Patterico's Pontifications

4/25/2016

Cruz and Kasich Campaigns Cooperating

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:49 am



New York Times:

Senator Ted Cruz and Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio have agreed to coordinate in future primary contests in a last-ditch effort to deny Donald J. Trump the Republican presidential nomination, with each candidate standing aside in certain states amid growing concerns that Mr. Trump cannot otherwise be stopped.

Ted Cruz’s campaign has released the following statement:

Having Donald Trump at the top of the ticket in November would be a sure disaster for Republicans. Not only would Trump get blown out by Clinton or Sanders, but having him as our nominee would set the party back a generation. To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico, and we would hope that allies of both campaigns would follow our lead. In other states holding their elections for the remainder of the primary season, our campaign will continue to compete vigorously to win.

John Kasich’s campaign has released the following statement:

Donald Trump doesn’t have the support of a majority of Republicans – not even close, but he currently does have almost half the delegates because he’s benefited from the existing primary system. Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the Party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee. We believe that will be John Kasich, who is the only candidate who can defeat Secretary Clinton and preserve our GOP majority in the Congress.

Due to the fact that the Indiana primary is winner-take-all statewide and by congressional district, keeping Trump from winning a plurality in Indiana is critical to keeping him under 1237 bound delegates before Cleveland. We are very comfortable with our delegate position in Indiana already, and given the current dynamics of the primary there, we will shift our campaign’s resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana.

In turn, we will focus our time and resources in New Mexico and Oregon, both areas that are structurally similar to the Northeast politically, where Gov. Kasich is performing well. We would expect independent third-party groups to do the same and honor the commitments made by the Cruz and Kasich campaigns.

We expect to compete with both the Trump and Cruz campaigns in the remaining primary states.

Bold emphasis is in the original. Note that Cruz’s statement is more honest. But each statement has (obviously negotiated) “clear the path” language for the other candidate in particular states.

Shiitake mushrooms just got real.

Whiny McWhineface has released the following statement:

I’m tempted to read the Kasich/Cruz deal as an indication that Kasich is finally serious about opposing Trump. But I think it’s just evidence that Kasich wants to get to a convention. Close enough for now.

It sure would be nice to see Mike Pence endorse Cruz. Let me rephrase that: if Mike Pence does not endorse Cruz, he’s dead to me.

Now let’s get to work.

UPDATE:

I can easily visualize the stupid grin on Kasich’s face as he says this.

326 Responses to “Cruz and Kasich Campaigns Cooperating”

  1. No, seriously: I have to get to work.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  2. UPDATE:

    I can easily visualize the stupid grin on Kasich’s face as he says this.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  3. Cruz is on TV now peddling fear. It’s all he’s got left. He claims Donald Trump is a fringe candidate who can’t beat Hillary. Doom and gloom will cover the land, Republicans will lose the Senate and the House, and the Supreme Court for a generation, and statewide offices all over the country.

    And, he’s still claiming to be an outsider. Questions from the press indicate they aren’t buying it.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  4. Trust me, you don’t want pence endorsing cruz, he has a serious taste for shoe leather, it’s practically certain he will lose the reflect.

    narciso (742ca9)

  5. Cruz and Kasich now have a quasi-alliance. Maybe this will upgrade to a semi-alliance if Pence bangs their heads together.

    Andrew (557f7c)

  6. Said in the last post that Kasich was untrustworthy. Took him 5 minutes to prove me right.

    He’s in this to stop Cruz. Cruz should’ve never listened to Huntsman’s advisor.

    njrob (c891bb)

  7. As you may have surmised by my previous discussions of his capitulation on Indiana’s RFRA, Pence is already dead to me. He was mentioned a few years back as a GOP Presidential hopeful if he guided Indiana well, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s down the toilet as of last March.

    After the outrageous 2013 decision in New Mexico to fine a Christian couple for refusing to shoot a lesbian wedding (Elane Photography v. Willock, in which the phrase “[I]t is the price of citizenship” was first written), nobody was better positioned to make a firm stance for religious liberty in the face of LGBT/SJW monkeywrenching, but he wasn’t prepared to deal with the inevitable MSM misinterpretations and corporate backlash. And that’s from a guy who was a conservative Christian superstar when he left Washington.

    This is why, among dozens of others, I’m #NeverTrump. Guys who claim to be The Guy who’ll stand up for their (and my) principles must be tested in real-world situations. Far too often they have feet of clay. Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal proved their mettle; Chris Christie, Mike Pence, and Mark “Appalachian Trail” Sanford failed spectacularly.

    As for Trump? He doesn’t need feet of clay, he just glides on a layer of slime like the slug that he is.

    L.N. Smithee (d3752a)

  8. Ropelight,

    That’s because the media is endorsing Trump for the Republican nomination as he will be the easiest for Hillary to defeat.

    njrob (c891bb)

  9. I wonder if the Cruz and Kasich campaigns will coordinate their efforts in California. Where Cruz would focus on the congressional districts where he has the better chance to deny Trump delegates, and Kasich focus of those where he has the better shot.

    aunursa (92ec49)

  10. BTW Ropelight,

    How do you feel about Trump layering his campaign with tons of lobbyists?

    njrob (c891bb)

  11. Here’s my comment (#58) from the previous post:

    It doesn’t benefit Ted Cruz to gain a few delegates at the price of a public display of kowtowing to the GOP establishment. He can’t win on the up and up, he’s mathematically eliminated as is John Kasich, all Cruz can do is throw in with the Ohio Also Ran in a desperately self-serving gambit to thwart the voter’s clearly preferred candidate: Donald Trump.

    Cruz has demonstrated a win at all costs attitude right from the getgo. In Iowa he pounced on Ben Carson’s decision to visit his home in Florida and portrayed it as Carson quitting the race. Ever since then Cruz has tried to undermine the Primary Election process by joining with the GOPe to maneuver delegates sympathetic to top-down manipulation into position to bushwhack Trump on a second ballot.

    Now, Cruz is in cahoots with both Kasich and the GOPe to stop voters from selecting the candidate of their choice. It’s crooked politics dressed up in clever language and stylish lipstick, but it’s still backroom politics and Ted Cruz has sold his soul to the very people who hate his guts the most. It can’t end well.

    ropelight (723e1f) — 4/25/2016 @ 7:42 am

    ropelight (723e1f)

  12. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…”

    Colonel Haiku (873170)

  13. Cruz got the better of the deal.

    Indiana ought to be a better state for Kasich – after all, it is close to Ohio. A poll shows Cruz ahead of Kasich (and behind Trump) in Indiana, which is winner take all statewide (30) and by CD (3×9 = 27) but Indiana is notoriously difficult or expensive to poll because it is illegal for a machine to random digit dial cellphones there. * Oregon and New Mexico are, besides Rhode Island, the only two remaining completely proportional states where 3 candidates can get delegates from the same polling results.(Oregon has 28 delegates apportioned statewide, here the minnimum necessary for one delegate works out to 3.57% since there is no thresshold, and New Mexico has 24 allocated statewide with a 15% threshold)

    Ted Cruz has learned at least a little bit of his lesson from New York, where he tried to get everyone to focus on just two choices and came out of New York State with zero delegates whle Trump got 60% of the Republican primary vote. Kasich got a few delegates, 3 in Manhattan, where he led.

    http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/donald-trump-lost-manhattan-to-kasich.html

    So Ted Cruz actually needs Kasich in Oregon and New Mexico and loses little or nothing. Extra effort would only gte him a marginal delegate or two, if successful.

    I don’t know if Kasich knows what he is thinking. Maybe he still has some hopes in some Congressional districts.

    It should be noted that, of course, delegates were allocated by congressional district not country, and I think there’s no congressional district entirely in Manhattan, but the county votes may have been easier to get, or more interesting.

    * Polls have now been set up for 25 years to have the actual dialing done by a machine, instead of handing the telephone poll taker a printed list of number and having that person call, using a touch tone keypad, each number and then marking it, NA (NO Answer) (R) Refused CB (Callback) AM (Answering Machine) and maybe Business and of course C for complete. Maybe INC for Incomplete if it might be finished later. They used to write the answers by hand, also, on a printed out poll, or possibly answer sheet.

    Refusals used to be about 20% in the 1980s. Now only 9% or 8% of the people answer surveys.

    Sammy Finkelman (a5988d)

  14. #11 ropelight,

    The Daily Kos just telephoned. They want to offer you a job.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  15. Kasich has a problem that this deal addresses — Rule 40. He needs to have STATES to be nominated. Little states will do. Montana, West Dakota, he doesn’t care. He needs states a LOT more than he needs delegates right now. Because it’s all about having the KASICH name up in lights.

    Kasich is running for President. Maybe in 2020 after Trump craters, but he’s not running for VP (and certainly not for Trump’s VP). He’s 63. He can run in 2020, but not 2024. But he needs to be a player this time first.

    He needs states. In fact, he needs more states, and Cruz needs Kasich out of California.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  16. I don’t think Pence will endorse anyone. He’s running for his first re-election as Governor and he can’t afford to alienate any voters.

    DRJ (15874d)

  17. Kevin M,

    Kasich is counting on a rules revamp when the convention opens. Rule 40 may disappear while a clarification regarding first ballot abstention by delegates might receive quite a bit of attention.

    Rick Ballard (d7bacf)

  18. I love how the Trump Fan Boys are always talking about blowing up the GOP on the one hand, but that we Republicans all have to stick together and get behind Trump in the general election on the other hand.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  19. republicans are a hot mess

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  20. #14,

    #11 ropelight,

    The Daily Kos just telephoned. They want to offer you a job.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 8:43 am

    So they called you?

    ropelight (723e1f)

  21. Cruz Supporter,

    Why would anyone who has never put out an ounce effort on its behalf, doesn’t have a clue as to who their precinct captain is, let alone the county or state chairs, not be in favor of a nice GOP bonfire? The GOP is a nice boogeyman to blame for the results of their apathy and complete sloth with regard to minimal civic duty. After all, “Burn, baby, burn” has been the favored chant for the very marginally competent for quite some time.

    Rick Ballard (d7bacf)

  22. #20 ropelight,

    Saying “so-and-so called and left a message” is a standard set-up for a punchline. But, no, they didn’t call me—they called you. You must have first come to the Daily Kos’ attention when you speculated that the Bushes and Hinckleys conspired to have mentally ill John Hinckley Jr assassinate President Reagan. They’ve been big fans of yours ever since! (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  23. No one has called me from Kos or from any political site. It’s all a result of your stupid stunt backfiring in your face. Asshole.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  24. #23 ropelight,
    Your Aunt Gertrude just called, and she says it’s not nice of you to be calling people names such as “as*hole.” She says if your Mother were still alive, she’d wash your mouth out with soap! (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  25. Coronello, how did you celebrate Earth Day?

    I hope it involved shredding tires.

    As for me, I safety-wired the cat to its tail.

    http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/4722/i/moose-racing-safety-wire

    Just in case.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  26. I mean, if those rockets can launch a C-130 who knows what’s going to happen when I strap them on to the cat.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  27. @Cruz Supporter:I love how the Trump Fan Boys are always talking about blowing up the GOP on the one hand, but that we Republicans all have to stick together and get behind Trump in the general election on the other hand.

    In fairness, many in #NeverTrump are planning on doing exactly what they accuse the Trumpoids of doing, which is not supporting whoever comes out of the convention in the general election if it’s not their guy.

    Seems we’ve collectively decided to move past the primary and the general election and just start casting blame now.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  28. with this sleazy goldy sacky scheme Ted Cruz is dishonoring the memory and the legacy of Prince in what is probably the most shockingly disrespectful way possible: by teaming up John Kasich to sabotage the Republican convention which could have been held in Minneapolis if it hadn’t been already been scheduled for somewhere in Ohio

    and that’s not something the voters are going to forget cause it reveals so much about Ted’s character

    this win at all costs philosophy is frightening it’s like Ted Cruz is trying to do shaken baby syndrome on America

    i fear for his soul but also I fear for our country’s

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  29. teaming up *with* John Kasich i mean

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  30. Gabriel Hanna,

    “In fairness,” the #NeverTrump people are not the ones threatening to blow it all up. That’s the point.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  31. Say what?

    ropelight (723e1f)

  32. all seven and we’ll watch them fall

    they stand in the way of trump

    and we will smoke them all

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  33. #21 Rick Ballard, you’re spot-on. Some of Trump’s Fan Boys (and Girls!) are getting involved in politics for the first time, and so they’re unaware of how it all works. That’s why stuff such as the electoral college, and idiosynchratic rules about delegates which vary from state to state, and the issue of primaries vs caucuses is so frustrating to them. And it’s easy for them to talk about deconstructing the party when they don’t have a history of party involvement.

    The way to change the GOP is to do so from within, a la the Reagan Revolution. But it’s more emotionally satisfying to speak of pitchforks and kerosene, I guess.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  34. The problem with the Trumpanzees is they have all the tactical flexibility of the 1944 Japanese high command.

    1. Banzai charge!
    2. Get most of your men killed.
    3. ????
    4. Pull the pin and stick the grenade under your cap.

    I’m out of practice but I hope to brush up on my Japanese soes I can reread “Requiem for a Battleship.” One of the more enjoyable aspects of the book was the part where the JOs in the last stupid sortie of the Japanese WWII navy redlined an intel report on British and American technical innovations. Proximity fuses, wake homing torpedoes, sonobuoys? H3llz no, the generals and admirals said. The troops just need to lay on the Yamato Damashi extra thick.

    The JOs put their heads together and agreed; Japan’s only hope was to kill everyone O-4 and above and start over.

    Now, I’m not in a murderous mood. I have no intention of doing violence to anyone. But I’m with those JOs in this sense. I’m not on board with the “burn it all down, let’s go out in a blaze of glory in one last futile ‘Animal House’ gesture” that is the heart of the Trumptardian bowel movement.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  35. and that’s not something the voters are going to forget cause it reveals so much about Ted’s character

    this win at all costs philosophy is frightening it’s like Ted Cruz is trying to do shaken baby syndrome on America

    i fear for his soul but also I fear for our country’s
    happyfeet (a037ad) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:24 am

    Holy lack of self-awareness, Batman!

    Yet another example of how — as Jonah Goldberg said — nobody can get away with being a guy like Trump but Trump.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  36. 28. …this win at all costs philosophy is frightening it’s like Ted Cruz is trying to do shaken baby syndrome on America…

    happyfeet (a037ad) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:24 am

    !

    Heavens to Betsy!

