Patterico's Pontifications

3/10/2016

A Would-Be King And A Would-Be President: Compare And Contrast

Filed under: General — Dana @ 7:34 am



[guest post by Dana]

This:

And this:

TED CRUZ: No political candidate is going to make America great again. It is not going to be Donald Trump, it is not going to be me.

The only power strong enough to restore the nation is we the people. It is not about us. It is about we the people. The idea you would take this loyalty of I and I take an oath to you, to the people—that’s who’s working for whom.

The idea that a candidate running for office wants the people to pledge loyalty to him like subjects to a king, well, we’ve had seven years of a president who thinks he is an emperor.

I’ve got to say, the only hand-raising I’m interested in is on January 20, 2017, when I hope to raise my right hand and have my left hand sitting on the Bible when I make a promise, a pledge to every American to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

–Dana

UPDATE BY PATTERICO: This is as good a place as any to note that Ted Cruz yesterday was endorsed by Carly Fiorina, who told an entertaining story about seeing her own name on the ballot, and then voting for Cruz instead:

“I walked into the ballot box and I looked at the ballot and I saw my own name on the ballot. It was kind of a thrill,” she told the crowd. “But then I checked the box for Ted Cruz, and I’m here to tell you why.”

Mark Levin also endorsed:

People are starting to realize that Cruz is the only realistic alternative to Trump.

If we could just get Marco Rubio and John Kasich to realize that, we’d really be getting somewhere.

194 Responses to “A Would-Be King And A Would-Be President: Compare And Contrast”

  1. UPDATE BY PATTERICO: This is as good a place as any to note that Ted Cruz yesterday was endorsed by Carly Fiorina, who told an entertaining story about seeing her own name on the ballot, and then voting for Cruz instead:

    “I walked into the ballot box and I looked at the ballot and I saw my own name on the ballot. It was kind of a thrill,” she told the crowd. “But then I checked the box for Ted Cruz, and I’m here to tell you why.”

    Mark Levin also endorsed:

    People are starting to realize that Cruz is the only realistic alternative to Trump.

    If we could just get Marco Rubio and John Kasich to realize that, we’d really be getting somewhere.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  2. The Electorate has fallen and cannot get up:

    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/03/ted-cruz-insults-trump-voters-theyre-low-information-voters-and-not-that-engaged/

    I can tell you Ted, that your supporters are also pretty obtuse. And dead meat they shall become.

    DNF (755a85)

  3. ICYMI – so much for Trump being a ‘great negotiator’
    TV Stations in OH Charge Trump More Than Other Candidates for Ads in the Same Time Slot http://www.mediaite.com/online/tv-stations-in-oh-charge-trump-more-than-other-candidates-for-ads-in-the-same-time-slot/ via @mediaite

    Torcer (55f1cc)

  4. I think the Cruzers are as in love with Cruz as the Obamatrons are with Barry. Everything he does is brilliant and anyone who doesn’t agree is stupid, low info, and generally does not deserve to breathe the same air as the enlightened ones.

    spokanebob (1aaf2a)

  5. Many Americans are overwhelmed. Maybe they want a King. If so, they will never rule themselves again.

    DRJ (15874d)

  6. spokanebob,

    If we idolize Cruz, then how do you explain that most other Cruz supporters have also been willing to vote for Rubio, Jindal, Walker, Perry and others?

    DRJ (15874d)

  7. The idea that a candidate running for office wants the people to pledge loyalty to him like subjects to a king,

    If this had actually happened, it might be something to be concerned about.

    But it didn’t:

    ” ‘I do solemnly swear that I — no matter how I feel, no matter what the conditions, if there’s hurricanes or whatever — will vote, on or before the 12th for Donald J. Trump for president.’”

    There’s plenty of valid criticism of Trump. This one is unhinged.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  8. Spokanebob

    In the primary I vote for who I want to vote.

    In the general I vote for who I have to vote.

    If some of these Cruz fans hadn’t inherited their daddy’s law firm they’d be selling Trumpchimpmchitler hats in Times Square.

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  9. You mean the law firm my Dad, the oilfield worker, started? Meanwhile, Trump had a butler for years, and probably still does. Which politician’s supporters crave the rich and famous lifestyle?

    DRJ (15874d)

  10. I think the Cruzers are as in love with Cruz as the Obamatrons are with Barry. Everything he does is brilliant and anyone who doesn’t agree is stupid, low info, and generally does not deserve to breathe the same air as the enlightened ones.

    spokanebob (1aaf2a) — 3/10/2016 @ 8:14 am

    Nope, its the Trumpers who are like that. Trump’s supporters believe in the same cult of personality that Obama’s supporters had. “Make America Great Again” = “Hope and Change”.

    Ted Cruz said it best himself:

    No political candidate is going to make America great again. It is not going to be Donald Trump, it is not going to be me.

    We don’t believe Cruz will fix everything. We don’t believe he won’t disappoint us. We don’t believe everything he says. We don’t believe he is the solution to all the countries problems. But we know he will be the start.

    Trump supporters believe everything he says. They ignore his inconsistent, incoherent, and changing positions. They believe he is the solution to all the problems.

    Patrick Henry, the 2nd (ddead1)

  11. Cruz wants everyone to have opportunities.

    DRJ (15874d)

  12. Cruz wants everyone to have opportunities.

    then why did he defend a trough-guzzling nepotistic pig like Kim Davis?

    happyfeet (831175)

  13. And Trump breaks the rules like Hillary. Two peas in a pod.

    DRJ (15874d)

  14. Religious liberty is part of our God-given Constitutional freedoms, even for people you don’t like, hf. Perhaps especially for unpopular people. It protects us all.

    DRJ (15874d)

  15. #10 The sign of a cultist is one who speaks in the we/they collective style.

    We don’t believe Cruz will fix everything. We don’t believe he won’t disappoint us. We don’t believe everything he says. We don’t believe he is the solution to all the countries problems. But we know he will be the start.

    is almost like a pledge….just sayin.

    spokanebob (e86321)

  16. You are cruel, hf. People who have met you like you, but your heart is cold and cruel.

    DRJ (15874d)

  17. Trump asked for a pledge, but nice try.

    DRJ (15874d)

  18. WATCH: Carly Fiorina calls out Fox News for their Trump bias http://therightscoop.com/watch-carly-fiorina-calls-out-fox-news-for-their-trump-bias/

    WATCH: Black protester sucker-punched at Trump rally in NC yesterday http://twitchy.com/2016/03/10/watch-black-protester-sucker-punched-at-trump-rally-in-nc-yesterday/

    Torcer (55f1cc)

  19. the idea that Kim Davis’s religious liberties were in any way impinged upon is very much open to question I think

    as is the question of whether or not her son was the most qualified candidate for the pension piggy clerk job she gave him

    as is the question of whether Mr. Cruz will similarly confuzzle his official duties with his own wackadoodle religious beliefs he inherited from his loony daddy

    happyfeet (831175)

  20. I don’t understand how a request for a time-limited promise to vote for a candidate, in anyway corresponds to an oath of fealty, no matter how crass and classless the candidate may be.

