Thomas Sowell Endorses Ted Cruz, and Other Political Notes
In a sane world, this endorsement from Thomas Sowell would mean 1000 times the endorsement of an ignorant spotlight chaser like Sarah Palin:
If, by some miracle, Trump became president, what kind of president would he be? Do we need another self-centered know-it-all in the White House to replace the one we have now?
Among the other Republican candidates, Dr. Ben Carson is a monumental figure in his field, and he is clearly revered even by people who would not vote for him. But votes are how elections are decided.
The governors among the Republican candidates can at least be judged by how their track record stands up in running a governmental organization. So can Senator Ted Cruz, who was solicitor general in Texas. But Senator Marco Rubio has no comparable experience — and his inexperience has shown up in his abortive attempt to join Democrats in promoting amnesty.
If the Republicans are to avoid having Donald Trump lead them — and the country — to disaster, they are going to have to have the majority of non-Trump supporters get behind some given candidate.
Senator Ted Cruz has been criticized in this column before, and will undoubtedly be criticized here again. But we can only make our choices among those actually available, and Senator Cruz is the one who comes to mind when depth and steadfastness come to mind.
As someone who once clerked for a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he will know how important choosing Justice Scalia’s replacement will be. And he has the intellect to understand much more.
Indeed.
In other political news, Trey Gowdy, endorser of Marco Rubio, jumped the shark today by attacking Ted Cruz as dishonest — based on absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Cruz is not taking it lying down:
Ted Cruz is firing back at accusations from Trey Gowdy that his campaign was involved in creating a fake Facebook account that said the South Carolina congressman had switched from Marco Rubio’s team to Cruz’s.
“Our campaign had absolutely nothing to do with this fraudulent Facebook post,” Cruz tweeted Tuesday night.
“This kind of deception is deplorable and nothing like it would be tolerated by this campaign,” he continued.
Brian Phillips, Cruz’s rapid response director, followed up with an email to reporters questioning if Gowdy was asked to provide evidence that Cruz was behind the post.
“Are there any reporters on the road with Rubio/Gowdy asking Rep. Gowdy to produce a single shred of evidence that anyone associated with the Cruz campaign was behind the fake Facebook account? And if he can’t, shouldn’t that be included in your stories?
Considering the man is a former prosecutor, he should know better than to make unsubstantiated accusations like that without at least some proof,” he said in the email.
Damn straight. I have written Gowdy an angry e-mail vowing to make his political life as difficult as possible if he does not apologize to Cruz. Here is the essence of what I said:
.@TGowdySC: you owe @TedCruz an apology. Shame on you for making accusations with no evidence. A former prosecutor should know better!
— Patterico (@Patterico) February 17, 2016
Finally, Patterico pal Morgen uncovered this nugget today:
"Exultant Chuck Says He’ll Veto the Next Alito"…Nov 2006, with 2+ years left in Bush's termhttps://t.co/pD3Foqmf60
— Morgen (@morgenr) February 17, 2016
Previously Schumer was caught saying no more Bush nominees as of July 2007. This takes it back to November 2006. Nice catch, as is usual for Morgen.
Ding.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 2/16/2016 @ 10:19 pmI’m going to start a rumor that Trey Gowdy puts cucumber slices on his grits. Instant grits.
nk (dbc370) — 2/16/2016 @ 10:40 pmGlad to see Gowdy put on his real face in public. Time to vote him out of office.
Patterico, saw your tweets yesterday about Hot Air’s self-mutilation. Any thoughts on the subject? Did invite others to this site.
NJRob (a07d2e) — 2/16/2016 @ 10:47 pmI’m not going to criticize the Hot Air proprietors for making the move they think is best for their blog. I hope nothing I said was construed as criticism. I was genuinely flummoxed at the spammy nature of the comments until it was explained to me that they were a snarky protest at this Facebook thing they’re trying. Once I understood it, I thought the protest was kind of immature but had some pretty funny aspects at the same time.
Looks like they’re still working it all out as we speak.
Patterico (251ae1) — 2/16/2016 @ 11:31 pmI’m really disappointed with Gowdy. For a long time I thought of him an honest pit bull. With the nothing burger the Benghazi hearings became, and now this. He needs to check his privilege. It’s considerable, and he can do so much better with it.
Bill H (dcdd7b) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:28 amSomeone finally brought up 9-11 if obama had been president he would have been impeached instead of singing hand in hand on the steps of congress. That is why trump supporters are fed up with the establishment covering for each other!
trumpetss (59ffe4) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:38 amI have been posting for over a year that Gowdy needs to meet up with a sturdy oak branch. He is a pathetic person.
mg (31009b) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:05 amIt’s amazing how many supposed conservatives are endorsing a Canadian for president. They have actually turned John Jay’s most exclusive citizenship qualifier into the most inclusive citizenship qualifier on the planet. An amazing subversion of the Constitution.
Jcurtis (746203) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:48 amthis campaign is painful there is no joy
well except for anticipating jebbio getting out
happyfeet (831175) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:54 amManning giving Jeb money, he sure can pick-em.
mg (31009b) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:36 am“an ignorant spotlight chaser like Sarah Palin”
……………………………………………….
I was blocked from The Right Scoop a year ago for saying Palin was a fame seeker. Her neediness to suck up to the left with all the SNL appearances, after what they did to her was weak. So, in a very respectful way I would elude to the fact that Palin was in it for Palin.
I had other issues on opinions when I didn’t agree with the herd and poof, I was stricken of my 1st Amendment rights by The Scoop.
They can keep their God Palin…..I guess she showed them….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pinZNYxQeo
jrt for cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:42 amIts all good ….no worries. Ted will be Ted and we are all better off because a man like Ted went to DC to fight for the people. If one sorry sap of a politician in DC can be influenced by Ted then its all good.
If God wills there to be change then Ted will win. If the people need to suffer more then Ted will not be used right now. But Ted will still be Ted.
jrt for cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:47 amyes yes ted is god’s own tool
happyfeet (831175) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:50 amfeet, Can’t wait for you to reap what The Donald will sow for your people.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:54 amWould someone please stop focusing on the MINORITY of votes Trump has gotten and start focusing on the MAJORITY of votes that are opposed to him!
Mike Giles (059ed1) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:55 amIf The Donald was smart he would back Cruz and make America accountable again!
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:56 amMike, Like the majority of primary votes Cruz received from Iowa that were glossed over. Because Ben Carson’s safe place was stolen. And now Trump uses Ben as a tool to hit Ted with. Trump should be ashamed of using Carson.
Ben Carson is so tired of the PC society until he uses it to hit Ted with. GO HOME CARSON
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:02 amTed is getting hit from all sides of DC. They don’t want a boss to be held accountable for the job at hand of the people. They all have their back door business dealings…… Greed never wins Gowdy… Just look at Madoff.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:14 amIf the So-so Six really cared about America and not their own personal ambition, they’d drop out and draft Scott Walker. A real American, a real conservative, a real executive, a winner in November.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:22 amnk, why take two steps back…. Walker is history…NOT the man for the JOB.
This is the problem with this country. We’re doomed.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:27 amThe ONLY race…..ONLY race is between Trump and Cruz…… Hillary and Sanders just a side show of smoke and mirrors….
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:29 amTrump is the Hare…. Cruz is the Tortoise ….
Slow and STEADY wins the race….
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:30 amJeb should get behind Cruz…. He can’t win and Cruz fought for W. so the Bush’s owe Cruz
Rubio will be easy to pick off once Jebito gets behind Cruz
Cruz can then take done Trump which will make Barbara Bush happy….. the only reason Jebby is in it….
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:34 amThomas Sowell:
This doesn’t make any sense.
Marco Rubio joining with the Democrats in an immigration bill has nothing to do with experience running a governmental organization. At most, he could be accused of, let’s say, bad judgement of people. This is political judgement. You might say there is inexperience here in believing this would become law, but it is a different kind of inexperience. (you could also claim he got the issue wrong, but that’s even further away from inexperience in running an organization!)
I know how Thomas Sowell feels about the issue of amnesty – I actually had a short e-mail exchange with him (response to a column he wrote and reply) – but this is a political disagreement, not a failure in executive ability, and he shouldn’t try to fit a round peg into a square hole.
Sammy Finkelman (882d94) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:37 amThe only way Barbara Bush will get her way and take down Trump is to put her Jebby behind Cruz.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:37 amTrey Gowdy (and others) may be making a mistake in assuming that the most obvious suspect is he only possible suspect.
There are other possible actors involved.
Including Democrats.
Sammy Finkelman (882d94) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:39 amnk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:22 am
Nailed that to the wall.
creeper (fbf738) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:48 amGowdy is Mr. tuff Guy… doesn’t want a boss like Cruz that will hold him accountable.
Gowdy wants Rubio so the good old boys club can sit back and stay the easy course that BO has put them all on. The ruling class gets bigger as the middle class tax payer gets poorer.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:49 amJeb is starting to look good to me.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:49 amI have always had reservations about the two Mexicans, even though they say the right things about my hot-button issues. Too much Obama vibe.
Kasich is another Bernie — never had a non-political job; and is about as conservative as Rahm Enanuel.
Trump is a loony.
Let’s face it, there’s nothing right about Carson when it comes to being President. He can do part-time locum tenens at trauma centers if he doesn’t want to be a full-time surgeon anymore.
