS is supposedly at risk, and currently one out of every 2 children under the age of 5 are already under some form of social welfare.
How about Gay marriage? I’m a Dem and I ferociously believe that a child benefits by having a mother and a father. This makes me anathema to members of my party. Yet, no debate. If I were to speak as such i’d be run out of the party and might lose my job. Where’s the debate?
I am opposed to racial and gender quotas. Where is the debate?
Is it any wonder that much as I am appalled by Trump and his threats to do away with the EPA that I would consider voting for him.
He has reshuffled the deck, taken off the straight jacket held by oligarchical special interests within the Rep party. Now if the Dem’s could speak to fairness instead of the ‘rights’ of their special interest groups’ over everyone else rights maybe that would loosen Trumps appeal.
1
I am a Democrat as well and I would take issue with your belief "that a child benefits by having a mother and a father", presumably versus two fathers or two mothers. Despite a recent research study apparently to the contrary, the evidence does not support your belief (http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/gender-society/reassessme....
We must all be wary of studies that appear to confirm "fierce beliefs" and be prepared to act according to actual data rather than our own prejudices, no matter how honestly acquired and firmly held.
This has been the bane of the Republican party and, I would submit, the reason for the rise of Donald Trump. He is better than the rest of them by far at creating a fictional world and rallying the gut-thinkers to it. Indeed, he has taken off on the most bizarre of their fictions and made them, somehow, mainstream, despite the often self-evident untruth of those ideas. Maybe it's just his shamelessness about it, but the result is the same.
We must all be wary of studies that appear to confirm "fierce beliefs" and be prepared to act according to actual data rather than our own prejudices, no matter how honestly acquired and firmly held.
This has been the bane of the Republican party and, I would submit, the reason for the rise of Donald Trump. He is better than the rest of them by far at creating a fictional world and rallying the gut-thinkers to it. Indeed, he has taken off on the most bizarre of their fictions and made them, somehow, mainstream, despite the often self-evident untruth of those ideas. Maybe it's just his shamelessness about it, but the result is the same.
your comment is exactly what the original comment wants - he just wants to debate and discuss these issues instead of solving them by identity politics and political correctness.
2
I appreciate where your heart is. However, you are missing my point. Where is the honest debate on this and every other major issue not left of center?
Certainly sweeping aside the teachings of Judaea Christian values so imperiously alone should raise questions, not withstanding the superior brain power and moral superiority of the progressives.
For that matter I arrive at my opinion from a lifetime of personal observation and some serious graduate level courses in personality theory. How those studies are suppressed is beyond me.
But to paraphrase Obama, he very much missed having his father in his life despite having his grandmother and grandfather in his life, as well as a step Dad.
How the `1984' double think? Again where is the debate within the Dem. Party??
Certainly sweeping aside the teachings of Judaea Christian values so imperiously alone should raise questions, not withstanding the superior brain power and moral superiority of the progressives.
For that matter I arrive at my opinion from a lifetime of personal observation and some serious graduate level courses in personality theory. How those studies are suppressed is beyond me.
But to paraphrase Obama, he very much missed having his father in his life despite having his grandmother and grandfather in his life, as well as a step Dad.
How the `1984' double think? Again where is the debate within the Dem. Party??
Kasich didn't win Ohio - He stole it- The Establishment fix was in
there were massive democratic crossover of Clinton voters who were not needed to win for Clinton - so they were sent over to vote republican - Hillary voters who vote for a guy who ....eliminated abortion clinics in his state????
She doesn't want to face Trump. The Republican Establishment is throwing the Election for Hillary.
This is classic Clinton Machine / George Soros / MoveON.org tactics.
there were massive democratic crossover of Clinton voters who were not needed to win for Clinton - so they were sent over to vote republican - Hillary voters who vote for a guy who ....eliminated abortion clinics in his state????
She doesn't want to face Trump. The Republican Establishment is throwing the Election for Hillary.
This is classic Clinton Machine / George Soros / MoveON.org tactics.
3
Please provide the names and home counties of the "massive" number of Democratic voters "sent over to vote Republican", or the link to that information. Otherwise, why should any reader believe they exist? To refresh your memory, Gov. Kasich has twice received around 1.9 million votes statewide in Ohio, according to the Secretary of State. Did Hillary Clinton send a bunch of Democratic voters to vote for him in 2010 as a dry run for the 2016 Republican primary? If so, what a failed attempt, since Gov. Kasich received only half that 1.9 million number yesterday.
1
I’ve read his résumé. I’ve seen him in action.
He was asked how to pronounce his name and he said, "Kay-sick. It rhymes with basic". Its OK. But then he was asked, What's your greatest weakness? And Kay-Sick answered, "When I don’t refresh myself with the messages from the Scriptures." He lost me there.
Gov. Kasich only has eyes for a New Balance Budget but that was more than 20-years ago. So he won Ohio, a good performance, but it could be his last chance to show voters that he’s the best alternative to the Trump in the room or the elephant will sent him packing.
He was asked how to pronounce his name and he said, "Kay-sick. It rhymes with basic". Its OK. But then he was asked, What's your greatest weakness? And Kay-Sick answered, "When I don’t refresh myself with the messages from the Scriptures." He lost me there.
Gov. Kasich only has eyes for a New Balance Budget but that was more than 20-years ago. So he won Ohio, a good performance, but it could be his last chance to show voters that he’s the best alternative to the Trump in the room or the elephant will sent him packing.
2
Kasich needs to read the part of his scripture where Jesus goes off on hypocrites. Alcohol supremacism over indisputably far safer cannabis (far safer when it comes to people getting killed or maimed or suffering from an incurable fetal syndrome) is stunningly hypocritical.
But Kasich goes much further, he wants to keep banning an essential medicine because of the signal it would send about cannabis. The people who need medical cannabis are strictly pawns in his most un-Christian game.
But Kasich goes much further, he wants to keep banning an essential medicine because of the signal it would send about cannabis. The people who need medical cannabis are strictly pawns in his most un-Christian game.
the Mass Produced image of John Kasich which is passed around to all the Media Outlets....is misleading.
And that's putting it mildly.
Kasich, runner up in the Han Solo Look alike Contest, has been in Politics a long time. And Contrary to what most Career Politicians do or dont do.......John Kasich has been pretty adept at producing results that his constituents actually LIKE!!
This flies in the face of the Donald Trump All Talk-No Substance Poser Behavior and the Ted Cruz Mean Spirited Holier Than Thou Poser Behavior.
No. Kasich has no chance of "winning" the Primaries. But then, the intelligent, forward looking citizen recognizes that "winning" the Primaries is NOT the objective!! Kasich plans on winning in the General Election. If Kasich shows up in Cleveland, OHIO(home court advantage) with say 10-15% of the delegate count.....that means Richie Rich Trump and Texas Weasel Cruz will each have about 45% of the delegate count........nobody has a majority!!
And that puts John Kasich in charge....the deal maker......the experienced politician who gets results that make people happy.
Think about it.
JOHN KASICH 2016.
Your vote counts.
And that's putting it mildly.
Kasich, runner up in the Han Solo Look alike Contest, has been in Politics a long time. And Contrary to what most Career Politicians do or dont do.......John Kasich has been pretty adept at producing results that his constituents actually LIKE!!
This flies in the face of the Donald Trump All Talk-No Substance Poser Behavior and the Ted Cruz Mean Spirited Holier Than Thou Poser Behavior.
No. Kasich has no chance of "winning" the Primaries. But then, the intelligent, forward looking citizen recognizes that "winning" the Primaries is NOT the objective!! Kasich plans on winning in the General Election. If Kasich shows up in Cleveland, OHIO(home court advantage) with say 10-15% of the delegate count.....that means Richie Rich Trump and Texas Weasel Cruz will each have about 45% of the delegate count........nobody has a majority!!
And that puts John Kasich in charge....the deal maker......the experienced politician who gets results that make people happy.
Think about it.
JOHN KASICH 2016.
Your vote counts.
1
The first time I've ever been disappointed in you, Ms. Collins. You did not say that Gov. Kasich is the only GOP candidate that actually believes in global warming. That is a huge step in the right direction. Yes, he's still a conservative, but he is a decent human being, not the monstrous alternative that is sweeping the Republican nation.
Agreed. He also made aggressive support of mental health services one of his first priorities when he came to office. My husband is a psychiatrist who trained and practiced in other states. The mental health services contrast in Ohio with other states is profound.
2
It's really says something about the fetid state of the GOP that, in this sewer of a race, he is the closest thing to a breath of fresh air.
4
Drop the skepticism. Kasich will be the only viable candidate at the Republican convention. How so? The convention will be held in Cleveland, which despite having its airport in Kentucky is still part of Ohio, where Kasich rules. If Trump and Cruz are "disappeared" before reaching the convention floor, neither of them would be able to accept the nomination. That would just leave "oh shucks folks" gentleman John to step up to the plate.
Kasich "non-appalling?" "Less appalling" might be a better way to put the quiet veneer he maintains to cover his basically extreme right wing positions. Maybe they are a little less extreme than Trump and Cruz but only by degrees and nuance.
6
If they flee Trump, they'll embrace someone who has not had a chance to see how much the voters dislike him. Someone like Paul Ryan, who fell on his sword to herd cats in the House. Those cats are feral, and he'd just love to scoot towards the Presidency in a contested convention. That would probably cause a 3rd party Trump run, and then the Dems could get a brussel sprout to the Presidency. A brussel sprout is essentially what Clinton is, disliked almost as much by half of Democrats as she is despised by independents.
2
I have lived in Ohio my entire life -- this comment is exactly on target. Kasich is and always has been very far to the right. Anyone who thinks differently is kidding herself or know nothing about Ohio politics.
11
Traitors To The Party
The Republican establishment opposes Donald Trump. A majority of Republican voters oppose him, also. Trump never has won a majority in even one state. Yet, he likely now will become the Republican candidate thanks to two, egotistical, petty politicians — Kasich and Rubio.
Had these two acted in statesmanlike fashions by withdrawing after Super Tuesday, Cruz likely would have beaten Trump in every primary last night. Instead, he lost in every one.
After Super Tuesday, neither Kasich nor Rubio mathematically could win the nomination. Yet, they remained as spoilers, and spoilers they were with Rubio humiliated in Florida and Kasich semi-humiliated in Ohio.
As in 1996 with Dole and in 2008 with McCain, the Republican establishment is shooting itself in the foot. Instead of having launched a vitriolic campaign against Trump, thereby, having acted deceitfully, it should have convinced Kasich and Rubio to withdraw. Now, its only hope is to deny Trump a majority going into the convention. Good luck with that one!
In the words of Chester A. Riley, “What a revoltin’ development this is!”
See “Revoltin’ Developments” under ...
http://nationonfire.com/category/government/politicians/ .
The Republican establishment opposes Donald Trump. A majority of Republican voters oppose him, also. Trump never has won a majority in even one state. Yet, he likely now will become the Republican candidate thanks to two, egotistical, petty politicians — Kasich and Rubio.
Had these two acted in statesmanlike fashions by withdrawing after Super Tuesday, Cruz likely would have beaten Trump in every primary last night. Instead, he lost in every one.
After Super Tuesday, neither Kasich nor Rubio mathematically could win the nomination. Yet, they remained as spoilers, and spoilers they were with Rubio humiliated in Florida and Kasich semi-humiliated in Ohio.
As in 1996 with Dole and in 2008 with McCain, the Republican establishment is shooting itself in the foot. Instead of having launched a vitriolic campaign against Trump, thereby, having acted deceitfully, it should have convinced Kasich and Rubio to withdraw. Now, its only hope is to deny Trump a majority going into the convention. Good luck with that one!
In the words of Chester A. Riley, “What a revoltin’ development this is!”
See “Revoltin’ Developments” under ...
http://nationonfire.com/category/government/politicians/ .
18
If by staying in the race Rubio and Kasich were "spoilers," preventing a Cruz victory over Trump, then a spoiler is not such a bad thing after all. As Senator Graham said, choosing between Trump and Cruz would be like choosing poison or to be shot. Or some such clever thing.
Cruz is hard-lined, doctrinaire, and self-righteously smug and judgmental. There is the smell of sulfur and brimstone about him. He doesn't seem to like people. And his proudest claim is that no one likes him.
Trump is not doctrinaire. He is self-engrossed, narcissistic, megalomanic, and a genius at attention grabbing. His positions, always of the moment and always delivered like a dyspeptic carnival barker, are shaped by his most recent anger-monitoring focus group. Find out what is upsetting people, especially what he praises as the "poorly educated" and low information types which seem to serve as his base, and stir it up until it reaches a literally violent explosion. And then aim it at some vulnerable scapegoat.
Yeah, Sen. Graham had it right. Choose your poison. Thanks GOP and Tea Party.
Cruz is hard-lined, doctrinaire, and self-righteously smug and judgmental. There is the smell of sulfur and brimstone about him. He doesn't seem to like people. And his proudest claim is that no one likes him.
Trump is not doctrinaire. He is self-engrossed, narcissistic, megalomanic, and a genius at attention grabbing. His positions, always of the moment and always delivered like a dyspeptic carnival barker, are shaped by his most recent anger-monitoring focus group. Find out what is upsetting people, especially what he praises as the "poorly educated" and low information types which seem to serve as his base, and stir it up until it reaches a literally violent explosion. And then aim it at some vulnerable scapegoat.
Yeah, Sen. Graham had it right. Choose your poison. Thanks GOP and Tea Party.
1
It's hardly fair to slam The Donald because he "never won a majority," since at any given time there were 3-7 other candidates. Besides, that Conservative Darling, Maggie Thatcher, never won close to a majority of votes in any election, and she's a near sainthood as Reagan.
The Republican establishment opposes Trump, but only because he is not electable. Period.
Kasich is almost equally bad, but he comes in a smiling wrapper. When he was in Washington, he was a right-wing zealot, and as governor of Ohio he has remained a right-wing zealot. The fact that he does not speak out as brazenly against Muslims as the others does not mean he would let any Muslims into the country, and on all the rest of the issues he is openly identical with Trump, Cruz and Rubio. In some ways, he is more dangerous simply because he looks benign.
179
Does anyone remember that Kasich was one of the Republicans that voted unanimously in summer 1993 against Clinton's modest tax increase bill? And now he goes around claiming that he's the "architect" of the economic growth of the nineties? Like all the Republicans, Kasich has no respect at all for the truth. That's a clear indication of how deficient he is as a candidate.
1
You'd think Kasich won the republican nomination last night. The distant 3rd running candidate simply won his home state. My oh my is the GOP in dire straights. Trumpinstein is their own creation following years and years of blaming the federal government, DC and Democrats for all off American ills; actual or fantasy. The only question left is will the peasants (delegates) storm the castle (convention) and tear Trumpinstein into pieces or will the monster live on to face Hillary in the fall?
3
Choices? How about the democrats presenting us with a choice between a criminal liar and a communist? That's the really apalling choice!
1
The last paragraph says it all. This guy is as much of a right-wing zealot as the rest of them; he just hides it better. He is no better than Cruz or Trump, just perhaps a little bit less tangerine tinted than the latter and a little less of a religious fanatic than the former. Yessiree, what a "moderate" choice.
6
He has also signed a bill requiring women seeking an abortion to have an ultra sound first. And if the "down trodden" guy just happens to belong to a union he'd best look out.
3
As a resident of New Jersey I want to thank you Gail. As I listened last evening to Governor Kasich speak I found myself wishing he was my Governor instead of, well everybody knows who the Governor of New Jersey is, so why mention his name? This is truly a terrifying election, Trump could be our next President, the very thought of which makes a liberal Democrat pine for the alternative- Governor-nice-guy-Kasich, who if elected would bring Justice Scalia back from the dead before decomposition made him unrecognizable. So thanks Gail for removing any reason for hoping the Republicans would come to their senses and nominate a candidate we could all live with, I mean it, really- thanks.
It is way, way past time for the press to pump Kasich. He is truly the only Republican candidate who can thoughtfully govern this nation. He is a legitimate alternative to HClinton. I recognize that the press is going to pump HClinton as it has BSanders. Sanders, like Trump is off the charts unreasonable but each appeals to a segment of voters who want the unachievable. Both Clinton and Kasich understand how to reach achievable. Sadly, Obama is not enough like Lyndon Johnson in working for the achievable. We want an inspirational Kennedy as POTUS. Fine, but those don't come very often. Better is one who can find middle ground. Political business deals are not really much like business deal making. Rather, politics is about political crafting of the achievable. Kasich, I think, even more than HClinton understands that.
So, will the press now finally put aside their chasing bombast and instead get serious about pumping that which is morally better?
So, will the press now finally put aside their chasing bombast and instead get serious about pumping that which is morally better?
You have deep misunderstanding of the press. The 'press' is under no obligation to pump anything.
All of us hoping for this long shot. What percentage of the readers of the NYT would vote for any GOP candidate? This is an echo chamber here.
It doesn't matter who the GOP nominee is. The entire philosophy of the GOP has descended into a primitive, bigoted, dysfunctional, obstructionist mud puddle. Kasich is horrible if you believe in equal public education for all kids. He is horrible if you believe in a separation of church and state. He is horrible if you believe in women's reproductive rights. The party of the Big Tent that operated on benevolent (yet narrow) principles is dead. And it should rot in Hell. Lincoln is rolling over in his grave.
We who believe in the right stuff should be mounting a personal campaign of shame. What is America about to become? The nation that won't confirm a highly qualified nominee to our highest court because he has been nominated by a black President. That is what we have become. Step out of the echo chamber and let's make this country great again. Ha Ha.
It doesn't matter who the GOP nominee is. The entire philosophy of the GOP has descended into a primitive, bigoted, dysfunctional, obstructionist mud puddle. Kasich is horrible if you believe in equal public education for all kids. He is horrible if you believe in a separation of church and state. He is horrible if you believe in women's reproductive rights. The party of the Big Tent that operated on benevolent (yet narrow) principles is dead. And it should rot in Hell. Lincoln is rolling over in his grave.
We who believe in the right stuff should be mounting a personal campaign of shame. What is America about to become? The nation that won't confirm a highly qualified nominee to our highest court because he has been nominated by a black President. That is what we have become. Step out of the echo chamber and let's make this country great again. Ha Ha.
3
Well, Gail, you've come up with the Republicans' only viable mantra, via
John Kasich, to fend off a landslide: He's Non-Appalling! Look, our candidate
is NON-APPALLING!
Has a U.S. political party ever been more poorly managed? Anyhow, at
least Clinton-Kasich debates would calm the world some.
John Kasich, to fend off a landslide: He's Non-Appalling! Look, our candidate
is NON-APPALLING!
Has a U.S. political party ever been more poorly managed? Anyhow, at
least Clinton-Kasich debates would calm the world some.
1
I still have trouble figuring-out why so many blue states have GOP governors. There are too many for it to be easily explained away by the timing of the election, or by personal popularity. There are just too many instances.
I tend to think that voters think of the GOP as anti social program, and in difficult times, they vote in someone who will not give anything away. The voters may not believe that this is best when voting in their town, or voting nationally, but they vote in a stinker statewide to do the dirty work.
