Patterico's Pontifications

9/23/2016

Cruz Endorses Trump

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 12:39 pm



His Facebook post is here.

I’ll make no bones about it: I am disappointed. I think it is wrong for him to endorse a man who insulted his wife and his dad as Trump did. Absent a sincere public apology, Trump does not deserve this. I understand the politics of it. But I am disappointed.

Countdown to Trump pissing all over Cruz to assert his supposed dominance in 3..2..1…

(Oh, we’ll get brief phony graciousness from Trump. But the leg is going to lift. That I can tell you.)

UPDATE:

425 Responses to “Cruz Endorses Trump”

  1. He now seems like just another politician.

    A giant mistake.

    In my opinion.

    Patterico (fcc13e)

  2. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable — that’s why I have always been #NeverHillary.

    can’t argue with that Mr. Cruz I’m very glad you’re on board with us for to help stop that pig

    here have some horchata

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  3. but for those still inclined

    here’s a hot tasty protest vote for you

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  4. I just hope this means some position for Cruz in Trump’s world…like a SCOTUS nomination or something.

    Dejectedhead (0c7c2f)

  5. canaduh turd crud strikes again! he finally realized where the votes are. and its all about turd crud in 2020 anyway.

    2020 (a8f106)

  6. A ‘whores’ is a ‘whores,’ of course, of course… talk to Mister Ted!

    “This really isn’t your day, is it.”– James Bond [Sean Connery] ‘From Russia With Love,’ 1963

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  7. Trump does not deserve this.

    He doesn’t need it, either.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  8. 7.A ‘w-horse’ is a ‘w-horse,’ of course, of course… talk to Mister Ted!

    “This really isn’t your day, is it.”– James Bond [Sean Connery] ‘From Russia With Love,’ 1963

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  9. Having read it, it seems less an endorsement of Trump and more an endorsement of the Republican nominee who happens to be Trump. Pretty well all he says about Trump is he’s the only thing standing in the way of a Clinton presidency. I hear what you are saying but he is putting his country before his family and personal pride. Hard to fault him for that.

    Kieron Grady (716b7a)

  10. patterico next to endorse trump?

    2020 (a8f106)

  11. Remember when we were all making fun of Rubio for endorsing Trump after what Trump said about Lil Marco?

    Good times, good times.

    A.S. (23bc66)

  12. Unsurprising, and I called it months ago. It’s simple, really. He values his word, which he gave, and, I think, correctly, sees a Hillary administration as the greatest threat in this election. Combine those two things, and there was never any real question he was going to endorse eventually.

    He’s not a Bush, who naturally prefers a Clinton administration, since she’s a member of the Washington club, and Trump is not.

    Skip (d50389)

  13. @5.I just hope this means some position for Cruz in Trump’s world…like a SCOTUS nomination or something.

    Ambassador to Antarctica. Or something.

    ” I want you to stay, uh, out in the cold… a little longer.” Control to Leemas, ‘The Spy Who Came In From the Cold,” 1965.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  14. @12 you and crud suppository think canaduh turd crud endorsed trump for noble reasons not to get trump votes in 2020. I don’t know who is more slimy can duh turd crud or his suppositories.

    2020 (a8f106)

  15. I think Cruz was principled here.
    He left aside two insults that would have led to pistols at twenty paces between strict constitutionalists back in the late 1700’s.
    He honored his promise to support the nominee. He honored his own arguments against (never) Hillary on the Supreme Court and Obamacare.

    I think it was a very principled (if late) response toward the nation. Cruz put the nation ahead of grievous personal insult(s).
    I think the best way Cruz supporters can honor Cruz, support the nation, is to put a finger down the throat and cough out the last of the bile, take a charcoal pill and vote Trump.

    You may not feel better, in the morning… or even maybe for 4 years, but you will have joined Cruz in acting upon what, right now, is best for the nation.

    That said 1,2,3 here comes the crew who put their feeling ahead of the nation… they’ll put up videos of Trumps grandiose nonsense, his unmet promises, and his ill tempered responses… yada yada… when every candidate has a rap sheet like that a mile long. Sure, they don’t have Donald’s flair, but most candidates lie, pander, attack, bully, etc. Some have the velvet hammer where Trunp uses a meat cleaver, but Cruz has the wisdom to know that despite all of his flaws, Trump is better for the nation than Hillary.

    Oh. And Trump does need Cruz’ supporters.
    Swing states could come down to a win for Trump if 100,000 voters who would otherwise have stayed home, now hold their nose and honor Cruz by voting Trump

    steveg (5508fb)

  16. In some ways I’m disappointed that he endorsed without getting a public apology. But my experiences with Ted Cruz as a resident of Texas and watching him throughout his career I’m not surprised because he has always been true to his word. He said he would support and I figured he would in the end. I also thinks he is strongly opposed to Clinton and there just isn’t a reasonable third party to support.

    It is all now up to Trump. Does he graciously accept the endorsement or get into an Alpha Male contest. If he does it will be the last straw for many Cruz supporters. In order to get Cruz supporter votes Trump needs to be gracious. Offering an apology to Cruz would just sweeten the pot and possibly guarantee many votes. I have my doubts that Trump has it in him.

    marce (1cb271)

  17. @15 yeah trump needs crud suppositories and in 2020 turd crud will need trump supporters.!

    2020 (a8f106)

  18. Oh. And Trump does need Cruz’ supporters.

    Oh. But he doesn’t need Tedtoo.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  19. Well, I don’t have a future in politics to protect, so I’ll say what I’m sure Ted Cruz is still thinking, despite his concession to servility: Donald Trump is an odious piece of sh*t, as is Hillary Clinton, and nobody with an ounce of self-respect would support either of them as the leader of this country.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  20. 16.I think Cruz was principled here.

    Principled like a streetwalker.

    Now it’s just a matter of dickering over price.

    ‘Love For Sale’ – Cole Porter, 1930

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  21. @20. Donald Trump is an odious piece of sh*t,

    Ahhh, but Tedtoo just plain stinks.

    ‘Flushed With Pride- The Story Of Thomas Crapper’ by Wallace Reyburn, 1969

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  22. Ted Cruz fan, primary voter and contributor: I’m not disappointed at all. As between the two candidates, Trump is the only viable option. Not voting is not an option. He’s voting his conscience. A public apology from Trump, to the extent it was sought and available, both of which seem unlikely, would have been meaningless pander and time wasting.

    AMartel (a99e2c)

  23. what is the difference between can duh turd crud and a teenage black tranny hooker he is buy a sex act from? pervy ted charges a lot more then a teenage black tranny hooker!

    2020 (a8f106)

  24. I agree Cruz should at least expect an apology from Trump for insulting his wife and father.

    I also expect to hear differently from the Trumpkins. But it’s a matter of honor.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  25. It was inevitable with things this close–no matter how things turn out he’ll have room to maneuver. If Trump wins a lot of his old enemies with the Republican establishment will get wished into the cornfield, and I’d bet that he’ll stay in the Senate and decline any overtures for jobs with the (hypothetical) Trump Administration, leaving him as an option in 2020 if Trump crashes and burns. If HRC wins (almost certainly narrowly), then he racks up time in the Senate opposing HRC and again preparing for 2020. If Trump had been about to lose in a landslide, he would have stayed quiet.

    M Scott Eiland (1edade)

  26. Meh. Trump still sucks.

    nk (dbc370)

  27. I’m glad to see Ted put any hurt feelings about public insults to the back-burner.
    We’ve got a country to make great again, and we’ve got a world that’s on fire.
    We can’t be focused on high school locker room taunts that took place six months ago.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  28. Trump needs every swing state vote he can lay his hands on.
    He can do it without Ted, but with Ted its a little easier… his Facebook page comments have quite a few people who have today moved from never trump to: OK. Voting Trump then.

    Then there is this guy (who probably posts here) “I’ve had a Ted Cruz bumper sticker on my car from day one. I’d never been more proud it being there as I was AFTER Trump became the nominee. It was a symbol of what I stood for. A man of principles who didn’t back down, and who stood by his vow before God to honor his wife before his vow to support a nominee before Republicans. I’m taking it off of my car right now.”

    Dear Fellow Citizen. We were voting in a Presidential primary, not for Messiah. Please look at your principles and how you define them. There is an old story about some guys who thought they had the highest principles ever and then someone considered by them to be unprincipled showed up and noted they were like “whited supulchres full of dead men s bones”. All of us are like that (whitewashed outside with dead bones inside) to degrees. If Ted Cruz had not honored his promise, then he would have died a little inside. Forgiving insult and moving forward brings life back inside, so in my view Cruz is more alive and whole by forgiving insult and honoring promise.
    The same historic guy noted earlier, said he promised to save the lost, and instead was treated abominably, spat upon and insulted. He put aside insult and fulfilled his promise.

    This situation today is not exactly the same thing, but it does help explain the effect of the role model Cruz says is number one in his life might have had on today

    steveg (5508fb)

  29. Cruz Endorses Trump

    ‘God’ll get you for that, Walter.’– Maude Findlay.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  30. Cruz does the honorable thing for his country and people.

    Patterico, not so much.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  31. I’m glad to see Ted put any hurt feelings about public insults to the back-burner.
    We’ve got a country to make great again, and we’ve got a world that’s on fire.
    We can’t be focused on high school locker room taunts that took place six months ago.
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 9/23/2016 @ 1:49 pm

    Have you never taken a vow to love, honor, and respect a woman? Locker room taunts? If I had my way, duels would still be legal.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  32. Have you never taken a vow to love, honor, and respect a woman? Locker room taunts? If I had my way, duels would still be legal.

    Yeah, but one could find better things to fight over than Goldy Sax Heidi Cruz.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  33. Cruz left himself an opening with “vote your conscience.”

    And Trump did say – though not directly at anybody: I do apologize for those I hurt during the campaign with what I said.

    Whether you vote for or against somebody, in either case, you’re voting for someone.

    Steve_in_SoCal (58e1f9)

  34. “Have you never taken a vow to love, honor, and respect a woman?”

    Have you ever had kids and had to clothe, feed, and raise them?

    No one else in the Republican field has what Dave Ramsey calls ‘financial independence’ in this presidential race except Donald Trump, who could take on the lobbyists directly because he had the cash, influence, and attitude to crush anyone primarily dependent on donors. His wife’s Goldman Sachs salary wasn’t going to be enough.

    Ted Cruz’s capitulation was what some of your previously employed Republican consultants may have called…mathematical. He simply didn’t have the connections or the ground game to finish this fight. He was crushed by reality and lost big, as it were. And I won’t be mad at him for seeing the world as it is and taking the action necessary to survive in that world.

    Neither should you.

    Dystopia Max (76803a)

  35. This is disappointing, and clearly a political move. And he’s obviously looking ahead to the future…

    It begs the question, if Cruz won’t hold the righteous stand of defending the honor of his wife and father, upon what would he?

    I guess it depends on what one’s sense of duty, and the priority they have in an individual’s life.

    Dana (995455)

  36. …Yeah, but one could find better things to fight over than Goldy Sax Heidi Cruz.

    Denver Guy (4750ec) — 9/23/2016 @ 1:58 pm

    If I thought her worth marrying, no, I couldn’t find anything better to do. I’m not saying this to defend Ted Cruz. He’s not turning out to be the man I thought he was. But just on general principles.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  37. ‘Trump does not deserve this.’

    “He doesn’t need it, either.”

    In fact, it works against him.

    SteveD (01c263)

  38. He now seems like just another politician.

    A giant mistake.

    In my opinion.

    Patterico (fcc13e) — 9/23/2016 @ 12:40 pm

    In mine too. He made a principled stand at the convention, and took all that heat, and for what? Suddenly it looks like Trump might win (though he won’t) and now he wants to get in on it? Terrible.

    Cruz made a unprincipled decision to vote for and endorse a liberal Democrat who is Clinton’s donor over Clinton herself based on his own self interest instead of what was best for party and country.

    What are many Republicans made about? GOP politicians ignoring their principles to help out liberal Democrats. And that’s what Cruz has done here.

    I’m pretty pissed. I will never vote for him again, and I’m ripping his bumper sticker off my car. The #NeverTrump will remain.

    Patrick Henry, the 2nd (dd9551)

  39. Yeah, but one could find better things to fight over than Goldy Sax Heidi Cruz.

    Denver Guy (4750ec) — 9/23/2016 @ 1:58 pm

    Yeah screw that whole honor and love your spouse thing.

    Better to endorse a man who has a Goldy Sax Finance Chair, and wants to appoint a Goldy Sax exec as treasury secretary.

    Patrick Henry, the 2nd (dd9551)

  40. ‘If you lean Republican, it would be best to get behind Mr Trump’

    What sort of logic is this. If you lean Republican, why would you get behind a Democrat?

    SteveD (01c263)

  41. Bob @42, but how did we get here? Do we really want to pile on critical junctures?

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  42. ‘Once the GOP is effectively dead, what good will their “principles” be?’

    Hey You can reverse this sentence and it is just as true.

    Once their principles are effectively dead, what good will the GOP be?

    (Seems you need both to make a difference)

    SteveD (01c263)

  43. Ted is trying to get back in the pockets of Sheldon. His only chance to stay in the pig pen.

    mg (31009b)

  44. A party that thinks its sensibilities are dainty is destined to lose.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  45. Ted Cruz can vote as he feels necessary, and I will do the same. I’ll still support him for the Senate. So far, Trump hasn’t earned my vote, and I don’t think he ever will.

    Evan3457 (79ccc1)

  46. The guy I disdained the most during the debates, Kasich, turns out to be the last man with integrity. Irony.

    nk (dbc370)

  47. I love how people endorse Mr. Trump when they really put some thought into the decision

    it give you hope for a better tomorrow

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  48. A person with no dog on the quarrel knew this day was coming, because Cruz is awful in his own way. Sorry or the disappointment.

    I’ve never been a never-Trumper though it was hard not to despair at the state of the party and it’s choice of figurehead. if Hillary is worse! what is worse than Hillary is her Praetorian Guard press. SI would at least like to see lip service paid by the press and the left to freedom of speech, freedom of association, restraint on executive power and watchful criticism of its excercise. Hillary simply has to lose, what follows is a thin silver lining of having a plain spoken person who has no free reign to expand his power. Also he’s not as one of those “lifeydoodles” for whom no other matter in politics exists unsubordinate. No time for dancin’ or lovey-dovey, I ain’t got time for that now. Also it helps to think of Trump as an asteroid.

