Trump’s Gracious Concession Statement
Typical. Last night was a rout, so obviously there had to be cheating:
Donald J. Trump withstood the onslaught of the establishment yet again. Lyin’ Ted Cruz had the Governor of Wisconsin, many conservative talk radio show hosts, and the entire party apparatus behind him. Not only was he propelled by the anti-Trump Super PAC’s spending countless millions of dollars on false advertising against Mr. Trump, but he was coordinating `with his own Super PAC’s (which is illegal) who totally control him. Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet— he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump. We have total confidence that Mr. Trump will go on to win in New York, where he holds a substantial lead in all the polls, and beyond. Mr. Trump is the only candidate who can secure the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination and ultimately defeat Hillary Clinton, or whomever is the Democratic nominee, in order to Make America Great Again.
There is zero evidence of any illegal coordination by Cruz in Wisconsin, and the Sniveling Coward knows it. He says it because 1) it salves his fragile ego, and 2) it starts a discussion in the Idiot Media about whether there is evidence of Cruz cheating, even though no such cheating happened.
Nine-dimensional chess! Verbal Kill Shot!
And total horse droppings.
Unfortunately, there’s also number 3: His supporters would become disillusioned if he gave them even the opportunity to doubt his glory.
CayleyGraph (353727) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:35 amHe seems to understand conservative philosophy about as well as Jon Stewart, and most other philosophies even less. Sadly, the only quality that decides whether or not one wins elections is the ability to work a crowd, and Tromp has that in spades.
Horse droppings! It has what plants Crave!
Rorschach (8ddea0) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:43 amTo be fair, when you are as dumb as Trump and his supporters, 10 million dollars is “countless millions of dollars.”
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:45 amThere is zero evidence of any illegal coordination by Cruz in Wisconsin…
Ted Cruz is a clever and accomplished lawyer and knows how to keep his skirts clean and his fingerprints off sketchy operations. But to proclaim him blameless because no evidence has yet come to light is premature. Of course Cruz deserves the benefit of the doubt – he’s innocent of the accusation till evidence proves otherwise.
But prudence demands claims of non-involvement shouldn’t depend on a lack of evidence before there’s been time to look for it. Keeping the faith is OK, but keeping an open mind is a better way to go for now.
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:45 am“I object!”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that it’s devastating to my case!”
-Liar Liar
CrustyB (69f730) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:51 amTrump sucks monkey turds.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:01 amHe stole them from Obama.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:01 amRopelight, if that press release didn’t cause you to doubt Trump’s stability, you are in need of intervention
SPQR (e53149) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:10 ami’m reassured though he’s still committed to making America great again
praise jesus for that
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:13 amTrump doesn’t respond well to adversity. He promised he’d be “Presidential” just last week, and now this.
BobStewartatHome (a52abe) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:17 am#4 ropelight,
Should we keep an open mind regarding the charges that Trump University committed fraud?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:20 amWe should keep an open mind that Trump and his henchmen are behind the National Enquirer story.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:30 amTrump:
This is who Donald Trump is, and his supporters love it about him. He is a grown-up grade school bully.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:34 amWe should also keep an open mind about Trump’s exceedingly small, deformed hands… and you know what that means… wink, wink, nudge, nudge: small, misshapen gloves!
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:35 amDRJ, it isn’t all that odd a sentiment, Robert Kennedy said: Don’t get mad, get even!
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:37 amNothing odd about the Kennedys, no sir.
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:39 amkennedys are trashy
never could warm up to them ones
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:41 amTrumpkins can 💋 my 🗡
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:41 amIf Trump owned a newspaper: https://youtu.be/9iMy0969BTw
Unfortunately, he wants to own America.
L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:42 amkennedys should try plying me with baked goods
this has been highly effective for others in the past
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:43 amYou are making a yuuuuuuuuge mistake, ropelight. Until this moment, I never thought you had 💩 for brains, but…
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:45 amIf Trump is a reflection of the National soul (and the trumpkins – mini-me reflections) then we are doomed.
Steve Malynn (b5f891) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:47 amMerle Haggard dead at age 79. RIP
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:48 amoh man that’s not good
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:50 amIf Trump is a reflection of the National soul (and the trumpkins – mini-me reflections) then we are doomed.
Mr. Trump is what you get when you act like sleazy establishment trash even when people tell you it’s time to clean up your act and get your ducks in a row.
Not naming any names.
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:52 amThe quote came from RFK’s father who learned it from the Boston Irish Mafia, and it’s a very Jacksonian sentiment (as in Andrew Jackson). Trump certainly likes Democrats as mentors and role models.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:54 amTrump is a Democrat and this is who they are. Not very pretty, is it?
