Donald Trump: Actually, Now That I Think About It, <i>Let's Leave the Abortion Laws As They Are</i>

Donald Trump: Actually, Now That I Think About It, Let's Leave the Abortion Laws As They Are

I'm changing, I'm changing. I'm softening that position.

However, he then added that abortion is murder.

Asked how he'd like to change the law to further restrict access to abortions, Trump replied, "The laws are set now on abortion and that's the way they're going to remain until they're changed."
"I would've preferred states' rights," he added. "I think it would've been better if it were up to the states. But right now, the laws are set....At this moment, the laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way."
"Do you think abortion is murder?" Dickerson asked.
"I have my opinions on it, but I'd rather not comment on it," Trump replied.
"You said you were very pro-life," Dickerson followed up. "Pro-life means that...abortion is murder."
"I mean, I do have my opinions on it. I just don't think it's an appropriate forum," said Trump.
"But you don't disagree with that proposition, that it's murder?" Dickerson asked.
"No, I don't disagree with it," Trump eventually replied.

Okay. As long as you're giving the proper amount of thought to these issues.

There was once a very intelligent man who said, "The moment Trump gets into trouble, he's going to start pandering like crazy to liberals, because he just doesn't know any better."

Here we see Trump finally realizing the damage he caused to himself with Michelle Fields and Heidi Cruz, plus his own goal on abortion, so his response, to get back those women he cherishes so much, is to say "Hey, let's leave the abortion laws as they are. But privately, I think abortion is murder. FYI."

I seriously can't think of a worse political position: On one hand, he's telling the pro-life people I'm not changing any abortion laws. Fine, okay, most presidents won't try, but few are as upfront in telling a key part of the conservative movement they're getting the goose-egg.

Simultaneously, on the other hand, he pisses off the pro-choice people, by telling them that, while he won't be changing the abortion laws, that abortion is murder.

It's lose-lose. With a bonus lose for it being dreadfully obvious that he simply hasn't given the issue a lick of thought and is now just basically button-mashing (as Allah puts it) in hopes that some combination of inputs gets him past the boss on this level.

And now it's an Open Thread.

Flashback:

Oh Well:

Clinton up 38% on Trump among white unmarried woman (Obama won by 4), 32% for suburban vote. https://t.co/RYfSXKrl8M pic.twitter.com/921CzxrEIz
— Taniel (@Taniel) April 1, 2016

Prescient: I thought this point was very cagey and clever when I read it; now I see that it has the additional virtue of being correct:

[T]here's something else going on recently which is hurting Trump: he’s not winning.
The slowdown in the primary schedule and the absence of other candidates to cajole and insult has put Trump in more of a spotlight for his weaknesses and defects, not his winning. The latest polling in Wisconsin shows Ted Cruz with a double digit lead -- meaning that Trump could very well go from March 22nd to April 19th (the New York primary) without a single victory speech.
Victory speeches are more significant for Trump than they are for conventional candidates because they reiterate in the mind of the beholder his seriousness and viability. In their absence, he is reduced to humdrum campaigning -- never very interesting stuff -- and that puts his remarks in more of a spotlight, not allowing him to reset the message to one of his electoral prowess.
Trump's abortion comments yesterday are a good example of what this means: where before he could reset the conversation with a win at the ballot box, following his foot in mouth suggestion that women who get abortions ought to be punished under the law ("isn’t that what you people want to hear?"), instead the conversation can dwell on the comment -- leading to his attempt to quickly reverse course.

Yup.

Posted by: Ace at 07:27 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1
Donald J. Splunge.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:27 PM (p4UlV)

2
And . . . first.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:27 PM (p4UlV)

3
I imagine Trump looking in the mirror and imitating Joe Pesci:

"Everything THAT guy just said is bullshit!"

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:28 PM (p4UlV)

4 Worked for Obama on gay marriage.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 01, 2016 07:29 PM (X/2JY)

5
Right about now, every Trump supporter, who's not brain dead, must be thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:29 PM (p4UlV)

6 What's with all this thinking and analyzing shit?
Time to smash! Action! Do things! Talk loudly!

Posted by: wooga at April 01, 2016 07:29 PM (fJyjM)

7 Was thinking of this on the way home, A President Trump makes some policy statement, Leftists media jumps all over it, the next day he changes the policy made the day before.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:30 PM (1J6E6)

8 Right about now, every Trump supporter, who's not brain dead, must be thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"

Posted by: J.J. Sefton

Kinda like I feel about past support for McCain and Romney.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (X/2JY)

9 7 Was thinking of this on the way home, A President Trump makes some policy statement, Leftists media jumps all over it, the next day he changes the policy made the day before.
Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:30 PM (1J6E6)

And that differs from the average GOP president and congress how?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (p4UlV)

10 Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others, and 50% off Taj Mahal Sultan's Feast for the rest.

Posted by: Citizen Cake at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (ppaKI)

11
Trumpdiddlyicious!

Posted by: Ned Flanders at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (HgMAr)

12 There was an episode of some show, can't remember which, where a character makes some glib reference to something -- like the Holocaust or something -- and then later explains, "Sorry I just didn't realize it was such a *touchy* issue."

I want to say Fawlty Towers but it's not that. FT had something similar in the germans, but it's not what Im thinking of.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (dciA+)

13 8 Kinda like I feel about past support for McCain and Romney.
Posted by: AmeriDan at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (X/2JY)

Yup.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:32 PM (p4UlV)

14 I've long thought that little good can come from abortion as an issue. We're a 50:50 country on it and everything will be fought on the margins.

On the other hand, it is now clarifying in that it shows us the thought process by which one candidate "thinks".

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:32 PM (1xUj/)

15 12 There was an episode of some show, can't remember which, where a character makes some glib reference to something -- like the Holocaust or something -- and then later explains, "Sorry I just didn't realize it was such a *touchy* issue."

I want to say Fawlty Towers but it's not that. FT had something similar in the germans, but it's not what Im thinking of.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:31 PM (dciA+)

Not quite the Holocaust but it was Fawlty Towers. Basil goes insane in front of the German tourists.

"Don't mention the war!" Brilliant.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:33 PM (p4UlV)

16 After you have an abortion, you might need to put a steak on that.

Posted by: Donaldo Trumpvera at April 01, 2016 07:33 PM (HgMAr)

17 At some point, we just need to proceed with the enfuckening.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 01, 2016 07:34 PM (GlafE)

18 I mean, you KNEW he'd implode. I was just waiting for it.
But would I still vote for him over Clinton? If I don't have an alternative, you bet your ass I would.

Posted by: tu3031 at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (YFFpo)

19 14 I've long thought that little good can come from abortion as an issue. We're a 50:50 country on it and everything will be fought on the margins.

On the other hand, it is now clarifying in that it shows us the thought process by which one candidate "thinks".
Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:32 PM (1xUj/)

The problem is not being pro-life. It's having the intelligence and the ability to articulate the position as well as make assholes like Matthews and Suffleupagus eat their own words.

And Trump failed utterly. Not only to his detriment but to whoever the nominee winds up being, whether him or someone else.

Singlehandedly reenergized the heretofore comatose Leftist base.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (p4UlV)

20 >>.Not quite the Holocaust but it was Fawlty Towers. Basil goes insane in front of the German tourists.

"Don't mention the war!" Brilliant.

...

no it's not that because Basil kept saying "Don't mention the war."

In the thing I'm talking about, the character was (maybe) talking about WWII, but then says later "I just didn't know it was such a touchy subject," and the other character says something like "Really? 60 million people dead? You didn't think it was touchy?"

I think it was Seinfeld, actually. George might have said something irreverent about WWII to a veteran.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (dciA+)

21
Abortion is yuuuuge murder!
Or not. What day is it?

Posted by: Donaldo Trumpvera at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (HgMAr)

22 When is this fucker going to dumb-out?

Sounds like he's about there.

The problem is with his already-dumbed-out supporters, who will follow him over the cliff, no matter what.

And then after it all looks like a plains-indian buffalo jump, they'll wiggle away from the dying mass of beasts at the bottom of the cliff, and deny they ever thought about him.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 07:36 PM (U6f54)

23 18 I mean, you KNEW he'd implode. I was just waiting for it.
But would I still vote for him over Clinton? If I don't have an alternative, you bet your ass I would.
Posted by: tu3031 at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (YFFpo)

As I said, his implosion is taking everyone down with him. Smart guy. Sheesh.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:36 PM (p4UlV)

24 >>>The problem is with his already-dumbed-out supporters, who will follow him over the cliff, no matter what.

can you NOT casually insult one third of the readers here

thank you

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:37 PM (dciA+)

25 krauthammer pointed out that trump had asserted that pro=life conservatives believed in punishing the woman who had an abortion (before he backtracked). this, in fact, is not a position promoted by any anti-abortion groups, but is a smear and scare tactic from the left. it demonstrates where his thinking comes from.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:37 PM (WTSFk)

26 Well, we wouldn't want to punish anybody with a baby, err... an abortion, would we? That wouldn't make America great again.

Posted by: Donaldo Trumpvera at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (HgMAr)

27 20
Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (dciA+)

You're right then that it wasn't Fawlty Towers, Ace. As for Seinfeld, I've seen exactly one episode and was not impressed. Shocking, I guess. I thought it not only was about nothing, but it was nothing.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (p4UlV)

28 Basil Faulty's total dumb-out in the episode with the German guests, is when he sticks his fingers under his nose as the mustache, and goose-steps through the dining room.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (U6f54)

29 I'm outraged at the outrage over the outrage! In short, I'm outraged!

Posted by: Minnfidel at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (btH0m)

30 Ace,
Podcast today was great! It's usually funny but today was funnier than usual.

Posted by: Carol at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (sj3Ax)

31 I've long thought that little good can come from
abortion as an issue. We're a 50:50 country on it and everything will
be fought on the margins.

...
Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:32 PM (1xUj/)

50:50?
I am in the 0.00001% who would specifically vote against anyone who really gave a shiite one way or another.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 07:38 PM (T78UI)

32 i honestly think he hates what he thinks of as conservatives.

He refers to some of his voters as "less educated," thinks that most people want to secure the border because Mexicans R Rapists, thinks that religious people just want to hear that he thinks Jesus' Book is "the best" (beating out Art of the Deal), etc.

Any time he tries to "reach out to conservatives" it's obvious he has in mind a very low sort of intellect in mind.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (dciA+)

33 This brings us to the key question: are any of the Cosplayer girls hot? Because, you know, that covers a lot of transgressions.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (LAe3v)

34 No Doubt. Mr. Trump will do a whole lot of changing in oder to appeal to Democratic voters. "Wall? What wall?"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (w4NZ8)

35
Nothing about Hillary's melt down on camera yesterday? I thought it was brilliant they way she lost it. All I could think of was - NO WIRE HANGERS!!!!

Posted by: TheQuietMan at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (45oDG)

36 Oh my gosh.... Yikes. I'm pro-choice, but I could handle expressing the pro-life position better than that. Trump is so far in over his head. He just never spent the time required to understand the core issues in the Republican party, think through what he believes, and formulate a crisp way to express it. Plus it's pretty clear that he just doesn't care about this issue, he's saying he's pro-life because it's required for higher office in the GOP. At a certain point, even a really good B.S. artist (and Trump is good) runs out of stuff to shovel.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (QjqR3)

37 oh! did i mention that instapundit has an article exploring the idea that trump doesn't really want to be president and is beginning to self-destruct, something i posited here a while ago! wowsers!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (WTSFk)

38 34 No Doubt. Mr. Trump will do a whole lot of changing in oder to appeal to Democratic voters. "Wall? What wall?"
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 07:39 PM (w4NZ

When he said he'd build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, he meant Pink Floyd en Espanol.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:40 PM (p4UlV)

39 I mean, you KNEW he'd implode. I was just waiting for it.

I not-very-secretly hoped he wouldn't, but, here we are.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (6FqZa)

40 My roommate was on Trump train but finally got off.
He gave my all the reasons why trump couldn't win a general election against Hillary.

Posted by: Carol at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (sj3Ax)

41 Legal abortion is pretty much carved in stone and here to stay at this point, and will never be limited in any significant way let alone be abolished.

Many politicians and their supporters and their operatives on all sides of the issue will use the possibility of the limiting or abolition of abortion as a rallying cry and/or fundraising plea, but these tactics are all a sham.

Posted by: davidt at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (8aOqE)

42 Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone say that.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (1J6E6)

43 Remember, this is Jimmy Carter's preferred GOP candidate.

Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 07:42 PM (8QGte)

44 Useless to compare Hilary to Trump. Everyone in the media is covering for her, not to mention the corrupt administration that is doing everything it can to prevent the sword of justice from figuratively slicing her in half.

But Trump v. Hilary is a race to the bottom.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:42 PM (p4UlV)

45 did i mention that instapundit has an article exploring the idea that trump doesn't really want to be president and is beginning to self-destruct

Then what's the rationale for the ego parade?

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:42 PM (1xUj/)

46 5
Right about now, every Trump supporter, who's not brain dead, must be thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"

Two votes either way ain't gonna make much difference.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 07:42 PM (Kucy5)

47 Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:40 PM (p4UlV)

The only thing that I'm really sure of now as far as Trump's POV on anything is that he thinks he great. Huuuuuuugly great!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 07:43 PM (w4NZ8)

48 Talk about changing. Ted has now adopted all of Trumps major positions. But we can trust ted.

Posted by: Great Reagan's Ghost at April 01, 2016 07:43 PM (kfoLf)

49 So if I got this right, abortion is murder, but let's just let that, you know, ...go.... because, um, let's talk about something else, because ..... My head, it hurts.

Posted by: kraken at April 01, 2016 07:43 PM (sdxPm)

50 39
I mean, you KNEW he'd implode. I was just waiting for it.

I not-very-secretly hoped he wouldn't, but, here we are.

And what exquisite timing. He's already pretty much torpedoed the chances for another candidate to win, so we're down to holding the Senate as a BCS. And yes, there is a fraction of his supporters who will support him over the cliff, because they're psychologically invested in him and can't back down without losing face. Not all, but some.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (LAe3v)

51 When it is all said and done, they will immortalize Chris Matthews in bronze at 30 Rock.

'Cause he was the one who made Trump blow himself up.

Maybe they won't, though. Maybe Matthews attacked way too soon. Imagine him doing it to Teh Donald, though, ten days before the general election in November.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (U6f54)

52 45 did i mention that instapundit has an article exploring the idea that trump doesn't really want to be president and is beginning to self-destruct

Then what's the rationale for the ego parade?

It's a delicate balancing act; Trump has to trash the GOP for Hillary while not devaluing what he thinks of as his "brand." I don't think he's managing that separation very well.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (Kucy5)

53 OT

I think I shall ignore the world, cough up $17.99, and watch Star Wars online.

How say you all?

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (kI1oQ)

54 So how much dirt are Hillarys! buttboys and girls in the media digging up on Cruz right now? Because he will soon go from the "sensible Republican alternative" to the 21st Century American Hitler probably after Wisconsin. Because...that's what they do.

Posted by: tu3031 at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (YFFpo)

55 Good thing I'm not running for Prez. I'd be the guy screaming into the microphone, "Stop having sex with people you don't even like! Stop having sex with people you don't even know! That would take care of 90% of the abortions. Now we can chat logically about the remainder!"