    Let’s just stick a grenade under our hats and be done with these nasty “winning” and “cost” thingies.

    Ick! Eeuh!

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  37. Happyfascist pretends to be outraged that Cruz and Kasich would have a temporary nonaggression pact, but was happy when Trump allied with Kasich to shut Cruz out of the delegate count in Michigan.

    Hypocrisy, thy name is Happyfeet.

    njrob (b9e3e9)

  38. @Cruz Supporter:“In fairness,” the #NeverTrump people are not the ones threatening to blow it all up.

    Voting for Hillary, sitting out, or voting third party are all threats to blow it all up. They are attempts to hold the general election hostage to keep Trump out as the candidate. Significant percentages of the Trump and anti-Trump factions are making this threat, including commenters here. I do not say you specifically, they know who they are.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  39. Voting for Hillary, sitting out, or voting third party are all threats to blow it all up. They are attempts to hold the general election hostage to keep Trump out as the candidate…

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:01 am

    Ridiculous! Trying to keep Trump out as the nominee is not “blowing it all up,” it’s keeping it together, albeit with Band-Aids and bubble gum.

    A Trump nomination will destroy the Republican party as we know it, and that is NOT a good thing, unless — as was true of the first Republicans usurping the Whigs — something better will replace it. There is ZERO chance of a Trumpublican Party being an improvement on the mess we’ve got now.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  40. but was happy when Trump allied with Kasich to shut Cruz out of the delegate count in Michigan

    where did i evince any knowledge of this much less happiness

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  41. You reap what you sow. Deny it if you will, but the truth is immutable and you will suffer the consequences of your duplicity.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  42. it is sad to see what ropelight has become.

    JD (34f761)

  43. Deny it if you will, but the truth is immutable and you will suffer the consequences of your duplicity.

    Trump and his supporters had certainly better *hope* this isn’t the case.

    M. Scott Eiland (59e34f)

  44. Gabriel Hanna,

    Come on, you know very well that the Trumpkins have openly reveled in blowing up the GOP. That’s totally different than trying to stop Trump from getting the nomination, or even running a conservative third-party candidate in the fall.

    See, Gabriel, Trump is a Democrat. Putting a Democrat in as the titular head of the GOP is going to rip the party apart—which is what some of his supporters have advocated for.
    On the other hand, we Cruzbots (!!!) are in favor of putting a lifelong conservative Republican in as the titular head of the GOP.
    That’s a huge delineation.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  45. @L. N. Smithee:A Trump nomination will destroy the Republican party as we know it,

    Less probably than a November victory for Hillary, with large numbers of Republicans sitting it out to punish Trump. Trump might lose anyway, no one knows for sure, but large numbers sit it out because of #NeverTrump each side will have reason to blame the other. If #NeverTrump sucks it up, votes for Trump, and he loses than only the Trumpbots are to blame.

    @Cruz Supporter:On the other hand, we Cruzbots (!!!) are in favor of putting a lifelong conservative Republican in as the titular head of the GOP.

    And a lot of you are threatening to sit out and throw it to Hillary if you don’t get it. That will also destroy the GOP.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  46. See what’s different this time around is the brinksmanship. The pro- and anti-Trump factions are both threatening to take their ball and go home if they don’t get their way.

    A much more mature way to go about this, rather than #NeverTrump, would be for the anti-Trump faction to say what Trump needs to do to earn their support. Of course the pro-Trump side should do the same. Neither side is doing this, they are simply excommunicating each other.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  47. #42, Likewise, JD, only I think about how it applies to you. The notion intrudes too often. Many of the commenters here I once held in some regard, some even in high regard (including you, DRJ, Beldar, etc.) have chosen to support their candidate with such brazen personal assaults matched with scorched Earth propaganda mob tactics that I’ve learned a powerful lesson in human shortcomings: the veneer of political conviction is exceedingly thin especially among the ideologically motivated.

    They are blind – and they will not look at themselves.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  48. News you can use. You’ll see people, including, pro athletes, tatted up with Chinese characters that they have no clue about. By that I mean words like “crazy.” They think, apparently, that because “crazy” implies in English “wild fun times” it must imply the same in other languages.

    It doesn’t.

    The peeps who brand themselves as “kichigai,” insane in Japanese, have no idea what they’re doing. There is no good implication of the word. Essentially they’re branding themselves as unfit for society; they’re too sick to ever be allowed out of lock-up without an armed guard.

    If you want to have people think you’re fun in an unconventional, uninhibited way “kighigai” isn’t it. “Kichigai” means “lock me up before I start cannibalizing your children

    “Omoshiroi” would work.

    Anyhoo the Trumpanzees were reminding me of the kichigai Japanese dead-enders.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  49. if trump gave you diamonds and pearls

    would u be a happy boy or a girl

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  50. Gabriel Hanna,

    It’s not about negotiating with or finding common ground with Trump.
    Trump’s a Democrat who flip flops on issue after issue—sometimes within the course of the same day. Or hour.
    This is not equivalent to requesting (then pro-choice) Vice President George H.W. Bush to only nominate pro-life judges to the Supreme Court in exchange for giving him public support in the general election against Mike Dukakis.
    We Cruzbots are opposed to Trump because he’s a Democrat. Whereas Trumpkins are opposed to Cruz because…well, I guess it is because he’s told some funny jokes at the expense of Donald’s massive ego.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  51. 49. if trump gave you diamonds and pearls

    would u be a happy boy or a girl

    happyfeet (a037ad) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:03 pm

    If Mr. “Use whatever bathroom you want” gave me diamonds and pearls I’d be a happy boy.

    And a racist and sexist.

    Worthy of death.

    So I would have my diamonds and pearls confiscated.

    And my throat slit.

    Unhappy boy!!

    Sad!

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  52. He hasn’t died yet; mebbe someday Perry will cough up the semen stained dress.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  53. well let’s put the whole bathroom thing aside cause of that is for kichigai people normal people just go pee

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  54. “The semen stained dress.”

    Like there’s only one in the prog closet. What was I thinking?

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  55. Neener neener, Mr. feets.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  56. http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/08/media/bruce-springsteen-north-carolina-show-canceled/index.html

    WTF knew it would be this easy to keep Chris Christie away?

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  57. “Collude” means to come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose. Something two campaigns announce to the world through simultaneous press releases, by definition, cannot be collusion because it’s not secret.

    But ya gotta love the world-class whining from Trump:

    It is sad that two grown politicians have to collude against one person who has only been a politician for ten months in order to try and stop that person from getting the Republican nomination.

    Poor widdle half-gwown Donald Twump — ‘frwaid to debate, ‘fwaid to release his taxes, and so ‘fwaid to show up to meet and greet the largest cache of delegates (including uncommitted delegates and likely members of the Rules & Credentials committees at the convention) at the RNC spring meeting that he instead sent megalobbyist Paul Manafort to assure the delegates that Trump will turn into some kind of not-Trump at some unspecified future date.

    He’s a sniveling coward. And he’ll never change.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  58. @Cruz Supporter:It’s not about negotiating with or finding common ground with Trump.

    This is exactly what I said you were doing, and now you say that is what you are doing; it appears you think you are contradicting or refuting me, but you are actually proving my point.

    What do you want the Trumpbots to do? Do you want them to switch their support to the candidate you want? If so, what do you offer in return? If the answer is “nothing”, then why on earth do you expect them to change their minds about anything?

    Or have you just written them off entirely, and declared that they are your enemy? If so, then why are you surprised at what is happening now?

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  59. Gabriel Hanna,

    It’s not about negotiating with or finding common ground with Trump.
    Trump’s a Democrat who flip flops on issue after issue—sometimes within the course of the same day. Or hour.
    This is not equivalent to requesting (then pro-choice) Vice President George H.W. Bush to only nominate pro-life judges to the Supreme Court in exchange for giving him public support in the general election against Mike Dukakis.
    We Cruzbots are opposed to Trump because he’s a Democrat. Whereas Trumpkins are opposed to Cruz because…well, I guess it is because he’s told some funny jokes at the expense of Donald’s massive ego.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:14 pm

    Cruz Supporter: Well said, except for the “Cruzbot” part. I don’t agree with the concept of adopting insulting nicknames. There are things that Ted Cruz can do that will cost him my support. Trumpbots, not so much.

    Gabriel Hanna: You don’t get it. You seem to think that the fact that Trump is running as a Republican instead of a Democrat qualifies as some sort of saving grace. It doesn’t — not for reasonable people. If you think Obama was flying by the seat of his pants when he took office, you ain’t seen nothing until you’ve seen a guy who has never served in a government position in his lifetime (Remember that apparently phony foot injury used to keep him out of the “Vietnam” that wasn’t like having lots of bareback sex?).

    We already can see on almost a daily basis how he hasn’t done any homework as far as doing the actual day-to-day job is concerned, and how he believes he can bullschtuff his way out of anything (“I think – I think, for me, nuclear is just the power, the devastation is very important to me”). And for the first time in my life, there is a Republican candidate for President who was tentative about rejecting the support of white supremacists. There is no way millions of voters’ sheer will can turn this Ugly Schmuckling into a beautiful swan overnight.

    I don’t know if you live in California, Gabriel, but everyone should learn from the example of another celebrity RINO who convinced people he could be a government executive because he’s good at other stuff: Arnold Schwarzenegger. In his quest to be re-elected for a second term, he scorched the ground for Republicans in the future in the form of his deal with fellow RINO Abel Maldonado. That deal got Ahnuld a line-crossing tiebreaking vote in a budget impasse, and got Maldonado the open Lieutenant Governor job PLUS a bill establishing open primaries with the top two vote-getters running off. The Democrats loved that idea, and swiftly passed it.

    Maldonado figured that would help him cruise into the Governor’s mansion. He was wrong. And as a result, it’s unlikely that a Republican will EVER be elected to a statewide post anytime in the near-future.

    That’s what happens when you put celebrity before principles. That’s what happens when you buy into the idea that political experience ought to be a disqualifier. That’s what happens when you have someone without a moral compass making deals.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  60. @L.N. Smithee:You seem to think that the fact that Trump is running as a Republican instead of a Democrat qualifies as some sort of saving grace.

    Is he Hillary Clinton? A quick visual check confirms he is not.

    you ain’t seen nothing until you’ve seen a guy who has never served in a government position in his lifetime

    Oh, well, if you want experience in government who has more than Hillary Clinton?

    That’s what happens when you put celebrity before principles.

    Trump will I am sure be a terrible president. If he gets the nomination, who are you voting for?

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  61. Many of the commenters here I once held in some regard, some even in high regard (including you, DRJ, Beldar, etc.) have chosen to support their candidate with such brazen personal assaults matched with scorched Earth propaganda mob tactics that I’ve learned a powerful lesson in human shortcomings: the veneer of political conviction is exceedingly thin especially among the ideologically motivated.

    ropelight (723e1f) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:58 am

    I’m curious. What are some specific examples of the “scorched Earth propaganda mob tactics” used by Cruz supporters? Are they like saying that Cruz got preferential treatment from Goldman Sachs because he has a margin brokerage account that anyone who has acceptable credit can get? Latching on to unsupported adultery claims from National Enquirer? Claiming something was rigged in CO when nothing was rigged?

    Gerald A (945582)

  62. Mr. Trump will be a much better president than Hillary

    number one his is not part of a global criminal cartel

    number two he doesn’t want to rape America

    number three he has good intentions for to help make America great again

    number four he will buy time for poor Team R to get their act together.

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  63. Yeah, Gerald, it must be a confusing mystery to you.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  64. Gabriel Hanna,
    There is absolutely nothing that Trump can do in the next 5 months that can erase the last 50 years.
    As I have said before, I don’t care what anybody says,
    I care about their record.
    Cruz has a record, imperfect in my opinion, but a good one I can support.
    Trump has a record I cannot support.
    So does HRC.

    For the moment, because I can, I am not going to weigh in on just how bad Trump is compared to Clinton, and whether ABC “trumps” #notTrump. I hope and pray it doesn’t come to that.

    MD back in Philly!!! (f9371b)

  65. I don’t know if you live in California, Gabriel, but everyone should learn from the example of another celebrity RINO who convinced people he could be a government executive because he’s good at other stuff: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    I’m with you, L.N. Smithee. My take away from the Schwarzenegger years is that you should never elect anyone from the entertainment world whose value and self-worth depends upon being popular. For as soon as they face the inevitability of having to take an unpopular stance in order to be principled, the principles tend to go out the window. It’s even more of a guessing game when the celebrity doesn’t appear to have any real principles, so far as that goes.

    JVW (eabb2a)

  66. @Jvw:you should never elect anyone from the entertainment world whose value and self-worth depends upon being popular

    Sitting out then, you and L. N. Smithee? Taking your ball and letting Hillary have it if things don’t go your way?

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  67. A nonanswer from ropelight! Shocker!

    Gerald A (e284f5)

  68. This article on the 1300+ lawsuits involving Trump and his companies since 2000 is interesting reading — with some neat interactive graphics that let you drill down to some of the individual cases.

    Trump is not the only businessman who uses litigation as an everyday business strategy, or who files bogus lawsuits simply to oppress and overwhelm his opponents, or who has a very high losing percentage in the cases he or his companies file as plaintiffs. But in my personal experience as a trial lawyer specializing in business litigation for the last 36 years, that’s the mark of a very marginal businessman with no long-term horizons and no care for his reputation in the business community. Good businessmen treat litigation as a last resort; for Trump, it’s often the first resort, often before the ink is dry on a contract.

    Indeed, Trump’s always had a reputation for being hyper-litigious, and it was a standing joke in NYC in the early 1990s that he’d barely escaped being forced into personal bankruptcy in considerable measure because he always hired cheap, loud, and not-very-competent lawyers. If the computerized court records went back farther, that 1300 number would probably at least double and possibly triple.

    In the 72 presently pending federal court lawsuits that include Trump personally, I guarantee you that Trump’s opponents settlement expectations are skyrocketing right now. He’ll keep settling most of those cases, but because of his political situation, his opponents are going to be able to extract YUUUGE payoffs — under cloak of densely worded and draconian confidentiality clauses, of course, to keep all the dirt, as well as the payoff, hidden from public view.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  69. Mr. Trump will need all his experience and wisdom if he’s to stand between our sad beleaguered little country and the depredations of that nasty pee-stanky criminal.

    If he fails the dogs of pee-stank will be unleashed upon the land and the darkness will be moist and the dead sodden air will reek of old lady pee.

