It's Time for Cruz to Take Rubio Out In Florida, and Kasich Out in Ohio -- Even If It Means Delivering These States to Trump

Yes, it's time. It's time to go all in on this, even if, short-term, it benefits Trump.

On CNN last night, Mary Katherine Ham said it was against Cruz's interests (or might be against his interests) to kneecap Rubio in Florida, because doing so puts that state into Trump's column. And that would mean the percentage of the remaining delegates Cruz would need to top Trump would go up from something like 54% to 66%.

However, let's look at the flip side -- what happens if Rubio and Kasich win? In that case, both men will declare victory -- obviously -- and then say this proves what they've been saying all along, that America is now ready to embrace them, that the map looks better from them starting with Guam, that they're going to take it all the way to the convention.

And then we continue on with the field unwinnowed, and Trump continuing to win more delegates than Cruz by 43% to 36% margins. Not huge margins -- but they'll get you there, and if you're not gaining on Trump, you're losing to Trump.

Thus, the way I see it, the downside to Cruz of delivering Florida and Ohio to Trump is less down than the downside of letting Rubio and Kasich get their stupid fucking Participation Trophy and their excuse (and financial backing) to continue dicking around in a race that neither man can win. Neither of these guys can win more delegates than Trump now; both are hoping just to have a contested convention, and then hope that the Establishment reaches past the 1st and 2nd place finishers to deliver the win to the third or fourth place "winner" -- Rubio Gold come literally true, in other words.

This makes no sense from Cruz's perspective.

It's time to take them both out, and then take his chances one-on-one with Trump, 250 or more delegates behind. It's a bad situation to be in, but if, after knocking these two Participation Trophy Collectors, he could start winning by 56% to 44%, he could start to wear down Trump's delegate lead to something winnable at a contested convention.

If Trump has 1200 delegates, the GOP will probably give him the nomination, and probably should.

But if it comes down to something like Trump 1075, Cruz 875, well, that's not really a slam-dunk for Trump anymore. Sure, Trump has more delegates.. and based on that hypothetical, Cruz would have won more delegates lately. That is, he'd be the won winning the latest contests, and could make the case "Sure Trump did great on Super Tuesday and then March 15th, but since then, I've been beating him. He has more delegates, but my delegates are fresher, newer information. He was the guy winning then, I'm the guy winning now."

And throw in some unlikely scenarios, maybe a couple of Winner Take Alls or Winner Take Mosts, and maybe even Cruz gets more delegates than Trump. (Though, in the scenario I'm sketching, I think it would be impossible for anyone but Trump to get to 1237; but there are scenarios where neither man gets 1237, but Cruz winds up with a bigger plurality.)

But if Rubio and Kasich stay in, and continue kneecapping Cruz from winning (or winning these crucial Winner Take Alls by 50% - Cruz would be ahead of Trump if Rubio hadn't played in Texas or Idaho), then there is no shot to get Cruz anywhere near Trump's tally -- and Trump wins the nomination.

So tell me the Truth, guys: Is #NeverTrump a real thing, or is it just a quick dash of new paint on the #Rubio4Ever thing you've had going for a year now?

If you want to stop Trump, you need to end these Rubio fantasies and let the only guy with an actual chance of stopping him start getting into two man races with him.

Otherwise, your #NeverTrump slogan is a lie -- you're perfectly fine with Trump. You just are using that as another pretext to lobby for Rubio.

So yeah, from Cruz's point of view, and frankly from any sane Republican's point of view (that is, apart from the Rubio and Kasich diehards) -- it's time to cash these two guys out. Out.

These guys are throwing the race to Trump.

And their supporters will not give up on their fantasies until those fantasies are violently torn from their hands, set on fire, and then buried under a swamp.

Clowntime is over. The time for Rubio Fantasy Love Scenarios is over. It's time for real, tough decisions to be made, or to be made on behalf of those who just can't get over it.

Also: I should note Marco Rubio currently does not have a job, and so pretty much anything is going to encourage him to stay in this job interview process, even if he actually has no chance to get the job.

And then Rubio will just keep waiting for Cruz to drop out, which isn't going to happen given that Cruz is on the next level above Rubio, and Rubio will continue splitting the vote until he delivers the nomination to Trump.

Posted by: Ace at 09:39 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Early, eh ace?

Posted by: HH at March 09, 2016 09:40 AM (DrCtv)

2 WTH???

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 09:42 AM (DEtps)

3 Sadly, I have to agree. Kasich in particular is just playing for advantage to be wrung out of the winner and he seems to be okay with Trump.

Posted by: Jill at March 09, 2016 09:43 AM (73TVV)

4 *sniffle, sniffle*

You're obviously a H8er of brown-skinned hombres who own Yuuuuge Drug-Importation Yachts! Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

Posted by: Hardcore Mario Romo Supporter at March 09, 2016 09:43 AM (07nz0)

5 This has been the craziest primary race I've ever seen. People I know who are generally otherwise sensible have absolutely lost their fucking minds.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 09:43 AM (0mRoj)

6 Ace, you can now go to bed.

Rubio should drop out now and avoid the long lasting embarrassment of losing his home state. And I'm not saying this because Cruz is my guy. Even if he comes second, he gets no delegates, right?

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:44 AM (+wjl1)

7 The best part of waking up

Is kicking Rubio in the cup

Posted by: Phone of kari at March 09, 2016 09:45 AM (nkxxS)

8 that the map looks better from them starting with Guam, that they're going to take it all the way to the convention.

They're rookies. They'll tip it over!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 09:45 AM (kDUUX)

9 *cackles in Southern House-Slave accent*

I ain't no ways Tarred of a-watchin' you Republican'ts slice & dice each other like a Ginzu Chef!

Fear the Vag!

VOTE THE VAG!!

Posted by: Shrillary's Vagina at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (07nz0)

10 10th?

Posted by: An Poc ar Buile at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (bpn7O)

11 Cruz would have won more delegates lately. That is, he'd be the won winning the latest contests, and could make the case

Yeah, nothing Americans love more than a lawyer lawyerin' his way to victory.

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (DEtps)

12 It's a lot tighter race than I thought it would be. In a two man race it's arguable that Cruz would have beaten Trump in all the primaries yesterday. Without Cruz in the race , neither Rubio or Kaisch would have stood chance against Trump.

It's obvious that if you want to deny Trump the nomination, Rubio and Quiche have to drop out.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (xzZPy)

13 that the map looks better from them starting with Guam, that they're going to take it all the way to the convention.

They're rookies. They'll tip it over!

That's why you need a balanced ticket.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (evdj2)

14 If Cruz had won in the south, where his strength should have been, you may have had a point. But now, it's time accept reality and come together for Trump.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 09:47 AM (Zs4uk)

15 Oddly enough when you translate Ace's article into German, the only thing that comes up is,

"Wo ist Steiner?"

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 09:47 AM (WVsWD)

16 But now, it's time accept reality and come together for Trump.

Why? Is there a problem with a contested primary?

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:47 AM (evdj2)

17 >>>ce, you can now go to bed.

can't. missed my chance. Gonna stay up as long as I can and then try to get back on to a normal sort of rhythm.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (dciA+)

18 Cruz swept his home state, a sign that his constituents are happy with him. They say Karate chop hands will take Ohio. What does it say about Rubio if he can't win FL? He should get out now while the going is still good. Okay, maybe not so good, but not an absolute disaster.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (+wjl1)

19 The gope wants the votes to be as dispersed as possible.

They want no one to have a commanding lead.

That way they get to make the ticket they want.

RINO/RINO

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (MQEz6)

20 If Cruz is down to strategizing a contested convention after March 15 then Trump has basically won. I don't like it but life is a veil of tears.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (RD7QR)

21 This is where not drinking hurts you, Ace. You should have passed out hours ago.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (evdj2)

22 Yeah nothing Americans love more than a real estate agent selling you a package of platitudes.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 09:49 AM (xzZPy)

23 Right in, Ace. I've been saying for awhile that people are acting like Kasich and Rubio are going to win their home states, and then say, "My work here is done, go get 'em Ted." Unless they do that, (which obviously they won't), then they need to lose now so they can get out of the way more quickly.

Posted by: Boone at March 09, 2016 09:49 AM (vq6QR)

24 22
Yeah nothing Americans love more than a real estate agent selling you a package of platitudes.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck

Apparently.

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 09:49 AM (DEtps)

25 will no one rid us of this meddlesome midget?

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:50 AM (0O7c5)

26 Oddly enough when you translate Ace's article into German, the only thing that comes up is,

"Wo ist Steiner?"

Going door to door for Trump.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (kDUUX)

27 So, Ace really was up all night. Explains the reports of missing hobos in NYC.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (+wjl1)

28 Cruz would lead Trump in delegates had Rubio not kamikazed him in Texas and Idaho.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (dtll+)

29 25 will no one rid us of this meddlesome midget?

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:50 AM (0O7c5)

I hope the people of Hawaii are happy with themselves for crushing the hopes and dreams of the little guy.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (Zs4uk)

30 If possible, I'd like to get a picture of Mario crying when he finally drops out.

Posted by: Weasel at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (6xtq3)

31
Interesting concept but the analysis is correct. Cruz in all polls/surveys taken would defeat Trump by a considerable margin were it not for Kasich and Rubio dividing the anti-Trump votes.

So, support Trump in OH and FL to knock out the shills and then it's a head to head match up.

Besides that, even if Cruz loses in the end, it will sabotage the brokered convention.

I kind of agree with this in a weird way.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (p4UlV)

32 Rubio, in particular, is doing conservatives no favor. You can make the case that Kasich voters are more unpredictable in whether they'd support Trump or Cruz instead. But Rubio is almost certainly drawing his support predominantly from those who would otherwise vote for Cruz.

I'm not sure what's going to happen at this point, but I doubt it will end well (particularly if there is a brokered convention).

Posted by: Myself at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (5wiU6)

33 I don't like it but life is a veil of tears.

Box of chocolates.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (kDUUX)

34 I think I'll just write-in Kaboom.

Posted by: Cloyd Freud, Unemployed at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (Dttnn)

35 25 will no one rid us of this meddlesome midget?
Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:50 AM (0O7c5)

Apparently not. I actually spoke to someone the other day who's voting Rubio because he believes it will hurt Trump. Not because he supports Rubio mind you. Hence my earlier comment about people losing their minds. And if you're going to piss your vote away, why not piss it away on someone you could actually support?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (0mRoj)

36 30 If possible, I'd like to get a picture of Mario crying when he finally drops out.
Posted by: Weasel at March 09, 2016 09:51 AM (6xtq3)

He won't drop out until well after the National Convention.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (p4UlV)

37
But the supporters of both are hanging on for anything that can be spun as good news to keep these failing, bankrupt operations going just a little bit longer.

In many ways, this is the story of America.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (X6fMO)

38 Jim Getaghty is fun to listen to on the three-martini lunch, except lately he has gone all Rubio, all the time. Much less fun.

Posted by: Boone at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (vq6QR)

39
This race could be settled by a tractor pull!

Posted by: Feminist Bruce With a Feminist Wang! at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (iQIUe)

40 just give it up and join a/THE winning team.....TRUMP 2016...for ALL Americans who love America!

Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (n20xt)

41 If Cruz is down to strategizing a contested convention after March 15 then Trump has basically won. I don't like it but life is a veil of tears.
Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (RD7QR)

As much as I really want Cruz to win, I have to agree with this.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (+wjl1)

42 If Cruz wins the nom, then it will be just barely done.

So the gope will then demand Cruz accept a RINO VP.

Then Cruz will be neutered and the gope will survive.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (MQEz6)

43 The delusional vanity on display by Rubio and Kasich should disqualify them from consideration of a VP slot. It's not just Florida and Ohio that will fall to Trump on the 15th.

Posted by: Naes at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (Ypc8j)

44 *cackles in Southern House-Slave accent*

I ain't no ways Tarred of a-watchin' you Republican'ts slice & dice each other like a Ginzu Chef!

Fear the Vag!

VOTE THE VAG!!

Posted by: Shrillary's Vagina at March 09, 2016 09:46 AM (07nz0)

If it weren't for super delegates Comrade Bernie is not too far behind the witch. I'd like to see him win a majority of the remaining primaries and force the Dems to still hand it to her. I'm sure Bernie's Red Guard will fall into line like the lemmings they are but it to just see the blatant we don't care who you voted for it's still going to Hillary

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (493sH)

45 But the supporters of both are hanging on for anything that can be
spun as good news to keep these failing, bankrupt operations going just a
little bit longer.[/]

#jobscreatedorsaved

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (DEtps)

46 This Rubio fella really doesnt know when to quit, huh?

Posted by: Ben Carson at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (jPLSa)

47 Or you can make your peace with Trump, declare definitively that your support of him I'd conditional on his

-taking Cruz as VP
-not "changing" on immigration
-not pissing away what scarce legitimacy he has advocating for torture

I'm sure you can think of more.

Demand he respect the base and reach out to conservatives. Otherwise, if this mindless internecine bloodshed continues, we could truly hand the white house to Hillary Clinton.

Unify now. She's weak. November is not a forgone conclusion.

Posted by: Phone of kari at March 09, 2016 09:53 AM (nkxxS)

48 I've gone through denial, bargaining, and excessive drinking.

Last night I started to see Trump as inevitable.

I'm going to try to find outside interests and not notice who is president for the next several years.

Still rooting for the ace scenario and President Cruz.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (1xUj/)

49 I really can't see a brokered convention. One of these two candidates will get the number needed to be nominated on the first ballot. Even if Marco and Kasich stay in.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (evdj2)

50 If you're not buying stocks in fainting couches and crying towels, you're wrong.

Posted by: artist at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (TwnkX)

51 41 If Cruz is down to strategizing a contested convention after March 15 then Trump has basically won. I don't like it but life is a veil of tears.
Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 09:48 AM (RD7QR)

As much as I really want Cruz to win, I have to agree with this.
Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (+wjl1)

Disagree. I think Cruz head to against Trump would beat him. But the thought of a brokered convention is hateful and must be stopped by whatever means necessary.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (p4UlV)

52 Can't fault this logic.

Also, I need more popcorn. I may be a Cruz for President/Trump for Scourge person, but I've just about checked out at this stage, and this is way more fun as a barely-interested spectator.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (9krrF)

53 You making it sound like Cruz has to try and draw for an inside straight. Not a smart play in poker, or in politics. Do not hope for Lady Luck to be at your side. She is a fickle beouch.

Posted by: Paladin (Moderately Nefarious) at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (ycm4Q)

54 how can ANYONE support anti-american rubio?....I just don't get it!

Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (n20xt)

55 It's politics, ladies

Posted by: Phone of kari at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (nkxxS)

56 I know plenty of Rubio true believers. They are all:

A) Wealthy

B) Prolife

C) Catholic

Basically they support Rubio because he mirrors them in every way. It's simple vanity driving their support. And like Rubio, they're just as stubborn.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 09:55 AM (dtll+)

57 Kasich isn't quitting until he's got himself into the Vice Presidency. Hey, everyone has got to have an ambition, even if it is only to go swimming in warm piss. Besides, winning comes with a really nice house and lots of free international travel.

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 09:55 AM (knNho)

58 So the gope will then demand Cruz accept a RINO VP.

What would be his incentive to accept that? It seems more like a Trump play to me.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:55 AM (evdj2)

59 It's cognitive dissonance. They just can't square in their minds that Rubio is now in the same class as Kasich as far as the primaries go. He is so outsized in their minds and they haven't adjusted to reality.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 09:56 AM (+wjl1)

60 So if it plays out with the scenario ace indicates, Trump and Cruz being relatively close in delegate count, Trump should get it just because? I understand if Trump is just a few shy of the required delegates but if it's close then you go through the process.

I personally think Trump will just be shy of the delegates needed and will have won at least 2/3 of the primaries. If so, there should not be a brokered convention.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 09:56 AM (xzZPy)

61 39
This race could be settled by a tractor pull!
Posted by: Feminist Bruce With a Feminist Wang! at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (iQIUe)

I prefer pulling a tractor, IYKWIMAITYD. [Waggles eyebrows]

Posted by: That Tractor Humper in Suffolk at March 09, 2016 09:56 AM (RD7QR)

62 TRUMP is the ONLY person I will vote for in November for President of the U.S. ....a vote for ANYONE ELSE is a vote for the establishment.

TRUMP 2016
America's Winning Team!

Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (n20xt)

63 I've got nothing.

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (JO9+V)

64 Also, I need more popcorn. I may be a Cruz for
President/Trump for Scourge person, but I've just about checked out at
this stage, and this is way more fun as a barely-interested spectator.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (9krrF)
i'm in the same position....salt and butter? or plain?

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (0O7c5)

65 At this point, a vote for Kasich or Rubio is effectively a vote for Trump.

Posted by: V the K at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (O7MnT)

66 Kasich and Rubio understand The Stupid Party nominates on the basis of whose turn it is.

They are running for next time or praying for the brokered convention.

Posted by: Valiant at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (2bqlb)

67
I hope and pray that if Trump comes out on top but short of the magic 1,237 he has the wisdom to bury the hatchet and pick Cruz as veep.

If for no other reason than to give the ultimate "fuck you" to the establishment, although Trump is a part of it.

But still, GOP-e or Democrat is not acceptable to me.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (p4UlV)

68 I agree.

And the GOPe, if they were smart (I know, I know)

they would be encouraging(forcing) Rubio and Kasich out today.

This gives Cruz a slim last minute chance of taking one of those states- FL or OH now,

and that would likely break Trump's back from there on out.

A Kasich or Rubio victory wouldn't - just more of the usual diddle-dickin' this primary has become.

I find it just plain weird how these "geniuses" can't see that while a Cruz victory isn't optimal for them-

it still is a victory for the GOP as a mainline organization. He's not some complete outsider coming in and pointing out just how incompetent the GOP is by his very presence and victories.

And if they deny the nom to Trump when he's the clear front runner-

they prove that the GOP is a Political Party-manque.

They don't represent their voters and are but a tool of oligarchy.