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 10:55 amApparently we are only supposed to keep an open mind about some things.
JD (d1fc85) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:00 amAsk not what your combover can do for you; ask what you can do for your combover.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:00 amR.I.P. Merle Haggard
Icy (3dd15b) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:02 amMankind must put an end to male pattern baldness before male pattern baldness puts an end to mankind.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:03 amoh my goodness such a thing to say DRJ lady
Mr. Trump wants to save America from the filthy immigrant hordes plus make America great again.
That is a complete opposite thing for to do if you’re a Democrat it’s like not even feasible.
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:03 amMaybe, but without migrant grape pickers how will we make American grapes again?
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:05 amHe wants to let the “good ones” back in, hf. How much more Democratic can you get than thst?
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:06 amthere’s lots of good ones you can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
Team R is rotten and Mr. Trump is a big part of the process where you fix it back
i love him so much for stepping forward to help
everyone was just milling around like they had no idea what to do
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:09 amSome in the media are starting to push back against Trump.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:10 amRobert Kennedy said: Don’t get mad, get even!
That kind of ‘leading with your chin’ served him poorly during an old but little-known debate with the purportedly doltish Reagan.
From a foreigner’s perspective, for a US President to espouse such sentiment is troubling, and perhaps only slightly better than claiming such conviction without actually having the resolve to follow through(ecce Obama).
JP (bd5dd9) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:10 amIs it “filthy immigrant hordes” or “lots of good ones”? You remind me of Trump … and wafgles.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:12 amWaffles.
DRJ (76a58a) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:13 amHaggard was a Great One, icy!
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:26 amExactly. And all bullies are surrounded by an entourage of wannabes who want believe they acquire toughness by osmosis. That’s who Trumpkins are.
Mind you this is the same guy who tells evangelical audiences “I’m a great Christian!”
L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:26 amwaffles are quintessentially american
except for some of them are belgian
and Mr. Trump knows that on a very deep, almost unthinking level
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:31 amThis is something I alluded to previously.
Sorry, Trump, but Chinese Currency Is Actually Way Overvalued
For those who don’t have a Barron’s subscription:
Gerald A (7c7ffb) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:40 amI think it is dawning on Trump he won’t win first ballot and not much to do but bribe the delegates to get the second vote.
So, he might need to start dropping 10K per vote to get to 1237 and I am sure 50% of those will need to be paid for. $600MM dollars right there.
Gotta wonder if he would actually do that. Simply buy the votes. Nothing illegal to my understanding.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:43 amIf Trump is a reflection of the National soul (and the trumpkins – mini-me reflections) then we are doomed.
I keep coming back to the fact that Cruz was targeting these same people that you insult.
So what does it say about Cruz?
Cruz got beat by Trump to earn the votes of people you now magically hate?
The same type of votes the RNC has been talking about getting back into the Republican Tent?
LOL. So much tawdry stupidity.
As if the Candidate one supports does not get over the hump by earning votes of people one hates.
Again, abject stupidity by some.
Hey ya’ll you don’t think Reagan won in 1980 by getting tons of KKK minded folks???????
Did that make Reagan a KKK supporter?
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:47 amI see no grounds for saying Cruz has been specifically targeting those people. Would he like their votes? Sure but that’s not the same as targeting. The only groups I know of that he has specifically targeted are evangelicals and conservatives.
Gerald A (7c7ffb) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:53 amGerald A,
Please stop the lawyerly word f*ing. Specifically or not, Donald Trump took away voters from Cruz that Cruz was banking on. A very very very very large percentage of them. Not a teeny tiny amount. A whole bunch of them.
So all the insults being hurled by Cruz supporters to Trumpkins, or whatever, is situational opinion at its best and hypocrisy at its worst. Those same Trumpkins were the votes YOU AND CRUZ were banking on to win. They are the same votes you need in November to win. They are the same votes you need to take the Convention too.
Suck it up, be a man, and accept a simple fact …. for Cruz to win he needs all those Trump Voters you are insulting. No shame in the game.
… oh yeah and guess what Trump needs all of Lyin Ted’s Votes too to win in November and some of them to win in August.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:03 pmIf Trump Supporters think they are winning in November without Cruz People, they are stupid.
If Cruz Supporters think they are winning in November without Trump People, they are stupid.
So once ya’ll get past calling each other stupid, realize your candidate does not win unless you give the other side of this debate a reason to vote for your guy.
You wanna wait till the convention to start giving each other hand jobs … great, but it only helps Hillary.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:05 pm… and for the record no one is stupid for voting for either guy. What IMHO makes many of you idiotic is the fact you don’t realize you are on the same boat crossing the ocean and you all need to row to make it. Half the crew can “disappear” cuz dey stooopid while at the same time expecting you gunna row all the way there without them.