    SarahW (3164f0)

  49. Sorry for typos.

    SarahW (3164f0)

  50. nicely said

    she simply has to lose

    then after that we can go from there

    but first things first

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  51. Steve57,

    The world is on fire, and the country is going down the toilet.
    It’s no time for Andy Jackson style duels over what some guy said about your wife or your sister or your Aunt Florence six months ago.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  52. I am still unconvinced that either party offers a credible path forward.

    Hillary offers a corrupt and failed status quo, except more so, with “progress” only in making things worse.

    Trump offers a singularity. He may end up little different from Hillary; he may end up on the fascist right; he may end up nearly anywhere in between. He may end up all of them at once. The one thing I really do not expect is that he will end up engineering the careful downsizing of the federal government and devolution of powers back to the states that is required.

    So, kleptocracy or helter-skelter.

    I’m gonna get a new Cthulhu t-shirt that says “Finally, the lesser evil!”

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  53. Heh. That’s funny, Cruz Supporter. Trump is Andrew Jackson. He takes everything personally and lives to get even, but he and his supporters think everyone else should act like adults.

    DRJ (15874d)

  54. The world is on fire, and the country is going down the toilet.

    And it is so very important which way the flush spins!

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  55. People s*ck.

    Nothing has changed since the convention.

    So, Ted chose to roil and divide the convention. For what? This is the Ted who is reviled within the Senate. How many other times, behind the scenes, was he willing to negotiate away some core principle, all the wile publicly maintaining perfect fealty to such?

    If Ted can “walk back” on something like this, it’s a matter of time before he does the very same on other issues. Gang of 9, anyone?

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  56. ….The world is on fire, and the country is going down the toilet.
    It’s no time for Andy Jackson style duels over what some guy said about your wife or your sister or your Aunt Florence six months ago.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 9/23/2016 @ 2:38 pm

    But, don’t you see? This is exactly the right time for duels. We have a Republican party constantly looking for the right hill to die on. And never finding it.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  57. so say you succeed, and red queen gets in and a year later, following the australian model she has extolled, pulls a port arthur, total confiscation of firearms through executive action, what then?

    narciso (d1f714)

  58. I’m saying, narciso, that if you won’t fight for your honor it can not be said to exist.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  59. A Cruz vs Trump duel would accomplish a lot of things. It would settle the direction of the party, and it would, no matter what, get a few Democrats grudgingly admitting that guns can be good.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  60. so say you succeed, and red queen gets in and a year later, following the australian model she has extolled, pulls a port arthur, total confiscation of firearms through executive action, what then?

    Not clear who wins the civil war, or if the Army will follow her unconstitutional orders.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  61. Or your wife’s. Personally, I think that is something worth standing up for. The danger is, how we got here, is everyone too willing to be practical.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  62. Steve57,

    It’s the right time for duels, but for duels against illary, Barack, the UN, ISIS, BLM, et al.
    We had an entire year to do the intramural fights. That stuff’s over now.

    Plus, Ted needs to show he’s a bridge-builder if he’s to win re-election in 2018 or to have an opportunity to run for President again.
    Politics is about expanding the tent.
    Barry Goldwater was borderline angry in talking about principle and virtue and not giving an inch. But the Barry Goldwater Presidential Library doesn’t exist.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  63. Remember that Australia originated as a penal colony, not as a bastion of freedom. They have no free press, free speech, right to assemble, or RKBA, other than what the government grants them.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  64. I said a year ago that my dream scenario would be President Trump putting Cruz on the supreme court. I hope that is the deal reached for Cruz’s endorsement.

    “He now seems like just another politician”

    Dude, he’s always been just another politician, that’s why Trump won, he wasn’t. With the mood of the country this cycle, no Washington politician could have beat Trump. And there was no way Cruz could have been competitive in the swing states Romney lost, I think he would have done even worse than Romney.

    I gotta say, for all the talk of how awesome Cruz is, he sure made a royal mess of his brand. He needed to endorse Trump at the convention, or not at all. Waiting until now was the worst of both worlds.

    LBascom (c230be)

  65. A Cruz vs Trump duel would accomplish a lot of things. It would settle the direction of the party, and it would, no matter what, get a few Democrats grudgingly admitting that guns can be good.

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/23/2016 @ 3:03 pm

    I was thinking swords. I hope everyone has been studying.

    http://www.navyandmarine.org/cutlassmanual/1906cutlass.pdf

    But pistols? Just as good.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  66. Cruz seems like just another politician?
    I think the only remaining Republican candidate who won’t support or vote for Trump is Kasich. Good on him.

    WarrenPeese (48f94f)

  67. the Barry Goldwater Presidential Library doesn’t exist.

    I can’t imagine Barry building such a thing.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  68. I think the only remaining Republican candidate who won’t support or vote for Trump is Kasich.

    I’m still expecting Kasich to announce a write-in candidacy. He doesn’t seem to mind being a spoiler.

    Or maybe he’ll endorse Hillary.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  69. Cruz Supporter, I am going to be ashamed if I live long enough to have grandchildren who will ask me how I let this happen. And I’ll have to answer it happened because I always chose the lesser of two evils.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  70. Did Cruz truly “endorse” Trump,
    or did he say
    Given how bad Clinton is
    And Trumps positions a
    And picking Pence
    And putting Lee on the short list for SCOTUS,
    A vote for Trump is a good thing?

    Trump should not be within a hundred miles of the presidency,
    Clinton should not be within a thousand,

    I guess advantage Trump,
    I still wouldn’t trust him to take care of my cats

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  71. Kevin M,

    The Goldwater Presidential Library would have been funded by supporters and private interests. With the proliferation of paperwork and media during the second part of the 20th century, the archives would have been of good interest to historians and citizens alike. Particularly since he would have presided during the Cold War.

    On the other hand, the illary Clinton Presidential Library will probably be built with Saudi money. What difference at this point (or any other!) does it make who pays for her library — she’ll destroy all the records before they get to become archives, anyhow. (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  72. So he fulfilled his pledge.

    #nevertrumpers can take a knee.

    Pinandpuller (6722c7)

  73. I don’t get Kasich, if he was so anti Trump why didn’t he get out and let Cruz run with it?
    Was he really that deluded to think he had a chance?

    That’s what I thought, but it didn’t make sense for him to drop out when he did as the last non-Trump choice.
    Maybe that is what he Had thought, but when he got there no longer had resources $$$$to continue.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  74. The Goldwater Presidential Library would have been funded by supporters and private interests.

    Perhaps, but I think it would have been called something else.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  75. The guy I disdained the most during the debates, Kasich, turns out to be the last man with integrity. Irony.

    nk (dbc370) — 9/23/2016 @ 2:30 pm

    This is an even bigger pill to swallow.

    Dana (995455)

  76. well how about britannia where the magna carta was born, she has suggested hungerford and dunblane were the right steps,

    another intifada breaks out, and vizier abedin, helpfully suggests a blockade against israel,

    narciso (d1f714)

  77. MD,

    I think that Trump had promised him the VP slot if he dogged Cruz, then Trump reneged. It’s not like Kasich could openly complain, since the arrangement would be illegal.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  78. john weaver, puts the tuse in obtuse, he was part of the perot scrum, second time around, then maverick’s first effort, and the george hamilton manque, huntsman,

    narciso (d1f714)

  79. Mean stupid girl club still knows when to be practical. Kids to feed, lots of money. Practical and slutty.

    neal (379313)

  80. “The danger is, how we got here, is everyone too willing to be practical.”

    – Steve57

    Yep. Very well said. There’s no mystery to it, though. Our political system was designed to force-feed poison pills to intelligent people.

    Leviticus (704211)

  81. “The one thing I really do not expect is that he will end up engineering the careful downsizing of the federal government and devolution of powers back to the states that is required.”

    I can dig it. No one has done a bit of that in my lifetime, and probably a dozen lifetimes before that. The last one that even tried, Reagan, couldn’t even get rid of the Dept of ED. W. Bush was unsuccessful in just reforming social security, and grew the government with the DHS. Cruz promising to eliminate the IRS was laughable, he may as well of promised to visit other solar systems in his first four years.

    Trump has promised to cut regulations, and if he can even do that I’ll be amazed. If he builds the wall, starts enforcing existing immigration law, and keeps us from anymore foreign adventures, I’ll consider him a success.

    One other thing he could do, and I hope he gets grassroots pressure enough to do it, is endorse the idea of, and strongly push for a convention of states to amend the constitution a la Levin’s the Liberty Amendments. That is the only hope for any kind of return to federalism. I humbly suggest that is a possibility if like minded people are allies of Trump instead of enemies.

    LBascom (c230be)

  82. Cruz left himself an opening with “vote your conscience.”

    And Trump did say – though not directly at anybody: I do apologize for those I hurt during the campaign with what I said.

    Whether you vote for or against somebody, in either case, you’re voting for someone.
    Steve_in_SoCal (58e1f9) — 9/23/2016 @ 2:03 pm

    Trump said that for the same reason he said he believed Obama was born in the United States: To be able to dismiss it when someone brought it up. Much in the same way Hillary dismisses the email and Benghazi probes as yesterday’s news because she’ll never be indicted. When challenged to explain what led him to the conclusion that Obama’s an American, he said because he wanted to get on with the campaign.

    And NO, I’m not voting for anyone. Not Trump, not Clinton, not Johnson, not Stein, not McMullin. NOBODY has earned my vote.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  83. The Donald: ““I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz. We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent,” Trump responded in a press release Friday afternoon. “I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again.””

    LBascom (c230be)

  84. Trump does not deserve this.

    True, but irrelevant. It’s not about Trump and what he deserves or doesn’t deserve; it’s about following your conscience, as Cruz said at the convention. If he now says his conscience tells him to vote for Trump, then I take him at his word. And if it does, then I think he’s right to follow it, regardless of what Trump deserves. Meanwhile my conscience doesn’t tell me to vote for Trump, so I’m not planning to.

    Milhouse (7e779f)

  85. …I humbly suggest that is a possibility if like minded people are allies of Trump instead of enemies.

    LBascom (c230be) — 9/23/2016 @ 3:44 pm

    What I resent about the Trumpkins is, they demand I like the guy. Yes, we have to kick this horse around. Trump may well be the best we can do, for now. But I don’t like it. And I’m not your enemy. That does not make me your enemy.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  86. Not one for kicking horses. I just give them a gentle nudge. I hope I didn’t give the wrong impression.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  87. My problem with horses is, they’re too tall. Every time I mount a horse, that can carry my weight, I’m thinking, “Who h3ll thought this was a good idea?” Using a mounting block.

    This could explain why I prefer ships.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  88. I just heard someone make a good point on the radio,
    Cruz asked us to vote our conscience,
    and perhaps that is exactly what he did,
    that he decided he had to do whatever he could to stop Clinton,
    and Trump had shown enough, as I commented before,
    And, I understand he said he would vote for Trump,
    Nothing more,
    which I can think is consistent overall with what he has said in the past.

    MD in Philly (37ffe1)

  89. Yes, they are too tall.
    I prefer Shetland ponies.

    MD in Philly (37ffe1)

  90. Steve57, if you don’t like it, then why are you always on your high horse?

    Sorry…couldn’t resist.

    LBascom (c230be)

  91. If I had to choose between getting someone like Mike Lee onto the Supreme Court versus Trump explicitly apologizing for pointing to a ridiculous National Enquirer article about Cruz’s father, I’d have to choose the former. It’s not a pretty choice, but it’s an obvious one. And I suspect there’s a heck of a lot more on the side of the ledger along with Mike Lee.

    Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. Staying neutral between the two leading presidential candidates would basically be doing nothing, IMO. They are both flawed, but Cruz has commendably decided to try to stop one of them. Good for him.

    Andrew (7837ee)

  92. I am going to be ashamed if I live long enough to have grandchildren who will ask me how I let this happen. And I’ll have to answer it happened because I always chose the lesser of two evils.

    Steve57

    Thread winner.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  93. I prefer longhorns.

    http://www.premierlonghorns.com/RidingSteers2.html

    Me and the high horse I rode in on.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  94. Did anyone notice this qualifies as a Friday afternoon news dump?

    Kishnevi (80558c)

  95. Everybody around Hillary! gets immunity. We ought to be able to notice a pattern by now, as this isn’t happening to enable them to testify.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  96. I gotta say, for all the talk of how awesome Cruz is, he sure made a royal mess of his brand. He needed to endorse Trump at the convention, or not at all. Waiting until now was the worst of both worlds.

    LBascom (c230be) — 9/23/2016 @ 3:08 pm

    Huge miscalculation. It could have just been anger over Trump’s remarks, but I had the impression he thought he was skillfully positioning himself for a future run. If so he showed remarkably bad judgement.

    Gerald A (76f251)

  97. “I am going to be ashamed if I live long enough to have grandchildren who will ask me how I let this happen. And I’ll have to answer it happened because I always chose the lesser of two evils.”

    Personally, I’m going to be proud when my granddaughter grows up and thanks me for voting for America so she doesn’t have to wear a hajib like the enslaved women of Europe.

    LBascom (c230be)

  98. With apologies to Tom Lehrer:

    Gather round while I sing you of Canadian Cruz,
    A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience;
    Call him unprincipled for changing his views,
    “Principles, schminziples,” coos Canadian Cruz

    Don’t say that he’s hypocritical,
    Say rather that he’s quite political;
    “Once the endorsement is up, by next week it’s old news!
    Memories are short,” coos Canadian Cruz

    Some have harsh words for this bait-and-switch ruse,
    But some say their attitude should be one of gratitude;
    Like his wife and his father; their honor abused,
    So easily betrayed by Canadian Cruz

    “To become a conservative hero;
    Just show Texans you’ll stand up for zero;
    In Alberta ‘oder’ Houston, I have proved I can lose,
    And I’ll prove it again,” coos Canadian Cruz

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  99. 10 4 LBascom

    mg (31009b)

  100. “I think the only remaining Republican candidate who won’t support or vote for Trump is Kasich. Good on him.”

    When you were never much of a Republican in the first place, standing on ‘principle’ is a whole lot easier. Kasich never had much of a plan beyond his own state/being a perpetual ‘moderate’ spoiler who looked good for the donors as an alternate but never really had much of a chance.

    That strategy, I’m happy to say, is appearing to be PLAYED OUT.

    Cruz, I suspect, will be strung along with promises, then dumped at the last second, in much the same manner of his ‘endorsement’ at the convention.

    It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

    Dystopia Max (76803a)

  101. Anyway, the key thing is that the tough and brilliant Ted Cruz endorsed God-Emperor Trump and kissed the ring. Embrace it.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  102. “Did anyone notice this qualifies as a Friday afternoon news dump?”