I don't know if that is an accurate belief, but it fits better then any other explanation I can think of. Come general election time, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey and many others will vote Democratic for a candidates with a polar opposite position from the governor they support. Go figure?
I tend to think that voters think of the GOP as anti social program, and in difficult times, they vote in someone who will not give anything away. The voters may not believe that this is best when voting in their town, or voting nationally, but they vote in a stinker statewide to do the dirty work.
I don't know if that is an accurate belief, but it fits better then any other explanation I can think of. Come general election time, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey and many others will vote Democratic for a candidates with a polar opposite position from the governor they support. Go figure?
1
I agree. Kasich is the classic case of the lesser of evils. Kasich's record is hard to worry about when Trump is out there.
I hope this piece is not supposed to be a replacement for Gail's usual Thursday column. It didn't quite leave me satisfied. Right now Collins and Egan are the reasons I am not dropping my subscription.
Kasich is no different than any other republican we have seen for the last 30+ years. He would like to convince us that he is moderate in his views, then he will come out all george w. bushy on US.
Don't be fooled, people. Don't be fooled.
Kasich is no different than any other republican we have seen for the last 30+ years. He would like to convince us that he is moderate in his views, then he will come out all george w. bushy on US.
Don't be fooled, people. Don't be fooled.
6
Kaisch is more like a pebble in Trump's loafer than a boulder.
73
Today's Republican Presidential Primary Slogan: "Vote for Me, the Least Undesirable Republican Presidential Candidate!" -- Message approved RNC and Mitt Romney. Go Team!
3
Kasich is probably considered something of a moderate because we don't know much about him other than his "aw shucks" demeanor. It's hard to believe that any true moderates even exist in the present-day Republican Party.
2
Thanks for a column that was not trying to be cute & witty. It was worth my time to read.
1
And therein lay the problem...we Dems are willing to accept a Kasich if it comes to that as the lesser of 15 other evils, but talk to any Republican, and they won't accept a Hillary or a Bernie even if one should win the general election. So the polarization in this country will continue unabated.
6
Dear Ms. Collins,
What happened? The "T" on your keyboard get stuck so you had to actually mention John Kasich versus writing about Mr. Trump?
Really, this guy wins his HOME STATE, you know, the people who originally elected him and the media is treating this as if it were the re-incarnation of Abraham Lincoln.
Hate to be the party pooper but Mr. Kasich is still part of the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE that gestated the Trump Golem. As the "anointed" party favorites fell by the wayside, the mantra soon became, "Well, he's not Donald Trump", seemingly the only qualification to be presidential material. Their spending millions campaigning AGAINST themselves in an effort to stop that which they created. Can anybody, Mr. Kasich included, really be "respected' from this self serving bunch?
And since you have a certain degree of class and dignity (Being merely a reader, I do not have to live up to such standards), how about the decision in Florida which wouldn't even back somebody THEY elected? Apparently "hand size" isn't the most pressing issue in this campaign season.
The Republican Party seems busy "goose stepping" it's way into what, hopefully, will be the biggest walloping in a presidential race ever seen in this country.
The downside just doesn't exist for the caricature the Republican Party has become; it really deserves a thorough drubbing and Trump's the man that can create it!
What happened? The "T" on your keyboard get stuck so you had to actually mention John Kasich versus writing about Mr. Trump?
Really, this guy wins his HOME STATE, you know, the people who originally elected him and the media is treating this as if it were the re-incarnation of Abraham Lincoln.
Hate to be the party pooper but Mr. Kasich is still part of the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE that gestated the Trump Golem. As the "anointed" party favorites fell by the wayside, the mantra soon became, "Well, he's not Donald Trump", seemingly the only qualification to be presidential material. Their spending millions campaigning AGAINST themselves in an effort to stop that which they created. Can anybody, Mr. Kasich included, really be "respected' from this self serving bunch?
And since you have a certain degree of class and dignity (Being merely a reader, I do not have to live up to such standards), how about the decision in Florida which wouldn't even back somebody THEY elected? Apparently "hand size" isn't the most pressing issue in this campaign season.
The Republican Party seems busy "goose stepping" it's way into what, hopefully, will be the biggest walloping in a presidential race ever seen in this country.
The downside just doesn't exist for the caricature the Republican Party has become; it really deserves a thorough drubbing and Trump's the man that can create it!
so what's the deal at the convention? the anti-trumps combine delegates and nominate cruz with kasich as veep?
Republicans (in some part starting with Nixon) got something right about 50 years ago. They knew that the broad spectrum of racial hatred (starting with "stay away" to "lynch them") that existed in white America could be a political tool - and they used it well. Reagan used the religious right well. The Bushes used wars well to keep people in fear. In the mean time, they pulled off the greatest Ponzi scheme in history; they impoverished the nation with a crippling debt and funneled all the money they could to their own pockets, and into the pockets of their friends. And Americans loved them for it.
This smart party of neocons, plutocrats, birthers, truthers, survivalists, anti-education science deniers, "armageddon is imminent" blowhards now seem curiously disconnected to reality; and more than befuddled that an equally strong blowhard is getting the attention away from their bag of feathers (Rubio). Reality? The American voter who has fed on the government teat, and made some lousy choices about education and lifestyle (er. that would be a big chunk of the republicans), and hates everyone, now wants vengeance. And they want to punish the republican establishment.
Trump promises to do that. For his voters, his hate-speech is pure meth.
Kasich is not a boulder, he is gravel. The rest are dust. The republicans will not learn; they will become more hateful, more vitriolic - trying to outdo Trump.
Kalidan
This smart party of neocons, plutocrats, birthers, truthers, survivalists, anti-education science deniers, "armageddon is imminent" blowhards now seem curiously disconnected to reality; and more than befuddled that an equally strong blowhard is getting the attention away from their bag of feathers (Rubio). Reality? The American voter who has fed on the government teat, and made some lousy choices about education and lifestyle (er. that would be a big chunk of the republicans), and hates everyone, now wants vengeance. And they want to punish the republican establishment.
Trump promises to do that. For his voters, his hate-speech is pure meth.
Kasich is not a boulder, he is gravel. The rest are dust. The republicans will not learn; they will become more hateful, more vitriolic - trying to outdo Trump.
Kalidan
3
Simply being less appalling than the other two choices is not a guide to good decision making....Kasich would be a disaster too women in america, sending them back to the 1950's in terms of medical care and personal choice.
6
John Kasich may look nice, talk nice and say aw shucks folks, but he's from that same pond of Midwest GOP guvs, Snyder, Walker, Rauner, and Pence who are screwing over the residents of their states daily. He's just as bad as the others.
9
I am proud Ohio can see the benefits of a calm, focused man running for President as being preferable to a 3 year old in an expensive suit using the intimidating tactics of ridicule, classlessness (no, money does NOT equal class), personal intimidation and bully language !
No one is perfect as this points out and yes the GOP has a long road to repair, as do both parties if you think about it! It's time to shut down big money ( let's face it, we all know who really runs the country and that's the group of billionaires at the top of the heap overseeing both parties) in politics on both sides and get down to doing the hard work of actually bringing this country back to a level of respect and greatness we have lost touch with. What a dream come true that would be!!
No one is perfect as this points out and yes the GOP has a long road to repair, as do both parties if you think about it! It's time to shut down big money ( let's face it, we all know who really runs the country and that's the group of billionaires at the top of the heap overseeing both parties) in politics on both sides and get down to doing the hard work of actually bringing this country back to a level of respect and greatness we have lost touch with. What a dream come true that would be!!
If anyone looks at the past FOUR (4) GOP Administrations and the current Congress how can anyone possibly vote for a Republican? Nixon- Worst criminal ever in White House. Reagan- Average who just happened to be 7th President leading the USA when the USSR collapsed. Bush 41- Mediocre at best. Bush 43- Disaster. I forgot Hard Headed Gerald Ford who pardoned Nixon. Compare that to Carter, Clinton and Obama and the difference is mind bending. Sure the 3 Dems have had problems mainly caused by GOP Paranoia and scandal mongering. The worse aspect of all the GOP failures is that Conservatism is a total failure as a governing principle. John Kasich is just more that failure on display.
13
Great way to put it. There are simply not any Republicans that have 'All' of the American people's best interests at heart.
Kasich the phony moderate will accept Trump's offer of VP. The betrayal will be complete and ordained.
8
Huh?
Whatever you guys are drinking I want some. Do you know what this reminds me of is that November day in 2012 when I stood in line to vote with all those republicans and they were delusional about the election out come.
Obama was up by 5 points in Ohio and essentially the election was over.
Only major shinagains by the Republicans would change that. The lead was too much to over come.
Lets look at trump The actual Delegate count in all those winner take all states means Trump will have over 700 delegates and I do not see how anyone can prevent him from the nomination..... John received 66 delegates, Cruz recieved 26 delegates and Trump received about 250 Delegates. Please will some one tell me in the real world how that will equate to a brokered convention.
Yet based on your headlines he is on his way out Good old John with 66 delegates stopped him cold. Not so much. Trump more than doubled his delegate count last night and is well on his way to sealing the nomination.
Kasich is living in na na land. It is a fantasy the same way 2012 was.....
But here is the real truth. The media and Republican hierarchy are blaming Trump for the violence at his rallies. But if they try to deny him the nomination when he is legitimately winning it, I fear there will be violence in Cleveland. The culprits will actually be the Media and Republican hierarchy..
Chuck from Ohio.
Whatever you guys are drinking I want some. Do you know what this reminds me of is that November day in 2012 when I stood in line to vote with all those republicans and they were delusional about the election out come.
Obama was up by 5 points in Ohio and essentially the election was over.
Only major shinagains by the Republicans would change that. The lead was too much to over come.
Lets look at trump The actual Delegate count in all those winner take all states means Trump will have over 700 delegates and I do not see how anyone can prevent him from the nomination..... John received 66 delegates, Cruz recieved 26 delegates and Trump received about 250 Delegates. Please will some one tell me in the real world how that will equate to a brokered convention.
Yet based on your headlines he is on his way out Good old John with 66 delegates stopped him cold. Not so much. Trump more than doubled his delegate count last night and is well on his way to sealing the nomination.
Kasich is living in na na land. It is a fantasy the same way 2012 was.....
But here is the real truth. The media and Republican hierarchy are blaming Trump for the violence at his rallies. But if they try to deny him the nomination when he is legitimately winning it, I fear there will be violence in Cleveland. The culprits will actually be the Media and Republican hierarchy..
Chuck from Ohio.
5
If I hear one more Democrat talk about what a likeable moderate John Kasich is I'm going to barf. Among other things, Kasich is dead-set against a woman's right to choose, and was a managing director at Lehman Brothers before the corrupt Wall Street firm crashed, burned and helped take the entire U.S. economy down with it.
But in the land of the lunatic, the only slightly deranged man is king. Luckily for America, the GOP won't tolerate anyone but a total sociopath as its representative. So prepare for our first female President!
www.newyorkgritty.net
But in the land of the lunatic, the only slightly deranged man is king. Luckily for America, the GOP won't tolerate anyone but a total sociopath as its representative. So prepare for our first female President!
www.newyorkgritty.net
11
Read it again. She's not. It's irony.
Being non-appalling gives you an edgein the race to be President? Geez, I should have run.
5
Having read many of Ms. Collins' opinions I know before clicking on the editorial it will either in some way tell us how bad the Republicans are or how noble the Democrats are. After reading this one I make a commitment to myself to never click on an opinion of hers again. She has nothing new to say. No insights. Not a modicum of balance. Simply a left leaning sarcastic style that contributes nothing in the way of new knowledge. Goodbye Gail! I wish I could say it's been nice.
3
Go in peace, Charlie. Ms. Collins is an opinion writer, as in OP-ED. As such it should not be expected that she will be "balanced." Many supposed reporters give us opinions by hiding them under pretense with their a priori assumptions. With Gail Collins you can know she is not hiding her opinions under a veneer of being objective.
1
Those who write opinions, Barbara, at least attempt to sprinkle in a few facts while relying less on sarcasm as a tool of humor. My opinion stands. She is very heavy on the sarcasm and extraordinarily light on facts. I welcome divergent opinions when they even occasionally give me something new. Thanks for your kind wishes.
1
It also hurt Bernie Sanders more than Hillary. It is doubtful that Kasich were get anymore traction than this momentary 'Ohio' fame. This election cycle, the pundits, should disregard Ohio as a 'bell weather' for electability.
1
Gov. Kasich got less than 49 percent of his home state's vote; hardly a resounding endorsement from his constituents who know him best. Media will now devote some space to his record in Ohio and, like him or not, we will all get to know the affable no-choice conservative a little better.
After multiple crashes, the Republican clown car continues to veer to the extreme right. Following a Democratic win in November, the Republican candidates are all headed for at least a paragraph in the history books; a paragraph in a chapter titled, "The Rise and Fall of American Extremism." The frightening alternative would be a book on a Republican win in November; a book titled, "The Rise and Fall of America." Let's all hope that Republicans come to their senses and choose American values over fascist Trumpism.
After multiple crashes, the Republican clown car continues to veer to the extreme right. Following a Democratic win in November, the Republican candidates are all headed for at least a paragraph in the history books; a paragraph in a chapter titled, "The Rise and Fall of American Extremism." The frightening alternative would be a book on a Republican win in November; a book titled, "The Rise and Fall of America." Let's all hope that Republicans come to their senses and choose American values over fascist Trumpism.
5
So the straw to which the GOP must clutch is actually a boulder ... Plop!
4
I'm surprised he hasn't taken credit for getting LeBron to come back to Cleveland.
6
Trump has 621 (and counting) delegates, and Kasich has 138, having won only his home state. How is this a boulder in Trump's way? Did I miss something?
5
C'mon, Gail. Use your imagination. Kasich is a slice of meatloaf who looks like paté only in comparison with the charlatan and the pit viper. Let's draft Paul Ryan. True, his purported budget wizardry is a sham, but he sounds so convincing. He projects an aura of reasonableness, as does TrustTed Cruz, but without the animosity and venom welling behind the mask. Plus, he was the reluctant bride to succeed John Boehner as House speaker, a role he played so well. How about giving him a shot at pretending to resist becoming his party's savior nominee? Who wouldn't enjoy watching him do a Sally Field when he finally yields to the entreaties he's craved all along: "I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!" Then later, if it doesn't work out, we can blame the Republican Academy for their lack of diversity.
2
Trump will win the GOP nomination and the presidency. He is the candidate of disenchantment with business as usual. The country and the government are broke....and broken.
5
The country is not broke! Please stop with this nonsense. Any imperial power that can shower its billionaires with endless wars, fossil fuels, no investment in infrastructure, absurd agriculture subsidies, and entitlements to its millionaires and billionaires through tax cuts and corporate welfare IS NOT BROKE!
1
By the end of last year, Republicans had many of us perplexed by what they called a "strong field" of 2016 presidential candidates. Well, now that the number of candidates has been reduced from a gazillion to only three, we are still perplexed. Where are those strong candidates?
Governor Kasich is one of the last standing -- in what has been an excitable and over-exposed field -- because he's stolid and still largely an unknown quantity. It is widely thought that he can't be as horrible as all the others.
But just because the media have not seen fit to give Mr Kasich much coverage to date does not mean that his views will be popular with the electorate once they are known. The first tidbits of what promises to be more substantial coverage are not heartening.
Governor Kasich is one of the last standing -- in what has been an excitable and over-exposed field -- because he's stolid and still largely an unknown quantity. It is widely thought that he can't be as horrible as all the others.
But just because the media have not seen fit to give Mr Kasich much coverage to date does not mean that his views will be popular with the electorate once they are known. The first tidbits of what promises to be more substantial coverage are not heartening.
5
The reason to like Kasich is not that he is acceptable to Democrats, but that he is not visibly insane. That is a low bar, but one which we have come to really crave. You don't get the impression Kasich would drop a bomb on the French because they were condescending, or throw the nation into default because the budget was too fat.
So, yes, I throw confetti and hope for a brokered convention. Because Trump is dangerous - to the nation, to our reputation worldwide. Cruz is no better; he is a quieter demagogue, but you'll notice that when Kasich and Trump talk of not wanting people to die in the streets, Ted isn't joining in. He's OK with that. He has the dangerous mix of qualities of being very smart, certain he is right, and heartless.
So toss the confetti, and cheer on Ohioans, who may have tainted water, too, but haven't drunk the Kool-aid.
So, yes, I throw confetti and hope for a brokered convention. Because Trump is dangerous - to the nation, to our reputation worldwide. Cruz is no better; he is a quieter demagogue, but you'll notice that when Kasich and Trump talk of not wanting people to die in the streets, Ted isn't joining in. He's OK with that. He has the dangerous mix of qualities of being very smart, certain he is right, and heartless.
So toss the confetti, and cheer on Ohioans, who may have tainted water, too, but haven't drunk the Kool-aid.
227
Understand something: he may be acceptable to Republicans but he is not acceptable to Democrats, now or ever. And he won't be elected. I know plenty of moderate Republicans who would hold their nose and vote for Hillary rather than for ANY of the Republicans running. Remember the Whigs? The No-Nothings, the Bull Moose parties? Yup. Neither do many Americans. The Repubs are on a fast track to join these parties of the past.
You have it exactly right on Cruz
I have to agree that Kasich is the only non appalling Republican option for President. That makes the score Republican 1, Democrats 0. Hillary is as dishonest as they come, having jumped from one scandal to the another, going back to her time as first lady in Arkansas. Whitewater, Chinagate, Travelgate, Filegate, and questionable donations to the Clinton Foundation are just some examples. Bernie's message has been consistent for 30 years but most Americans aren't ready for socialism. That being said, I'll take a boring Kasich to a crooked Clinton anytime
2
Those "scandals" were all Republican-manufactured much ado about nothing (Travelgate? Give me a break!) and pale in comparison to trading for hostages in Iran, funding South American Wars and looking the other way while our supposed ally fomented 9/11. Not to mention the deregulation that collapsed our economy. I'll take misplaced files over that any day.
1
You are proof that a lie is halfway around the world before the truth has put its pants on.
1
Hillary is also bought and paid for by Monsanto. As is Cruz for that matter.
1
What a stupid suggestion. If you want to speculate Gail, at least speculate on real alternatives. Before this could possibly happen one of three things would occur:
The two outsiders, Trump and Cruz get together. Remember kennedy Johnson.
Trump will run as a third party candidate and beat the Republivan nominee.
A broken Republican convention will nominate someone else.
Oh, you forgot to mention that Kasich had to spend weeks and tens of millions just to win his own state when he is the sitting governor while he has gotten fewer primary votes than Jeb who dropped out or Robeo who didn't campeign in Ohio.
My speculation is that Karich is going nowhere.
The two outsiders, Trump and Cruz get together. Remember kennedy Johnson.
Trump will run as a third party candidate and beat the Republivan nominee.
A broken Republican convention will nominate someone else.
Oh, you forgot to mention that Kasich had to spend weeks and tens of millions just to win his own state when he is the sitting governor while he has gotten fewer primary votes than Jeb who dropped out or Robeo who didn't campeign in Ohio.