Not a winning strategy.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (2rmvw)

69 64 Also, I need more popcorn. I may be a Cruz for
President/Trump for Scourge person, but I've just about checked out at
this stage, and this is way more fun as a barely-interested spectator.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (9krrF)
i'm in the same position....salt and butter? or plain?
Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:57 AM (0O7c5)

No popcorn for me, thanks. Got any Cheetos puffs?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (0mRoj)

70 "Paper Tiger Beat candidate" is outstanding.

Posted by: holygoat at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (ZgI/r)

71 I personally think Trump will just be shy of the delegates needed and
will have won at least 2/3 of the primaries. If so, there should not be
a brokered convention.

In what scenario should there be a brokered convention?

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (DEtps)

72 48 I've gone through denial, bargaining, and excessive drinking.

Last night I started to see Trump as inevitable.

I'm going to try to find outside interests and not notice who is president for the next several years.

Still rooting for the ace scenario and President Cruz.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 09:54 AM (1xUj/)

This is my plan if Hilary wins. Probably won't be able to do that though. Too addicted to politics.

If Trump wins though all the heads exploding will certainly be fun to watch.

Posted by: sinalco at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (yODqO)

73 No popcorn for me, thanks. Got any Cheetos puffs?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (0mRoj)
no....but when i go the store later i'll pick some up

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (0O7c5)

74 48
"Last night I started to see Trump as inevitable."

You're going to love Common Sense Conservatism.

Free trade is great as long as the people negotiating on our side weren't chosen because they had the correct position on gay rights.

The effectiveness of programs isn't something to be measured by how much money is spent.

This will be brave new world. Embrace it.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (Zs4uk)

75 Here ya go Ace, some raw meat for Illinois. Make sure to check out "der fuhrers" stache.

http://www.illinoisnazi.org/home.html

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (WVsWD)

76

Very disappointed that a 'significant' amount of people here are so full of classic stereotypes and prejudice...

Posted by: In Vino Veritits at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (qul7b)

77 Trump is a nonstarter for me. That wouldn't change even with Cruz as VP. You could surround him with nothing but principled conservatives in his cabinet and he would still be unreliable. He's not committed to any ideology in particular. He's not stable, and can't be trusted with the power of the office of the POTUS.

Posted by: Myself at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (5wiU6)

78
58 So the gope will then demand Cruz accept a RINO VP.

What would be his incentive to accept that? It seems more like a Trump play to me.
Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 09:55 AM (evdj2)

Reagan did in 1980.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (MQEz6)

79 73 No popcorn for me, thanks. Got any Cheetos puffs?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (0mRoj)
no....but when i go the store later i'll pick some up
Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 09:58 AM (0O7c5)

You are truly wonderful.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (0mRoj)

80 this election is the last hill available to die on.......just saying.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (0O7c5)

81 This will be brave new world. Embrace it.

I have my hockey mask and assless chaps ready.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (evdj2)

82 Rubio and Kasich just need to drop out. Now. Today. This afternoon.

This needs to be a referendum on whether the Republican party is going to be a conservative, constitution-based party which pursues smaller government, or if the Republican party is going to be a big-government, populist, strong-man worshiping party.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (iQr18)

83 So if it plays out with the scenario ace indicates, Trump and Cruz being relatively close in delegate count, Trump should get it just because? I understand if Trump is just a few shy of the required delegates but if it's close then you go through the process.

I could see that if it was a run-off between the top two. But as it is, someone with two delegates could win. How is that right for the top two vote getters?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (kDUUX)

84 You are truly wonderful.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (0mRoj)
why thank you!.....i'm going to smile all day long!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (0O7c5)

85 Even worse, the people pinning their hopes on a brokered convention, do they think the Trump and Cruz voters are going to suck it up and vote if a third "more electable" candidate is picked? This alternative misreads the mood of the electorate, IMO.

Posted by: no good deed at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (GgxVX)

86 Rubio is losing in Florida. If you look only at election day votes (ignoring the early vote) there is some chance he might even come in third.

That kind of loss is so ignominious he would be driven out of politics entirely. It's absolutely nuts he is staying in this race- he should quit, and endorse someone. One certainty is his endorsement is heavily sought today but after he loses Florida he will be completely ignored.

Pick a side Mario, and help yourself and your family, because soon no one will care at all what you think.

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (knNho)

87 Reagan did in 1980.

and?

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (evdj2)

88 no....but when i go the store later i'll pick some up

Pick up some Double-Stuff Oreos for me, will ya? I've been jonesing like mad...

/light salt, heavy butter
/for the popcorn, not the Oreos

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (9krrF)

89
In addition to taking votes from Cruz, Rubio and Kasich are driving votes to Trump, out of resignation and fear-o-Clinton.

Posted by: Justamom at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (sVnbw)

90 Whomever is the next VP, i hope they insist that the VP Residence pool be drained and steam cleaned, ala Bushwood's pool after the Baby Ruth incident. There's no telling what else Biden has been up to in the pool.

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (JO9+V)

91 Jim Getaghty is fun to listen to on the three-martini lunch, except lately he has gone all Rubio, all the time. Much less fun.
Posted by: Boone at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (vq6QR)

I like three martini lunch to, but I haven't listened in weeks. Seems I wasn't missing much. (I've generally stopped listening to any political shows except Ace's own excellent poscast.)

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (+wjl1)

92 this election is the last hill available to die on.......just saying.....

After that, it's nothing but ditches and ditches.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (kDUUX)

93 (willowed)

Current count:
Trump -- 458
Cruz -- 359
Rubio -- 151

Even
if Rubio won his home state of FL (99) he would STILL be behind Cruz.
By over 100 delegates. Even winning FL and OH, he'd still be behind
Cruz.

Even a brokered convention is out for Rubio.

Polls this day have Trump up 16 in FL; 6 in OH.

Only Cruz can beat Trump now.

And Rubio is the only thing standing in the way.
===

The other factor here, if--IF--Cruz can take a national lead from March15 out, the map does indeed favor a comeback: Over 500 of the remaining delegates after March 15 are in winner-take-all states.

Posted by: RoyalOil at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (fQ/0p)

94 Pick a side Mario, and help yourself and your family, because soon no one will care at all what you think.

He picked a side--his own. It's a losing side, but it's a side nonetheless.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (9krrF)

95 "I find it just plain weird how these "geniuses" can't see that while a Cruz victory isn't optimal for them-

it still is a victory for the GOP as a mainline organization. He's not some complete outsider coming in and pointing out just how incompetent the GOP is by his very presence and victories."

The GOPe hates Cruz so much that they would literally rather kill the party than allow him to win. In their minds, Trump is actually the optimal choice.

Posted by: holygoat at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (ZgI/r)

96 I have my hockey mask and assless chaps ready.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (evdj2)

Those assless chaps will be a real time saver.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (Zs4uk)

97 81 This will be brave new world. Embrace it.

I have my hockey mask and assless chaps ready.
Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (evdj2)

No studded dildo? It's like I don't know you people!

Posted by: That Tractor Humper in Suffolk at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (RD7QR)

98 GOPe campaign co-chair for Mario in Michigan pretty much validates Ace's post:

http://tinyurl.com/jroheeq

Posted by: fly at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (VGxsf)

99 Rubio has always been like he's been. Even when ewoks were raping his garbage.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (LXJ1e)

100 He's not committed to any ideology in particular.

Fkn politicians - how do they work?

Posted by: insane burning clown boner Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (DEtps)

101 Thought for the day: Would Trump be satisfied with playing kingmaker? Perhaps with the expectation of influence or some quid pro quo?

It's the game he's always played before--why not now?

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (9krrF)

102
He's not committed to any ideology in particular. He's not stable, and can't be trusted with the power of the office of the POTUS.

I would say the same about Little Marco.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (X6fMO)

103
87 Reagan did in 1980.

and?
Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:01 AM (evdj2)

It shows a Conservative can be forced by the gope to accept a RINO VP.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (MQEz6)

104 But if it comes down to something like Trump 1075, Cruz 875, well, that's not really a slam-dunk for Trump anymore. Sure, Trump has more delegates.. and based on that hypothetical, Cruz would have won more delegates lately.
______

Yeah, no. Whoever is nominated under such conditions will lose in november. And Id rather lose with Trump than Cruz. That would really be the worst case scenario here: the establishment manages to fend off Trump, despite his plurality, and makes Cruz pay the price by letting him run an unwinnable race.

If Trump is nominated in Cleveland it wont wreck the party and Cruz can run again in 2020 and he will have a much easier time as he will be the legitimate next-in-line.

Posted by: The Nayden Broad at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (jPLSa)

105 In what scenario should there be a brokered convention?

Someone recently pointed out that there can't be a brokered convention, because there are no more brokers.

There may be an open convention if no one shows up with 1237 committed delegates.

That's just the rules. If no one has 1237 then it goes to the delegates and their individual consciences.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (1xUj/)

106 just give it up and join a/THE winning team.....TRUMP 2016...for ALL Americans who love America!
Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (n20xt)

No.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (+wjl1)

107 Reagan did in 1980.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (MQEz6)

And?

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (aRUb8)

108 This living in interesting times thing really isnt as good as I thought it would be.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (2x3L+)

109 If Cruz is going to get most of Rubio's and Kasich's support, why aren't these folks voting for Cruz already? Haven't they noticed he's the only one with a shot to beat Trump?

My hope originally was that Trump would keep one of the GOPe from getting it, particularly Bush, and I really want that wall. So I'm pleased. Down to just Trump and Cruz, who I like very much. Doubly pleased.

The reason I want a Trump majority before the convention is that IMO Cruz has no way to get a majority before the convention and if its a brokered convention neither Trump not Cruz will get the nomination. It will be Mitt or Ryan at that stage, maybe Bush again. Actually it is more likely that Graham will get it before Trump or Cruz if it's brokered.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (kfcYC)

110 assless chaps

If chaps had asses they would be pants.

(obligatory)

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (DEtps)

111 It shows a Conservative can be forced by the gope to accept a RINO VP.

Meh. It's the smart deal. Trump will jump on it.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (evdj2)

112 While I hope for an outright Cruz victory-

I hope he has the common sense to-

attempt a fusion ticket with Trump before the convention if it appears he can't make it,

but neither can Trump.

Levin was talking about Rove's plan to deny Trump the nom by Rubio winning FL and Kasich winning OH (expect hijinks this next week)-

and the projected amount that Trump would fall short by was about 36 votes.

Then-

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

the GOPe getting their open convention and denies Trump and gets Rubio or whoever.

By 36 votes....

Think about that.

Again defining your organization and your candidate as mere tools of the oligarchy-

is probably not a winning strategy nor a reason to continue as an organization-

at that point the party blows up.

These "geniuses" are idiots.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (2rmvw)

113 Anyway people shouldn't vote trump to get Cruz, they should just vote Cruz outright.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (dtll+)

114 106
just give it up and join a/THE winning team.....TRUMP 2016...for ALL Americans who love America!

Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 09:52 AM (n20xt)

Trump is like my brother...taught me everything I know.

Posted by: Hitler at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (aRUb8)

115 Free trade is great as long as the people negotiating on our side weren't chosen because they had the correct position on gay rights.

Posted by: jwest

Yes, I'll mark you down in the column of "people who don't understand free trade".

Protectionism hurts the protectionist side.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (1xUj/)

116 108 This living in interesting times thing really isnt as good as I thought it would be.
Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (2x3L+)

Yeah, it all sounds great when you're young but no so much in your 50s. Right now I'd rather live in boring, predictable, unspeakably stable times.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (RD7QR)

117 81 This will be brave new world. Embrace it.

I have my hockey mask and assless chaps ready.
Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (evdj2)

You shall ride eternal, all shiny and chrome!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (0mRoj)

118 I mean, think about it. Convention comes, brokers come in, but before they can get to work, Trump throws his support behind Cruz "for the good of the nation". Cruz signs onto the Sessions Plan (and a few other planks Trump's written positions), picks up that support. Game over. Trump gets his name in the history books, maybe some extra negotiating clout and a couple of projects and a bit of leeway, Cruz gets the White House.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (9krrF)

119 This living in interesting times thing really isnt as good as I thought it would be.

I like the rest of the curse, it's really appropriate for our time:

May you live in interesting times
May your wishes be fulfilled
May the Authorities know your name

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (evdj2)

120 "Cruz is going to get most of Rubio's and Kasich's support, why aren't these folks voting for Cruz already? Haven't they noticed he's the only one with a shot to beat Trump? "

Because Rubio makes them feel tingly.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (dtll+)

121 107 Reagan did in 1980.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 09:59 AM (MQEz6)

And?
Posted by: Mimzey

We got the Bush dynasty.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (kDUUX)

122 >> If Trump has 1200 delegates, the GOP will probably give him the nomination, and probably should.

"probably" you say? lol

Nobody has pointed out that Puerto Rico is not a win to be proud of. The only people who have voted for Rubio are Somali's in MN and non-Americans in PR that shouldn't even be allowed to participate in this process.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (VjlMj)

123
111 It shows a Conservative can be forced by the gope to accept a RINO VP.

Meh. It's the smart deal. Trump will jump on it.
Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:04 AM (evdj2)

Cruz/RINO is a victory for the gope.

The gope prefers RINO/RINO, but they can live with Cruz/RINO.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (MQEz6)

124 Heh heh heh. Trump will hunt.

Posted by: Karl Was A Race Potater Driver at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (T0kkA)

125 Protectionism hurts the protectionist side.

Unilateral disarmament is never a good idea.

Trade free if trade is fair.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (9krrF)

126 95 The GOPe hates Cruz so much that they would literally rather kill the party than allow him to win. In their minds, Trump is actually the optimal choice.
Posted by: holygoat at March 09, 2016 10:02 AM (ZgI/r)

THIS.

You don't have to be physically outside of DC to be an outsider, nor does being so make you one (see Herbert Hoover). Trump's mindset is "deal maker" and his history is dealing with mostly Democrats. Cruz really is "Mr. Smith."

That said, Trump'll get my vote if he does get the nod.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (p4UlV)

127 Yeah, it all sounds great when you're young but no
so much in your 50s. Right now I'd rather live in boring, predictable,
unspeakably stable times.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (RD7QR)

I Like Ike!

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (JO9+V)

128 Cruz's base is evangelical, strict constitutionalists.

Now that the south has voted, there are about two dozen of those people left in the remaining states.

Where is Cruz going to find votes?

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (Zs4uk)

129
I cannot see how either Cruz or Trump would lose to Clinton.
Either would shred her in debates, and voter turnout has been higher for Rs. Just think about how many Rs refused to hold their noses and vote for Romney.
I do wonder how significant open primaries are though.

Posted by: Justamom at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (sVnbw)

130 In what scenario should there be a brokered convention?

Someone recently pointed out that there can't be a brokered convention, because there are no more brokers.

There may be an open convention if no one shows up with 1237 committed delegates.

That's just the rules. If no one has 1237 then it goes to the delegates and their individual consciences.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM

Thank you for clearly stating definitions of the different types of conventions. (Honest statement, no sarcasm involved)

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (F0oRd)

131 Yeah, it all sounds great when you're young but no so much in your 50s. Right now I'd rather live in boring, predictable, unspeakably stable times.

Amen.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (kDUUX)

132 What was discussed in the private meeting between Trump and Cruz last summer?

Because I don't think they were exchanging casserole recipes.

Trump/Cruz 2016: Pull the Pin and Run

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (DEtps)

133 I predict this will be a fun and upbeat positive thread.

Posted by: RWC - Team TTBTFW at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (mEZce)

134 It's funny that the people complaining most about the "establishment" label......are

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (cR/4a)

135 How about everyone but Trump drop out and end this now?

Let's all unite behind Trump now for an united front against the Democrats.

End the petty squabbles before anymore damage is done.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (LXJ1e)

136 Cruz/RINO is a victory for the gope.

The gope prefers RINO/RINO, but they can live with Cruz/RINO.

Or not.

Posted by: Grump928(c) can likewise assert stuff at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (evdj2)

137 I'm tanned, rested, and ready!

Posted by: John Boehner in Assless Chaps at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (Dttnn)

138 So what is it, ego, arrogance, desperation or ignorance that is keeping Romo and Kasich in this?

It's got to be one of them.

Posted by: IP at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (aQQbl)

139 Let's all unite behind Trump now for an united front against the Democrats.

No.

Posted by: Grump928(c) can likewise assert stuff at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (evdj2)

140 "Sure Trump did great on Super Tuesday and then March 15th, but since then, I've been beating him. He has more delegates, but my delegates are fresher, newer information. He was the guy winning then, I'm the guy winning now."
Then Cruz can demand that the early primaries be recontested because he'll win those ones now!

Posted by: andycanuck at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (WOyz5)

141 118 I mean, think about it. Convention comes, brokers come in, but before they can get to work, Trump throws his support behind Cruz "for the good of the nation". Cruz signs onto the Sessions Plan (and a few other planks Trump's written positions), picks up that support. Game over. Trump gets his name in the history books, maybe some extra negotiating clout and a couple of projects and a bit of leeway, Cruz gets the White House.
Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (9krrF)

There's a thought. Trump founds Trump Construction, Inc. -- All Your Projects Will Be Luxurious and Classy (TM) -- and agrees to give the company the exclusive contract to build a wall from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico. Bing bang, Cruz takes over, Trump becomes his most dedicated campaigner, America gets a wall, and Trump gets rich. Win win win win.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (RD7QR)

142 121 We got the Bush dynasty.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (kDUUX)

He should have chosen Laxalt or Jesse Helms. I think Reagan thought he could unify the party. Probably his biggest misjudgment and we are feeling the effects of that decision to this day.

But still, he is no doubt the greatest president of the 20th Century (minimally the last half) and one of the greatest of all time.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (p4UlV)

143 Where is Cruz going to find votes?

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (Zs4uk)
_____

You mean like in Maine? That infamous stronghold of evangelical constitutionalists?

Posted by: The Nayden Broad at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (jPLSa)

144 This talk about ignoring the rules of conventions scares me. Why would they think they could even get away with it? If they tried it, lawsuits would follow. How would that look?

Posted by: Feminist Bruce With a Feminist Wang! at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (iQIUe)

145 28
Cruz would lead Trump in delegates had Rubio not kamikazed him in Texas and Idaho.
=========
Rubio got 3 fucking delegates out of Texas; out of 155.

But that 16% he got?

That kept Cruz from hitting 50% (recall, if you will, Cruz got 41%) and 50% would have given Cruz 155 delegates.