    And because I am not a stupid person, I am offended and insulted by a blatant distortion straight out of the Left’s playbook.

    It’s ok to think that Trump is bad for the country and shouldn’t be nominated. It’s not ok to go full Charles Johnson on Trump and those who support him.

    People who’ve been the recipient of smears, you would think, would be unwilling to engage in them.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  21. “Raise your right hand: ‘I do solemnly swear that I — no matter how I feel, no matter what the conditions, if there’s hurricanes or whatever — will vote, on or before the 12th, for Donald J. Trump for president,” he said.

    yes yes Mr. Cruz is being very sleazy and dishonest in the way he’s distorting this

    no wonder everybody hates him

    happyfeet (831175)

  22. as is the question of whether or not her son was the most qualified candidate for the pension piggy clerk job she gave him

    Says the guy supporting Donald, who got his job of “businessman” through what? Just old fashioned pluck?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  23. spokanebob,

    DRJ correctly pointed out that many of us who support Cruz have also voiced support for other candidates such as Rubio, Jindal, Walker, and Fiorina.
    By the way, Trump supporters seem to be caught up in the cult of personality of a reality TV star who names Towers for himself, and had even his own line of vodka. Whereas people who support Cruz tend to do so as a result of policies and ideals.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  24. Mr. The Donald followed in his dad’s footsteps Mr. M

    that’s way different than acting like the queen pig on the government piggy farm, favouring your own piglets over others what are demonstrably more better suited for the job

    happyfeet (831175)

  25. DrJ

    Uh, did you laugh when Rubio did the same joke about Trump?

    Why are you trying to put butlers out of work. Buttling is an honorable profession. Just ask Bruce Wayne.

    Did you have any issues about Obama’s Indonesian, um, “man”-servant?

    If your dad was the guy who carried you on his back while he climbed into his oilwell then maybe he should have got a butler so he would have eased up on drinking that preacher’s milkshake.

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  26. hf,

    Wait until Trump is president and see just how many blond bimbos get jobs at the WH.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  27. we’ll just have to hope for the best Mr. M

    happyfeet (831175)

  28. If Cruz supporters are ever going to be able to see past their noses, they’ll first have to open their eyes. There’s a wide and deep groundswell of grassroots support for Donald Trump that’s been able to prevail in the face of near universal opposition from Dems, the media, political pundits, the GOPe, bloggers, and radio talkers.

    The American public is solidly behind The Donald, and it’s only going to become more and more obvious as the electoral process plays out. Wake up and smell the coffee.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  29. I did not hear or see Rubio make a butler joke about Trump, and I wasn’t joking. Trump doesn’t amuse me.

    DRJ (15874d)

  30. But if he wins, he wins.

    DRJ (15874d)

  31. Gabriel,

    Normally it’s candidates who make pledges, not voters. To me, asking voters to pledge their votes is like asking them to pledge allegiance for that election. I get that you disagree, but that’s why most comments are opinions and not facts.

    DRJ (15874d)

  32. Shouldn’t voters be able to change their minds without violating a pledge? Unless a pledge means nothing, which maybe it does to many people.

    DRJ (15874d)

  33. 5. Avoiding the issue will not help your cause; namely Cruz had Conservatives on board from the start yet has spent too much time on you One Percenters and not enough time on the 47 Percenters.

    As Rush said a week back changing the minds of The disaffected is hopeless.

    The GOP had their chance and threw it away.

    DNF (cebc69)

  34. DRJ, good old Mr. Feet doesn’t even vote. He is a kibitzer who likes to get away with behavior online that would get his clock cleaned in person. Just a nihilist bully, who says whatever. Sounds like President Biff.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  35. It’s a little ironic that the flip-flopping Donald is asking people to pledge to not change their mind.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  36. DNF,

    Candidates should run campaigns to suit themselves and their values. Sometimes they win and sometimes the lose.

    I live my life by my standards and pay for my mistakes, and I like candidates who do the same. That’s how I know they have basic principles that matter even more to them than winning.

    DRJ (15874d)

  37. Kevin M

    So Trump is going to pull staff from Fox News?

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  38. DRJ

    I forget which debate, but Rubio said if Trump hadn’t inherited his daddy’s money he would be selling watches on the streets of Manhattan. Which makes him sound more like a democrat than Trump.

    Overall I think Rubio sounds like Matt Damon in Goodwill Hunting.

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  39. the hyperventilating is extreme do you come up for air, I voted for cruz today, fwiw, but seriously,

    narciso (732bc0)

  40. #35, DRJ, unless a presidential candidate wins, his basic principles are irrelevant, then it’s the other guy’s basic principles that matter. And it’s the American people who pay for the mistakes. Your life and standards are yours to manage, but the life of the nation supersedes purely personal considerations and must sometimes be set aside for the greater good.

    Our two party system requires we chose the lesser of 2 evils – that’s what counts. It ain’t perfect but it’s kept up more or less on the right track for over 200 years. So your best and keep the faith.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  41. It’s been years since I saw Good Will Hunting and I don’t remember the details enough to understand your reference. Are you saying that Rubio is an underachiever, a stealth genius, or something ekse?

    DRJ (15874d)

  42. If we could just get Marco Rubio and John Kasich to realize that, we’d really be getting somewhere.

    Kasich wants his delegates for clout at the convention, and I support that. Rubio is spending money in FL and IL right now, and why? He’s down by 20 points, and in complete denial.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  43. Spoken like a charter and lifetime member of the Washington Cartel, ropelight.

    DRJ (15874d)

  44. Spoken like a man who put the nation’s interests above his personal preferences, DRJ.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  45. Want me to take the pledge?

    DRJ (15874d)

  46. Sure, go right ahead, and do it with a happy heart and with the full understanding that it’s the right thing to do.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  47. Is that what Trump supporters want, for everyone to give up? That won’t be much of a nation.

    DRJ (15874d)

  48. Trump doesn’t like quitters, losers, or captives.

    DRJ (15874d)

  49. It’s pretty much the first question Trump was asked to answer on the first FOX debate.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  50. But he does love the poorly educated.

    DRJ (15874d)

  51. Meanwhile, do not ask for whom the crickets are chirping, they’re chirping for you, DRJ.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  52. “Pretty much” the same is not the same. The question was whether the candidates would support whoever won, not who would give up the fastest.

    DRJ (15874d)

  53. I don’t mind losing a good fight but I won’t give up until the nominating process is over.

    DRJ (15874d)

  54. My candidate is not a quitter who sits out debates when they might be tough.

    DRJ (15874d)

  55. Senator Mike Lee has also climbed off the fence and endorsed Cruz. He didn’t do it till now because he had three close friends in the race and didn’t want to hurt any of them by endorsing one of the others, but now that it’s clear only Cruz has a chance he’s endorsing him.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  56. DRJ, Your candidate is ineligible, he was born in Canada to a Cuban father. Can you really look yourself in the mirror and persuade yourself that the Founders had a Ted Cruz in mind when they limited the office of the president to only natural born citizens?

    ropelight (d92a84)

  57. Make that natural born American citizens.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  58. “I think the Cruzers are as in love with Cruz as the Obamatrons are with Barry. Everything he does is brilliant and anyone who doesn’t agree is stupid, low info, and generally does not deserve to breathe the same air as the enlightened ones.”spokanebob

    I believe there is a good deal of truth to this comment and I think it is Ted Cruz’ biggest problem as a candidate.

    First and foremost, Cruz is an egghead. A truly brilliant man – a fact that has been confirmed time and again by some of the brightest academics in the world as well as by his successes in the real world. And it makes him an “other.” (S)pokanebob wants to lump Cruz together with Obama, but that accusation simply fails the smell test: Obama may have the credentials of a very bright man, but there is nothing to independently document his “brilliance.” If anything, these last years have confirmed that Obama is the prototypical affirmative action success story. All show and no go. To be honest, I think the reason so many could support Obama in the first place was that few people actually believed the “brilliance” claim.

    The problem for Cruz is that most people simply do not like individuals who are their intellectual betters, especially when they get their faces rubbed in it. Cruz’ “wonk-reflex” doesn’t make it any better, either. Marketing himself as an evangelical was a sensible – and honest – move for Cruz, because it provides a distraction from his eggheadedness. But, as anyone can see from voting patterns, southern evangelicals don’t see him as one of their own. And, honestly, Cruz doesn’t seem to have a whole lot in common with them, other than faith. I believe this is why Ted’s father has made such an effective spokesman for his son: he has all the homey religious goodness, but in a more down-to-earth package. However, for those who are not off-put by Cruz’s true brilliance, as well as his well-developed moral compass, spokanebob is correct: he is one of us and we are in love with him.

    As a practical matter, Cruz is right that simply sloganeering about making America great again is nothing but cheap talk. But, I hate to say it, speaking in broad patriotic generalities is also good marketing. If I were Ted Cruz’ advisor, I’d tell him to put far more emphasis feeling other’s pain (as the brilliant, though immoral, Bill Clinton did) and making America great again. I’d also tell him to put far less emphasis on how he has figured out the solution, regardless of how brilliant those solutions are – and I think they are truly brilliant.

    ThOR (a52560)

  59. @DRJ:asking voters to pledge their votes is like asking them to pledge allegiance for that election.

    The statement I took exception to was “The idea that a candidate running for office wants the people to pledge loyalty to him like subjects to a king”. Which is a lie. Not yours, which is a fair summary of what Donald Trump asked them to promise–to cast a vote for him on or before March 12.

    Which is not “loyalty to him like subjects to a king”.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  60. If I were to write the screenplay for a Ted Cruz bio-pic, I’d call it “The Revenge of the Nerds Goes to Washington.”

    ThOR (a52560)

  61. #59. Interesting and thoughtful. The only counterpoint is that my comment is about the dedicated fans and their behavior not the candidate/president specifically.

    spokanebob (1aaf2a)

  62. 59. A rare breath of fresh air in here.

    DNF (ffe548)

  63. Most of the people who comment here can list reasons why they prefer Cruz out of Cruz’ actual experience and accomplishment, what he has actually done, actions that speak louder than words.
    And we can also say things we don’t like about him for the same reasons.

    Trump supporters can list why they like Trump because of what he has said, on occasion,
    while totally ignoring dozens of things he has done (and continues to do) that make him a lousy candidate for anyone other than a dem-lib.

    FWIW, the lifting hands and pledging to vote thing might have been a little tin-eared, but I don’t find it worth criticizing- there are plenty of more substantive things.

    And even if SCOTUS ruled Cruz isn’t eligible, but they won’t, I still wouldn’t vote for Trump,
    a megalomaniac narcissist on the scale of Obama and even less presidential, and while Trump is not a leftist ideologue, he is a Trumpist ideologue, and I don’t even know what to expect from one of those.

    Yeah, he may give the Queen of England Trump steaks instead of a CD of speechs,
    but he might also provoke an incident with Putin by giving him some Trump Vodka and telling him it is better than that lousy Russian stuff,
    but is that really an improvement???

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  64. Trump leads Hillary 47% to 31% among Independent voters – so we win if our side can set their petty differences aside and unite behind our front-runner. Just Sayin’

    ropelight (d92a84)

  65. @MD in Philly:Trump steaks, Trump vodka

    They’re not even his. He rents his name out on things and gets a check. The hotels aren’t his either.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  66. 47. Give up you call looking at the facts and adjusting your sights so as to miss friendlies and hit a target that hurts the enemy.

    My you Tejanos are an emotional lot.

    DNF (755a85)

  67. I imagine the butler probably signed a non-disclosure agreement with Trump, as most assistants to high-profile celebs do. So, even if he ever had anything negative to say about Trump, he signed an agreement promising not to disclose the info publicly. Otherwise, he probably risks being sued.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  68. In between the Birtherism nonsense, the hands-over-their-eyes refusal to see what a hypocritical con man the Orange Toupee is…well, I realized that while President Biff Tannen is one view of the Short Fingered Vulgarian, this one is perhaps as apt.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LCsiWL6gn0

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  69. 66. I hate to be the adult in the room and alert you youngsters to the plain fact that you cannot have what you earnestly desire.

    When your preschooler wants in the knife drawer over your objections giving in doesn’t become an option.

    Time is past for you people to pull up your big boy pants and change your plan.

    DNF (755a85)

  70. Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 3/10/2016 @ 11:42 am

    yes, I know, but thank you for clarifying for others who don’t know that.
    makes it even more sad, doesn’t it.

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  71. 54. When the nominating process is over, it is highly likely the election will be over as well.

    The convention promises to be a donnybrook and losing either the base or the disaffected big tent crowd means a loss.

    It is the GOPe, the smallest faction by voting numbers, that is expendable.

    DNF (ffe548)

  72. I’ve been thinking that the reason Kasich and Rubio are hanging on isn’t because they see a path to the nomination by way of a home state victory. Instead, I think they are looking for some sort of vindication for mounting their failed presidential runs.

    ThOR (a52560)

  73. #10 The sign of a cultist is one who speaks in the we/they collective style.

    NOPE sorry try again.

    is almost like a pledge….just sayin.

    spokanebob (e86321) — 3/10/2016 @ 8:39 am

    NOPE sorry try again.

