Tuesday, February 2, 2016

George Will and the staff at the National Review Celebrate Ted Cruz's victory in Iowa!




So Ted Cruz has won the Iowa primary fair and square. Unlike Hillary he did not have to rely on winning 69 coin flips in a row so he deserves congratulations. His ground game was superior and all of the flubs that Donald Trump had with respect to religion led to Cruz dominating the Evangelical vote which is a big segment of the Iowa electorate. It seems that Americans do not have a big  problem with immigrants or people not being born in America as President. After electing a Kenyan the Republicans are well on their way to putting a Canadian forward as their nominee. Plus the attack on "New York Values" seemed to resonate on all of the people who hate New York and New Yorkers. You see them here in the comments all the time spreading their condescension and superiority complexes where they tell you what to think and how to act. This seemed to play well  with the audience in Iowa. That famous Irish drunk Daniel Patrick Moyihan had a term for that.

Trump was very conciliatory in his press conference. He thanked the people of Iowa and said he was honored to place second. He did get more votes than Huckabee did in winning last year and seemed to energize the electorate as the turnout was the largest in history. New Hampshire is next and the polls indicate that Trump has a yuge lead. Of course polls are bullshit so who knows. The election will go on and the race will tighten as more of the also rans drop out. It will be interesting to see if any of the other candidates endorse anyone and if they can transfer the allegiance of their voters.

Cruz won fair and square so congratulations to him. Eh.

76 comments:

Methadras said...

As I've said in the past, the people will speak. Polls have been rendered largely and utterly irrelevant. If I were a news organization, I wouldn't even show them anymore, they are that meaningless.

edutcher said...

Spending no money and with an almost invisible ground game, The Donald finished a respectable second. I think his unwillingness to keep his eye on the ball - Hillary, immigration, terror. In a state where the One True Ted was supposed to win big, he finished within the MOE and even Carson and Rand did OK, taking 15 points away from the One True Ted. Looks like Marcomentum was fueled by the One True Ted trying to intimidate all those moderates who looked at the One True Ted.

We'll see who rally won.

"Cruz won fair and square"

Actually, it turns out he didn't.

There was what he pulled with Ben Carson, trying to make it look like Carson was withdrawing. Now that he's caught, the One True Ted is pulling out the Hans Schultz defense

Then there were the lies his people told about Trump at the caucuses.

The closer you get to this guy, the less there is to like. A couple of weeks ago, I thought I could support him if he got the nod.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

After all the immature crap the One True Trump threw at the One True Ted, I think Trump deserves some trash blown in his direction.

I find this unforgivable.

You support the Clintons - even once - you are dead to me.

bagoh20 said...

In losing he had the best night of his campaign so far. He handled it perfectly. I bet you see him doing a lot more of that from here on.

As to the polls, it's a caucus, many who voted probably didn't even know who they were voting for until they did. The campaigns push frantically in the last few days with ads, handshakes, and speechifying, and that probably changes a good number of votes. I also think Trump's decision to skip the last debate cost him a couple points with Iowans.

On NY values, it's not that the rest of us think we're superior, it's that we know NY is not. Hell Troop, I don't even think you respect what outsiders call NY values. I think NY values refers to Manhattan values, or Greenwich Village, but not Queens. That's Archie Bunker land to us.

ricpic said...

What is this, a tease post? You tell us Moynihan had a word for something, I can't even figure out what something, and then you don't tell us the word -- sheesh!

bagoh20 said...

I think the word is "Antidisestablishmentarianism".

"The word has also come by analogy to refer to any opposition to those who oppose the establishment, whether the government in whole or part or the established society." ~ Wikipedia

Titus said...

Cruz will never come close to winning in NH.

The exact opposite of Iowa evangelical home schoolers.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

After all the immature crap the One True Trump threw at the One True Ted, I think Trump deserves some trash blown in his direction.

I find this unforgivable.

You support the Clintons - even once - you are dead to me


We're talking as much about what the One True Ted did to Ben Carson, who AFAIK, said nothing to Cruz, as much as Trump.

