The Ascent Of Peak Crazy Was Meant As Metaphor

Climbing Trump Tower with suction cups is bold performance art. Still three more months until the election.

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

Make climbing great again!

[henry]

guy should have worn a superhero suit of some sort.

[Beasts of England]

Or a blonde combover wig. ;)

[James D]

Speaking of metaphor and crazy, I saw on FB this morning a link to an ABC News article expressing shock over Trump's latest statement yesterday - that "Obama is the founder of ISIS."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-president-barack-obama-founder-isis/story?id=41286869&cid=share_facebook_widget

Here's how the piece leads off:

SHARES
Email
Donald Trump made a startling accusation against President Barack Obama during a Florida rally Wednesday night, telling supporters that the commander in chief is the "founder of ISIS."

"ISIS is honoring president Obama," the Republican presidential nominee said during a rally at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. "He is the founder of ISIS. He founded ISIS. And, I would say the co-founder would be crooked Hillary Clinton.

THIS is why I hate the media, in one sentence.

You don't need to be a Trump supporter or apologist to understand exactly what he was saying.

It's EXACTLY the same as Democrats said of Bush, how he was "Al Qaeda's best recruiter" and so forth. Except back then the media ran with the accusations and repeated them happily at every possible occasion, and pushed Republicans to answer for them.

But now that the GOP who doesn't meekly roll over and bare his throat to the Democrats, metaphor and hyperbole are forbidden, and every word must be taken literally and evaluated with an electron microscope to determine just how horrible and offensive it is.

[sbw]

RG:sbw: that review of Russell Kirk's principles of conservatism project, with an eye toward possibly updating or rephrasing a few of them. Any progress?

RG, Still consider it important and want to get to it asap. Duty called in between then and now as our son’s wedding, for some reason, demanded my attention. ;-)

Thanks for reminding me.

[narciso]

How about that scrubs costar removing all doubt, civility how does it work?

[GUS]

He should have worn a Mao pant suit.

[jimmyk]

TC, from the last thread:
I have friends who apparently believe that because The Hill was reckless in a situation which could endanger lives, and Trump has been careful in a situation in which business secrets could be at risk, somehow Hillary is better qualified.

I tried to make the 5-bullet vs 6-bullet Russian Roulette argument to a NeverTrump conservative friend, pointing out Hillary's blatant lying on matters of national security, and the response was: "Trump has never held office and therefore it is not possible for him to have lied about something like Hillary. Look at what he has done -- business -- and see if he has lied there. And he has. As much as he can." No specifics, and no distinction between the sort of salesmanship and bravado that is necessary in business vs the scheming and underhanded criminality of Short Circuit.

[Threadkiller]

Or an Odummy Rodeo Clown mask.

[Threadkiller]

Jimmy, this interview with Richard Grenell is quite an eye opener:

http://marklarson.hipcast.com/deluge/Media-Grenell-8-9.mp3

He breaks down the fear in DC to one thing, both entrenched Dems and Repubs are deathly afraid of Trump changing the rules under which they flourish.

What caught my attention is how he rationalized his vote for Trump. He said the President is ultimately responsible for 5000 appointments. Looking at who Trump has already appointed to his campaign as well as the names Trump has mentioned for a future cabinet and comparing that with Hil's lists should be enough for any sane person to pick Trump.

I need to listen to the podcast again to get the exact quotes. I think he makes some very compelling arguments against #NeverTrumpism.

Maybe, after listening to it, you could send it to your friend and see if he is willing to discuss the podcast alone.

See if you can at least convert him to a #ConcernNeverTrump.

:-)

[squaredance]

" tried to make the 5-bullet vs 6-bullet Russian Roulette argument to a NeverTrump conservative friend,"

People like this do not really have developed minds. I do not mean cultivated minds, but merely developed in the minimal sense that we once required out of adults.

They are operating mostly on an emotional level and covering that with rationalization. They are a sort of pouting, passive aggressive, conservative version of SJWs.

I think that it is really a fruitless task trying to engage them.

As a matter of course, I loath psychology in general, and psycho-babble in particular, but psychologists have this concept call splitting, and it is a useful one.

Something of the sort is happening here.