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  70. Gabriel – a not-vote can be an expression of preference. Trump is not owed a vote from anyone, he has to go out and earn votes.

    JD (34f761)

  71. yes yes not voting is very expressive and deeply deeply valid

    your vote is your imprimatur

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  72. Trump will I am sure be a terrible president. If he gets the nomination, who are you voting for?
    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 1:06 pm

    As a California resident, my refusal to vote for Trump won’t matter. Hillary’s a lock.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  73. Pundits and Trumpkins keep talking about what Trump’s “real number” is — something other, and presumably lower, than the 1237 which would comprise a majority of all voting delegates. “If he comes to the convention and he’s close, then the unbound delegates will put Trump over the top,” they insist. Thus, it won’t matter (in their view) whether Cruz has second- and later-ballot support from a great many bound delegates who’ll be released after the first and second ballots.

    Except that Trump’s screwing up the hunt for unbound delegates too:

    Of the 63 unbound delegates who have already been named, 26 have told TIME or other news outlets that they are either committed to support Cruz, lean towards supporting Cruz or refuse to support Trump on the first ballot. By contrast Trump has the public support of only one delegate in North Dakota. Another delegate in American Samoa is Trump’s local campaign chair, but he declined to confirm to TIME that he will support Trump on the first ballot. Fifteen others declined to tell TIME their preference, and 15 more could not be reached for comment.

    I think in fact that Trump’s “real number” — the number of bound or solidly committed-but-unbound delegates he needs to have coming into the convention in order be sure of getting 1237 on the first ballot — is actually more than 1237, because he’ll need a cushion to make up for the bound-to-Trump delegates who may be openly faithless, plus the others who simply decide to go out for pizza across town at right about the time of the first ballot.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  74. This

    Poor widdle half-gwown Donald Twump — ‘frwaid to debate, ‘fwaid to release his taxes, and so ‘fwaid to show up to meet and greet the largest cache of delegates (including uncommitted delegates and likely members of the Rules & Credentials committees at the convention) at the RNC spring meeting that he instead sent megalobbyist Paul Manafort to assure the delegates that Trump will turn into some kind of not-Trump at some unspecified future date.

    He’s a sniveling coward. And he’ll never change.

    Beldar (fa637a) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:42 pm

    Deserves repeating.

    Steven Malynn (1d7837)

  75. Sitting out then, you and L. N. Smithee? Taking your ball and letting Hillary have it if things don’t go your way?

    I’m in the same situation as L.N. Smithee — as a Californian, my vote doesn’t matter much anyway. If the GOP candidate has a remote chance of winning California, he is going to be on his way to a 48 state victory.

    I plan to vote either Libertarian or perhaps American Constitution, depending on the relative nuttiness of each candidate, and I’ll save any of my money and volunteer time for any down-ballot races that interest me.

    JVW (eabb2a)

  76. Kasich is counting on a rules revamp when the convention opens. Rule 40 may disappear while a clarification regarding first ballot abstention by delegates might receive quite a bit of attention.

    There’s an interesting bit in Robert’s Rules.

    If you have an election where a majority of members present and voting is required, then

    1. Abstentions are not votes, but
    2. Votes for ineligible candidates ARE votes.

    So, if someone is bound to vote for, say, Pataki, it may matter if they say “abstain” rather than “Pataki”,

    Of course, if the requirement is simply to get a majority of the MEMBERSHIP, rather than present and voting, then none of this matters. And they aren’t using Robert’s Rules.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  77. So, not only are delegates selected at these state conventions, but also alternate. One alternate for each delegate, in case the delegate is too drunk to make the vote, as sometimes happens. Presumably, this would also prevent “bound” delegates from “getting lost” on the way to vote for Trump, since the alternate would be similarly bound.

    Of course, if the delegates and alternates were all Cruz’s guys, they might all get lost together…

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  78. Kasich is the scorpion who fatally stung the frog in the middle of a lake.

    Rubio’s ego is out of control. Kasich is delusional.

    So…where are all the GOP elites rushing to quash the Trump candidacy? More of the same. Totally self-interested parasites at the expense of the life of their host (The USA).

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  79. as a #Failifornia native, i’m voting for Bernie in June.

    in November, i can see Trump taking the state, at least from Shrillery.

    YMMV.

    redc1c4 (018028)

  80. In fairness, many in #NeverTrump are planning on doing exactly what they accuse the Trumpoids of doing, which is not supporting whoever comes out of the convention in the general election if it’s [Trump].

    Yes, but they aren’t doing so to blow up the GOP, which is not their intent. They LOVE the GOP and refuse to help Trump rape it. Their choices are, in order: Trump is not the nominee’ Failing that, someone runs an independent campaign; failing that, Trump loses and the Party picks up the pieces, ejects for all time the traitors that supported Trump, and moves on.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  81. I don’t know if you live in California, Gabriel, but everyone should learn from the example of another celebrity RINO

    Ahnuld was a lot better than Gray Davis who, among other things raised all state pensions by 50% RETROACTIVELY — and lots of goodies for all current workers — claiming we’d never notice and the pension fund was solid. This was 1999, of course. And guess what? Once granted, no state employee may be denied any promised dime, including future dimes for future work.

    See here: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703315404575250822189252384

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  82. Anything is possible in California provided that it’s weird.

    nk (dbc370)

  83. if Cruz can cooperate with Kasich then there’s no reason they both can’t cooperate with Mr. Trump for to help him beat Hillary

    that’s what i would do

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  84. you have to think two steps ahead

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  85. Gabriel Hanna 38 & 45:

    38. Voting for Hillary, sitting out, or voting third party are all threats to blow it all up. They are attempts to hold the general election hostage to keep Trump out as the candidate. Significant percentages of the Trump and anti-Trump factions are making this threat, including commenters here. I do not say you specifically, they know who they are.

    45. And a lot of you are threatening to sit out and throw it to Hillary if you don’t get it. That will also destroy the GOP.

    You and I know I’m one of the commenters you are talking about because we’ve discussed this before. First, I don’t care what happens to the GOP because I’m no longer a Republican. You can blame Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and the past GOP establishment for that.

    Second, I was willing to vote for 15 of the 17 people running for President on the Republican ticket. The only people I won’t vote for are Huckabee and Trump. Unlike some Trump supporters, I haven’t threatened violence or riot if my 15 choices aren’t chosen. People like me aren’t the problem.

    DRJ (15874d)

  86. Capite melium delenda est!

    nk (dbc370)

  87. Gabiel Hanna:

    A much more mature way to go about this, rather than #NeverTrump, would be for the anti-Trump faction to say what Trump needs to do to earn their support. 

    Assurances from someone who will say anything on almost every issue? We aren’t that stupid.

    DRJ (15874d)

  88. The current metastasis of Trumpism brings to mind a thoughtful essay written by Dorothy Thompson for the August 1941 issue Harper’s Magazine. In “Who Goes Nazi” she describes a “macabre parlor game” in which the observer categorizes acquaintances at a social gathering according to their likelihood of joining or resisting the Nazi party.

    Before anyone accuses me of “going Godwin” on Donald Trump, I want to state for the record that I do not think Mr. Trump shares the genocidal impulses of the Fuhrer. I even agree with his proposal to secure the southern border and I give him credit for talking this third rail issue and standing up to the Pope’s naïve meddling in America’s internal affairs. Other than that, I regard Donald Trump as a petty, and mean-spirited narcissist whose policies are about as shallow as his talking points. When so many voters gave this demagogue the benefit of a doubt after he proudly displayed an unflattering image of his opponent’s spouse, I concluded that only a cult of personality of Third Reich intensity could propagate this magnitude of emotional commitment.

    According to the author, the motives for “going Nazi” vary widely. The shallow and opportunistic Mr. B would not hesitate to invest any strong horse that might further his career. His real-life counterparts are radio host Sean Hannity and New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The embittered intellectual Mr. C would use Nazism as a vehicle to garner the power and respect he craves, much like radio host Michael Savage. The vain and sensation-seeking Mr. D longs to swagger in the uniform and lord it over to others. This “alpha make wannabe” honor belongs to basketball star Dennis Rodman. Mrs. E is a self-abasing masochist who dares not venture outside the shadow of a husband who is bored with her. Trump spokesperson Katrina Pierson and reality show personality Omarosa Onee Manigault belong to this “poor self-esteem” category. Finally there is Mr. J, the acolyte who enthusiastically guzzles the Kool-Aide Mr. C is dispensing. Pundit Anne Coulter and ex-governor Sarah Palin are among Trump’s bona fide “True Believers”.

    While I can forgive the underemployed Trump supporters frustrated with the series of risk-adverse career politicians who let them down, I have nothing but contempt for these high profile supporters who are not constrained by financial or intellectual resources. Trump may get the nomination, but he will never be president. The silver lining for authentic conservatives is watching the careers of B, C, and J go down in flames after Trump loses in a landslide.

    Tony (ff2fe4)

  89. Beldar 68,

    Trump obviously has a propensity for and a delight in solving problems with litigation. Imagine a Trump DOJ and IRS. They would surpass the atrocious Obama DOJ and IRS, and not necessarily benefiting conservatives. Trump might very well use the DOJ to infringe on our Second Amendment and other rights.

    DRJ (15874d)

  90. @L. N. Smithee As a California resident, my refusal to vote for Trump won’t matter. Hillary’s a lock.

    Like you I also have the luxury of purity, living where I do. So what do you advise the people in the purple states to do?

    @Kevin M. They LOVE the GOP and refuse to help Trump rape it.

    Destroy it in order to save it…

    Their choices are, in order: Trump is not the nominee’ Failing that, someone runs an independent campaign; failing that, Trump loses and the Party picks up the pieces, ejects for all time the traitors that supported Trump, and moves on.

    With a much more selective appeal, they are bound to win more elections, especially with Hillary in charge of IRS and campaign finance law enforcement.

    But what if you’ve miscalculated if they eject the people that failed to support Trump? The ones who could have kept Hillary from getting in, but didn’t?

    Either way, another vote for Hillary then.

    @DRJ:First, I don’t care what happens to the GOP because I’m no longer a Republican. You can blame Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and the past GOP establishment for that.

    Another vote for Hillary then.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  91. Gabriel Hanna,

    I live in Texas and my vote does matter because mnominating Trump puts very red states in play for Hillary. That is not my fault. It is Trump’s fault for being such a terrible cabdidate and the fault of every person who votes for him. Blame them.

    DRJ (15874d)

  92. But I really don’t care if you want to blame me. You seem to think I care what you and people like you think of me. I don’t. Your opinions do not impress me.

    DRJ (15874d)

  93. Megyn Kelly is going to interview Trump.

    DRJ (15874d)

  94. @DRJ: It is Trump’s fault for being such a terrible cabdidate and the fault of every person who votes for him. Blame them.

    I suppose you have to decide which is worse and do what you think is right, but there are millions of people involved in this process and if you think they are getting it wrong, anathematizing them is only going to ensure that they do not listen to you.

    You have no power over them except that of persuasion. In what way are you encouraging them to change their mind? When you are hectored, do you feel more inclined or less inclined to the view of the one doing the hectoring?

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  95. @DRJ:You seem to think I care what you and people like you think of me. I don’t. Your opinions do not impress me.

    That’s what the Trumpbots are saying about those who are against Trump. Is this attitude of yours more likely, or less likely, to incline them to your views?

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  96. is the hyperventilating over, seriously

    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2016/04/the-cold-war-never-ended.php

    narciso (732bc0)

  97. a gauzey whitewash that uses all the vaseline on the lens.

    http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/25/jason-clarke-ted-kennedy-chappaquiddick

    narciso (732bc0)

  98. Yes. Texas. Where I dine on the tears of the defeated.

    thepirateslair.com/liberty-ship-hatch-cover-tables.html

    And do my Christmas shopping at the Pirate’s Lair.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  99. I get all my boarding axes from the pirate’s lair.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  100. I cowboyed up at the pirate’s lair.

    Be there or be square.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  101. I am a conservative, not a Republican, Gabriel. If my opinions resonate with some people, fine, but it’s not my goal. I am here because I want to talk to people with interesting ideas.

    I think my voting patterns are very flexible. I’ve given money to and voted for many Republicans who weren’t conservative because they were better than their Democratic opponents. I’ve been a reliable vote and donor, even/especially for moderates who don’t share my principles. But I won’t give to or vote for big government authoritarians like Trump and Huckabee who are not conservatives. They run as Republicans instead of Democrats because they think it will help them win, not because they have any conservative principles.

    DRJ (15874d)

  102. There are a few conservatives running this year, such as Cruz and Jindal and Perry. The rest are not as conservative but I was willing to support them. I draw a line at supporting candidates like Huckabee and Trump. Maybe you will support anyone against Hillary. So be it. It’s your vote.

    DRJ (15874d)

  103. of those in the running I think cruz is the only one left, perry was jinxed by ‘dr. evil’ and the younger barbour, from the get go, jindal just didn’t go voom,

    http://realclimatescience.com/2016/04/nasa-doubling-sea-level-rise-by-data-tampering/

    narciso (732bc0)

  104. “When you are hectored, do you feel more inclined or less inclined to the view of the one doing the hectoring?”

    – Gabriel Hanna

    Depends on the soundness of the reasoning of the one doing the hectoring. You, for instance, seem to think that “another vote for Hillary!!1!” is reasoning that magically carries the day, even in a hypothetical situation where the alternative is Donald Trump. Many people think Trump would be a president as bad as Clinton or worse. You do not seem to acknowledge this as a possibility, or to acknowledge the possibility that the nomination of two terrible candidates would lead many people to refrain from voting for either one.

