Donald Trump: Hey, There’s Nothing Wrong with a Little “Establishment”
This should have been Ted Cruz’s moment — and it still could be, depending on turnout. But it’s disappointing that a supposed anti-establishment backlash has given us popularity for a man who just told us that a little Establishment never hurt anyone:
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Thursday the Republican establishment is “warming up” to his candidacy as he ramped up his attacks against his chief rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
“I think they’re warming up. I want to be honest, I have received so many phone calls from people that you would call establishment, from people — generally speaking … conservatives, Republicans — that want to come onto our team,” Trump told reporters in Las Vegas before an appearance at the Outdoor Sportsman Awards.
. . . .
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Thursday there’s nothing wrong with a little deal-making to get things done.
“You know what? There’s a point at which: Let’s get to be a little establishment,” Trump told about 1,500 people at a rally at the Las Vegas South Point Resort and Casino. “We’ve got to get things done folks, OK? Believe me, don’t worry. We’re going to make such great deals.”
You can see why the Bob Doles and Orrin Hatches of the world are starting to realize they can work with this guy to keep the status quo going. As the New York Times noted:
Of course, this willingness to accommodate Mr. Trump is driven in part by the fact that few among the Republican professional class believe he would win a general election. In their minds, it would be better to effectively rent the party to Mr. Trump for four months this fall, through the general election, than risk turning it over to Mr. Cruz for at least four years, as either the president or the next-in-line leader for the 2020 nomination.
And, even if Mr. Trump somehow found his way into the White House, the longtime Washington hands envision him operating as a pragmatist, leaving their power unchecked.
“We can live with Trump,” said Richard F. Hohlt, a veteran lobbyist, reflecting his colleagues’ sentiment at a Republican National Committee meeting last week in Charleston, S.C. “Do they all love Trump? No. But there’s a feeling that he is not going to layer over the party or install his own person. Whereas Cruz will have his own people there.”
None of this will matter to the Trumpers. In one breath they will tell you that we need to blow up the system because of the damned Establishment, and that’s why we need Trump. Seeing this, they’ll say in the next breath that of course Trump needs to make deals with the Establishment! It’s just that he will make great deals!
By the way, National Review came out last night with an issue devoted to opposing Donald Trump: Conservatives Against Trump. (I’m glad I got my own rant out yesterday morning; even if nobody noticed it, I still feel more like a leader than a follower. If I had published it today I would feel like a sheep.) Here’s from Charles C.W. Cooke’s entry, and I agree wholeheartedly:
Trump has shown no interest in limiting government, in reforming entitlements, or in the Constitution. He floats the idea of massive new taxes on imported goods and threatens to retaliate against companies that do too much manufacturing overseas for his taste. His obsession is with “winning,” regardless of the means — a spirit that is anathema to the ordered liberty that conservatives hold dear and that depends for its preservation on limits on government power.
He’s not telling us anything we didn’t know, and neither did I yesterday. We’re laying down a marker. Trump fans are not persuadable with reason. As Allahpundit has written:
Few of us are under the illusion that we’re persuading anyone. You write because your conscience nudges you to do it, not because you think anyone in Iowa’s going to say “eureka.”
Many comparisons between Trump and Cruz on conservative issues are noted here. None of that matters to the Trumpers, of course.
For its anti-Trump piece, National Review has been disinvited from its scheduled participation in the next Republican debate. This is as it should be; moderators with an explicit agenda are not allowed unless it’s leftist moderators. Nevertheless, I salute the folks at National Review for letting their voice be heard.
Hi ropelight! Please begin your spin. We’re all waiting.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:49 amLook at how easy Trump is bought. All it takes is a little flattery and he’s sold. What a great dealmaker!
Me (c0371d) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:05 amThanks, Patteico, I sympathize, I’m having similar difficulties persuading folks that Ted Cruz is ineligible for the presidency. His Cuban father and his Canadian birth disqualify him. Natural born citizenship is a Constitutional imperative, and Cruz isn’t eligible.
Now, compromise (or deal making) is essential in our system of representative government. It’s dictators and tyrants who don’t have to compromise.
There did I exceed your expectations?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:10 amMerry-go-round again deja vous.
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:15 amThomas Sowell on deals:
“Trump boasts that he can make deals, among his many other boasts. But is a deal-maker what this country needs at this crucial time? Is not one of the biggest criticisms of today’s Congressional Republicans that they have made all too many deals with Democrats, betraying the principles on which they ran for office?
Bipartisan deals — so beloved by media pundits — have produced some of the great disasters in American history.”
See the list:
http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2016/01/22/do-emotions-trump-facts-n2108178/page/full
Luke Stywalker (8f494a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:20 amThis changes nothing, that we all agree on,
Some people are so fed up with the Repubs and the dems they don’t want to vote for either one,
end of story,
almost,
if nothing else,
can you at least protect us from being Western Europe and close the border?
You may not like it P, but it makes perfect sense (to me).
Lots of people have being sowing to the wind, including repubs,
and now we are all reaping.
P, in years past, were you not one of the people who argued against people who in protest weren’t voting, or was that someone else?
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:22 amOK, how does Cruz govern, now that he’s called the probable Senate Majority Leader next year a liar on the floor of the Senate? We going back to executive orders or something?
I just want one of the Cruzheads to answer that.
And another thing, who died and made you guys the arbiters of who’s a Conservative?
As for Trump, he isn’t proposing anything that Reagan didn’t have to do, unless you’re going to tell me the Speaker of the House during the Reagan years was someone other that Thomas P O’Neill. Of course, a Republican President is going to have to find some common ground with Congress if he wants to get past what has happened in the Obamanation.
Cruz has been running for President since he hit the Senate (just like Barack Hussein Obama) and he’s just going to tell everybody what to do, right?
formwiz (6b3a5a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:22 amThe more opposition The Donald gets from scribblers and talking heads the stronger the bonds between Trump and his supporters grows, and the more undecideds flock to his side. The calculus is simple – if this many pampered elites are so upset at the prospect of a Trump presidency then it has to be the best thing that could happen for America.
The last time nearly the entire political class united in opposition to a single candidate Ronald Reagan won the White House.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:23 amGo look at the SuperPoll up at Drudge. It won’t change the way Cruz supporters think, but it will give them an idea of what they’re up against.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:27 amWell, that makes him pretty much like McCain, Romney, and Dole.
rcocean (e5667a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:28 amHere’s the results from the Drudge SuperPoll:
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:36 amhis immigration policies are very very how to say – they are an anathema to the chambermaid Rs
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:36 amIf Cruz gets elected, it will be only because there is enough of a groundswell of people who want what he stands for
if so, then those in Congress will need to stick their fingers up to see which way the wind is blowing.
And then we’ll see what happens, and in 2 years in the next election.
Elsewhere there was an article about the “disaster of populism” or some such, about how both the Dems and Trump were doing the same thing, just along different lines.
Akin to what I’ve said before, my suggested platform is “common sense populism”, basic Tea Party,
– all fed employees and elected officials live by the same rules as they inflect on the rest of us, no exceptions for SS, ObamaCare, etc.
– post bills for the public and everyone in Congress read them before voted on (campaign on that, will act, not lie!)
– can’t spend money forever we don’t have
– we need to be an accepting people, but accepting doesn’t mean people who are female by physical makeup must accept a physical male changing in the locker room next to them
more than 50% of Americans believe those things , I assure you
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:37 am“The last time nearly the entire political class united in opposition to a single candidate Ronald Reagan won the White House.”
Currently attacking Mr. Cruz:
John McCain
John Cornyn
Bob Dole
Orrin Hatch
Mitch McConnell
Lindsey Graham
And a cast of thousands.
Yay, go team.
Luke Stywalker (8f494a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:38 amMy last comment:
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:40 amhttps://patterico.com/2016/01/21/establishment-senators-we-hate-ted-cruz-but-are-warming-to-trump/#comment-1816606
Notice how far Hillary Clinton is down – below 1%
She won’t be the Democrat nominee, not with those numbers. Bernie is killing the field with one exception – The Donald. If you like apples, how do you like them apples?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:40 amYou making that up?
Gerald A (949d7d) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:42 amThank you, Luke.
ropelight, this is not a gotcha question. Looking at that list of Luke’s, how much credence do you give those guys in matters not pertaining to Trump?
(Just in case people forgot, Orrin Hatch proposed a constitutional amendment to enable Arnold Schwartzenegger to run for President.)
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:44 amOh right Drudge’s SuperPoll.
Gerald A (949d7d) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:44 amGerald, no, see my comment at #9.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:45 amReferring to Drudge’s SuperPoll as meaning anything is like making things up.
Gerald A (949d7d) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:47 am#7 formwiz wrote, “OK, how does Cruz govern, now that he’s called the probable Senate Majority Leader next year a liar on the floor of the Senate?”