My speculation is that Karich is going nowhere.
9
Kasich doesn't have a prayer. He's out of step with the electorate. Any Democrat who can't see this, hasn't been listening to the Republicans. These days, that's just about every Democrat, whose ignorance of those across the aisle is pretty much unanimous. Ignorance is not a good thing, no matter how fashionable it has become.
1
Something I don't get: in many countries, Kasich would now get out of the race, claiming it is for the good of his party and of his country, so that the anti-Trump vote would not be split. Neither Cruz nor Trump would have the delegates. On the basis of his strong victory in Ohio, he makes a come back at the Convention, and possibly become the GOP candidate.
The French, for instance, did something like this at the last elections, in order to get Marine Le Pen out. It worked so well her party went from a probable massive victory to actually not getting a single seat.
Why does it not seem like a reasonable option for this horrific presidential election?
The French, for instance, did something like this at the last elections, in order to get Marine Le Pen out. It worked so well her party went from a probable massive victory to actually not getting a single seat.
Why does it not seem like a reasonable option for this horrific presidential election?
2
Agreeing with most of the comments till now, I hope that this will push the GOP to a contested convention. Then hopefully, the GOP in it's current form will implode. This would help the Democratic candidate the most. And the chaos created down ticket would also help a Democratic President even if the GOP somehow retains control of congress.
If Kasich were actually a reasonable man in his views regarding women's right to control their own bodies; if he had any positive thought regarding labor's right to a living wage: if he for a moment considered public education to be of value or if he exhibited any sign of human concern I'd consider the Times endorsement to have some, however tenuous, basis in reason, but he is as close to the other two dictator lite preachers leading the Republican charge that better judgement tells me to pass.
In truth none of them now vying for the Republican nomination are even remotely concerned for basic human respect or freedom and they have sunk their once proud party to a political low the world has not seen in almost a hundred years. Like Harding, none of them is worthy of the Presidency.
It is truly unfortunate that our nation has descended to this level of Dante's Inferno.
In truth none of them now vying for the Republican nomination are even remotely concerned for basic human respect or freedom and they have sunk their once proud party to a political low the world has not seen in almost a hundred years. Like Harding, none of them is worthy of the Presidency.
It is truly unfortunate that our nation has descended to this level of Dante's Inferno.
9
Now that Rubio is out you see the support Kasich got. Rubio asked his supporters to vote for Kasich in Ohio. He asked his supporters to vote for Cruz in Texas. Rubio seems to be the only one serious about stopping Trump and his 33%. If Kasich and Cruz had done the same for Rubio in Florida, they could have taken Trump down. Now of the two left, Kasich is the vote for anyone who has common sense and appreciates the best of the party. Let's see where this goes.
When someone with background of JK becomes a "moderate" because he's compared to Trump and Cruz, the Republic is in serious trouble.
8
Yesterday, I turned 65. I have faint memories of the Presidency of Ike Eisenhower. So, I've seen a lot. But, I've never seen anything like this election.
Kasich reminds me of Reagan. His actions and positions are appalling but his demeanor is so pleasant, people like him. Only later do they look down to see their intestines hanging out and the straight razor in his hand.
I still have two kids to put through college, so I'm not done, but I can see it from here. Then I'm going to unplug. Good luck. We're all going to need it.
Kasich reminds me of Reagan. His actions and positions are appalling but his demeanor is so pleasant, people like him. Only later do they look down to see their intestines hanging out and the straight razor in his hand.
I still have two kids to put through college, so I'm not done, but I can see it from here. Then I'm going to unplug. Good luck. We're all going to need it.
11
So the best thing we can say about Kasich is that he is the least insane of the inmates in the GOP asylum.
9
When the media scrutiny drones hover over John Kasich they will find the usual Republican misogynistic attempts to interfere with a woman's constitutional right to have an abortion. Kasich's medieval touch was the ultra sound before abortion requirement.Nice humane touch John. Kasich cut funds to PPH, shifted funds from public schools to religious charter schools, failed in an attempt to punish anti -Kasich teachers unions by limiting public employees collective bargaining rights, favored for profit prisons, increased regressive sales taxes, opposed the Iran nuclear deal, favored using U.S.ground troops to destroy ISIS, and managed to balance the state budget by cutting millions from state aid to municipalities requiring many to raise local taxes. He also references his religion publicly as if it were a flashing neon sign. Despite the folksy demeanor, we have a candidate covered with right wing ideological tatoos
12
Kasich is going nowhere.
Had both he and Rubio dropped out weeks ago, Cruz would be leading. Ted Cruz: The Democrat's worst nightmare.
Had both he and Rubio dropped out weeks ago, Cruz would be leading. Ted Cruz: The Democrat's worst nightmare.
1
Ted Cruz is everyone's worst nightmare!
2
Ted Cruz, the Democrat's worst nightmare? He's also the Republican's 2nd worst nightmare.
Not much to work with there.
Not much to work with there.
1
Or we could vote for a Socialist or a lying career politician who is considering Socialism as a winning strategy.
It is a tough choice, Gail. Thanks for keeping it real.
It is a tough choice, Gail. Thanks for keeping it real.
3
Kasich this year, it’s as good as the Republicans can hope for.
Almost true Gail. Republicans can always follow the example of their leaders who found themselves outside GOP without the leaving their party.
Republican Senator Jim Jeffords and Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee found that the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln had abandoned them by veering to the far far right. Today's Republican leaders are all anti-science viewing global climate change as an economic threat if we do something about it (and includes Kasich). They are also anti-human rights wanting to interfere with a woman's right to chose to have an abortion based on her own religious beliefs rather than on the religious beliefs of some right wing politician.
Almost true Gail. Republicans can always follow the example of their leaders who found themselves outside GOP without the leaving their party.
Republican Senator Jim Jeffords and Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee found that the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln had abandoned them by veering to the far far right. Today's Republican leaders are all anti-science viewing global climate change as an economic threat if we do something about it (and includes Kasich). They are also anti-human rights wanting to interfere with a woman's right to chose to have an abortion based on her own religious beliefs rather than on the religious beliefs of some right wing politician.
6
I guess he is the lesser of three evils? The only positive thing I can say is the biggest thing going for him is he isn't Donald Trump nor Ted Cruz. The message is the same as theirs, however. The first thing he mentioned in his semi-victory speech was about how much he had cut taxes. He thinks a woman's right to choose should be confined to whether to have the chicken or salad on the menu, with perhaps an assist from some male present to guide her choice. I am voting for whoever the Democratic nominee is. There are no moderate Republicans running in this election, maybe there are none left in the country.
As an aside it will be interesting to see the Republicans reaction to President Obama's choice of a nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, whose credentials are impeccable. I am not holding my breath. I am sure the obstruction will still be firmly in place.
As an aside it will be interesting to see the Republicans reaction to President Obama's choice of a nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, whose credentials are impeccable. I am not holding my breath. I am sure the obstruction will still be firmly in place.
6
After watching a couple of the hilarious Republican trainwreck "debates" I thought Kasich seemed like a middle of the road reasonable guy until my brother asked me to do some research. Good grief! This man is a piece of work. Is there a moderate Republican politician left in this country?
A Kasich Presidency, if we escape Trump and the egregious Cruz, would be like surviving the rapids on a fast moving river but never saw the falls coming.
A Hillary Presidency on the other hand would be like surviving the falls but the raft falls on your head. There is no escape unless The Bern somehow survives this assault and rescues us.
A Kasich Presidency, if we escape Trump and the egregious Cruz, would be like surviving the rapids on a fast moving river but never saw the falls coming.
A Hillary Presidency on the other hand would be like surviving the falls but the raft falls on your head. There is no escape unless The Bern somehow survives this assault and rescues us.
6
Rescues us.
The most laugh-worthy comment today.
The most laugh-worthy comment today.
Right, Gail, Kasich can run for president of Ohio. His third place showing in the other contests is a problem. And we all know that Cruz won all of the contests, don't we? He certainly does.
Listening to Kasich's victory speech last night (he should have given in another primary state that he wants to win) I could see how Trump does so well. Don't forget, Kasich won by only 11% in Ohio. People voted for Trump in Ohio. They really aren't swayed by the facts that Kasich worked with Reagan to build defense, or with Clinton to balance the budget. In fact, many who know that are tired of those factoids.
Kasich needs to tell people that he feels their pain. No, wait, that phrase has been used. Hmmm... maybe he needs to fly off the handle, as my father would say. "If Trump is elected, this entire nation will be driven into abject poverty!" Kasich might exclaim. It might wake people up. No again, Rubio tried that already.
It's a tough go for someone like Kasich. He's like the one smart kid in a school of neighborhood delinquents. Maybe Kasich can win a charter election.
And whoever the Republican nominee is, we're going to see strong Right Wing policies against reproductive rights, sexual orientation and immigration rights as well as reduced funding for programs that benefit people.
But Kasich claims that Ohio has all of that. I visit there often. It's a state where Kasich can beat Trump by only 11%.
Listening to Kasich's victory speech last night (he should have given in another primary state that he wants to win) I could see how Trump does so well. Don't forget, Kasich won by only 11% in Ohio. People voted for Trump in Ohio. They really aren't swayed by the facts that Kasich worked with Reagan to build defense, or with Clinton to balance the budget. In fact, many who know that are tired of those factoids.
Kasich needs to tell people that he feels their pain. No, wait, that phrase has been used. Hmmm... maybe he needs to fly off the handle, as my father would say. "If Trump is elected, this entire nation will be driven into abject poverty!" Kasich might exclaim. It might wake people up. No again, Rubio tried that already.
It's a tough go for someone like Kasich. He's like the one smart kid in a school of neighborhood delinquents. Maybe Kasich can win a charter election.
And whoever the Republican nominee is, we're going to see strong Right Wing policies against reproductive rights, sexual orientation and immigration rights as well as reduced funding for programs that benefit people.
But Kasich claims that Ohio has all of that. I visit there often. It's a state where Kasich can beat Trump by only 11%.
9
Kasch is like the "Joker" in the Batman series......a total mid west goober, with the grin and arm flapping.......if I hear that his pop was a mail carrier one more time, I'll scream.....................has he ever created jobs in the private sector?
4
Kasich is NOT a 'moderate'. Please don't be fooled by him. Any man who would force a woman to bear, against her will, a Down Syndrome baby is not moderate. He's not anyone I ever would want to see in the White House. This disguise of being a moderate is just that.
24
There is nothing wrong with a baby that has an extra chromosome. To that end, a baby is born with Down Syndrome and should never be referred to as "a Down Syndrome baby" as it does not define the child.
Unfortunately, Kasich is NOT an option. He is just more of the same do-nothing folks who represent us.
9
Probably been said (did not read), but William Henry Harrison was governor of Indiana Territory, not Ohio. His grandson, Benjamin, was the Ohioan (yes, a Republican stooge in the mode you were suggesting, though by no means the worst of those - you nailed that one with Harding).
2
Thanks for calling Kasich out Gail!
7
Kasich! I'm not too bad.
Actually though, he is. Anyone who vows to suspend all regulations for one year doesn't deserve to be the president. He is just another partisan who doesn't think for himself. He would not do what is best for the WHOLE country.
He would focus on mindlessly staying true to his partisan upbringing. Robotically cut taxes, run bigger deficits, privatize government, reduce the influence of the federal government, etc.
For a clue to how it would turn out check out Chris Christie's record in New Jersey. As time goes on it gets worse and worse and yet he refuses to be flexible and admit when he is wrong. Just continues to double down on his partisan ideology.
Actually though, he is. Anyone who vows to suspend all regulations for one year doesn't deserve to be the president. He is just another partisan who doesn't think for himself. He would not do what is best for the WHOLE country.
He would focus on mindlessly staying true to his partisan upbringing. Robotically cut taxes, run bigger deficits, privatize government, reduce the influence of the federal government, etc.
For a clue to how it would turn out check out Chris Christie's record in New Jersey. As time goes on it gets worse and worse and yet he refuses to be flexible and admit when he is wrong. Just continues to double down on his partisan ideology.
2
Gail,
You left Ohio too long ago for the bright lights of NYC. Please stop playing on where you left years ago, coming back for 3 days a year doesn't let you experience what has happened in this state. If the NY financial establishment wants to think they have now found their savior, please don't try to equate their values or needs or desires or problems or demands to the average Ohioan. If you do you have really missed the point.
You left Ohio too long ago for the bright lights of NYC. Please stop playing on where you left years ago, coming back for 3 days a year doesn't let you experience what has happened in this state. If the NY financial establishment wants to think they have now found their savior, please don't try to equate their values or needs or desires or problems or demands to the average Ohioan. If you do you have really missed the point.
2
If Republicans were canny enough to nominate Kasich as their front runner, they might actually have a chance at the White House. Then again, they are the party of Cruz and, oh I almost forgot, Donald Trump. Which of those two do you think would be best as Vice President? Maybe Sarah Palin would go it again? Do you think?
1
Hilary should pick Kasich to be her VP.
Kasich is a snake in the grass!
6
John Kasich is every bit as moderate as Newt Gingrich. Just let that sink in a bit.
18
A boulder? Perhaps a pebble. Heck the guy couldn't get 50% in his own state with an open primary.
Who knows how many "D"s & "I"s voted for him as anti-Trumpites.
Who knows how many "D"s & "I"s voted for him as anti-Trumpites.
7
"Right now he certainly seems like the only non-appalling option the Republicans have ..."
Sadly, that's been true since ~ "day 2" or as soon as it became painfully obvious that JEB! was a non-starter!
Sadly, that's been true since ~ "day 2" or as soon as it became painfully obvious that JEB! was a non-starter!
4
There is no "non-appalling option" in the entire Republican party.
1
THANK YOU for pointing out that he is NOT "moderate". Every time I hear that speech tic repeated by the media, I want to scream. The examples Gail gave point out perfectly why he is not a moderate.
24
Agree, but in the spectrum of existing candidates within the GOP, he is more moderate and common sense than Cruz who on principle would see the country grind to a halt than reach across the aisle to get things done. Kasich is taking a stand against demagoguery. He is a pragmatist, and would rather try to find health coverage for the most vulnerable, taking fire from his own party for accepting the Affordable Care Act.
Let's see. The incumbent Republican governor of Ohio couldn't muster a majority of the Republican presidential primary vote in HIS OWN STATE. Sounds like a winner to me!
8
"Can Kasich go all the way?"
He doesn't have to. Kasich is now the only Republican left who represents the more moderate wing of the party. If he drops out, it's likely that moderate conservative voters won't even head to the polls as really, who wants to choose between Trump and Cruz? As such, Trump will probably win the nomination given his current margins over Cruz.
But it's entirely possible that Kasich (from the left) and Cruz (from the right) can cause Trump to lose the majority he needs. Then the next round of voting would be done with many more delegates whose votes aren't bound - and both Trump and Cruz aren't popular in the circles they run in.
Kasich has a shot if he can just hold on and stop Trump from getting the nomination inbthe first round.
He doesn't have to. Kasich is now the only Republican left who represents the more moderate wing of the party. If he drops out, it's likely that moderate conservative voters won't even head to the polls as really, who wants to choose between Trump and Cruz? As such, Trump will probably win the nomination given his current margins over Cruz.
But it's entirely possible that Kasich (from the left) and Cruz (from the right) can cause Trump to lose the majority he needs. Then the next round of voting would be done with many more delegates whose votes aren't bound - and both Trump and Cruz aren't popular in the circles they run in.
Kasich has a shot if he can just hold on and stop Trump from getting the nomination inbthe first round.
3
If you think Kasich "is from the left", you need to spend some time here in Ohio where we get to experience his left policies. Hardly
1
He represents the mainstream more conservative wing. Trump is more liberal.
1
In a normal year, Kasich would be among the worst of the lot. He's a tool of ALEC and corporate interests, and disastrously bad on reproductive rights, workers' rights, and climate change. But he's still not crazy enough for today's GOP base.
The GOP is all about ruling, not governing, and at the end of the day we should not be surprised at a Trump/Cruz ticket: plenty of appeal to the worst of the base, but well-suited to getting ALL of the worst of the base. The trick would then be to discourage moderates from swinging 180º and voting for Clinton. Trump and Cruz would relish the need for a very dirty campaign.
The GOP is all about ruling, not governing, and at the end of the day we should not be surprised at a Trump/Cruz ticket: plenty of appeal to the worst of the base, but well-suited to getting ALL of the worst of the base. The trick would then be to discourage moderates from swinging 180º and voting for Clinton. Trump and Cruz would relish the need for a very dirty campaign.
25
I am a long time progressive Democrat and a practicing Catholic and of all the candidates of either party I think John Kasich is the best.
No candidate is perfect but Kasich represents the best of an imperfect world for me. Kasich is quiet, thoughtful and not full of bluster. He appears to speak slowly and think before he talks which Trump certainly does not do. Kasich is level headed, steady, intelligent and hard working. We don't need a loose canon as President who incites his followers to violence and inhibits the right to free speech in the name of "greatness". That "greatness" is Trump's ego speaking and has nothing to do with the greatness of America. Making the mistake of electing Trump for President will do nothing to make America great. It will only serve to feed Trump's ego and make Trump great.
No candidate is perfect but Kasich represents the best of an imperfect world for me. Kasich is quiet, thoughtful and not full of bluster. He appears to speak slowly and think before he talks which Trump certainly does not do. Kasich is level headed, steady, intelligent and hard working. We don't need a loose canon as President who incites his followers to violence and inhibits the right to free speech in the name of "greatness". That "greatness" is Trump's ego speaking and has nothing to do with the greatness of America. Making the mistake of electing Trump for President will do nothing to make America great. It will only serve to feed Trump's ego and make Trump great.
17
Goodness, Kasich gave a booring victory speech. Both his affect and not so inspired Ohio political track record will keep him where he is, namely the guy who at least won his own state.
3
Kasich is a schlump. He definitely looks like an old and tired mailman with that pot belly. But he can do a lot of damage to this country's citizens, especially women - and will if elected, of that we can be sure.
2
The Republican establishment's only hope is to slow Trump down enough so that he doesn't win a first ballot victory and then hand the baton over to Cruz or Kasich, alienating a huge number of its own members. The final blow would be if Trump them decided to run as an independent. The ship is taking on ton of water and the rats are scurrying.
3
Having dreams about a contested convention where delegates flee from the specters of Trump and Ted Cruz into Kasich's arms is a pipe dream. Kasich's winning Ohio was fudged because the anti-Donald Trump Super PAC hit the billionaire hard in Ohio. On the surface, Trump lost Ohio, but in reality, Ohio voters lost since their votes were rigged by Kasich's super PAC.
2
He's "non appalling" because the alternatives are Torquemada and Buzz Windrip. Even a reactionary extremist looks good when compared to foaming at the mouth maniacs.
Conservatives should vote for Hillary. She's by far the best Republican in the race.
Conservatives should vote for Hillary. She's by far the best Republican in the race.
35
Won't happen, unless the Republican nominee is Trump or Cruz.
Trump would be any day better than Kasich.