Instead, that 16% of Rubio's gave Trump 48 delegates.

Posted by: RoyalOil at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (fQ/0p)

146 So.. earlier I was wondering if we were in the "it's not over if we keep fighting" stage or the "was it over when Germany bombed Pearl Harbor" stage. This post puts me signals that we're solidly in the later. Sign me up for some cheap, stupid symbolic antics to lash out at this shit show.

Posted by: allenlou at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (us5tr)

147 Kasich isn't quitting until he's got himself into the Vice Presidency. Hey, everyone has got to have an ambition, even if it is only to go swimming in warm piss. Besides, winning comes with a really nice house and lots of free international travel.
Posted by: MTF

Romney/Rubio or kaisich. I'm wondering if Romney and the Stupid party aren't going to emulate the bullshit we've been hearing here about how 'X%' are voting against Trump (and Cruz).

And if Kasich does win Ohio, that's what we'll hear until November.

Posted by: Blue Hen at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (326rv)

148 A) Wealthy

B) Prolife

C) Catholic

Basically they support Rubio because he mirrors them in every way. It's simple vanity driving their support. And like Rubio, they're just as stubborn.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 09:55 AM (dtll+)

I must disagree. The people I know who support him are doing it because he's not icky like Trump and super conservative like Cruz. He's got that Tiger Beat appeal that will help him in the general unlike those two meanies. None of them are wealthy, pro-life (super RINO liberals) or Catholic

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (493sH)

149 I agree...

1. Cruz must have both Kasich and Rubio lose their home states. He cannot afford to have either one win their state giving them encouragement to stay in. Cruz and Trump will not win in a brokered convention.

2. Once it is a two man race, Cruz must win big and quickly. It has to be decisive wins. Muddled things won't do. The impression of "coming back" has to take hold, not the impression of it being the "last stand".

I think Trump has this thing won, but I am willing to live with Trump or Cruz. So considering I am in Maryland my normally pointless vote might still matter for once in a GOP nomination. April 26th!

Posted by: William Eaton at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (q52Ma)

150 133 I predict this will be a fun and upbeat positive thread.
Posted by: RWC - Team TTBTFW at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (mEZce)

**recalls photo of gypsy fight from "From Russia With Love" from the ONT**

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (p4UlV)

151 sure thing Brother!.....olive oil oreos and double stuffed popcorn

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (0O7c5)

152 93 ...
The other factor here, if--IF--Cruz can take a national lead from March15 out, the map does indeed favor a comeback: Over 500 of the remaining delegates after March 15 are in winner-take-all states.

Posted by: RoyalOil

Are states like Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and New Jersey in there. Not really Cruz strongholds.

Sounds desperate. Stop clutching at me.

Posted by: Straws at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (kfcYC)

153 That Ted Cruz is a nasty piece of work. He called me a liar!

I'm the Senate Majority Leader, and I have the power to reach across the aisle and show that the GOP can be trusted with the levers of government. I'm not going to let Cruz ruin the party's public image.

Posted by: Mitch McConnell, All Butthurt at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (3GAnN)

154 We got the Bush dynasty.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (kDUUX)

And? What does that have to do with anything now??

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM (aRUb8)

155 Yes, I'll mark you down in the column of "people who don't understand free trade".

Protectionism hurts the protectionist side.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (1xUj/)

You apparently misunderstood my (and Trump's) position on trade.

We are free traders.

We are against protectionist trade sanctions.

However, we're prepared to use tactics such as this to craft fair trade agreements that are far different than what we have now.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:11 AM (Zs4uk)

156 121 We got the Bush dynasty.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:06 AM (kDUUX)
-------------------------------------------------------

My copy of the AoS Style Guide requires the use of an expletive before the phrase "Bush dynasty".

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 10:12 AM (knNho)

157 11th dimensional chess as folks around here like to say; just vote for the candidate you like and want and let the chips fall where they will. I do have to say, given all the negative ads and attacks on Trump from Rubio and super pacs, it's quite impressive he still won three states last night. Rubio should not have gone negative on Trump - he mucked around in the mud and that got the other pig dirty but he also got more mud on him.

Posted by: IC at March 09, 2016 10:12 AM (a0IVu)

158 "And? What does that have to do with anything now??"

Ummmm...... paid for your own health insurance lately?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (WVsWD)

159 How will Cruz supporters react to Cruz/Rubio or Cruz/Kasich or Cruz/Ryan or Cruz/Romney?

The gope will not let the ticket be Cruz/Somebody Cruz Wants.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (MQEz6)

160 132 What was discussed in the private meeting between Trump and Cruz last summer?

Because I don't think they were exchanging casserole recipes.

Trump/Cruz 2016: Pull the Pin and Run
Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:08 AM (DEtps)

That was definitely discussed, I think, or at least "let's not go after each other" until Cruz started climbing in the polls late summer and Trump went nutso.

Still, as I said upthread, all things being equal, it's the only way to beat a GOP-e brokered ass-raping of the people.

In any case, I think Trump's brashness combined with Cruz's level-headedness and legal acumen would be a very powerful combo and have a salutary effect on the nation.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (p4UlV)

161 This is almost impossible given that early voting dominates and Rubio was winning most of those. It'd be way easier to let Rubio win Florida to keep it away from Trump, and then drop out.

Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (TH0iO)

162 155 We are free traders.

We are against protectionist trade sanctions.

However, we're prepared to use tactics such as this to craft fair trade agreements that are far different than what we have now.
----------------------------------------------

You must have missed Chapter 2 of the Trump Plan, wherein he talks up punitive tariffs.

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (knNho)

163 Where is Cruz going to find votes?

Always check the trunks of '59 De Villes.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (kDUUX)

164 >> Where is Cruz going to find votes?

He'll only win stuff in that cluster around UT. I predicted he'd win ID due to the Mormons there. He'll win UT as well, maybe AZ, OR, WY. But other than a few small places like this, he loses everywhere else. IL, NY, CA, OH, FL, all Trump. It won't even be close, it's a landslide for Trump.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (VjlMj)

165 We are against protectionist trade sanctions.

However, we're prepared to use tactics such as this to craft fair trade agreements that are far different than what we have now.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:11 AM (Zs4uk)
We're going to burn this village right down to save it.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:14 AM (iQr18)

166

What the heck is Ace doing up this early?
Darn, I wanted to wash my car.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:14 AM (qCMvj)

167 Maybe working on unity at this point is the best use of energy. The longer this goes on, the better the chances are that Hillary wins.

Taking the race all the way to Appamattox is terribly counter-productive.

Posted by: Wonk with Pigtails at March 09, 2016 10:14 AM (TFWFz)

168 Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:03 AM (1xUj/)

Agreed. Brokered is just the term I'm using to mean that there could be more than one ballot to determine the nominee if no one arrives with the number of delegates needed for a first ballot win. Then it's up to the non-Trump / Cruz delegates to be persuaded to change their vote to one of those two.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 10:14 AM (xzZPy)

169 I suspect Trump would be a disaster as president, so if I were Cruz, I'd stay far away from his administration. He's still young. He'll get other chances to run.

I'm saying this as someone who will most likely vote for Trump in the general.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (+wjl1)

170

hmmm

EXCLUSIVE: Jon Voight Endorses Donald Trump for President

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (qCMvj)

171 You want a head-to-head with your boy Cruz? Fine. After FL and OH go Trump's way you can look forward to NY, NJ, IL, CA, etc.

Posted by: Gunga Done at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (pnRrB)

172 Rubio should not have gone negative on Trump - he mucked around in the mud and that got the other pig dirty but he also got more mud on him.
Posted by: IC

Dunno. he left him alone, and he wasn't doing well. he changed tactics.

Posted by: Blue Hen at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (326rv)

173 Such a great post, Ace. Preach Brudda!

Can you imagine if Texas was going when Ohio or Florida were on the primary calendar, and Cruz was hanging around for it with no hope like Rubio and Kasich are? The calls on him to get out would be deafening. Every day that these guys stay in the race between now and 3/15 is more early votes wasted on them.

Posted by: Lightsey at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (9Arb/)

174 this election is the last hill available to die on.......just saying.....
Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:00 AM (0O7c5)

A million times this.

It isn't about Trump. It's about the electorate. They're willing, they're excited, to vote for him. Non-voters, lifetime non-voters, are pumped up to vote for him.

They aren't going to come out for Cruz.

That's not a threat, it's an observation. Can't you see that he doesn't generate the same energy?

Conservatism needs to meet the people halfway. I am not advocating for any one capitulation or rationalization or compromise on any one key issue. But we need to appeal to people, not scold them. It's not our fault that we've been typecast as schoolmarm evangelical bullies by the left, but it is our fault for playing along.

And if we don't get this election right there isn't going to be another one. Not one that matters anyway.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (xuouz)

175 170

hmmm

EXCLUSIVE: Jon Voight Endorses Donald Trump for President

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:15 AM (qCMvj)
that's because he wants to play him in "trump", the movie

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (0O7c5)

176 holygoat: "Paper Tiger Beat candidate" is outstanding.

I thought so, too. "Why we read Ace!"™

First time it's been used?

Posted by: mindful webworker - classically at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (U2rG9)

177 What really needs to end after this cycle is this fucking useless electioneering of delegate distribution by state.

The GOP is trying to nominate a potus candidate in the primaries, so why are the rules so different from the general election rules? If states like Texas, South Carolina or Virginia are winner-take-all states in the general election, they should also be winner-take-all states in the primaries.

Im sick and tired of this rigged process.

Posted by: The Nayden Broad at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (jPLSa)

178 158 "And? What does that have to do with anything now??"

Ummmm...... paid for your own health insurance lately?

Yeah. "No new taxes" pledge gave us BJ Clinton. And his wife.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (kDUUX)

179 Rubio got 3 fucking delegates out of Texas; out of 155.

But that 16% he got?

That kept Cruz from hitting 50% (recall, if you will, Cruz got 41%) and 50% would have given Cruz 155 delegates.

Instead, that 16% of Rubio's gave Trump 48 delegates.
Posted by: RoyalOil at March 09, 2016 10:09 AM (fQ/0p)

----------------------

Maybe, but then maybe Trump seeing that, would have plunked down more time and effort in Texas to keep Cruz below 50%.

Maybe Rubio, bowing out, ends up soft on anti-Trumpism.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (LXJ1e)

180 You'll not stop my inanity with content:

Kyle Odom was last seen driving off on Sunday afternoon and managed to get to DC.

We've got a tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of smokes and a giant green rabbit in the back seat.

Hit it.

Posted by: Yeeaaauuggh sunglasses at night at March 09, 2016 10:17 AM (DL2i+)

181 Rubio can't win because he has no Historic Firstitude.

We've already got a first gay President.

Posted by: mindful webworker - Cruz/Bridenstine 2016 at March 09, 2016 10:17 AM (U2rG9)

182 Wouldn't it be worthwhile to maybe spend a little bit of time talking positively about the candidate you like and maybe just a little less time talking negatively about those you hate?

Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:17 AM (TH0iO)

183 148

And they are a small part of the population. I think I would rather suck up to white blue collar workers who belong to the local Teamsters chapter. That has a better chance of doing in Hillary then begging the vocal 1,000 member "wuss wing" of the party.

Posted by: William Eaton at March 09, 2016 10:17 AM (q52Ma)

184 The Democrats always send Bill Clinton in when they really need to have a "conversation" with a losing candidate.

Posted by: DaveA at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (DL2i+)

185 the 3-4 way race made sense in proportional delegates stage, but that's over. Now we need to be noting that even if Trump only gets 34% of the vote he still gets 100% of the delegates.

Posted by: tsrlbke PhD(c), rogue bioethicist at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (tM4uk)

186 that's because he wants to play him in "trump", the movie

Posted by: phoenixgirl

Brian Dennehy will play Trump's hair.

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (DEtps)

187 Ummmm...... paid for your own health insurance lately?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (WVsWD)

That seems disjointed and relative to nothing, imo.First..a makeup speculation of a RINO VP pick.......then a reference to the "Bush Dynasty...the some kind of "connection" to health insurance. Seems odd to me, so my question stands.And?

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (aRUb8)

188 Not to mention that if Kasich and Rubio got out today, Cruz would have a good shot at winning NC, MO and IL outright on 3/15, and with a strong 2nd in OH and FL, the narrative on 3/16 is "Game On, completely new race now."

Posted by: Lightsey at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (9Arb/)

189 Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:11 AM (Zs4uk)
We're going to burn this village right down to save it.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:14 AM (iQr1

Much like Reagan, it isn't necessary to burn the village down.

It's only necessary that your opponents believe that you're willing to burn the village down.

People who have spent their life doing business and negotiating know this. People who haven't, don't.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (Zs4uk)

190 160, In any case, I think Trump's brashness combined with
Cruz's level-headedness and legal acumen would be a very powerful combo
and have a salutary effect on the nation.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at March 09, 2016 10:13 AM (p4UlV)
If those two agree to be on a ticket together, I will go door-to-door in southern California for them.

Posted by: IC at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (a0IVu)

191 182 Wouldn't it be worthwhile to maybe spend a little bit of time talking positively about the candidate you like and maybe just a little less time talking negatively about those you hate?
Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:17 AM (TH0iO)

You're obviously new around here.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (RD7QR)

192 When Ted Cruz stopped being 'Mr Smith goes to Washington' and started running for Pastor of America, I cashed out on him. Not for me 900 foot Jesus, 6000 year world creation by counting the begats, and Daddy Cruz's rule by evangelicals.

The guy just oozes insincerity. He stinks of Jim Bakker with the rip-off prosperity gospel and the 'two week timeshare once a year for the rest of your life at Heritage USA'.

No to Cruz!

Posted by: Dan Magee at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (bFZpz)

193 >>>>> I must disagree. The people I know who support him are doing it because he's not icky like Trump and super conservative like Cruz. He's got that Tiger Beat appeal that will help him in the general unlike those two meanies. None of them are wealthy, pro-life (super RINO liberals) or Catholic
Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM
-------
All my family is Catholic and very pro-life. None of us are wealthy, but we all live comfortable lives. We're all politically conservative and political junkies. I have been really surprised to find out that most of them hate Cruz and Trump and are going for Rubio as a default. Their reason is basically that Cruz and Trump are both assholes in one form or another. I'm the only who has voted for Cruz so far

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (2x3L+)

194 I predict Rubio will drop out within the next 48 hours. He didn't drop out last night like an honorable man would - instead he's staying in to bargain with Cruz. He's waiting on the right offer.

And if anyone here thinks Cruz isn't talking to Rubio today, then I have some swamp land to sell you.

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (cR/4a)

195
The gope will not let the ticket be Cruz/Somebody Cruz Wants.

Somebody put me some knowledge here - if you're the nominee, why do you have to accept somebody else's choice for VP? What I mean is, if you are the party's standard-bearer and if you're the one going up against the Dems in the fall, why, other than that the GOPe will refuse to support you, can't the nominee say, "screw you, I'm putting Giggles the Slutty Clown on the ticket!"

Actually, now that I've asked the question, I think I see the answer - the GOPe would refuse to give you money and would trash you during the election.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (X6fMO)

196 Much like Reagan, it isn't necessary to burn the village down.

It's only necessary that your opponents believe that you're willing to burn the village down.

People who have spent their life doing business and negotiating know this. People who haven't, don't.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (Zs4uk)

there better be a burning....i've been looking forward to it!!!!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (0O7c5)

197 Mark Steyn notes that the Rubio, Cruz and Trump fans are all angry at him for pointing out their candidates' flaws.

Steyn said that his two big issues are immigration, which is destroying the Western world and free speech and Trump is awful on free speech. He wants to make it harder for people to say bad things about rich guys like him.

What I don't get is why the Trump supporting Morons and 'ettes seem so indifferent to that.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (u0lmX)

198 It's only necessary that your opponents believe that you're willing to burn the village down.

I gotta agree with this. It's the non-politician approach.

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (DEtps)

199 Strong post Ace.

I think the GoPe doesn't care and still deludes itself into thinking they can stop Trump or co-opt him. They won't realize what hit them till it's too late.

What disgusts me is that we finally have a conservative candidate that can win and people are falling for the populist who's telling them whatever they want to hear without any principles or understanding as to why he supports those positions.

Posted by: NJRob at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (o1h4V)

200 Rubio and Kasich (and really the entire GOPe) are worse than a particularly stubborn case of Herpes. At least with Herpes, you can take medication and basically live with it. Sucks but you'll be ok.

With the GOPe, there is always an annoying, itchy, weepy rash and sometimes you wonder if it might not kill you. It's also time for the low info republican voters to stop scratching at it with Rubes and Kasich.

Posted by: ElKomandante at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (Ql4Nd)

201 Agree. I'm disappointed that Cruz hasnt visited Ohio- Trump and Rubio have. He needs to show us some love! There is a ground game here, however, and the grassroots here against common core is clearly in favor of Cruz and very much against dictator pro common core Kasich. Trending is new group on Facebook "stop John Kasich in Ohio" created by the "hysterical" Moms in Ohio that Kasich ignored and disregarded.

Posted by: Jenny at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (U2Pgy)

202 just do it!
join the winning team...TEAM TRUMP 2016!

Posted by: Myshiba at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (n20xt)

203 Is the GOPe hoping Rubio/Kasich as the nominees? That's the only reason for staying in at this point. If they do that, Hillary will be president. I could live with Cruz/Kasich. Kasich at least has shown some viability in the Midwest and NE. Rubio is collapsing.

Posted by: WOPR at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (LTDSy)

204 there better be a burning....i've been looking forward to it!!!!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (0O7c5)

We'll burn one down, just to show we're serious.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (Zs4uk)

205 The only reason for Kasich and Rubio to be in the race is to stop Cruz and enable Trump to win the primary. The Republican elite will then support Hillary for the general.

I suspect that Trump would do much better in the general than anyone expects.

Posted by: Chicago Vota at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (3T0tP)

206 What the heck is Ace doing up this early?

You're assuming he ever went to bed last night...

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (9krrF)

207 All the time and energy decrying the establishment as out of touch and oblivious to what voters want, and Cruz supporters are playing "how can WE win the brokered convention" game.

