It’s really cute the way Kimye and Taylor Swift thought they were bringing the drama this week when all of the real insanity has been going down at the Republican National Convention. By all accounts, this year’s RNC has been a complete mess. Few of the big names in the GOP have come to Cleveland, the message keeps getting hijacked because everything is in shambles and the ratings are terrible. And last night’s prime-time line-up was particularly unhinged. Marco Rubio didn’t even come to Cleveland – he just sent a video, which is just what you’d expect from the least-working member of the Senate. The night should have been all about Mike Pence accepting the nomination for vice president, but they made the mistake of putting alleged Zodiac Killer Ted Cruz on around 10 pm, and of course it ended badly. The problem was that Ted Cruz, Donald Trump’s biggest challenger, got a major speaking slot, and Cruz still refused to endorse Trump. Here’s the whole speech:
And here’s Cruz refusing to endorse Trump, and everyone booing him. Donald Trump arrived at the end of Cruz’s speech, and on Morning Joe this morning, they compared it to Wrestlemania.
Watch the #RNC audience boo @tedcruz for not endorsing @realDonaldTrumphttps://t.co/3VzLWtH0zG
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 21, 2016
It got so bad that Ted Cruz’s wife had to be escorted out of the RNC by security because audience members and delegates started threatening her. Trump-puppet Chris Christie decried Cruz as “awful” and “selfish.”
.@ChrisChristie tells @DanaBashCNN that he thought @tedcruz’s speech was “awful” and “selfish.” #RNCinCLE
https://t.co/yVnWqI3y7Y— Abigail Crutchfield (@ACrutchfield14) July 21, 2016
But as many pointed out, this was not a surprise. Trump Org. knew that Cruz would not be endorsing Trump, as they had access to his speech hours beforehand. The press knew too. And Trump let it happen anyway, possibly for political theater reasons, possibly because everyone knows that the best way to turn people against Ted Cruz is to let people see Ted Cruz speak.
Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2016
So was this a power-move by Team Trump or Team Cruz? Or was this just another shambolic mess from the RNC? I don’t know. But sources now say that Cruz is definitely going to run again in 2020, even if Trump is president.
I got a copy of Ted Cruz's prepared remarks for tonight's #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/wm0IUKmOhx
— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) July 21, 2016
Photos courtesy of Getty.
#MERICA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Seriously though, how embarrassing all of this is for the US. We’re like a reality show gone wrong…
Everything about this political cycle has been a downright embarrassment. Literally everything.
Bring on the Meteor! Just End It Already
Go watch “Before The Fall”, a Spanish movie about a meteor on course to strike the earth, and I bet you won’t say that in jest!
I agree that these a$$clowns have made the political process a laughingstock. The thing that most disturbs me through, is how the basest emotions and drives have been unleashed in the masses. It’s frightening and disappointing, and makes me feel depressed about the human race.
Dear @NotSoSocialButterfly
A little off topic…I wanted to thank you because in a previous post you recommend saw palmetto for acne. I researched a little bit more and tried it a month ago. It saved my face and hundreds of dollars on more treatments. Thank you very much, I would have never heard about it if it wasn’t for you. Many many thanks once more! 🙂
@Maria,
Oh, hooray!! I’m so happy for you!!
I’d shout the wonders of saw palmetto for adult female acne from the rooftops if I could. It really is miraculous, and bonus… I think it also blocks DHT at the follicles and so helps reduce hair loss (if you are a lady of a certain age, as I am)!!! Yippee!! 😀
No small surprise that dermatologists won’t tell you about it, or will shoot it down if you mention it.
Saw palmetto for hair loss??? Really??? The things you learn here!!! I’ll try it as soon as I can get to my local health food store; they have a pretty good stock of natural supplements. Many thanks!
When your country has made the Kardashian’s the most followed/famous people in the world, you know there’s something wrong…
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael Moore was on Bill Maher last night and said, “I think Donald Trump is going to win.” Hearing those words from a rational, intelligent man, not a Trump supporter, was horrifying.
the sad thing is that drumpf knows that americans have short attention spans; between politics and the karashians, what do people follow more? so this RNC is the most entertaining sh#tstorm that we’ve seen. it rivals comedies like VEEP, it means high ratings, and maybe, ultimately in drumpf’s mind – votes. scarily he could be right.
btw, ted cruz – i can’t fault him for not endorsing trump but again, it seems like this was all part of trump’s master plan: lets have the weasel guy whom no one likes be weasely again!
@Sparkles – I’ve been hearing that more and more in the last few weeks from non-Trump supporters – it is very despairing.
@ Sparkles – not for nothing, but Michael Moore strikes me as one of those people who definitely wouldn’t mind burning it all down so that a newer, shinier, more Progressive America can emerge from the ashes.
Never mind the fact that newer, shinier and especially more Progressive are anything but guaranteed, especially given the Progressive habit of not showing up. Never mind the collateral damage in the mean time.
Betsy – actually MM isn’t one of those people (like Susan Sarandon). He’s trying to scare people to get off their asses and get out and vote and shock the Bernie Bros etc. out of their malaise.
Michael Moore is a rational intelligent man? Who knew? LOL
Michael Moore was saying that states that are normally blue like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have been trending red because the working class is frustrated with the job losses that have occurred in the rust belt and that Trump promising to rip trade deals and getting jobs back really resonates with them. Even though Trump can’t actually do that, the level of frustration is so high that he could get votes.
People need to get out and vote. Torontonians didn’t think Rob Ford could be elected mayor and he was taken as a joke …. Until he was elected. Do not underestimate the stupid people out there. Rob Ford never had access to nuclear codes, but Trump would.
and to have Chris Krispie Creme call ANYONE selfish is the epitome of hypocrisy.
this coming from a man who uses, and completely inconveniences, his constituents to fight his political battles. close bridges and stop road projects because you can’t get what you want. reminds me of when Newt shut down the gov because Clinton didn’t give me a good seat on AF1.
