Trump Express Rolls On: Who'll Stop The Reign?

Trump blows through Nevada and roars into Super Tuesday with a full head of steam. He moves from about 50% to 66% in the election betting markets.

So what next?

Rush delivered a passionate rant about taking back the country yesterday. Let me single out this:

And now we've closed the circle.  And now we're back at why Donald Trump is in the race and why Donald Trump is running away with it.  You can get as deep or as shallow in the analysis as you want.  But it's about a last chance, a last-gasp effort at preserving the culture that developed after the founding of this country.  It's no more complicated than that, folks.  The country's under siege from all quarters, and recently the Democrat Party has joined those who have put the country under siege. 

Well, is there any question that the Democrats are aligned with feminists, ethnics and the LGBT community to tear down the hated white patriarchy? And if the result is working class white guys (and the women who used to marry them) overboard, well, let the chips fall.

Rush continues with his ongoing theme that the Democratic push on comprehensive immigration reform is simply a voter registration drive:

"I'm gonna deport 'em.  They gotta go."  Donald Trump.  "They gotta go.  I'm gonna build a wall.  Who's gonna pay for the wall?  Mexico."  Right.  They're not taking the time to ask if he really means it.  They've already decided that he does.  It's that important to a lot of people.  It's about preserving a distinct American culture which is under assault, which is under siege.  And it's being brought to us by the Democrat Party, which is trying to register all kinds of new voters all the time 'cause they need a permanent underclass of people incapable of taking care of themselves, incapable of providing for themselves who will always be counted on to vote Democrat to be taken care of. 

But elsewhere Rush mentions he has not endorsed a candidate:

You don't know, it's not your problem, Pam, but I'm being beat up these past two weeks like you can't imagine. For every one of you, there's 10 Cruz people calling and there's 15 Trump people calling, and then there's four Kasich people calling. I can't win. This is what happens, and if I'd endorsed one of them, it'd be even worse.

So, my questions - does Rush believe Trump is a true conservative who has simply been keeping quiet all these years as the various battles have unfolded in the public square? Or might he side with Matt Walsh, who documents all sorts of, well, flexibility and evolution in The Donald's views. People who thought Romney and McCain were not true conservatives are OK with Trump? Really?

Well - if Rush thinks The Donald is fundamentally a squish, how does he feel about seeing the Republicans nominate a generic left-of-center New Yorker who is currently pounding the table on immigration after years of silence and, as a businessman, is naturally sympathetic to less taxes and regulation?

And the Big Question - could Rush derail the Trump Express if he made the effort? Is he that powerful? Or is he afraid to find out? Hard to imagine it is a money thing with Rush, yet playing his best card and finding it is only a nine might be a bit of a blow to the old ego.

Well - if we get The Donald versus Hillarity! it will certainly be presented as Change versus More of the Same. Fortunately for my conscience, my vote in My Blue Heaven will only diminish Hillary's state-wide victory margin, thereby reducing her false confidence.

But for you swing staters whose vote might count - I feel your pain.

MORE: Stephen Green turns me green:

Otherwise, Trump remains a puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in a policy paper he never read.

And Mark Steyn thinks the Republicans need to get their "L" or they're going to hell. Ahh, it makes sense if you read it.

Michael Brendan Dougherty of The Week writes about how the Republican Party has lost touch with the working class. How Trump is the guy to repair that breach and not my MarcoBot, who has a great rags-to-riches story and a fabulous Human Emulation Module when Christie is not around, remains a mystery.

Comments

[rse]

Th Federalist is taking the position Hillary would be better. http://thefederalist.com/2016/02/23/why-president-trump-would-be-a-bigger-disaster-than-hillary/

[rse]

http://thefederalist.com/2016/02/24/ill-take-hillary-clinton-over-donald-trump/ is more in that vein and the introduction of the Hamilton Rule as trumping the Buckley Rule.

I am interested as there are links between my last post and the Federalist.

[Captain Hate]

From Robin's first link:

There is little question Trump would abuse power. In some way, it’s the point of his candidacy. The thing that gets his admirers excited. “Finally, someone who will use the IRS for us.