    Not just any Friday either. The Friday before the first debate on Monday. Next week is going to be wall to wall excrement sorting and grading and Cruz’s departure from the debris field isn’t going to generate many pixels at all. It’s a good tactical implementation of a questionable strategic decision.

    Rick Ballard (102f97)

  103. Cruz laid out 5 or 6 principled positions and reminded us that he will now vote his conscience just as he urged us all to do at the convention.

    I strongly suspect that Ted when to his father and wife before making this decision.

    This will move a lot of Cruz people toward Trump. I am not sure I count myself among those who will vote for Trump as my state is still very much in Hillary’s column. My vote may not matter and I may use that as an opportunity to vote strategically but if Trump is down within the margin of error here on election day I have a stark decision to make.

    I too am #NeverHillary!

    WarEagle82 (5bf75f)

  104. the nazgul has her comeuppance,

    https://grabien.com/story.php?id=65371

    narciso (d1f714)

  105. If you want a combo of Angela Davis, Bill Ayres and Mumia Abu Jamal on the SC, stay home or vote for Hillary. The only chance we have of having a reasonably center or center-right SC is to vote Trump. the next pres may have up to 3 vacancies to fill. Think about that. I don’t like Trump either, but he is our only chance and it is not much of one but he is all we have got.

    Ipso Fatso (7e1c8e)

  106. Remember Brexit, WarEagle82. It was down 10 points come election day and won, because of both fishy sampling decisions by the polling firms, but mostly because many people didn’t want to tell pollsters they were voting for the unpopular choice that gets them branded as “racists”, etc.

    Could be the same with Trump. So consider casting a vote in his column even if polls are outside the margin of error.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  107. I believe that Trump will win, and I also believe that few will admit to their grandchildren that they voted for him. In the late 70’s, only about a third of respondents admitted voting for Nixon, despite his 49-state victory.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  108. …and yea, verily, teh sound of the gnashing of #NeverTrumper teeth, rending of their garments and their anguished wails were heard throughout teh land… and it was goddam good.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  109. and you know what, that shows how people can be shamed out of their own choice, humphrey might have been merely inept, mcgovern would have been a horror,

    narciso (d1f714)

  110. I believe that Trump will win, and I also believe that few will admit to their grandchildren that they voted for him. In the late 70’s, only about a third of respondents admitted voting for Nixon, despite his 49-state victory.

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/23/2016 @ 4:55 pm

    =========================================================

    Teh 66%ers were future #NeverTrumpers… I wonder how many would admit to voting for Jimmy Carter in ’76 and ’80?

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  111. I’m just logging in now and will immediately look for Dustin’s screed, soon to be known as “Teh Sermon of Teh Mounted”…

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  112. Personally, I’m going to be proud when my granddaughter grows up and thanks me for voting for America so she doesn’t have to wear a hajib like the enslaved women of Europe.

    LBascom (c230be) — 9/23/2016 @ 4:21 pm

    They also have to die their hair black. Blondes excite the Muslims.

    If I’m wrong I’ll admit it. Will you? Time is not my ally anymore.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  113. one fears, dan simmon’s from the future, was not such a idle speculation,

    narciso (d1f714)

  114. I, for one, am happy and grateful Cruz did. I also think Trump owes the man an apology.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  115. Anyway, the key thing is that the tough and brilliant Ted Cruz endorsed God-Emperor Trump and kissed the ring. Embrace it.

    Denver Guy

    These Trump guys are so insecure it’s getting funny.

    Just remember, if this incredibly cold endorsement is kissing a ring, then what do you call Trump lavishing praise on Hillary on national TV, over and over?

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  116. Sounds like Barack didn’t learn about illary’s server “in the newspaper” as he proclaimed. Apparently, he was emailing her by using a pseudonym.

    Priceless.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  117. I don’t think Cruz is a bad guy for endorsing, he’s probably coming to the same calculation most of us have, that we’d rather see Hillary than Donald. But I don’t think he’s done himself any favors.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  118. Yep, just read that, CS… D-baggers all the way down.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  119. he’s been pissing in the wind for nigh on a year now, ted cruz has

    but today he decided to turn over a new leaf

    better late than never

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  120. they were all passing classified info on insecure servers, that is why red queen couldn’t be prosecuted,

    narciso (d1f714)

  121. I’m just logging in now and will immediately look for Dustin’s screed, soon to be known as “Teh Sermon of Teh Mounted”…

    Colonel Haiku

    Always nice to see a Trump defender add something intelligent to the thread. Thanks!

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  122. I don’t think Cruz is a bad guy for endorsing, he’s probably coming to the same calculation most of us have, that we’d rather see Hillary than Donald.

    So, Gabriel, you’ve switched sides already?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  123. Monday night should be interesting… Clinton may prove herself to have a better understanding of some issues, but it’s not a lack of knowledge that is at issue, it’s the lack of judgement and her being a lying crook.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  124. @Kevin M:So, Gabriel, you’ve switched sides already?

    Hah! That’s a typo! But there’s no edit button here.

    So let me revise and extend my remarks:

    I don’t think Cruz is a bad guy for endorsing, he’s probably coming to the same calculation most of us have, that we’d rather see Donald than Hillary. But I don’t think he’s done himself any favors.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  125. She got at least four people killed as Secretary of State, Coronello. Imagine how many people she can get killed as President.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  126. If I had to choose between getting someone like Mike Lee onto the Supreme Court versus Trump explicitly apologizing for pointing to a ridiculous National Enquirer article about Cruz’s father, I’d have to choose the former. It’s not a pretty choice, but it’s an obvious one. And I suspect there’s a heck of a lot more on the side of the ledger along with Mike Lee.

    I hereby offer to bet you one thousand dollars that Donald Trump will not nominate Mike Lee to the Supreme Court. I am 100% serious. Easiest money ever. Except you won’t take me up on it — because you don’t believe it.

    Patterico (fcc13e)

  127. I really have no blankety blank idea anymore.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  128. If Trump wins, Ted’s petulance will be forgiven in time. If he loses, Ted can sit in the pariah cupboard with Rockefeller. He will be remembered with all the frequency of the other purists, who said Regan wasn’t conservative enough, Goldwater would get us into a war in Vietnam, and who spend time today arguing that Lincoln wasn’t opposed “enough” to slavery.

    Ted is a man who would probably have voted against Churchill in 1940, for having once switched to the Labor party. he is a bright man and a dedicated one, but he lacks the bumps, bruises, and realism that come from a life beyond D.C.

    As for those who cite to “Nixon Voter regret,” and gleefully anticipate Trump’s failure, and the regret of those who voted for him: try to recall what it would have meant to have elected George McGovern.

    And try to grasp what it means to elect someone whose idea of honesty, and of loyalty to our fellow citizens in danger, is to flippantly say “What difference at this point does it make?”

    Harcourt Fenton Mudd (5e0a82)

  129. Today’s news about the incredibly corrupt granting of immunity deals to people to testify on a matter that was NEVER going to result in an indictment is more of an argument for voting for Trump than anything that has come before.

    This was a conspiracy to make sure that no charges could ever be brought against Hillary’s Haldemans, Erlichmans or Mitchells while charges against Hillary were never in the cards. Obstruction of justice as an official act.

    We need a GOP Attorney General to prosecute Comey, Lynch and probably Hillary and Obama for this if nothing else. IF the immunity was granted fraudulently or corruptly, it should be declared void and the underlings prosecuted as well.

    And now we hear that not only did Obama know about the private server, he communicated OFFICIAL BUSINESS on this insecure channel using a pseudonym. Even Huma was shocked when she found out. “How was that NOT classified?!”, she blurted.

    The Supreme Court is one thing, but when all justice is perverted, who sits on the Supreme Court doesn’t matter much. I have to think on this.

    I’m sure that one of the more rabid Trumpist white-power types will speak up and let me off the hook.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  130. I am also sure that none of this will be asked in Monday’s debate. Instead it will be about people who say bad things about Trump to get at his thin skin.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  131. poor sad corrupt fbi poofterboy james comey humiliated not just himself but his whole family

    the laughingstock fbi

    all the pitiful agent losers

    the justice department

    and also anyone who ever vouched for his “integrity”

    he’s an epic worm like john koskinen

    these people are wholly representative of the food stamp era in failmerica

    it’s very sad

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  132. the old joke, which glenn reynold’s had repurposed,” they told me if I voted for goldwater, we’d be in vietnam’, now nixon’s economic policies were something less than desired, but what were the realistic alternatives, after the spending spree on guns and butter, which tipped over the bretton woods framework

    narciso (d1f714)

  133. got at least four people killed as Secretary of State, Coronello. Imagine how many people she can get killed as President.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 9/23/2016 @ 5:18 pm

    ========================================

    Shake your calculator, Steve, your count is skewed. Probably well into the thousands.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  134. BTW, I do not “gleefully anticipate Trump’s failure”. If he wins, I hope to God he proceeds to govern rationally and reasonably and successfully. I just don’t expect it. I expect him to remain as he is — a petulant, immature man given to intemperate outbursts and half-baked notions who listens to no one and blames everyone. But that is not what I hope for.

    Again, I despise this idiotic election where I have to chose between a monster and a moron. Yes, the moron is the better choice, but why the F.U.C.K. do I have to be happy about it?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  135. You have to admit this is a really good thing for Trump. Cruz represented the party’s conscience. This surely will change a couple of percent of voter turnout, which I consider a big deal.

    Southpark’s Giant Douche vs Turd Sandwich joke wasn’t making fun of the politicians. It was making fun of the people who get so devoted to one side or the other, and so angry that everyone doesn’t join their team. How dare you not support Giant Douche! He’s so much better than Turd Sandwhich!

    Trump’s defenders are madder at me than they are at Hillary. Why? Because folks like me do not care that Romney or Trump or whoever is on ‘my team’ and will be honest. Last round, as weak as Romney was he was still clearly better than Obama. This year, it really is a choice between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. Both candidates represents corruption, abuses of free speech, and incompetence. They both have a provable record of serial fraud and contempt for the things that are good. Far less importantly, both have a record of being on the left politically, being huge fans of government intervention and surely even bigger fans if they get to be the guy who intervenes.

    My gut says Trump’s potential for damage is drastically higher than Hillary’s and his potential for progress and reform is zero. This really irritates the Trump defense force, and in particular the Team R die hards who don’t seem to have a life outside of politics. They say this means I love Hillary, and ignore that it’s Trump who said she would be a great president, not me… I say she will be a terrible president.

    Election day is coming quick and I’ll be proud to vote against Trump. I pray the democrats replace Hillary… she is simply not winning, which is both hilarious given who she is competing against, and disturbing, given what that would mean for our liberty.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  136. now nixon’s economic policies were something less than desired

    Wage and price controls? Really?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  137. Oh yeah… Haiku, I was busy but I wrote that last comment for you. You appeared to be looking for it so there it is. You’re welcome!

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  138. I’m being charitable, but that was part of the reigning keynesian framework, it took the full trainwreck of the collapse of the phillips curve, to let monetarism to take hold,

    narciso (d1f714)

  139. Dustin,

    If they replace Hillary, it will probably be with Bernie, who is (and I do not use this word lightly) a Communist. He went to Brezhnev’s Moscow for his honeymoon and liked both Castro and Chavez. A Communist. The sane and respectable choice would be Joe Biden, but the party would come apart if they did that.

    I fear that when the history of the early 21st Century is written, much will be made of the disaster that was Romney’s loss in 2012. Everything went downhill from there.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  140. Pat says, “I hereby offer to bet you one thousand dollars that Donald Trump will not nominate Mike Lee to the Supreme Court.” I will bet you $1000 that Trump will nominate at least one person from his current list of 20 that includes Lee. As to Lee in particular, I will only bet $10. 😜

    Andrew (7837ee)

  141. I don’t hold a brief for trump, but red queen is the adversary, just as I’ll side with brady against the unctuous goodell on principle’s sake.

    narciso (d1f714)

  142. Dustin… now go fetch my slippers.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  143. actually it was mike’s brother, who was under consideration, so when cotton tried to beat the rhodes roadshow, did mike say yay or nay, same for sasse,

    narciso (d1f714)

  144. Kevin,

    Bernie is a trainwreck of idiocy. No argument there. If the democrats replace Hillary with Bernie they aren’t trying to win, which in my view is the opposite of what the democrat party is about. To me, the democrats care about nothing and every political position is entirely for political advantage. KKK? BLM? Depends on the politics, but the democrats would do both or either.

    Maybe the party would freak out if they picked Biden, but I think they would still vote for him, and surely most Americans would see him as a huge improvement. I’m not a fan of him but he’s got less baggage that the public knows about and a very sympathetic personal story, which works for our society more than rational arguments do.

    I do agree it’s a tragedy that Romney lost in 2012. That was absolutely the GOP’s to win and in many ways the party simply botched it. To many on both sides, this verified the direction the cynical must take, and you can see the GOP is more like the democrats than ever (and I don’t mean on policies, I mean politics over principle).

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  145. Dustin, short of actual death or at least massive incapacitation, the Dems will not replace Hillary.

    The polls report my state to be a dead heat.
    So I will vote for the con man against the criminal.

    Pater si fieri potest transeat a me calix iste.

    Kishnevi (57338f)

  146. Dustin… now go fetch my slippers.

    Colonel Haiku

    You do know this is a discussion thread, right? People normally come here to discuss the topic of the post. I’m always open to discussion. You seem to be really eager to insult people. A few years ago I would ask answer your list of questions and challenges, and note how you simply ignored any questions I posed of you. You’re not here to discuss and seem to think a civil back and forth is beneath you. Those who actually answer eachother are somehow not being tough or something.

    You’re really weird.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  147. yes, so it would seem, the arquillians would find a new crew,

    narciso (d1f714)

  148. Dustin, at least one thing that matters is different, and drastically so, between the two horribles – one will have a critical press and the other a mouthpiece press.

    Unless Hillary drops dead or drops out only votes against her keep her out of office.

    SarahW (3164f0)

  149. And if you have to go with a vulgar, low-brow cartoon for support for your POV, well… that’s Comedy Gold right there.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  150. It’s being reported that Ted Cruz made a statement today that Heidi Cruz and his father have both forgiven Trump, and that he made the decision to endorse Trump today.

    Heidi and Rafael Cruz’s faith compels them to forgive Trump. If Trump were of the faith and in an active relationship with God as he claims, he would be compelled by the tenets of Christianity and the love of God to publicly ask forgiveness from both of those whom he sinned against.

    And if Trump doesn’t act on the call, then I don’t want to hear one damn word about him being a believer, man of faith, man of integrity, honor, or any such indicator of faith.