I’m sure that McConnell and Cruz will put it behind them. But shouldn’t your passionate question be applied to Trump, as well? If Trump had a nickel for every tacky schoolyard taunt he’s made, he’d probably be a billionaire by now.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:47 amnk, of those named, not much at all, if any. They’re uniformly among the most unreliable individuals in the Senate. I rate them about 1 step up from Claire McCaskill.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:49 amGerald, your first instinct was to ask if I made up the numbers. When shown the numbers came from Drudge’s poll you now claim they mean as little as if they were fabricated. Have you no shame?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:52 amSomething’s happening here, but you don’t know what it is. Do you, Mr Gerald?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:55 amAs I said, referring to Drudge’s SuperPoll as meaning anything is like making things up. Trump runs worse against Clinton than the other contenders in real polls. Then you keep going on about Cruz having divided loyalties. Nobody takes you seriously except I guess other Trumpites.
Gerald A (949d7d) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:57 amropelight, that Drudge super poll is just an online poll—there’s no methodology to it other than a person gets on a computer and uses their mouse to fill in a bubble and then presses “vote.”
I remember in 2008 how Ron Paul’s enthusiastic army of supporters would flood online voting such as that, after each debate. Thus, he “won” every debate. I seem to recall a question one time that asked, “Who would win a fist fight?” and the choices were “The Incredible Hulk,” “Betty White,” or “Ron Paul.”
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:02 amRon Paul won that poll.
But in fairness to Betty White, many of her friends and supporters have passed away.
Look at the cover for the Weekly Standard.
They printed up “King Trump” on the same day you confirm he’s not going to be a king.
Egg all over their faces there.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:03 amHow can you run worse than Hillary? She’s going to be too busy dealing with prison to be president.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:07 amHow about a little walk down memory lane?
There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Just our people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:10 amEverybody look what’s going down…
“**DRUDGE SUPER POLL** WHO IS YOUR PICK FOR PRESIDENT? (Poll Closed)
TRUMP 36.05% (413,399 votes)
SANDERS 29.69% (340,387 votes)
CRUZ 19.23% (220,501 votes)
RUBIO 4.92% (56,444 votes)
PAUL 3.23% (37,030 votes)
CARSON 1.42% (16,232 votes)
KASICH 1.32% (15,183 votes)
FIORINA 1.02% (11,689 votes)
CHRISTIE 1.02% (11,641 votes)
BUSH 0.9% (10,305 votes)
CLINTON 0.88% (10,096 votes)”
–
Damn, yo. Clinton should just pack it in, she can’t even pull 1% in your super-meaningful, highly persuasive, not-at-all ridiculous poll.
Leviticus (efada1) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:19 amPro: Donald Trump’s candidacy is forcing rational and irrational people into separate camps.
Con: the irrational people have the bigger camp.
Leviticus (efada1) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:22 amA poll of over one million.
And daily caller readers know that Obama bots fluff the democrats agenda. Even with poll fluffers
Clinton is at 2 percent. Can that be real?
Independent confirmation from the real world says yea.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:24 amOnly six people show up to greet Hillary in Beaumont, Texas.
Clinton at less than 1 percent. Sorry. My bad.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:26 am“G.W. Bush has shown no interest in limiting government, in reforming entitlements, or in the Constitution.”
Neither does McConnell or Ryan. The rest of the conservative movement talks about conservatism, endorses politicians that lie to get on their shows, and sell out in Washington. Conservatism in Washington is a unicorn many in the GOP discuss, but never actually deliver.
Only notable exceptions are Cruz, Lee, and Brat who have voted for the most part as they campaigned. Maybe a few others.
I wished Cruz had a record of winning in the Senate, other than TPA that he later voted against.
If Trump wins, I just hope he builds that damn wall.
Scoob (580f73) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:28 amSeriously, though, it is very interesting (and perhaps a silver lining) to see the serious ideological differences people are willing to set aside in opposition to the surrealist nightmare of a viable Trump candidacy. Maybe a common opposition to the things Trump stands for can serve as the common ground for productive discourse among rational people that has been so elusive in American politics for such a long time.
I’m trying to look on the bright side.
Leviticus (efada1) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:29 amThe good news for Hillary, at her campaign stops security outnumber the rabble, so she’s air tight on the security front.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:30 amI remember when Al Gore was the rational choice. All the crazys were voting for Bush.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:31 amSeems like the political experts are only expert at misleading the public. If Drudge’s poll is anywhere near faithfully representative of public opinion the dynamics of this election are far indeed from what the fairy tale media has been selling.
Time and new polls will give us some idea of what’s really going on.
I’m not surprised at Hillary’s poor showing. She’s got more baggage than a 747. But I had no idea she was so far down – maybe her supportrs don’t read Drudge, but somehow Bernie’s do?
Anyway, Shields Up! Proceed at 1/2 Impulse Power. And launch a Recon Droid.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:34 amBeing a climate skeptic I’m use to being characterized as a crazy whose mind is made up, and that no amount of angst from my opponent will penetrate my thick skull.
That’s why you should have featured the bullet points from the Directorblue handy Trump vs Cruz list, instead of punting in favor on more angst.
But that would be labor intense. I understand.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:50 amI expect one of two things from a pundit (or both). I want a pundit to be either a fair broker or an honest partisan. You, Patterico, do both and do both well; Allahpundit does neither. Allahpundit, along with most of the boys over at HotAir, masquerade as fair brokers, while slanting their commentary to suit their purposes. Allahpundit doesn’t convince anyone because he is too transparent in his deceit and too weak in his arguments.
You give yourself short shrift when you gripe about not convincing anyone. I pay closer attention to your words than just about anyone else’s that I read on the web. So do most of the rest of us. You unfairly demean yourself by quoting Allahpundit.
By the way, here’s my favorite passage from the Weekly Standard piece:
“Trump . . . offers a valuable warning for the Republican party. If responsible men irresponsibly ignore an issue as important as immigration, it will be taken up by the reckless. If they cannot explain their Beltway maneuvers — worse, if their maneuvering is indefensible — they will be rejected by their own voters. If they cannot advance a compelling working-class agenda, the legitimate anxieties and discontents of blue-collar voters will be exploited by demagogues. We sympathize with many of the complaints of Trump supporters about the GOP, but . . . “
Hatch and company seem completely oblivious to the role they have played in the “outsider” backlash.
ThOR (a52560) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:57 amThis is one possible explanation:
Excerpt from OBSERVER: News and Politics, Opinion by Ashe Schow, 1/22/16.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:58 amTrump runs worse against Clinton than the other contenders in real polls.
Trump vs Clinton
Morning Consult: Clinton +2
NBC/WSJ: Clinton +10
Gravis: Trump +2
Fox: Trump +3
Cruz vs Clinton
Morning Consult: Clinton +2
NBC/WSJ: Clinton +4
Gravis: tie
Fox: Cruz +7
Rubio vs Clinton
Morning Consult: Clinton +2
NBC/WSJ: Clinton +1
Gravis: Rubio +4
Fox: Rubio +9
(Numbers from HuffPost and RCP)
I recall seeing a few months ago a couple articles speculating that polls understate Trump’s support. The evidence was that, with the same polling firm conducting surveys, Trump’s numbers jump about 5 points when respondents give their opinion to a machine rather than to a real person. The idea is that many are embarrassed to admit they like the guy (“as they should be,” Patterico is thinking).
scrutineer (17265e) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:10 am#41, Thor, you wrote, “Allahpundit, along with most of the boys over at HotAir, masquerade as fair brokers, while slanting their commentary to suit their purposes.”
I’m not sure I’m following what you’re saying when you suggest the Hot Air crew is guilty of “slanting their commentary to suit their purposes.”
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:26 amWhat purpose other than to advocate for one’s point of view do the Hot Air commentators have?
Excerpt from DC Whispers 1/20/16
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:29 amStanley Kurtz’ piece in NR (http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/430175/against-defeatism-against-trump) is good, too. Read the whole thing.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:31 amSo, the ropelight argument is “HEY, BANDWAGON!”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:32 amif you look at this as a contest between Mr. The Donald and Mr. Ted Cruz, and you look at the up-for-grabs R voters (thems what do not think participating in this tawdry election is beneath their dignity), a big chunk of them are supporting establishment trash like Jeb or Christie or what have you
Mr. The Donald is saying hey you guys i want your vote
whereas
Mr. Ted Cruz is saying please to not sully my vote totals with your impure establishment votes
advantage: Mr. The Donald
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:33 amI find it embarrassing that there is an open season on eagles as long as your weapon of choice is a windmill.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:35 amFor all that Trump says he’s a conservative now, he sounds to me like the town trollop who swears that she’s REALLY in love with ME and not just after my money.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:35 amhappy, that would be truer if Trump were not simultaneously saying he was the establishment’s worst nightmare.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:37 amyour better trollops can be after your money and love you more than pickles at the same time
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:37 amTrump’s long-term core values are hard to identify, but that may be part of the reason people like him. They can project their values onto him and, if they are politicians/lobbyists, they may believe they can buy his support the way he buys political access in New York.