Do you know any Trump supporters who feel that way? I think part of Trump's appeal was the failure of the GOP to geld the IRS when they had a great opportunity to do so.

[Gus]

Yes a criminal who was kicked off of the Watergate committee for dishonest, who hid the Rose Law firm records from subpoena, who created her own server to hide her govt communications, who allowed 4 to die in Benghazi, and who lies more often than she gets drunk should be considered for the President of the United States, because she's just so darn READY.

[Old Lurker]

and who failed to pass the DC Bar exam, Gus.

[Gus]

Ah I see President Clusterbuck is running his mouth on TV again!!! Clowns all the way down.

[rse]

The pro-Trump article there for balance that I did not link compared the choice of trump and clinton as being like a choice between socialism and communism or applebees or chilis.

Lousy analogies seem to run rampant among those finding employment there.

[Thomas Collins]

In a two party system in a big country, assembling a winning coalition for the POTUSey election is the ultimate in strange bedfellows politics. Whatever one thinks of the mindset of The Federalist critters, the piece rse linked at 12:02 PM should be a sobering up moment for the GOP. It's time to settle on one non-Trump candidate and it's time to go nuclear on Trump. In a strange bedfellows politics nation, Cruz and Rubio and Kasich are not such a strange threesome that a deal can't be cut. Trump cannot put together a winning coalition in November. I don't blame Trump's supporters for being outraged at the way many of the right have insulted them. I'm outraged notwithstanding that I think Trump would be a Bloviator-in-Chief big government POTUS who will be a small player on the international stage. But I really think it is time for a reality check. In a 47/47/6 country, the 47 that typically goes Dem will continue to do that. If some of the GOP 47 sit it out or go Dem, the remaining 6 is not going to make up the difference. Get ready for Prez Hill or Prez Liz or Prez Joe or Prez Deval.

[Thomas Collins]

Gus, unless The Hill is indicted, none of the facts you mention in your 12:13 PM post will matter to the 47% Dem aspect of our country. And with Trump as the GOP nominee, some of the 47% GOP aspect of our country will vote for The Hill or stay home (I count voting for a third party as staying home). You and I can be outraged. But outrage is not going to cut it.

[narciso]

And this exactly what the top men brain trust is encouraging, whose demographic do we need again?

[Thomas Collins]

I know Appalled has come in for some criticism here. Well, let me address directly those who have singed Appalled here. Do you really think there is a snowball's chance in Hell that the Dems lose if the Appalleds of the country stay home or vote for a third party or vote for a Dem? I sure as hell don't.

[Cecil Turner]

Get ready for Prez Hill

Still the best argument against Trump . . . and I question waiting to take electability into account until after we nominate an unelectable candidate.

[rse]

TC-Andrew McCarthy agrees with you. https://pjmedia.com/andrewmccarthy/2016/02/23/can-we-stop-therubio-cruz-mutually-assured-destruction/

[Gus]

I've just changed my mind, I certainly don't want Appalled staying home.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

I'm hopeful that a lot of the TDS among Rs will melt away if he gets the nomination. Of course it will help if he starts to demonstrate a bit more gravitas, hopefully without losing his appealing iconoclasm.

[henry]

To the extent the Republican Party is defined as what makes the Chamber of Cronies happy... and the Chamber of Cronies is happy with ever increasing government footprint (tyranny by slowly heating the frog) locking in their shares of the pelf... I can see how they would prefer Hillary to Trump. (Or how they preferred Obama etc.). Given no idea what Trump will do, "no clue" beats sure tyranny all day.

[rse]

Pj appears to be going the same general route as the Federalist. https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2016/02/24/its-over-4/?singlepage=true

[rich@gmu]

uuuug ... are there kegs up on The Ledge™?

[rse]

So we can all chant "Chug. Chug." , rich?

OL's is known to be a great host so there is likely to be one although a pony would likely fit better given all the chairs now needed.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Thomas Collins | February 24, 2016 at 12:21 PM

Australia is looking appealing.

[-peter]

The nice thing about it is the view. Reminds me of Harold Lloyd movies

[rich@gmu]

jimmyk-

>>>demonstrate a bit more gravitas<<<

lol. we can't forget the lockbox!