    Dana (995455)

  151. Kishnevi,

    It’s getting very late in the game. But… if the democrats were planning such an October surprise it would be like this, late and for Hillary’s health, and they have laid the groundwork.

    As far fetched as it is, I hope it happens.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  152. yes, the airing of grievances gets tiring, I didn’t vote for him in the designated primary, neither did most of you, I didn’t pick the nominee in 2008 or 2012 either, e por se move,
    move on already,

    narciso (d1f714)

  153. Dustin, if it was Biden vs Trump, baring any real surprise, I’d vote for Biden and I think he’d win in a landslide. The relief at having ONE candidate who wasn’t a complete mishugena would be palpable.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  154. 1.He now seems like just another politician.

    The jig’s up: he was never anything else.

    I’m so disillusioned I could sit down and cry. My hero turned out to be a bookie…” – Jiggs Casey (Kirk Douglas) ‘Seven Days In May,’ 1964

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  155. one will have a critical press and the other a mouthpiece press.

    Sarah, that is definitely true. Probably the only reason to vote Trump that I actually agree with.

    But Trump is a shock jock. A critical press does nothing to him and he seeks to change the laws to make criticizing him far more difficult (Hillary does too, but not nearly as drastically).

    In fact, if you really are a fan of a critical press, long term, I don’t think Trump makes sense given his ambitions for libel law.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  156. it’s not like it would kill you to bring him his slippers

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  157. Just as, should something awful happen to Trump, replacing him with Romney would piss off a large portion of his supporters (who would want Gingrich or one of Trump’s other early backers), but against Hillary the nation would sigh with relief.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  158. Kevin M.
    Kasich already said he would never vote for Hillary and that it was “very unlikely” that he would vote for Trump, so I conclude that he’ll leave the presidential vote blank or pick a Johnson or that other conservative guy.
    I always thought that Cruz was a political charlatan, and his decision to vote for Trump, after all that, only reinforces my perception of the guy.
    Turns out that Kasich was the only one of the three remaining candidates to be a man of principle. Also, going by RealClearPolitics, he was the only one of three who could beat Hillary. The GOP chose poorly

    WarrenPeese (48f94f)

  159. really you’d vote for the one, who lied about who killed his wife, extraordinary,

    narciso (d1f714)

  160. I’m just terrifically impressed by this wonderful, wise, and principled decision by Ted Cruz. He’s putting the country and his children’s future first.

    Who else will follow suit?

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  161. In fact, if you really are a fan of a critical press, long term, I don’t think Trump makes sense given his ambitions for libel law.

    If Trump were to succeed with that (I don’t think he would), there would be nothing stopping other anti-speech laws, like “hate speech” codes.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  162. “What if he calls my mama a whore?”

    “Is she?”

    Roadhouse

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  163. 147: Kevin, Boehner, McConnell and Ryan contributed to the disaster in no small measure, and their surrender was in slow motion which served to expose their weakness utterly.

    BobStewartatHome (d2c7a4)

  164. Warren

    Kasich never went #NeverTrump until Trump picked Pence. Considering how he ran interference angainst Cruz, I will always believe Kasich thought he was going to get the VP nod and turned on Trump when he did not.

    You call that “principle”, I call it spite.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  165. I believe that Trump will win, and I also believe that few will admit to their grandchildren that they voted for him. In the late 70’s, only about a third of respondents admitted voting for Nixon, despite his 49-state victory.

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/23/2016 @ 4:55 pm

    I wasn’t old enough to vote then but I have no problem saying I would have voted for Nixon.

    Now with 20-20 hindsight, had McGovern won, there would have been no Watergate, the collapse of Vietnam would have been on McGovern, and the recession which occurred under Ford’s watch would have been the McGovern recession. The end result is Reagan would have been elected in 1976 instead of 1980 and there would have been no President Carter. Whatever damage McGovern’s new- left foreign policy would have done could have been undone by Reagan. There was no SCOTUS vacancy during Nixon’s second term either.

    When you start analyzing history that way it makes you wonder whether we should ever vote. The results are too unpredictable sometimes – though in Obama’s case it’s been totally predictable unfortunately.

    Gerald A (76f251)

  166. Dana – I might could forgive Charlie Manson. It does not then necessarily follow that I would endorse him for the presidency. (This is not directed personally to you).

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  167. Kevin, Boehner, McConnell and Ryan contributed to the disaster in no small measure

    Certainly. If any two of them had opposed Trump all the way to the convention, the delegates would have had a free vote.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  168. Speaking of Brady v Goodell, Brissett may have injured his thumb, which would mean Edelman would be the starting QB for game 4.

    Kishnevi (57338f)

  169. Fantastic article. I agree with every word:

    Can we rally behind this?

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  170. they’re running out of players, in that parlee,

    narciso (d1f714)

  171. Gerald, I DID vote for Nixon, my first Presidential vote. I do not regret it, although I regret the choice. Still it was a better choice that the one we have today — the worst of my lifetime — so there’s that.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  172. Look at Kevin and Gerald, going all Ray Bradbury, A Sound Of Thunder on us…

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  173. yes, deutscher, leader of the 13th rule, it’s left unclear what happened to the previous 12 rulers, which is curious since the story is set in 2055, so the first would have been around about now,

    narciso (d1f714)

  174. I’m just terrifically impressed by this wonderful, wise, and principled decision by Ted Cruz. He’s putting the country and his children’s future first.

    Who else will follow suit?
    Denver Guy (4750ec) — 9/23/2016 @ 5:55 pm

    What should follow is an apology. Unless you Trumkins are saying we can’t expect anything resembling noble from Donal Trump. In which case we’re hosed no matter what.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  175. There was no SCOTUS vacancy during Nixon’s second term either.

    Pretty sure there was no SCOTUS vacancy during Carter’s term, either.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  176. no douglas who had been the wunderkind in fdr’s deliberation managed to linger into the ford administration, and as a consequence, we got john paul stevens,

    narciso (d1f714)

  177. “THE APOPLECTIC LIBERALS: The media is failing, they argue, because it can’t convince the public that Trump is Lucifer.

    Curious, isn’t it, that liberals believe that it’s the job of the “objective” press to get Hillary Clinton elected President?”

    https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/244552/

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  178. And, actually, there WAS a SCOTUS vacancy during Nixon’s second term. Just that Ford was president and appointed John Paul Stevens. McGovern could not have done much worse, although JPS was rock solid on free speech. After that, there was only one appointment until 1986 (O’Connor in ’81, with Rehnquist moving up).

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  179. It might take a while for dueling to get through Congress. In the meantime they should hold the next Republican primary debate in Seattle where mutual combat is legal.

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  180. Dick Nixon did some good, he was a decent man, with the exception of his criminal tendencies.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  181. @Dustin:I don’t think Trump makes sense given his ambitions for libel law.

    Since he would have no power to change libel law, I’m not worried. If he had a veto-proof majority that would pass any law that popped into his head, then our nation would have a much bigger problem than Trump.

    Similarly, I’m not worried about him nuking Russia because Putin made fun of his short fingers, because Presidents do not actually have this capability, to attack countries just because they say so.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  182. …in the meantime they should hold the next Republican primary debate in Seattle where mutual combat is legal.
    Pinandpuller (312a61) — 9/23/2016 @ 6:14 pm

    I’ve been known to play Rugby. Which is basically the same thing.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  183. Bob @188, my debate is with people who insist I have to like it.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  184. We can do a test. I despise Trump. But I don’t have a choice. I would rather Texas succeed from the Union than than to see Hillary! president. But there’s a good chance I could lose that bet.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  185. It’s not really important to me what either Hillary or Trump will do or try to do. We have a lot of institutional safeguards to keep goofy Presidents in check. It’s just that it makes my skin crawl to think of Ace Rothstein and Ginger McKenna in the White House.

    nk (dbc370)

  186. I haven’t read the comments as I am traveling. I think Cruz made a huge mistake being petty at the convention. I estimate it’s 50-50 that he will lose his Senate seat to Perry.

    Mike K (be01c9)

  187. Yes, Bob, every election is about morals and conscience. We forget that at our peril. And, like I said, here we are.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  188. ==He now seems like just another politician.==

    He is, and always has been just another politician. He chose this career path. Politicians seek power and influence. Politicians do politician-y things to survive. Your apparent naïveté about this eternal fact of life has baffled me for months.

    elissa (bb3e41)

  189. so the plot thickens, had nixon been able to slowwalk the evidence, agnew would have been the nominee in 76

    https://twitter.com/apblake/status/779455573309919232

    narciso (d1f714)

  190. not just another politician a slimy US senator

    the lowest form of political life

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  191. hey elissa, how have you been,

    somewhat as in the rhodes road show, which milhouse will dissent strongly, he couldn’t find any other co sponsors, so in the end, he voted for the corker bill, the slithy toves arising from that affair, like abandoning abedini in germany, have yet to fully come to light,

    narciso (d1f714)

  192. pistols at twenty paces would have been better TV than the Republican debates were.

    steveg (5508fb)

  193. @122 Colonel Haiku

    Trump owes Cruz an apology.

    Yeah, see you in court Ted.

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  194. “I am going to be ashamed if I live long enough to have grandchildren who will ask me how I let this happen.”

    I wasn’t aware that Steve57 was the one who determined who would be President in 2017.
    You learn something new everyday.

    “143, Dustin: Election day is coming quick and I’ll be proud to vote against Trump.”

    And your grnadchildren can ask you how you let this happen. And you can brag about voting for the person who consigned the Constitution to the dustbin.

    fred-2 (ce04f3)

  195. not just another politician a slimy US senator

    Coming from a slimy hatemonger

    the lowest form of blog commenter

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  196. Dustin

    If Hillary drops out you can still write her in.

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  197. pistols at twenty paces would have been better TV than the Republican debates were.

    Especially since everyone but Trump would have practiced.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  198. Keep it up, feet.
    That’ll get me to vote for Cruz.
    Oh, yeah.

    Evan3457 (79ccc1)

  199. 188.It is the duty of every conservative or Republican to help make Hillary lose.

    This is the most important thing now.

    There really should be no debate about this.

    Even if Reince has vowed to purge the GOP of conservatives and Trump’s going to be just the stick he needs to do it? Trump is a Democrat and with the help of the GOP establishment, we’ll see a far left wing Democrat Party and a moderate Democrat Party and the conservatives will have no place to call home. They’re no longer even bothering to pay lip service to the idea of smaller government. You’re talking about winning the battle and losing the war.

    Of course, I have a suspicion that the conventional wisdom on McCain and Romney losing because they were squishy RINO’s unable to rally any enthusiasm out of the conservative GOP base might be wrong – the dirty little secret might be that there is no conservative GOP base. The GOP establishment might not be RINO’s betraying the party, they might be realists counting the empty pews and realizing there’s no party to betray.

    If you’re fine, as Reince and his pals seem to be, with Trump appropriating the GOP brand and attaching it to his New Democrat Party on the grounds that, hey, it’s not like the GOP was doing anything with the brand anyways and besides, at least Trump’s a winner! even if he’s not a Republican, if you’re willing to concede defeat for conservative ideals and move on under Trump’s banner all I can say is good luck and Godspeed. I’m not done fighting yet.

    Jerryskids (3308c1)

  200. John Kasich is Charlie Crist without the fake tan

    steveg (5508fb)

  201. John Kasich is Jar Jar Binks without the gravitas.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  202. BTW, comparing this election to Nixon-McGovern is pretty apt, except McGovern wasn’t a lying sack of sh1t.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  203. And Nixon has an IQ of about 180, which Trump falls somewhat short of.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  204. …Shake your calculator, Steve, your count is skewed. Probably well into the thousands.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528) — 9/23/2016 @ 5:30 pm

    I’m having a hard time keeping track, Coronello. All I know is, she got more killed than I ever did. Which means I should be President.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  205. Works for me, Steve.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  206. I would have phrased the contribution differently, but it seems like eich redux

    http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/23/13033268/palmer-luckey-trump-meme-fund-oculus-developers-respond

    narciso (d1f714)

  207. Key word has had

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  208. UPDATE:

    Patterico (bcf524)

  209. illary will be a more conservative president than Trump; that’s why lefties such as Barack, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Jon Stewart are planning to vote for her.

    OMG.(LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  210. #211 jerryskids,

    I bet Mitch McConnell’s keeping tabs on you.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  211. Look, with all due respect, you seriously need to put aside your concerns, however valid, and support Trump, strategically, against the corrupt Obama/Hillary regime to save the Republic.

    Remember the 800?

    Now this: Email shows federal immigration bosses in OT push to swear in new citizens ‘due to election’

    Isn’t that treason?
     

    [cross-posted on this newer thread because I posted it on the older one by mistake]

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  212. He’s a sellout.

    gwjd (de8e6f)

  213. He’s a sellout.

    He’s acting for the good.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  214. Hillary would be a disaster. But Trump could be worse than a disaster. We have two wildly sub-optimum choices. Until election day comes and those are still my only two real choices, I refuse to choose. God could drop separate meteors on both of them tomorrow. In which case, party somber wake at my place

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  215. Elissa!!!!!

    Dana (995455)

  216. And Nixon has an IQ of about 180, which Trump falls somewhat short of.

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/23/2016 @ 7:29 pm
    ===========================================

    In the real world, “performance” is rewarded, “potential”, not so much. Show me a person with a high IQ that has actually accomplished something worthwhile, something that provides tangible value in this world and I’ll be impressed.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  217. First, let it be said,
    that on this day,
    the Ohio born, Wisconsin raised, UW alum, now living in PA,
    agrees with Mr. WarEagle of the SEC.

    Second,
    sometimes I wonder what the thread would look like if there was some kind of filter that blocked out everyone who already had their minds made up about something and were impermeable to new evidence or reasoning
    I bet the thread would be a lot shorter

    I’ll go over old ground,
    some think Cruz was being a petty jerk in Cleveland
    and others think he was taking a principled stand
    that was actually “approved” by Trump, who then ambushed Cruz.

    Some people think Cruz is a sell-out for “endorsing” Trump,
    others think he is simply sticking by what he said in Cleveland,
    vote your conscience,
    since Trump has been more reasonable, appointed a good VP, and is clearly not Clinton, who is terrible,
    then it makes sense to vote for Trump
    nothing about “Endorsing” Trump as a great candidate or a great person

    but people decide ahead of time what they will think
    By God’s grace and mercy I think I am willing to listen to new information and change my judgement based on evidence
    which is not saying anything about me,
    it is saying something about God’s love of truth

    again, like I said before,
    I though Reid acted despicably in lying about Romney’s taxes and then gloating about it working
    Trump did the same thing
    it was despicable for Reid,
    it was despicable for Trump.
    Clinton is more despicable than Trump,
    that is not a ringing “endorsement”.

