Mitt Romney Doesn’t Endorse Cruz To Be The Nominee But Will Vote For Him In Utah
[guest post by Dana]
This week, in the Utah nominating caucus, I will vote for Senator Ted Cruz.
Today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism. Through the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these.
The only path that remains to nominate a Republican rather than Mr. Trump is to have an open convention. At this stage, the only way we can reach an open convention is for Senator Cruz to be successful in as many of the remaining nominating elections as possible.
I like Governor John Kasich. I have campaigned with him. He has a solid record as governor. I would have voted for him in Ohio. But a vote for Governor Kasich in future contests makes it extremely likely that Trumpism would prevail.
I will vote for Senator Cruz and I encourage others to do so as well, so that we can have an open convention and nominate a Republican.
Interesting to note that Romney compares Trumpism with Republicanism, rather than Trumpism versus Conservatism, which would be more accurate given that Cruz is first and foremost a real Conservative. Cruz is just the party bus the GOP hopes to successfully run Trump over with on their way to Cleveland, where the party may or may not have a more compliant, less staunchly principled conservative nominee-in-waiting. I don’t believe Cruz is their guy.
Trump responded to Romney’s statement in his typically gracious manner:
Failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the man who “choked” and let us all down, is now endorsing Lyin’ Ted Cruz. This is good for me!
Failed Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney was campaigning with John Kasich & Marco Rubio, and now he is endorsing Ted Cruz. 1/2
Mitt Romney is a mixed up man who doesn’t have a clue. No wonder he lost!
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:06 pmIf Trump had run against George Washington, he would have called him Little Lyin Georgie.
Then Washington would have challenged Trump to a duel and that would have been the end of The Donald.
DRJ (15874d) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:20 pmHahaha yeah right, like Trump would ever accept a duel over something silly like “honor.”
Leviticus (a6edbd) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:25 pmDuels were fought between gentlemen. George Washington would have simply horsewhipped Drumpf in public.
nk (dbc370) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:31 pmYep. That’s the Leader of the Free World, folks.
I used to think of him as a potential President Biff Tannen. That does Biff a real disservice.
More like Huey Long without the deep erudition and leadership (yes, I am being ironic).
It’s like a weird conspiracy nightmare to get HRC elected.
Simon Jester (37c6fc) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:33 pmThank you, nk.
Simon Jester (37c6fc) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:33 pmLet’s welcome the repentant, without recrimination. The GOP establishment is coming to Cruz, as the only alternative left to Trump. Ted won’t change, he won’t sell out — but let’s welcome the support and unify to beat Trump so we can then beat Hillary in a mandate election, just like Ronald Reagan won in 1980 and 1984.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:34 pmThat keeps all of team republican from dueling.
mg (31009b) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:35 pmBy the way, I know LOTS of folks in this comments section hate Romney. But Romney was a gentleman, and a statesman. He took the idea of being a leader seriously—even if you disagreed with him.
Not so this joke of a candidate.
I can’t begin to imagine the tweets he would send out as POTUS.
This is why he is afraid to more debates—he knows he is fundamentally unserious, and uninterested in policy details. Slogans, not strategy.
Simon Jester (37c6fc) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:36 pmRomney is most certainly a gentleman. Admirably so. However, I believe his loyalty is to the GOP above all else. That doesn’t make him any less of a gentleman or less to be admired, it just makes him a politician looking for the most efficient way with which to reach his goal.
Anything to take down Trump, certainly. But it makes me sad and frustrated that the gem of a candidate that is Ted Cruz is not respected nor embraced by the leadership. Not to be the nominee, anyway.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:39 pmIt is still more likely than not that Trump is a stalking horse for Hillary. Yoda has some interesting details about how Trump is “financing his own campaign” in the Kasich thread.
nk (dbc370) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:41 pmIt would make more sense than anything else, nk.
Simon Jester (37c6fc) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:42 pm@2 DRJ
Trump could have just called him a slave owner.
pinandpuller (a12946) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:43 pmBeldar,
I think if Romney were truly “repentant,” his statement would have contained a ringing endorsement of Cruz to be both the nominee and president. It would have been done with pride, and an expressed belief in the candidate. Also, in order to unify the party behind the candidate, a strong plea made directly to Senate Republican leadership to get on board would have been in order. For the sake of our nation.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:45 pmRomney gave us Gruber Care. He was a less than average Gov. And I don’t want to hear how he had no republicans to work with. Sometimes a real man will do what is right for the people even if it means not getting along with liberal hacks.
mg (31009b) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:45 pmTrump endorses Romney
Romney endorses Rubio
Romney campaigns with Kasich
Romney votes for Cruz
Lol, he would have an awesome career as a casino cooler.