Moreover, there is something about the never trumpers that "short circuits" when someone actually gets close to actually acting on all this. Is it that they are so comparable with their abstractions that they do not want to see them challenged? Are they, as Clarice muses, gamma males reacting to an alpha? Certainly there is something very odd here, and it seems to move outside the realms of reason, political and "policy". There is something vaguely pathological, even clinical, about all this.

My guess is that this has always been out there, but we never really understood this prior to Trump. It may explain some of the failures of Conservatism as a political movement.

Trump has it right. It is time to start doing and to talk less. There will be false starts and dead ends, but we must try to piece it back together before it is too late.

[Thomas Collins]

Matters may be settling into pre-conventions mode.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/white_house_watch

If this holds and Trump loses, Duke and Duke GOPers could reasonably be held to be the center of gravity of the defeat. I realize, however, that it's a long way to election time.

[squaredance]

OT: I ran across this in my reader this AM and founf it entertaining.

Mind you, I am thoroughgoing dog person and have never owned a cat, but have known some stellar Maine Coons in my time, particular in horse barns.

This one though has got to be the largest one I have ever seen.

Seem like quite a nice animal.

[GUS]

Grenell is correct. That is why Ryan et al have not embraced Trump. JimmyK, we KNOW with certainty, that Rodham should be serving a least a couple decades in prison. We know ROdham has lied about anything and everything her entire life for money and power. We know that Rodham has jeopardized our countries security for her own gain. Anyone who doesn't recognize what a PILE OF SHIT, RODHAM is, is a fucking moron.

[James D]

Good God, SD, that is a huge cat!

[Janet]

Or an Odummy Rodeo Clown mask.

Remember that!?! The Dems throw shoes at a giant paper mache Bush & that is funny. Write an article! Trump pinatas are funny too...write articles about their popularity!!
Make a video of Hispanic kids cursing at Trump & that is really, really good.

But no rodeo clown mask...that is just awful & racist & beyond the pale.

[squaredance]

JD: Yes...amazing. Hope it is not too short lived.

Bet the mice give that apartment a wide wake.

[narciso]

That is a yuge kitten.

[cheerleader]

James D

Imo, Trump's most controversial statements aren't gaffes or inarticulate or anything else, but are as pointed and targeted as arrows, to get people thinking and talking about previously unmentionable topics.

It's starting to get obvious when Trump is chumming the waters. The dishonest press hasn't figured out yet that they are being trolled.

[Beasts of England]

Justin Rose with an Olympic hole-in-one!!

[Appalled]

cheerleader:

I agree with your 11:01 (and you may have noticed that I am not a part of the chorus on the this issue and the 2nd amendment hollering).

Thing is, when Trump drops hints, or does that "people are talking, I'm just saying" thing, I feel I, and any other pundit, have the right to hold him accountable for the thing he is implying.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I think he makes some very compelling arguments against #NeverTrumpism.--

Any putative conservative for whom the word "Hillary" is not a compelling enough argument to vote for Trump is not a rational person and as SD points out is almost certainly impervious to reason.

[Beasts of England]

It was a beautiful shot, too - it ricocheted off an abandoned sofa and careened off a capybara, right into the hole...

[clarice]

JimmyK, it's bad enough living in DC, were I in academia I'd be blowing my brains out. Silliest people I know--with exceptions like you, of course.

[henry]

If he can solve the windmill, he may ahve a future.

[cheerleader]

Appalled,

You can hold him accountable for his words and scream and yell and stamp your feet demand apologies, all you want.

Trump, by contrast, is holding the dishonest press and corrupt political class accountable for their actions.

With regard to that mission, he's not going to bend to the power of pc and apologize for saying what he believes needs to be said, and what he has every right to say.

[Buckeye]

Any putative conservative for whom the word "Hillary" is not a compelling enough argument to vote for Trump is not a rational person and as SD points out is almost certainly impervious to reason.

Exactly right. Big waste of time trying to rehabilitate them.

Election will be won by "selling" the impressionable.

I expect Hillary to promise lots of FreeShit in her Michigan speech today.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Thing is, when Trump drops hints, or does that "people are talking, I'm just saying" thing, I feel I, and any other pundit, have the right to hold him accountable for the thing he is implying.---

If we grant your premise then what you are describing is a large mouth bass taking the bait which is kind of the point of trolling, no?
The "implication" of chumming is not a serious point but a purposeful attempt to bait opponents into having conniptions over what is quite obviously not a serious suggestion.
The result over time is the revealing of unreasonable bias, gullibility, lack of a sense of humor and easy manipulability of those who oppose him.

The point is the eventual degradation of their credibility.
We'll see if it works.
I know I'm SOBing more of your comments as the fire in your hair gets hotter and higher.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I guess that should be "SingOB".

[squaredance]

Is it that they are so comparable with their abstractions = Is it that they are so comfortable with their abstractions

(spell correction strikes again)

[sbw]

Let’s see, do I want “opportunity” or the undelivered promise of “free shit”?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

LOL, Beasts and Henry.

[Buckeye]

sbw

I know what I would want, however we now have a huge army of "takers" in the country who would have no idea what to do with an opportunity.

[cheerleader]

The left has to stop with the deceptive pc deflections, and learn instead to argue the issues.

[henry]

LOL.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

US Tax Receipts Have Never Done This Without A Recession

"So ignore US Tax receipts (hard data), ignore US productivity (hard data), ignore the bond market (hard data), and ignore GDP expectations... but pay attention to the non-farm payrolls headline data - because that's what you're told to do!!"

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--The left has to stop with the deceptive pc deflections, and learn instead to argue the issues.--

Um, well, there are no arguments they can advance which will succeed which is why they have always utilized deceptive PC deflections.
They learned the lesson they needed to a long time ago.

[hrtshpdbox]

Any putative conservative for whom the word "Hillary" is not a compelling enough argument to vote for Trump is not a rational person and as SD points out is almost certainly impervious to reason.

So what do we say about the rationality and reasonableness of people who can't fathom the argument that the word "Trump" is, for some conservatives, as equally an odious word as "Hillary"? Actually a worse word, as conservatives expect Dems to be slimeballs while hoping that the GOP won't set their party back by nominating trainwrecks who are certain to lose. Can you think of any of the other 16 GOP hopefuls who wouldn't be ahead in the polls in Arizona and Georgia? Any of the other 16 could sit back and watch as Hillary's scandals buried her; with Trump that equation does a 180, Hillary can keep her mouth shut and watch Trump dig a new hole for himself every day. When this reaches it's inevitable conclusion, try hard to understand that it's not the fault of the media (twisted and in the bag for Hillary though they are), it's not the fault of the GOP establishment, it's not Hillary's fault - Trump will lose because he's a terrible candidate in so, so many ways, and the public can't stomach the idea of him being in the White House.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Regulation and declining productivity.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--So what do we say about the rationality and reasonableness of people who can't fathom the argument that the word "Trump" is, for some conservatives, as equally an odious word as "Hillary"?--

That they are men and women of near infinite wit and sagacity and, overall, much more attractive than the national average.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Pretty sure I will go to my grave not comprehending the argument that those who vote for Trump would be responsible for him losing while those who either don't vote or vote for his opponent would not be.

Since it was established upthread I am a man of near infinite wit and sagacity the argument is necessarily flawed.

[cheerleader]

If anyone wants to know how he plans to implement his platform, his speech right now is going through processes he will use, step by step.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

As to bighorn sheep by roads, there are several areas in California where there are frequent road signs warning of bighorns on the roadway.
The pre Columbian bighorns lived on the western plains and in the low hills of the Dakotas as well as the mountains. They are only generally restricted to the mountains now because of human pressure.
It's unusual to see them because they're pretty elusive and not particularly common anymore, not because they won't walk around roads.

[cheerleader]

Thursday, August 11, 2016: Donald Trump’s address to the National Association of Home Builders Board of Directors Meeting in Miami, FL at the Sparkle Ballroom at Fontainebleau Miami.

[DebinNC]

Someone who trusts results of a presidential poll commissioned by the lefty Atlanta Journal-Constitution knows squat about GA imo.

[cheerleader]

I think that his saying last night, and again this morning, that "Obama founded ISIS" is the most controversial thing he has ever said.

[Appalled]

Ignatz (at 11:22):

Honest, my hair's not on fire. It's starting to thin up there, so I am careful to keep what I have from smoldering. When people tell me to go soak my head, I take them seriously!

Trump's sense of humor is not mine, but I recognize he has one. The 2nd Amendment comment he made had an intentional double meaning in it, but did not merit the pearl clutching hysteria we've seen the last couple of days. We've all heard cracks like that talking with the guys at the bar. It's an incitement to snicker, not an incitement to assassinate.