This is how business works for Trump and, in this election, Trump is campaigning based largely on his skills as a businessman. He’s running to be America’s boss.
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:38 amit’s like vulcan chess Mr. M
i get dizzy sometimes just watching
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:38 amOr maybe that was last week. The Donald is nothing if not fluid.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:39 amHe’s running to be America’s boss.
my feel is that this is where he’s a lot like food stamp
it’s more like he’s running to be america’s mayor I think
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:39 amThey can project their values onto him
This worked so well last time.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:40 am“He’s running to be America’s boss.”
– DRJ
Well said. Of course, there’s another name for that when we’re talking about political leaders – which is what makes Trump so scary.
Leviticus (efada1) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:41 amHe’s running to be America’s boss.
I had hoped our Augustus would be more, well, august.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:42 amThen again, he’d get along fine with Huey Long, so WTHDIKINAD
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:48 amwho swears that she’s REALLY in love with ME and not just after my money.
Donald Trump doesn’t hold a grudge against the eagle. Eagle vs. Donald Trump (Youtube of a CNN report)
That’s me projecting my values. And a metaphor.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:49 amFrom Matt Labash at the Daily Standard:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/nine-tales-of-trump-at-his-trumpiest/article/2000697
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:21 amTrump’s Apprentice show helps his name recognition but it may also help his message — that he can solve any problem in an hour or, at most, a season. That is an appealing message if you are frustrated with the country’s direction (as most Americans are) and want someone to fix things quickly.
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:41 amOff-topic but best wishes to readers and commenters on the East Coast who are in path of the snowstorm. Take care.
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:45 amTrump has discovered the awful truth about the right side of the spectrum: we have LIVs too.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:51 amI support Cruz, but given the alternatives, would vote in an election for Trump. I don’t want to be the guy who wakes up one morning in late 2017 and realizes this country has turned in an even more hellish direction and says “what is this bowl of shi+?… I don’t remember making this bowl of shi+.”
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:52 amI’m not surprised at Hillary’s poor showing. She’s got more baggage than a 747. But I had no idea she was so far down – maybe her supportrs don’t read Drudge, but somehow Bernie’s do?
Drudge obviously isn’t doing scientific polling, so the numbers on his site are hardly a reflection of an accurate cross-section of the public. But his readership does tend to lean right, meaning that the overly small support of Hillary (too bad much of the electorate can’t be trusted to reflect that same response—to reflect rational thinking) is not surprising. By contrast, the large number of votes given to ultra-liberal Bernie Sanders is surprising and unexpected. That must represent a lot of angst, anger and exasperation out there — with perhaps some right-leaning people willing to turn far left in an act of bratty defiance?! — merely one step away from “throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Choppy, perilous waters up ahead.
Mark (8fe6db) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:58 amNatural born citizenship is a Constitutional imperative, and Cruz isn’t eligible.
I assume everyone else has let this go out of politeness, but I’m not a US History maven so humour me.
Haven’t there been a variety of US presidents who weren’t born in the US?
In which case, “natural born” wouldn’t simply hinge on jus soli, even if we discount the usual cited exceptions, like children of diplomats or soldiers abroad, or where someone was a citizen at the time of affirmation of the Constitution.
JP (56a147) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:18 pmConsider this as one nightmare possibllity:
Ted Cruz gets the GOP nomination and Democrats file eligibility lawsuits. The 9th Circus suspends presidential elections till the SCOTUS can sort it out. Democrats win the down-ticket elections and take control of the Senate while complex legal wrangling goes on and on till Obama’s term expires.
The Democrat Senate votes to extend Obama’s term for an additional year to give SCOTUS time to deliberate. Riots erupt, Obama declares martial law and the National Guard takes control of American cities. Obama orders guns confiscated. Elections are suspended till the unrest is contained, which it never is…
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:20 pmSo, looking over the recent Fox News polling crosstabs and a few things pop out.
They break things down for Republican voters between men and women, college or not, and mostly this has no bearing on presidential choice, except that Rubio does significantly better among the college-educated, and Trump does significantly worse among them, and among women.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2016/01/08/fox-news-poll-national-presidential-race-obama-ratings/ Question 20
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:20 pmAlso in the same poll, Rubio and Cruz stomp Hillary, Trump wins, but less convincingly.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:21 pmThink of the irony. JEB said he planned to win the general without US and we all thought he was nuts. Whoever thought that a billionaire donor from Manhattan would actually do it?
Dilbert’s been trying to explain Trump’s campaign for a while now – blog.dilbert.com. NR’s temper tantrum issue won’t help nor will Cruz’s “I’m the real conservative” tour with Beck.
Cruz needs to get back to explaining how his ideas and values will make the lives of individual Americans better. IOW, less Goldwater and more Reagan.
crazy (cde091) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:23 pmJP–
Go find one of the last 7 threads on this subject for a thorough examination of this canard.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:24 pmThe Democrat Senate votes to extend Obama’s term for an additional year to give SCOTUS time to deliberate.
Then why not a military coup? JUST as Constitutional.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:25 pm“Consider this as one nightmare possibllity:
etc., etc. ”
10% of college graduates think Judge Judy is on the Supreme Court.
Less than 25% of Americans can name two members of the Supreme Court.
30% of Americans didn’t know what year 9/11 took place.
90% of Americans can’t find Afghanistan on a map of Asia.
10% of people think the moon landing was faked.
25% of Americans believe in astrology.
24% of voters think someone born outside the U.S. is not a natural born citizen.
You just have to factor in the LIV/LCD reality.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:26 pmThese are Democrats we’re talkin’ about. They loathe the military.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:29 pmSuppose, ropelight, that aliens from Betelgeuse invade right before the election and select Ralph Nader as President. What then?
Sounds far-fetched? About as much as your silliness. The reason that there is no precedent on this issue is that the courts repeatedly refuse to take such cases. They are political and not justiciable. It is hardly likely that they will change their minds at a point that throws everything into chaos. And even if the 9th Circuit did so, the Supremes would summarily overturn them with prejudice.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:30 pmWho said anything about DEMOCRATS?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:31 pmLuke–
A poll done a few year back in the UK showed that 10% of the adults could not name the Prime Minister.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:34 pm49-papertiger
mg (31009b) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:34 pmDead on. Makes me sick. Next thing the govt. will be poisoning our water supply.
never mind.
Trump: Think of it as Mencken’s Law in action.
(apologies to Niven & Pournelle)
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:42 pm69- ropelight
mg (31009b) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:43 pmDo you have stock in Smith & Wesson?
Trump gave money to the establishment to stop the Tea Party. No wonder the establishment supports him now. Trump knows the establishment has more money and it’s a smart bet for a businessman to make.
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:45 pmGo find one of the last 7 threads on this subject for a thorough examination of this canard.
Thanks, the back and forth is making me stupider.
JP (56a147) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:46 pmFrankly, the national review and other attacks on Trump didn’t sway me at all. Yes, there are things about Trump’s record that make me doubt his veracity on things like immigration. However, the same doubts apply to Cruz, sadly (I note his past support for opening the floodgates on worker visas, to name just one… and there are plenty of other things about Cruz I don’t like).
What did sway me? Trump’s own words in recent days did that, turning me from a Cruz leaner to a Cruz supporter. The pandering on corn ethanol was a part of it, so were many things, but attacking Cruz for calling McConnell a liar was the last straw. Plus, there’s the fact that for Trump, of all people, to be warming to the establishment is just insane, even from his own POV (it undercuts the primary argument of his campaign).
However, I’ll vote for Trump if, when the race reaches my state (late March), doing so looks like the best shot at stopping Bush or Rubio (Whom I detest as much, if not more, than our host does Trump).
Arizona CJ (da673d) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:50 pmCruz is the establishment candidate, he worked in the White House for GW Bush on policy matters and is credited with persuading Bush to nominate Roberts to the SC. Cruz’s wife worked for Condi Rice at State before she worked for the US Trade Rep. She then moved on the Wall St signing on at Goldman Sachs. Sounds pretty establishment to me especially when compared to The Donald.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 12:51 pmErick Erickson:
“Republicans in Washington are comfortable with Donald Trump as someone who will not rock their boat or upset the status quo. They already know from Cruz’s history that he intends to shake up Washington, and many of them could find themselves on an unemployment line. With a week to go until the Iowa caucus, Washington Republicans will side with Trump and do their best to bruise and stop Ted Cruz. Payback and power are more important to Washington Republicans than principle.”
http://townhall.com/columnists/erickerickson/2016/01/22/bruising-cruz-n2108197/page/full
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:02 pmerick is a crazy person i feel sad for him plus that k is stupid he’s not even jewish
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:11 pm“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:13 pmFWIW, Bob Dole has endorsed Jeb!, and I’m pretty sure Orrin Hatch is backing Rubio. (Which doesn’t take away from their “better Trump than Cruz” comments.)