Nailed that to the wall.
creeper
of where…. your bedroom….creeper
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:50 am27.Jeb is starting to look good to me
……………….
then you must be a mommies boy too….mommies boys need not apply for the JOB… thank you…
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:51 amNEWS FLASH….. Scott Walker dropped out….. He said he didn’t want the JOB. Move on…. Pick Trump if you don’t like Cruz……BUT that’s all you get…. Because Cruz and Trump are 1 and 2…….Hillary and Sanders don’t even register with their 1K primary voters.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:54 amTrump sees himself as a hero like Vietnam vets, only he risked death in by having sex here at home whike the vets actually went to Vietnam.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:05 amScoop has trawler in all the unverified sludge for the better part of two years now, when some like will Krauthammer were giving zaphod the benefit of the doubt, she was under lawfare, trying to survive the nutroots and top men.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:07 amIf she was out of the picture, they say she’s seeking fame, and conversely.
That’s the trouble with politics. It requires the best people and attracts the worst. Who drive the good ones away.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:07 amI wonder how Tina Fey will be able to pull off an SNL impersonation of Thomas Sowell endorsing Ted Cruz! (LOL)
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:13 amI do recall when the good professor thought Cruz was too purist, evolution is appreciated.
Dr.Carson is retired, he might do sugeries, but that is No longer his thing. His educational efforts were so arrogantly edisregarded because we know their is a surplus of solid constitutional thinking.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:15 amhttps://www.yahoo.com/politics/if-obamas-supreme-court-nominee-fails-dont-070045383.html
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:16 amSnl viewers wouldn’t know carson, I guess they would get Jamie Foxx in a pinch.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:20 am32.Scoop has trawler in all the unverified sludge for the better part of two years now, when some like will Krauthammer were giving zaphod the benefit of the doubt, she was under lawfare, trying to survive the nutroots and top men.
If she was out of the picture, they say she’s seeking fame, and conversely.
a year ago I was the devil for calling Palin out…. but today…. we see the proof in the pudding
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:22 am37.Snl viewers wouldn’t know carson, I guess they would get Jamie Foxx in a pinch.
They do a great Carson BUT way off on Cruz…. nothing like him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Th70moeuc
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:25 amAt least there was no question about Sarah being an American.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:25 amSarah being an American.
………………………
The Kardashians are American too but we should take their advice on electing Trump either…
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:35 amSick today, no work…well enough to comment between coughing fits, sweaty naps and feeling sorry for myself.
What with recent revelations starting since the last debate, I’ve been starting a list of who I can’t vote and for what unforgivable sin.
Bush- he’s a Bush and not the HW kind. Pro amnesty doesn’t help either.
pieter (ec44a2) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:37 amCarson- despite poor poll numbers in the last two primaries, refuses to drop out and give viability to another contesting Trump. His whining about nonexistent dirty tricks didn’t help my opinion of his true character.
Kasich- not a bad guy, good record as governor, kinda a coward regarding union reform, pro Medicaid expansion…yeah, maybe 10-20 years ago but not this cycle.
Rubio- pro amnesty gang of eight guy who is now lying about his past involvement and expectation for comprehensive immigration reform, his current financial backers are pro amnesty (who no doubt expect something for their support), lied about his duplicitous unvision support of DACA (said it would be retained until comprehensive reform passed). Uses Trump tactic of calling other candidates “liar” when he in fact and deed is the liar.
Trump- he is a democrat, and not even one of the good ones found in some southern or western states.
27.Jeb is starting to look good to me
Jeb has so much admitted that he is only in it to please his mother who can’t stand the thought of Trump as president. Her only hope at taking out Trump would be to put her Jebito behind Cruz. Even George Bush Senior donated to Cruz’s Senate campaign after being scolded by W. They all know what a great leader Ted Makes…. But they let their greed and ego’s get in the way and split the votes so Trump will win. Ted needs the rest of the GOP’s to drop because Trump has most of the democrats already voting for him along with some republicans…. If Ted and Trump can compete on a fair playing ground…. Ted can’t loose.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:05 amKim Kardashian did not get 48% of the national vote, running as a Republican, after eight years of George W. Bush, when the Democrats could have run a dog and still won.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:06 amJust don’t malign Sarah and I won’t start playing the bongo drums and singing Babalu, ok. 😉
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:10 amjrt, it’s weird…why is Bush running? He said at one point he could be doing more interesting and meaningful things. I think he is pushed by big money corporate interests that expect a return on the off chance he attains the presidency. I mean, what else can it be? He doesn’t seem the egotistical or vain glorious sort.
pieter (ec44a2) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:19 amReince Rove and Karl Priebus promised him it would be a cakewalk, so why not, is my guess; and now that it turned into a hoedown he’s sticking in there do-si-doing as best as he can.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:28 am“Kasich is another Bernie — never had a non-political job;”
I call bullsh*t, nk. He tried to sell me teh pot at the ’76 convention.
Colonel Haiku (e3be5c) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:38 amThanks for understanding Patterico.
As we’ve learned from the left and from Trump, being childish can be very effective if done right.
I still cannot comprehend how Gowdy is just bald faced lying here. What does he expect to get out of it?
Thank God for Thomas Sowell.
NJRob (a07d2e) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:45 amI’m just saying when rick perry needed her endorsement, or rand, or scott walker, when he wasa a little known county executive, there was less of this kardashian talk, otwever when her family is attacked in broad daylight, who vouched for her, crickets.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:57 amPresidenting is a family business, when not flacking for the late lehman bros, or claudie,o osorio,surprising hasn’t come up, if the medici did voom suddenly, that name along with recarey and a defunct water piping company would suddenly emerge.
as for why their is this basenghi like quietus re attacking red queen, well they use many of the same soup spoons,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:00 amI know you’re on Sarah’s side, narciso.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:05 amI’m also on cruz’s side, I disagree with her decision, but some here, really sound like perported rick perry troll, ruexperienced, a nasty nazgul who spawns all over,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:08 amyes, the wargames metaphor suggested itself,
https://ricochet.com/how-republicans-can-win-the-supreme-court-media-battle/
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:10 amwe’re in the best possible hands,
http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2016/02/17/u-s-had-cyberattack-plan-if-iran-nuclear-dispute-led-to-conflict/
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:21 amafter all the talk about the freedom act,
http://hotair.com/archives/2016/02/17/judge-wants-apple-to-help-hack-into-san-bernardino-shooters-phone-tim-cook-not-a-fan-of-the-idea/
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:33 am55… arguably stronger than a Hashtag War, narciso…
Colonel Haiku (7c41f2) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:46 amyes, but that’s not the point, you don’t show your cards that way,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:48 amThomas Sowell is the smartest conservative alive. And now I’m going to go to Huffington Post so thousands of hippies can tell me I don’t like Obama because he’s black.
CrustyB (69f730) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:58 amTed Cruz just gave a press conference. He still has Schumer saying that in 2007, and does not mention 2006.
And he says is 80 years since – I don’t know what. It is inaccurate, and he ahsd to know, or ought to know it is inaccurate. You might says …years since a Supreme Court justice was nominated anc confirmed in a president’s last year in office, but it is sitll not 80 years.
Tell me why do people keep on saying it has been 80 years?
How many years is it since 1932?
Is it 80, or is it 84?
Is there nobody left who can check the record, or do subtraction?
Sammy Finkelman (882d94) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:58 am58… but they do, which was not the point of my response.
Colonel Haiku (7c41f2) — 2/17/2016 @ 10:40 amI don’t know if Thomas Sowell is the smartest conservative alive or not, Crusty B, but anybody who is on his side or who supports what or who he supports can’t be bad. Thomas Sowell is one of the Great Gifts God has given the U.S. and if I were not already for Cruz that Sowell’s endorsement would have moved me to become one.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 10:41 amit really makes no sense the Facebook page is telling the truth
Gowdy’s endorsement of Roobs *was* a huge mistake
who cares what cut and run gowdy thinks anyway he’s an inept coward that wants him some lobby money
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 10:51 amIf you guys are not taking advantage of the volatile market and doing some mid day short term trades you are making a big mistake. This is the kind of trading day you can double your account and still be conservative.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 10:59 amyes if you take enough scolopamine,
http://nypost.com/2016/02/17/belgian-terror-search-finds-video-linked-to-nuclear-official/
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:01 amThis was a really unfortunate moment of douchenozzlery from Gowdy. And Rubio, by extension.
JD (34f761) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:05 amthe mosquitoes make one do foolish things,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:06 amwe’re three days, away, and it’s already macho grande,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:11 amwhen you run the flux capacitor, we end up here,
https://twitter.com/jimgeraghty/status/699944204638818304
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:13 amBarack says he won’t be attending Justice Scalia’s funeral.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:24 amWhen I do business, it has nothing to do with money. You can’t come to me and say, “I’ll offer you this and I’ll offer you that.” Well, what are we talking about here? If I don’t like it, I won’t do it. I always tell people the Wheaties story.
After my first championship, Wheaties said, “We’ll put you on the cover.” And I said, “I never ate Wheaties. Call Frosted Flakes or call Fruity Pebbles.” Championship two, Wheaties comes again. I never ate Wheaties, I don’t know what it tastes like.
Last year, I was on the cover of two million Fruity Pebbles—that’s how long I was trying to get on Frosted Flakes or Fruity Pebbles.
and it is glorious
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:31 amsome endorsements have more integrity than others you see
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:40 amniki haley endorsed him, as did tim scott, their recommendation weighs more,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:43 ammarco wrangled a passel of mewling, scratching cats, in the florida legislature, not a job for the faint of heart,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:46 amTrump even beats Crubio. You need Crubioasich. Squish them all together, like playdoh.