    Hectoring isn’t the main problem. Logically unsound hectoring is the main problem. Lecturing people about hectoring while professing not to support Trump (while simultaneously trying to convince people to vote for him) is… some other kind of problem.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  105. I would vote Trump. Twice. Before voting for the Soros funded Kasich.

    mg (31009b)

  106. voting for melissandre, does seem to be the wrong answer on all counts, she has a proven record of malfeasance and enemy action, against our allies, and in favor of our foes,

    narciso (732bc0)

  107. Many people think Trump would be a president as bad as Clinton or worse.

    they they need to have the courages of their convictions and vote for pee-stanky Hillary i think

    these are the same smarmy morally superior hyperventilating so cons what planned parenthooded their panties for months and months and months

    and months

    now all of a sudden partial birth hillary is an awesome alternative

    this shows you what these people are

    with utter and complete clarity

    happyfeet (831175)

  108. *then* they need to have the courages of their convictions i mean

    we finally got this one compressor working at the new office and i think it’s blowing something i’m super-allergic to

    probably some mold

    i gotten super-sensitized to mold since i been here was never a thing in california

    this place is so soggy alla time but this was an amazingly gorgeous day so it’s ok

    happyfeet (831175)

  109. Trump is no different than Hillary on abortion or any other social issue. In fact, he’s more libertine on some of them.

    nk (dbc370)

  110. And Hilary is three months younger than he is.

    nk (dbc370)

  111. And she has nicer hair and bigger hands.

    nk (dbc370)

  112. that does not make sense to me Mr. nk

    say what you want about Mr. Trump there’s no evidence at all that liberalizing abortion is high on his ttd list

    you can’t say the same about pee-stank you just can’t

    happyfeet (831175)

  113. Even Trump facepalmed on Twitter after Kasich screwed up the deal with Cruz. It’s kind of funny because when it comes to deals or interactions between opposing sides, something where there is gonna be a winner and a loser, Trump becomes a very objective critic and doesn’t seem to play favorites with the players. Even if it’s a government crackdown at Tiananmen Square or the guys who hatched a plan to defeat him.

    jcurtis (45f5ef)

  114. as a #Failifornia native, i’m voting for Bernie in June.

    I’m thinking I might do that too. Don’t we have such a loosey-goosey state in California that I don’t even need to register as a Dem, I just need to request a Dem ballot, or does the Presidential primary have a more strict policy than other elections?

    JVW (eabb2a)

  115. Well darn, in glancing over the rules it appears that I would have to officially register as a Dem to get a Dem Presidential ballot. You have to register for the June 7 primary by May 23, but I don’t know if that is the same deadline for switching party preferences.

    JVW (eabb2a)

  116. the proper way to this, is not a blast email to the press, but contacts to key people in each campaign, but do they listen to zathras, no,

    narciso (732bc0)

  117. Which is why I’m skipping that line on the ballot if it’s Hillary vs. Trump and going to the Senate race. I’ll probably vote for Tammy because she’ll be more likely than Kirk to vote to impeach Trump if it gets to that point.

    nk (dbc370)

  118. it has nothing to do with who you in particular vote for you in illinois!

    in the same city where pee-stank was born!

    happyfeet (831175)

  119. Did kasich really say people in IN should vote for him even after the “agreement”?
    I can believe he did from what I have seen from him before, but wanted to be sure.
    There are times I think his ego is as big as Trump’s.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  120. Destroy it in order to save it…

    Jesus wept. If you really gave a flying fig about the GOP and wanted to save it, you’d be 1200% behind Ted Cruz who is the most Constitutionalist, most Rule-of-Lawist, most small-government, Tea Party, least cronyistic candidate that the GOP has or ever will field.

    But no, you really don’t care about saving the GOP. You just wanna throw your tantrum.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  121. yes, but they are just as willing, actually more willing to stab cruz in the chest,

    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/04/25/for-the-record-why-another-spike-in-health-insurance-means-its-being-used-wrong/

    narciso (732bc0)

  122. BTW, we are still waiting for that list of judges he’d choose from. Bet you they’re a pack of liberals.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  123. Well, f*ckin eh Jimmy Thatch and and Flatley and O’Hare showed how it was done. You didn’t really need a wilder Wildcat.

    I remain, as I always have, in awe.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  124. Ted Cruz can’t win without going to some weirdo transparently undemocratic second ballot goldy sacky scheme Mr. M

    that’s simply not gonna fly and at the end of the day it’s the harvardtrash spoiler who’s got no realistic chance of getting either the votes or the delegates to win this thing honestly – he what’s gonna destroy your beloved Republican Party

    harvardtrash ted and his harvardtrash goldy sacky are elitist phonies in a year of populism, they utterly failed to win the nomination honestly, and if you add screechy humorless butt-ugly lying carly fetalrrhea to the mix you have a political hindenburg

    oh the humanity

    happyfeet (831175)

  125. #58 Gabriel Hanna,

    I don’t know what else to say. You believe that conservatives who won’t support liberal Democrat Trump for the GOP nomination are infidels to the Republican Party. That’s totally upside down.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  126. say what you want about Mr. Trump there’s no evidence at all that liberalizing abortion is high on his ttd list

    you can’t say the same about pee-stank you just can’t

    happyfeet (831175) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:14 pm

    He won’t have to “liberalize abortion,” he’ll just sit by and do nothing as it’s liberalized.

    If you want someone to whom abortion expansion is a non-starter, you want Cruz. So make up your stupid mind what your priorities are.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  127. There are a few conservatives running this year, such as Cruz and Jindal and Perry.

    DRJ (15874d) — 4/25/2016 @ 4:18 pm

    Perry was Al Gore’s Texas campaign manager. If Trump had been Clinton’s New York campaign manager in 2008, that would be an issue. Trump paying the Dane’s Gold so that these leftists allowed him to ply his trade is an issue that you use against Trump’s conservatism so a little consistency, please.

    jcurtis (45f5ef)

  128. He won’t have to “liberalize abortion,” he’ll just sit by and do nothing as it’s liberalized.

    this idea that Mr. Trump is more enthusiastic than pee-stank about expanding reproductive freedoms is a lil nutso

    you want Cruz

    even if i wanted teddy-pie (which i don’t) he’s already lost the primary and he stands zero chance of winning nationally

    he’s an awful candidate

    “Grown adult men – strangers – should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls,” Cruz said.

    god bless america could he be more of a creeper

    happyfeet (831175)

  129. #128 jcurtis,

    As usual, you’re totally devoid of facts and reason. Get a grip…on facts and reason—not your…

    Perry was for Gore in Texas in 1988. Not 2008, as Donnie Mobster Trump was for Hillary, but in 1988. He has since served as a conservative governor longer than anyone in Texas’ history. He doesn’t have to prove to his meddle the way Donnie Come Lately must do.

    You Trumpkins are so weird. So weird.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  130. What the Navy started with they finished with. Yes, with some changes, They ended with a lighter Wright engine and as opposed to the Pratt and Whitney, and a taller tail surface.

    Good plane.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  131. orwell would nod, and say, ‘I told you so’

    narciso (732bc0)

  132. My mother-in-law is still the best at rehabilitating roosters, in a rich red sweet cinnamon sauce over spaghetti with mitzithra cheese. Μακαροναδα με κοκορα. http://www.athinorama.gr/umami/food/recipes/?id=2002795

    nk (dbc370)

  133. that recipe is a lil challenging

    happyfeet (831175)

  134. one of the few times, google translate, didn’t largely screw it up,

    narciso (732bc0)

  135. oh good idea i’m mostly intrigued by the sauce

    happyfeet (831175)

  136. cinnamon and nutmeg with chicken…hmm, sounds good

    yes, that is the style of rehabilitation most of the posts at PL had in mind

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  137. GM and Ford delivered better planes than Consolidated and Grumman. The FM-1 was basically the same as the dash four. The FM-2 only ever existed on paper until GM built it.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  138. Thanks, Md! Never have I laughed, then wept, so much.

    On a different note, The tumult on every (seemingly) thread (not just here), nowadays, has descended to the depths of such rancor, that it seems I shall not find a friendly spot to share the joy of creation; with the exception of so very few, this internet has become a wasteland. Please let this election cycle end, soon!

    felipe (325ff3)

  139. In fairness, many in #NeverTrump are planning on doing exactly what they accuse the Trumpoids of doing, which is not supporting whoever comes out of the convention in the general election if it’s not their guy.

    Seems we’ve collectively decided to move past the primary and the general election and just start casting blame now.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:14 am

    I don’t believe any Cruz supporters whatsoever will not vote for anyone other than Cruz. I believe there are quite a few Trumpers who won’t vote for any Republican besides Trump. It seems like it’s because they’ve developed an odd personal attachment to Trump and they’ve internalized his ridiculous complaints about being some kind victim. In other words it has nothing to do with who the alternative candidate turns out to be or what their positions are. That does not describe any Cruz supporters.

    Gerald A (7c7ffb)

  140. “Grown adult men – strangers – should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls,” Cruz said.

    god bless america could he be more of a creeper
    happyfeet (831175) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:55 pm

    With which part of that statement do you disagree?

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  141. felipe, did you read this comment:
    (Joe)
    So I says to my buddy at the bar, “Did you ever stop and consider that the gendered exploitation of roosters used in cockfighting is a case example of the social construction of gender via animals?”

    He took a drink from his bottle of Bud and started picking at the label.

    “The rehabilitation of roosters used in cockfighting,” he said, turning one eye to the basketball game on the screen above the bar, “illustrates the utility of an expanded and amended conception of Herman’s principles of trauma recovery enacted within the emerging insights of trans-species psychology.”

    “Yes, but . . .”

    I barely got the words out before he interrupted me. “Before you say it, I’m talking about Herman’s principles here. Herman’s. I was very clear about that.”

    I started picking at the label on my Bud bottle.

    “So, Warriors in six?”

    “At most,” he said. “Depends if Curry comes back.”

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  142. in the prestige press, you have the standard, national review, the federalist, beck, loesch,
    medved, on the radio, except for savage and ingraham, there is little national radio pushback,

    narciso (732bc0)

  143. MD, you vex me like an old woman!

    felipe (325ff3)

  144. Target has come out with the progressive PC version of bathroom behavior…
    I’m wondering if I should tell my wife and daughter…who like Target… but question my taste in blog sites…
    didn’t Target target the Salvation Army at Christmas?

    That rooster rehab article is hilarious in the abstract,
    but, on second thought, one has to worry about people who think that way.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  145. it depends on if Curry comes back

    happyfeet (831175)

  146. a little Target goes a long way

    quality there is just not very high

    happyfeet (831175)

  147. Perry was Al Gore’s Texas campaign manager. If Trump had been Clinton’s New York campaign manager in 2008, that would be an issue. Trump paying the Dane’s Gold so that these leftists allowed him to ply his trade is an issue that you use against Trump’s conservatism so a little consistency, please.
    jcurtis (45f5ef) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:48 pm

    Nonsense.

    And even if he had been, he was subsequently elected to three terms in Texas as a conservative Republican, and was a flubbed debate answer away from legit contender status. You see, that’s the difference between backing a conservative who’s proved something in the big chair versus backing a reality TV star you’d like to see chew the scenery in real-life situations.

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  148. http://www.aviation-history.com/consolidated/pb4y.html

    …The Ford Motor Company, which operated a huge B-24 license-production plant called Willow Run in Michigan, then transplanted a vertical fin from a C-54 transport onto one of their B-24s, creating the XB-24N. They also added a new custom built horizontal fin and replacing the nose turret with an ERCO 250 SH ball turret, which was more streamlined than the standard nose turret of production B-24s. It was superior enough to the standard B-24J that the Army ordered seven more pre-production YB-24Ns and inked an order for 5,168 B-24N bombers. Horrified that a mere car manufacturer might have upstaged them, Consolidated pulled strings to have this order canceled…

    …and thus ensuring I’d be buying Crown Vics or Mustangs or three window v8 coupes or you name it for life.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  149. actually, md, this practice goes back two years with them,

    narciso (732bc0)

  150. “Grown adult men – strangers – should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls,” Cruz said.

    god bless america could he be more of a creeper
    happyfeet (831175) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:55 pm

    With which part of that statement do you disagree?

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/25/2016 @ 6:20 pm

    This is more of his obnoxious jamming routine. I posted on this before but it bears occasional repeating:

    The aforementioned book, After the Ball, is widely regarded as the handbook for the gay agenda, in which two Harvard-trained (homosexual) psychologists [48] Marshall Kirk (1957 – 2005) and Hunter Madsen (pen name Erastes Pill, who was also schooled in social marketing) advocated avoiding portraying gays as aggressive challengers, but as victims instead, while making all those who opposed them to be evil persecutors. As a means of the latter, they promoted jamming, in which Christians, traditionalists, or anyone else who opposes the gay agenda are publicly smeared.

    Gerald A (7c7ffb)

  151. down the basement lock the cellar door

    and baby

    happyfeet (831175)

  152. just like the convicted peter bean’s part in formulating said litigation and legislative strategy, the narrative concocted around matthew shepherd,

    narciso (732bc0)

  153. Similarly, the engineers at GM looked at the Wildcat and said, “We can do this better.”

    If it weren’t for the bail out I’d be filling my garage with ‘vettes and Camaros.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  154. Trump paying the Dane’s Gold so that these leftists allowed him to ply his trade is an issue that you use against Trump’s conservatism so a little consistency, please.

    jcurtis (45f5ef) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:48 pm

    Like all the defenses of Trump’s history that makes no sense. I can’t figure out how Pelosi or Clinton allowed Trump to “ply his trade”. In the case of his contributions to Bush’s gubernatorial campaign he clearly did want something: A casino in S. Florida.

    Gerald A (7c7ffb)

  155. Depends on the soundness of the reasoning of the one doing the hectoring. You, for instance, seem to think that “another vote for Hillary!!1!” is reasoning that magically carries the day, even in a hypothetical situation where the alternative is Donald Trump. Many people think Trump would be a president as bad as Clinton or worse. You do not seem to acknowledge this as a possibility, or to acknowledge the possibility that the nomination of two terrible candidates would lead many people to refrain from voting for either one.

    A very sound rebuttal to Gabriel Hanna. Thanks for saving me the trouble of having to construct my own response. I adopt Leviticus’s rebuttal in its entirety.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  156. Gerald A (7c7ffb) — 4/25/2016 @ 6:38 pm
    Thank you for reminding me of the details of that tactic.

    Yes, what P said that L said.
    Give credit where credit is due, I often don’t appreciate L’s contributions, but that is the point. Some of us think trump is a very terrible choice and hope it does not come to ABC vs. #NeverTrump

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  157. actually we know red queen’s record in north africa, russia, the caribbean south america, east asia, europe, and there is nothing that commends her for promotion,

    narciso (732bc0)

  158. YMMV. A German ace once commented that a well flown P-40 was the most dangerous aircraft that ever flew. Right up until the end of the war, and he had no reason to lie.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  159. “the possibility that the nomination of two terrible candidates would lead many people to refrain from voting for either one.”

    Ed Goeas confirmed that today in his analysis of the current Battleground Poll.

    Regarding the coarse language seen during
    this Presidential campaign, a majority (50%) of voters select the sentiment that “This
    language is repulsive and has no place in a Presidential campaign.” In contrast, less
    than one-quarter (24%) of voters select that this language is . . . “not a big deal. ”
    These concerns appear to be having a real impact on voter behaviors. Fully forty-two
    percent (42%) of voters say that this coarse language has either made them less likely to
    cast a vote for President (6%), or less likely to vote for a specific candidate (36%).