Pons Asinorum (49e2e8) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:49 pmNo endorsement, but he’ll vote for him, eh?
Apparently Romney is only willing to support Cruz 47% of the time.
DCSCA (a343d5) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:49 pmRomney is not a gentleman. He’s a bland scared pathetic man who lost a very winnable election by timidity . Oh, he might have been called RAYCESS if he followed up on his first debate win. Instead he took a powder. He deserves every bit of scorn Trump has heaped on him and more for tanking in the last months of the 2012 campaign.
Bugg (3ae93d) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:51 pmfine, but as with national review, it’s not unexpected, why doesnt sasse or cotton endorse, well there seems to be certain clues here,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/18/2016 @ 5:54 pmDana – You are quite right to criticize Romney. The man is trained to take out risk when he uses his capital. He is always most precise with his words, which killed him in the 2012 race. Cruz has some of that in him, as well. Just come out and SAY IT!!! Cruz is the guy and Kasich is a jerk. Smack folks upside the head with new directness, Mitt.
Unless, of course, he is just doing his “bit” as a party loyalist.
Speaking of which…it’s been two full days since the reality of Trump struck. Where is everyone rushing behind Ted? Friggin’ Grahamnesty and Romney do, but 90% of the others don’t? WTF?! Where are the deep money boys threatening to ruin Kasich and cutting him off from cash? Instead, Kasich has cash to run paid media in order to keep Ted from a majority in Utah.
Such evil.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:02 pmThis is why he is afraid to more debates—he knows he is fundamentally unserious, and uninterested in policy details. Slogans, not strategy.
This is also why Trump would not respond to Cruz’s offer last month to have a one-on-one debate with him. The last thing he wants, or John Kasich for that matter, is to have to debate Cruz in public. They know that he would wipe the floor with them. Hence Trump yells louder, becomes more off color, and riles up the troops to distract the masses from seeing the real Donald Trump. The empty and unprincipled egotist that he is.
Dana (0ee61a) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:02 pman underlying reality you should remember,
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/262157/every-republican-presidential-candidate-hitler-daniel-greenfield
narciso (732bc0) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:04 pmDana, if we welcome the repentant without recrimination, then we don’t fuss at them for being late in repenting, or for repenting with insufficient enthusiasm.
My larger point is that Mittens came to Cruz, not vice versa. There’s no quid pro quo.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:04 pmThe GOPe has made the decision to eliminate Ted Cruz, the plan is to first elevate him and then eliminate him. That way he won’t see in coming. The party establishment can live with either Trump or Hillary. But only if Cruz is out of the picture. That’s the consensus decision at all the secret meetings.
ropelight (dec58b) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:05 pmEd: Everyone moves through the stages of grieving at their own pace. Mitt & Lindsay are now at acceptance, but others are still in denial or bargaining.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:06 pmOff topic
Sucks to be Nick Denton.
*giggling hysterically *
SPQR (d7fa7f) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:07 pmSPQR – couldn’t happen to a bigger d-bag
JD (34f761) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:09 pmOh, Nick isn’t the biggest. Fourth biggest, maybe.
SPQR (d7fa7f) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:10 pmNow you made me google nick denton. I’d forgotten the name of that d-bag Gawker dude. Go Hulk!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:48 pm“I think if Romney were truly “repentant,” his statement would have contained a ringing endorsement of Cruz to be both the nominee and president.”
Why would Cruz welcome endorsement by an oligarch? Romney understands the antipathy felt by many towards the establishment as well as he understands the Cruz tactic of theatrical (although quite real) distancing as embodied in his ‘liar’ remark as well as his filibuster. Romney also understands the move made by Kasich in Utah and he knows the weight of his comment will aid Cruz in Utah and northern Arizona. This is very good and relatively skilled political theater, with even the clown overplaying his part beyond the hilt.
Rick Ballard (ba78e0) — 3/18/2016 @ 6:55 pmNow more than ever, Willard, drop dead.
