The Establishments war on Donald Trump
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Title: 'Voldemort': Megyn Kelly's astonishing off-camera insult to Donald Trump revealed as Fox feud with Republican frontrunner overshadows debate – and channel claims he DEMANDED $5 million to end his boycott
Source:
Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... ox-begged-come-apologized.html
Published: Jan 29, 2016
Author: David Martosko In Des Moines, Iowa, For
Post Date: 2016-01-29 07:49:16 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 4495
Comments: 20
Megyn Kelly called Donald Trump 'Voldemort' off-camera to a Republican candidate at tonight's debate after the frontrunner boycotted. The feud between the Fox anchor and the leading Republican overshadowed the entire debate – which she began by calling Trump 'the elephant not in the room - but it was her off-camera gaffe, revealed afterwards by Ted Cruz that spoke volumes. As Kelly interviewed Texas senator later in the evening, he told her, 'Well, you know, you were joking just before we went on air that it was sort of like Voldermort, he who must not be named.' Kelly did not deny the comment, smiled, and asked him if there had been a 'pact' not to discuss Trump among the seven GOP candidates on stage. The disclosure that Kelly referred to Trump as the embodiment of evil in the Harry Potter novels to his Republican rivals is likely to intensify the already toxic atmosphere between the GOP's leading candidate and Fox News. And to add to the toxicity, a smiling Cruz turned to Kelly at the end of his interview and said: 'Nice job tonight.' Kelly had wasted no time going after Trump on air. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO On stage - without Donald:Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and Ohio Governor John Kasich Real star: Megyn Kelly's extraordinary time in the limelight resumed as she attacked Trump as 'the elephant not in the room' Unrepentant: 'Fox has been extremely nice the last number of hours,' he told a chuckling audience at Drake University a few miles away, in a standing-room-only auditorium where rivals Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee joined him on stage Insult: Megyn Kelly called Trump 'Voldemort' off camera to his Republican rivals. He was played in the movies by Ralph Fiennes In her first question of the evening, Kelly prodded Ted Cruz, who replaced Trump at the center of the stage tonight, to declare the GOP front-runner's behavior rude to the people of Iowa. 'Let's address the elephant not in the room,' she told Cruz. 'Donald Trump has chosen not to attend this evening's presidential debate. What message do you think that sends to the voters of Iowa?' Across town Trump was singing a different tune, however, saying at his own event that her network apologized to him for press releases that mocking his fortitude. Fox acknowledged the apology in a statement after the debate - but then claimed Trump demanded $5 million in the course of their conversations to show up tonight. 'Fox has been extremely nice the last number of hours,' he told a chuckling audience at Drake University a few miles away, in a standing-room-only auditorium where rivals Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee joined him on stage. 'They've wanted me there,' he said, explaining what he framed as a barrage of calls from the Fox News Channel. asking when he might come to the debate. ''How bout now?' he mimed a call. 'They called me a few minutes ago and I said, 'Hasn't it already started?'' Pointing to the back of the hall where the media were assembled, he needled the debate organizers: 'We're actually told we have more cameras than they do, by quite a bit.' He also said he got a personal mea culpa from the network on Thursday: 'They did apologize.' But Trump insisted on continuing with his own competing event, where he said more than $5 million had already been raised for his personal foundation, all of which will benefit veterans groups. 'Once this started, and it was for our vets, there was nothing I could do,' he said, speculating about what skipping the last debate before the Iowa Caucuses might mean for his presidential aspirations. 'Will it be a good thing? Will it be a bad thing? Will I get more votes? Will I get less votes? Who the hell knows!' Trump mused. 'But we raised over $5 million in one day! 'Once this ball started rolling, we couldn't stop it,' he said of proposals that he come to the debate and abandon his much-publicized fundraiser. TRUMP BASHING: The other GOP candidates took aim at Trump in his absense. 'He's the greatest show on earth,' Rubio told the crowd And Jeb Bush jokingly said: 'I kind of miss Donald Trump. He was a little Teddy Bear to me. We always had such a loving relationship' 'Out of respect for myself, I won't do it, because it would just be wrong.' Fox said the conversations went down a little differently but affirmed that it tried to convince Trump to come. 'Roger Ailes had three brief conversations with Donald Trump today about possibly appearing at the debate – there were not multiple calls placed by Ailes to Trump,' the network said. 'We acknowledged his concerns about a satirical observation we made in order to quell the attacks on Megyn Kelly, and prevent her from being smeared any further.' Then came the claim that could start a new battle with Trump. Fox says he 'offered to appear at the debate upon the condition that FOX News contribute $5 million to his charities. We explained that was not possible and we could not engage in a quid pro quo, nor could any money change hands for any reason.' 