The Herman Cain-ing of Carson Has Begun...

This will be the beginning of the breakdown of Carson's support. This story, plus questions about other stories he's told about his past will continue to erode his support (little by little).

And the MSM hasn't even attacked his faith yet (and will soon). As an FYI, the Adventist denomination believes that the Sabbath is Saturday not Sunday - which is all well and good for them, except that their belief is also that those who do not worship on Saturday as the Sabbath are not "real" Christians... and that will be a problem for him to defend.

As Carson's support begins to dwindle, where does it eventually go? Trump is stuck at the 25% range. He's hit his ceiling in the polls (and it's a soft 25%). He will not get much if any from Carson supporters after he had attacked him several times.

Most will not go to Santorum or Huckabee as they have both faded as tired and failed retreads. Rand Paul has no traction. And I don't think they'll shift towards Gang of 8/Amnesty Rubio. They certainly won't run to Jeb or Kasich or Christie. Carly?

Given that most of Carson's supporters are social conservatives, religious conservatives, and tea partiers, I expect that this will turn into a huge shift towards Cruz.

We shall see.

BOOM!!! (That was the Cruz Missile detonating on the MSM)...

Trumpettes...

Perotistas... Paulbots... Buchanonites... Trumpettes... six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Let's review a little history, shall we?

In '92, Ross Perot (a "populist" billionaire) captured 19% of the general election votes, but garnered a grand total of ZERO delegates and never came close to winning an actual state (never getting more than 30% in any state). And we got Clinton with only 43% of the vote. Not that Bush Sr. was anything to write home about, but still... those were our three choices, and none of them were that good.

In '96, Perot captured under 9% of the general election votes, but garnered a grand total of ZERO delegates and never came close to winning an actual state (getting no more than 14% in any state). And we got Clinton again with only 49% of the vote (twice winning without a majority). Again, not that Dole was anything to write home about, but still... those were our three choices, and none of them were that good.

In '00, "populist" Buchanan ran as an R in the primary, had a hissy-fit, and ran as the Reform Party candidate in the main election. Got 0.5% of the vote, and nearly cost GW the election against Gore (if you added up Buchanan's vote total to GW Bush's you'd never be hearing about him losing the popular vote to Gore). Not that W was anything to write home about, but still... those were our choices (along with Nader for the Green Party who pulled five times as many votes as Buchanan), and none of them were good candidates.

In '08, "populist" Ron Paul ran in the GOP Primary. His supporters were extremely vocal, yet only garnered a 5% vote total and only 16 delegates. Believe me, McCain and Obama were not the best of choices. But Ron Paul and his rabid fans accomplished nothing.

In '12, Ron Paul ran again in the GOP Primary. Once again, his supporters were extremely vocal, yet only garnered a 5% vote total and just 154 delegates (only 7%). Believe me again, Romney and Obama were not the best of choices. But Ron Paul yet again accomplished nothing.

And now, here we are in the lead-up to the '16 campaign.

And here's... "populist" billionaire Trump. *sigh*

I've said it before (multiple times) and I'll say it again (and will keep saying it 'til it sinks in). Don’t be so easily fooled, people.

Trump is a self-promoting carnival barker who, up until a few months ago, has supported policies championed by the leftists or denigrated those held by the right (e.g., Obamacare, illegal immigration and amnesty, the Kelo decision and property rights, bank and corporate bailouts, taxes, abortion, gay marriage, gun control, drug legalization, etc., etc., etc.), donated to the likes of Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, Hillary, and the Clinton Foundation, had a meeting with Clinton just before his announced candidacy, has the hissy-fit/bully temperament of a 12-year-old (we already have that in the WH these last 7 years), who lacks tact, decorum, and common decency, and who is the epitome of corporate crony capitalism - someone who can use pennies on the dollar from his multi-billions to buy influence and favor, and who already has the support of the likes of billionaires Icahn and Buffett.

Let's not forget the fact that he's bankrupted four companies, leaving investors and creditors out to dry while he personally remains untouched by the process. He tries to do the same thing with the U.S.? We make enemies worldwide, devalue the dollar, which then leads to hyperinflation and a worse crash of the economy - with the acceleration of the potential of the U.S. dollar no long being the international monetary standard.