DNF (ffe548) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:07 pmAh… Mr. Sunshine!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:11 pmRomney could have been president.
Kobeclan (04a945) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:12 pmCouldn’t pull the trigger.
Succumbed to the Candy Crowley folder.
Mitt. Please go away.
Mittens is the worthless RINO piece of whale dreck who threw the 2012 election, just as McLame threw the one in ’08…
his opinion, etc, mean less to me than the chattering of the squirrels in my back yard, and i will cheerfully vote for Trump this June here in #Failifornia, if that’s what it takes to destroy the GOPe, or even damage them. hell, they foisted Kneel Cash & Carry on us back in 2014, because he was electable, so i voted for both him AND Moonbeam, because i didn’t want either of them, and i figured if i left it blank, some government w*rker would have “corrected” my mistake.
Mittens was my last “hold my nose” vote, and i;d rather the burning times than the current death by a thousand cuts.
redc1c4 (806dbd) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:19 pmD.I.Y., D.I.Y., D.I.Y., D.I.Y.
Don’t tell me what I will do, ‘cos I won’t.
Don’t tell me to believe in you, ‘cos I don’t.
Be on your guard, better hostile and hard, don’t risk affection;
Like flesh to the bone in the no-go zone,
You’re still looking for the Resurrection.
Come up to me with your “What did you say?”
And I’ll tell you, straight in the eye:
D.I.Y., D.I.Y., [etc.]
Everyone wants to be what he not, what he not.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:20 pmNobody happy with what he got, what he got.
You function like a dummy with a new ventriloquist,
Do you say nothing yourself?
Hanging like a thriller on the final twist,
Is it true you’re getting stuck on the shelf?
Come up to me with your “What did you say?”
And I’ll tell you, straight in the eye:
does the california gop actually exist, clearly it’s a figment of someone’s imagination, seeing them routed twice, at every level of office,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:23 pmWhere are all these true conservative tea party pols when Cruz really, really needs them? That’s the real shame. Wake up and smell the catfood.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:23 pmSomebody I never met
But in a way I know
Didn’t think that you could get
So much from a picture show
Man dies first reel
People ask what’s the deal?
This ain’t how it’s supposed to be
Don’t like no aborigine
Ritual ideas relativity
Only buildings no people prophecy
Time slide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery
Took a ing underground
New identity must be found
On the left bank for a while
Insanity Bohemian style
Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Time slide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery
Met a dwarf that was no good
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:31 pmDressed like little Red Riding Hood
Bad habit taking life
Calling card a six inch knife
Ran off really fast
Mumbled something ’bout the past
Best sex I’ve ever seen
As if each moment was the last
Drops of blood color slide
Funeral for his bride
But it’s him who’s really dead
Gets to take the funeral ride
with a tip o the hat to the Colonel, by way of Lee Ving and Fear (only edited for F bombs)
I’m from South Philadelphia up on Avenue C
I’ve seen empty hands that was waitin’ to freeze
Up from the power at home
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
F you
I’ve seen Hollywood Boulevard
Welfare hotel
And I spent the night in jail
At the Wilcox Hotel
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
I’ve seen an old man have a heart attack in Manhattan
Well he died while we just stood there lookin’ at him
Ain’t he cute?
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
I seen men rollin’ drunks
I seen bodies in the streets
I saw a man who was sleepin’ in his own puke
And a man with no legs crawlin’ down
Fifth Street tryin’ just to get somethin’ to eat
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
F you
I don’t care about you
F you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyM4uAJBujA
redc1c4 (806dbd) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:33 pmTeh horses are on teh track.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:37 pmWhere have you been, red? Long time, no hear from!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 7:54 pmThe
Guns of BrixtonGums of BernieWhen they kick out your front teeth
How you gonna talk?
With your hands on your head
Or a funny little walk
When the law break in
How you gonna go?
Shot down on the pavement
Or waiting on death row
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you’ll have to answer to
Oh, the gums of Bernie
Your money sure feels good
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 8:11 pmAnd your life you like it well
But surely your time will come
And your house you gotta sell
You see, he sounds like Ivan
Born under the Moscow snow
His game is called survivin’
On other people’s dough
Say, I’ve got an odd question. Let’s say the GOP Convention chooses Trump as its nominee. What obligation does any particular state party have to honor that choice?
