Chaos Ascendant

Politico recaps another Day in the Life with The Donald.

The crazy keeps coming...

Comments

[buccaneer morgan]

lawfare by other means,

http://gotnews.com/busted-michelle-fieldss-honduran-born-mother-pro-amnesty-acti
vist/

you should know this rodeo by now,

[henry]

let Trump be Trump.

let Henninger pine for Kasich (and the wonders of GOPe brand on Hillary's policies).

[Thomas Collins]

Trump has done conservative and Duke and Duke aspects of the GOP a favor. There is no longer any question whether stopping Trump at the convention is a bigger risk than giving him a reasonable chance to get to 50% plus 1 at the convention. Trump has clarified that the bigger risk is Trump getting the nomination. It's time for the conservatives and Duke and Duke to coalesce around Cruz-Kasich.

Another favor Trymp has done is acting in a manner to minimize or eliminate the chance he'll be at 50% plus one before the convention.

I say let The Donald keep being The Donald. His behavior simply will emphasize to the conservative wing and the Duke and Duke wing that it's time to hang together or be strung up by the nuts separately.

[NK]

why make Kasich VP? how does he improve the chances of winning?

I continue to agree with what Boris said yesterday, Trump has made Cruz and other conservatives more electable in November.

[sbw]

Gee, and I was just getting used to the old thread.

[henry]

NK, read Henninger this morning. Kasich is the last great hope of the GOPe wing.

[Thomas Collins]

I'm fine with Henninger's article, henry, except for one omission that makes all the difference in the world. The omission is this: Henninger ignores the impact of Boner and Ryan not even considering abandoning the Omnibus/Porkulus process and returning to sending separate appropriation measures to the Senate. There could have been an appropriations bill for publicly held debt service and a separate one for defense. Make everything else stand on its own merits. The failure of GOP leadership to push this allowed Obama to roll the GOP in the House and Senate.

[Thomas Collins]

There needs to be a Duke and Duker in the Veep slot to balance Cruz, NK. Kasich and Haley come to mind.

[Thomas Collins]

It doesn't matter to me whom Henninger supports. He could support Jeb Bush for all I care. What matters is the WSJ op ed writers ignoring the toxic impact on the GOP's ability to fight Obama of the current Omnibus/Porkulus process.

[NK]

Then make it Haley for gal votes. Give Kasich OMB or something where he can't do too much harm. GOPe can just write checks and shut up until after November.

[DebinNC]

Iirc the only time the R nominee was from OH was Thomas Dewey in 1944, and we know how that ended. I think the reason OH "always picks the winner" is because a pivotal number vote late after it's clear who's projected to win and vote accordingly to maintain their "must win" status and keep the political attention-perks gravy train rolling in year after year after year ..

[NK]

ThomC-- WSJ editors have always been open border types, even before Rupe.

[Thomas Collins]

I agree, NK. Between Dems wanting open borders because they have abandoned Barbara Jordan's view of sovereignty, to Duke and Dukers liking open borders for low cost labor, there is a strong element in the US that will resist meaningful immigration reform (what goes for "reform" today is legalize first, deal with border reform later).

[NK]

Cruz-Haley with Carly as the designated attack dog barking at Hilligula August -November will win and probably save the Senate. That works for me.

[Porchlight]

Haley is weak and would be mocked as a token pick with plenty of justification, IMO.

[Thomas Collins]

Wasn't Dewey a NewYorkah born in Michigan, DebinNC?

[Thomas Collins]

Porchlight, I prefer Kasich over Haley because (i) accordingly to my unscientific polling of family and friends, Kasich does well with persuadable females, and (ii) the reason you gave.

[NK]

ThomC@12:08 -- they don't have the votes, that's why they are desperate for Hilligula to do it by EOs. Get Cruz in, give GOPe/Chamber the value immigrants they want (remember mass poor immigrants is the Dem hostage for value immigrants the Chamber wants) cut the deal to increase value immigrants and pause mass immigration (end family 're'unification) for about 20 years. Basically do what Canada and Australia do.

