Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Karl Henning]

FWIW, both "lead" and "lede" are accepted spellings for the same thing.

Aye, my use was not a comment 

In fact, I had just checked the dictionary, because lede is still relatively new to me.

[Brian]

Best "duh" lead line by a NY Times columnist:

"Does anybody else have the sense that Donald Trump is slipping off the rails?"
- David Brooks today

David Brooks is a reliable moron. Even when he writes a column that starts off well-reasoned and interesting, he never fails to say something moronic by the end. The NY Times editorial section is surprisingly shaky - Frank Bruni is a simplistic outrage machine, Gail Collins repeats everyone else's insights but in a breezy charming way, and Thomas Friedman is a college freshman taking 101 classes whose mind is blown by his own genius.

Charles Blow is okay. I appreciate Mo Dowd's ability to convince all her interview subjects that she's writing a positive story, then turn around and snark at them. Paul Krugman and Ross Douthat are extremely predictable, but always well-written and intellectually challenging (by which I mean that, when I disagree, I take the time to think about my counter-argument), so they are both essential reading to me. The only one I like without reservations is Nick Kristof.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I have had that feeling before. And yet he's the nominee and the polls are close. Brooks and I might not be the best judges of where the rails really are.

Brooks concludes:

Suddenly the global climate favors a Trump candidacy. Some forms of disorder — like a financial crisis — send voters for the calm supple thinker. But other forms of disorder — blood in the streets — send them scurrying for the brutal strongman.

If the string of horrific events continues, Trump could win the presidency. And he could win it even though he has less and less control over himself.

Not sure if that qualifies as "moronic."

[Ken B]

Not sure if that qualifies as "moronic."

Not sure if that qualifies as confusing Brian and me.

[Sergeant Rock]

Melania Trump plagiarized two paragraphs from Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech.

Damn...and I had thought Melania's heartfelt story about growing up black in Chicago was very inspiring. To find out now that it's not true...well, I'm crushed.

Sarge

[Ken B]

Damn...and I had thought Melania's heartfelt story about growing up black in Chicago was very inspiring. To find out now that it's not true...well, I'm crushed.

Sarge

https://youtu.be/rfAvQp-Uk5I

[Sergeant Rock]

https://youtu.be/rfAvQp-Uk5I

Sarge

[kishnevi]

Fun and games in Cleveland
http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-delegates-react-to-rnc-vote-switch-from-cruz-to-trump

[Todd]

The Oregon delegation did its duty, and managed to squeeze in a local reference, too: 

"Ground zero in the fight against Democrat corruption, from disgraced ex-governor John Kitzhaber all the way to crooked Hillary, the great state of Oregon is proud to cast, pursuant to our rules, five votes for Senator Ted Cruz, 23 votes for the next President of the United States, Donald J. Trump." 

I really like the "pursuant to our rules" bit. 

[Brian]

managed to squeeze in a local reference

Kansas and Nevada fared slightly worse. Kansas claimed to be home to the Kansas City Royals (who play in Missouri) and Nevada said that Las Vegas is its capital city.

[Karl Henning]

Kansas and Nevada fared slightly worse. Kansas claimed to be home to the Kansas City Royals (who play in Missouri) and Nevada said that Las Vegas is its capital city.

Oh, lawd.

[Todd]

Kansas and Nevada fared slightly worse. Kansas claimed to be home to the Kansas City Royals (who play in Missouri) and Nevada said that Las Vegas is its capital city.

Bill Currier was very exact in his use of language.  The "pursuant to our rules" bit was added to acknowledge the fight in the state over binding the delegates.  About a third of Republicans voted for Cruz and Kasich even though they had dropped out by the time of the primaries.  Some senior members of the state party are not Trump supporters.  His dig at POS Kitzhaber was icing on the cake. 

[arkiv]

"First off... that's not going to happen, not during my administration".

[Todd]

Ted Cruz's 2020 practice speech was decent.  He needs to polish the rough edges.

[Florestan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/donald-trump-issues.html?_r=0

The man´s a clear and present danger to the Western world´s peace and security.

[(poco) Sforzando]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/donald-trump-issues.html?_r=0

The man´s a clear and present danger to the Western world´s peace and security.

How can you say that? From the article:

Mr. Trump said he was convinced that he could persuade Mr. Erdogan to put more effort into fighting the Islamic State. But the Obama administration has run up, daily, against the reality that the Kurds — among the most effective forces the United States is supporting against the Islamic State — are being attacked by Turkey, which fears they will create a breakaway nation.

Asked how he would solve that problem, Mr. Trump paused, then said: "Meetings."

[Karl Henning]

Geo. Will fears for the "bluing" of Texas.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Geo. Will fears for the "bluing" of Texas.

But only if it doesn't secede first.

[Karl Henning]

Win/win!

[Ken B]

Cruz did not endorse Trump, and even suggested some Republicans might not want to vote for him. Hannity said he couldn't understand why Cruz is doing this. Principle? He really believes Trump is a bad choice for president perhaps?