As recently as 1960, several states refused to put the national candidate on their party’s ballot line. Since presidential elections are actually 50 state elections (plus DC), it would be state laws and/or state party rules that would control. Why would anyone expect that Trump would be on the ballot in all 50 states?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/18/2016 @ 8:24 pmTeh Clash “Sandernista!”
Teh Magnificent Seven
Ring, ring, it’s 7:00 A.M.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/18/2016 @ 8:25 pmMove yourself to vote again
Cold water in the face
Brings you back to teh polling place
Bullsh*t artists and teh wankers too
Im feelin’ like I got teh flu
Weatherman reads from his sheets
One says sun and one says sleet
Trumpster, Clinton, Cruzer, too
Churnin’ out that boogaloo
Gets you up and it gets you out
And, of course, the same question should the Convention run wild and nominate Romney.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/18/2016 @ 8:26 pmoh good lord who gives a crap what weirdo mitt romney thinks
he’s an effing dog-abusing freak whose leadership has never not been rejected by the failmerican peoples
happyfeet (831175) — 3/18/2016 @ 8:52 pmforgot to read the fineprint,
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/03/romney-on-facebook-vote-for-ted-cruz-so-we-can-have-open-convention-and-nominate-a-real-republican/
narciso (732bc0) — 3/18/2016 @ 9:04 pmI think it’s a billionaire ego thing. Romney failed miserably in his presidential bid and his pride would never be able to accept Trump pulling off what he couldn’t.
jcurtis (4bb293) — 3/18/2016 @ 9:19 pmNobody who is endorsing a brokered convention is a gentleman. If Trump wins a plurality and gets shut out with a brokered convention. I’m voting for Trump when he runs 3rd-party. I think he would be an awful president, but better an awful president that all of the ruling class hates and works against than a merely terrible president that they support and influence.
Cugel (982a8d) — 3/18/2016 @ 9:34 pmIf no one gets a majority, then the delegates hash it out. That’s how it works. It’s POLITICS. It’s not even likely that Trump has a plurality, and if he does it will be small. Back in 1976, President Ford had about 53% of the delegates and Reagan had 47% and there was a big fight over changing the rules so that delegates could vote their conscience (which would have had Reagan running in 1976 and maybe we would have not had to have a Carter presidency at all).
You got a problem with people voting their conscience?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/18/2016 @ 9:46 pmYes. The at-large delegates maybe, if their state committees will release them. But the ones who pledged themselves on the ballot should vote the way they told the voters they would.
nk (dbc370) — 3/18/2016 @ 9:49 pmHere’s the results of the latest Gallup Poll. 3/18/16, responses collected over the past 2 weeks.
ropelight (ae6b77) — 3/18/2016 @ 11:05 pmmitty was such a nice boy.
mg (31009b) — 3/19/2016 @ 12:56 ampuking my guys out.
any way your roll that, it still ends up being Romney doesn’t like the outcome of fair elections so he ‘s going to tilt the pinball machine. Knock over the chess board.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:57 amI was going to say “behave like a peacock” except the peacocks I have known have behaved splendidly.
Living in Colorado for a couple of decades, I have a number of Mormon friends that I skied, golfed and worked with, none were as phony as Mittt Romney. This oaf has no use for me.
mg (31009b) — 3/19/2016 @ 2:21 amThe audacity of this man to go state to state and tell people who to vote for is pathetic. Candy Crowley kicked his balls out his mouth.
mg (31009b) — 3/19/2016 @ 2:56 amSome leader letting a obese slob hand the presidency to Obama.
Romney will vote for Ted Cruz, campaign for him, but won’t endorse him. That’s one of those things that makes you go hummmmm. Grasshopper, there’s more here than meets the eye.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 6:08 amRomney did endorse Cruz. Not that he needs his endorsement especially after he begged for Rubio and then K-sick..
jrt for Cruz (bc7456) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:34 amK-sick needs to go down hard and fast….. please can somebody take this guy out of the race. He is like that last party guest you can’t get to leave….
What I read says Romney “Effectively” endorses Cruz. There seems to be quite a bit of pussyfooting around here. As far as I can tell Romney hasn’t actually said the words – although he’s all but committed himself, but not quite.
That thin sliver of wiggle room is the point of my comment at #54.
If someone knows differently, please speak up (not you jrt).
