As We Stagger Through The Foothills Towards Peak Crazy

If you wondering about the next electoral thunderbolt, consider this: the death of Scalia and the possibility of progressives locking down a reliable five seat voting bloc on the Supreme Court have raised the stakes dramatically for the Presidential election.

Which means that however improbable it was yesterday that the Democratic Attorney General would approve an indictment of Hillary Clinton, it is even more improbable today. Presumably that means the likelihood of an FBI protest, resignations and allegations of cover-up following the Hillary non-indictment have gone up.

And a bonus question - Democrats, obviously including Obama, Clinton and Sanders, are eager to overturn the 5-4 Citizens United decision, and there is no reason to think a judge they appoint will disappoint them.

So do the big money men (and women!) of the Republican establishment open their checkbooks even wider to stave off the end of their influence peddling and purchasing? And whom do they back - the last man standing, even if that is Cruz or Trump?!?

Comments

[henry]

In that scenario they buy off Clinton. They are globalists and used to her level of corruption. The last thing they want is an actual level playing field and competitive market -- too much work and beyond their skill sets acquired at charms schools worldwide.

[James D.]

All I know after this weekend is, I'm so far out on the ledge that I can't even see where I stepped onto it.

[James D.]

it just occurred to me - looking at the remaining R field, each candidate (well, almost all of them) has one piece of what we need our candidate to be:

Carson has the inspiring personal story and strong values.

Cruz has the conservative beliefs.

Trump has the understanding of the media, and the willingness to toss out conventional political wisdom and fight as dirty as necessary.

Bush has the money and connections.

I wish I knew how that could all be brought together into one. U I died campaign.

[henry]

Meanwhile, the Union of VA workers decides they can kill off all the vets they want and no one can fire them. Kind of like the teachers unions. These unions are the PACs for Dems... so expect zero improvement at the VA until government unions are banned.

[Buckeye]

JamesD

I waa in such a foul mood yesterday, I decided to back away from the keyboard. I feel your pain.

Too bad we don't have a candidate with at least 2 or even, heaven forbid, three of those attributes in one package.

Instead, what we have pretty much sucks. The RNC is awful, the candidates are lame.

Our only hope is that the opposition stays even worse.

[James D.]

Oh, iPad autocorrect strikes again! "into one unified campaign."

[Miss Marple]

Good morning!

Buckeye, I am right there with you.

I just read the Wretchard piece that was linked towards the end of the last thread.

My decision on the vote, going forward, is going to be based on who I think can navigate the perilous foreign policy situation that Obama has pushed us into.

Right now I have no idea who that would be. It's very unsettling, to say the least.

[Miss Marple]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/15/us/politics/jeb-bush-uses-secret-weapon-his-brother-despite-worries-it-could-misfire.html

[Beasts of England]

I blame gravitation waves.

[Sandy ن Daze]

I V R,

The rest does not matter at this point.

If you are not willing to vote for whomever is the Republican nominee, it is a problem.

Hate Trump or love him.

Hate Cruz or love him.

Hate Rubio or love him.

Hate Carson or love him.

Hate Bush or love him.

Hate Kasich or love him.

Highly likely one of those men will be the Republican nominee.

I will vote for any one of them before the dem nom, whether Bern, clinton, or someone else.

We go to war with the army we have, but the army we want.

Coulda/Woulda/Shoulda...

Again, one must either commit to whomever is the Republican nominee, or one is complicit in hammering that last mail in the coffin.

[Janet S.]

Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton Debate: Who Hates America More?

http://theothermccain.com/2016/02/12/bernie-sanders-and-hillary-clinton-debate-who-hates-america-more/

"The Democrat Party is the world’s most successful hate group. It attracts poor people who hate rich people, black people who hate white people, gay people who hate straight people, feminists who hate men, environmentalists who hate the internal combustion engine, and a lot of bratty college kids who hate their parents. However, the real secret of the party’s success is that it attracts the support of journalists who hate Republicans, and who therefore work tirelessly to convince the rest of us that we should vote for Democrats."