Mitch (341ca0) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:23 pmReally go read the stuff over at National Review. These are dyed-in-the-wool conservatives aghast at their moment ion the sun being hijacked by this Democrat shill.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:29 pmTrump’s numbers far exceed the conservatives who support him. He’s attracting blue color Democrats, women, Hispanics, millennials, and college kids. He’s even making inroads in minority constituencies who usually vote en mass for Democrats.
We can win the presidency with Trump, and hold both the Senate and the House.
There’s only one question: Will the Stupid Party find a way to lose the election. Granted, it’ll take some effort but right now, given what I read here, I’d say chances are it’s about 60-40 down the drain already.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:30 pmDo you have a link for that Roberts claim, ropelight? Cruz supported Roberts but did not convince Bush to nominate him. Cruz wanted Luttig but Bush wanted someone easier to confirm (with a shorter paper trail) so he didn’t have to spend any political capital on his nomination.
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:32 pmDoes Trump remind anyone of Gilbert Bates or Eddie Haskell?
mg (31009b) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:34 pmI agree Trump is attracting Democrats and that’s good if they will vote. Of course, they may only vote for Trump, which would make Trump the one who would hurt the down-ballot races, but who knows if that’s the case?
DRJ (15874d) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:34 pmI have zero doubt that 90%-plus of all moderators of all presidential debates in the last 30 years have been reflexive, committed Democrats irresolutely opposed — if professionally coy about it — to whoever was running under a GOP label in either primary or general elections.
So the message here is: If you’re either a professional journalist or professional opinion writer, it’s far better to lie and pretend to objectivity than to be sincere. The RNC just rewarded the liars.
Beldar (fa637a) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:44 pmHere’s what gets me about the Trump phenomenon. Eight years ago our current president made many promises about how he would govern and a huge percentage of Americans chose to believe him despite the complete lack of corroborating evidence in his voting record and personal life. Eight years later, a huge swath of Republican voters are poised to do exactly the same thing. After a near decade-long demonstration of just how cheap talk can be, why is this happening/how is it possible?
ThOR (a52560) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:52 pmWell telemundo is an undeclared campaign contribution for red queen, what were they thinking.
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 1:57 pmRe 97: Quit talking like that. You’re not allowed to point that out. Don’t you want the Mexicans to pay for a “wall”, and “To Make America Great Again”? The gullible people are going to get very angry with you.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:13 pmif cruz stays in the senate he’ll still be able to do politics and stuff
it’s just Mr. The Donald will be president and they can work together to advance the conservative agender
I am very excited about this cause of it will mean that food stamp is gone and we will have a for reals american in the white house again
i’m giddy with the anticipation of this i feel so sad for all the people who died before they got to see this bright new dawn knock on wood i get to see it
it’s gonna be spectacular
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:17 pmWe’re Off to see the Wizard!
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:19 pmwe should stop for kolaches on the way
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:20 pmYou don’t need any of that in Yellow Brick Road land. Just don’t look behind the curtain.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:22 pmTrump’s numbers far exceed the conservatives who support him. He’s attracting blue color Democrats, women, Hispanics, millennials, and college kids. He’s even making inroads in minority constituencies who usually vote en mass for Democrats.
Because he’s NOT a conservative. The Republicans who support him are Democrats, Independents, Bush voters and other squishes — plus very confused conservatives who list all the people in the squish camp as if it gives them cred.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:25 pmropelight, did you really say in #86 that Cruz is the ‘establishment candidate’?
That’s kind of funny considering that your guy Trump is now telling us that there’s nothing wrong with “a little establishment.”
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:25 pmThen again, isn’t Trump the guy who has boasted about his ability to buy politicians in the past?
So when Trump buys politicians, it’s kosher, but if you’re the politician that he just bought, then you’re a jerk and a loser.
That should be “Republicans”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:25 pmAnd the flying monkey list just got some new additions!
John McCain
John Cornyn
Bob Dole
Orrin Hatch
Mitch McConnell
Lindsey Graham
Rudolph Giuliani
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:27 pmTrent Lott
not pointing any fingers but there’s a lot of cynicism in this thread
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:28 pmIt is really funny watching committed Trump partisans, now watching their Revolutionary come down from the barricades, embrace the gendarmes, and talk about how he really wants to be friends with the Ancien Regime, and they STILL lap it up.
“Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once.”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:32 pmAbout ambitious billionaire politicians? Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:32 pmWinston did not have a Winning Attitude
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:33 pmWearing blinders is the way to be in with the In Crowd.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:40 pmThanks, Luke. I don’t know what came over me.
ThOR (a52560) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:50 pmpapertiger @29, prison is too good for her.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/22/exclusive-at-least-one-clinton-email-had-most-sensitive-designation-exposing-that-it-had-human-intelligence-source-reporting.html
I realize somebody is going to come along and accuse me of hypocrisy, because I couldn’t get excited about Scooter Libby supposedly blowing Valerie Plame’s cover. There’s a reason for that. She had no cover. She simply wasn’t a NOC. It’s an impossibility. To be a NOC, the government has to take affirmative actions to conceal the agent’s relationship with the government. By definition, a NOC has no official cover. Meaning, isn’t a government employee.
Yet she was driving to work everyday at CIA HQ in Langley.
It’s impossible that Scooter Libby broke this law. It’s so impossible, the government didn’t charge him with breaking this law. They charged and convicted him of lying to investigators. I’m agnostic as to whether he actually committed that crime.
But, back on the subject hypocrisy, it actually all runs in the opposite direction. Liberals were demanding that Libby be executed for treason for supposedly revealing the identity of a NOC DURING A TIME OF WAR!!! Actually, the wanted him executed for treason because he worked for Dick Cheney.
But there’s a Pakistani doctor in prison because this administration couldn’t stop running their collective mouths about killing Bin Laden. That’s why I italicized the any information part. You don’t need to print the guy’s name in a full page add in the NYT. You just need to reveal enough identifying information to blow the person’s cover.
It is indisputable that someone, perhaps several someones, in the WH did exactly that when they were spiking the football. Personally I blame the guy at the top.
Where are all the left-wing patriots who were demanding Scooter Libby’s head?
Oh, that’s right. They’re stumping for Hillary!’s historic first vagina. But it appears she committed the exact crime (among others; I’ve lost track of all the crimes she has undoubtedly committed) they accused LIbby of committing, but didn’t, and therefore demanded his head on a platter.
!
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 2:51 pmI’m not going to like President Eminent Domain.
But I’m sure I’d like President Espionage Act even less.
Maybe Jim Webb will give me a third party choice. Which may shock some of you, but I actually would go out on a cold rainy night to buy one of his books, ask him to sign it, and shake his hand.
I have the book to prove it, Lost Soldiers.
He was the only candidate on the debate stage to give a decent answer to the question, who is the enemy you’re most proud of making. The other communists up there named various categories of fellow Americans. Jim Webb mentioned the Cong, who tried to kill him before he killed them first.
Naturally, this disqualified him.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:07 pmI agree with Ropelight – if the Rs are smart, they’ll understand that Trump can win running the Obama playbook (writ broadly) – win on LIV turnout; LIV right, LIV left and apolitical previous non voters. Trump is the vessel that gets 1,500 Republicans appointed to positions in DC vs Democrats. So win and then control him (shouldn’t be that hard) on the back end.
I’ve been waiting for the GOPe to figure that out and it seems they finally have. It’s hard to see Trump maintaining his independence if the GOPe plays it right. But if they play it wrong, that’s probably the push that Cruz needs to get to a two person race.
East Bay Jay (c65ac0) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:16 pmDare anyone speculate that really big bucks donations to the Clinton Foundation could buy a key to Hillary’s server’s back door?
Just tell Huma Abedin or Cheryl Mills what you need, hand over the cash, give ’em a few days to salt the hard drive, then turn the key. Shazzzam! Instant Access to Uncle Sam’s Top Secret and compartmentalized data.
Would you put it past Hillary? I wouldn’t.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:27 pmWhat makes anyone think that, once elected, Trump won’t start appointing Democrats? He’s like the guy who cheats on his wife, gets divorced and marries the mistress. Then she’s all shocked when he cheats on HER!
