Patterico's Pontifications

7/27/2015

It’s About Time: Carly Fiorina Gaining In The Polls

Filed under: General — Dana @ 6:04 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Good news for Carly Fiorina supporters:

Public Policy Polling released a new national poll last week, which has Fiorina tied for sixth place with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)a nd Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

The PPP listed the GOP candidates in the following ranking:

Donald Trump with 19%
Scott Walker with 17%
Jeb Bush with 12%
Dr. Ben Carson and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) with 10%
Mike Huckabee with 8%
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Carly Fiorina, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) with 4%
Chris Christie and John Kasich with 3%
Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum with 1%
Jim Gilmore, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and George Pataki with less than 1%

Fiorina is tied for seventh place in a national Economist/YouGov poll conducted July 18th to July 20th:

Donald Trump with 28%
Jeb Bush with 14%
Scott Walker with 13%
Ben Carson with 7%
Rand Paul (R-KY) with 5%
Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tied with 4%
Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, and Mike Huckabee with 3%
Lindsey Graham, Rick Perry, John Kasich with 2%
Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum with 1%
George Pataki with 0%

If Fiorina can keep the momentum going, she’ll have a seat at the debates. Of course she still has to meet the criteria and place in the top 10 candidates based on the ranking from an average of five national polls. But it’s looking good for her right now.

Fiorina has been a tireless campaigner. She gives non-stop interviews and unlike her female rival, she is always available to the press and doesn’t shy away from questioning.

In a debate this weekend with Jess McIntosh of Emily’s List, Fiorina was nothing less than fierce as she eloquently destroyed her:

–Dana

132 Responses to “It’s About Time: Carly Fiorina Gaining In The Polls”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (86e864)

  2. She’s formidable.

    Not bulletproof: There are legitimate criticisms to level at her tenure as HP’s CEO, but on balance her performance in the world of commerce is solid — and SPECTACULARLY better than that other fraudulent con-man who pretends to be a businessman, and who has had his b*llsh*t apparently swallowed hook line & sinker by many at PJ Media.

    But she deserves more attention.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  3. I like this version of Carly. A lot.

    JD (3898b3)

  4. (Sorry, I ought not carp here, at Patterico.com, about my frustrations with PJ Media. But it makes me very angry to see the D____ treated like he’s anything other than a clown and con-man in media that ought to know better. Mea culpa.)

    Beldar (fa637a)

  5. I watched that exchange yesterday and Fiorina was dynamite. All the talk of taxpayer funding and the alleged “good work” PP does, e.g., breast cancer screening, etc. and Fiorina said (I’ll paraphrase), wait a minute… I thought Obamacare was supposed to provide all that… it was enough to give her talking points-equipped opponent a true deer-in-the-headlights look.

    Way to go, Carly Fiorina!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  6. If Fiorina had made a name for herself in the political arena nationwide over the past several years, and if a large cross section of people of this nation are not total idiots — and if the idea of a different gender than commonly associated with a US presidential election is worth a damn — she and not Hillary should have easily made a mark as the front runner. However, again, that’s assuming a good percentage of the electorate is not blinded by cuckoo liberalism.

    There’s something deranged in the psyche of those people who are fully aware of the scroungy, blatantly dishonest background of Bill’s wife yet who’ve been giving her thumbs up in opinion polls over the past few years, if not longer.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  7. the no information crowd, in the entertainment and women’s magazines, play up hillary, with the gauzy
    sentimentality that would be toxic at hallmark cards,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  8. treated like he’s anything other than a clown and con-man in media that ought to know better. Mea culpa.)

    I’d sympathize with your take on things if the culture hadn’t been paralyzed by absurd levels of political correctness — by Nidal-Hassan-ism — over the past many years and if it therefore wouldn’t be such a big thing for any public figure to come out and be candid or blunt about socio-economic issues or controversies facing the US. Trump is full of squish-squish and New-York bluster, but I give him kudos for at least shaking up the milquetoast hierarchy of the “compassionate conservative” — the go-along-to-get-along — wing of the Republican Party, not to mention the Wall-Street- and/or limousine-liberal smoothies of both parties.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  9. Just say “they scare the living sh!t out of me” Mark. That’s what I do to anyone who’ll listen.

    Hoagie (f4eb27)

  10. You’ve all herd the terms “self hating Catholics”, or “self hating Jews” or even “self hating whites”. But the real problem is leftists, the Self Hating Americans. Maybe this brilliant and lovely lady can change some of that.

    Hoagie (f4eb27)

  11. Depending on who the Democrats eventually nominate, it won’t be Hillary – she’s damaged goods, Ctarly Fiorina just might find herself on the VP short list.

    ropelight (f9622d)

  12. Donald Trump with 28%

    Leviticus (eda872)

  13. Hillary with more than 1% is more of an indictment than any number Trump puts up.

    JD (34f761)

  14. Simply as a former HP customer, she was a disaster at her day job. And she will at some point be forced to discuss her HP tenure,including shipping HP jobs overseas.I understand that she is well-spoken, but simply ripping Hillary! is simply not nearly enough.

    Bugg (5f4a83)

  15. I’m not much for the “It’s time for a woman” BS.

    I’m not anything for it.

    Carly Fiorina is one sharp cookie.

    She probably wouldn’t want to force me to tell lies about hills and following her up them.

    I like her. She’s got my vote.

