New US Ambassador to Mexico

For John, BLUF:  Things do get done.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The US Senate is about the making of a deal.  Here Politico reports on a Tinkers to Evers to Chance action that got our nominated Ambassador to Mexico approved by the US Senate.

That would be Ambassador Roberta Jacobson.  No "political appointee", she is a career diplomat.

Senators involved included Marco Rubio, Bob Corker and Ted Cruz.

Regards  —  Cliff

Cruz vs Trump

For John, BLUF:  The Rush Limbaugh view.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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At this time the Doctor of Democracy, Rush Limbaugh, is explaining how Senator Cruz began his run for President as "the outsider".  Senator Cruz was running against the Establishment on both sides of the aisle.  He was thinking he would be running against the likes of Governor Jeb Bush.

And then Mr Donald Trump entered the campaign.  Nobody expected that Mr Trump last past Thanksgiving.  Not even Senator Cruz, who was going for the same voters as Mr Trump—those who had been alienated from the Establishment.  For this purpose the Establishment was that collection of people who ran for office, promising change, but then never really followed through.

But, Senator Cruz, who is behind in the delegate count, is ahead of Mr Trump in knowing the arcane rules of the Party.  Thus he is out there picking up delegates in Caucus States and is out looking to elect Delegates in Primary States.

Elect Delegates?  Absolutely.

The Delegates, per the Republican Party Rules, are pledged for the first round of voting at the Convention.  If, according to the extant rules, Mr Trump gets 1237 Delegate Votes in the first round of voting at Cleveland, come July, then he is the nominee.  Done deal.

However, if Mr Trump doesn't win on the first round the delegates (except Florida) are unbound and can vote for whomsoever they want.  That means Senator Cruz or Governor Kasich, or with a rules change, Governor Jeb Bush or Senator Marco Rubio could be the nominee.

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So, how does that apply to us?  This is why the Republican Caucuses will be important, including the Massachusetts Republican Caucuses this Saturday, 30 April.

If you are a Massachusetts Republican and have been since 10 February of this year, you should find your Caucus and go.  Once there, ask about what the candidates think they will do on the second ballot, or the third.  Then vote your conscience.♠

An important note.  The Caucus opens at 9:00 AM, for Registration, and at 10:00 the doors close for the Caucus itself.  Be there or be square.♥

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  If you just don't know about who you want the delegates to vote for, EMail me.
♥  If you don't show, don't whinge over the outcome.

Rubio Concessin Speech

For John, BLUF:  Depending on what happens in November, I will be looking for Senator Rubio in 2020.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Right now I am listening to Senator Marco Rubio and he is explaining what is driving voters.

He is on the mark.

And his campaign is suspended.

Regards  —  Cliff

Demonstrations For Ever?

For John, BLUF:  Do you think they would demonstrate at an Inauguration?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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This is not a hopeful forecast.

Blogger Don Surber, tell us "Ayers and company will go after any Republican this fall".

Republicans are whistling past their graves if they think Friday night's fascism in Chicago was just about Trump.

If Republicans think they will escape Democratic mobs by throwing Trump under the bus in Cleveland, they have another thing coming to them.  Such a capitulation is blood in the water to the Party Of Obama.

Bill Ayers and the rest who organized disruptions of Trump, which go back to at least December, have targeted him because he is the strongest of the four Republican candidates.  You think they worry about mealy-mouthed Kasich?  You think they are not licking their chops to portray Cruz as a Christian jihadist?  You think Rubio will carry Florida?

That would be Professor Bill Ayers, domestic terrorist.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Log-Cabin Candidates

For John, BLUF:  How Mr Trump appeals to the masses.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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In this article from Historian Victor Davis Hanson he reviews the background claims of various candidates and draws some conclusions.  The headline for this National Review article is "Log-Cabin Candidates".

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Jeb a Dot

For John, BLUF:  As others drop out, can Mr Trump grow his numbers?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Per Fox News, Gov Jeb Bush has dropped out of the race.

Mr Donald Trump has won again, but didn't run the table.

Senator Marc O'Rubio, the Irish Candidate, has nudged out Senator Ted Cruz, the Canadian Candidate, for second place.