...BTW, what the living, breathing hell is that lightning bolt video?

Posted by: RKae at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (nDAnq)

56 Posted by: Great Reagan's Ghost at April 01, 2016 07:43 PM (kfoLf)

Thanks for your concern. Surprised you didn't add a "goldwater" reference in there too

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (6FqZa)

57 46 5
Right about now, every Trump supporter, who's not brain dead, must be thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"

Two votes either way ain't gonna make much difference.
Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 07:42 PM (Kucy5)

Careful. No personal insults at Trump supporters. Consider me chastised as well. Sorry, Ace.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (p4UlV)

58 Ace, you have to give him credit. It may be a little late, but at least he learned the buzz word states rights.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (dyaak)

59 If only Reagan level thinking together with Reagan level charisma was not so rare. I don't know if Cruz has Reagan level thinking and he seemed to be getting better on the charisma but he probably did not see himself running for high office back in college so didn't bother taking a lot of drama/acting whatever classes to beef up that skill set. And a republican has to have the charisma, they are not going to get propped up by the media to start and then draw in the millennials wanting to part of the cool thing.

Posted by: Palerider at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (dkExz)

60 I'm outraged at the outrage over the outrage! In short, I'm outraged!
Posted by: Minnfidel

This is very concerning. /

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (X/2JY)

61 Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think
women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone
say that.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (1J6E6)

I think in some interview he was given a hypothetical 'if abortion was illegal'... which apparently means when people break laws they are expecting to get some sort of participation trophy.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (T78UI)

62 55 Good thing I'm not running for Prez. I'd be the guy screaming into the microphone, "Stop having sex with people you don't even like! Stop having sex with people you don't even know! That would take care of 90% of the abortions. Now we can chat logically about the remainder!"

...BTW, what the living, breathing hell is that lightning bolt video?
Posted by: RKae at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (nDAnq)

So instead of tampons, aspirin should be tax free?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (p4UlV)

63
I'm outraged at the outrage over the outrage! In short, I'm outraged!
Posted by: Minnfidel
.........................

I've heard there's a place for that. An Outlet or something.
Sometimes it appears they sell other stuff, too.

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (HgMAr)

64 "With a bonus lose for it being dreadfully obvious that he simply
hasn't given the issue a lick of thought and is now just basically
button-mashing"

It's like watching someone try to play Whack-a-Mole in zero gravity.

And insisting all the while that they're good at it.

Posted by: torquewrench at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (noWW6)

65 >>Any time he tries to "reach out to conservatives" it's obvious he has in mind a very low sort of intellect in mind.

I think you are giving him too much credit. I've been saying for some time that Trump reminds me of Al Czervik. He's not acting, this is who he is.

It's that he is dumbing down his message to conservatives, he is a dumb, crass guy.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (/tuJf)

66 Food for thought. For years, abortion really wasn't on my radar. I believed the safe, legal and rare mantra, and being mostly single during my truck driving days, I did very little checking. It did not affect me in a personal way.
I also read a lot of WWII history so I was very familiar with the 50 million dead number, although recently it's been raised to 60 million.
When I found out that the number of abortions performed in the US since R/W was approaching 55 million, I was appalled. I didn't know. And I have not heard one conservative politician cite that statistic. Not one.
I think that far too many people are like I was, thinking that abortion was safe, legal, and most of all rare. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the truth is not being put out there. It is all being obfuscated by the mantra of a woman's right to choose.

Posted by: Old Blue at April 01, 2016 07:46 PM (9iR5/)

67 oh, and there's increasing discussion of trump as an 80's guy. but the most influential 80's figure on trump isn't reagan, but shwarznegger. of course there's the swaggering slaying hero of conan the barbarian (as i pointed out the other night), but i don't mean any movie character, i mean the shwarznegger of the talk shows promoting a movie, huge, greatest movie evah that alles love, e.g. jingle all the way. put just about anything trump says in a german accent and it's shwarzegger on the tonight show!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:46 PM (WTSFk)

68 Ted has now adopted all of Trumps major positions. But we can trust ted.

Ah, I see. When exactly was it that Cruz called for women to be punished for getting abortions? Or single payer? Or that the primary functions of government included education? Or that we should target the families of terrorists? Go ahead. Take your time.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:46 PM (LAe3v)

69 After the dust settles the question for the GOP bosses is how did they become so stupid and treacherous that they made Donald Trump look like a reasonable alternative?

Posted by: Vlad the Impaler, glad to have no offspring at April 01, 2016 07:47 PM (3Mimg)

70 Pregnancy is not immaculate conception. A woman's right to her own body only comes after the fact that she picked a fucking loser to get preggers by and now doesn't like the reality.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 07:47 PM (gdJkt)

71 >>>It's that he is dumbing down his message to conservatives, he is a dumb, crass guy.

yeah but dumb people can try to act smart for the benefit of people they think are smart (or think themselves smart).

he's a dumb guy who thinks he's talking to dumber people

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (dciA+)

72
OK make fun of them all you want, but my Mom is a Trumpkin.
And after voting for Obama twice, I feel she's making serious progress.

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (HgMAr)

73 And what state could Cruz win that Romney didn`t?
Cruz couldn`t win the south against this nefarious loudmouthed New Yorker...What the fuck!

Posted by: Tyler Mason at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (8BYmn)

74 That he isn't prepared for what he was getting into is the major mistake.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (1J6E6)

75 yuuuuuge!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (WTSFk)

76 It's not ..

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (/tuJf)

77 Are some of you referring to the polling question asking Trump voters if they would change horses? Maybe some of the problem isn't all on those voters maybe it's also a reflection on the weaker Trump horse candidate.

Posted by: Dire Straits at April 01, 2016 07:49 PM (mcm0N)

78 When politics is discussed, the discussions on media and elsewhere are usually from people who pay a lot of attention to politics and political issues.

I'm afraid the people who pay a lot of attention are a much smaller minority than they think they are.

They are a film of oil on a deep sea of people who, basically, don't think about the Big Issues a lot.

We see a lot of funny surveys where the basic ignorance of the average person is put on display about issues that are constantly on the minds of political wonks.

Fact is, the average person doesn't HAVE to think about these things. They have jobs to do, families to raise, things that affect them every day, not just election years.

Seriously, how many people NEED to have a position on abortion in their everyday lives? Or a viewpoint on sea levels a hundred years from now? It's much easier to just absorb a viewpoint from somebody you respect that you feel is assigned to think about these things, than to do the work of figuring it out yourself.

This isn't about stupidity. It's about human intellectual bandwidth. Sherlock Holmes was written as one of the most brilliant men in the world, yet Watson was stunned to find out that Holmes didn't know or care that the Earth went around the sun rather than vice-versa. Holmes didn't need that information for what he did, so never bothered to absorb it.

Posted by: TB at April 01, 2016 07:49 PM (UXEYz)

79 Ace, your headline looks like it is from the Times. a little misleading for how the quote was originated!

Posted by: Truth at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (0aryo)

80 It's not ..

That was implied. You're fine.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (1xUj/)

81 65 It's that he is dumbing down his message to conservatives, he is a dumb, crass guy.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM (/tuJf)

Crass and low-life I can deal with. But dumb is inexcusable. Not with the nation on the knife edge of going down for good. We need wicked smart, and I don't give a damn about his businesses, he's not smart. Far from it. To run for president and be clueless about not only the issues but about how the press will try and frame the debate and not be prepared is Christine O'Donnell/Todd Akin-level stupid.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (p4UlV)

82 On topic of button-mashing, I got through an hour of "Grim Dawn" before I realised - hey, I'm not actually using any strategy here, I'm just clicking the mouse over and over.

"Mass Effect" and KOTOR 1 before it understood that you had to guide the player into thinking his next move. If you let the player button-mash then he's going to do that, because it's easier.

So, that's a $25 I'll not see again. The "Grim Dawn" developers fail at gameplay.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (6FqZa)

83 "Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone say that."

He let Chris Matthews (OK, read that guy's name again) set up a hypothetical pile of manure and, like an idiot, the Donald jumped in with both Guccis.

Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (8QGte)

84 I've been saying for some time that Trump reminds me of Al Czervik.

Nope. Al Czervik was a decent guy, who didn't put on airs and act like his feces weren't feculent. Plus he was hilarious and good-hearted. Trump is Judge Smails.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (LAe3v)

85 The counter to, "Punish the woman with a child," is ,"Oh, you want to punish an innocent unborn child with a death sentence?"

Posted by: davidt at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (8aOqE)

86 ja, mein campaign ist der biggest evah, johnny. yuge.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (WTSFk)

87 I think I shall ignore the world, cough up $17.99, and watch Star Wars online.

How say you all?
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (kI1oQ)

That's a lot to spend on a piece of suck.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 07:51 PM (dyaak)

88 Abortion is murder!

I'll make sure anyone who performs one is punished!

But my sister the federal judge, who authored an opinion striking down a state level partial-birth abortion ban, and who very strongly defended _Roe_ in her reasoning, is "phenomenal" and an example of the sort of judges I'd appoint.

What? You want me to explain the contradictions here? Of course I'm not going to do that, you chocker. I don't do contradictions. Those are for low-class losers like yourself.

Posted by: Digitis Minimus Vulgaris at April 01, 2016 07:51 PM (noWW6)

89 Trump in his own words about his devoted followers.

https://pbs.tw___.com/media/Cep0CmUW4AEAeoo.jpg

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 07:51 PM (Kucy5)

90 I'm wiling to see Cruz verses Hildabeast or Sanders, let everyone choose.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:52 PM (1J6E6)

91 >>he's a dumb guy who thinks he's talking to dumber people

Yep.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 07:52 PM (/tuJf)

92 85 The counter to, "Punish the woman with a child," is ,"Oh, you want to punish an innocent unborn child with a death sentence?"
Posted by: davidt at April 01, 2016 07:50 PM (8aOqE)

You mean unviable lifeless tissue mass. That's the Left's answer to that. Amazing how they have an answer for everything. Always wrong, but still always at the ready.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:52 PM (p4UlV)

93 ben domenech had an astute point that, in the absence of the bang-bang-bang of frequent primaries, Trump has to talk about policy (as he just can't talk about polls and #winning), and that is turning out to not just be clever but prescient.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:53 PM (dciA+)

94 {i like ahnold quite a lot, actually. sorry for the comparison)

i'm done.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 07:53 PM (WTSFk)

95 Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 07:48 PM (HgMAr)

I mentioned this the other ( nobody noticed it, no comments anyway, so I assume my point sucks), that " Trumpkin" far from being a slur, could be construed as praise, since Trumpkin was a brave stouthearted dwarf in C S Lewis's Narnia books. So there, haters! He did have itty- bitty hands, though.

Posted by: kraken at April 01, 2016 07:53 PM (sdxPm)

96 They are a film of oil on a deep sea of people who, basically, don't think about the Big Issues a lot.

IOW, Donald Trump.

He let Chris Matthews (OK, read that guy's name again) set up a
hypothetical pile of manure and, like an idiot, the Donald jumped in
with both Guccis.

Yes, who could have predicted that a liberal "journalist" would try and trap him on a hot button issue? Inconceivable!

If you can't handle Chris Matthews, you aren't ready for the big job. QED.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:53 PM (LAe3v)

97 Trump is a by product of Chris Matthews they are more sympatico than Matthews might care to admit.

Posted by: Dire Straits at April 01, 2016 07:53 PM (mcm0N)

98 Ah, I see. When exactly was it that Cruz called for women to be punished for getting abortions? Or single payer? Or that the primary functions of government included education? Or that we should target the families of terrorists? Go ahead. Take your time.
Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:46 PM (LAe3v)

Donald Trump is the original conservative.

Lyin' Ted is just a Johnny come lately poser.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 07:54 PM (dyaak)

99 >>On topic of button-mashing, I got through an hour of "Grim Dawn" before I realised - hey, I'm not actually using any strategy here, I'm just clicking the mouse over and over.

the batman games had a middle ground. one one hand, it was set easy enough that you could win by button mashing and dying a bunch of times.

But I kind of didn't like that, especially because learning how to use the combat system made the game sooooo much better. the combat is awesome. So anything in the game that permits you to avoid learning it is doing the game, and the player, a disservice.

I still wish the game forced me to be better at combat that I was.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (dciA+)

100 musical jolly chimp

I don't know why this nic makes me laugh but it does.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (/tuJf)

101 Ace, it was Kramer getting fired from being a mall santa because he was preaching socialist dogma to some of the kids after he was given literature by Elaine's communist boyfriend. Then he says to Mickey "I didn't realize Communism was such a delicate issue," or something to that effect.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (4/i9Y)

102
I've heard there's a place for that. An Outlet or something.
Sometimes it appears they sell other stuff, too.

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 07:45 PM
.Ah, Outragemart.

Posted by: Minnfidel at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (btH0m)

103 I think it was Seinfeld, actually. George might have said something irreverent about WWII to a veteran.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:35 PM (dciA+)

It was Seinfeld. Kramer fell in with a Communist rabble-rouser that was dating Elaine, and it cost him his job as a department Santa when he started parroting Communist jargon to the kids. "I didn't know Communism was such a sensitive issue!"

Posted by: Josephistan at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (7qAYi)

104 seriously when batman goes into an unbroken (no failures, no damage) combat flow he just freaking turns into the wrecking machine you always imagined him to be.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (dciA+)

105 Lyin' Ted is just a Johnny come lately poser.
Posted by: chique d'afrique at April

I'm assuming some good sarc there chique....

Posted by: kraken at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (sdxPm)

106 That's a lot to spend on a piece of suck.

Posted by: chique d'afrique

You are wise. For them kind of simoleons, I don't want shouldn't be looking at my watch an hour in.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (LAe3v)

107 >>>
It was Seinfeld. Kramer fell in with a Communist rabble-rouser that was dating Elaine, and it cost him his job as a department Santa when he started parroting Communist jargon to the kids. "I didn't know Communism was such a sensitive issue!"

ah!!!

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (dciA+)

108 Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone say that.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (1J6E6)

He made the mistake of thinking that people who say abortion is murder were serious. Now he knows they're just kidding.

Trump's big appeal is that he's a fighter. He emphasizes in every rally the core list of issues he's going to fight on (immigration, Islamic terrorism, Obamacare, common core). He offered to fight against abortions as well.

When all the big pro-life folks turned down that offer, was he supposed to double down?

Posted by: Jake (irregular) at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (WjT3h)

109 I know he jumped in with both feet, but the idea was planted into his head. I want abortions stopped but never thought about person should be jailed for it. I've suspected most everyone he associates with are leftists. That idea has to be from a hard leftist.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (1J6E6)

110 If you can't handle Chris Matthews, you aren't ready for the big job. QED.

One of my favorite bits wasn't even the "punish the woman" part.

Matthews followed up with "should you punish the father?"

You could see the wheels trying to spin behind the puffy Tang face. He didn't have an answer, he knew he didn't have an answer, he had never thought about it ever, and he came out with an answer because he thinks whatever is on the top of his brain pan is automatically right.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (1xUj/)

111 >>>101 Ace, it was Kramer getting fired from being a mall santa because he was preaching socialist dogma to some of the kids after he was given literature by Elaine's communist boyfriend. Then he says to Mickey "I didn't realize Communism was such a delicate issue," or something to that effect.

yes, it's so clear in my mind now. thank you.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (dciA+)

112 OT

I think I shall ignore the world, cough up $17.99, and watch Star Wars online.