You know what else. When you have to align yourself with Tina Fey, the ignorant misguided slut of snl, maybe it’s time to introspect.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:47 amThis Donald Trump guy reminds me of Huey Long.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:57 amThe Wagging Finger. The Every Man is a King, Populism. The Kingfish. The Donald. The Tyrant. The Jerk.
Wasn’t it nice of Nikki Haley to take the scrub brush to a nasty chapter of Democrat history for them.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:00 pmcandidates have their pluses and minuses, except the null set,
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/02/17/clinton-email-chain-discussed-afghan-nationals-cia-ties-official-says.html?intcmp=hpbt1
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:00 pm#76 papertiger,
You’re angry at Governor Haley for refusing to endorse your candidate of choice, Mr. Donald J. Trump. We understand that. But she didn’t take a “scrub brush” to history. What she’s done is recognize that the Confederate flag has no business flying at the statehouse in South Carolina.
The Confederate flag represents a movement by Americans who dissolved themselves from the United States, and then took up violent arms against the United States.
The Civil War should always be studied, and it should never be erased from history books. But to fly the flag of secessionists who took up arms against America—that simply has no place at the statehouse in South Carolina. South Carolina used to be a colony of Great Britain. But South Carolina doesn’t fly the Union Jack at the statehouse.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:20 pmCalmer than you are.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:23 pmfritz hollings democrat in good standing, even a one time presidential candidate, put it up there in 1956, yet rarely was the issue brought up to him,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:24 pmI wasn’t talking about the confederate flag at all. I was talking about the South Carolina Democrats who thought it was a good idea to put the confederate flag there in front of the State House.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:28 pmThose guys were too lazy to clean up their own mess. Luckily, Nikki the cleaning lady came along and did it for them…
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:30 pmWe wouldn’t want to make things difficult for the elected champions of welfare.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:32 pmWe might piss off the Pope!
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:34 pmSowell / Whittle 2016
mg (31009b) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:38 pmpapertiger,
Governor Haley did the right thing by opposing the Confederate flag flying at the statehouse. I hope you’ll agree with me about that.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:39 pmI’d vote for Mr. Bill if he ran for Governor of California.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:41 pmtwo minute hates, are so easy to conjure up, who will be the next target?
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:42 pm@ 86 As long as it’s the Democratic caucus introducing and vigorously lobbying for the bill, then after a suitably humiliating period of time, reluctantly.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:45 pmI don’t avoid guilt or side step my comeuppance, Mr. Narciso.
Democrats make a career out of it.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:51 pm#89 papertiger,
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:52 pmDo you believe it was a good outcome that the Union was preserved following the American Civil War? Or do you believe there would have been a better outcome if the secessionist states had succeeded in forming and preserving the Confederacy?
did you know there’s gonna be an American Gods series on Starz
it’s true
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:52 pmUnbelievable!
No doubt Trump has a ton of support. But what you’re saying is basically what will happen over time, given Trump’s negatives. A lot of people will wind up voting against Trump, grinding their teeth a bit for one of the stronger alternatives.
Haley endorsing Rubio is a given. She endorsed Romney last round. No big deal. If Jeb was doing better she would have supported him instead. The establishment is… well… established. None of these people are the devil.
Thomas Sowell’s endorsement isn’t the word of a politician, intended to help him position and wheel and deal. It’s the opinion of a great thinker, expressed solely because he really believes it.
But the endorsement that really fascinates me will always be Palin backing Trump, then taking credit for making Cruz, then attacking Cruz for some very poor reasons (as if to show she could unmake him). Very little of Thomas Sowell in her commentary lately, to say the least.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 12:59 pmHey, with all due respect, do you mean to come across as the grand inquisitor when people express opinions of politicians?
Did you know that Texas has the seal of the Mexican Republic of 1823 on its Capitol? I am glad it is there, as it’s part of Texas’s heritage, but I would take offense if you demanded I explain why I support the massacres at Goliad and the Alamo. Symbolism is important to many folks, because it honors and respects those who came before us to build what we have today, even if they were imperfect or deeply flawed, as most in our history were.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:03 pmLet’s all do the goalpost shuffle. Do you start off with the right foot at least? Give me that.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:07 pmI would have rathered Nikki Haley used her opportunity to educate the public on how fritz hollings put the flag up there because he didn’t like Ike. Wanted to poke a finger in his eye.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:16 pmAnd maybe a dash of free enterprise and how it isn’t the business of government to pick and choose which are appropriate items to sell at Walmart.
here’s a link about how food stamp is gonna play gold instead of going to the funeral
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:22 pm*golf* i mean not gold
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:22 pmWow. That’s a great book.
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:25 pmi got almost to the end and left it on a plane
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:27 pm“Hey [Cruz Supporter], with all due respect, do you mean to come across as the grand inquisitor when people express opinions of politicians?”
– Dustin
Seriously. It’s weirding me out.
Leviticus (efada1) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:28 pmThe flag was not on the state capitol where Hollings put it, it was at a war memorial, which is exactly where it belonged. This was the flag those solders fought and died under. Haley was wrong to remove it from there just to appease the mob.
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:29 pmChicago has libraries if you don’t want to get another copy. And there’s an almost-as-good sequel, Anansi Boys, plus a few short stories.
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:30 pmDustin,
The Republic of Texas broke away from Mexico, whereas the state of Texas broke away from the United States and then chose to become part of the Confederacy.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:31 pmIt’s not about “erasing” history. Texas was part of Mexico BEFORE it became part of the United States. Whereas Texas LEFT the United States to become part of the Confederacy.
Texans took up arms against Mexico. But Texas also took up against the United States. You do know the difference in judging those two distincitons, right?
i agree with Mr. Milhouse about the flag
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:31 pmi might get the anansi boys again on kindle
i had it at one point but never read
i kinda got a dislike of mr. gaiman i met him for like 2 seconds at a signing and something about him was just very off-putting
he signed the graveyard book for me is what it was
haven’t read that one either
can’t explain it
was a big fan until that day
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:33 pmhappyfeet, that man is either a dirty liar or a complete idiot. And I suspect since he was paid to do business with Fruity Pebbles he’s a dirty liar.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:38 pmthat makes me sad to hear you say that Mr. Reverend
he’s a good pickle
he love his mama and he do a lot of good for people
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:39 pm#102 Milhouse,
Actually, if you do a Google search, it certainly appears that the Confederate flag had been flying at the South Carolina state capitol.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:45 pmSuccinct and well said. It’s very easy to sit back generations later and dismiss the confederacy because of slavery, but while that was the big issue, it really wasn’t the only issue. History will probably look on us for something we’re doing and consider it evil. Some of the soldiers saw the US storm into their cities and burn them down, and fought to defend the people they cared about, and never owned or wanted to own another person. And at any rate, these soldiers were people. They were sons and brothers and fathers, and that so many people were killed in a civil war is a tragedy. There was nothing wrong with remembering that aspect of this nation’s legacy.
Wow, you’re so wrong. Texas declaring independence from the Mexican Republican is actually very much the same as Texas seceding from the USA to join the confederacy. I could actually trade all your words around and the statement would still be true. Texas was part of the USA before it joined the confederacy after all, but the similarity is a lot deeper than that!
But I don’t think you understand my point. The six flags over Texas represent the legacy of (some of) those who built the state, rather than an endorsement of every sin committed in the past. You ignored this point completely.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:47 pmAnd that’s an excellent hill for SC Democrats to plant their flag on. If Haley had played her cards right we might even have had President Obama apologizing to Americans for a change.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:50 pmYou may have noticed Cruz Supporter, the Confederacy was defeated. In modern America the Confederate flag merely represents the age old American spirit of rebellion, that’s all. And perhaps a splash of in-our-face history. The whole thing was an outrageous overwhelming spirit of hate from leftists that don’t give a rats butt about America, our history or the Confederacy. They only care about making some Americans victims and some oppressors. And guys like you fell for it. This summer I’m flying a confederate flag at my pool to replace the Masonic one I used to fly.
The men who fought and died under the Confederate flag were fighting against a government they felt was oppressing them in a tyrannical way and they exercised their right as laid forth in the Declaration of Independence to cast off such a government. They were still Americans. As are we and I for one understand completely their belief they were being oppressed. I feel the same way today which is why I’m for Cruz.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:59 pmI could see it leading to the question, “Mr. Obama, why did you pick the party of slavery, racial discrimination, and the Klan, as the vehicle for your political career?”
But no. Nikki Haley was in a hurry to clean up the other people’s mess.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:04 pmSeriously. It’s weirding me out.
Leviticus (efada1) — 2/17/2016 @ 1:28 pm
lol… please cease and desist, he’s turned it up to 11 as it is!
Colonel Haiku (7c41f2) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:05 pmMexico attempted to secede from Spain in 1810 and the struggle continued until it successfully declared its independence in 1821. Isn’t that analogous to what happened when Texas seceded from Mexico and then from the United States? I don’t see the difference.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:05 pmI visit Columbia SC frequently and the fag has not been on the state house in years.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:06 pm#110 Dustin wrote, “Texas declaring independence from the Mexican Republican is actually very much the same as Texas seceding from the USA to join the confederacy.”
———–
Oh. My. Lord.
Except for the tiny little insignificant detail that Texas never re-joined Mexico.