Then Gov Bush (7.9%), Gov Kasich (7.7%), then Dr Carson (7.1%).

Regards  —  Cliff

Racism in the Press

For John, BLUF:  Diversity, but not rigid boundaries.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the blog Same Page Nation and the pen of Mr Tom Knighton we have "'Identity Purity' and Republican Frontrunners – Did NY Times Reveal Its Racism?".  The sub-headline is "The fact that this is even an issue is disheartening."

Here is the lede plus four:

Is the New York Times racist?  That’s not a question most people would even think to ask.  After all, how could one of the largest papers in the most diverse country on the planet be remotely racist?

Well, let’s take a look at a story they recently ran titled “Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Made History. Didn’t You Hear?”  We’re going to take a long, in-depth look at this train wreck.

An excellent question.  Both Cruz and Rubio had a fantastic showing, and since both are of Cuban descent, why isn’t this being talked about more? Don’t worry, they’re gonna tell us.

The answer is not that complicated:  Neither Mr. Cruz nor Mr. Rubio meets conventional expectations of how Latino politicians are supposed to behave.

Ah, there it is.  The money quote.

My view is that what The Old Gray Lady means is that neither meet Democrat Party "conventional expectations".  They surely meet Republican "conventional expectations".

It is The Old Gray Lady, with its Progressive leaning editorial outlook, and it isn't as bad as the reporter who suggested neither Senator Cruz nor Senator Rubio are Hispanic because their parents came from Cuba, but still, this is how we perpetuate racial and ethnic stereotypes.  Put another way, since my name is Krieger and I am originally from Pennsylvania, must I be a stereotypical Amish person?  You Englishers of the Democrat Party need an answer to that question.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Excellent Ad

For John, BLUF:  And funny.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the Blog of Moe Lane.

" Marco Rubio shows us how to troll the Washington Post."

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Eight Days to Iowa Caucus

For John, BLUF:  Iowa will give us a clue as to voter unrest.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Des Moines Register, out in Iowa, has made its endorsements:

Ms Hillary Clinton

Senator Marco Rubio

In the mean time, over at The Hill, reporters Amie Parnes and Jonathan Easley tell us "Clinton, liberals pile on Sanders over ‘establishment’ remarks".

Hillary Clinton is defending her role as the “establishment candidate” against rival Bernie Sanders with only 10 days to go before the Iowa caucuses.

The Clinton counter-attack, backed aggressively by liberal interest groups, comes as she and Sanders battle furiously ahead of the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, where some polls show Sanders rising ahead of the presumed Democratic frontrunner.

She isn't?

Hat tip to Memeorandum.

Regards  —  Cliff

Faith-Derangement Syndrome

For John, BLUF:  Actually, I feel a little sad for Mr Tayler.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Yes, that is how Reporter Jeffrey Tayler, of Salon describes Senator Marco Rubio's mental state.  Of course to be fair, this Hot Air review of the Salon piece was written by Blogger Ed Morrissey.♠  Here is the headline—"Salon: Rubio’s disqualified because of his “bizarre religious faith” … Catholicism".

A must read for understanding how some beliefs are OK (atheism) and some aren't (there is a God).

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  I could be wrong, but I think Captain Ed suffers from the same "faith-derangement syndrome" as Senator Rubio and your Faithful Blogger.

What is Race in America?

For John, BLUF:  Confused?  Join some of the rest of us.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Writing for the TheNew Yorker, 13 Jan 2016, Mr Jelani Cobb tries to mess with South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley—"The Complicated History of Nikki Haley".

I guess she is a "minority", since he says she is, but what is she?  She isn't Black and doesn't really look Asian.  She is, per Mr Cobb, Indian-American, but not that kind of Indian.

MrCobb writes as though the Republicans have been the party in control in South Carolina since before there was aRepublican Party. And while we are at it, and the Writer brought it up, does President Obama really represent the Black struggle in America?  He may be embraced by Black Democrats, but Dr Condi Rice better represents that Black struggle.

I am guessing race authenticity is validated by one's political party.  When I think of Governor Nikki Haley I don't think of a racial minority, but that is OK, since she's a Republican and thus unable to be, authentically, a member of a [racial] minority, like Dr Ben Carson or Seanators Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio.