'In the last 48 hours, we've kept two issues at the forefront — we would never compromise our journalistic standards and we would always stand by our journalist, Megyn Kelly. We have accomplished those two goals and we are pleased with the outcome. 'We're very proud to have her on stage as a debate moderator alongside Bret Baier & Chris Wallace,' it said in conclusion. At the debate, Cruz was the first candidate to poke Trump and told Kelly, 'I'm a maniac, and everyone on this stage is stupid fat and ugly and Ben, you're a terrible surgeon. 'Now that we've got the Donald Trump portion out of the way, I want to thank everyone here for showing the men and women of Iowa the respect to show up and make the case to the people of this state and the people of the country why each of us would be the best commander in chief,' Cruz said. Once friendly rivals, the arguing between the U.S. senator and Trump has turned personal, the latter calling his opponent a 'nasty guy' and arguing that he's legally unable to hold the office of president because he was born abroad. Cruz told the debate audience that he was 'glad' that Trump was running and additionally 'glad' that he's produced so much enthusiasm for the Republican race. He then explained why his attacks on the frontrunner were fair game. 'Now there is a difference between personal insults and attacks, between going into the mud with ad hominems and focusing on issues and substance,' he said. 'I think issues and substance, policy and vision and record should be the meat of politics, that's fair game.' Cruz said, 'That's where I'm going to focus, that is how I've focused since the beginning of the campaign, that's how I continue going forward.' Other Republican rivals quipped about Trump, too. There was Rubio who called the former reality television star 'an entertaining guy.' 'He's the greatest show on earth,' Rubio told the crowd and then pivoted. 'This campaign is about the greatest country in the world and a president who has systematically destroyed things that made America special,' Rubio added. Jeb Bush dissed his rivals and said they were in the witness protection program while he waged early attacks on Trump – earning him the 'low energy' label that has systematically derailed his campaign. 'I kind of miss Donald Trump. He was a little Teddy Bear to me. We always had such a loving relationship,' Bush said. He also unabashedly defended the establishment side of the Republican party. 'Look I'm an establishment because my dad, the greatest man alive, was president of the United States, and my brother, who I adore, as well, as a fantastic brother, was president, fine I'll take it,' Bush said, fully embracing his last name. 'I guess I'm part of the establishment because Barbara Bush is my mom,' he said. 'I'll take that too.' Trump wasn't the only target of the GOP candidates tonight, though. The leading Democratic candidates came under fire, as well. At an earlier debate, for lower polling candidates, Carly Fiorina whacked Hillary Clinton and said, 'She's escaped prosecution more times than El Chapo - perhaps Sean Penn should interview her.' Later in the evening Chris Christie declared, 'The days for the Clintons in public housing are over.' 'I know why the Republican Party will want to take a chance on me, because they know that Hillary Clinton will never be prosecuted by this Justice Department and they'll want to put a former federal prosecutor on the stage to prosecute her next September.' Promoting himself, Christie said 'no one' else on the stage was 'better prepared to prosecute the case against Hillary Clinton.' 'I will be ready, I will take her on and when I take her on I guarantee to you one thing - she will never get within 10 miles of the White House,' he said, repeating a jab at her he made in the last debate. Rand Paul also invoked Hillary and her husband Bill, a former president, and said if any one else in America had an affair with an intern at their place of business, 'they would be fired, they would never be hired again,...and probably shunned in their community.' 'She can't be a champion of women's rights at the same time she's got this that is always lurking out there, this type of behavior.' Late in the evening Chris Christie declared, 'The days of the Clintons in public housing are over,' as he attacked Hillary Clinton over her ongoing email scandal +9 Late in the evening Chris Christie declared, 'The days of the Clintons in public housing are over,' as he attacked Hillary Clinton over her ongoing email scandal Trump wasn't the only target of the GOP candidates tonight, though. The leading Democratic candidates came under fire, as well, Hillary Clinton in particular +9 Trump wasn't the only target of the GOP candidates tonight, though. The leading Democratic candidates came under fire, as well, Hillary Clinton in particular Rubio hit Democrats' other top candidate, Bernie Sanders, as he answered a question about a February 2013 Time magazine cover that branded him 'The Republican Savior.' 'Let me be clear, there is only one savior and it's not me, it's Jesus Christ who came down to earth and died for our sins and so, and I've always made that clear about that cover story,' the U.S. senator, who is openly Catholic, said. He then said of Iowa voters, 'You'll be the first Americans who get to answer the fundamental question what comes next for this country after seven disastrous years of Barack Obama and let me tell you what the answer better not be - it better not be Bernie Sanders.' 'Bernie Sanders is a socialist. I think Bernie Sanders is a good candidate for president - of Sweden,' he said to laughter. 