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:31 pmConsider this scenario. It’s December 17, 2016; the Electoral College has just voted; and terrorists blow up the Aqua-Net factory. All the reserves run out and Trump refuses to appear in public to be sworn in as President without his combover. Obama says “I’m out of here; you on your own, honkies”. We go for four years without a President; no bills or budgets signed into law; no new cabinet appointments; no new judicial appointments. America never had it better.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:31 pmno they aren’t smart, otherwise they would have put forth a pro Cruz issue, they are good at the Corker approbation of the hudna with the sepah, rendering moloch’s minions their portion, letting the death panels, grind on, ah what did Krauthammer say to the one who rendered that prophetic statement, ‘she should leave the room’
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:33 pmlike Wilhemina Wright of Minnesota, who called Reagan a ‘bigot’, this is why we got a Republican Senate,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:35 pmropelight,
In #117, you assert that “big bucks” can buy access to the corridors of power.
Interestingly, you happen to be a passionate supporter of the only billionaire in the race—a man who has openly boasted about buying politicians.
And yet you’ve screamed that Cruz is the one who is open to having his loyalty to the United States compromised, simply because mommy & daddy happened to be residing in Calgary at the time of his birth.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:37 pmIt all only means that Ted Cruz is a total jerk—he should have made his parents bear him in Des Moines. But if he can’t even persuade his parents to bear him in Des Moines, then how can he be trusted to persuade Putin to do x,y, or z?!
(LOL)
#119, nk, that’s pretty funny about the Aqua-Net factory. I hope you’re writing screenplays in your free time.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:40 pmHe’s like the guy who cheats on his wife, gets divorced and marries the mistress.
Ahem. He is the guy who cheats on his wife, gets divorced and marries the mistress. Marla Maples.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:40 pmIt seems a lot of people in this country WANT a Putin to vote for.
I guess you DO have to be cynical to adopt the Obama playbook as the path to success. That old “conservative” stuff is so 2010.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:40 pm#116, EBJ, you find it a bit lonely out there in the East Bay, Jay? I did working for UC and living near the corner of Shattuck and Alcatraz back in the late 70s. One fine day I was driving North on Telegraph when Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing came on the radio. I pulled over and bought the album, first new album purchase for me since Sympathy for the Devil, or was it Evita?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:46 pmConservatives are Lemmings, I know, it takes one to know one. And most of my detractors don’t qualify.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:47 pmif you want this Cruz person to be the nominee you gonna have to figure out a way to make him way more appealing than he is right now present day
may I suggest a spiffy hat
happyfeet (a037ad) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:48 pmRiding a horse with his shirt off would work better.
Luke Stywalker (5e4f5c) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:50 pmfrom the firm that refused to defend doma, but willingly defends terrorists,
http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2016/01/22/gitmo-detainee-refuses-offer-of-release-after-14-years-in-prison/#comments
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:51 pma trip down the wayback machine,
http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/04/king-spalding-says-yes-to-gitmo-detainees-no-to-congress/
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:58 pm#93, DRJ, I believe I (mis)quoted it yesterday on a different thread. This iteration was from memory. I’ll poke around for it and let you know if I find it.
Yesterday, I included Cruz’s college experience. He went to Princeton and Harvard. I mistakenly put him at Yale and Harvard.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:01 pmSteve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 3:07 pm
You and me, both.
felipe (56556d) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:03 pmropelight, that’s funny you admit to purchasing a record by Donny & Marie.
As far as music goes, you were an establishment guy back in the day, huh? (LOL)
By the way, has anyone actually seen Donny or Marie’s birth certificate?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:12 pmOops! I forgot the quote I was agreeing with
“… but I actually would go out on a cold rainy night to buy one of his books, ask him to sign it, and shake his hand.
He was the only candidate on the debate stage to give a decent answer to the question, who is the enemy you’re most proud of making. The other communists up there named various categories of fellow Americans. Jim Webb mentioned the Cong, who tried to kill him before he killed them first.”
I, too liked his answer. But, by the by, Hillery! says Republicans are her enemy and no one argues the she cannot be nominated/elected because she just alienated “half” the population? But Cruz is toast for the NY “gaffe”? Yeah, I know, the rules are different for liberals.
felipe (56556d) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:12 pmHey Donny- Everything is wrong with the establishment. You out of touch golf cheat. Pathetic.
mg (31009b) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:30 pmFinally went and saw “13 Hours”. A very powerful film that tells an important story and sends a message that some extremely feckless people in government failed to protect Americans in multiple ways… some might say criminal negligence and dereliction of duty were in play. Did this without naming names, but one would have to be stone stupid not to understand where the buck would stop.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:41 pmmg,
I’m sorry you’re angry at golf. And Donny Osmond. But Trump says there’s something redeeming about the establishment.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:42 pmI’ve been talking bout the “trusting Trump” thing, then I read this by Jonah Goldberg:
http://link.nationalreview.com/view/547f9de03b35d0210c8bb89f3jsqf.3lfa/698a2add
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:42 pmSteve–
Scooter Libby never outed ms Plame. He was never charged with any such thing. The person who outed her was authorized to do so, and so was not charged. What Libby did was lie to an investigator when asked if he knew who did it, and was charged with “lying to an investigator” — the only charge that came out of the entire kerfluffle.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:47 pmah heresies aren’t they entertaining, four years ago it was about Newt, don’t you remember Kevin,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:48 pmas a practical matter, the NR coffeeclatch, probably will turn out to be counterproductive, for reasons I outlined earlier in this thread,
Ahem. He is the guy who cheats on his wife, gets divorced and marries the mistress. Marla Maples.
So, you saw what I did there.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:50 pmthat was the pretext for Comey to sicc Fitz on him and Rove, the latter never learned anything from the experience, except to side with the hounds, the former probably banked chits toward his current job,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:50 pmIt’s just so funny that Donald Trump is proud of making his bones by buying favors from politicians, but now that he’s got his retirement fund set up—which is probably equal to Belgium’s GDP—he wants to turn off the water for everybody else.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:52 pmIf it was so bad, then why was he doing it?…because that was the way to get things done? Okay, but if was WRONG, then he should have said, “Look, I know I can make some money by buying influence, but’s it WRONG, and so I won’t do it.”
But he never took that approach.
It seems a lot of people in this country WANT a Putin to vote for.
Well, our structure won’t quite allow that. Closer to a Huey Long or Il Duce.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:53 pmmay I suggest a spiffy hat
Maybe his hand inside his coat.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:53 pmof course, vanity fair, glided all over that,
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/22/hillarys-history-dangerous-muslim-connections-stem-back-to-1990s/
no, the berlusconi parallel is more apt, then any american model,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:55 pmfour years ago it was about Newt,
You mean when Newt said “Hey, this Romney guy is really vulnerable on his plant closings and stuff” and everyone said “how dare you speak ill of the front-runner?!”
And it is ALL NEWT’S FAULT that Obama’s folks picked up on that.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 4:58 pmNB, Aldrich Ames outed Valerie Plame. He spied for the USSR and Russia comprising the 2nd greatest number of CIA agents which cost many of them their lives. He was convicted of espionage in 1994 and is serving life without parole (LWOP) in the Allenwood Penitentiary.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:08 pmthat french proverb, about being worse then a crime,
http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2016/01/national-review-hoists-white-flag.html?spref=tw
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:09 pm“American’t” Simon and Bullwinkle
Let us be voters,
We’ll have fun and caucus together.
Donald’s got real estate
Jeb is a drag.
So we bought a pack of cigarettes,
And Mr. Sander’s lies,
And walked off
To look for America.
“Sunshine”, I said,
As we boarded with Bernie in Pittsburgh,
“Working just seems like a dream to me now.
It took me four days
To get my first welfare check.
And I’ve come to live off America.”
Laughing on the bus,
Playing games with the faces,
She said the man with the slow, halting speech
Was just shy
They said, “Be careful,
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:13 pmThat old man is really a Commie.”
“Toss me a big fatty,
I think there’s one in my raincoat.”
We smoked the last one
An hour ago.
http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/donald-trump-cheater-golf-course
mg (31009b) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:13 pmMy dad taught me plenty about the game and one was never mix money with a cheat.
speaking of dangerous connections with some of your more perverted child-molesty muslims
Saudi Arabia’s Secret Holdings of U.S. Debt Are Suddenly a Big Deal
america you ignorant slut
happyfeet (831175) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:13 pmThe gullible people are going to get very angry with you.
You could always try fooling them into voting your way.
Kevin – You think Donald Trump is running to get rich. As a declarative.
So who is more tiresome? The guy pointing out that Trump can maneuver the establishment because he’s been there, done that, or the guy who claims The Donald is only in it for teh pocket change he can get off the biography (which he already has that without the hassle)?