[lyle]

Insty links to this:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-2016-socialism-213667?utm_content=bufferaa078&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Check this out:

Since Republicans have been calling Obama a socialist for the past eight years, the label socialist may seem to many to be a synonym for progressive or liberal. But the differences between socialism and liberalism are fundamental. At its core, liberalism has a concern for liberty. While liberals have expanded public programs, they also have sought to strengthen rights that limit arbitrary power, both governmental and private. Liberals do not sanctify the free market, but they care about preserving the incentives that stimulate innovation and investment and make possible a flourishing economy.

Orwell couldn't top that these days.

[NK]

The Ledge-- is OL charging you people rent out there? He'll make a second fortune.

[Old Lurker]

Rich, of course we have keg service on the Ledge.

To make it easy, I actually installed a walk in refrigerator in the underground garage and all the kegs are loaded directly into it. We then pump the various brews through insulated lines up and out to the bar on the Ledge. I keep a guy down there to ensure the kegs are rotated on a timely basis. I strive to offer a good cross section of Domestic, Foreign, and Micro Brews but am always open to suggestions.

Sadly I have not been able to get kegs of the JOM Beer Janet found and brought to our party for Hit last year.

[jimmyk]

Australia is looking appealing.

That will work for you, rich, but I think they have a maximum age of 55 for emigration. Their politics is as wacky as ours, unfortunately.

[Old Lurker]

Don't be silly NK. The Ledge is free for my friends because I was getting lonely out there and now I appreciate all the company.

[narciso]

So it's really more of a fenced in gazebo.

[Old Lurker]

Hi Jimmy. Did you catch my link this morning about the Dems pressuring the Fed to consider the high unemployment in Black and other minority communities before they rush into policy changes geared to the economy as a whole?

THAT will not end well.

[NK]

Lyle-- I don't follow? CLASSICAL liberalism is certainly diametrically opposed to socialism. And American Liberalism 1860-1915 (Lincoln to TeddyR) was a bulwark against Euro-Socialism by using democratic government regulation to favor mass consumers over Oligarchs. But yes American Progs from Wilson to date are fascistic socialists.

[rse]

Plus we have agreed to man OL's turrets once others begin to appreciate the implications of what they are pushing by saying hillary is preferable.

What is a world where the us military ceases to function at all?

How many fbi veterans will resign when someone who should have been indicted wins the WH?

Can they shift from hud and the epa since both of those agencies believe themselves to be planners of any area now?

[Old Lurker]

Now you are being silly, Narc.

Gazebos do not have turrets.

And Ledges do not have fences.

[rich@gmu]

I do remember that. Figure you have some sort of Stark Industries contraption set up for the kegs too.

look at the time ...

[rich@gmu]

listening to some soundgarden and drinking a double expresso ... to take the edge off.

[daddy]

So, my questions - does Rush believe Trump is a true conservative who has simply been keeping quiet all these years as the various battles have unfolded in the public square?

No TM, Rush does not believe Trump is a "True Conservative." Here's how Newt put it two days back:

Newt:...Look, I'm pretty comfortable with telling people he is not a traditional Conservative. If you want a traditional Conservative Ted Cruz is much closer to a traditional Conservative than Donald Trump.

Hannity: 100%, 100%!

Newt: ...But what he is, is he is an Anti-Left, Anti-PC, American Nationalist, who believes as a Business-Leader that Washington is so totally screwed up that it needs somebody who knows how to actually manage something.
-------------------------

There's your answer, TM. Rush and Newt are on the same page RE: Trump. And you can toss in Rudy Guiianni for good measure.

[Old Lurker]

Hey RSE, that I. Pears latest looks to be too big a leap for me from Fingerpost et al, but the Carlos Zafon series looks like a keeper. I have to get through Rick's "Lymond Chronicles" first though.

[rse]

NK-I have been writing some that quite a few number of the so-called conservative think tanks are actually pushing Prog policies. They want private providers and the mayor to impose instead of Congress.