Oh, I know. And wasn’t it rich to hear that buffoon say that their “word should matter.” As if.
Crisp Crispy lol
Chris Christie’s politics are bad enough that we needn’t stoop to fat jokes.
no, I can stoop that low to make fat jokes where he’s concerned. I wouldn’t normally but he’s such a disgusting excuse for a human being, and such a horrible bully that I don’t feel bad about it.
Yet it reinforces the belief that fat jokes in general are acceptable. It should be off topic as race and sex are.
I don’t agree.
as I said, I don’t normally make jokes like that, but his actions and words are not “normal” so I’m not going to make “normal” criticisms. he and his ilk have gone so far beyond what is “normal” that I simply don’t care.
Agree with you Betsy. If you have to resort to attacking one’s gender, sexual preference, race or size, then you are disadvantaging your own narrative.
Just wanted to point out that in a universe that has Trump and Cruz and Palin (what happened to Palin, how come this crazy rodeo didn’t pull her in) not to mention the specimens across the pond, Chris Christie’s milieu of offensiveness is small fry comparatively. Am no mouthpiece for Christie but after Trump and Cruz, to call Christie disgusting, bully etc. suggests that you’ve missed the 800lb gorilla in the room. Both of ’em.
I still think this was a business opportunity for Trump that went too far. He was planning to spend a lot ‘of his own money’, pay his subsidiaries for security, room rental, etc, then give the bill to the RNC. But he picked up steam and he could not resist feeding his ego. He is still going to make a ton of money running for president, but he’s going to screw your country doing so.
This is what happens when you feed sociopaths. He thinks he’s running for King.
I grew up in a relatively liberal family surrounded by a kneejerk conservative community. I’m used to seeing the behavior of willfully uneducated and fear filled people, but the level of slobbering rage, stupidity, hate and intolerance he inspires in his supporters and the fact theyre not even trying to hide it anymore, is frightening. Its the lowest of human character and they are PROUD of it. Sadly, I think he’s going to win too.
I just saw a photo of Laura Ingraham giving what looks like a Nazi salute to Trump, with a photo of him returning the gesture. Please tell me that didn’t really happen and is just some internet trickery?
I saw a video clip and it REALLY looked like a Nazi salute, and a bluntly intentional one too.
She didn’t just wave straight-armed and someone got a photo of her at the wrong moment — she held her arm in that position for several seconds as she rotated her upper body to aim it at everyone in the crowd.
Nope that was real.
During the campaign, Trump insulted Cruz’s wife and family
Good on Cruz to not endorse Drumpf after numerous insults throughout the campaign.
Is it or is not tacky to insult someone’s wife/family and then expect an endorsement in return?
Cruz stood up for his family and gets booed. It is good to stand-up for family and principles, but perhaps not at a Republican convention where gut emotions substitutes for intellect.
Just Wow, America. Is this another low point in American politics?
Yes it is a new low for America, this political circus. I don’t blame Cruz for not encouraging trump, after trump said about cruz and his family? I don’t get how so people are supporting trump for president. Trump is crude, rude, talks about his c@ck on television and the conservative party is supporting! Just plain nuts!
It’s not okay for Trump to have attacked Cruz’ wife and family and state that his father might have been involved in the JFK assassination. If I were Cruz I wouldn’t have endorsed Trump either.
But it’s ALSO not okay for people to liken Cruz to the Zodiac killer because they think they’re being clever.
And it’s not okay to use “Drumpf” as an insult when it’s simply Trump’s ancestral name, which was Americanized to Trump. It’s not okay to use someone’s name as an insult because you don’t like him.
You should check out the cable series “Unreal” it’s a behind the scenes of fake Bachelor-type programme and it’s tragically good, or good in it’s tragedy. I imagine it and the Trump campaign aren’t too far apart some days.
More embarrassing than I ever thought possible. I am mortified, frankly.
We’re a nation of 11 yr olds.
You’re giving us too much credit 😜
My 11 year old behaves better than this.
My seven year old grandson acts better than this.
My grandson just hit the terrible two’s, so he would fit right in, baby babble and all
After watching the news last night, I had to explain the concept of incivility to my 9-year-old. It was sadly easy to describe the RNC in schoolyard terms….
Yep – I keep saying that we’ve lost all of the C’s – civility, collaboration, compromise, common-sense.
Well, they certainly aren’t “Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” ( wasn’t that a television program?).
No, it’s on par with my seven year old and his love/hate friendship with another kid.
While I love the idea of someone doing Trump like this, I wish it had come from someone less odious.
+1
Kimye
Yes.
I had a brief feeling of kindness and respect towards Ted Cruz and I’m not sure if I’ll ever recover.
If anything, this has actually lessened my hatred of him. He stuck to his guns and was loyal to his ideals and his family. Loathsome though they may be, he was the only person there with some dignity, something that pains me to type.
Also, why would RNC attendees threaten Heidi Cruz? Smacks of misogyny.
I feel bad for his wife. What did she do? She should not have to fear being attacked.
This wasn’t about sticking to his ideals. This was political. Cruz is betting that Trump is going to implode and Cruz can come back saying he was the one who stood up for “real” republican ideals.
Pfft. I don’t think for a second this is Ted being conscientious. He knows he has nothing to lose anymore in this election cycle, and this will soften some of our hatred for him. He’s not afraid of disrupting the RNC. He shut down the U.S. Government out of his own self interest.
Yeah, I posted later that it’s hard to applaud because basically he’s still Ted Cruz.
Well at least he looks less foolish than Christie.
Very true. Christie looks like an absolute idiot.
I have zero respect for Christie, and having him on Trump’s team is good news for Hillary’s team.
I’m not a Cruz fan in the least, but his speech was more “presidential” than any of the other speeches yesterday IMO. Everyone else sounded like they were hysterical villagers on a witch hunt (Hillary Clinton).
