Dominating in every poll since the beginning of the race Candidate Donald Trump enters the final laps with a massive lead well ahead of the chasing pack.   A New Hampshire poll today (full pdf below) again reflects Donald Trump way out ahead of the field at 35%.

However, team GOPe have now begun the full media blitzkrieg of the granite state and Jeb has moved into second place with 18% and John Kasich third with 14%.

Again, we continually repeat, do not underestimate the GOPe apparatus.  They have a structural advantage, they ARE the RNC; and they possess an entire army of party ideologues who are professionally republican.

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Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski called in to the MSNBC Joe Scarborough show “Morning Joe” to answer questions about the back story and current status of the issues with Fox News.

The video below begins with the Lewandowski interview (ignore the unrelated Rachel Maddow imagery):

Here’s a good article via New York Magazine about some of the inside baseball stuff. READ HERE – When Fox is putting this much emphasis on blaming Roger Ailes, you can be guaranteed this is more about Murdoch than Ailes. Blaming leadership is part of the Murdoch M.O. as he did with the U.K Daily Mirror scandal.

When Rupert makes mistakes, he blames his corporate leadership – the executives know that when going to work for Rupert. (more…)

Many broadcast hours and column inches are sure to be used today and tomorrow regarding the decision by Donald Trump to skip the Fox News debate in Iowa.

Predicatively 90% of those reports will most likely circle around a Donald Trump -vs- Megyn Kelly narrative. Obviously that aspect will be the preferred hook used by Fox News to avoid sunlight; it is also profoundly wrong.

Megyn Kelly, and her sidekick Chris Stirewalt are the visible symptom, not the actual underlying issue. Their partnered ‘too-cute-by-half schtick‘ has been ongoing for several months, including the coordinated antics at the last debate, and in the weeks leading up to the last debate; but again, they are the symptom – not the real issue. (more…)

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.

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 †

The second Donald Trump rally in Iowa today takes place in Iowa City, IA at the University of Iowa – Field House scheduled to begin at 8:30pm Eastern:

Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream – Alternate Live Stream #2 (Fox10)

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Given the current explosive development with Donald Trump most likely boycotting the Fox News Iowa debate, EVERYONE should remember the entire back story as we explained, researched and outlined it in September ’15.     ~ Also This UPDATE for recent context.

Anyone who is viewing the battle between Donald Trump and Fox News as a representative battle of thin-skinned ego is entirely missing the point.

Trump is not just taking on the construct of progressive ideology that has undermined the essence of American exceptionalism; Trump is not just exposing the immense number of faux-conservatives in media and political punditry; Trump is not just allowing us to see the scope of anti-American interest; no, he’s taking on the very selfish foundation they’ve used to sell out our country. Heck, he’s taking on all the “Decepticons” simultaneously.

In many ways Fox’s Roger Ailes and Republican Mitch McConnell carry the same ideological character trait, deception. For McConnell his deceptive ways allow him to retain power inside the DC construct. For Roger Ailes manipulation benefits his media dominance and political interests.

Neither McConnell nor Ailes can actually be trusted. However, we are only just beginning to understand the enormity and scope of the previously hidden betrayal.

It all boils down to a very familiar problem. Would you rather rid yourself of the schemer, manipulator and deceiver who claims to be your friend – and as a consequence face a visible enemy in their stead. Or do you chose to be associated within the camp of a person you can never fully trust. (more…)

UPDATE:  Due to the severity of bias within the Fox agenda, candidate Donald Trump has stated his attendance is still undetermined:

This was the earlier snarky statement by Fox which led to Donald Trump reconsidering:

FOX NEWS:  “We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president,” Fox News said in the statement, adding this gem: “A nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings.”

Fox News has announced the candidate debate lineup and again there are two tiers.  Eight candidates in the 9:00pm “Top Tier” debate, and four candidates in the 7:00pm “Lower Tier” (kiddie table) debate:

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From cartoonist A.F. Branco at ComicallyIncorrect.com.

Donald Trump interview today with Michael Savage: