Remember The Alamo!

Roll out the Miami Soundbite Machine and the rest of the 'Don't Be Mean To Me, Donald' gang.

ADDED SUSPENSE: This is a CNN / Telemundo event. Will the Telemundo "moderator" ask a question in Spanish to embarrass Trump? And everyone else on the stage except Rubio, not to mention Bernie, Hillary and Obama, but whatever - Trump is the hater tonight.

WOW: The Miami Soundbite Machine became the Miami Hitman! And Cruz was banging away on Trump too. "Moderator" Wolf Blitzer did give Trump a standing eight-count by tossing to Kasich anytime Trump got in trouble, but is this all too little too late?

More on the Trump University fraud situation here and here.

PROBABLY AFFIRMATION RATHER THAN INFORMATION BUT... Trump drifts down about 2% in the Election Betting during the debate; Rubio rises the same.

Comments

[Jeff Dobbs]

You can all go to hell I'm going to Texas.

[Miss Marple]

Or, Texas is going to hell.

Take your choice, folks!

[henry]

The Alamo is what happens without a wall on the border. :)

[Miss Marple]

I am enjoying this pre-game strategizing by a bunch of lefty journalists who don't understand the Trump thinking at all.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, henry, that was good! LOL!

[henry]

Oh my CNN is concern trolling us about Trump.... with their evil grins over the whole thing.

[Jane]

I agree with Andrew Klaven:

https://pjmedia.com/andrewklavan/2016/02/25/we-hear-you-angry-republicans/

[Miss Marple]

Gloria Borger points out that they got Trump to promise not to run as a 3rd party, and now a bunch of the SAME PEOPLE are talking about running 3rd party if he's the nominee.

Also, I saw a tweet where Perry is thinking he can get the nomination in a brokered convention.

If they do that I am done with the entire crew. I will vote Libertarian or something.

[squaredance]

Well, up to a point.

[narciso]

the creme de la creme, of Dalton and Harvard, and I think he was an English major,

[derwill]

I'm a little late to the party but re the Trump-Romney tweet war:

Methinks, Romney dost now know his shit from Shakespeare. The line he quotes incorrectly is: "The lady dost protest too much, methinks." It is from Hamlet and is spoken by Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and is meant to be taken as an ironic attempt to defend her marriage to the man who murdered her first husband (Hamlet's father).

Otherwise, good job, Romney. You cut him to the quick, you did.

[henry]

This attempt at a wrestling intro is boring as all get out

[squaredance]

Philosophy, and yes, Harvard.

Too funny.

[Marlene]

Showtime.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I can't handle this - Kasich and Carson have switched sides.

Ted's hand is closer to his heart because it's inside his jacket. #TruePatriot

[narciso]

this can't possibly go wrong, can it,

http://www.weaselzippers.us/258716-open-thread-gop-texas-debate/

[Miss Marple]

Jeff,

I thought that looked more like Napoleon.

[Miss Marple]

OK, wine is definitely needed. Back in a sec.

[narciso]

so they are pushing for a higher minimum wage, so more people are fired, and some lives matter foolishness,

[Porchlight]

Where are they? Houston? Is the backdrop as garish as last time?

[Jeff Dobbs]

University of Houston.

[henry]

Wolf sucks

[Jeff Dobbs]

Son of a mailman!

That's your cue, Miss Marple...drink!

[narciso]

this debate is as well considered as this venture,

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/randy-hall/2016/02/25/larry-wilmore-lost-more-half-his-audience-hes-not-funny

[Jeff Dobbs]

Huh, Ted went to 2nd Baptist for high school.

Now that's a big, big church.

[Ann]

David Limbaugh ‏@DavidLimbaugh 58s58 seconds ago

My dad carried the mail in from the mailbox.

[Neo]

The Twitter Trust and Safety Council.

Doesn’t that just engender visions of the French “Committee of Public Safety” and the Guillotine ?

[Miss Marple]

Prediction: I think CNN has calculated that Trump should be the nominee, because a lot of dems think he will be easier to defeat.

So they will probably not go after him.

I could be wrong, but the pre-game sort of gave me that feeling.

Carson talks about how we need to find solutions, and particularly addresses that to the top 3.

Kasich is giving an inspirational introductory speech about his background. Tells young epople they can do whatever they want.

Rubio brings back Reagan/Bush, says we have to define what America is, and conservatism, etc.

Cruz brings up what his family background is, and Texas, and going to Second Baptist High School.

Trump invokes Make America great, brings up all the stuff wrong, and how it will be fixed. Big difference with him, he says.

[henry]

So this is all about Wolf.