With respect to Carol, but the only thing that struck me about Cruz’ speech was the pointlessness of it. 23 minutes of quivering, ululating passion about … stuff … that didn’t come together anywhere. Eventually all i was impressed at was that Cruz had obviously moved himself but I couldn’t for the life of me figure what his point was. It wasn’t remotely Presidential; it was 20 minutes of listening to a man who had been given 20 minutes to talk. An utter waste of air.
I’ll give it to Ted Cruz-he went up there and didn’t endorse the guy that called him a liar, called his wife horrible names, and called his dad a murderer. Mind you-he made the whole thing about how he’s running in 2020 and I just want Ted Cruz to crawl under a hole somewhere-but still.
What’s also interesting is now there is very little coverage of Mike Pence’s speech in the media. There was some scary stuff in there. Now everyone is talking about Cruz.
Mike Pence is terrifying. He truly hates women and the LGBTQ community. He also truly believes that America should become an official christian nation. These asshats want to take us back to pre-colonial times. I hope they get demolished come November.
Well, you know these stiff old white guys probably have stiff ventricles and coronary vessels… maybe there will be a sudden epidemic of heart disease in Washington.
Whats truly scary about Pence is that Trump intends to license the presidency to him just like he does with his hotels. Apparently he sent emmisaries to offer Kasich the “most powerful vice presidency ever” with full control over both foreign and domestic policy. Kusich being not a totally morally bankrupt bigot said no. As did Condi Rice. Enter Pence…
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmagazine&action=click&contentCollection=magazine®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Naya, I really hope that story gets a lot of coverage. It is TERRIFYING!
@ Naya,
Yes, such a shining Constitutionalist. Let’s just make the VP the POTUS, because Constitution.
Indiana just sentenced a woman to 20 years in prison because she had a miscarriage at 23 weeks. She wasn’t at the hospital when she miscarried and disposed of the stillborn fetus in a dumpster. They charged her with child neglect and feticide, even though the prosecution admitted the child died within seconds of the miscarriage.
I don’t blame Cruz for not endorsing him. Trump sicked his good buddies over at the National Enquirer on Cruz and his family writing about alleged numerous mistresses (that no one in the real media could find or verify). Trump repeatedly tagged Cruz with the liar tag, though I don’t know what Cruz was lying about. He attacked Cruz’s wife not for her accomplishments, but on her looks. The final straw was when he again used his friends at NE to strongly insinuate Cruz’s father was instrumental in the assassination of President Kennedy.
And Trump’s sycophant followers repeated and believed everything.
I was not a Cruz supporter, but full disclosure, my husband was working for Cruz’s campaign and was an active surrogate on his behalf. Besides my husband, I know many people who know Ted Cruz and his family personally. Even if his voice annoys you and you don’t agree with his politics, Ted Cruz is a good man who loves his family.
On the other hand, Donald Trump is a disgusting, misogynistic creep. I don’t know how anyone could vote for him.
Sherry: I like the fact that Cruz stood up for what he believes in and didn’t cave in to Trump like a willing Chris Christie lap dog.
“Ted Cruz is a good man who loves his family.”
Sorry, but those are not qualifiers for a presidency. In a democracy, you need more more than to love your family to make a good leader; you need the love of masses of people and the concomitant attributes that requires. Cruz’s “goodness” is debatable as his history at Harvard and his track record at the Congress can show.
I don’t blame him for not endorsing Trump – I wouldn’t! – but what on earth did he show up to speak at this convention for?! That’s not “standing up for what he believes in … ” – he’d have sat the convention out if he did that. He came here for one more chance to bask in the national spotlight. He’s a narcissistic, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing, megalomaniac with a god-complex – in fact, he’s the scarier version of Trump. I’m glad he got booed but like the bad penny he is, he’ll be back.
I think it shows a lot of courage to get up there in front of a pro-Trump audience and do what he did. I know he did it for personal gain, but it is going to be years before this pays off for him. In the short term, I think this will make things very difficult for him. I do think it is more respectable to take such a bold step than to give in to a bully and suddenly support them. At the same time, I think Gov. Kasich handled his position the best by not appearing at the convention at all.
I just…I can’t even look at Ted Cruz. He is so gross.
But, this was funny. And totally expected. And goes perfectly with the theme of this convention.
LOL! I agree with you. Cruz is gross. Not only his politics but also that he looks like he leaves an oil slick behind wherever he stands. What’s with the Brylcreem?
The convention has been unbelievably chaotic as is predictable for the disaster that is the RNC.
And because he is so gross, you can laugh even harder at his near Sally Fields Oscar moment as the crowd cheered… and then how his smarmy face collapsed as they booed him off the stage. That, right there, was gold. Pure gold.
They should have introduced him as “lucifer in the flesh.” I like how most democrats and republicans can agree that Ted Cruz is a slimy worm. Poor Heidi.
He’s such a melted wax candle-faced buffoon. And so is Ted Cruz.
Anyway, Trump probably let it happen to tamp DOWN the controversy that would’ve occurred when the media learned he had axed Cruz from speaking and had NO ONE LEFT TO FILL HIS SPOT. Not even The Fonz.
–TheRealPinky
Seriously, what is wrong with Cruz’s face? That he can’t properly smile? He looks like he’s in pain. Is it Botox?
Cruz is ugly as sin, but every time Trump speaks his mouth looks like an anus IMO.
It’s because he’s an alien in a human-suit. Or so the hilarious theory goes.
http://www.tedcruzforhumanpresident.com
Hahahahahahahahahaha! What a mess! The hunger games style! Ted Cruz is hated by the GOP and the dinosaurs of the party, but he is beloved by the core, extremely right wing folks I know. I pray pray pray that Oompa Loompa Drumpf does not win in November. We are going to be screwed if he does.
LOL THE REACTION WHEN TED DID NOT ENDORSE HIM
http://i.imgur.com/iJ9gFnR.jpg
Where’s Melania in that picture, standing by her man? I guess the “daughter he’d like to date” would be the real first lady.
Evidently she was sent home in disgrace. He was spotted yelling at her earlier. That photo is hilarious, though. Trump looks like he bit into an apple and found half a worm.
@ Carmen, where did you read this? lol!
Yeah, Melania should get busy contacting a lawyer. He’s probably already planning a trade-in.
OMG…. That is freaking hilarious!!!! 😂😂😂
God his son’s fucking face…why does everyone involved in this madness look like Smug Come to Life.
To “mis-paraphrase” Shakespeare: “looks like, madam? Nay, are.”
The younger son could replace Sean Penn as ham face. Especially if he gets the tanning package Trump subscribes to.
Since our Britisher politics has now become as out-of-hand and dangerously ludicrous as yours, I feel your pain. I hold out a hand of comradeship to all despairing Celebitches.
Solidarity, Sixer!
By the way, thanks so much for mentioning Borgen on a thread one day. That show was amazing!!
Best show ever! I still have a girl crush on Sidse Babett Knudsen.
Thank you, Sixer. Commiseration comrades.
Thank you Sixer. I am considering living under my bed for a while.
Some comedian pointed out that the British are eagerly awaiting November when once again, they will be able to say that Americans are stupider than they are….
First this convention was a figurative sh!tshow. Then the Norovirus hit more than a dozen convention staff, and it now accurately reflects as the actual sh!tshow it really is.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Of course Trump saw it ahead of time and was OK – it would bring craziness and attention, which is all he cares about, plus then he got to play superior again.
Ted Cruz is a nightmare of a person, I just want him and his awful face to go far, far away.
True that!
Lucifer in the flesh… check
Psychopath… check
Crazypants… check
Nightmare… check
I hope his dreams of 2020 get pounded in the dirt and soon.
I want to find it funny, but I still think all of it is alarmingly stomach churning. The convention has been a mess, but that still doesn’t keep me from being frightened that Trump will get elected in November.
So true – the problem is that a lot of people aren’t seeing the mess or thinking it’s a good thing because the “establishment” is the one at fault. Christie’s day 2 false witch-trial event was horrifying and should have been horrifying to every American whether you liked Hillary or not.
Alleged Zodiac Killer!! I would be LMAO if the stakes were not so high. I know there are a lot of stupid people in America( I live in Alabama, after all)and I saw what happened in Britain. And I read CB and see the “standing on their PRINCIPLES, voting THIRD PARTY” snowflakes who don’t give a damn about the good of the whole, just their hurt feelings. It’s frightening.
^THIS^
Hi, LinaL. That used to be my handle on FB. I LOVE that movie. I should watch it now as a distraction from all this crap.
Hi, SusanneToo …….
Ted Cruz : Now Don, you’ve been reading all those fan magazines again! Now look Don, you shouldn’t believe all that banana oil FoxNews and the columnists dish out. Now try to get this straight: there is nothing between us. There has never been anything between us. Just air.
Donald Trump : Oh, Teddy, you don’t mean that.
😂😂😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍👍
Hi, SusanneToo, another Alabamian here! The homemade Bern 2016 sign that has been re-made twice down the very rural road from me has been a pleasant surprise in my only recently wet town.
Weren’t “awful” and “selfish” words used to describe Chris Christie’s 2012 RNC speech where he spent the entire time talking about himself rather than Romney?
He’s such a hypocrite. Calling for Hillary to be locked up, when his top Aide is being investigated by the FBI. And he’s going to trial for Bridge-gate himself in September.
I hate that Chris Christie is making me defend the Zodiac killer. Let me go take a shower. Have sex and then take birth control pills. I rebuke you Cruz!
Actually, what he said was vote your conscience. .and everyone went ballistic..now to me, that means all those trumpites have no conscience, or are admitting they have swapped their souls for a party label. Who needs the sensible, intelligent members of the party when you’ve got Omarosa, and family members who you employ? Probably the only time I will ever think good for Cruz.
I’m now convinced that 2016 is either trolling us OR this is the before part of any good dystopian novel
The hot Tweet on Canadian Twitter last night was “Calgary man trolls Donald Trump at Republican Convention.” So yes, funny all around.
I heard that a few times yesterday – what fun!
The Munsters Night (they had both Grandpa Munster and Eddie Munster!) was hilarious!
This is the convention to end all conventions! Joanie Loves ChaChi and old soap opera star night. Tiffany’s tribute to Farrah Fawcett’s hair. Third Eye Blind trolling the RNC. Melania plagiarizing Michelle Obama. Ben Carson invoking Lucifer. Calls from Trump’s veterans representative to assassinate Hillary. Rudy Giuliani going full fascist. Christie’s Salem witch trial. Whatever the hell Gingrich was doing. Eric Trump proving he can say NUMBERS!
This is so embarrassing. I’m not even a Republican and sure as hell will not vote for Trump, but Jesus, this is so embarrassing.
I have to ask – what did the Trumps think he was going to do?
Trump, in no particular order:
– suggested Cruz was not a natural born citizen and not eligible to run, despite most Constitutional scholars being on his side;
– suggested that Cruz’s father was part of the JFK assassination conspiracy;
– attacked his wife’s appearance;
-accused him of cheating in almost every primary he won;
– and I could go on.
Shockingly, Ted Cruz now has bigger stones than Chris Christie. Christie now looks like a complete and total doormat, whereas Cruz has actually maintained a shred of dignity. And Trump looks stupid for even allowing him to speak! Good times all around.
Chris Christie, the king of servile puppies. What a groveller. That’s a lot of exposed belly.
Man. I’m agreeing a little with Ted Cruz. Send a medic! The world isn’t to be trusted anymore. 🙃
Ivanka was furious out in the audience. It’s the first time I’ve seen her lose her cool.
Oh, I think she’s The Donald through and through.
For a brief, shining moment, the masks slipped. Frightening, that which lies beneath.
The whole bunch of them. They’re all the same.
I think Trump had no choice in letting him speak. I saw some reports speculating that was the price for him backing out of the ‘Never Trump’ movement. Him speaking at that particular slot at the convention. I can’t stand Cruz but that took some cohones.