Part of the rebellion is from discovering that a Heritage is embracing Easterly, who is in turn embracing Jeffrey Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz. I do not find collectivism imposed by local governments who also want to rule to be conservative.

I am tired of people who want to dictate public policy embracing slightly diluted Prog policies. I know plenty of 'Conservatives' now wanting to sit it out who adore CoC cronyism, but had hoped no one would make the connection between what they really advocate for and the label they assign themselves.

henry and I seem to be of a common mind when it comes to trump, but I hate it when groups I know who push CoC policies behind the scenes who insist they will vote for hillary because trump adores cronyism.

[henry]

Then we have the WSJ article on states trying to force interstate sales tax w/o nexus upon internet transactions... yes it seems the Miss Marple must know all state and local sales tax jurisdictions and withhold appropriate tax, then remit to the proper authorities on schedule. Existing laws specific to internet tax plus prior SC decisions be damned... these states will send an auditor to your doorstep to "review" your books while misstating tax law (been there, done that, more than once).

This is a bigger regulatory compliance headache than income and payroll tax -- my firm has software that does each. Ignoring settled law to grab assets from out of state small business.

I don't hear the Chamber of Commerce or their lackeys running for office commenting about this -- if anything they are for it because hey have brick and mortar everywhere so the change only affects smaller competitors to them.

[daddy]

...as being like a choice between socialism and communism or applebees or chilis.

Chili's, all the way.

[Try Hang Gliding]

One thing good about the Trump phenomena is that since I just won't be able to vote for him, I'll be sitting this election out and so therefore won't have a vested interest in the outcome. Or his presidency for that matter (even though I don't like the guy I think he'll beat Hillary). I'll just kick back and chill until Nikki Haley primaries him out in 2020.

[daddy]

How many fbi veterans will resign when someone who should have been indicted wins the WH?

In the Apple/FBI argument, I wonder how many people share my knee jerk opinion that if after all this time and 150 FBI Agents investigating etc, that if Comey can't step forward and present the obvious case of criminality which a blind man can see in a minute in regard to Hillary's E-mails, then they should not be given any power whatever to peek into Apple phones. Screw them if they can't stand up and tell us what we all know, that Hillary is corrupt and she broke the Law.

It's that stinking simple. It's another example that the big bureaucracy of Washington is broken and unfixable. Kick the table over.

[lyle]

The writer in that link is NOT a classical liberal, NK. He's just another prog speciously arguing that there's actually some difference between modern Democrats and Socialists when clearly there ain't.

[rse]

NK-I have always found the decor of a trump building to be tacky. I have never watched the apprentice. Once flew over mar-a-lago because of severe thunderstorms coming back from marsh harbor in the bahamas forced all entries to us to west palm and a particular runway which he probably does not like used from that direction.

We cannot have hillary at the helm in this dangerous world. We will not make it long enough to rebuild after her as the federalist editor proposes.

I think it is too late for cruz and rubio.

[daddy]

Rush in the opening monolog of Hour 1 is answering the Matt Walsh's of the world about "anger."

[Appalled]

TC:

I'd worry more that Trump would drive off people like Cecil Turner.

[Rick Ballard]

There's a teensy, tiny problem with trying to fit the Federal Government into a free enterprise management construct. Neutron Jack Welch was able to reconstruct GE by removing managers and replacing them with managers focused on the bottom line. He was at the helm for twenty years and exercised his authority to fire very regularly.

Aside from political appointees serving at his will, who does the Chief Executive of the US have the authority to fire? The DoJ is chock full of employees who have risen due to the Gramscian hiring and promotion processes of the Clinton Administration, aided by the three monkey approach of the Bush Administration. It would be a marvelous place to start firing.

The process for removing GS-15 Step 10 employees must conform to the Civil Service Reform Act. If Jack Welch were in the Oval Office, he couldn't touch a DoJ slacker.

Hope and change fantasies are marvelous and the farther from reality, the more marvelous they become.

[glasater]

No one knows what a classical liberal is anymore..

My dear birthday mate, TC, is certain Hilliarity will win the election if Trump in the R nominee. Ig has promised she won't win the election and I've made a couple of bets on that certainty
:-)

[lyle]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/02/23/sanders_trump_involved_in_racist_effort_to_try_to_delegitimize_obama.html

If only...

