Support




Contact
Ace:
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
 cbd.aoshq at gee mail.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
 mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
 petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
 sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Syndicate this site (XML)
Powered by
Movable Type





Pander Bear - Weirddave

Looking at this election season on the Republican side, I am surprised by how few people see something that is so blindingly obvious to me that it might as well be in the beam of a 1,000,000 candlepower spotlight. Then I remember that my professional background enables me to recognize something that may not be so obvious to others. Let me explain.

For the past 20 years, I have been an insurance agent. It is primarily a financial services job, but it is also by its nature a sales job, so for the past 20 years or so I've seen hundreds and hundreds of would-be salesmen and women troop in and out of jobs with the various agencies where I've worked.

When I started in this industry, my mentor told me “You can be a salesman chasing a commission check, and you'll burn out in a couple of years and wind up hawking used cars off a lot down in Dundalk, or you can be a financial professional focused on your client's needs and have a rewarding lifelong career and oh yea, make a lot of money”. You know what? He was right. But still, through the years, the salesmen, always the salesmen. They troop in and troop out, toiling in the salt mines for a day, a week, a year, but rarely for longer than that. Some of them are nice guys. Some of them are trustworthy. All of them, however, have their focus on what the client can do for them, usually money wise, and all of them utilize some variation of the pander. There's a very fine line between pandering and sincerity that I have gotten very, very good at spotting because it often makes the difference between a successful agent and a mediocre or poor one.

This is the job: A client contacts you, either cold through the phone book or the internet or through a referral. You talk to them on the phone for a few minutes, getting an handle on their individual situation and their needs. If you think you can help them, you make an appointment to meet with them at their home or office. You show up at the appointment, meet them for the very first time, spend 30, 60 or 90 minutes (sometimes more, but not often) establishing what their needs are and going over various solutions to those needs. Once you've established that, you do paperwork and then they write you a check, sometimes for thousands of dollars. Then you leave and the real job begins, because they are now your client and it's up to you to make sure what you sold them really does meet their needs and to handle their future insurance, investment and other financial requirements.

That time that you spend in their house, that 30-60 minutes, that's the golden hour. In that time you go from being an almost complete stranger to being trusted with sums of money. It's not easy. If you're skilled (and I am) and you're sincere (I'm that too, people fascinate me), it's amazing what happens. Last night I was down in Baltimore City, sitting with a 27 year old black woman and her mother, discussing health insurance for her and her son. I'd been there about half an hour and we're all three doubled over, laughing hysterically discussing how different plans would cover her “itchy vagina” (really). 45 minutes earlier neither of them had laid eyes on me in their life. Not only were they pleased with what we came up with, the mother got her son on the phone and demanded that he make an appointment with me next week as well. As I said, it's a skill.

But suppose you don't have that skill? Suppose you're nervous about being a white guy from the suburbs down in the city at night meeting a couple of black women? Suppose you don't feel comfortable in your job, or your products or your abilities? What then? How do you convince people to trust you enough to write you a check before you leave?

Then you pander. You fake sincerity. You laugh too loud, emote wrong, emphasize the wrong thing. “Wow, what a great couch! That's fantastic! I've never seen a couch like that!”. You prevaricate. You sound like Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High giving Mark Ratner dating tips. You bluster, you bullshit, you use your personality to overwhelm. You lie. YOU SELL.

Since I train new agents how to successfully do the job, I've learned to notice all of these things over the years. When I view the three top Republican candidates for president through the lens of my job as a professional trainer, it's easy to pick up the pander.

Trump is easy. Bold, brash, bowling you over with the force of his personality. He makes you want to believe him. Trump! Fuck yeah! In a 4 week election cycle, he would have been unstoppable. Trump's problem is that since his schtick is telling you what you want to hear, over time he contradicts himself. The longer the campaign goes on, the thinner his act wears and the more obvious it becomes to anyone who is actually listening to him that he'll say anything that he thinks will benefit him at that moment, then say the opposite an hour later. He has no ethics. I wouldn't even hire him for the type of work I do. He's strictly used car salesman, not long-term relationship sales.


Rubio is a little different. Good looking, reasonably well spoken, seemingly sincere. Rubio's problem is that he doesn't really believe in what he's selling. His solutions are ultimately facile. He doesn't want to discuss in detail, so he misdirects. An example(paraphrasing things Rubio has said. These are not his direct words, this is just an example of HOW he does it):

Amnesty? No, he's not for amnesty now, because there are several more important things that we have to do first, for example ISIS is now a much greater threat. We have to secure the border to protect ourselves from terrorists. Wouldn't you agree that terrorists are a much greater threat? You would? Good, here's what I'm going to do about them.

Now, terrorists may or may not be a threat, but notice what happened there. He disavowed amnesty...or did he? He actually didn't. He said there were things to do first. He didn't say that amnesty wouldn't come later. He misdirected to border security as it pertains to ISIS. An important topic, to be sure, but not the one at hand. He's trying to “close the sale” (get your vote) without pinning down specifics. I strongly suspect that that is because he doesn't want to commit himself. If history is any judge, once he gets the vote he'll then be free to do whatever he wants, and what he wants (or what the money behind him wants), is amnesty. Just so you don't realize that NOW.

I originally thought Cruz was the worst of the lot. When this campaign started, he struck me as nothing so much as a revival tent preacher or a televangelist. Now those are some skeevy people who exist solely to con people (with one or two very rare exceptions). What I came to realize, however, is that Ted Cruz' problem is that he is sincere in what he is saying, but in trying too hard to convey that genuine sincerity through his vocal inflections he wound up emulating a universally reviled class of people who are past masters of using vocal intonations to project fake sincerity. Thankfully he's gotten a lot better, he must have had some vocal coaching in the last year. He's not perfect yet, but if it hadn't have been so pronounced before I'd have a harder time picking up on the remnants of it now. As to whether he actually means what he says, well, I found this clip to be telling:

That is the opposite of pandering. Leaving aside the policy arguments of ethanol, Cruz didn't back away from or misdirect the question. He confronted it head on, acknowledged it, and then countered it. You may or may not agree with his counter-argument, but he isn't running away from his position.

It's actually rather nice to see a politician act like he believes in what he says.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:59 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1st?

Posted by: Skip at February 08, 2016 07:00 PM (HWcaz)

2 1st

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:00 PM (AkOaV)

3 3rd?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:00 PM (AkOaV)

4 ::glares at skip::

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:00 PM (AkOaV)

5 Ned? Ned Ryerson?

Posted by: Chi at February 08, 2016 07:01 PM (OUpHg)

6 ::looks at daunting wall of text above::

I'll be back.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:01 PM (AkOaV)

7 Silly me I started to read the thread and thought
Are you forgetting something?

Posted by: Skip at February 08, 2016 07:01 PM (HWcaz)

8 Jeb Bush still wets the bed.

Posted by: Eli Cash at February 08, 2016 07:02 PM (Dc/ui)

9 Interesting insight.
Yes...I stopped to read the content.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 08, 2016 07:03 PM (r65B3)

10 Cruz appeals to the head, LIVs want someone to appeal to their heart

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:03 PM (zOTsN)

11 I'll be drinking all night tomorrow if Kasich drops out and Bush comes in at least third or lower.

Posted by: Eli Cash at February 08, 2016 07:03 PM (Dc/ui)

12 And still made the top ten!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at February 08, 2016 07:03 PM (r65B3)

13 Great piece. And I agree with your threefold analysis, particularly Cruz trying to sound more approachable and coming across poorly at first. Its not an easy path to walk.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:03 PM (39g3+)

14 Cruz is his worst when he has a stained glass baritone on

he is his best when he is conversational

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:04 PM (zOTsN)

15 11 Kasich should explicitly ask for Dem votes, and cross over to the dark side.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 08, 2016 07:05 PM (u82oZ)

16 Nice post, Dave.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at February 08, 2016 07:06 PM (ml1PM)

17 Damn, Dave.

A good read..
Thank you

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 08, 2016 07:06 PM (ptqRm)

18 Where's the whatchamacallit- the craft service? The food?

Posted by: Chris Christie at February 08, 2016 07:07 PM (UBS9M)

19 Kasich should explicitly ask for Dem votes, and cross over to the dark side.
Posted by: NaCly Dog

At this point, what difference does it make?

Posted by: John Kasich at February 08, 2016 07:07 PM (zmW4B)

20 Wall of text, none of it much use.

Posted by: ThisBeingMilt at February 08, 2016 07:07 PM (MbrzC)

21 With a title like that I'm guessing this review is about an animated film.

Posted by: straight to the comments at February 08, 2016 07:08 PM (JP7wb)

22 holy shit insurance

absolutely dread those fkrs. i really do need to get a policy but gah i don't want to talk to anyone. just stfu already.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:08 PM (Cq0oW)

23 Ok now I read it, thought provoking

Posted by: Skip at February 08, 2016 07:08 PM (HWcaz)

24 Any time people complain about how long a post is, it makes me weep for our future and my career as an author.

Ohmigawd, its like, so many characters. I can't even pay attention that long!

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:08 PM (39g3+)

25 Rubio being heckled during his interview with Ms Kelly

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:08 PM (zOTsN)

26 Another good post, WeirdDave.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:09 PM (LUgeY)

27 I'm still here.

Posted by: Jim Gilmore at February 08, 2016 07:09 PM (FkBIv)

28 Allegedly, Bush is polling #2 in New Hampshire and Cruz like #37 or something ridiculous. I am looking forward to the actual vote and seeing how off base and stupid the pollsters will look, again.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:10 PM (39g3+)

29

it wasnt a wall of text. Good grief, you out of adderall?

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:11 PM (zOTsN)

30 Good for Cruz. I would have been sorely tempted to smack that idiot upside his thick, self-obsessed head.

Posted by: pep at February 08, 2016 07:11 PM (LAe3v)

31 Good analysis, WeirdDave.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 08, 2016 07:11 PM (u82oZ)

32 A good salesweasel can sell anything whether or not it's worth a crap. People are stupid.

Posted by: freaked at February 08, 2016 07:11 PM (BO/km)

33 29 - Worse, I'm out of beer.

