Cruz Control

Cruz ambushes Trump on the birther issue. Even the NY Times swooned:

Ted Cruz, Once Dismissed, Emerges as a Slashing Debater

By MICHAEL BARBARO  JAN. 15, 2016

...

Mr. Cruz did not just dominate much of the Republican debate, he slashed, he mocked, he charmed and he outmaneuvered everybody else onstage — but none as devastatingly and as thoroughly as this campaign’s most commanding performer, Donald J. Trump.

In the process Mr. Cruz — the high school student who once recited the Constitution from memory and the Princeton debater who dazzled judges with his ability to entrap less shrewd rivals — showed the American public that his surging candidacy is not a fluke.

Later Trump rallied by playing "New York, New York". But I say that as a Yankee fan. Does Cruz lose votes in Iowa or New Hampshire (or even upstate New York?) by noting that New York city values are not conventionally conservative?

Comments

[Janet]

It looks like Carly Fiorina will be at the March for Life on the 22nd!

http://marchforlife.org/mfl-2016/rally-march-info/

[Jack is Back (but On )!]

So, Fat RINO Bastard is proven to be a lying Fat Rino Bastard. My surprise meter just redlined. And we all know he was up to his 56 inch waist in Bridgegate. What a phony ass jerk. Then he uses the largest shovel he could find and not a ladder to explain the documented evidence on Sotomayor, PP contribution and gun control history.

Next thing he will explain that he triped and Obama caught him when visiting the Sandy trips runway.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

MM,
Max Baucus's proposed Health Care disaster imposed them but it was switched amongst public outrage and ridicule so apparently there is no ACA tax on tampons...or condoms or Q Tips.

[Miss Marple]

Thanks, Ignatz.

I need a cheat sheet or something! LOL!

[Miss Marple]

Why is Megan Kelley giving Frank Luntz and Ted Cruz all this time?

Oh, silly me, should have figured it out.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

John Judis at Vox with a little unaccustomed cold water;
Democrats are in more trouble than they think. And changing demographics won’t save them.

[narciso]

has white working class really dropped 30 points in as many years, that seems dubious, considering that was the group that didn't turn out last cycle,

[narciso]

So Lupica, is really touting New Canaan values, did the Amalekites have a particular berg,

[narciso]

more wisdom from slate,

http://libertyunyielding.com/2016/01/15/al-jazeera-america-failed-because-yanks-dont-really-want-hard-unbiased-reporting/

[narciso]

in truth AJ America, was even more race obsessed then MSNBC, suggesting an incipient intifada, in Ferguson for instance,

[Rick Ballard]

Narciso,

It's mostly fiddling with "working class" through newspeak. Manufacturing has certainly declined but I really dunno if taking a Starbucks manager out of the "working class" is any more proper than including an indoctrinator's credential as an 'advanced degree'.

How would the Vox clowns live without newspeak fantasies?

[narciso]

judis is journolist, but a long time ago, he wrote a decent bio of Buckley pere, that was before the era when Tanenhaus wasn't a great hack,

[Miss Marple]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3401308/Austria-prepares-mobilise-army-halt-migrants-crossing-borders-revealing-turning-1-000-WEEK-try-enter-false-identities.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline

I think by summer almost all of Europe will be in a state of war.

[narciso]

it would be a two front war, all of these countries already had sizable populations from the Middle East or Africa, the suspect in Ashley Olsen in Florence, as a recent example, however, it is Florence, so caveat emptor,

[FTL]

Been DVR'ing Carson on Antenna TV, but I haven't been able to watch much.

I was just watching an episode from September 1991. Robin Williams was on, and he was so over the top about the Clarence Thomas hearings that I deleted the episode and am going to try to go to sleep.

The only tragedy about Robin Williams's suicide is that he didn't try and succeed at it fifty years only. Piece of shit.

[FTL]

…fifty years ago.

[GMax]

Judis wrote "The Coming Democrat Majority" with Texiera. He is a big fat Democrat, and clearly has been on record as demographics being in the Democrats favor. So take his hedging on Republicans needing to move to the middle with a huge grain of salt. He basically is saying, the Obama got 51% with a coalition that is not replicable by Hildabeast. He did not point out that a blowout by Republicans was possible, but it is. There is lack of Democrat enthusiasm for anyone except a Socialist, and yutes as not going to come out in large numbers for her, they find her alien. Blacks will not turn out in the numbers they did for a brother ( black turnout was higher as a percentage of the demographic than whites were, but that was the only time in history that has happened ).

