Enough Snow Already

OK, I am done with the snow removal du jour. So maybe now I'll hike into town and watch "The Revenant" to see what sort of hardships other real men endure? Naah. I'll be watching NFL Championship Football! And rooting hard for the Cardinals since I have an Ariens snowblower.

And speaking of my snowblower, I had a Donald Trump epiphany this morning. I bought the snowblower last winter, we had plenty of snow, and it is the Greatest Toy Ever, although I say that as a non-owner of a huge chainsaw. When I am out there with that thing roaring I am the King of Snow. Well, a guy running a giant plow down an Interstate at fifty MPH in a blinding storm is the King. Call me a prince. Hmm, but do I really outrank the guys with the riding snowblowers? OK, I am the Duke of Snow.

Moving on, this morning I could not get my Greatest Toy Ever started. It was gassed up and ready to go but... to start it one must adjust the choke to open (not closed), the electrical switch to on (not off) and the fuel line to open (not closed). Three binary settings, only eight possibilities, even an idiot could do this, right? Especially having done it many times only ten months ago.

Maybe! But I would like to blame my difficulties on an absence of idiots. The on/off switch, which when I was a kid would have been labelled (get ready) "On/Off", in fact included only a pictorial aid. One choice was indicated by an unlocked padlock and an upraised hand, palm forward. I took the hand to mean "Stop" and the padlock to mean "Unlocked". Mixed messages! The other possible setting was a locked padlock and a picture I still can't make out. And as a final hint, there was a larger graphic indicating that all the dials had two positions and to run the machine they all had to be turned to the correct position, although what that position might be was left unclear. Not helpful!

After fifteen dark moments during which my life, or at least a snow shovel, my lower back and a bottle of Advil, passed before my eyes, I figured out that "unlocked padlock" meant "Off". I mean, duh. The Greatest Toy Ever started up and away I went, the Duke of Snow unchained! Oh, I love the smell of engine exhaust in the morning. It smells like... Actually, I have no sense of smell. At all. Got sprayed by a skunk once and didn't even realize it, although when I got back to camp my friends were quick to give me the news. Kind of a digression.

But my Donald Trump epiphany was this. I get globalization and international marketing and a more globally oriented America. But seriously, are "On" and "Off" that hard for people to grasp, even non-English speakers? What is with these useless padlock graphics that make no sense? And how many snowblowers are we selling to Mexico or Venezuela anyway?

Let's make America great again by finding the ON button and labeling it sensibly. Yeah.

Comments

[boris]

One problem with the stop Trump argument ...

"If Trump wins the primary he loses the general"

... really only makes sense if trashing and bashing Trump keeps him from winning the primary. If he still has a good chance of taking the primary all the trashing and bashing just reduce his odds in the general.

Maybe trashers and bashers are not very concerned about that. Maybe another 4 years of dimorat stench is acceptable, or even preferable because by then the public will be good and ready for a nice sensible Republican.

[narciso]

Again there's the parallel to silvio in many respects,

[Truthbetold]

All the trashing in the world should not effect the electability of a GOP canidate over the pathetic field of Dems.

[rse]

I am back in ATL after having the wonderful opportunity to meet JMH and jimmy last night and the Diva was texting me over when I'd be back before I even made it to the subway.

I do believe yesterday may have been the most socioeconomically diverse crowd ever in central park. They were out in their minks and prada and they were taking intertubes to use as snow boards down the Boathouse steps toward the pond.

[Rick Ballard]

Why wouldn't Putin and Xi just follow the lead of the WaPo editors in response to Trump's I'll sue you! bluff re publishing the Taj Mahal piece? They seem to be reasonably well versed in using 'I call.' in response to bluster.

[jimmyk]

That was a good McCarthy link NK posted

Indeed. The unbelievable arrogance of someone who thinks rules are only for the little people. We'll see if she's right or not.

(Incidentally, be sure to get to p. 2 of the link, as that's where it really gets good.)

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Where'd you JOMers meet?

[jimmyk]

Captain, we didn't go to the usual George Keeley's, we went to a bar called Prohibition on Columbus Ave.

[Threadkiller]

https://youtu.be/WXQkHn1V9Tg

H/T sundance

[Truthbetold]

TK

That's really reaching if you think that is a gotcha moment for Cruz

[MaryD]

Any recent news/status from JiB?

[Truthbetold]

TK

Compare that to this video.