[Janet S.]

more -

"If the GOP nominated a Buddhist monk or a Latina lesbian, still the New York Times and NBC News would find a way to convince themselves that the Republican candidate represented everything liberals hate about America — the military, the police, Christianity, capitalism, the internal combustion engine and heterosexual white men who work for a living."

[Marlene]

Good Morning! Does anyone know if Jack posted over the week-end?

I think I'll write-in Dr. Carson when I vote,he's the most decent man on the stage.

[jimmyk]

I wish I knew how that could all be brought together into one.

Reminds me of that children's story "The Five Chinese Brothers" I mentioned the other day. Each had some unique quality, like one could hold his breath forever, one had a neck of steel, etc. For some reason one of them was to be executed. But they all looked alike. When they were going to use decapitation, the brother with the steel neck went. When they used drowning, the one who could hold his breath forever stepped up. And so on. (This is from memory of 50 years ago.)

So it's too bad they don't all look alike, we could bring out Cruz when we someone to stand up for a strong conservative principle, Bush when we needed the big bucks, etc.

[Miss Marple]

Sandy is right. We have who we have.

No use wringing our hands and whining.

I do reserve the right to bitch about the situation the RNC and Bush's huge killing machine PAC have created, though.

[jimmyk]

As I've said before, this is a much better field than we've had the last two elections.

[Captain Hate]

I think I'll write-in Dr. Carson when I vote,he's the most decent man on the stage.

He's been playing the victim ever since he made the odd choice to leave Iowa late in the campaign. Nobody hates these eternal campaigns as much as I do but he screwed himself imo.

[Miss Marple]

After Saturday's debate, it seems to me Dr. Carson should be grateful he doesn't get more stage time.

He is sewing up the "at least I don't hate him" vote. LOL!

[rse]

jimmy-the Five Chinese Brothers was still around 15-20 years ago as I read it to me children. Like you I remembered it from my own childhood.

[Marlene]

Ha,I guess you're right MM. One thing we've learned is that politics isn't brain surgery. :)

[Miss Marple]

Marlene,

I honestly expect Dr. Carson to do much better than expected in South Carolina, for that very reason.

I don't think having this number of debates has helped us, and it has actively harmed many of the candidates. The networks were given too much control, which is the fault of the RNC.

[pagar a bacon, country ham and sausage supporter]

Why would anyone ever vote for a Democrat?

[Cecil Turner]

The RNC, the Bush campaign, and a lousy slate of candidates is to blame for the primary idiocy?

Okay . . . but mind the elephant on the way out of the room.

[Miss Marple]

Cecil,

If you are referring to Trump, the debates would be just as bad with him gone, as we saw when he skipped the debate in Iowa.

[danoso]

Exactly, MM. The RNC takes the lion's share of the blame here. As many have pointed out, things are different in the General, but for the primaries a guy like Dickerson should be no where near an RNC debate.

[Miss Marple]

Also, the networks should never have been allowed to have an arbitrary cut-off, which they manipulated using different criteria.

It would have been much better to have two, equal debates than a "main stage" and "undercard."

Candidates should have been chosen by lot, different for each debate. And positions on the stage should have been chosen by lot, too, rather than always putting Trump in the center.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

Carson staying in is going to give the nomination to Trump. He's taking away votes from the only other viable candidate to win SC-Ted Cruz. If Trump wins SC its all over I think. And in more ways then one.

[Cecil Turner]

However could you guess I was referring to Trump?

[Miss Marple]

Because you have made a point of needling me about it and I am pretty sure you missed that I withdrew my support after Saturday's debate.

:-)

[Captain Hate]

Also, the networks should never have been allowed to have an arbitrary cut-off, which they manipulated using different criteria.

Excluding Fiorina was ridiculous even if she subsequently dropped out. I hope the RNC was well compensated for allowing that bit of treachery.