How say you all?
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (kI1oQ)

I think I'll pay $2 more and get the Blu Ray on Tuesday myself. Still amazed at my general ennui that kept me from bothering to see it in theaters, Which made it the first film since the original I didn't (and I wasn't old enough with the first to have realized anything of what would have been going on, as even by toddler standards my attention span was lousy).

Posted by: Bete resigned to just watching the world burn at April 01, 2016 07:56 PM (Ojki1)

113 Sorry, try:

https://pbs.tw___.com/media/CdmLbYVW0AAOm3l.jpg

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 07:57 PM (Kucy5)

114 42 Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone say that.
Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (1J6E6)

Well, if abortion is murder, and is made illegal, then women who have abortions should be punished.

In what other instance is a murderer not punished?

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 07:57 PM (sdi6R)

115 Trump sided with pro-lifers, who then proceeded to repeatedly stab him in the back for taking the pro-life position. What did you expect?

Ace's claim that he hasn't given the issue any thought is absurd. He's given the position more thought than 95% of the media whore pro lifes who have apparently thought so little about the issue that they don't understand how stupid it is to claim abortion is murder but the women who order the murder are victims.

He did do us a favor and revealed Ted Cruz is pro choice as well (just a really weird sort of pro-choicer who wants to put abortionists in prison) so there's no reason not to vote for Hillary, who has the same position on abortion, only hers is somewhat coherent.

Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 07:58 PM (MZKpF)

116 "I know he jumped in with both feet, but the idea was planted into his head."

Ding, ding, ding!
Trump is an idiot to fall for it.
Idiots doing what idiots do.

Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 07:58 PM (8QGte)

117
95 kraken
She is kind of short, stubborn (stouthearted?) brave little thing who lives in a fantasy world. So Trumpkin it is!

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (HgMAr)

118 Less than 100 comments and your blog exposed all the abuse of trust in authority that our courts and academe are responsible for.

Congrats! Keep up the good work.

Posted by: DM at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (5iLYn)

119 Usually, a politician will try to figure out which way the wind is blowing and pander to the largest groups to cobble together a coalition that he thinks he can win with. Trump is trying a maximalist approach: pander to everybody and don't worry about the inconsistency because you're so bold and shameless about it that 80% of the voters will only hear what they want to hear.

I've seen it actually work, too. Local activists I've worked with before are smitten by him. I've pointed out that he's said some pretty statist things and they say, "yeah, I know, that bothered me too but then I heard his interview with such-and-such and it completely changed my mind!" Yes, of course it did. Because in that particular interview he was pandering to you. He's good enough at it that it removed the doubts you had about his other statements.

People want to buy in. They want a savior. The wheels might be coming off the Trump train a bit now but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't.

Posted by: rfichoke at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (vLCft)

120 So there's this set of Nigerian twins, their singers. I used to mock then for all their songs having the exact same chord progression. But I would also add that I couldn't blame them for not even bothering to come up with something new since it was working for them and they were super popular.

Same thing with Trump. He said all sorts of insane crap comma including backing off of his vaunted immigration policy just days after Jeff sessions endorsed him, and it didn't seem to affect his support at all. So why would he try to change something that had been working so far? Who likes to do unnecessary work?

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (dyaak)

121 "When it is all said and done, they will immortalize Chris Matthews in bronze at 30 Rock.

'Cause he was the one who made Trump blow himself up.

Maybe they won't, though. Maybe Matthews attacked way too soon. Imagine him doing it to Teh Donald, though, ten days before the general election in November.
Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 07:44 PM (U6f54)"

Chris Matthews may actually get some credit though, since he damaged a candidate from the opposite team. Unlike Roger Mudd of NBC who accidentally torpedoed Ted Kennedy's 1980 run against Carter by asking him a softball question he wasn't ready to answer "Why do you want to be president?" Or maybe Bernard Shaw of CNN who revealed Mike Dukakis to be a robot in 1988 by asking him if he'd favor the death penalty if his wife was raped and murdered.

Mudd's career never recovered. Bernard Shaw never went anywhere either.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (QjqR3)

122 I'm going to ask this again. Pregnancy is not immaculate conception. Where is the other half of this equation?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM (gdJkt)

123 btw trump isn't saying he's not gonna do anything about abortion. he's just saying "at the moment" the laws have to remain the way they are (which they do, because there is no catalyst that can change them att eh moment), and refuses to say what he will do at a later moment when he will be president. IOW he's not actually saying anything except pointing out the status quo. This is actually further confirmation for me that he really did become pro life.

Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (MZKpF)

124 Donald Trump:
Actually, Now That I Think About It, Let's Leave the Abortion Laws As They Are

Yeah. What a dolt.
He doesn't even know that to effectively change abortion law he'd have to get a Constitutional Amendment.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (T78UI)

125 :-D

* clang *

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (WTSFk)

126 >>I think I shall ignore the world, cough up $17.99, and watch Star Wars online.

I paid a couple grand to see the movie. Well my company did.

Saw it on the plane. I was really hoping it was going to be good and had planned my long flight around watching it.

Save your money.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (/tuJf)

127 Chique well I got something in the mail that is interesting to read.

It starts with Special Notice: You have been selected to represent Voters in *state redacted* [] Congressional District. Enclosed please find documents registered in your name.

It is by the Republican Party.

Section I - Political Profile
Question 1 Do you generally identify yourself as
[ ] Conservative Republican
[ ] Independent who leans Republican
[ ] Moderate Republican
[ ] Liberal Republican
[ ] Tea Party Member
[ ] Other ___________

Should I list Moron under Other?

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (kI1oQ)

128 115 Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 07:58 PM (MZKpF)

He made Ralph Kramden sound like Bill Buckley with that answer to Chris Matthews. Utterly inchoate, uninformed and babbling.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:01 PM (p4UlV)

129
Mudd's career never recovered.
Posted by: Jill v2

I blame Captain Kirk.

Posted by: Harry Mudd at April 01, 2016 08:01 PM (FkBIv)

130 68 Ted has now adopted all of Trumps major positions. But we can trust ted.

Ah, I see. When exactly was it that Cruz called for women to be punished for getting abortions? Or single payer? Or that the primary functions of government included education? Or that we should target the families of terrorists? Go ahead. Take your time.

Hey, remember when Cruz supported the "assault weapons" ban, and mandatory longer waiting periods? And Kelo? Oh, wait, neither does anyone else.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:01 PM (Kucy5)

131 Not a problem, Ace. If you ever need help remembering a Seinfeld bit, I'm at your service - I re-watch the whole series once a year. (Well, sometimes I skip Season 1 - only 5 episodes, none of them all that funny)

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 08:01 PM (4/i9Y)

132 Lyin' Ted is just a Johnny come lately poser.
Posted by: chique d'afrique
--------------

A dullard lyin' poser. Guy couldn't argue his way out of a wet paper bag.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 01, 2016 08:02 PM (9mTYi)

133 Stella 999, "Harcourt Fenton Mudd! Where have you been?"

That is what really doomed Mudd.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:02 PM (kI1oQ)

134 129 I blame Captain Kirk.
Posted by: Harry Mudd at April 01, 2016 08:01 PM (FkBIv)

Couldn't even coordinate with Norman . . .

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:02 PM (p4UlV)

135 Where did he ever get a idea some Republicans think women who have abortions should be punished? I have never heard anyone say that.
Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 07:41 PM (1J6E6)

It's a logical result of

1. Women have agency
2. Abortion is murder
3. Women should be punished for murder
4. Women should be punished for abortion

What we have now is a funny combination of pre-woman's vote laws and sentiment, and woman's vote culture and reality.

Woman are victims and are not responsible for being pushed into abortion; women are responsible enough to vote, hear them roar.

The observed result of that is 50 Shades of Gray and abortion culture.

Yay.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (uURQL)

136 132
Lyin' Ted is just a Johnny come lately poser.

Posted by: chique d'afrique

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

A dullard lyin' poser. Guy couldn't argue his way out of a wet paper bag.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc

To be fair, I've been working out.

Posted by: Wet paper bag at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (LAe3v)

137
That's a lot to spend on a piece of suck.
Posted by: chique d'afrique
...................

C'mon people... this one slipped by?

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (HgMAr)

138 OT-I just watched Elizabeth I with Cate Blanchette like a zillion years after it first came out. It's a beautiful looking film and the acting is good-but the way the history's mangled just irritates the heck out of me. No, the Earl of Leicester wasn't involved in a plot to overthrow Elizabeth, Francis Walsingham didn't murder Mary of Guise nor is there any evidence he was gay and an Agnostic or Atheist who murdered young men he had affairs with. Nor do I don't think Elizabeth became the "Virgin Queen" at Walsingham's urging because she was trying to emulate the Virgin Mary. The actual history is exciting enough without trying to make it supposedly more entertaining by fakery. Let me guess-the second film about Elizabeth I continues to mangle the actual history?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (w4NZ8)

139 Careful. No personal insults at Trump supporters. Consider me chastised as well. Sorry, Ace.

Well [ ] me, then...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (Kucy5)

140 Trump is trying a maximalist approach: pander to everybody and don't worry about the inconsistency because you're so bold and shameless about it that 80% of the voters will only hear what they want to hear.

*********

Sound like Obama during his campaign on nuclear defense systems. Thank gawd the liberal media covered for him.

Posted by: Dire Straits at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (mcm0N)

141 Ding, ding, ding!

Trump is an idiot to fall for it.

Idiots doing what idiots do.

Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 07:58 PM (8QGte)

What a dolt! He actually thought people would know it was a hypothetical question. Trump should really keep it down at the eighth grade level.

Make that forth grade.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (T78UI)

142 >>Well, sometimes I skip Season 1 - only 5 episodes, none of them all that funny)

i was a huge fan of seinfeld the comic and looked forward to the sitcom. Then I watched the first four episodes, and decided it sucked.

I didn't watch again until later, when people started talking about "The Bet."

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (dciA+)

143 I'm going to ask this again. Pregnancy is not immaculate conception. Where is the other half of this equation?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM
Promising to call the next day?

Posted by: Minnfidel at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (btH0m)

144 I do like the line in "The Birdcage" about the "captain" (mom) going down with the "ship" (foetus).

Nathan Lane was being more conservative than Gene Hackman's GOP Senator.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (1ijHg)

145 Ah, I see. When exactly was it that Cruz called for women to be punished for getting abortions? Or single payer? Or that the primary functions of government included education? Or that we should target the families of terrorists? Go ahead. Take your time.

Hey, remember when Cruz supported the "assault weapons" ban, and mandatory longer waiting periods? And Kelo? Oh, wait, neither does anyone else.
Posted by: richard mcenroe
---------------

If you guys do not stop interrupting me, I'm gonna sue.

Posted by: The Narrative at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (9mTYi)

146
I expect Trump to look befuddled if you asked him who Kermit Gosnell is.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (p4UlV)

147 That was from "The Race." I love the bit in Monk's where George pretends to run into Jerry after not having seen him for years to convince Duncan that Jerry didn't get a head start in their high school race, and they start just subtly jabbing at each other.

"You do a lot of that 'have you ever noticed this' stuff, right? There's a lot of that going around."

"Yeah, yeah...boy you really went bald there, didn't you? You used to have a thick, full head of hair."

Then George lying about making his first million, designing the addition to the Guggenheim, and losing his virginity to their homeroom teacher Ms. Stafford. Fantastic scene.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (4/i9Y)

148 i put up ben domenech's accurate insight that trump needs to always have a primary victory to talk about -- else the discussion will turn to his policies and policy knowledge, which is a problem for him.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (dciA+)

149 So chique, you're telling us that Trump is the long lost Nigerian singer triplet?

Posted by: fluffy at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (2hcmo)

150 "It starts with Special Notice: You have been selected to represent Voters in *state redacted* [] Congressional District. Enclosed please find documents registered in your name."

Is that the one that ultimately ends in "If you chose not to make a donation, please include $15.00 to process and record your survey."?

RNC...Pineapple...anus...some assembly required.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (GlafE)

151 143 I'm going to ask this again. Pregnancy is not immaculate conception. Where is the other half of this equation?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 07:59 PM
Promising to call the next day?
Posted by: Minnfidel at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (btH0m)

The other's half's national anthem is "Billie Jean."

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (p4UlV)

152 Chique -
there are only two recent movies that have captured my attention to the point where I wasn't looking at my watch: Red, and The King's Speech. I suppose there is some common thread there, but I'm not sure what it is, other than established, long-popular actors showing why they're popular.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (LAe3v)

153 I've had a hard time understanding this position from people.

If you believe abortion is murder, why should a woman not be held accountable for ending the life of her child? Both she and the doctor are complicit. I suspect it has a few root causes: some still view women as children, unaccountable for their actions; It is societally advantageous for authorities to give women the option to turn in their doctors to prevent future abortions, if they were both guilty, they would both keep quiet; and that doctor's are the only ones able to provide abortions, but that seems to negate other alternatives. Is there something I'm missing?

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (P+dRx)

154 "Politics is downstream from Culture."

Our culture is infected.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (1ijHg)

155
139 Careful. No personal insults at Trump supporters. Consider me chastised as well. Sorry, Ace.

Well [ ] me, then...
Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM (Kucy5)

*****

LOL!

We can still use Alinsky lite boogeyman terms like The Establishment though--thank Mao and Robespierre.

Posted by: Dire Straits at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (mcm0N)

156 Joey Bidet is proof positive politics has Zika.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (kI1oQ)

157 When a man hits about 70 years old, his pendulous nut sack begins to swing about with almost no singular controlling mechanism. This is a dangerous time, my friends.

Posted by: Fritz at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (+E2Y7)

158 Right about now, every Trump supporter, who's not brain dead, must be thinking "what the hell was I thinking?"
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:29 PM (p4UlV)

There is nothing left in the primary season to change my support.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (uURQL)

159
"Politics is downstream from Culture."

And Culture is downstream from the sewage plant.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (FkBIv)

160 148 i put up ben domenech's accurate insight that trump needs to always have a primary victory to talk about -- else the discussion will turn to his policies and policy knowledge, which is a problem for him.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 08:05 PM (dciA+)

Hence his refusal to go one on one with Cruz. I hear people say "it's only because Cruz is a great debater. Donald is way better though and debates don't really matter when it comes to who's better."

It just makes what's left of my hair hurt.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (p4UlV)

161 Abortion gotchya questions are a quagmire for pubbies. I think the best approach is the canned non answer/deflect to something else.

Posted by: Willy at April 01, 2016 08:08 PM (ersJc)

162 Trump's big appeal is that he's a fighter. He emphasizes in every rally the core list of issues he's going to fight on (immigration, Islamic terrorism, Obamacare, common core). He offered to fight against abortions as well.

Trump fights? So far as I can tell, he couldn't even whip a little old widder lady in New Jersey, and ran and hid from Megyn Kelly for a whole debate, and made a whole bucket of undelivered-on threats to Cruz and his wife.