Posted by: ThisBeingMilt at February 08, 2016 07:12 PM (MbrzC)

34 I've been selling that itchy vagina insurance for years.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (FkBIv)

35 Don't really know what to make of it.

meh..

Posted by: eleven at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (qUNWi)

36 Damn well done, Weird Dave.

But, I think I might vote for Sanders. Consider:

1. A Chicken in Every Pot.

2. Eleven Herbs & Spices.

3. Finger Lickin' Good!

4. Chicks dig a guy in uniform. Col. Sanders sure looks good in his dress whites!


My preference of course is for Popeyes, but in that they're only a regional chain, I think that Col. Sanders is the only safe choice.


(I keed, it's Cruz all the way, here!)


Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (McRlu)

37
For the past 20 years, I have been an insurance agent.







BURN THE WITCH.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (o98Jz)

38 Ned? Ned Ryerson?
Posted by: Chi at February 08, 2016 07:01 PM (OUpHg)


OK that's pretty funny

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (mw8Dm)

39 Would that car lot happen to be right off of Wise Avenue and Merritt?

Posted by: davidferguson1327@gmail.com at February 08, 2016 07:14 PM (nT9xo)

40 I've been selling that itchy vagina insurance for years.
Posted by: Bill Clinton

I'm not just president of the company, I'm also a client!

Posted by: Hillary! Rodham-Rodham at February 08, 2016 07:14 PM (zmW4B)

41 Of course taxpayers should subsidize me. What, I should compete like everyone else?

(backbone of the nation my ass, and yes you are a dumb farmer)

Posted by: Dimwit Iowa Farmer at February 08, 2016 07:14 PM (LAe3v)

42 Okay, I dig the post, WeirdDave.

I don't know if I'll vote for Cruz or not tomorrow though.

Never thought I'd be an undecided voter the night before a primary ha.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:14 PM (AkOaV)

43 not long-term relationship sales.

And yet smart people have loaned and made billions with him over decades.

Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:15 PM (DL2i+)

44 I can't wait until I cast my ballot here in California. We have more people than another state. But it's always over before we vote. And in 2016 I don't even see going out. Why bother?

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at February 08, 2016 07:15 PM (BHtaf)

45 i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:15 PM (Cq0oW)

46 Go Cruz.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (rwI+c)

47 But, I think I might vote for Sanders. Consider:

1. A Chicken in Every Pot.

2. Eleven Herbs & Spices.

Yeah but Clinton, those wicked grooves and that funk. There's really no competition.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (39g3+)

48 >> i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.

I gots to know, what do you do?

Posted by: JackStraw at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (/tuJf)

49 So Ace has another post smashing the Donald.

Don't think anybody saw that coming.

Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (oLZsm)

50 Dave,
Our own Lizzy once posted a link of TrusTed responding to a confrontational abortion advocate at a rally. (Months and months ago)

His calm, reasoned response was almost as impressive as this video clip. I might be able to trace my support for him back to that day.
This was very good - thanks.

Posted by: Chi at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (OUpHg)

51 i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich



ummm what is your job

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (zOTsN)

52 Jeb Bush definitely pees sitting down.

Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (B48dK)

53 49 So Ace has another post smashing the Donald.

Don't think anybody saw that coming.
Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (oLZsm)

huh?

this wasn't an ace post.

And I didn't see it smash anyone.

but to be fair, my reading comprehension level is like... very subpar.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (AkOaV)

54 Oh, and dear Gov. Bransted, kiss my ass.

Posted by: pep at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (LAe3v)

55 Great post, Weirddave, I saw that video of Cruz the other day and thought exactly the same thing. I thought he had a good track record but was just saying what I wanted to hear. But there have been a few moments recently that have me thinking he's more sincere than I thought.

Posted by: Caiwyn at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (nU8lz)

56 Interesting, WD. Read every word.

*Glares at the ankle biters*

Posted by: ugg boots at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (fbovC)

57 >>>But, I think I might vote for Sanders. Consider:

1. A Chicken in Every Pot.

2. Eleven Herbs Spices.

3. Finger Lickin' Good!

4. Chicks dig a guy in uniform. Col. Sanders sure looks good in his dress whites!

My preference of course is for Popeyes, but in that they're only a
regional chain, I think that Col. Sanders is the only safe choice.

(I keed, it's Cruz all the way, here!)
Posted by: Jim at February 08, 2016 07:13 PM (McRlu)<<<




Whoa whoa whoa **arms gesticulating wildly** 11 herbs and spices... is just too damn much! Americans don't need that much variety... in their spice intake. When I'm President... I will stand up to the spice oligarchs.

Posted by: Comrade Sanders at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (H9MG5)

58 48 >> i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.

I gots to know, what do you do?
Posted by: JackStraw at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (/tuJf)
---
Submarine medic.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (jR7Wy)

59
So Ace has another post smashing the Donald. Don't think anybody saw that coming.
Posted by: Kate58




"Weirddave"

Just skimming, are we?

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (kdS6q)

60 I read something here the other day, pointing out that Cruz has argued nine cases before the Supreme Court winning five.

We need Ted Cruz, not a slickster. Ted and Carly might be the team to save America!

Posted by: dc at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (oY/R7)

61 The trannie codpiece I think is called "packing" .And the TSA are instructed to not check them too carefully(not that Anyone would want to,eww).

Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (B48dK)

62 Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich



ummm what is your job
Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:17 PM (zOTsN)

my guess? the guy who cleans up those "adult film" movie theaters.

You know, the guy with the mop and bucket and the "I hate my life" look on his face.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:19 PM (AkOaV)

63 So Ace has another post smashing the Donald.

Don't think anybody saw that coming.

Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:16 PM (oLZsm)

*looks at byline*looks at poster*

heh.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:19 PM (rwI+c)

64 Jeb Bush definitely pees sitting down.
Posted by: steevy

I made a tinkle in the big-boy potty.
Please clap.

Posted by: El Jefe HEB Boosh at February 08, 2016 07:19 PM (zmW4B)

65 Fan damn tastic Dave.

I was in sales a long time and what you say about that is so correct. It takes discipline to not chase THIS sale, but instead focus on the relationship.

The more I hear about Cruz the better I like him. I hope the hell be can pull it all off.

Posted by: traye at February 08, 2016 07:19 PM (HjQWO)

66 now I am a bit concerned about that "knuckle sandwich"

what sort of knuckle?

Posted by: ThunderB at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (zOTsN)

67 Damn well done, Weird Dave.



But, I think I might vote for Sanders. Consider:


Sanders is the opposite case. He passionately believes in what he's selling with no qualms. That's awfully attractive and would be admirable....


If what he was selling wasn't absolute poison.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (N8hFs)

68

yep

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (qCMvj)

69 I, too, am in sales and I can relate to WeirdDaves story.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (AkOaV)

70 That Cruz video contains more actual content than anything the political media's pumped out for thirty years.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (4ErVI)

71 what sort of knuckle?


Moose.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (rwI+c)

72 I'm honestly repelled by Cruz.

wasn't at first. as time wore on his campaign kept spamming me, sending crap in the mail, etc

now he never had my vote, but now I'm just set against.

plus, the arguments here have set my teeth on edge. far too personal, too much line crossing.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (Cq0oW)

73 OK, I watched the video. Personally, I'm against mandated ethanol as fuel. You can build a motor that will handle those blends that he was talking about, but it's certain death for other motors. If you want to purchase a flex fuel vehicle, that should be your prerogative just don't make me subsidize it.
Little known, but should be talked about, burning ethanol produces more ozone. And the EPA is busy trying to lower ozone standards. Catch 22.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (9iR5/)

74 And yet smart people have loaned and made billions with him over decades.

And as often as not gotten screwed in the process.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (N8hFs)

75 And yes, Popeye's has way better chicken than KFC. And I'd kill a kitten for those biscuits.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (39g3+)

76 How did you get to be Weirddave?
I'm pretty sure I'd win an actual contest.

Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (DL2i+)

77 Sweet! Been wanting to see that clip.


That was a tuuuuuuuuff situation and Cruz handled it with skill.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (Wckf4)

78 Yeah, my work experience in manufacturing taught me quite a lot, too.

Like, there are rules for a reason. Rules are good. Rules keep you from hurting yourself and others.

If you're smart, you understand why rules exist, what they are and how they work. More importantly, you understand that there's a point past which you may not go.

This is to protect you, not to challenge you. You are not there to show the world that the rules don't apply to you and that you're put on Earth to break them because you and only you are so badassed that you will not suffer by breaking the rules.

All the people I saw who broke the rules were missing an appendage or ten. Yes, I saw toolmakers who were missing all ten fingers at the knuckle.

Now that I think about it, many of these things apply to pilots too. There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots.

/ramblerant

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (LUgeY)

79 Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (Cq0oW)

Yeah I don't really like Cruz.

My options tomorrow in Nh are:

Bernie (to help make sure Hillary! loses)
Trump (to try to ensure Rubio! loses)
or Cruz (to try to ensure Kasich loses)

...Sucks

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:22 PM (AkOaV)

80 sorry

I'm a disease investigator. i look for source of infection

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:22 PM (Cq0oW)

81 I think Cruz is sincere and sticks with what he believes; and that he's less of a panderer that Trump, Rubio or Clinton. I think you'd have to stick with what you believe to be a conservative in Princeton and Harvard.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 07:22 PM (w4NZ8)

82 45 i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.
Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:15 PM (Cq0oW)
far too personal, too much line crossing.
Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:20 PM (Cq0oW)
----
???

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 08, 2016 07:22 PM (jR7Wy)

83 This was really good. I remember going to a sales training and the story if I can remember it went like this, won't do the joke justice:

Old salesman and young salesman go out to a client. The old salesman puts on a clinic on how to sell. They return to the office and the young salesperson says, "It was incredible! It was like he really cared about them!"