Kasich represents the continuation of the Republican policies - fill the trough for the rich pigs, fight needless wars, outsource more Amercian jobs to least cost shores to line corporate profits, allow big corps to not pay taxes by incorporating in tax havens (while earning profits in America), deregulate Wall street to run more shenanigans etc. etc - that has proven to be VERY BAD for average Americans. This is in addition to the determination to control every female reproductive organ. While Trump may continue to do some of it, he is an unknown quantity. With Kasich, it is ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.
Kasich represents the continuation of the Republican policies - fill the trough for the rich pigs, fight needless wars, outsource more Amercian jobs to least cost shores to line corporate profits, allow big corps to not pay taxes by incorporating in tax havens (while earning profits in America), deregulate Wall street to run more shenanigans etc. etc - that has proven to be VERY BAD for average Americans. This is in addition to the determination to control every female reproductive organ. While Trump may continue to do some of it, he is an unknown quantity. With Kasich, it is ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.
15
I would note that merely not being of the ilk of most of the rest of the Republican party does not make Trump any kind of antidote to it. It's perfectly possible for him to be worse in some other basic way. Indeed, we have seen that in much of what he says - blanket condemnations of Mexicans, Muslims and others - with a disingenuous walk back ("some of them may be nice, I don't know") that only emphasizes the bigotry of what he's said. I'd add to that the tolerance, even encouragement of violence at his rallies, combined with the nonstop untruths that emanate from his mouth. Politifact currently rates just 8% of what he has said as either "true" or "mostly true", with, currently, 77% at "mostly false", "false", or "pants-on-fire". (http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/). This falsehood rate is higher than even the other Republican candidates and far higher than the Democratic ones.
It is impossible to govern the nation with even minimal competence if that governance is based on falsehoods. I would present the last Republican administration that was so based and the results of those untruths: disastrous war, economic collapse and massive federal budget deficits completely undoing a painful multi-year effort at balancing the budget. Are you really hoping for better with this guy?
It is impossible to govern the nation with even minimal competence if that governance is based on falsehoods. I would present the last Republican administration that was so based and the results of those untruths: disastrous war, economic collapse and massive federal budget deficits completely undoing a painful multi-year effort at balancing the budget. Are you really hoping for better with this guy?
Given the election results, I can't think of one positive thing to say about my native state of Ohio.
40% vote for the conservative ,unimaginative governor Kasich who wants to keep women in their place and keep public school students uneducated.
For Ohio to have voted for a progressive minded Independent/Democrat like Senator Sanders would require replacing the entire state with open minded voters flown in from Finland!
40% vote for the conservative ,unimaginative governor Kasich who wants to keep women in their place and keep public school students uneducated.
For Ohio to have voted for a progressive minded Independent/Democrat like Senator Sanders would require replacing the entire state with open minded voters flown in from Finland!
16
Kasich is even more radically anti union than Scott Walker is. So radically anti union that, unlike Walker, he failed to divide and conquer by exempting police and fire unions from his attack, dooming his effort.
Samantha Bee fully debunked the theory of Kasich the moderate here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF3K5X6XE4
Samantha Bee fully debunked the theory of Kasich the moderate here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF3K5X6XE4
14
Anti union is a bad thing? Nah
If anyone thinks that being relatively "un-appalling" is an attractive quality for either Republican voters, or for the G.O.P. establishment, hasn't been paying attention.
Appalling is what sells to Republicans. In the past, Republicans tried to mask that. But Ted Cruz and especially Donald Trump have figured out and demonstrated that Republican rank and file like their appalling-ness straight up, no chaser.
Appalling is what sells to Republicans. In the past, Republicans tried to mask that. But Ted Cruz and especially Donald Trump have figured out and demonstrated that Republican rank and file like their appalling-ness straight up, no chaser.
15
So the alternatives to Trump are a either a Christian Dominionist or a former Lehman Brothers Managing Director. The GOP truly is finished.
13
this is a naive albeit hopeful comment. the GOP is far from finished. it represents something very real in American society, or more accurately a number of very real somethings. none of these somethings are rational, sensible, or designed to improve our lives but they are real and should not be ignored.
during the Revolution, the leaders saw themselves as gentlemen and opposed the mob. this automatically made the American Revolution different from other revolutions that were based on the mob. after the Revolution was won, this same group designed a system that worked extremely well for a long time. one reason for this is because it coped well with change.
today change comes at us faster and more comprehensively than ever before. there will be responses to this, and there is no force compelling them to be healthy or functional or constructive.
during the Revolution, the leaders saw themselves as gentlemen and opposed the mob. this automatically made the American Revolution different from other revolutions that were based on the mob. after the Revolution was won, this same group designed a system that worked extremely well for a long time. one reason for this is because it coped well with change.
today change comes at us faster and more comprehensively than ever before. there will be responses to this, and there is no force compelling them to be healthy or functional or constructive.
This guy is a certified ultra ring-wing toad. I am amazed that women would vote for him. I'm sure school teachers love him too. He only looks somewhat reasonable when you measure him up against Trump or Cruz. Let's help him back under the rock he crawled out from under.
71
Perhaps he can share that rock that you're relegating him to with the woman who's fighting for us, Hillary ??.
Those who condemn Kasich for not being a moderate can do what I will do: vote against him in the general election. A Clinton/Kasich contest would be a traditional hard-fought, passionate, and politically healthy battle of ideas.
I want an election where if my guy loses I don't have to start thinking about leaving the country or standing up for neighbors who are being rounded up by the millions for deportation. A Kasich presidency would be very unfortunate, but it wouldn't be an existential crisis for the idea of America.
I want an election where if my guy loses I don't have to start thinking about leaving the country or standing up for neighbors who are being rounded up by the millions for deportation. A Kasich presidency would be very unfortunate, but it wouldn't be an existential crisis for the idea of America.
50
Oh yes it would. Kasich is out to break down the separation of church and state in the US once and for all.
2
Or you could vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. That's got to be a better choice than anything else offered.
1
But Kasich IS appalling. He aways has been -- and he's based his campaign entirely on old ideas that didn't work in the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s. Kasich brags that he wants to send more American troops to pointless slaughter by recklessly invading Iraq all over again, throw millions off the health insurance rolls again by repealing and replacing the substantial gains of the Affordable Care Act (here they go again!) with some vague fantasy "alternative" that "actually works in line with America’s market-based principles" (he appears to be unaware that the ACA is entirely market-driven by private-sector companies), return to the old "trickle-down" economic policies that benefit the rich and create no jobs for middle- and low-income Americans, de-fund Planned Parenthood counseling services, loosen concealed carry gun laws ... well, you know.
At any other time in American history Kasich would be considered a right-wing extremist, which is what he is. The press tries to pretend he's a "moderate," which is absurd. Just because Trump and Cruz are louder, crazier and more extreme doesn't change who Kasich is and what he's advocating.
At any other time in American history Kasich would be considered a right-wing extremist, which is what he is. The press tries to pretend he's a "moderate," which is absurd. Just because Trump and Cruz are louder, crazier and more extreme doesn't change who Kasich is and what he's advocating.
626
Hedge Fund wolf in sheep clothing!
3
You forgot the part where he balanced the state budget by reallocating monies from the local lund portion of the sales tax (psst: the real description is redistribution of tax dollars from the urban Democratic voters to the rural GOP voters). The state budget looks great, but the cities, towns and villages of the urban areas are having to either raise taxes or slash services.
3
this is a pretty good comment except for the two points about guns and Planned Parenthood. Gun advocates favor taking one part of the Bill of Rights to its logical extreme. This is not much different from opposing groups who advocate taking other parts of the Bill of Rights to their logical extremes.
Population control and abortion are not simple issues and should not be dismissed so quickly.
I'm not disagreeing with the comment, just pointing out that it mixes some really good thoughts with some simplistic political notions, and by doing so implies that all of these views are equally thoughtful.
Population control and abortion are not simple issues and should not be dismissed so quickly.
I'm not disagreeing with the comment, just pointing out that it mixes some really good thoughts with some simplistic political notions, and by doing so implies that all of these views are equally thoughtful.
Trump has to win something like 60% of the remaining contests to win the nomination on the first ballot. This seems unlikely.
Delegates are only ''bound'' on the first round of voting, then all hell breaks loose. At that point, delegates can move to any candidate, including candidates who did not even run in the primaries.
Keep your eye on Speaker Paul Ryan, who coyly allowed that he had not ''thought about'' the possibility of his name being placed in nomination.
Of course he has, as his ambitions are at least as great as any other national politician. He is relatively free of tarnish this campaign season, but then again would have to explain why he advocated privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Also his Ayn Rand fanboy status.
Stranger things could happen. And probably will.
Delegates are only ''bound'' on the first round of voting, then all hell breaks loose. At that point, delegates can move to any candidate, including candidates who did not even run in the primaries.
Keep your eye on Speaker Paul Ryan, who coyly allowed that he had not ''thought about'' the possibility of his name being placed in nomination.
Of course he has, as his ambitions are at least as great as any other national politician. He is relatively free of tarnish this campaign season, but then again would have to explain why he advocated privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Also his Ayn Rand fanboy status.
Stranger things could happen. And probably will.
55
If the GOP pulls the plug on Trump who will absolutely have close to the magic number, they will lose big in November. And cause people to riot in the streets. Trump supporters will not stand quietly by and let that happen - slipping Paul Ryan in there, yeah, right. 'They' might succeed in denying Trump, but they will then be denying themselves any chance of winning in November.
1
Exactly. Paul Ryan vs. Hillary Clinton, and Ryan wins. Democrats stay home, because Whitewater, Benghazi, email server, Wall Street lecture fees, Iraq war, private prisons, Lewinsky, NAFTA, Glass Steagall, and the conspiracy within the Democratic establishment to offer no other option (aka social democracy, or, as it was known in the '30's, democracy,) plus a general relief that Trump and Cruz are gone. Republicans look at Paul Ryan, give a sigh of relief that he isn't quite so obviously Trump or Cruz, and flood the polls. Ryan wins, because fewer Republicans would have to hold their noses to vote. That 25% of Democrats that can't stand Clinton probably won't all get out there and vote for her, even though, and to some extent because, the Democratic establishment decided in advance to give them no other choice. Sadly, the math is almost the same no matter who the Republicans nominate.
Presenting John Katich as a "non-appalling option" is an instance of normalizing disfunctionality. I suppose it's no wonder you might feel that way, given the ongoing Republican train wreck, but do try to keep your perspective.
He's the best they have. And that's a genuinely appalling truth.
He's the best they have. And that's a genuinely appalling truth.
111
The truth is supposed to set me free.... so why does it only make me feel queasy? Half this country doesn't seem to realize what's truly at stake here or the repercussions if the oblivious actually get their way.
What comes to mind when I think of Kasich is that at least isn't the evil-minded sociopath that Trump and Cruz epitomize in their own ways. And I guess there's something good in his eternal optimism. Or could that be head in the sand syndrome?
Sarcasm aside, all three GOP candidates if elected would be disastrous for the country as the GOP Congress has been. Would Trump be the worst candidate? I don't know. He's disgusting but so is Ted Cruz; he's just slimy and underhanded where Trump is a loud mouth. Both of them have out of control egos and are to quite a large degree unhinged.
What a travesty of American democracy that that should be the benchmark against which the best candidate is measured. Could the bar get any lower?
The GOP establishment thrives with its head in the sand, or believes it's thriving; of course it does, it has its head in the sand. So it’s conceivable that it might arrogantly ignore its own electorate’s choice of Trump and push for a convention. How democratic. Trump could even lose if delegates abandoned him.
How Kasich thinks he could win is hard to understand, though. I think it’s most likely that Democrats would have to gird their loins and prepare for a battle with Cruz. Come elections the world will be despising him as much as they do Trump at the moment.
Scary isn’t the word. This is one election where I wish that everybody who would be affected by Cruz or Trump as president could vote. None of the GOP candidates would have a chance.
Sarcasm aside, all three GOP candidates if elected would be disastrous for the country as the GOP Congress has been. Would Trump be the worst candidate? I don't know. He's disgusting but so is Ted Cruz; he's just slimy and underhanded where Trump is a loud mouth. Both of them have out of control egos and are to quite a large degree unhinged.
What a travesty of American democracy that that should be the benchmark against which the best candidate is measured. Could the bar get any lower?
The GOP establishment thrives with its head in the sand, or believes it's thriving; of course it does, it has its head in the sand. So it’s conceivable that it might arrogantly ignore its own electorate’s choice of Trump and push for a convention. How democratic. Trump could even lose if delegates abandoned him.
How Kasich thinks he could win is hard to understand, though. I think it’s most likely that Democrats would have to gird their loins and prepare for a battle with Cruz. Come elections the world will be despising him as much as they do Trump at the moment.
Scary isn’t the word. This is one election where I wish that everybody who would be affected by Cruz or Trump as president could vote. None of the GOP candidates would have a chance.
69
Don't you think that our elections outcomes would be very different if voting was mandatory? I think most of the bozos would not get anywhere. Another thing, if there was a determined sum of money that each candidate received for campaigning and each was given the same amount of airtime for free, I think things would be very different.
This is not merely commentary on the candidates, it's commentary on who we, the voters are. And that's truly appalling - beyond appalling. It's terrifying.
3
I meant to say I wish that everybody in the world who would be affected by Cruz or Trump as president could vote. I also wish NYT had an edit function for comments!
Better the Republicans have at least 'one non-appalling' candidate than the Democrats who have two appalling choices - an avowed Socialst - when did that become mainstream Democratic? - and Hillary, who has negatives only exceeded by Trump and is generally acknowledged to have lied about 'the email server' - for which she may still be federally indicted- and of course Benghazi which is all the more germane now that she is claiming the US had 0 deaths in the Libyan operation....
9
Be careful, Comrade. When you say, "is generally acknowledged to have lied about 'the email server' - for which she may still be federally indicted," I have to wonder why you use the passive voice. Often, the use of passive indicates that there is no subject. In other words, NOBODY acknowledges this out loud.
And you also suggest she MAY be federally indicted. In order to be indicted, she would have to be accused of a crime. Has she been accused of a crime? By whom?
And you also suggest she MAY be federally indicted. In order to be indicted, she would have to be accused of a crime. Has she been accused of a crime? By whom?
7
Hmm. Under Franklin Roosevelt?
1
Lexical analysis doesn't get you very far here. Why is the FBI conducting an investigation? Will they recommend criminal charges to the AG? Will the AG actually charge her? The former seems likely, the latter somewhat less likely.
And this was the much-lauded "deep Republican bench" per the GOP wise guys as primary season began.
The Republican Party has deceived itself and ignored baseline reality for so long the ossifying bosses now have compelling reason to consider Kasich (!) as their man. Who woulda thunk it?
Lord I hope Hillary is together enough to get this done.
The Republican Party has deceived itself and ignored baseline reality for so long the ossifying bosses now have compelling reason to consider Kasich (!) as their man. Who woulda thunk it?
Lord I hope Hillary is together enough to get this done.
74
Hillary is already falling apart. She won't be together long enough to get anything done. Also, there's that nasty little problem of the FBI investigation.
One person's deep bench is another's overflowing clown car.
2
Kasich is the least bad of the worst pack of candidates the GOP has ever fielded.
That is not much to be going on.
And it doesn't say much for him that he couldn't even get half of the Republicans in his own state to vote for him. We already know he's no friend to women, minorities, the poor, schoolteachers, science, the environment, unions, public employees, progressives, and democrats.
Now this primary shows even his own Republicans don't like him very much, either.
Some victory. But it doesn't matter; underneath Kasich's aw-shucks, old-boy Ohio earnest exterior burns the same GOP extremism as in each of the other candidates. So really -- Kasich, Cruz, Trump, or some other rabid right-winger -- what's the difference? They're just different faces on the same insanity.
That is not much to be going on.
And it doesn't say much for him that he couldn't even get half of the Republicans in his own state to vote for him. We already know he's no friend to women, minorities, the poor, schoolteachers, science, the environment, unions, public employees, progressives, and democrats.
Now this primary shows even his own Republicans don't like him very much, either.
Some victory. But it doesn't matter; underneath Kasich's aw-shucks, old-boy Ohio earnest exterior burns the same GOP extremism as in each of the other candidates. So really -- Kasich, Cruz, Trump, or some other rabid right-winger -- what's the difference? They're just different faces on the same insanity.
631
T.L.Moran:
Extremely well stated, sir. Amazing the number of oblivious voters in this country who continue voting for the same political party that has been slowly committing political suicide for the last 12 years and blaming the opposition for its own death throws.
Extremely well stated, sir. Amazing the number of oblivious voters in this country who continue voting for the same political party that has been slowly committing political suicide for the last 12 years and blaming the opposition for its own death throws.
Not only did he carry Ohio, every member of his family voted for him, and some of them don't even live in Ohio. Trump had better endorse Kasich or get out of the way.
17
You made me smile. Good sense of humor.
2
We should keep in mind that even this "sanest" of Republican candidates will nominate Supreme Court justices who are pro-business, anti-choice, pro-gun and anti-election funding reform. The election could impact court decisions for the next 20-30 years.
Echoing Jim Kay's wording, let's "all hope for the better of the two Democrats" to win in November.
Echoing Jim Kay's wording, let's "all hope for the better of the two Democrats" to win in November.
55
Face it. America is not in love with any of them.
Our tired nation is cool to ice cold and would love to hear from something or someone just wholly different.
The people are desperate.
With Clinton, Sanders, Cruz and Trump, or CSCT, we have one good lawyer, a weak one, and two shysters selling very different versions of enabling to the looney tune delusional.
With my favorite buried in the mess... In Gov. John Kasich we have a semi competent plumber once skilled at addressing leaks in the treasury, spinning a very boring past and a more boring present.
Ohio will support her dark horse favorite son, but does he really want it?
It's not clear that Jeb Bush wanted it, either.
The next years will please no one and may bring pain to all.
Is that the message?
Our tired nation is cool to ice cold and would love to hear from something or someone just wholly different.
The people are desperate.
With Clinton, Sanders, Cruz and Trump, or CSCT, we have one good lawyer, a weak one, and two shysters selling very different versions of enabling to the looney tune delusional.
With my favorite buried in the mess... In Gov. John Kasich we have a semi competent plumber once skilled at addressing leaks in the treasury, spinning a very boring past and a more boring present.
Ohio will support her dark horse favorite son, but does he really want it?
It's not clear that Jeb Bush wanted it, either.
The next years will please no one and may bring pain to all.
Is that the message?
5
Anyone thinking that Kasich (a Lehman Brothers alum) is anything close to "moderate" should do some homework. He has consistently appointed extremists to the Ohio State Board of Education (e.g. creationists and some, like Debe Tehrar, who favor censorship) and to the previously non-partisan Ohio State Medical Board, Kasich appointed the President of Ohio Right to Life, Mike Gonadakis, who lacks ANY medical credentials. Kasich has presided over blatantly unconstitutional legislation that violates women's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade and defunded Planned Parenthood. He has seriously damaged Ohio's regular public schools by diverting funds to generally lower performing for-profit charter schools that just happen to donate heavily to the Republican Party. He has "balanced" the budget only through sleight of hand measures that have decimated traditional local government funding, so that basics like adequate police and fire departments and street repairs are difficult, absent increased local tax levies. He has lowered, if not eliminated, state income taxes on high income earners who fall within a very broad definition of "small business" owners. (Although I have benefited greatly from this law, I don't think it's right that I have zero tax liability when people with far fewer resources must pay.)
