My observations

[Pete]

My observations on the political landscape this season.

I'm pretty much getting a kick out of it.

In the past few presidential election cycles the GOPe put up the "It's my turn" candidate while a large field of others more to the right squared off against him. The GOPe candidate went through the early states with 30% +/- of the vote with 70% voting "against" him.

As the process continued he slowly worked his way up to around 50% as the other dropped out. The whole time the GOPe said the lowly scum needed to suck it up and support their guy in the general election. Most did - reluctantly - while a few sat it out or went 3rd party.

This season the establishment candidate didn't even make it out of the gate and second choice has been torpedoed with a full spread below the water line.

What's the GOPe response? Screw unity - we'll work to elect Hillery.

Power is more important than party in Washington. While it looks like they are fighting on the floor they do lunch together and make the real deals.

The convention is going to be interesting. Will the GOPe blow up the convention, turn it into a floor fight and nominate one of the insiders? Could they be that stupid? Would they then call on the scum to line up behind them out of party unity? Could they be that stupid? Will they let him have the nomination but work openly against him? Could they be that stupid?

They call us the stupid party for a reason. The party leadership is showing again why that's true.

Most people are surrounded by friends with similar views. They don't mingle socially with others very deeply. So while they might hear words in a conversation they miss the feelings behind them.

Right now in the Republican Party you have the GOPe which goes all the way down to the county and precinct level. They are the ones mainly who will be going to the convention. Then there is the majority of Republicans, the every day guys and gals. The ones who faithfully trudge out to vote. Then you have the far right "bomb throwers" as the GOPe thinks.

There is great unrest in the middle section. The section with the vast majority of Republicans. This great unrest has sparked the Trump uprising.

The people with the pitch forks are about to take the castle.

It appears the GOPe is too busy doing supper to look out the window.

Just my opinion of course.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Pete

The convention is going to be interesting. Will the GOPe blow up the convention, turn it into a floor fight and nominate one of the insiders? Could they be that stupid? Would they then call on the scum to line up behind them out of party unity? Could they be that stupid? Will they let him have the nomination but work openly against him? Could they be that stupid?

Hubris and desparation of dying does amazing things to people.

Most people are surrounded by friends with similar views. They don't mingle socially with others very deeply. So while they might hear words in a conversation they miss the feelings behind them.

You might be surprised. I mix with a lot of different people, with a wide range of backgrounds, who are not my friends and a whole lot of them hate Hillary, have good things to say about Trump and are sick of the lame candidates the GOPe brings to the table.

One thing most have in common is they are male, white, over 35, are employed and have families.

[abc_123]

My wife started off as a Rubio / Bush person and has now 100% migrated to Trump. Between now and the General election, IMO, you will get women who migrate from the Hildabeast to Trump but I can't see a situation where any voters migrate to Hillary.

My personal belief is that the GOP Establilshment will continue to oppose Trump for a while longer yet before they cave eventually and decide that it's better to survive to fight another day. An obstructionist congress can stymie a lot of the big talk that Trump is spouting, and in 4yrs (or 8) it will be back to the way it was. We will still have a two party system in this country. "The establishment" on both sides will simply wait out Trump, eventually the people will lose interest.

I've been doing some reading on the 17th amendment and now realize how badly it effed up the elegant system of government that the founders put together. I think that much of the intertia of the federal government can be traced back to this mistake. Under the guise of giving "the people" more power... the people now have less.

[akv]

My $.02 Trump has clearly turned this election into a reality TV show, and the other candidates are fighting the last war. This election isn't about issues it's about anger across demographics and rejecting DC. We are all more susceptible to being deceived by those preaching the message we want to hear. If you look at Trump's actions and history he's flip flopped on just about everything and alienated just about every conservative principle at some point other than perhaps free enterprise. He is confident and keeps repeating his 'Make America Great" mantra with very little detail on the hows. Yet, to date a great many folks believe.

Count me out, to me he is at best a mean spirited trust fund brat with divisive tendencies, at worst his rhetoric comes straight out of the 20th century fascist playbook complete with tyrannical threats. The late Admiral James Stockdale a CMOH winner and Hanoi Hilton POW wrote when it came to elections party lines were less important to him than the candidate with the best character. In that light this election is a dilemma. To me that would have been Jeb Bush, but he is long gone.

California is a Blue state, though NorCal is surprisingly more conservative once you get of the Bay Area, FWIW I'm seeing the exact opposite of what has been previously posted. Out here it's anything but Trump, not just from Libs, but staunch conservatives who have always voted Republican to date.