There is no way an informed conservative would support Donald Trump against Ted Cruz. Absolutely no way:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE&ebc=ANyPxKoPZ3T6KF6bgilhDGI6QakG0flHNyGuK7ywgE01N7JKNJ4KMFcw1fSt7qXM7lUzuVyT_73IrlAhFMlXzE0DnfXjc0-emg

[Old Lurker]

Haven't heard, Mary. I know anonamom wanted to know the name of the bug from the culture but I did not see if Jack ever answered.

[MaryD]

Thanks, OL. What away to start the year! NOT!

[Thomas Collins]

Trump's trashing Cruz is a bigger problem for the GOP than Trump being trashed. Trump's unfavorability ratings are likely to remain the same among independents, no matter what is said about him. Trump could, on the other hand, increase Cruz's or other GOP candidates' unfavorability ratings. This election is likely to revolve around persuadables in states such as Ohio, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina. Trump's unfavorability ratings indicate that he is highly unlikely to break through to the necessary 270 electoral votes. Ironically, Trump's only chance is most likely if Bloomers enters the race, so that 40-45% of the popular vote could take a battleground state.

[Threadkiller]

You sure defend Cruz a lot. Is he your #1 pick?

I never thought to guess him.

[jimmyk]

I think the impact of candidates trashing each other is overrated. They are expected to trash each other, and no one regards them as objective. The MSM trashing a candidate may still have some impact, but fewer and fewer people regard them as objective either.

[Buckeye]

Beasts

When I was in high school, talking a pretty gal into going on a snipe hunt was SOP.

Probably learned that from your brother:)

[Buckeye]

Last I remember from hearing from JiB was early this morning.

Checked in and then said he was going back to sleep.

[Truthbetold]

TK

You haven't been hearing me.

[TexasIsHeaven]

If I may - We have a majority in the house and in the senate. The Republicans ask for money and votes - we gave our money and we voted then into office. And what have we gotten in return? Not a damn thing. We still have Obummer care that is bankrupting us - illegals still pouring across our borders - the Constitution is still being trashed - our enemies are being elevated to a place of honor and our allies - especially Israel - are tossed aside and dishonored. And I could go on and on but why bother - thats why Trump is leaving them all in the dust - and they are all to stupid to see it. I am so sick and tired of the "politics as usual crowd". We are damn sick and tired of it. Giving billions in aid and tax payer dollars to countries who hate us. And that's still not enough - now we have got to bring hundreds of thousands of muslims in to this country with their cult of death and destruction with them and with death and hell following after. This is the United States of America for God's sake - and the Dems and the Repubs are doing their absolute best to turn it into a third world crap shit hole like the one those damn people have just come from. We are tired of it - and we are damn well going to see to it that things change. Cruz is my first choice but I'll vote for the Donald if he gets the nomination.

[Buckeye]

Maybe we should convince JiB to assign Frederick the task of periodic progress reports.

[boris]

"the impact of candidates trashing each other is overrated"

Also it can backfire on the candidate doing the trashing. Doubt even Trump could get away with calling Cruz what some a calling him.

[Threadkiller]

You answered "Cruz?" I apologize that I missed that.

[Threadkiller]

Can't play with you today, TBT, but I am glad you took a stand.

Good job.

[Truthbetold]

TK

Everything I have ever posted here has been extolling conservative values.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--In a general election when the country has a choice between a real conservative and a liberal the conservative wins.

When the choice is between the so called electable phony conservative the liberal wins every time.--

If the truth be told, I agree with truthbetold and have said this same thing many times.

NK,
Reagan and Bush [W ran as a conservative though he governed less so, which is also true of Reagan when you get right down to it] prove conservatives beat lefties or moderate libs.
GHWB, Dole, McCain, Romney all prove mushy moderate Reps get killed by perceived moderate or left wing Dems.

History is clear but the GOP keeps forgetting it and keeps getting condemned to repeat it.

[boris]

A kook "extolling conservative values" is still just a kook.

[Truthbetold]

Boris

Back it up with an example.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I only went on one snipe hunt, Buckeye. With a paper bag. I must have waited out in the woods for an hour.--

Snipe are real and there is a hunting season for them, though a paper bag would be a little impractical.
I have hunted them but never gotten one; they fly incredibly quickly and evasively.
The common snipe [reminiscent of and related to the woodcock];

[Old Lurker]

Hard to improve on TiH's close: "This is the United States of America for God's sake - and the Dems and the Repubs are doing their absolute best to turn it into a third world crap shit hole like the one those damn people have just come from. We are tired of it - and we are damn well going to see to it that things change. Cruz is my first choice but I'll vote for the Donald if he gets the nomination."