Childish!! Cruz is a sore loser, & I’m no Trump…or Hillary fan!! The reason Sen. Rubio didn’t attend was b/c he’s campaigning. At least he sent in a video that was not all about him.
I think Ted Cruz is smart. Snake but smart. He’s going to run for prez for 2020.
I completely agree!! That smart snake is holding a news conference right now and the networks are covering it. Cruz makes my skin crawl but this is some evil genius antics and I would love to see how the Trumps are reacting.
I know things look really horrible right now, but I can’t help but feel that by 2020 the political landscape will be quite different and people like Cruz will be thoroughly marginalized.
ETA: I think Trump will lose and I think this will break the Republicans and they will have to adapt and evolve. Their current brand of conservatism is not catching on with younger folks, and by 2020, when current 14 year olds are eligible to vote, they could be in dire straits unless they change.
@Algernon
From your mouth to god’s ears….and, I’m an atheist
@Algernon,
Bless your optimistic heart. We can only hope in a seemingly hopeless time.
I dunno, algernon…after the 2012 election, they did that famous “post-mortem” to give us the NEW & IMPROVED! Republican Party, with increased women and minority outreach…
…and here they are, in 2016, nothing has changed. well, it HAS changed, for the worse.
@ doofus
I don’t think it will be a revolution or anything, but they have to do something. Unlike 2012, you can see a lot more signs of disunity in the GOP now, so just imagine how bad it is behind closed doors.
true that, Algernon…
What better way to campaign then to have a prime time speech on National television? The reason why he didn’t attend is like many other republicans he didn’t want to be associated with that sh**show.
Trump mocked his family. Trump deserved and a whole lot more verbiage. I wish Dr. Seuss would have really ripped into him, about his racism, nationalism and attempt at dividing Americans. The others have licked his boots after he did the same to them. Good for Cruz and if there was a daily voting system of likability of that day, Cruz would have got 5 stars last night. Sure he is slime but he at least isn’t a bootlicker like Christy and Rubio.
I didn’t expect Ted to endorse trump after he insulted his wife and said his dad killed jfk. You don’t have to like the guy but he didn’t kiss the ring like everyone else did after trump insulted them. Good for Ted.
Yep
Yes.
I can’t wait for the DNC and the democrats to roast the chickens in the nest. The Dems are going to slow cook all the Reps a***. I CAN’T WAIT.
It should be fun to see how it plays out next week.
I can’t wait either. All the big guns are expected and I hope they put the Trumpettes back in their place. I’ll even get the BBQ ready, Kiki.
It will be tame and calm. Making this look even more like clown show.
It is going to be so unified I bet they are going to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’.
I have to wonder if the Republician party as it is known today, will still be around in 2020 when Ted Cruz decides to run again? Most of the heavy hitters in the party ( eg: The Bush Family) are not even supporting Donald Trump or go out of their way to avoid answering the question when asked. I can easily see the party being split in two, with Ted Cruz wanting to lead the new “improved ” version of the Republician party.
Sidenote: Ted Cruz looks like the illegimate grandson of Grandpa from the Munsters
Sure, it will. There’s plenty like them getting elected in states as senators, congressmen, governors, etc, catering to the Tea Party, etc.
But they are practically unelectable as President of the United States because of the platform on which they run. And Cruz is almost as bad as Trump anyway.
Until they bring a more enlightened POTUS nominee and become a more inclusive party and stop the hate and fear rhetoric, the general population will not vote them into the highest office in the country.
Let’s not forget, the Republican base elected Trump as nominee. I truly thought after the last election term, you would see a change in the Republican Party and they would stop catering to the far far right of the party and dumbing themselves down. The exact opposite happened. The next election primaries the fear and hate rhetoric was ramped up. The racism and misogynism evident in Trump’s candidacy is mindblowing, and the base eats it up.
The Republican Party is in the dark ages, and it doesn’t sell well on a national level running for the Presidency. They also seem to forget how important the Latino and African-American votes are, and the alienation becomes worse in each election as far as the Republican primaries and the GOP nominee in the election race for POTUS, it seems.
Catering to the Tea Party has already bitten them, though, and they’re backing down from that stance. We had a local Tea Party candidate who lost in 2014 mid-terms and was very bitter and said he didn’t get the same support from the GOP he got in 2012. They’ll get even less now.
Trump is scary and what he’s unleashing is terrifying, but it isn’t the Republican base that’s gotten him this far; they’re just along for the ride because of “ride or die” party politics. (My parents do not like Trump and do not support/agree with him, but they will vote Republican regardless.) What’s propelling Trump is a populist movement. It’s the same wave that propelled Bernie Sanders, just with a different flavor. Populism is dangerous, though, because it’s the moment when anger overrides common sense and people don’t vote logically. I’ve heard so many people say they *know* Trump will be a bad president, but they’re just so fed up with “the system” that they want an outsider. He’s not an outsider, of course (no billionaire ever could be), but he isn’t a career politician. To many people, that is enough. They will overlook all the warning signs in favor of one (not even true) fact about a populist candidate.
I don’t think Trump will win, though, and once the populist fervor dies down, I think the GOP will clean house and people like Cruz will be marginalized in favor of younger, “hipper,” more centrist politicians. Take a look at your local elections this year and see what kind of Republicans are running. The ones in my area are pretty moderate (I’m not voting for them, but at least they don’t make my skin crawl and actually seem like sane, rational people). Eight years ago the GOP thought the Tea Party movement would fuel a return to their glory days of the 1980s, but instead it’s made them a punchline and brought chaos down on them at every level (Tea Party experimental haven Kansas is an absolute disaster). Assuming Trump loses, and the party is in utter dissaray after November, I think we’ll see a shift in the GOP. They’ll burn those ships so the rest of the armada can keep sailing.