    Steve57 (0412d7)

  16. the Self Hating Americans.

    Those type of people are really contemptible when they have the ability to vote with their feet and the moving van, are fully aware of that ability, will take advantage of that option at the drop of the hat, yet love to sound like idealistic nitwits when they pretend there are no aspects of loony liberalism that will make them (that will force them to) vote with their feet and the moving van.

    That’s why such people should be offered one-way tickets to Venezuela or, closer to the US, places like Ferguson, Missouri.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  17. I’m not much for the “It’s time for a woman” BS.

    The folks who most love to proclaim a female is long overdue as the occupant of the Oval Office conveniently and disingenuously sidestep the fact they actually mean “it’s time for a LIBERAL woman.”

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  18. I feel so much better now that I know that Beldar agrees with me about Donald Trump being 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag.

    Beldar, as an Iowa i swear to do everything I can to derail the Trump Train before it builds up too much momentum.

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  19. yes, but it’s performance since then has been uneven,

    https://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=HPQ+Interactive#{“range”:”max”,”allowChartStacking”:true}

    narciso (ee1f88)

  20. Bugg, if you were a computer of HP personal computers your complaint is fully justified. They started off being designed, engineered, and manufactured by HP in the US. Then only designed and engineered … then not even that. They became, under Carly’s tenure, a re-brander of Chinese and Korea PCs that, well, were commodity products that sucked.

    But PCs were only a tiny fraction of HP’s business over time, and although briefly a big part of their revenues, that was, in hindsight and in toto, a blip.

    HP was a scientific instruments company first, then a printer company plus other things, then a failed re-brander and -marketer of PCs, and now they’re something else. The Compaq merger was bold and ambitious, but in hindsight disastrous for the PC lines of business of both companies. That’s why I say Carly’s actual record as a CEO is subject to genuine criticism.

    But compared to Trump, or especially Hillary!, she’s a f’ing business genius. And while her strategic foresight can be faulted, in hindsight, she did a lot of things right. She certainly has been under the brightly focused business spotlight, she knows how to lead a board, and she’s got most of Mitten Romney’s pluses without his negatives (even before we put her chromosomes under a microscope).

    I’d very much like to see her on-stage in the main GOP debates. I think she’s more likely a Veep candidate because she lacks experience as an elected public servant, and she won’t carry her home state. But I’m a fan.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  21. Bah, “consumer of personal computers,” I meant to write.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  22. Pre-emptive strike: I am not defending Trump, but: Beldar and Russ and anyone else who feels that he his nothing more than a really wealthy con-man, how do you explain his increasing popularity? And, what do you propose the right should do about it to show that there is a *better* alternative to his braggadocio ways? Give me something concrete. And keep in mind that Trump’s wealth has kept him well insulated in that he doesn’t have to back down and he is unafraid of being sued. Frankly, he thrives on being attacked. And he is not one to shy away from a challenge. So waht to do?

    Personally, I am not, nor have I ever been a Trump fan. But what I think he has done is provide an alternative to those who are fed up to here with an impotent GOP. He has been both a gift to the left and to the political class on the right. I understand voter frustration, though, and I can see where people are at the point of any port in the storm, and there’s Trump at the ready.

    McConnell’s stunt yesterday only gave credence to the complaints about the political class screwing over the every man as well as reinforcing their belief that someone needs to loudly fight back. Trump shrewdly and brazenly saw an opportunity and grabbed it. McConnell and his ilk have given birth to this discontent and they cannot seem to grasp that they own it, and that they will be unable to bring angry Republicans back into the fold with the likes of Jeb Bush.

    So you tell me, what to do with a problem like Trump – but more importantly, what to do with a fractured and fed-up GOP?

    Dana (86e864)

  23. but: Beldar and Russ and anyone else who feels that he his nothing more than a really wealthy con-man, how do you explain his increasing popularity?

    I don’t mind people thumping Trump if they’re (1) truly conservative, (2) disdainful of same-ol’, same-ol’ boring squishes like Jeb Bush, (3) disgusted by shh-shh-please-don’t-rock-the-boat geezers like Mitch McConnell, and (4) are far more contemptuous of any flat-out Democrat/liberal.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  24. the important point is to internalize what Codevilla has said,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  25. Let the big dog eat.

    ropelight (f9622d)

  26. Carly also spent a long time at AT&T/Lucent in various executive capacities before HP. There is not a business executive alive who has 100% success and approval when running departments and companies and dealing with stockholders and profit/loss. The “politics” and cut throat competition for power within large companies rivals almost anything in governmental politics. Only difference is the CEO and VPs are hired by a board rather than directly by voters.

    http://www.ibtimes.com/who-carly-fiorinas-husband-meet-frank-fiorina-2016-candidates-biggest-booster-1907199

    This early in the campaign cycle I do not plan to watch the first debate (unless Carly is on the stage, then I might).

    elissa (5a4897)

  27. McIntosh probably would outscore Fiorina by a wide margin with the low-info voter there because of how she came across. Fiorina was scowling.

    Gerald A (949d7d)

  28. == how do you explain his increasing popularity? ==

    Americans like celebrities. And this should help! NBA star Dennis Rodman who appeared on Trump’s celebrity apprentice has endorsed the Donald.