He talks tough but he seems like the last guy out of the helicopter...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:08 PM (Kucy5)

163 157 When a man hits about 70 years old, his pendulous nut sack begins to swing about with almost no singular controlling mechanism. This is a dangerous time, my friends.
Posted by: Fritz at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (+E2Y7)

Talk about your Lipton Flo-Through Teabag.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:08 PM (p4UlV)

164 Intellectuals, Revisionists----those bourgeois smucks keeping the proletariat down.

What America needs is a Cultural Revolution only then can we make a Great Leap Forward . Ache Tung baby.

Posted by: Dire Straits at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (mcm0N)

165 "Trump sided with pro-lifers, who then proceeded to repeatedly stab him in the back for taking the pro-life position. What did you expect?

Ace's claim that he hasn't given the issue any thought is absurd. He's given the position more thought than 95% of the media whore pro lifes who have apparently thought so little about the issue that they don't understand how stupid it is to claim abortion is murder but the women who order the murder are victims.

He did do us a favor and revealed Ted Cruz is pro choice as well (just a really weird sort of pro-choicer who wants to put abortionists in prison) so there's no reason not to vote for Hillary, who has the same position on abortion, only hers is somewhat coherent.
Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 07:58 PM (MZKpF)"

The pro-life contingent realize that Trump didn't really side with them. He's just mouthing the words so they won't put the dreaded pro-choice label on him.

Pro-life doctrine is that if abortion becomes illegal you punish the abortion doctor but not the woman who gets it. Now, I'm pro-choice, and I think that's somewhat intellectually dishonest. It's not like abortion doctors are dragging women in off the street and performing abortions against their will.

However, a pro-life activist once explained the reasoning to me: if you punish the woman, you look hard-hearted and lose support. Instead, you say that you forgive the woman, offer her support, and get her to testify against the doctor. The activist explained that it was like giving immunity to a low-level criminal in order to convict the bigger criminal. After seeing stories about Dr. Kermit Gosnell performing abortions that were literally infanticide, I could see his point.

People who are pro-life see it as more effective policy to criminalize the provider and not the recipient. The pro-life activists have spent years trying to erase the Dem image of them as puritanical creeps that just want to control women. Trump didn't get that because he never did his homework on the issue and so he wound up handing the Dems a fantastic Todd Akin like sound bite while really angering pro-life voters. He undid years of work by the pro-life activists. That's why they're mad at him.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (QjqR3)

166 I'm assuming some good sarc there chique....
Posted by: kraken at April 01, 2016 07:55 PM (sdxPm)

You assume correctly.

Some Trump supporters statements about Cruz in comparison to their guy really confound me. I have really been surprised at certain thought processes this cycle. But I'm getting used to it.

It's like Trump is a Svengali. He engenders such loyalty and devotion in some. People have given up lifetimes of dearly held beliefs for him.

We had a couple of people on here the other day, Christians I presume, saying that Trump's statements about never having asked God for forgiveness was biblical. Never mind the Lord's Prayer. There have been people who were once staunch conservatives poo pooing conservatism. It really is amazing.

To some, he's never wrong. No matter what he does. There's always a good and brilliant explanation for what he did or said. I won't go on, but I'll just say that I've found it quite fascinating and to be honest, dismaying.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (dyaak)

167 I'm still perplexed at why any GOP candidate, let's forget Trump for a second, gets blindsided by questions about the legality of abortion or as I like to call it, baby murder?

The SCOTUS has removed that question from political and democratic consideration whether we like it or not and I certainly don't, access to abortion has been constitutionalized and subsequently can't be made illeagal.

The courts have arrogated to themselves the power to define the contours of what it thinks are allowable limitations.

It's completely outside the democratic and political process much like gay marriage and soon to be most LBGTQFHIJKSKW issues.

Posted by: Kreplach at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (WVvzl)

168 And since nobody is still reading the previous thread, some real (but introductory) pro-trade and pro-immigration articles since everyone seems to think Paul Ryan, of all people, is some kind of libertarian heavyweight:

Only the Private Sector Can Determine the "Correct" Number of Immigrants: http://tinyurl.com/jbbwekz

To Oppose Free Trade Is To Embrace Violence: http://tinyurl.com/hfawaoh

Posted by: rfichoke at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (vLCft)

169 What's even worse, the self-addressed envelope .. it says 'Place Stamp Here'

Well the GOPe can learn lessons it seems.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (kI1oQ)

170 >>>>Section I - Political Profile
Question 1 Do you generally identify yourself as
[ ] Conservative Republican
[ ] Independent who leans Republican
[ ] Moderate Republican
[ ] Liberal Republican
[ ] Tea Party Member
[ ] Other ___________

Should I list Moron under Other?
Posted by: Anna Puma

It's a trap!!!

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (X/2JY)

171 Trump is running out of people to insult. Brilliant!!!

Posted by: Hadoop at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (2X7pN)

172 "At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (1ijHg)

173 Is there something I'm missing?

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (P+dRx)

Yes, a realistic expectation of peoples' intellectual honesty when it comes to political issues.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (T78UI)

174 After Trump is down and out, and he will be down and out for certain, he can begin a show called "Donald Talks."

You know how the Ted Talks feature some super sharp person, presenting some niche subject, and doing it brilliantly? Something that you might never have given a thought, but when you hear the talk, you say, WOW! That was cool!

In the Donald Talks series, we'll hear from somewhat-less-than-super-sharp people, and they will do all their talks completely winging it, no preparation, no nothing.

But with no gong, and no hooks.

It'll be yuuuuuge.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (U6f54)

175 161 Abortion gotchya questions are a quagmire for pubbies. I think the best approach is the canned non answer/deflect to something else.
Posted by: Willy at April 01, 2016 08:08 PM (ersJc)

Disagree. The answer is to confront the accuser with the fact that they are gotcha questions and explain the nature of what abortion is and does. It can be done. It's just most GOP candidates accept the premise of the question/smear and beg for mercy.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (p4UlV)

176 It doesnt matter. ISIS will be sawing off our heads anyways.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (iQIUe)

177
When a man hits about 70 years old, his pendulous nut sack begins to swing about with almost no singular controlling mechanism. This is a dangerous time, my friends.
Posted by: Fritz
...........................

There's a remedy for that.

Posted by: Bruthe Jenner at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (HgMAr)

178 If you let him be interviewed about 2nd A rights I would bet you would still get some befuddled answers, again it's leftists who has his ear.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (1J6E6)

179 Fenelon - Earlier today, Ace referenced a piece that in turn referenced James Fenimore Cooper. I was reminded that in 'The Deer Slayer' he said this:

"We live in a world of transgressions and selfishness, and no pictures that represent us otherwise can be true; though happily for human nature, gleamings of that pure spirit in whose likeness man has been fashioned, are to be seen, relieving its deformities, and mitigating, if not excusing its crimes.”

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (9mTYi)

180 Every single poll I answered after a debate was stacked, because trump won according to people that voted.

Drudge is in trump camp, but The Right Scoop is not & still trump won.

Posted by: Carol at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (sj3Ax)

181 What do cruz's numbers look like against Hillary? Is there a link I can look at?

Posted by: NCKate at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (A/qli)

182 Where people get the idea that not asking God for forgiveness is Biblical is beyond me.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (w4NZ8)

183 Abortion gotchya questions are a quagmire for pubbies. I think the best
approach is the canned non answer/deflect to something else.

Bullshit! Carly Fiorina did it with aplomb.

Posted by: Hadoop at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (2X7pN)

184 "Hence his refusal to go one on one with Cruz. I hear people say "it's only because Cruz is a great debater. Donald is way better though and debates don't really matter when it comes to who's better."

It just makes what's left of my hair hurt.
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:07 PM (p4UlV)"

Bingo! Trump doesn't really want to go up against Cruz, but he really doesn't want to spent half of a 2 hour debate trying to explain his policies. There's only so much air time he can fill with his slogans before people notice he repeats himself way more than Rubio did.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (QjqR3)

185 Trump was doing well against the media for awhile, but stepped in it big time with Matthews.

His biggest mistake was agreeing to do the interview in the first place. The proper response to the enemedia is always FYNQ.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (sdi6R)

186 183 Abortion gotchya questions are a quagmire for pubbies. I think the best
approach is the canned non answer/deflect to something else.

Bullshit! Carly Fiorina did it with aplomb.
Posted by: Hadoop at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (2X7pN)

I'd like to do it with Eve Plumb. Oh, wait . . .

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (p4UlV)

187 If you let him be interviewed about 2nd A rights I would bet you would still get some befuddled answers, again it's leftists who has his ear.
Posted by: Skip
------------------

I await an example, any example, of Trump referencing the primacy of The Constitution.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (9mTYi)

188 I expect Trump to look befuddled if you asked him who Kermit Gosnell is.

Probably thinks he knocked up Miss Piggy

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (6FqZa)

189 Ted's on O'Reilly by phone

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (1J6E6)

190 "i was a huge fan of seinfeld the comic and looked forward to the sitcom. Then I watched the first four episodes, and decided it sucked.

I didn't watch again until later, when people started talking about "The Bet."

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 08:04 PM (dciA+) "

In hindsight, it's amazing that Seinfeld ever made it to Season 2, let alone 9 seasons. But even that really boring first season got good ratings, and the executives still believed in the show. I always wonder how many great shows we were robbed of because panicky execs pulled the plug after a mediocre first season.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (4/i9Y)

191 169
What's even worse, the self-addressed envelope .. it says 'Place Stamp Here'

Well the GOPe can learn lessons it seems.

Posted by: Anna Puma

It's telling, though. Why send an expensive snail mail missive asking for money to people who as likely as not will return it to you, on your stamp, and tell you to f*** off? Perhaps they ought to ask themselves why so many of their former contributors are doing so. But I guess that would be too easy.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (LAe3v)

192 >>> OK morons. Name the film.

Little Big Man?

Posted by: fluffy at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (2hcmo)

193 Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 01, 2016 08:11 PM (9mTYi)

I like the quote, but what are you using it in reference to? :^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (w4NZ8)

194 Ted's on O'Reilly by phone

Phrasing. That is the kind of video we don't need to see...

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (kI1oQ)

195 To be honest with you, I've never been really clear on what an "abortion" is.

Posted by: Donald Trump, Wharton, Class of 71 at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (dciA+)

196 Among the many life lessons I learned at the knee of my father was, "Place Stamp Here. Post office will not deliver without proper postage."

Posted by: John Kasich at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (BNZkU)

197 Ladies and gentlemen and our gracious host Ace, I believe it comes down to a very simple equation...We are once again fucked by this corruption that masquerades as democracy under the guise of a republic! Rule of law, Justice, fairness, equality, have been turned into nothing more then tools to bash us about the head...keep believing in the way it was and you will continue to suffer the way it is!!!

Posted by: Tyler Mason at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (8BYmn)

198
>>>>Section I - Political Profile
Question 1 Do you generally identify yourself as
[ ] Conservative Republican
[ ] Independent who leans Republican
[ ] Moderate Republican
[ ] Liberal Republican
[ ] Tea Party Member
[ ] Other ___________

Should I list Moron under Other?
Posted by: Anna Puma
..........................

That's the box we check.

Posted by: pygmy cannibals at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (HgMAr)

199 172
"At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie, but if not, then Little Big Man.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (LAe3v)

200 Thanks Skip,
But I won't watch Faux, they're now The Trump Network.

Posted by: Carol at April 01, 2016 08:15 PM (sj3Ax)

201 Well shit.

I'm still just a second class citizen.

Posted by: Kid Not Yet Past the Vagina Goal Line at April 01, 2016 08:15 PM (fiGNd)

202 Donald Trump:
Actually, Now That I Think About It, Let's Leave the Abortion Laws As They Are

Yeah. What a dolt.
He doesn't even know that to effectively change abortion law he'd have to get a Constitutional Amendment.
Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:00 PM (T78UI)
******************
Trump is just winging it and doesn't even attempt to educate or prepare himself to answer questions. He should be burning the midnight oil studying.

Posted by: redridinghood at April 01, 2016 08:15 PM (7GQM/)

203 >>> I'd like to do it with Eve Plumb. Oh, wait . . .

It's creepy when she calls out "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!"

Posted by: fluffy at April 01, 2016 08:15 PM (2hcmo)

204 Where's the man up dude ,you got her pregnant, do the right thing . All we ever hear about abortion is the woman. It didn't happen in a test tube.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (gdJkt)

205 We had a couple of people on here the other day, Christians I presume, saying that Trump's statements about never having asked God for forgiveness was biblical. Never mind the Lord's Prayer.

Biblically, consider:
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

As for the question itself, what has Cruz, Marco, Jeb, and Kasich asked God's forgiveness for? It's a gotcha question.

But where we tut-tut Trump for not getting these abortion gotcha questions "right" ... we want him to answer that forgiveness gotcha question differently?

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (uURQL)

206 186 183 Abortion gotchya questions are a quagmire for pubbies. I think the best
approach is the canned non answer/deflect to something else.

Bullshit! Carly Fiorina did it with aplomb.
Posted by: Hadoop at April 01, 2016 08:12 PM (2X7pN)
-------

Fiorina has the advantage of being female on this particular issue. She has more latitude to handle it than a guy.

Posted by: Willy at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (ersJc)

207 Trump answered the question that way because that's what he thinks the people who are voting for him think, because that's what his Manhattan buddies and the TV shows he watches say "flyover people" think.

It's acculturation. No matter how much of a rebel you think you are, if you're exposed to a culture on a daily basis, you pick up some of its habits.

It's why DC politicians all start acting like career bureaucrats.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (wB8Tg)

208 Eric Bollinger is hosting and he is a Trump supporter

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (1J6E6)

209 190 I always wonder how many great shows we were robbed of because panicky execs pulled the plug after a mediocre first season.
Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 08:13 PM (4/i9Y)

More often than you know. In the old days, some execs actually had a showman's knack and knew you had to give a show a chance to let it find its audience. Today? Forget it. If you're not pulling in the numbers in the first half of the season, they're already lining up the mid-season replacement. Numbers, baby. All about the numbers.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (p4UlV)

210 I always wonder how many great shows we were robbed of because panicky execs pulled the plug after a mediocre first season

How about awesome first seasons aired in the wrong order?

Posted by: firefly at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (6FqZa)

211 This shouldn't be an issue but keeps being brought up to futz everything up. It's not illegal and it's not going to be. DT is not going to change anything and neither is anyone else.

Posted by: freaked at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (BO/km)

212 Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (P+dRx)

I think the goal is to reduce abortions as much as possible, that is to reduce the killing of innocent babies. So if threatening to punish the mothers will Harden support for abortion then more babies will get killed. Not particularly intellectually honest I agree, but most pro-life people don't hate the women, they just want to stop the killing of the babies.

I admit my explanation is quite an eloquent, but I think it did a much better job of explaining it somewhere, on the podcast.

I'm very pro-life by the way.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (dyaak)

213 Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie, but if not, then Little Big Man.

Outlaw Josey Wales?

Posted by: Jeff Cooper at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (brIR5)

214 Trump fights? So far as I can tell, he couldn't even whip a little old widder lady in New Jersey, and ran and hid from Megyn Kelly for a whole debate, and made a whole bucket of undelivered-on threats to Cruz and his wife.

He talks tough but he seems like the last guy out of the helicopter...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:08 PM (Kucy5)

I thought refusing to do ambush interviews was something we wanted out of our politicians? And refusing to do debates with biased moderators? What did you think it would look like when somebody pushed back against the dishonest press?