But seriously, does this ignorant hack not understand that were The Revolution he so dearly believes in to come around, he wouldn't be the first thrown up against the wall and die of lead poisoning? How "glorious" would that be, Bern?

[Jeff Dobbs]

And now we're back at why Donald Trump is in the race and why Donald Trump is running away with it. You can get as deep or as shallow in the analysis as you want. But it's about a last chance, a last-gasp effort at preserving the culture that developed after the founding of this country.

After the founding? Why not during?

[Jack is Back!]

RB,

Welch's other most important managerial strategy was market share ranking. If your unit at GE wasn't 1 or 2 in market share you had to either get there quickly or fold up your tent. That's why the company was so valuable at the time, as a shareholder you knew your investment was out there working for you.

How the hell can you replicate that in the Federal govt?.

[Rick Ballard]

glasater,

TC was being rather optimistic in assigning 47% to the GOP. McCain took 46% and Romney made a tremendous increase to 47% while Kerry managed 48% in losing to Bush.

I suppose we can all focus on hoping for a change (maybe levitate the Pentagon as well) but there is no evidence the LIVs of November will become so enthralled with bombast they will ignore the torrent of prog fodder which will be unleashed against the Bloviator.

[lyle]

How the hell can you replicate that in the Federal govt?

You can't and they gov drones damn well know it. Exhibit A: The backpfeifengesicht face of the IRS.

[glasater]

Rick,

All I can hope is that many, many people don't vote. And I just don't think the LIV's are all that fired up for the Hill.

[Stephanie]

Y'all are missing all the Bern voters who are getting disenchanted that the process is rigged and will also sit home if Hill gets the nod. Seeing as how they are all knowledgeable about economics and stuff, many have their first two choices as Sanders/Trump - go figure. They aren't going to go to Hillary after she walks all over their BernBro crazy uncle.

This is 4 dimensional chess and right now, I'd put my money on the Donald. The dynamics in play are not your normal election cycle.

[Old Lurker]

A small, non intrusive government with a list of clearly defined but limited tasks can be as inefficient as it likes, far as I am concerned.

It is our huge all consuming, all controlling behemoth bestowing free bread and circuses to the masses in order extend its own survival and dominance that I have trouble with.

That's the one I would fix with a chainsaw.

[lyle]

I stand with OL!

(Is standing allowed on The Ledge™? Is it even advisable?)

[James D]

How the hell can you replicate that in the Federal govt?

You can't.

But you can (with an actual conservative Congress) push for legislation to have actual metrics attached to it, with clearly-defined procedures for measuring them and sunsets built in if they are not met.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

One interesting phenomenon that is occurring is that many of those who in years past told us we had to vote for the RINO or squish (who we doubted would stick to the conservative spiel they were spouting) because we had to stop the Dems no matter what, are now the very same people saying they can't possibly vote for Trump...because he's a RINO and a squish (who they doubt will stick to the conservative spiel he's spouting).

What's the difference this time?
Trump says he won't repeal all of Barrycare! The bastard!
But don't forget to vote for Mittens!...who built the prototype of Barrycare.

Trump is unpredictable and we can't count on him to do what he says!
Don't forget to cast your vote for the Maverick!...who earned his nickname reliably undercutting conservatives for decades.

Now, when the SCOTUS hangs in the balance and a leftist can conceivably complete the coup de grace Barry started on the US, suddenly someone not sufficiently conservative and with short, vulgar fingers and preposterous hair and bad manners is enough reason to wash their hands ala Pilate and leave the US to its fate; because it won't be Donald Trump crucified if people sit on their hands and allow the Dems to finish what they've started.

[Sue]

My husband and I are about to go early vote. We weren't going to but he is going to be out of town Tuesday so it's today for him or not at all. I have no idea who his choice is going to be. He's all over the map. If he tells me I'll let you know. I hope it isn't Trump but oh well...