@Algernon, meh, they want an outsider who will adapt his rhetoric to be like they feel, to abolish women’s rights. Hell, he even said the women having abortions should go to jail. HIs comments about immigrants are appalling. They were going crazy for his hate speech, his racism, his anti-LGBT stance, misogynistic comments, on and on. And he’s the populist vote for the Republican Party? Wow.
I don’t see a big change in four years. I think it will take longer. I thought after the last election they would tone down the way they ran the last election and run a more inclusive campaign, but it’s worse this time around.
@ Jayna
But if they lose to the least-popular Democratic candidate ever, it means what passes for their populist movement isn’t within acceptable boundaries for mainstream Americans. Trump has to convince swing states to vote for him, and I don’t think he can. So far, he’s just been speaking to the GOP echo chamber, now he has to start speaking to swing voters who aren’t strongly loyal to either side. I see two scenarios playing out: either he sticks to his current rhetoric and alienates the mainstream swing voters, or he changes his rhetoric and alienates the hard-line nutjobs who got him this far. Either way, I think it will be clear that the GOP can’t go on like it has been. If they want to retain power (and they do), they’ll have to make some changes to appeal to those swing voters.
I read something yesterday that said Jeb Bush might endorse the libertarian candidate.
What is the tea party anyway?
@Nicole – it is the very conservative branch of the Republican Party. They are very politically/fiscally conservative, and generally Christians who believe in socially conservative policy. So they are willing to have government involvement in women’s health policies, and denying affirmative action, but not in any type of programs.
The group was started after Obama proposed financial relief for bankrupt homeowners, and had a huge presence after the midpoint elections for the house and congress. They were effective at blocking many legislative initiatives, but have less of a presence right now, although there are still Tea Partiers in the house and congress. The name is a reference to The Boston Tea Party in 1773, a significant act of rebellion against the British in the US fight for Independence.
Meanwhile, I read yesterday that Kasich is attending events all over the convention city (which is in his home state), but not the actual convention.
I hope people are paying attention to what his team revealed about the VP role. The VP is basically going to be running things.
Kasich is really handling this perfectly. I’m a liberal so I don’t really know what’s going to happen but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the front runner in 2020.
I love how he made sure to get that VP information out there.
I don’t think it will change anything in those who already support him. For the rest of us who see him for the sociopathic chameleon that he is, it only cements our opinions, and makes the possibility of a Rump presidency all the more frightening. Those damn Rumps think they can take/do anything they want with impunity. If that’s not sociopathic, I don’t know what that is.
Damn Wil Wheaton, you deserve all the applause.
I just…what…you know when one of two coincidences happen to you and you feel happy but then several more happen and you start to feel a little creepy like “Am I in an episode of The Twilight Zone?”
That’s how this whole thing feels. Like the ridiculous stuff was funny the first day of this thing but it just kept doubling down and doubling down to the moment I’m scared this our last sensible moments of clarity before some crazy shit hits the fan and its chaos.
I still don’t think Trump will win but my God it’s sad to see half the country just turn into screaming shrieking zombies calling for firing squads and the devil.
What a mess. Also traditional media DO YOUR JOB. Can’t believe I’m learning more about the RNC from CB than places like CNN. (Four for you CB, you go CB)
I go on The HuffingtonPost a lot, since I’m a Democrat. The headlines are great regarding the Republican National Convention.
The media are servile puppies too. Rarely possess two brain cells to rub together. Great propaganda mouthpieces for the fascist. In fact, the media never discuss the rising fascism and that he is a fascist dictator.
+1!
They’ve been horrible covering this. The pandering and softballing is frustrating and I’m not talking just about what’s expected from Fox News.
I think Ivanka sabotaged Melania, lol. That girl has serious First Lady ambition written all over her. Speaking of the wife, where was she yesterday???
The Donald was spotted yelling at her earlier. I think she got sent home in disgrace.
ooops… Duplicate. iPad acting funny.
This convention has been the most monumental clusterf*ck of the 21st century. It’s got more clowns than Ringling Brothers circus. Pass the popcorn.
When one of the Benghazi guys taking the stage with his fly undone is one of your least embarrassing moments, you should know you have problems
🙂
Holy shit are you kidding? This thing is so low rent.
Not kidding. Bill Maher showed a closeup of it last night
This entire sham has gone from what the hell to God no!
I have a tiny smidgen of respect for Cruz now. Very tiny. Very very tiny. Miniscule.
I don’t know that I believe Trump knew what he was going to say. Trump lies about everything. Things he has no need to lie about. According to him, he was the one who decided the convention was to be in Cleveland. The place was chosen two years ago, Trump had nothing to do with it. He’s a pathological liar.
I keep hoping his raping of the 14 year old will make headlines soon and wipe him off the political map, but I’m sure there’s big money being handed out to keep that quiet.
Hell no he did not know about that speech. Even when trying to save face he looks like an idiot. He got played, period.
He did not know – I’d bet money! Trump is an egotist. He would never allow somebody to speak if he thought they’d say anything less than glowing about him. Cruz punked him, pure and simple.
I just saw this pic on HuffPo, you can tell by the look on his face he didn’t know. LOL
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
KiddVicious, I thought the same thing, he looked genuinely embarressed, he got some of his own medicine and he didnt like it.
WoW! A picture really is worth 1000 words.
Wow, I never heard about that, something is bound to bring him down before its too late. Was’nt there rumours that he raped his wife Ivana, so this might be the tip of the iceberg!
It’s not a rumor, Ivana wrote about this in her book.
The thing is if it does become public, President Clinton’s name will be in the crossfire as well. Rumors have been around for years he was a frequent guests to Epstein’s ‘parties’. Secretary Clinton cannot afford it on her end.
It’s a good thing Hillary is running and not Bill.
Do you have a link to this or can you direct me in the right direction to find info on this? I’ve never heard of him raping a 14 year old before :O. Horrible if true.
I tried to give you links but apparently they didn’t pass moderation. If you google Trump rape you’ll get all sorts of links.
