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Cruz Schlongs Trump, Trump Schlongs Jeb

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Not that I know what the word really means, but because we spent an entire week discussing this Yiddish slang word uttered by Donald Trump, it evidently connotes what happened during last night’s debate.

For the past 7 months, everyone has been saying that Donald Trump has finally met his demise, only to be proven spectacularly wrong. The reason they were wrong time and time again is simple: the other candidates and the moderators always attacked Trump from the left, particularly on immigration. Instead of hurting him, it always fueled Trump’s appeal. Americans are tired of being lectured to on the issue of immigration, and Trump was speaking to where most voters are at this point.

But as I noted earlier this week, nobody has really attacked Trump from the right and exposed his lack of command of both the Constitution and conservative values. Cruz finally did that last night and Trump was left sputtering. He was lacking any good come-back lines for the first time in the race. He was diminished to defending New York values. Cruz turned the tables on him by looking like the macho, anti-PC crusader, while Trump went all emotional with his non-sequitur about 9/11. He was also caught promoting a left-wing law professor. Trump even used the “on the soil” argument for citizenship which ironically is the left-wing version of birthright citizenship that is used to justify anchor babies – the very issue through which Trump gained initial prominence for opposing. He played into Cruz’s caricature of him perfectly.

Had the debate ended here, it wouldn’t surprise me if Cruz went on to catch Trump in the national polls. And I still believe, on net, Cruz will benefit more than anybody else. But Trump came roaring back in the second half of the debate. Much like the earlier debates, Trump got asked questions about immigration and was delivered the gift that keeps giving – the straw man of Jeb Bush attacking him from the left on the issue. Between immigration, trade, and the presentation of his business career, Trump resurrected the version of himself that much of the voters clearly have come to love.

The only problem for Trump, however, is that many people watched only the first half of the debate. Moreover, his opponent is not Jeb Bush. Bush is irrelevant at this point in the race. His opponent is Cruz, and many Trump supporters will now see a viable alternative who is speaking to their anger.

The challenge for Trump headed out of this debate is to keep up the persona he exhibited in the second hour and stay on message as a conservative, especially on the issue of immigration. But if he is going to continue to make his closing argument about being insulted by Cruz’s taunt of “New York values,” he’s making a colossal mistake. Some of the elite conservative media might feel insulted by Cruz’s comments, but they need to learn that the center of gravity for conservative voters is in the South and the West, and very much anchored in rural culture. There are very few primary voters who will agree with Trump on this exchange. He is needlessly allowing Cruz to get to his “right” and paint him as a Manhattan liberal.

On another note, the true winner of the debate is Maria Bartiromo. Who would have thought we’d live to see a time when a moderator would actually ask the questions about Muslim immigration (100,000 green cards a year) and the broad question of mass migration. Jeff Sessions loomed large at the debate.

Unfortunately, all of the candidates dodged the question in some manner. They all seemed to feel comfortable parlaying the issue exclusively into national security and the question of “vetting” but refused to discuss the general cultural problems with mass migration and the influx of Sharia-adherent immigrants, in particular. This is about a lot more than ISIS. We’ve had the cultural and security concerns that arise from mass migration and the radicalization of Muslim immigrants long before 2013.

The moderators also deserve credit for finally discussing the rise in crime. Once again, this was a missed opportunity for several of the candidates to bring up the get-out-of-jail free agenda and distinguish themselves from the Washington group think on criminal justice.

On a final note, the conservative media will make a big deal of Marco Rubio, but ultimately he is still not speaking to where voters’ hearts lie at this juncture. And worse for him, Chris Christie continues to gain prominence and this debate will only continue the perfect establishment chaos that is preventing Rubio from making this a three-man race.

On net, this debate will only secure the status quo as a two-man race, albeit Cruz will likely gain on Trump in the coming days. (For more from the author of “Cruz Schlongs Trump, Trump Schlongs Jeb” please click HERE)

Watch a recent interview with the author below:

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Priebus, Trump, Fiorina, Paul and Now Huckabee Keep Eligibility Question Alive

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Shortly before a closed-door “Huckabee Huddle” with local pastors, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee weighed in on the question of the week. Yes: He too had questions about whether Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), born in Canada to a Cuban father and American mother, was eligible for the presidency. It certainly seemed to pose a problem.

“When it first surfaced, I didn’t think it did,” Huckabee said. “But after now reading a number of very thoughtful pieces by constitutional experts, I think it should give everybody a little concern. It’s an issue that’s got to be dealt with. There was one article from Lawrence Tribe, and there was another from a professor who wrote in The Washington Post, and it was very compelling argument. It was not a political argument. This person gave very serious reasons as to why this was a serious question.”

In a few words, Huckabee became at least the fourth rival to Cruz to ask whether his eligibility could be questioned. Carly Fiorina cited “legal scholars” who had judged the issue “legitimate.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who had once brushed off the question, suddenly called it a potential problem. And then there was Donald Trump, whose predictable obsession with the topic seemed to finally end the mutual admiration pact between Cruz and himself.