And the One True Ted is supposed to be Mr Pure, this great Christian. Real Christians don't do this stuff.

As for what Trump said about the Hildabeast, he has to do business in Noo Yawk.

Ask Troop what that's like.

ricpic said...

Hey, Titus finally made an un-schlong related comment. I happen to agree. Ted will put Jesus back in the Jesus box for those atheistic New Englanders. Will he be able to fool them too? We shall see.

Titus said...

no Cruz won't fool the atheist New Hampshire libertarians.

Titus said...

Remember when New England was thought of as Puritan?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I don't buy the "he has to do his business" garbage. Sorry.

Trump never had to support the Clinton foundation corruption machine for "business". Trump did it because he likes them.

I do agree that Ted's lie about Carson is as bad as it gets.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

We all know why Stephanopolis gave the Clinton foundation 100,000.

We all know why the Clinton foundation gave the NT Times big money.

Trump - Oh it's all just biz? Sorry. No sale.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I find the excuse making surrounding Trump astonishing.

Rubio commits the grand sin of gang of 8 and it's OVER.

Trump has a pile of liberal sins a that stretch up and down the Trump tower, and around the block into Times Square, and it's all cool. I don't get it.

bagoh20 said...

Are you saying Troop also sucks up to the Clintons and Pelosi, and Reid, and Shummer, and all the assholes who got us in this mess. Et tu Trupe?

"...he has to do business in Noo Yawk."

So why would we expect him doing business in D.C. any different? Unless, you thinks he's gonna go all Cruz on their ass once he's there, because that's what you have to believe to think he would change much in Washington. We have those people making all kinds of deals now.

bagoh20 said...

Tell me this: What bill that Obama signed all these years would a Trump President veto? I want a President that would have vetoed them all.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Trump is out there promising universal health care, just like Hillary and Sanders. It's insane.

ricpic said...

Obamatrade (the TransPacific something or other) is a deal Washington has no problem with. It's a deal that strips America of its sovereignty. It's a bad deal. Trump has said that Obamatrade will be dead if he's elected. Trump and Sessions oppose it. Your guy is just fine with Obamatrade.

Dealmaking as such is neither good nor bad but your guy has no problem with a NWO deal. Scary stuff.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

I find the excuse making surrounding Trump astonishing.

Not excuses, just reality.

And I find the excuse making surrounding Cruz even more so.

Trump is out there promising universal health care, just like Hillary and Sanders

That's a Cruzzer lie. He's endorsed Ben Carson's Health Savings Accounts.

bagoh20 said...

Tell me this: What bill that Obama signed all these years would a Trump President veto? I want a President that would have vetoed them all.

Then you don't want Cruz.

He was OK with Gang of 8 - until he saw what it did to Rubio's rep; he voted for TPP and Omnibus Spending (after showboating for 21 hours speaking against it).


So why would we expect him doing business in D.C. any different?


Because in Gotham, he had to be careful not to step on any toes that could shut him down.

In DC, he's the guy with the power. You want brinkmanship and gridlock for 4 years, another 4 years of stagnation, that would be the Cruz a lot of the sorehead Conservatives want.

He'd have to govern by executive order because nobody on the Hill would work with him - including, maybe, even the Conservatives. Tim Scott endorsed Rubio when you'd think Cruz was his bud.

Of course, Cruz could be lying.

bagoh20 said...

"Trump has said that Obamatrade will be dead if he's elected. "

So that's it? A bill in year 8 of the Obama crap fest of bills. Pardon me if I'm a little suspicious of that from a guy who has somehow reversed every position he ever held before running in this Primary.

Do you think he would have vetoed Obamacare?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Unlike a Trumpster, I'm not a Cruzzer. I'm not in any camp.

Trump saying "Everyone is going to have health care" sounds like universal health care to me.. and considering how much he used to praise Hillary.

I like Rubio and Rand.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I loved Cruz at the CNBC debate. He impressed me. None of the GOP candidates impress me completely. Perfection isn't on the menu, and the alternative in unacceptable.