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 9:00 amTo a conspiracy theorist, there is no activity, no state of being, which falls outside the description of “pussyfooting around here.” If you don’t embrace my conspiracy theory (they think to themselves), then you’re obviously part of the cover-up of the conspiracy.
The objective facts are these:
Romney indeed has not yet used the formulation, “I’m endorsing Ted Cruz to be the Republican nominee.” However, he has announced that he is casting his own personal caucus vote, as a citizen of Utah, for Ted Cruz; and he has pointed out the obvious, which is that votes for John Kasich in any of the remaining contests tend to skew those contests in Trump’s favor, rather than in favor of the only alternative remaining to Trump, which is Ted Cruz. Kasich has interpreted this publicly as an abandonment, and has expressed regret. Cruz has interpreted this publicly as welcome support, and has expressed approval.
Anything else, beyond those objective facts, is speculation at this point.
I don’t know if Romney is being careful, methodical, theatrical, duplicitous, coy, or careless. I also don’t care. Like Cruz, I’m glad Romney’s voting for Cruz and supporting him in Utah.
Of the billions and zillions of alternative universes triggered by each quantum-level event, is there one universe where Romney intends to show up at the RNC Convention — having previously expressed support for Rubio in Florida and Kasich in Ohio and Cruz in Utah — to become the establishment GOP candidate to “parachute in” to “save the Party” via drastic changes in existing GOP Rules (including the eight-state rule, Rule 40(b), and the unfaithful delegate rule, Rule 16(a)(2))?
Who cares? That universe ain’t ours. It might also be the same universe where U.S. military forces follow a depraved POTUS’ orders to intentionally target and murder families of terrorists as a revenge tactic. But none of us reading this page live in that universe.
Beldar (fa637a) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:00 amBoth Trump and Romney suffer from ideological ambiguity, both vulnerable to “shhh, please don’t talk about his/her political leanings! That’s intrusive and rude!!,” with the latter prone to getting snared by the games of political correctness and the former too egotistical for his own good.
Mark (6c93d5) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:00 amRomney is like Sarah Palin just pitifully desperate to remain relevant
embarrassing.
happyfeet (831175) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:02 amropelight,
If Romney publicly says he’s voting for Cruz, isn’t that in itself an endorsement? (LOL)
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:29 amAs long as Trump continues to win, though, some are convinced the opposition to him will start to crack.
Just as some were convinced that Trump would self-destruct. The opposition to Trump that I see is hardening as he gets closer to the nomination. The people who see it softening are Trump supporters who are engaging in wishful thinking. But I repeat myself.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:48 amYes. The at-large delegates maybe, if their state committees will release them. But the ones who pledged themselves on the ballot should vote the way they told the voters they would.
They only said that as far as the first ballot is concerned. After that — if no one gets a majority — then the voters have not made a decisive choice and it is up to their representatives to make it for them. In this case it is their representatives in the raw party politics sphere, but it is their representatives just the same. It’s a Republic, not a Democracy.
Having said that, the Convention would be well advised to pick among the leading candidates, based on their beliefs on the short- and long-term health of the party, who could win, and the direction the the party should take. I would expect that many of those attending are non-traditional Republicans, either from the Trump camp or the Tea Party, so the idea that they’ll nominate Kasich or Romney or some idiot Senator is silly. I think Rubio is too damaged to run. But they just might pick a near-second-place Cruz.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:57 amMr. Trump threatens to upset a lot of harvardtrash applecarts
you go to harvard and marry up a goldy sacky you buy your way into failmerica’s sleazy and corrupt senate and you think you got it made in the shade – you have the divine right to govern the cowardly foodstamp-swilling tatted-up failmerican trashpeoples – and you can use failmerica’s useless roberts-defiled constitution as an excuse for anything you want!
and here come Mr. The Donald saying whoa harvardtrash ted not so fast there buddy
settle down there
let’s just focus on making America great again
happyfeet (831175) — 3/19/2016 @ 11:59 amSo, Romney won’t, or hasn’t yet, explicitly endorsed Curz, that’s what I thought and what I expressed at #54 above. It seemed an obvious and rather commonplace observation. But jrt challenged my conclusions at #55:
Consequently, at #56 I asked “If someone knows differently, please speak up (not you jrt).”
So, what do I get? Moonbeam Beldar recites the published narrative then launches into a bizarro turn around the cosmos to finally approach the point – He doesn’t care who Romney endorses – but that’s not really his point either. Moonbeam’s tap dance was merely foreshadowing for a cheap shot against Trump.