[Beasts of England]

Given that the presidential race is a toss-up, a recess appointment is almost assured. He has until 3:00 p.m. on the 22nd - that's plenty of time for ValJar to finalize her choice.

[Miss Marple]

I hope that the Senate gets un-recessed today.

I am afraid that is a forlorn hope, though.

[Beasts of England]

From yesterday's CBS poll for South Carolina:

42 - Trump
20 - Cruz
15 - Rubio
9 - Kasich
6 - Bush
6 - Carson

Carson isn't singularly impacting anyone's ability to catch Trump.

[henry]

No way MissM. To much fundraising potential ahead of doing anything (as if).

[Threadkiller]

Carson is an easy target.

[Miss Marple]

Beasts,

I can't imagine Bush having W campaign for him is going to lift him up more than 5 points.

One thing it will do is remind those who liked President Bush 43 of how un-charismatic Jeb is.

I saw President Bush at the Indianapolis airport at a rally in September of 2000. He had a vibrant and likeable quality that Jeb sorely lacks.

I cannot be the only person who thinks that.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/02/ted-cruz-preaches-at-south-carolina-church-there-is-a-spirit-of-awakening-a-spirit-of-revival-sweeping-this-country/

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I think I'll write-in Dr. Carson when I vote,he's the most decent man on the stage.--

I'm not sure decency is the prime virtue I'd be looking for in a government full of Schumers, Reids, Sanderseseseses and Clintons.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

This Bush poll shows a much closer race! http://therightscoop.com/bush-internal-polling-shows-cruz-surge-in-south-carolina/

[Miss Marple]

The political ads have started on the radio in Indiana. My vote might actually count this year.

[Beasts of England]

I suspect that having W campaign for Jeb will be a significant boost, although I don't have a number in mind. I miss the crap out of George - flaws and all.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/17/labor-unions-benefit-more-from-citizens-united-than-big-conservative-donors.html

[Miss Marple]

So do I, Beasts.

I am extremely tired of him getting bashed by both the Left and the Right.

I just wish he weren't doing this appearance thing. I don't think it will help Jeb that much (I could be wrong) and I don't think those votes Jeb does get will be from Trump.

[Cecil Turner]

I am pretty sure you missed that I withdrew my support after Saturday's debate.

Maybe you should be less sure. And perhaps even more critical, at least when blaming particular candidates for an election process gone haywire.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

For all their faults this field should put a smile on a conservative's face compared to what has been on offer since about 1984.
Cruz and Rubio are more consistently conservative than any major candidate with a realistic chance of winning since then. Carson is also even though I'm not sure he could win.
Even Kasich and Bush actually have historically pretty conservative records. It's only lately as they have enetered a state of pandermodium that they have hurt themselves with the right.
Even Trump, were he to actually implement his position papers, would be more conservative than W. That's an awful big and seemingly growing "were" however. But if having a fake conservative with a big ego in the field is what wrecks it, when have we not?

In any event, gloom and doom begets gloom and doom and wearing a sandwhich board that says "the end is nigh" used to qualify one as a crank. We don't know what the future holds so how about we try shaping it as the left does rather than following Buckley's colorful but ultimately self defeating admonition to yell stop at it?

[Miss Marple]

Cecil,

I didn't blame candidates, I blamed the RNC and Mike Murphy's PAC.

[James D.]

The RNC, the Bush campaign, and a lousy slate of candidates is to blame for the primary idiocy?

Okay . . . but mind the elephant on the way out of the room.

The RNC and its rules gets a big share of the blame for the primary idiocy.

And the RNC's inability or unwillingness to connect with the base (especially on hot-button issues like immigration) is what provided the opportunity for Trump's campaign in the first place.

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz,

Good advice.

My number one thing going forward is to avoid watching debates, which somehow have a bad effect on me. I will just read reports here later.

I'd better get some work done, so off I go.