Trump's past actions and statements -- I will not ignore. He was a recent hillary clinton supporter and I know he still likes and respects her.

ricpic said...

Trump seems okay with socialized medicine. Who said he was perfect? But we wouldn't be talking about the immigration disaster without him. He's not afraid of third rail issues that ALL the other candidates shy away from. And that's enough for me.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

and then there's the dreaded GOP establishment. Now embracing Trump and shunning Cruz. That makes me like Cruz.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I love that Rand isn't afraid to take it to Hillary. I did love it when Trump shoved Hillary's remark about how he is a "sexist" back in her face with regard to her rapist husband. That was awesome. I don't hate Trump. I just don't trust Trump.

bagoh20 said...

You could add up all the problems of positions or votes from Rubio, Cruz, Kasich, & Christie, and it would still pale in comparison to Trumps history as a conservative, and Trump chose his postions without pressure to compromise. He flat out chose, amnesty, hiring illegals, partial-birth abortion, the Clintons as friends, praising Obama, Kelo-style theft etc, etc.

I'm with April in that I just don't get the double standard that is so one-sided. He could hire an illegal to yell Allahu Akbar while aborting a baby at Planned Parenthood for Bill's Clinton's girlfriend with Obama singing Al Green all paid for by Casino money from friends of Harry Reid, and we'd hear how awesome it is that Trump gets along with everyone.

Third Coast said...

Cruz' pandering for the Evangelical vote leaves me cold (and that comment has nothing to do with my personal religiosity). We've already been down that road with Huckabee and Santorum. Cruz is about to find out how that act plays out when he leaves Jesus Land.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

...but Bags, he's gonna build a wall. The Berlin wall.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I like that Trump has infused some life and PC smashing into this. I like that he's not afraid to say "we will not accept illegal immigration." but he loses me with the pile a mile high of other stuff already mentioned above (Hillary supporter, crony capitalist, liberal in every way etc...)

bagoh20 said...

I cringe at the religious pandering too, and I know a lot of people who almost instantly hate a politician who does it, which is probably why I cringe. I just don't think it should be part of anyone's campaign for office. Sure you can mention you faith, but it shouldn't be often if you want to win. It's probably my biggest beef with Cruz, Rubio, and Carson.

Have you noticed that the Democrats almost never mention God unless they are speaking in a church? I think that's how it should be. If you're a religious person, then you might feel compelled to bring it up often, but you will lose the election.

bagoh20 said...

Trump was free to be un-PC, because his life is not dependent on politics, which is why we need more non-politicians running. I really would prefer a business person as President, just not this one.

Third Coast said...

Can we say Cruz bore false witness against Ben Carson, or did he just lie?

bagoh20 said...

Cruz didn't personally say it, but he's responsible for it and took responsibility.

"Speaking on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Cruz apologized on Tuesday. He said their political team had forwarded an initial news report that said Carson was taking a break from the campaign trail, but did not forward an update to that same story.

“Unfortunately, they did not then forward the subsequent story, that was Ben’s campaign clarifying that he was continuing the campaign and was not canceling the campaign,” Cruz said. “And so I apologize to Ben for that. They should have forwarded that subsequent story. That was a mistake on our part.”

Carson's campaign issued a statement Tuesday evening saying he "accepted" Cruz's apology.

On Tuesday morning, Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler also told MSNBC that the campaign simply repeated what Carson had said: that after Iowa, he was returning to Florida for a couple of days, then going to Washington for the National Prayer Breakfast.

“That told us he was not going to New Hampshire,” Tyler said. “That was not a dirty trick.”


Now should we get into the Trump lies, none of which were ever recanted.

It's Politifact so it a bit biased, so take with salt.

Trump's statements by ruling

True (1%)(1)
Mostly True (6%)(5)
Half True (16%)(14)
Mostly False (16%)(14)
False (41%)(35)
Pants on Fire (20%)(17)

Trump's statements were awarded PolitiFact's 2015 Lie of the Year.