I don’t believe he knew, either. The man is one of such ego that he cannot bear to give any impression that things are out of his control, in any way, on any topic.
which is why they made up some flunkie (don’t believe she actually exists) to take the plagiarism blame. The problem with the explanation/excuse given is that (sorry to be a broken record) it doesn’t explain how the Rick Roll got inserted into the speech.
my take (and I’m not the only one who thinks so) is that it was sabotage from someone in the campaign, but he CANNOT admit that that could happen because it would show that he’s NOT in control of everything, at all times. which is his biggest selling point after “he says what he really thinks”. hence, this “McIver” person to take the blame.
and, not sure if you’ve seen this part of the story, her entire online presence was created over the past 24-48 hours. her twitter pic was that of a (gorgeous, blond) pilates instructor in FL, stolen from the Pilates’ studio’s page. it’s since been changed to a “Mahattan-henge” photo (after someone pointed out where the original pic was sourced from).
I believe that they were supplied with a copy of the speech but his campaign is such a shambles that it was never seen by the people it should have, and definitely not by Trump.
They might have given Trump an advance copy of Cruz’ speech but he didn’t bother to read it. He’s not much of a reader.
Please God, let all you rational intelligent people tell me you plan to vote. Please.
I agree with Carmen, whatever your political bent you have to see this whole week has been a hot mess for Republicans……from Melania thinking she’s the Slovenian Michelle Obama to the Cruz speech and poor Chris Christie still looking like he’s dancing for his supper and kissing Trump a** like no tomorrow.
And then Chachi from Happy Days shows up to give a speech—I mean even Romney got Clint Eastwood, the best Trump can do is CHACHI from Happy Days who I didn’t even know was still ALIVE.
Lord save us all.
First time in my 54 years of being a citizen of the U.S.A., I am embarrassed by my country. Sad days, indeed.
I think most sensible people outside the US regard Trump as an idiot who is not typical of the American people. Let’s hope that the Presidential vote reflects that view…
I’m curious… has this ever happened before? I’ve tried to look it up. Does every person historically endorse the candidate at the RNC or do people outright refuse to do it? I’m just curious.
They are not obligated to endorse the eventual nominee, but the vast majority do because it gives the appearance of party unity. However, it is unprecedented that a former rival would speak at the Convention – which is called solely for the purpose of nominating the candidate – and stand up and say, basically, “I don’t endorse the candidate.”
It has happened before that former rivals will refuse to endorse. However, they just stay away from the convention, then. They just don’t go and let their absence speak for them. Cruz went much further, and yes, I do believe that is unprecedented.
I can’t find any of it funny. It’s absurd theater combined with a horror film. The Cruz speech was his latest ploy to gather support for his 2020 presidential run, and nothing more. All these men are just empty suits filled with naked ambition.
This is what psychopaths do. I think Cruz was set up to be reviled and humiliated. There were obvious plants in the audience to stir up the hostility and booing to the point that Heidi Cruz had to be escorted out. This is Trump’s vile and vicious delight. If we don’t support him, even our wormhood is revoked.
Again, is this s–t show a joke? What good does it do to let this clown onto the stage and flagrantly not endorse the nominee? Do the classy thing like Kasich and just not show up. I hope the authors of Game Change are taking mad notes for their new book!
I was so disappointed with him after the speech last night. I think he shot his future political aspirations all to hell.
Not a fan of Cruz but good on him for not endorsing Trump. The primary campaign got nasty and personal and I don’t blame him for not supporting Trump.
Hell yeah it’s funny. Funny because you can’t applaud the man even if he is one of very, very few who could be applauded for actual standing on principle. So many gave eloquent, accurate takedowns of Donald Trump only to roll over. No, on this point Ted Cruz is the winner (excuse me while I throw up a little in my mouth).
It is unfortunate that it was basically the start of his 2020 campaign and as much as the GOP should firebomb themselves and start over, as a team player and someone who values loyalty I can’t give total kudos because… ah stuff it…. bravo Cruz, the knife was beautifully placed and nicely timed. Even if they knew it was coming and they essentially played you also. Trump hasn’t forgotten his WWF/WWE days – the entrance just before the end of the speech, hahahahahaha. The Trumps all feigning “OMG cold fury faces”. It all amounted to fantastic political theater, bravo. Now crawl back under that rock.
We just saw modern Roman theater last night, except he didn’t stab Trump in the back but in the front, with an audience of millions. Trump coming out at the end to try “intimidate” Cruz. Once a bully always a bully. Have no love for Cruz but it was bold for hm to do what he did last night. unlike Rubio and Christy, he didn’t bow down to the bully. Christy in particular threw away his whole political career for a full blown narcissistic bully. Cruz is slime but Christy is a coward. Something you can’t call Cruz after last night, he isn’t a coward.
Christy didn’t throw anything away. He’s toast in NJ, and, the rest of the country has no interest in him. Trump’s Attorney General is all he can grasp at. It’s his last chance at anything.
A lot of big name Republicans are avoiding the word endorsement. Listen to them – they talk about “supporting” the Party’s nominee but when pushed by reporters to say they “endorse him” – they fall back on “support” and can’t bring themselves to utter the magic word endorse. I think that’s why so many just avoided the convention, trying to avoid the question. They know the whole Trump thing is a disaster and are in a real bind. They don’t feel strong enough to repudiate him but can’t go on record as cosigning the mess. I think they are going to focus on local elections and let Trump do his own thing without them. Which he will. This is very different from the usual situation when primary candidates rip each other apart and then kiss and make up when the nomination is settled. They know something is really wrong as well as politically disastrous.
I want Jeb Bush and both Bush presidents to vote for Hillary and tell everyone else to do so, too. It’s total B.S. to vote for a third party because it’s EITHER Trump or Clinton. Take your pick. The only way to defeat Trump is to vote for Clinton. DO IT!!!!!!!!!
This is eerily similar to the rise of Hitler. I have little doubt that if Trump is elected president, nuclear warheads will change the landscape of what had been the USA forever. Some of the Germans sang Tomorrow Belongs to Me while other Germans turned away with tears in their eyes. This time, tomorrow will no longer belong to humanity. The only grace will be there won’t be time to turn away with tears in our eyes.