My impression of how the candidates respond to attacks:

Trump: punches back in kind.

Kasich: apologizes for making you attack him.

Cruz: calculates the response that serves him best in the polls.

There's something to be said for the Cruz approach, but there's also a natural draw to Trump's methodology.

Posted by: Jake (irregular) at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (WjT3h)

215 O/T

I saw on FB a David Bowie quote:

"Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been."

Just love it. I am finally becoming the person God wants me to me.

I repent of my sins. Liberals are proud of theirs and refuse to repent.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (1ijHg)

216 If killing us in the womb is OK ... am I next ?

Posted by: Special Needs Toddler at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (fiGNd)

217 Trumps next press conference http://youtu.be/aL0MuT0v6ds

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 08:17 PM (hQ4EJ)

218 >>> Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie

He was in Outlaw Josie Wales

Posted by: fluffy at April 01, 2016 08:17 PM (2hcmo)

219 I saw on the 5 Ted was hoping to be on that's why I'm watching, Newt was on previous and he said he was neutral but it a Trump fan.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:17 PM (1J6E6)

220 Abortion. Huge issue, one of the biggest. Some people hate it, some people really like it. Like white chocolate -- Yuck!

Posted by: Donald Trump, Wharton, Class of 71 at April 01, 2016 08:17 PM (dciA+)

221 " I've had a hard time understanding this position from people.

If you believe abortion is murder, why should a woman not be held accountable for ending the life of her child? Both she and the doctor are complicit. I suspect it has a few root causes: some still view women as children, unaccountable for their actions; It is societally advantageous for authorities to give women the option to turn in their doctors to prevent future abortions, if they were both guilty, they would both keep quiet; and that doctor's are the only ones able to provide abortions, but that seems to negate other alternatives. Is there something I'm missing?
Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:06 PM (P+dRx)"

It's a strategic thing: prosecute and intimidate the doctors so that they don't offer abortions. It's the same reason that pro-life activists target the clinics and the doctors. They'll harass the doctors because a) they're easier targets b) people have more sympathy for desperate women and girls. Prosecuting one doctor is easier than prosecuting all the patients that got the procedure.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (QjqR3)

222 On the other hand, I got hold of a liturgy that someone I know and like did for Ash Wednesday in which he referred to Christ redeeming us from our mistakes-not sins, mistakes. I make plenty of mistakes. It's my sins I need to redeemed from.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (w4NZ8)

223 The lawyer for the late DC Madam is threatening to release her files, saying they will "blow the lid off the election."

Of course, she was shut down in 2006, when Ted was still working for the Solicitor General's Office in Austin, so, who, I wonder, will be the blowee...

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (Kucy5)

224 Merovign, Hadley in The Straw Giant referred to it as 'being captured by the system.' Of course he was only talking about how the Five Sided Puzzle Palace would capture Sed Defs.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (kI1oQ)

225 199 172
"At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie, but if not, then Little Big Man.
Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (LAe3v)

"You're only as old as the woman you feel."

- - Groucho Marx

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (p4UlV)

226 >>> I'd like to do it with Eve Plumb. Oh, wait . . .

It's creepy when she calls out "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!"Posted by: fluffy at April 01, 2016 08:15 PM (2hcmo).....................and then turns into Danny Trejo

Posted by: wth at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (HgMAr)

227 I like the quote, but what are you using it in reference to? :^)
Posted by: Fenelon
-------------------

Nothing. I merely thought to share it.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (9mTYi)

228 #216 In England, yes. In Holland, already, I think.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:19 PM (Kucy5)

229 Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (9mTYi)

O.k. Thank you.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:19 PM (w4NZ8)

230 ""At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie, but if not, then Little Big Man.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:14 PM (LAe3v)"
If he did, the writers were plagerizing an earlier work. Hey J.J.! That never happens, right?

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:19 PM (1ijHg)

231 I genuinely do not believe that Donald Trump is dumb. He graduated from Wharton and he was not on the affirmative action track.

What Donald Trump is is a salesman. He is a very good salesman. That is a skill that not everyone can learn.

The thing about people with a natural talent for sales, in my experiences is that they tend to think that everything is negotiable and a lot of them tend to be kind of lazy since they can often talk somebody else into doing things that they don't want to do themselves.

The salesmanship got Trump past a lot of the hostile press which does in a lot of Republicans but it looks like it will not be enough to take Trump all the way.

Posted by: obnoxious ahole at April 01, 2016 08:19 PM (MpvuV)

232 ... once you get over the hump of killing the useless young - why not euthanize me ?

Posted by: Old Invalid at April 01, 2016 08:19 PM (fiGNd)

233 Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (QjqR3)

"The pro-life contingent realize that Trump didn't really side with them. He's just mouthing the words so they won't put the dreaded pro-choice label on him. "

Not true. Trump articulated the pro-life position, which is that abortion is murder and from which the obvious position that murderers should be punished stems.

"Pro-life doctrine is that if abortion becomes illegal you punish the abortion doctor but not the woman who gets it. Now, I'm pro-choice, and I think that's somewhat intellectually dishonest. It's not like abortion doctors are dragging women in off the street and performing abortions against their will. "

I am pro life, have been pro life all my life, have debated the issue for a good 15 years and these people who think that the woman is a victim have always been considered pro choice by me and others who I have fought with shoulder to shoulder. They are in no way pro-life, for the obvious reason that you outline, which is that their position is intellectually dishonest. It's a nonsense position no normal human can hold unless they are simply lying about the issue. Which these cretins openly admit to lying about, because, they claim, it gets them public support.

"However, a pro-life activist once explained the reasoning to me: if you punish the woman, you look hard-hearted and lose support. Instead, you say that you forgive the woman, offer her support, and get her to testify against the doctor. The activist explained that it was like giving immunity to a low-level criminal in order to convict the bigger criminal. After seeing stories about Dr. Kermit Gosnell performing abortions that were literally infanticide, I could see his point.

People who are pro-life see it as more effective policy to criminalize the provider and not the recipient. The pro-life activists have spent years trying to erase the Dem image of them as puritanical creeps that just want to control women. Trump didn't get that because he never did his homework on the issue and so he wound up handing the Dems a fantastic Todd Akin like sound bite while really angering pro-life voters. He undid years of work by the pro-life activists. That's why they're mad at him."

The people you describe are intellectual cowards who are not interested in saving lives so much as they are interested in avoiding the stigma of being called woman haters by crazy liberals who don't even believe there is such a thing as women. They are not, however, pro life. I have to admit, however, that they do seem to be the media whores who misrepresent our position to the public, which quickly spots the obvious inconsistency and ignores them. If these people are so numerous then I'm not surprised the pro-choice cause has gone nowhere for 40 years. I wouldn't be surprised if many of them weren't in fact pro choice activists infiltrating pro life movements and neutralizing them with harmless watered down crap like this. They are mad at Trump for various reasons, none of which have anything to do with "damage to the movement". They did, in fact, damage the movement themselves. Pretty much slit its throat. The only way abortion is ever gonna be criminalized now is when it is done by whatever fascist government capitalizes on the path Trump paved for them.

Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 08:20 PM (MZKpF)

234 Karl Rove: Let's face it, the GOP nominee might need to be someone other than Trump or Cruz

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

There ya go, cruzbots!

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at April 01, 2016 08:20 PM (iQIUe)

235 Oh well, time to meander. Writing to do.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:20 PM (kI1oQ)

236 I saw on FB a David Bowie quote:

"Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been."

Yeah, that's very wise. I may have to reconsider my opinion of Bowie.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:20 PM (LAe3v)

237 "You're only as old as the woman you feel."

I'm 28.

Posted by: Michelle Fields at April 01, 2016 08:21 PM (9mTYi)

238 216 If killing us in the womb is OK ... am I next ?
Posted by: Special Needs Toddler at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (fiGNd)

In short, yes. Remember, per John Holdren, a baby isn't a fully formed human being until the age of 2.

Life is cheap to Leftists. What's the difference if a kid gets the chop with the turkey baster or the vial of potassium?

Remember, the road to paradise on earth is paved with the bones of 200+ million people in just over 100 years.

And counting.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:21 PM (p4UlV)

239 The thing is, anyone who's actually studied the abortion issue, and is honest, even if they are pro-choice or pro-life or whatever, does know what to say. At least in outline.

And it's this: Roe versus Wade is a terrible decision, in which the Supreme Court stepped far outside its mandate, and it created a horrible precedent for future jurisprudence. And if elected, I will propose strict Constitutionalists for the Court who won't make mistakes like that in future. Also I have a freshly-picked pineapple right here for John Roberts.

(Well, maybe not that last bit.)

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 08:21 PM (6FqZa)

240 Magnificent Seven

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:21 PM (1J6E6)

241 195 To be honest with you, I've never been really clear on what an "abortion" is.

Considering the sex life Trump's boasted of, I'd be effing amazed if that were true.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:21 PM (Kucy5)

242 165
Pro-life doctrine is that if abortion becomes illegal you punish the abortion doctor but not the woman who gets it. Now, I'm pro-choice, and I think that's somewhat intellectually dishonest. It's not like abortion doctors are dragging women in off the street and performing abortions against their will.
Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (QjqR3)

It's extremely intellectually dishonest. If abortion *is* murder, then the woman is the murderer and the doctor is the equivalent of a hired hitman. And it's premeditated murder, which makes it Murder 1.

Period. There is no other way to spin it. Are there any other situations where a person who orders a murder is let go?

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:22 PM (sdi6R)

243 Skip wins.

It was said by the old Mexican, living outside of town.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:22 PM (1ijHg)

244 Posted by: Johnny at April 01, 2016 08:20 PM (MZKpF)

Where did you steal that from?

Only a dolt could support making something illegal but not support punishing the lawbreakers.... why it would be just like 'illegal immigration'.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:23 PM (T78UI)

245 So ... I supported a woman's right to choose, and universal health care ...

... but why are they seizing my assets ? And giving me this pill instead of an MRI ?

Posted by: Dude in his Sixties at April 01, 2016 08:23 PM (fiGNd)

246 230 ""At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Chief Dan George. I think it was a Clint Eastwood movie, but if not, then Little Big Man.

Little Big Man. In Josey Wales, The Chief humped like a prairie jackrabbit.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:23 PM (Kucy5)

247 But where we tut-tut Trump for not getting these abortion gotcha questions "right" ... we want him to answer that forgiveness gotcha question differently?
Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:16 PM (uURQL)

It is not biblical not to ask God for forgiveness. The parable you referenced doesn't mean we shouldn't ask God for forgiveness. It means that saying you're going to do something for God and not doing it counts for nothing. It's better for you to refuse first and then you actually do it. Of course it's best if you obey from the get-go.

Jesus said we should ask God for forgiveness in the model prayer he gave us. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

And the issue is what Trump said an answer to that question. Why bring up the other candidates? Tu quoque doesn't fly.

And honestly, I don't care that Trump says he has never asked God for forgiveness. I never mistook him for a practicing Christian anyway. My point is that some of his supporters here basically took his word over scripture. Which I found disturbing.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:24 PM (dyaak)

248 To quote Merlin in "That Hideous Strength": "Cut off the witch's head."

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:24 PM (1ijHg)

249 >>>I genuinely do not believe that Donald Trump is dumb. He graduated from Wharton and he was not on the affirmative action track.

bear in mind ivy league institutions for years and years (and to this day) did have an affirmative action track for the wealthy and well-connected.

Posted by: Donald Trump, Wharton, Class of 71 at April 01, 2016 08:24 PM (dciA+)

250 243
Skip wins.

It was said by the old Mexican, living outside of town.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo

I believe you're treating me unfairly. My answer was just as good.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:24 PM (LAe3v)

251 If it was in Little Big Man, the line was stolen from "The Magnificent Seven."

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:25 PM (1ijHg)

252
"At the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."
OK morons. Name the film.

The Magnificent Seven

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at April 01, 2016 08:25 PM (FkBIv)

253 I told you Trump was pro-chife.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:25 PM (MNgU2)

254 Merovign, Hadley in The Straw Giant referred to it as 'being captured by the system.' Of course he was only talking about how the Five Sided Puzzle Palace would capture Sed Defs.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 01, 2016 08:18 PM (kI1oQ)

Non-State Dept bureaucrats sometimes refer to ambassadors that side with their assigned areas as "going native" (not State because that's kind of normal for them).

A lot of people refer to politicians assigned to bureaucracies to clean them up that end up protecting them as "going native," i.e. Rice's reputation after being assigned.

It's acculturation. Sometimes it happens really quickly. I'm sure some people at large bureaucracies have it as their job description.

Yet again, life imitates Yes, Minister.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:26 PM (wB8Tg)

255 pep, Since I don't remember the line in any other film, I can only wish you "good luck with that."

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:26 PM (1ijHg)

256 Yes, a realistic expectation of peoples' intellectual honesty when it comes to political issues.
Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 08:10 PM (T78UI)

Sad, but true.

It's part of the reason I've been in the Let It Burn camp since I could vote, really. It's also why i support Trump in many ways.

I've watched "Conservatives" conserve nothing, while at the same time seen a third of my generation executed by the selfish, my career in medicine disappear into a slavery to the government, and the promise of a better future than my parents had mean that i'll probably have less than my grandparents have.

Trump stepped in this mess, but I actually find him to be intellectually consistent in his initial statement. The woman is the victim statement was an unfortunate wavering towards pandering towards the 'pro life movement' and in the interview link in the article he says the laws are set, but he would prefer for it to be a states rights issue but we have to leave the laws the way they are. I think its an understanding of the inability for a president to effect change on the issue, so it's pointless to talk about as a presidential candidate. Sad that he got caught flat footed with Matthews and hadn't found the golden path for this one.

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:26 PM (P+dRx)

257 Someone please tell me why we are leaving the male out of the abortion question?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:27 PM (gdJkt)

258 Seriously ... straight up ...

... once I get all my stuff past the goal line - am I a citizen ?

Posted by: Unborn Child at April 01, 2016 08:27 PM (fiGNd)

259 the age of 84, I became indifferent to women."
OK morons. Name the film.

Brokeback Mountain IV ?

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:27 PM (MNgU2)

260 A few observations:

So I was at the gym and I saw the interview with Dickerson on one of the TVs there. Notice that Dickerson phrased the question as how will you restrict a woman's right to an abortion. Just another demonstration of how the left controls the language. As George Orwell said he who controls the language controls the future.

I think Trump actually has a good point with possibly letting Japan and South Korea obtain nuclear weapons. I mean come on, the SCOAMF has no problem with Iran having nuclear weapons, but he was a problem with Japan and South Korea having them? What the fuck?

I'm not a Trump supporter but I'm also not a #nevertrump person either. I realize he's saying a lot of this stuff off the top of his head and doesn't really mean most of it, but at the same time you have to admit in doing so, he is bringing up interesting questions.

Posted by: Serenity Now! at April 01, 2016 08:28 PM (q++2h)

261 187 I await an example, any example, of Trump referencing the primacy of The Constitution.

Trump thinks "constitutional" means a brisk, refreshing walk. He read it in Time Magazine.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:28 PM (Kucy5)

262 Well, I can see this is going to end well.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:29 PM (wB8Tg)

263 "the age of 84 14, I became indifferent to women."

OK morons. Name the film.

Brokeback Mountain IV ?

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:27 PM (MNgU2)'
fify

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 08:29 PM (1ijHg)

264 I have no doubt Donald isn't a dummy. Now Barak, give me something he hasn't parroted from some previous leftist.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:29 PM (1J6E6)

265 Sad that he got caught flat footed with Matthews and hadn't found the golden path for this one.

He's had time to bone up on policy. The time for winging it was over after he won his first primary. The questions weren't going to get any easier after that. And the, things are going to be great, believe me schtick probably won't sell well in the general. I could be wrong, and hope that I am.

Posted by: Hadoop at April 01, 2016 08:30 PM (2X7pN)

266 I'm not a Trump supporter but I'm also not a #nevertrump person either. I
realize he's saying a lot of this stuff off the top of his head and
doesn't really mean most of it, but at the same time you have to admit
in doing so, he is bringing up interesting questions.

Which is a good description of a talk show host, but a very poor one of a President.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:30 PM (LAe3v)

267 Trump thinks "constitutional" means a brisk, refreshing walk. He read it in Time Magazine.

True ... and I think Hillary see's me and mine as a speed-bump.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:30 PM (fiGNd)

268 #260 I realize he's saying a lot of this stuff off the top of his head and doesn't really mean most of it, but at the same time you have to admit in doing so, he is bringing up interesting questions.

Yes, and the first of those questions is, who hires someone who obviously did not preparation whatever for his job interviews and expects to bullshit the HR people?

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:30 PM (Kucy5)

269 If a mother is murdering a child in the womb, isn't the father doing so as well?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:31 PM (gdJkt)

270 #258 Seriously ... straight up ...

... once I get all my stuff past the goal line - am I a citizen ?
-- Unborn Child

Apparently not if your mother took a vacation outside the US. The Constitution says so!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:31 PM (Kucy5)

271 "Pro-life doctrine is that if abortion becomes illegal you punish the abortion doctor but not the woman who gets it. Now, I'm pro-choice, and I think that's somewhat intellectually dishonest. It's not like abortion doctors are dragging women in off the street and performing abortions against their will.
Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:09 PM (QjqR3)

It's extremely intellectually dishonest. If abortion *is* murder, then the woman is the murderer and the doctor is the equivalent of a hired hitman. And it's premeditated murder, which makes it Murder 1.

Period. There is no other way to spin it. Are there any other situations where a person who orders a murder is let go?
Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:22 PM (sdi6R)"

Like I said, it's a strategic decision. Pro-choice activists try to highlight this inconsistency. Pro-life activists see it as more effective to try to win people over to the pro-life position by pointing out how gruesome abortion can be, trying to offer support for crisis pregnancies so women make other choices, and trying to avoid spooking voters by creating the image of desperate women being stuck in jail charged with Murder 1.

They'd rather imprison the doctors or convince them to stop practicing because one doctor can perform many abortions. Think of it as targeting the drug dealer rather than the drug user.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:32 PM (QjqR3)

272 Is Trump throwing the election?

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:33 PM (Ao68V)

273 Someone please tell me why we are leaving the male out of the abortion question?

Because Patriarchy!!1!!11!!!

Posted by: some feminazi at April 01, 2016 08:33 PM (044Fx)

274 If a mother is murdering a child in the womb, isn't the father doing so as well?
Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:31 PM (gdJkt)

From my understanding, men currently have no say in the decision to have an abortion. In a perfect world, they would also be implicated as an accomplice if they provided funds.

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:33 PM (P+dRx)

275 Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:29 PM (wB8Tg)

Are you tailing about the thread or the election or both? :^)

I usually hightail if out of here before it gets really nasty.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (w4NZ8)

276 232 ... once you get over the hump of killing the useless young - why not euthanize me ?

Liverpool Schedule, NHS

Posted by: richard mcenroe at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (Kucy5)

277 272 Is Trump throwing the election?

Grump ... damn good question.

I'm warming to the notion that he jumped in for the press - and is shitting his pants now that he's winning.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (fiGNd)

278 Yes Trump should get a pas on the abortion gotcha question . And the nuclear Strike question. And the Syrian refugee question and the gun ban for people on the No Fly list question. And the HB 1 visa question . And the pay for legal bills in case of injury question . And the Israel and Palestenians both need to compromise question.

Trump never gets a pass like everyone else.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (MNgU2)

279 Grump it's a theory that's been floating around, and woman who was working for the Trump campaign from the beginning is saying he really didn't want to win until he became the front runner.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:35 PM (1J6E6)

280 Frankly, I would rather have a president like Trump who has absolutely no firm opinions or consistent ideology, than a President (Obama, Sanders -- I'm looking at you) who closely follow the party line of a failed 19th century utopian genocidal fantasy (Marxism). And I'd rather have a scattershot shallow egotist like Trump than a villainous Revenge-Bot like Hillary.

But that's just me.

Posted by: zombie at April 01, 2016 08:35 PM (jBuUi)

281 272
Is Trump throwing the election?

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie!

The thought has occurred. I would think more highly of him if he did. A simple resignation from the campaign would be better.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:36 PM (LAe3v)

282 I usually hightail if out of here before it gets really nasty.

Later Fen ... always good to see ya'.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:36 PM (fiGNd)

283 In 2012, I remember feeling maybe we had a shot when Newt Gingrich beat up on Juan Williams in that debate.

Just like when Trump mentioned the border wall and survived his feet in mouth faux-pas'.

We're sinking. Unless something totally unforeseen happens, I think it's over, whether Trump is the nominee or the GOP appoints a stooge RINO shill.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:36 PM (p4UlV)

284 Cruz is going to tortoise this out.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:36 PM (Ao68V)

285 But that's just me.

Posted by: zombie at April 01, 2016 08:35 PM (jBuUi)

You're not alone.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. There is no last stand. at April 01, 2016 08:37 PM (WVsWD)

286 More I thought about the Cotton idea from yesterday, the more l liked it. By the summer we'll be so sick of these candidates that a fresh new face, without the burdens of a past would be a most welcome relief.

Do I want to listen to Hilary for four MORE years
Do I want to endure Trump for four MORE years

Do I want to listen to Cotton for four years?

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 01, 2016 08:37 PM (o7Ufw)

287 If a mother is murdering a child in the womb, isn't the father doing so as well?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:31 PM (gdJkt)

No.

Posted by: Jake (irregular) at April 01, 2016 08:37 PM (WjT3h)

288
Grump, I pray you're right. Anyway, early to bed, kids.

Have a better one!

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 08:37 PM (p4UlV)

289 Frankly, I would rather have a president like Trump who has absolutely no firm opinions or consistent ideology, than a President (Obama, Sanders -- I'm looking at you) who closely follow the party line of a failed 19th century utopian genocidal fantasy (Marxism). And I'd rather have a scattershot shallow egotist like Trump than a villainous Revenge-Bot like Hillary.

But that's just me.
Posted by: zombie at April 01, 2016 08:35 PM (jBuUi)

Agree. Which is why right now I still plan to vote for Trump in the general despite his concerted efforts to dissuade me from doing so.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:37 PM (dyaak)

290 Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:36 PM (find)

Good to see you too.

But...but...but. It hadn't gotten really nasty yet. but I suppose i could actually go do something productive.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (w4NZ8)

291 Frankly, I would rather have a president like Trump who has absolutely
no firm opinions or consistent ideology, than a President (Obama,
Sanders -- I'm looking at you) who closely follow the party line
of a failed 19th century utopian genocidal fantasy (Marxism). And I'd
rather have a scattershot shallow egotist like Trump than a villainous
Revenge-Bot like Hillary.

Of course, but that's not the choice we face.

Posted by: pep at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (LAe3v)

292 274 If a mother is murdering a child in the womb, isn't the father doing so as well?
Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:31 PM (gdJkt)

From my understanding, men currently have no say in the decision to have an abortion. In a perfect world, they would also be implicated as an accomplice if they provided funds.
Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:33 PM (P+dRx)

Or in cases of rape, or if he pressured the woman to have an abortion. Then they're certainly complicit.

But the feminists keep telling us that "it's a woman's choice". If the man wants the child and the woman doesn't, then she's a victim of patriarchal oppression.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (sdi6R)

293 >>So I was at the gym and I saw the interview with Dickerson on one of the TVs there. Notice that Dickerson phrased the question as how will you restrict a woman's right to an abortion. Just another demonstration of how the left controls the language. As George Orwell said he who controls the language controls the future.

I just typed up a long abortion comment based on the idea that the left has been very good at insisting things they want, from open borders to health insurance to abortion, are a human right and therefore extremely difficult to argue against. Particularly if you don't point out the fallacy of this argument and instead get caught up in the silliness of should we toss women into jail.

But that said it better.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (/tuJf)

294 284 Cruz is going to tortoise this out.
Posted by: Grump928(C)

Slow and Teddy wins the race!

Posted by: zombie at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (jBuUi)

295 We're sinking.

Yeah.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (fiGNd)

296 I don't think Trump is dumb. I think he's lazy in some ways. Reading up and really studying these issues so he can talk about them effectively is hard work. He'd rather fly in, have a big rally, sling around his very catchy & appealing slogans, and head home. He's also not used to being disciplined in his speech.

We may all hate the canned sound bites politicians carefully utter, but there's a reason they do it. They've been trained by a hostile media and voters with a short attention span.

Abortion is a very painful issue. It's a minefield. Sensible politicians figure out what they believe, and what they're willing to say. Then they figure out a way to say it that doesn't enrage their nominal allies and delight their enemies. Trump screwed up on this one in a huge way. I wouldn't care except that his screw up will be used to damage other GOP candidates up and down the ballots across the nation.

Sheer political malpractice and not the first case of it.

I really hope that Ted Cruz can claw his way into overtaking Trump before or at the convention.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:39 PM (QjqR3)

297 Yikes.

That is so tone-deaf, Trump may have killed his campaign.

Or at least his voters who are either pro-life or Evangelical or Catholic.

Too bad the Postman's Boy is still in the race, otherwise this would definitely turn the tide to Cruz.

We'll see.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 01, 2016 08:39 PM (2rmvw)

298 Once you accept that you are going over the cliff, the person driving the bus becomes irrelevant.

Posted by: Weasel at April 01, 2016 08:39 PM (e3bId)

299 "We're sinking.
'

Yupp.

Might as well start marching into the fun camp now.
Nice knowing ya.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. There is no last stand. at April 01, 2016 08:40 PM (WVsWD)

300 272 Is Trump throwing the election?
Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:33 PM (Ao68V)

McCain and Romney certainly did, so it's not like it's anything new.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:40 PM (sdi6R)

301 Slow and Teddy wins the race!

Nice.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:41 PM (Ao68V)

302 >>>"and is now just basically button-mashing (as Allah puts it) in hopes that some combination of inputs gets him past the boss on this level."

Very, funny, ace. This looks very bad, terrible really, a real shame.

Still gonna vote for the guy, can't stand Hillary even more.

Posted by: Max Power at April 01, 2016 08:41 PM (q177U)

303 'And I'd rather have a scattershot shallow egotist like Trump than a villainous Revenge-Bot like Hillary.
But that's just me.'

Nope not just you.

I'd like to think he'd be at loggerheads with congress all of the time so nobody would get much done.

Posted by: freaked at April 01, 2016 08:42 PM (BO/km)

304 Might as well start marching into the fun camp now.
Nice knowing ya.

Now bullshit on that.

That's when things get interesting.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 08:42 PM (fiGNd)

305 Finally. Backlash for those nothing-to-do-with-Islam terror attacks.

http://tinyurl.com/zpshlfy

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at April 01, 2016 08:42 PM (Nwg0u)

306 Frankly, I would rather have a president like Trump who has absolutely no firm opinions or consistent ideology,

----

But I've a good idea which way he's likely to evolve once in DC. Who goes there and becomes more conservative?

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 01, 2016 08:42 PM (o7Ufw)

307 Trump is lucky he will be running against the vile and repulsive Hillary. If not, I would write in another name rather than vote for him.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:43 PM (dyaak)

308 "Yes Trump should get a pas on the abortion gotcha question . And the nuclear Strike question. And the Syrian refugee question and the gun ban for people on the No Fly list question. And the HB 1 visa question . And the pay for legal bills in case of injury question . And the Israel and Palestenians both need to compromise question.

Trump never gets a pass like everyone else.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (MNgU2)"

Trump may have believed that all those years palling around with Dems in and out of the mainstream media would get him a pass. It doesn't work that way when you have an "R" next to your name. The MSM smells blood in the water and even though they know its better to wait until he gets the nomination to gut him, it looks like they just can't resist the opportunity.

Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:43 PM (QjqR3)

309 From my understanding, men currently have no say in the decision to have an abortion.

--

Well I suppose he could lock her up in the basement for a few months.

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at April 01, 2016 08:43 PM (o7Ufw)

310 I usually hightail if out of here before it gets really nasty.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:34 PM (w4NZ

Yeah, willow did that a month or two ago.

I'm dumb enough to look in every so often.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (wB8Tg)

311 IMO, Definitely need a new face because I don't think Cruz could win now because of the expected Trump supporter backlash if he goes into the covention leading Cruz and Cruz ends up as the nominee.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (MNgU2)

312 Mr. Trump, you allowed a known Democrat operative to count coup on you.
Enough said.

Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (8QGte)

313 Well, once again Ace is swinging at Trump and hitting Cruz.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (Nwg0u)

314 307 Trump is lucky he will be running against the vile and repulsive Hillary. If not, I would write in another name rather than vote for him.
Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:43 PM (dyaak)

I said yesterday that there is an increasing probability that I will end up writing in my cat's name.

Kira 2016! I can personally vouch that she was born in the U.S. (specifically, in my bedroom closet), and that she is over 35 in human years.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:45 PM (sdi6R)

315 Those salivating bastards at the e can't wait.
Rubio saying Cruz is the only true conservative and Walker endorsing him is a set up. As soon as it goes to a contested convention it will be a "fresh face" as Rove says.

Posted by: Ralph at April 01, 2016 08:46 PM (AHcCm)

316 Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:43 PM (QjqR3)

I didn't think I needed a sarcasm tag. Sorry.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (MNgU2)

317 I've been a Cruz guy since day 1, I know what a Hildabeast is going to give us.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (1J6E6)

318 Yeah, willow did that a month or two ago.

I'm dumb enough to look in every so often.
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (wB8Tg)

Me, I like a good argument.

And I've felt that things lately, like for the past week or so, have been contentious but not nasty. Maybe I have a high tolerance for online conflict.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (dyaak)

319 Liam Donovan
"Trump doesn't even lead among WHITE MEN who have graduated college. Against Hillary MFing Rodham. But yeah, let's lean into this gender gap."

Posted by: Demographic Breakdown at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (mcm0N)

320 Clinton up 38% on Trump among white unmarried woman

Hillary MUST get elected! She will look out for our best interests, exactly like Angela Merkel! To quote Animal House, "Wait till Otis sees us! He loves us!"

Posted by: white unmarried woman at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (vhTN7)

321 I'd like to think he'd be at loggerheads with congress all of the time so nobody would get much done.

What makes you think that? He's a "deal maker," remember? Think of all the wonderful deals he can make with Pelosi and Reid.

Posted by: rfichoke at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (vLCft)

322 He could try to square the circle by saying "laws be faithfully executed" is binding on the President....and while he could/would jawbone for "abortion is murder", he's not a legislator. If the legislature decided to punish women for having abortions, that's what he'd do....and if they decided not to, but went after abortion docs instead, that's what he'd do.

So far, however, he just seems to be making a hot mess out of the issue and -- as was so sagely observed -- doesn't have any yuge, classy, fantastic victories so he can yell "squirrel!"

Posted by: cthulhu at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (EzgxV)

323 I'm so sick of spinning our wheels on abortion.

And when someone does say what I thought was the standard pro-life position that you do punish the people involved in it, the pro-life people freak out.

I guess the punishment for abortion was supposed to be free counseling sessions.

Conservatives should have dropped this issue decades ago.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (A3kYV)

324 I am all on board in cases of rape and incest, but if you couldn't keep your pecker contained and the girl you were boffing didn't get her PP contraception, that we are all paying for, I see it as both your faults,

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (gdJkt)

325 >>>Mr. Trump, you allowed a known Democrat operative to count coup on you.

Enough said.Posted by: navybrat at April 01, 2016 08:44 PM (8QGte)
<<<

So much for the tough deal maker myth.

Posted by: Ralph at April 01, 2016 08:49 PM (AHcCm)

326 315 Those salivating bastards at the e can't wait.
Rubio saying Cruz is the only true conservative and Walker endorsing him is a set up. As soon as it goes to a contested convention it will be a "fresh face" as Rove says.

Posted by: Ralph at April 01, 2016 08:46 PM (AHcCm)

*************

How can Cruz or Trump unite a party they hate?

Posted by: Demographic Breakdown at April 01, 2016 08:49 PM (mcm0N)

327 If Trump would have ran as a Democrat, he might have pulled it off a lot easier.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 08:49 PM (1J6E6)

328 Just as DC makes you wish you would wake up to hear it had been leveled by a a "nuclear device", Donald Trump makes you wish that you would wake in the morning to news of his .. passing.

Posted by: Y. A. Tittle at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (e8kgV)

329 So much for the tough deal maker myth.

Posted by: Ralph at April 01, 2016 08:49 PM (AHcCm)

Apparently the deals were good deals only in his mind. At least in the 80s/90s.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (dyaak)

330 If Trump would have ran as a Democrat, he might have pulled it off a lot easier.

I have often thought this. He'd be killing Hillary right now.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (Ao68V)

331 I've been informed that Cruz has a "rabid puppy" strategy for the Colorado convention next week where there will be a slate of trusted Ted delegates ready to go to Cleveland. The delegates there (I am one of them) can then vote for Cruz's picks whilst the "uncommitted" (read, Rubio) weasels flounder amongst themselves.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (6FqZa)

332 So now Hot Air links the reader to a Phillip Klein piece in which Klein says Trump has wrecked the GOP which cannot now rebuild and cannot win.

The GOP by allowing Trump to be its ad-man, even if he were to turn to dust instantaneously, has caused permanent damage, in that it has lost any chance of gaining a single minority vote, and has lost most of the women voters it had.

Klein says that it has no hope with only down-market white men voters.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (U6f54)

333 It is not biblical not to ask God for forgiveness. The parable you referenced doesn't mean we shouldn't ask God for forgiveness. It means that saying you're going to do something for God and not doing it counts for nothing. It's better for you to refuse first and then you actually do it. Of course it's best if you obey from the get-go.

Jesus said we should ask God for forgiveness in the model prayer he gave us. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

And the issue is what Trump said an answer to that question. Why bring up the other candidates? Tu quoque doesn't fly.

And honestly, I don't care that Trump says he has never asked God for forgiveness. I never mistook him for a practicing Christian anyway. My point is that some of his supporters here basically took his word over scripture. Which I found disturbing.
Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:24 PM (dyaak)

Jesus commands his followers to repent, and to be perfect.

Asking for forgiveness can be a part of repentence, but it's not actually the same thing. I can ask God for forgiveness and then go right back to my sin. And I have. Putting so much emphasis on forgiveness forgets that we're after repentence.

When we look at the Lord's prayer the request for God's forgiveness and mercy is placed behind an assertion that we have already forgiven others in the same manner. Again, repentence and action.

Asking for forgiveness is words. So you can see why I brought up that parable when even non-Christians are putting emphasis on whether he gave the correct Sunday School answer.

Maybe not. But that's not how you evaluate someone else's faith, and neither is it how God looks at us.

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?"

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (uURQL)

334 The same for Kim Kardasian

Posted by: Y. A. Tittle at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (e8kgV)

335 Me, I like a good argument.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:47 PM (dyaak)

I don't want to point any fingers, but for months I've been seeing mainly *really bad* arguments.

It seems like the argument is secondary to the position a lot of the time.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (wB8Tg)

336 Posted by: zombie at April 01, 2016 08:35 PM (jBuUi)

I think it was Moreivign who touched on the "going native" phenomenon earlier and that would be the problem with someone who holds no firm beliefs, they'd go native and in Washington that would mean going left, government exists for the sake of government, anyone not firmly against that going in will be assimilated.

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (hQ4EJ)

337 If we ever could get a Republican through a primary that was basically agnostic on abortion, we would finally close the gender gap.

I don't even think people that call themselves pro-life have ever actually thought how it would work, it was just virtue signaling.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (A3kYV)

338 Think of all the wonderful deals he can make with Pelosi and Reid.

And think of all the wonderful deals HRC will make.

Posted by: freaked at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (BO/km)

339 Or in cases of rape, or if he pressured the woman to have an abortion. Then they're certainly complicit.

But the feminists keep telling us that "it's a woman's choice". If the man wants the child and the woman doesn't, then she's a victim of patriarchal oppression.
Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:38 PM (sdi6R)

Absolutely, what most people seem to forget in modernity is that every time you have sex, it is a contract between two people for the shared joy and responsibility of ~9 months of pregnancy and at least 16 years of parenting. We used to call the acceptance of such duties and many others prior to the act of procreation 'marriage'.

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:53 PM (P+dRx)

340 If we ever could get a Republican through a primary that was basically agnostic on abortion, we would finally close the gender gap.

You dream. Unless you are 100% Pro-Abortion with public funds the State Media will make you the enemy of all single women.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 08:53 PM (Ao68V)

341 Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (uURQL)

I don't disagree with anything you wrote. In fact, it was a clear explanation of forgiveness and repentance.

But repentance is a response to realizing you need forgiveness, no? Can one repent without acknowledging wrongdoing?

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (dyaak)

342 If Trump would have ran as a Democrat, he might have pulled it off a lot easier.
Posted by: Skip

I don't know, I used to think Democrats were stupid but seeing how Trump basically won the nom, it looks like we're the dummies.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (A3kYV)

343 I am all on board in cases of rape and incest, but if you couldn't keep your pecker contained and the girl you were boffing didn't get her PP contraception, that we are all paying for, I see it as both your faults,

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (gdJkt)

I think your conceptual problem here is that you are seeing the pregnancy and child as a punishment that must inevitably lead to an abortion. The rest of us see women as people with moral agency who are choosing to have an abortion.

Posted by: Jake (irregular) at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (WjT3h)

344 @287- Jake - How many children don't you have?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (gdJkt)

345 Let me guess-the second film about Elizabeth I continues to mangle the actual history?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 01, 2016 08:03 PM

Nice to see another English history buff around here. Don't get me started on what they have done to Richard III!

Posted by: Farmer at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (o/90i)

346 To tell the truth I'm liking Bernie more and more. What if it was BS vs DT? What would you do?

Posted by: freaked at April 01, 2016 08:55 PM (BO/km)

347 Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (A3kYV)

Being Pro-life is not a political position to be adjusted as needed. Since you are obviously pro-choice I assume most things are relative to you.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:55 PM (MNgU2)

348 Pet thread tomorrow!

Posted by: Weasel at April 01, 2016 08:55 PM (e3bId)

349 328 Just as DC makes you wish you would wake up to hear it had been leveled by a a "nuclear device", Donald Trump makes you wish that you would wake in the morning to news of his .. passing.
Posted by: Y. A. Tittle at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (e8kgV)

That would be the worst thing I could possibly imagine right now. Think Gavrilo Princip.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 08:56 PM (sdi6R)

350 I don't even think people that call themselves pro-life have ever actually thought how it would work, it was just virtue signaling.
Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (A3kYV)

A third of my generation in incinerators or tissue research isn't virtue signaling.

Posted by: VFM0054 at April 01, 2016 08:56 PM (P+dRx)

351 Will Trump please just go away?

Under no circumstances will I ever vote for him. He's not a progressive masquerading as a Republican. If elected, he will cave to the progressives any time they criticize him. If he's the nominee I will write in Ted Cruz.

Posted by: biancaneve at April 01, 2016 08:56 PM (e98eb)

352 If we ever could get a Republican through a primary that was basically agnostic on abortion, we would finally close the gender gap.

You dream. Unless you are 100% Pro-Abortion with public funds the State Media will make you the enemy of all single women.
Posted by: Grump928(C)

When Republicans run as pro-choice in deep blue states, they do really well. Look at Giuliani.

Once you take that dumb issue off the table, conservatives win.

Abortion is a moral decision that will be decided by individuals, lawfare will be about as effective as the War on Drugs.

Hell, the pro-life community can't even say a woman should be punished for "murdering" her child through abortion.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:57 PM (A3kYV)

353 If we ever could get a Republican through a primary that was basically agnostic on abortion, we would finally close the gender gap.

Yeah, um... no. In practice we have found "agnostic on abortion" has meant "agnostic on everything Americans care about". They then go full feminist on other issues to prove they're pro-woman. And it doesn't even do them any good: Bob Packwood, anyone?

As a general rule, a male feminist is a gamma creep.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 01, 2016 08:57 PM (6FqZa)

354 I don't want to point any fingers, but for months I've been seeing mainly *really bad* arguments.

It seems like the argument is secondary to the position a lot of the time.
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at April 01, 2016 08:52 PM (wB8Tg)

Can't really argue with that.

But I'm an insensitive type in real life, so online fighting doesn't cause me personal distress or discomfort. Even if I think the fight is stupid.

Unless it's people I like and respect. I was sad when BackwardsBoy got banned. I hope they let him back in.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:57 PM (dyaak)

355 "obnoxious a-hole" (his name for himself, not mine) at 231: "I genuinely do not believe that Donald Trump is dumb. He graduated from Wharton and he was not on the affirmative action track. "

I wonder how large of an endowment check his multi-hundred-million-dollar daddy sent in with Donald's application.

You seriously suppose that only "affirmative action" beneficiaries receive the Cadillac Ride through "elite" institutions of higher education? You haven't known many Ivy Leaguers. (Congrats on that.) About half of them are dumber than a goddamned stump.

Posted by: Pastafarian at April 01, 2016 08:58 PM (pCf+a)

356
Being Pro-life is not a political position to be adjusted as needed. Since you are obviously pro-choice I assume most things are relative to you.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck

I'm against abortion and adultery.
Why don't we talk more about adultery laws?

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:58 PM (A3kYV)

357 Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:58 PM (A3kYV)

Sure you are.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 08:59 PM (MNgU2)

358 To tell the truth I'm liking Bernie more and more. What if it was BS vs DT? What would you do?
Posted by: freaked at April 01, 2016 08:55 PM (BO/km)

Vote for neither.

If Trump gets my vote, it'll only be because of Hillary.

Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:59 PM (dyaak)

359 So now Hot Air links the reader to a Phillip Klein piece in which Klein says Trump has wrecked the GOP which cannot now rebuild and cannot win.

The GOP by allowing Trump to be its ad-man, even if he were to turn to dust instantaneously, has caused permanent damage, in that it has lost any chance of gaining a single minority vote, and has lost most of the women voters it had.

Klein says that it has no hope with only down-market white men voters.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at April 01, 2016 08:51 PM (U6f54)
_______

You know, I really loathe Trump. I cant listen to the guy. Obama needed several years to get me to the point where I started to mute him reflexively. Trump is already there.

But even worse than Trumps crude sliming are the dramaqueen fits of the GOP commentariat. Bad candidates happen. You dont have to vote for them. Stop whining like college-snowflake, ffs.

Posted by: Dixie Wetsworth, Florida at April 01, 2016 09:00 PM (boZoo)

360 Has the pro-life community ever had a real victory?

It's just a pipe dream that you're going to ban abortion.

And when someone like Trump says the person who commissioned the abortion deserves punishment, everyone faints.

It was always about virtue signaling and showing moral superiority. Reminds me of the Left.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 09:00 PM (A3kYV)

361 I always blanch when I hear people say (usually lefties) that a pro-life position is necessarily a religious one. In fact, I'm pro-life *because* I'm agnostic.

I believe it is a scientific fact that a fetus is a unique human organism. It's not a lower form of life that 'evolves' into a human in the womb - it's a very small human.

And since I don't believe in an afterlife, I think this is our only shot. When you kill a child in the womb, you rob them of any chance at existence.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 09:01 PM (4/i9Y)

362 another Trump stomp ?

Posted by: seamrog at April 01, 2016 09:01 PM (Mf1L1)

363 It was always about virtue signaling and showing moral superiority. Reminds me of the Left.

Yeah well, you're wrong.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 09:02 PM (Ao68V)

364 So that leaves what?... muslims... as the only issue that Trump hasn't flip-flopped on this year? I am excluding his statement last year saying we needed to take in Syrian refugees.

So how long til he insists it is our duty to take in such refugees.

Posted by: redbanzai at April 01, 2016 09:03 PM (nUJM6)

365 Caturday, in the park
I think it was the 4th of July

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2016 09:03 PM (1J6E6)

366 Libertarian prez debate on fox business if anyone's interested, also a few live streams on you tube, here's one http://youtu.be/w7ELB5DL2kM

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 09:03 PM (hQ4EJ)

367 "Why don't we talk more about adultery laws?

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:58 PM (A3kYV) "

Can I get some blinis to go with that red herring?

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 09:03 PM (4/i9Y)

368 If Trump would have ran as a Democrat, he might have pulled it off a lot easier.

Posted by: Skip

Right, there would be no Bernie and the Dems would be paying alms to their totem for taDonald.

Posted by: Ralph at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (AHcCm)

369 >>I'm against abortion and adultery.
Why don't we talk more about adultery laws?

I'm curious, you are quick to call pro-life people hypocrites for not wanting to jail women who have abortions. But you claim to be against abortion and yet don't have the stones to stand up for your own beliefs.

What would you call yourself?

Posted by: JackStraw at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (/tuJf)

370 I will confess that I'm a Single Issue Voter on abortion. I have only voted for one pro-choice politician in my life, and that was because I didn't know he was. Ford in 76.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (Ao68V)

371 NO Jake- I see this as accepting the responsibility for the choices you make, and if that results in a child , you bear that responsibility.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (gdJkt)

372 Conservatives should have dropped this issue decades ago.

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 08:48 PM (A3kYV)

Maybe the "conservative" really does not mean anything beyond being a brand name preferred by a particular sub-group of partisans?
Maybe the majority independents are more correct in the observation that there really isn't a significant difference between the major parties than the various partisans who refer to them as LIVs.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (T78UI)

373 Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 09:00 PM (A3kYV)

You don't live in Texas do you? Also you probably never heard of The Mexico City Policy. You might also want to check out the partial birth abortion ban bill that past overwhelmingly.