He’s already rich. He’s got a helicopter. A jet bigger than Obama’s.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:15 pmwhere we find ourselves,
http://www.steynonline.com/7432/the-world-they-made
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:25 pmpapertiger,
So, since Donald’s already so rich, he only has good intentions for the country. Which he’s proved in the past—when he exemplified good intentions for the country by supporting Obama as recently as 2009.
Please. Stop it.
Donald is for Donald.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:42 pmWhere did I say he’s doing it to get rich? (Although why doesn’t he just retire to an island filled with “starlets”?) He’s doing it because he’s got an ego the size of Betelgeuse. He’s also a hustler — he cannot help himself — and we’re the marks.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:46 pmBy the way, if anyone hasn’t seen it yet, this parody of Bernie’s American commercial is wonderful:
https://vimeo.com/152638496
Kevin M (25bbee) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:48 pmWho’s the leader of the club made for you and me?
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:51 pmD-o-n-a-l-d T-r-u-m-p
Mickey Mouse?
DONALD TRUMP!
Same thing.
close, there were a whole lot of rich people who supported obama, for reasons passing understanding, the home depot guy for one,
As a character, Zaphod is hedonistic and irresponsible, narcissistic almost to the point of solipsism, and often extremely insensitive to the feelings of those around him. In the books and radio series, he is nevertheless quite charismatic which causes many characters to ignore his other flaws. Douglas Adams claimed that he based Zaphod on an old friend of his from Cambridge called Johnny Simpson, who “had that nervous sort of hyperenergetic way of trying to appear relaxed.”[2]
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:52 pmSeriously. For all the people, who in past elections said they’d write in Mickey Mouse, you asked for it and you got it.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:53 pmnarciso, thanks for the Steyn link at #155. It’s an excellent read.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 5:57 pmropelight, so when you claimed that Ted Cruz has “divided loyalties,” are you suggesting he has the potential for being a secret agent for Ottawa—or is it on behalf of Havana? Or is he a simply a secret agent for Hillary?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:04 pm(LOL)
I’m aware of the facts. I believe if you go back and look at my comments you’ll see that I said there was no way Libby could have blown Plame’s cover. She had not cover. The CIA had already taken care of that.
I’m going out on a limb, and I may be unfair in saying this, but I’d bet she occasionally drove home from Langley with her “Hi, my name is Valerie and I’m with the CIA” security badge still pinned to her work outfit. Checked the mail, said hi to the neighbors.
My point was, back then according to the libs I didn’t love my country if I didn’t want Scooter Libby’s hide for a crime he couldn’t possibly have committed. Hence the fact he wasn’t charged with violating 50 U.S.C. § 421 – 426.
Where are these same patriots now, what with this WH spiking the football over OBL, and putting DR. Shakil Afridi in prison by outing him? As if he’ll last long; Lashkar al Islam wants to kill him. And it’s now entirely likely that Hillary! was trafficking in HUMINT over the internet.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:05 pmSteve57,
All of our enemies sit off the side of the road and take photos of all incoming/outcoming vehicles at Langley.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:14 pmTherefore, the notion that any of our analysts who work there is “undercover” is a complete and total joke. Every intelligence agency on the planet “knew” that Valerie Plame worked there.
who were joe wilson’s business partners, the alamoudis who contributed to the Clinton coffers, and Hagel’s thinktank actually scowcrofts, other figures involved was the dean of the Saudi lobby, Ray Close, they wanted to derail the Iraq project, so their gofer was sent, Close then cobbled the VIPs crew of fmr covert operatives like scary larry to be the greek chorus, of course the journolist was involved at every step of the way from Spencer ‘Plate Glass’ Ackerman, to David Corn, who provided the NOC legend,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:20 pm“Outed” is a red herring. Aldrich Ames probably did that, to the Russians, like ropelight said. But just because the Russians know where our Trident submarines are does not mean the information is no longer classified and government employees can blab it to the whole world. The question was who told the reporters she was in the CIA in order to discredit her husband Joe Wilson who said things about Nigeria and yellowcake someone in the White House did not like. It was Richard Armitage, and Scooter Libby knew it when he lied to the FBI investigating the leak. Because if he had told the truth, John Kerry might have been elected President. Scooter took one for the Shrub and took his lumps.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:27 pmnarciso @147, that’s a worthwhile link.
ca
One of the Muslim Brotherhood’s boasts is that they can tell us they’re going to lie to us, then lie, and when you call them on it they’ll call you a bigot and Islamophobe and all of a sudden everyone is cowering in the cornet like a scared rabbit.
Huma Abedin is an MB mole. Her mother is a member of the Muslim Sisterhood, her father was a founding member of the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs, which is essentially an MB outfit and the cat’s paw of the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs. Their foreign policy wing.
Abedin worked for the journal of the IMMA. She was a board member of the Muslim Student’s Association at Georgetown. The MSA, as we all should have learned from the evidence presented at the Holy Land Foundation trial, is the oldest MB front group in North America.
The MB needs front groups. They’re banned in so many countries they can’t operate any other way. They’re brazen about it. They need operatives, like Abedin, who aren’t officially members. Then after explaining exactly how they’re going to lie to you, they go ahead and do it.
I don’t understand why some people feel obligated to fall for this.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:31 pmno, nk, comey already knew that armitage had been the leak, but they needed to keep the subterfuge going, to watergate the administration, rove and libby did nothing wrong but
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:32 pmto inform certain reporters, which is a kafkaesque exercise,
Actually Huma Abedin’s mother is a leader in the Muslim Sisterhood, not just a member.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:33 pmthey probably borrowed from the soviet tradition of front groups, like the’ Institute for Policy Studies, DeBorchgrave’s the Spike tells the tale,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:35 pmWell, I don’t really know what Libby did and whether he should have gone to jail, I did not read all of the testimony transcripts
I do remember reading the closing argument by the prosecutor, and it is a classical example why some people have little to no respect for the profession or the system in general
(yes, there are courageous exceptions, some of which comment here)
What is more problematic to me, is that an agency like the CIA can allow a travesty of justice and political manipulation flourish before them
If there is anything that a strong president could do to clean up the culture throughout the agencies, that would be miraculous
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:36 pmnk @167, you’re just wrong. Who told the world Valerie Plame was CIA? The CIA, that’s who.
The information isn’t classified if the CIA isn’t taking affirmative steps to conceal it.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:38 pmfitz is perhaps the nifong of national politics, he occasionally someone like George Ryana, but more often cobbled phony charges against Conrad Black and Scooter Libby, and protected others like David Radler and Armitage, the last is Erdogan’s man in Washington,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:41 pmThe little I know tells me that maybe said different things at different times, either for some secondary reason or by mistake I have no idea,
but it was a farce to prosecute him as if he did something that put Plame in danger,
which is what was said in the closing arguments
If I ever get in trouble by standing up in a courtroom and saying, “That’s a lie!!”,
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:41 pmwhen it is,
will someone defend me??
(i.e., cheap)
fitz is perhaps the nifong of national politics,
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:43 pmthere may be a special place in Hades for such who remain unrepentant,
but I would like to see some consequences prior to then, if repentance is not forthcoming
I thought the prosecutor, Fitzgerald, was absolute scum. He didn’t accuse Libby with the crime of revealing the identity of a clandestine intel agent or source. Consequently he didn’t try or convict Libby of that crime.
Yet when it came to sentencing, he tried to argue that the judge should send Libby to prison as if he had.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:45 pmAldrich Ames outed Valerie Plame while she was still undercover in the field. Once outed she was assigned a desk job at Langley. While there she recommended her husband, Joe Wilson, for the yellowcake investigation. He was a reasonable choice with a history of previous experience in West Africa and high level contacts in government agencies which would have approved the sale of yellowcake.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:48 pmHe was a reasonable choice with a history of previous experience in West Africa and high level contacts in government agencies which would have approved the sale of yellowcake.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:48 pm
And there was zero, absolutely zero political motivation in assigning him and his report???
MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:50 pmTwo questions: Were the FBI acting lawfully within the scope of their duties when they questioned Scooter? Did he lie to them? That’s the whole case. Everything else, from both sides — “poor Valerie was placed in danger” “poor Scooter was railroaded” — is smoke.
I’d get this crap all the time from my criminal clients. “Hey, man. How can they prove those were my pants? I was crashing at sumdood’s house and I found them on the floor and put them on.” “I had $60.00 inn my pockets when they busted me [crawling through the window of a tavern]. Why would I break into a tavern when I had money?”