She might do slightly better with white women, but not nearly enough to cover the deficit in white males.

Trump would leave her a chance because of his high negatives, but most Republican candidates would defeat her. If the market meltdown continues, she will be toast no matter what she says or does, even against Trump.

[Miss Marple]

More on Burkina Faso, which I posted about earlier today:

http://www.dw.com/en/burkina-faso-security-forces-battle-gunmen-at-hotel-in-capital/a-18983574

[anonamom]

Scott Adams of Dilbert fame--who is an engineer, trained hypnotherpist, MBA, as well as cartoonist-- has a fascinating take on whom he calls the Master Persuader--who we'll be calling Mr. President in 2017.

http://blog.dilbert.com/

[narciso]

that's why I took issue with some of his figures, the Akin/Murdock talking point has to be raised for street cred, much like Dylan Matthews explaining Razorback's rampage,

[GMax]

BTW my boat is equipped with radar, GPS and autopilot. From Clearwater to Appalachicola I used the GPS to set a heading and told the autopilot to hold that heading. I got to exactly the marina I entered the headings for. I am quite certain the navigation systems on a US navy vessel are even better quality than what I have. To be off 50 miles, would have been like me ending up in Panama City instead of Appalachicola. That is 65 miles from the two. Look at it at a map, and tell me that makes any sense.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Jeez, a big fat democrat slaps the dems in the face with a cold flounder and you guys still aren't satisfied.
Tough crowd.

[narciso]

sounds like Mali some years ago,

[narciso]

it's a shocking piece of journolism, editors would be fired, if Vox had any,

[Rick Ballard]

There don't appear to be any central bank puts available at the moment. The PBOC removed the Shanghai Put this week, Draghi hasn't mentioned 'whatever it takes' for a spell and Yellen is still dealing in 'dumb looks for free'. The China devaluation coupled with oil selling as if supply and demand actually had some meaning implies a level of deflation, beginning in primary materials, which the world really hasn't seen for a spell.

I'm sure the Fed and ECB would like to fire their QE-NIRPs a few times to see what happens but China would have to build another 1,000 or so ghost cities to get the primary material markets back on track. They have to deal with q debt financed $7-10 trillion capital misallocation first though.

I'm sure glad there are highly credentialed central planners available to quickly resolve all issues. If they weren't around, there might be a problem.

[Frau Imbiss]

Re: Cruz and NY bagels...

How many puffy tacos has Trump savored?

[narciso]

not merely organized, but equipped with a certain skill set,

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/634073/Cologne-sex-attacks-migrants-Moroccan-North-African-Syrian-refugees-PEGIDA

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

So Rick,
What keeps the coming storm from being worse than the one we never really recovered from?
The only saving grace might be the one thing the smart set is afraid of; the central banks are out of ammo.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--How many puffy tacos has Trump savored?--

I hope GUS doesn't answer that. Might even top last night's effort. :)

[narciso]

ah yes, mike rogers, it's just coincidence that he would have been on the know with the supply effort to all sorts of salafi, in Syria as well as Libya,

https://twitter.com/adamhousley/status/688169131691016192

[GUS]

Ig, I think Trump has been married thrice.

[Frau Imbiss]

Iggy! Henry's Puffy Taco Express in San Antonio is quite respectable.

[GUS]

Frau, I have a sister in San Antonio, Father went to St Mary's. I love puffy tacos. Henry???? Why didn't you tell me?

[narciso]

so she wasn't always to comfy with kingpins,

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/soap-actor-kate-del-castillo-el-chapo-mexico

[MaryD]

Frau, those puffy tacos look like dying and going to heaven!

[Rick Ballard]

Ignatz,

We could see a reversion below mean in the markets with a very long recovery time and I have no idea of the actual risk taken by the TBTFs in loaning into primary material projects, whether through direct loans or by holding bonds but the US population in general is not overextended on personal debt.

It's just very hard to see where increases in corporate profits can be derived. Walmart could increase tonnage moved by 5% and see sales drop by 5% and profits by even more. How does Ford increase the price on an F150 when when steel, plastic, rubber, paint and probably glass have all decreased in cost?

[Clarice]

https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/01/15/lawyer-challenging-ted-cruz-eligibility-was-suspended-from-practice-of-law/

[GUS]

Clarice, I think Cruz should release his applications for College, his loan applications from college, and his TRANSCRIPTS.

Watch libs heads explode.

[narciso]

reminds me of the roomate, they dredged up at princeton, turns out he was a disbarred lawyer,
DUI as well,

[GUS]

Someone doesn't want Cruz to win.