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/

bagoh20 said...

Then there's the big one: He's a Republican now.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Agree with the religious pandering. I turns me off and I have no idea why they do it as it's a total loser.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

Unlike a Trumpster, I'm not a Cruzzer. I'm not in any camp.

Trump saying "Everyone is going to have health care" sounds like universal health care to me.. and considering how much he used to praise Hillary.

I like Rubio and Rand.


She was a Senator from his state. Do the math.

Rubio and Rand? Well, it's different.

Hell, I like Rand, thought I could live with Cruz - that's dying a ghastly death, have my reservations about The Donald but like what he's done in the campaign so far, wish Jindal and Walker were still in the race, and Mrs Fiorina, well...

bagoh20 said...

"Trump has said that Obamatrade will be dead if he's elected. "

So that's it? A bill in year 8 of the Obama crap fest of bills. Pardon me if I'm a little suspicious of that from a guy who has somehow reversed every position he ever held before running in this Primary.

Do you think he would have vetoed Obamacare?


Do you know he wouldn't?

Frankly, the issue at that point would be whether he'd propose it in the first place. I think he has better sense. In that regard, a lot of his old positions, which the Cruzzers dredge up, began to change about 5 years ago.

Cruz didn't personally say it, but he's responsible for it and took responsibility.

Well, they sure tried to weasel out of it.

Keep it in mind for the next time, because I'm pretty sure there's going to be one.


It's Politifact so it a bit biased, so take with salt.


Nice to see you have a sense of humor, sir.

Trooper York said...

Cruz won this one fair and square by any means necessary. I admire that. So does Trump. So Trump will be doing the same in the next few primaries. It looks like Trump is doing pretty good in New Hampshire. The next group is in the South where Trumps white identity politics resonates. Big time.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

She was a Senator from his state. Do the math.

Really, Ed? I thought that sort of thing was frowned upon. The math is that Trump likes the Clintons. so what backroom deals did his money buy from the Clintons? Anyone want to know. Oh that's right. Nope.

Trooper York said...

Trump paid the Clintons for access. It is all connected. You know that De Blasio worked for the Clintons and was one of their henchmen. Along with working for Schumer. You give contributions for access to the civil servants and bureaucrats who make decisions on land use and zoning and a host of other issues. The Lois Lerners of the world. Grown up. That is how it works.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Access to what?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I don't want any president of mine to have ever given a red cent to that horror couple.
Unacceptable.

Drudge has a live link to Trump. (Right now Trump is yammering on about how great Ann Coulter is and "Adios Amigos". I want tight borders and strict immigration enforcement, but it's not just Mexicans pouring over. )

Trooper York said...

Access to filing your paper work. I will give you an example. When I was a baby accountant my Boss had a contact. A lawyer who specialized in getting you a liquor license. The wait for a license is months. This guy had a cousin who was on the board. He got a fee. You got your license in two days. Access. Speed. Approvals.

There approximately a thousand building permits needed in NYC in any construction job. Every thing has to be signed off on. And the days of old fashioned bribery are over. You have to be more subtle. Donate to a charity or a "community group." That is how Bloomberg had such a peaceful mayoralty. Whenever there was going to be a big protest he just wrote a personal check.

When Bruce Ratner was building the Barclays center he had to get a shit pot of people out who were urban pioneers in the bad neighborhood where the development was to be built. He was smart. He went to Reverend Hebert Daughtry and Al Sharpton and made sizable contributions to their various churches and causes. Plus guaranteeing them some of the affordable housing apartments. So when the protests came about the eminent domain it was just a bunch of hipster newcomers and not the majority black residents of the area. You need to pay if you want to play. That is all that Trump is saying. He was on the other side of that. He don't need the money. He knows how the game is played.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I wonder how many of the other GOP candidates have given generously to the Clinton Slush Fund Foundation?

Trooper York said...

