How dare he.  Just, well, how dare he.  That’s the takeaway sense you get when you review the New York Times framing of a two hour ‘on-the-record’ interview with Donald Trump referencing a world-view and foreign policy outlook.
It is refreshing, and it is bizarre we can even use the word “refreshing“, to see an American candidate for the American Presidency, say their goal is to actually put America-first in all policy decisions.
It’s not protectionism, it’s patriotism.
It’s not isolationism, it’s common sense.
Almost all of Europe and most of Asia are capable of spending Trillions of dollars on their infrastructure, Airports, bullet-trains, high-speed rail, bridges, ‘Chunnels’, and the list goes on…. quite simply because they don’t spend much on their own national defense, and prefer to hide behind our military apron when needed.
To pay for this enomorus international military/police force, and overly generous commitment, we, in turn, put ourselves into debt and can’t spend on our own domestic needs.   This is not international economic theory, it’s a reality – and for the first time in decades a politician is saying enough is enough.   Charity begins at home!
(more…)

The headline reflects the moment my previous support for Ted Cruz (2011/2012), which evolved to concern about Senator Ted Cruz (2013/2014), turned to admitting Ted Cruz was a phony. He had been in office for 18 months – I had sent him campaign contributions.
The date was Saturday, July 19th, 2014 – I remember it vividly because I noted in my journal “last straw in providing Cruz any benefit of doubt – done“.

The week leading up to that weekend DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson appeared before an emergency congressional committee and stated he needed $4,000,000,000 (billion) in emergency appropriations to deal with the enormous “humanitarian crisis at the border“.
We knew that claim was fake because we had been tracking border apprehension reports and comparing them to the expressed narrative from the White House.
There wasn’t a mass influx of unaccompanied alien children (UAC’s), there was a predictable and intentionally constructed swarm of illegal alien “families“. (more…)

Horrific – According to CNN reports a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the bombing.  The park was filled with mostly women and children.
(Via CNN) A suicide blast in the eastern Pakistan city of Lahore has killed at least 63 people, a senior police official told CNN.  More than 300 others were injured, police official Haider Ashraf said.

Officials said the blast was from a suicide bomber and happened at the city’s Gulshan Iqbal Park.  The explosion ripped through the heart of Lahore on Sunday evening, at a time when many families were at the park. (read more)

• Day #1 – National Enquirer publishes a story claiming: “Five Romps That Could Destroy Ted Cruz”. Three “mistresses” identified BACKSTORY HERE
• Day #2 – (Morning) Senator Cruz mostly denies accusations Blames Donald Trump. Compares Donald Trump to a “Rat”. BACKSTORY HERE
• Day #2 – (Afternoon) The Daily Beast reveals source of story was Marco Rubio campaign operatives. Multiple reports confirm video exists of encounters. BACKSTORY HERE
• Day #3 – Former Cruz Communications Director faces increased social media scrutiny for flirtations and intimate behavior – BACKSTORY HERE

Today, Roger Stone, the man specifically accused by Senator Ted Cruz of planting the story, speaks out in interview. Denies involvement, points out MSM is indeed researching the video (showing encounters / not direct sex tape) and substantive claims, and points out Ted Cruz won’t sue the National Enquirer:

Donald Trump appeared on ABC’s “This Week” with Jonathan Karl. After the National Enquirer ran a report with allegations of Senator Ted Cruz‘s infidelity.  Senator Cruz accused Donald Trump‘s campaign of involvement. Trump today called that allegation “disgraceful” and reaffirmed that neither he, nor his campaign, had anything to do with it:

GospelMT 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.
The guards were shaken with fear of him
and became like dead men.
Then the angel said to the women in reply,
“Do not be afraid!
I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
‘He has been raised from the dead,
and he is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him.’
Behold, I have told you.”
Then they went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Site Notice 3/27/16 2:00am EDT  (more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Interesting development.

It appears the Cruz Campaign is planning to slow walk the information on the 2011/2012 campaign loans:

(Yahoo News) Ted Cruz has rebuffed a request by the Federal Election Commission to disclose more information about some $1 million in loans he received from two major Wall Street banks during his 2012 Senate campaign.

In a letter to the FEC this week, the treasurer of Cruz’s 2012 campaign turned down a request by agency auditors to reveal in writing “the complete terms” of two personal loans Cruz received from Goldman Sachs and Citibank — the proceeds of which, he has since acknowledged, he used to finance his upstart race for the Senate. (more)

In essence the Ted Cruz campaign is saying they’ll go through the enforcement mechanism of the FEC instead of the compliance division.  By going through the “enforcement division” (takes over a year) they can delay any damaging information from discovery until after the 2016 Presidential Election. (more…)

Day #1 – National Enquirer publishes a story claiming: “Five Romps That Could Destroy Ted Cruz”. Three “mistresses” identified BACKSTORY HERE

Day #2 – (Morning) Senator Cruz mostly denies accusations Blames Donald Trump Compares Donald Trump to a “Rat”. BACKSTORY HERE

Day #2 – (Afternoon) The Daily Beast reveals source of story was Marco Rubio campaign operatives. Multiple reports confirm video exists of encounters. BACKSTORY HERE

Day #3: One thing is certain, if there’s any validity to this story it’s almost a guarantee the professional political apparatus of both parties – and the party opposition researchers, both sides – are fully aware of it. (more…)