Bitching about some shadowy group of white supremacists handing Idaho to Trump.

Ok maybe shadowy isn't the perfect word there. But you get the idea.

We in the blogerati suffer from elitism syndrome just as badly as DC does. The right needs to trim its sails to the wind, not curse the gods and begin sacrificing members of the crew to appease them.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:22 AM (xuouz)

208 Rubio won't drop out. And Cruz won't offer him shit. If Cruz hitches his wagon to Rubio it destroys his credibility. Cruz is the uber principled conservative, he can't team up with the establishment backstabber. And then if they still lose anyway, it damages his reputation forever as a senator.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:22 AM (VjlMj)

209 I was watching the election news last night -- One America News but possibly Fox -- and they interviewed a gentlemen related to the Kasich campaign; she kept calling him 'Senator'. I'm sorry I don't have more details! The gist is the Senator said straight out that Kasick's goal is a brokered convention where he will be named the nominee due to has vast experience and level head. The Senator would not say the phrase 'brokered convention' but the interviewer pinned him down, and he said, "Yep, that's our plan." Disgusting.

Posted by: Carmen StL at March 09, 2016 10:22 AM (RHjCR)

210 That seems disjointed and relative to nothing, imo.First..a makeup speculation of a RINO VP pick.......then a reference to the "Bush Dynasty...the some kind of "connection" to health insurance. Seems odd to me, so my question stands.And?

See #178. BJ Clinton AND his wife. And EVERYTHING that has flowed from 8 years of Bill.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:22 AM (kDUUX)

211 >>>>> Wouldn't it be worthwhile to maybe spend a little bit of time talking positively about the candidate you like and maybe just a little less time talking negatively about those you hate?
Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:1
---------
That's not how things work around here.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (2x3L+)

212 There are two types of protectionism, quotas and tariffs.

Quotas restrict supply, raise prices, and give the surplus profit to the country subject to the quota.

Tariffs increase prices, and give money to the government.

In each case an actual good -- real money saved by the consumer or an opportunity for a purchase forgone -- is transferred from the American consumer to either (a) a foreign producer, or (b) some government idea of fairness.

Even if you could prove that buying $20 socks would save an American sock making job, and you can't, you're making an American pay $16 to another American to make socks.

Why is the second American more worthy than the first?

My job went to India. Big deal. I should do something Indians can't do.

Protectionism is practially, theoretically, and morally wrong.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (1xUj/)

213 That seems disjointed and relative to nothing, imo.First..a makeup speculation of a RINO VP pick.......then a reference to the "Bush Dynasty...the some kind of "connection" to health insurance. Seems odd to me, so my question stands.And?

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (aRUb

Must be an undocumented democrat.

Sorry. My explanation is so long that I wont even read it.

Maybe someone nicer than me will spain it to Lucy here.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (WVsWD)

214 >>>The other factor here, if--IF--Cruz can take a national lead from March15 out, the map does indeed favor a comeback: Over 500 of the remaining delegates after March 15 are in winner-take-all states.

which cannot happen if these two fucking jokers are still in the race.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (dciA+)

215 When will you all embrace my obviously really really big, really really great shlong?

Posted by: Trumpnado at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (gxIP7)

216 197 Mark Steyn notes that the Rubio, Cruz and Trump fans are all angry at him for pointing out their candidates' flaws.

Steyn said that his two big issues are immigration, which is destroying the Western world and free speech and Trump is awful on free speech. He wants to make it harder for people to say bad things about rich guys like him.

What I don't get is why the Trump supporting Morons and 'ettes seem so indifferent to that.
Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (u0lmX)

---------------------------

Journolist

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (LXJ1e)

217 Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (2x3L+)

The right-leaning people in my family (I am, by far the most conservative) are the same way. They like Rubio. They don't like Cruz but would vote for him against Hillary.

They have already told me they will stay at home in November if Trump is the nominee. I have heard that from every other conservative I know as well. They think he'll be as bad as any Dem.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (u0lmX)

218 Mark Steyn notes that the Rubio, Cruz and Trump fans are all angry at him for pointing out their candidates' flaws.

Steyn said that his two big issues are immigration, which is destroying the Western world and free speech and Trump is awful on free speech. He wants to make it harder for people to say bad things about rich guys like him.

What I don't get is why the Trump supporting Morons and 'ettes seem so indifferent to that.
Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (u0lmX)

Because you have seized on a 15 second soundbite in which he (inartfully) expresses a desire to hold the media accountable for lies and libel as evidence he wants to jail dissenters.

You are acting hysterical and playing into the left's hands.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (xuouz)

219 (I've generally stopped listening to any political shows except Ace's own excellent poscast.)

pretty scathing review there.

Posted by: BunkerinTheBurbs at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (bA+CL)

220 >>>All the time and energy decrying the establishment as out of touch and oblivious to what voters want, and Cruz supporters are playing "how can WE win the brokered convention" game.

um, if neither Cruz nor Trump has 1237, what would you suggest we do?

What if Cruz is actually ahead?

Oh I know what you'd say -- give it to Trump.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (dciA+)

221 174 ...They aren't going to come out for Cruz.

Ya, they actually are. That's why Cruz is doing so well. And Cruz is also far more popular in the general population too. Add to that that he would be a better President. So get out there and vote Cruz!

Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (TH0iO)

222 Much like Reagan, it isn't necessary to burn the village down.

It's only necessary that your opponents believe that you're willing to burn the village down.

People who have spent their life doing business and negotiating know this. People who haven't, don't.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (Zs4uk)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pretty sure Nixon was more closely associated with Game Theory than Reagan.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (iQr18)

223 OK Ace. I'm getting my knee pads on now. May be I can out suck that fat bastard from Jersey for Der Fuhrer's VP slot. I think Der Fuhrer really likes me---deep down.

Posted by: Angry Marco at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (uNpJu)

224 What disgusts me is that we finally have a conservative candidate that can win and people are falling for the populist who's telling them whatever they want to hear without any principles or understanding as to why he supports those positions.
Posted by: NJRob at March 09, 2016 10:20 AM (o1h4V)

Maybe it's because none of the other candidates offered anything to the Trump voters. Free Trade, Mass Immigration, More Middle East Interventions!11!! is not a winning strategy. Cruz is slowing coming around but he just hasn't sold it even close to Trump.

Posted by: WOPR at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (LTDSy)

225 Wouldn't it be worthwhile to maybe spend a little bit of time talking
positively about the candidate you like and maybe just a little less
time talking negatively about those you hate?

What if we hate them all?

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (DEtps)

226 If Trump is nominated in Cleveland it wont wreck the party and Cruz can run again in 2020 and he will have a much easier time as he will be the legitimate next-in-line.------The Nayden Broad

I seriously doubt there will be real elections in 2020 if Hillary takes the WH. SCOTUS?
Say goodbye to your rights and hello to civil war.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (m3iiU)

227 After last night in Michigan, I also don't want to hear about how "the states coming up aren't Cruz states." He beat the neighboring 2 term governor in Michigan, and exit polls showed he would have beaten Trump by 9 if it was a 2 man race there. New York and possibly NJ are about the only two states left I'd give to Trump in a 2 man race against Cruz.

Posted by: Lightsey at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (9Arb/)

228 195
(edited for space)
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

Yep! Cut of the nose! Spite the face!

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (F0oRd)

229 Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (LXJ1e)

Trump will go after people who say bad things about Trump. Would you like it if he targeted Ace?

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (u0lmX)

230 Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (VjlMj)

Ah...your nativist instincts emerge. The mask has slipped. Your nic has now been explained.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (Zu3d9)

231 Posted by: Justamom at March 09, 2016 10:07 AM (sVnbw)

Sadly, I think Hillary will win a debate with Trump.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (+wjl1)

232 >>You are acting hysterical and playing into the left's hands.

the famous "Do what I say or you're playing right into the left's hands" gambit.

Doesn't work any more. Sell silly somewhere else.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (dciA+)

233 197 Mark Steyn notes that the Rubio, Cruz and Trump fans are all angry at him for pointing out their candidates' flaws.

Steyn said that his two big issues are immigration, which is destroying the Western world and free speech and Trump is awful on free speech. He wants to make it harder for people to say bad things about rich guys like him.

What I don't get is why the Trump supporting Morons and 'ettes seem so indifferent to that.

Because Trump would have to change the 1st Amendment to affect free speech and the others are atrocious on illegal immigration. Which doesn't require a change to the constitution.

Therefore, honestly, immigration is #1 imho.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (kDUUX)

234 Yeah. "No new taxes" pledge gave us BJ Clinton. And his wife.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (kDUUX)

These are all non sequiturs. They don't have a thing to do with "now".

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (aRUb8)

235 193
>>>>> I must disagree. The people I know who support him
are doing it because he's not icky like Trump and super conservative
like Cruz. He's got that Tiger Beat appeal that will help him in the
general unlike those two meanies. None of them are wealthy, pro-life
(super RINO liberals) or Catholic

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 09, 2016 10:10 AM

-------

All my family is Catholic and very pro-life. None of us are
wealthy, but we all live comfortable lives. We're all politically
conservative and political junkies. I have been really surprised to
find out that most of them hate Cruz and Trump and are going for Rubio
as a default. Their reason is basically that Cruz and Trump are both
assholes in one form or another. I'm the only who has voted for Cruz so
far

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (2x3L+)

my family is catholic, pro life, comfortable income.....we are all eitherfor cruz or trump.....my 87 yr old mom goes to daily Mass and she is the most vocally pro trump person in our clan.....she is ready for the GOPe to get SPANKED....she feels used and abused and she is going to cast what may well be her last presidential vote for donald....because she has HAD IT!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (0O7c5)

236
John Podhoretz 20 minutes ago

Well, Ace of Spades has gotten his wish. And I'll bet he's not a whit happier.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (kdS6q)

237 The only way Katshit gets the nomination is thru a brokered convention. Why should I vote for him as he thwarted the majority of republican voters? He claims to be a smart man but I believe his ego is larger than his IQ.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (voOPb)

238 232
>>You are acting hysterical and playing into the left's hands.

the famous "Do what I say or you're playing right into the left's hands" gambit.

Doesn't work any more. Sell silly somewhere else.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (dciA+)

^^^this^^^

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (0O7c5)

239 I am #NeverTrump and I mean it. I want Cruz, and I think he is the only one who can save the GOP.

I'm less and less enthused with Rubio. I officially was off him after reading (establishment!) George Will's takedown of him a month or so ago.

I am a defender of Capitalism, and I loved myself some Scalia. I'm "Libertarian" in my broad philosophy, but agree with the social cons most of the time in practice. (i.e., I'm not okay with forcing gay marriage via the courts.)

Yes, I'm a real voter who voted Bush Bush McCain (ugh) and Romney. I will never vote for Hillary. I will never approve her. I also will never vote for Trump.

I don't know how many there are like me, but I know there are millions. I've seen Trump on teevee for 30 years. He offends me, deeply. I HATE pyramid sales-people, con-artists, reality-teevee hustles, and all that.

I would vote for Cruz to stop HRC. I would vote a freakin' Huntsman-Kasich ticket. I would vote for a literal shaved ape to beat HRC. I don't want HRC, as I didn't want Obama, but with both, I know they are my enemy and against my interests, and I have no ownership of their folly.

I will not vote for Trump BECAUSE he is such a sleazy con man. He will de-legitimize everything the GOP has done for a generation. He wants not just tariffs and bailouts and the export-import bank, but he'll fold on immigration. And the backlash will let to MOAR Obamacare, Carbon Taxes, racial retribution, the lot of it.

If Trump is the GOP nom, I will gladly vote for Gary Johnson, who is a pretty good alternative.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (tSSSX)

240 What if Cruz is actually ahead?

Oh I know what you'd say -- give it to Trump.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (dciA+)

I'm betting if Rubio/Kasich is the endgame here. They'll declare it a unity ticket.

Posted by: WOPR at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (LTDSy)

241 This is going to end up a Trump / Cruz ticket. There is one of two possibilities. Trump curb stomps Cruz, in which case maybe not. But if it remains even a little close, Trump will pick Cruz, reunite everybody who's in the #NeverTrump camp, etc.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (VjlMj)

242 222 Much like Reagan, it isn't necessary to burn the village down.

It's only necessary that your opponents believe that you're willing to burn the village down.

People who have spent their life doing business and negotiating know this. People who haven't, don't.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:18 AM (Zs4uk)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pretty sure Nixon was more closely associated with Game Theory than Reagan.
Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (iQr1

Until Reagan burned down the air traffic controllers village.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (kDUUX)

243 I see Trump offering Cruz a deal. Whatever he wants short of the Presidency. Cruz has done well. Trump has been playing air support (with some fragging) to Cruz's boots on the ground. Trump had more to do with Jeb and Rubio's fails than Cruz. Respect both men in different ways.

Posted by: scorecard at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (I0sxh)

244 Maybe Rubio, Kasich, and Cruz got together and decided to collectively take enough delegates to deny Trump a first-ballot victory, then it's everybody for himself. Or maybe I'm just making shit up. I like my plan for Cruz to promise Trump the Great Wall of Mexico project in return for dropping out. It would be a classy, luxurious wall -- really yuge.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (RD7QR)

245

The more the insiders fight Trump, the more he wins.

I've never seen anything like it.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (qCMvj)

246 Steiner is coming. Wait and see.

Posted by: kraken at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (sdxPm)

247 >>> 174 ...They aren't going to come out for Cruz.

something people who like to quote the polls showing Trump ahead in the primaries (in a 4 man race) but ignore what the polls say about Trump vs Hillary OR sanders, like to say.

They like to say that people will come out and support trump -- they're just super-duper shy about telling pollsters so.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (dciA+)

248 expresses a desire to hold the media accountable for lies and libel as evidence he wants to jail dissenters.

No, his idea that everyone who says something negative about him is lying is what gives us pause.

Posted by: no good deed at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (GgxVX)

249 Until Reagan burned down the air traffic controllers village.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:27 AM (kDUUX)
that was beautiful......sigh

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (0O7c5)

250 I suspect that Trump would do much better in the general than anyone expects.
Posted by: Chicago Vota at March 09, 2016 10:21 AM (3T0tP)

Right? I mean, in spite of his obvious inability to gain traction with anyone other than racists and cranks in the primary, I bet he'd do alright.

I mean, in spite of the evidence to the contrary, which is voluminous and self-evident.

He's just not fit for office. According to my rubric for personal conduct in a public servant.

Help me disseminate it to the public, they need to have their opinions guided on this.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (xuouz)

251 My job went to India. Big deal. I should do something Indians can't do.

Protectionism is practially, theoretically, and morally wrong.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (1xUj/)

----------------------

I know this is hard to believe but some people are only capable of sock-making jobs.

So the alternative isn't do jobs the Indian can't do (what are they?) but life on the dole or on the streets.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (LXJ1e)

252 the famous "Do what I say or you're playing right into the left's hands" gambit.

Doesn't work any more. Sell silly somewhere else.

Posted by: ace

Looks the same when used AGAINST Trump supporters.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (kDUUX)

253 Also: I should note Marco Rubio currently does not have a job, and so pretty much anything is going to encourage him to stay in this job interview process, even if he actually has no chance to get the job.

Posted by: Ace at 09:39 AM

He's not really ever been big on those to begin with. One would think no president could ever chase Jet Setting Barry's legacy of beach bonfires made of taxpayer money, but I truly believe Mario would do his best to compete.

And yes, he will cry announcing his dropout. We need to get that on PredictWise because I will buy shares of that.

Posted by: 0302 at March 09, 2016 10:29 AM (wx6iv)

254

In the meantime, Bernie wins, but loses delegates to Hillary as a result. What's the point of Democrats voting at all?

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:29 AM (qCMvj)

255 >>>aybe Rubio, Kasich, and Cruz got together and decided to collectively take enough delegates to deny Trump a first-ballot victory, then it's everybody for himself. Or maybe I'm just making shit up. I like my plan for Cruz to promise Trump the Great Wall of Mexico project in return for dropping out. It would be a classy, luxurious wall -- really yuge.

yeah, Rubio's going to drop out after he finally has a bona-fide #MarcoMoment?

(MarcoMoments is a snide joke about all the alleged "Moments" marco has had during his impressive string of nobody-said-we-could-do-this losses.)

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:29 AM (dciA+)

256 Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (xuouz)

It's not me "acting hysterical" -it's Mark Steyn who said that.

And Steyn, up until the time when Trump started issuing his loud-mouthed threats, favored Trump because of his stance on immigration.

I'm hysterical? You're the 2016 version of a 2008 Obamabot. You hear only what you wish to hear.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:30 AM (u0lmX)

257 Why on earth would Cruz ask Rubio the big loser to be his VP? That makes little sense.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 10:30 AM (2x3L+)

258

Rubio might be staying in also because he wants to negotiate a spot somewhere. He might be arm twisting at this point. Give me this and I'll get out.

But I don't think it has gotten to that yet. He was told he was the golden boy and has that I'm the golden boy complex. I can still win. People really do like me.

Step outside your circle Marco.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (qCMvj)

259 Ace - suffering from insomnia is not good for your health. I have lived with it my entire life. Recently, I have been taking L-trytophan 1000 mg at 7 p.m. and another dose of 500 mg. at 9 p.m. It has helped get me to sleep and STAY asleep. The supplements in the morning have also helped to get my circadian cycle regulated. Mornings on empty stomach - L-tyrosine 500 mg. Hour later L-theanine 200 mg. with 100 mg caffeine (it takes the edge off of caffeine) , B-6, Omega 3, Multi-vitamin. Hour later - Seriphos (helps regulate cortisol which is messed up from no sleep/stress) Co10, Red Yeast Rice (for cholesterol) Lumiday (GNC brand which includes small doses of 5-htp, St. John's Wort, Rhodiola and Ashwagandha) an hour after breakfast Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C 1000 mg.

Yerba Mate instead of coffee during day and no caffeine after 4 p.m. This was hard because of addiction to diet coke. Couple of times a day for a few weeks Detox Peach tea or regular detox tea.

At first I had to use L-theanine again without caffeine during the day for stress. It is a good substitute for any benzo for stress. I don't need to take it during the day now but it helped a lot in the beginning. No energy drinks at all - the l-theanine/caffeine combo in the is enough to get your body/mind going in the morning.