[Cecil Turner]

After the debate: Trump backs off Bush impeachment:

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on ABC's “This Week” that Trump’s attacks on the former Republican president are proof he hails from the left.
"Those are the views of the fever swamps of the left. That's where Donald comes from," Cruz said.

[Old Lurker]

I remain unable to even think about election shenanigans while I worry about a Recess Appointment of a Commie Brick Thrower getting on the court for even the next two years.

IF we do avoid that calamity, then the entire race needs to be recast though the lens of who will do best on court appointments.

I have no trust whatsoever in the WH words that the nomination will await the end of the recess, because to me, that frankly would be dumb of Obama.

[Rick Ballard]

The views and votes of the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives suggests the RNC may have a slightly different view of the composition of the base than that which is held here. One might even consider the RNC view to be fact rather than wish based.

[Beasts of England]

Very true, OL. The lefties are clamoring for a big FU by BOzo to further energize their voting base. A recess appointment would be a win-win for the light bringer. There's simply no down side.

[Buckeye]

Good point RB. Freedon Caucus is less than 10%.

[Old Lurker]

None whatsoever that I can see Beasts.

Sure would be nice to know what, if any, firewall our GOPe masters have erected in the last 48 hours to prevent it.

Anybody heard of any?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--One might even consider the RNC view to be fact rather than wish based.--

That to me is an example of why Republicans have generally lost for the last 85 years.
The "base" [or the entire electorate] is not a rock that the armies of the left and right must adapt themselves to.
It's clay that can be shaped if one tries.
The left tries a lot more than the right does and not surprisingly has considerably more success molding the electorate and institutions than the right.

[Beasts of England]

Not to increase memberships on The Ledge™, but I can see McTurtle being on board with a recess appointment. He can huff and puff after the fact and scream about the wrongness of Ø's actions, but he would retain the love of the Uniparty - which is all he wants. If he wanted anything else, he'd have gavel-induced carpal tunnel at this very moment.

[Old Lurker]

What?

We can't trust McTurtle?

Say it ain't so.

[Old Lurker]

Why have we not heard from the two conservative senators running for President about what to do to prevent a recess appointment? Cruz has nothing to lose by going on record demanding a recall to DC, or else to explain to us why they have it covered?

I swear if this is allowed to happen when something could have been done to prevent it, then I am first man off the diving board.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Kurt Schlichter;
The GOP Sitcom Just Got Serious.

No more games, no more clowning around. There’s no question Cruz and Rubio will nominate real conservatives. But The Donald? Donald Trump’s frivolous speculation about appointing his ultra-liberal federal judge sister to the Supreme Court was vaguely amusing when it was just a hypothetical; now we need real answers. We need the names of the real, committed conservatives he would appoint to replace Justice Scalia. “I’ll find the best people, brilliant people, fabulous people” won’t cut it. Who, Donald?

[henry]

Cruz said he would filibuster the nomination if necessary.

[Old Lurker]

Sometimes three dimensional chess is really just checkers. It pays to know the difference.

[henry]

Cruz nominee filibuster link.

[Captain Hate]

The problem with Supreme Court choices is they can go badly off the rails. Ike appointed that idiot, Earl Warren. Poppy Bush did a great job with Clarence Thomas only to negate that with numb nuts Souter.

[Old Lurker]

Henry that means nuthin if the appointment is made during the recess. There will be nothing to filibuster that matters.

BTW, to your point last night, I have seen no proof that under no circumstances can a late arrival on the court vote on a case which he was not there to hear. There might be, but nobody has posted it.

[Captain Hate]

Also I want to correct my friend, squaredance, by stating Article V trumps the Supreme Court; in fact one of my biggest hopes if we ever had an Article V checklist adopted by the states is that it would spay and neuter our black robed tyrants.

[Momto2]

"The problem with Supreme Court choices is they can go badly off the rails. Ike appointed that idiot, Earl Warren. Poppy Bush did a great job with Clarence Thomas only to negate that with numb nuts Souter.
"

Funny how that seems to work...they only go off the left rail ...Sotomayor and Kagan have turned out exactly as expected!