[henry]

Kook indeed, professional values on display on behalf of his website:

Based on previous interactions among Plaintiff, Mr. X and counsel for Defendant, Mr. X has interposed or inserted himself in oral and written communications between Plaintiff and Defendant and likely would interfere with the testimony that Defendant is entitled to obtain from Plaintiff based solely on Plaintiff's recollection of events.

[NK]

Reagan ran in '80 as a conservative for those times yes, but Carter defaulted the election more than McCain '08; GWB 2000 I disagree with completely, he ran as a 'compassionate' conservative and NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, much more so than entitlement reform, and Gore running FAR Left of BJ Clinton. 2000 was a case of a moderate beating an avowed Lefty.

[JMHanes]

Has anybody heard from JiB today? Hope his knee is getting sorted out and subdued! I was so sorry to miss seeing m/m sbw too, but what can you do when the snowpocalypse is upon you? The intrepid rse gave us on the ground action updates, as buses and subways ground to a halt on Saturday, and she was back out wading through snow drifts, before I even got the arrangements for my own unexpected layover squared away. By Sunday evening streets were plowed, sidewalks were shoveled, and we finally managed a cosy get together with jimmyk at a neighborhood bar. I can assure you that we mostly talked about ourselves, not all y'all… What a unique collection of people JOMmers are; it's such a pleasure to meet folks in person!

[Old Lurker]

Hey NK. DC got 24" or so and no mail since Friday. NYC got 30" and daughter #2 has missed nothing. You guys in CT got a bunch but YL1's Baby Max had normal Montessori in Wilton as usual today.

Lesson is, again: The closer to DC one is, the more screwed up things are.

[Truthbetold]

Henry, you really are clueless.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

W was perceived and portrayed as a right wing Christian conservative and he was socially quite conservative. He was certainly more conservative than his father or any other nominee, besides Reagan, since essentially Goldwater, 40 years before him.

[NK]

'socially' yes. But that's not what he ran on (nor did he run away from it), he ran on Gore being a Lefty Kook ( wandering across the debate stage.) The lady voters like MissM liked GWB enough and Gore ran away from BJ Clintion faux centrism enough for GWB to win.

[NK]

OL- don't need to convince me. I am ready to take a flamethrower to Inside the Beltway Land.

PS: they drive from New Canaan to Wilton? Is that the Montessori School on Rte 136? That is adjacent to my golf club.

[JMHanes]

boris:

"'If Trump wins the primary he loses the general' ... really only makes sense if trashing and bashing Trump keeps him from winning the primary. If he still has a good chance of taking the primary all the trashing and bashing just reduce his odds in the general."

Back in the days when folks were desperately careening from one not-Romney contender to the next, I remember folks arguing that a long, fractious primary season served to toughen up the eventual nominee. Perhaps you weren't among them.

[lyle]

King Putt weighs in:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/01/25/barack-obama-politico-donald-trump-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/79289506/

Voters need to pay attention to "the degree to which the Republican rhetoric and Republican vision has moved not just to the right but has moved to a place that is unrecognizable," Obama said.

Obama told Politico the gap between Democrats and Republicans — on "everything from tax policy to immigration to foreign policy" — is as wide as he has seen.

There were "real differences" with GOP nominee John McCain during the 2008 election, Obama said, "but John McCain didn't deny climate science. John McCain didn't call for banning Muslims from the United States. You know, John McCain was a conservative, but he was well within, you know, the mainstream of not just the Republican Party but within our political dialogue."

Maverick swells with pride...

[henry]

Good point as usual JMH.

[boris]

"fractious primary season served to toughen up the eventual nominee ..."

(1) There was a bit of "Noot must be stopped!"

(2) There was a bit of "For God's sake Stop bashing Romney!"

Don't recall I ever did much more that some Noot defense.

[Threadkiller]

I remember folks arguing that a long, fractious primary season served to toughen up the eventual nominee. 

That is what Palin was hoping for when she said that steel sharpens steel.

[boris]

Also my point was directed at the "Trump must be stopped", not at candidates criticizing each other.