    People rarely report the news anymore and then tell you what they think abut it, they give information in keeping with what they think about it,
    and ask us to believe it to be the objective truth,

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  218. I’m anticipating Frontline’s explosive investigation of 8 years of Gangster Government, criminal activity, incompetence and malevolence, Patterico. I’m sure you are too.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  219. Today’s news about the incredibly corrupt granting of immunity deals to people to testify on a matter that was NEVER going to result in an indictment is more of an argument for voting for Trump than anything that has come before.

    This was a conspiracy to make sure that no charges could ever be brought against Hillary’s Haldemans, Erlichmans or Mitchells while charges against Hillary were never in the cards. Obstruction of justice as an official act.

    We need a GOP Attorney General to prosecute Comey, Lynch and probably Hillary and Obama for this if nothing else. IF the immunity was granted fraudulently or corruptly, it should be declared void and the underlings prosecuted as well.

    And now we hear that not only did Obama know about the private server, he communicated OFFICIAL BUSINESS on this insecure channel using a pseudonym. Even Huma was shocked when she found out. “How was that NOT classified?!”, she blurted.

    The Supreme Court is one thing, but when all justice is perverted, who sits on the Supreme Court doesn’t matter much. I have to think on this.

    I’m sure that one of the more rabid Trumpist white-power types will speak up and let me off the hook.

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/23/2016 @ 5:23 pm

    I expect that is part of Senator Cruz’s calculation as well. And my own.

    It’s going to be a long 6 weeks.

    NJRob (a07d2e)

  220. If we allowed dueling does anyone think Happyfascist would still act the same?

    NJRob (a07d2e)

  221. It’s possible to use an analog watch as a compass. Point the hour hand at the Sun, split the difference between the twelve O clock mark and find south.

    But I find it much easier to just use a compass.

    http://www.thecompassstore.com/wr36.html

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  222. Come January 21st of next year, Trump declares free speech illegal and anyone who libels him will be arrested.

    Would he be impeached?

    Come January 21st of next year, Clinton declares all illegals to be citizens and granted government benefits and voting rights.

    Would she be impeached?

    NJRob (a07d2e)

  223. I think dueling would cause many people to change their behavior a little bit,
    but then I am not sure the country should necessarily be governed by those who survive duels,
    even though one wishfully thinks at times.

    If only right made might in the immediate present,
    but that is not how the universe was set up.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  224. Exactly, NJRob,
    I’ve already convinced one person to look at it that way, who actually leans dem (out of not knowing better).

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  225. Who is the lady in the update?

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  226. WarrenPeese

    It’s likely the Soros money that kept Kasitch in the primary so long and accounts for his “principled” stand against Trump.

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  227. Omarosa, she was a contestant on the apprentice, in the early seasons, fmr clinton staffer if memory served,

    narciso (d1f714)

  228. Thanks, narciso,
    i didn’t see the caption earlier on my cell phone…
    although I guess I still sort of wonder what standing her opinion has and why…

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  229. it is part of a frontline episode, that is so unbalanced, the zampolits in caracas complained,

    narciso (d1f714)

  230. she is also the outreach coordinator for the campaign, which gave spike lee a certain agita,

    narciso (d1f714)

  231. Been to any white sox games, elissa?

    mg (31009b)

  232. He is, and always has been just another politician. He chose this career path. Politicians seek power and influence. Politicians do politician-y things to survive. Your apparent naïveté about this eternal fact of life has baffled me for months.

    Politicians slap each other’s backs to get along. They don’t typically take on their own leadership. They don’t typically keep promises to their constituents even if it means alienating their new friends in Congress. Cruz didn’t follow the usual path. I honestly thought he was different because he always behaved differently.

    But clearly I was wrong, so you’re entitled to do your dance. I don’t mind because it’s nice to see you here again anyway.

    Patterico (bcf524)

  233. God could drop separate meteors on both of them tomorrow.

    Let us pray.

    Patterico (bcf524)

  234. It is not love that alters when it alteration finds.

    Not that I loved Cruz, but I liked him when he fought the good fight against Shortfinger and I am not going to badmouth him now that he’s dropped out of the fight. His endorsement of Trump is meaningless to me. Trump sucked, still sucks, and will suck no matter what Cruz said, says, or will say.

    nk (dbc370)

  235. Doc @239, I wouldn’t want the universe to be run by survivors of duels. But I would like the universe to be run by those who would modify their behavior accordingly.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  236. how are the cubs doing, nk,

    narciso (d1f714)

  237. Or at least who would live as if there was a real possibility.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  238. Clinched the division last week, narciso, still way ahead in both leagues. Now we’re just enjoying the game and waiting for the playoffs.

    nk (dbc370)

  239. I really do think there’s something to that alternate reality, ala fringe,

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-campaign-finance_us_57e45147e4b0e28b2b532700?section=

    narciso (d1f714)

  240. Throwing stuff at a wall, in hopes that it sticks.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  241. I forgot what I set out to say, other than Ted Cruz has disappointed me.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  242. Just watched Omarosa. Heh! There was another “most powerful man in the Universe” who was literally worshiped as a god by part of it. He was killed by a mosquito.

    nk (dbc370)

  243. that would be alexander, I suppose,

    narciso (d1f714)

  244. Yup. Killed one of his generals for telling him that all he had accomplished was due to the wealth and military his father had left him.

    nk (dbc370)

  245. Yes, there is an alternate reality,
    the Cubs are leading MLB,

    How’s this:
    The Cub s will will the WS when Donald Trump becomes President!!!
    who’d a thought it

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  246. Steve 57

    I’m with Texas independence provided Hillary and the neocons abstain from nationbuilding.

    Pinandpuller (312a61)

  247. Patterico,
    I would ask you and others disappointed in Cruz to look at what he actually said. All he said was, looking at some positive things about Trump,
    and all of the negative about Clinton,
    voting his conscience means voting for Trump and against Clinton
    He decided that he would vote for Trump given that reality,
    nothing more.
    he could have said, “I’m voting for Trump even though he is an a**hole”
    but that truly would have been petty.

    I don’t expect Trump will in any way be gracious or conciliatory,
    and I hope Cruz doesn’t expect it either.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  248. Thanks for the link, Steve57

    years ago two friends were walking down the street, one an ex-SEAL who had done clandestine stuff,
    some guy got in their faces about something,
    the non-SEAL split his time between telling the idiot to cool it and his friend that the fellow wasn’t worth the trouble if he obliterated him
    and prevailed over both of them

    The SEAL looked like “Odd-Job”, but more Hawaiian than Chinese.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  249. Not that Trump is Alexander other than in grandiosity. How many billionaires richer (tougher and smarter too) than Trump has Putin killed? Or jailed? Or exiled?

    nk (dbc370)

  250. New World: Speech Police Force Glenn Reynolds Into Public Contrition
    —Ace

    “In the future, we’ll all have to self-flagellate for the leftist powers that be for 15 minutes. Per day.

    I was following the riots in Charlotte, against a background of reports of violence. Joe Bruno of WSOC9 interviewed a driver whose truck had been stopped by a mob. Trapped in her cab, she “feared for her life” as her cargo was looted. Then I retweeted a report of mobs “stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles” with the comment, “Run them down.”
    Those words can easily be taken to advocate drivers going out of their way to run down protesters. I meant no such thing, and I’m sorry it seemed I did. What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles. I remember Reginald Denny, a truck driver who was beaten nearly to death by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. My tweet should have said, “Keep driving,” or “Don’t stop.”

    I don’t believe for one second the words can “easily” be taken to mean that.

    I think the Social Justice Warriors just want their weekly scalp — and they lie to get it.

    I think the left will increasingly demand that each of us will declare our devotion to their Strange New Gods for the simple privilege of being permitted any voice whatsoever in the world they own.

    I don’t blame Reynolds for this — this is the going to be required of each of us in turn if we are to enjoy the privilege of simply existing.

    After all — Right now they’re “Investigating” his tweets at the University of Tennessee where he’s a professor.

    With tenure.

    But I’m sure they’ll make up a special rule as to why they can fire some professors with tenure.

    UT College of Law Dean Melanie D. Wilson said in a statement Thursday morning that she and university administrators are investigating the matter, calling Reynolds’ post an “irresponsible use of his platform.”
    “The university is committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and diverse viewpoints, all of which are important for an institution of higher education and the free exchange of ideas,” she wrote. “My colleagues and I in the university’s leadership support peaceful disobedience and all forms of free speech, but we do not support violence or language that encourages violence.”

    And this is why you’re gonna get Trump.

    People are sick of being bullied and hounded by idiot savages.

    Remember — they really do want to micromanage and punish every single thought you have and word you speak.”

    http://ace.mu.nu/archives/365983.php

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  251. I guess he’s closer to teddy roosevelt in style, obviously not background in part, one of his boosters, teddy roosevelt malloch said as much some months ago,

    narciso (d1f714)

  252. Be the bigger man. Join Ted Cruz.

    Oppose this Treason:

    Email shows federal immigration bosses in OT push to swear in new citizens ‘due to election’

    If they just import and criminally naturalize, for political purposes, a new electorate, you realize you’ve lost the country, right? What does that mean to your children?

    Cruz did the right thing, however hard.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  253. Doc @265 if you tell me it’s the case, I will prefer to believe it to be true. I hear ex SEAL who did clandestine work, my RADAR starts working.

    There’s one man who has access to the data base who can tell for sure.

    http://videos.extremesealexperience.com/Fake-Navy-Seal-Verification

    …THERE ARE NO CLASSIFIED NAVY SEALS. There are records kept of every man who has ever earned the title Navy SEAL. I can verify any Navy SEAL claim quickly and accurately.

    I’m not saying your friend isn’t a SEAL. It’s just that SEALs are few and far between and I tend to be wary of such claims.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvUaPTBQGsA

    Phony Navy SEAL of the Week The Florida BUST PART 2

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  254. the thing is though Rafael Cruz was involved with Oswald.

    The other thing is Cruz’ paid surrogate did attack Mrs. Trump in the press, to great effect in the Utah caucus.

    That wasn’t an accident.

    Your white knight was in it up to his eyeballs.

    He got what he deserved.

    papertiger (82d7e8)

  255. Doc, you should verify your friend’s claims. If true, that’s a heck of an accomplishment and you can be justly proud of your friend, with more confidence.

    If not true, you need to know.

    P.S. I think it’s entirely possible your friend is a SEAL. They’re human. They exist.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  256. Concur with Denver Guy. They’re human. They exist. I’ve been honored to know several. I’m just leery of the claim.

    http://www.tbo.com/list/military-news/altman-tips-from-expert-of-exposing-fake-navy-seals-583844

    You’ll be pleased to know I was naval intel. Nobody lies about being me.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  257. They exist but they are a special breed. I think there are three in Texas. And I’m not sure, but I think that was before Chris Kyle got killed. Odds are of knowing any SEAL in any state are rare.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  258. My bartender in Singapore was special forces, to hear him tell it.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  259. Show me a person with a high IQ that has actually accomplished something worthwhile, something that provides tangible value in this world and I’ll be impressed.

    Einstein, Fermi, Oppenheimer: The bomb. Kept the peace for 70 years.

    Bardeen, Shockley: the transistor. This here Internet, among other things.

    Claude Shannon: All wireless communication past FM

    Alan Turing: Computing

    Bill Gates

    And Nixon? The long-term strategy that won the Cold War while ensuring that it didn’t go hot, and integrated China (at least) into the world economy. Despite Carters efforts to eff it up in Iran.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  260. Come January 21st of next year, Trump declares free speech illegal and anyone who libels him will be arrested.

    Would he be impeached?

    Come January 21st of next year, Clinton declares all illegals to be citizens and granted government benefits and voting rights.

    Would she be impeached?

    What good would impeaching them do if they can just make law by decree? Oh, THIS little bit of the Constitution they’re still going to follow??

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  261. Kevin, some of the smartest people I ever knew went to college. But being smart is no guarantee. On the other hand all of the stupidest people I ever knew went to college. This doesn’t invalidate your observation about Einstein.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  262. I never knew a stupid person who dropped out of high school and started a business. Stupid takes college.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  263. Educated and stupid. Two entirely different things.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  264. I love this man.

    School Marm (1decf6)

  265. I am not worthy, if you’re talking about me.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  266. Landfall navigation is now offering free shipping on life rafts.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  267. School Marm, if I get reactivated (again, there’s a word) and I have to train your son or daughter, I can only promise you this. Your son and/or daughter will not like me.

    But I will be the best friend they ever had.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  268. Holy blankety blank.

    AP Politics Verified account
    ‏@AP_Politics

    BREAKING: Congressman says top Clinton aide Cheryl Mills given immunity deal in FBI investigation into Clinton’s email server.

    Yeah, Comey is really trying to get to the bottom of this.

    Hey kids, now nobody can be prosecuted. How fun is that?

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  269. Comey is a obama homey

    mg (31009b)

  270. 30 lbs. of brisket, smoque and spice oh so nice.

    mg (31009b)

  271. Glenn Beck is disconsolate and another sad “former McCain and Bush strategist Nicolle Wallace admitted her family life was “in shatters” because of her parents’ support of Trump.”

    Kristol is capitulating “Donald knows in his heart he should not be President”.

    So Tedtoo knuckles under, and Trump is the bad guy because the former earnestly desires a future in DC.

    Unexpectedly!

    DNF (755a85)

  272. Oh, and Heidi returns to the Vampire Squid in a position specially created for her.

    DNF (755a85)

  273. 289. Our special snowflake, #nevertrump is retiring to their safe place.

    DNF (755a85)

  274. 264. “I don’t expect Trump will in any way be gracious or conciliatory,
    and I hope Cruz doesn’t expect it either.”

    Trump says he’s “honored”. As St. Peter says, God is no respecter of men.

    DNF (755a85)

  275. 262. Cub’s owners, late of #nevertrump, pledge $1 Million to the Great White Satan.

    DNF (755a85)

  276. The G.M. for the cubs refused going to the whitehouse when Boosh was president after the redsox won the Series.

    mg (31009b)

  277. @260 nk

    Are you sure it wasn’t Moscato?

    @262 nk

    Somebody said if Alexander had invested all of his dad’s armies in index funds he would have been a lot richer.

    Pinandpuller (79fbb8)

  278. Steve57

    Marcus Lutrell and his twin brother are SEALs so that’s two down.

    Pinandpuller (79fbb8)

  279. Nicole Wallace. Hahahahahaha.

    SarahW (3164f0)

  280. What good would impeaching them do if they can just make law by decree? Oh, THIS little bit of the Constitution they’re still going to follow??