In short, Kasich is no moderate. He simply falls within the zone of "sanity" - a low bar for the Presidency.
In short, Kasich is no moderate. He simply falls within the zone of "sanity" - a low bar for the Presidency.
111
I agree that Kasich is the only adult left in the Republican race but the voters should be wary. Kasich is Scott Walker 2.1, the new and improved version. He is better than Walker at implementing the ALEC/Republican strategy and more articulate and devious about reducing local control and concentrating power in the capital while at the same time ensuring that business and social conservatives get anything they want from the legislature. Do not be fooled by imitations.
87
I'm not sure how the Republican rules play out, but now that Mr. Rubio's left the campaign, were he to delegate his delegates to Senator Cruz, and Governor Kasich do the same, that would give Cruz 696 to Trump's 621. As Cruz has won more contests than Rubio or Kasich, he seems the logical choice to be the "anti-Trump." A Faustian bargain if there ever was one, to be sure, but still, the numbers don't lie...
3
He's no moderate. Takes a hard right on governing women's bodies for sure. And that alone tells you he will replace Scalia with another Scalia/Alito/ Thomas. And he'll constantly remind you about his faith and how everything he is doing to harm people is divine inspiration. Sound familiar, Dubya? He's anti-labor, inspired by Scott Walker. Will do nothing to address global warming. Hoping to end the massacres by gun crazies? Get someone else. He's in bed up to his neck with lobbyists and the Chamber of Commerce. His "aw shucks" good guy demeanor is a disguise that appeals to uneducated voters who like him because prays a lot and doesn't cuss.
88
There's a moderate Republican running. Her name's Clinton.
53
Actually, she's a Democrat. Please take the trouble to check her record. There are massive areas where I disagree with her choices, and working in the fierce light has tarnished her (fossil fuels need to stay in the ground, we don't need any foreign adventures, which are proven to turn out badly and make enemies), the groupthink hate has bought into Republican spin. Compare her to Eisenhower, for example. He said some good stuff and taxes were high, but he was not so great. Adlai Stevenson was that generation's Bernie.
1
Before Ms. Collins gets too carried away bashing Ohio presidents, she ought to remember:
1. The list is pretty short for the Times' state -- New York -- and not all of them were FDR. There was Chester A. Arthur, for example.
2. More Presidents have come from Ohio than from any other state.
1. The list is pretty short for the Times' state -- New York -- and not all of them were FDR. There was Chester A. Arthur, for example.
2. More Presidents have come from Ohio than from any other state.
3
Hold on... our completely forgotten 21st president was born in Vermont. We hold him in great esteem here, some of us even naming our dogs "Chester" in his memory. (Another choice: "Calvin," but let's not go there, either.) OK, so his career in politics was all NY. These are minor details. You just know that Brooklyn will lay claim to Bernie should he succeed where Howard Dean failed.
As native daughter of Ohio, I think Ms. Collins calls out the state of her birth with love.
2
Grover Cleveland was pretty good.
Oh, and Hillary and Bernie are the saviors of America. Give me a break. They are as despicable as any other candidate.
6
No, they are not.
8
Ahhhh, no. They are not as despicable as any other candidate. The Republican party has coughed up a candidate so despicable that there is nothing that even compares to him in all of American history: Trump.
11
Can we get real here for just a second or two?
The Times has focused on Trump, Trump, Trump because the Times knows Hillary could beat Trump (and would, I expect). Kasich, though? Not so clear. In fact, I think Kasich would win in a near-landslide against Hillary -- and I'd take out the "near-" part if he ran against Bernie.
Trump scares people because he's a buffoon. Kasich scares a subset of people because they know he could do what Trump can't: win.
The Times has focused on Trump, Trump, Trump because the Times knows Hillary could beat Trump (and would, I expect). Kasich, though? Not so clear. In fact, I think Kasich would win in a near-landslide against Hillary -- and I'd take out the "near-" part if he ran against Bernie.
Trump scares people because he's a buffoon. Kasich scares a subset of people because they know he could do what Trump can't: win.
9
Kasich defunded Planned Parenthood in Ohio. Why would any woman vote for such a person? In fact, why would any cognizant human being vote for a person who chose to do so much harm to so many powerless people?
2
"But [Kasich] doesn’t think we should ban Muslims or deport millions of immigrants. And there’s always that thing about the downtrodden. This year, it’s as good as the Republicans can hope for."
So that's how far the GOP has fallen.
And yet ...
They control the house, the senate, and the majority of governorships. If by some freak turn of events they win the white house, all of this talk about a crippled GOP will be utterly empty. This party, this very awful party, has found a way to seize control of most of our government's levers. They've done this primarily through dark money, voter disenfranchisement on a massive (and largely unreported) scale, evisceration of federal agencies so as to make them impotent and therefore open to criticism, and by exploiting appeals to rank bigotry and racism.
What scares me more than a Trump presidency per se is the prospect that a victory by any of the remaining three republican candidates -- who easily comprise the most profoundly unqualified field from any party in generations -- will result in extreme conservative control of all three branches of the federal government.
Hillary is a competent if uninspiring candidate. But more importantly she is the only thing that stands between us and a total GOP takeover of our political system. That is more than enough for me to support her. The rest is details.
So that's how far the GOP has fallen.
And yet ...
They control the house, the senate, and the majority of governorships. If by some freak turn of events they win the white house, all of this talk about a crippled GOP will be utterly empty. This party, this very awful party, has found a way to seize control of most of our government's levers. They've done this primarily through dark money, voter disenfranchisement on a massive (and largely unreported) scale, evisceration of federal agencies so as to make them impotent and therefore open to criticism, and by exploiting appeals to rank bigotry and racism.
What scares me more than a Trump presidency per se is the prospect that a victory by any of the remaining three republican candidates -- who easily comprise the most profoundly unqualified field from any party in generations -- will result in extreme conservative control of all three branches of the federal government.
Hillary is a competent if uninspiring candidate. But more importantly she is the only thing that stands between us and a total GOP takeover of our political system. That is more than enough for me to support her. The rest is details.
435
Don't worry about the GOP in the House and Senate. They have done NOTHING to stop Obama.
So they have "seized control of most of our government's levers" ? And what have they done with all that "Power" ? Nothing. Obstructed. Blocked anything & everything. So their control of this power is an illusion. Because they are next to useless. They have accomplished nothing.
1
"Hillary is a competent if uninspiring candidate. But more importantly she is the only thing that stands between us and a total GOP takeover of our political system. That is more than enough for me to support her. The rest is details."
Exactly.
Exactly.
4
Geez, you should have called me:
"I am a liberal ... in 2005, after Iraq and Coingate, I swore that I would not vote for a Republican for dogcatcher."
If only you'd called, I could have told you that the presumptive Democratic candidate for President of the United States -- one Hillary Rodham Clinton -- voted in favor of the Iraq war.
Would you nevertheless vote for Hillary for dogcatcher? I wouldn't, but I'll venture a guess that her vote for the Iraq war doesn't matter all that much to you.
"I am a liberal ... in 2005, after Iraq and Coingate, I swore that I would not vote for a Republican for dogcatcher."
If only you'd called, I could have told you that the presumptive Democratic candidate for President of the United States -- one Hillary Rodham Clinton -- voted in favor of the Iraq war.
Would you nevertheless vote for Hillary for dogcatcher? I wouldn't, but I'll venture a guess that her vote for the Iraq war doesn't matter all that much to you.
12
It matters to me, as does her hubris in Lybia. She's the Democratic John McCain & the darling of Wall Street. Who could ask for more?
Yes Senator Clinton did vote for the Iraq war...the bold lies and intentional deceit put forth by the Republican Bush/Cheney White House were very effective at duping quit a few, from all over the political spectrum, who would otherwise be rightly recalcitrant towards GOP leadership into following Republican Geo. Bush's lying, deceiving war-mongering misadventure into Iraq...
6
Bush's "bald lies" in fact were pretty obvious to the of us who paid close attention. But let me grant you that one: Hillary was gullible and so she bought Bush's lies. Even so, many other Senators didn't -- Bernie Sanders, for example.
1
You seem to have lost your mind. Kasich has 136 delegates. Trump has 619. Kasich isn't going to win other states. Trump is the Republican nominee.
14
Just two words: second ballot. Or, to make it more clear: brokered convention.
1
Oh Gail, we can only hope that Kasich prevails!
It is astonishing to look around and see the political situation in the USA today.
Who would have thought that Trump would still be in the game? (No sane, educated person, I'm sure.) No longer do we care (much) about Kasich's regressive policies about the right to choose; he seems like a savior compared to the Trump and Cruz.
My goodness, wouldn't we like to see Mitt Romney again?
I lived in Utah during the last election cycle and the possibility of a Romney election was enough to make me consider moving far, far away from the anticipated self-righteous religiocity. (I did move away, but it had nothing to do with politics.) In contrast, the LDS smugness and holier-than-thou attitudes seem so mild compared to Cruz and his wacko minister father who claims that a Cruz presidency is directed by God.
Anything, and anyone is better than Trump.
It is astonishing to look around and see the political situation in the USA today.
Who would have thought that Trump would still be in the game? (No sane, educated person, I'm sure.) No longer do we care (much) about Kasich's regressive policies about the right to choose; he seems like a savior compared to the Trump and Cruz.
My goodness, wouldn't we like to see Mitt Romney again?
I lived in Utah during the last election cycle and the possibility of a Romney election was enough to make me consider moving far, far away from the anticipated self-righteous religiocity. (I did move away, but it had nothing to do with politics.) In contrast, the LDS smugness and holier-than-thou attitudes seem so mild compared to Cruz and his wacko minister father who claims that a Cruz presidency is directed by God.
Anything, and anyone is better than Trump.
24
I'm not sure Cruz or Rubio ARE better than Trump. Lyin Ted and On-the dole Marco are VERY scary. Better a buffoon than a devil...and we've had empty-headed shoot-from-the-hip republican presidents recently (W and Reagan spring to mind), so we know we can get through THAT storm...
4
Au contraire, Alison. Kasich is the only Repub left standing who has a decent chance to beat Hilary. She will trounce the other two clowns because many Repubs and Independents will abdicate their civic responsibility to vote and stay home, others will hold their noses and vote for the (female) lesser of two evils, and, most of all because a Trump or Cruz candidacy will ignite an such enormous firestorm of Hilary voters that either will be vaporized. And when Hilary picks one of the Castro brothers (the Texan, not Cuban ones) as her VEEP, even conservative Cruz leaning Latinos will flock to the Democratic ticket. Trump would get less than 20% of either the black or Latino vote. Heck, it might turn out to be the biggest landslide in US history unless Kasich is the Republican standard bearer.
I have family in North Carolina. Kasich received about 13 percent of the North Carolina vote Tuesday, even with an endorsement from the Charlotte Observer editorial board. If Kasich can only get 13 percent of the vote in NC - probably the southern state with the largest amount of moderate-leaning Republicans, including many who relocated to the state for work or retirement - then he's dead in the water already.
180
Good.
4
As we thrill to the news that the anti-women, anti-union, anti-macroeconomics governor is still popular with home-state Republicans, we should take a sober moment to note that Governor Kasich will never be President Kasich.
Even if "establishment" Republicans pull off a brokered convention & push the last sane man standing onto the top of their ticket, they would alienate so many of their "base" (and raise the possibility that Trump would run as the Trump party candidate) that Kasich could not win the general election, unless Hillary & Bernie drop out & Democrats pick Larry Lessig as their standard-bearer.
Even Lessig might beat Trump & Kasich. After all, he once promised to resign as soon as he got his agenda passed. He later decided that was "stupid," but it's worth revisiting. A vote for Lessig could be a vote for none of 'em. Not a catchy campaign slogan, but None of 'Em appeals to me.
The Constant Weader @ http://www.RealityChex.com
Even if "establishment" Republicans pull off a brokered convention & push the last sane man standing onto the top of their ticket, they would alienate so many of their "base" (and raise the possibility that Trump would run as the Trump party candidate) that Kasich could not win the general election, unless Hillary & Bernie drop out & Democrats pick Larry Lessig as their standard-bearer.
Even Lessig might beat Trump & Kasich. After all, he once promised to resign as soon as he got his agenda passed. He later decided that was "stupid," but it's worth revisiting. A vote for Lessig could be a vote for none of 'em. Not a catchy campaign slogan, but None of 'Em appeals to me.
The Constant Weader @ http://www.RealityChex.com
97
Wandering in the field at night, carrying my lantern, looking for a sane Republican candidate. One who cares for the born, not only the unborn, one who cares for people, not only the wealthy people, one who cares for peace, not for endless war.
I'm doomed to looking for for a sane Republican for eternity. There are none in the Senate, and lord knows there are none in the House, and those governors, sheesh. Unregulated profiteering, and regulated vaginas.
I'm doomed to looking for for a sane Republican for eternity. There are none in the Senate, and lord knows there are none in the House, and those governors, sheesh. Unregulated profiteering, and regulated vaginas.
3
Ms. Burns,
When Liberals, Washington Democrats and Washington Republicans all can agree on anything (Like it's sunny outside!) the rest of us who don't live in that swamp should take carful notice of the "what as well as the why" of it.
So should it be with a Trump for President campaign! Everyone in power in Washington, most in power in the media and all here except about five commenters can't say enough things bad about Trump! The folks who can't agree on what time it is let alone what the common good is, can agree on how bad Trump is instantly.
I'm not saying That a "dose" of Trump might be what "the body politic" needs to clean out its system, I'm just wondering out loud. Trump is a "great uniter" look how he has united most in power against him!
Those would be the 1% folks too!
When Liberals, Washington Democrats and Washington Republicans all can agree on anything (Like it's sunny outside!) the rest of us who don't live in that swamp should take carful notice of the "what as well as the why" of it.
So should it be with a Trump for President campaign! Everyone in power in Washington, most in power in the media and all here except about five commenters can't say enough things bad about Trump! The folks who can't agree on what time it is let alone what the common good is, can agree on how bad Trump is instantly.
I'm not saying That a "dose" of Trump might be what "the body politic" needs to clean out its system, I'm just wondering out loud. Trump is a "great uniter" look how he has united most in power against him!
Those would be the 1% folks too!
2
You don’t even get that much solace, Gail. Those opposing Trump appear to be so sorry that the last contender on our side who MIGHT have made this election about something other than massive protest just “suspended” his campaign, and likely won’t raise his head again until it’s a bit more lined, perhaps with a governorship of Florida behind him. And Kasich, with his one large state, that he didn’t win by a blow-out, isn’t about to stop the Trump juggernaut.
No, all that appears able to stop Trump is an actual rebellion by the party, denying him the nomination despite having accumulated the necessary delegates, perhaps by seriously expanding the number of “national” delegates or “super-delegates”, and changing the rules about how they must vote – those that we now have are obligated to respect the results of the primary. All this is far-fetched: it would destroy the very purpose of the primary, which is to build coalitions.
Kasich isn’t much of a boulder. And Trump has just about won all the Republican marbles. He could win everything.
No, all that appears able to stop Trump is an actual rebellion by the party, denying him the nomination despite having accumulated the necessary delegates, perhaps by seriously expanding the number of “national” delegates or “super-delegates”, and changing the rules about how they must vote – those that we now have are obligated to respect the results of the primary. All this is far-fetched: it would destroy the very purpose of the primary, which is to build coalitions.
Kasich isn’t much of a boulder. And Trump has just about won all the Republican marbles. He could win everything.
4
Richard,
One of the problems with even vaguely free elections is sometimes what concerned "the voters" actually becomes the issue. What those in power in Washington can't see is this time it's about them. As it should be this time the "process" is the issue.
Trump and Sanders both represent this view. Clinton does not! Clinton is the "Child of Washington"!
Hillary was for Goldwater before she was against him! She was for Iraq before she was against it and she knew Benghazi was a terrorist attack before she told us it wasn't. Washington's perfect Child!
Some times a Bull is what a China Shop needs or even the threat of a Bull!
One of the problems with even vaguely free elections is sometimes what concerned "the voters" actually becomes the issue. What those in power in Washington can't see is this time it's about them. As it should be this time the "process" is the issue.
Trump and Sanders both represent this view. Clinton does not! Clinton is the "Child of Washington"!
Hillary was for Goldwater before she was against him! She was for Iraq before she was against it and she knew Benghazi was a terrorist attack before she told us it wasn't. Washington's perfect Child!
Some times a Bull is what a China Shop needs or even the threat of a Bull!
1
Gail, you nailed it. From how Kasich presented in the debates to his aw shucks persona of decency. Funny how simply not being a vulgar frightening demagogue can push a potential candidate to the fore.
Problem with Mr. Nice Guy is his positions. I call Kasich a wolf in wolf's clothing. This smiling man has thrust his religious views into dismantling women's privacy and decision making. His economic policies are text book GOP trickle downers. And yet because he doesn't spew obscenities or incite violence, that suddenly makes him viable.
Donald Trump has so lowered the bar for voters who want to keep their kids in the room during candidate speeches, that Kasich and Cruz are the last best choice to derail GOP fascism.
What a country.
Problem with Mr. Nice Guy is his positions. I call Kasich a wolf in wolf's clothing. This smiling man has thrust his religious views into dismantling women's privacy and decision making. His economic policies are text book GOP trickle downers. And yet because he doesn't spew obscenities or incite violence, that suddenly makes him viable.
Donald Trump has so lowered the bar for voters who want to keep their kids in the room during candidate speeches, that Kasich and Cruz are the last best choice to derail GOP fascism.
What a country.
75
As the old Chinese curse goes: "May you live in interesting times."
2
Christine,
I have yet to hear at any of the republican debates any discussion (a generous term) of any of Kasich's Scott-Walker-like decisions while he was the governor of Ohio. I'm sure he's happy about that, allowing the venom and chaos among the other candidates to shield him from exposure. He himself has not bragged about all he did as governor, hoping to appeal to the more moderate republicans as somewhat of a nice guy while still keeping his chops as a radical right winger. At some point soon, if not at the convention, his real costume will be revealed. Trump will be happy to do it for him.
I have yet to hear at any of the republican debates any discussion (a generous term) of any of Kasich's Scott-Walker-like decisions while he was the governor of Ohio. I'm sure he's happy about that, allowing the venom and chaos among the other candidates to shield him from exposure. He himself has not bragged about all he did as governor, hoping to appeal to the more moderate republicans as somewhat of a nice guy while still keeping his chops as a radical right winger. At some point soon, if not at the convention, his real costume will be revealed. Trump will be happy to do it for him.
Gov Kaisch was a Scot Walker-lite but all things are relative. Considering the capaciousness of Mr Trump, knowing you are approaching a cliff may be a bit better than the invisible fear of an avalanche.