[Miss Marple]

Robert Costa ‏@costareports 3h3 hours ago

big story in GOP politics tonight, based on new reporting: donor class is privately reaching out to Trump camp as they prep for possible nom
261 retweets 100 likes

[narciso]

suppose it's true, with costa 50/50 chance, what are the preconditions they would put, and the converse,

[Jeff Dobbs]

anonamom:
Scott Adams of Dilbert fame--who is an engineer, trained hypnotherpist, MBA, as well as cartoonist-- has a fascinating take on whom he calls the Master Persuader--who we'll be calling Mr. President in 2017.

He's been linked here a number of times. I'm still trying to find anyone who followed his blog leading up to New Years.

I don't think anyone would admit to it if they did.

[Miss Marple]

narciso,

Donors are going to try to get in, but not sure they will. Their best chance would be to donate to the RNC or to a PAC.

They can reach out to him, but frankly, anyone who put all their money on Jeb at the outset would not be people Trump would like. AKA LOSERS.

Plus, if he takes big bucks donor money he negates a lot of his attractiveness to people whose #1 thing about him is that he is independent.

[Miss Marple]

Jeff,

Went back and read the posts leading up to New Years. Didn't see anything unusual except the one about hypnotism, and I didn't read that one because I am averse to stuff like that.

[Clarice]

Gus, you are evil--guitar player or not.

[narciso]

he was also the luxury speedboat, and Ivanka rape
regurgitator,

http://www.newsbusters.org/people-organizations/michael-barbaro

[Jeff Dobbs]

Miss Marple - there was a four-part series about hypnotism. If you didn't read those, then of course you didn't "see anything unusual".

I can assure you, I wouldn't be asking about things usual.

[GUS]

Clarice, are you trying to make friends with me!?

I am holding a 1980 Rickenbacker 330.

Beautiful guitar.

[Miss Marple]

Jeff,

I thought that was what you were talking about. Since you kept asking, I thought I would point out what I thought you meant.

It's not that I didn't see it. I just chose not to read it because Hypnotism.

Sort of like me and pierced ears. LOL!

[Miss Marple]

This song - has gone - to bed, and so must I.
So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, good bye!

Good bye.... good bye... good bye!

[Jeff Dobbs]

Miss Marple:
Sort of like me and pierced ears. LOL!

I know, right?!!?!?!?!?

Piercing one's nose is much more civilized....

[Clarice]

WELL, GUS, LATELY YOU TOLD EVERYONE HERE YOU LOvED THEM, EXCEPT FOR ME.

nYTOL

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--We could see a reversion below mean in the markets with a very long recovery time and I have no idea of the actual risk taken by the TBTFs in loaning into primary material projects, whether through direct loans or by holding bonds but the US population in general is not overextended on personal debt. --

The problems my untrained eye see that are worse than last time;
1. US population may not be overextended but the middle class is in a weaker spot otherwise than 08, a lot of municipalities and states are already a lot more stressed than they were in 08 and US gov debt is much higher.
2. Every one of the BRICS is already either in a depression [B], plunging who knows how far [C,S] or getting set to plunge who knows how far [R,I]. That doesn't leave much of a wall and I have zero confidence in any of their abilities to weather the storm.
3. Most of the Eurozone never really recovered from 08.
4. Policy makers and central bankers seem even more clueless than ever after having embarked on an even larger worldwide binge to cure the hangover, or more correctly aneurysm, from their last binge.

Perhaps the only silver lining might be there is less distance to fall for most and those who have most profited from the free money binge of the last 7 years are those with the most to lose.

[GUS]

Miss Marple!! Go on youtube and look up Auf Wiedersein by CHEAP TRICK.
Awesome song. Goodnight Miss M.

[GUS]

Pierced puffy taco is quite common in L.A. and VEGAS.

[GUS]

Clarice, I LOVE YOU. I posted a couple weeks ago, that I purposely stay up on Saturday Night, to see your "pieces".

Wow, the puns. I can't STOP.

[narciso]

well birdman, was byzantine even with that preview trailer, and the revenant, I wouldn't watch on a bet,

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3384228/posts

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Ok, settle down a little GUS.

[GUS]

Narciso, is Revenant the LeoTARDio movie???
The last in theater movie that I have been to, is/was WAR HORSE. Several years ago.
I have no time for Hollyweird and C-LEVEL actors who are "money makers".

[narciso]

yes, that's the one, revenants are supposed to be vampires, which would have made the bear part kind of strange, when's the last time you saw a vampire bear?