    I’m not pledging ANYTHING for Cruz. I don’t like his religious bent, but I get why he is doing it. My original candidate was Rand Paul, and I could have been convinced to vote for Rubio if Cruz dropped out.

    Patrick Henry, the 2nd (ddead1)

  74. If Cruz supporters are ever going to be able to see past their noses, they’ll first have to open their eyes. There’s a wide and deep groundswell of grassroots support for Donald Trump that’s been able to prevail in the face of near universal opposition from Dems, the media, political pundits, the GOPe, bloggers, and radio talkers.

    The American public is solidly behind The Donald, and it’s only going to become more and more obvious as the electoral process plays out. Wake up and smell the coffee.

    ropelight (d92a84) — 3/10/2016 @ 9:31 am

    No they are not. I’ve talked to people on both sides of the aisle in my friend and work circles, and I’ve seen the polls. There is narrow and shallow support for Trump. More people hate him than anybody else in the race, and he loses to Clinton over and over again in the polls. A vote for Trump is a vote for Hillary.

    Patrick Henry, the 2nd (ddead1)

  75. Anyone who would vote for Rubio hasn’t got the brains of a pine cone.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  76. 75. Doubtless overweening pride is strong in these critters. What has me wondering tho is what the donors will do in desperation.

    Boosh was an awful candidate, but Roobs little better. I worry Cruz can stand up to their machinations, he is only a man.

    DNF (755a85)

  77. ThOR (a52560) — 3/10/2016 @ 12:01 pm

    Staying here in NW Ohio at the moment, I think Kasich seriously thinks he will win Ohio and then make a strong showing elsewhere, and either be a VP (and young enough for Pres in 8 yrs) or a center for people to rally around on the second ballot.

    I don’t think those things are realistic (well, maybe the VP is a reasonable thought), but I think that is what he really believes,
    of course, he acted as if he was expecting better than a 3rd place in MI, too.

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  78. 57. DRJ, Your candidate is ineligible, he was born in Canada to a Cuban father. Can you really look yourself in the mirror and persuade yourself that the Founders had a Ted Cruz in mind when they limited the office of the president to only natural born citizens?

    ropelight (d92a84) — 3/10/2016 @ 11:06 am

    More silliness.

    I have a few questions.

    What country’s laws were the United States’ laws prior to 1776?

    Next question; do you hallucinate that everything changed after 1776?

    If so, where do you imagine the framers of the Constitution acquired their understanding of the term “natural born?”

    A. Slovenia
    B. Cambodia
    C. Japan
    D. Luxembourg
    E. Estonia

    Steve57 (79ea4f)

  79. DRJ

    I meant that Rubio’s voice and delivery reminds me of MD in The Boston Movie. And his career ended like Robin Williams’.

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  80. I think the Cruzers are as in love with Cruz as the Obamatrons are with Barry. Everything he does is brilliant and anyone who doesn’t agree is stupid, low info, and generally does not deserve to breathe the same air as the enlightened ones.

    spokanebob (1aaf2a) — 3/10/2016 @ 8:14 am

    I think I can speak for the vast majority of Cruz supporters in saying that I believe I have a very good idea what Cruz will actually do, because his statements on the issues and actions are very consistent. I don’t support a single thing Cruz supports because he supports it. I’ve known what I believe in for a long time and Cruz has nothing to do with it. For example I think the government ethanol mandate is a disaster and Cruz is the first candidate I can recall who ever stood up to oppose it. That’s exactly what conservatives like me have been waiting for.

    If we want to find examples of people who think the way you described Cruz supporters, look for people whose support for a candidate never wavers as he continually changes positions on virtually everything, is vague, seems not to know what he’s talking about on major issues and takes positions indistinguishable from Democrats. And when you point out to them examples of those things, they get angry, while calling opposing candidates names. These people clearly have some kind of odd personal attachment to their candidate. Lots of them wouldn’t even waver if their candidate shot somebody .

    Gerald A (945582)

  81. DRJ, Your candidate is ineligible, he was born in Canada to a Cuban father.

    ropelight (d92a84) — 3/10/2016 @ 11:06 am

    The above is patently false.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  82. Kasich lacks gravitas, he hasn’t got the right stuff to be the President, or the VP. He’s a polricy wonk trying to punch above his weight class and coming up shot. The longer he stays in the race the more he identifies himself as a stumbling blockhead. He could quit now with his dignity intact, but his ego won’t let him off that easily.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  83. 36. So, because Cruz is monotonically harping on principles he squeezes the Conservatives tightly, and manages to avoid the issues that would actually arrest the attention of the unwashed, small-minded, self-interested disaffected non-voters.

    You are bound to him throughout and the winning margin isn’t even having their heads turned because uttering those shibboleths would threaten his standing with people of his station.

    I kinda get it, fatalismo.

    DNF (755a85)

  84. I can’t believe we are seeing the same frivolous birther nonsense we wooden-staked eight years ago.

    SPQR (a3a747)

  85. Just to be clear,
    I don’t support Kasich,
    I was just describing what I have seen.

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  86. The voters want president trump. ayn randist free trade punks want canada turd crud. voters get what they want. punks get to bend over and take it!

    trump 1 (509a30)

  87. Gabriel Hannah

    You mean Eric Clapton didn’t build those Fender Strats that bear his name?

    I think Carol Shelby is dead but they still name cars after him.

    Criticism of licensing products is kind of weak IMO.

    pinandpuller (928ad9)

  88. #84, carlitos, you neglected to include my full comment:

    57. DRJ, Your candidate is ineligible, he was born in Canada to a Cuban father. Can you really look yourself in the mirror and persuade yourself that the Founders had a Ted Cruz in mind when they limited the office of the president to only natural born citizens?

    ropelight (d92a84) — 3/10/2016 @ 11:06 am

    carlitos can do it. But how many others will wittingly ignore the plain meaning of the US Constitution?

    ropelight (d92a84)

  89. canada crude mother registered to vote in cnada 1974 its over for crud!

    trump 1 (509a30)

  90. trump, and just want sort of clown logic leads you to that silly conclusion?

    SPQR (a3a747)

  91. #%{}###%!!! A guy leaves paradise to return to the People’s Republic of Northern California and is confronted with the broken record birther!?!? Even though all of these lawsuit challenges are one-by-one tossed in the sh*tter?!?!?

    When will this excrement cease?

    Colonel Haiku (11439f)

  92. muslims love jihad not america. allah eats dog poop!

    trump 1 (509a30)

  93. ropelight, you said that Cruz was born to a Cuban father.
    But I’m pretty certain his American mother is the one who gave birth.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  94. Ropelight… I have it on authority that you emerged from a brown puddle that had gathered at the foot of your mother. I challenge your claim of being an American citizen.