[narciso]

And don't forget brennan, who was such a scam artist, the profs have their premier lawfare site named after him.

[narciso]

Priwbus opened the gates to thunderdome, and wonders what went wrong.

[DebinNC]

Early voting starts today in GA.

[Old Lurker]

New Thread

[narciso]

Dr. Evil, shepherded the Roberts nomination, so he had some clue.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I will guess that Barry waits to nominate someone.
1. He, possibly correctly believes a recess appointment looks slick and while it gains a temporary legal advantage does not give the Dems the electoral and political griping they earn by making the Reps block whatever exotic mix of pathologies and mediocrity pass for virtues on the left these days that he nominates.
2. Narcissists always feel a supreme sense of entitlement. Who is the senate to reject his demands so why should he sully himself with a recess appointment. Should they not vote on his nominee he'll declare the senate in recess himself. [I guarantee that thought has crossed his little mind]

[Rick Ballard]

"It's clay that can be shaped if one tries."

No. It's not. About 40% of it is a subsidy receiving blob just bright enough to respond to NEW!! FREE!! IMPROVED!!, another 30% believes there is no problem, having been relieved of the burden of paying income taxes and too stupid to assess the actual total cost of the other taxes and fees levied to provide the Free Shit to parasites. Fortunately, many of the aforementioned groups are too dumb or too lazy to vote but they are in no way clay to be shaped.

The basic flaw in democracy, when suffrage is extended to the nonproductive, has been apparent for millennia and is no more susceptible to remedy today than it was the first time it was tried.

[narciso]

I blame marius on that point, having hired sulla who figured he deserved the credit for taking down jugirtha

[Rick Ballard]

Plato placed the fault on the extension of suffrage to those who did not possess real income producing property, specifically Athenian citizens who rowed for a drachma per day or labored on Pericles' public works projects.

[Tom Maguire]

All I know after this weekend is, I'm so far out on the ledge that I can't even see where I stepped onto it.

I was really having fun this election cycle until Scalia died. Now I am beside myself, holding my hand and poised to leap from the ledge if Obama or Bernary (Hillbernie?) gets the next pick.

Fortunately, I am on the first floor...

#PlanForTheWorst

[Old Lurker]

Rick, now you and Narc are just showing off.

We all know the world began when I was born.

[Old Lurker]

Iggy, of course I hope you are correct at 11:12. But I think the smash mouth punk in Obama has to be very tempted.

After all. He won.

[Truthbetrolled]

The Republicans try to appease the LEFT by weak tits like Souter and Roberts, while the LEFT COMPLETELY KICKS US IN THE BALLS with Kagan and Sotomayor. The GOP is not afraid of it's shadow, it simply is NOT CONSERVATIVE.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--No. It's not. About 40% of it is a subsidy receiving blob...--

The 40% did not always exist so apparently it is malleable. The idea it can not be changed once it reaches blobdom is belied by the very modest welfare reforms that have been tried.
The problem is not that it's irreversible. It's that the relentless left always pushes harder to create blobs than the right pushes back.
You're illustrating exactly the thinking I noted. That the future is some fixed inevitable outcome. It's especially ironic that the people who believe in dynamic economic outcomes and incentives adhere to a type of future determinism and the lefty retards whose economics is at heart based on Marx's historical determinism believe the future is perfectly evitable.

[Rick Ballard]

Marx didn't influence elections in Athens or Rome but the very same blob was quite capable of voting for a free lunch without him.

This time isn't different.

[DebinNC]

Are the illegals and "refugees" streaming in likely to want a free lunch or is working part of the accepted culture they're coming from and what they hope to do here? The permanent urban underclass will have a problem if those arriving with nothing are seen to succeed in school, business, and social integration.

[ThirdMan]

In this Trump are many Obamas.