I don't know you but it appears you have a very active mind. These supplements helped get me off of the cycle of adderall and sleep medications my doctor said were necessary. It is a relief to be able to go to sleep now and sleep all night. I forgot what it felt like and unless someone has experienced insomnia they have no idea. When people say "just go to sleep" I know that they have never experienced insomnia.

Hope you get your sleep under control - it is one of the most necessary things in life. For me, this is working and I hope it continues.

Posted by: wasone at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (VbTye)

260 The shrinking campaign picture of Rubio on drudge made me lol.

Posted by: ryukyu at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (FuBZa)

261 234 Yeah. "No new taxes" pledge gave us BJ Clinton. And his wife.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:16 AM (kDUUX)

These are all non sequiturs. They don't have a thing to do with "now".

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:26 AM (aRUb

You don't get to here without going thru there.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (kDUUX)

262 Oh! Carly is stumping for Cruz!

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (1xUj/)

263 Someone, Dana Perino I think, mentioned that voting for who will actually be a delegate for each state begins soon. In a contested convention this might be more important than the primaries final numbers if nobody takes it outright. Also where the establishment could rig the final results.

Posted by: GregV61 at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (H0lcY)

264 I mean, in spite of the evidence to the contrary, which is voluminous and self-evident.

He's just not fit for office. According to my rubric for personal conduct in a public servant.

I think that one of Trump's biggest achievements is to display on the outside what politicians hide on the inside.

Peel off the skin and they all look like Trump.

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (DEtps)

265 The anti-Cruzers are coming around to Cruz because they hate Trump. That's why I call teh Donald "the indispensable man"- without Donald to fear, few GOPe would vote for Cruz.

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (knNho)

266 something people who like to quote the polls showing Trump ahead in the primaries (in a 4 man race) but ignore what the polls say about Trump vs Hillary OR sanders, like to say.
They like to say that people will come out and support trump -- they're just super-duper shy about telling pollsters so.
Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (dciA+)

1. There will necessarily be a sea change in public opinion (as well as the comportment of the campaigns) after the conventions.

2. Conservatives say "I'll never vote for [squish candidate x] he's a plastic, phony, establishment goon!" Then come November they vote for them.

The people buoying Trump are non-voters. I see this anecdotally, in my life, and I see it reflected in turnout numbers and new voter registration numbers. If he isn't nominated, they really will stay home.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (xuouz)

267 Look Rubio is just in it for the Establishment for whom he bent over on immigration. If anything, his campaign proves that at some point he drank the Establishment Kool-Aid and he's been disengenous in his ranting about what a conservative he IS.

He may have BEEN. He's not now. He's just another brick in the wall that Washington has built and someone like Trump is going to knock down, and he's a weak one at that.

His only real job here is to turn the campaign upside down and help The Hag win. Period, full-stop. His debate obfuscation was basically a rhetorical turning over of tables.

Now look, I really like Crux and have many substantive questions aout Trump. But the math is working against Cruz and I'll go out an a limb and state that Trump WILL be the candidate. There is no question.

Who does a "contested" convention serve? Well the same, old people in Washington plus The Hag. She will win if that happens because the GOP will, once again, been successful in alienating the people they need to win.

I look at the demographics Trump is pulling and I'm frankly amazed. I don't believe all that shit about how 2/3rds of the people are against him and ergo The Hag's a show-in. Bullshit. What are these people fucking psychics based on a few disparate polls?

What I see in Trump's number are some scary good demographics which indicate he may have a historic coalition and trounce the Hag. And he hasn't even started to go after her yet.

Posted by: Marcus T at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (GGCsk)

268 Brokered convention turns out unbeatable ticket:

Romney/Ryan ~~2012!~~ 2016!

Posted by: mindful webworker - Cruz/Bridenstine 2016 at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (U2rG9)

269 >> Also: I should note Marco Rubio currently does not have a job

How's that, because he promised not to seek reelection? Yeah, right. If he intended to actually honor that, why wait, he should have just stepped down then so someone else could be appointed. Believe it when I see it.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (VjlMj)

270 Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (WVsWD)

Thanks for conceding the point. I respect your honesty.

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (aRUb8)

271 carly fiorina endorsing ted cruz right now.

says she voted for him.

She's campaigning for him in Florida.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (dciA+)

272 Alot of shit does not make sense to me anymore. Here's one of 'em ...

... why in the hell is Trump calling for a two-man race ?

Vanity ? Internal polling showing he wins heads-up ? Fear of getting screwed at the convention ?

I've give up on my dream that he's got a side deal with Cruz. But WHY would Trump be calling for Rubio and Kasich to drop ?

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 10:33 AM (p6cXT)

273 Sounds like Fiorina got the message, as she's on stage at a campaign event with Cruz now.

Posted by: Dbot1800 at March 09, 2016 10:33 AM (pW9OW)

274 Of course, the best bet is that all three candidates make their pitch to the primary voters and let the chips fall where they may.

Look at Teddy Roosevelt's plunge in 2012. Taft and the GOPe of the day were unbeatable. Teddy and his supporters bolted from the GOP and The "Bull Moose" party cost Taft the election.

John Anderson's bid in the 1980 presidential cycle. Anderson participated in the GOP primaries and lost to Reagan. Anderson launched an independent bid and took 7% of the general election vote without winning a single precinct nation-wide.

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:33 AM (JBggj)

275 Trump/Cruz, announced sooner rather than later, is the best thing for both men.

Good for America, too.

Crazy Bad Cop/Stable Good Cop.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (MQEz6)

276 My job went to India. Big deal. I should do something Indians can't do.

Protectionism is practially, theoretically, and morally wrong.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:23 AM (1xUj/)

Wow, you obviously missed most of the history of this country when it practiced mercantilism. And it wasn't that you couldn't do the job, it's that the Indians did it cheaper. I assume it was some sort of tech job. What happens to you when all of the tech jobs are overseas? You'll do what?

The concept that market efficiency is all that matters is what is morally bankrupt.

Posted by: WOPR at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (LTDSy)

277 Zombie Teddy in 2012. I meant 1912.

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (JBggj)

278 Establishment is fine with Trump. The Chamber of Commerce prefers him to Cruz: Http://ow.ly/XpHT7

Posted by: Heartofdarkness at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (MQ0Jr)

279
Trump

his obvious inability to gain traction with anyone other than racists and cranks in the primary
Posted by: Ghost of kari

Who just won the majority non-white state of Hawaii.....

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:35 AM (kdS6q)

280 Rubio, in particular, is doing conservatives no favor.

That's a feature, not a bug, to his Establican RINO supporters. Frankly, I wish Trump hadn't been such a crapweasel and made an offer of Veep to Cruz. They are both anti-Establican candidates.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 10:35 AM (ujg0T)

281 Anyone know if Cruz is running ads in Florida? Haven't seen any yet.

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:35 AM (WnCSK)

282 i love Carly....and she's for CRUZ!!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:35 AM (0O7c5)

283 2016 Popular Vote Tally (so far)

Trump 4,337,138
Cruz 3,574,627
Rubio 2,398,627
Kasich 1,087,567

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (cR/4a)

284 Because you have seized on a 15 second soundbite in which he (inartfully) expresses a desire to hold the media accountable for lies and libel as evidence he wants to jail dissenters.

You are acting hysterical and playing into the left's hands.
Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:24 AM (xuouz)

So we are not allowed to take Trump at his word. All his foot in mouth incidents/verbal revelations of his true positions must be Trumpsplained.

And this is the man you want to be president of this country.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (+wjl1)

285 Jobless... touring the country... living off others' donations.

Can't we just hire a hobo from off the bus at the Boulder bus station?

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (MQD67)

286 >> Romney/Ryan 2016!

Romney won't even be let in the building. All this talk of open convention. People are PISSED. If Trump loses through any nefarious trickery, including democrat playbook tactics like KKK ads, there will be a literal revolt.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (VjlMj)

287 "Because you have seized on a 15 second soundbite in which he (inartfully) expresses a desire to hold the media accountable for lies and libel as evidence he wants to jail dissenters"

Those 15 second, "inartful " soundbites are sure piling up, aren't they? Trump has even more of them than Joe Biden.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (u0lmX)

288 I'm not in the Kathleen Parker camp, by a long shot. Her op-ed says that True Republicans have to Stop Trump!! by any means necessary, including voting for Hillary.She also calls Trump a fascist, so by extension calling his supporters fascists.
Next week I vote in a primary.I am on the fence right now about Cruz or Trump. My instinct is that Cruz "might" be the better President. But when people go nuts and infer, by association, that I have fascist tendencies for looking with favor on Trump, it tends to have the effect of making me hostile and combative.

Posted by: kraken at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (sdxPm)

289 Wondering how Cruz's unfavorable RCP rating would fare if Trump was not in this race?

Posted by: zzBottom at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (jtqoO)

290 271 carly fiorina endorsing ted cruz right now.
says she voted for him.
She's campaigning for him in Florida.
Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (dciA+)

Rather effectively, too.
Cruz/Fiorina from Day 1 of this circus.

Posted by: jwb7605 at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (DofIg)

291 When Ted Cruz stopped being 'Mr Smith goes to Washington' and started running for Pastor of America, I cashed out on him. Not for me 900 foot Jesus, 6000 year world creation by counting the begats, and Daddy Cruz's rule by evangelicals.

The guy just oozes insincerity. He stinks of Jim Bakker with the rip-off prosperity gospel and the 'two week timeshare once a year for the rest of your life at Heritage USA'.

-
Boy, that isn't hardly religious bigotry at all.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (Nwg0u)

292 My guess is Kasich is playing the Establishment spoiler, staying in not to win but to deliberatelybleed Cruz, whom the Establishment hates even more than it hates Trump.

These rich dumb bastardsmean to make it a brokered convention, and have probably promised Kasich, that grandiose prick,the VP slot on the new, improved ticket.

The convention floor will erupt in rioting ifthe Establishmenttries to forceits choice and the Grand Old Party will effectively dissolve. I just don't see why they don't see this.

Posted by: troyriser at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (UWlp+)

293 152
93 ...

The other factor here, if--IF--Cruz can take a national lead from
March15 out, the map does indeed favor a comeback: Over 500 of the
remaining delegates after March 15 are in winner-take-all states.

Posted by: RoyalOil

Are states like Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and New Jersey in there. Not really Cruz strongholds.

Sounds desperate. Stop clutching at me.
=========
Upcoming states in these groups and order, with the delegates listed:
(5

AZ*, (40)UT*, (42)WI*, (95)NY*,

(2

CT*, (16)DE*, (3

MD*, (71)PA*, (19)RI,

(46)IN*,

(36)NE*, (3

WV, (2

OR, (44)WA,

(172)CA*, (27)MT*, (51)NJ*, (24)NM, (29)SD*

* = winner-take-all

Now you see how Cruz could win if Rubio and Kasich are out after next week? It could really come down to CA all the way at the end, on June 7.

Posted by: RoyalOil at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (fQ/0p)

294 Zombie Teddy in 2012. I meant 1912.
Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (JBggj)

He can bury himself in the basement along with all the yellow fever victims

Posted by: Kindltot at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (q2o38)

295 271 carly fiorina endorsing ted cruz right now.

says she voted for him.

She's campaigning for him in Florida.

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (dciA+)

That's a pretty good get. She earned my respect and is pretty impressive.

Posted by: joncelli at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (RD7QR)

296

Ted's new haircut is nice.
Looking very presidential.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (qCMvj)

297 If the thinking right, the literati, the non-establishment capital-C conservative movement continues to demonize Trump, he will tack left, because he will not be able to get over the 45-55% hump of Republicans (although many presumably won't vote) and will need something like 10-15% of democrat voters.

If they unite behind him, he will only need 5% of democrat voters - more if we want to humiliate the left and storm the northeastern keep, which I'd very much like to do (and then walk through Cambridge, Mass with my dick out. Metaphorically)

Try negotiating with the guy. Try making demands re: policy and hinging your support for him on them. You're the adult in the room: act like it. See what he does.

If you play the "if he ignores it he's a dictator" game, and "if he agrees he's just a con man" game like many have been doing, then you're the problem, not him. What is he supposed to do, then? Just FOAD?

Not gonna happen, folks.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (xuouz)

298 Damn, forgot about the fancy code that turns 8 and ) into

Posted by: RoyalOil at March 09, 2016 10:37 AM (fQ/0p)

299 Yay Fiorina!

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (MQD67)

300 noodles

Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (dciA+)

301
why in the hell is Trump calling for a two-man race ?
Posted by: ScoggDog

Because each of the three guys remaining, and their supporters, are absolutely convinced they're that second guy in a two-man race.

Thus, they stay in and fight each other like rats in a box, continuing to split the non-Trump vote.

Simple, really.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (kdS6q)

302 So, Trump and his wall. His big, beautiful, luxurious wall. He's gonna build it, right? That's why you're all in on him?

You know the President doesn't just *get* to build a wall, right? And you understand that there is actually was a law passed to build what portions of the wall exist, and that the remainder of the wall was never built (even though it's still authorized) due to lack of funds, right? And you understand that funding bills originate in one place and one place only: the House of Representatives.

So it doesn't matter what Trump says about a wall. He doesn't get to wave his magic hands and magically make a wall appear out of thin air. The bill will have to be introduced in committee in the House, pass that, pass the House, pass the Senate, and then *and only then* be signed.

And then the lawsuits start. Greenpeace, La Raza, Sierra club, you name it. That wall will be tied up in Federal courts damn near forever. Meanwhile, Democrats will be agitating to take back the House and Senate, which they'll have a good shot at doing.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (iQr18)

303 Trump/Cruz, announced sooner rather than later, is the best thing for both men.

Good for America, too.

Crazy Bad Cop/Stable Good Cop.

Posted by: eman at March 09, 2016 10:34 AM (MQEz6)
_______

I have my doubts that Trump would want that. Im pretty certain that Cruz wont want that at all.

Trumps nomination will almost certainly be electoral suicide and Cruz will want to be as far away from that trainwreck as possible. Not to mention their political differences.

Cruz can continue to perform well in the Senate for another 4 years and run as next-in-line in 2020.

Posted by: The Nayden Broad at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (jPLSa)

304 241 This is going to end up a Trump / Cruz ticket. There is one of two possibilities. Trump curb stomps Cruz, in which case maybe not. But if it remains even a little close, Trump will pick Cruz, reunite everybody who's in the #NeverTrump camp, etc.

=====

Any "republican" who runs with or openly supports Trump is dead to me. I want Cruz, but I'm voting for no tickets with Trump on them.

I begin and end with the fact that Trump is a con man to me. I mean, literally selling pyramid schemes and timeshares, and big bankruptcy swindles of investors. He is a vile man of low character and middling IQ who performs well-known persuasion techniques, such as repeating how "great" and "brilliant" he is.

I'm sure some #NeverTrump people will come around just because HRC is so awful. But people like me, who have been loyal vote farms for years, are serious about this.

Look at Trump's negatives. For the huge amount of people who are NOT immediately nauseated by him, many more people are. I am one of those. This is never discussed. For the amount of people who are NOT bothered by this hustler, there are plenty who are.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (tSSSX)

305 Rather effectively, too.

Cruz/Fiorina from Day 1 of this circus.

Posted by: jwb7605 at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (DofIg)
that's a good pairing right there

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (0O7c5)

306 My goodness RoyalOil is feeling mighty sunny today

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (xuouz)

307 Rather effectively, too.
Cruz/Fiorina from Day 1 of this circus.

Posted by: jwb7605 at March 09, 2016 10:36 AM (DofIg)

I was a Carly guy until she dropped out. Now Cruz. *crosses fingers* Here's hoping.

Posted by: troyriser at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (UWlp+)

308 RoyalOil seems happy this morning.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (MQD67)

309 >> She's campaigning for him in Florida.

Nobody cares what she thinks. She's lost how many elections now? Won how many again? She fucked HP in the ass and then cashed out with a big pay day she didn't deserve. And since that time what has she done with that 100-200 million dollars? Jack shit. This great business lady has literally accomplished nothing despite amazing opportunity handed to her. She is useless.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (VjlMj)

310 In the General Trump will get a bunch of Indies and some Dems, but lose a whole lot of Republicans - most of those Republicans will just stay home. A few in places like LA and NY will vote for the Hillabeast.

There are many Republicans who don't love or even like Cruz, but who will pull the lever for him anyway. He may be distasteful to some, but he doesn't inspire the hatred and contempt that Trump does. Personally, I agree with Cruz on almost all his positions, and think he is wicked smart, I just wish he was a bit more likable.

Posted by: Holdfast at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (YqcVw)

311 Look at Trump's negatives. For the huge amount of people who are NOT immediately nauseated by him, many more people are. I am one of those. This is never discussed. For the amount of people who are NOT bothered by this hustler, there are plenty who are.
Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (tSSSX)

If this was such a big deal he wouldn't be winning 30-50% of the vote in

every

single

state

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified inane at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (xuouz)

312 i really like carly......

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (0O7c5)

313 In his Tuesday press conference/acceptance speech, Trump borrowed Kasich's let's come together, yay, unity lines. He has absorbed Kasich. I think he's signaling that Kasich serves no purpose now, and can leave.

Posted by: m at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (S/1cF)

314 "So tell me the Truth, guys: Is #NeverTrump a real thing, or is it just a quick dash of new paint on the #Rubio4Ever thing you've had going for a year now?"

I follow a lot of Rubio people on Twitter. It's the latter, with a couple of notable exceptions (Jay from Brooklyn is a big Rubio backer but acknowledges Cruz as the better alternative now).

Mostly, they keep whining about Cruz (liar!) trying to bring him down. I have made Ace's point to many of them - "never Trump" is really "only Rubio" to them.

Posted by: duke at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (EQNFN)

315

Hopefully the Cruz campaign has figured out even more how to run the ground game. It seems to be working for the most part (given the other two turds are still in the race).

With the campaign chest he has, and with the new and fluid information, I believe he can adjust and run with this.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (qCMvj)

316 I just think it's interesting that there's a candidate who's literally running away with it, and Ace is among those thinking that the voters are dumbbells.