[jimmyk]

NR hoist on its own petard:

The first contribution is from Glenn Beck, who faults Mr. Trump for supporting President Bush’s bank bailouts. “Conservatives fought against the bank bailouts,” Mr. Beck proclaimed. I was against those bailouts, too, which is one reason I remember that National Review at the time was for them.

http://www.nysun.com/national/donald-trump-unmoors-conservative-pundits/89427/

[lyle]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/266922-trump-establishment-rallying-behind-me-to-stop-nasty-cruz

“Look, at a certain point, we got to make deals,” Trump continued. “We can’t have a guy who stands in the middle of the Senate floor and every other senator thinks he’s a whack job. You have to make deals, you have to get along, that’s the purpose of what our founders created, and Ted cannot get along with anybody. He’s a nasty person.”

"Make deals." Just WTF does this jackass think the Rs have been doing for the past seven years? And what deals has Precious been cutting with the Rs? NONE. They just rolled over like a puppy and worse, vilified anyone who tried to stop it.

[Old Lurker]

NK "they drive from New Canaan to Wilton? Is that the Montessori School on Rte 136? That is adjacent to my golf club."

Yes they do and I think that is the one. When they came to Nantucket last August, I had a toddler tennis racket (and whites), and a starter set of clubs hanging in his room beside his crib. When you need a fourth, please think of Max...I'm sure his teacher will be glad to release him early.

:-)

[JMHanes]

boris,

I did not mean to imply that you were doing any of the bashing. I was serious about not being able to put specific names to the individuals making that argument.

[Truthbetold]

Conservatives are constantly told that you can't win that fight so settle for the next best thing. And enough buy it. In other words they surrender without a fight. We see this in congress as well.

Golfers on this board will understand this analogy. You will miss 100% of the putts that you leave short. So, make it to the hole.

If you want a conservative in the White House you have to nominate one for the general election.

It's that simple!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

A rough and tumble primary season is one thing.

Comparing a potential nominee to Hitler or Lenin and calling him not just wrong or obnoxious but insane and telling people you will either sit the election out or actually vote for that Hillary or Bernie on the bottom of your shoe rather than the Rep is quite another and quite useful to those two things on the bottoms of our shoes.

[Beasts of England]

I'm very quick with a paper bag, Ig. :)

[Old Lurker]

Your taste in women is so high, Beasts, I am shocked you would need a paper bag for any of them.

[JMHanes]

Unfortunately, Ignatz, I think some folks here may seriously underestimate the number of people who actually feel that way.

[Buckeye]

"Your taste in women is so high, Beasts, I am shocked you would need a paper bag for any of them."

OL takes honors for post of the day.

BTW, my taste has been known to be somewhat variable:)

[clarice]

http://www.breitbart.com/?utm_source=newsletter

Sessions says we need a president who can negotiate.

What do you suppose he's getting at?

[lyle]

BTW, my taste has been known to be somewhat variable:)

Every dude's tastes for women is almost always correlative to alcohol consumption and the hour of the night...

[clarice]

Problem with McCarthy's analysis is that he also repeatedly assured us that Patrick Fitzgerald was a fair prosecutor, not a witch hunter.

[Buckeye]

"Unfortunately, Ignatz, I think some folks here may seriously underestimate the number of people who actually feel that way."

Good point JMH, but I also think many will underestimate the number of Democrats and left leaning Independents who find Trump appealing and will be motivated to actually vote.

[boris]

"some folks here may seriously underestimate the number of people who actually feel that way"

Here I have seen many more claims of that nature than opposed to it and why my comment is directed specifically at that argument.

[NK]

Lyle-- starting in Fall 2014 I was the guy here criticizing Cruz for filibustering and instigating a shutdown when Obummer could just ignore it and pin the shut down fuck up on Repubs, with no upside, EXCEPT for publicity for Cruz. Oh yeah normal voters hate shutdowns because they hate DC, so the shutdown was a terrible idea. Want proof, who brings it up Cruz or Trump/Obummer. , Now, Trump calls Cruz a 'whack job', and certain 'conservatives' who demanded that the GOPe support Cruz in TAKING ON Obummer now support their guy who calls Cruz a whack job and demands that deals be made with the Left. Are you shittin me TK, this is the animal you support? yes I use the word animal deliberately. Only an animal like trump shits over everything and calls it his territory. This is bizarro world, I understand what Cruz did in the Senate and why, but it was business so I move on, because Cruz really is a conservative. 'Real' conservatives however now claim they need to dump on Cruz because their demagogue real estate promoter says so. Completely bizarre.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--But that's not what he ran on--

Of course he did. He was quite outspoken about his faith, faith based initiatives, fetal stem cell research, abortion and right to life questions along with gun rights.
He also, to his credit, actually took a stab at privatizing social security.
And his economic policies were Reaganesque in that they centered around reducing tax rates.
Even NCLB was touted as giving the states more power and better metrics for education.