    “Donald Trump has been a great friend for many years. We don’t need another politician, we need a businessman like Mr. Trump! Trump 2016”

    Although Trump has his detractors, Rodman’s announcement isn’t likely to be as controversial as the former star forward’s travels to North Korea to visit another “friend,” the dictator Kim Jong-un.

    But despite that controversial association, Trump wasn’t shying away from Rodman’s recommendation, responding on Twitter: “Thank you Dennis Rodman! It’s time to make America great again.”

    http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/donald-trump-wins-crucial-dennis-rodman-endorsement.html/

    elissa (5a4897)

  29. Dana, he’s not nearly as wealthy as he claims to be.

    He was very nearly personally bankrupt in the 1990s. His success since then is mostly from the “Trump Brand Name,” his totally subject (and highly suspect) evaluation of which is more than half of his claimed net worth. Most of his current fortune is the result of his public persona as a reality TV star. He’s squarely in the middle of the category of people for whom all publicity is good publicity — that is, people who rely upon the truth of the adage that you can fool some of the people all of the time.

    He’s never been a public servant of any sort. He’s never been a conservative in anything but the most shallow and provocative of talking points, without even the pretense of backup therefor.

    I know, and have worked my entire career, among serious business people. In those circles, I’ve known of and about Trump since the early 1990s. I know of no one who thinks he’s a serious or reputable business man.

    H. Ross Perot was a stalking horse for Bill Clinton. He was bat-sh*t crazy, but at least EDS was a real business that had something to sell besides Ross Perot.

    Donald Trump is a stalking horse for Hillary! He is bat-sh*t crazy, but he has nothing to sell except “The Donald” and his (carefully focus-grouped but undisciplinedly executed) polemics.

    Like all genuinely memorable con men, he’s tapped into a wide and deep streak of genuine frustration and discontent. That’s how I explain his current polling numbers.

    But if you’re going to look at his current polling status, you’re being intellectually dishonest if you fail to also look at his negatives. And more than half of the likely voters identifying themselves as Republicans say they won’t vote for him in any circumstance whatsoever.

    So he’s not in this for the GOP nomination. He’s therefore in this either to build the Trump Brand Name (see above, all publicity is good publicity), or to spoil the election by denying media and public attention on plausible alternatives among the many, many announced GOP candidates, in order to throw it to another Clinton as Perot did in 1992. Those are not mutually inconsistent alternatives; rather, they’re entirely consistent.

    I don’t blame those who think he’s their brash and bold champion. I pity them for their faith in so unworthy and inappropriate a champion. I wish I could persuade them to look past their entirely justifiable anger at how they’ve been betrayed by the Old School Republicans (I’m looking directly at Boehner, McConnell, and at least a half-dozen conventional GOP candidates who are mushy squishes who’d be better than Hillary! but no better than Mittens or McCain.) Their complaints and dissatisfaction are genuine, but so too were the complaints and dissatisfaction of the Russians peasants under Nicolas II. That didn’t mean that Lenin was the solution to their problems, no more than it means that Trump is the solution now. And Trump isn’t even Lenin (although he’s a life-long crony capitalist leftist) — he’s Rasputin.

    I refuse to pretend that Trump’s the answer to anything. I’m open to debate and discussion about other candidates, and I have some whom I could easily support, and others who I’d support reluctantly. But I don’t have a single good word to say about the Donald, and while I don’t wish to insult or anger anyone who’s been suckered by him, I won’t pretend that he’s anything other than a con-man trolling for suckers.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  30. Some Americans like Trump because they want fighters, especially when their elected representatives and leaders are anything but.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  31. “Fighter” is a poor job description for a public servant, without more, DRJ.

    Hillary! is a fighter. Obama is a fighter.

    “Fighter” means someone who can pound a podium and tap into people’s anger. That doesn’t translate into results.

    Calvin Coolidge wasn’t a fighter, but he was a helluva POTUS. Ronald Reagan was a fighter, but he had substance and character and principles to back it up.

    The Donald is a blow-hard. Don’t confuse that for a “fighter” in the sense that the GOP — or America — needs today.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  32. To anyone who says The Donald is a “fighter,” I challenge you:

    Point to ONE THING that The Donald has ever delivered to conservatives, from the day of his birth to this good minute. Just one.

    I’ll wait.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  33. I am not a fan of Trump,
    but his popularity shows that a lot of people are very frustrated and waiting for someone to stand and scream enough is enough

    if you don’t want Trump to be popular, find someone of character and courage who is willing to tell the truth, but in a much more articulate and responsible way

    It should not be hard to say that nobody thinks illegal felons should be protected in our midst, including other people who came into our country from Mexico.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  34. Trump is saying things other Republicans are apparently afraid to say. He’s like the little child who yells “The Emperor has no clothes.” There is value in that when no one else will speak.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  35. I believe Trump is running to get Hillary elected. That’s all. The fact that conservatives are rallying around him is truly absurd.

    Gerald A (949d7d)

  36. If Trump makes the other candidates stand up and speak out, then he will have served a useful purpose.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  37. hate and curse trump all you want,
    what is needed is someone who can do better than him identifying with the frustration of a large number of Americans and be thoughtful and reponsible

    I hope someone shows up, because i don’t think trump would be a good president,
    but maybe he is just a messenger telling others what a large segment of the public wants
    killing the messenger doesn’t help anything

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  38. Beldar,

    You don’t have to convince me about Trump. As I said, I am not a fan.