    Kevin M (25bbee) — 9/24/2016 @ 12:10 am

    And that is the difference between the two of them as we see with Obama. Obama and Hillary would be able to rule by decree because no Democrat would ever vote to impeach them. Their crimes are much worse than Nixon’s, but the current establishment in DC doesn’t care.

    Trump on the other hand is an outsider and Congress would impeach him if he stepped out of line. They have no loyalty to him especially when they could get an insider to replace him.

    NJRob (a07d2e)

  281. Thanks,
    Yes, I know that there are lots of “seals” in bars,
    but this guy was the real deal.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  282. My wife and I received a nice e-mail from Ted explaining his motivation for voting Trump.
    Money for his next campaign did come up.

    mg (31009b)

  283. 1. Obama also told CBS that the first he heard about the private Clinton email server was in news reports

    2. Obama used a pseudonym in emails with Clinton, FBI documents reveal

    Unite to defeat the corrupt Obama/Clinton regime, and for there to be a chance at justice.

    Join Ted Cruz.

    Denver Guy (4750ec)

  284. In the past two years, [Warren] Buffett has suffered three strikes to his reputation. The predatory lending at Clayton Homes, aggressive tax practices at Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries, and the recent revelations of misconduct at Wells Fargo are all black marks. In each case, Buffett has either failed to denounce the wrongdoing or has endorsed the dubious behavior. Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway now seem to live by the motto “Do as I say, not as I do,” instead of adhering to the front-page-of-the-newspaper test.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  285. I hope DRJ is taking this in stride and I hope this will help prevent the Ascencion of Demoness Dowager Hillary! Clinton to her throne.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  286. Thanks,
    Yes, I know that there are lots of “seals” in bars,
    but this guy was the real deal.
    MD in Philly (f9371b) — 9/24/2016 @ 6:37 am

    There’s one bar I know of on Coronado full of SEALS. They’re all real. Fakers get tied to a pier below the high tide mark.

    http://www.mcpspub.com/

    My brush with greatness. I once got kicked out of the Kadena O club with a couple of SEALs. We went back to the BOQ and in the course of cooking up some rice one of the SEALs gave me a black eye while handing me a plate.

    I was hanging out with them because I caught a ride with them up from White Beach. And when I tried to check in to the Kadena BOQ the girl at the counter said there were no rooms available. Then the two SEAL officers behind me sauntered up to the counter and the girl was lovestruck. They scored the Captain’s suite, although they were only lieutenants, same as me. So I asked them if it was OK if I could sleep on the couch.

    It was OK.

    I have, as everyone should, a high opinion of SEALs, and I hope, good doctor, you don’t take my words regarding caution in anyway insulting to either you or your friend.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  287. Intel officers don’t score the Captain’s Suite. Such is life.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  288. yes yes we have to stop that pig this is so obvious even harvardtrash ted gets it

    that is how you quantify the obviousness

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  289. Thank you, Colonel Haiku. I trust your concern is sincere.

    I am disappointed but I think I will be able to soldier on with life. And while I won’t be voting for Cruz for President, I won’t vote for Trump either. I hope you can take that in stride.

    DRJ (15874d)

  290. Kevin: “Kasich never went #NeverTrump until Trump picked Pence.”
    That’s just false, Kevin, and you could also say that Cruz was running interference against Kasich. Kasich did not run a negative campaign, for the most part, but he made it known during the primaries that he would have a hard time supporting Trump as nominee. Also, Kasich turning down Trump’s offer for the VP slot was a solidly #NeverTrump act, which resulted in Trump to settling for Pence.

    WarrenPeese (48f94f)

  291. dorsey the douchebag’s twatter has more brand equity than harvardtrash ted anymore

    but then so does zika

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  292. Technically, Patterico is #ExGOP as of May 3rd. He is now a Grey, because he made enough money in his life to avoid the troublesome allegiances with the Red or Blue tribes that ugly normal people have to deal with.

    Vote and support Trump, Grey. I promise that Alt-rightists will at least be more magnanimous to the genuinely repentant than anyone the Blue Tribe imports.

    Dystopia Max (76803a)

  293. then we get trump fever trump fever

    we know how to do it

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  294. Mr Patterico and the other Trump haters should follow Cruz’s example. As the owner of a Republican Blog, Mr Patterico has responsibilities.

    Sorry Bob23, but no. Patterico’s only responsibility here is to himself. He owes you, me, or anyone else precisely nothing. The blog is a publicly stated opinion, and nothing more. Good, bad or indifferent, we are allowed to comment on his opinion.

    As a citizen and Republican, Mr Patterico should follow the same oath, as should the other haters.

    Why should I follow that oath? Even following the logic, I didn’t make that oath. Patterico didn’t make that oath, and several others here didn’t make that oath. You can swear fealty to Trump all you like. I’m NOT doing that.

    Why should Mr Patterico and the other haters be entitled to special consideration now that the going is tough?

    Who said anything about special consideration? Dude, you are on a website that, from the beginning has been anti-Trump. You can opine as you wish, but I doubt you’re changing any minds.

    This election is much more important than Mr Patterico’s sentiments and those of his hater companions.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  295. DRJ, I read the Trumpkin comments after seeing yours. Apparently, they think everybody shares their lemming mentality. I would also have preferred to have hired Cruz for President, but I never hired him as director of personnel. He can recommend Trump all he wants, but I’ll make my own decision.

    nk (9faaca)

  296. ….snapped the wrong button. Moar iced tea!!!

    This election is much more important than Mr Patterico’s sentiments and those of his hater companions.

    Go ahead and think that, it’s a free country. We still have our opinions about DJT. I intend to vote my conscience. If you intend to change that, it’s up to you to convince me. I’m not required to vote your way. If Trump is your boy, go for it and good luck. But if you really want Trump in the White House, it’s up to you. I’ve said it before: I’m not helping you.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  297. DRJ and nk….glad to see your posts.

    This is an awful election. I have held my nose voting in past elections, but nothing like this year.

    I have watched posters on this blogsite in the past claim that they “could never” vote for McCain or Romney because they were “no different than Obama” and go on to insult the heck out of people who felt differently, with silly nicknames and schoolyard taunts. Yet some of those same people (and you know who you are) suddenly find that it is vital to vote for the lesser of two problematic candidates.

    There are other people who make a big deal out of not voting, yet carry on endlessly and profanely how people must vote in this election.

    The usual suspects who are super crude about politicians and people who disagree with them are out in force, yet defend Trump endlessly.

    What we are drowning in, I believe, is the triumph of bumper sticker thinking over discourse. Memes over thought.

    Our culture has spent decades—on both sides of the political aisle—building this electorate to be as narrow minded, amnesiac, and nasty as possible. So here we sit, in this toxic stew.

    The media is horrible. The IRS and FBI are clearly partisan. No wonder so many people—again, on all sides of the Great Divide—are angry and confused and willing to lash out.

    People must vote their conscience. I wish that they would do so after carefully considering their options, and more importantly their own core beliefs. This isn’t code for “agree with me.” It’s a heartfelt wish that we move away from all this reflexive hateful nonsense.

    But I suspect the old saying that we get the government we deserve is coming our way. With a vengeance.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  298. Most sincere, DRJ, and you must do what you must do.

    Colonel Haiku (e677b4)

  299. Democracy is a system of government where the people get what they want.

    Good and hard.

    H.L. Mencken.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  300. What was the great insult against Heidi Cruz? An unflattering photo of her. Put that against a coward who has a surrogate publish an ad with a naked picture of Melania Trump. Yes, a pity there aren’t duels, but a coward like Cruz would find a way to weasel his way out of that, too.

    Cruz has shown his true colors yet again, and many of his fan boys can no longer deny that Ted is a calculating politician who is all about himself. Someone who puts an amendment in to a military funding bill, votes against that bill, then claims to be “for the military”. Someone who strongly and publicly advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, with huge increase in H1B visa and amnesty for those illegals already here, only to claim he was really against it once it went down in flames. Someone who refuses to give straight answers to straight questions. Even in his speech at the RNC, he didn’t have the courage to say what his wounded pride so desperately wanted to: I will not endorse Trump. Instead, he tried to have it both ways and leave himself wiggle room. Sadly for him, only his most supplicant fans saw that as a show of “principles”, and Ted was forced to face the reality that most people outside his bubble didn’t see it that way and his political career was over once he broke his pledge. Now he tries to salvage what he can, with an endorsement that is meaningless and too little, too late.

    prowlerguy (fa36d8)

  301. I would respectfully suggest some people here read Victor Davis Hanson’s piece about Elites.

    I won’t even suggest you read his column on Trump and Republican Suicide.

    That might upset a few who think very well of themselves.

    I will probably spend more time here after the election, depending on the amount of angst demonstrated.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  302. Victor Davis Hanson lecturing about the vice of “elites.” That’s rich.

    Leviticus (704211)

  303. There is a lot to be learned from the historian/farmer/professor VDH, even whelps who think they know all.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  304. Leviticus,
    I’m not following your point about Hanson. Do you perceive him to be an elitist?

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  305. We could learn a lot from him about what it means to be “elite,” that’s for sure. Stanford educated Stanford professor and essayist – the type of person that the Trumpkins would love to march off to a camp in North Dakota.

    Leviticus (704211)

  306. Friend Leviticus, VDH is definitely not an elitist.

    And not all who attended Stanford are. I know this for a fact.

    VDH is a fine man and essayist. Much of what he writes is worth thinking about, even if you (or I) disagree with him. I’m pretty sure you know this already.

    I think that Tom Sowell’s “Vision of the Anointed” is good side reading. You have probably been through that, as well.

    It does look like “establishment” types on both sides are losing credibility. That is a good thing, from my point of view. But when I want the establishment types to lose power, I cannot necessarily control what rushes in to replace them.

    Best wishes.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  307. I have no problem with Victor Davis Hanson, and think he is a very intelligent man. But it is silly for him to be lecturing about “elites.” If he is not part of this country’s “elite” infrastructure, who is? What makes an “elite,” if not the pedigree of Victor Davis Hanson?

    Leviticus (704211)

  308. Victor Davis Hanson is a testament to the value of elites in a society. He shouldn’t pretend otherwise in an effort to appease people who resent him from their own small-mindedness.

    Leviticus (704211)

  309. VDH is a farmer first.
    That is my take of his jibe. And a darn good jibe at that.

    mg (31009b)

  310. My $.02… a member of the “elite” is normally one who is of the East Coast/West Coast/Beltway/Chicago Way bent… certainly not a farmer from the southern Central Valley of California.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  311. For those keeping score,

    Cruz has never voted for Hillary, has never said she would make a great president, and did not break this pledge Trump fans are crying rivers about every day. But Trump did all those things.

    Elissa upthread is right that Cruz is but a politician. I warned folks repeatedly not to elevate him beyond what he is. Sure, he’s been far more principled than any other Republican I can think of, but that is game theory. Anyone who ‘follows Ted’ on this instead of voting their conscience is doing a deeply unpatriotic thing. Vote your conscience. If you think Giant Douche is better than Turd Sandwich, vote accordingly. But don’t tell me it’s horrible that I don’t see it that way.

    Trump is so similar to Hillary he straight up told us she should be the president a few years ago. Electing him is electing a more evil and cynical version of her.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  312. I never knew a stupid person who dropped out of high school and started a business. Stupid takes college.

    Gates dropped out of Harvard and started a business. And where did I mention “college”?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  313. Kasich turning down Trump’s offer for the VP slot

    In which universe did this happen?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  314. My mom is a nurse and my father is a chemist. That does not make me either a nurse or a chemist. When was the last time Victor Davis Hanson tilled soil for a living?

    Leviticus (704211)

  315. In which universe did this happen?

    This one, possibly.

    Patterico (bcf524)

  316. I see where Kasich claimed that he was offered the VP position, but Trump denies it. One of them is lying and despite the fact that Trump is a know liar, my minimum high regard for Governor Kasich prevents me from accepting his word either. The man is a self-promoter of the worst sort.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  317. Cartman has spoken.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  318. The California Colonel doesn’t think Californians can be members of the “elite.” I’d be interested to hear a principled defense of that exclusion.

    Leviticus (704211)

  319. And the feud between them starts at this point. Two things are possible here, and neither makes Kasich look good:

    1) Kasich was Trump’s toady is holding off Cruz, then got stiffed and tried to save face.

    2) Kasich actually thought that the nation would turn to him and he could beat both Trump and Cruz, and DID turn down the offer. This only makes him a fool instead of a toady.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  320. VDH still grows grape and plum crops on his family farm. If he’s in town today, he’s tending his farm.

    Read Hanson’s books about California… learn about California.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  321. Not to argue with you, Leviticus, but here is an article about VDH you might consider reading. Again, I am not trying to fight; I just know VDH’s history quite well.

    http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/10841

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  322. Leviticus,

    Victor Davis Hanson is a fifth generation farmer of the same land. He grows trees, vineyards, and orchards. He talks about it all the time.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  323. I keep saying I have no problem with Victor Davis Hanson. I also tend to think he is a member of the “elite,” whether he likes it or not. Not necessarily a fault, unless you’re looking to engage in cheap scapegoating.

    Wendell Berry is a farmer.

    Leviticus (704211)

  324. Plus, if VDH is irritating, I tend to cut him some slack. His last few years have not been pleasant.

    http://victorhanson.com/wordpress/?p=8424

    He was, and is, a good man.

    I have always adored how he comes back to the classics. In this case, even in grief.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  325. Victor Davis Hanson is also a registered Democrat, according to Simon’s article. What do all the binary thinkers in the audience think of that one? Elephant Stone?

    Leviticus (704211)

  326. And teaching at Fresno State for a few decades would probably not be considered an elite occupation.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  327. We could get into a discussion of what makes someone a farmer, but it wouldn’t last very long.

    Leviticus (704211)

  328. Cartman has spoken.

    Colonel Haiku

    Oh Cartman’s definitely a Trump supporter. Not the naive full throated nutty ones, but a cynical one who sees through all of Trump’s crap but still really likes the idea of voting for him. You don’t happen to know anyone like that, do you?

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  329. How bout being a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution?

    Leviticus (704211)

  330. Sorry, Bill H, but I disagree with you.

    Fair enough. People of good will can disagree.

    This is a critical election, IMHO.

    Actually, my belief is the critical election was back in ’08, when the electorate selected Obama. I held my nose and voted for McCain, mostly because of Palin- whom he basically abandoned. I voted for another piss-poor Republican candidate when Romney showed up. The Republican Party didn’t consider the election important then. What is the difference now?