Posted by: bjk at February 08, 2016 07:23 PM (r1gf4)

84 Did you all catch the Col Sanders change up yesterday? Ya, that's illuminate right there.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at February 08, 2016 07:23 PM (BHtaf)

85 The problem is that its not he Presidents JOB to SELL you things....

Its the Presidents job to run the damn Government.

I like a lot of Cruz's philosophy... but can he run the Government? Because he has not run anything else in his entire life.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:23 PM (f7rv6)

86 I don't think he's perfect by any means-No politician is- but I respect him and I think he's the best candidate the Republicans have had for a very long time

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 07:23 PM (w4NZ8)

87 I saw that when it happened. Cruz had the man smiling at the end.

Posted by: Carol at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (sj3Ax)

88 Posted by: Backwardsboy at February 08, 2016 07:21 PM (LUgeY)


A lot of times I think it's less about the rules than the arbitrary enforcement of same.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (4ErVI)

89 *sigh* Jim Gaffigan as Colonel Sanders. Almost as bad Daryl Hammond.

Posted by: buzzion at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (zt+N6)

90 I am just going to post here before it gets mysteriously deleted.

Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (2Ocf1)

91 "And I'd kill a kitten for those biscuits."

I'm not sure if that's the recipe, but if it is, stay away from Mrs. Lovett's.

Posted by: Qoheleth at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (iIzG7)

92 ***"And yes, Popeye's has way better chicken than KFC. And I'd kill a kitten for those biscuits."***


Redbeans and rice. Can't forget the redbeans.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (Wckf4)

93 what is the question eris?

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (Cq0oW)

94 62 my guess? the guy who cleans up those "adult film" movie theaters.

You know, the guy with the mop and bucket and the "I hate my life" look on his face.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:19 PM (AkOaV)

"Jizz moppers." They also clean up the nudie booths.

Posted by: Randall Graves at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (jV8Mq)

95 A lot of times I think it's less about the rules than the arbitrary enforcement of same.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis

Whatever do you mean?

Posted by: Hillary! Rodham-Rodham at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (zmW4B)

96 I like a lot of Cruz's philosophy... but can he run the Government? Because he has not run anything else in his entire life.


Yeah, but that leaves us with the governors: Bush, Christie, Gilmore and Kasich. A motley crew that.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (rwI+c)

97 So Cruz won over a Iowa ethanol farmer?

By saying more ethanol?

Is that what I heard there?

Posted by: eleven at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (qUNWi)

98 I know I started a fire storm with this the other day. but the bottom line is that Cruz is most likely autistic. Presenting his earnest feelings in a way that others accept is difficult.

That says nothing of how he honestly feels or the type of leader he will be.

Posted by: Lauren at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (0C2f1)

99 Talk is cheap, show me.

Posted by: Fritz at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (BngQR)

100 I can't sell for shit.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (kpqmD)

101 Okay, sorry for my deleterious lack of specificity ... Ace PUBLISHED another post smashing the Donald. Sheesh, this f'in' place.

And for the commenter who blithely said he didn't see anything in the post smashing the Donald, "Trump's problem is that since his schtick is telling you what you want
to hear, over time he contradicts himself. The longer the campaign goes
on, the thinner his act wears and the more obvious it becomes to anyone
who is actually listening to him that he'll say anything that he thinks
will benefit him at that moment, then say the opposite an hour later. He
has no ethics."

Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.

Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (oLZsm)

102 *sigh* Jim Gaffigan as Colonel Sanders. Almost as bad Daryl Hammond.

Posted by: buzzion at February 08, 2016 07:24 PM (zt+N6)


Really?

I like Gaffigan but that seems like a very bad fit.

They should've stuck with Norm MacDonald. He was just killing in that gig.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (KUa85)

103 I can't sell for shit.


I can't buy for shit. I'm the kind of customer that gives salesmen boners.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (rwI+c)

104 i don't believe he's much of a leader.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (Cq0oW)

105 I am hoping this primary season gets to Pa. I've never seen a politician speak as its usually over and done by the time it gets to me.

Posted by: Skip at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (HWcaz)

106 Its the Presidents job to run the damn Government.

Well sadly, part of the job of running the government today is selling, that's what Bush got so wrong. You have to sell your policies, build national support, and get the country to go along with you.

I like a lot of Cruz's philosophy... but can he run the Government?

This is a valid concern. His entire life so far has been to talk and argue. That doesn't mean he cannot, but who knows? I'd like to believe he can make the transition but I'd prefer not to have someone learn executive work on the job.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (39g3+)

107 "... but the bottom line is that Cruz is most likely autistic..."

If an autistic lawyer can win over the majority of the Supreme Court five different times to his way of thinking, that doesn't speak well for the Supreme Court.

Or maybe we need an autistic President.

Instead of a narcissist.

Posted by: Qoheleth at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (iIzG7)

108 Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.


A pretty accurate assessment anyways.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (rwI+c)

109 Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (kpqmD)

Shit may have a limited market, unless you're selling manure.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (w4NZ8)

110 Fenelon Spoke,
I think Cruz is the best candidate we've had for more years than I can remember.

Posted by: Carol at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (sj3Ax)

111 Swedens Goran Marby was Monday named head of the body that manages Internet addresses, pledging to uphold checks and balances as it steps out from under US government oversight


Yeah NOT a big fan of this.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (mw8Dm)

112 Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.


Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (oLZsm)

If we could only destroy everyone else's opinion except my own, we could all live in utopia.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (4ErVI)

113 Yeah, but that leaves us with the governors: Bush, Christie, Gilmore and Kasich. A motley crew that.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (rwI+c)


and someone who has run Billion Dollar businesses...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (f7rv6)

114 Patterico.com has video of Cruz talking of a border wall in 2012, as well as emphatically saying "Hell No" (paraphrase) to amnesty, if you're interested.

Posted by: @PeeteySDee at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (B77dy)

115 Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.
Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (oLZsm)

well no, weirddave did not endorse trump. but he didn't "smash" him.

And ace doesn't even READ his blog, much less screen guest and co-blogger postings.

jeez.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (AkOaV)

116 103 I can't sell for shit.


I can't buy for shit. I'm the kind of customer that gives salesmen boners.
Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (rwI+c)

Heh.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (kpqmD)

117 Requires more than a 3 second attention span. More than half the electorate won't understand or want to understand Cruz.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (OvUux)

118 I recently took a class on the integrity sales system, and I definitely can see the differing sales methods employed by the candidates. Trump is hardball--he pushes his positions ("it's gonna be great, you'll love it!") without laying out that he understands much of anything about the public's needs. Sales is a discovery process, a "pull" process--you have to first figure out how your offerings are beneficial to prospects. Cruz's ethanol answer was great inasmuch as he was providing evidence (in the form of trusted references) to get at the heart of the concern (having a robust ethanol market even without subsidies).

Posted by: JonathanEllis at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (xjLNq)

119 I am just going to post here before it gets mysteriously deleted.

I hear that.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:29 PM (39g3+)

120 Kate58. Ace neither wrote nor published this post.

And no, I'm not going to tell you who did. I'll leave that up to the limits of your reading comprehension, or lack thereof.

But, the writer's name is up there at the top, in pixelated black & white.

Or, is that just too racist?



Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (McRlu)

121 and someone who has run Billion Dollar businesses...


I actually don't think it translates. Rarely do the people you deal with tell you to stuff it like the coequal branches do.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (rwI+c)

122 Posted by: Carol at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (sj3Ax)

I liked Walker and Perry too but they didn't have the staying power to make it to the primaries

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (w4NZ8)

123 Good Lord, Drudge has a story that Jeb! is in second place in the polls in NH? Unbelievable...

Posted by: donna at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (/dSsq)

124 eleven, what I got out of is to get the government out of it and let the free market decide where it goes. Instead of a government mandate. In other words, if you want to purchase a flex fuel vehicle, it's your choice and no other.
On the other hand, I would advise against it. Flex fuel vehicles burning E85 don't get anywhere near the fuel mileage of a straight gasoline vehicle. But it's your dollar, not mine, and I don't want to be forced to help you pay for it.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (9iR5/)

125 "hat doesn't speak well for the Supreme Court."

Nah, autistic lawyer is perfect. Logic can not be denied.

Posted by: Lauren at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (0C2f1)

126 Heh Wapo put up an article where Rubio won in more educated areas.

EDUCATED PEOPLE LOVE RUBIO!

I guess educated people love people who can't think and regurgitate vague, robotic dronethoughts with the elan of an autist.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (4ErVI)

127 109 Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (kpqmD)

Shit may have a limited market, unless you're selling manure.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 07:28 PM (w4NZ

You can grill it, broil it, boil it, saute' it, there's shit sandwich, shit sundae, shit storms, shit hitting the fan...

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:31 PM (kpqmD)

128 So Cruz won over a Iowa ethanol farmer?

By saying more ethanol?

Is that what I heard there?
Posted by: eleven at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (qUNWi)

No, Ted Cruz sold him on the Free Market, one of the cornerstones of this great country.

Posted by: Arson Wells at February 08, 2016 07:31 PM (UnJ7w)

129 "I think Cruz is the best candidate we've had for more years than I can remember."

1980 and 1984. That may jog your memory.

28 years is too many years for a great country like this to go without a real President. The fact that we as a nation have survived says more about our citizens than our leaders.

Posted by: Qoheleth at February 08, 2016 07:31 PM (iIzG7)

130 it's actually not the presidents job to run the government. that's the civil service. he's the head of a branch of government, set as adversarial branches, and he sets the tone for it all and handles foreign policy in particular.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:31 PM (Cq0oW)

131 My FiL is a great buyer, because he's never in love with what he's buying. For instance, he likes to remind me that You are buying a car, you aren't necessarily buying this car.

I on the other hand, fall in love with what I'm seeking.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:32 PM (rwI+c)

132 he has not run anything else in his entire life.

Ahem, Winning Iowa campaign (1) one each.

Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:32 PM (DL2i+)

133 Good Lord, Drudge has a story that Jeb! is in second place in the polls in NH? Unbelievable...
Posted by: donna at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (/dSsq)

Makes you ashamed to be an American. Well almost

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 08, 2016 07:32 PM (mw8Dm)

134 Ted is sincere; he truly believes in Constitutional government. But don't listen to me, the proof is in all of the evil bastards who hate him, leftists and eGOP alike. One way to take measure of a man, perhaps the best way, is to observe who their enemies are.