My $.02 this election wont be close, I think Trump if nominated will win or lose to the Hildabeast in a landslide.

[Streck-Fu]

Originally Posted by abc_123

I've been doing some reading on the 17th amendment and now realize how badly it effed up the elegant system of government that the founders put together. I think that much of the intertia of the federal government can be traced back to this mistake. Under the guise of giving "the people" more power... the people now have less.

I have maintained that opinion for years.

The idea of having Senators elected by popular vote is pretty old one going back to the early 1800s, by time it was passed, the election of Senators was vastly corrupt. Often positions went vacant making it difficult to fill necessary positions within the Senate.

However, I believe that the election of Senators needs to be returned to the states. If state government are incapable of electing a Senator, that is their loss but it is not justification for robbing them of their voice in the federal government altogether.

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Pete

My observations on the political landscape this season.

I'm pretty much getting a kick out of it.

In the past few presidential election cycles the GOPe put up the "It's my turn" candidate while a large field of others more to the right squared off against him. The GOPe candidate went through the early states with 30% +/- of the vote with 70% voting "against" him.

As the process continued he slowly worked his way up to around 50% as the other dropped out. The whole time the GOPe said the lowly scum needed to suck it up and support their guy in the general election. Most did - reluctantly - while a few sat it out or went 3rd party.

This season the establishment candidate didn't even make it out of the gate and second choice has been torpedoed with a full spread below the water line.

What's the GOPe response? Screw unity - we'll work to elect Hillery.

Power is more important than party in Washington. While it looks like they are fighting on the floor they do lunch together and make the real deals.

The convention is going to be interesting. Will the GOPe blow up the convention, turn it into a floor fight and nominate one of the insiders? Could they be that stupid? Would they then call on the scum to line up behind them out of party unity? Could they be that stupid? Will they let him have the nomination but work openly against him? Could they be that stupid?

They call us the stupid party for a reason. The party leadership is showing again why that's true.

Most people are surrounded by friends with similar views. They don't mingle socially with others very deeply. So while they might hear words in a conversation they miss the feelings behind them.

Right now in the Republican Party you have the GOPe which goes all the way down to the county and precinct level. They are the ones mainly who will be going to the convention. Then there is the majority of Republicans, the every day guys and gals. The ones who faithfully trudge out to vote. Then you have the far right "bomb throwers" as the GOPe thinks.

There is great unrest in the middle section. The section with the vast majority of Republicans. This great unrest has sparked the Trump uprising.

The people with the pitch forks are about to take the castle.

It appears the GOPe is too busy doing supper to look out the window.

Just my opinion of course.

Once again you have hit the nail squarely on the head Brother!

The establishment politicos in both parties seem to be in an echo chamber and lacking in SA. It's a real hoot watching these clowns trying to come up with a counter!

Same thing happening in the PhRMA industry and they just can't see the revolution in healthcare occurring at their feet. A great opportunity to employ UW strategy and tactics.

What was it Sun Tzu said? "Victorious warriors win and then go to war while defeated warriors go to war and then try to figure out how to win." Something to that effect I think.

[Old Dog New Trick]

Originally Posted by Pete

My observations on the political landscape this season.

I'm pretty much getting a kick out of it.

Snip

The people with the pitch forks are about to take the castle.

It appears the GOPe is too busy doing supper to look out the window.

Just my opinion of course.

Solid opinion. Maybe it's time to just let it burn!

I can't do Trump, can't even hold my nose and mark the box. (I'd like to think I was in the middle but I'm not that middle anymore.) I can't help but wonder if the people having dinner and sorting this out are the Clintons' and the Trumps' and it's a jolly good time with lots of laughter.

[Penn]

The view from my neighborhood is interesting, demographically number one (1) in NJ # 4 in the US. 1%ers who are quietly disturbed, but have stated in many different ways, that Trump may be what we need. That said, watch the vote in these counties, they are loaded with GOP voters, they will tell us whether or not the party will support Trump, or tears itself apart.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._United_States

One other thought. Have you watch "The Apprentice"? Trump is actually playing the game. Watch some of the old episodes.

[GratefulCitizen]

Trump understands that there are some people who will never vote for him.
He's smart enough to write them off, doesn't care how much further he offends them, and is only concerned with the votes which are in play.

Too many politicians attempt to bargain or please those who will forever oppose them.
Trump understands that appeasement doesn't work.