[DebinNC]

Speaking of gal votes, Hillary is said to have a "white man" problem, as her support comes overwhelmingly from women and minorities. Her Harlem rally yesterday proves the "women" part true. I only spotted 3 white males, one of whom was Schumer, but the total absence of black males is very odd. Couldn't they have paid some black Harlem guys to stand behind her just for show?

[boris]

"emphasize to the conservative wing and the Duke and Duke wing that it's time to hang together ..."

The last time that was used was the last time ever.

[NK]

the Bruthas don't like Hilligula either Deb.

[Thomas Collins]

In any event, it's time for the conservative and Duke and Duke aspects of GOP to realize that while it'll never get to tongue kissing, a nice coffee date with some touching on the arm is in order pronto.

[Porchlight]

I agree, TC - Kasich is the better VP pick.

[Theo]

I think a XX chromosome on the ticket will be something of a requirement.

[NK]

Unfortunately the LIV gal votes need a vagina on the ticket. It's just the way they roll. Hey don't look at me I don't make this up, I just report it.

[DebinNC]

You're right, TC. I repeated something I read yesterday without checking. Good reminder to do so first.

[Porchlight]

Theo - it didn't work with Palin, won't work this year either, IMO.

[Old Lurker]

"some touching on the arm is in order"

Not back to THAT subject again.

[NK]

Porch comeback to us... Lightgiver/financial crisis '08 and Hilligula/ObummerCare '16 are worlds different elections. But you're right a conservative POTUS candidate with a 'moderate' woman will do better in '16 than McCain/Palin.

[Theo]

Porch --

I agree that it did not work with Palin. But this year is different. As Obama proved in his run against Rodham, race trumps gender in the victimization battle. Thus Palin (who was less than ideal in a lot of ways) was not enough to offset Obama's half-blackness.

But with Rodham running, as NK says, the LIV gal votes (and the men who cater to them) will need to have a sister on the ticket.

It hardly guarantees success, but it is better to have a female on the ticket than not for electoral purposes.

[henry]

Might as well run with Caitlyn Jenner.

[Jack is Back!ll]

Wouldn't it be nice if every headline in every major newspaper around the world was like this one?😇😇

http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-Hampton-Village/474496/Knitting-Shop-Finds-Success-In-East-Hampton

[Theo]

henry --

That will get the People magazine readers for sure!

[Porchlight]

Good points, NK and Theo. But don't we expect Hill to choose an AA VP? I don't see how you beat tokenism with tokenism-lite.

[Threadkiller]

Ann Coulter ‏@AnnCoulter

Religious conservatives: We will not even accept a fine. (We aren't THAT against abortion if we can bash Trump.) https://twitter.com/FoxBusiness/status/715302990853214208 …

Ann Coulter ‏@AnnCoulter

Has anyone actually read Trump abortion transcript? Matthews browbeats Trump; Trump agrees to some vague punishment. http://bit.ly/21Uok3s

Ann Coulter ‏@AnnCoulter

Hey Cruzbots! How about the same penalty for abortion as for adultery? http://wapo.st/1SBBj7Q

[Old Lurker]

No words required:

"Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told a crowd in North Carolina Tuesday that “only 49% of low-income neighborhoods have sidewalks” while more affluent areas have near 90%. In order to have a society where “everyone has a shot at the American Dream, than it’s imperative that we acknowledge these challenges.”

[buccaneer morgan]

So the brussels cell having pics of the prime minister's home not a thing.

[Thomas Collins]

In Wisconsin, Public Policy Polling has Kasich's favorability rating among women as 51/28, and among men 53/32. Very good for a Veep pick. Plus, Kasich gets the GOP Ohio.

[Theo]

Porch --

I think that Rodham will have an Hispanic on the ticket -- Castro I think. The AA thing is so last election.

But if Rafael Cruz is the Republican nominee she may figure that kind of tokenism is not any good.

All other things being equal (and they rarely are) we need a VP equipped with a uterus. VP nominees do not matter much anyway; they are mostly symbolic and for "balance." Rodham should pick a sober young male for that balance.