    The Battleground Poll is a joint effort by Dem pollster Celinda Lake and GOP pollster The Tarrance Group. It’s an LV poll with a very tight screen and very complete crosstabs are provided. The favorable/unfavorable crosstabs for Clinton begin on page 55 while the Trump splits begin on page 87. Clinton’s ‘strongly unfavorable’ number among Democrats is 8% while Trump scores a YUUUGE ‘strongly unfavorable’ of 25% with Republicans. The media have foisted a very large poison pill upon the GOP.

    Rick Ballard (05079d)

  160. Well flown is a subjective term. Good ships and bad officers make for a bad Navy; You can make a good Navy out of good officers and bad ships.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  161. I plan on making a large purchase of hemlock that I will freely distribute come November 9th.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  162. We won WWII without functional torpedoes.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  163. 166. I plan on making a large purchase of hemlock that I will freely distribute come November 9th.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 4/25/2016 @ 7:14 pm

    I plan on making amends with the korean hooker I accidentally offended.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  164. I treated myself to a new razor. It’s still in the mail. If it does not work as well as my Gillette Black Beauty adjustable, it’ll still be good to look at. http://www.smallflower.com/edwin-jagger/chrome-plated-double-edge-razor-de8911-razor-10067401

    But I am not getting a new badger.

    nk (dbc370)

  165. Regrets, Coronello. Apparently only I have them.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  166. Depends on the soundness of the reasoning of the one doing the hectoring.

    Hectoring is the absence of reasoning, sound or otherwise. Any attempt to dominate by bluster is repugnant to reason, the very antithesis to reason. Browbeating is how bullies try to intimidate, harass, and torment those who refuse to knuckle under.

    Hectoring is something decent people don’t do. It’s a clear sign of a diseased mind.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  167. 169. …But I am not getting a new badger.

    nk (dbc370) — 4/25/2016 @ 7:18 pm

    Hat Yai! Summer in the city. Back of my neck feeling dirty and gritty.

    Curious to know why you might suspect Thailand would return the favor.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  168. ropelight’s the guy that called me a child molester for saying something he didn’t like, for the record. Since we’re discussing diseased minds.

    I guess ropelight learned from his sugar daddy that that was something you could get away with in civilized company. I guess Ben Carson has a shorter memory than I do.

    Leviticus (b34d7c)

  169. Oh, sorry about the Thailand thing. I jumped like eleventy moves ahead.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  170. Just tell him it was not you, it was your robot overlords, Leviticus.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  171. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT CHICAGO’S WEATHER, HAPPYFEET!

    nk (dbc370)

  172. today was a good good day

    then it got soggy some mores

    happyfeet (831175)

  173. Leviticus, a plane captain can get away with holding up the charge for ejection seat once.

    “Ha, Ha, you rat bastard pilot, I fixed you.” waving the life-saving explosive charge around.

    Once.

    Do I need to explain the natural corrective action?

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  174. not really upset about weather i have a Story

    bad bad things happened

    mostly it was that

    i shut up house this winter more than last one cause i had guests all the time

    and i got SO sick

    thought it was walking pneumonia

    took me the better part of four months to realize i have a horrific mold problem under kitchen sink, and it was killing me

    i got to where i had trouble climbing the stairs to the train

    i was wheezing and coughing and wheezing like i was in trouble

    but bam i killed the mold

    aired out the place

    and I’m good to go

    but i want everything to be dry now

    dry and cool

    Chicago isn’t being very cooperative

    happyfeet (831175)

  175. We got HAIL! Last time you complained, we got snow! Just … just lie back and enjoy it, like Clayton Williams said!

    nk (dbc370)

  176. Sorry, Leviticus. I jumped ahead to eleventy.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  177. Ok, I didn’t see that mold story. But under your kitchen sink is not the weather’s fault. You have leaks, condensation or bad caulking.

    nk (dbc370)

  178. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT CHICAGO’S WEATHER, HAPPYFEET!

    nk (dbc3

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

    The weather was murder in Chicago today. Didn’t think the rain of bodies would ever stop.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  179. Steve, do you actually know anything about aircraft? The pilot is the plane captain, and ejection seats require multiple charges to function properly in sequence, none of which are accessible in flight. Maybe you need a better metaphor.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  180. “You have leaks, condensation or bad caulking.”

    Hold on, now. Happyfeet gives as good as he gets!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  181. I tripped and fell into a burning thing. It makes a firry ring, bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire.

    ‘scuse me.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  182. @Leviticus: Lecturing people about hectoring while professing not to support Trump (while simultaneously trying to convince people to vote for him) is… some other kind of problem.

    I really don’t care to have the things I have written lied about. I think it is beneath you to be dishonest.

    I’ve said it many times. The voting preference, for me, in the primary is

    1.) Ted Cruz
    2.) anyone not Trump

    In the general election, the voting preference for me, is

    1.) the candidate most likely to beat Hillary Clinton.

    What bothers me about #NeverTrump is not that it is anti-Trump. I am anti-Trump. It is that it is objectively pro-Hillary; it is short-sighted brinkmanship that doesn’t fool anyone with a brain. People like Beldar are not actually going to vote against Trump in the general if it’s against Hillary–he’ll crawl over broken glass to keep her out of the White House. Perhaps even you and Patterico and DRJ won’t vote against Trump if it comes down to it. But you are all putting up this big display to keep him out of the primary and no one is fooled by this. Even you yourselves probably aren’t.

    “If Hitler invaded Hell I should at least make a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.” If it comes down to Trump and Hillary that will be none of my doing, since I do not support Trump in the primary and have said so here any number of times. But if we should end up with a choice between Trump and Hillary, the only responsible thing to do is vote for Trump, because there would be no other candidate with any chance of winning whatever.

    It makes no sense to foreclose the possibility of voting for Trump if he gets the nomination.

    Which every day seems less and less likely. He doesn’t have a majority going in and he won’t get one once he is in. In order to beat Hillary everyone will have to rally around whoever it is.

    I don’t want any of you to find common ground with Trump. I want you to find common ground with the people who are currently supporting Trump, and do it sooner rather than later.

    Otherwise all chance of winning the real election will be lost.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  183. 185. Steve, do you actually know anything about aircraft? The pilot is the plane captain, and ejection seats require multiple charges to function properly in sequence, none of which are accessible in flight. Maybe you need a better metaphor.

    ropelight (723e1f) — 4/25/2016 @ 7:58 pm

    Oh, Ok. I was talking about all times and all places.

    An explosive charge was never used.

    Umm, yeah. Yes it was.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  184. yes yes a leak

    water pools under there but I mostly fixed it now

    and i got damprid and what have you

    i’ll have them gut it soon

    happyfeet (831175)

  185. The pilot is not the plane captain. The maintainer is the plane captain.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  186. Liviticus, I don’t remember calling you a child molester. Are you sure it was me? It’s true I despise you, but I don’t think of you as a child molester. Please provide directions to the incident.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  187. “I tripped and fell into a burning thing. It makes a firry ring, bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire.”

    Funny… I had a salsa recipe I named “Ring of Fire” and, brother, you paid a steep price for two days after enjoying some.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  188. Your landlord should be taking care of this for you.

    nk (dbc370)

  189. Gabriel Hanna,

    You did not respond to a single point I made in my comment. It makes absolute sense to many people to foreclose the possibility of voting for Trump if he gets the nomination. This is because he is the most embarrassingly toxic, dangerous, and incompetent self-anointed political “leader” I’ve ever seen in my young lifetime. Worse than Hillary Clinton in every sense. Which is the point I actually made, to which you would have actually responded if you weren’t primarily interested in manufacturing a false ultimatum.

    Leviticus (b34d7c)

  190. Chris Brown is a known abuser of women. You’d think he’d be a Trump supporter – abuse of women (and support of the abuse of women) is probably Trump’s only consistent trait.

    Leviticus (a8efb0) — 3/12/2016 @ 7:30 am

    What about you Liviticus? You keep your hands to yourself or on little boys?

    ropelight (afbacb) — 3/12/2016 @ 7:33 am

    Leviticus (c8fdf0)

  191. ropelight,

    What is it about spelling which precludes you from properly spelling Leviticus’ name?

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  192. The pilot shakes hands with the plane captain because.

    They. Are. Not. The. Same. FOOCKING. Person.

    Puzzle this out amongst yourselves.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  193. @Leviticus:You did not respond to a single point I made in my comment.

    Little point in responding to falsehoods: anyone can read what I wrote and compare with your characterization.

    Worse than Hillary Clinton in every sense. Which is the point I actually made, to which you would have actually responded…

    What can I say to a statement that you think Hillary Clinton should be President instead of Trump? If you really believe this, there isn’t any common ground for us to discuss it. I don’t think people like Beldar or most Republicans or conservatives agree with you either.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  194. Like you didn’t remember, ropelight – you lying dipsh*t.

    The permanence of the online record is as merciless to your dishonesty as it is to Trump’s. It’s the main reason you’ve lost all respect in this community.

    People don’t forget.

    Leviticus (c8fdf0)

  195. that’s not amicable

    happyfeet (831175)

  196. “anyone can read what I wrote and compare with your characterization.”

    – Gabriel Hanna

    That’s true. I’ll leave it at that.

    Leviticus (c8fdf0)

  197. Gabriel Hanna 188:

    Perhaps even you and Patterico and DRJ won’t vote against Trump if it comes down to it. But you are all putting up this big display to keep him out of the primary and no one is fooled by this. Even you yourselves probably aren’t.
    ***
    I don’t want any of you to find common ground with Trump. I want you to find common ground with the people who are currently supporting Trump, and do it sooner rather than later.

    I told you I am voting for Ted Cruz whether or not he is the nominee. I am not bluffing or trying to manipulate people. This is about me because this what I have to do to feel good about my vote.

    Further, I have no desire to find political common ground with ropelight, papertiger or even you. I’ve compromised enough. It’s my time to draw a line in the sand for principles.

    DRJ (15874d)

  198. @Leviticus:I’ll leave it at that.

    I really wish the whole revolting thing were over, at least the primary anyway. Maybe we can all settle down a little then.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  199. what possible good could you see about electing the red queen, melisandre, to the highest office in the land, seriously give me one reason,

    narciso (732bc0)

  200. @DRJ:I have no desire to find political common ground with ropelight, papertiger or even you.

    I don’t doubt it, but you are more likely to achieve what is most important to you if you try.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  201. Liviticus, I don’t remember it, but now I’m curious as to the larger context. Can you point out the post, I’d like to take a look. And, don’t call me names, it isn’t polite.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  202. well this is ‘the airing of grievances’ ala festivus, but trump did not turn north africa into an abbatoir, give volodya free reign, start the hudna with mullahs, have counterparts in the mossack fonseca cul de sac, let the bullets rain in sinaloa, let the veterans die abandoned from phoenix to milwaukee to chicago, none of that was his doing, little of this is even discussed,

    narciso (732bc0)

  203. I really wish the whole revolting thing were over, at least the primary anyway. Maybe we can all settle down a little then.

    The schism among Republicans and conservatives is real and things won’t go back to normal. Not in America and not here.

    DRJ (15874d)

  204. all of this, and more would happen if she were to gain that seat on 1600, add to that dialing the suborime crisis to eleventy once again, you say that won’t happen, what is your evidence.

    narciso (732bc0)

  205. Here’s the context, ropelight. Comments 76 and 77.

    Like you care about context.

    Leviticus (c8fdf0)

  206. I wish, DRJ.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  207. His name is Leviticus, not Liviticus, and you are clearly doing this on purpose. Further, what context could justify asking if he is a pervert?

    DRJ (15874d)

  208. @DRJ:The schism among Republicans and conservatives is real and things won’t go back to normal. Not in America and not here.

    Neither Hillary nor Trump are going to lose any sleep over that. Long live the Devil.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  209. maybe it’s in keeping with her notion, gangs are positive instruments,

    http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/04/david-codrea/hillary-clinton-george-zimmerman-shouldnt-gun/

    narciso (732bc0)

  210. There is no reason to call Leviticus names. Agree or disagree with him, but juvenile nonsense is part of the problem we face.

    Yes, I may care too much about this kind of thing, but the whole Trump phenomenon suggests I wasn’t wrong to feel the way I do. .

    Simon Jester (cb03f9)

  211. too often one pulls their punches,

    http://www.nationalreview.com/node/434447/print

    true, unlike the solon, she didn’t blame an innocent person for his wife’s fatal accident, but that’s perhaps the only limiting element,

    narciso (732bc0)

  212. I really wish the whole revolting thing were over, at least the primary anyway. Maybe we can all settle down a little then.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034) — 4/25/2016 @ 8:31 pm

    Yeah, let’s just sweep these problems under the rug because it helps some crooked republicans who do absolutely nothing for us. That’s a great plan, said the Bob Dole campaign, W, the Mccain guys, Romney, and now you. Don’t you see the problem isn’t DRJ being open, but you being cagey?

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  213. Worse than Hillary Clinton in every sense.

    Does a liberal like you have to stretch, grimace and agonize much to come to a conclusion like that?

    Mark (1431b8)

  214. OK, I’ve had a look (thanks for the link, Liviticus). It seems I was mocking you for your comment (3 minutes) immediately preceding my inappropriate question:

    Chris Brown is a known abuser of women. You’d think he’d be a Trump supporter – abuse of women (and support of the abuse of women) is probably Trump’s only consistent trait.

    Leviticus (a8efb0) — 3/12/2016 @ 7:30 am

    Apparently, I was offended at your idiot accusation and responded with an equally idiot accusation. I owe you an apology. My comment was out of line and I’m glad you reminded me of it. I apologize, it was inappropriate, wrongheaded, and uncalled for. I won’t do it again.

    ropelight (723e1f)

  215. Could someone please point bacc to where I accused Leviticus of perversion.

    Swear to God I thought I was limiting myself to language reserved to aviators.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  216. it’s like with the opey and anthony show, there is never a pretense it’s a family geared show, neither is howard stern, although truth does occasionally emerge in both, the days of just addressing the merely vaccuous larry king are over,

    narciso (732bc0)

  217. Your false equivalence is a sign of your insincerity, ropelight. I have no faith in expressions of shame from the shameless.