    With that, how to convince an angry public looking for anyone that appears willing to push back and make a stand? What you’re missing is that the average angry voter doesn’t care about what they see as superfluous, and that would include lack of conservative principles, inexperience, a self-serving agenda, unknown policies, etc. It doesn’t matter to them because they are angry. It’s a mass visceral reaction. That’s what he’s tapped into. It’s simple to them. You are intellectualizing it and they are emotional about it.

    Dana (86e864)

  39. I don’t think it’s absurd, gerald, at least not as absurd as a whole lot of other things.

    he says we are letting in a lot of criminals among all those we let in through our porous border, and there is a murder and he says, “See”

    pretty common sense, it seems

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  40. I agree with Beldar on this one. First off Trump is no conservative. He is a business man and Trump is his business. Beldar called it, he is todays Rasputin. Mostly because Hillary! cornered the Lenin market. In the end Trump will trump himself with his big fat mouth. But we will owe him a debt of thanks for waking up a few liberal Republicans and perhaps some moderates and Reagan Democrats (if any are still alive). I am certain he will not be the candidate but he sure is drawing fire away from the good guys with his big mouth. For that we thank you Donald.

    Hoagie (f4eb27)

  41. Presidents are elected by energized, emotional voters who are invested in the candidate’s message. Someone in the GOP field needs to realize this if you want Trump to go away.

    I prefer Cruz and Trump is taking Cruz’s support more than anyone else’s, so I hope Trump doesn’t last. But that doesn’t keep me from seeing why Trump attracts supporters.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  42. Further, while a number of us don’t take him seriously, it’s foolish to not recognize that a who lot of voters do. They see him as a serious candidate worthy of their vote.

    Dana (86e864)

  43. So, if it comes down to Trump or a Democrat, any Democrat, who gets your vote?

    ropelight (f9622d)

  44. so the question, is why doesn’t Fiorina have traction,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  45. Let me ask how many actual “average angry voters” are out there do you think, Dana? DRJ? others? When I am present on righty blogs it feels like a whole lot of deep passion. When I am out in the world every day I don’t hear nearly as much anger or furor. And Barack Obama after all was elected twice and his approval ratings currently are among the highest of his presidency. I am frankly having a very hard time getting a bead on the American electorate in 2015. It’s pretty clear Hillary’s not lighting anyone’s fire. But I would think average people would have gone ballistic over the IRS abuses and the lack of any immigration enforcement structure. The high court’s recent Obamacare ruling was mostly met with a big “meh”. I ‘d have thought many’d be howling over the Planned Parenthood tapes and the violence of “Black Lives Matter” protests. I’d have guessed the Iran deal would have concerned most sentient Americans. I guess the jury’s still out on that one.

    elissa (6f27c7)

  46. #45, narciso, She hasn’t held any elective office, she lost her last attempt, her departure from HP wasn’t good.

    ropelight (f9622d)

  47. ==She hasn’t held any elective office, ==

    And yet according to polls many Conservatives take Dr. Ben Carson’s candidacy quite seriously, ropelight.

    elissa (6f27c7)

  48. elissa,

    What matters is how many people will donate, campaign, work on GoTV, and vote in the primaries. You can call them angry but I call them energized. Energized liberals made the difference for Obama and energized conservatives will make the difference for the GOP.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  49. I was using Dana’s terminology @39, DRJ.

    elissa (6f27c7)

  50. dr.carson comes off as more eloquent, unspoiled because he hasn’t run before, of course the entertainment cartel, has demonized him for his frank views, because there is only one acceptable view,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  51. I understand that, elissa. I thought you were trying to make a point and I responded to it. Do you care to discuss it or not?

    DRJ (1dff03)

  52. This is a generalization but most people don’t vote because they’re mad. Most people vote because they’re inspired. The GOP hasn’t bothered to inspire anyone for decades.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  53. I love the Dr. Carson I see on TV and in op eds. But he is no more prepared to actually be POTUS than you or I are. I hope you’re not suggesting he’s more qualified than Carly because he’s “eloquent and unspoiled”?

    elissa (6f27c7)

  54. Elissa and DRJ,

    I think when angry voters began to see Trump as the answer, he responded and it energized and impassioned them.

    Dana (86e864)

  55. when we have a sizable plurality that is certifiable,

    http://www.steynonline.com/7073/and-then-there-were-none

    and they hold court in the most critical institutions. spreading mind arson,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  56. DRJ- I hope this doesn’t sound argumentative but I think you need to hash out the psychology of the “angry” versus “inspired” voter thing with Dana. My question has more to do with trying to assess the numbers/sheer volume of disaffected (angry) voters out there both on the right and moderate left that she and others see and believe could be inspired or won over by”the truth”–whoever the truth teller is.

    elissa (6f27c7)

  57. how far away are we from any contest, elissa, this far,

    http://www.tagthebird.com/us/tweet/6008248

    narciso (ee1f88)

  58. Elissa,

    Do you believe that the voters for Trump could not be won over by another candidate? It sounds like it and I want to make I’m reading it right.

    I know what the polls say now, but I am also hearing callers on Rush and local talk radio go on about how frustrated they are and that Trump “speaks to them”. Today, a man told Rush that his wife and kids were voting for Trump and he was distressed about it. My point being, while I haven’t personally spoken with anyone moved to get behind Trump, clearly they’re out there.