But really, the Republicans have very little to celebrate if they continue to pander to the extremists. They keep complaining about America losing competitive advantages but they are the ones who destroy it with reactionary behavior like allowing creationism trumping science.
Instead of reigning in the Tea Party, they thought they could take a free ride.
Instead of country first, people like Gov Christie are all about themselves. So criticizing Mr Trump is no better than the pot calling the kettle burnt.
So Mr Kasich the White Knight? Please!
But really, the Republicans have very little to celebrate if they continue to pander to the extremists. They keep complaining about America losing competitive advantages but they are the ones who destroy it with reactionary behavior like allowing creationism trumping science.
Instead of reigning in the Tea Party, they thought they could take a free ride.
Instead of country first, people like Gov Christie are all about themselves. So criticizing Mr Trump is no better than the pot calling the kettle burnt.
So Mr Kasich the White Knight? Please!
39
I am looking into emigrating to New Zealand.
12
I'm thinking Ushuia, Argentina!
I was so moved when I heard his speech tonight - particularly the words "And we are leaving no one behind, not the mentally ill, the drug addicted, the working poor." What an incredible and refreshing shift from the hateful, racist, xenophobic rhetoric polluting our airways. I'd truly begun to doubt what kind of country I lived in. He brought back some hope. To this life-long Democrat.
14
He's leaving Planned parenthood and a woman's right to choose behind. Not so inclusive, methinks.
18
You don't live in Ohio or you might feel differently. He signed a bill to get rid of public unions t issues on referendum went down big. Please read about charter schools. Few poor kids helped but a lot of very wealthy cashed in - Kasich was instrumental. Right to choose- he's signed every anti abortion bill that came to him. Without Obama's auto bailout and fracking, Ohio would look more abysmal. Oh, he's really helped the poor with Medicaid- money from the Feds- but Cleveland and Cincinnati are considered a couple of the more miserable places for poor people. A trickle down, supply sider if there ever was one. A wolf in folksy sheeps clothing.
246
Talk is cheap.
Kasich defunded Planned Parenthood.
That left a lot of people who needed health care behind.
Kasich defunded Planned Parenthood.
That left a lot of people who needed health care behind.
19
Question and Answer:
Question:
"If Donald is denied the nomination...does anyone expect his supporters to quietly accept the result and fall in place, supporting Kasich?"
Answer:
Yes.
Question:
"If Donald is denied the nomination...does anyone expect his supporters to quietly accept the result and fall in place, supporting Kasich?"
Answer:
Yes.
2
That very much depends on exactly how it happens. They are already angry. Make them completely furious, and things get very unpredictable.
13
Question and Answer:
Question:
Did the Cleveland Police Department just requisition 2000 new riot suits and batons in preparation for the Republican convention there?
Answer:
Yes.
Question:
Did the Cleveland Police Department just requisition 2000 new riot suits and batons in preparation for the Republican convention there?
Answer:
Yes.
8
No, the Trump supporters will not fall in line with another Republican. An important percentage of them didn't vote at all for president in 2012, costing Romney the election. They also won't accept Kasich or anyone else who is perceived as willing to get along with the status quo or the Washington establishment. These are the death throes of the Republican party, which is lamentable but inevitable.
Even though Sanders didn't pull out a clear win against Clinton yesterday, he was neck and neck in most states. The media seem to be ignoring those results. There are a significant number of voters on the Democratic side who are also saying they don't want more of the same. The concerns of the people on both sides of the mainstream will not go away when Clinton is elected, and it will be another bitter and divisive four years.
Even though Sanders didn't pull out a clear win against Clinton yesterday, he was neck and neck in most states. The media seem to be ignoring those results. There are a significant number of voters on the Democratic side who are also saying they don't want more of the same. The concerns of the people on both sides of the mainstream will not go away when Clinton is elected, and it will be another bitter and divisive four years.
1
For the Republicans, Kasich has two things going for him:
1. He's not Trump.
2. He'd crush Hillary. I expect his margin would make Bob Dole and Walter Mondale think they'd done pretty well after all.
1. He's not Trump.
2. He'd crush Hillary. I expect his margin would make Bob Dole and Walter Mondale think they'd done pretty well after all.
3
Crush Hillary? Crush?! If Kasich gets the nomination Trimp supporters will bolt, perhaps forming a third party. At best they will stay home on Election Day. Hillary will waltz into the White House perhaps bringing in a Democratic Congressional majority on her coat tails.
If you don't want another President Clinton, a Kasich nomination is the last thing you want to see.
If you don't want another President Clinton, a Kasich nomination is the last thing you want to see.
2
Crush Hillary? He has won one primary, his home state with 40% of the republican vote. Forty percent in his home state! The guy can't even beat other republicans.
3
Ralph,
If Kasich gets the nomination and Trump forms a third party and runs, Hillary will win big-time. If that doesn't happen, Kasich will win big-time.
If Kasich gets the nomination and Trump forms a third party and runs, Hillary will win big-time. If that doesn't happen, Kasich will win big-time.
Now that Kasich won his own home state (barely) maybe his disastrous political career will get the attention it deserves. He just defunded Planned Parenthood in Ohio, he's destroyed our public schools, he tried destroying public unions but the citizens of Ohio overrode him in a referendum. This is not a man that should be president.
304
Disastrous political career? Clearly you don't agree with a number of his policies but the man has a 62% approval rating. And 42% of Democrats approve of his work as Governor. You want disastrous political career, look at Rahm Emmanuel. Kasich is doing very well for himself politically even if some of his policies are questionable.
1
John Kasich has been the voice of reason, common sense and compromise throughout this campaign. He also just happens to have the most experience in both federal and state govt of all of the candidates, regardless of party. Yes, he's a Republican. So what? He's a fiscal conservative who won't dump tons of taxpayer money into social programs. He knows that balancing budgets means compromises that sting. He's telling the truth about Social Security and wants a pragmatic solution. He knows how to entice businesses to invest. He's takes a firm but measured stance on foreign affairs. He wants people on both sides of the issue of providing services to same-sex couples to agree to disagree and stop the lawsuits. He wants to take government funding away from abortion clinics, because he knows that they're more than capable of sustaining themselves as self-funding organizations.
John Kasich is the only candidate talking about building good neighbors within this fractured country. I really don't think it matters that he doesn't concern himself with being telegenic with dynamic speeches. He's an ordinary, good natured person with incredible intelligence and a track record of success. Sounds presidential to me.
John Kasich is the only candidate talking about building good neighbors within this fractured country. I really don't think it matters that he doesn't concern himself with being telegenic with dynamic speeches. He's an ordinary, good natured person with incredible intelligence and a track record of success. Sounds presidential to me.
15
Have you actually looked at the balanced budget that he brags about? The cuts to payments for medicaid and medicare reimbursements that cost doctors and nursing care centers the practices they had built upon promised income. So many aspects of that budget disrupted a system that so many "downtrodden" had come to depend on that the balanced budget was ripped up the next year. The Lehman Brothers job ended fortunately for him in 2007 as the crash started. All in all he sounds like a really nice guy but......
4
Good neighbors don't deny other neighbors access to good schools and medical care.
5
"Yes, he's a Republican. So what?"
Well, for starters, Republicans -- yes , even one as relatively moderate as Kasich -- generally insist on referring to Women's Health Clinics that provide a whole range of important services to low income women as 'Abortion Clinics', and want them all shuttered, not just 'defunded'..... are passionately and immovably supportive of State mandated motherhood, despite its being both unconstitutional and against their hallowed principles of 'Liberty'...... are generally opposed to any and all gun safety regulations..... oppose Civil Rights protection for the LGBT Community...... tend to support the Death Penalty..... and, like Kasich, want the wackadoodle pseudo-science of Creationism taught to our children as if it were on an equal footing with the traditional Sciences.
That, for many of us, are just a few of the 'whats' in 'so what?'.
Well, for starters, Republicans -- yes , even one as relatively moderate as Kasich -- generally insist on referring to Women's Health Clinics that provide a whole range of important services to low income women as 'Abortion Clinics', and want them all shuttered, not just 'defunded'..... are passionately and immovably supportive of State mandated motherhood, despite its being both unconstitutional and against their hallowed principles of 'Liberty'...... are generally opposed to any and all gun safety regulations..... oppose Civil Rights protection for the LGBT Community...... tend to support the Death Penalty..... and, like Kasich, want the wackadoodle pseudo-science of Creationism taught to our children as if it were on an equal footing with the traditional Sciences.
That, for many of us, are just a few of the 'whats' in 'so what?'.
5
I have no idea why anyone would vote for any Republican candidate. All are anti-women, and anti-planet Earth. Four years with an individual who speaks against women's health/choice and our warming Earth is incomprehensible.
211
I don't want to see Trump in the White House, but this thought that Kasich can win is crazy. Do you really think he has any chance of winning enough delegates via the remaining primaries to win? No. And if the Republicans try to shoehorn him in at the convention, how many mad Republican voters will refuse to vote for him? Of course, I'd like to see a Democrat in the Oval Office again, and that probably would increase the odds of that happening.
16
Wow indeed! I have hope again as a Republican! All of us in states with primaries that usually don't matter, now is our chance! I've never voted in a primary and am not even registered as a Republican , but I'm going to figure it out . Anything to keep this boulder in place!
9
ann e - What is it you want to keep in place? the "boulder" of Trump? To maintain
the disfunction of the Republican party? Their obstructionism, a history of it for
the past eight years; their lack of respect for women's issues? As a woman don't you care about your own sex? their bigotry, birtherism, they never did anything but
disrespect your own President - try to destroy anything he did to help our country -
their attempts to repress voting rights - there's a litany of nasty, unamerican
actions the Republican party as a whole has manifested recently- it needs a
complete redo - not an election of it's current candidates.what are you thinking?
the disfunction of the Republican party? Their obstructionism, a history of it for
the past eight years; their lack of respect for women's issues? As a woman don't you care about your own sex? their bigotry, birtherism, they never did anything but
disrespect your own President - try to destroy anything he did to help our country -
their attempts to repress voting rights - there's a litany of nasty, unamerican
actions the Republican party as a whole has manifested recently- it needs a
complete redo - not an election of it's current candidates.what are you thinking?
4
I might agree with Kasich on no more than 50 per cent of what he says, but at least he is sane, and that is saying a lot in this election cycle. If the media (including this august newspaper) and the Republican leadership had just given him half the attention they gave to Rubio (a loser from the beginning in my opinion, stated from the beginning) and Trump (a loser at the end, everyone thinks), they might have saved themselves from fatal Trump-itis. Gail, confess! You were a part of the conspiracy of silence. Kasich hugged and cried with some of the people in his audience! If Trump had done that it would have been huge headline news. Oh yes, I am holding the media, and you are a part of it! partly responsible for Trump-itis.
23
The editorial board of this august newspaper endorsed John Kasich for the Republican nomination.
11
Personally, I'm glad they didn't. Once Scott Walker dropped out (and as I think back on it now I have no idea why I EVER thought Scott Walker was a threat) Kaisich has been the one who frightens me. I live Ohio-adjacent and I can tell you things aren't all peaches and cream in Ohio. And Kaisich's regressive social stances are horrifying.
My fear was compared to the other candidates he presented so reasonably. Same crazy ideas in an all new package.
He'll never get the nomination even in a brokered convention. The Republican Elite aren't that smart. They keep cutting off the end of the board and it's still to short.
My fear was compared to the other candidates he presented so reasonably. Same crazy ideas in an all new package.
He'll never get the nomination even in a brokered convention. The Republican Elite aren't that smart. They keep cutting off the end of the board and it's still to short.
1
NA,
That's a valid point, but it doesn't really undercut what VividHugh writes. One would expect a newspaper to devote a bit more attention to the candidate that paper had endorsed. The Times hasn't done that. The endorsement seems like an excuse to ignore Kasich.
That's a valid point, but it doesn't really undercut what VividHugh writes. One would expect a newspaper to devote a bit more attention to the candidate that paper had endorsed. The Times hasn't done that. The endorsement seems like an excuse to ignore Kasich.
"Kasich is becoming the new golden boy of the media..."
Not much competition, is there?
Rubio's gone, Cruz isn't "golden boy" material, and Trump's very presence is WHY a "golden boy" is needed.
That leaves Kasich.
On the Democratic side, no "golden boys" either:
Hillary's dull – and dishonest, many say (I don't believe that, but many do).
Bernie's interesting – but only if you've been asleep for the last 150 years or so and thus don't know that others have been saying and writing the very same things all that time. Once you get past Bernie's finger-wagging "Wall Street!" mantra, there's not much there.
Once again, that leaves Kasich.
Maybe Kasich isn't a "golden boy" per se, but golden boys rarely are. Often they become golden boys simply because a golden boy is needed and nobody else fits the bill.
Not much competition, is there?
Rubio's gone, Cruz isn't "golden boy" material, and Trump's very presence is WHY a "golden boy" is needed.
That leaves Kasich.
On the Democratic side, no "golden boys" either:
Hillary's dull – and dishonest, many say (I don't believe that, but many do).
Bernie's interesting – but only if you've been asleep for the last 150 years or so and thus don't know that others have been saying and writing the very same things all that time. Once you get past Bernie's finger-wagging "Wall Street!" mantra, there's not much there.
Once again, that leaves Kasich.
Maybe Kasich isn't a "golden boy" per se, but golden boys rarely are. Often they become golden boys simply because a golden boy is needed and nobody else fits the bill.
6
Yes, lots of people have been saying what Bernie's saying over the past 150 years, but those policies have never actually been tried. At the same time, so many millions would like to give them a try, because THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE!
2
Jenifer,
I get that part of Bernie's appeal: "Yes, he's saying the same old things, but those same old things have never actually been tried, so let's elect him and try them."
The problem is that NOTHING Bernie proposes will be tried. He knows that, I know that, everybody knows that -- you too, I'll wager. So if someone is saying the same old things that others have been saying for 150 years, and none of his ideas will actually get tried, tell me again how he's different form the others who've been saying the same old things for the past 150 years.
If Bernie were to be elected, he'd just answer every question the same:
"Wall Street! It's Wall Street's fault, I tell you! Let's go after Wall Street!"
After a month or so, even Bernie's most ardent supporters would get tired of hearing that.
I get that part of Bernie's appeal: "Yes, he's saying the same old things, but those same old things have never actually been tried, so let's elect him and try them."
The problem is that NOTHING Bernie proposes will be tried. He knows that, I know that, everybody knows that -- you too, I'll wager. So if someone is saying the same old things that others have been saying for 150 years, and none of his ideas will actually get tried, tell me again how he's different form the others who've been saying the same old things for the past 150 years.
If Bernie were to be elected, he'd just answer every question the same:
"Wall Street! It's Wall Street's fault, I tell you! Let's go after Wall Street!"
After a month or so, even Bernie's most ardent supporters would get tired of hearing that.
1
Kasich is less appalling in the way that dying of lung cancer is less appalling than dying of Alzheimer's.
293
Who says they don't want appalling.
The seem to revel in appalling.
The seem to revel in appalling.
47
"Obama ... ended two wars..."
He did? I must have blinked -- What two wars might those have been?
I voted for Obama, and am generally satisfied with what he's done. But end two wars? Please.
In Iraq, all Obama did was follow through on what Bush had laid out. He didn't end the Afghanistan war; he expanded it (I know, I know, we're "pulling out" any day now. Anyone who believes that should open up Google Earth, type "Bagram, Afghanistan" in the search window, and then ask themselves two questions: 1. Have we pulled out? 2. Are we likely to pull out any time soon (in this century, for example)?)
For good measure, Obama got us into Libya, which I consider -- and always considered -- to be a huge mistake.
So that's 0 for 2 on the war-ending score card, and 1 for 1 on the war-starting card.
Did I blink and miss some other wars?
He did? I must have blinked -- What two wars might those have been?
I voted for Obama, and am generally satisfied with what he's done. But end two wars? Please.
In Iraq, all Obama did was follow through on what Bush had laid out. He didn't end the Afghanistan war; he expanded it (I know, I know, we're "pulling out" any day now. Anyone who believes that should open up Google Earth, type "Bagram, Afghanistan" in the search window, and then ask themselves two questions: 1. Have we pulled out? 2. Are we likely to pull out any time soon (in this century, for example)?)
For good measure, Obama got us into Libya, which I consider -- and always considered -- to be a huge mistake.
So that's 0 for 2 on the war-ending score card, and 1 for 1 on the war-starting card.
Did I blink and miss some other wars?
17
The photo along with the commentary was really cool.
10
John Kasich is a grinder, and most of us Ohio Democrats find him not only uninspiring, but quite unpleasant.
In spite of my views of our governor, I almost crossed over to vote for him in this primary, as many Democrats did, to stop the runaway Trump locomotive.
The greatest service John Kasich may ever do his country was accomplished by his win tonight.
In spite of my views of our governor, I almost crossed over to vote for him in this primary, as many Democrats did, to stop the runaway Trump locomotive.
The greatest service John Kasich may ever do his country was accomplished by his win tonight.
359
Sdw:
According to the polls, 80% of Ohioans support Kasich, which I assume include "most of us Ohio democrats."
Please explain that high popularity rate?
According to the polls, 80% of Ohioans support Kasich, which I assume include "most of us Ohio democrats."
Please explain that high popularity rate?
I know a life long republican who always votes republican no matter what. He was excited to see Kasich in person. he said Kasich was such a demeaning jerk that now he refuses to vote for any ticket Kasich is on. I remember the Times ran a feature about Kasich and some insider said his initials are JRK and it fits if you add a letter.
i think the repubs think if Kasich get more attention, he'll pull in the voters. but from what I've seen as people learn more about him or actually meet him they don't like what they see.
i think the repubs think if Kasich get more attention, he'll pull in the voters. but from what I've seen as people learn more about him or actually meet him they don't like what they see.
1
John Kasich is a grinder? Here in Rhode Island a grinder is a type of sandwich, usually stuffed with old greens, American cheese and mystery meats. How beautifully appropriate!
1
No, he's appalling. I should know...I live in Ohio.
69
Don't think of Kasich as a more palatable choice among the Republicans. He's probably just as bad if not worse. He has no new ideas. His campaign consists of whining about the other candidates.
The Dems have given us two excellent candidates. Get behind one or the other.
And let's stop hearing about the similarly between Trump and Bernie. Bernie may indeed be a Don Quixote, pure of heart but with little chance for victory. Trump's only similarity is in his squire, Sancho Christie.
The Dems have given us two excellent candidates. Get behind one or the other.
And let's stop hearing about the similarly between Trump and Bernie. Bernie may indeed be a Don Quixote, pure of heart but with little chance for victory. Trump's only similarity is in his squire, Sancho Christie.
31
In addition to those little peccadillios you mention:
Kasich has a "sometimes yes, sometimes no" view on evolution.
He does the big waffle on climate.
And he advocates for a return to the gold standard!
It's a measure of just how CRAY-CRAY Republicanism has become that this passes for the sane one in the room.
Kasich has a "sometimes yes, sometimes no" view on evolution.