    Leviticus (b34d7c)

  218. @Dustin:Don’t you see the problem isn’t DRJ being open, but you being cagey

    You are accusing me of believing something different from what I am saying. I cannot for the life of me figure out what you think that might be.

    Here is what I am saying, again:

    1) There is no one running whose election would be worse for America than Hillary Clinton’s. Not everyone here agrees.
    2) In the end, the primaries will produce one candidate. That candidate will need all the support they can get and it still might not be enough.
    3) This cannot happen unless the Trump and anti-Trump factions try to make some common cause. The nominee is not any more likely to be Trump than anyone else; and it will be ten times more difficult to make common cause after the convention than before. Especially if Trump loses.
    4) I do not want Trump to be president, but if he is one of the choices and Hillary Clinton is the other than that is how it is. I prefer to Cruz to Kasich but if it’s Kasich, that is how it is. You have to pick the lesser of two evils. We have plenty of people here who have come out and said that Hillary Clinton is the lesser of two evils. That’s hard for me to understand.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  219. Trump is worse than Hillary in every sense, except possibly on abortion, where she is a zealot and he is a hypocritical, manipulative, lying sack of dog poop.

    nk (dbc370)

  220. Ask yourself… are you a disrupter? Or just a sh*t disturber? If you’re the former, what result do you desire?

    If you’re the latter… of what use are you?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  221. Here you go, guys. First 30 seconds or so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRO3qs8RfII

    nk (dbc370)

  222. Hillary Clinton is a criminal, nk, who has had a major role in facilitating the destruction of western civilization. Trump is a buffoon.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  223. roaplite,

    Why do you refuse to spell Leviticus’ name correctly? Everytime he posts, it’s spelled there right there in front of your face.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  224. @nk:Trump is worse than Hillary in every sense, except possibly on abortion

    I am afraid she is going to prove that wrong, nk. Because she is going to have every civil servant and every SJW on twitter falling over themselves to crush every one who might oppose her, and every journalist cheering her on. Trump is never going to have support like that.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  225. If Trump had been Clinton’s New York campaign manager in 2008, that would be an issue

    He wasn’t though. Trump was for Obama in 2008. And that SHOULD be an issue.

    http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Trump-Obama-class-warfare/2011/10/19/id/414955/

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  226. yet he was a bundler for maverick, for all the good that did, he didn’t like W, that was for sure,

    narciso (732bc0)

  227. Gabriel,

    You’re not listening to anyone.

    The GOP demand for conservatives to ‘settle down’ is the festering disease. Trump is just the symptom. Ideally we would have a party that cared about something more than just using voters to get to power.

    Many Republicans have complained for years about kicking the can down the road on budget problems. Republicans have in fact advanced that problem because it’s lucrative and they are shielded by a tactic of being a little less bad than democrats. This, in the meta, is the reason the problem exists at all, because Americans actually had an honest choice between breaking things and fixing them, eventually they would fix them.

    Instead, we get weasels who will break things less than the people who believe breaking things is good. We get this dogmatic nonsense that whoever the democrats are backing is the absolute perfect version of evil, and it is supposedly impossible to be any worse.

    That’s hard for me to understand.

    That’s because you are too busy telling people to shut up that you never heard that they were making a point.

    At any rate, you party loyalists broke the party, and if all you care about is winning elections then I’ll say what I said the last two primaries: nominate someone the conservatives will support or the party won’t win that precious election.

    I think Trump wouldn’t just be worse than Hillary, I think there’s no contest. He enjoys harming people, hates values, and has deep psychological problems. Hillary is a corrupt politician, but limited by the establishment and with no ambition beyond just being an historical president. She isn’t going to nuke anybody. She will at least pretend to care about basic values. She won’t be as bad as Obama has been, in fact. Some of her people ran the White House in the 1990s and did a better job than George HW Bush for at least three of their eight years.

    You act like we’re rooting for a sports team. No wonder you don’t understand.

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  228. Wow, Donald J. Trump contributed $25K to Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for Governor of VA. That was in 2009 when he lost the Democrat primary. He’s now the Governor of VA.

    That Donald has a long track record of making America great again, doesn’t he?!

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  229. Thank you, Dustin.

    nk (dbc370)

  230. Trump is worse than Hillary in every sense,

    I disagree since her gut instincts are far more leftwing — far more idiotically liberal — than that which comes out of Trump. However, it’s totally correct for right-leaning people to suspect Trump’s biggest weaknesses stems from his own gushy-liberal side. He’s ideologically amoral, if you will, easily corrupted by his inflated ego. But as bad as he is in that regards, Hillary is far worse. Plus, she’s more of a brazen, unrepentant liar than Trump (which is saying quite a bit), and therefore has more of a freaky pathological nature about her—not to mention her habit of breaking out in laughter at inappropriate times.

    Mark (1431b8)

  231. It makes no sense to foreclose the possibility of voting for Trump if he gets the nomination.

    Sure it does. I have foreclosed that possibility. And I have explained why.

    Donald J. Trump is a con artist, and so the thing that “makes no sense” is to suggest that there is something he could say that could convince me to vote for him — or that being open to voting for such a con artist is a sign of “maturity.”

    To me, politics is primarily about achieving limited government and adherence to the Constitution. I firmly believe that, with the exception of the Supreme Court, people like me would be better off under a Hillary Clinton presidency than a Donald Trump one. Because the GOP Congress will fight Hillary — not hard, mind you, but to some degree. But they will leap over each other to vote for Donald Trump’s big government policies.

    And make no mistake, that’s what we would get with Trump. He has shown absolutely no understanding of constitutional principles or support for limited government. At all. What’s more, he is utterly the most clownish, least informed, most erratic candidate I can imagine. I simply lack the words to express the contempt I feel for him. It’s hard for me to believe he is for real. Even in my most feverish nightmares I never contemplated someone this horrible, even on the Democratic side. But he’s on the Republican side — and irony of ironies, it’s happening during a cycle when we have possibly the most principled limited government constitutionalist of my lifetime running for the Oval Office.

    It is the height of insanity to support this man. I won’t vote for Hillary, but part of me will be relieved if she wins, if Trump is our nominee.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  232. really this is someone who destroyed a rape victim when she was first starting out, he sought to deprive richard nixon of counsel on the watergate committee, this is when she had little power, her associates like sid vicious, you talk about litigious, this is a whole other level,
    it’s just macho grande all over again,

    narciso (732bc0)

  233. Plus, she’s more of a brazen, unrepentant liar than Trump

    Nah. I never thought I’d find anyone as dishonest as her running for high office, but I think we’ve found him. They’re both just incredible.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  234. Cruz is the honorable, decent man I hope wins the nomination and then the election. If he’s nominated and comes up short in November, there are a number of pie holes that should assume a rictus of goddam shame and humility.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  235. If it’s Trump vs. Hillary, the only reason to desire a Trump win is the Supreme Court. But that is counterbalanced by so many other things, that I honestly will lose interest in presidential politics as soon as it is clear that is the race. It will be the least consequential presidential election of my lifetime. Tweedlescum or Tweedlescummier.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  236. Depends on the soundness of the reasoning of the one doing the hectoring. You, for instance, seem to think that “another vote for Hillary!!1!” is reasoning that magically carries the day, even in a hypothetical situation where the alternative is Donald Trump. Many people think Trump would be a president as bad as Clinton or worse. You do not seem to acknowledge this as a possibility, or to acknowledge the possibility that the nomination of two terrible candidates would lead many people to refrain from voting for either one.

    I further believe that, should Trump be the GOP nominee and Hillery be the Dem nominee that a sane self-funded center-right candidate who can run a Presidential campaign from a standing start (I’m looking at you Mitt) can win enough states to put the election into the House of Representatives. This is EXACTLY the strategy that worked in 1824 to keep Andrew Jackson out of the White House the first time.

    Did not work in 1828, of course, and let to a permanent split of the Democrat-Republican Party, first with the #NeverJackson Whigs, then with the #FreeMen Republicans. And that was, in the end, a good thing.

    But golly, there were some crappy years and terrible presidents 1841-1860. Polk plus six of the bottom 10 (2 died in office).

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  237. Cruz is the honorable, decent man I hope wins the nomination and then the election. If he’s nominated and comes up short in November, there are a number of pie holes that should assume a rictus of goddam shame and humility.

    The only way he could come up short would be because the moronic Trump supporters stay home. Period.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  238. Does a liberal like you have to stretch, grimace and agonize much to come to a conclusion like that?

    Mark (1431b8)

    I recall being embarrassed for you when the word ‘liberal’ was explained to you. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were liberals. All individuals have equal rights and a limited government is important to preserving those rights and a free society.

    It is for this reason that I fear a Trump presidency, albeit I do not fear it much as I would join the vast majority of Americans in preserving our liberal society from that fate.

    But yeah, Hillary is bad. It’s possible to not like a politician and still vote for them, for example when I voted for Romney for the same reason I’d have to vote for Hillary if she ran against Trump.

    Idiotic is the GOP that nominates him, and fortunately I think they will roll the dice with unifying around someone else.

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  239. Bold words, we shall see.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  240. transnational progressive borderline marxists, steeped in postmodernism this is the nature of the beast, that stole California right from under you, and will do the same to Texas, don’t pretend this can’t happen there it will,

    narciso (732bc0)

  241. @Dustin:you party loyalists broke the party

    That is freaking hilarious…on no information about me you have concluded that I am some kind of Republican party loyalist, solely based on my thinking that Donald Trump–the guy who is running against the party loyalists and has the worst ratings in his “own” party which he joined like 5 minutes ago–is not worse than Hillary Clinton.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  242. Treasonous is the moron who votes for Hillary Clinton.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  243. it is the epitome of einstein’s definition on insanity,

    narciso (732bc0)

  244. That was a little harsh… treasonous is the effing dolt who votes for the criminal Clinton.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  245. @Patterico:It will be the least consequential presidential election of my lifetime.

    I think if Hillary is elected it will be the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes, the one that ends any further pretense of republican democracy. I think we will be governed forever by a caste of technocrats supported by the equivalent of Twitter mobs, running Two Minutes Hate against the Goldsteins of the week who are responsible for wrecking the four-year Plans.

    But hey, I could be wrong.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  246. Let’s say that Trump is marginally less awful than Hillary because of the Court. Instead of appointing 3 Sotomayors to the Court, he appoints 3 Kennedys. Or Souters. Although I kind of expect Denny Crane.

    But anyhow, slightly less awful. Problem is, unlike Hillary, the press will make it clear just how many warts he has, and what they are, and make sure that for 4 years TRUMP and REPUBLICAN are synonyms. And at the end, the GOP brand will be bankrupt, just like everything else Trump touches.

    Worse, he will have loads of support from the powers that be — Hatch and McConnell and the rest of that crowd will be ready to make deals with Mr Dealmaker. Boy have they seen HIM coming. Hog effing heaven.

    The only thing more crooked that road building will be wall building.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  247. I think if Hillary is elected it will be the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes,

    And this is why is is SO important that EVERYTHING be done to stop Trump. Because not only will he assuredly lose, but if he were to win, he would be AS destructive.

    Trump is lose-lose. When will you understand that?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  248. I won’t vote for Hillary, but part of me will be relieved if she wins, if Trump is our nominee.

    The reactions of you and Dustin are why I believe the pundits have been correct for quite awhile about November 2016 being Hillary’s to lose. Keep in mind that well before any Republican entered the scene, before Trump, Cruz, Kasich, etc, were crystallizing their campaigns, Bill’s wife was deemed the favorite. Moreover — and this is crucial — the country in general is tilting further and further left. That’s evident when the current occupant of the White House is garnering higher ratings in opinion polls during his last year in office than George Bush received in 2008, and younger Americans are more leftwing than their predecessors were years ago.

    Beyond that, but, sorry, from my vantage point if any person has even a tiny positive thing to say about liberal crud like Hillary, that to me is analogous to a mathematician going through complicated computations and then, at the end, adding up two plus two and stating it equals five. IOW, from that point onward I have qualms about the accuracy of that person’s judgment.

    Mark (1431b8)

  249. ho they don’t get that, like dr, crane’s fear toxin, they are caught in a hallucination, anyplace that reelected betamax brown, has to lose faith in their neighbors, it’s like living next to a thuggee cult,

    narciso (732bc0)

  250. @Kevin M: Problem is, unlike Hillary, the press will make it clear just how many warts he has, and what they are, and make sure that for 4 years TRUMP and REPUBLICAN are synonyms.

    1) How is the press going to treat Hillary? They are going to cover for her and her friends and attack her enemies.
    2) This is the same press that makes “Republican” and “racist” synonyms. They will at least not do his bidding.

    And at the end, the GOP brand will be bankrupt,

    Maybe so, but too late for Hillary. I’ll take the four years’ reprieve.

    because not only will he assuredly lose, but if he were to win, he would be AS destructive.

    No one can show that anyone else will win; but I will vote for anyone else if that person gets the nomination. And he will not have the Press and the Deep State working on his behalf like Hillary will have.

    If she is elected, every one of us will have to worry about being Justine Sacco. Every one of us will have to worry about being those people in Wisconsin served with gag orders, search warrants, grand jury investigations, forbidden counsel, and all leaked to a sycophantic press dutifully reporting that we had “no comment”, but leaving out that we were forbidden by law to have any. She has legions of lifelong followers to cram into office at every level. They will never be rooted out.

    Trump is a flash in the pan. He make some noise and look extremely stupid. But he has no dangerous people following him. His fans will get bored and move on to President Kanye.

    Gabriel Hanna (98a034)

  251. I recall being embarrassed for you when the word ‘liberal’ was explained to you. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were liberals.

    I admit that my definition of liberal is not based on intellectual, textbook-type of explanations. That’s even more the case since I use the word “liberal” in the context of 21st-century America.

    My definition of liberal (or leftist) is that it’s a set of emotions embraced by people who love a cheap form of compassion — of compassion for compassion’s sake — combined with their desire of tolerance for tolerance’s sake—with their being very selective, two-faced and disingenuous about what should be tolerated or not.

    Mark (1431b8)

  252. I take it, then, it wasn’t me. I may be guilty of a thousand sins, just not this.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  253. Either HRC or Trump as president simply accelerates the decline of our republic. One goes about it in a more traditional manner (HRC) and the other by disrupting everything to such a degree that change will come tout de suite.

    There is no fixing, really, the 47% (and growing) benefit class and its inherent cultural norms, which are to say there are no more norms. Cruz, with an election mandate down ballot, would give us a chance to stave off the end for quite some time. I very much dislike his chances this morning.