Posted by: Alamo at February 08, 2016 07:32 PM (aVNi6)

135 Why in the world did that farmer even mention windmills? He is just looking for a payday from Big Gov.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 08, 2016 07:33 PM (OvUux)

136 I like a Trump/Cruz ticket.

Trump to yell, pontificate, point fingers, spew spittle and generally make people feel like a man is in charge and let's get the bastards already.

Cruz to be the behind the scenes operator if he calls you it's like the funeral home scene from "The Godfather" and it's your turn in the barrel or in front of a gun barrel take your pick.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 08, 2016 07:33 PM (ej1L0)

137 Trump is all about selling the vision and the passion. He doesn't care a lot about the details, so they get filled in differently whenever he improvises. If those details are important to you, that's a big problem. If the vision (looking out for Americans first instead of promoting some international vision) is what's important then it's not such a big deal.

I don't think either view on Trump is right or wrong. I'm more in the "fuck it, Trump" camp myself, but I'd be happy if Cruz won.

Posted by: Jake at February 08, 2016 07:33 PM (cRCUJ)

138 definitely can see the differing sales methods employed by the candidates. Trump is hardball--he pushes his positions ("it's gonna be great, you'll love it!") without laying out that he understands much of anything about the public's needs

====

yet he connects best to the working class.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:33 PM (Cq0oW)

139 And for the commenter who blithely said he didn't see anything in the
post smashing the Donald, "Trump's problem is that since his schtick is
telling you what you want

to hear, over time he contradicts himself. The longer the campaign goes

on, the thinner his act wears and the more obvious it becomes to anyone

who is actually listening to him that he'll say anything that he thinks

will benefit him at that moment, then say the opposite an hour later. He

has no ethics."

Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.

So if I'm not all in on the Trump train, I should keep my mouth shut? I stand by my analysis.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 08, 2016 07:34 PM (N8hFs)

140 ***"Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.


Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (oLZsm) "***


Could you point out how it was inaccurate, or did you just prefer to complain?

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:34 PM (Wckf4)

141 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:27 PM (39g3+)

for me its a skill set issue.

Lawyers argue... or 'sell' their position....

But I think the biggest problem we have right now is an out of control Federal government.

Those who work for it are unaccountable to anyone... even the PRESIDENT can't seem to fire people... and in fact Wrong doers seem to get promoted, while whistleblowers get the axe.

So the question becomes can Cruz put together a staff good enough to turn our dysfunctional government more functional? Has he ever hired and fired people? Does he even know how to go about selecting a staff???

Now, Rubio has the same problem... and his staff will be selected by K Street and the GOPe....

Trump, IMO, would bring in outsiders... which I see as a good thing...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:35 PM (f7rv6)

142 >>>The problem is that its not he Presidents JOB to SELL you things....
Its the Presidents job to run the damn Government.<<<

Not true. It's the president's job, as the commander in chief, to sell weapons systems to our allies. It's part of the job description. Think, Military Industrial Complex.

Posted by: Fritz at February 08, 2016 07:35 PM (BngQR)

143 I'm glad the farmer is considering the free market solution but I still get the feeling he still doesn't give a crap whether he gets his money from me through coercive mandates or me through the free market. Fuck him. That's why I could never run for a political office unless it was for dictator.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at February 08, 2016 07:35 PM (MNgU2)

144 Yep, Weirddave, that works swell, I suppose, for selling insurance. Not so much for politics.

What has Ted Cruz accomplished during his only term in the US Senate?

He talks about conservative things and issues, and that's fine with me, but what kind of EXECUTIVE experience does he have? None.

Trump has executive experience. He's made a tidy living in the private sector by starting projects and seeing them through to completion (pretty much). He knows how to make a deal.

Right now he's in NH bellowing about the greedy corporations. That's not very conservative, at least in a 1980 election cycle context, but its a bullseye after 7+ years of Obama Crony Capitalism. Ted Cruz can spin his conservative platitudes to his heart's content, but that's not what the voting public are buying this cycle.

Posted by: mrp at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (JBggj)

145 133 Did you see this?Focusing on the really inportant shit.

http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/226165/

Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (B48dK)

146
Anybody follow up to see if that hayseed actually voted for Cruz?

If not, fail.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (kdS6q)

147 >>I'm a disease investigator. i look for source of infection
Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich

*whistles innocently*

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (c7vUv)

148 yet he connects best to the working class.

Just like Huey Long.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (FkBIv)

149 Wind and solar power in this country would fail if the government removed their subsidies. Both get more government largess than oil. Lots more. They could not compete without government money.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (9iR5/)

150 Get them to sign on the line which is dotted....

Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (2Ocf1)

151 Ted Cruz can spin his conservative platitudes to his heart's content, but that's not what the voting public are buying this cycle.

Probably. Mores the pity.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:37 PM (rwI+c)

152 I'd like to believe he can make the transition but I'd prefer not to have someone learn executive work on the job.


If the last seven years are any guide, even the dumbest pot smoker can get things accomplished when sitting in the oval office.

Posted by: ugg boots at February 08, 2016 07:37 PM (fbovC)

153 Hated to see the farmer refer to himself as a "dumb farmer".

We live in a country where he's internalized that belief because of the fart sniffers on the coasts who think they're better than the people who grow their food.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:37 PM (4ErVI)

154 It's cold here & I am in my kitchen. I'm going to put this on living room floor & listen to Mark Levin. It's warmer in there.

Posted by: Carol at February 08, 2016 07:38 PM (sj3Ax)

155 On the other hand, I would advise against it. Flex fuel vehicles burning E85 don't get anywhere near the fuel mileage of a straight gasoline vehicle. But it's your dollar, not mine, and I don't want to be forced to help you pay for it.

The only reason we have food in our gasoline is to satisfy a gaggle of fringe control-freak kooks who believe in the hoax of manmade global warming.

Of course they would like that idea since it enables them to guilt people into giving their freedom away.

In a normal world, anyone who believed that man could change the weather would be laughed out of whichever bar he was in. And he'd deserve it for being a fool.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:38 PM (LUgeY)

156 154 It's cold here & I am in my kitchen. I'm going to put this on living room floor & listen to Mark Levin. It's warmer in there.


76 degrees here in NorCal today...

Posted by: donna at February 08, 2016 07:38 PM (/dSsq)

157 nope weirdave say what you want. you're just noodling out what you think. that's jake.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:38 PM (Cq0oW)

158 Donald Trump is not getting any damn steak knives.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 08, 2016 07:39 PM (/tuJf)

159 Ahem, Winning Iowa campaign (1) one each.


Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:32 PM (DL2i+)


ahem.... winning a self selecting poll of 15% of Repubs in a State...

Note... he does not have a single delegate yet...

AND, some of his campaigns actions were just a bit hinky....

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:39 PM (f7rv6)

160 In a normal world, anyone who believed that man
could change the weather would be laughed out of whichever bar he was
in. And he'd deserve it for being a fool.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:38 PM (LUgeY)
--------Well said BB!

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:39 PM (9iR5/)

161 Drudge has a story that Jeb! is in second place in the polls in NH?

Those 27 Generals and Admirals got their tanks and ships underway!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 08, 2016 07:39 PM (FkBIv)

162 112 "If we could only destroy everyone else's opinion except my own, we could all live in utopia."

Don't get prissy, nobody's advocating the shredder. But it's just all so predictable: NRO, Ace, Moonbattery, Doug Ross are all for Cruz; Conservative Treehouse, Gateway Pundit and Coulter are for Trump. Everybody thinks those other guys are retarded suckers for not seeing the obvious shenanigans their candidate's pulling.

I freely admit that after seven years I've never successfully synced with the vibe of this place, and I'll admit it's gotta be my fault. But honestly, with friends like these ...

I just wish we were all just a bit less toxic toward one another.

Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (oLZsm)

163 Just stopping by to say that there's a reason we put oil in gas tanks instead of corn: Ethanol is worse fuel.

The argument of "They do it in Europe and Brazil" is not convincing to me.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (2iT7g)

164 Allegedly, Bush is polling #2 in New Hampshire and Cruz like #37 or something ridiculous. I am looking forward to the actual vote and seeing how off base and stupid the pollsters will look, again.

Yeah, you think Iowans are a bunch of stupid idiots and shouldn't get anywhere near FITN and then New Hampshire makes you wish they weren't allowed to vote at all.

Posted by: AmishDude at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (Xd2w5)

165 Anyone who thinks Trump is going to come in and run the government like a multi-billion dollar business doesn't understand our government or multi-billion dollar businesses.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (Wckf4)

166 Wind and solar power in this country would fail if the government removed their subsidies. Both get more government largess than oil. Lots more. They could not compete without government money.


If it made sense, we'd already be doing it.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (LUgeY)

167 >>>Logic can not be denied.

Posted by: Lauren at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (0C2f1)<<<

Ha. Haha. Hahahahahahahahahaha.


**coughIt'saTaxcough**

Posted by: Chief Justass John Roberts, Kennedy, and the 4 idiot libs at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (H9MG5)

168 WeirdDave brought me back!
*air humps*
I will do anything to earn your vote. LITERALLY ANYTHING.

Posted by: Pander Bear at February 08, 2016 07:41 PM (/ciMI)

169 So the question becomes can Cruz put together a staff good enough to turn our dysfunctional government more functional? Has he ever hired and fired people? Does he even know how to go about selecting a staff???

Ted Cruz was Solicitor General for Texas.

That means he organized and hired his staff and led them on complex cases esp before the Supreme Court.

Or did you think he just waltzed into the Supreme Court and argued his cases after picking up a breakfast burrito at Mac Donald's.

If you want to say, he hasn't run a business...sure, knock yourself out.