    Dana (86e864)

  59. Many things are huge about Donald Trump… his ego… his mouth… his number of failed enterprises… his smarm. He does speak his mind, which is sometimes good, but usually not so good. His negatives outweigh his positives, I agree with Beldar’s assessment and, again, I say that I think he’s in this to get Clinton elected – he has donated to her campaigns on several occasions – and ask if there was no doubt, would he be doing anything different fhan what he’s doing now?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  60. Trump is a buffoon. We’ve been afflicted with a class “A” clown in the Oval Office for 6.5 years, let’s not allow this to happen again.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  61. I watched the Fiorina interview. I have followed what she has to say. I would vote for her in a heartbeat. Trump, not so much. I do like what he is doing, though.

    Full disclosure. I worked for EDS until it was bought out by HP. HP decided my services were unnecessary. I don’t really blame the idiots who ran HP or EDS at the time. Fiorina was not involved.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  62. Dana, I can’t respond because don’t know who the “voters for Trump” are. I don’t know if the polls going into the first debate are accurate, or who is being asked what questions and if they’re being answered honestly. I don’t know if the callers to talk radio are even Republicans. I don’t know what is real and what is astroturf. I prolly should quit commenting on the 2016 election for a while because I am so thoroughly irritated at the number of “candidates” and so thoroughly irritated that as a public we are being pushed and manipulated into this election cycle so darn early (mostly by the media I think). I know I sound very crabby. 🙂

    elissa (6f27c7)

  63. Seriously folks. TRUMP IS A CLOWN. A BIG CLOWN. A CLOWN WITH A BIG RED NOSE. I

    Gus (7cc192)

  64. If you cannot RECOGNIZE that TRUMP is MASTURBATING himself 24/7, then you are a fool.
    What is wrong with us??? Listen to what THEY SAY. EDUCATE yourself about WHO the candidate is. Find out YOURSELF what the CANDIDATE has LIVED. Start separating the WHEAT from the CHAFF. Trump is saying POPULOUS stuff, and oft, he is right. Trump is a clown and is not going to be President. Trump is about as honest and principled as Anthony Weiner.
    We have several viable options who are HONORABLE, HONEST and PRINCIPLED. Trump NOT SO MUCH.
    WALKER, CRUZ, FIORINA, RUBIO and a couple others including JINDAL are HONORABLE. GOOD PEOPLE.
    What is wrong with us?? Is AMERICA done???

    Gus (7cc192)

  65. Why even note YouGov polls? They are not statistically relevant, and will not be considered in determining the debates. (I’m against using polls at all to winnow the field at first; but if it must be, it should at least be those with good methodology).

    The sample is self-selected, then the answers are “balanced” demographically to match the population. In other words, the data is manipulated.

    Estragon (ada867)

  66. And Barack Obama after all was elected twice and his approval ratings currently are among the highest of his presidency.

    And, in comparison, George W Bush, who wasn’t a fraction as inept and destructive — and leftwing — as his successor has been, nonetheless saw lower ratings for a greater length of time. I’d interpret that to being due to, quite simply, a lot of sappy, feel-good liberalism infusing the populace. Such an attitude almost always results in greater leeway (ie, benefit of the doubt) being given to politicians of the left, less of that, if any, to politicians of the right.

    I’m not sure how a Donald Trump will maneuver through that reality since his biggest shortcoming is his own philosophically squishy side—how else to explain his lack of utter disdain for Hillary, regardless of his presumably often running into her on the cocktail circuit and being surrounded by an avalanche of limousine liberals in general throughout Manhattan. Yet some of his biggest detractors among the Republican elite may, interestingly enough, be approaching him from the left or certainly squishy middle.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  67. Consider one thing about potential Trump voters. Right now they’re so happy about his attacks on the GOP establishment that they overlook his stated policy positions.

    He’s for single payer health care. He’s for more gun control. He’s sure as hell for politicians who are willing to give up the quid in exchange for the pro quo.

    He’s not only a supporter of the Kelo decision, he’s personally drafted local politicians to use eminent domain to further his interests.

    Compared to Trump, Christine O’Donnell was a model candidate. So he hates the GOP leadership. Who cares? So does Cruz. And I don’t see Walker running to their defense. Is this Blow Dried Buffoon really our best hope?

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  68. Trump is saying all the right things now that he’s running for president, but his prior deeds don’t match his words.

    Walker might not be as strident on illegal immigration as Trump is, but he has a track record of bucking the headwinds and delivering conservative results.

    So vote for Trump and get 40-50% of what you want or vote for Walker and get 80% of what you want…..but you don’t get the insults. I guess you need to decide if you want results or insults.

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  69. Oops. Double post. Cleanup on aisle 69 please. I’m calling in the airstrike on my own post.

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  70. Nevermind. The double must have been a glitch on my phone.

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  71. I used Walker in my comparison, but Fiorina would be better than Trump as well. I’m a Walker guy, but Fiorina isn’t a dealbreaker for me.

    Russ from Winterset (4335ca)

  72. On an earlier thread, in a century long past, in a galaxy far, far away, I made a throw away comment about how rifles made inefficient clubs.

    I should have been more specific.

    Some rifles make inefficient clubs. A Winchester M1894, for instance. One good whack and you’ll be holding a steadily diminishing supply of broken parts as the rest fly off.

