If I heard a convincing case for Trump I'd be a Trump supporter. I just don't think that's a good excuse to be a total dick to someone who supports Trump.
Of course I haven't heard a good argument really for any of these top candidates. Most arguments start with, well they aren't as bad as Trump. Well shit, that doesn't exactly make me feel like I should support the other guy.
Here's the thing that's obnoxious. There's so much hyperbolic rhetoric about literally every other candidate that a deep analysis of any of the candidates is impossible without someone deciding you're some archetypal other who they've been trained to oppose.If people look at it as who's do I want to hire out of a finite list, instead of which person will advance my personal vision for the country, it becomes a lot easier to suss out.
To me Kasich is the most qualified guy in the race, he's the only guy who has governorship and work in the legislature on his resume. I disagree with him defunding planned parenthood but he's a right to work guy which I like. I'm a little concerned about electing Republicans because their base likes war. It's a lot easier for the Halliburton's and Northrup Grummonds to twist a republican into putting boots on the ground. Also as a vet I think my benefits will drain off the longer the republicans are in office. He's still the strongest executive.
Hillary has a similar learning curve to Kasich, she hasn't sat in the seat yet, but she was a big part of Bill's brain trust, in Arkansas and in DC. She is sharp, she is well connected, she could build a competent staff out of all her second choices. Obviously she was one of the Senators that cast the vote to send us into Iraq, and that should be marked on her grave, but if there's a single person who knows what the job will be like on day one it's HRC. She has foreign policy experience as Secretary of State which means she's most qualified to be commander in chief. She voted for my GI bill, so that's a big deal for me. Obviously there's some character questions, but until I see her in cuffs I'm just going to assume it's the same nothing that whitewater was. The reason I like Hillary best is because she can clear the way for Paul Ryan in 2020, who I've been pretty impressed by.
Sanders is 3rd for me, way longer resume than Cruz, generally more ethical than Cruz. A giant slut for unions, which I hate, but seems to have an ability to work with congressmen. The economy still needs more protections from Wall Street traders, and he's about the only guy who's not in their pockets, he also could have been the guy to be the next trust buster, which we desperately need.
Cruz is 4th for me, but the difference between 4th and 5th is way larger than the difference between 1st and 4th. Cruz is not dumb, no sir, he's a bridge burner, and a bit of a snake, but I do not foresee this guy getting overwhelmed. Unlike Rubio or JEB or Rand, Cruz is not easily flustered. He has a real chance of whipping Hillary one on one in the debates. Which is to say he has more of a presidential temperament than people give him credit for.