But, run nothing? That's just not the case.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 08, 2016 07:41 PM (KUa85)

170 Drudge has a story that Jeb! is in second place in the polls in NH?

Meh, we'll see. I bet Kasich wins or something nuts. Polling is basically proving its self to be pretty much trash this cycle and few things warm my heart more.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:42 PM (39g3+)

171 We live in a country where he's internalized that belief because of the fart sniffers on the coasts who think they're better than the people who grow their food.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 07:37 PM (4ErVI)

Pretty sure he was making a sarcastic comment. I seriously doubt he considers himself stupid, or his work undignified.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 07:42 PM (2iT7g)

172 ***"I just wish we were all just a bit less toxic toward one another."***


Because mischaracterizing this post was so healthy.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:43 PM (Wckf4)

173 Marco tells you what you want to hear, and know he needs to be sincere?? What the hell's wrong with you people??

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 08, 2016 07:43 PM (oVJmc)

174 So, I haven't seen one of those videos of the Democrat,anti- gun, billionaire, showing up in plaid and wanting to shoot something. Has the internet let me down?

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at February 08, 2016 07:43 PM (BHtaf)

175 The argument of "They do it in Europe and Brazil" is not convincing to me.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM (2iT7g)
---------Again, if that is what the consumer wants, let them have it. I didn't say it was a wise choice. But let the free market decide, not the government.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:43 PM (9iR5/)

176 Anyone who thinks Trump is going to come in and run the government like a multi-billion dollar business doesn't understand our government or multi-billion dollar businesses.

====

i understand a lot of it. it's why i want him to try. anything but business as usual for God's sake

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:43 PM (Cq0oW)

177 Just stopping by to say that there's a reason we put oil in gas tanks instead of corn: Ethanol is worse fuel.


This goes back to that rules thingy.

Oil contains more potential energy that any other portable source of fuel in use today. To dilute it with a lesser product is useless.

Physics, where there are rules...and our idiot rulers have no idea what they are.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (LUgeY)

178 Why do polls carry much weight? Seriously does anyone think a lefty would not lie and say they'd be likely to vote for whomever they think is the weakest candidate vs their commie choice and consider themselves doing a good deed. And then consider who picks up the phone for a pollster.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (dkExz)

179 Meh. I thought Trump was a creep because of the story about the widow and the eminent domain in Atlantic City. So I researched the story. Turns out Trump wasn't a creep at all. The local redevelopment committee were the main ones going after the woman, Trump partnered with them after the widow refused when he offered her a price lower than her asking price of $1 mil. He had an obligation to try to secure the lot to complete the project.
He came up to HER asking price after the E domain fell through, and she said "no", then doubled her asking. She had done the same thing to the Penthouse guy who first tried to buy her house 12 years earlier. (It really wasn't even a house - it was a low income rooming house.) Then after a couple more years Trump EXCEEDED her $2 mil asking AND offered to give her a free home in Palm Beach FL for the rest of her life and she refused. In the end she got crap nothing and the place got sold to satisfy overdue tax liens. But Trump did her a massive FAVOR - the Penthouse guy had built a giant steel structure which encased the rooming house for 12 long years - Trump had it pulled down, and in it's place went a parking lot and a landscaped green-space public park, which she enjoyed for the remainder of the years she stayed in the property. You should google the photo.

Posted by: christbeeswax@aol.com at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (xhawg)

180 Note... he does not have a single delegate yet...

He did get what 1500+ people into precincts, that was the example I meant.
Don skipped that retail part and it cost him.

Will Loves America, Build a Wall, Fire People be enough for 4 years or will he start making Deals we'll hate?


Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (DL2i+)

181
But, run nothing? That's just not the case.


Posted by: naturalfake at February 08, 2016 07:41 PM (KUa85)



The Solicitor General of Texas is supported by two deputies, over a dozen assistant solicitors general and a highly dedicated support staff.


I've run bigger operations than this... and he inherited most of his staff...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (f7rv6)

182 Trump first to respond to Session's test.
http://tinyurl.com/hprnchs

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (OvUux)

183 WHERE ARE MY STEAK KNIVES?

Posted by: Salesman #2 at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (8ZskC)

184 I just wish we were all just a bit less toxic toward one another.

Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:40 PM

You think this is toxic? Star a fight over long bows versus crossbows--THEN you'll see the venom fly......

Posted by: Alamo at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (aVNi6)

185 Always easier to sell if you believe in and also have a good product.

The problem with the GOPe is that they don't think they have a good product. That is because they don't believe they have a good product because they believe the msm.

Posted by: Jukin, Former Republican at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (AhyHb)

186 #151

Probably. Mores the pity.

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

That's true. The MSM wants to spin this mass repudiation of the DC Ruling Class as a surge for Socialism. That won't go, either.






Posted by: mrp at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (JBggj)

187 136 I like a Trump/Cruz ticket.

Trump to yell, pontificate, point fingers, spew spittle and generally make people feel like a man is in charge and let's get the bastards already.

Cruz to be the behind the scenes operator if he calls you it's like the funeral home scene from "The Godfather" and it's your turn in the barrel or in front of a gun barrel take your pick.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 08, 2016 07:33 PM (ej1L0)

And also, Cruz could be a Constitutional anchor on Trump. "No, Donald, you can't do that! It's unconstitutional!"

I agree; I think a Trump/Cruz ticket is the best we can get this time around.

Posted by: rickl at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (sdi6R)

188 I read the whole thing, and I found that clip endearing.
That's a sign I'm not 100% cynical, and only 99% ready for the SMOD.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at February 08, 2016 07:46 PM (VdICR)

189 Illegal immigrants and individuals with unclear legal status wrongly benefited from up to $750 million in ObamaCare subsidies and the government is struggling to recoup the money, according to a new Senate report obtained by Fox News.

The report, produced by Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, examined Affordable Care Act tax credits meant to defray the cost of insurance premiums. It found that as of June 2015, the Administration awarded approximately $750 million in tax credits on behalf of individuals who were later determined to be ineligible because they failed to verify their citizenship, status as a national, or legal presence.

The review found the credits went to more than 500,000 people who are illegal immigrants or whose legal status was unclear due to insufficient records.

And we KNOW that it is probably at least double that.

And that is more than they want to cut from the Military for the Commissary Budget.

BUT BUT BUT LIberals love the Military right?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 08, 2016 07:47 PM (mw8Dm)

190 BING!!!!

Posted by: Ned Ryerson at February 08, 2016 07:48 PM (8ZskC)

191 ***"i understand a lot of it. it's why i want him to try. anything but business as usual for God's sake"***


I'm all for something new, but the idea that running the executive branch requires some sort of extra special skill just makes my teeth itch.


Look at Obama, the man of average intelligence at absolute best. What the fvck did he run before he got into politics? And has he or has he not pushed through his agenda? If that mediocrity can do it, I'm pretty sure Cruz will be ok.


The No Executive Experience argument is weaksauce.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:48 PM (Wckf4)

192 Oh, FFS. Lester Holt just intimated that Beyonce won the Super Bowl. I just have no words on how insanely stupid that comment was without getting myself banned.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:49 PM (9iR5/)

193 I think wondering if Cruz has the chops to do executive work is a valid concern. We have suffered through 7 years of an incompetent, unready president that we were told would learn on the job. Granted, Obama's intellect is about half of Cruz, but still: its not an issue you can just brush aside as meaningless.

I suspect he can do it, and if I thought it would matter, I'd be willing to give him a chance to prove himself. As is, I'd kinda rather someone else was in there to take it in the teeth.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 07:49 PM (39g3+)

194 You know who had extensive executive experience? Himmler.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (kpqmD)

195 Physics, where there are rules...and our idiot rulers have no idea what they are.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (LUgeY)

I just typed 'price of ethanol' into a search. Got a link saying it's $1.42 per gallon. That's a) pretty close to gasoline and b) subsidized. Remove the subsidy and the price goes up. It goes up to more than gasoline and we'll see how many tree huggers want to put their money where their mouths are.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (2iT7g)

196
Or did you think he just waltzed into the Supreme Court and argued
his cases after picking up a breakfast burrito at Mac Donald's.

oh come now, he's a Texan

he had some authentic eggs and chorizo instead

Posted by: chemjeff at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (uZNvH)

197 Oh, FFS. Lester Holt just intimated that Beyonce won the Super Bowl. I just have no words on how insanely stupid that comment was without getting myself banned.
Posted by: Old Blue at February 08, 2016 07:49 PM (9iR5/)

Ah go for it

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (mw8Dm)

198 So yer sayin' Iowa farmer's have itchy vaginas?

Posted by: simplemind at February 08, 2016 07:51 PM (BTnAK)

199 You know, sometimes I get worried he's gonna eat me.

Posted by: Kasich's dog at February 08, 2016 07:52 PM (HgMAr)

200 To dilute it with a lesser product is useless.

Going to be $ getting 87+ Octane on 100% gas with what's left in the ground and the refinery capacity.

Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:52 PM (DL2i+)

201 Zig Ziglar said 'You can have everything you want by helping other people get what they want.' I was a Navy recruiter once and we used a sales script designed according to Zig. I was very successful. VERY successful. Looking like a recruiting poster sailor in crackerjacks didn't hurt none either. But it was mostly cause the Zig don't lie.

Posted by: Eromero at February 08, 2016 07:52 PM (zLDYs)

202 imma go play with the kid

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:53 PM (Cq0oW)

203 Trump supporters are just like Trump.

Posted by: Max Rockatansky at February 08, 2016 07:54 PM (MNgU2)

204 Winners.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 08, 2016 07:54 PM (OvUux)

205 ***"We have suffered through 7 years of an incompetent, unready president that we were told would learn on the job."***


Totally disagree. The vast majority of Obama supporters are pleased as punch and consider him highly competent. Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:55 PM (Wckf4)

206 In other news, Chipotle tells us we got poop-sick not from something that was on the food when it came in the back door, but we got poop-sick . . .

. . . from a couple of their employees!

Think about that for a sec.

Eeeeewwwwww!

Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 08, 2016 07:56 PM (U6f54)

207 I just typed 'price of ethanol' into a search. Got a link saying it's $1.42 per gallon. That's a) pretty close to gasoline and b) subsidized. Remove the subsidy and the price goes up. It goes up to more than gasoline and we'll see how many tree huggers want to put their money where their mouths are.

Put in a vehicle and watch the mileage go down too.

Corn gets used for cattle feed. Increase that price and the price of beef goes up.

The whole idea of using food for fuel (especially since we have a dedicated fuel already in place) is ridiculous. But, the government forces us to do it...

#WASTF

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:56 PM (LUgeY)

208 Oh and thanks so much for this post weirddave. I respect your opinion and you put your finger on what about Cruz had made me uncomfortable even though I consider him the best of the field since the good governors dropped out.

I'm pleased to hear he is improving on that televangelist voice. I've liked what I've heard of his record as SG in Texas and that he stood up for the principles he was elected on as a Senator -- I wish he had a party with him, instead of so many GOPes being of the uniparty for big government.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 08, 2016 07:56 PM (dkExz)

209 You should learn to praise yourself less even if what you say is true, but otherwise a great point and a great article.

Posted by: Shooter McGavin at February 08, 2016 07:57 PM (OD23t)

210 Zig Ziglar said 'You can have everything you want by helping other
people get what they want.' I was a Navy recruiter once and we used a
sales script designed according to Zig. I was very successful. VERY
successful. Looking like a recruiting poster sailor in crackerjacks
didn't hurt none either. But it was mostly cause the Zig don't lie.

Yup. I tell all my new agents that that's the way to approach the job using that exact quote.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 08, 2016 07:57 PM (N8hFs)

211 Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 07:55 PM

Agreed, but aided and abetted by a complicit cowardly GOP. That's the enraging aspect of this assholes reign-- he couldn't have done it alone.

Posted by: Alamo at February 08, 2016 07:58 PM (aVNi6)

212 You know who had extensive executive experience? Himmler.
Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (kpqmD)

Not so much...he failed at just about everything except kissing Hitler's ass and backstabbing his way to the top of the SS. Himmler was a good judge of sycophants like himself who he placed in his junior posts. Germany may have won the war if Himmler would have stuck to chicken farming, which he also failed at, instead of exterminating people.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 08, 2016 07:58 PM (ej1L0)

213 Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?
Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and
isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?
Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and
isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?
Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and
isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?

Posted by: Amy Rubio at February 08, 2016 07:58 PM (DL2i+)

214 i talk about itchy vaginas all day long. and anal discharge. today, my highlight was a discussion about a trannies codpiece and whether or not that could harbor bacteria.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 08, 2016 07:15 PM (Cq0oW)


pollockpieces FTW!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM (Z8fuk)

215 Okay, so back to the Trump vs Cruz advocates.

Look at this video:

https://youtu.be/OR1kV2hBaGY


Notice that the other candidates, including Cruz, blast past Carson. "They called my name, gotta go". The only person that doesn't is Trump. He stays there with Ben, until they realize their mistake and call Carson out to his spot. And only then, after they call Trump a second time, does he come out. They should have all stood with Carson, until he was called out.

Posted by: notsothoreau at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM (5HBd1)

216 IMHO, the biggest problem with the government and those elected to it is ZERO CONSEQUENCES. No pain none whatsoever for screwing up. In fact if you screw up you fail up.

This would be the thing that Trump would bring to government..oh and he loves the country unlike dog eater who hates it.

Posted by: Jukin, Former Republican at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM (AhyHb)

217 Actually, Trump has, in many ways, set the agenda because he is the only one willing to take positions that were verboten by the "establishment" and not back down. He gets regularly mocked in the media..."Dead Clown Walking"... and "booed" vigorously by the big donors who populate the seats at the debates. He had his clothing line yanked by the corporate scolds at Macy's.... All of them are preferable to Hillary and Bernie, though, even the oily Cruz.

Posted by: Jen at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM (msAGT)

218 Cruz is certainly intelligent and seems to be sincere. I still don't quite trust him, though. Then again, I'm a poor judge of people, so I could be completely off base.

I have my doubts about whether Cruz can win the general election. In order to do that, he will have to appeal to LIVs, and I just can't see that happening. Either Trump or Rubio would do much better in that regard.

Posted by: rickl at February 08, 2016 08:00 PM (sdi6R)

219
You should learn to praise yourself less even if what you say is true, but otherwise a great point and a great article.

I suppose that's a fair cop, even though I wasn't tying to praise myself so much as establish my bona fides. I'll be the first to tell you that I'm an idiot. Thanks for the pointer.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 08, 2016 08:00 PM (N8hFs)

220 O/T: Oh my...so this San Fran minimalist did a poster on commission to celebrate the Year of the Fire Monkey (Gong Hey Fat Choy y'all).

So...I'm'a leave this here and let the Horde draw its own conclusions. (Hat tip to S. Weasel, because goddamn, San Fran!)

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hf9lz6v

Posted by: Brother Cavil, hither and yon at February 08, 2016 08:01 PM (m9V0o)

221 so much as establish my bona fides.

Well I still want to hear a "Weird" story.

Posted by: Amy Rubio at February 08, 2016 08:01 PM (DL2i+)

222 Not until you lose that sock, Other, Not Quite As Weird Dave.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 08:02 PM (Wckf4)

223 Objectively speaking, the man accomplished many of his goals and isn't done yet. How is achieving your goals incompetent"?

Success doesn't necessarily indicate competence. You can succeed while being completely idiotic at your task, learning nothing, and doing it all wrong. In Obama's case, he had to violate the constitution, break the law, ignore courts, and impose himself on everyone. And his signature piece, the ACA, is universally loathed as a total piece of failed crap.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:02 PM (39g3+)

224 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:02 PM (39g3+)


And yet, he still accomplished what he said he was going to accomplish. A lot of it. Once or twice might have been a fluke.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2016 08:03 PM (Wckf4)

225 That farmer uses way to much water in raising that gasoline.

Posted by: The Colgate Water Police at February 08, 2016 08:04 PM (Dwehj)

226 Zig Ziglar said 'You can have everything you want by helping other people get what they want."

That's never really worked for me. People usually got what they wanted from me but didn't give anything back.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at February 08, 2016 08:05 PM (kpqmD)

227 >>> Posted by: notsothoreau at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM
-----
Yeah, I didn't understand what Carson was doing staying back like that like he got sent to the corner of the classroom or something or was chickening out of the debate. The optics of it were weird on television, but Trump seemed to instantly understand what was going on. He was incredibly gracious to stand there with Carson. All the rest of them just ran past bc it was their time in the spotlight. Like a bunch of lemmings.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 08, 2016 08:05 PM (2x3L+)

228
That's never really worked for me.

Yeah Zig Ziglar is mostly full of nice-sounding crap.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:06 PM (39g3+)

229 Yeah, I'd call that a triumphant endorsement.

Posted by: Kate58 at February 08, 2016 07:26 PM (oLZsm)


It's fair comment, and certainly debatable. I'd scarcely call it "smashing" the Donald. Cruz has changed his postion on some issues, too. They all do it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 08, 2016 08:07 PM (Z8fuk)

230 Great post, Weirddave.

I ran and was one-third owner of a consulting firm for years and freely admit that I'm the worst salesman in the world. I'm really, really dreadful. I speak well in front of large audiences but don't do well talking with two or three people.

However, when I got clients I kept them by taking care of them. My clients brought me in far more new clients than I could have ever dreamed of.

You are absolutely right about the secret of gaining and, especially, keeping clients.

Spot on, too, about Ted Cruz. As a Texan, I've followed him since his senate run in 2012 to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison. He performed masterfully in the election, going from an unknown to winning a coveted senate seat in 8 months or so. He's been good for Texas and I believe that he will be good for the country.

Posted by: Michael the Hobbit at February 08, 2016 08:07 PM (dPpmC)

231 If Kasich is still around when it's time for you to vote, use caution. He still has contacts at the US PS and if you don't vote for him, your mail will be redirected to Kowloon.

Just a word of warning.

Posted by: Hank at February 08, 2016 08:08 PM (kLHNz)

232 "And his signature piece, the ACA, is universally loathed as a total piece of failed crap."

Never lose sight of the fact that results are meaningless to leftists, or at least the proposed results. The ACA, disaster that it is, advanced the left's imposition of government on citizen's lives. Moreover, failure of government policy is always followed by more government "solutions", ad infinitum.

Posted by: Alamo at February 08, 2016 08:08 PM (aVNi6)

233 Posted by: The Colgate Water Police at February 08, 2016 08:04 PM (Dwehj)

Haha. I saw that ad last night. Too bad it only applies to me if the water systems of Louisiana and fucking Zimbabwe are connected. Idiots

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 08:09 PM (2iT7g)

234 Somewhere in the night, a thirsty little Peruvian girl cries out for a glass of water.

Posted by: The Colgate Water Police at February 08, 2016 08:10 PM (Dwehj)

235 While Trump is still not my choice, I can think of some reasons for voting for him.


Unlike our current President or the likely Democrat candidate, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump does not hate America, Americans, Christianity and Western Civilization. You would think that this is a barrier so low that all the candidates for President of the United States could easily pass it but you would be wrong.


The major obstacle that any Republican has to overcome is the media who are overwhelmingly supporting the Democrat in any race and dishonestly running down any Republican candidate. Donald Trump seems to be able to disarm their usual tricks and get past their attempts to trip him up or humiliate him.


That is pretty much it. I don't really think Donald Trump is a conservative or that he really has much in the way of a philosophy but he may be the only one who can get past the Democrat media gatekeepers and he does not want to do bad things to the United States and its citizens.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at February 08, 2016 08:10 PM (QHgTq)

236 227
Yeah, I didn't understand what Carson was doing staying back like that like he got sent to the corner of the classroom or something or was chickening out of the debate. The optics of it were weird on television, but Trump seemed to instantly understand what was going on. He was incredibly gracious to stand there with Carson. All the rest of them just ran past bc it was their time in the spotlight. Like a bunch of lemmings.
Posted by: L, Elle at February 08, 2016 08:05 PM (2x3L+)

The way I heard it is that he didn't hear his name called. It may have been drowned out by the applause.