The Confederate Battle Flag actually represents a newly-formed foreign country which took up arms against the United States. The “history” of the American Civil War and the CSA should never be erased, but that flag should not appear on the flagpole of the South Carolina Statehouse. Just like the Union Jack flag does not. The Union Jack is part of South Carolina’s history, too, right? And they broke away from the Union Jack, RIGHT?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:10 pmThe difference DRJ, is that no leftists were offended by the previous two secessions.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:12 pmAgain Cruz Supporter, the Confederate flag has become a modern symbol of rebellion. The historical significance has taken the back seat to that. Stop being all girly and leftist and oh so outraged.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:15 pm46.jrt, it’s weird…why is Bush running? He said at one point he could be doing more interesting and meaningful things. I think he is pushed by big money corporate interests that expect a return on the off chance he attains the presidency. I mean, what else can it be? He doesn’t seem the egotistical or vain glorious sort.
pieter
……………………
Beck skirted the issue, and basically said Barbara can’t stand the fact that Trump is in the lead and wants Jebby to take him out…..BUT as I said Jeb is only splitting Cruz’s vote and ONLY CRUZ is smart enough to take Trump out.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:24 pmDustin,
FTFY.
Even if the members of the bottom quartile have been convinced that they represent perfection based on their adherence to liberal/progressive dogma, as certified by their degree in gender studies and the massive balance remaining on their student loans, I don’t think we have to agree with them that they are a new species. If we don’t anticipate continued failure and incompetence at the highest levels of our government, we will always be surprised. And disappointed.
The government that governs best is the one that governs the least.
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:26 pmApologies in advance for another Beldar Wall-o’-Text.™
I’m substantially behind our host, and probably many of you commenters, in reading Ted Cruz’ book, A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America. I’ve just caught up to the part of the book in which Cruz recounts his time as Solicitor General of Texas, which I very much enjoyed. (Whether you’re a Cruz fan or you just care about this election cycle, you should buy the book right now from that link, ’cause a tiny portion of the proceeds will be rebated by Amazon to help our host defray the costs of this blog.)
Cruz’ book reminded me of the very first time when I, as a fellow Texas lawyer with an active litigation practice, became aware of Ted Cruz: It was while he was leading the fight to uphold the Texas Legislature’s constitutional powers to conduct the redistricting made necessary by the 2000 Census, in which Texas had gained congressional seats and districts. Once the redistricting sausage got made in the Legislature, it was Cruz’ responsibility to defend the resulting map — in a case which, due to odd quirks of the Voting Rights Act mandating that the Supreme Court has to accept, and decide on the merits, appeals from special three-judge courts convened under that Act — was guaranteed to end up at the SCOTUS.
I was reminded, in re-reading Cruz’ book, of the moment when I interrupted my reading (and blogging about) the court fight to skip to the part of the State’s brief that listed the lawyers. “Who wrote this?” I was wondering, because I was also thinking: “My goodness, the caliber of the briefing coming out of the Texas Attorney General’s office, and in particular its Solicitor General’s office, is vastly better than the last time I’d faced any of those guys in court!” I found Cruz name and was curious enough to Google him to find out where he’s come from.
On September 7, 2003, I even used Ted Cruz, by name and title, on my blog as the protagonist in my imagined version of how the next court appearance in the redistricting litigation ought to go, since it was being held on “Talk Like a Pirate Day”:
And so forth.
So let it be known, as proved on the Interwebz, that Beldar has been on record as a Ted Cruz fan since at least 2003.
But then I reached the part of Cruz’ book in which he talks about Van Orden v. Perry, the 2005 SCOTUS decision upholding, by a fractured 5/4 vote, the State of Texas’ display of the Ten Commandments on a monument on the Texas Capitol grounds — notwithstanding the fact that on the same day, the same SCOTUS held in McCreary County v. ACLU that the same Ten Commandments could not be displayed in two Kentucky courtrooms without violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
I mentioned that fact in a comment I’d left on another recent post here, and Leviticus, having followed my link to the case, noted that it had been argued in the SCOTUS by Cruz’ then-boss, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. In a responding comment, our host noted that Cruz had discussed the case in his book, and had revealed therein that Cruz had suggested that Abbott do that oral argument.
Our host was absolutely correct in his recollection, but now that I’ve read the relevant passage in the book, I’m even more impressed by what that case reveals about Ted Cruz’ strategic brilliance. I’m going to quote a bit here, within fair use IMHO, to explain why I’m impressed (all italics in original):
Okay, so far this is just a good anecdote about an oral argument in a big case. But then:
Wow. I cannot tell you how much I admire the creativity, the sharp perception, and the guts that it took to think of, chart, and then stick to this kind of strategy. But for Ted Cruz’ prescience — based on a keen first-hand experience with the SCOTUS and a first-rate understanding of constitutional law — it’s likely that the SCOTUS would only have heard the Kentucky case, and that the resulting decision would have resulted in a defeat for religious liberty nationwide.
I’ve said before that the SCOTUS’ current Establishment Clause precedents are in a hopeless muddle, and that’s the view of virtually every constitutional law scholar, from the left or the right. Yes, it would have been terrific if in one case, Ted Cruz could have educated and persuaded enough of the Court to do a comprehensive fix of that precedent, which would have involved explicitly overruling several cases (which in my view, and I’m sure Sen. Cruz’ view as well, ought to be overruled or at least sharply limited). But that was not a realistic goal in the real world.
Rather, the realistic goal in the real world was to keep the muddle, and to establish a factual example that would contrast with the Kentucky case and yet survive Supreme Court scrutiny. In other words: The best result possible on this issue was to keep the bad guys from winning outright in a precedent that would be applied sweepingly, nationwide, forever.
Chances are that today, anywhere in any public place in the U.S., if you’re seeing something that includes the Ten Commandments on display, it’s due to Ted Cruz’ brilliance and foresight.
As for the oral argument, to flesh out the point Patrick made about Cruz volunteering to step aside so that then-Attorney General (now-Gov.) Greg Abbott could do the oral argument (italics mine):
Sen. Cruz illustrated the last assertion with the same oral argument transcript quote from Mr. Justice Stevens, at the end of AG Abbott’s presentation:”I want to thank you for your argument and also for demonstrating that it’s not necessary to stand at the lectern in order to do a fine job.”
As a Texan, as a lawyer who reveres the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights), as a conservative, as a Christian, and as an American, this whole story makes me incredibly proud of my state’s junior U.S. senator and current governor. This is the new generation of conservative leadership that actually can transform the country.
Or you can pick the guy who left this message on a reporter’s voicemail:
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:30 pmAny endorsement by establishment …NOT for Cruz is an endorsement for THE GOP Cartel/ go along with the democrats politician, and they will need to go. Cruz is weeding out the good from the bad. Trump is nothing more than a wild card.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:34 pmBobstewartathome, great point! Remembering our legacy, warts and all, keeps us humble. Judging our legacy in order to feel better about ourselves, is a recipe for delusion.
Cruz Supporter, that is irrelevant. Texas did not know what the outcome of either war would be. The actual secession and rebellion are highly similar, and you should do more research into the topic as it’s very interesting.
I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but you are certainly very upset about it.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:34 pmWell said, Mr. Stewart!
Colonel Haiku (7c41f2) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:35 pm#101: Levitcus, it is curious that our inquisitor feels it isn’t sufficient to simply say he disagrees and why. Instead we are treated to a faux professorial harrumph!, followed by a challenge to defend the sort of scat that emerges from conclaves of those who pretend to “deconstruct” human knowledge.
The thirst for Utopia drives far too many of us into philosophies that ultimately descend to nothing but a resort to certified authority.
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:36 pmRejoining the Union doesn’t mean South Carolina has a duty to erase its history, anymore than Texas has to erase its history as a Republic. After all, when it was a Republic, the Texas Navy seized several U.S. ships, actions that (to put it mildly) put Texas cross-ways with the United States. One Texas naval ship was even held by a U.S. commander in New Orleans on a charge of piracy.
Does that hostile relationship mean Texas should scrub all references to the Republic of Texas from its history, its Capitol building, and grounds? I don’t think so. If so, then — as they said at the Battle of Gonzales — Come and Take It.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:38 pmI have a long comment in moderation. Not sure if it’s for language (I thought I’d neutered the most offensive term, which, of course, is another direct quote of The Donald) or length.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:38 pmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiU20QjKPCo
119.Again Cruz Supporter, the Confederate flag has become a modern symbol of rebellion. The historical significance has taken the back seat to that. Stop being all girly and leftist and oh so outraged.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:40 pmYes, they broke away from the Union Jack RIGHT. However, in today’s world the Union Jack is a British flag and the stars and bars is a symbol of rebellion. You know, like the General Lee on The Duke’s of Hazard? We are not at war with them now, in today’s world.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:41 pmRev Hoagie, I don’t live in South Carolina. All I can say is that when I do a Google search for the Confederate flag issue last summer, the stories tell me that the Confederate flag had been flying at the state house until Governor Haley (with the state legislature) had it taken down in an official ceremony.
I’m all for preserving American history, as it was, for better and for worse, and for richer and for poorer. I think Robert E. Lee is one of the great men in history. A descendant of Lighthorse Harry, he was #1 at West Point with no demerits, he was a brilliant engineer in the Army Corps, and such engineering brilliance was illuminated in transporting troops and supplies down to the theatre in the Mexican-American War. Abe Lincoln offered him the Union Command, but he said he couldn’t turn his back on Virginia. He over-achieved with a rag-tag army of under-armed, under-supplied, under-fed men. If there had been more modern lines of communication available to him in July 1863, and some of his subordinate officers had actually had their watches synchronized (“Pickett’s Charge!”) he might have been able to pull off his “boa-constrictor” strategy for winning at Gettysburg.