[clarice]

Taranto:BOTW:Consider again those quotes from Weisskopf and Obama. Both men subsequently apologized, and the Post ran a correction: “An article yesterday characterized followers of television evangelists Jerry Falwell [Sr.] and Pat Robertson as ‘largely poor, undeducated and easy to command.’ There is no factual basis for that statement.”

But is there any doubt both statements reflected, and continue to reflect, the prevailing attitudes of the dominant liberal culture, including of the Democratic Party? Those attitudes explain why the voters in question have been trending strongly Republican for a generation or more. But the attitude of Republican elites has often been more diffident than welcoming. Can you imagine, say, Mitt Romney—who himself got into trouble in 2012 for his surreptitiously recorded comments to donors about “the 47%”—saying he loves the poorly educated?

Trump is neither evangelical nor poorly educated. He is a mainline Protestant (Presbyterian), and by outward appearances not an especially pious one; a sybaritic billionaire from New York who holds a bachelor’s degree from an Ivy League school. Evangelicals and the poorly educated are drawn to him not because he is one of them but because he is open to people who are not like him. As the left, and some on the right, denounce him as a bigot, he has been winning by being inclusive.

[Stephanie]

The dynamics of this race are insider v outsider. Bern is considered an outsider cause he has the 'democrat socialist' label that he has worn proudly while sitting inside the dem establishment doing nothing.

Trump is the outsider cause he ain't a politician.

The dynamic movement will be from an outsider candidate to another outsider candidate and from an insider candidate to another insider candidate.

That sews up Donald as many Bern voters will move to his as will the Carson voters and the Cruz voters. Rubio gets the Kasich voters. Generally speaking of course as we have seen that many of the Paul and Bush voters actually went... to Donald.

There is a burn it all down mentality that will not allow for many of the outside voters to move inside the tent. Some of the insider voters will stay home, but many won't and will suck it up.

That doesn't even begin to capture those voters who haven't voted who are now voting Donald and Bern. Those voting for Bern will go back to non voter after the process has been put through the Washerwoman vote rehabilitation cycle. Those on the Republican side of the aisle are already in the Trump camp and the only thing that will make them no show up is the exact ruminations of 'we gotta get Trump out' coming to fruition.

This is truly the ChickfilA election where those who are fed up are choosing to feed at a different trough.

[lyle]

Here's something else to back and fill Stephanie's 1:59:

https://pjmedia.com/diaryofamadvoter/2016/02/23/the-republican-establishment-needs-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-donald/2/

(I think someone has put this out there already)

[James D]

One thing about Trump and electability.

Whatever you want to say about him, however terrible a President you think he'd make, however much of a disaster he would be in the general election, he is doing a far better job than any of the other candidates in terms of running a competent and effective campaign organization right now.

He is making better use of his assets and resources, and doing a better job minimizing or blunting the impact of his negatives, than any of the other candidates.

They've all got advantages. But they're not all using them as best they can. If they were, the race would be very different.

And that has absolutely nothing to do with Trump, or his supporters or anything except the bad hiring decisions and strategies pursued by Jeb! and Scott Walker and all the other candidates who've dropped out.

[Beasts of England]

re: people staying home if Trump is the nominee --

In 2012 33,000 people voted in the Nevada caucus; Romney won with 16,500 votes

In 2016 75,000 people voted; Trump won with 34,500 votes.

It's all good.

[clarice]

Henry, the sales tax problem is even worse in CA where different counties have different sales tax schedules--it's why a lot of companies move to Nevada.

Rick, On the drawing board must be civil service reform..For one thing the practice of burying political appointees in the civil service at the end of presidential terms ought to be ended..at the other the board which overturned the VA firings of corruptocrats ought to be abolished, and the power to fire for malfeasance strengthened.

[Stephanie]

THIS is the mindset of why the establishment won't take down Donald Winning!

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/02/marco-rubio-you-dont-win-the-nomination-by-how-many-states-you-win/

[Appalled]

One interesting phenomenon that is occurring is that many of those who in years past told us we had to vote for the RINO or squish (who we doubted would stick to the conservative spiel they were spouting) because we had to stop the Dems no matter what, are now the very same people saying they can't possibly vote for Trump...because he's a RINO and a squish (who they doubt will stick to the conservative spiel he's spouting).