    Disappointing to hear Mr Paterico is not a Republican.

    You are making the mistake that most all Trumpers- especially on sites like this- have done: you’re conflating conservatism with party. Personal morals and values do not equal party loyalty. Way too many instances in history prove the concept that party loyalty = morality to be, at it’s least, a bad idea.

    It’s crucial that Hillary and progressives lose this election, at least then conservatives have a foot hold with which to rebuild.

    I’m not going to argue that. Hillary is an exceptionally bad candidate. Problem is, I do not see Trump as any better. Look back through his history, you’ll find that he is far more of a leftist than any Trumper wil care to admit. Far as I’m concerned, we don’t have a foothold for the White House. For the Senate and the House, conservatism still has a chance.

    Unfortunate the Trump haters cannot understand this.

    And I think it unfortunate that Trump supporters just can’t allow us our opinion on a website that is openly anti-Trump.

    My mistake thinking this was a pro-Republican site.

    Yes, that is a mistake. Remember what I said about party loyalty not equaling morality? This is a pro-conservative site. Large difference.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  331. Oh, Leviticus…. I give up. Please, please read more about VDH. It’s worth your time, truly.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  332. Alright. I will. He seems like an interesting guy.

    Leviticus (704211)

  333. Thank you. His books, I think, would interest you—-particularly the ones about history without politics.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  334. Maybe we can get that Omarosa lady to try to seize control of this blog on the basis that Patterico refuses to live up to his responsibilities.
    That should be some fun there.

    steveg (5508fb)

  335. Wendell Berry’s writings are fascinating as well. I would imagine that there’s more overlap between the two of them than I’m realizing. Berry has stayed away from politics nearly altogether.

    Leviticus (704211)

  336. Back as far as I can remember when I first began this trip I was told by my father what was expected of me as a Christian, an American and a male member of our family. One could say it was pounded into my head but there was no pounding. There was direction. And there were rules. Lots of rules. Rules about God, patriotism, bravery, responsibility, loyalty, honesty and family. My family first arrived here in 1752 and that descendant came specifically to join the British and kill Frenchmen in the French & Indian war. It’s the only reason he uprooted his family and possessions from Prussia and moved them to Germantown, Pennsylvania. He was a minor noble, a baron, but he was also educated and a businessman. With him came his wealth and he built a tannery, saddelry, grist mills and hotel. The guy was not looking for a “new beginning” he had bucks. He fought with crazy guys like Washington in that war an later in the Revolution. Every single male in our lineage in this country served in at least one branch of our military. Some fought on the land and some on the sea. That was part of those rules about what was expected. We fought in every single war from 1776 till today and we are all proud of it and damn proud of our country.

    Some branches of the family are very wealthy while others are just middle class folks like me. We’ve had doctors, scientists, engineers, professors, artists soldiers and businessmen in the family and we’ve always asked what we can do for our country never what our country can do for us. We belong to patriotic and charitable organizations like the VFW and the Masons and support the Shriners Hospital and St. Jude. Some of the family is Catholic, some protestant and some just spiritual.

    I’m only writing this because this country has come to the point where I and those like me have reached their expiration date. We are no longer part of the conversation and in fact, seem to be viewed as the enemy. White, check. Christian, check. Heterosexual, check. Then I must be a racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic, bigoted Deplorable. I do not believe America is a racist nation but I also believe it could not have been done by any other race. Or it would have. It has not even been duplicated by any other. We need not be homogenious but the big lie is that diversity is our strength. Freedom is our strength and certain people would rather have security than freedom. Hence, the Fundimental Change.

    One thing I’m sure of is that if Hillary wins this election America will never survive. If Hillary is elected then families will only ask what America will do for them.

    Rev. Hoagie® (785e38)

  337. I’d guess that one can have an elite intellect and occupy an elite position at an elite institution without being an elitist.

    Somehow Jeb! would manage to go 0-4

    steveg (5508fb)

  338. the type of person that the Trumpkins would love to march off to a camp in North Dakota.

    This is real lunatic thinking. I think you have Trump confused with Hillary who thinks The Deplorables are “not America.”

    Who do you think is more likely to put people in a camp. Of course you will come back with some blather about illegals but I would just send them home and so would Trump.

    Hillary thinks everyone in the world has a right to come to the US.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  339. Dr K., he said the Trumpkins would love to put people in camps, not Trump.

    There used to be a commenter here who regularly expressed the view that Democratic politicians and others needed to be lined up against a wall and shot. I would guess he is supporting Trump now, but I haven’t seen him here for some time–perhaps a couple of years, certainly well before Trump appeared as a candidate. But it is an attitude which can be found on both sides of the political divide.

    Kishnevi (98ea1b)

  340. I don’t write the headlines. I just report them.
    “Family flee deadly banana spiders that can either kill or give you an erection lasting FOUR HOURS”

    http://americandigest.org/sidelines/2016/09/#a034660

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  341. Hang in there, Hoagie! We need your clear thinking and common sense, which has become all too uncommon these days.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  342. IMO, one cannot claim to be a conservative and abandon the Republican Party.

    But the GOP has now abandoned limited government, American style conservatism in favor of the big government European style conservatism: Trump style conservatism frankly elevates security over freedom.

    Kishnevi (98ea1b)

  343. Hosers… knobs… yohans… New Democrats, all.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  344. Freedom of choice, Kishnevi. Make yours and feel happy.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  345. More informed speculation re: Hilarity’s health issues:

    http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/09/dr_lisa_bardacks_faustian_bargaine.html

    Fully half of America wonders whether she is fit to dress herself.

    DNF (ffe548)

  346. 367. Republicansism abadoned America years ago.

    DNF (ffe548)

  347. Some #NeverTrumpers hate being triggered. They question Cruz’s motivation behind his endorsement and those who will bite the bullet and vote for Trump as a means of – if not completely stopping, at least slowing – the dismal tide, but bristle when theirs are questioned.

    They must return to their safe spaces. It’s for their own mental health.

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  348. Dr K., he said the Trumpkins would love to put people in camps, not Trump.

    If you say they are not being told to do this sort of thing by Trump. you are in a very small minority of Hilary supporters,

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  349. 354. It seems to me #nevertrump is pro-government, pro-incremental amelioration, pro-civiltity irrespective of result, pro-solipsism:

    No one can know the moral courage required to be an island to oneself. We are not worthy.

    DNF (ffe548)

  350. if you wanna know
    who you should not vote fo
    it’s in the eyes

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CswAhQOUsAAMxcF.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (d0a528)

  351. “We could get into a discussion of what makes someone a farmer, but it wouldn’t last very long.”

    Leviticus,

    Xenophon managed to create a Socratic dialogue regarding farming (estate management might be more precise) which ran on at some length. Are you sure you’re not conflating erudite with elite? Socrates would have giggled a bit at being identified as elite.

    Rick Ballard (102f97)

  352. Peasants!

    The first time I “heard of” Victor Davis Hanson was from a blurb on XRLQ’s sidebar. I’ve seen mentions of him on the internet now and then. Never read him; don’t know nothing about him; don’t much want to. The world’s full of things to read that I will not have the time to. As for what he has to say about Trump, if Cruz does not persuade me ….

    nk (dbc370)

  353. leviticus is in full vizzini, dr. hanson, has been a historian primarily in the classics arena, but they have resonances with the modern day, republics in decline, one can’t say we were ever an oligarchy, as in greece with hippias, and rome with their counterparts,

    narciso (d1f714)

  354. More informed speculation re: Hilarity’s health issues:

    http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/09/dr_lisa_bardacks_faustian_bargaine.html

    Fully half of America wonders whether she is fit to dress herself.

    DNF

    DNF, the link is bad but the article is the first link at the site that pops up.

    That is an excellent summary of the medical questions.

    I have posted my own ideas about this matter. There have been other medical opinions posted, such as questions about her visual anomalies.

    The theory expressed there is interesting. She had transverse sinus thrombosis, which is rare and one cause can be an ear infection below that sinus. The 6th cranial nerve palsy seems to come and go and might be related to dehydration.

    The issue then becomes does the 6th nerve palsy come and go ?

    If so, this may be evidence that the CVST has never cleared completely. The pub-med article I cited in my post on Sinus Thrombosis says that most do not return to normal. They result in continued obstruction or stenosis of the venous sinus.

    That could result in off and on 6th nerve palsy.

    That doesn’t explain the collapse on 9/11 and more importantly the quick recovery.

    That’s why I think she has Parkinson’s and L Dopa dyskinesia. A quick does of apomorphine returns the PD patient from “OFF” to “ON.” And it takes only 15 minutes. But it may involve nausea, not something to have in public.

    Hence the quick trip to the daughter’s apartment.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  355. Socrates would have giggled a bit at being identified as elite.

    Leviticus would think anyone who knew and had read Socrates was “elite.”

    I especially like Socrates’ response to his wife as he was dying from the hemlock. She said that the thing that most bothered her was the injustice of it all. He responded, “Would you rather I deserved it?”

    And no, Leviticus, I did not read it in the Greek.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  356. where we would find our selves now is unclear, one supposes our war against salafi tribes, is our pelopenessian endeavour, where our allies almost as noisome as our adversaries,

    narciso (d1f714)

  357. I never knew Socrates, he was before my time, but I have read Plato and Xenophon who claimed to have known him.

    As for being elite … I wish! But more important than that, I wish for elite persons in authority. Why should I take orders from my equals or, worse, inferiors? I’ll reserve my respect for my betters. (And elders, I was brought up that way.)

    nk (dbc370)

  358. or the interval between the jugurthan and the social war, that last involved an underclass waging war on the people, while the foreign scourge of mithridates, sought advantage, but what is the kibitzing about now,

    narciso (d1f714)

  359. The News Alert blog reports:

    Florida Shocker: Republicans Winning By 120,000 Votes In Early Voting. #Trump the FIRST Republican EVER to win early votes in FL! #TrumpPence16.

    DNF (ffe548)

  360. the jugurthan parallel is intriguing because like the sauds, bought off many of the roman officials, why it took three commanders and seven years before they found the right fit, their tribesman, the ghamdi, mutair, utaibi qahtan, suffer from no such confusion,

    narciso (d1f714)

  361. 378. VDH is a Cali-born gentleman farmer and classicist. I’d prefer a Theodore Dalrymple but VDH is among the very best dozen writers on current events today. Emphasis on the writing in both cases over perspicuity. But then why read anyone who hasn’t insightful.

    DNF (ffe548)

  362. I wish for elite persons in authority.

    The point of VDH’s essay and that of Angelo Codevilla, is that the “elites” of the present day are incompetent and succeed only in enriching themselves.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  363. exactly, codevilla has been a spectator to much of the great drama, first in the navy, then the company, congressional staffer, and finally professor, not impressed with their shop worn nostrums,

    narciso (d1f714)

  364. 380. Sorry I hadn’t noticed you write for ‘Chicago Boyz’ or at least not with retention. Nice gig.

    DNF (ffe548)

  365. If you wanted elite persons in authority, there’s the idea called ‘monarchism’ you might want to look for.

    Although the real joke is that the people doing the actual ruling are generally likely to be ‘elites’ within their field-Hillary Clinton’s IT guys excepted, but incompetents in power is the necessary consequence of extending the democratic franchise to the point that totemic identity cross-identification is more important for a leader than basic common sense, unquestionable US ties, or evidence of the presence of testosterone.

    Dystopia Max (76803a)

  366. “I never knew Socrates, he was before my time, but I have read Plato and Xenophon who claimed to have known him.”

    They weren’t farmers but Plato made his living by peddling sophistic rationalism to the estate managers’ kids. We’re still paying the bill for his exercises in imagination accompanied by the rather incomplete examination of ‘knowledge and reason’ which made geocentrism settled science for 1500 years.

    Rick Ballard (102f97)

  367. Victor Davis Hanson is also a registered Democrat, according to Simon’s article. What do all the binary thinkers in the audience think of that one? Elephant Stone?
    For crying out loud, if I knew he was a democrat 20 years ago, the rest of these brainiacs knew it as well. Welcome to the party.

    mg (31009b)

  368. VDH is exceptional. He doesn’t suffer from the foolishness that is a prerequisite for membership in our country’s “elite”. Don’t confuse accomplishment with foppish conformity. If you poke around on the Hillsdale website you’ll a number of lectures by the man, and they are all worth listening to.

    BobStewartatHome (d2c7a4)

  369. you’ll find ..

    BobStewartatHome (d2c7a4)

  370. Nicely done, Simon.
    you saved me from myself or moderation.

    mg (31009b)

  371. …I especially like Socrates’ response to his wife as he was dying from the hemlock. She said that the thing that most bothered her was the injustice of it all. He responded, “Would you rather I deserved it?”

    And no, Leviticus, I did not read it in the Greek.

    Mike K (90dfdc) — 9/24/2016 @ 1:28 pm

    Socrates was not only a philosopher. He was a man of action.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Delium

    One of the Athenian hoplites in the battle was the philosopher Socrates. Plato has Alcibiades give the following account of the retreat of the Athenians at Delium, and Socrates’ own actions then:

    “Furthermore, men, it was worthwhile to behold Socrates when the army retreated in flight from Delium; for I happened to be there on horseback and he was a hoplite. The soldiers were then in rout, and while he and Laches were retreating together, I came upon them by chance. And as soon as I saw them, I at once urged the two of them to take heart, and I said I would not leave them behind. I had an even finer opportunity to observe Socrates there than I had had at Potidaea, for I was less in fear because I was on horseback. First of all, how much more sensible he was than Laches; and secondly, it was my opinion, Aristophanes (and this point is yours); that walking there just as he does here in Athens, ‘stalking like a pelican, his eyes darting from side to side,’ quietly on the lookout for friends and foes, he made it plain to everyone even at a great distance that if one touches this real man, he will defend himself vigorously. Consequently, he went away safely, both he and his comrade; for when you behave in war as he did, then they just about do not even touch you; instead they pursue those who turn in headlong flight.” (Plato, Symposium, 220d–221c)

    I’ve always been a fan of Socrates.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  372. I guess I’m now an elitist.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  373. “Leviticus would think anyone who knew and had read Socrates was “elite.””

    – Mike K

    I think anyone with a Stanford PhD, who holds a senior fellowship at Stanford, who makes his living as a nationally syndicated political pundit, and who served as a military advisor to President George W. Bush, is “elite” by any realistic use of the term.

    Of course, you guys want to hate “elites” but like Victor Davis Hanson. So, ipso facto, he must not be an “elite” – never mind the actual definition or use of the term.