Better chance of winning without RNC support than without each others voters.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:09 pmthe people united will never be defeated
this is a revolution of love
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:10 pm#50 Happyfeet was all excited about talk of hand jobs in Cleveland so he chimed in.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:11 pmyou think you know me so well
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:12 pm“… and for the record no one is stupid for voting for either guy.”
– Rodney King’s Spirit
Still waiting for an intelligent, non-bigoted explanation of Trump-support from an actual Trump-supporter. I expect I will keep waiting.
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:20 pm#47
I agree that he would like to get Trump’s voters and would clearly need to get most of them in November. But a segment of them clearly would never vote for Cruz. Those people are not Republicans and not really conservatives either IMO. Cruz was not banking on getting that segment of Trump voters. Most of them wouldn’t be voting at all in the GOP primaries if Trump wasn’t running. That’s why Trump’s strongest states have generally been open primaries. The main group where Trump has pulled many voters from Cruz’s column is evangelicals.
Gerald A (7c7ffb) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:22 pmhere Mr. Leviticus this is special
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:23 pmbye bye
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:25 pmGreat. Now I’ve got the shivers.
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:30 pmcreepiest thing ever
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:32 pmThere’s also zero evidence that these National Enquirer allegations have any basis
in fact. But a Trump operative owns that tabloid, he smears Cruz on Trump’s behalf,
and the Trumpsters act like it’s holy writ carved in stone.
Rorschach @2 notes that horse droppings are what plants crave. ropelight comes along @4 to prove him right.
I’m still amazed that the Trumpsters can read (can they read?) and hear the rhetoric Trump and his campaign keep puking up and they think he’s not only electable, he’s the only candidate who can beat Hillary! He can’t. Trump is not only a clown, he’s an idiot. Not in everything.
He’s very smart when it comes to self-promotion and defrauding people. But if something’s outside his areas of interest; Trump, Trump, seizing someone else’s property via eminent domain, Trump, protecting Trump’s brand, scamming people, Trump and more Trump, defamation lawsuits, The Donald, and a “nice young piece of @$$,” he’s not interested in learning about it.
Trump is accusing “Lyin’ Ted” of cheating and “stealing” delegates. What counts as lying and cheating, and stealing in Trump’s spoiled, self-absorbed universe is reading the fine print. Actually, it’s reading the large print. Correction; it’s reading up on knowing what you’re doing.
Apparently Trump had to sit down with Priebus who read from “How to win a primary election for Dummies, Chapter Six, Delegates and how they work.”
Can Trump and his cultists read on their own?
Steve57 (c108f9) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:32 pmI had to do a double take when I read this comment because it’s the first one (and the only one in my memory) in which happyfeet properly uses capital letters and periods, proving he’s capable of doing so.
Now, if we only could train narciso to use his pinky and not his ring finger to attempt a period.
L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:37 pmNow, let’s all keep an open mind.
And by “keeping an open mind” I mean concluding, since the guy settled (Trump brags he never settles lawsuits because “then you get sued more,” but he settles lots of lawsuits) that there was tons of intentional wrongdoing.
Steve57 (c108f9) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:44 pmtrump should of asked if the convention will nominate a tranny loving sex deviate like randy ted cruz. travis county republican chairman robert morrow outs randy ted’s underage tranny trysts at omni hotel. see video at classicalvalues.com
undisputed truth (7c8539) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:54 pmI can’t spot any holes in this analysis by Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com: Ted Cruz, Not Paul Ryan, Would Probably Win A Contested Convention, but it does contain some interesting details about the delegate selection process, along with reporting about how the Trump and Cruz campaigns are involving themselves in it. Key paragraphs:
I confess that I had to look up “Acela” — it’s the hourly Amtrak express train that runs from DC to Boston through BWI, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, Newark, New York and other east coast cities.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 12:57 pmRemember when Happyfeet used to wail about the illegal immigrations, essentially advocating almost open borders, and calling it racist to oppose him because they are just hard working peoples trying to make a better life?
JD (69a249) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:03 pmMr. JD there’s no way forward in failmerica until we deal with the immigrations
it is what it is
i don’t really care what we do as far as i’m concerned an effective immigration policy is the one where failmericans quit whining about it all the time
i’m so over it
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:07 pmplus the trashy establishment Rs keep trying to be sneaky instead of making an honest case for their believes
it’s tacky
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:09 pmrepublican establishment sabotaged voting machines so the wouldn’t take votes for trump abc local news. see video at classical values.com
undisputed truth (7c8539) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:09 pmYou Cruz cultists ever wonder why Kasich is sticking around or why Priebus won’t rule out Kasich as the nominee? Maybe they know more is to come on the Cruz sex scandal? Just a thought.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:14 pmStill trying to creates scandal by lying, Old Liar?