He does the big waffle on climate.
And he advocates for a return to the gold standard!
It's a measure of just how CRAY-CRAY Republicanism has become that this passes for the sane one in the room.
45
Let's be honest, the choices on the GOPs side this year have been extreme and more extreme. It is sad that Kasich is labeled as moderate, due to the radicalism of some of the other choices.
418
Kasich is the worst of them all, actually. His phony aw-shucks persona makes me want to lose my lunch, and his droning self-importance makes me want to fall asleep. Even Donald Trump isn't as full of himself as Kasich. My idea of hell: sitting next to Kasich on a four hour flight to Cleveland.
41
How's this for aw shucks golly gee Kasich:
11 Jan 2008 he was ticketed for a moving violation in Columbus OH. Later, at an Ohio EPA meeting he was caught on camera saying at least three times that the officer who ticketed him was "an idiot.". When this made the news the officer demanded an in person apology which a contrite Kasich gave, having been "caught on camera."
Golly gee. How is that for integrity. His stand against womens' reproductive rights isn't so great either. Just sayin'.
11 Jan 2008 he was ticketed for a moving violation in Columbus OH. Later, at an Ohio EPA meeting he was caught on camera saying at least three times that the officer who ticketed him was "an idiot.". When this made the news the officer demanded an in person apology which a contrite Kasich gave, having been "caught on camera."
Golly gee. How is that for integrity. His stand against womens' reproductive rights isn't so great either. Just sayin'.
4
I'd have a hard time deciding between Kasich and Clinton in November. Sanders yes. Trump no way.
1
He is alternative to that republican posing as democrat h r
3
"The best of a bad lot" sums it up. Women in Ohio who want or need the option of an abortion won't be thrilled.
30
All Kasich will accomplish is to split the anti-Trump vote with Cruz, thereby assuring that in a three way race, Trump will have the plurality,. And in the remaining winner take all states, Trump will get all the delegates.
11
Kasich is no moderate. He is also a climate-change denier among his many other faults.
37
Here in AZ we like to say "well at least it's not Texas". Kasich might try on a paraphrase like "at least I'm not Trump' (or Cruz) which many would find reassuring. On the other hand who wants to have to beat their head against a wall just so it will feel good when they stop?
I suspect Kasich will look less and less palatable as we learn more and more about him. I'm betting his arch-conservative positions on abortion and privatizing education are just the tip of the iceberg. While it's true he doesn't live, even part time, in a tinsel palace surrounded by chintz, with a butler, on a golf course, no less, but we all can't be cartoon characters. The choices for GOP candidate now seem like deciding whether to get bit by either a rattlesnake or a brown recluse spider (both of which kill pretty quickly), or a monitor lizard, whose bit leaves you in prolonged agony until you die from infection. I'd have thrown in a green mamba if Rubio hadn't bowed out.
A Trump administration will involve Christie and Palin. A Cruz administration will involve fire and brimstone. A Kasich administration will be like hospital food for a nation hungry for Chateaubriand, and it will involve soggy jello. I'm hoping he won't go around declaring "you've been chopped", which is a lot like "you're fired!".
If the best we can hope for is the GOP exercising some Cruz control and dumping Trump, are we left with Kasich by default? Could we ask them to bring back Mitt Romney?
I suspect Kasich will look less and less palatable as we learn more and more about him. I'm betting his arch-conservative positions on abortion and privatizing education are just the tip of the iceberg. While it's true he doesn't live, even part time, in a tinsel palace surrounded by chintz, with a butler, on a golf course, no less, but we all can't be cartoon characters. The choices for GOP candidate now seem like deciding whether to get bit by either a rattlesnake or a brown recluse spider (both of which kill pretty quickly), or a monitor lizard, whose bit leaves you in prolonged agony until you die from infection. I'd have thrown in a green mamba if Rubio hadn't bowed out.
A Trump administration will involve Christie and Palin. A Cruz administration will involve fire and brimstone. A Kasich administration will be like hospital food for a nation hungry for Chateaubriand, and it will involve soggy jello. I'm hoping he won't go around declaring "you've been chopped", which is a lot like "you're fired!".
If the best we can hope for is the GOP exercising some Cruz control and dumping Trump, are we left with Kasich by default? Could we ask them to bring back Mitt Romney?
483
No, please, not Mitt Romney again. That would be unbearable. The best we can do is not vote for any Republican for anything.
5
awesome!
1
Yes - Bring back Mitt Romney. How come Democrats look at the
Republican field as if it's a barren wasteland. There's not a shred
of anything habitable in it? How come this country has gone down
the tubes?
Republican field as if it's a barren wasteland. There's not a shred
of anything habitable in it? How come this country has gone down
the tubes?
He is still appalling just a lesser degree
11
What is going on in this election? You can work it out if you read outside the box, for example, blogs in the conservative press. This reveals the underlying dynamic. OK, there are fake candidates and real ones. (1) Trump is a fake candidate, a plant from the Clinton campaign. Things are playing out almost as expected. Both right and left are horrified, but Middle America is falling for the trick. Hillary will win if Trump is nominated. The Trump thing is an act. This is what Romney was trying to say. Trump is a Democrat working for Hillary. The giveaway is that there are no policy papers and no network of colleagues. (2) Kasich is real, the only qualified candidate in the GOP field. A sincere moderate Republican should have supported him all along. However he was weakened by Rubio, a backup plan of the Bush faction. Bush +_Rubio had lots of money and endorsements but were sort of robotic fronts (Rubio redeemed himself in recent days). (3) Cruz is real - a Tea Party government shut-down artist. Dangerous: a good debater. However, he is a charm-free zone and Hillary would look good opposite him. (4) Sanders: probably real. However, the thin information on foreign policy is a clue that there is something not so real. He has no obvious network of colleagues/advisors, except maybe Elizabeth Warren. The voters sense that something isn't real - that's why there is rage against the establishment. Hardly anyone is actually coming clean or playing straight with the electorate.
9
If one were to succinctly paraphrase your Op-Ed it might read, Katich now the third best Republican bad choice is the real best Republican bad choice. Why it's Marat Sade played at a kabuki theater and is as clear as mud.
3
The only respectable thing Marco Rubio did this ignominious campaign was ask his Ohio supporters to vote for Kasich instead of him. Not selfless, to be sure, but giving Kasich a win over Trump and Cruz was the biggest thing that could have come from the boy-king.
9
Me thinks that Trump is the boulder that will crush GOP. . .
11
Wow, amidst this primary entertainment season, I did not look that closely as Kasich, what with all that punching and shut ups and what-not. I kept accepting him as the friendliest of these stranger-than-fiction candidates, and during the debates, he too was shaking his head in disbelief. So he became the best of the worst. But back to work. I am a straight up opponent of the privatization of public schools so I will look into that. And of course, an anti-abortion Governor isn’t what I have in mind for a 21st century President of one of the most diverse nations on earth. Thanks for the reminder re: the benefits of a little homework.
31
KASICH'S record on the environment is horrifying. he killed a $400 million federal grant for rail service. he's run the wind and solar industries out of the state. he appears to be supporting a $4 billion bailout for dying coal and nuke burners. he's thrown in a reference to renewables. but it's a sham. ohio's energy future is doomed by this bailout, and it's basically Kasich's doing.
43
Trump and Cruz scare me. They're fearmongers and bearers of hate and bigotry. They represent the worst of humanity with their rhetoric, speech and policies grounded in sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia and class warfare. I'm ashamed that so many of my fellow citizens are rallying to their cries of hate, fear and bigotry. Tonight I cheered when I heard Kasich won the primary in his home state. I may politically disagree with him on many policies but he doesn't spread hate. I could stomach Kasich as president. Trump or Cruz, God help us if one of them were elected.
20
He doesn't spread hate as long as you don't have a vagina. But if you have one you are a third class citizen who can't be trusted to even make decisions about your own body without the input of a male.
He doesn't spread hate unless you are in a labor union and would like to paid a fair dollar for a fair days work. Then you are a chattel belonging to your employer and their whims.
Hate comes in many forms. It's isn't just about racism.
He doesn't spread hate unless you are in a labor union and would like to paid a fair dollar for a fair days work. Then you are a chattel belonging to your employer and their whims.
Hate comes in many forms. It's isn't just about racism.
3
With today's conservatives, a candidate who's "non-appalling" has a license to fail.
11
Rubio was a Tea-Partier in Establishment clothing. Kasich is a very consevative, Wall Street friendly--former Lehmann Brothers executive and all--GOP establishment politician who can shed a tear on behalf of his Democratic forbears--"little people" all--on cue.
He is what currently passes as a moderate Republican, peasant friendly candidate. I hope his wing of the GOP breaks free and re-labels itself "The Really Truly for Profit Oligarchical Party."
Then the other wing of the GOP can devise its own label, perhaps "The Really Truly for All That is Holy Know-Nothing Party."
He is what currently passes as a moderate Republican, peasant friendly candidate. I hope his wing of the GOP breaks free and re-labels itself "The Really Truly for Profit Oligarchical Party."
Then the other wing of the GOP can devise its own label, perhaps "The Really Truly for All That is Holy Know-Nothing Party."
17
Kasich can't beat the Democratic nomineetress, Trump can.
3
Trump won't have the numbers to just stroll into Cleveland and claim the presidency he's trying to purchase for himself. And should what's left of the GOP nominate Trump, he'll have to survive a series of debates with Hillary Clinton, who will be eager and well-prepared to annihilate him.
2
Thanks for not trying to make us laugh this column. Parody can be a wonderful type of serious humor, but really how can you satirize the Republican party?
6
Yeah, where is John Stewart when we need him? Well, we still have SNL.
Right. You can't satirize something that is already a travesty.
1
Kasch, is just more pleasant than his competitors.
However represents and espouses ALL of their combined objectionable objectives and opinions.
However represents and espouses ALL of their combined objectionable objectives and opinions.
29
The only reason I'm rejoicing about Kasich winning Ohio is the same reason I'm hoping (as I write this) that Cruz pulls out Mizzou at the buzzer. Throw the GOP into an open, multi-ballot convention! Don't let Trump take the nomination on the first ballot! And march the GOP into oblivion to be replaced by a new, rational, responsible Conservative party that puts the USA ahead of power.
4
The only question in that scenario is which party hits bottom first. Do the Republicans lose even to Hillary, or do the Democrats lose even to Kasich.
Both parties are now failures to their own voters.
Both parties are now failures to their own voters.
8
The GOP already has had plenty of opportunity, like for the past 7 years, to be a "new, rational, responsible Conservative party." So why isn't it?
3
Neither state provided US political party actually represents anyone but state legislators.
So Kasich is an arch-reactionary instead of an arch-arch-reactionary. Pretty appalling to me.
28
"Right now he certainly seems like the only non-appalling option the Republicans have..."
So sayeth Gail Collins, who has almost certainly never voted for a Republican presidential, gubernatorial, house or senate candidate in her life. My retort to her would be: at least the Republicans have a non-appalling option.
So sayeth Gail Collins, who has almost certainly never voted for a Republican presidential, gubernatorial, house or senate candidate in her life. My retort to her would be: at least the Republicans have a non-appalling option.
5
Gail is really using non-appalling to mean just a tad less dreadful. Which itself is quite appalling considering we're taking about the President of the United States, not the coach of a college football team!
6
Kasich hung on to a plurality in the state in which he is Governor, in which he controls a party machine in both houses of the Legislature and rams through stuff like defunding Planned Parenthood.
That is all he's got.
That is no "boulder."
He is no good choice anyway. Least worse can still be very bad, and he is.
That is all he's got.
That is no "boulder."
He is no good choice anyway. Least worse can still be very bad, and he is.
66
Agreed, although 'the only non-appalling option' is appealing as a campaign slogan for the primaries. He could alter it to 'Kasich: Only his policies are repugnant' for the general election.
3
Kasich is only a different type of monster but still a monster.... look for the establishment to push to make him the VP candidate in the upcoming brokered GOP convention. Prediction: Trump/ Kasich.
35
It's interesting that Gail finds it necessary to outline some of Kasich's egregious policies on privatizing education, abortion and taxes, since in a GOP primary campaign who knew what anybody's policies really were? It's true that Kasich is the only apparent candidate that is neither a self-conjured hero who has no interest in either truth or facts, nor an extremist ideologue who yearns for the gold standard and the outlawing of abortions under any circumstances. But Kasich has no real organization outside of Ohio, and can't hope to catch Trump unless there is a brokered convention. Even then, if Trump has the lion's share of votes going into the convention, his being passed over would cause a revolution among his faithful supporters. What a great time not to be a Republican!
19
Republican chaos does not bode well for the country. You think Republicans blocked Obama? Imagine the outright hostility of much of the country if Trump or whoever loses to Hillary. The next four years might make the last eight feel like a Mother's Day brunch.
5
But is wasn't the Republicans in the community who blocked Obama, it was the Republicans in the house, and furthermore, Obama's aloof, surly and condescending attitude that worked against him.
1
You couldn't wait until Thursday, could you Gail. I'm glad to hear from you any day of the week. I just hope this doesn't mean you'll be taking Thursday off.
It is a very confusing day for those of us uninstructed in the intricacies of elections, so I'm glad for you and all your colleagues at the Times who are leading us through the morass.
In my benighted fashion I'm tickled to death to see the Republicans get what they have been itching for since before Richard Nixon. I just hope (and pray) that the monster they have created doesn't become too attractive to the electorate in general.
And I'm glad to see Hillary doing so well despite her confinement in a jail cell, shaking in fear of a confrontation with vice-presidential candidate Fiorina.
It is a very confusing day for those of us uninstructed in the intricacies of elections, so I'm glad for you and all your colleagues at the Times who are leading us through the morass.
In my benighted fashion I'm tickled to death to see the Republicans get what they have been itching for since before Richard Nixon. I just hope (and pray) that the monster they have created doesn't become too attractive to the electorate in general.
And I'm glad to see Hillary doing so well despite her confinement in a jail cell, shaking in fear of a confrontation with vice-presidential candidate Fiorina.
9
My Republican friends and I are just beside ourselves. Trump? NEVER. The other extreme conservatives? Please, no. We took a straw vote of "Never mind 'who can win' ... Who would you *really* like?" Kasich won by a landslide.
7
You might just want to take a serious look at what your new favorite boy-wonder has been up to...not only when he was a Congressman, but more recently during his years as governor....Then you might not "really like" this pudgy toad.
5
Thank you for pointing out that this chipper, can't-we-all-just-get-along guy is a far right wing, anti-women's rights conservative.
355
We have a choice in the election between fear and enlightenment. There are those who stoke the fear of change, they invoke "the other," as a boogie man, they prey on the uncertainties of a time of great change. They would have us settle for being less, for keeping out rather than helping, for closing down and being small, rather than opening up and reaching our potential.
I reject that view of our world. I want a leader who believes in our country, believes in helping, who thinks that serving our nation is a privilege and a calling, not just a chance for glorification and enrichment.
I reject that view of our world. I want a leader who believes in our country, believes in helping, who thinks that serving our nation is a privilege and a calling, not just a chance for glorification and enrichment.
14
You had that candidate in 2012. I wonder if you voted for him.
In short, you wish Obama could run for a third term. Or - you wish for some other person like him.
3
Given a choice between Trump, Clinton or Obama, I would vote for Obama in a heart beat. He is not a very effective President, but he would fulfill the Hippocratic Oath - "Do no harm."
Perhaps the best we can expect from a broken political system.
Perhaps the best we can expect from a broken political system.
Look beyond the "I am not Trump-Cruz" nice guy routine and you will find he supports an extreme right wing agenda. Wolf in sheep's clothing.
239
Predictwise.com now rates Kasich's chances of being the GOP nominee fairly close to Cruz. Trump 74% probability, Cruz 14% and Kasich 10%.
3
Those percentages ought to include a dark horse entirely unexpected, someone liked by the Republican elite and chosen in a contested convention when all three of these fail. Someone like Ryan. I don't know what percentage to give that, but it ought to be something. It is actually the plan of some of the powers that be.
5
But that won't matter. There is no viable Republican constituency that will unite behind any white knight or dark horse, even though failure to unite will assure a Clinton victory.
They do, that's the remaining 2%. Paul Ryan controls the rule making for the convention, so he isn't a realistic option, because it would be awfully hard to explain him changing rules and making himself the nominee. Given Mr. Ryan's public feelings about Trump being the nominee, I would suggest to The Donald he better get the 1,237 before Cleveland because he has already burned the bridges he will need to cross to win a brokered convention, as has Mr Cruz
1
Malarkey doesn't have to be Mar-a-Lago, yellow. It also thrives as factory floor gray. However in Ohio, those better paying factory jobs have been replaced by the usual fast food kind.
Kasich is an enthusiastic free-trade advocate who claims job growth during his tenure as Ohio governor. He just forgets to tell his audiences that his state's manufacturing jobs were lost to free-trade and outsourcing.
A Republican by any other shade, is still a Republican!
Kasich is an enthusiastic free-trade advocate who claims job growth during his tenure as Ohio governor. He just forgets to tell his audiences that his state's manufacturing jobs were lost to free-trade and outsourcing.
A Republican by any other shade, is still a Republican!
70
And the people of Ohio don't seem to care, since they really like HRC. More of the same; not ready for hope or change. You guys want fries with that?
1
Sorry, but as a public school teacher and a union member, Kasich is plenty appalling for me.
525
Not to mention as a human being...
1
Q. How far over the deep end radical rightwing extreme has the GOP gone?
A. John Kasich is considered a moderate.
A. John Kasich is considered a moderate.
194
Kasich is as craven as the rest of them, he just talks nicely while he's stabbing his constituents in the back.
143
The Republicans are still waiting for Godot. It is a testament to the noxiousness of Cruz and Trump that Kasich could be a substitute.
44
True, eight presidents "came from Ohio in one way or another." But four of the eight died in office (WH Harrison, Garfield, McKinley, and Harding).
4
And two of the four were murdered. Doesn’t bode well.
1
You can be as snarky as you please (and it pleases you often!), but many more ModerateRepublicans actually like him for himself.
I used to consider myself a conservative Republican, but I don't identify with that part of the Party as they have gone too far. As for Trump...well, it would break this old lady's heart to not cast a vote for President in Nov, but I cannot vote for a boorish bully who would be a disaster for the country.
I used to consider myself a conservative Republican, but I don't identify with that part of the Party as they have gone too far. As for Trump...well, it would break this old lady's heart to not cast a vote for President in Nov, but I cannot vote for a boorish bully who would be a disaster for the country.
6
Gee...why don't you think out of the R box...and choose Hillary...you'll get someone eminently qualified.
7
It's almost 11:00 P.M., and with the Rep results nearly final, I'm trying to find some solace in your attempt at humor Ms. Collins... thanks so much.
7
He won the state where he was born, raised and lived all of his life; No one ought to be surprised that he actually won Ohio?