[Mills]

Being that this is an SF Board, I should note that Ted Cruz has been the only one who stands against the tyrannical implementation of endless social engineering within our ranks.

When you walk down the halls of your company area and see your bathrooms labeled "inclusive"........it will be too late.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Old Dog New Trick

Solid opinion. Maybe it's time to just let it burn!

I can't do Trump, can't even hold my nose and mark the box. (I'd like to think I was in the middle but I'm not that middle anymore.) I can't help but wonder if the people having dinner and sorting this out are the Clintons' and the Trumps' and it's a jolly good time with lots of laughter.

Things have been smoldering for some time, Trump is the fuel that will set it a blaze for the RNC and possibly the DNC. The entire election and political process has become a money making scam that benefit a select few and the antics resemble WWF.

When a select few spend billions of dollars to tilt things their way, while at the same time MILLIONs are jobless....it needs to burn to the ground.


Here is the latest Jimmy Swaggert style plea for money from Ted Cruz.....

Friend,

I have never needed you more than I do today.

I'm still short $167,000, and I face two HUGE deadlines today -- the Federal Election Commission fundraising deadline is at midnight TONIGHT, and just hours after that, Super Tuesday votes will be cast.

You have done so much to help already, Friend (thank you!), but this is the ultimate test of our 2016 Presidential Campaign, and I am counting on your support right now.

That is why I'm asking for your IMMEDIATE response to my message and for you to make an emergency FEC/Super Tuesday contribution of $35, $50, $250, or more today.

Not only do we need the resources to turn out every vote we can tomorrow, but also posting a strong FEC report would be a HUGE boost for our campaign.

If our fundraising is not as strong as we need it to be -- Washington insiders will use whatever they can against us to ensure a true conservative has no chance to win.

Friend, the bottom line is this -- a grassroots campaign like ours cannot afford any setbacks in a race this tight. So, I must turn to you for immediate financial help at this critical moment.

I know I've asked a lot of you over the last few days...and I didn't want to have to do this, but I must ask one more time for your support of $35 or whatever you can afford.

There is good news: we are within striking distance of Trump in several key Super Tuesday states -- and we lead in Texas.

But we cannot afford to let up just hours short of two of the BIGGEST deadlines for our campaign.

I understand that money is tight and that you can't make up the whole shortfall, but can I count on you to make a special, EMERGENCY contribution of $50, $35, or even $5?

I need you to make sure that our hard work and the hard work of all our dedicated volunteers is not wasted on March 1st.

For liberty,
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

P.S. Time is critical! I cannot overstate how important it is that we post strong fundraising numbers! The deadline is just hours away. So please, don't delay -- make an EMERGENCY contribution of $35, $50, $250, or more now.

[tonyz]

Trump has just released his latest poll results...

Trump clearly beats even Trump in a national head-to-head...

"...BIG LEAGUE!"

[Roguish Lawyer]

Trump is pulling off the biggest con job in history. I am amazed that so many people believe what he says. It is not too late to stop him, but we are rapidly getting close to that point.

[Streck-Fu]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Trump is pulling off the biggest con job in history. I am amazed that so many people believe what he says. It is not too late to stop him, but we are rapidly getting close to that point.

I believe that still belongs to Obama for, "If you like you plan, you can keep it. If you like your doctor, you can keep him. This will save everyone an average of $2500 per year in premiums and it will be deficit neutral........"

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

Trump is pulling off the biggest con job in history. I am amazed that so many people believe what he says. It is not too late to stop him, but we are rapidly getting close to that point.

Sounds like the political elite talking point (read Rubio/Cruz)!

What they still don't recognize is that Trump and his messaging reflect the populist uprising against the political elites spewing their talking points tailored to whatever ideological horse they choose to ride.

We have been conned by THEM for fifty years. They (with a very few notable exceptions - Kennedy and Reagan IMO) work only to get elected and re-elected for reasons of personal gain. That's what the politicos do. They are the ultimate dependents on the gubment.

Trump is a product of a populist revolution and it is palpable. As Big Daddy said (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) "I smell mendacity here" and the mendacity has been and is being spewed by the ideologues. Whatever label you choose to put on Trump, ideologue is not one of them!

As Pete said, the folks with the pitch forks (no pajama boys in that crowd) are surrounding the castle.

What we are witnessing, IMO, is a populist revolution that may very well result in a landslide victory for the Donald come November. The Republican party and hopefully the Democrat Party will be transformed as a result.

Yeee Haaaw!