Nevertheless, the problem with the Presidential candidate as media troll should be pretty obvious. While Mr. Trump may relish his fights, he doesn't always look good when he has them, and he provides the media an excellent excuse to bury yet more stories about Hillary's e-mails, and one that DoJ turned away an FBI request to investigate the Clinton Foundation.

[Captain Hate]

He breaks down the fear in DC to one thing, both entrenched Dems and Repubs are deathly afraid of Trump changing the rules under which they flourish.

An insightful Moron pointed out that the Uniparty was all set for the Bush Crime Family versus the Clinton Crime Family in November until Trump crashed the party. I think a lot of the Bernbots are open to that analogy.

If anybody is interested in the noise I listen to, a friend is graciously giving me free rein on his WJCU radio show from 6-8.

[Captain Hate]

http://www.wjcu.org/listen

[Appalled]

DeninNC has a point about the ajc polls. If one took their polls seriously in 2014, we'd be talking about Governor Carter and Senator Nunn down here.

[derwill]

--and he provides the media an excellent excuse to bury yet more stories about Hillary's e-mails, and one that DoJ turned away an FBI request to investigate the Clinton Foundation.--

Oh, please. Like the MSM would be covering those stories if it just wasn't for that darn Trump. LOL

[jimmyk on iPhone]

hrt your arguments against nominating Trump are a few weeks late. At this point the only question is whether we're better off with him or Hillary as the next President is the question at hand.

[DebinNC]

If we had reasonable and scandal-free Jeb! or Gov. Pearly Gates the media would be pounding Hillary? Any evidence in the last 50 yrs. to support that? Trump imo is the only thing preventing a political Bataan Death March on the way to November like we've endured the last two cycles. He may lose, but at least he's fighting hard and making it a contest.

[Captain Hate]

<|>the GOP won't set their party back by nominating trainwrecks who are certain to lose.

Romney, McCain, Dole, Ford...

[Captain Hate]

Gov. Pearly Gates

Welcome to the dark side, Deb.

[Beasts of England]

At the end of July, Dukakis led Bush 55-38. It would be nice if the NeverTrump poll worshippers would have a little historical perspective.

[Captain Hate]

How badly was Reagan polling against Adultery of the Heart before the first debate? There's a reason we have campaigns and I wouldn't feel too comfy if I was backing an addled stumblebum who belongs in an assisted living facility.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I suspect almost any of the other Repubs except probably JEB! would be running ahead of and defeat Hillary. The problem with that opinion, and it's not a small one, is they didn't get nominated.

I also expect Trump to beat Hillary even if he is slightly behind now. At this point I have largely come to the point that I think Trump's relative probable weakness re the other Reps is worth it simply because he is the only one doing the long term work necessary to create a GOP that can break free of its little brother attitude re the Dems.

The GOP doesn't have a political, demographic, philosophical, racial or ideological problem hindering it.
It has a psychological one.
Any of the other 16, with the possible exception of Cruz who would bring his own psychological problems with him, would have continued in that problem. If it doesn't get rid of it, it might as well rename itself the Battered Wife Syndrome Party and just resign itself to regular thumpings by Hillary in her wife beater shirt. [sorry about the imagery]

I've noted before, Trump's great virtue is the one Lincoln saw in Grant; "He fights!"
THAT is the one essential virtue in a battle and in a leader into battle.

We have a leadership made up entirely of McClellens. That guarantees a lost war which guarantees a lost country.
If we're going down at least let's draw some blood.

[JeanD]

If you want to see bighorn sheep, I-70 around the Georgetown, CO exit will usually provide some. We expect to see them there whenever we go by, and are rarely disappointed.

Sometimes there are just a few, and sometimes there are many, but they are almost always around.
Best viewed when you are headed westbound.

[Beasts of England]

Reagan only had a two point lead over Carter going into the debate(s).