I guess I could be disgusted, but I am just bemused.

Regards  —  Cliff

Rubio Goes Progressive

For John, BLUF:  Moving to the bottom of my list, just above Christie.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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This blog post by Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds sums it up for me.

WHY IS MARCO RUBIO joining with Democrats to sponsor a bill depriving college men of due process rights?

The thing is, once you make an exception for this or that special case you give the lawyers the thin edge of the wedge and they, using the simplest tool known to man, can then bring down the whole edifice of individual rights.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Stuck in Latin America

For John, BLUF:  These are folks who don't get it.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"Ironically, talking like that, they sound like traitors to American culture."  Here is the sub-headline, "Liberal Hispanic activists assail Rubio, Cruz as 'traitors' to their culture."

I have no questions for the Professor.

While the article is from Ann Althouse, the hat tip goes to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Republican Minority Candidates Denied

For John, BLUF:  I think the Democrats are concerned.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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I may have previously blogged about this News Busters item by Reporter Ken Shepherd, "Chris Matthews Not Sure If Cruz, Rubio Really Hispanic; They're 'Cuban Nationals' Though", but if I did it is worth repeating.

I don't actually care that they are Hispanic, but let us not be denying that fact because their families came from Cuba.  That just shows a total lack of understanding about that it means to be Hispanic.  It would be like saying folks from Brazil, the Azores or Portugal were Hispanic, when they are actually Lusitanians.  If we are going to use these ethnic categories we should understand them.  I wonder if Mr Matthews will soon deny that Dr Ben Carson is Black or that Ms Carly Fiorina is a female?

On the other hand, lets face it, Mr Chris Matthews is an Englisher.

Regards  —  Cliff

Latest Poll

For John, BLUF:  One sees some sorting out, but Trump and Carson still leading.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the polling outfit, Rasmussen, dated Friday the 13th, we have "Here’s How the GOP Race Looks Now".

The outsiders are still leading the pack in Rasmussen Reports’ latest look at the Republican presidential primary race following Tuesday night’s debate.

Our latest national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Donald Trump with 27% support. Twenty percent (20%) say they would vote for Dr. Ben Carson if the GOP presidential primary were held in their state today.

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida picks up 16% of the vote, while 13% prefer Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Eight percent (8%) say they would vote for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, while support for ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina has fallen back to four percent (4%). Seven percent (7%) say they would choose one of the other candidates in the race. Five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

I know the professional politicians say that (1) those who support Mr Trump and Dr Carson won't show up to vote in the Primaries and (2) everyone will sober up and go for a professional who can beat Ms Clinton.  Maybe.

Regards  —  Cliff

No Republican Minorities

For John, BLUF:  There are Dems who hate the idea of Minority Republicans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Ms Amy Goodman, on Democracy Now, just now, has been doing a hatchet job of Dr Ben Carson and now moving on to Sen Ten Cruz and Sen Marco Rubio.

Pitiful.

Regards  —  Cliff

Marco Rubio Switches Lion for Babies

For John, BLUF:  I suspect not enough lions die to inure us, but dead babies are a dime a dozen.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Over at Ace of Spades Hq,♠ about a week ago, was a sort of bouquet thrown at Irish 2016 Candidate, Marc O'Rubio.  "Marco Rubio Commits An Act Of Political Competence, Immediately Outpaces Most Republicans".

People have been bemoaning the fact that Cecil the Lion was getting far more attention [than] the Planned Parenthood videos.  Some were frustrated that every GOP candidate will now be asked about this.

My counter argument to that is, yes every Republican candidate for office at every level should be forced to answer a question about the damn lion and those that can't *effectively* turn it into a discussion about Planned Parenthood need to self-identify as incompetent and [be] removed from the electoral pool.

Amnesty advocate Marco Rubio was asked by a TMZ stringer about Cecil and much to my chagrin, did what needs to be done over and over and over again, redirected it to Planned Parenthood.

There is more at the link, but you get the gist of it.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  His masthead has this quote:  "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."  H L Mencken