    A Pennsylvania long rifle, on the other hand. You can get your one shot off and beat four or five guys to death, and it will be no worse for wear.

    Worst case, the beating will only add to the patina.

    http://www.nativeartstrading.com/gun_stock_war_clubs.htm

    I regret the error, and will try to be more precise in the future.

    Steve57 (0412d7)

  73. “Fiorina is tied for seventh place ….”

    No, Fiorina is tied for 8th place. Cruz and Rubio are tied for 6th place, which means the 6th and 7th places are already taken.

    As Barbie might say, “Simple numbering is hard”.

    Dusty (2c3a32)

  74. Carly Fiorina what do you think about the abortions and stuff?

    I think they’re really bad and we have to make it to where they’re not selling the livers.

    Thank you Carly Fiorina for being here today on the show.

    Thank you for having me.

    happyfeet (831175)

  75. Reporters keep saying how unpolished first cut Trump’s speech is, but you have to admit even if you hate him for a deep in the grass Demo plot to split the GOP (why would they need one with MCConnell, Boener, and Roberts, already reporting for duty?) Trump is better at speaking extemporaneously then Carly.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  76. I do thank the Donald for a hand in the Boosh/Rubes swoon.

    DNF (208255)

  77. Trump is better at speaking extemporaneously then Carly.

    Fiorina says so much in so few words. With Trump, you get a clown nose, a combover, bloviation and daily nonsensical retractions.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  78. The anti-Trump comments surprise me. For the sake of argument, let’s agree Trump is a clown, a joke, a buffoon, or perhaps even a Democratic plant. Let’s agree some of his supporters may not be Republicans, and they could be Independents or Democrats wanting to mess up the GOP race.

    But the fact is Trump is leading the GOP race. There have to be some Republicans supporting him, and probably quite a few. Either Americans are dumb — and I suspect most of you feel that way based on your comments — or Trump is saying something that resonates with everyday people. Republicans like this field of candidates and they are interested in the race, so I’m going with the latter.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  79. PS — The poll linked in my last comment was taken before Trump entered the race, but I don’t think his entry will sour people on the GOP field if they already liked it.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  80. And our last nominee actually implemented cap and trade and mass care. Newt had notions of same, but never had the power to do so

    narciso (ee1f88)

  81. As long as Republicans act like democrats a-holes like Trump will get attention. All those Trump folks are sayin’ is “give me a Republican that talks like a Republican should”.

    Hoagie (f4eb27)

  82. What worries me is I don’t think Trump is an idiot. He plays the clown, and I’ve called him a clown. But he’s just not stupid.

    Steve57 (0412d7)

  83. no he’s not a clown, he’s the ring master, the fact that he went along with the ‘bush lied’ carp counts strongly against him,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  84. Trump is in it for Trump. These are unhappy times in America, and unhappy times generate unhappy political outcomes.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  85. Remember DRJ Trump is considered a classy Ted…

    EPWJ (8f75af)

  86. steve57

    Trump is very stupid, his fathers trust is the real player behind his real estate ventures – an analysis is going to show that he’s actually not worth anything due to his offshore financial obligations – he has loans everywhere

    Its not hard to get a start in the 70’s being worth several hundred million dollars – from your daddy

    EPWJ (8f75af)

  87. EPWJ,

    You seem to think a lot of people are stupid.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  88. Trump is probably the mostest easy-to-rhyme candidate followed closely by Mr. Governor Walker

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  89. DRJ

    Me, just little ole me think(know) Trump is stupid? – look at his record.

    EPWJ (8f75af)

  90. he’s trump he’s trump

    he’s in my head

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  91. People really didn’t think Cruz had a chance did they? Seriously? well have a good everybody

    Anyone have fund raising numbers – apparently the Democrats are forming up behind Bush, if this is true (which is too far out to have any real certainty) but if this is true – its already over

    EPWJ (8f75af)

  92. People really didn’t think Cruz had a chance did they?

    You thought Dede Scozzafava had — or deserved — a chance.

    Case closed.

    Mark (3ed2ac)

  93. Very soon now, Democrats will attack Fiorina for being an mean aggressive pushy *itch.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  94. I am dying to see Captain BK at a debate with 8 smart people who despise him. Plus Huckabee.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  95. AS promised:

    https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1688866-cruz-incident-report.html

    I have on belief there is another incident in 2010 again.

    Will see if I can get my hands on that report – if it exsts

    EPWJ (8f75af)

  96. You’re a broken record, Eric.

    nk (dbc370)

  97. FWIW, what I know about Carly Fiorina is that she was supposed to be a brilliant businesswoman who was in charge of HP for awhile to a mixed review and ran for some office in CA and lost (I think Senator). I’m guessing most people outside of CA and outside of big business interests know about the same, hence low ratings.

    That may be unfair, but that’s what I know.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  98. Trump is only out for Trump. That’s hysterical.

    Last I checked there’s only one candidate why said. Keep your money I don’t need it.

    All the rest of them have their hand out. The worst of the rest of them have their hand in your pocket already.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  99. Last I checked there’s only one candidate why said. Keep your money I don’t need it.