[maryrose]

Deb is correct.
Dems are not going to win in Georgia where Trump won big.
Heart shaped box:
You can continue to rail against TRUMP but that doesn't change the current factual situation.
I just tell myself because of his ability to create jobs and negotiate deals he will do a good job.
He is tough which foreign leaders respect.
Finally he is not a corrupt individual out for personal gain and he will demand good positive results.
One thing about watching the Apprentice that I learned about Trump.
He does not suffer fools gladly.
Most successful people don't.
What I see lacking with many people these days is a sense of responsibility and accountability.
That is an underlying fabric of our democracy.
I also probably stand alone in supporting the Iraq invasion and attempting to give them a chance at democracy. I would not nation build in that area again because there is not leadership or support for it.
We can't put into office a person with no conscience, a bipolar personality, serious medical issues and finally no respect for the true accomplishments of hard - working people.

[Porchlight]

I sensed yesterday that the Hill bounce is settling down and that Trump energy is rising again. Good to see Rasmussen confirm.

The crosstabs look interesting. How does this grab you?

Trump gets 20% black support to Clinton’s 72%

!!!

Yet, it also says she leads by 12 among women but he only leads by 5 among men.

Not sure what to believe.

Also, if you like chill Trump better than off-the-cuff Trump, I highly recommend this morning's speech to the NAHB:

https://youtu.be/4HBZQnL_aIQ

[maryrose]

I continue to support George HW and George W Bush.
I was happy with their time in office.
Clinton abused the office and Carter was tone.deaf.
Obama created ISIS because of his Inattention and lack of interest.
Trump is right to accuse him of negligence and an ineffective fighting strategy.
No one else is holding Obama accountable but then he has never been made to produce results or suffer consequences.
Hillary is cut from the same cloth.
Let us be the judge and jury for Hillary.
Let us engineer her comeuppance.

[lyle]

That Tim Blair link from last night was hilarious. Love the comments:

What heresy is this? The idea that a planet orbiting a ball of gas 330,000 times the planets mass that is undergoing constant nuclear fusion reactions with a variable energy output could have more influence on the planets climate than some mammals adding a few parts per million to an atmospheric trace gas? Ridiculous!

And:

TimB replied to Simple Simon Thu 11 Aug 16 (10:03pm) Arj Barker nailed this one years ago.

https://vimeo.com/16321261

And all I’m saying is, when I burn my toast I don’t blame the bread.

Too funny.

[lyle]

Last night. This morning. Whatever.

[James D]

People keep saying that any of the other 16 candidates would be leading comfortably at this point in the race, but I honestly don't see how that's such an obvious conclusion.

Each of them had baggage and flaws that would have been attacked by the Dems and the MSM. Maybe less baggage and less flaws than Trump, but every one of them had something (or many somethings) that would have presented a juicy target.

And most of them ran poor campaigns in the primaries, which makes me wonder why it's just assumed they would step up their game in the general election.

Jeb squandered $130 million to no good result; that doesn't speak well for how a national campaign would be run vs. the Dems.

Scott Walker sabotaged his own story and message with an aimless, consultant-driven campaign that went nowhere in a hurry. Again, it's hard to see how that would translate to a strong, dynamic effort against Hillary.

Ted Cruz made even more enemies than Trump during his time in the Senate and during the campaign. Does anyone really doubt there'd be a vocal NeverCruz contingent within the GOP working against him in the general election?

MAYBE some of the other candidates would be doing better now, but it's certainly not a guarantee it would have worked that way.

[Porchlight]

Love those comments, lyle.

As I like to say, only an idiot greeny could believe that the sun is powerful enough to solve all the world's energy needs BUT NOT powerful enough to influence climate.

[Beasts of England]

Well said, maryrose!!

[Captain Hate]

I also probably stand alone in supporting the Iraq invasion and attempting to give them a chance at democracy. I would not nation build in that area again because there is not leadership or support for it.

I supported it when it was going on and was encouraged by the people with purple fingers, but in retrospect it took more time and patience than the nation was willing to accept, particularly with an opposition party willing to stoop to any level for political advantage. Bush added to the problem by not leveling with the people frequently after the exit of Karen Hughes, leaving Rove and PeRINO to avoid making a stand on anything.

[DebinNC]

I think the long-running The Apprentice, followed by Celebrity Apprentice, might be more of a factor than we think. I've only watched about 15 min., and only that much because there was a black female contestant named Omarosa, who was so outrageous she made the regular news and I tuned in to see her in action. She's now part of Trump's campaign. In general, blacks watch tv a lot more than others, so it makes sense that Trump would have a lot of black Apprentice fans supporting him, as they may feel they know and like him.