Lee
The Confederate flag is not just a politically incorrect symbol. It’s the flag of another country. We’re not talking about Belgium or Sweden. Rather, the Confederate States of America actually took up arms against the United States of America. Preserving the history of the Civil War is one thing. But flying the flag of the Confederacy on the same pole which flies a state flag and the American flag, is quite another.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:42 pmAnd they were marginalized by the confederate bureauocracy. Blocked from voting by poll taxes.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:45 pmI look forward to reading it, Beldar. Trump will say anything to win. I can only imagine what he’s said now.
It’s ironic to think that, if Trump wins SC and ultimately the nomination, it will be proving that Ted Cruz was right: This is the year the GOP electorate gave up on the establishment. Of course, instead of choosing Cruz — the most rebellious person in Washington — voters apparently want the most extreme rebel they can find, no matter how erratic or liberal or bizarre.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:46 pmIN the Confederacy the politician doesn’t buy the vote. The vote buys the politician.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:47 pmA photo showing the flags that flew over the Texas Capitol at the Governor’s Inauguration in 2003: The 6 flags of Texas, including the Confederate flag and the Republic of Texas flag.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:50 pmCruz Supporter, you told others to google it, but for some reason you did not.
There’s the flag, clearly located at a memorial that reads that they loved their state, died in performance of their duty, and hoping ‘that they will not be forgotten.’ Those folks did not think they were invading the USA by any stretch of the imagination.
Your summary of the civil war is childish. Both sides took up arms against the other.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:50 pmHe’s pugnacious, tough, and outspoken. Those are three things this country is in desperate need of.
And the GOP has a short supply.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:51 pmPutin is pugnacious, tough and outspoken. Those qualities are not enough for me.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:53 pmYes it is JUST a politically incorrect symbol, Cruz Supporter. because it does not represent another country. First of all, the confederate states were unsuccessful in their bid and subsequent war of independence to establish “another country”. They lost, so no “other country” was established. And in 2016 no “other country” known flies that flag. It’s a historical relic contemporarily representing the indomitable will of freedom and rebellion inherent in all real Americans. Anyone not flying the confederate fag should be suspect of un-American activity.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:56 pmI’ll be happier with President Trump than I am with food stamp or I would be with that creepy hacking old woman.
I’m just so glad this miserable food stamp interregnum is almost over.
PTL brothers and sisters!
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:58 pmDRJ, that’s right. The GOP voter has seen its party leadership look down on us, lecture us, and lie to us. They don’t serve us, and we don’t trust them. Trump, at least, is clearly not one of them. His political views are either a complete con or kneejerk, but at least he’s not one of them, that group of politicians that has betrayed us.
One of Cruz’s problems is that compared to Trump he’s got to look politically established himself. He worked in the Bush administration, went to Ivy League schools, and is currently a US Senator (and who likes the US Legislature?).
If this election is about picking a guy who can win, who is a leader, who is a conservative, and takes our problems seriously, sure, Cruz is the best remaining candidate easily. If this election is something less… a party resigned to simply reject what the party has become, then Trump is better in some grandiose sense.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 2:58 pmhttp://www.politico.com/blogs/south-carolina-primary-2016-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/ted-cruz-donald-trump-lawsuit-219379
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:01 pmYeah, DRJ, but Putin usually doesn’t shout. He’s egotistical, but it’s sort of a cold, deliberate egotism.
I’m thinking if we’re going to go with pugnacious, tough, outspoken politicians that compare closely with Trump, Benito Mussolini is much, much closer. Putin’s an outright bandit, whereas Mussolini and Trump share the whole crony-capitalist thing. You can find some amazing quotes in the world press, including in England and America, about Mussolini in the 1930s. They read pretty much like Trump’s quotes about himself. Of course, Mussolini had the dignity and the self-confidence to actually shave his head when he went bald, and Trump instead decided to wear a clown hat. It’s hard to come off as pugnacious, tough, and outspoken when you’re wearing a clown hat, but there’s no accounting for taste.
papertiger, you’re confusing aggressiveness with effectiveness. When you’re aggressive without also being effective, you lead with your chin, and you take stupid risks. That’s how you get into situations where you are on the brink of involuntary personal bankruptcy after being handed a personal fortune from your daddy that measures in the hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s how you get into situations where you have to drag your entire corporate empire through four waves of bankruptcies. That’s how you get into situations where you default on $40M personal loan guarantees, demanded by the lenders so you’d have some personal skin in the game on a vastly bigger project (Trump’s Chicago hotel), but when your companies default and demand is made on your personal guarantee, you have to plead “Act of God” as a defense and then stall the case until the other side gave up.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:03 pmI’m just trying to picture an outspoken communist spy.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:04 pmThank you Colonel and Dustin! Here’s a musical treat to get us all smiling this afternoon:
Bolero Flashmob Brazil
An amazing bunch of kids, agreed?
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:07 pmThe original 13 colonies were each part of Great Britain at one time, but to the best of my knowledge, none of those states currently flies a separate Union Jack flag alongside their state flag and the American flag. We can have Confederate War Memorials, we can have battle re-enactments, and we can have history, and if someone wants to drive around in a Dodge Charger with the Confederate flag painted on the roof, that’s someone’s prerogative. But flying the Confederate battle flag at the state capitol is a totally different ballgame.
As papertiger pointed out, South Carolina didn’t always fly the Confederate flag at the statehouse. Democrat Governor Hollings had it put up there around 1960 in response to the civil rights push.
I totally “get” the impulse to fight back against the insane left wing political incorrectness which infects academia and media. But the GOP is the party that fought against the Confederate battle flag between 1861-1865.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:07 pmTrump: screening Hillary’s calls since 1992.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:07 pmShe thought he was just too busy to call back.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:10 pmDustin,
Wasn’t Fort Sumter bombarded in April 1861? In your mind, doesn’t that act of aggression qualify as taking up arms against the United States?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:15 pmYou’re one of those, eh, Cruz Supporter. You’re right, everybody else is wrong and you’re gonna beat the hell out of that horse even as it pukes blood. Okay, you’re right. The stars and bars should be burned whenever seen and those flying it shot for treason. Better? People who believe the leftists were using it as just another prop for political correctness are paranoid idiots who should be institutionalized.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:16 pmHow on earth can we nominate Trump to run against Balladry, when they both attended Trumps wedding…
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:18 pmthat’s funny. My auto spell changed Billary to Balladry
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:30 pmPlease read comment 135 and then explain how this both proved you wrong on a significant fact and also answered this question before you asked it. Then please explain to me why I should have a conversation with someone who is apparently skipping over my responses. Thanks in advance.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:33 pm69.Barack says he won’t be attending Justice Scalia’s funeral.
Cruz Supporter
Divider and Chief
no parting prizes for you BO
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:35 pmDustin,
The Confederate flag was flown at the South Carolina statehouse from 1961-2000. Then in 2000, it was moved to a nearby War Memorial which is on the statehouse grounds. And then last summer, the Confederate flag was removed entirely from the statehouse grounds.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:42 pmI’m not sure I understand your comments about “invading” the United States. Fort Sumpter was a federal installation off the coast of South Carolina which was clearly attacked in April 1861—therefore, that’s an act of taking up arms against the United States. However, the objective of the Confederacy was not to “invade” the North, rather, it was to divorce itself from the United States.
Here’s some South Carolina news that we can all cheer for; new NBC poll (conducted by a GOP pollster and a Dem pollster) has post-debate numbers for us; Cruz 28, Trump 26, Rubio 17. Who knows…it could be an outlier, but then again perhaps it reflects The Donald’s debate performance last Saturday night.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:50 pmSome arguments are just insufferable, especially when it is freakin meaningless.
I am pugnacious, tough, and outspoken. I would be a lousy President.
JD (34f761) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:50 pmHALEY ENDORSES RUBIO.
ESTABLISHMENT WHORE BACKS ESTABLISHMENT PIMP. FILM AT 11.
DCSCA (a343d5) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:51 pmTouche. I’d vote for you.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:54 pmNot in the primary though.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 3:57 pm155.Here’s some South Carolina news that we can all cheer for; new NBC poll (conducted by a GOP pollster and a Dem pollster) has post-debate numbers for us; Cruz 28, Trump 26, Rubio 17. Who knows…it could be an outlier, but then again perhaps it reflects The Donald’s debate performance last Saturday night.
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:00 pmCruz Supporter
……………………..
Dems with the help of Sores who now owns the rights to US voting systems, in some states…. Have mastered the art of stealing elections. Mitt wasn’t going to protest any fraud in 12 and since the Dem machine is comfortable with stealing elections I dont doubt that they will cut a deal with either Trump or Rubio to steal the election. Cruz can’t be bought. But Cruz has the will of the people and Gods will on his side.
My held-in-moderation comment has now been released, thank you — it appears to be #122 above, and it is very long, and it’s mostly about Ted Cruz, not Trump. But it does feature my 2003 fantasy of Ted Cruz addressing a federal court on Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:03 pmDe nada, Beldar.
JD (34f761) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:05 pmAnd guess what, it wasn’t there.
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:18 pmI enjoyed the comment, Beldar.
I think your link to the voicemail is wrong, but I guess I don’t need to hear it to believe that one.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:26 pmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va8R54sdDic
this just loaded from Levin
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:27 pmYeah, I posted a photo showing it’s at a memorial, but while I find the topic really interesting, I think JD is right that the conversation is terrible if it’s just nitpicking and talking past eachother.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:29 pmCorrected link for the Trump voicemail quote. Apologies for the broken link.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:30 pmDustin – I was not speaking of you. I was referring to those that refuse to acknowledge differing viewpoints and seek to win discussion by volume and assertion. Some people that claim to support a candidate seem to be trying to turn people away from their chosen candidate.