April don't be naive. Rubio is an errand boy for the sugar interests in Florida. He is bought and paid for. As is Bush and Christie and most of the rest of them. I would say except for Carson and Cruz. None the lee Cruz has ties to the New York Financial community. Deep ties. Where did his seed money come from?

Trump is definitely a part of that. But as a buyer not rent boy. The question is do you want to deal with the john or the whore?

Trooper York said...

The rest of them are parasites April. Not hosts.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I stand in awe that Trump did what he did in NYC. But why would senator Hillary need to sign off on Donald's permit requests?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

This is why, Trooper.

Trooper York said...

Don't you know bullshit when you hear it April. Trump was bullshitting Hillary. Playing to her ego. Puffing her up. He does that all the time. You ever hear him in an interview. When he wants something he ladles it on thick. It don't mean squat. He would turn on her in a minute.

I hate Hillary as much as the next guy if the next guy isn't Bill but I am not afraid of Trump cozying up to Hillary. After the stuff she is going to say about him they will be at war to the knife.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Nah. Trump will go easy on her. I doubt he cares if she wins, even against him.

Trooper York said...

You are not following it. Hillary has connections with civil servants and bureaucrats all over the city. She does not sign off on anything. But her groupies and sycophants do. A word from her could make all the difference. Or those mooks being at a party or event and meeting Hillary who tells them what a good guy Trump really is and how we need to get construction jobs moving in the city. So what a little crane permit.

A smart developer does not pay off when he wants something. He pays off before. Many times. So when he does want something they know that there is something in it for them. It is grease.

Not the grease that slides off Ricky Retardo Rubio but grease none the less.

Trooper York said...

Trump cares. He is very thin skinned. When she trashes him he will remember and take a stripe off her ass. She will be very strident very soon. Her people will demand that she savage him. He will not take kindly to that. Watch and see.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I can understand greasing the skids with all the folks in NY city - but Hillary was a US senator. What did she have to do with it?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

He is very thin skinned. We agree!

Trooper York said...

As a Senator she can do a lot of favors. She can make a call to the EPA. Or the IRS. Or any Federal agency where her admirers reside. Al Damato specialized in that. He was Senator Pothole. He was always there with his hand out pressure the Feds for NY developers. There are a million and one things. Permits. Environmental impact bullshit. Federal subsidies. Superfund Money. The Army Corp of Engineers. Tons of stuff that a big developer like Trump would want from Hillary. Plus he has interests all over the country. He could use her as entry to a Senator in a state he had to do business in and needed a foot in the door.

She could have been very useful to him.

edutcher said...

Thanks for the background, Troop.

AprilApple said...

I can understand greasing the skids with all the folks in NY city - but Hillary was a US senator. What did she have to do with it?

A US Senator can bring down Hell on anybody they choose. EPA, IRS, OSHA, FBI.

Particularly somebody with holdings in several states.

Really, Ed? I thought that sort of thing was frowned upon. The math is that Trump likes the Clintons

No, the math is you pay if you want to play. That's what the Ozark Slush Initiative is all about. You pay and they open doors. Don't pay and doors stay closed.

PS Beating people into the ground is frowned up on, too, but unions do it to anybody who wants to set up an open shop.

Happened to a guy named Altemose in my neck of the woods when I was growing up.

chickelit said...

Trump will likely sweep the South, unlike Cruz. Look at all those yuge rallies-- all in the South. Trump recaptures what Ritmo and Sullivan like to call the "New Confederacy." That probably makes Titus shit his pants despite having such an allegedly tight sphincter.

My sense is that so far, "repulsive factors" are driving this election like never before. Everybody seems repelled by one or more major candidate and overlooks shit tons in their one "favorite."

chickelit said...

I think NY values refers to Manhattan values, or Greenwich Village, but not Queens.

@Troop: Manhattan values are Carrie Bradshaw values. But look at what a push-over she was for "Mr. Big." Trump is just "Mr.Big" writ larger. Why even Bagoh20 is a working model of a "Mr. Big." He'd probably be a hit with Manhattan women looking to land one.

Trooper York said...