[Beasts of England]

Not only that, James D., but I wonder if the Cruz dead-enders truly believe there wouldn't be endless stories - and lawsuits - pertaining to his dual citizenship and eligibility? It would be a nightmare. And I'm not saying that those positions would be correct, I'm just saying the Dems and the media would be on them non-stop.

[narciso]

Tim Blair cuts through the vegemite like few can.

[boris]

"MAYBE some of the other candidates would be doing better ..."

I started out favoring Cruz/Fiorina. As things developed it seemed to me Cruz was mostly a lip-sync conservative.

The lyrics were good but it wasn't his song.

[Porchlight]

At the end of July, Dukakis led Bush 55-38.

Is that right? I had no idea.

To this day I cannot recall whether I voted in that election. It would have been my first. I recall walking to a polling station at an elementary school around that time, but don't recall being in the voting booth.

Could that have been for Wellstone's Senate election? (I was a student at Carleton at the time.) But I never really liked Wellstone's politics - I dropped his class because as my roommate said, it was Bubbling Emotions 101. He wanted to know how we felt, not what we thought. Nice man, though.

I don't know. I think I may have actually voted for GHWB. College memories are fuzzy. :)

Is there any way I can find out, I wonder?

[maryrose]

I do disagree James but it is hypothetical to look back.
Do I wish Scott Walker was the candidate?
Yes because the lobs shorthair was of vitriol at him and he emerged victorious each time.
He has gone through the trials by fire and survived.
The contrast to Hillary would have been remarkable.
I have hopes for him in the future and hope will utilize his talents in some way.0

[Porchlight]

I supported the Iraq invasion, too, although I was nervous about it. It was morally right to liberate the country. The purple fingers were proof. But the longterm outcomes, especially given the traitorous Dems waiting to pounce, were always in doubt.

[Beasts of England]

Very much true, Porch!

[BlueOx]

That explains it!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpiEKsWUsAIy7V8.jpg:large

[Janet]

from last year ...I'd forgotten about it. SO funny - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prls6Iz3B3E

Behind the scenes at Chappaqua: Twilight of the Clintons

"These emails are yoga routines!"

[lyle]

Let's face it (and you know who I'm addressing): The Rs could have nominated Mother Teresa (God rest her soul) and the Criminal Party and its Criminal Press would have relentlessly savaged her daily. And there'd be cretin GOPers who would be tugging their chins and mumbling, "y'know, maybe we should have nominated someone with less baggage and more electable."

[Miss Marple]

JamesD.,

I agree. I thought Romney was a good candidate, which shows you that a candidate who looks good on paper is just that. Terrible campaign and no fight in him.

I can run down more on the list: Perry would have been portrayed as a racist due to that stupid rock, Santorum as a Savonarola, Huckabee as a goober, Carson as a race traitor, Fiorina as an inept and evil CEO, etc. etc. all of those already had the beginning of those attacks signaled by the Dems and the media.

There was no doubt they were going to go after Trump. He knew it, he forecasted it during the primaries.

The difference is that he didn't sit around at a vacation house for a few weeks. He got on the campaign trail immediately, and he hasn't let up! He has Pence on the same schedule, and I am please to see Carson, Newt , Giuliani and Huckabee out there serving as surrogates.

She cannot keep this pace and the cumulative effects of Trumps large rallies compared to her tiny events will begin to show.

Trump rallies are entertaining as well as informative. Those cards last night with his comments were pretty smart. I even dumbfounded my cranky daughter with Ivanka's child care plan, which is NOT being discussed on lefty sites.

In my mind I see the future as a fork in the road; on one side, a rebuilt country, full of promise- on the other side the gray apartment blocks and offices of East Berlin, circa 1970. I think the voters will choose the vibrant America, led by a builder and a supermodel, ably assisted by a decent man who was a governor with his schoolmarm wife.

I do not think they will go for Nurse Ratchet and Clem Cadiddlehopper.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce: Rasmussen says most people want the candidates to release their health records.

[sbw]

For RattleGator:
Russell Kirk’s 1993 exposition of conservative principles:
First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.
Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity. [sbw-A conservative mines custom, convention, and continuity to understand why it came to pass.]
Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription. [sbw-Conservatives mine experience for wisdom, not habit.]
Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.
Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability.
Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.
Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.
Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.