Imagine what the bulk of the MSM will do to him in debate Qs and news exposés down the line. He may be expressing certain things on the campaign trail that resonates with segments of the populace (expressing frustrations pent up in the citizenry), but it's all narcissistic rhetoric, and he ain’t the guy you want as standard bearer and running the WH.

Why not? Because his actions, intentions and recently past stances are 180 degrees from what he's currently stating with the microphone up to his mouth.

I repeat, don't be fooled.

The difference between this time around and the previous elections is not that "this time we'll win!". Uh, no. The difference is that this time it's so early in the process, and there is plenty of time for the boomlet to burst. Because is has to. And it will. Because Trump cannot run away from his past positions and affiliations. He cannot hide from his own words and record.

There are several decent candidates on the GOP side right now who are much better choices than Trump or who at least deserve a good look and listen (Cruz and Jindal come to mind; maybe the likes of Carson, Fiorina, Rubio, Perry, Walker), and who have the opportunity to kick the "establishment" candidates (e.g., Jeb Bush, Christie, Kasich, Huckabee, Graham, Pataki) to the curb long before the primary process is over.

In the previous primaries there weren't that many decent candidates to choose from. This go-round, there are.

Keep emotions in check.

Have a discerning mind.

Don't settle for the blaring, shiny tin-horn.

Don't be a Trumpette.

The Wannabees...

Rick Perry has always looked good on paper to me, given his tremendous success as governor of Texas. But he’s his own worst enemy. From the Gardasil fiasco, to “you don’t have a heart” comments about illegal immigration and in-state tuition, to forgetting which federal departments he wants to eliminate, to supporting Dewhurst over Cruz, to getting Haley Barbour’s team of anti-conservative thugs to run his campaign, to trash-talking Trump (ignoring Reagan’s 11th commandment), then challenging Trump to a pull-up contest (what is he, twelve?).

Trump will fade in due time because he’s a self-promoting carnival barker without the temperament nor the political knowledge necessary, has held leftward positions on key issues for many years up until just a couple months ago, plus the fact that he’s contributed to the likes of Hillary, Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, and would be the epitome of crony capitalism.

No thank you to either of them.

Cruz/Jindal 2016 please.

Tears for Thee, But Not for Me?...

An appropriate followup to my last post to hammer the point home... what does it say about our society today when so many people are up in arms about Cecil the Lion instead of Cecile the president of Planned Parenthood?

Long-time President Mugabe of Zimbabwe has slaughtered and eaten these wild game over the years. The people of Zimbabwe are dumbfounded about the "first world problem" outrage about the incident. Other issues are of much more importance to those people.

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood has been slaughtering HUMAN BABIES by the millions over the decades, making money from those who come to their facilities, plus grabbing millions of dollars each year from federal funding, grabbing even more money by the millions from corporations and foundations, and then selling the baby parts on the sly for additional profit.

The silence is deafening.

And damning.

And so it goes...

UPDATED (with added text on June 28-29)

Fourteen months ago I posted this.

/excerpt/
"… we are on very dangerous ground right now. On a global/government-led scale, it showed itself with the NSA and IRS scandals. On a societal/mob-mentality level, it showed itself with Chick-fil-A, Elaine Huguenin, Brendan Eich, George Zimmerman, Cliven Bundy, Donald Sterling, etc. (and all the hypocritical double-standards that are in stark contrast).
You play with fire, we all get burned.
It's Orwell's "1984" mixed with Huxley's "Brave New World" and Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451". Ladies & Gentlemen… I give you "2014: The Year of the Thought Police".
Privacy…
Private Property…
Self Defense…
Freedom of Religion…
Freedom of Thought…
Freedom of Speech…
These fundamental principles - these fundamental rights - are at risk. If we don't stop this now, we won't be able to turn back."
/excerpt/

Bad enough that the two rulings on ACA/ObamaCare on June 28, 2012 and June 25, 2015 used tortured language to destroy the Separation of Powers, thereby making the President (ANY President, left or right, R or D, from this point forward) a de facto dictator. See also Kelo v City of New London (private property), the Patriot Act (privacy), etc. Justice Scalia has it correct in his dissents.