    Colonel Haiku (11439f)

  95. #83 Didn’t realize you are the spokesperson but okay. I would submit that there is a strong emotional attachment between many of the Cruz supporters and Cruz. The biggest knock on Obama after his socialist ideology was that he didn’t have executive experience and that in contrast Sarah Palin was far more qualified.
    Cruz and Obama are equal in that executive experience category as well as legislative experience. What makes him attractive to you and his faithful followers is the ideology. What really makes him any different from Obama in terms of qualifications? Has it worked out for the country with Obama? Why would 4-8 years of Cruz be any different? Obama at least had the Democrat House and Senate in his back pocket. Cruz’s track record with his own colleagues makes me skeptical he would deliver all the things you think he can.
    When people adjust their criteria to fit their favored candidate it is difficult to accept them as truly principled. The conclusion left to outsiders looking in is that they let their emotions override their objectivity. At least be upfront about it – “I love the guy like the Trumpers love the Don and unashamedly so and if he is not the nominee I will not support anyone else because he is the savior America needs.”

    spokanebob (e86321)

  96. crud suppository crud’s mother lost her citizenship when she registered to vote in canada in 1974.

    trump 1 (509a30)

  97. Colonel, you embarrass yourself.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  98. @pinandpuller:Criticism of licensing products is kind of weak IMO.

    Not when a candidate’s claimed qualifications are for running businesses, not licensing his name to them.

    The businesses Trump actually ran, of course, went bankrupt.

    If Steve Ballmer says he owns a great team, that may be a matter of opinion. If he says he’s a great coach, or he says he deserves to be MVP, then he’s a liar, and the fact that he owns a team doesn’t save him.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  99. As per Cruzers, Trump is a loon and Cruz is brilliant. Yet the dumbest words uttered by any GOP candidate is Cruz saying he will abolish the IRS. Again, I like Cruz, but even he knows it’s a cheap dumb applause line that will go nowhere.

    Not sure why he or anyone should want Carly’s endorsement. So he’s got the support of a warmonger who ran a great tech giant into the ground and farmed out jobs overseas.

    About Mark Levin, who I occasionally listen to and often agree with; his big complaint is Trump is nasty and obnoxious. This from a guy who’s show consists largely of himself yelling at callers in nasty and obnoxious form for 2+ hours every weekday.

    Bugg (db3a97)

  100. trump, not true but so what?

    SPQR (a3a747)

  101. Kasich lacks gravitas . . .” – ropelight

    You’re far too charitable. Try this:

    “Kasich is an idiot . . .”

    ThOR (a52560)

  102. I’ll take one for the team if it’ll get you off your seriously deranged case of OCD, ropelight.

    Colonel Haiku (11439f)

  103. OCD?

    ropelight (d92a84)

  104. One of the primary sources of corruption in Washington is the tax code and it’s manipulation for the benefit of the rich and powerful. Special treatment in the tax code is the big money app down K-street. And now the Obama administration has taken to using it as a weapon against its enemies. Cruz sees this and wants to end it. It also plays well in Poughkeepsie. So, what’s the problem?

    ThOR (a52560)

  105. 91. …But how many others will wittingly ignore the plain meaning of the US Constitution?

    ropelight (d92a84) — 3/10/2016 @ 12:32 pm

    Look in a mirror.

    Steve57 (79ea4f)

  106. Some of us here, perhaps most, see the current political/ economic situation as intolerable and demanding of transformational change. I can’t imagine many of us fault Cruz for promising to undertake big changes – especially involving the IRS. Cruz makes two explicit promises: to repeal ObamaCare and shut down the IRS. The first should be easy. The latter, not so much, but well worth the effort. Fighting the IRS seems like a good first big battle. If Cruz is elected, I hope closing down the IRS just is the first in a string of transformational changes.

    ThOR (a52560)

  107. The biggest knock on Obama after his socialist ideology
    spokanebob (e86321) — 3/10/2016 @ 12:48 pm

    FWIW, that’s my number 1 through #99 issue with Obama. He has not accomplished however much or little he has because of being a Senator, but because he is a committed blame America first, last, and always leftist.
    Cruz has done things as an executive within the AG office in Texas, yes?
    And rather than being called a Constitutional law professor and being hardly an adjunct about civil rights odds and ends,
    actually has done Constitutional law and won cases.

    I think we need to have an intervention on ourselves and find a way to quit humoring some of these Trump supporters,
    they can support him all they want, for whatever reasons they want

    And as far as saying “the dumbest words ever“…
    when he says something like “repealing Obamacare”
    he actually means it and follows through,
    unlike everyone else

    Now, going into the primaries I did not have a lot of enthusiasm for Cruz, at least not as a presidential candidate,
    but given who we have left…?

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  108. spokanebob,

    As MD has pointed out in #111, Barack isn’t a bad President because he lacked executive experience. Rather, Barack has been a bad President because he’s a Lefty. And after 7 yrs of being President, we can now say that Barack has executive experience—but that’s he’s still making wrong policy decisions.
    Ted Cruz wants to limit the impositions made by the federal government and restore Federalism. That’s someone we need in the White House.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  109. he has done way too much, despite his skill set,

    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/03/obama-is-asked-if-hes-responsible-for-trump-heres-his-long-winded-response/

    he wouldn’t do anything differently,

    narciso (732bc0)

  110. #98

    What are these criteria that Cruzers are supposed to be adjusting?

    Gerald A (fa33ce)

  111. I know you Cruzies aren’t ready to jump in bed with Donald Trump yet(You’re like that French princess on Vikings and he’s Duke Rollo).

    Could you at least look at some brochures for in vitro fertilization?

    The RNC hasn’t really produced an heir and they’ve spent the last seven years with Low T and ED and they seem to be ok with that.

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  112. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ropelight. I’m all for folks uniting if it’ll prevent a liberal Democrat from hanging in the Oval Office, but this birther nonsense employed against Cruz is RIDICULOUSLY excremental.

    Colonel Haiku (11439f)

  113. @ spokanebob: So are you the one who’s willing to kill innocent children for Trump? One of the other Trumpist morons who comments here continues to insist that our enemies’ barbarism not only justifies, but requires, that we become barbarians too. Although he does admit that he couldn’t bring himself to slit the toddlers’ throats himself. He just wants to cheer while King Donnie compels some member of our military to commit the war crimes.

    How about it bob? Are you on board with that, or do you just talk the Trump talk?

    Beldar (fa637a)

  114. Ah, never mind. I already regret engaging in the pretense that you’re a thinking person capable of good-faith discussion, and you’re too stupid to properly humiliate. Never mind, spkanebob.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  115. #116, Well, Colonel, it’s the US Constitution that stipulates only a natural born citizen is eligible for the presidency. If that makes the Founding Fathers into birthers and the Constitution a document full of nonsense then you’ve got a decision to make.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  116. ropelight, the Founding Fathers didn’t even allow Betsy Ross to vote.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  117. I guess we’re all committed to our candidates (unless and until they drop out), but most Cruz people I’ve seen like other candidates, too. I liked Cruz, Walker, Rubio, Perry, and Jindal in that order, and I would have voted for any of them — and possibly others, too. I don’t know about Trump but we’ll see if he is the nominee.