Recast of Russell Kirk’s 1993 exposition of conservative points that he called principles:
Conservative principles are individually verifiable, few, and able to be codified in simple dynamic processes of voluntary community government:
Distilled through personal experience, [Third] wisdom of the ages leads individuals [First] [Second] [Fourth] invariably to an appreciation of [Sixth] the imperfectability of judgment. Prudent humility leads conservatives to [Fifth] [Eighth] [Seventh] value and embrace voluntary community with others, similarly respectful, in a continuous process of lifelong learning, protected by dynamic civic processes that codify humility [Tenth] and reconcile permanence and change in a vigorous society [Ninth] through prudent restraints upon power and human passions.

Without the brackets:
Conservative principles are individually verifiable, few, and able to be codified in simple dynamic processes of voluntary community government:
Distilled through personal experience, wisdom of the ages leads individuals invariably to an appreciation of the imperfectability of judgment. Prudent humility leads conservatives to value and embrace voluntary community with others, similarly respectful, in a continuous process of lifelong learning, protected by dynamic civic processes that codify humility and reconcile permanence and change in a vigorous society through prudent restraints upon power and human passions.

[Captain Hate]

Any NK sightings at other sites?

[Porchlight]

I searched the MN SoS site for voter record request forms with no luck. So I emailed them. We'll see.

I have a feeling it was the Wellstone race I voted in. Maybe I voted against him, though, heh. I liked ole Rudy.

[henry]

I like that sbw

[Hamburgerandfries]

All the wars traded out for dem global predilectious agendas. Where's congress? Historical layoffs in intelligence community, five year hilly contracts. Guns for tazers trade in law enforcement program. Hilly JH psychiatric re education programs for all....🍔🍟

[Captain Hate]

Tammy: Susan Estrich ran the Dukakis campaign that squandered the huge poll lead. I wonder if she approved the tank ad. I could see Kaine being in a tank ad.

[Appalled]

lyle:

You know the GOP could not run Mother Teresa. She's not a natural born citizen.

sheez....

[Beasts of England]

Don't forget Donna Brazile, Captain! A confederacy of dunces...

[Captain Hate]

Tammy: Trump is 100% correct on blaming ISIS on Zippy and Crooked Hillary being the cofounders and screw Hugh Hewitt saying he should have used different language, which means it wouldn't be being discussed.

[cheerleader]

Captain Hate

1:41 BINGO

[Porchlight]

More from the reality-has-a-pro-Trump-bias dept:

http://www.politico.eu/article/german-intelligence-warns-of-is-hit-squads-among-refugees/

[Porchlight]

Where has Estrich been? I miss that voice.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

"in retrospect it took more time and patience than the nation was willing to accept, particularly with an opposition party willing to stoop to any level for political advantage"

That's the tough issue: do you not support a worthy cause because the opposition will sabotage the effort? I junk you do, but only if the leaders are prepared to fight the internal as well as the external enemy ruthlessly. LBJ clearly wasn't in Vietnam, and W wasn't with Iraq.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

She's defending Ailes, Porch.

[Captain Hate]

Where has Estrich been? I miss that voice.

Defending Ailes bka screwing her client.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

" I miss that voice."

But in the meantime if you have a blackboard handy you can scrape your nails on it.

[derwill]

Miss M. those huge Trump rallies may end up having more impact than people think. It used to be conventional wisdom in the advertising/PR business that if a customer has an impactful experience--be it positive or negative--he/she relates that experience to an average of 10 other people. ("You got to try Joe's Diner--best hamburger I've ever had in my life." "Don't eat at Mom's Kitchen--I got food poisoning there.") And I expect today with social media that average number is probably greater.

So you have a rally with 20,000 people, and the experience is energetic and powerful for most of the people there, you then have the potential for Trump's message to spread out from those 20,000 to a couple hundred thousand. You do a couple of those rallies a day, and it can start to add up. It's one way to counteract the negative poisoning coming out of the MSM, because people will put more credence in what a friend says about a Trump rally than any media report. And, imo, most people have long ago started tuning out those political ads.

[henry]

BREAKING NEWS: Twin bombs have exploded in the Thai resort of Hua Hin, injuring 11 people, including foreign tourists - BBC