2016 is nothing if not ironic, is it? Because this script is very reversible on much of the louder voices in favor of Trump. You know, the ones howling that people were staying home because the candidate was insufficiently conservative.

[henry]

Clarice, yes... plus the assignment of items to tax categories is very confusing and not standardized across or within states.

[Stephanie]

AS seen on FB:

a friend writes:

A Trump presidency will also solve the drought problem in California.
Liberal tears.

[daddy on iPad]

As I step out to get in the car and drive down to see the Tax Man momma hollers out to me about some breakin story that Pope Franci's pregnant receptionist was just found dead in her hotel room.

[lyle]

Laff of the day:

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/270592-lynch-promises-independent-review-of-clinton-case

Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Wednesday promised that any Justice Department review of possible criminal charges connected to Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information would be “independent," without regard to politics or outside influence.

Snorfle.

[NK]

'independent"--- she's a funny gal.

[Captain Hate]

Any progress on that John Koskinen impeachment or is the Uniparty going to let it quietly die away?

[lyle]

To ask is to answer, Capt.

This is worth a quick perusal:

http://freebeacon.com/blog/7-reasons-democrats-should-be-terrified-of-donald-trump/

[Captain Hate]

HOF zombie:

37 I can pretty much guarantee that I am the only person on this thread who has been in Robert Reich's house.

And no, everything was normal-sized.
Posted by: zombie at February 24, 2016 01:54 PM (jBuUi)

[Sandy Daze]

In the Apple/FBI argument, I wonder how many people share my knee jerk opinion that if after all this time and 150 FBI Agents investigating etc, that if Comey can't step forward and present the obvious case of criminality which a blind man can see in a minute in regard to Hillary's E-mails, then they should not be given any power whatever to peek into Apple phones.

Screw them if they can't stand up and tell us what we all know, that Hillary is corrupt and she broke the Law.

It's that stinking simple. It's another example that the big bureaucracy of Washington is broken and unfixable. Kick the table over.

Posted by: daddy | February 24, 2016 at 01:11 PM

^^^^ T H I S ^^^^

[Buckeye]

I just got back from taking Mrs. Buckeye to a very nice lunch, white table cloth and nice wine list kind of place.

Woke up this morning thinking that highest probability is that we are going to drive the sucker off the cliff (or is it The Ledge).

Figure it is time to start spending it before it becomes worthless.

Already thinking about where to go for dinner. French or really good seafood?

I will likely miss cocktail hour on The Ledge, but promise to be "in good spirits" when I show up.

[Jane]

Marlene, Are you okay. We had a tornado touch down about 2 miles from here.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Stephanie:
Y'all are missing all the Bern voters who are getting disenchanted that the process is rigged and will also sit home if Hill gets the nod.

Let's hope. There sure was a lot of certainty that the PUMAs were going to stay home in 2008 after Obama schlonged Hillary - especially in the initial aftermath of the Palin selection (at which point, some of the more aggressive prognosticators were speculating that a not insignificant chunk of PUMAs might even cross over to support Palin).

[jimmyk]

Did you catch my link this morning about the Dems pressuring the Fed

No, will go back and look for it. I'm hopelessly behind. If everyone could just stop posting for an hour I might be able to catch up.

[Porchlight]

In a 47/47/6 country, the 47 that typically goes Dem will continue to do that. If some of the GOP 47 sit it out or go Dem, the remaining 6 is not going to make up the difference.

TC,

Interesting, but what if 47/47/6 only applies to the tomato can cycles? Maybe we're so used to the tomato can candidates that we think that voters are permanently distributed in that fashion. Maybe another type of candidate changes the distribution - for good or bad.

[Porchlight]

BTW, I have not yet joined you folks on the Ledge only because I just don't want to be on the Ledge. What I want to do is drink cocktails with y'all.

[Sue]

He voted for Donald. Ugh!

[squaredance]

Well Porch, we will let you lean out of a window or something.

[Stephanie]

PUMAs didn't have safe rooms they could go back and hide in.