    That crapweasel Kasich is a perfect Gollum and he has just enough power to ruin our best, last, hope.

    Oh. Hey, Megyn! Are we at the point where we have fully established what you are, with the price to be negotiated? Why, yes. Yes, we are.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  254. That was a little harsh… treasonous is the effing dolt who votes for the criminal Clinton.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 4/25/2016 @ 9:49 pm

    People don’t ever say things like this to my face, yet I read this kind of thing on the internet a lot. I wasn’t trying to anger anyone. It’s possible that both of us love our country and yet have different political views.

    I’m glad you care so much about loyalty to your country. The GOP is not a country. It’s a pack of politicians, and it is not wise to place as much devotion to hustlers as you do. I’ll be proud to vote against Trump, and his (R) means nothing. I don’t just say that because he’s basically a democrat.

    Bold words, we shall see.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

    There’s nothing particularly bold about it. Of course I will vote against Trump. The vast majority of this nation will join me. He is a hateful, childish, sleazy person who seeks power for the wrong reasons and stands for nothing but his own pride. I’d vote against Hitler, too, even if he ran against, gasp, Hillary, the boogeyman of the day. Hillary wouldn’t be much different from an establishment republican. The GOP should have distanced itself a little bit from the establishment if it didn’t want these comparisons to occur to so many of us.

    At any rate, why get mad? You’ve seen the same polls I have. My view is shared by a vast majority and Trump is hopeless in a general election against Hillary because it’s really a no-brainer unless you’re just voting for the party label.

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  255. People don’t ever say things like this to my face, yet I read this kind of thing on the internet a lot.

    I guess you don’t hang out with the right people.

    I will politely, gently, say exactly what I mean to your face. And I will make myself clear. Because anything less would be a betrayal.

    Polite and gentle as handed down to me by the sainted Senior Chief, my dad.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  256. Odds of me living to sixty diminish rapidly by the day.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  257. General order number 1.

    Never say drunk what you wouldn’t say sober.

    Steve57 (4bd90d)

  258. Hillary wouldn’t be much different from an establishment republican.

    Dustin, I do recall your becoming seemingly a bit defensive some time ago — if not today — when I’ve used “liberal” in a negative way. That did make me wonder whether you perhaps tilted left in ways you’re not fully aware of or more than you care to admit. Simply put, one has to be somewhat liberal to underplay the leftist biases of Hillary, although I’m assuming your definition of “establishment Republican” isn’t an individual like Jon Huntsman, a person perhaps even more liberal than John Kasich, etc.

    An observer who is instinctively of the right should be fully aware of the differences in degrees of liberalism or leftism vis-a-vie conservatism or rightism. Hillary is very much of the left, even more so than a variety of squishy Republicans, and a more corrupt form of liberalism (ie, liberalism in the era of “goddamn America”) than ever before.

    Mark (1431b8)

  259. C’mon, Dustin… I’ll say it again. Given all that is known about Hillary Clinton… all that she’s done, all the lives that she’s ruined, all of the mayhem she had instigated in her laughably incompetent, clueless turn as Sec of State, all of the criminality, the utter disregard for national security, you would cast a vote for her to send a message? If that isn’t a malevolent act of idiocy, what would you describe it as?

    Colonel Haiku (44c9fa)

  260. #261 Dustin wrote,
    “Hillary wouldn’t be much different from an establishment republican.”

    Please tell me you were just joking when you said that.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  261. Beyond that, but, sorry, from my vantage point if any person has even a tiny positive thing to say about liberal crud like Hillary, that to me is analogous to a mathematician going through complicated computations and then, at the end, adding up two plus two and stating it equals five. IOW, from that point onward I have qualms about the accuracy of that person’s judgment.

    She ain’t Trump.

    C’mon, Dustin… I’ll say it again. Given all that is known about Hillary Clinton… all that she’s done, all the lives that she’s ruined, all of the mayhem she had instigated in her laughably incompetent, clueless turn as Sec of State, all of the criminality, the utter disregard for national security, you would cast a vote for her to send a message? If that isn’t a malevolent act of idiocy, what would you describe it as?

    I’ll not vote for her, but I would describe the act of someone who did as a vote against the worst candidate of our lifetimes: Donald Trump.

    Normally I can be convinced to vote for the GOP loser on the ground that they’re marginally more in favor of limited government. This time, that dog won’t hunt. It’s quite the opposite this time, because (as I have explained) Congress will enact Trump’s big-government policies.

    So I’m left with this comparison:

    One candidate is a dishonest leftist who will appoint a bad Supreme Court justice (possibly more than one) and will be marginally fought by Congress in her effort to enact big government policies. Conservative limited-government philosophy will have no effect on her. She will probably get us into war to show she is tough even though she has no male genital equipment.

    The other is a dishonest leftist who may appoint decent Supreme Court justices (which is important) but will have all his big government policies enacted by a cowed GOP, which will never stand for limited-government principles again. Conservative limited-government philosophy will have no effect on him except perhaps in the appointment of judges, which he doesn’t care about. He is also utterly erratic and unpredictable, and may get us into war simply to demonstrate he has the larger set of male genital equipment.

    Both will explode our debt and hasten the looming financial crackup.

    Choose your flavor of catastrophe. I’ll have no part of it.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  262. Meh… why sully oneself? If you truly think Trump is the absolute worst, why vote for a known criminal. It’s in Clinton’s nature to be malevolent, devious, dishonest and to be afflicted with at least a hundred other negative or sociopathic traits.

    Colonel Haiku (44c9fa)

  263. a vote against the worst candidate of our lifetimes: Donald Trump.

    Given who’s currently in the White House, I strongly disagree with that characterization. As defective as Trump is, I’d be surprised if he’s the type who could sit in Jeremiah Wright’s church for 20 years listening to “it’s not God bless America. No, no, no. It’s God damn America!” But the fact people like you have the perceptions you do (ie, you’re not even a devout liberal the way more and more people in this nation have become or are becoming) are why I see the US headed in an increasingly banana-republic-warped, liberal direction.

    If people can’t analyze the ideological gut instincts of a public figure accurately or reliably, then they’re also easily liable to overlook (or ignore) the visceral factors behind a public figure being liked (or not) for purely superficial reasons. Or folks like Peggy Noonan giving “goddamn America” the benefit of the doubt in 2008 because she was so busy swooning over the crease of his pants. She also previously believed that in order for conservatism to be appealing, it had to be “kinder and gentler.” Now non-liberals like her are astonished at and gloomy over where the US rests in 2016.

    Most tellingly (and idiotically), Republicans like her — not to mention insiders like one of the Koch brothers — in turn, don’t seem to be admiring the crease of Ted Cruz’s pants as much as they admired that of who’s currently in the Oval Office.

    Mark (1431b8)

  264. Barack is infinitely worse than Trump. It’s not even close.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  265. Gabriel Hanna:

    If she is elected, every one of us will have to worry about being Justine Sacco. Every one of us will have to worry about being those people in Wisconsin served with gag orders, search warrants, grand jury investigations, forbidden counsel, and all leaked to a sycophantic press dutifully reporting that we had “no comment”, but leaving out that we were forbidden by law to have any. She has legions of lifelong followers to cram into office at every level. They will never be rooted out.

    That genie is already out of the bottle. We’ve already been targeted by Obama’s DOJ and IRS, and it’s not just non-profits who have been targeted. The government bureaucrats won’t stop now, under Clinton or Trump, because neither one wants to stop them.

    DRJ (15874d)

  266. Regarding civility and sh*t…Did a real basic search on name-calling twixt the names Trump and Cruz on this thread. I find these results interesting and seem in line with what I’ve seen elsewhere at Ace, etc…

    CRUZ namecalling:
    —————–
    Cruzbots
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:46 am
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:14 pm

    “Cruz Supporter: Well said, except for the “Cruzbot” part. I don’t agree with the concept of adopting insulting nicknames”
    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/25/2016 @ 1:03 pm

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

    Trump namecalling:
    ——————
    Trump Fan Boys
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 9:11 am

    Trumpoids
    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:14 am (an anti-anti-trumper)

    Trump’s Fan Boys (and Girls!)
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:39 am

    Trumpanzees…Trumptardian bowel movement.
    Steve57 (4bd90d) — 4/25/2016 @ 10:45 am

    Trumpublican Party – granted, not necessarily pejorative
    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:08 am

    Trumpkins
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:46 am

    Trumpbots
    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 11:54 am (again, an anti-anti-trumper)

    Trumpanzees
    Steve57 (4bd90d) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:02 pm

    Trumpkins
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:14 pm

    Donald Twump
    Beldar (fa637a) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:42 pm

    Trumpbots
    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 12:49 pm (again, an anti-anti-trumper)

    Trumpbots
    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6) — 4/25/2016 @ 1:03 pm

    Trumpkins
    Beldar (fa637a) — 4/25/2016 @ 2:07 pm

    Trumpbots
    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1) — 4/25/2016 @ 3:49 pm (again, an anti-anti-trumper)

    Trumpkins
    Cruz Supporter (102c9a) — 4/25/2016 @ 5:56 pm

    Trumpers
    Gerald A (7c7ffb) — 4/25/2016 @ 6:17 pm (granted, only marginally pejorative if that)

    WTP (5ea774)

  267. Hey, WTP…I notice that you don’t list good old Mr. Feet in there.

    Care to add those numbers in?

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  268. I did a simple search on the words “Cruz” and “Trump”, eliminating duplicates in quotes. I haven’t time or patience to analyze entire threads, context, etc. My point was the juvenile name calling that Trump supporters are criticized for yet I see so little of from their camp on this or other blogs. One might argue that the Boss covers the spread there and I would not disagree. However, in the context of these and similar pages, for the more ardent #NEVERTRUMP crowd to claim the high ground of civility is a rather weak claim. Especially as the name calling thrown around here is aimed more at the supporters of Trump than the man himself.

    I just now took a quick look at about a dozen or so of Mr. ‘Feets posts. I didn’t see any that resorted to the juvenile kind of name calling spotted above. Worst thing I could find was a rather weak criticism of something Cruz said about gender bathrooms. I didn’t see him calling anyone Cruzbots or Cruzpanzees or Cruztardians.

    WTP (5ea774)

  269. What?! My comments are not showing up or something? Am I banned and not knowing it?
    Trumpeteers
    Trumpadoodles
    Trumpaderos
    Trumpadillos
    Tranny-Trumpkins

    nk (dbc370)

  270. I was only looking at this thread, nk. Feel free to do your own research, but thanks for helping make my point.

    WTP (5ea774)

  271. @WTP: Thanks for that compilation. Some of the commenters here think I for Trump and I’d like to cite your post as evidence.

    @DRJ:The government bureaucrats won’t stop now, under Clinton or Trump, because neither one wants to stop them.

    They hate Trump and won’t do his bidding. They love Clinton and she won’t even have to tell them what to do.

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  272. Sigh. WTP? Is this the same “pee stank” Mr. Feet we are talking about? The same “Teddy-pie” “harvardtrash” cheating on his wife accusing Mr. Feet?

    But please: continue with your narrative.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  273. @WTP: happyfeet calls Cruz a lot of names, I’ll second Simon here.

    Trump brings out the worst in us all. He’s like a catalyst for jackassery. I do not exempt myself (he said, before being accused of doing so).

    Gabriel Hanna (64d4e1)

  274. On my part, my conscience is clear that I have been kinder to Trump and his supporters than they merit. But that’s how I am. Compassionate for compassion’s sake.

    nk (dbc370)

  275. Sigh…OK Mr. Jester. Your two references to “Teddy-pie” and “harvardtrash” are duly noted. All “pee-stank” are references to HRC AFAICT. As I said…AGAIN…it was a simple search on the names “Cruz” and “Trump”. I’m sure there are insulting references to Trump that, just like the references you note from ‘Feet about Cruz, do not use Trump’s name in them so they weren’t included in my search either. Please, by all means do your own research, however adding your two references does little to tip the balance.

    I will also note that while Mr. ‘Feet references and insults TC directly he was not (at least in this context) attacking TC’s supporters, calling THEM stupid, etc. You know, like some of the people actually commenting here. That was half the point.

    WTP (5ea774)

  276. yes I’m not a fan of Mr. Cruz but then he went out of his way to let me know he wasn’t terribly interested in my support so basically we have an agreement

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  277. WTP, Mr. Feet also cannot help but attack Cruz’s wife.

    Please don’t leave that out.

    The point, despite what you suspect, is our whole culture permits this coarseness. But we don’t mind it when we agree with the coarse.

    The result? Presidential candidates who talk about their penis on national television.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  278. Heidi is very poopy

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  279. Melania means bruise in Greek. Also “inky smudge” but most colloquially bruise.

    nk (dbc370)

  280. Kasich waffles over pancakes. Film at 11.

    DCSCA (a343d5)

  281. “Squirrel scalp” is my personal favorite for Trump.

    M. Scott Eiland (b97d1e)

  282. Hey, WTP did you run across “a knowingly lying piece of caca tuckfard” which is what I was called not as a Trump supporter but for defending one? I’m for Cruz but that was the response I got for just defending the Trump people.

    I can understand being aggressively against Trump, but you can’t treat his supporters like crap, they’re fellow Republicans. That is what will destroy the Republican party if anything will. Calling fellow Republicans vile names because you don’t agree with their choice of candidate shows the world the democrats are right when they call us trailer trash and paint us as nasty, uncaring partisans. Frankly, I think that had it not been for the name calling, #stoptrump and anti Trump actions of Republicans on TV, Trump would have been gone months ago. All the a-holes making a big deal out of him is what gave him steam. And followers who dug in there heels which normally would have moved on after the debates.

    Hoagie ™ (e4fcd6)

  283. I actually have my father’s badger hair shaving brush, of the quality called Super, which is the same color including the variations in shade as Trump’s hair.

    nk (dbc370)

  284. Calling fellow Republicans vile names because you don’t agree with their choice of candidate shows the world the democrats are right when they call us trailer trash and paint us as nasty, uncaring partisans.

    Yep. In general I feel that politics is for the weak and the speed at which many “conservatives” have descended to the level of the left and to the level of Trump himself has been a great tell on their foundation. The only reason I pay attention to politics is to get politics out of my life. After what has transpired on “conservative” blogs since the Great Trumpification, it has become quite clear to me what the nugget of much opposition to conservatism and the GOP is really about among most otherwise right-leaning people. This is why the right continues to lose the cultural war. I’ve often felt that one of the greatest threats to any cause are the zealots that support it.