JD (69a249) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:15 pmJD, I have said I don’t know if it’s true, but there are plenty of reasons to think there is something there. Time will tell.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:18 pmYour word salad nonsense belies your repeated insistence of the existence of a scandal that only exists in the fevered minds of you and your ilk.
JD (69a249) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:20 pmEarth to Old Reader: Rumors are NOT scandals. They’re just rumors. Nothing more.
Wake me when you Trump-humpers can supply more than out-of-context tweets and taking April Fool’s Day jokes seriously (which brings us back to Trump).
L.N. Smithee (820854) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:28 pmCheck your math.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:29 pmOut of context tweets? I don’t think you know the details.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:30 pmThe clock’s running out on Trump. Time WILL tell.
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:32 pm“as i’m concerned an effective immigration policy is the one where failmericans quit whining about it all the time”
– happyfeet
Hahaha ouch.
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:36 pm58 “creepiest thing ever”!?!?! Don’t think it beats this, not by a long shot, happyfeet http://youtu.be/udT8iFsg7v0
Colonel Haiku (c76994) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:37 pmFollowing Beldar’s comment at #62:
Let’s project Trump’s delegate count at somewhere above 1,100 but well short of the 1,237 necessary to secure the nomination on the 1st ballot. Let’s also project Trump looses to Cruz or Kasich if the convention goes to a second ballot.
Now, recall that a backroom deal with Rubio or Kasich could supply Trump with enough votes to win on the first ballot. And, don’t forget the Unbound Delegates who have individual choices unlimited by State Party rules. Some of those lucky individuals might be open to persuasion.
Trump has touted his deal making ability all during the election. His success my come down to exactly that. If Trump comes to the convention short of delegates he needs to make a deal on the first ballot, otherwise for all practical purposes, it’ll be Cruz vs Kasich on the second ballot. (And the GOP establishment will have their knives out to cut Cruz down hard.)
Therefore, Trump will have to make a deal with Rubio, or collect enough Unbounds to put him over the top on the first ballot, that lose the nomination.
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:44 pm, that or lose the election.
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:47 pmoh man that lil burro has an agenda
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 1:56 pmOld Liar – it is precious that you ignore the fact that there was a post by the proprietor of this site that gave the full context of the tweets that you at lying about.
And laughable that you aren’t taking a position on the issue. You are more nuts about it than ropelight.
JD (348c81) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:06 pmLosers always have a reason for why they lose. And it is NEVER them.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:18 pmHe is a grown-up grade school bully.
Which is why the Biff Tannen caricature was so devastating.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:22 pmJD, Kevin, I think there are only two alternatives:
1. These characters are just trolling, so it is all about not responding with reason or intellectual honesty.
or
2. They consider themselves smart people, and are increasingly embarrassed by their own support of this cartoon of a candidate (even as he repeatedly does things that are, um, un-Presidential). Since they cannot admit they were wrong or were hoodwinked—they are smart people (top men, in fact), remember—they have to do whatever they can to salve their egos.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:23 pmTrumpkin shills apparently still don’t understand the convention voting process at all. One of them wrote above (#78) that “a backroom deal with Rubio or Kasich could supply Trump with enough votes to win on the first ballot.”
That’s ridiculously improbable. Delegates bound by law for the first ballot can be released from the candidate to whom they were pledged. But even if released for that first ballot, they aren’t at all bound — nor, as a practical matter, given the likely identity mix of those delegates, are very many of them likely — to want to do as instructed by the candidate to whom they were pledged.
So Rubio could, for example, release his Texas delegates. He can’t strike some bargain with Trump to give those delegates to Trump, though, on the first ballot or otherwise, because once they’re released, they’re released. And early reporting suggests that left to their own choices, not a single one of Rubio’s delegates from Texas would vote for anyone but Ted Cruz, on the first ballot or otherwise.
You see, to trade something, you have to own something first. Only a simpleton, a political novice like Trump or his many Trumpkins, would assume, wrongly, that a candidate owns — and can trade, like baseball cards; or instruct, like automatons — the delegates who may be bound to him.