[GUS]

A Vampire Bear. Sounds LeoTARDed to me.
I've seen a Vampire Giraffe, but not a bear.

[GUS]

Narciso, are these Revenants from Syria???

[GUS]

Big GUN..firefight in small AFRICAN NATION of BURKINO FASO. Gunfight.

hmmmmmm. I wonder. Could it be?????

THE RELIGION of PEACE????

We will look back upon LADY JEAN von JUG EARS "REIGN OF TERROR" years from now, and ask ourselves. WHY? Could we let this EMOIONALLY/PSYCHOLOGICALLY DISTURBED.....BASTARD....be our President.
OBAMA IS A CLOWN.

[Jose]

" I love puffy tacos."

I believe that is Jeb's nickname for his wife.

[Ed Drunkard]

"Been DVR'ing Carson ...The only tragedy about Robin Williams's suicide is that he didn't try and succeed at it fifty years [ago]. Piece of shit."

HEY-OOOOOOOOOO!

[maryrose]

Good morning my friends
Have a great weekend and enjoy your life
We all have much to be grateful for in these troubling times
We all seem to have people we love and who love us
That in itself is a blessing

[fed up ...]

narciso,

"suppose it's true, with costa 50/50 chance, what are the preconditions they would put, and the converse"

the GOP donor class wants lower corporate taxes, more immigration, and a 'mend-don't-end' plan for Obamacare-things which The Donald will gladly deliver if we are unlucky enough for his misrule.

[Clarice]

Okay, Gus.XOXO

Iggy, good analysis.

[buccaneer morgan]

I used to see at least one Oscar nominated film a year, probably rent the martian, because Jessica chastain, despite the daemon.

[Centralcal on iPad]

I am seeing on Twitter that there has been a prisoner swap. 4 Iranian dual nationals for ?????

[Centralcal on iPad]

From Twitter:

BREAKING: 4 IRANIAN-AMERICAN PRISONERS RELEASED UNDER PRISON SWAP DEAL. Can be Hekmati, and Jason @jrezaian!

[buccaneer morgan]

Who knows,the need just takes the weekend off, some sepah agents for the innocents they nabbed over there.

[buccaneer morgan]

On whose feed did you find this?

[Miss Marple]

Good morning!

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/01/did-hillary-clinton-just-take-a-strange-shot-at-be.html

Convincing case that Hillary compared herself to Bernie by saying that she had a "real" grandchild (his are adopted).

Also, there is a long comment from a reader explaining the Clinton method of laundering foreign donations and hiding the identities f the donors through that Canadian charity. It's about 5 or g down in the comments, too long to copy for here.

[Centralcal on iPad]

Narciso: it was a retreat from Stephen Hayes. Origin seems to be Farsi News feed.

[Centralcal on iPad]

Retweet not retreat. Sigh

[Miss Marple]

Here's one feed where I saw prisoner release info:

https://twitter.com/EnglishFars/status/688361845476999168

[Miss Marple]

Again, I am reminded of the Bergdahl swap:

The goal was to release some terrorists, I imagine. So the American prisoners were held in reserve.

[Jane]

The Iranian hostages have been released (4 of them).

Finally something I can thank Obama for.

[Centralcal on iPad]

Drudge has it now, too.

[Jane]

The hostages are not Bergdahl.

[Centralcal on iPad]

Sorry, but I am not good at capturing full Tweets on my iPad, there is this also:

US also to release 6 Iranian-American prisoners in exchange, those who convicted of sanctions violation.@MashreghNews_ir

[Jeff Dobbs]

(new thread)

[Miss Marple]

6 people were traded for the 4 Americans. I am trying to find out who was released on our side.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--which The Donald will gladly deliver if we are unlucky enough for his misrule--

Anyone who says or thinks they know what Teh Donald will do, including Teh Donald, is kidding themselves.

[cheerleader]

Trump's speeches sound repetitive because he goes over and over his goals. He did not build his company and wealth by not having goals

Day one first thing, he's going to remove "gun free zones" from U.S. military bases.

A couple of his other goals include: clean up the waste and fraud and mismanagement of Veterans' affairs; replace the diplomatic corps with people who can actually negotiate, instead of people like Caroline Kennedy.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

How do you know that's what he's going to do?
I can assure he won't "clean up the waste and fraud and mismanagement of Veterans' affairs" because no person in history has ever fixed the 'waste fraud and abuse' of government even though every person in history has campaigned on a promise to do the impossible.