    Leviticus (03bf59)

  374. bethany hughes did a recent bio of socrates, which delved into man of action, as well as thought, for a fictional perspective on the times, I recommend gary corby’s series, the last of which features herodotus,

    narciso (d1f714)

  375. Whatever one thinks of Trump, that Omarosa person has always come off as creepy and more than a little unbalanced. If he wins and insists on giving her a job, I think we’ve identified who the Sid Blumenthal will be in that Administration.

    M. Scott Eiland (046eb0)

  376. I live in the central valley in California, and as it happens my foreman was best friends with VDH’s older brother in HS. This was in Selma, population around 8000 at the time. He grew up on the family farm, and still works it today although much of has been sold off and from what I gather he will be the last Hanson to work it.

    My boss said Victor was kind of an odd kid (read;very smart, nerdy farm boy) that did things like learn Tolkien languages ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_constructed_by_J._R._R._Tolkien ) as a lad.

    I guess you could call him elite in that he’s highly educated and accomplished, but then he’s also very down to earth in that he comes from rural roots and still operates the family farm. He is still a registered democrat, but he identifies as a conservative and voted for W.Bush twice. And I’m pretty sure for republicans since.

    Anyway, he’s an intelligent guy and worth reading.

    LBascom (c230be)

  377. it’s like strangelove’s salute,

    https://twitter.com/jamestaranto/status/779789702815748096

    narciso (d1f714)

  378. one perspective on this template, which I don’t entirely share, but don’t dissent from entirely either,

    http://fredoneverything.org/an-obsolescent-military-bombing-everything-gaining-nothing/

    narciso (d1f714)

  379. is “elite” by any realistic use of the term.

    Give it up Leviticus. Try not to be a fool. I thought you were going to tell me Socrates didn’t write anything himself but then you’re not an elite.

    The elites most normal people are unhappy with are over credentialed incompetents who run the federal government, most of the big banks that crashed the economy in 2008, and most college faculties, especially in Humanities.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  380. I did not know that I’m fond of a elite democrat.
    I feel illary.

    mg (31009b)

  381. it would be easier to ask who do you consider a wise commentator, and work from their, stewart or any of his flock, nor bill maher, don’t count,

    narciso (d1f714)

  382. …The elites most normal people are unhappy with are over credentialed incompetents who run the federal government, most of the big banks that crashed the economy in 2008, and most college faculties, especially in Humanities.

    Mike K (90dfdc) — 9/24/2016 @ 3:34 pm

    Bingo. I make fun of Ivy League Schools, but what I really despise are self-appointed experts who think they should be able to run my life. A Harvard or Yale or Stanford grad doesn’t need to share my duck blind, he or she just needs to let me alone, and I won’t call them elitists.

    VDH will leave me alone. Hillary! won’t. That’s the difference.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  383. IMO, one cannot claim to be a conservative and abandon the Republican Party. To do so is merely being a bystander who watches as liberal progressivism rolls in like a scum laden tidal surge leaving the landscape unrecognizable.

    Bob23 (ce7fc3) — 9/24/2016 @ 12:36 pm

    OK, but the way it seems to me is that conservatism is a particular set of values and moral instruction. Calling yourself a Republican merely places you within a group that approximately shares those same values. You can call yourself anything you want. It’s the principles you live by and the opinions you hold that determine your standing in the political spectrum.

    I will be voting in the general election down ticket (downwind?) of the Presidential election. There will be local and state elections to consider and new propositions to say yea or nay to. I have merely taken myself out of the Presidential race because I cannot in good conscience vote for either candidate.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  384. VDH writes in “A War Like No Other” how little damage the Spartans were able to do to Athenian fields. He tosses in his dismal results of trying to use a propane flame thrower to burn his own agricultural rubbish.

    I submit that anyone who has used a propane flame thrower is not an elitist.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  385. his columns start out interesting which is really good

    i hardly ever finish them though

    but they start out good, so there’s that

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  386. As for Stanford, they let me in.

    I suspect it was part of the Dumbass Affirmative Action Program.

    So they can’t be all that elitist.

    Seriously, I have seen lots of elitists in at various institutions. It’s how they act, not where they went to school.

    YMMV.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  387. …I have seen lots of elitists in at various institutions. It’s how they act, not where they went to school.

    YMMV.

    Simon Jester (c8876d) — 9/24/2016 @ 4:23 pm

    Exactly. Although, where people go to school does sometime effect how they act.

    Still, I am confident VDH shops at Tractor Supply Co., if they have those in Kali. Or the equivalent farm supply store. I bet he changes his own oil.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  388. Steve57,

    VDH may well shop at Tractor Supply Co. and remove himself therefrom the current credentialed moron “elite” but he still subscribes to the Platonic idealization of “rational” thought which elevated the ideal Athenian estate manager above the plebeian Athenian “row for a drachma per day” sailor. I’m not at all sure he actually understands the Mexifornification of California to have been the predictable result of preference for the rational far above the empiric.

    Rick Ballard (102f97)

  389. well it’s part of the cycle from oligarchy to republic to dictatorship, that greece and rome all underwent, donald kagan, has seen that pattern as well, his son seems to miss that,

    narciso (d1f714)

  390. Rick Ballard,

    I’m not going to argue about what school of thought Victor David Hanson subscribes to. I’ll willingly concede the point. I don’t even agree with everything he’s written. For another day, he gets a lot of things wrong, IMHO.

    But I’d far rather like him to be my neighbor than any Democrat pol you can mention.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  391. there is always a danger in analogizing current history to past events, but there are certain patterns that hold true, any continuous military engagement that takes more than 4 years, will enure a certain fatigue, specially in this media saturated age,

    narciso (d1f714)

  392. VDH is a military historian who never served a day in the military or naval services. Consequently, I thought his picks for “The Savior Generals” somewhat bizarre.

    Still, if I needed a hand working on my truck, maybe pulling the motor, hands down it’s going to be VDH instead of anyone named Obama or Clinton.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  393. the days of a sla marshall or this fellow are unlikely to return,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pRT9b1BOvE

    mark moyar uncovering the narrative, that halberstam spun, in the soviet and vietnamese archives,
    scott cooper doing the same about events in late pahlevi iran, is the best we can expect,

    narciso (d1f714)

  394. Steve57,

    I’d have no problem with VDH as a neighbor. I don’t have any problem with his observations re Mexifornia either. I just wish he would step back and take a look at his basic assumptions. He should be able to discern the coercive nature of assimilation wrt his parents or grandparents dealing with Armenian farmers’ reluctance to sign on with the SunKist cooperative.

    The measure used to ensure cooperation were no secret.

    Rick Ballard (102f97)

  395. there is always a danger in analogizing current history to past events, but there are certain patterns that hold true, any continuous military engagement that takes more than 4 years, will enure a certain fatigue, specially in this media saturated age,

    narciso (d1f714) — 9/24/2016 @ 5:18 pm

    Yes, this is why Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and Musashi Miyamoto’s Book of Five Rings and Fiore de’ Liberi’s The Flower of Battle (meaning, last man standing) are still relevant.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  396. well principles are constant, particulars are flexible, one recalls luttwak who was a strong hawk in the reagan administration, but was fanatically anti iraq war, at one point comparing the coalition forces to napoleon’s forces, took a stab at byzantine history, there’s another fellow, not strictly a military historian, robert merry who did serve a spell,

    narciso (d1f714)

  397. well principles are constant, particulars are flexible

    Musashi Miyamoto was victorious in 60 plus duels. He taught that it might be acceptable to repeat the same tactic a second time, it was unforgivable, suicide, to try it a third time. Hara Tameichi took this lesson to heart, After the HELENA handed him and his AMATSUKAZE his @$$. When he commanded Desroyer Division 27 he didn’t make the same mistake twice. And I’m not too proud to learn from him.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  398. because we live in a adaptive environment, one examples thanks to the release of the eit memos, the adversary can design countermeasures to those procedures. the example that scott cooper pointed counter the narrative relayed to sy hersh, by jesse leach, the savak was slow to actually engage in what could be considered ‘torture’ till it was probably too late,

    narciso (d1f714)

  399. Bill H

    I respect your viewpoint. I just happen to have what I believe is a more practical one.

    I also hope that you are correct in your opinion (I think it was you) that Congress will still stay out of Clinton’s grasp.

    Since the crash in 2008/2009 IMO the country has been “bleeding out” , its getting worse, and the proper thing to do is to apply a big tourniquet fast, instead of worrying there will remain a scar.

    Bob23 (ce7fc3) — 9/24/2016 @ 4:24 pm

    And I, yours. Let’s be pragmatic: we’re all fairly sure Trump’s chances are quite good. Several polls have him beating Sir Hillary 5 ways to Sunday. I get why Cruz endorsed Trump. I am unhappy about it, but I get why. I know that several people here have made the calculation between Clinton and Trump, searching for the lesser of two evils. You’ve apparently had that thought.

    How about this: I buried my dad- a Marine vet with about 21.5 years in- last Tuesday. When Taps was played, I had my hand over my heart, and it wasn’t because my chest was cold. I love my country, and I just cannot bear to see it in the clutches of either of our candidates. I will not support Trump. I would have supported Jeb! first.

    I guess I could be accused of saying all this from the safety of a state that is going to go for Clinton anyway. But it isn’t even that. Its just that I consider Trump to be an odious candidate, to the point that Obama might get knocked from his spot as worst American President ever.

    Gotta say, I’m rather enjoying this civil conversation we’re having.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  400. Bill,

    I’m sure you were very proud of your dad, and I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t convey this well, but what I was trying to say earlier lines up with what you’re saying.

    Both of these candidates are sorry. Sorrier than usual. Those who have resigned themselves to whichever they believe will do less damage can be easily understood by those who think the other one will do less damage. The ones who don’t make sense to me are the people on either side (though mostly on Trump’s) saying that he’s a great guy who will do all these great things, and not supporting him is a terrible thing.

    We at minimum need to be honest about what’s going on this year.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  401. Why should Mr Patterico and the other haters be entitled to special consideration now that the going is tough?

    This election is much more important than Mr Patterico’s sentiments and those of his hater companions.

    Republicans must stick together.

    I’m not a Republican, Bob23. Once Donald Trump secured the nomination and Ted Cruz dropped out, I exited. May 3, 2016.

    Patterico (bcf524)

  402. I like strong leaders who fight. Not weak ones who cave. Democrats fight. Republicans cave.

    Putin is a strong leader. So is Rodrigo Duterte. Putin/Duterte 2016! Make Earth Great Again!

    nk (dbc370)

  403. Bill H, sorry to hear about your loss. This country needs more Marines, every one is a national asset. We are all diminished with your father’s passing.

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  404. Bill H, sorry to hear about your loss. This country needs more Marines, every one is a national asset. We are all diminished with your father’s passing.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 9/24/2016 @ 9:21 pm

    There’s nothing else to say except thank you for your kind words, Steve57.

    I’m sure you were very proud of your dad, and I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t convey this well, but what I was trying to say earlier lines up with what you’re saying.

    Dustin (ba94b2) — 9/24/2016 @ 9:07 pm

    Thank you as well, Dustin.

    I sorta believe that by now, the #neverTrumpers like us are pretty much all on the same page. And don’t worry about conveyance. I certainly never have a problem understanding you.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  405. Putin/Duterte 2016! Make Earth Great Again!

    nk (dbc370) — 9/24/2016 @ 9:20 pm

    That was a nice laugh. Oh, wait- you were serious??

    Bill H (971e5f)

  406. sorry for your loss, bill h,

    narciso (d1f714)

  407. Bill H, I lost my father last April. Deepest condolences.

    Simon Jester (3dbc42)

  408. sorry for your loss, bill h,

    narciso (d1f714) — 9/24/2016 @ 9:50 pm

    Thanks for the condolences, narciso.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  409. Bill H, I lost my father last April. Deepest condolences.

    Simon Jester (3dbc42) — 9/24/2016 @ 9:53 pm

    And I to you, too Simon. I remember you mentioning it had been this past Spring. Not too many professions more honorable than firefighter.

    Bill H (971e5f)

  410. Oh, wait- you were serious??

    I don’t know, Bill H. I’m worried about the “greening” of Earth by all those undocumented, unvetted Martians that could be pouring across the Van Allen belt even at this moment. Why haven’t we built a wall around the Earth in the 60 years we’ve had spaceflight?

    And my condolences, too, for the loss of your father.

    nk (dbc370)

  411. Bill H@433, my words were not kind. I’m sure your father earned every one, and more. They were deserved.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXa39XyP6q8

    United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon 2013

    Steve57 (0b1dac)

  412. Condolences, Bill H.
    My wife just lost her dad last month. A sailor in WW 2.

    mg (31009b)

  413. Gerald A (76f251) — 9/23/2016 @ 5:59 pm

    Now with 20-20 hindsight, had McGovern won, there would have been no Watergate, the collapse of Vietnam would have been on McGovern, and the recession which occurred under Ford’s watch would have been the McGovern recession. The end result is Reagan would have been elected in 1976 instead of 1980 and there would have been no President Carter. Whatever damage McGovern’s new-left foreign policy would have done could have been undone by Reagan. There was no SCOTUS vacancy during Nixon’s second term either. </blockquote. So you should sometimes vote for the GREATER of two evils? This projectioon by the way is kind of doubtful.

    Maybe the collapse would have happened, but maybe it would have been worse. Or maybe it would have bene better. Maybe there would have bene other things that went wrong in foreign policy. Like tyhe 1973 war in the Middle East.

    As it is, we pretty soon had Ford which was not bad, but we did have a very bad Democratic Congress elected in 1974, and they caused the collapse of South Vietnam, which was no more a just result than the fall of France in 1940, and also what happened in Cambodia by voting to cut off military aid (no U.S. troops were involved at that time.) This was I think maybe largely organized Bill Clinton, who failed to make it into Congress himself, but he did make the freshmen important – he had wanted to be their leader, and what the House Democrayic freshmen did was push the Congress in the direction of cutting off military aid.

    There was no domino effect because The Khmer Rouge turned out to have been quietly stolen from North Vietnam by Communist China, so there was no unity among the Communists. Laos was the last domino to fall.

    Portugal almost became a Communist dictatorship, but whle Portugal itself was a saved, Angola and Mozambique becamee tyrannies with many refugees, who went to Portugal. The current wife of John Kerry came from there, but left Mozambique earlier. She went to school in South Africa and Switzerland then became an intepreter at the United Nations in 1963 before marrying John Heinz.

    Also, Jimmy Carter nearly didn’t get elected.

    That said, yes, sometimes the GREATER of two evils, is ultimately better, but how do you forecast that?

    Sammy Finkelman (3915d0)


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