Ohio’s current rules don’t specify for how many ballots the delegates bound to Kasich must stay with him. Let’s presume, for purposes of discussion, that Kasich does have sufficient clout with the Ohio state GOP executive committee to get them to rubberstamp any “number of ballots for which you’re bound” rules Kasich wants. Let’s further assume the individuals appointed to those bound delegate slots are also intensely personally loyal to Kasich, such that they’ll accept and act upon his recommendation to vote for Trump — e.g., because Trump and Kasich have already announced that if Trump wins on the first ballot, he’ll immediately propose Kasich as his running mate, and all of those individuals would be so pleased to see Kasich as Veep that they’d swallow their doubts about Trump.
That might indeed give Kasich an effective ability to bargain with Ohio’s 66 delegates. But Kasich is currently credited with 143 total delegates, meaning roughly 77 of his delegates are from states other than Ohio. If, as part of this supposed deal with Trump, Kasich frees up the Ohio delegation by formally abandoning his campaign for the top spot, then those 77-odd delegates will indeed be freed up on the first ballot, but with neither legal obligation nor personal inclination to go to Trump. Indeed, most of them are likely to go to Cruz on the first ballot. So: If Kasich and Trump try to cut a deal to give Trump the Ohio delegation, they may still end up providing Cruz with more first-ballot votes than Trump would gain.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:25 pmI suspect this is how these folks feel, Kevin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xPBHn7Cblk&nohtml5=False
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:25 pmDRJ, it isn’t all that odd a sentiment, Robert Kennedy said: Don’t get mad, get even!
RFK worked for Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn when they were on the rise, then turned on them when they fell out of favor. Not the knight in shining armor you are looking for.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:26 pmDid he give the full context of the late night cheese tweet (now deleted)? The full context of the alleged “photoshopped” condom photo that was still on her personal instagram (might now be deleted)? Because I missed those details.
Patterico was absolutely correct about the context of the “Daddy Cruz” tweet and I have always commended him for pointing that out.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:29 pm@ Simon (#84): You’re right. I’d only add that those two categories aren’t mutually exclusive.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:29 pmBeldar,
Under Ohio rules if Kasich drops out all of his delegates go to second place. If Trump is within reach of nomination, Kasich can guarantee him the nomination for a VP slot if he wants, simply by officially dropping out of race. This is my understanding of Ohio rules. This is probably why Kasich remains in the race or maybe he thinks he really stands a shot in a contested convention (if Cruz blows up with scandal or whatever, that makes it actually feasible).
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:32 pmWe need to keep an open mind about whether or not The Mr Donald fraternized with underage prostitutes. Certainly, he’s innocent until proven guilty, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look for evidence.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:38 pmIf Kasich were to be planning the kind of deal I hypothesize above (#85) — trading Ohio’s delegates to Trump on the first ballot in exchange for Trump’s promise to endorse Kasich as the GOP’s Veep nominee — he’s going to have to be sure that none of the delegates from Ohio are “#NeverTrump,” won’t he? Are there really 66 reliable people from Ohio who prefer Establishment John Kasich in their hearts, but who are willing to settle for Trump at the top and Kasich as Veep?
But assume there are, and assume that Trump’s strategy works and he wins on the first ballot, and assume that Trump keeps his word and proposes Kasich as his Veep to “consolidate the party.”
There are going to be tons of bound Trump delegates who don’t like him one bit, but are legally bound to vote for him on the first ballot. If their compelled vote from the first ballot ends up putting Trump in the top slot, how happy are they going to be with the idea of going along with his recommendation for Kasich? Certainly none of the Cruz loyalists are going to go for that.
The bottom line is that Trump can’t make this deal with Kasich, even if by a blindingly improbable coincidence the first-ballot numbers might work out, because Trump will have no ability to deliver on any promises he makes regarding the vice presidency.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:38 pmTherefore, Trump will have to make a deal with Rubio, or collect enough Unbounds to put him over the top on the first ballot, that lose the nomination.
Yes, of course.
What neither of us knows is whether Rubio still controls all those delegates — they are allocated, and reallocated under state rules. Some may have been deemed released and are now either free, or reassigned, or ???. Some may be forced to vote for Rubio anyway, even though Rule 40 says that they would be invalid votes*. Same for Carson et al.
I wonder if Trump has enough liquidity to buy votes, and if that is allowed under party rules. There may be people who would give him their vote for a 6 figure sum. Maybe that would be too much for The Donald’s ethical senses, but I’ll keep an open mind on that.
But if it goes to a second ballot you are correct — Trump is done because, left to their own devices, few thinking people want him.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:39 pm* Under Robert’s Rules an invalid vote counts as a vote when determining a majority (it is NOT an abstention). The Convention may or may not follow that.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:41 pmThe bottom line is that Trump can’t make this deal with Kasich, even if by a blindingly improbable coincidence the first-ballot numbers might work out, because Trump will have no ability to deliver on any promises he makes regarding the vice presidency.