[Captain Hate]

Haley or Mailman? Talk about name your poison. I guess Haley even though being prejudiced against Indians is as allowable as the Unpeople of Jesusland.

[Threadkiller]

Unfortunately the LIV gal votes need a vagina on the ticket

That is why they choose Obama.

[NK]

OL-- in Darien and New Canaan we fight tooth and nail to keep sidewalks off of our blocks. I don't have a sidewalk. I'm sure Maguire doesn't have a sidewalk.

[JeanD]

Iirc the only time the R nominee was from OH was Thomas Dewey in 1944, and we know how that ended.

DebinNC, 7 presidents were born in Ohio.

Also, I don't understand your theory that Ohioans wait and vote late once they see who is going to prevail. Can you explain that to me? TIA

[Dave (in MA)]

Cop hurt in motorcycle crash, but all for a good cause, the Pantsuit got $2700 per head.

http://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/boston-officer-injured-motorcycle-crash-0

[NK]

Hilligula's VP-- I thought Castro was a lock?

[DebinNC]

Palin on the ticket was a huge minus for me. Maybe because my NC rep at the time was Sue Myrick, former Mayor of Charlotte, which has more people than the entire state of AK iirc. Myrick was also a former Charlotte City Council member, former state rep, and longtime U.S. Rep with a stellar voting record, and she'd started and run a very successful business before that. Palin paled in comparison imo, and her choice diminished McCain, which wasn't easy to do as he was already at rock bottom with me.

[Theo]

TC --

I see in today's Quinnipiac poll, Kasich trails Rodham by only FIVE points (46-41) in NEW YORK in the general election. Now, the GOP is not going to carry New York, but it shows how Unpopular Rodham is, even in the bluest of the blue states that knows her best.

[henry]

I'd rather have Kasich free to be appointed to the exhalted "Postmaster - Guam" spot.

[NK]

TK@12:26-- very true. The LIV gals they luv the gay guys, no question.

[buccaneer morgan]

Integrity, that her problem, maverick had none, hence the Jones memo.

[pagar a bacon, country ham and sausage supporter]

Speaking of Chaos:

"Police stops in Chicago are down nearly 90 percent as the Chicago Police Department continues to struggle with bad morale and incessant violence."

"At the same time, shootings across the city are up 80 percent…”"

Read the Correlation section at http://heyjackass.com/

[Old Lurker]

Where I live, we are surrounded by gazillion dollar homes.

Not a sidewalk in sight.

Bike Paths and Biddle Paths, sure, but no sidewalks.

Just sayin.

[Thomas Collins]

I know it's a tough potion, CH. I just think those are the most doable as a Cruz Veep in a sparkling water, organic fruit salad and asiago cheese filled room deal in Cleveland (hopefully someone will have enough sense to bring in Chester Avenue BBQ to the negotiations; Puerto Rican food from the near West Side would also round things out nicely).

[NK]

henry@12:28-- you are the best. He certainly can't do too much harm there... he can't, can he?

[buccaneer morgan]

Well it was tpaw, Romney and liberman on top.

[Old Lurker]

NK, speaking of New Canaan (I was waiting for you to give me an opening), YL sent the following last night to show what life is like in her new town.

You gotta be careful out there.

http://newcanaanite.com/after-angry-woman-throws-ice-cream-sundae-bogo-tuesdays-at-baskin-robbins-in-jeopardy-37230#st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/

[buccaneer morgan]

Speaking of acme landmines, hbo's latest in kind contribution with Kerry washington, Wendell pierce and Greg kinnear as the solon.

[Theo]

Okay folks, continuing yesterday's fantasy, suppose (and this is very unlikely) they get to Cleveland and no one has enough first ballot votes. And Trump gets the movers and shakers in a room and says "you know what, I've had my fun and I don't want to be president anyway. But I don't want that lyin' Ted Cruz to win either. So here's my deal, I will release my delegates as long as everyone, Ted included, joins hands and anoints J R Kasich as the nominee. And I get a bunch of other concessions too."

Suppose that happens. In the famous words of Howie Mandel, what say you all? Deal or No Deal?