Now, here we are - June 26, 2015. The SCOTUS just ruled in favor of marriage being defined however one sees fit. And it is to be sanctioned by the State (meaning the entire federal government), and made authorized and legal.

No, this is not about homosexual unions. It's about more than that. Mark my words, this ruling today just legalized incest and polygamy.

The SCOTUS basically said that although religious institutions themselves are “protected” by their 1st amendment religious rights, all 50 States MUST not only recognize homosexual marriage but also perform homosexual marriages.

There is now no moral underpinning for the States nor for the National as a whole; what little there was left is now gone. Therefore, it naturally follows that a father can now marry his biological daughter of legal age, a mother can now marry her biological son, siblings can now marry each other, and multiple marriage partners are now allowed.

Sure, your church may not have to “recognize” such “unions” (for now) or be forced to perform these “marriage ceremonies” (for now - remember, if you liked your medical insurance/doctor, you could keep your insurance/doctor???), but the State (ALL States) MUST not only recognize it but also perform said ceremonies.

Expect churches and religious & charitable organizations to lose their tax-exempt statuses (which will happen in due course), and the State grabs more money for power over the people… and the REAL meaning of Separation of Church & State (not the bogus definition that's been used in recent decades) falls by the wayside. And we're back to the Church of England and King George (and Henry VIII) all over again.

If you do not think the grease has been laid on the slippery slope, all you have to do is look back at history since 1973's Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton decisions by the SCOTUS, and then count the 60 million+ aborted babies in these last 42 years, and the moral decline that followed in it's wake from partial-birth abortion to the removal of God from schools and the public square and the long-running skewed indoctrination in schools from K-thru-College.

From requiring citizens to purchase something against their will, to having private property taken away without due process, justification, nor just compensation. From the immediate banning of anything related to something historical to the country (the Confederate Flag), while hypocritically turning a blind eye towards the approval of selling/purchasing Nazi memorabilia (yet the American Flag, instead, will be next - ask Farrakhan).

Think the 2nd Amendment isn't next to fall? Think again. At that point in time the last Constitutional defense of the citizens against an oppressive government will disappear. But, don't worry. Instead, we must be distracted by more important things like the near-forced acceptance of so-called transgendered (Bruce Jenner) and transracial (Rachel Dolezal) "normality".

Don't pay attention to the likes of Al Qaeda and ISIS, and the slaughter of Christians, Jews, moderate Moslems, gays and westerners. Ignore the soon collapse of the European Union as Greece is about to exit and go bankrupt, with countries such as Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, etc. begin to also fall like dominoes both economically and culturally. Pay no mind to Putin and the Soviet-like advances of Russia into Georgia, the Ukraine, and other former-Soviet states.

What's happening with China and North Korea and Iran? What were you saying again about that porous border? Oh, never mind. It's not as important as false narratives of the likes of Trevon Martin and Michael Brown or Mattress Girl running 24/7 for weeks on end. Or the latest story plot change on Game of Thrones or Orange is the New Black.

Turn a blind eye to the fact that the national debt was approx $10 trillion when Obama took office, and is currently over $18 trillion with an expected increase to over $20 trillion (not including local and state debts, and not including unfunded liabilities such as Social Security and MediCare) by the time Obama leaves office in 18 months.

Turn a deaf ear to the fact that when Reagan left office in 1989 the national debt was less than $3 trillion, and that if the Democrat-controlled Congress (where all tax & spend bills must originate, per the Constitution) led by Speaker Tip O'Neill had followed through with the agreement in the early '80s to cut $3 in spending for every new $1 raised by tax increases that the budget would have been balanced and the debt would've been $0 when Reagan left office.

That the cumulative rate of inflation from 1989 to 2014 is approx. 91%, which means that the federal government (which had a budget of just $1.1 trillion for fiscal 1989) should be able to run just fine with a budget of only $2.1 trillion for 2014 (instead of the obscene $3.5 trillion, the average amount every year for the entire Obama administration since 2009, with no budget less than $3.45 trillion), and that there is absolutely NO need for there to be any national debt at all (let alone one approaching $20 trillion) over these last 26 years.