While I doubt that the convention delegates, on their way out to the alternate site to nominate Romney, would saddle Trump with, say, David Duke as VP, they might.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:44 pmIn response to the “I pulled this out of my butt, here’s what I think Ohio rules are”-type comment above (#90) by a Trumpkin shill, here’s some reality (link in original):
Again, however, for purposes of viewing this scenario from the perspective most favorable to Trump, let’s assume that Kasich could get the Ohio GOP state executive committee to re-write their rules any way he wants.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:47 pmAnd then we get to who goes on the state ballots as the GOP nominee. As recently as 1960, the national Democrat candidate did not appear on all state ballots. With a nominee of Trump’s divisiveness, and with a potential alternate candidate chosen by RNC delegates unbound, might many state parties opt for the alternate slate?
This avoids the 3-way race problem, and simply makes the House of Representatives the endgame.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:49 pm@ Kevin M (#95): Actually, I think if Trump were to achieve his hostile takeover of the GOP with a first-ballot victory, the convention would pick a consensus choice for who they’d want to succeed Trump after he’s impeached. It wouldn’t be Ryan — he’s needed in the House — so it would probably be someone too old to run on his own, but well regarded both within establishment GOP circles and among outsider/insurgents — like Jeff Sessions. It wouldn’t be John Kasich.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:50 pmI’d suggest Gingrich, who at least knows Washington.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:53 pmIf Trump has any sense, he would throw the nomination open, as if it were his plan.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:54 pm@ Kevin M (#93): Supposed legal expert “Judge” Andrew Napolitano has been assuring everyone that yes, there’s no law against bribing delegates.
It would be far more accurate to say that there’s no exemption from the normal bribery/larceny state and federal laws when delegates are involved. There’s a reason that LBJ had his friends from Brown & Root fly up suitcases full of hundred dollar bills before every political convention.
These delegates are not homeless people. They’re leading citizens of their respective states, almost all of them with long careers in business or public service, and they won’t be the type to get big-eyed at small sums. I don’t think Trump would find many takers, nor be able to afford even those who might be for sale.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:56 pmBeldar, it’s interesting to see people post about rules without—as you did—actually quoting and linking to those rules.
Why, it’s to the point I don’t believe much of what the Trumpkins write! It’s like they have a yuge honesty problem. I mean, it would make your head spin.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 2:57 pmand Mr. Trump knows that on a very deep, almost unthinking level
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 11:31 am
— Every single one of Mr. Trump’s (mostly shallow) levels are “unthinking”.
Icy (4f33a9) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:04 pm“These delegates are not homeless people. They’re leading citizens of their respective states, almost all of them with long careers in business or public service, and they won’t be the type to get big-eyed at small sums. I don’t think Trump would find many takers, nor be able to afford even those who might be for sale.”
– Beldar
Hunter S. Thompson has an extremely interesting chapter on this topic in Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72.
Leviticus (efada1) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:06 pmBeldar,
Your tone is appalling and your ego very Trump-esque if I may say so. In the other thread you act like some sort of bond and bankruptcy expert, but it’s obvious you don’t know the first thing about finance. Awaiting your response there.
As I indicated in my post, I was not certain of the drop-out rule. That reading of the rules is probably wrong, if this piece is accurate.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:33 pmArt-istic deco-ration of the thread by Old Whosis.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:52 pmthe point of the exercise, is to cut out cruz and trump entirely, have we not seen this rodeo before, in minnesota, macho grande, alaska, mississippi,
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:55 pmThompson had many interesting chapters in FaLOtCT72, but one should not mistake his gonzo fantasies for serious analysis. (No, Muskie was not taking ibogaine during the 1972 primaries, nor was Humphrey taking Wallot.)
Which is not to say that a ruthless and well-organized political apparatus could not sway a fair number of convention delegates by bribery or blackmail. There will be 2,472 of them (or maybe more – are there any fractional votes, as there used to be?). Most are leading citizens, too big to be bribed and unlikely to have dirty secrets. But many are not wealthy, some may not even be prosperous, and it’s almost certain that some will have dubious backgrounds. A fair number will be long-time political insiders, who have touched pitch at some time. How many are, say, county commissioners, or state legislators? How many are enthusiasts who jumped into a campaign and were put up as delegates without a background check?
But also note that the apparatus has to be well-organized (and extensive). With a thousand expert operatives at work over several months, one could compile a “dirt book” on probably 200-300 delegates, and find another 100 that could be bought (with appointments, not money). However, Trump does not have such an operation, AFAIK. He’s run his campaign on the cheap, with a small staff.