Trump was definitely a class act there. Sure, he's an arrogant blowhard in public, but it's how you act when the spotlight is not on you that matters.

Posted by: rickl at February 08, 2016 08:11 PM (sdi6R)

237 234
Somewhere in the night, a thirsty little Peruvian girl cries out for a glass of water.


Posted by: The Colgate Water Police at February 08, 2016 08:10 PM (Dwehj)

Somewhere in Marco Rubio's house, a leaky faucet drips until suddenly it stops.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 08, 2016 08:12 PM (4ErVI)

238 >>>> Posted by: rickl at February 08, 2016 08:11 PM (sdi6R)
-----
Yeah, rickl. I don't think any of them realized that they had a camera on them coming out from backstage. They were all like "I'm being called!! I'm the star of the show!!!"

The actual front runner felt no need to rush out onto the stage and get in front of the cameras. It was a little thing that was a very magnanimous and thoughtful.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 08, 2016 08:15 PM (2x3L+)

239 That's never really worked for me. People usually got what they wanted from me but didn't give anything back.

That stinks. I would encourage you to try to think of someone in your past who hasn't done that and see if you can get in touch with them.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 08, 2016 08:16 PM (w4NZ8)

240 Ted Cruz can spin his conservative platitudes to his heart's content, but that's not what the voting public are buying this cycle.

Posted by: mrp at February 08, 2016 07:36 PM (JBggj)


Right no Trump polls at 29.5 percent according to the RCP National average. My math isn't that great but it seems to me 70.5 percent of voters are looking to buy something else.

Posted by: Joanne at February 08, 2016 08:19 PM (hgBpU)

241 I'm still absolutely livid over that Doritos commercial.

Posted by: Sandra Flook at February 08, 2016 08:19 PM (Dwehj)

242 #240 Right now - ugh.

Posted by: Joanne at February 08, 2016 08:20 PM (hgBpU)

243 Going to be $ getting 87+ Octane on 100% gas with what's left in the ground and the refinery capacity.

Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:52 PM (DL2i+)


There are several ways to boost octane, aside from adding ethanol. Or we could start selling more Diesel cars and light trucks. Diesel engines are more efficient, period, and Diesel fuel contains a touch more energy per gallon than gasoline, and you can squeeze more out of a barrel of crude. Which is not in short supply, anyway.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 08, 2016 08:20 PM (Z8fuk)

244 Never lose sight of the fact that results are meaningless to leftists, or at least the proposed results.

While true, the topic was objective standards of competence. The ACA is a miserable failure, a disaster, the work of someone who is incompetent and hapless at his job.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:23 PM (39g3+)

245 Yo, Weirddave! Someday (2 years?) there may be a new Life Insurance product that you can sell to your clients that is tied to maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes maintaining a low level of blood oxidative stress (BlOS).

Posted by: scrood at February 08, 2016 08:24 PM (3b9U4)

246 "195
Physics, where there are rules...and our idiot rulers have no idea what they are.



Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 08, 2016 07:45 PM (LUgeY)



I just typed 'price of ethanol' into a search. Got a link saying
it's $1.42 per gallon. That's a) pretty close to gasoline and b)
subsidized. Remove the subsidy and the price goes up. It goes up to
more than gasoline and we'll see how many tree huggers want to put their
money where their mouths are.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 08, 2016 07:50 PM (2iT7g)"

Can you describe how ethanol is subsidized? How much is the subsidy? At what point in the production is the ethanol subsidy applied?

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at February 08, 2016 08:24 PM (QHgTq)

247 Submarine medic.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 08, 2016 07:18 PM (jR7Wy)

haha

Posted by: willow at February 08, 2016 08:25 PM (9XzdI)

248 This might be my cynicism talking, but I bet the prosyletizer Cruz planted that ol' corn farmer.

Yes, I'm jaded, but isn't an on-the-spot "conversion" a bit *too* convenient? I would guess that all those voter psychometric studies the Cruz campaign is conducting has told him to combat that ethanol issue, but quick! And get it on video...

Go Trump!

Posted by: Squeaky Wheel at February 08, 2016 08:29 PM (X9e93)

249 ... even the oily Cruz.

Posted by: Jen at February 08, 2016 07:59 PM (msAGT)


Can't we all strive to support who we want without derogatory remarks such as this?

Posted by: Joanne at February 08, 2016 08:30 PM (hgBpU)

250 You know a lot of drive by trump supporters and guys on Twitter supposedly for him read a lot more like they are against everyone else rather than Trump, then throw out a quick yell like the jock making his speech at the end of Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure...

San Dimas High School Football Rocks!!!! I mean, Go Trump!

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:32 PM (39g3+)

251 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:32 PM (39g3+)

Lol. You forgot ALL CAPS!!!!

Posted by: Joanne at February 08, 2016 08:37 PM (hgBpU)

252 Not so much "drive-by", as "driving-to", (as in driving myself and others to the polls tomorrow).



Go Trump!

Posted by: Squeaky Wheel at February 08, 2016 08:38 PM (X9e93)

253 I don't think Trump is a Pander Bear. He's taking positions that are combative. That's not what you do when you're pandering to people for votes.

Posted by: Jaxon Jensen at February 08, 2016 08:38 PM (rF4dt)

254 >>98 I know I started a fire storm with this the other day. but the bottom line is that Cruz is most likely autistic. Presenting his earnest feelings in a way that others accept is difficult.

Posted by: Lauren at February 08, 2016 07:25 PM (0C2f1)

The steep abyss that divides "autistic" and "awkward" is FUNCTION. Successful people with autism function with lots of accommodations. I see no evidence that Cruz struggles with abstract concepts as Temple Grandin does, or has the type of social difficulties of Bill Gates, or anything approaching the actual characteristics of autism.

It's nice that people are more familiar with autism than they were 20 years ago when my son was diagnosed, but familiarity breeds contempt.

Ah well. I'll write again if my son ever learns the difference between a quarter and a penny.

Posted by: Big-Butt Woman Make Smart Children because Science at February 08, 2016 08:38 PM (Wk1K/)

255 I know I started a fire storm with this the other day. but the bottom line is that Cruz is most likely autistic.

I guess it depends. Autism is being so broadly defined that its shifting into "socially awkward" territory so only the most outgoing and gladhanding are declared mentally healthy.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:40 PM (39g3+)

256 Oh and thanks so much for this post weirddave. I respect your opinion and you put your finger on what about Cruz had made me uncomfortable even though I consider him the best of the field since the good governors dropped out.

I'm pleased to hear he is improving on that televangelist voice. I've liked what I've heard of his record as SG in Texas and that he stood up for the principles he was elected on as a Senator -- I wish he had a party with him, instead of so many GOPes being of the uniparty for big government.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 08, 2016 07:56 PM (dkExz)


What PaleRider said. Thanks, Weirddave.

Posted by: Joanne at February 08, 2016 08:42 PM (hgBpU)

257 Don Quixote: Check out Cruz's work at the FTC.

Posted by: Bluey Raisin at February 08, 2016 08:44 PM (sSxn3)

258 "243
Going to be $ getting 87+ Octane on 100% gas with what's left in the ground and the refinery capacity.



Posted by: DaveA at February 08, 2016 07:52 PM (DL2i+)





There are several ways to boost octane, aside from adding ethanol.
Or we could start selling more Diesel cars and light trucks. Diesel
engines are more efficient, period, and Diesel fuel contains a touch
more energy per gallon than gasoline, and you can squeeze more out of a
barrel of crude. Which is not in short supply, anyway.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 08, 2016 08:20 PM (Z8fuk)"


Sure there are other ways of boosting octane. Instead of a mixture of hydrocarbons you can sell 100% eight carbon alkanes. Of course, your yield per gallon will be pretty low. You can add tetraethyl lead but that has been illegal since the 1970s. You can add MTBE but Nancy Pelosi and a whole lot of other Democrat politicians declared their intention to sue MTBE producers out of business so nobody makes it any more, at least as a gasoline additive.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at February 08, 2016 08:44 PM (QHgTq)

259 Always Be Closing

Posted by: ginaswo owner of Ginsu Knife! at February 08, 2016 08:45 PM (qxNrP)

260 You can add tetraethyl lead but that has been illegal since the 1970s.

Its powerful, but ethyl also tends to come out in the exhaust as lead and gets on the roads, etc. Not a great solution although it works.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:45 PM (39g3+)

261 238: "It was a little thing that was a very magnanimous and thoughtful."

I agree that it WAS a good PR action to give the impression that he cared for the guy he previously labeled a psychopath and child molester. VERY thoughtful.

Posted by: beeblebrox has 2 heads at February 08, 2016 08:45 PM (OPCz2)

262 47 But, I think I might vote for Sanders. Consider:

1. A Chicken in Every Pot.

2. Eleven Herbs & Spices.

Yeah but Clinton, those wicked grooves and that funk. There's really no competition.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor

Truedat. I've never smelled a funkier groove than Clinton's.

Posted by: Huma at February 08, 2016 08:46 PM (QdAXQ)

263
I agree that it WAS a good PR action to give the impression that he cared for the guy he previously labeled a psychopath and child molester.

I think it demonstrated that while he's a bit quick on the draw yelling and making loony noises in speeches, he's not really that radical in person.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:46 PM (39g3+)

264 he's not really that radical in person.

How do you explain his tweets then? Those are premeditated lunacy.

And his interviews on MSNBC where he praises Reid, Schumer, and Pelosi, three of the most evil people in the country, is neither yelling nor "speeches".

We all know who Trump is, so there is little point in pitching the stunt he pulled on stage with Carson as being the Real DonaldŽ.

Not flying.

Posted by: beeblebrox has 2 heads at February 08, 2016 08:52 PM (OPCz2)

265 ... even the oily Cruz.

Posted by: Jen

Can't we all strive to support who we want without derogatory remarks such as this?

Posted by: Joanne

Sorry...even the oleaginous Cruz.