[Captain Hate]

TC, the PRs are interspersed throughout the whole west side. The near west side is a mixture of everything.

[Threadkiller]

All other things being equal (and they rarely are) we need a VP equipped with a uterus. VP nominees do not matter much anyway; they are mostly symbolic and for "balance

Things Trump can't say.

Too misogynistic.

[DebinNC]

Can you explain that to me? TIA

Thanks for the correction, Jean. As usual when I'm wrong I tend to go big. To your question, the answer is human nature imo, specifically "whatever behavior is rewarded continues". OH voters get lots and lots of media attention, presidential fly-ins, candidate visitations, etc., because "OH always picks the winner" has become a truism no one dares ignore. After decades of picking the winner and reaping the rewards of doing so, why wouldn't a pivotal number be unwilling to give that up voluntarily, rather than vote strategically for the projected winner and keep the circus coming to town much more often than elsewhere? Just my opinion, and I'm often provably wrong.

[Threadkiller]

Deal!

Since the GOPe would be blowing the detonators at that point, what do I care if Kasich is on the rooftop?

[Threadkiller]

IVR

[Thomas Collins]

When I was in Cleveland, CH, the best PR food was on the near west side. But I haven't lived there in awhile.

The best politically incorrect comedy was in The Flats, but perhaps that has also changed.

[henry]

Some bunch of academics do not want to pay taxes, preferring tax of the unwashed producers.

[NK]

OL-- now that you mention it. The 'Playhouse' on that website is the movie house Maguire mentioned years ago as being where he took his teen kids and their pals to see Harry Potter films. Did you know Ann Coulter is a New Canaan native? Her dad was 'Sheriff' (evictions foreclosures) in town back in the day.

[Jack is Back!ll]

OL,

In re your 12:22, the sidewalk on S. Main St. stops at the Episcopal church. From there on the homeowners of the $50 milliion dollar estates backing to Agawam pond are on their own. Same with Gin Lane and Meadow Lane - no sidewalks. My street has no sidewalks and Secretary Foxx has given me a great idea on how to get one.

I am going to start a "All Sidewalks Matter" group based on the political and economic theory of "sidewalk inequality". And since I am taking an Obama, liberal position, who around here will dare call this a racist, egalitarian idea?

[RIF]

"Thanks for the correction, Jean. As usual when I'm wrong I tend to go big. "

None since 1920.

Dewey's VP was from Ohio!

[Theo]

Deb --

I went to college in Ohio and I also lived there for a number of years and still have relatives there. My sense is that there is very little strategic voting going on there. It just so happens to represent a pretty decent cross section of the country (or has in the past anyway). I doubt many voters will vote for someone they do not want to win just to be on the winning side. And if the election looks close, they would not know for sure which side was going to win anyway. And if the election looks lopsided, why would it matter?

[DebinNC]

The Ferguson debacle began with Officer Wilson telling miscreants Brown and friend to get onto the sidewalk instead of continue walking down the middle of the well-traveled street bordered on each side by a large mostly public housing type complex. They ignored him and continued walking and the rest followed.

[Theo]

Deb --

And they had sidewalks there!

[NK]

JiB-- too funny.

BTW-- ChiTown friend puts Secy Sweeney's leftfield shot into context. Ancient Chicago Way, get construction union cronies involved by making new construction an election issue. The ChiTown way never sleps.

[Old Lurker]

Hear Hear, jack.

And be sure to demand lighting too.

Oh. And make all the crossing ADA friendly with proper slopes and textured surfaces for the blind.

Oh. And is you have any traffic lights, be sure to make the crossing signals audible. Most people prefer the bird chirps.

Oh. And since it is difficult to have a sidewalk in many settings without a curb, you will need to handle the storm water runoff. Be sure to filter out the road filth before that discharges into the Waters of the Federal Government.

You are the engineer, I am sure you have a standard for all that already.

[NK]

henry-- Yale prof/admincrats doesn't want to pay taxes? SHOCKA!! They are shameless.

[NK]

OL-- @12:45 fantastic! BTW that's the ChiTown Lurker's explanation for this, the construction/union cronies needing to be paid before an election.