Now, he didn't govern too conservatively but he certainly ran that way. Nobody, left or right, took his 'compassionate' shtick too seriously, though in retrospect, they should have.

[Threadkiller]

Are you shittin me TK

IVB

[Old Lurker]

Proving that the rot is alive and well even in Texas:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-eighth-grader-suspended-for-rescuing-classmate-during-asthma-attack/ar-BBoDtlW

[Miss Marple]

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/22/ahead-of-iowa-caucus-marco-rubio-says-he-wont-reveal-his-position-on-tpp-until-after-the-primaries/

[lyle]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/01/25/can-breaking-the-law-be-a-legal-defense.html

For the first time in the United States, a jury heard testimony that defendants’ criminal actions were justified by “climate necessity”—that is, the argument that it’s better to break the law while getting in a few punches at the fossil fuel system than to sit back and lawfully watch the world burn.

Speaking of correlation, I'm sure this little legal two-step has nothing to do with the leftward lurch in jurisprudence over the last thirty years or so.

[Threadkiller]

What do you suppose he's getting at?

There are several types of deal making processes.

Dig in your heals, and get nothing done.

Negotiate to a losing position.

Negotiate to an equal position.

Negotiate to a winning position.

Maybe Sessions is tired of the 1st three choices.

[Buckeye]

NK

Don't disagree, but if it comes down to getting shit on by Trump vs. getting shit on by Shrillary, I would prefer Trump.

And if I have to hold my nose when pulling the lever, so be it.

[Truthbetold]

Cruz is also the only candidate who proudly claims to be a "Climate Change Skeptic" or as I like to say: The only candidate who uses the brain God gave him.

[Threadkiller]

Carson doesn't use his brain?

[lyle]

The author of the piece in that 4:02:

Ted Hamilton is a student at Harvard Law School and a freelance writer. He has worked on the climate necessity defense as an intern at the Civil Liberties Defense Center and the Climate Disobedience Center and is a co-founder of the Climate Defense Project. He contributed legal research to the Delta 5 defense.

Think this POS would ever live in the very cold or very hot, very dark, fossil-fuel-free world he wants for everyone else?

[NK]

GWB--

Faith-- was up front about it, but neither ran on nor away from it;

Stem Cells, not a 2000 campaign issue;

abortion-- he was most unabashedly pro-life candidate since Roe, yes;

Tax/Entitlement reform-- he supported them, but that was easy based on how far Left and ridiculous Gore sounded ("Lock Box")

"Compassionate conservative" married women LiVs ate that stuff up. they took it very seriously.

[Truthbetold]

TK

I have not heard Carson take a position against the Climate Change scam.

Am I mistaken?

[Threadkiller]

Yes.

Check Trump as well. Keyword "hoax."

[Truthbetold]

If you hadn't noticed. Moderators at the debates don't go near Cruz on the subject of Climate Change because they know his position on it will help him.

[henry]

Mr X is of course Marty, an intrepid reporter at tbt's seldom visited website illionospaytoplay.

[Truthbetold]

I have never seen Trump make that stand. Can you point me to it?

[Threadkiller]

No.

[Truthbetold]

Henry, like I said, you are clueless. But by all means have at it.

[Threadkiller]

I should say I could, but I won't.

[lyle]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/americans-tired-of-elites/article/2581264

Actually, it's not that hard for ordinary people to keep in mind two different ideas that the elites think they'll find confusing — that most terrorists these days are Muslims, and that most Muslims are not terrorists. We keep similar things in mind every day. For example, we notice that most dangerously aggressive drivers are men, but also that most men are not dangerously aggressive drivers.

Mr. Barone needs to drive around my town for a few weeks. The most aggressive drivers are young women looking at their cellphones. The next group of aggressive drivers are men. Invariably men from a certain middle east extraction.

[Beasts of England]

lol, OL!! Will never need to use one for that...

[Old Lurker]

Worth reading, and don't skip the comments:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/01/the_conservative_elite_chooses_irrelevance_comments.html

[Janet]

Amen, TexasIsHeaven @ 3:00! Amen!

[Jack is Back!]