Posted by: Jen at February 08, 2016 08:54 PM (msAGT)

266 This is a very interesting take on the election. Thanks for sharing.

I don't trust Trump to deliver the conservative solutions needed. He's switched his views on too many things too conveniently for me to feel secure in supporting him. I like both Rubio and Cruz. Either of them I could live with, but I think Cruz is the better long term choice.

It would be good to get the field thinned out considerably more so we can have a clear choice.

Posted by: Jill v2 at February 08, 2016 08:54 PM (1+uyO)

267 255 I guess it depends. Autism is being so broadly defined that its shifting into "socially awkward" territory so only the most outgoing and gladhanding are declared mentally healthy.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2016 08:40 PM (39g3+)

Socially, yes, but the diagnostic criteria have not changed; without a significant social deficit AND language deficit - regardless of whether those are overcome by training - there is no autism.

A person does not have Downs syndrome if they have epicanthic folds, flat faces and short necks; they only have Downs if they have the specific 47th chromosome. Same with autism.

Using "autism" as a synonym for socially awkward or geeky is taking it down the path of the word retard - which used to be a perfectly polite replacement word for "moron" and "idiot" until it began to be used as an insult towards people who are not mentally slow.

Posted by: Big-Butt Woman Make Smart Children because Science at February 08, 2016 08:55 PM (Wk1K/)

268 Unfair. You pick what is probably Rubio's WEAKEST political argument about ISIS being the reason why he's changed his immigration stance (it's not, it's because conservatives freaked out so much over Gof and then you contrast that with one of Cruz's best moments, where he's talking to an individual voter one-on-one.

You're obviously biased towards Cruz or you would compare apples-to-apples. For example, Cruz's claim that his amendments were a "poison pill" to the Gof8 bill & his conflicting statements AT THE TIME that he wanted the bill to pass could've been compared to Rubio's lie about ISIS-motivation. Or you could've compared Cruz's 1-on-1 with a voter to Rubio going 1-on-1 with a voter. I'm sure Rubio has also had such a moment in all the retail campaigning that's been happening for Iowa and New Hampshire.

So a dishonest comparison just so you could tell us how much you like Ted Cruz. Why not just tell us how much you like Ted Cruz instead? Why pretend that he's lily white when it comes to the lies all politicians tell in order to get elected? Why not put the screws to Cruz for *his* rightward shift on immigration and lack of any sort of plan for solving the problem of the 12 million illegal immigrants currently here? But, oh yeah, another strike at Rubio for being the "amnesty" candidate.

Nice.

Posted by: JoeC at February 08, 2016 09:02 PM (Lcy/t)

269 121
and someone who has run Billion Dollar businesses...





I actually don't think it translates. Rarely do the people you deal with tell you to stuff it like the coequal branches do.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 08, 2016 07:30 PM (rwI+c)
Reminds of story about George Washington. When he was president he had an Indian treaty ready to be ratified, to speed things along he decided to head to the Senate to encourage things. The Senate politely welcomed him, said thanks for stopping by but we'll do it on our schedule and go away. He never set foot in Congress again.Personally one of the things that I'd like a Pres. Cruz to do would be to stop going to Congress for the state of the union speech. Presidents shouldn't impose that type of imperial process on the peoples house. I'd also like the House to create a permanent panel on impeachment who's job it is to investigate misbehavior by federal officers and be ready to submit them for impeachment and removal. The fact that firing a federal officer is such a rarity is a damn shame.

Posted by: allenlou at February 08, 2016 09:14 PM (us5tr)

270 Cruz is obviously a super-smart guy who has well thought out rational positions. Though it is rather odd that he would appear insincere when presenting positions that have changed since he decided to run or president.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 08, 2016 09:18 PM (T78UI)

271 Cruz is obviously a super-smart guy who has well thought out rational positions. Though it is rather odd that he would appear insincere when presenting positions that have changed since he decided to run or president.

Posted by: Burnt Toast

Exactly.

Posted by: Jen at February 08, 2016 09:32 PM (msAGT)

272 Cruz is oily. Cruz talks funny. Cruz looks funny.

All good reasons to not vote for someone.

Posted by: AlaBAMA at February 08, 2016 09:54 PM (pUDQf)

273 Dave: Thank you for taking the time to write this down. Very insightful, I think.

I wish Rubio were the man his supporters think he is, but he's just not. I hope Cruz can figure out how to communicate with the voters at large as well as he spoke to that Farmer soon. Time is running out.

Posted by: Lily at February 08, 2016 10:02 PM (Qm82t)

274 "Ted Cruz was Solicitor General for Texas.

That means he organized and hired his staff and led them on complex cases esp before the Supreme Court.

Or did you think he just waltzed into the Supreme Court and argued his cases after picking up a breakfast burrito at Mac Donald's.

If you want to say, he hasn't run a business...sure, knock yourself out.

But, run nothing? That's just not the case."

This, this, this! Also see his pre-Senate stint at the FTC:

https://pjmedia.com/blog/what-no-one-seems-to-know-about-ted-cruzs-past/1

Posted by: stinkylegs at February 08, 2016 10:04 PM (YW4J1)

275 I like a lot of Cruz's philosophy... but can he run the Government? Because he has not run anything else in his entire life.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 08, 2016 07:23 PM (f7rv6)

Not true and not important either... the president doesn't "run" anything as the government is not a business. A good President does his job as enumerated in the Constitution and a really good one keeps his promises while keeping to his enumerated powers.

Trump might or might not keep those of his promises that do not contradict each other but he will also be looking to maximize profits. You believe he will maximize profits for you and all Americans. I see nothing in his history that supports that belief.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:05 PM (NPofj)

276 98 .....the bottom line is that Cruz is most likely autistic. Presenting his earnest feelings in a way that others accept is difficult.

He's not autistic. Nerdy and little awkward. My husband has a doctorate in engineering and my daughter is an engineering student who likes to bring her college friends home. I know nerdy socially awkward when I see it.

Posted by: Lily at February 08, 2016 10:09 PM (Qm82t)

277 "That means he organized and hired his staff and led them on complex cases esp before the Supreme Court.



Or did you think he just waltzed into the Supreme Court and argued
his cases after picking up a breakfast burrito at Mac Donald's."




That is a pretty sweet gig to get a mere eight years after law school.

Maybe he slept a lot at Holiday Inn Express.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 08, 2016 10:12 PM (T78UI)

278 Cruz is obviously a super-smart guy who has well
thought out rational positions. Though it is rather odd that he would
appear insincere when presenting positions that have changed since he
decided to run or president.



Posted by: Burnt Toast



Exactly.

Posted by: Jen at February 08, 2016 09:32 PM (msAGT)

And what positions would those be exactly?

Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:19 PM (NPofj)

279 That is a pretty sweet gig to get a mere eight years after law school.

Maybe he slept a lot at Holiday Inn Express.


Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 08, 2016 10:12 PM (T78UI)


No he was just a way better Constitutional scholar and litigator than the other possible candidates.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:23 PM (NPofj)

280 And what positions would those be exactly?


Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:19 PM (NPofj)

Ted Cruz has always held the same constitutionally sound conservative position on every issue always.

Posted by: Gaslight at February 08, 2016 10:26 PM (T78UI)

281 No he was just a way better Constitutional scholar and litigator than the other possible candidates.


Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:23 PM (NPofj)

And Courtney Massengale was just a way better soldier too.

Posted by: Gaslight at February 08, 2016 10:34 PM (T78UI)

282 And Courtney Massengale was just a way better soldier too.


Posted by: Gaslight at February 08, 2016 10:34 PM (T78UI)

Nah... Cruz is way more Sam Damon. But thanks for your trolling efforts.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 08, 2016 10:43 PM (NPofj)

283 Great post. I think you are spot on about the candidates.

Posted by: Sampo at February 09, 2016 01:00 AM (VnP/f)

(Jump to top of page)






Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0395 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0143 seconds, 292 records returned.
Page size 163 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.



MuNuvians
MeeNuvians
Polls! Polls! Polls!

Real Clear Politics
Gallup
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Deal with the Cowbell?
Why is the Ace of Spades called "the Death Card"?
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Primary Document: The Audio
Paul Anka Haiku Contest Announcement
Integrity SAT's: Entrance Exam for Paul Anka's Band
AllahPundit's Paul Anka 45's Collection
AnkaPundit: Paul Anka Takes Over the Site for a Weekend (Continues through to Monday's postings)
George Bush Slices Don Rumsfeld Like an F*ckin' Hammer
Top Top Tens

Democratic Forays into Erotica
New Shows On Gore's DNC/MTV Network
Nicknames for Potatoes, By People Who Really Hate Potatoes
Star Wars Euphemisms for Self-Abuse
Signs You're at an Iraqi "Wedding Party"
Signs Your Clown Has Gone Bad
Signs That You, Geroge Michael, Should Probably Just Give It Up

Signs of Hip-Hop Influence on John Kerry
NYT Headlines Spinning Bush's Jobs Boom
Things People Are More Likely to Say Than "Did You Hear What Al Franken Said Yesterday?"
Signs that Paul Krugman Has Lost His Frickin' Mind
All-Time Best NBA Players, According to Senator Robert Byrd
Other Bad Things About the Jews, According to the Koran
Signs That David Letterman Just Doesn't Care Anymore
Examples of Bob Kerrey's Insufferable Racial Jackassery
Signs Andy Rooney Is Going Senile
Other Judgments Dick Clarke Made About Condi Rice Based on Her Appearance
Collective Names for Groups of People
John Kerry's Other Vietnam Super-Pets
Cool Things About the XM8 Assault Rifle
Media-Approved Facts About the Democrat Spy
Changes to Make Christianity More "Inclusive"
Secret John Kerry Senatorial Accomplishments
John Edwards Campaign Excuses
John Kerry Pick-Up Lines
Changes Liberal Senator George Michell Will Make at Disney
Torments in Dog-Hell
Greatest Hitjobs

The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
News/Chat

Ann Coulter
National Review Online
The Perfect World
Free Republic
Lucianne
The Note

Syndicate this site (XML)

Powered by
Movable Type