Whatever his demerits, let's remember that Trump has wiped out (1) Jeb (2) Rubio (3) the War on Women meme and (4) made Graham look like a fool (telephone number on live air.) That's pretty good. And it shows that the voters are longing for the appearance of testosterone. Whether that's a good thing remains to be seen.

Posted by: artemis at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (AwPyG)

317 Ace has gone Full Fanboy.

Rubio and Kasich can't beat Trump in the delegate count, but neither can Cruz.

He can make his case at a brokered convention whether Rubio and Kasich drop out or not. If he kicks their asses in the delegate count, he would have a compelling argument.

Considering the unfavorable calendar ahead, Cruz going one on one against Trump means that, short of Divine Intervention, Trump wins.

If he's shooting for a brokered convention (his only chance of winning), why would Rubio and Kasich drop out?

Not that it much matters- Cruz or Trump would both lose in the general.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (XhSez)

318 They like to say that people will come out and support trump -- they're just super-duper shy about telling pollsters so.
Posted by: ace at March 09, 2016 10:28 AM (dciA+)

Polls have been worse than useless this year- which is why I take a somewhat jaundiced eye when anyone mentions polls for the general or any of the primaries as a reason to support this or that candidate.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (iHjB5)

319 On another subject Drudge quotes todays Guardian reporting Russia warned North Korea not to threaten America with Nuclear attack or face an international intervention.

As soon as ManBearPig is finished with his putt on the 18th hole, or maybe right after he downs a quick beer just after, I'm sure he will issue a statement thanking Vlad for protecting us.

Posted by: MTF at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (knNho)

320 And the GOPe, if they were smart (I know, I know)

they would be encouraging(forcing) Rubio and Kasich out today.

This gives Cruz a slim last minute chance of taking one of those states- FL or OH now,

Cruz is even more of an anathema to them than Trump is. In fact, if Trump had only done the usual "compassionate conservative" garbage, the GOPee would be falling all over themselves for him.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (ujg0T)

321 Trump will go after people who say bad things about Trump. Would you like it if he targeted Ace?
Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (u0lmX)

---------------------------

No I wouldn't, but the journalist "profession" has not covered itself in glory. In fact, the Journolist collusion was borderline illegal. Imagine if Ford, GM and Chrysler PR departments decided to coordinate messaging and negotiations against a raw material supplier.

I'd like to point out that Steyn is currently being sued by Mann, RIGHT NOW, not under some hypothetical Trump speech regime.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (LXJ1e)

322 If you want to know why Trump gets so much support then check out the story of the GOPe bigwigs meeting with big lefty tech to stop Trump. You know guys like Apple's Tim Scott...

Stuff like this plays into Trump's hands, just like Romney (and before him Bush) played into Trump's hand. It adds to his "legend" of being the guy the establishment is most afraid of. Cruz needs to do something that will cause the establishment to have emergency meetings over him, to remind people of his "legendary outlaw" status. To make Romney give a speech about the "evils" of Ted Cruz...

Posted by: William Eaton at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (q52Ma)

323 Wouldn't it be worthwhile to maybe spend a little bit of time talking positively about the candidate you like and maybe just a little less time talking negatively about those you hate?
Posted by: JohnJ at March 09, 2016 10:1

There isn't anything positive to say about any of the candidates.

Anything you might think is positive is all projection and wish casting on your part; you 'hope' they will do this, that, or the other thing.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 09, 2016 10:41 AM (vq1mI)

324 Good for Carly! I'd donate quite a bit to a Cruz/Fiorina ticket.

Posted by: Lightsey at March 09, 2016 10:41 AM (9Arb/)

325 "He doesn't get to wave his magic hands and magically make a wall appear out of thin air"

Perhaps...but not the process you laid out. He could easily tack it into an infrastructure bill. Lawsuits? Perhaps environmental but as you said, many parts have already been approved. He simply has to begin what was already approved and started.

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:41 AM (WnCSK)

326 Posted by: Dan Magee at March 09, 2016 10:19 AM (bFZpz)

Thank you for your concern.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 09, 2016 10:42 AM (0cMkb)

327 Nobody cares what she thinks. She's lost how many
elections now? Won how many again? She fucked HP in the ass and then
cashed out with a big pay day she didn't deserve. And since that time
what has she done with that 100-200 million dollars? Jack shit. This
great business lady has literally accomplished nothing despite amazing
opportunity handed to her. She is useless.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (VjlMj)
You understand that description fits almost every business that Trump has ever run.The guy bankrupted a Casino and a Liquor business. He's the kind of guy who could lose money on a whorehouse.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:42 AM (iQr18)

328 309
>> She's campaigning for him in Florida.

Nobody cares what she thinks. She's lost how many elections now?
Won how many again? She fucked HP in the ass and then cashed out with a
big pay day she didn't deserve. And since that time what has she done
with that 100-200 million dollars? Jack shit. This great business lady
has literally accomplished nothing despite amazing opportunity handed
to her. She is useless.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (VjlMj)
Sometimes not getting run out of business is the best possible outcome. Now let me shut down my gateway desktop and switch to my IBM laptop. Dell had to go private to keep going. Her time at HP wasn't great but she kept the company where it needed to be to survive and have a future. Her next best option was probably to sell everything off and issue pink slips to every single employee.

Posted by: allenlou at March 09, 2016 10:42 AM (us5tr)

329 >> nauseated by him

every candidate has a nauseation factor. When it comes to Cruz neurologists have even explained the science behind it, lol.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:42 AM (VjlMj)

330 carly fiorina endorsing ted cruz right now.

says she voted for him.

She's campaigning for him in Florida.

thank goodness
he has a lot of good support

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 09, 2016 10:42 AM (qCMvj)

331
And then the lawsuits start. Greenpeace, La Raza, Sierra club, you
name it. That wall will be tied up in Federal courts damn near forever.
Meanwhile, Democrats will be agitating to take back the House and
Senate, which they'll have a good shot at doing.
=============

Trump and Cruz both want a wall, right?

So, Rubio?

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:43 AM (JBggj)

332 who's carly fiorina?

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:44 AM (WnCSK)

333 John Podhoretz 20 minutes ago

Well, Ace of Spades has gotten his wish.

Did Rubio drop out?

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie! at March 09, 2016 10:44 AM (evdj2)

334 >> You understand that description fits almost every business that Trump has ever run.The guy bankrupted a Casino and a Liquor business. He's the kind of guy who could lose money on a whorehouse.

This is idiocy. Carly has started ZERO businesses. Trump has started HUNDREDS and a relative handful have not done well. I recall seeing an article that looked at this question. Romney, with Bain Capital, has a 22% failure rate. Trump has like a 2% failure rate. Trump turned a couple million bucks into 10 billion, employed tens of thousands of people. Carly almost destroyed one of the greatest and most well established blue chip companies on the planet. With the large money she pocketed what has she done? Let's see a list of all the successful businesses she's started with that money. NOT ONE. All she's done is repeatedly run for office and repeatedly LOSE HER ASS.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:45 AM (VjlMj)

335 Right, this is going where it always does. I'll check in later Horde.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Restorationist at March 09, 2016 10:45 AM (9krrF)

336 Yes, I'll mark you down in the column of "people who don't understand free trade".

Protectionism hurts the protectionist side.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at March 09, 2016 10:05 AM (1xUj/)

And at times, national security and national sovereignty are more important than making a quick buck. Why do we have MFN trade with Red China when they only prop up lunatic Norks with nukes?

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 10:45 AM (ujg0T)

337 Didja see Slow Joe says Reagan couldn't win the nomination today what with all the radical, begat-counting, extremist conservatives.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at March 09, 2016 10:46 AM (Nwg0u)

338 Cruz can continue to perform well in the Senate for another 4 years and run as next-in-line in 2020.
Posted by: The Nayden Broad at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (jPLSa)

--------------------------------

4 more years of show boating and grandstanding.

Running on "I stopped X, X, and X" (even though you really didn't) won't win you the Presidency.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:46 AM (LXJ1e)

339 Me, I am playing the odds.
Cruz has been cinsistently fighting for the Conservative cause for some time now. Trump has not.
Cruz has been fighting the GOPe.
Cruz poison pilled the Go8 amnesty bill.
Yes Ted's previous H1B visa stance is a concern.
Yes he got rolled on TPP. He made the freshman mistake of trusting GOP leadership on it. None of the Trump supporters have ever made that mistake I'm sure.

Trump is clearly saying whatever he thinks people want to hear. He has already walked back his immigration stance, until it caused a backlash. Many of his recent (long term) views before the election were in line with the dems/GOPe. Cruz has been pretty steadfast in his.

When it comes down to who is more likely to do what they say, it's no contest and Cruz wins.
Do I trust Cruz 100%? Nope. More like 50-50.
Trump? 10% I don't think he is the savior or destructor figure that many are projecting onto him.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at March 09, 2016 10:46 AM (m3iiU)

340
This great business lady has literally accomplished nothing despite amazing opportunity handed to her. She is useless.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:39 AM (VjlMj)

Nobody handed her anything. Carly's an amazing woman. She went from secretary to CEO. Unlike your beloved Trump, who went from spoiled rich kid to spoiled rich adult: a guy who likes to kick little old ladies out of their homes so he can build a fucking limousine garage, a guy who thinks attending a prestigious military school is just like serving in the real military, a guy who makes skeevy'I'd hit that' remarks about is own daughter.

So yeah, talk to me about useless.

Posted by: troyriser at March 09, 2016 10:46 AM (UWlp+)

341 "Because you have seized on a 15 second soundbite in which he (inartfully) expresses a desire to hold the media accountable for lies and libel as evidence he wants to jail dissenters. "

Part of my problem with Trump is that he says stuff wherein he makes it up as he goes along. That's L. Ron Hubbard-esque.

The sound-bite about him building a wall and making Mexico pay for it? Should we believe that? I don't. But his supporters sure do?

What about his sound bite about a "big, beautiful door" in the wall? And his previous love for H1B visas? Do we believe those "sound bites?" Including his being flexible on all this in the long-run?

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:47 AM (tSSSX)

342 Trump and Cruz both want a wall, right?

So, Rubio?

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:43 AM (JBggj)
Cruz, who at least understands the process. I'm not in favor of a wall because I'd rather have troops on the border. Active vs. Passive. The problem with passive borders is that they breed laziness, and over time it'll lead to calls for manpower to be cut and surveillance will drop. Then it's just a matter of tunneling under (which they already do), climbing over, or going through.In the long run, it's better to work on reducing the draw - increasing the risk to the illegal and reducing the potential reward.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:47 AM (iQr18)

343 Cervix ...

... It's only simple if Kasich and Rubio voters break for Trump - maybe his internal polling shows that.

But that's sure as hell not the polling WE are being shown.

Somebody either has it wrong, or is lying.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 10:48 AM (p6cXT)

344 311 Look at Trump's negatives. For the huge amount of people who are NOT immediately nauseated by him, many more people are. I am one of those. This is never discussed. For the amount of people who are NOT bothered by this hustler, there are plenty who are.
Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (tSSSX)

If this was such a big deal he wouldn't be winning 30-50% of the vote in

every

single

state

====

You realize that these are primaries, right? Even if many/most of the primary voters would vote for him in a general, you realize that this doesn't translate into general support, right?

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:49 AM (tSSSX)

345 This is idiocy. Carly has started ZERO businesses.
Trump has started HUNDREDS and a relative handful have not done well. I
recall seeing an article that looked at this question. Romney, with
Bain Capital, has a 22% failure rate. Trump has like a 2% failure rate.
Trump turned a couple million bucks into 10 billion, employed tens of
thousands of people. Carly almost destroyed one of the greatest and
most well established blue chip companies on the planet. With the large
money she pocketed what has she done? Let's see a list of all the
successful businesses she's started with that money. NOT ONE. All
she's done is repeatedly run for office and repeatedly LOSE HER ASS.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:45 AM (VjlMj)
You forgot all the parts where Trump hoovered up the profits and then left the investors holding the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:49 AM (iQr18)

346 If this primary season has taught me anything, it's taught me that liberals and the media (redundant, I know) as well as the Republican elite, hate and fear the vast majority of whites in this country. The middle and lower-middle and working-class whites ( and rich guys who rose from such circumstances yet still identify with what they came from)scare the shit out of them. I can't figure out why.

Posted by: JoeF. at March 09, 2016 10:49 AM (bezTW)

347
311�"Look at Trump's negatives. For the huge amount of people who are NOT immediately nauseated by him, many more people are."

I submit to you, that if Trump was not in this race, Cruz would have just as high unfavorables

Posted by: zzBottom at March 09, 2016 10:50 AM (jtqoO)

348 Trump turned a couple million bucks into 10 billion, employed tens of thousands of people. Carly almost destroyed one of the greatest and most well established blue chip companies on the planet. With the large money she pocketed what has she done? Let's see a list of all the successful businesses she's started with that money. NOT ONE. All she's done is repeatedly run for office and repeatedly LOSE HER ASS.Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:45 AM (VjlMj)

Trump inherited $100+ million, sport. That isn't a 'couple million'. Oh, and yeah: Trump also stopped his troubled, alcoholic brother from receiving any of that inheritance money even though his brother's toddler son--Donald Trump's nephew--required urgent, life-saving medical care.

Your guy's about as personally appealing as syphillis.

Posted by: troyriser at March 09, 2016 10:50 AM (UWlp+)

349 I wish someone would address what was obvious--that the party knew Jeb was unpopular, but arranged for multiple lower tier candidates from high delegate states, hoping to do an "end around" on the voters, and force Jeb on us when the others dropped out.
I think that's illegal.

Posted by: artemis at March 09, 2016 10:50 AM (AwPyG)

350 >>Part of my problem with Trump is that he says stuff wherein he makes it up as he goes along. That's L. Ron Hubbard-esque.

Easy, there...you're comparing a mere mortal to LRH, a man with enough imagination to hook up a vine tomato to an e-meter. That kind of genius isn't available to us every day, and while Trump may be many things, he's no man-god.

Posted by: General Zod at March 09, 2016 10:51 AM (Bdeb0)

351 "You realize that these are primaries, right? "

Yes...because we are in the primaries...NOT the general. Anything regarding the general is worthless right now when you still have 4 candidates running. Everything changes once the single candidate has been chosen and support coalesces (or doesn't).

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:52 AM (WnCSK)

352
I'd like to point out that Steyn is currently being sued by Mann, RIGHT NOW, not under some hypothetical Trump speech regime.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 09, 2016 10:40 AM (LXJ1e)

So let's elect another guy with as much respect for the 1st Amendment as Obama has.

The Donald said he supports people who say bad things about climate change "scientists."

It was that statement that made Steyn change his tune about Trump. Steyn went to see him speak in Vermont and was fairly enthusiastic about him.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:52 AM (u0lmX)

353 Yeah, being shut out yesterday pretty much ends Marco's campagn.

He still has a future in the GOP if he drops out now.

With Trump's unfavorables approaching 70% (and remember, this is because about 1/3 of the GOP is just as disgusted by him as the Dems and Inds are) he's going to make Goldwater and McGovern look competitive. You can bet if Donald does eventually win the primary, next cycle the GOP will be moving to a system more like the Dems' where the superdelegates have a lot more control.

Posted by: TallDave at March 09, 2016 10:52 AM (74ZYB)

354
It's only simple if Kasich and Rubio voters break for Trump
Posted by: ScoggDog

Don't have to break for him. It's WTA from here on, and a plurality gets you the stuffed animal. And once each individual primary is over, those delegates are banked.

The longer the non-Trump vote stays divided, the better for Trump.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:52 AM (kdS6q)

355 271 carly fiorina endorsing ted cruz right now.

The people all love Carly. They'll follow wherever she leads.

Posted by: jwest at March 09, 2016 10:52 AM (Zs4uk)

356 > She went from secretary to CEO.

No, she didn't. That myth has been debunked so many times. Her daddy was a law professor at Stanford, Cornell, other famous schools. He was also appointed AG under Nixon, etc. She was raised in a VERY WEALTHY and VERY WELL CONNECTED political family. She ended up at HP not because of any accomplishment on her part, but because of wealth and social networking combined with a culture where women leaders was stylish. She's a product of feminism just as Obama is a product of affirmative action.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (VjlMj)

357 I agree wholeheartedly with the comment from #339 Tilikum Killer Assault Whale. The only difference is I trust Cruz more than 50-50, I'm more at 75-25.
Rucio and Kasich both need to immediately suspend their campaigns and let the upcoming debate be one on one, Trump v. Cruz. I believe this would be a giant wake up to anyone who's on the fence and maybe even some of the most dedicated Trump supporters to see the light and go for Cruz.
There may be more than one SCOTUS appointment and I'd rather have Cruz fill them than Trump.

Posted by: Sam Seventy-Eight at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (Sh+z4)

358
My prediction--The Donald wins the nomination and then the real nut cutting starts.

Either we coalesce behind Trump and relegate the establishment never Trump people to the trash heap.

I'm not convinced they have enough sheer numbers to foul things up.

Just a hunch, but I think the much maligned electorate IS smart enough to prevent Bernie or Hillary from realizing victory.

I hope.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (P/8aq)

359 The Donald said he supports people who say bad things about climate change "scientists."

That should be, he supports SUING people who say bad things about the climate change frauds.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (u0lmX)

360 Fine. I'm a FL voter, and I'll go vote for Cruz. Rubio can't win. Got it.

If the Repubs go the way of the Whigs after this cluster of a primary season, I don't give a damn. Also, you can go win the general without me if Trump wins the nomination. Some of us actually mean it when we say we will never vote for him.

I've read too much about how the Annoying Orange screws over the little guy every chance he gets. He's shafted subcontractors, he messed with that widow in Atlantic City, he screwed over people who signed up for Trump University, used illegal alien laborers, and on and on.

If you really think that he's gonna be all for the average guy with a history like that, you're delusional.

BTW, call me a RINO/cuck/GOPe minion/whatever the insult of the day happens to be. *yawn* I gave up caring what Trump fans think a long time ago.

(Enjoy his yuuuuge, tremendous equipment right up the ol' backside, Trumpkins. I hear that Trump Lube [TM, rated AAA by the BBB] is the absolute best for repeated incidents of BOHICA. At least, that's what Christie says when he spits out the ball gag.)

Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny at March 09, 2016 10:54 AM (PeoNT)

361 "Goldwater"

Ted Cruz = Barry Goldwater

Zero chance in the general unfortunately.

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:54 AM (WnCSK)

362 Just a hunch, but I think the much maligned electorate IS smart enough to prevent Bernie or Hillary from realizing victory.

I hope.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (P/8aq)

After the last 2 elections, I'm not sure why you still believe this.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (u0lmX)

363 347 If this primary season has taught me anything, it's taught me that liberals and the media (redundant, I know) as well as the Republican elite, hate and fear the vast majority of whites in this country. The middle and lower-middle and working-class whites ( and rich guys who rose from such circumstances yet still identify with what they came from)scare the shit out of them. I can't figure out why.
Posted by: JoeF. at March 09, 2016 10:49 AM (bezTW)

Leftists hate/fear/love feeling more superior than working class whites/the great unwashed masses.

With the Establishment types, I think it is more complex, they want to appear superior, yes, but I also think they swallow a lot of the propaganda put out by the left about these people. Add into this that they fear electoral marginalization.

It is strange, at the same time they fear or whatever the thoughts and views of many of the heartland, they rely on them to be elected. I am just going by observation here, and it is the only thing that makes sense to me.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (iHjB5)

364 Can anyone here educate me on Cruz's current position on TPP?

bit.ly/1nvwQbA

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (cR/4a)

365 >> Trump inherited $100+ million, sport

He says that isn't true... so who to believe? You or him. Show a source that actually proves this to be true. Not makes the accusation, but the actual money trail evidence. Trump has adamantly denied this several times.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (VjlMj)

366 You realize that these are primaries, right? Even if
many/most of the primary voters would vote for him in a general, you
realize that this doesn't translate into general support, right?

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 10:49 AM (tSSSX)

======================
Good question. One thing about Trump's primary campaign is that he's winning in states all over the country. Not just the South. Not just the Midwest. Heck, he even won Hawaii, which is a caucus state. I'm looking forward to the Michigan voter breakdown.

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 10:56 AM (JBggj)

367 "I've read too much about how the Annoying Orange screws over the little guy every chance he gets. He's shafted subcontractors, he messed with that widow in Atlantic City, he screwed over people who signed up for Trump University, used illegal alien laborers, and on and on. "

Good grief...do you believe all the propaganda you hear???

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:56 AM (WnCSK)

368
She went from secretary to CEO.

No, she didn't. That myth has been debunked so many times.
Posted by: Rastus

Save your breath. They never stop believing the narrative they learned first.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:56 AM (kdS6q)

369 Ifs all over but if Trump winds up in the White House, I would.pay to see his State of the Union speech.

Posted by: Russkilitlover at March 09, 2016 10:57 AM (Y0hlE)

370 Concern status:

[X] noted
[ ] not noted

Posted by: Mortimer at March 09, 2016 10:57 AM (DEtps)

371 The projection of personal "feels" onto the wider electorate in this thread is hilarious.

And the "pick up my ball and go home" sentiment that was wrong, wrong, wrong in 2012, but is now of high moral urgency when it's your ball is laughable.

Posted by: Gunga Done at March 09, 2016 10:57 AM (pnRrB)

372 I guarantee the MSM is sharpening their knives awaiting the nomination of Donald J. Trump to represent the GOP. The cutting will begin minutes after Trump accepts the nomination. The MSM is purposely holding back the "good" stuff till then.

Posted by: Sam Seventy-Eight at March 09, 2016 10:57 AM (Sh+z4)

373
360 "Also, you can go win the general without me if Trump wins the nomination. Some of us actually mean it when we say we will never vote for him."

You can Shine Romney's Boots

Posted by: zzBottom at March 09, 2016 10:58 AM (jtqoO)

374 And I'm out.. I'll be back for the art thread.

Posted by: IP at March 09, 2016 10:58 AM (aQQbl)

375 Trump is a glorified real estate agent and house flipper. He has no other qualification, specifically a knowledge of anything outside of his business empire. If you believe that qualifies him to be President , I won't be able to convince you otherwise.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 10:58 AM (xzZPy)

376 nood?

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at March 09, 2016 10:58 AM (F0oRd)

377
BTW, call me a RINO/cuck/GOPe minion/whatever the insult of the day happens to be. *yawn* I gave up caring what Trump fans think a long time ago.(Enjoy his yuuuuge, tremendous equipment right up the ol' backside, Trumpkins. I hear that Trump Lube [TM, rated AAA by the BBB] is the absolute best for repeated incidents of BOHICA. At least, that's what Christie says when he spits out the ball gag.)
Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny

Can I copy your Algebra homework at lunch period?

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (kdS6q)

378 >>Fine. I'm a FL voter, and I'll go vote for Cruz. Rubio can't win. Got it.

Every knee shall bend, heretic.

Posted by: General Zod at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (Bdeb0)

379 So it doesn't matter what Trump says about a wall. He doesn't get to wave his magic hands and magically make a wall appear out of thin air. The bill will have to be introduced in committee in the House, pass that, pass the House, pass the Senate, and then *and only then* be signed.

And then the lawsuits start. Greenpeace, La Raza, Sierra club, you name it. That wall will be tied up in Federal courts damn near forever. Meanwhile, Democrats will be agitating to take back the House and Senate, which they'll have a good shot at doing.

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 10:38 AM (iQr1

And perhaps it is time for a Republican president to demonize "Greenpeace, La Raza, Sierra club, you name it" for the un-American traitors that they are? Just a thought.....

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (ujg0T)

380 Cervix ... We're talking past each other.

TRUMP IS CALLING FOR RUBIO AND KASICH TO DROP.

The only way that helps Trump is if Rubio and Kasich voters either stay at home for the remaining primaries, or they vote for Trump.

If Rubio and Kasich voters don't like Trump, and vote Cruz, then Trump should not call for Rubio and Kasich to drop. But he is.

It does not make sense.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (p6cXT)

381 Why did Ted Cruz co-author an op-ed in support of TPP - in April, 2015?

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (cR/4a)

382 Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:53 AM (VjlMj)

Well, you are mostly wrong. But that won't stop you from blathering on and on.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (Zu3d9)

383 365
>> Trump inherited $100+ million, sport

He says that isn't true... so who to believe? You or him. Show a
source that actually proves this to be true. Not makes the accusation,
but the actual money trail evidence. Trump has adamantly denied this
several times.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (VjlMj)
He lies a lot. Youtube Trump "I never", the bastard says I NEVER X and almost always there's video of him saying the exact opposite before. He took a property tax break for 3 years that's restricted to people making less than $500K per year in NYC. So he either lies about being stupid rich or lies on his taxes.

Posted by: allenlou at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (us5tr)

384 Ted Cruz = Barry Goldwater

Zero chance in the general unfortunately.
Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 10:54 AM (WnCSK
---
Reagan already proved conservatives can win.

Cruz is running about ten points ahead of Donald, so if Cruz has zero chance to win, Donald is going to lose the House and Senate too.

Posted by: TallDave at March 09, 2016 11:00 AM (74ZYB)

385 It's pretty rich seeing Ace layout the path forward given how he confesses to lying during the campaign to convince his readers that he's on the right side. ...we're gonna win! Then after the dust settles McCain loses, he admits he just lied about his chances to improve morale. Why should we listen to his spin for Cruz now? Not a word of it is spoken with conviction or any concerns of truthiness...lol

Posted by: phadedjaded at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (5XZ7Q)

386 Sometimes you have to step into the strike zone and take one for the team. Rubio, Kasich, do the right thing.

Posted by: DanInMN at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (h5ffp)

387 367 - Oh, so THREE lawsuits on one business venture are propaganda?

Have you bothered to read any of the testimony that has already been given in those suits, or not, skeezix? Trump's own people gave testimony under oath that promises made to students weren't kept.

But that's just propaganda. Because lying under oath is NBD.

Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (PeoNT)

388 Thanks for conceding the point. I respect your honesty.

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 10:32 AM (aRUb

I conceded nothing to you.

How does the Bush Dynasty affect you today? I do believe that was the question you asked.

Wasn't obarky care found a Constitutional "tax" by GWB appointee John Roberts?

I guess you are a undocumented donk.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (WVsWD)

389 >>Why should we listen to his spin for Cruz now?

By your logic, you probably shouldn't...right?

Posted by: General Zod at March 09, 2016 11:02 AM (Bdeb0)

390 Posted by: allenlou at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (us5tr)

It's unreal. He said he protested loudly against the Iraq War, as though nobody was going to check that. At this point, his supporters simply don't care how much he lies to them, they just believe whatever is most convenient to Donald.

It truly is a con of breathtaking audacity and magnificence.

Posted by: TallDave at March 09, 2016 11:03 AM (74ZYB)

391 It does not make sense.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (p6cXT)

==============
Makes sense to me. If you're a Rubio or Kasich voter and Donald Trump told you to dump your guy, would that make you more or less likely to vote for your preference?

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 11:03 AM (JBggj)

392 If this was such a big deal he wouldn't be winning 30-50% of the vote in

every

single

state
Posted by: Ghost of kari
------------
Yes, well that actually says quite a bit, doesn't it? I mean, so far Trump has not managed to garner even a majority of votes in ANY state. Not exactly wildly popular is he?

Crowing that he has collected pluralities (and not all of them, either) is to argue numbers, rather than popularity and approval.

Mind you, this is among the decidedly more conservative portion of the population.

To imagine that Kasichor or Rubio supporters would have swung to Trump requires a leap in perception, I think.

Counting up the day's receipts in the cash drawer and finding that you have taken in $1000 is indeed heartwarming, until some spoiler points out that the cost of doing business is $1001 per day.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:03 AM (oFSUK)

393 Gee, Laurie, I didn't know you took algebra, much less could spell it correctly.

Never cease to amaze, girl!

Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny at March 09, 2016 11:04 AM (PeoNT)

394 "BTW, call me a RINO/cuck/GOPe minion/whatever the insult of the day happens to be. *yawn* I gave up caring what Trump fans think a long time ago.(Enjoy his yuuuuge, tremendous equipment right up the ol' backside, Trumpkins. I hear that Trump Lube [TM, rated AAA by the BBB] is the absolute best for repeated incidents of BOHICA. At least, that's what Christie says when he spits out the ball gag.)
Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny "

I never called you anything. But it seems you are indeed the degenerate prick you make yourself out to be. You could not handle whatever personal arguments you were in so you have decided to deride everyone else. Since that is the case, please kindly go fuck yourself.

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 11:04 AM (WnCSK)

395 350 >>Part of my problem with Trump is that he says stuff wherein he makes it up as he goes along. That's L. Ron Hubbard-esque.

Easy, there...you're comparing a mere mortal to LRH, a man with enough imagination to hook up a vine tomato to an e-meter. That kind of genius isn't available to us every day, and while Trump may be many things, he's no man-god.

Posted by: General Zod at March 09, 2016 10:51 AM (Bdeb0)

THREADWINNER. I'm cracking up.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 11:04 AM (ujg0T)

396 Always liked Cruz, even through the post Iowa attacks from EVERYBODY. Always thought he was the most qualified man for the job. It seems to me that most Rubio supporters are Rubio or nothing. Sad really. Will only secure a Hillary presidency. Rally around Cruz or burn it all down with Trump.

Posted by: PlacerMutka at March 09, 2016 11:05 AM (tTrqA)

397 Cervix ... We're talking past each other.

TRUMP IS CALLING FOR RUBIO AND KASICH TO DROP.

The only way that helps Trump is if Rubio and Kasich voters either
stay at home for the remaining primaries, or they vote for Trump.

If Rubio and Kasich voters don't like Trump, and vote Cruz, then Trump should not call for Rubio and Kasich to drop. But he is.

It does not make sense.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (p6cXT)

Not making sense is not a new situation for Trump. It makes no sense that he is lying to everyone about his immigration positions. It makes no sense that someone wanting the Republican nomination is all in for government funded healthcare. etc., etc.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 09, 2016 11:06 AM (OrI3J)

398 "Yes, well that actually says quite a bit, doesn't it? I mean, so far Trump has not managed to garner even a majority of votes in ANY state. Not exactly wildly popular is he? "

Wishful thinking really. First it was 25%. Then 35%. Now he approaches 50%. I think the larger point is that he is attracting support amongst all demographics and in states that are typically polar opposites. Like it or not, he is having broad appeal.

I lost confidence in Cruz when the evangelicals abandoned him in droves in SC. Seems they still are. That is a huge concern.

Posted by: Skeezix at March 09, 2016 11:06 AM (WnCSK)

399 they just believe whatever is most convenient to Donald.
---------------

I'm inclined to say that the average fan believes whatever that fan wants to believe. Donald is to them whatever they would like him to be.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:07 AM (oFSUK)

400 In all seriousness on Trump's negative ratings, without casting aspersions:

Trump is a unique figure in politics in that he comes in with high name recognition. Now, people can talk about negatives for Cruz, but any negatives for Cruz are in regards to his career in politics as a Senator or (for the wonks) Solicitor General.

Trump is a celebrity, and has been in the public eye for 30+ years. He is known for his "business" ventures all that time. He has automatic name recognition, and automatically some people have a neutral or positive opinion of him already, and others have a negative one.

His positive or neutral positioning has allowed him to get a plurality of the Republican primary. But, as I labor to point out, his negatives are not NORMAL negatives for politicians.

I'm all in for Cruz, but he wasn't my first, second, or third choice. I soured on some other politicians after seeing them flounder, and I gained more respect for Cruz the more I saw him, etc. In other words, if I said I had a negative impression of Cruz before the race, I have changed my position as persons who are relatively conservative will change their opinions of politicians in the normal course of campaigns and debates.

My negative opinion of Trump goes to the history of what _the_man_ has done. (Relayed everywhere, above, etc., and more to come this Fall, just wait.) I even technically sympathize with certain positions Trump claims to hold, but I don't like _the_ man_ and I do not believe _the_ man_,

Polls bear out that many people have an un-budging negative view of Donald Trump. I think this deserves to be considered as something that is unusual in terms of the normal course of how these polls are rated for politicians, and I think the negatives for Trump seem to be deep, consistent, and not likely to change so long as he continues being himself. YMMV

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at March 09, 2016 11:08 AM (tSSSX)

401 Skeezix, no wonder you get ALL the chicks. You sweet talker, you!

BTW, genius....I'm not a guy. I would *think* the nic I picked was kind of a clue, but I guess not.

Enjoy your complementary tube o' lube along with your Trump Steaks order! If he gets in, you're gonna need it, pal.

Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny at March 09, 2016 11:08 AM (PeoNT)

402 And on Ace's post: Cruz needs to knock Rubio out only if it benefits Cruz.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 09, 2016 11:09 AM (OrI3J)

403 Rubio was always a crappy candidate.
He destroyed his career with Go8 and was too stupid to see that, then or now.
Good riddance..

Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:09 AM (N7G17)

404 After last night in Michigan, I also don't want to hear about how "the states coming up aren't Cruz states." He beat the neighboring 2 term governor in Michigan, and exit polls showed he would have beaten Trump by 9 if it was a 2 man race there. New York and possibly NJ are about the only two states left I'd give to Trump in a 2 man race against Cruz.
Posted by: Lightsey at March 09, 2016 10:25 AM (9Arb/)
-------
Exactly. Great piece on 538 last night that pointed he's moved well beyond the initial "regional candidate" questions:

" Cruz had a reputation for being a regional candidate, but he now has won states in all four regions of the country: the Northeast (Maine), the Midwest (Iowa and Kansas), the South (Texas and Oklahoma) and the West (Idaho and Alaska). His chances look pretty good of emerging as the main challenger to Trump, much to the GOP establishment's chagrin."

Posted by: TallDave at March 09, 2016 11:09 AM (74ZYB)

405 mrp ...

... Being the vindictive bastard I am, if Trump ran off "my guy", then I would vote for whoever was left, to beat Trump.

Which is why Trump calling for candidates to drop ONLY makes sense if Trump believes the majority of those voters now without their #1 choice will go to Trump.

But that's not what the polls quoted by Ace say, and it's not what the polls quoted by every other anti-Trump guy say.

So why ... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHY ... is Trump calling for Rubio and Kasich to drop ?