Listen to Constitutional Law Attorney KrissAnne Hall discuss the eligibility issue at 18:14:

That would have been bad enough, had Republicans as eminent as RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) refused to simply call Cruz eligible, or call the question ridiculous. Today, as Cruz campaigns in South Carolina, his supporters see the entire eligibility debate as an obvious bad faith ploy. (Read more from “Priebus, Fiorina, Paul and Now Huckabee Raise the Eligibility Question” HERE)

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The GOP Race Just Took an Unexpected Turn and Donald Trump Has Nothing to Do With It

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By Fox News. As the calendar draws closer to the Iowa and New Hampshire contests, the second tier of GOP candidates – along with the super PACs supporting them – are unloading on each other in a blitz of ads, videos, tweets, stump speeches and interviews. The acrimony is at a level until now unseen, in a race dominated by vitriolic squabbles between Trump and whichever candidate of the moment displeases him.

Now, with Trump training his focus on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, the rest of the pack is fighting to rise above. The latest round involves Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

The super PAC backing Bush is out with a new ad blasting Rubio for missing a Senate meeting after the Paris terror attacks – and another contrasting Bush’s gubernatorial record against those of Christie and Kasich.

“Politics first, that’s the Rubio way,” the first ad says, slamming Rubio for fundraising while missing meetings and hearings on the Hill.

Rubio has long battled criticism of his attendance record in the Senate. In 2015, he has missed about 35 percent of roll call votes, according to GovTrack.us. That’s more than any of the other senators running for president. (Read more from “The GOP Race Just Took an Unexpected Turn and Donald Trump Has Nothing to Do With It” HERE)

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Rubio Pulled Strings for His Coke-Dealing Brother-in-Law

By Scott Higham and Manuel Roig-Franzia. When Marco Rubio was majority whip of the Florida House of Representatives, he used his official position to urge state regulators to grant a real estate license to his brother-in-law, a convicted cocaine trafficker who had been released from prison 20 months earlier, according to records obtained by The Washington Post.

In July 2002, Rubio sent a letter on his official statehouse stationery to the Florida Division of Real Estate, recommending Orlando Cicilia “for licensure without reservation.” The letter, obtained by The Washington Post under the Florida Public Records Act, offers a glimpse of Rubio using his growing political power to assist his troubled brother-in-law and provides new insight into how the young lawmaker intertwined his personal and political lives.

Rubio did not disclose in the letter that Cicilia was married to his sister, Barbara, or that the former cocaine dealer was living at the time in the same West Miami home as Rubio’s parents. He wrote that he had known Cicilia “for over 25 years,” without elaborating. (Read more from this story on how Rubio’s past failures are changing the GOP race HERE)

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Fox News Just Announced a GOP Debate Rule Tweak That Could Be a Total Game Changer

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The next prime-time Republican presidential debate could include only six candidates, based upon the rules the Fox Business Network has established for the Jan. 14 event.

Based upon the rules Fox Business released Tuesday, assuming no major changes in the current polls, the main debate would be limited to Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Ben Carson; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Carly Fiorina would move from the main stage to the “undercard.”

To qualify for the prime-time debate, Fox Business said candidates must do one of three things:

Place in the top six nationally, based on an average of the five most recent national polls recognized by Fox News.

Place in the top five in Iowa, based on an average of the five most recent polls recognized by Fox News.

Place in the top five in New Hampshire based on an average of the five most recent polls recognized by Fox News . . .

“It’s long past time that those who’ve failed to do something with these opportunities did the honorable thing and, if not quit the race entirely, at least exit the debate stage so that the actual contenders aren’t left begging for time amid Kasich’s karate-chop laden explainers or Paul’s dogged attempts to reshape the GOP base in his image,” wrote Jason Linkins. (Read more from “Fox News Just Announced a GOP Debate Rule Tweak That Could Be a Total Game Changer” HERE)

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Major: GOP Candidate Drops out of Race [+video]

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Senator Lindsey Graham is ending his presidential campaign, he told CNN during an exclusive interview airing Monday.

“I’m going to suspend my campaign. I’m not going to suspend my desire to help the country,” the South Carolina senator said in a wide-ranging and candid discussion in which he acknowledged: “I’ve hit a wall here” . . .

Graham is known for his quick wit and famous for his one-liners (just ask Princess Buttercup about his retort from the last debate), but he was sober, serious and emotional as he described his decision to leave the race just weeks before the voting begins. (Editor’s note: RINO Graham is also known for being a total, in-the-tank Establishment politico)

One thing is clear: Graham still wants his voice heard on the direction his party is headed, especially with regard to the Middle East.