To sway the convention, he would need a small army of operatives. First, a battalion of investigators finding out everything possible about each delegate; and second, a battalion of talkers and persuaders working on “swing” delegates. (Lincoln had such a battalion in 1860.)
Rich Rostrom (d2c6fd) — 4/6/2016 @ 3:59 pmSo what is the story of this Christoph character? I have to admit this OR acts like a passive aggressive troll. Or a concern troll.
Sigh.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:08 pmHow many delegates might succumb to offers of vacations at various Trump properties?
DRJ (15874d) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:15 pmwho has spent about 200 million on this race, and want results, the people be damned,
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:20 pmWe also had another “persona” who was banned for lack of “validity” — Art Deco, a strange chap with definite views about dames.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:22 pmDRJ, I am sometimes amazed by how cheaply people sell themselves.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:24 pmHow many delegates might succumb to offers of vacations at various Trump properties?
Will any of the “models” from Trump’s “modeling agency” be there?
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:25 pmTrump won’t be dealing with Rubio’s delegates directly, that’s Rubio’s task. Rubio must be able to deliver a firm number of first ballot votes when he negotiates with Trump. The more first ballot votes Rubio can put on the table the stronger his negotiation position will be.
Don’t fool yourself thinking about Kasich’s votes he’s expecting to get the nomination after the GOPe pulls the run out from under Cruz. Once Cruz stops Trump on the first ballot, his usefulness is over and it’s payback time. First the GOPe has elevated Cruz and then when Trump is denied the nomination, they’ll exterminate him. Kasich expects to be the last currently running candidate standing. Why else does he stay in the race.
Rubio holds the key to a first ballot victory for Trump. That’s where the action is.
ropelight (af00d1) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:42 pmNo way there will be a slate with two Hispanics. But one would be an asset.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:46 pmCruz/Kasich
Trump/Rubio
?
Yes, everybody who shows up here and disagrees with the Patterico echo chamber is just a previously banned troll.
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 4:56 pmhispanics are so cool we should have one of them for sure
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:01 pmooh and a woman
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:01 pmHeck, I don’t know, OR. Your schtick is pretty obvious.
Besides, when nk and JD agree…and your insult Beldar and DRJ…well, by their fruits thou shall know them.
Best wishes and good luck storming the castle.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:09 pmOh, Mr. Feet. We just want to make America great again, instead of grate again.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:10 pmyou is pooper
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:12 pmCruz/Fiorina! Even better.
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:12 pmoh c’mon it’s not a beauty contest Mr. nk
happyfeet (831175) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:13 pmwell she and the top men, concur, the alternative was citing politico,
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/04/06/hillary-clinton-ted-cruz-mean-spirited-guy/
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:17 pmI know who scares me (well, kind of, it’s more repulses) and who doesn’t. Who scares Hillary more?
nk (dbc370) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:26 pmyou think they care about what you want,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/paul-ryan-could-make-2016-normal-again/2016/04/05/ca6dc99c-fb6f-11e5-886f-a037dba38301_story.html
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:31 pmI’ve been pondering the question of whether delegates at this convention could be “bought” — bribed outright (with cash or promise of office or influence), or indirectly but still personally (DRJ’s Florida vacation scenario), or indirectly via something promised to their state (that new federal hydroelectric project or air force base or submarine contract).
I really don’t think anyone knows. But I’m doubtful.
This will be the first contested presidential convention of the digital age — the first one with smartphones, and the internet, and ubiquitous sound & video recording. If nothing happens to determine the nominee before the convention, then every delegate — and indeed, every alternate — will be under individual public scrutiny.
They’ll also surely feel themselves spotlighted as meaningful actors, as literal agents of history.
The closest parallel I can think of was actually not a recent political convention, but rather the performance of the various actors involved in the Florida recounts during Bush v. Gore — the Dade County commissioners court, the county judges and election supervisors, the state party officials, and — of course — the lawyers. Do you remember the fury of the occasional short arguments about whether anyone was pulling something fast and loose? “Oh, ballot box #193 was left unguarded for 10 minutes, were any chads knocked loose?” Things ended up being so carefully scrutinized that almost nothing happened without multiple observers from each team eyeballing everything. It was a highly improbable complete circus — media, legal, and otherwise — with the Gore people transcendently invested in the idea that the election was being stolen. But nothing got stolen, nor was anyone bought off or bribed — except in their leftist fantasies.
This time, though, it would be the delegates — not the punch ballots — under scrutiny. If that limits the players to deals that could survive public scrutiny, that’s a pretty limited playing field.