Take your pretend conservative trolling somewhere else.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (MNgU2)

374 nood-- trump "clarifies."

I'm sure you're all pretty surprised.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 09:05 PM (dciA+)

375 Trump essentially has the liberal view of how/what a conservative thinks. Minus the sneer and arrogance; but basically that's sort of view. Little nuance.

That's because all of his life has been spent around liberals. And he clearly has read very little (if any) of conservative views on these.

No one is really surprised by this. I'm just surprised it's taken this long to emerge.

Posted by: SteveMG at April 01, 2016 09:05 PM (fGJI7)

376 360 Has the pro-life community ever had a real victory?

Well ... we had two small wins for the movement in our house. Nobody gets to fuck with either of them.

But - my smart ass answer aside - no.

How do you rush in and stop mothers from killing their children in the womb ? You can't.

I'll say the heresy ... in the long game - should we ? I hate the collateral damage.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (fiGNd)

377 Who gives a strategic shit about abortion this cycle? If you fix immigration you can then concentrate on persuading people that abortion is wrong. If you don't fix immigration, you have a permanent Democrat majority and hence abortion forever.

Posted by: angela urkel at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (vhTN7)

378 John McAfee is at the L prez debate, I predict he's doing blow off a hookers ass while brandishing a machete by mid debate.

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (hQ4EJ)

379 373.

Yea, Texas, where a Republican won a Republican state? That Texas? I guess you thought everyone was obsessed with abortion?

Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (A3kYV)

380 " nood-- trump "clarifies."

I'm sure you're all pretty surprised.

Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 09:05 PM (dciA+) "

Well, much like Captain Jack Sparrow, Trump is consistently inconsistent. You can always count on him to change positions. Whereas an honest man might do something stupid, like stand on his principles.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (4/i9Y)

381 this whole thing is just....lame

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at April 01, 2016 09:07 PM (dBmVV)

382 nood-- trump "clarifies."
I'm sure you're all pretty surprised.
Posted by: ace at April 01, 2016 09:05 PM

I doubt anything he says could surprise me. but I'll go look.

Posted by: Farmer at April 01, 2016 09:07 PM (o/90i)

383 Talk about changing. Ted has now adopted all of Trumps major positions. But we can trust ted.
Posted by: Great Reagan's Ghost at April 01, 2016 07:43 PM (kfoLf)

You mean that Ted campaigned on when he was elected to the Senate while Trump was still sucking up to Bill and Hillary?

By the way, ace, I would never CASUALLY insult one third of your readers; no, when I says they're brain dead buffoons who don't cross the human sentience threshold required to trigger murder charges, I've considered the facts presented very damn carefully.

Posted by: SDN at April 01, 2016 09:07 PM (NG7bb)

384 the article that instapundit runs on trump self=destructing is by john fund at national review "donald trump: the art of self sabotage". it's worth a look. a number of insiders and long-time associates say trump didn't expect to do so well and doesn't really want to be president (as i've proposed).

there's speculation he'll continue to screw up and lose (on purpose) the nomination and he can spend the rest of his life complaining it was taken from him. i'd add he might even sabotage the republican nominee out of spite, which would reinforce his bragging he could have won.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2016 09:10 PM (WTSFk)

385 You mean that Ted campaigned on when he was elected to the Senate while Trump was still sucking up to Bill and Hillary?

...
Posted by: SDN at April 01, 2016 09:07 PM (NG7bb)

That he was never was a globalist / trans-nationalist or is joined at the hip with one?

Posted by: Burnt Toast at April 01, 2016 09:10 PM (T78UI)

386 359
Obama needed several years to get me to the point where I started to mute him reflexively.

Posted by: Dixie Wetsworth, Florida at April 01, 2016 09:00 PM (boZoo)

Really? I didn't even watch the Greek Columns Speech in '08.

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 09:11 PM (sdi6R)

387 Correction: That should have read "Styrofoam Columns SPeech".

Posted by: rickl at April 01, 2016 09:13 PM (sdi6R)

388 Posted by: Cramer at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (A3kYV)

Since you asked whether pro-life people had any victories I was pointing out Pro-life policy victories. educate yourself troll.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at April 01, 2016 09:14 PM (MNgU2)

389 I don't disagree with anything you wrote. In fact, it was a clear explanation of forgiveness and repentance.

But repentance is a response to realizing you need forgiveness, no? Can one repent without acknowledging wrongdoing?
Posted by: chique d'afrique at April 01, 2016 08:54 PM (dyaak)

Confession is acknowledging wrongdoing. Daniel 9 has a great confessional prayer ... and I can't find anything in there that can be binned into "asking forgiveness".

Requesting mercy is not the same thing, IMO. Forgiveness is a subset of mercy, but implies wiping the slate clean where mercy is less bold.

Though this made me go dig up what Trump actually said. The first one I couldn't find a transcript I could copy, but here are his later remarks:
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1507/22/acd.01.html

COOPER: Is that (repentance) part of forgiveness?
TRUMP: If I make a mistake, yes, I think it's great. But I try not to make mistakes. I mean, why do I have to repent? Why do I have to ask for forgiveness if you are not making mistakes? I work hard. I'm an honorable person. I have thousands of people that work for me. I have employed tens of thousands of people over the years.

From a Baptist POV, I'd rather a different answer and emphasis. But again, words.

Action-wise, he showed compassion to this lady, and there's other stories I've seen that point to a generous heart.
https://t.co/D8RBfufIwH

I'm not conflicted about supporting him; he's already a step ahead of Romney by not being a heretic.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 09:16 PM (uURQL)

390 Duh. Common-sense restrictions:

1. Make the abortionist have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
2. Make the clinics conform to all the stuff that surgical centers have to comply with.
3. No abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. Even those faggots in Europe understand that.
4. Bury the remains. Destroy the tissue market.

Trump is a lazy effing shit. He should have spent at least an hour researching the issue.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at April 01, 2016 09:17 PM (1ijHg)

391 I'll say the heresy ... in the long game - should we ? I hate the collateral damage.
Posted by: ScoggDog at April 01, 2016 09:06 PM (fiGNd)

Abortion clinics burned down and salted. "Doctors" crucified.

Long game, you said.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 09:20 PM (uURQL)

392 I stopped listening Ogabe speeches before his first inauguration

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at April 01, 2016 09:20 PM (dBmVV)

393 Libertarian debate is really good, discussing things the two main generic parties would never even think about discussing, also it's not just asshole moderators trying to start arguments between the candidates so they'll gave something to talk about the next day, John Stossel asking substantive question.

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 09:28 PM (hQ4EJ)

394 Quit whining so hard and so early that you snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I know, I know, normally the Republicans are SUPPOSED to be a fake opposition party that serves the purpose of keeping the leftist pace from going so fast that people wake up and hang their administrators, but this is actually different, because we have a guy who actually does get a kick out of identifying and firing incompetent people. He might even fire some publicly during his first term in office!

Posted by: Dystopia Max at April 01, 2016 09:32 PM (61Gds)

395 All you need to know about Trump's chances could have been found simply by examining demographics and culture in the voting states, which have been exceedingly predictive, no matter what happens in Wisconsin.

Conversations with reporters are gotcha territory. Unless it's written on his site or released as an official statement/tweet, calling these verbal hedge games FLIP FLOPS is stupid. Especially when the flip-flopping is being browbeaten by permanently indecisive issue-flacks who benefit financially whether or not victory is won this cycle. Repeating these nothing-burgers is simply signal boosting for the Enemy.

Posted by: Dystopia Max at April 01, 2016 09:33 PM (61Gds)

396 NO Jake- I see this as accepting the responsibility for the choices you make, and if that results in a child , you bear that responsibility.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 01, 2016 09:04 PM (gdJkt)

Ben, you ignorant slut, the responsibility for having a child shows up in child support payments. It's right there in the name.

If a woman seeks out an abortion then that is the responsibility of the woman. If a man forces her to have an abortion then that is the responsibility of the man. If men could veto abortions then you could argue that they should be responsible for failing to do so. However, they can't, so you can't.

People are responsible for their own choices. Apparently you don't understand this point, as several people have stated it plainly on this thread. Sad.

Posted by: Jake (irregular) at April 01, 2016 09:36 PM (WjT3h)

397 McAfee actually comes across pretty good, still hoping for the blow off a hookers ass tho.

Posted by: All Teh Meh at April 01, 2016 09:38 PM (hQ4EJ)

398 Darryl Perry is the anarchist among the group. He's the most intellectually consistent but wasn't included in the debate. I'm OK with any of them, though. At least they're all willing to oppose the state in some way, unlike the remaining Republican candidates.

Posted by: rfichoke at April 01, 2016 09:45 PM (vLCft)

399 From a Baptist POV, I'd rather a different answer and emphasis. But again, words.

Action-wise, he showed compassion to this lady, and there's other stories I've seen that point to a generous heart.

https://t.co/D8RBfufIwH

I'm not conflicted about supporting him; he's already a step ahead of Romney by not being a heretic.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 01, 2016 09:16 PM (uURQL)

From a Baptist point of view, Trump is an unrepentant bearer of false witness.

Posted by: redbanzai at April 01, 2016 10:21 PM (nUJM6)

400 271: Posted by: Jill v2 at April 01, 2016 08:32 PM (QjqR3)

RE: Whether or not the pro-life position of not punishing women is "intellectually dishonest".

I don't think it is. I think it's a nuanced position that takes into account the difficulties and complexities of origin and responsibility in the matter of abortion that makes it a unique situation. And I'm sure you will agree that it is difficult and complex.

By my reading, you take the "dishonesty" it to be in the following argument:
Murder is a crime, and people who commit or seek to commit murder should be prosecuted as criminals.
If you think abortion is murder, then one who seeks an abortion is one who seeks murder. Therefore, a woman who procures an abortion is a murderer=criminal.
If you subsequently do not punish the woman, or if you give her a lighter punishment, then you are violating your claim that abortion = murder; hence, intellectual dishonesty.

This is a neat argument, and I think it captures most of what the pro-life position would agree with. But I don't think it works because it fails to capture the Pro-Life contention that abortion is something unique, a crime that is related to, but different from murder. This argument relies upon the assumption that there is an overall concept called "Murder" of which abortion is a proper subset, such that everything that applies to "murder" also applies to abortion.

I think this is reasonable, but false. Abortion is a special case unto itself precisely because of the combination of: A) the indeterminate social status of the unborn, B) the physical dependency of the unborn, and C) the physically necessary role of the mother in item B. [NB:Condition A is necessary b/c Murder cases do not characteristically involve the perpetrator's doubt about the victim's humanity -- or if they do, this plays unequivocally against the perpetrator. In abortion, however, the perpetrator's doubt is often considered a mitigating factor. ]

Most pro-choice arguments attempt to reduce the abortion to something less than these three combined conditions (cf. violinist argument ignores C and changes A), and then argue that the Pro-Life position is being dishonest in some way. I consider this similar to the attempt of immigration activists to blur the distinction between legal and illegal immigrants in order to more easily argue that being against "illegal" immigration is just being "anti-immigrant".

I appreciate that as someone who is pro-choice--many of my good friends are-- you're really making an effort to state the pro-life position clearly and honestly, as you've had it explained to you.

I just don't think the position is intellectually "dishonest".

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at April 01, 2016 10:30 PM (Y5I9o)

401 karl rove must past away this night.

god

created one perfect being

and then created women/

so on his final day he rested.

eve from the rib and it's all overt.

Posted by: forever at April 01, 2016 11:05 PM (AG7GB)

402 only a mater of time!1

Posted by: fuck.n at April 01, 2016 11:07 PM (AG7GB)

403 little bill

Posted by: fuck'n eh at April 01, 2016 11:08 PM (AG7GB)

404 took a heart pill.

Posted by: mr boieng at April 01, 2016 11:13 PM (AG7GB)

405 2
And . . . first.
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 01, 2016 07:27 PM

Ooooh so close, but ya gotta be quicker than that..

Posted by: rumcrook at April 01, 2016 11:16 PM (uiVGU)

406 is not the weaker of the speciieacs.

Posted by: wow at April 01, 2016 11:35 PM (AG7GB)

407 it's a poor tilt?!

Posted by: wow at April 01, 2016 11:36 PM (AG7GB)

408 There are all kinds of new medications for OCD.

Posted by: LeBron Horowitz at April 01, 2016 11:57 PM (53hrQ)

409 From a Baptist point of view, Trump is an unrepentant bearer of false witness.
Posted by: redbanzai at April 01, 2016 10:21 PM (nUJM6)

From a Baptist point of view, you're not even qualified to judge.

Go make some cookies.

Posted by: ReactionaryMonster Bravely supporting kittens at April 02, 2016 01:39 AM (1D4Ef)

410 I wonder if it's finally dawning on the Trump supporters that the man they've hung their hopes and dreams on is a complete fraud. That once this man with the "big brain" runs out of slogans to spout he hasn't a clue about the issues that confront America. In addition to being mean, petty, misogynistic, and insecure, he's as clueless as the drunk at the end of the bar whose reading stop at the headlines of the New York Post. The sad part is that his supporters have been making excuses for him and trying to explain away his idiotic statements for so long that they can't stop now without admitting to themselves they've been had by a total buffoon.

I say we do whatever it takes at the convention to deny this moron the nomination. If his supporters take their ball and go home well so be it. It's better than having the country thinking the the Republican Party is completely insane. And we just might, if we're lucky, end up with Cruz as President. (Let's not forget that Hillary Clinton is a lousy candidate.)

Posted by: Funeral Guy at April 02, 2016 02:34 AM (X9xMc)

411 He's promising Pot in every chicken...........a shoe in Baybee.

is an egg an aborted chicken? clucked if I know..just roll up that leg an smoke it

Posted by: saf at April 02, 2016 07:25 AM (qKiBT)

412 The new reality that the "pro-life" camp cannot accept is that abortion prohibition is just as doomed as the War On Drugs, because abortion prohibition has become the War On Drugs with the advent of mifepristone and misoprostol pills.
Banning abortion means banning mifepristone and misoprostol and effectively requires detecting and punishing women who choose to self-administer these drugs, which can easily be mail-ordered via internet. There need be no "abortion doctor" involved or available to prosecute.
30% of US women have had or will have an abortion. Incarcerating 30% of US women is not practical even in the US which already has the largest prison population on the planet (The "land of the free" already has the highest incarceration rate among developed countries).
Stopping abortion is not practical and will not happen in any free country, because stopping abortion would require draconian government action incompatible with freedom.

Posted by: tommyvee at April 02, 2016 10:06 AM (jPONc)

413 While I'm thinking about it, let's get completely sympatico with the dummycrats and skewer our front runner with made up straw argument criticisms from the shrillster's own and personal hack "journalist."

Posted by: Random thought generator at April 03, 2016 11:19 AM (wLLbf)

414 Why have a law against murder, if you are not going to punish it? Women have always gotten away with murder. Litty Dean.

Posted by: burt at April 04, 2016 12:08 PM (r1CBK)

415 Saying he doesn't care about abortion is as close as we could expect Trump to come to answering honestly. Anyone paying attention already sees him as a full blown pro-abort. However, anyone paying much attention isn't considering him anyways.

Posted by: Largebill at April 05, 2016 08:07 AM (e9dwz)

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