JD (34f761) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:33 pmA very good comment, Beldar. Thanks for releasing it, JD.
Also, I am enjoying your commentary with CS! I am glad to see you, too, Dustin – Sorry for not having responded to your earlier greeting on a different thread. I have been lying low, lurking and lying low.
felipe (56556d) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:49 pm@ jrt (#165), thank you for the link to Mark Levin’s radio show today, featuring his interview with Ted Cruz, to which I’m listening now. (I don’t usually listen to Levin; his voice and manner put my teeth on edge even when I agree with him; but I don’t fault others who find his style to their taste.)
Here’s a great bit from Cruz that I’ll transcribe here (italics mine):
The NBC/WSJ national poll that’s referenced in the interview is the same one referenced above by Cruz Supporter; here’s a link. This was conducted after Saturday’s debate, and it shows Cruz at 28%, Trump at 26%, Rubio at 17%, Kasich at 11%, Carson at 10%, and Bush at 4%.
Comparing those results to previous polls, that’s either an outlier or the earliest signal of a preference cascade.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:50 pm“Had been” is the operative phrase. By the time we are discussing it had not been there for fifteen years.
And SC did not fly the confederate flag there either.
And that is where the flag was.
And it was taken down from there in 2000.
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:55 pmVery well said, Beldar #122. May God bless Texas and those fine men who lead her.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 4:56 pmhttp://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/17/nbc-poll-cruz-takes-lead-nationally-as-trump-drops/
mg (31009b) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:21 pmThank you, DRJ. Isn’t that an amazing story, about Cruz & Abbott recognizing — then seizing, and then taking full advantage of — an opportunity to promote religious liberty on the biggest of national stages? I’ve been lucky enough to know a few lawyers and judges with that sort of strategic vision and grasp of the big picture, but I have fingers left over when I count them.
It’s an example of great lawyering transcending into the sublime, the patriotic — combined with the eminently practical. That is to say, Cruz could predict and count the likely SCOTUS votes and maneuver deftly to pick up a winning combination for Texas and for religious liberty in the real world, not just in some law review or lecture or op-ed. You can trace it — all the way from Cruz’ & Abbott’s strategy session all the way into the pages of U.S. Reports.
Cruz is playing that 3-dimensional chess that Mr. Spock played in Star Trek. Trump is knocking all the checkers off the board when the game’s not going well. I am bolstered in my optimism.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:27 pmShame on you for defaming Sarah Palin. Cruz was born in Canada. His birthplace is not the United States of America. His mother’s presents there was the result of her living as a resident, legally, of Canada. If you read what the founders intended by the term Natural Born Citizen, it does not apply to someone who was naturally born in a foreign nation. Did she register the birth with the Embassy? A natural born citizen does not have to register with any part of the government to be a citizen. Cruz is a liar, a cheater and a fake. If he wants to go back in time for previous statement, Trump should post the video of a much younger Cruz stating he wanted to rule the world. He is one ugly MFer.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft III (d8338d) — 2/17/2016 @ 5:56 pmI don’t know to whom #175 was directed but the word balderdash comes to mind.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:11 pmHere is Trump’s letter, through his lawyer, to Ted Cruz, demanding that Cruz cease and desist from showing a video clip of Donald Trump saying: “I am very pro-choice. I am pro-choice in every respect.”
Here’s the attack ad.
Here’s the Cruz letter in response, which I shall let speak for itself, but whose contents I embrace and adopt.
Pro tip: Never hire Jeffrey L. Goldman of Belkin, Burden, Wenig & Goldman of New York City. He’s a blithering idiot who hasn’t got the first clue about libel, slander, defamation, the First Amendment, or how to avoid looking like an idiot to anyone who does.
Mr. Goldman, if you want to sue me for expressing that opinion, I’ll waive service at the U.S. District Courthouse here in Houston and I’ll meet you on the front steps. Good luck getting back to New York with your privileges to appear in federal court still intact, and I’ll donate the monetary sanctions that you have to pay to the Ted Cruz campaign.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:12 pmMr. Cruz needs to cut it out with all these goldy sacky attack ads
i can’t even deal with him right now
happyfeet (831175) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:19 pmI had a lawyer send one of my clients a cease and desist letter alleging slander on the basis that my client’s statements “were simply her unfounded opinions.” That was a funny morning.
Leviticus (a8efb0) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:27 pmBeldar,
I’m having trouble finding Trumps letter at your first link. Can you give it to us again? I agree Cruz’s attorney’s letter is very good.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:54 pmThey specialize in commercial business like real estate.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 6:58 pmLet’s see if this works, DRJ. http://www.scribd.com/doc/299588264/Trump-Cease-and-Desist-Letter
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:00 pmThank you nk, and I’m sorry, DRJ, I’m sloppy with my links today. nk got it, but here again, all in one place:
Trump’s cease-and-desist letter.
The attack ad.
Cruz’ response.
Let’s forget, just for a minute, about how bad a lawyer you have to be to sign your name to the letter Trump’s lawyer wrote. Think about this:
Who in his right mind would pick a courtroom fight with Ted Cruz?
Cruz was welcoming the threatened lawsuit today, and daring The Donald to make good on the threa, saying how much he (Cruz) would enjoy cross-examining Trump under oath (and presumably on video) at a deposition. That video would have to be rated NC-17 for excessive violence: Trump would be shredded if he had to actually answer truthfully under oath or face real consequences from his lying.
That’s the opposite of the kind of strategic thinking for which I was praising Cruz in talking about his history as a successful Solicitor General for Texas. And even just looking at it on a tactical basis, in terms of immediate results: In what fantasy parallel universe could the lawyer have thought this bogus threat would actually work? (As opposed, say, to demonstrating for the entire country that he knows nothing about defamation or the First Amendment).
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:10 pmThe fellow even has the poor judgement to say he is looking forward to the legal encounter.
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:14 pmThough, I guess if bluster is all you have you might want to do it big,
still, perhaps even in bluster there is wisdom in a bit of discretion.
That is a pitifully bad letter from Goldman.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:16 pmIt kind of makes me imagine:
Dear Ms. Homeowner,
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:21 pmI am the attorney for Donald Trump and we want your home to build a parking lot for a casino. We’ll pay you two bags of peanuts and a box of popcorn (no butter) for it. If you refuse our offer, we will take it from you through eminent domain … and look forward to doing so.
Thank you both.
It looks like someone else (a secretary, perhaps?) signed for Mr.Goldman. That’s the kind of letter I would expect the author to sign.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:22 pmNo, that’s exactly the kind of letter I’d expect the author not to sign, and to disavow all connection with 🙂
Milhouse (87c499) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:28 pmKevin Williamson, the Sage of the Lubbock Sagebrush, writing yesterday on Trump’s many bankruptcies and his many lies about his many bankruptcies. It’s a pretty good summary.
I didn’t know before reading this that the funds Trump raised for veterans went into a Trump foundation. Maybe he used the same lawyers who set up the Clinton Foundation, eh?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:52 pmTed Cruz famously memorized the entire U.S. Constitution (including amendments), word for word, as a high school student, and he raised scholarship money by demonstrating that skill as part of a team of other young patriots at civil club lunches around Texas.
Donald Trump’s lawyer apparently still hasn’t even read the Constitution.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 7:55 pmI just watched the CNN Town Hall with Carson, Rubio, and Cruz. If you look at that show in isolation, I’d have to say that Carson and Rubio came across a lot better than Cruz. Just my opinion.
Andrew (b12b60) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:03 pmMind you that clip is 16 years old if memory serves.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:05 pmThat’s when he was still getting a lot of p____y, even though he did not have good hair, and he did not want the consequences. This guy has been a foul smell for a lot longer than 16 years.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:09 pm@ Andrew (#191): I’m watching the same thing, although slightly time-delayed. I thought Carson and Rubio were both fine, and half-way through Sen. Cruz’ performance, I think he’s hitting it out of the park. The answer to the pastor about religious liberty, and what Ted Cruz has personally done throughout his life to promote it? You didn’t think Cruz scored on that?
Could you be more specific? I’m not fussing at you, I’m just genuinely curious.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:10 pmnow whom are the conspiracy theorists?
National poll.
“if he will go to the Ohio River I’ll give him rations! … my business is down South!”
-Bill Sherman
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:12 pmnarciso: Yes, the clip was from 1999, and it was Tim Russert interviewing Trump about a possible Trump run for the presidency. The attack ad displays the exact date in the corner of the screen throughout — and Trump looks a lot younger. No one could possibly be confused; the commercial is exactly, meticulously, indisputably true and accurate.
Sure, Trump now says he’s pro-life. The issue is: Which Donald Trump do you believe?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:12 pmTrue, and around that time, Cruz wrote memos entertaining amnesty and probably subsequently
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:25 pm@ Andrew (#191): Okay, I’m at the end, and — Cruz was flat the last three minutes. He’s not a stand-up comic. Also, he’s telling the absolute truth when he says he can’t sing.