New York Values are code words for pushy Jews. The same dog whistle as neocons that they throw around all the time. That is what Teddy was talking about.

He learned from Jessie. He didn't call it Hymie town. But he was aiming for the same target.

Trooper York said...

I was in Florida over the Holidays and talked to a bunch of people. Quite a few of them thought Trump was Jewish. Just sayn'

Trooper York said...

Of course some of them are members of the tribe and thought a Macher is what the country needs.

edutcher said...

chickelit said...

Trump will likely sweep the South, unlike Cruz. Look at all those yuge rallies-- all in the South. Trump recaptures what Ritmo and Sullivan like to call the "New Confederacy." That probably makes Titus shit his pants despite having such an allegedly tight sphincter

A guy at Insta noted Trump didn't do that many rallies in IA. Presumably he's setting up the states where he can win big, but, for a guy with no ground game, spending almost no money, and only hitting a couple of big towns, he didn't do half bad.

Trooper York said...

New York Values are code words for pushy Jews. The same dog whistle as neocons that they throw around all the time. That is what Teddy was talking about.

He learned from Jessie. He didn't call it Hymie town. But he was aiming for the same target.

I was in Florida over the Holidays and talked to a bunch of people. Quite a few of them thought Trump was Jewish. Just sayn'

Of course some of them are members of the tribe and thought a Macher is what the country needs.


The Blonde thinks the same. Trump's family is German 2 generations back and more have some of the Chosen People in them than is thought.

Witness Alois Schicklgruber.

PS Interesting about the NYV thing, never occurred to me. If as you say, another ugly little thing about the One True Ted.

bagoh20 said...

The thing about the Hillary connection is that Trump says he paid her because he had a "duty". He owed her, after the fact. Does he still owe her?

And if you believe all this justifying for Trump's corruption plays, well just realize that every corrupt o'crat could say the same. He only did it for the greed. Nice principles you got there. We should make you President. You know, so you can clean up the corruption. What's that saying about foxes and hen houses. This Trump disease if debilitating. It seems to rob it's victims of all logic, reason, skepticism, and memory? It replaces it with a uncontrollable need to make excuses.

chickelit said...

bags asked What's that saying about foxes and hen houses. ?

That reminds me, has Megyn Kelly ever been on "The View"? How was she treated?

bagoh20 said...

I notice there is no denying the corruption, only explaining it as necessary in order to make a buck. You sure you want to spend four years doing that?

bagoh20 said...

Here you go chick:

https://youtu.be/5C8aA9sK79U

bagoh20 said...

Look, I think Trump will kick Hillary's ass in the General election, I also think Rubio will. Cruz is a big maybe, because Democrats and women in large numbers will not vote for him. But there is very little difference between Hillary and Trump when it comes to the deals they would make, in my humble opinion, and you know my humility even trumps Trump's. He will make deals with your money and your nation, primarily for his benefit as he has always done. Not on principle, but for the "art of the deal". I desperately want Hillary beat, but then what do we have after that?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The idea that "The View" has any sort of audience makes me sad for my country.

bagoh20 said...

What is more embarrassing about America: The View or Honey Boo Boo?

Answer: Honey Boo Boo is cancelled.

chickelit said...

Kelly clucked into that club with ease. But none of them could play her role at FOX. The kinda proves something about Kelly: a hen in fox's clothing.

edutcher said...

bagoh20 said...

The thing about the Hillary connection is that Trump says he paid her because he had a "duty". He owed her, after the fact. Does he still owe her?

I guess not, given the way he trashed her and her crime family.

Titus said...

I just pinched a loaf and one of the turds looked like Cruz's face.

It had a pointy edge to it like Cruz's nose.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

considering your bulimia, it's nice to know you're having some sort of regular bowel movement. Thanks for sharing. I think your mom would be happy too.

4:51 Am. ok that's my excuse.

chickelit said...

Bowel movements there, vowel movements here. It's always the same. Time for Titus to get a new shtick.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

heh. Apostrophes and conjunctions and contractions and double negatives and eliminations.