[Threadkiller]

Breaking my promise...

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court on Thursday killed a Pittsburgh man's attempt to knock GOP presidential contender Ted Cruz off the ballot for the April 26 primary election

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/03/ted_cruz.html

Advantage NK.

::quietly sobbing::

Now I really don't want to talk about this topic.

;-)

[NK]

Deb-- so installing sidewalks is a form of institutional racism that infringes on BLM culture, no?

[Appalled]

TC at 11:55:

About the only way November is not a total mess for the GOP (he says, polishing his crystal ball, and preparing to make an ass of himself), is for Trump to continue beclowning himself in ways that are hard to explain away, so that even he sees the utility of walking away from the nomination without a yuuuuge fight and with a big Trumpian endorsement of the ultimate nominee. It would make an interesting convention -- something that has not happened since 1980.

The guy who prides himself on the art of the deal could pull this off.

[Captain Hate]

The Flats was great because it was the free market in action where people with an idea of how to run a food or music place took advantage of available space because of industrial activity being in the toilet. Then the local gubmint and more organized crime wanted their cut and things went predictably back in the crapper with a few exceptions.

The best comedy imo is at Pickwick and Frolic on East 6th Street downtown. I used to work with some people who went to high school with Drew Carey when he was starting at the local clubs; every one of them were happy when he made it big.

[DebinNC]

Installing sidewalks is not racist, because public housing denizens deserve sidewalks. But requiring them to leave streets clear for cars is racist. And the popo backing up and asking them to get on the sidewalks a second time, was a triggering event that absolved Brown for reaching in the car, pummeling Ofc Wilson, and grappling for his gun twice causing it to fire inside the vehicle.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

TK - Glad you watched the video

[GUS]

Kasich's ego might capsize Guam.

[NK]

Gus going to the way back machine for the capsize reference. I salute you.

[buccaneer morgan]

That top link doesn't excuse trump from giving them the swird, pretext.

Btw the fda is always on the job for Moloch.

[Threadkiller]

There was a video?

[Frau Flitzebogen]

From NYT comment section on possibility of voting for Sen. Cruz:

... Although the most revealing tidbit in this article is the fact that his college roommate can't stand him. Seriously that is all you need to know about Ted Cruz!

Well, that and his pomaded hair, high intelligence, thin-lipped sneer and creepy father should finish it for most. Did I forget anything? Oh, and droopy eyebrows.
/s

Then... buccaneer morgan @ 11:46 informs me that it's someone else's parent who sucks on the govt. teat to help run a nonprofit for illegal aliens, oops, immigrants. This time it's not a Kennedy!

[Frau Flitzebogen]

Must have a female on the ticket? If a Dem does it, it's breaking the glass ceiling. If it's a Republican, it's pandering. The MSM plays the tune and everyone dances.

[JeanD]

Deb, thanks for that explanation.

It's hard for me to conceive of most Ohioans as "strategic voters," though it could be true. Over the years, Ohio has greatly expanded early voting and eliminated any requirements for absentee voting. Heck, in a recent election cycle, our SoS sent everyone a "Request for Absentee Ballot Application" just in case anyone was too lazy to get one on their own.

Also, I think there were a fair number of early votes cast for people no longer running in our recent primary.

So, that's why I couldn't fathom the idea of strategic late voting.

(BTW, I wish we would go back to the old rules: vote on election day, or request an absentee ballot for legit reasons. But, no way is that going to happen.)

[sbw]

Adam Smith Institute in Great Britain at adamsmith.org has launched a new Policy Priorities page:

-- Low, simple, flat taxes that encourage investment and innovation, and hence economic growth.
-- A voucher-based education system that gives parents and schools complete freedom over how and where children are educated.
-- A privately-provided, publicly-funded healthcare system where patient outcomes, not NHS wages, are the focus.
-- Freedom of trade with the world, and a liberal immigration system that is designed to work for migrants and natives alike.
-- A liberalised planning system that lets many more houses be built, so everyone can afford to own their own home.
-- A simple welfare system based around a Negative Income Tax or Basic Income that tops up the wages of the poor and guarantees that work always pays.
-- Free market money and an end to bailouts of private banks.