[Miss Marple]

To Trump: You have called for deporation with letting good ones back in. Cruz calls this amnesty.

Trump says to ask Rubio, since he and Cruz have been doing this in every debate.

Then he says this is a fair solution, as they will have to go through a legal process.

Cruz suddenly remembers American workers and brings up all the stuff that Laura Ingraham has been talking about.

Says no forgiveness for breaking the law.

[Marlene]

Rubio is trying to go after Trump on immigration.

[Miss Marple]

Rubio says Trump is the only one who has been fired for hiring illegals.

Trump says he's the only one on stage who's hired people.

LOL!

[narciso]

say what now?

[henry]

Oooh. Tag team

[peter]

Cruz is doing a great job from what little I have seen so far.

[Miss Marple]

Cruz goes after Trump for donations and "donating to the Gang of 8".

Trump says he is a businessman and tried to get along with everyone. Then he says Cruz doesn't get along with anyone and has not one backer in the Senate.

[peter]

thanks, New Hampshire, we could have been done with this guy by now

[henry]

Cruz was winning, so Wolf switches to Kasich.

[Miss Marple]

Kasich gives a nod to the Bushes and then suggests guest worker program plus a wall plus fines and legalization but not citizenship.

Carson points out we need to secure all borders not just mexico because of terrorists.

Then those here register and ar not allowed citizenship.

[henry]

Deputized mailmen... They are everywhere. Let them snag illegales.

[Miss Marple]

Wolf (who already discussed this as a helpt to Trump) asks about Fox.

Trump is giving a good answer. I am behind typing.

Talks about size, cost, imbalance of trade, drugs, etc.

It was a pretty good answer.

[Marlene]

Trump is okay with a trade war with Mexico. MM,he mentioned Carrier.

[Miss Marple]

Trump brings up Carrier, Nabisco, Ford.

Rubio says he wil be using illegals to build it.]
Trump says "such a cute sound bite."

[narciso]

so they always have to keep the clean energy scam going,

http://morningconsult.com/2016/02/schumer-points-to-cruz-as-energy-bill-is-held-up/

[Miss Marple]

Rubio is sounding desperate and is throwing the kitchen sink.

Brings up Rubio's house deal.

This is amazing.

[Marlene]

Rubio is going after Trump.

[henry]

Trump is in Godzilla stomping Tokyo mode. Pure anger, no coherence.

[Dave (in MA)]

From all the girly-screeching, apparently Rubio is the new Beatles.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Can't decide what is worse;
That Matt Yglesias didn't know Evelyn Waugh was a man or that he has so little clue of how stupid that makes him look that he twits[sic] it to the universe.

Best comment;
"Query whether @mattyglesias knows Animal Farm isnt the name of a petting zoo? Doing your alma mater proud. every day in every way."

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz,

That Iglesias thing was amazing. What a moron!

[narciso]

yes, removing all doubt, but he was that clueless on his atlantic blog,

[Marlene]

What is the deal with the Polish workers?

[Miss Marple]

Cruz is drawn into reminding people Rubio lied.

So now this will start again, which helps Trump.

[narciso]

maybe they were confused with a debate in the uk?

[squaredance]

Iggy: I liked "George Sand is rolling over in his grave".

[Jeff Dobbs]

Marlene:
What is the deal with the Polish workers?

Rubio says google it.

[Miss Marple]

He hired some part-time workers for housekeeping who were Polish. Trump says they were short-term, part-time jobs which they couldn't find Americans to fill.

Media has people who say they were turned down, although I am not sure they were.

It's simply not something I can know the truth about, so am only reporting what both sides say.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://www.inquisitr.com/2828207/evelyn-waugh-time/

[Dave (in MA)]

I probably would have guessed female, especially if told that he was the author of books made into tedious period costume dramas for TV and film.

[Stephanie]

Ashley Wilkes couldn't be reached for comment as she was too busy with the lumber mill.

[Dave (in MA)]

Of course, I don't have a bid la-de-dah ivy league education in humanities crap like Big Matt.

[Miss Marple]

Me, either, Dave. That's why it's so funny.

Someone should compose all of his misstatements over the years and publish them as an accusation to the Ivies.

[Marlene]

LOL Stephanie.

[Miss Marple]

Trump: I don't believe anything Telemundo says.

LOL!

[Porchlight]

Iggy: I liked "George Sand is rolling over in his grave".

George Eliot, too.

Did Marty think Scarlett O'Hara was a lesbian, being so in love as she was with Ashley Wilkes?

[Rick Ballard]

Marlene,

Polish workers. The article documents multiple instances of Trump knowingly employing illegals beyond the Poles.