Even the Shrub only commuted Scooter’s sentence and did not pardon him on the grounds of innocence. He knew the conviction was according to the law.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:50 pmone of the beneficiaries of last week’s deal, in terms of nonenforcement
http://www.sundance.tv/series/carlos/cast/anis-naccache
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:55 pmMD, I have no information on any political motivation to Wilson’s assignment. His report is another matter. If memory serves he submitted his report, then later went public and misrepresented his conclusions in a dishonest effort to make the Bush Administration look bad.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 6:57 pmropelight,
You don’t get it. There is no “we” here. At least as far as I am concerned. If Trump is the nominee, I spend my time reading about and sharing information about principles of liberty, and figuring out ways to support primary challenges to Republicans who opposed Cruz and/or voted for things like the omnibus.
Again: if Trump is the nominee, there is no “we.” I’m out. I’m very serious about this. Trump is as much “they” as Hillary to me.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:01 pmthe backstory,
http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/259739/obama-iran-deal-lifts-sanctions-nuclear-smuggling-daniel-greenfield
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:02 pmnk, which law? That’s the important thing. The mythology is that he violated the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. He was not charged with or convicted of doing so.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:03 pmThat’s your call Patterico, and your vote. Use it wisely. If Trump doesn’t get the nomination I’ll vote for Cruz.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:04 pmsome of what I referred to earlier,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1256475/posts
when the wurlitzer is on full bore, even the most attentive can lose the track
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:05 pmthere’s no such thing as ted cruz he’s just a myth like pippi longstocking
happyfeet (831175) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:07 pmsometimes you sup at tataglias, sometimes barzinis,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-now-see-a-trump-cruz-race-with-time-for-a-shift-running-out/2016/01/15/9b5d91f0-bbb4-11e5-b682-4bb4dd403c7d_story.html
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:14 pmI shot the sheriff but I did not shoot the deputy. Scooter was not sentenced based on mythology — he was sentenced for obstruction of justice. The mythology is because of what Mark Twain observed: If you don’t read the newspapers you are uninformed; if you read the newspapers you are misinformed. We already know that about the media.
And speaking of mythology, here’s the Conrad Black Supreme Court opinion. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-876.pdf Black never argued that he and his three co-defendants did not fraudulently take millions of dollars in fake “non-competition fees” from their company; just that it was not a crime under the mail fraud statute — it only covered bribes and kickbacks. He also did not appeal the obstruction of justice conviction for which he actually served time.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:16 pmthe subterfuge was that top secret information was leaked, in addition, david radler was as much involved in Hollinger, yet he got better trearment,
http://legalinsurrection.com/2016/01/trump-lets-get-to-be-a-little-establishment-so-we-can-make-great-deals/#comments
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:18 pmwell abcarian agrees with you,
http://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-ra-palin-trump-20160122-column.html
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:44 pmPatrick Fitzgerald knew that Richard Armitage had revealed Plame’s “information.” But again, she wasn’t even an undercover agent—she worked at Langley where her vehicle was photographed coming in and out on a daily basis.
These are facts.
Getting Scooter Libby on “forgetting” what he had earlier testified is BS.
Any prosecutor worth his salt can nail somebody on failing to say what they had said at an earlier time. If I ask you what you ate for breakfast today, you’ll tell me. However, if I ask you two months from now, “What did you eat for breakfast on Friday the 22nd?” and your answer doesn’t match up precisely, that doesn’t mean you’re a lying perjurer, rather, it means you didn’t remember. And that is essentially what they tried to hang Libby for.
The fact that George W. Bush didn’t have the cajones to stand up behind that is not an indictment of Libby, rather, it’s an indictment of Shrub.
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:46 pmIf anybody has a right to be a narcissist, Sarah does. She’s a very good-looking woman.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:49 pmand then Eickenrode, the agent in charge, lost the notes, honestly this wouldn’t pass muster in an episode of Law and Order,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:53 pmwell here’s the gist of it,
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/02/libby_trial_update.html
there was malfeasance against stevens, as there was against delay, and we know perry and paxton will prove out the same,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 7:57 pmHey, Patterico, I’ve got a question:
If Trump gets the GOP nomination and Ted Cruz accepts the VP spot, would you vote for a Trump/Cruz ticket?
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:21 pmnk @190, Libby was convicted of lying to investigators. I don’t have a huge problem with his conviction.
What I have a problem with is all the left wing fair weather patriots who demanded his hide for supposedly blowing Plame’s cover. Then, supposedly, you were a traitor if he didn’t want his head because, according to the mythology, he put the sacred Valerie Plame at risk. Which he didn’t do. But now these same patriots are turning a blind eye to the far worse violations this administration has committed. There is actually a Pakistani doctor in prison for providing us with information about Bin Laden.
Somebody actually broke the very law the leftist progressives accused Libby, falsely, of breaking. Yet, crickets.
And it now appears Clinton also broke that law. I have no reason to doubt the intelligence community IG’s conclusion. He’s been proven right time and again in this whole mess.
Again, crickets.
This is a pretty simple point I’m making, nk. I wonder why you’re having such a problem with it. I’m not defending Scooter Libby on the charge that actually sent him to prison. I am wondering where all the super patriotic Americans who crawled out of the wood work to scream about the injustice of blowing Valerie Plame’s cover, which was non-existent as the CIA was not maintaining any such cover for her, and wanted Libby tried for treason, where are they now?
Oh, right, voting their ovaries.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:28 pmNope.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:29 pmBut that will never happen. Ever.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:30 pmhey ropelight,
Regarding your alleged Perry Mason “gotcha!” question @ #197,
…if Trump gets the GOP nomination and Ted Cruz accepts the VP slot, the question should be will YOU vote for a Trump/Cruz ticket?
After all, you’re the big shouter shouting that Cruz is ineligible to be president, therefore, why would Trump offer him the VP if Trump actually believes he’s ineligible?
And why would YOU, ropelight, support a ticket with an ineligible candidate after you’ve expended so much energy telling we can’t nominate Cruz as president because he’s ineligible?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:31 pmI still haven’t gotten to terms with Major Andre being executed for doing his duty while Benedict Arnold got away scot-free to England, myself.
nk (dbc370) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:31 pmIIRC, Fitzgerald argued mythology in the closing argument, claiming as fact things that simply were not true
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:34 pmContinuing to claim that Plame was under cover and outed by Libby
I wonder if the jury even understood what they were being asked to decide,
I couldn’t have told you listening to the closing argument,
And I sort of thought that was the purpose of it…
G ‘night
I like Trump and I’m probably more conservative than 9/10ths of the Cruz supporters here. I want a win in November and Trump can deliver. I don’t give a tinker’s damn if he doesn’t pass the conservative litmus test. He can keep the Democrats out of the White House, and right now that’s at the top of my list. He’s bold, he rubs people the wrong way, and he gets things, big things, done. He’s the right man at the right time, and he’s just what the country needs.
America knows it too. The groundswell of support among conservatives, Republicans, Independents, blue color Democrats, Women young and old, millennials, and college kids shows the depth and breadth of his appeal. He’ll win in a landslide against either Hillary or Sanders.
And, if Dems turn to Joe Biden Trump will beat him like a $3 rent horse.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:35 pmI believe her defense is that the “vast r wing conspiracy” has had almost 20 years to grow and now includes IG’s under Obama…
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:37 pm#201, said Cruz was ineligible, never said his ineligibility would prevent apostates from voting for him.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:43 pmYes, doc, Fitzgerald argued the mythology. Which is why I keep bringing it up.
And it was despicable.
But, leftists who used to claim that they were infuriated by the supposed leak of classified information that would get a clandestine agent or intelligence source killed have a couple of living, breathing examples of that crime to examine.
I can’t help but notice they don’t actually care about what they once claimed they cared deeply about. When it was Dick Cheney’s adviser/Chief of Staff.
Steve57 (f61b03) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:43 pmthe series, turn, features him, and it makes him much reasonable than arnold,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:44 pmit’s macguffins all the way, that’s what you have to remember,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:45 pmWhat we need is a return to the rule of law and respect for the will of the people,
I think Trump will give us another imperial presidency
That would be marginally better than one staring Clinton,
But we need a return to rule by law, not personality,
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:46 pmIf that is possible.
G night fur real
now who was the european division chief at the time, the late mr. drumheller, and the paris station chief, was a mr. murray, yes the same duo who provided red queen with her libyan reports, a decade later,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:49 pmSteve57-
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:50 pmBeing a leftist means that the only consistent principle one has is that whatever they want is good, whatever their enemies (us) want or do is bad
That is the only consistency one can expect.
Democrats are ostentatiously dishonest and two-faced in their methods and pronouncements. And when you see the same pattern of tactics and deceptions from a recently arrived commenter, it doesn’t take Dick Tracy to put 2 and 2 together.
ropelight (1cdf0a) — 1/22/2016 @ 8:58 pmI would like to say “Incredible!” to that, narciso,
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:03 pmBut instead I will say “figures”.
Powerline has a new Cruz ad up.