Yes, yes… pay no mind at all to any of that.

*sigh*

We are being ruled by a dictatorial oligarchy; controlled by (as G.K. Chesterton called them) Hudge and Gudge – Big Government filled with entrenched and long-time establishment crony politicians and judicial activists of both political parties at the local, county, state and federal level (where just at the federal level alone there are 168 congressmen & women, or approx. ⅓ of Congress, who have been in office for over 12 years), and Big Business as massive conglomerates, too-big-to-fail banks & manipulative financial institutions, thuggish unions, an entrenched and indoctrinating educational establishment, the entertainment industry, and the mainstream media.

And we are being swayed far and wide by cry-bullies – led by narcissistic and phonily self-righteous, self-appointed leaders (e.g., Sharpton) who bid their extortion, stoke fires, and wreak havoc.

It's mob rule at the speed of modern social networks.

Anarchy.

And the ruling class laughs with money-lined pockets while continuing to pull the marionette strings. 

Mark my words…

January 22, 1973 – The beginning of the decline of a moral-based United States of America.

June 26, 2015 – The Day the United States of America officially became the new Sodom & Gomorrah.

And to think that it was not long ago that we as a nation stood united as one (E Pluribus Unum), and that we filled our churches and synagogues together on bended knee in prayer and humility. And yet, less than 14 years later... my how far and how fast and how hard we have fallen.

To turn this around (if at all possible at this point) we must wake up. And we must stand once again, united. We must surrender once again on bended knee. With discerning minds, open hearts and centered souls. With prayer and humility.

We must stop being puppets and start becoming sheep.

Puppets are manipulated by worldly powers.

Sheep are led by The Shepherd - Christ.

Uncle Joe and the Indian (2016)...

I've been saying this for over a year now. Hillary is not a fait accompli. The sitting VP is almost always the go-to to get the nomination. I have been predicting that Biden will run, saying that he'll only serve one term. And that he'll state early on in the primary process that Lizzy Warren will be his running mate.

He'll chew up Hillary in the debates saying that she had her chance under her husband's first term to pass HillaryCare, but didn't - and Obama did. And that in she had her chance in '08 to swallow her pride and become the first female VP, and then become the eventual first female prez in '16. But she didn't, lost her chance, and that Lizzy will fulfill that role instead.

Now that doesn't mean that Biden/Warren will win in the MAIN election, but mark my words… they WILL be the (D) primary ticket winners this time next year.

Just a humble prediction on my part. ;-)

Speaking of Wackos...

“A man goes home and masturbates his typical fantasy. A woman on her knees.  A woman tied up.  A woman abused.

A woman enjoys intercourse with her man–as she fantasizes about being raped by 3 men simultaneously.”

Words of wisdom from self-avowed socialist Senator (and current Democratic Presidential candidate) Bernie Sanders in 1972.

What else? In the 1980s he supported the socialist Sandinistas in Nicaragua, visited communist Cuba, and honeymooned in the U.S.S.R.

Wacko Apple Doesn't Fall Far From Wacko Tree...

Link

"Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 2016 Republican presidential candidate 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

 said so-called “hawks” like  Sen. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

 are responsible for creating ISIS by flooding arms into the Middle East."

Ummm, NO Mr. Paul!

"[ISIS] was established by the Jordanian national Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999 when it was initially known as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. It then became known as "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" after becoming part of Osama bin Laden’s network in October 2004. Since then, the group has operated under numerous guises until its current leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, officially declared it had set up an Islamic State across parts of northern Iraq and Syria on 29 June 2014." [link]

Hmmm… al-Zarqawi… you know, THIS guy! [link]

… in 1999… during the CLINTON administration.