Still in hospital. Taking IV antibiotic of the super kind. Can't remember name but seems to be working according to review of the cultures. Just had a special IV port put in we can use when I go home Wednesday. There we will continue the "Kung-foo fighting" of this damn evasive bug in the knee. Pain is less but still have this problem with simple phlebitis in the calf. Walking is difficult but getting there.

Will have to reorganize a lot of the house to accommodate the IV setup, bed and shower etc without having to trudge or butt scoot up and down stairs.

3 more weeks, sigh!

Great to see a meet up of the brave occurred on Columbus Circle.

[lyle]

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2016/01/conservatism-isnt-dead.html

The left won based on its organizations. These organizations have become more integrated than ever.

I have to disagree with Mr. Greenfield ever so slightly. (I would do it on his blog, but for some reason the comment section gets blocked by this sitemod.) The left has won because they have completely taken over the day to day functions of government; almost entirely the federal gov. and most big cities if not most of the state govs. Which party runs Washington DC top to bottom? Every alphabet government bureaucracy is packed to the gills with unionized, untouchable Dem party hacks. How do conservatives counter that?

[Thomas Collins]

Re Dems and left leaning independents as a whole: Are Trump's unfavorability ratings simply wrong? Or are they lying to pollsters and really think favorably of Trump?

[Truthbetold]

TK

Is that because Trump is saying the Chinese invented the "Climate hoax"

[Buckeye]

"Every alphabet government bureaucracy is packed to the gills with unionized, untouchable Dem party hacks. How do conservatives counter that?"

Early retirement. Simply buy them out and send them home.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think anyone knows, Thomas.

You have people who like Trump but don't want to admit it (very common).

You have people who are never askedbecause they only have cell phones.

You have democrats who pretend to be GOP when called and give the "hate trump" answer.

No one really knows. I would point out that Trump's support has increased over the months, quite substantially. He's doing a pretty good job of selling himself.

We will just have to wait and see how the votes are counted.

[Momto2]

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/01/the-rncs-promised-conservative-debate-goes-missing

Just the kind of thing that the GOPe does over and over again and are *shocked* - SHOCKED I tell you - that some aren't falling into lock-step with their choice(s).

Sorry if it's been posted - I've got pages and pages to read to catch up.

[Old Lurker]

OK, JiB. Thanks for the update.

Sounds like they are finally pulling out the big guns.

You know those IV ports work well for Gin too, right? You have to use lime juice because real limes tend to clog the valve.

I can FedEx you a bigger silver bell.

[Thomas Collins]

Trump's GOP favorability ratings are improving. But I haven't seen an uptick in his favorability ratings with independents. However, if anyone has found data that contradicts the 538.com data I posted earlier, I'd love to see it.

[Old Lurker]

"Every alphabet government bureaucracy is packed to the gills with unionized, untouchable Dem party hacks."

That story I linked way above about the meteorologists losing their "measuring device" in the snow at National, thereby corrupting the official DC snow records for all time just says it all to me. Talk about a soviet mind set for a public servant...

[Threadkiller]

Keep Googling, TBT.

Get well, JiB!

[NK]

JiB-- best wishes for a complete recovery asap.

[Thomas Collins]

Trump may be, MM, the candidate whose real strength may be hardest to predict. I guess we'll find out for sure in the next month.

About the only thing I can say with assurance is that whatever one thinks about her policies or about whether she should be indicted, Hillary Clinton's handling of America's secrets should disqualify her from being seriously considered as a viable POTUS candidate. I try not to be disheartened by anything. I try to take a Stoic approach towards things. But I can't help but be disheartened by the fact that so many of my friends and family are still all in for The Hill. At this point, I am less disheartened by those I speak to who support the commie Comrade Sanders.

[Threadkiller]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/25/top-sessions-aide-joins-trump-campaign/

[Buckeye]

TC & MM

What I know is that if you walk in any bar where "regular guy" hangs out in middle America, the guys sitting at the bar:

1) Love that fact that Trump is giving them hell, even if they are clueless who wins/losses. Most know their job is at risk and see Trump doing something about it.

2) Hate Hillary's guts. Already have one bit$% they have to answer to, don't want to hear her crap.

3) Think Cruz is a weirdo.

I think this group will come out in droves for Trump, but will stay home if it is Cruz. Can't identify with him.

[Thomas Collins]

I hope this time the bug killer does its thing, JiB. Hang in there. I also hope your checking in here about Trumpster and Super Bowl talk brings a smile to your face from time to time.