6
Kasich wasn't born in Ohio, nor did he grow up here. He was born and raised a Catholic in a working class suburb of Pittsburgh called McKees Rocks (he has that distinctive Pittsburgh accent). He's been divorced. He just "signed" (since he hasn't actually been here for months) a bill to defund Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that no federal money is used for abortions there. He is known as being a very crabby conservative, despite presenting himself as a sunny-boy moderate on the campaign trail. He worked at the now-defunct Lehman Bros. on Wall St.
And how did he get re-elected as governor? The opposing Democrat, Ed Fitzgerald, who should have been elected, had the misfortune to have been caught in the backseat of his car with a woman other than his wife.
Kasich "balanced" the budget in Ohio by just shifting the tax burden to local communities. Without the state money that they'd been getting, they were often strapped for money to provide services. They were forced to put tax proposals on local ballots, some of which passed but some didn't. Many people pay the same taxes, just to entities other than the state. And HE didn't create jobs in Ohio, that was thanks to general improvements in the economy (thanks to Obama).
And how did he get re-elected as governor? The opposing Democrat, Ed Fitzgerald, who should have been elected, had the misfortune to have been caught in the backseat of his car with a woman other than his wife.
Kasich "balanced" the budget in Ohio by just shifting the tax burden to local communities. Without the state money that they'd been getting, they were often strapped for money to provide services. They were forced to put tax proposals on local ballots, some of which passed but some didn't. Many people pay the same taxes, just to entities other than the state. And HE didn't create jobs in Ohio, that was thanks to general improvements in the economy (thanks to Obama).
13
He won Ohio with a plurality. Not exactly impressive.
2
Marco was born and raised in Florida, lived there all his life. Didn't work for him. Lots of Floridians are thankful.
1
Kasich is appalling. He defunded Planned Parenthood. He is trying to fool voters with a big con-job.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/the-kasich-con/
"For one thing, he engages in his own form of ludicrous self-aggrandizement, claiming to have been the “architect” of the briefly balanced federal budget of the late Clinton years — which is sheer fantasy:
That’s only true if by “chief architect,” you mean that he voted against the two bills that did the most to get the government in the black, and sponsored one that sounded like it did a lot but actually didn’t."
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/the-kasich-con/
"For one thing, he engages in his own form of ludicrous self-aggrandizement, claiming to have been the “architect” of the briefly balanced federal budget of the late Clinton years — which is sheer fantasy:
That’s only true if by “chief architect,” you mean that he voted against the two bills that did the most to get the government in the black, and sponsored one that sounded like it did a lot but actually didn’t."
69
I like Gov. Kasich and would vote for him for president. Does he have a chance? Will he save America from the odious, unqualified Don Trump?
3
Kasich's been around politics all his adult life. IF, he can secure the Republican nomination and IF he can beat Mrs. Clinton then can he be any more effective the President Obama with the intractable Republican's in Congress? Possibly he can offer an alternative path for moderate Republicans to follow. As far as Mitch McConell and his true believer's I highly doubt he will make much progress altering their agenda. The only way Mrs. Clinton would be effective would be if the balance of power shifted in November elections. Otherwise, more of the same in DC.
3
Kasich is not, not has ever been, a moderate Republican..keep smoking..
11
That was supposed to read mortal fear, not mortal for.
3
The Clinton's have relied on everyone's decorum and good manners to get away with the lies they've pulled over the decades. Kasich isn't the avenger Americans want this cycle and hence is not a viable option. Man those lying Clinton's, they've got to be worried about Trump!
2
Those 'lying' Clintons, as you call them, are praying for Trump!
3
@AMM,
Thank you! Nice to hear from another person who understands.
Thank you! Nice to hear from another person who understands.
Well, it was reported that Ohio Democrats crossed over to vote for Kasich as they feared a Trump victory.
So who gives hope for the country? That is, if they want some kind of sanity preserved? The Democrats, if this is indeed what may have pulled off a Kasich victory. Trouble is, this was Kasich's home state. Other states' Dems may not be feeling so generous.
So who gives hope for the country? That is, if they want some kind of sanity preserved? The Democrats, if this is indeed what may have pulled off a Kasich victory. Trouble is, this was Kasich's home state. Other states' Dems may not be feeling so generous.
12
Hillary is a technocrat, that's the word, better than the horrible Republicans, as Gail notes, and better than the closet hard right anti-abortion Kasich. He's the best Republican, but not good enough. The obvious need is for another democrat.
32
Boulder, Gail? No. Pebble is more like it! At the moment, Kasich has less delegates than "lightweight" Marco. Wait till Trump comes with an unflattering moniker for Kasich.
15
A word to the wise: No matter if the Republicans lose the White House (which is only a possibility); they control most of the states and are having their way. We are in trouble. VOTE! and vote down-ticket.
494
Yep...we've seen first hand the wonderful work that the R's in Congress have accomplished over the last 5 plus years...the true party of NO. If the R's get the presidency and hold the Senate, this country will have its obituary written.
3
John Kasich had a television show once a week on Fox News from 2001-2007 called "Heartland" which was a Bill O'Reilly type show but with a kinder, gentler tone. That's where he developed his skills in front of a camera and his Mr. Nice-Guy Midwestern manner that masks his severely conservative core.
It also masks his confrontational approach to foreign policy. At one of the GOP debates (2/25), he was asked about his call for "regime change" in North Korea. When asked if he would go so far as to go to war, he said this:
“It would depend exactly what, you know, what was happening. What the situation was ... I'm also aware of the fact that there's 10 million people living in Seoul. So, you don't just run around making charges.”
He never even mentioned the lives of the 28,000 American troops guarding that line in South Korea. He sounded worse than Bush and even more clueless on national security policy. Publicly suggesting "regime change" in a country with nuclear weapons and a mentally unstable leader is a very dangerous thing to do.
We need a boulder between Kasich and the Oval Office, just as we do Trump and Cruz.
It also masks his confrontational approach to foreign policy. At one of the GOP debates (2/25), he was asked about his call for "regime change" in North Korea. When asked if he would go so far as to go to war, he said this:
“It would depend exactly what, you know, what was happening. What the situation was ... I'm also aware of the fact that there's 10 million people living in Seoul. So, you don't just run around making charges.”
He never even mentioned the lives of the 28,000 American troops guarding that line in South Korea. He sounded worse than Bush and even more clueless on national security policy. Publicly suggesting "regime change" in a country with nuclear weapons and a mentally unstable leader is a very dangerous thing to do.
We need a boulder between Kasich and the Oval Office, just as we do Trump and Cruz.
213
Mary Scott: To me, the lives of 28,000 American troops, which I do not dismiss, pale beside 10,000,000 civilian Koreans who could be obliterated by North Korea. Kasich picked the right number and the right people when he mentioned the danger of war with the North. To me he sounds almost cautious. I do not want to see him as President, but the quote you give is not a big reason.
18
@Thomas Zaslavsky: I find nothing "cautious" about calling for "regime change" in North Korea, as Mr. Kasich did.
My point about our 28,000 troops was not to diminish the scope of the devastation on South Korea but on the fact that the welfare of our military men and women must be a first consideration before we entertain any suggestion of military intervention that is not a response to a direct threat of an imminent attack on the United States.
My point about our 28,000 troops was not to diminish the scope of the devastation on South Korea but on the fact that the welfare of our military men and women must be a first consideration before we entertain any suggestion of military intervention that is not a response to a direct threat of an imminent attack on the United States.
10
Shortly after the Pueblo incident, I was a mere LT(jg) sent to Korea as Commanding Officer, MSTS Office, Inchon. It wasn't quite the DMZ, but it made no difference. If there was a war, we were in the crosshairs. We also knew that if it came to that, we were expendable. That's what the military do.
1
I admire Gail Collins' ability to present a neat factual summary while seeming to remain calm and mildly amused, though it seems the season has strained her humor.
In a field that has been making Genghis Khan look good, I have to admit that somebody as notably bad as Kasich would be a great relief. Too many of he American public appear willing to elect a shyster bully entirely lacking in self-awareness or a petty dictator who thinks God is on his side while he represses science and imposes a selective and repressive morality (though he insults Jesus, who seems to have been quite a nice guy with strong moral ideas about caring for others and against hoarding wealth and power).
So vote, please, vote!! Don't take your toys and go home just because your hero isn't there to fix things for you. We need a whole new passel of legislators, ones who care about climate and fairness and helping everyone get along. They might even influence the triangulators and hawks if they provide some real support for the alternative.
In a field that has been making Genghis Khan look good, I have to admit that somebody as notably bad as Kasich would be a great relief. Too many of he American public appear willing to elect a shyster bully entirely lacking in self-awareness or a petty dictator who thinks God is on his side while he represses science and imposes a selective and repressive morality (though he insults Jesus, who seems to have been quite a nice guy with strong moral ideas about caring for others and against hoarding wealth and power).
So vote, please, vote!! Don't take your toys and go home just because your hero isn't there to fix things for you. We need a whole new passel of legislators, ones who care about climate and fairness and helping everyone get along. They might even influence the triangulators and hawks if they provide some real support for the alternative.
186
Susan, great way to get Sanders' supporters to come around to your anointed one.....let's infantilize their desire to slow the march of their beloved country into a full fledged oligarchy by admonishing them not to "take your toys and go home". Sorry Mommy, I assure you that I will vote. At this point, I will vote for a third party candidate or will write in someone for whom I will not have to hold my nose and accept as the lessor of evils, albeit still evil. You want to get me and others to change our minds, make sure that by the end of the convention, the entire establishment is focused on reversing that oligarchic march.
1
Vote shaming won't work. HRC is actively disliked by independents, and some Dems, and that endangered species, reasonable Republicans. If she pivots, it's pandering. If she doesn't pivot, she's the Republican she really is at the core. Without an actual progressive in the Veep slot to work those ready for more hope and change, large numbers of people (Dems and independents and persuadable Republicans) will stay home, and no amount of nagging will get them out to vote.
This fall will be like the parable of the wind and sun, which had a bet on which was the stronger. They decided to settle the bet by deciding that the entity which could get the coat off of a traveler would be the stronger. The wind blew, and the more force she blew with, the tighter the traveler held the coat to himself. The sun shone in her turn, and sure enough, the traveler was 'inspired' to take his coat off.
You cannot nag people into liking HRC; it will backfire badly.
This fall will be like the parable of the wind and sun, which had a bet on which was the stronger. They decided to settle the bet by deciding that the entity which could get the coat off of a traveler would be the stronger. The wind blew, and the more force she blew with, the tighter the traveler held the coat to himself. The sun shone in her turn, and sure enough, the traveler was 'inspired' to take his coat off.
You cannot nag people into liking HRC; it will backfire badly.
3
Yes, Susan. At this point, the most important thing we can do is support, work for and vote for the Senators, Representatives, Governors and all the other government officials who, as you said, "care about climate and fairness and helping everyone get along." We have to take back our government to what it should be, "of the people and for the people."
1
The beauty of the Ohio open primary system is that it lets people like me vote in the Republican primary. I am a liberal and prochoice; in 2005, after Iraq and Coingate, I swore that I would not vote for a Republican for dogcatcher. But there I was, voting for Kasich in the Republican primary. (Now I get to look forward to four years of Republican junk mail, until the next primary election when I can change my party. Truly, there is no free lunch.)
Why did I do it? Let's be honest here - any Republican nominee will try to cut taxes on the rich and pass as many anti-abortion laws as he can get away with. I don't like it and that's why I don't vote for them in the general elections - but it's standard operating procedure for Republicans. All of them will pander to the wealthy and toss a few bones to the pro-life movement. But a President Trump? That would not be "business as usual." Say what you want about Kasich, but at least he's not a demagogue.
So Kasich won! Tonight, I'm happy. A vote for Kasich is a vote for a sane(r) less extreme Republican party.
Why did I do it? Let's be honest here - any Republican nominee will try to cut taxes on the rich and pass as many anti-abortion laws as he can get away with. I don't like it and that's why I don't vote for them in the general elections - but it's standard operating procedure for Republicans. All of them will pander to the wealthy and toss a few bones to the pro-life movement. But a President Trump? That would not be "business as usual." Say what you want about Kasich, but at least he's not a demagogue.
So Kasich won! Tonight, I'm happy. A vote for Kasich is a vote for a sane(r) less extreme Republican party.
53
When that Republican fund raising literature arrives with pre-paid envelopes be sure to return it to them - minus a contribution of course. Our postal system needs all the funding they can get.
6
HT, thank you for your service. From a retired Ohioan.
Well put. I am like you: A liberal and voting Democrats. But I would have voted for Kasich if I were in Ohio.
If we're starting to think of John Kasich as the most acceptable Republican in the Presidential sweepstakes I guess I can empathize with the voters in Iran who have to look far and wide to find a mullah they can believe in.
688
Boulder, now a Climate denier,
Privatizer who can not inspire,
Is he better than Trump?
Less a Boulder than Bump,
Outcome of the choosing is Dire!
Privatizer who can not inspire,
Is he better than Trump?
Less a Boulder than Bump,
Outcome of the choosing is Dire!
122
The Ohio governor's plan, or just a hope, is to carry a brokered convention. Right now, it seems that the Donald, will get to Cincinnati with more delegates than any other candidate. He may even get to the convention with a majority of delegates. If Donald is denied the nomination, in either case, does anyone expect his supporters to quietly accept the result and fall in place, supporting Kasich?
Remember Chicago in 1968? Cincinnati may be a lot more exciting.
Remember Chicago in 1968? Cincinnati may be a lot more exciting.
152
Arthur-- RNC is in Cleveland, not Cincinnati. Cleveland has the capability to hold such a meeting. That other town--no chance.
What is happening in Cincinnati?
Quick correction. Many folks outside Ohio think the GOP convention is going to take place in Cincinnati, because it is the most right wing city in the state. However, the convention is taking place up in Cleveland. It is surprising, since Cleveland is in a new growth mode, and progressive in thinking. I hate to see the GOP go to Cleveland and bring it down to GOP values. Everything good and positive in the city will just grind to a halt.
8
And when you think we are at the bottom, that things could not get worse, they do. Kind of scary when the guy who has no hope is the Republicans' last best hope.
221
The only thing for America this cycle is for the GOP to choose the least electable candidate and then we all hope for the better of the two Democrats.
Only this will force the GOP to rebuild itself into something worthy of being elected.
Only this will force the GOP to rebuild itself into something worthy of being elected.
139
They cannot so rebuild themselves. They are devoted to billionaires and sucker bait. The first is their mission and the second is their lifeblood. Without them both, they fade away.
30
I'm hoping for this but not very confident it will happen
1
I don't have much faith that the GOP will ever rebuild itself; the inability to self-reflect and the tendency to bury its head in the sand seem so entrenched as to be hard-wired into the GOP Establishment psyche.
5
Kasich is becoming the new golden boy of the media, who somehow present him as a moderate. He is anti-labor, anti-teacher, anti-choice. He's just another far-right republican but with a smiling face.
906
I agree. Kasich is no moderate. He's just as hard right as the rest of them - he just uses an indoor voice, which gets him labeled as a moderate.
35
Clinton, too, is a right-winger, though she doesn't seem to know it. Kasich is a good man, I think. He's not anti-labor although he is anti-union and anti-abortion. But he is more palatable than Secretary Clinton.
2
Don't forget anti- female ( women's health issues).
15
Kasich, winner of his state! Thwarter of Trump! The Republican version of Lincoln Chafee, with only slightly less charisma, who will block the inevitable rise of our first Fuhrer. Trump's supporters will cower at the Republican convention, and give up without a fight.
Women carrying unwanted fetuses will gladly give birth, knowing that Kasich has their best interests at heart. Sneaking those anti-abortion laws into unrelated bills showed resourcefulness, which everyone admires in a president. Women may have to labor for nine unwanted months, but hey, Kasich labored in obscurity for so long! His ship has finally come in, and as soon as he throws the rest of us overboard he'll pilot it to the White House.
Look, Obama took out Osama bin Laden. He provided affordable medical care for millions of the uninsured. He presided over the right for gay people to marry. He ended two wars, restored the economy against almost insurmountable odds and brought unemployment down to 4.9 percent. For God's sake, we can't let this Democratic nightmare continue!
So vote for Kasich, the least obviously bad Republican who may not be a moderate but who says he is, and that's something. At least when he lies it's not really obvious like with Trump or Cruz. So vote for the guy who might not be lying too much, and who will crush unions, stop abortions and ignore public education! There's a campaign slogan America can get behind.
No more "Feel the Bern!" Now it's "Feel 'Sich!"
Women carrying unwanted fetuses will gladly give birth, knowing that Kasich has their best interests at heart. Sneaking those anti-abortion laws into unrelated bills showed resourcefulness, which everyone admires in a president. Women may have to labor for nine unwanted months, but hey, Kasich labored in obscurity for so long! His ship has finally come in, and as soon as he throws the rest of us overboard he'll pilot it to the White House.
Look, Obama took out Osama bin Laden. He provided affordable medical care for millions of the uninsured. He presided over the right for gay people to marry. He ended two wars, restored the economy against almost insurmountable odds and brought unemployment down to 4.9 percent. For God's sake, we can't let this Democratic nightmare continue!
So vote for Kasich, the least obviously bad Republican who may not be a moderate but who says he is, and that's something. At least when he lies it's not really obvious like with Trump or Cruz. So vote for the guy who might not be lying too much, and who will crush unions, stop abortions and ignore public education! There's a campaign slogan America can get behind.
No more "Feel the Bern!" Now it's "Feel 'Sich!"
1022
He ended two wars,
america still spends $ 4,000,000 per HOUR in afghanisatn
is that now called ended
america still spends $ 4,000,000 per HOUR in afghanisatn
is that now called ended
6
..provided affordable medical care for millions of uninsured...
And extremely UNaffordable healthcare for scores of millions more. Ended two wars - is this the old "if we leave will they stop fighting" type of ending a war? And presided over the collapse of Libya and Syria to provide haven for a group that makes Al Qaida look downright neighborly.
Labor participation....puhlease... Sure Mr. Obama has accomplished some great things, but to imply that everything he has done is rosy and that GOPers are complete idiots is...umm... disingenuous to put it mildly.
And extremely UNaffordable healthcare for scores of millions more. Ended two wars - is this the old "if we leave will they stop fighting" type of ending a war? And presided over the collapse of Libya and Syria to provide haven for a group that makes Al Qaida look downright neighborly.
Labor participation....puhlease... Sure Mr. Obama has accomplished some great things, but to imply that everything he has done is rosy and that GOPers are complete idiots is...umm... disingenuous to put it mildly.
6
Sad but true. Thanks Gemli.
5
Being a hair's breadth this side of crazy, if shutting down abortion clinics even qualifies for that distinction, is hardly cause to vote for someone or be happy if he is elected.
410
Wait, you're from BC? Isn't that the other side of the future northern wall? But don't worry, it'll be a nice wall. Very, very nice. It'll be green, so green, and we'll build it with timbers we bought from you - old growth timbers so you can clear space for all the immigrants we aren't going to take anymore. And who's going to pay for it? That's right, Mexico!
But seriously, what's it take to get a visa to Canada, maybe citizenship?
But seriously, what's it take to get a visa to Canada, maybe citizenship?
26
But beware bleeding Americans, America does NOT deserve Trump.