'We don't want to be Sweden. We want to be the United States of America.' And he said, 'Hillary Clinton is disqualified from being commander in chief of the United States. 'In fact one of her first acts as president may very well be to pardon herself. Because Hillary Clinton stores classified information on her private server and Hillary Clinton lied to the families of those four brave Americans who lost their lives in Benghazi.' Chris Christie likewise said Clinton is 'completely unqualified to be commander in chief' because of the way she handled the attack on U.S. personnel in Libya. 'This is another one of those places where Hillary Clinton has so much to answer for,' he said. Christie said he was miffed that Clinton didn't take any responsibility for what happened in Benghazi when asked about it at a Democratic debate hosted by ABC News. 'Three times she refused to answer the question because she refuses to be held accountable for anything that goes wrong.' The New Jersey governor said, 'If it had gone right, believe me, she'd have been runnin' around to be able to take credit for it.' Cruz commanded the stage on Thursday evening - but not always to his benefit. At point in the debate, he rebuffed Fox News host and debate moderator Chris Wallace and said, 'I would note that that the last four questions have been, "Rand, please attack Ted. Marco, please attack Ted. Chris, please attack Ted. Jeb, please attack Ted...' Wallace frankly told him, 'It is a debate, sir. Cruz disagreed. 'Well, no, no. A debate actually is a policy issue, but I will say this. Gosh, if you guys ask one more mean question I may have to leave the stage.' The line earned him applause but it didn't endear him to the Wallace, who said, 'I think the questions were about issues' and asked Rubio if he'd like to give it a go instead. After a bit of back and forth on stage, Rubio finally got his turn and teased, 'Don't worry, I'm not leaving the stage no matter what you ask me.' With Trump out of the picture, Cruz also became an easier target for his opponents who were on stage. Rand Paul, whose father Ron Paul is revered as the leader of the modern libertarian movement, bluntly told Cruz, who has been trying to tap into that network for support, 'I don't think they're necessarily going to go for Ted.' Rubio accused his Senate colleague Cruz of being disingenuous on military might: 'I mean, obviously, as already has been pointed out, the only budget that Ted has ever voted for is a budget that Rand Paul sponsored that brags about cutting defense spending,' he said. 'And I think that's a bad idea' +9 Rubio accused his Senate colleague Cruz of being disingenuous on military might: 'I mean, obviously, as already has been pointed out, the only budget that Ted has ever voted for is a budget that Rand Paul sponsored that brags about cutting defense spending,' he said. 'And I think that's a bad idea' Cruz is a fair-weather friend to the movement he said, pointing out that Cruz missed a vote on the audit the Fed legislation his father championed. That was 'the biggest thing my dad had been advocating for, for 30 years,' he said. 'Ted didn't have time to show up. He was the only Republican that didn't show up for it.' 'And so I think really that vote is going to stay in the Paul household. I think more of it is coming and it's going to grow,' Paul said of the group that his 'father brought to the Republican Party.' Also at issue tonight was Cruz's fiery rhetoric on ISIS. He's said he'd 'carpet bomb' the group into oblivion, leading to charges of hypocrisy - he opposed military intervention in Syria - and recklessness from his critics. 'Well, Chris, I will apologize to nobody for the vigorousness with which I will fight terrorism, go after ISIS, hunt them down wherever they are, and utterly and completely destroy ISIS,' he told Wallace. Rubio accused his Senate colleague of being disingenuous. 'I mean, obviously, as already has been pointed out, the only budget that Ted has ever voted for is a budget that Rand Paul sponsored that brags about cutting defense spending,' he said. 'And I think that's a bad idea.' The Florida senator didn't emerge unscathed, either though, taking artillery fire from Jeb Bush on the topic of immigration Bush contended that Rubio, once his political ally and close friend, turned his back on bipartisan immigration reform when it didn't come to pass in Congress. 'You should stick with it and that's exactly what happened. He cut and run. And that's a tragedy,' Bush charged. BACK OFF: Rand Paul, whose father Ron Paul is revered as the leader of the modern libertarian movement, bluntly told Cruz, who has been trying to tap into that network for support, 'I don't think they're necessarily going to go for Ted' +9 BACK OFF: Rand Paul, whose father Ron Paul is revered as the leader of the modern libertarian movement, bluntly told Cruz, who has been trying to tap into that network for support, 'I don't think they're necessarily going to go for Ted' Rubio, Cruz and Paul - the three senators in the race - also traded barbs over the issue, with Cruz again saying he was against amnesty no matter how his colleagues are trying to paint his position now. The back and forth exasperated Chris Christie, who is running on the Washington outsider mantle, and he said, 'I feel like I need a Washington to English dictionary converter, right? 'I mean, I heard what they both said, I saw it on the video. And the fact is this is what makes a difference, when you're a governor, you can change your mind. Ted can change his mind. Marco can change his mind. It's perfectly legal in this country to change your mind. 