    How many Trump followers can say the same and mean it? You say you like other people but then people like ropelight claim Cruz and Rubio are ineligible, so they won’t get his vote. Maybe Walker or Perry but Jindal’s parents aren’t Americans, so Jindal is out, too. Who are the cultists here when your list of acceptable candidates consists of one person?

    DRJ (15874d)

  118. Gabriel Hannah

    I think criticism of sectors within Trump’s portfolio are valid.

    But it sounds like people bagging on Trump Steaks think Javier Bardem and Temple Grandin are in the alley behind Trump Towers filling orders.

    They almost come across like the people who said Joe the Plumber wasn’t a real plumber and his name wasn’t even Joe-even though he worked under another guy’s licence and his middle name was Joseph.

    There’s a lot of positive talk on here today about Carly Fiorina’s endorsement of Cruz.

    Who destroyed more investors between Trump and Fiorina?

    Trump has his thousands and Fiorina her ten thousands.

    Make her Secretary of the National Debt and she can cut it in half like the HP stock price.

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  119. ropelight, please stop with the birther nonsense. “Paranoid conspiracy theory loons for Trump” has enough followers; they don’t need this little blog too.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  120. If it’s that clear cut, ropelight, wouldn’t every court and every law professor agree with you?

    DRJ (15874d)

  121. Well, there may be one good thing (for political scientists at least) that will come out of the Trump phenomenon.

    That old “Red State vs. Blue State” divide? That’s gone. We have at least two, maybe three, Red States.

    Sure, that was always an artificial divide anyway. But the rise of Trump completely exposes it as worthless.

    SteveMG (3549e2)

  122. Is the brand “Trump Steaks” still being sold or not?
    Did the steaks at the conference the other night have “Trump Steaks” on them or not?

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  123. DRJ – Don’t forget Chester Arthur, John McCain, George Romney, Barry Goldwater, etc.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  124. Well, there may be one good thing (for political scientists at least) that will come out of the Trump phenomenon.
    …..

    SteveMG (3549e2) — 3/10/2016 @ 2:46 pm

    At least 2 good things – Republicans can stop pandering to Evangelicals too. The majority in the primaries are voting for Trump, so they obviously don’t vote on any kind of religious litmus test.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  125. Yes, I was interested in Walker, Jindal, Perry, Cruz, a little in Rubio but he was going to have to convince me he had repented of the Gang of 8.

    For years I was for Walker/Jindal, the heartland from North to South.

    MD in Philly (at the moment not in Philly) (50f11a)

  126. Anyone born naturally to a US Citizen is natural born US Citizen. Stop with the birther stupid.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  127. I have no problem with vigorous debate with Trump supporters and others. That’s how we learn things and it helps us make good decisions. But I also know that most of the people who support Trump are angry and hurting, and that they are a big reason Walmart projects flat growth for the next year. This is real pain and they want someone who cares about that pain.

    I think Cruz’s solutions are better than Trump’s. Unlike Thor, I’m also glad that Cruz is working to educate Republican voters instead of appealing to their emotions. Frankly, the general election is a better time for emotion.

    DRJ (15874d)

  128. Thor 110:

    Cruz makes two explicit promises: to repeal ObamaCare and shut down the IRS.

    I think he has made other promises. For instance, he’s been a strong proponent for building a wall since his 2011-2012 Senate race.

    DRJ (15874d)

  129. One reason Cruz did so well in the Texas primary is that he has kept his promises to Texas voters.

    DRJ (15874d)

  130. Anyone born naturally to a US Citizen is natural born US Citizen. Stop with the birther stupid.

    Well, RKS, if Ted Cruz gets the GOP nod, you’ll get an opportunity to tell it to Hillary.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  131. My only birther question with Obama was regarding Lolo Soetero. Did he adopt the kid and would that have changed his citizenship to Indonesian?

    My only birther question with Cruz is did his mom become a citizen of Canada at any point or dual citizen? They lived there about five years.

    Just a fun bonus question, would Cruz be eligible had he not renounced his Canadian citizenship?

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  132. #133, DRJ, and that’s why Marco Rubio will be rejected by Florida voters. Rubio didn’t keep his promises to Florida voters, he betrayed their trust when he joined the Gang of 8.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  133. Beldar, at what point did i say i am a trumper? Name calling is all you have? Get a grip.

    spokanebob (d5ab7c)

  134. #134 Ropelight, Hillary is not that stupid. Only Trump supporters are stupid enuff to claim he is not a US Citizen though clearly born to a US Citizen. Just like many on the right never doubted Obama’s mother yet claimed similar. Stupid is stupid.

    No, Hillary will spend 4 months telling everyone how evil Cruz is and extreme and how he hates women, la la la. Cruz will do something similar citing her lying and unethical behavior. It will come down to which side has most energy to get their lard asses to the voting booth. Republicans have a big advantage there.

    All Cruz needs to do is appeal to Blue Collar. He won’t. He is a Harvard fool who has spent his life sniffing rarified air. And that will make the race very close in spite of the enthusiasm gap.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  135. well Hillary was the mother of the birth denial movement, seeing as all the other research, were things, the Democrats apparently like, embracing Bill Ayers, Wright, et al,

    narciso (732bc0)

  136. ropelight:

    136.#133, DRJ, and that’s why Marco Rubio will be rejected by Florida voters. Rubio didn’t keep his promises to Florida voters, he betrayed their trust when he joined the Gang of 8.

    I can see that. I don’t know about Florida politics but that would have really, really hurt him with Texas voters.

    DRJ (15874d)

  137. pinandpuller,

    Wait a second—are you inferring that if he had been adopted by Soetero that would theoretically affect Barack’s natural born citizenship status? And who cares about Canadian citizenship? What does it matter, other than just as a curiosity?

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  138. #138, RKS, Trump and his supporters aren’t too stupid to kick ass on the GOP elite, Ted Curz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, et al.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  139. #142 And God bless for that. I am not a reactionary like most here. I see tremendous value in either guy winning. U cite one of them. But I have no false ideas of what either can get done or will. Both are of the elite and like it as such. Don’t let the BS fool ya.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  140. Trump — son of a multi millionaire. Wharton School MBA, billions made thru tons of shady deals, like to defraud people of money especially his contractors, married 3 times.

    Cruz — Princeton, Harvard, SCOTUS Clerk, elite Law Firms, Goldman Wife, not really well like by the very people he has spent his life working with.

    Someone tell me who the Decent Guy is here cuz I can’t see it?