MD in Philly (not in Philly) (deca84) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:08 pmmakes the blacklist seem like a documentary by comparison,
like patton after he read rommel’s book,
http://legalinsurrection.com/2016/01/national-review-special-issue-against-phony-conservative-newt-gingrich/
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:09 pmropelight,
If you and Trump each believes that Cruz is ineligible, then Trump would never offer him the VP, and so it would never become a hypothetical question in the first place.
It’s like asking a vegetarian how they want their steak cooked. You know they don’t eat steak, so there’s no point in asking them how they want it cooked, right?
By the way, Trump just made a late-in-life bedside conversion to conservatism, if he’s even one at that. The notion, then, that Trump fans are the real deal while someone with a long heralded track record such as Patterico is an “apostate” (as you suggested in #206) is just plain goofy.
So, ropelight, would you vote for a Trump/Cruz ticket even though you assert he’s ineligible to be President? Wouldn’t it give you pause about your hero Trump that he would offer the #2 slot to someone who’s ineligible?
Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:14 pmthere are real arguments, and macguffin ones, the whole natural citizen one, provokes a primal scream, one of my many reservations about those who employ it,
narciso (732bc0) — 1/22/2016 @ 9:17 pmTrump is winning because he’s “a tougher, superior man.” It has little to do with any particular policy (except immigration: it has a lot to do with that) (and a little to do with Trump being right about the Iraq war, etc: he’s not a neocon fanatic).
Beyond that, no one cares.
P.S. I was wrong. One more thing: People care that he’s saying things others are afraid to say, that he’s not politically correct, but that really follows under the primary category. In that sense, he’s like Reagan (“evil empire”).
2017 can't come soon enough (9cd0a2) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:36 pmAnd here I thought there was a cult of personality! What was I thinking?!
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:46 pmDonald Trump is a loser.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:46 pm217….Cruz Supporter. You are WRONG. Trump has not made a “late in life conversion to Conservatism”. Trump IS NOT CONSERVATIVE, nor has he ever been. Trump is a narcissistic, egotist and VERY STRONG and SUCCESSFUL man. If I was made to choose today, I would VOTE for Senator Cruz with relish. However. I will vote for Donald Trump, if doing so, STOPS RODHAM. She is a CRIMINAL and INCOMPETENT as HELL.
Gus (7cc192) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:49 pmI think that I am going to take my toys and go home. And stub my toe.
Scoob (580f73) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:57 pmPatterico, I love your passion. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I am not a Trump man, nor a Trump supporter. You said “Trump is a loser”. What has he “lost”????
Gus (7cc192) — 1/22/2016 @ 10:57 pmDole, McCain, Romney. All honorable GOPe gentlemen. All losers. I do not support Trump, but it’s specious at best to call him a “loser”. Reagan lost several elections. I’ll be honest. I consider beating the COMMIE/LEFTARD du jour, JOB #1. I personally supported Scott Walker, but we are now in “real-ville” as Limbaugh would say. If TRUMP wins the nomination, I will vote for him.
This nation is in great peril, and RODHAM must not win, or we are DONE. That is IF we are not done already.
we’re in strange times friends
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:01 pmthe knives are out flanks exposed
will the center hold?
one thing for certain
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:05 pmDemocrats can kiss my ass
I’ll supply Chapstick
Rodham lies WIDE ass
it must be two axe handles
Two axe handles wide
H/t Haiku
Gus (7cc192) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:12 pmSecret server ooooops
Gus (7cc192) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:14 pmCriminal intent from start
Define what is IS.
One more try Haiku!!!!
I did not have sex
Relations with that woman
despite the blew dress.
Blew (sp) intended
Gus (7cc192) — 1/22/2016 @ 11:19 pmI guess I define success differently from most Americans. The way I define it, he is a loser. I would not trade places with him for any amount of money.
Patterico (86c8ed) — 1/23/2016 @ 1:51 amAce once banned me for ripping his open fellation of the Establishment line; that ‘winning is everything and principles be damned’ line.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/22/ace-of-spades-against-the-establishment/
The crucial argument this time out is given a baked-in-the-cake loss of $20 Trillion market Cap is not now the time to cut these SPOSes off at the knees killing the major parties?
Squeaking out a win in IA may be squanto with Trump up by 30 nationally and a win solely for the GOPe.
I know y’all have finally come round to the “purist” camp it’s just no one every tarried there in the first place. You had sh!t for brains when you opposed some of us with that accusation, and you haven’t learned a damn thing.
DNF (755a85) — 1/23/2016 @ 7:30 amiowa has always been a “top two get immunity idols” state
this is obvious to anyone who is willing to do the analysis
happyfeet (831175) — 1/23/2016 @ 7:37 amNo, actually, there haven’t been any. Not since the ones who were eligible by being citizens in 1788. If Cruz becomes president he’d be the first one.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:07 pmAnother fascinating fact: as far as I can tell, Americans have never knowingly elected an adulterer president. (Clinton didn’t admit his adultery until after his second win.) If Trump becomes president he’d be the first one.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:09 pmCan’t happen. The eligibility clause is not justiciable.
Can’t happen. It lacks the authority.
Once again, can’t happen. No matter what happens, even nuclear war, in 361 days 9 hours 47 minutes 20 seconds 0bama will not be president, and no member of the military will obey his orders.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:12 pmNo he didn’t. The jobs he held under the Bush administration were at the DOJ and the FTC. Not at the White House. And two years into the administration he was gone.
Nonsense. By the time the vacancy came up he’d been back in Texas for 2.5 years.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:26 pmHow was Cruz even involved? He wasn’t even in DC any more.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:27 pmWilson was telling lies. And reporters were believing him because Kristof made out as if Cheney had personally sent him on the mission, received his report, and then ignored it. When the White House said we have no idea who this Wilson is, we never sent him anywhere, and never got any report from him, reporters wanted to know “well, who did send him”? But Armitage was not a White House insider, and had no interest in sticking up for the White House’s interests. He was just showing off how much he knew.
Libby did not know about Armitage. How could he possibly have known? And he wasn’t charged with knowing.
Libby was charged with lying about the date on which he found out who Wilson and his wife were.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:53 pmProbably not. It was just a junket. He got to travel first class and stay at a nice hotel and earn a nice fee, and she got him out of the house for a while.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:56 pmAnd the evidence that he lied was that the FBI agent claimed to remember the interview differently from how he remembered it. Of course there was no tape.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/24/2016 @ 11:58 pmMore like he assumed that his report would go straight to Cheney’s desk, because Cheney had personally asked for him to be sent, so Cheney and his staff were lying when they said none of them had ever heard of him or his report. When in fact the decision to send him was made at the CIA, he never gave a written report, his oral report stayed within the CIA and ended up being just one factor influencing the assessment it gave Cheney.
The bottom line of his report was that Iraq had made an unsuccessful attempt to buy yellowcake from Niger. He thought the important part of that was “unsuccessful”, but to the administration the important part was “attempt”. It didn’t matter whether the attempt was successful, the fact that Iraq was looking for the stuff in the first place was key. It meant he had a use for it, and who knew where else he might have gone shopping, or how successful he might have been.
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/25/2016 @ 12:07 amIf it wasn’t covered by the statute then in what way was it fraudulent?
Were there any viable grounds on which to appeal it? Innocence is not grounds for an appeal. As I understand it he removed the documents from the premises because he was being evicted. What was he supposed to do? Leave them for the landlord?!
Milhouse (87c499) — 1/25/2016 @ 12:12 amI don’t think he was. DRJ was just correcting ropelight’s totally incorrect assertion that Cruz was somehow behind the appointment of Roberts. She asked for proof and ropelight failed to provide any because it never happened.
Patterico (0c250b) — 1/25/2016 @ 12:21 amok so the Ted Cruz had nothing to do with appointing sleazer fellow harvardtrash john roberts to the throne of america’s fascist supreme court
what did he do to stop it?
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 2:08 amHe sacrificed a bucket of KFC to Jobu. Maybe it should have been a live chicken after all? Sheesh, I bet he didn’t climb down your chimney and leave you any presents this Christmas, either.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:19 amnonono i got a $5 taco john’s gift card
what he bring you?
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:23 amsecond look at cruz???
Rick Perry Endorses Ted Cruz For President
GAME CHANGE!
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:31 amYes, yes, but Rubio nabbed the coveted backing of the Des Moines Register newspaper. He-he, he-he, he-he.
nk (dbc370) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:35 amwheels within wheels
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 4:56 amanother company flees failmerica, choosing a free enterprise country instead
smart.
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:41 amHe was pwell’s man tied to a Caspian oil play, I explained Wilson’s part upthread.
narciso (732bc0) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:44 amthat’s wisco’s biggest company
happyfeet (831175) — 1/25/2016 @ 5:52 am