Moonbeam is really, really, mad at Trump and can’t seem to pass up an opportunity to smear the man who would be President as a murderer of women and children. No one here lives in Moonbeam’s bizarro universe but the polluted mind which embraced hatred as it abandoned reason.
Additionally, the divisive fool who calls himself Cruz Supporter (whom I suspect might be another of Hiltsik’s sockpuppets) has nothing but stupid snark to add, as usual.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 12:25 pmRomney said he would only endorse Rubio, Cruz or Kasich. Rubio is out so that leaves Cruz or Kasich.
DRJ (15874d) — 3/19/2016 @ 12:30 pmnothing to do but wait and see who Mitt endorses
this is why there are so many undecideds out there
happyfeet (831175) — 3/19/2016 @ 12:34 pmThank you DRJ.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 12:50 pmBeldar, I’ve been unkind. Please accept my apology. After I submitted my comment at #64 above I went out to wipe down my car – it rained this morning and I left it outside. While doing manual labor I had a chance to go over my experience with you.
Previous to your decision to turn your back on me, you were unfailingly polite and thoughtful, your comments were universally welcomed even by those who disagreed with you. Obviously, you’re a highly skilled and widely respected professional. I was impressed and ranked you among the most intelligent and reliable commenters here.
So, what happened? Have you lost you balance, are you going through some personal or professional crisis? Where is the Beladr I knew and respected. I’m sorry to have made fun of you, the old you doesn’t deserve it, and again I apologize for not seeing it sooner. Best Regards.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:03 pmHere’s a set of delegate scenarios, based on what Kasich does and the Trump-Cruz vote split. I’ve omitted the “Trump wins it outright” scenarios because they don’t interest me, but they are pretty clear from the cases chosen. The fuzziness in the results are due to the “winner takes all” behavior or many later primaries.
The AVERAGE vote assumptions in each case are below the chart. From the NY Times delegate widget. Click to biggify.
What it shows is that, if Kasich gets small numbers or gets out, Cruz needs to average 6 points more than Trump from now on to break even by the Convention. If he gets a 10 point advantage he has a decisive lead. Considering that winner-take-all means that huge leads don’t help, the best that Cruz can do is about 52% of the delegates even if he wins out.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:25 pmRopelight,
Part of MY problem is that I cannot understand why an intelligent, well-read person would support Donald Trump, a man who seems to see the world in bumper-sticker thoughts. Perhaps instead of attacking Cruz, or going on about who was born where, or railing about betrayals by the establishment GOP, you would lay out non-emotional reasons why you think this country needs Donald Trump.
As I have said above, there are parts of what he says that make sense, particularly the terrible policies of both parties that, when combined have left Americans with fewer and fewer prospects. My problem is that I have no confidence in his solutions, which seem at best counter-productive. at worst suicidal, but maybe you could convince someone why a giant tariff or threatening American companies that outsource is a good plan.
We really haven’t seen a lot of that kind of discourse here for a while, and I admit the problem isn’t just from one side.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:34 pmropelight,
So please correct me if I’m “wrong,” but what you’re saying is that when Mitt Romney publicly says he intends to vote for Cruz, it’s not technically an endorsement of Ted Cruz?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:37 pm…then who is it an endorsement of—Tom Cruise?
Okay, so by the same token, when you, ropelight, say you voted for Trump, did you technically NOT endorse him?
(LOL)
Romney said he would only endorse Rubio, Cruz or Kasich. Rubio is out so that leaves Cruz or Kasich.
He also said that, while he likes Kasich, John doesn’t stand a chance and ought to bow out so that the party can consolidate its opposition to “Trumpism.”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:37 pmWhat we are hearing from Romney (and hence the GOPe) is “the sound of concrete cracking” regarding Cruz. McConnell may not get there, but if Cruz wins the Presidency what McConnell thinks won’t be an issue.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 1:41 pm#70, Kevin, you don’t have to understand me, you have to understand that opinions other than yours are legitimate and those who hold those opinions are not whipping boys. i’m under no obligation to explain anything to you, and it’s presumptuous of you to ask.
The stream of insults you’ve directed at me over the last weeks and months have left me with a great deal of animosity toward you. Truth is I wouldn’t piss on your head if you hair was on fire.