Exhibit A is the Chelsea viral video on FB crying cause Trump is mean and why oh why can't everyone be like the Bern.

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sobbing-bernie-sanders-volunteer-goes-viral-with-tale-of-sick-trump-voters/

[jimmyk]

I'm going to go out on a limb (not ledge) and say that if it ends up as Donald vs. Hillary, or Donald vs. Bernie or SloJoe, that Donald will win. I guess the first part of that is already implied by Iggy's "Hillary will never be President," but I think it follows that Bernie won't be either, and I can't see Biden jumping in and doing well either.

[Jack is Back! (Barely)]

Brian Sandoval, Gov. of Nevada being vetted by Bozo for SCOTUS. I wonder how Brian feels knowing he is DOA.

[Thomas Collins]

Comrade Sanders voters will return to the safe space prog fold to vote for the first female POTUS after their Comrade Sanders temper tantrum in the primaries. It will be unacceptable to sit out this historic election for a female prog wanting to help make history and a male prog wanting to show how evolved he has become. Unless The Hill is indicted, this is going to be a full court press in the media, academia and organic food buffet and post-yoga/pilates/spin class gatherings to get The Hill over the hump. Not to mention the fact that people are going to tire of The Donald Show.

But IhIagacaIaw (I hope Ignatz and glasater are correct and I am wrong).

[lyle]

http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2016/02/hillary-clinton-is-her-own-worst-enemy.html

Hillary Clinton has a longstanding tendency to turn to a dark conspiratorial mindset when things don’t go her way. She blamed her husband’s affair with Monica Lewinsky on a “vast right-wing conspiracy”. Her close friend’s papers reveal that Hillary thought Bill had been “driven” to the affair by his “political adversaries”.

This is a new one on me. And thoroughly believable, IMO.

[Porchlight]

I can work the bar, squaredance, and refresh drinks and such so you don't have to keep all that stuff out there.

[Sue]

The lady at the polling place said early voting has been very busy.

[Thomas Collins]

Possibly, Porchlight. But the national polls so far indicate we are still in the same cycle. That's why Trump's national numbers concern me so much. Sure, it's only a few points below the other GOPers. But it's been pretty steady. I'll be interested to see what happens in the national polls now that Trump has a three game winning streak.

[Jeff Dobbs]

But Sue, did you vote twice so that you not only cancelled his Trump vote, but one upped it?

[Porchlight]

I'll be interested too, TC.

[Old Lurker]

It was a WaPo story, Jimmy.

[Publius]

An independent review conducted by......oh, how about Patrick Fitzgerald?

[jimmyk]

Taranto is having fun finding all the old NYTimes quotes about filibusters and SCOTUS confirmations under Republican presidents. Like shooting fish in a barrel, but this is one example:

https://twitter.com/jamestaranto/status/702587000726155265

[lyle]

Not to mention the fact that people are going to tire of The Donald Show.

If they haven't by now, I doubt they will anytime soon. If you haven't read this, do so:

http://freebeacon.com/blog/7-reasons-democrats-should-be-terrified-of-donald-trump/

Trump Will Have Months to Find and Occupy the Political Center

At this point it’s possible that Trump will secure the Republican nomination in three weeks. After Florida and Ohio vote, Trump will turn his attention to the general election. He’ll be free to hone his message and adapt to the new environment. His most likely opponent, however, may still be embroiled in a contested primary. Fueled by small dollar contributions, Bernie Sanders is unlikely to leave the Democratic race any time soon. So Hillary will be running against both Bernie and Trump. And Trump will have time to figure out which lines against her work and which do not. He will use his earned media to define Clinton as weak on immigration, trade, foreign policy, and fitness for office. If past is prologue, Trump’s attacks will be loud, nasty, over the top. And they’ll work.

We'll see, shant we?

[jimmyk]

Interesting, but what if 47/47/6 only applies to the tomato can cycles?

It also presumes at least usual turnout on the D side, if not Obama 2008 level. There will be no enthusiasm for Hillary, as the primary turnout numbers are showing.

[Sue]

No. But the lady almost had me a democrat. I said oh hell no when she handed me the slip of paper. Took them 10 minutes to correct it.