    He doesn’t need it yet.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  100. Trump has been endorsed by The Daily Stormer. Who else can claim that?

    nk (dbc370)

  101. Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and the rest of the GOP’s leadership are doing to the Party’s brand? Just this week-end, McConnell shut down efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, fight sanctuary cities, kill Obamacare and stop Iran from getting nukes because they might get in the way of pushing corporate welfare. At this point, Boehner and McConnell might as well just wear the logos of the corporations and wealthy donors that sponsor them

    From John Hawkins 5 reasons Donald Trumps run at the Presidency is good for the Republic.

    Other choice cuts.

    If Trump does nothing else other than stop a few dozen super wealthy families from making Jeb Bush our nominee, we should build a larger than life statue of him with his name in gold at the bottom as thanks.

    After Reince Priebus at the RNC started to interfere in the presidential primary by attacking Trump and there were rumblings that Trump should be left out of the debates, we started hearing that the Donald might run third party. After that, Reince Priebus suddenly remembered what his job was again and started calling on everyone to be civil.

    there’s a huge plus to the “all Trump, all the time” coverage that most people have missed. In the 2008 and 2012 elections, the mainstream media and the establishment picked the candidates they liked best (McCain and Mitt) and then they systematically destroyed anybody else who started to get any traction.

    He’s forcing the other candidates to up their game: If candidates use nothing but “safe” boilerplate jargon to ensure that they don’t offend anyone and act as if we have a thousand years to fix the problems we have in this country, that’s fine, but no one’s ever going to hear their name with Donald Trump in the race.
    Ted Cruz called out Mitch McConnell for lying to Republicans on the Senate floor. Rand Paul took a chainsaw to the tax code. Bobby Jindal is threatening to arrest the Westboro Baptist Church wackos if they protest the funerals of mass shooting victims. Mike Huckabee pointed out that Obama’s Iran deal very well may lead to a genocide like the Holocaust.

    These are all GOOD THINGS.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  102. 4) He’s getting the candidates talking about issues that matter to people: The failed Republican leadership in Congress has made it abundantly clear that it doesn’t care about anything other than slavishly serving the interests of a few thousand ultra-wealthy donors and corporations.

    Meanwhile, Donald Trump is talking about securing the border, looking out for veterans, fixing the lousy trade deals we make in this country, getting our hostages out of Iran and stopping the massive crime wave that has been created by taking in so many illegal immigrants. These are issues that come up again and again when real people are talking as opposed to issues the GOP leaders talk about with the lobbyists that pay them off.

    Suddenly, even people who hate Trump’s guts are talking about sanctuary cities because he turned it into an issue. Quite frankly, neither party is looking out for the best interests of the American people on illegal immigration; so it’s refreshing to see the GOP field being forced to address it. It shouldn’t have taken Trump to get a real conversation going.

    Trump is the rolled up newspaper smacking the GOP across the nose, as they keep pissing on the carpet.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  103. No, he’s more the defiant old dog who keeps sh*tting on the carpet.

    Colonel Haiku (c5bbac)

  104. Show me the spot.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  105. Speaking of politics:

    Could Trump win?
    Pat Buchanan predicts Donald will be part of ‘the Final Four’ 6 months from now

    Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/07/could-trump-win/#3GOKdRXfVzoqmkCr.99

    I…

    don’t have the words.

    Steve57 (20f7d7)

  106. “Show me the spot.”

    papertiger (c2d6da) — 7/28/2015 @ 11:47 am

    Only if I get to rub yer nose in it, tiger!

    Colonel Haiku (c5bbac)

  107. Once Trump sees that to get on the primary ballots in fifty-seven states you need organization and foot soldiers to go around gathering signatures, and that’s going to cost more than Chelsea’s condo, then we’ll see if he puts his money where his duckface is. What is it with pickle-sucking pout, BTW? Is it to correct a speech impediment or acquired otherwise?

    nk (dbc370)

  108. Only if I get to rub yer nose in it, tiger!

    Colonel Haiku (c5bbac) — 7/28/2015 @ 2:22 pm

    You think I’m new here? That’s a given. Whatcha got?

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  109. This is my surprised face.

    http://legalinsurrection.com/2015/07/only-one-felony-charge-stands-against-rick-perry/

    One down, one to go

    …Count 1 could still pose problems for Perry. The court was unable to dismiss the abuse of power charge because, under Texas criminal procedure laws, “as applied” challenges have to be brought to trial and cannot be adjudicated during the pre-trial phase. Still, leading attorneys believe that the statute upon which that charge is based is unconstitutional.

    Eugene Volokh explains:

    …But this count suffers from two independently fatal flaws: (1) the legislature is not allowed to criminalize the governor’s exercise of his veto power, and (2) Governor Perry is entitled to absolute legislative immunity for any exercise of his veto power.

    …There are, of course, constitutional limits on the governor’s veto power…

    …None of these constitutionally permissible acts authorizes criminal prosecution for the governor’s exercise of his constitutionally prescribed veto power…

    Steve57 (20f7d7)

  110. Listened to Fiorina today on Howie Carr’s show. My take – Eh. She is flirting for a v.p. spot with one of the establishment sheep.

    mg (31009b)

  111. Mark Meadows is trying to unseat boehner as lead dip stick. God Bless you Mr. Meadows,

    mg (31009b)

  112. Here are a few of Trump’s droppings…

    USA trade deals:
    “When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let’s say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time. All the time.”