It's just part of his lifelong "Make America Great Again" project - similar to his clothes line being manufactured in Mexico and China.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Maria is getting waaaaaaaaaaay too much time.

(I'm not pining for Wolf or anything, but zzzzzzzzzzz...)

[Jeff Dobbs]

I wasn't pining for Hugh either, really.

[Miss Marple]

Hugh Hewitt asks in a snide way if Cruz trusts Trump to nominate conservative judges.

[narciso]

has he been sprung from captivity, unlike the other debates?

[Miss Marple]

Jeff,

Unbelievably, I want them to bring back Wolf.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I didn't think Hugh was snide in his question.

[Jeff Dobbs]

MM:
Unbelievably, I want them to bring back Wolf.

Hah! Howling at the moon.

[Miss Marple]

Cruz is doing a bad job on this court appointment thing.

[narciso]

this is what excited top men sound like,

https://twitter.com/Neal_Dewing

[Porchlight]

Stephanie! I type too slow on this Damon kindle. :)

[Miss Marple]

Should clarify. Trump was conciliatory and pointed out that his sister signed the same ruling as Samuel Alito.

Trumpsaid maybe crusz should apologize about his attack on his siter.

Cruz gets all high and mighty and says he will never apologize for defending the Constitution.

I do not think this helps Cruz, as it only applies to his voters.

[Porchlight]

damn kindle

[Jeff Dobbs]

For a second there I was a little concerned that you had named your kindle, Porch.

[Miss Marple]

Kasich stakes out a Mitch daniels-type position on bakers and gay wedding cakes.

If you're in commerce, sell the cake and say a prayer for them that they change.

Not sure how this will play, only reporting.

[Dave (in MA)]

Damoned autocorrupt.

[narciso]

meanwhile in the three scoops of crazy department,

http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/197963/why-is-sanders-taking-foreign-policy-advice-from-someone-who-suggested-israel-not-assad-gassed-syrians

[Jeff Dobbs]

Trump tries to drag down Alito. Gets high and mighty demanding an apology from Cruz. Cruz defends the constitution. I think this helps Cruz as everyone believes in and respects the constitution. :)

[Porchlight]

I'm about to name it Damien, Jeff. It's possessed. But, Lent and all...

[Miss Marple]

Jeff,

Touche, except Alito did sign the same ruling.

I think it had to do about vagueness in the law, although I am not up to snuff on it.

[henry]

Rubio sounds good on Obamacare.

[henry]

Trump sounds like Sanders with the pre-existing conditions.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Ouch, Rubio tries the Trump is a robot repeating himself attack.

(he's pretty much right - "lines around the states")

[Porchlight]

Trump is playing to the general electorate on much of this stuff. Even the most rabid haters of Obamacare acknowledge that rolling back guaranteed issue is going to be extremely difficult.

[Marlene]

Rubio said Trump is repeating himself. The Rubio screamers love it.

[Jane on Ipad]

Trump thinks Judges sign bills. Oh dear.

[Jeff Dobbs]

FINALLY: some really good Kasich karate moves.

If only we could get rid of the podiums, maybe we could see him sweep the leg.

[Dave (in MA)]

I want to see 'em take a few swings at each other.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Kasich is getting about 3 minutes past the bell with neither the moderators nor other candidates trying to stop him....

[Miss Marple]

Kasich's plan sounds good until you think about it.

Paying providers if they come in below the average with good quality care.

WHO is paying for that? Taxpayers.

[henry]

Karate allowance Jeff.

[narciso]

from a slate piece, 11 years ago,

What is interesting, however, is that Alito did not join the majority opinion in Farmer. He wrote separately. Why? Here's a very good guess: The majority opinion in Farmer had been drafted before the Supreme Court had issued its decision in Carhart; indeed, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who wrote it, expressly noted as much. Instead of rewriting the draft opinion, Barry simply tacked on the Carhart precedent to the beginning of her existing decision, observing that her opinion was essentially in agreement with the Supreme Court's. Had Alito originally agreed with Barry, it is a good guess he would have gone along with this shortcut, since the outcome was exactly the same. But I suspect that he didn't agree with the majority and certainly did not want some reasoning lurking out there that might have been even marginally broader than the Supreme Court's. So, Alito went out of his way to distance himself from Barry's opinion, which, he observed in concurrence, "was never necessary and is now obsolete."

[Miss Marple]

Carson's healthcare plan sounds good, if you ask me.

[narciso]

this was the piece:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2005/11/rock_and_roe.html

[henry]

Nobody cares what you want Wolf.