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:09 AM (p6cXT)

406 Why should we listen to his spin for Cruz now? Not a word of it is spoken with conviction or any concerns of truthiness...lol

Posted by: phadedjaded at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM
~~~~

So why do you come here? I mean if Ace is such a liar, why do you bother? Is your browser stuck, or do you just want to foment anger?

Posted by: IrishEi at March 09, 2016 11:11 AM (E6RIJ)

407
You don't get to here without going thru there.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 09, 2016 10:31 AM (kDUUX)

That was then....this is now. It seems like an adherence to a world view that transcends time. It's called "living in the past"...a comforting world view where everything is so simple and predictable.

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 11:12 AM (aRUb8)

408 "The Donald said he supports people who say bad things about climate change "scientists."

He says a lot of things. He's little more than a used car salesman. That's still better than Hillary or Sanders, but not better than Cruz.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at March 09, 2016 11:12 AM (m3iiU)

409 385
It's pretty rich seeing Ace layout the path forward given how he
confesses to lying during the campaign to convince his readers that he's
on the right side. ...we're gonna win! Then after the dust settles
McCain loses, he admits he just lied about his chances to improve
morale. Why should we listen to his spin for Cruz now? Not a word of
it is spoken with conviction or any concerns of truthiness...lol

Posted by: phadedjaded at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (5XZ7Q)
Earlier I said I was wondering if it was now "fight because we can win" or "was it over when Germany bombed Pearl Harbor" rah rah posts here and Redstate. Well.. I stand by my statement that I'm all in for some pointless animal house style antics now.

Posted by: allenlou at March 09, 2016 11:12 AM (us5tr)

410 Wishful thinking really. First it was 25%. Then 35%. Now he approaches 50%. I think the larger point is that he is attracting support amongst all demographics and in states that are typically polar opposites. Like it or not, he is having broad appeal.
-----------------

Hold it. I merely point out that Trump has not managed even a simple majority among conservatives anywhere, and it is suggested that I am engaged in 'wishful thinking'?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:12 AM (oFSUK)

411
405 "So why ... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHY ... is Trump calling for Rubio and Kasich to drop"?

TO BLOW YOUR MIND

Posted by: zzBottom at March 09, 2016 11:13 AM (jtqoO)

412 381 Why did Ted Cruz co-author an op-ed in support of TPP - in April, 2015?

Posted by: Stay out da bushes at March 09, 2016 10:59 AM (cR/4a)

Because he is in favor of TPP. He has not changed his position. He voted against it because they changed or added to TPP.

You can disagree with his op Ed but he's not trying to back pedal his support.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at March 09, 2016 11:13 AM (xzZPy)

413 He says that isn't true... so who to believe? You or him.

Posted by: Rastus at March 09, 2016 10:55 AM (VjlMj)

I use my real name online. I lead a transparent life. I'm respected in my community, a decorated combat veteran, etc. So sure, if you're given a choice between trusting Donald Trump, a notoriously grandiose asshole with a tenuous grasp of the truth, and me, I'd say trust me.

Posted by: troyriser at March 09, 2016 11:13 AM (UWlp+)

414 olls bear out that many people have an un-budging negative view of
Donald Trump. I think this deserves to be considered as something that
is unusual in terms of the normal course of how these polls are rated
for politicians, and I think the negatives for Trump seem to be deep,
consistent, and not likely to change so long as he continues being
himself. YMMV
==================

Yeah, Democrats really hate the guy. Working people tend to like him, or at least listen to what he has to say.

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 11:13 AM (JBggj)

415 >302 So, Trump and his wall. His big, beautiful, luxurious wall.

I would love a wall, but we don't need a wall to solve the illegal problem. We just need to shut off the magnet, which is jobs.

DanInMN's law to stop illegal immigration:

1. All employers, whether corporate or private citizen shall use E-verify to verify the employment eligibility of any person performing any remunerative work for them, no matter how de minimis.
2. Any person who fails to do so shall be sentenced to 10 years in prison to be served at the Ft. Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
3. The CEO, top HR official and actual hiring manager of any company violating provision 1 of this act will all be jointly liable to punishment under provision 2 of this act.
4. The sum of $10 billion per annum is hereby appropriated to hire and train enforcement agents for this provision (and to expand the facility at Ft. Leavenworth to house persons confined under provision 2 as needed.)

No more jobs, no more illegal immigration. Problem solved.

Posted by: DanInMN at March 09, 2016 11:14 AM (h5ffp)

416 the Michigan voter breakdown.
Isn't that a banjo tune?

Posted by: andycanuck at March 09, 2016 11:15 AM (WOyz5)

417
How does the Bush Dynasty affect you today? I do believe that was the question you asked.

Wasn't obarky care found a Constitutional "tax" by GWB appointee John Roberts?

I guess you are a undocumented donk.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 09, 2016 11:01 AM (WVsWD)

That wasn't my question at all. I pointed out the line of non sequiturs that started with the calim about what would happen when Cruz picks a RINO for VP.That was the first non sequitur, then it went to "BOOOOSH!"...and then health insurance, etc.

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 11:16 AM (aRUb8)

418 I would love a wall, but we don't need a wall to solve the illegal problem. We just need to shut off the magnet, which is jobs.

DanInMN's law to stop illegal immigration:

1. All employers, whether corporate or private citizen shall use E-verify to verify the employment eligibility of any person performing any remunerative work for them, no matter how de minimis.
2. Any person who fails to do so shall be sentenced to 10 years in prison to be served at the Ft. Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
3. The CEO, top HR official and actual hiring manager of any company violating provision 1 of this act will all be jointly liable to punishment under provision 2 of this act.
4. The sum of $10 billion per annum is hereby appropriated to hire and train enforcement agents for this provision (and to expand the facility at Ft. Leavenworth to house persons confined under provision 2 as needed.)

No more jobs, no more illegal immigration. Problem solved.

Posted by: DanInMN at March 09, 2016 11:14 AM (h5ffp)

Two words: Underground Economy. Lots of people work just for cash at odd jobs.

I humbly suggest that employer sanctions AND a wall AND a cut off of benefits to illegals are what is needed. A Trifecta that reinforces itself.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 11:17 AM (ujg0T)

419 Isn't that a banjo tune?
===========

Probably. In Guelph.

Posted by: mrp at March 09, 2016 11:17 AM (JBggj)

420 The problem for Cruz with this analysis is that a Trump sweep (or mostly-sweep) next Tuesday means Cruz starts the 2-man horse race with very few states favorable to him while also being down 250-300 delegates.

Throw out Texas as home state bias and Cruz has not won a state higher than 28th (OK) in population. His margin of victory in the non-Texas states (~80,000) is less than Trump's MoV in five of his single-state wins.

And Cruz will do fine in Utah, the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska. Is he going to pick up enough of the Rubio/Kasich support to win the big prizes (PA, WI, IN, NY, NJ, CA, AZ?) Doubtful, especially if Trump looks like an unstoppable freight train a week from today.

Posted by: Make America Mexico Again at March 09, 2016 11:19 AM (6e9oS)

421 Cruz/Troy Riser 2016!

Posted by: Mimzey at March 09, 2016 11:19 AM (aRUb8)

422 I wasn't aware Rubio is out of a job. Did he quit the senate?

Posted by: greg at March 09, 2016 11:35 AM (z6fJM)

423 Cruz would need to take the remaining states with 60% or more to win. If Trump wins Ohio and Florida it makes the hill even steeper. Then we still have places like NY who will go for Trump. Huge. It's over.

Posted by: Chris Vaughn at March 09, 2016 11:37 AM (Bcqod)

424 Cruz/Matthis 2016.

"I come in peace.
I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my
eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all"

Posted by: flashoverride at March 09, 2016 11:42 AM (iQr18)

425 I humbly suggest that employer sanctions AND a wall AND a cut off of benefits to illegals are what is needed. A Trifecta that reinforces itself.

Posted by: Curmudgeon at March 09, 2016 11:17 AM (ujg0T)

As a small L libertarian, it irks me to have to say this.... but we need a National ID Card.. Tied to Identity, Passport, Citizenship, Voter ID, Drivers License, and the IRS.

We are already in all those databases anyway... they have that information, it is just not in any usable format.

Posted by: Don Quixote at March 09, 2016 11:46 AM (RK8AH)

426 "But now, it's time accept reality and come together for Trump. "

No.

Posted by: LTCHAM at March 09, 2016 11:49 AM (MzYgJ)

427 But if it comes down to something like Trump 1075, Cruz 875, well, that's not really a slam-dunk for Trump anymore. Sure, Trump has more delegates.. and based on that hypothetical, Cruz would have won more delegates lately. That is, he'd be the won winning the latest contests, and could make the case "Sure Trump did great on Super Tuesday and then March 15th, but since then, I've been beating him. He has more delegates, but my delegates are fresher, newer information. He was the guy winning then, I'm the guy winning now."

****

So Cruz is now advocating for a contested convention? When he recently said that was a bad thing.

Guys, I'm beginning to think that, get this, Cruz maybe isn't as principled as he says he is, and really, it's all about his political ambition.

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you. Keep those feathers away from me, they'd just knock me right over.

Posted by: Vyce at March 09, 2016 11:53 AM (ggX8y)

428 Meanwhile... question now becomes does this election even matte anymore.

Hillary has not been indicted...

And Robert Finicum who was shot in the back, after his vehicle was shot at... and people in his truck were shot at.... (new video out, with audio, from inside the truck, don't watch if you are squeamish)... is somehow deemed a 'good shoot'....

This is not the Country I fought for.... and I don't see ANYONE on the political horizon who can bring us back...

Posted by: Don Quixote at March 09, 2016 11:57 AM (RK8AH)

429

If you want to stop Trump, you need to end these Rubio fantasies and let
the only guy with an actual chance of stopping him start getting into
two man races with him.

Otherwise, your #NeverTrump slogan is a lie -- you're perfectly fine
with Trump. You just are using that as another pretext to lobby for
Rubio.

This is ridiculous, Ace. If you want to stop Trump, you don't make it easier for Trump to cruise to victory. With all due respect, I think you are letting your hatred of Rubio cloud your strategy.

If Trump takes both Florida and Ohio, then I think it's basically game over, we get Candidate Trump and President Hillary.

Posted by: chemjeff - PuppyMonkeyBaby '16 at March 09, 2016 12:02 PM (+Fl7e)

430 I'm with Ace on Cruz taking on Marco & Kasich. Both should step aside. They have no chance to win. Rubio has 0 delegates from last night.

Trump is FOS & an egomaniac. Add in vindictive man child, etc & we have a more accomplished version of the JEF.

Posted by: Carol at March 09, 2016 12:04 PM (sj3Ax)

431 Trump leads in the predictions markets, 73 -14 over Cruz. It isn't over -- witness The Bern on Hillary last night in Michigan -- but the bus has been backed up to the gym, it's getting warm even in the back, and I think I just saw someone come out of the locker room door.

Posted by: MaxMBJ at March 09, 2016 12:06 PM (eXTZt)

432 #NeverTrump

#OnlyRubio

Posted by: benjamin at March 09, 2016 12:06 PM (8N+Hl)

433
429 "If Trump takes both Florida and Ohio, then I think it's basically game over, we get Candidate Trump and President Hillary"

Only if you refuse to vote for Trump...

Posted by: zzBottom at March 09, 2016 12:08 PM (jtqoO)

434 I want to give an alternate assessment of Trump (who I like on Mondays, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings but hate the rest of the week). He is a work in progress. His boorishness is for real, his vulgarity is off the charts, he is an emotional child, yada, yada, yada.

But he does have wit. He does have some hard-wrought wisdom from his years in building towers all over the world. He does seem to want to reach out to the Republicans -- including conservatives -- for guidance. I think he's very malleable and I think the conservatives who understand things should start molding him.

Posted by: MaxMBJ at March 09, 2016 12:09 PM (eXTZt)

435 Posted by: MaxMBJ at March 09, 2016 12:06 PM (eXTZt)

The other day there was a 96% chance the Golden State Warriors would beat the Los Angeles Lakers.

Doesn't matter till the game is played.

Posted by: TallDave at March 09, 2016 12:14 PM (74ZYB)

436 #NeverTrump

I have said before that I would have been happy enough with Rubio because I don't think he's the establishment hack that you all seem to think he is. But his time is done. He needs to publicly endorse Cruz and/or get out of the race. It's not Cruz or SMOD.

The only half-way point I would accept is for Rubio to say he is backing Cruz but not suspending his campaign in order to keep his committed delegates. Then, he can come to every debate and say everyone should vote for Cruz while he knee-caps Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Cruz can stay above it and look Presidential.

Posted by: Cranky Contrarian at March 09, 2016 12:15 PM (eoOaz)

437 *it's now Cruz or SMOD

Posted by: Cranky Contrarian at March 09, 2016 12:17 PM (eoOaz)

438 I'm seeing a lot of wishful thinking here.

Trump added 71 delegates last night, while Cruz just added 56.

Trump is polling to win both Ohio and Florida.

Looks to me, Game, Set, Match.

Posted by: franksalterego at March 09, 2016 12:22 PM (Cd+Fa)

439 Based on the party's nomination rules, keeping Trump from winning 50% of the delegates on the first ballot might be all that's needed to keep him from becoming the nominee.

Nobody wins the nomination until he wins 50% of the delegates. If Trump doesn't win on the first ballot, he's unlikely to win on a later ballot.

Posted by: Steve O at March 09, 2016 12:36 PM (4Z6OX)

440 "I'm sure Bernie's Red Guard will fall into line like the lemmings they are but it to just see the blatant we don't care who you voted for it's still going to Hillary"

Yup. The one thing I can predict in this crazy race is that the Bernie Dems will line up in unison and pull the D lever, even if Hilary wins the primary in the sleaziest manner possible. If Bernie pulled off a miracle, ditto for Hilary's people. They may grumble a bit, but ultimately they will do their duty.

However, a great number of Republicans will stay home to make a statement no matter who wins and how it happens.

If Trump is the GOP candidate, it will be interesting to see whether the GOPe unites behind him for the sake of the party, and because they know anyone would be preferable to BroomHilduh.

Posted by: RM at March 09, 2016 12:41 PM (U3LtS)

441 What enticements can Cruz offer Rubio and Kasich to drop out?

Rubio: VP, State?

Kasich: Tougher q. Chief of Staff? OMB?

Posted by: Gromit at March 09, 2016 12:55 PM (4KOF2)

442 "

So Cruz is now advocating for a contested convention? When he recently said that was a bad thing.

Guys, I'm beginning to think that, get this, Cruz maybe isn't as principled as he says he is, and really, it's all about his political ambition.

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you. Keep those feathers away from me, they'd just knock me right over.
Posted by: Vyce at March 09, 2016 11:53 AM (ggX8y)"

---

Can you provide a link for your accusation that Cruz is calling for a contested convention? I think that's a lie.

Posted by: Dustin at March 09, 2016 01:10 PM (a7sQX)

443 ahahahahahahah It's over cucks

Posted by: John J Hnosko at March 09, 2016 01:23 PM (5r7pe)

444 Ace -- as a Rubio supporter you've been irritating me with your anti-Rubio stuff. But, I now have to admit you were right. He can't win. I hope Rubio drops out ASAP and endorses Cruz.

Posted by: Alix at March 09, 2016 02:07 PM (MpfHK)

445 The Prosecutor I spoke with in court yesterday LOOOOVED my idea of us Cruz guys voting for Trump if Rubio is running a close-ish 2d here in FL. Time for him to GET OUT! #MarcoItsTime

We just want to put that little sweaty turncoat out of our misery.

Posted by: JewishOdysseus at March 09, 2016 02:27 PM (rlTqJ)

446 Cruz "called for" a contested convention exactly as Ace's 1075-875 example above "called for" a contested convention, ie DID NOT.

If #1 has no 1237 majority, and isn't close, but a roughly 9:7 edge over #2, and is intensely unpopular amongst the other ~15%, they may throw in w/#2 to give him the win. That would be cheating why?

However, if the Establishment parachuted in some loser/puppet who had no substantial delegate winnings as a "compromise choice," I agree that would be a disgrace. The winner has to win fair square, Trump or any1 else.

If the GOP puts up some cipher, and Trump bolted independent, I'd vote for Trump.

Posted by: JewishOdysseus at March 09, 2016 02:36 PM (rlTqJ)

447 I will never vote for Cruz, I will sooner let Hillary have it. Get on board with Rubio or get lost.

Posted by: Michael Underwood at March 09, 2016 03:12 PM (8u5sK)

448 you are 100% right.

Posted by: Shefali at March 09, 2016 05:41 PM (tdnfQ)

449 447
I will never vote for Cruz, I will sooner let Hillary have it. Get on board with Rubio or get lost.

Posted by: Michael Underwood at March 09, 2016 03:12 PM (8u5sK)
Ok, then Hillary will have it. Just like you require.BUT but but maybe he wins' Florida and goes from 3rd to... (adds 99 delegates to Rubio's total and calculates... ) ... 3RD PLACE.Congratulations; your hail mary pass; the hope against hope is that you can STAY in 3rd place.
Tell me again why the party should pick the 3rd place finisher as the candidate? All the other voters for the 1st and 2nd place candidates both shouldn't count as much as the voters for 3rd place?
Hey, maybe he can come in 3rd place in the general election too. Would you consider that another win?

Posted by: gekkobear at March 09, 2016 06:33 PM (1tc4V)

450 443
ahahahahahahah It's over cucks

Posted by: John J Hnosko at March 09, 2016 01:23 PM (5r7pe)
Yep, any chance of Trump being the actual President is over; of course it was over when ego-driven lunatic opened his mouth.When HILLARY CLINTON beats you on "honesty" in polls; you're done and dusted.But maybe Stormfront can drag his carcass into the GOP nomination to guarantee Hillary is our first female President.Good luck with that goal; we clearly need it... for some reason.

Posted by: gekkobear at March 09, 2016 06:36 PM (1tc4V)

451 There's only one way this ends: President Hillary Clinton. In what hypothetical reality does Donald Trump not run as an independent if he somehow were to lose the nomination to Cruz? Aside from his narcissistic personality disorder reacting predictably to the perceived slight, he has decades of financial investment in Hillary he could cash in on (plus the argument that he helped her get into office!).

And, of course, in Trump v. Clinton we wind up with President Hillary, too. Even if an actual conservative doesn't emerge to run third party to block Trump, I have to believe there are enough actual conservatives/libertarians (like myself) with sufficient conscience that we could never push a button for that useless piece of shit (or Hillary, but in this case that's her gain. Oh well. At least one can live with one's self.)

So, might as well get ready for the inevitable, and look at the bright side: She won't be popular. And when all the IED's Obama's kicked down the road to go off once he leaves office do, at least she'll be the one stuck holding the bag of crap.

Posted by: Blacklake at March 09, 2016 08:38 PM (b9GlI)

452 For what it's worth, you guys shouldn't have to worry about Kasich too much longer; I read that he's not actually on the ballot anywhere after next week.

He got into the race just to keep a "movement" candidate from winning Ohio. After a theoretical win in Ohio, his purpose is served. It's my understanding that he isn't even fully registered state-wide in Florida; he's only on the ballot in some districts there.

Look for him to drop out after next week's primaries and endorse the Bush-connected last hope for the GOP establishment, Ted Cruz.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler... Ask not for whom The Donald Trumps. at March 09, 2016 11:39 PM (0OG8D)

453 #451: Trump does not have narcissistic personality disorder. People with that disorder do not generally raise classy and good-natured children, as Trump has consistently done.

Look at his three oldest children, from his first marriage... Ivanka, Eric and Don Jr. All nice people from all I've seen, and not one of them has been arrested for any reason, ever. And they all love their father.

If Trump were a true narcissist, I could see maybe one of those kids rebelling by turning into a good and honest adult, but all three? No.

Also... looking at the past primary results for this year... Trump has tended to do better in states where he is doing business. He has casinos in Nevada, and golf courses in South Carolina.

Compare this to the Coors family in Colorado. Big business, very important to the state economy... but, the brewery and the family that runs it tend to be viewed negatively by locals. Various members of the Coors family keep running for political office, and they always lose because folks around here tend not to like them.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler... Ask not for whom The Donald Trumps. at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (0OG8D)

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