    Mexico:
    “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. (…) They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

    Obamacare and golf:
    “And that’s what’s happening. And it’s going to get worse, because remember, Obamacare really kicks in in ’16, 2016. Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him, I actually would say. I have the best courses in the world, so I’d say, you what, if he wants to — I have one right next to the White House, right on the Potomac. If he’d like to play, that’s fine.”

    What America needs:
    “We need a leader that wrote The Art of the Deal.”

    On a Trump presidency:
    “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created. I tell you that.”

    About money:
    “I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich.”

    Keeping America safe:
    “I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me, and I’ll build them very inexpensively, I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.”

    The American dream:
    “Sadly, the American dream is dead…but if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before, and we will make America great again.”

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  113. I don’t care much for Trump, but if that puts me in league with Tingles Matthews, Chuck Todd and Mika Belinsky ( I know, but Bo was one of my favorite BB pitchers/characters), I will say no more… that is whack company.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  114. None of those top Jebby and his act of love shtick, Col.

    mg (31009b)

  115. I’m not a Bush fan, but better him than a GD democrat, mg.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  116. If the USA was a jelly doughnut, it could do worse than electing Chris Christie the next POTUS!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  117. I found this LOL funny… Hillary! Clinton wears appropriate attire as she claims she never sent classified info in her personal emails… see it at the 1:05 mark…

    http://youtu.be/oV-RxP2o5Fs

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  118. Here are a few of Trump’s droppings…

    Most of those statements are perfectly fine with me, although I imagine that Trump has plenty of squish-squish in the corners of his mind. But, of course, that goes double or triple for Republicans like Chris Christie.

    As for Jeb Bush, it’s sheer hubris or ego, and quite a bit of tone deafness, for him to not realize that the Bush name is tarnished enough that he should have taken his mother’s sentiments to heart a few years ago (about the US not needing another Bush) and never considered entering the race.

    Mark (e9ce45)

  119. He’s forcing the other candidates to up their game:

    Amen to that, even more so when the lunacy of political correctness has plumbed unimaginable depths.

    Mark (e9ce45)

  120. Right now, there are 4-6 populist GOP candidates. That’s too many for the establishment to conquer at once so if Trump is a plant, he’s an establishment plant to serve as a common populist target. Everyone someone calls Trump a clown,it discredits the conservative base for listening to Trump far more than it discredits Trump — who could care less what anyone calls him or thinks about him.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  121. Does this remind you of anyone?

    http://hotair.com/archives/2015/07/25/sailor-faces-30-years-in-prison-for-keeping-pics-of-classified-submarine-equipment/

    Let’s see:

    Classified information? Check.

    On an unclassified device? Check.

    A privately own unclassified device? Check.

    An unencrypted, hackable privately owned device? Check.

    Attempts were made to destroy incrimination evidence when catching wind of an investigation? Check.

    …This brings us to the Hillary Clinton scandal.

    …There is simply no way that Hillary or anyone else could have missed the classification markings on the source documents.

    …The issue in the referral is that Hillary did not include the proper markings in her sent e-mails for the information she included in it, on top of which she then transmitted in an unsecured manner. The harm from all of this is that those communications can be more easily intercepted — and were, as Hillary’s e-mails got hacked — and the material exposed. That’s why we have those laws, and why the DoJ vigorously enforces them.

    …The DoJ is willing to prosecute a former sailor to the full extent of the law for violating the law on classified material, in a situation where there was no purposeful unsecured transmission of classified material. Will they pursue Hillary Clinton and her team, at the other end of the power spectrum from the rank-and-file, for deliberate unsecured transmission of improperly marked classified nat-sec intelligence?…

    Just based upon the emails Hillary! has produced, and what actions she has already admitted to taking, she’s guilty of several felonies.

    The investigation and trial would be mere formalities at this point.

    Steve57 (20f7d7)

  122. She looks at home in stripes, Col.

    mg (31009b)

  123. 30. Youse great on the painfully obvious. How’s about working on getting the ‘effin mercenary lawyers out of America’s pockets?

    The Law is a comrehensive failure.

    DNF (208255)

  124. What America needs:
    “We need a leader that wrote The Art of the Deal.”

    It’s unusual for a candidate to have a book that wasn’t ghost written as a funnel for Goldman Sachs, Tom Steyer and George Soros to avoid campaign finance laws, or allow said candidate to put author on their otherwise whisper thin resume.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  125. 129. I’m pretty certain 467 days is enuf time to ball up 33 nocturnal emissions, IOW every conceivable opportunity, by the venerable GOP.

    DNF (208255)

  126. http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/236488 – Shock poll: Donald Trump leads Jeb Bush 26-20 % … in Florida

    A St. Pete Polls survey released on Wednesday shows the New York businessman with 26 percent support, with Jeb Bush in second place with 20 percent.

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is in third place with 12 percent, and Marco Rubio is in fourth place with 10 percent. He’s followed by Dr. Ben Carson at 5 percent, Ted Cruz and John Kasich at 4 percent, and Rand Paul at 3 percent. Sixteen percent are unsure or are supporting another candidate not named in the survey

    As for the accuracy of his survey, Matt Florell of St. Pete Polls said his firm has had an impressive run the last three years, with several of its polls coming within the margin of error with final election results.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  127. Say it ain’t so, Jeb!

    Snap! Naked Man, 81, arrested for humping Bush…

    http://thesmokinggun.com/buster/connecticut/elderly-bush-humper-908734

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)


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