“Here’s what I predict. I think the nominee of our party is going to adopt my plan when it comes time to articulate how to destroy ISIL,” he said. “We’ve fallen short here, but the fight continues. To those who are doing the fighting, I want to be your voice. To those in the Republican Party who want to win, check my plan out. Hillary, if you get to be President, I’ll help you where I can. I hope you’re not. But if you are, I’ll be there to help you win a war we can’t afford to lose.” (Read more from “Major: GOP Candidate Drops out of Race” HERE)

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Here’s Who Donald Trump Says Will Be the Last Standing in GOP Race

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Monday that the 2016 GOP nomination contest is likely to come down to a one-on-one battle between himself and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

“Ultimately, it’s probably going to come down to me against him,” Mr. Trumpsaid on NBC’s “Today” program. “I have a very, very big lead right now. You know I like to win, and you know I win. Let’s see what happens.”

Mr. Trump had been asked whether there was any sort of deal with Mr. Cruz where the two candidates would avoid criticizing one another. Mr. Trump said there was not a deal, that the two “just get along” and that Mr. Cruz has backed him on issues like illegal immigration. (Read more from “Here’s Who Donald Trump Says Will Be the Last Standing in GOP Race” HERE)

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Poll: Trump Jumps, Cruz Climbs, Carson Sinks in GOP Race

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Donald Trump, a candidate even Republicans once considered a side show, increases his lead yet again in the nomination race, according to the latest Fox News national poll.

The poll also finds Ted Cruz ticking up, Marco Rubio slipping, and Ben Carson dropping.

Trump hits a high of 39 percent among Republican primary voters, up from 28 percent a month ago. The increase comes mainly from men, white evangelical Christians, and voters without a college degree — and at the expense of Carson.

However, the poll is not all good news for the Donald. Despite his increasing advantage in the primary, his support in the general election is down. More on that later . . .

Trump’s 11-point jump in support comes after his comments about stopping non-U.S. Muslims from coming into the country. (Read more from “Poll: Trump Jumps, Cruz Climbs, Carson Sinks in GOP Race” HERE)

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This GOP Candidate Just Dropped out of the Race

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Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) on Tuesday announced he is suspending his campaign for the White House.

“I’ve come to the realization that it is not my time,” Jindal said during an early evening Fox News interview with Bret Baier. “I am suspending my campaign for president of the United States . .

Jindal’s campaign failed to resonate with voters since his entrance into the 2016 race last summer.

He never appeared in a main stage GOP presidential debate based on his low polling numbers, which often have registered at or below 1 percent.

During the Fox interview, Jindal declined to immediately name a GOP rival that he would support. Fourteen candidates remain in the Republican race. (Read more from “This GOP Candidate Just Dropped out of the Race” HERE)

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In Shocking Poll, This Candidate Has Landslides Over Both Trump and Bush

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In a new McClatchy-Marist poll, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) leads Republican candidate Donald Trump by a landslide margin of 12 percentage points, 53 to 41. In the McClatchy poll, Sanders also leads former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) by a landslide margin of 10 points, 51 to 41.

The huge Sanders advantage over Trump is not new. In the last four match-up polls between them reported by Real Clear Politics, Sanders defeated Trump by margins of 12, 9, 9 and 2 percentage points.

The huge Sanders advantage over Bush is new. In previous match-ups, the polling showed Sanders and Bush running virtually even, with Bush holding a 1-point lead over Sanders in most of the polls. Future polls will be needed to test whether the huge Sanders lead over Bush in the McClatchy poll will be repeated in future polling or whether the McClatchy poll is an outlier.

It is shocking that the data suggests that Sanders has a lead over Trump that could be so huge that he would win a landslide victory in the presidential campaign, with margins that would almost certainly lead Democrats to regain control of the Senate and could help Democrats regain control of the House of Representative — if, of course, the three polls that show Sanders beating Trump by 9 to 12 points reflect final voting in the presidential election . . .

For today, there are two issues these polls present. First, the national reporting of the presidential campaign completely fails to reflect Sanders’s strength in a general election, especially against Trump, and against Bush as well. (Read more from “In Shocking Poll, This Candidate Has Landslides Over Both Trump and Bush” HERE)

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This Billionaire Has No Plans to Back a Candidate in Republican Primary

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Billionaire industrialist Charles Koch said Wednesday he’s unlikely to back a candidate in the crowded Republican presidential primary, the latest sign that one of the most influential figures in conservative politics seems less than enthusiastic about his choices.

“I have no plans to support anybody in the primary now,” Koch told USA TODAY during a wide-ranging interview that touched on politics, his management theories and what he views as increasing threats to free speech at universities . . .

“If they start saying things we think are beneficial overall and will change the trajectory of the country, then that would be good, but we have to believe also they’ll follow through on it, and by and large, candidates don’t do that.”

Koch acknowledged that the vast policy and political network he helps oversee with his New York-based brother, David, might exceed his fundraising expectations before the presidential and congressional elections.

In recent weeks, the Kansas-based executive has downplayed what his organization might spend before the end of 2016, saying his network of about 450 donors might raise $750 million, down from an earlier estimate of $889 million over two years. (Read more from “This Billionaire Has No Plans to Back a Candidate in Republican Primary” HERE)

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