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  141. Again the Ropelight Corollary to the Godwin Law. Bring up Native-born citizen and lose argument.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  142. RKS, I spent a year clerking for a judge on the Fifth Circuit. I’m more proud of the work I did that year than anything else in my entire legal career. Among other things, some of the cases I was privileged to work upon became landmarks in the law — precedents that are still cited by other judges and courts and lawyers literally every day, all across the country.

    I applied to every one of the then-members of the SCOTUS, and I have a nice collection of nine rejection letters, but I would have been very much honored to have had that opportunity for public service as well.

    If I were to try to convince anyone that I’m a Decent Guy, my judicial clerkship is one thing to which I’d definitely point.

    You hold it against Ted Cruz that he worked for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist? Seriously?

    Beldar (fa637a)

  143. if Ted Cruz gets the GOP nod, you’ll get an opportunity to tell it to Hillary.

    I’m sure that Trump will be advising her so we won’t have to.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  144. WaPo says Carson to endorse Trump.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  145. RKS,
    Umm, do you not realize that a lot of people in D.C. do not like Cruz because he had the nerve to keep his campaign promises?
    And that is one argument against him, that Congress won’t work with him?

    I don’t mind people having their opinions and pointing out facts that may be inconvenient,
    But if we skipped stuff that shouldn’t need to be said we could actually cover other things

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  146. Lindsey Graham once remarked that if Ted Cruz was shot down on the Senate floor in broad daylight no one would ever get convicted.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  147. Off-topic: The Wachowski brothers are now the Wachowski sisters.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/style/second-wachowski-sibling-comes-out-as-transgender-woman.html

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  148. Palin just called out Cruz. What to do oh my!

    spokanebob (d5ab7c)

  149. And yet, Lindsey will probably endorse Cruz before too long.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  150. I’ll vote for anyone except the prissy, sissy, mittens.

    mg (31009b)

  151. i got a lil more than halfway through Jupiter

    then i went meemees

    redmayne stole the whole entire movie

    happyfeet (831175)

  152. My only birther question with Obama was regarding Lolo Soetero. Did he adopt the kid and would that have changed his citizenship to Indonesian?

    Completely irrelevant. Supposing the answer to both questions was “yes”, it would not affect his eligibility at all.

    My only birther question with Cruz is did his mom become a citizen of Canada at any point or dual citizen? They lived there about five years.

    The answer is “no, there is no foundation for supposing she did any such thing”, but supposing she did it would not affect him at all. The only way it could affect him would be if she (1) renounced her US citizenship, (2) before he was born. Since she didn’t even become eligible for Canadian citizenship until after he was born, it makes no difference what she did.

    Just a fun bonus question, would Cruz be eligible had he not renounced his Canadian citizenship?

    Absolutely. So long as someone is a natural born US citizen, over 35 years old, and has lived in the USA for 14 years, it makes no difference at all how many other citizenships one holds. A person could have five different passports and still be eligible for the presidency.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  153. One more point, RKS:

    Trump doesn’t have an MBA from Wharton. He has a bachelor’s degree. Yes, Wharton, which is actually the business department at the University of Pennsylvania (a “second-tier Ivy”) has a wonderful graduate business program, and a pretty good undergraduate business program, both of which now award degrees under the name “Wharton School of Finance.” Trump transferred into the Wharton undergraduate program, and completed it, but didn’t go to graduate school in business there or anywhere. We don’t know how well he did as an undergraduate, because he won’t release his transcripts. But Trump doesn’t have an MBA from anywhere — not even Trump U.

    Sources: Fortune magazine, No one knows what Donald Trump did at Wharton; The Daily Pennsylvanian (Penn school paper), Trump flaunts Wharton degree, but his college years remain a mystery.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  154. To the best of my knowledge Barack Obama has never renounced his Kenyan citizenship.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  155. So Neil Bush was friends with John Hinkley Jr’s brother.

    That guy’s had more adventures than Forest Gump.

    He brings his full knowledge of financial skullduggery, Asian hookers, Saudi Arabia and would be presidential assasins into the Cruz campaign.

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  156. Rubio is now running ads in Florida claiming that a vote for either Cruz or Kasich is really a vote for Trump.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  157. Billy Carter was a registered foreign agent for Gaddafi’s Libya.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  158. Rubio is now running ads in Florida claiming that a vote for either Cruz or Kasich is really a vote for Trump.

    That’s absurd. A vote for Kasich is a vote for Hillary.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  159. #144 RKS,

    You’re pretty close to stoking the fires of Huey Long populism with the inference that Cruz is not a “decent” guy simply because he attended the Ivy League and clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. And his wife works for Goldman Sachs? Oh my goodness—will God ever forgive her?!

    And let’s delineate between winning a “most popular guy in the office” award VS actually being indecent. Because there are plenty of bad people who are/were likable and charming. Ted Bundy is an example of someone who was apparently a very charming likable handsome man.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  160. #149 MD — I believe Ted is what he says he is (RIGHT NOW). But he is also of the Elite and if he becomes King he will dispense with dogma and engage in much of what we find detestable of a Bush. No one NO ONE who works that hard to do Princeton, Harvard, Clerk wants to be “on the outside” — they want to be THE inside. Ted’s only problem with his colleagues is they are not doing what he wants. When they do what he wants and lick his balls, he will be much more the moderate we all loathe. For now, Ted has a brand and he is keeping to that brand cuz he has too and he can play this hand while having power in some capacity.

    These two men are just tools. Both scum bags in my view. But a scum bag is needed to do some important things

    1) Roll back the culture wars the right has been losing
    2) Roll back the executive branch and savage the bureucracy
    3) Vindictively go after and destroy the leftist institutions feeding on the public
    4) Appoint conservative judges and devour/destroy/smear frame Leftist ones to get out
    5) Kill our enemies overseas with extreme prejudice and instill the fear of God in the rest of the world

    So ….. I don’t want a Lawyer measuring each and every move as if editing his pleadings. I want a very smart savage to establish balance who in 8 years will go away.

    This is why Trump as POTUS and Ted runnign COngress works for me.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  161. and Roger Clinton, part of the Haiti heist, organized by red queen,

    narciso (732bc0)

  162. Millhouse

    Ya know, I thought the whole point of the NBC clause was that you had no other allegiances (not even to Trump). But hey, its a moot point anyway.

    pinandpuller (a12946)

  163. #165 Though I think Ted would make a better POTUS than Trump.