But otherwise, I thought he was stronger’n train smoke, and perfectly calibrated for this exact date, place, and time.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:37 pmAt least Hood was a gallant man, a true Southern gentleman.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:38 pmnarciso, I don’t know what memos you’re talking about. But I know your ending, “probably subsequently,” means “in my fantasies.” I’ll take a look if you have a link.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:39 pmWait, what? Are we arguing about John Bell Hood on this post? He’s a central figure in the Civil War spy novel I plan to write someday.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:41 pmTepid had a post last December 1899th or so.
narciso (732bc0) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:45 pmSherman said that — “if he will go to the Ohio River I’ll give him rations! … my business is down South!” — about Hood. Hood had his faults but Trump would have to stand on a ladder to kiss his behind. A tall ladder.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:45 pmSorry.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:54 pmYes, yes! We’re in agreement about Hood and Trump both, nk. And that’s one of my favorite Civil War quotes, I just wasn’t connecting it to Trump and this context. Sorry, I’m dull tonight.
Hood was a great division commander who was obliged to accept rapid promotion as more experienced commanders were slain; alas, he mostly failed to grow into a good wing or corps commander, much less army commander. But yes, he was a gallant and brave man, and a gentleman. The protagonist in my someday novel is a fellow Texan, injured while serving on Hood’s staff in the fabled Texas Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia; he’s obliged to return to Texas to recover, during which time he’s appointed to represent an accused spy in a military court-martial held after the recapture of Galveston Island by the Cottonclad Navy under Prince John Magruder.
I can’t tell you who the spy is, though — it would be a big spoiler. Can I drum up any advance sales? Points in the movie rights? I’m thinking Matthew McConaughey for the lead.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 8:54 pmI’ll buy a copy, Beldar.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:02 pmI just managed to tape the tail end of MSNBC’s competing town hall in Charleston earlier tonight, at which only Donald Trump was appearing.
Did anyone else watch it from the start? Was this a set-up? Was Trump this unhinged at the beginning?
The audience reaction shots I’m watching are amazing; it looks like quite a few of them are literally cringing in their seats and looking around for exits. The hosts, Joe Scarborough and some woman I don’t know, are grilling Trump about his vulgarity and personal insults and temperament; he’s whining about how everyone ganged up on him at the last debate.
Here’s why I think it might be a set-up:
The suckerer, suckered! If MSNBC can snooker him this easily, how’s he going to stand up in the general election without making a major gaffe every 90 seconds?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:20 pmFor Mr/Ms Cruz Supporter:
http://americancivilwar.com/authors/Joseph_Ryan/Articles/Lincoln-Instigated-War/The-Buried-Fact-Record.html
Matador (81b717) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:43 pmMika Brzezinki, daughter of Zbigniew.
nk (dbc370) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:50 pmGosh, that makes perfect sense. Thanks again, nk.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 9:58 pmHey Beldar. Yeah, the last few minutes of singing and talking about biceps and “eight packs” was sort of cringeworthy. If Senator Cruz is the guy to drive us home safely, and not the person to have a chummy drink with, he’d best not try the latter on national TV. He was also repetitive (much like Rubio in the New Hampshire debate), for example talking about planned parenthood twice in very similar terms. I was very put off by Cruz’s idea of tying the dollar to gold; to me, that’s a nutty idea given the turbulent value of gold in recent years; a much simpler and obvious way to preserve the value of money would be for Congress to simply pass a law telling the Federal Reserve to target 0% inflation instead of the Fed’s current target of 2% inflation. This was just one event, so I’m not reaching any firm conclusions. Cheers. P.S. On a very superficial level, I think Cruz would benefit from a better make-up person (e.g. a little black shoe polish on his scalp would hide the hair issue).
Andrew (b12b60) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:21 pmHere’s the Blacklisted and Loving It poster he was talking about, which I think is genuinely funny. His attempted finishing joke about it — “I don’t even smoke” — was so lame that I immediately forgave him for it. He’s a complete geek dedicated to the Rule of Law; I kinda relate.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:28 pmBeldar, I think Cruz’s pledge a few days ago to filibuster an Obama SCOTUS nominee was a big mistake, as a SCOTUS nominee has never yet been defeated by filibuster (not even Fortas), and the GOP Senate can easily stop an Obama nominee without a filibuster. If such a filibuster by Cruz were to be successful (not me that Obama’s filibuster of Alito was unsuccessful) then it would set a new precedent that would inevitably be used against Cruz if he becomes president. Additionally, eliminating the filibuster by nuclear option would become virtually impossible; it definitely should be eliminated (Rubio says he wants to keep the filibuster for SCOTUS nominees but he’s badly mistaken IMHO).
Andrew (b12b60) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:58 pm“not me” >> “note”
Andrew (b12b60) — 2/17/2016 @ 11:59 pmBeldar @207:
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/02/socialist_sweep_new_hampshire.html
I’ve crossed trails on the intertubes with quite a few people who fancy themselves conservative and are somehow under the impression that Trump is somehow the only real choice in this election. Because in reality Trump is closest to Bernie Sanders on substance (of what little substance there is to Trump, or to Sanders for that matter).
I honestly don’t get it. I thought the problem with the GOP was that they compromised far too much with the Democrats.
Little did I know the problem with the GOP was that it wasn’t taking the lead on socialized medicine, funding Planned Parenthood, or cutting enough deals with Pelosi, Reid, and Schumer. Which is what Trump promises to deliver and more.
Ironically, the most radical progressive leftist in the 2016 general election may turn out to be the one with the (R) after his name.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 2/18/2016 @ 12:35 amTim Russert wrong footed Trump in that clip, then he moved out of the way for the full stumble.
Nobody could mistake that for true position.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 12:41 amThanks for the posts, nk, DRJ, and Beldar.
mg (31009b) — 2/18/2016 @ 1:50 amAll the petty bickering of these candidates is childish, put them in a room give them a butter knife, and the last one standing is the nominee.
mg (31009b) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:04 amI’m betting Col .West has taught Ted how to use a knife.
mg (31009b) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:05 amtoo many poopers still
jebbio seems so confused why there’s still so many poopers
happyfeet (831175) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:49 amtrump
mg (31009b) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:08 amrump
swabs
trump is a leading indicator i think
we just don’t know of what
happyfeet (831175) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:10 amTodd Browning’s freak you
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:58 amwas with your silicone hump
and your ten inch Trump
bark like a dog bi+ch
Colonel Haiku (a28485) — 2/18/2016 @ 5:59 amnow cough like no tomorrow
Pantsuited Pantload
Has anyone else noticed that Sarah Palin has been quiet and unseen since Iowa? I think she has been packed off somewhere.
Janetoo (149f95) — 2/18/2016 @ 7:46 amyou can’t argue she’s a spotlight chaser, and then wonder why she’s laid low, when she wasrout of the picture, for most of the last year, except the iowa freedom event, and cpac, whatever,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/18/2016 @ 8:06 ampapertiger: If Tim Russert, who’s a big smart bowl of pudding, can wrong-foot Donald Trump so easily, how many others would wrong-foot Donald Trump?
I don’t agree with you, and I doubt anyone else does unless they’re already deeply, deeply into the tank for Trump and they’ll believe quite literally anything to avoid reexamining that view.
Even now, your guy doesn’t claim what you claim. He says he’s “evolved,” not that he was tricked by Russert. You need to get with the propaganda program, dude.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 9:16 amwell if we’re going to be playing gotcha games,
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/12/21/cruz_fights_attacks_on_his_immigration_stance_129106.html#!
not that long ago, dr. sowell thought cruz was showboating with the shutdown,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/18/2016 @ 9:27 amI don’t do propaganda. If I were to do propaganda I wouldn’t do it here.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 10:49 amYou’re confusing me with Pope Agitnatious Propaganus III.
And his Holy See of third world orphans shipped in wholesale to dump on the steps of the US fire department.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 10:55 amThe Pope must have fatigued himself preaching the encyclical of global warming.
Did you know Catholics have a duty to ride bicycles?
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:04 amthis has been the talking point going around, sans context:
http://dcwhispers.com/the-lie-that-had-donald-trump-most-angry-at-ted-cruz-the-attack-on-his-sister/
now there are plenty of other red flags, however ‘in fairness’
narciso (732bc0) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:06 amhe’s a really crappy pope
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:06 amThe Bible is a living document, with volition, and it wants to destroy the American middle class, so he preaches.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:08 amon some points he’s right in line with doctrine, in others he seems to follow progressive precepts,
narciso (732bc0) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:10 amBut can he really make it stick like this cartoon implies? Safe. http://media.cagle.com/81/2015/06/24/165565_600.jpg
nk (dbc370) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:13 amwiggleroom is hard to ascertain,
https://twitter.com/soderstrom/status/700393182811529217?refsrc=email&s=11
narciso (732bc0) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:14 amif Mr. The Donald doesn’t win the president thing he should be the next pope
this is obvious to anyone who is willing to do the analysis
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:25 amApparently a border wall separates us from Jesus.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:33 amAnd probably makes the world a skosh warmer.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:37 amIt’s a coin flip which effect is more meaningful to the Pope.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 11:38 amnarcico, that link you posted goes to a ridiculous — but extremely “Trumpian” — post. I say “Trumpian” because he makes this same specious argument so often, as do his supporters in mimicking him.
Ted Cruz has no obligation to include in Ted Cruz’ own campaign some additional fact or context that Donald Trump thinks is relevant. Nor does any other candidate have such an obligation with respect to any other candidate.
Every word Ted Cruz wrote or said about Donald Trump and his sister is factually accurate and true. If Trump thinks the voters need additional information in order to put those factually accurate and true statements into a different context, then guess what? The First Amendment guarantees Trump’s right to do that himself.
I’d respect Trump and his advocates if they’d simply do that. Instead they have to whine and snivel and pretend that they’ve been treated unfairly, or bullied, or cheated, or lied about. That’s just disgustingly pathetic, and would be coming from anyone. It’s especially so coming from the unfair bully who cheats and lies, Donald Trump.