I don’t understand why you can’t see that Cruz is Constitutionally ineligible for the presidency, maybe you can and are so enamored of Ted Cruz you don’t care one way or the other. Either way I accept your position is one possible conclusion, but there are other possible conclusions. Yet you adamantly cling to your position and denounce the holders other positions which are equally possible.
So, go try to live with yourself, if you can.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 3:31 pmMy problem, ropelight, is that I don’t HEAR any opinions. I think I’ve been clear why I support Cruz and not Trump. Why do you support Trump and not Cruz? You do have reasons, don’t you? ANd not just that birthplace stuff. That’s just a talking point, one would hope.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 4:07 pmTruth is I wouldn’t piss on your head if you hair was on fire.
Luckily, I’m bald.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 4:07 pmropelight, you DO understand that your opinion with respect to NBC is a fringe opinion, WELL outside the mainstream at any time in history. YEs, there have always been people who try that trope when it seems advantageous, but 1) it never works and 2) it is always ridiculed as it should be.
WHen you take a position that is always ridiculed, and deserves all the ridicule it gets, and you find yourself subject to ridicule, you should at least say to yourself “This is the path I have chosen. I know I am right, let then laugh and be damned.” But instead you get angry. -er.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 4:13 pmKevin, I’ve been a Cruz supporter since 2012, and I don’t consider that birthplace issue just a talking point. It’s actually a matter of serious concern to me. It isn’t at all unlikely that after Cruz wins the nomination, the Dems could get him disqualified on that basis.
Cugel (982a8d) — 3/19/2016 @ 4:24 pmDems don’t even have to get Cruz disqualified, all they and their media accomplices have to do is raise enough of a stink to taint Cruz as an ineligible usurper and drive down GOP turnout. It’s their fall-back strategy for taking the White House. Every election Obama ever won involved disqualifying his opponents one way or another.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:12 pmtaint Cruz as an ineligible
Why didn’t they do that with McCain then?
Why didn’t the GOP do that with Obama, who actually CLAIMED to have been born in Kenya well into the 2000’s.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:35 pmBut I will not get dragged into this crap again. It’s settled law and has been for a century.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:36 pmIt’s their fall-back strategy for taking the White House. Every election Obama ever won involved disqualifying his opponents one way or another.
Which reminds me. I saw the second season of Bosch on Amazon, based on one of our host’s favorite book series. Jeri Ryan has a major role.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:38 pmOn February 5th, Trump said Cruz is eligible to be President and ropelight, papertiger and happyfeet didn’t disagree. It’s settled.
DRJ (15874d) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:41 pmI liked the first season of Bosch and look forward to the second.
DRJ (15874d) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:42 pmHere is the Trump said Cruz is eligible link.
DRJ (15874d) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:43 pmi never thought he wasn’t eligible i just think he’ll have trouble getting the nomination cause he’s a niche candidate
happyfeet (831175) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:44 pmactually that was hillary’s boy, berg who came up with that, but yes seven of nine’s divorce records, were dredged up by axelrod, and jack ryan was taken out as well as blair hull,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:50 pmshe’s been working fairly steadily since then,
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005394/
narciso (732bc0) — 3/19/2016 @ 5:52 pmHere’s Trump on 3/18/16
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:30 pmI never doubted that Trump said it. What I question is whether he remembered he said it the next day. Or the next hour, for that matter.
nk (dbc370) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:36 pmSo…does that mean Trump can totally reverse his position on something within a month’s time?
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (3fd36a) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:36 pmthis obsession with natural born citizenship, over sound judgement, and basic sanity, we’d have to rule out half the democratic bench, is annoying,
narciso (732bc0) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:42 pmfollowing in the path of the pla and the siloviki,
http://www.weaselzippers.us/262498-democrat-donating-starwood-hotels-and-resorts-worldwide-signs-first-u-s-cuba-hotel-deal-since-1959-revolution/
narciso (732bc0) — 3/19/2016 @ 7:45 pmnarciso, adhering to the plain meaning of the Constitution isn’t an obsession it’s the duty of every honorable American.
ropelight (6e3e88) — 3/19/2016 @ 8:50 pmsee Mittens is still the same, will vote for Cruz but wont commit and endorse. He is a bucket of warm spit.
sd Harms (c7dded) — 3/21/2016 @ 3:52 am