At least, so I hope.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:36 pmexcept then, the democrats were trying to steal the election, the lesson we see, is the top men, were paying attention, as with minnesota rules, they applied to alaska,
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:42 pmhohum utter foolishness, on display,
https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2016/04/06/us-un-backed-cvesymposium-exposes-farce-of-countering-violent-extremism-programs/
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 5:48 pmLet’s jump into the DeLorean and go back in time (bold mine)!
What changed your “eager[ness] to rush to judgment,” O.R.? Could it be desperation?
L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/6/2016 @ 6:13 pmBTW, O.R.: Don’t you think it stretches the bounds of credulity that a married mother working for a married Senator would take a selfie on a hotel bed with condoms to be used sometime later that early morning by said Senator and post it on her Instagram account? Because that’s what you’re suggesting.
L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/6/2016 @ 6:16 pmBeldar,
I tend to agree but if the margin is close, some might be tempted to make a deal. And in another political case involving Rick Perry, the prosecutorial ethics issue raised in the article could be interesting.
DRJ (15874d) — 4/6/2016 @ 6:22 pmL.N.,
I never said I know if it’s true, just that there are some things that raise it as a possibility in my opinion. There was a ton of false info swirling out there, for sure, but some of it is legitimately odd (some of the deleted tweets).
Old Reader (08f24c) — 4/6/2016 @ 6:40 pmOLD READER=EPWJ
Yoda (feee21) — 4/6/2016 @ 7:39 pmWhy do you think they were deleted, Old Liar?
JD (7a6387) — 4/6/2016 @ 7:39 pmthe whole lawfare against the texas party, as with it’s alaskan counterpart, was coordinated by texans for public justice, delay was the first scalp, then perry, and the paxton case will probably be found deficient next year, but the damage has been done,
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 7:49 pm#53 Leviticus … u wrote: Still waiting for an intelligent, non-bigoted explanation of Trump-support from an actual Trump-supporter. I expect I will keep waiting.
The fact you think supporting Trump makes you a bigot is a mark of an extreme idiot. I support Cruz but I totally understand why Trump makes sense to many folks who want a DRASTIC change in how we do culture and politics.
Donald Trump has single handedly reinvigorated the white working class to make their presence felt, he is challenging PC Culture so much so #snowflakes are apoplectic over his chalk markings, he has embarrassed the RNC and exposed them for the mendacious douchebags they are, and is bringing voice to a large part of this country WHO HAS BEEN SHIT IN THEIR MOUTHS FOR 50 YEARS by Lefty bigots/racists/race hustlers, Lefty opportunists and Republican sell outs. Ted Cruz has not done this.
So it is not hard to understand why a white guy in Central PA is livid over being called names by racist blacks and racist hispanics, being asked to pay taxes to support those racist blacks and hispanics, being asked to keep their mouth shut about their station in life, being looked down upon by “folks with college degrees” who don’t respect their “trailer trash” views, and then being told some illegal alien deserves something for free that he has to struggle pay for.
And (again) for the record I am a minority, raised in the inner city, poor to (legal) immigrants whose first language is spanish. I was given Jimmy Carter welfare cheese too. But right is right and facts are facts. White people in this country deserve a god damn Thank You Card from us minorities and a Walmart Gift Card too — not a sneer and middle finger like Obola with his guns and religion comments or “you did not build this” nonsense.
Trump is speaking to those folks and letting them know they are appreciated. Not bigoted to understand why they love him. He celebrates them.
Rodney King's Spirit (db6706) — 4/6/2016 @ 7:54 pmYou know who screams “Cheater!” every time they suffer a defeat? Losing losers that lose, that’s who.
arik (02de93) — 4/6/2016 @ 7:56 pma reminder,
http://www.empowertexans.com/features/who-is-responsible-for-the-paxton-probe/
narciso (732bc0) — 4/6/2016 @ 8:38 pmTo be fair, when you are as dumb as Trump and his supporters
I don’t mind truly sensible and certainly conservative people scorning Trump and sneering about his supporters being dumb. But it’s a whole different matter and very hilarious when observing liberals doing the same thing.
The left has used up what little credibility it ever had in spawning this era of “Goddamn America” and has no authority in judging who’s stupid or not. The epitome of dumb is witnessing what liberals tolerate on their side of the ideological divide, including the crud currently rolling around in the White House and throughout the top flanks of the Democrat Party.
Mark (0f444a) — 4/6/2016 @ 9:12 pmActually there is clear and compelling evidence the Cruz campaign has repeatedly violated FEC rules.
Kobeclan (04a945) — 4/7/2016 @ 1:33 pmChoosing not to admit the truth makes you as deranged as any of the most rapid Trump supporter.
But the ends justify the means.