    #164 Cruz is not a nice fellow. Please stop. He is what he is and I respect that. But I would never want to grab a drink with him. Leave it at that.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  164. I kind of like Ace’s take on the issue.

    http://ace.mu.nu/archives/362081.php

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  165. i applaud the noble thinkings and the truly american verve what is evidenced in comment number one hundred and sixty-five

    happyfeet (831175)

  166. for a time cruz and paul were the only ones putting up any opposition, to the regime, well a few others,

    narciso (732bc0)

  167. Millhouse

    If what you say is true we should start a countdown clock for Natalie Portman’s 35th birthday. T

    pinandpuller (a12946)

  168. I can understand the opinion that Cruz will go moderate if he wins.
    If he does I’ll be very disappointed, perhaps even to the degree that I will return to political nihilism,
    But, there is more evidence to support the idea that he will follow through than with almost any one else.

    I have said that I am sympathetic to those who supported Trump, I understand the anger and wanting things to change,
    I really don’t understand how people can believe he is going to govern as a conservative and with reason if elected, I don’t see it anymore than I thought Obama was going to be post-partisan and post-racial.

    He has said he is all for executive orders, but he’ll make them in ways that make others happy.

    That’s not conservative by any means, first of all conservative is rule of law.

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  169. Trump doesn’t seem to be very good at running a business,
    But his craft is sales, to make his own killing, not to grow a business with satisfied customers.

    He’s selling the Trump brand name as president, if he makes the sale I am pretty sure he will have many unsatisfied customers.

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  170. #173 MD

    Reagan got to office claiming he was going to roll back Nixon’s Agencies. He did not such thing. He moderated. WIth that said, he had a Congress full of dimwits from the Left. But he did not fight that too hard. Would have been a big win for the Country.

    So, maybe my personal experience breathing the rarified air of the elites while in Corporate have left me very sceptical but neither guy strikes me as someone I would enjoy a meal with, especially Cruz.

    But I support Cruz cuz we need to go right and do so as fast as possible thru all means possible. I think Cruz would do so faster than Donald. But I also think Donald in the WH and Cruz calling the shots in the COngress would be very very very attractive. Trump gets to stoke. Cruz gets the Power to legislate and cajole and lead with a Trump rubber stamp. Cruz would have another shot in 2028 or 2032 assuming a Dim Whit O Crat wins the 2024.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  171. #173 Slavery was the law too. The law is secondary to morality and ethics and should adhere as such. Telling me a Conservative is fore and foremost about THE LAW strikes me odd and backwards.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  172. Has anyone else noticed how sickly Bill Clinton looks lately? And when we see him on TV that’s after the best make-up and hair people have polished him up. That’s as good as he can look, and he looks like he ought to be in a convalescent ward.

    He looks like one of those naive husbands on the true crime shows who’re being slowly poisoned by a crafty wife planning for a good time with handsome Charlie wallowing in all that life insurance money.

    ropelight (d92a84)

  173. RKS
    Thank you for making your views clear to me.

    Our Constitution gives a framework for how to govern and change the law, and it is not by executive order and judicial overreach,
    I don’t want”our side” to govern that way any more than I want their side.

    I don’t care what people say, but what they do,
    What Trump has done is concerning.

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  174. Yes, Clinton doesn’t look well.

    MD not exactly in Philly (b0439a)

  175. 141 Cruz Supporter

    BO could be the natural born son of BO sr but the legal son of Lolo Soetero. I was just wondering if that could affect your status.

    It certainly violated the spirit of the NBC clause to have a guy who grew up outside the Continental US, thinks the call to prayer is the most beautiful sound in the world and who appears to have the shahaddah inscribed on his wedding ring. But that’s just my opinion.

    What difference, at this point, does it make?

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  176. Ya know, I thought the whole point of the NBC clause was that you had no other allegiances

    And yet that’s not what it says. There has never been a bar to a foreign citizen becoming president.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  177. For children under 18, neither the parents nor the children are competent to change the child’s citizenship under U.S. law. Or the child’s religion under Sharia law for that matter.

    nk (9faaca)

  178. BO could be the natural born son of BO sr but the legal son of Lolo Soetero. I was just wondering if that could affect your status.

    No, it makes not the slightest difference who his father was, biological, legal, or any other kind. It wouldn’t make a difference if his father were unknown.

    It certainly violated the spirit of the NBC clause to have a guy who grew up outside the Continental US,

    No, it doesn’t. That’s the whole point of the 14-year rule.

    thinks the call to prayer is the most beautiful sound in the world

    Since the USA was founded on the explicit basis that it is no more Christian than it is Moslem, why would this be more of a problem than a president who likes church music?

    and who appears to have the shahaddah inscribed on his wedding ring.

    Um, you do know that’s bulldust, don’t you?

    But that’s just my opinion.

    An uninformed one.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  179. NK

    You have a point. Under Shariah law there are no converts, only reverts.

    pinandpuller (0845e7)

  180. Millhouse

    You’re a lawyer, right?

    What’s Latin for ,”Who will Snopes the snopers?”.

    pinandpuller (a12946)

  181. Millhouse

    My bad, man. I mixed up “unamerican” with un maricon”. Its an easy mistake to make.

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  182. Rodney King’s Spirit

    If you have a beer with Cruz it will be at the bottom of your swimming pool. I thought you were trying to cut down.

    pinandpuller (c16705)

  183. Snopes doesn’t play fast and loose with facts — unlike wherever you read this nonsense about the ring. Like most Canadians, the Mikkelsons certainly lean leftish in their politics, and where a subjective judgment is called for that will sometimes shine through. They will tend to put a more charitable interpretation on a Democrat’s words than we might. But before all else they stick to the facts. They’ve got an excellent reputation that they’ve worked hard to maintain, and in the more than 25 years that I’ve been familiar with their work I’ve never seen them deviate from that. In this case the evidence is solid; anyone who sees a shahada there is just paranoid.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  184. I mixed up “unamerican” with un maricon”

    NTTAWWT, of course.

    Milhouse (87c499)

  185. #187 I have broken plenty of bread with Ted Cruz clones. They don’t impress me. They serve a purpose. They are useful tools whose own ambition blinds them to reality and they require armies of fan-bois to make things happen.

    Rodney King's Spirit (3adc86)

  186. I met Bill Clinton and spoke with him a couple of years ago. He was shaky and did not look well then. This was in the middle of the work day. He was very thin and drawn-looking and telling us how much better he feels on the vegan diet.

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  187. He may have Parkinson’s.

    nk (9faaca)

  188. DRJ – Don’t forget Chester Arthur, John McCain, George Romney, Barry Goldwater, etc.

    Goldwater was a natural born citizen by any definition. He was born in the USA, to parents who were citizens. Arizona Territory was an incorporated territory.

    Arthur was born in the USA, and nobody was bothered about the fact that his father hadn’t been a citizen at the time. The scandal his enemies tried to manufacture was that he had been born in Ireland or Canada; nobody said a word about his father, even though they wouldn’t even have had to make anything up.

    McCain’s an interesting case; under Blackstone’s definition he’s a natural born citizen because his parents had a status similar to that of diplomats. They were living under US law, not Panamanian law.

    Milhouse (87c499)


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