Everyone knows — and you will surely concede — that there’s a long history of Republican-nominated judges who drift to the left as they age. Guess what? When a Democrat President is looking for a judicial liberal to make law from the court of appeals or SCOTUS bench, it’s an old ploy to pick a district judge who was nominated by a Republican like Reagan, but who’s already drifted. It’s easier to get those judges confirmed; it lets a president like Bill Clinton claim, falsely, to be “bi-partisan” and “centrist.”
So where’s your evidence that anything Ted Cruz said about his sister’s rulings on abortion — after she was promoted to a much more powerful and prestigious (and even slightly better paid) bench by Bill Clinton — are any different than characterized by Ted Cruz in his descriptions of those positions?
You guys can’t handle the truth. You have to try to change the subject, to re-define the relevant “truth” as something else. “Oh, Ted Cruz didn’t disclose that Trump’s sister was appointed to a different job, years earlier, by a different president than the one Cruz correctly identified as having appointed her to the court of appeals.”
Weak sauce. Thin, thin gravy. Wholly unconvincing.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 12:17 pmnarciso, seems he likes him some “red” flags. Perhaps he’d be more comfortable putting down the cross and picking up the hammer and sickle.
Rev. Hoagie™® (f4eb27) — 2/18/2016 @ 12:21 pmNote, by the way, that Cruz is not attacking Trump’s sister. Cruz would no more do that than he would attack Madame Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Anyone, left or right, can describe those two judges’ rulings in abortion cases as being objectively and consistently pro abortion. If you’re pro-abortion, like the Democrats are, you think that’s a feature and not a bug. So accurately describing the position isn’t an attack.
The reason this is relevant at all, however, is as it relates to Donald Trump, not his sister. Trump has said that if he becomes President, he would appoint judges like his sister. That’s direct evidence, from his own mouth. Surely the voters are entitled to know the truthful details of his sister’s record on abortion cases when they’re evaluating that statement by Donald Trump, aren’t they?
If you also want voters to consider the fact that she was originally appointed to a different job years earlier by Ronald Reagan, knock yourself out!
Otherwise, you’re just squealing because it hurt.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 12:28 pmOr another way of phrasing it, Donald Trump would appoint judges like Sam Alito.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 1:43 pmCruz likes to toss in drive by hand grenades. I was just taking it on faith that Trump Berry was the second coming of Ginsberg.
Luckily the Pope’s drive by shook me back to reality.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 1:47 pmpapertiger, it’s odd you say that, since the piece narciso linked actually was highly critical of Justice Alito, making incredible assertions about him in some sort of contorted logic in which Ted Cruz was supposed to condemn Justice Alito if he’s going to tell the truth about Trump’s sister’s record. I confess that I gave up trying to follow that nonsense, it was petering off into the aether.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:38 pmOn Fox last night, reliable leftie A.B. Stoddard — whom I find entertaining if unreliable — was describing Ted Cruz’ press conference yesterday morning in which, using exhibits and lists and document blowups and video, Cruz methodically refuted all of Trump’s complaints in the cease and desist letter. I don’t have the exact quote, but from memory here’s my best paraphrase of what she said, which made me laugh: “This was Ted Cruz the brilliant Supreme Court litigator, and wants he gets going like that” — she paused and her eyes seemed to go briefly out of focus — “there’s no stopping him, and everybody is going to believe everything he’s saying.”
On CNN, the talking heads were saying about the same thing, but they thought (or pretended to think) that it was a bug, not a feature, arguing that no one could possibly follow him or pay attention throughout all that Cruz had to say.
I’m sure Cruz has heard the advice I repeated here in other comments some time ago, which I seem to recall tickled our host. It’s advice I got as a young lawyer from a much older and wise colleague, who said to me: “Bill, that’s a brilliant argument. But son, you got to keep the hay where the goats can reach it.”
I struggle with this. I suspect Sen. Cruz would admit that he does too, sometimes. He can lift the hay to the level required of the SCOTUS so easily that sometimes it’s hard to keep it at the required altitude of a campaign.
But he’s never caught unprepared or flatfooted.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:45 pmI wish someone would ask Trump, the next time he claims that he’ll appoint someone like Alito, to name one specific case or issue — just one — as an example of what he knows about Justice Alito besides (a) his name and (b) that real conservatives admire him.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:53 pmTypo above, should read: “and once he gets going like that ….”
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 2:55 pmI’ve got a question for you Trump fans.
If Trump would be so trustworthy in making good Supreme Court picks, why’d he pick an ignorant schmuck who’s apparently never read the Bill of Rights to send Trump’s cease-and-desist letter to Ted Cruz?
Ooooooh … I know, everything will be different then. As POTUS, he’ll pick the best people.
But it’s pretty important whom you pick as your lawyer when you’re trying to become the POTUS, too. Ask Al Gore; he had David Boies, who’s amazing, but nobody else who had a lick of sense, and Boies couldn’t do it all. The team Jim Baker assembled for Dubya outlawyered them at every stage in both state and federal court — and Ted Cruz was part of that legal team. That’s what he was doing in 2000 when he met his wife!
So tell me please: Did he hire this schmuck because he’s cheap, or what?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:02 pmSomehow I get the feeling lawyers of trump wear brass nuckles
mg (2bdea6) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:10 pmIt’s true that Alito concurred with Judge Maryann Trump Barry’s opinion, but her opinion was based on a determination that the partial birth abortion legislation was Constitutionally vague. That is what extreme abortion advocates do. Alito’s concurrence was based on a recent (at that time) Supreme Court opinion that mooted the issue before the Third Circuit court. His concurrence noted that fact — that he had no choice but to decide that way because of the recent Supreme Court decision — and he specifically declined to join in the reasoning behind the opinion of the Court.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:12 pmMore likely tinfoil hats, like the rest of his entourage.
Leviticus (efada1) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:13 pmOh, it’s more than that. What kind of loser would bother to learn what kind of judge makes the best supreme court justice before becoming President. No normal human being bothers to acquire certain types of knowledge until becoming President. For example:
http://www.hughhewitt.com/donald-trump-on-the-day-he-took-the-pledge/
What sort of sorcery does this Hugh Hewitt person speak of? Expecting mere mortals to know the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas> No candidate can answer these questions. It’s unpossible, until you are President.
Yes, everything will be different then. When Donald Trump becomes President he vows that within 24 hours he’ll have forgotten more about telling he difference between his elbow and a hot rock.
But until he’s President, it’s a gotcha question to ask him anything about anything except real estate.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:16 pmApparently, you don’t know.
To counter an aggressive falsehood popular with the press, you fight back with an equally aggressive falsehood which will be equally popular with the press. Or if you want to be ignored you could hire a real paper shuffler and wrap your point in layers of legal jargon.
It’s called getting the message out to the dweebs who don’t read Patterico.
U
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:35 pmOne of Trump’s strengths is he’s willing to fight. One of his weaknesses is he doesn’t have an Off switch. He fights even when it doesn’t make sense to fight, often in ways that make him look worse than the original criticism.
There is no telling what he might have done if he had been President after 9/11, but I think it would have made what Bush 43 did look tame. Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, etc., would have all been on his agenda.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:45 pmOr, if you believe his version, he would have done nothing. Maybe Twittered them incessantly.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:45 pmApplause, Leviticus.
mg (31009b) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:54 pmThank you DRJ for pointing out the futility of “What if…”
papertiger (c2d6da) — 2/18/2016 @ 3:55 pmHe would have threatened to sue Al Qaeda and gotten Goldman to send bin Laden a cease and desist letter.
nk (dbc370) — 2/18/2016 @ 4:00 pmSadly, there will be more “What if’s.” I want someone who will fight when they happen, but I want someone who will fight smart. Maybe Trump is that leader but the intemperate way he talks/acts makes me think he isn’t.
DRJ (15874d) — 2/18/2016 @ 4:23 pm251 If Trump would be so trustworthy in making good Supreme Court picks, why’d he pick an ignorant schmuck who’s apparently never read the Bill of Rights to send Trump’s cease-and-desist letter to Ted Cruz?
Because the letter is a publicity stunt. If you have no case why waste money on a good lawyer?
But it’s pretty important whom you pick as your lawyer when you’re trying to become the POTUS, too. …
Did he pick bad bankruptcy lawyers?
James B. Shearer (0f56fb) — 2/18/2016 @ 4:28 pmI just saw Rubio (and I think Halley) on Kelly talking about how “Cruz says something dishonest every day”…
Let me say this, Sen. Rubio, you guys collectively are trying to lose what should be an “unlosable” election.
Go ahead and whittle each other down, you too Cruz, and whoever else,
bicker and feud between one another
instead of speaking positively of what you offer and jointly call against common enemies.
Sometimes it seems like the only reason to vote for a Repub is because the Dems are so terrible.
That is a crap reason.
Unfortunately, I doubt our level of disgust is reaching these people.
MD in Philly (still not in Philly, etc.) (deca84) — 2/18/2016 @ 6:29 pmAmen, MD
JD (6aa855) — 2/18/2016 @ 6:37 pmIt would have been a better primary if these nitwit republicans would ignore the moderators and stump away.
mg (31009b) — 2/19/2016 @ 2:07 amRuh Ro
mg (31009b) — 2/19/2016 @ 3:19 pmhttp://hotair.com/archives/2016/02/19/cruz-allies-worry-a-distant-second-in-south-carolina-could-mean-doom/