    WTP (5ea774)

  285. Take unsolicited advice from a fever-swamp lefty with a grain of salt… just so much wind breakage.

    Colonel Haiku (58355d)

  286. “I just now took a quick look at about a dozen or so of Mr. ‘Feets posts. I didn’t see any that resorted to the juvenile kind of name calling spotted above. Worst thing I could find was a rather weak criticism of something Cruz said about gender bathrooms. I didn’t see him calling anyone Cruzbots or Cruzpanzees or Cruztardians.”

    Look harder, WTP. These are from this thread alone:

    “with this sleazy goldy sacky scheme Ted Cruz is dishonoring”

    “the harvardtrash spoiler”

    “harvardtrash ted and his harvardtrash goldy sacky are elitist phonies”

    “if you add screechy humorless butt-ugly lying carly fetalrrhea to the mix you have a political hindenburg”

    “could he be more of a creeper”

    “Heidi is very poopy”

    But the insults from the Cruz supporters! Oh the humanity!

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  287. in retrospect. they should have followed ‘the first rule of fight club’, pikachu’s about three levels of marketing over perry, two over dimwit,

    narciso (732bc0)

  288. Sigh…You know, Patterico, I’ve seen you get your knickers in a snit when you have stated something very clearly, chosen your words carefully (or so you thought) only to have what you said get turned in to something you didn’t say or even imply. Let me resubmit….

    I did a simple search on the words “Cruz” and “Trump”,
    for the more ardent #NEVERTRUMP crowd to claim the high ground of civility is a rather weak claim
    Especially as the name calling thrown around here is aimed more at the supporters of Trump than the man himself.
    As I said…AGAIN…it was a simple search on the names “Cruz” and “Trump”. I’m sure there are insulting references to Trump that, just like the references you note from ‘Feet about Cruz, do not use Trump’s name in them so they weren’t included in my search either. Please, by all means do your own research, however adding your two references does little to tip the balance.
    will also note that while Mr. ‘Feet references and insults TC directly he was not (at least in this context) attacking TC’s supporters, calling THEM stupid, etc.

    On this last point, I will note that none of the items you mention are direct insults to Cruz supporters. However, if you want to include such, why leave out the slaps at Trump himself. Many of which you engage in directly as well, so why b**ch about ‘Feet or anyone else who insults Cruz (of which I only see ‘Feet doing but, whatevs).

    “As for Trump? He doesn’t need feet of clay, he just glides on a layer of slime like the slug that he is.”
    “Poor widdle half-gwown Donald Twump — ‘frwaid to debate, ‘fwaid to release his taxes, and so ‘fwaid to…”
    “They LOVE the GOP and refuse to help Trump rape it.”
    “I regard Donald Trump as a petty, and mean-spirited narcissist ”
    “Donnie Mobster Trump”
    “Trump is a buffoon.”
    “I think Trump wouldn’t just be worse than Hillary, I think there’s no contest. He enjoys harming people, hates values, and has deep psychological problems. ”
    “He’s ideologically amoral, if you will, easily corrupted by his inflated ego. ”
    “Donald J. Trump is a con artist,”
    “It is the height of insanity to support this man. I won’t vote for Hillary, but part of me will be relieved if she wins, if Trump is our nominee.”
    ” moronic Trump supporters”
    “He is a hateful, childish, sleazy person who seeks power for the wrong reasons and stands for nothing but his own pride. I’d vote against Hitler, too, even if he ran against, gasp, Hillary,”

    And AGAIN, like several other commenters here, I don’t particularly care for the man. Never did. Yet any criticism of the over-the-top, unhinged reactions to the man who is leading the GOP race does not help the GOP and does not even help the anti-Trump movement. I think it’s even likely that these extremist attacks on Trump do more to help the man than harm him. Trump says something stupid, his poll numbers fall. But then the ridiculousness of the response of the #NEVERTRUMP crowd kicks in and his numbers rise again. A conspiratorial mind might wonder just whose side you really are on.

    Just a suggestion…This site could use some color. I’m running out of ways to emphasize the word “AGAIN” in the context of stating something AGAIN in further context of stating something yet AGAIN. But then like I said, in general I feel that politics is for the weak…again.

    WTP (5ea774)

  289. Sigh…You know, Patterico, I’ve seen you get your knickers in a snit when you have stated something very clearly, chosen your words carefully (or so you thought) only to have what you said get turned in to something you didn’t say or even imply. Let me resubmit….

    I quoted you at length:

    “I just now took a quick look at about a dozen or so of Mr. ‘Feets posts. I didn’t see any that resorted to the juvenile kind of name calling spotted above. Worst thing I could find was a rather weak criticism of something Cruz said about gender bathrooms. I didn’t see him calling anyone Cruzbots or Cruzpanzees or Cruztardians.”

    How about you concede that you were wrong about that?

    I have not contended that people here don’t insult Trump or Trump supporters. I just made a simple point, that you were wrong to portray happyfeet as not having resorted to juvenile name calling. It’s about all he does.

    That said, Leviticus has a point in that he does seem to reserve the name-calling for public figures and not for commenters here. And that may be why his antics tend not to bother me that much.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  290. Ahh…the ole dropping the late bomb when nobody’s looking bit…

    How about you concede that you were wrong about that?
    I concede I was wrong in not seeing any, but I was right in saying that “I didn’t see any…” after saying “I just now took a quick look at about a dozen or so…”. Now you may say that I willfully overlooked or didn’t look hard enough. I suppose you’ll just have to take my word for it that I did not attempt to cherry pick. But AGAIN, we are talking about ONE guy with a few comments aimed all (perhaps I’m wrong again) at Ted Cruz, the candidate. And as you yourself say “Leviticus has a point in that he does seem to reserve the name-calling for public figures and not for commenters here“, except I don’t see where Leviticus said such, however I definitely did @#257. And yes, such is not exactly civil decorum but the juvenile nature of the attacks here on Trump and Trump defenders and supporters far outweigh the reverse.

    How about you concede the point that the vast majority of derogatory and pejorative comments are aimed at Trump supporters and defenders?

    I have not contended that people here don’t insult Trump or Trump supporters.
    And I did not contend that you did contend such. I was simply commenting on the more one-sided unhinged nastiness coming from those who decry Trump’s lack of civility.

    I just made a simple point, that you were wrong to portray happyfeet as not having resorted to juvenile name calling. It’s about all he does.

    And I made a simple point that the unhinged portrayals of Trump supporters as knuckle dragging neanderthals is a bit of a self-awareness tell. My only point was that in spite . Dragging Mr. Feet’s comments about Cruz into this as an attempt to broaden the issue is only relevant if you also consider similar attacks on Trump himself. My main concern here has been the nasty personal attacks on people for having wrongthought and the ensuing strawman arguments against them.

    Again, I am not a supporter of Trump. I will vote for him vs. HRC. I have not even engaged in the discussion about those who threaten to sit home rather than vote for Trump (yet…may change my mind as this nonsense rolls on).

    WTP (aca208)

  291. we keep ignoring it’s not about trump, it’s what has been reaped for the last dozen years, if one looks at the seeds of the subprime bubble, our laissez affair relation with the gulf states, the burgeoning illegal invasion,

    narciso (732bc0)

  292. Sorry, WTP, but the reason Trump is up there is because “they” let him set the rules of discourse.

    It’s Patterico’s site and his rules and I’ll listen to him.

    Trumpkins can go buy a dildo and f*** themselves while looking at naughty pictures of badgers.

    nk (dbc370)

  293. TMI, nk, that is the message of red state, the standard, most of the federalist, that has been discounted for the most part,

    narciso (732bc0)

  294. I rest my case,

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/04/28/boehner-unleashed-ex-speaker-calls-cruz-lucifer-miserable-son-b.html?intcmp=hpbt3

    we’ll discover he was even more of a feckless wombat than we believed at the time,

    narciso (732bc0)

  295. That’s got to be worth at least five percentage points to Cruz, narciso. 😉

    Boehner’s comments, not mine. 😉

    nk (dbc370)

  296. nk, just to be clear, I am not objecting to incivility itself. It has a time and a place. It even has a time and place in discussion of Trump. But to object to Trump’s incivility and such and to THEN descend to the same, or even lower, level is lame. It does not help the general discourse problem and it doesn’t help convince anyone to change their opinions, but more importantly any third party observer will be biased against the position of the more dickish participant. It does feel good though. Kinda like masturbation.

    But please, enlighten me. When/where has Trump ever said anything as blatantly crude as “buy a dildo and f**k yourself”?

    WTP (aca208)

  297. Ahh…the ole dropping the late bomb when nobody’s looking bit…

    Otherwise known as commenting when I happen to comment.

    IT’S ALL ABOUT WTP! Can I slyly defeat him in comment battle by sitting around all night and then WAITING UNTIL NOBODY IS LOOKING to leave my comment? No! I now know I can NEVER GET AWAY WITH THAT! DRATS AND DARN IT!

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  298. Please show civility when criticizing Mr. Trump, or WTP will be mightily offended.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  299. Well, Trump is running for President. He has to show some restraint. Limit his remarks to “blood out of her whatever”, “fat pigs”, “slobs”, “disgusting animals”, “degenerates” for women; and “they should have roughed him up” for men. You know, for the sake of Presidential dignitas and gravitas. I’m just some guy on the internet.

    nk (dbc370)

  300. I don’t mind the opprobrium directed at Trump or, for that matter, his supporters if it’s coming from people who also don’t have even a slight bit of the warm fuzzies for horrible Hillary or Mr. “Goddamn America” currently in the White House. But it’s that brand of Republican or conservative who is more contemptuous or wary of Trump than Hillary — the type apparently similar to one (if not both) of the Koch brothers or a Peggy Noonan — or who will deem Trump the worst candidate in our lifetimes, who I have suspicions about. Such folks have a peculiar form of squishiness that may not be all that different from what’s evident in Donald Trump.

    Mark (fb60e8)

  301. FWIW, my “dildo” references the last few days are because some Trumpkins tried to make hay here from Cruz defending the constitutionality of Texas’s anti-dildo law in the Fifth Circuit when he was Solicitor General of Texas. Like, is that what you got? Cruz is going to take away our dildos?

    nk (dbc370)

  302. IT’S ALL ABOUT WTP! Can I slyly defeat him in comment battle by sitting around all night and then WAITING UNTIL NOBODY IS LOOKING to leave my comment? No! I now know I can NEVER GET AWAY WITH THAT! DRATS AND DARN IT!

    Please show civility when criticizing Mr. Trump, or WTP will be mightily offended.

    Offended? Mightily offended? Perhaps you’re projecting. Yes, when you have no argument, mischaracterize what was said. You know, from average Joe’s who comment here (to nk’s point as well) no big deal. But for a lawyer, supposedly trained in rational thought and such…well, I’m reminded of the old adage, “If the law’s on your side, argue the law. If the facts are on your side, argue the facts. If neither the facts nor the law are on your side, pound the table.”

    My only reason for commenting is to point out that the #NEVERTRUMP faction has become unhinged. Let me repeat myself AGAIN…

    I am not objecting to incivility itself. It has a time and a place. It even has a time and place in discussion of Trump. But to object to Trump’s incivility and such and to THEN descend to the same, or even lower, level is lame. It does not help the general discourse problem and it doesn’t help convince anyone to change their opinions, but more importantly any third party observer will be biased against the position of the more dickish participant. It does feel good though. Kinda like masturbation.

    Also re nk and dildo, ok different context. I don’t live on these blogs so what someone said about what someone said about something a few days ago in reference to a news item from two weeks ago referencing a Cruz position while he was a Texas SG 10 years ago is a bit of a context stretch for me.

    Also, what Mark said.

    WTP (aca208)

  303. #295, Patterico, it looks like Liviticus makes an exception when it comes to me, see his comment at #200. In fairness, I do call him names when circumstances permit.

    ropelight (db17ed)

  304. WTP – instead of making sweeping generalizations about petty snubs that you found in your admittedly not diligent search of 12 comments … Take a few minutes and read the lies, distortions, and general boorish behavior from the Trump supporters here. Why is it that asshats like you take greater offense to someone being called a Trumpkin, than in the lies and distortions being spread by the Trumpkins?

    JD (34f761)

  305. Ridicule is mankind’s most potent weapon.
    Make your tactics enjoyable for your people.

    So, yeah, careful that you’re not turning off your own people. I’m always trying to vary my routine.

    nk (dbc370)

  306. “#295, Patterico, it looks like Liviticus makes an exception when it comes to me, see his comment at #200. In fairness, I do call him names when circumstances permit.”

    – ropelight

    Patterico was talking about happyfeet refraining from personal attacks, not me. I do indeed make an exception when it comes to you. You are an exceptional guy, in one regard.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  307. Heh…like the petty snubs are not sweeping generalizations. And so it continues…

    WTP (aca208)

  308. Liviticus, read the final paragraph at Patterico’s comment at #295. He mentions you specifically. Here it is:

    That said, Leviticus has a point in that he does seem to reserve the name-calling for public figures and not for commenters here. And that may be why his antics tend not to bother me that much.

    ropelight (db17ed)

  309. Re-read the paragraph before it. As many times as you need.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  310. So petty snubs like Trumpkins are equally offensive to lies and distortions and trafficking in unfounded rumors? And so it continues ….

    JD (34f761)

  311. Ropelight – reading is fundamental

    JD (34f761)

  312. It is also really “special” how WTP’s ridiculous generalization was framed in such a way so as to exclude actual insults that don’t directly name the target. But looking at 12 or so comments is plenty to make your generalizations, WTP.

    JD (34f761)

  313. Willfully obtuse or outright chickenshit? One or the other.

    ropelight (db17ed)

  314. Gabriel Hanna 278:

    They hate Trump and won’t do his bidding. They love Clinton and she won’t even have to tell them what to do.

    The government bureaucracy will do what they do, with or without directions from the President. Do you really think Trump is smart enough and knows all “the best people” who can stop them? I don’t, especially since his friends are people like John Boehner who helped make DC into the corrupt place it is.

    DRJ (15874d)

  315. My response is in moderation. It reads: Willfully obtuse or outright chickensh*t? One or the other.

    I spelled the offensive word out and the filter caught my transgression.

    ropelight (db17ed)

  316. JD, read the whole thread of what I said from the beginning, my comments in context of my original point. As someone pointed out, reading is fundamental.

    WTP (4090b3)

  317. I read your nonsense WTP. It was shallow, excluded info that stood in stark contrast to your conclusions.

    JD (62d335)


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