Many good ideas we could use.

[DebinNC]

It's hard for me to conceive of most Ohioans as "strategic voters,"

Me too, Jean, that's why I said a "pivotal" number. I think OH's electorate is far more evenly divided R-D than most, so it only takes a small segment of strategic "keep the circus coming" peeps to swing a close election. IMO

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

The MSM plays the tune and everyone dances

Not me; it was the GOP apologists armed and firing at Todd Akin.

[jimmyk]

Might as well run with Caitlyn Jenner.

Or go all the way with Kim Kardashian.

Why is Rubio not being mentioned as a Veep? I'd probably prefer him to Kasich.

[Frau Arnikasalbe]

In Florida, *this* is battery!

I bet Frau Merkel had to use arnica salve on that spot.

1 tbsp. arnica flowers
2 oz. olive oil
1.5 tsp. beeswax
Heat, cool and strain.

[Dave (in MA)]

Killing a woman with his car kept Teddy Boy out of the White House. Would it do the same to Bruce Jenner in A Dress?

[lyle]

Funny, we never heard a peep from any of Barry's college roomies. Or any of his classmates, for that matter. Why is that?

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Little Marco's inability to address his Gang of Eight activities probably disqualifies him.

[RIF]

"Not me; it was the GOP apologists armed and firing at Todd Akin."

Like this one.

>>
Coulter said Akin’s comments about rape and abortion give Democrats evidence to support their claim that Republicans are pursuing a “war on women.”

“They have been pushing this war on women thing forever. They had nothing until now,” said Coulter. “Now they’ve got something. Every Republican is going to be asked about this.”

“Now we can complain about media bias,” she said. “But that is a fact. This is all we’re going to hear about."
<<

[Old Lurker]

What do we think about Comey personally doing the Hillary criminal interview for the FBI?

That strikes me as a for-show appearance from a top boss who can only be partially involved in the case given his other duties. Shouldn't the most senior of the 147 FBI agents and lawyers on the case be doing it?

Am I wrong to smell a rat?

[Frau Arnikasalbe]

lyle @1:21 - just one classmate from Occidental who said Barry the Hawaiian was as red as they come.

[Miss Marple 2]

Back from picking up a friend of granddaughter's and dropping them both off at the mall. They will have a ride home, which is good because I have come down with a massive cold and feel like the bottom of a bird cage.

GOSSIP NEWS via Ed Klein on the Laura Ingraham show. He has a new book called "Unlikable" about Hillary Clinton.(Hilarious title, BTW).

But he has also heard other stuff, and this is most interesting to me: Hillary and Bill are rarely in the same town now and she is refusing to take his political advice

Klein doesn't know who is guiding her, but it's not Bill. Also, Bill has repeatedly advised her to get some high-powered attorneys and negotiate with Comey and/or Lynch, but she refuses. She believes she will beat this just like she did everything else.

Klein feels like Comey WILL refer this to Lynch, possibly within as little as 6 weeks, because he doesn't want to look like he has deliberately blown up the dem convention. Meanwhile, the question is whether the dems would go ahead and nominate her if there is a referral; Klein said most of the upper level dems are Clintonistas so there is a chance they might try to ram her through. A lot depends on how many leaks come out of the FBI, and he is positive they will leak this so that the administration can't cover it up.

Also, there is talk now that there will be corruption charges due to trading government favors to countries and/or individuals for donations to the Foundation.

(I do wonder if they are starting to move money out of that foundation to places like the Cayman islands.)

That's my reporting duty done for today.

I see some of you gullible people are thinking Cruz will be on the ticket. I am realistic enough to assume they will keep the nomination from Trump, which is a shame as I wanted a YUGE Inaugural Ball and hilarious press conferences.

Cruz is not going to get the delegates he needs going into the convention. He will not get a nomination from a brokered convention either. And he will not get a VP nomination from anyone, unless Kasich offers it to him in return for his delegates, which I doubt. The GOPe is using him and his supporters and they will snatch that nomination away from him quicker than a New York minute.