Hitler didn’t have two other branches of government to stop him.
As both Bush and Obama fans are fond of pointing out, Congress exists to obstruct the Chief Executive and the Supreme Court trumps (no pun intended) both of the other branches.
It’s the Supreme Court we all need to watch, whatever we want from them.
Trump. He’ll promise you the world and give you an atlas.
Whatever else you can say about Ivanka Trump (and I’m sure there’s plenty), she’s a pretty gifted public speaker. Stepmommy could do with some lessons from her.
And, again, whatever else you can say about Donald Trump (PLENTY!!), I appreciate, as the daughter of a retired police officer who spent 42 years serving our city and ended up as special advisor to Charles Ramsey (who is speaking at the DNC in a few days), that there’s someone with the courage in these days to throw support behind the 95% of law enforcement who are there to serve and defend and protect. In my mind, those good police officers are a mere small step below those who choose to serve and defend our country in the armed services, because I’ve lived the cost of it. And I live the pain of every family member who suddenly needs to defend the good apples because of the actions of a very few bad apples. Whether Trump means it or not (and I’m sure he doesn’t give a damn), it’s good to have someone coming out all in for the police and their families, who give so much (not the least of it being daily peace of mind) and get so little in return, especially in these times when it’s open season on law enforcement.
It is not open season on law enforcement, please stop with the hyperbole. And you’re right most law enforcement people are good. The problem is they are denial and don’t want to address the portion that continue to shoot and kill unarmed people.
It’s not open season on law enforcement. The majority of American support the individual peace officers out there, but the mass militarization of U.S. law enforcement has created a serious, serious issue that’s coming back to bite us in the ass. The failed war on drugs created a program whereby local law enforcement agencies could receive surplus military equipment — guns, gear, outfits, tanks, personal armed carriers, grenade launchers, etc — IF they used that equipment at least once. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have just increased this plus an additional $35M from Homeland Security to further acquire this gear and weaponry. In addition, the cross pollination of law enforcement and armed services because of the war on terror has had a huge effect. People, esp politicians, seem to think these two jobs are the same, but they are supposed to be vastly different. Because of the nature of what our military was doing in Afghan. and Iraq and the locations they were in, the military reached out to law enforcement agencies to get training and help. Added to that, there has been a tremendous number of individuals who have moved from the military to law enforcement sometimes multiple times in their careers. All this has lead to a radical change in the way law enforcement agencies do their jobs and interact in our communities. They have been essentially given a green light to use weapons and gear, like tanks and armored carriers, that were designed for use on the battlefield on American streets, against American citizens, in American communities. The view has shifted to one of fighting crime by getting the biggest guns and baddest gear. I mean, look at the battledress outfits that many SWAT teams use now — why the f*ck do you need to be in camouflage in the middle of the g*ddamn street? It’s done to intimate, to appear imposing.
Soldiers are meant to use force as instructed by their superiors. Police officers are paid NOT to follow instructions, but to apply their own good judgment to NOT use force. They’re called peace officers for a reason — their job is to keep the peace. The best officer is not one who has written the most tickets or made the most arrests — the best one is the one who has the least. The best cop is the guy or woman who has invested themselves in developing relationships with the communities he or she serves, used their good judgment and conflict resolution skills to prevent violence, and not over burdened and inflamed their communities with heavy-handed ticketing or stops. But that type of policing 1) doesn’t make money, 2) isn’t popular with certain sectors of the population…the ol’ soft on crime bit, and 3) wouldn’t allow them to receive certain types of govt support. Add to that — the absolute explosion among private companies developing and supplying the military and law enforcement with the newest, biggest, baddest guns and gear. There’s a lot of money to be made. Lawmakers can be easily swayed by that money and the promise of jobs in their districts, counties, states, etc. A return to level-headedness, relationship building and conflict resolution becomes less, less attractive to agencies and lawmakers.
The use of arrest/ticketing quotas, the military like training and gear and equipment, and the shocking lack of training in conflict resolution and de-escalation has led to heavy-handed policies and tactics, very often disproportionately against minorities and those living in areas that are socio-economically depressed. Their training cultivates a climate of fear among officers and the belief that they must be obeyed at very turn without hesitation. And THAT is not how law enforcement is supposed to be. Citizens should be able to question police officers. They should be able to even be “difficult” without being shot. A cop that can’t handle someone “disobeying” them — I’m talking about someone who is not threatening or participating in violence — is a cop that shouldn’t be in our communities. Some officers believe that no one may ever not do exactly what they told them to do exactly the moment they told them to do it. They are not soldiers, and they are not operating in a war zone so no, they do not have that right. Should people do what an officer says? Sure, but they shouldn’t have to do it b/c they fear being shot or detained if they so much as question why they were stopped or why they’re being arrested.
I think another issue that plays into all this is the overly punitive sentences handed out to non-violent drug offenses and the time and money that is spent on law enforcement going after these individuals with heavy-handed tactics. A whole generation of black men are gone — sometimes pulling life sentences for non-violent drug offensives, leaving their families and communities irrecoverably damaged and changed.
Sorry for the long post, but this really gets me riled up. I support law enforcement. I’ve dated a cop before. They do a very hard job, and many of them truly want to do good in their communities. But I truly believe we need a complete overhaul of the system, their training, and to stop those programs that finance and allow these agencies to get and use military-grade or type weapons and gear.
Thank you for this post, I appreciate the time you took and the effort you made to clearly express your views and articulate what is happening to the current state of policing the USA. I found it really helpful in explaining some of the issues that have been confusing me and, more importantly, putting in better context some of the actions that have shocked and horrified me. (non-US here)
Not funny at all. Trump was up against 16 people who all made a huge deal as to whether he would sign a pledge in supporting whomever won the primary….. and then he signs it…. wins the primary…. and it was the others who didn’t live up to their word/pledge. Disgusting.