Then, 2004 as "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" connected to Bin Laden… Gee, I thought there was no Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Bush lied to us all about needing to fight in Iraq (just like Bush "lied" about WMDs in Iraq, even though the NY Times (!!!) reported that there were WMDs there). [link]

And then al-Baghdadi sets up an ISIS a year ago… during the OBAMA administration (this being AFTER the Surge was successful, and then The-O decides to pull the smaller number of stabilizing troops out of Iraq prematurely, thus DEstabilizing Iraq all over again).

Meanwhile, The-O calls them "ISIL" instead of ISIS because he doesn't want to say Syria (the second S stands for al-Sham, or Syria) while also acknowledging ISIS' true intent for the capturing and controlling the greater Syrian region (the "L" standing for "the Levant", or the entire region from southern Turkey down through to Egypt (plus Iraq and partially Iran), including a little country by the name of ISRAEL).

So, again Mr. Paul… ummm… NO!

Best be hoping that President Cruz offers you a position that you might be better qualified for, like maybe Secretary of Treasury… or, how about this... Surgeon General.

SMH

*sigh*

CRUZ CONTROL...

Almost exactly a year ago I placed a Ted Cruz 2016 sticker on my car. This past Monday he officially announced his bid for president. That same day I donated to his campaign. I've been following him for quite some time, and he is EXACTLY the leader we need in this country at this crucial point in time – especially after the absolute economic and foreign policy mess (as well as the corruption and unconstitutional maneuvering) of this current administration, as well as the failures of certain aspects of the previous three administrations.

To those that express the opinion that he doesn't have executive experience, or that he's only a short-term senator… it has nothing to do with the position previously held. That is not a perfect measure of the abilities of the individual.

Reagan was a Governor, and was great as President.

Carter was also a Governor, and yet was horrible as President.

Washington was a General, and was great as President.
Grant was also a General, and yet was horrible as President.

Jefferson was VP, and was great as President.
Nixon was also a VP, and yet was horrible as President.

JFK was a Senator, and was great as President.
Obama was also a Senator, and yet is horrible as President.

Lincoln was a House Rep, and was a great President.
Garfield as also a House Rep, and yet… was not so great as President.

It all depends on the character, the leadership, the vision, the intelligence, the competence, and the abilities of the individual to hold the office.

Ted Cruz measures up to ALL of those criteria, IMHO.

UPDATE: And then there's this:

"Ted Cruz's entire decision of whether to jump-start his presidential candidacy at the end of a fundraising quarter hinged on the ability to raise $1 million in the first week. The Texas senator ended up hitting that milestone in just over a day...

Two-thirds of Cruz's initial contributions were under $100. Checks of less than $250 amounted to 95 percent of Cruz's rush to his first million. Texas, unsurprisingly, was his top donor state, followed by California*, Florida and Virginia."

UPDATE #2: More info. $2 million in the first 3 days (67% under $100, 96% under $250).

UPDATE #3: With only eight days of fundraising in the first quarter of 2014, Cruz's 8-Day tally was a whopping $4 million, 95% of which were donations $100 OR LESS(!!!). And with donations from ALL 50 STATES!

*BOLD emphasis, mine.

Grassroots!!!

Nuts & Bolts...

The comedian Gallagher summed it up best in six little words:

Women are nuts

Men are bolts

I've always had a more R-rated take on that, with the preface that ALL women (to varying degrees) are effin’ insane, and ALL men (to varying degrees) are effin’ jerks.

Yourself/myself included.

Even our saintly mothers and fathers (if you reflect on those isolated moments in memory) are not excluded from this fundamental law of life.

And the goal is (a) for yourself to work on being less of a jerk/insane, and (b) to determine what level of insanity/jerkiness you are willing to tolerate in your partner and in others.

The sooner you realize and accept this fact, the easier life will be for you, your partner, and those around you.

You will notice, though, that the two parts Gallagher mentions (Nuts & Bolts) do fit together perfectly. You just have to fit the proper Nut to the correct Bolt.

This has been a much needed public service announcement.

You're welcome.

;-)

*I came to this conclusion about a year and a half ago. I was almost certain of it (high 90s%) prior to that point in time. And then a situation occurred when I finally realized that it is in fact 100% true and accurate, and that one cannot escape from it. LOL

Je Suis Charlie...