'But when you're a governor, you have to admit it. You can't hide behind parliamentary tricks. That's the difference, and that's the kind of leader we need in the White House. He added, 'Stop the Washington bull and let's get things done.' THE 2016 FIELD: WHO'S IN AND WHO'S OUT A whopping 15 people from America's two major political parties are candidates in the 2016 presidential election. The field includes two women, an African-American and two Latinos. All but one in that group – Hillary Clinton – are Republicans. At 12 candidates, the GOP field has already lost two current governors, two former governors and a sitting senator, but is but still deeper than ever. A much smaller group of three Democrats includes a former secretary of state, a former governor and a current senator. REPUBLICANS IN THE RACE Jeb Bush Former Florida governor Age on Election Day: 63 Religion: Catholic Base: Moderates Résumé: Former Florida governor and secretary of state. Former co-chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Education: B.A. University of Texas at Austin. Family: Married to Columba Bush (1974), with three adult children. Noelle Bush has made news with her struggle with drug addiction, and related arrests. George P. Bush was elected Texas land commissioner in 2014. Jeb's father George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, and his brother George W. Bush was number 43. Claim to fame: Jeb was an immensely popular governor with strong economic and jobs credentials. He is also one of just two GOP candidates who is fluent in Spanish. Achilles heel: Bush has angered conservatives with his permissive positions on illegal immigration (saying some border-crossing is 'an act of love) and common-core education standards. His last name could also be a liability with voters who fear establishing a family dynasty in the White House. Chris Christie New Jersey governor Age on Election Day: 54 Religion: Catholic Base: Establishment-minded conservatives Résumé: Governor of New Jersey. Former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Former Morris County freeholder and lobbyist. Governor of New Jersey. Former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Former Morris County freeholder. Former statehouse lobbyist. Education: B.A. University of Delaware, Newark, J.D. Seton Hall University. Family: Married to Mary Pat Foster (1986) with four children. Claim to fame: Pugnacious and unapologetic, Christie once told a heckler to 'sit down and shut up' and brings a brash style to everything he does. That includes the post-9/11 criminal prosecutions of terror suspects that made his reputation as a hard-charger. Achilles heel: Christie is often accused of embracing an ego-driven and needlessly abrasive style. His administration continues to operate under a 'Bridgegate' cloud: At least two aides have been indicted in an alleged scheme to shut down lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge as political retribution for a mayor who refused to endorse the governor's re-election. Carly Fiorina Former tech CEO Age on Election Day: 62 Religion: Episcopalian Base: Conservatives Résumé: Former CEO of Hewett-Packard. Former group president of Lucent Technologies. Former U.S. Senate candidate in California. Education: B.A. Stanford University. UCLA School of Law (did not finish). M.B.A. University of Maryland. M.Sci. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Family: Married to Frank Fiorina (1985), with one adult step-daughter and another who is deceased. She has two step-grandchildren. Divorced from Todd Bartlem (1977-1984). Claim to fame: Fiorina was the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, something that could provide ammunition against the Democratic Party's drive to make Hillary Clinton the first female president. She is also the only woman in the 2016 GOP field, making her the one Republican who can't be accused of sexism. Achilles heel: Fiorina's unceremonious firing by HP's board has led to questions about her management and leadership styles. And her only political experience has been a failed Senate bid in 2010 against Barbara Boxer. Mike Huckabee Former Arkansas governor Age on Election Day: 61 Religion: Southern Baptist Base: Evangelicals Résumé: Former governor and lieutenant governor of Arkansas. Former Fox News Channel host. Ordained minister and author. Education: B.A. Ouachita Baptist University. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (did not finish). Family: Married to Janet Huckabee (1974), with three adult children. Mrs. Huckabee is a survivor of spinal cancer. Claim to fame: 'Huck' is a political veteran and has run for president before, winning the Iowa Caucuses in 2008 and finishing second for the GOP nomination behind John McCain. He's known as an affable Christian and succeeded in building a huge following on his weekend television program, in which he frequently sat in on the electric bass with country & western groups and other 'wholesome' musical entertainers. Achilles heel: Huckabee may have a problem with female voters. He complained in 2014 about Obamacare's mandatory contraception coverage, saying Democrats want women to 'believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar.' He earned more scorn for hawking herbal supplements in early-2015 infomercials as a diabetes cure, something he has yet to disavow despite disagreement from medical experts. Rand Paul Kentucky senator Age on Election Day: 53 Religion: Presbyterian Base: Libertarians Résumé: US senator. Board-certified ophthalmologist. Former congressional campaign manager for his father Ron Paul. Education: Baylor University (did not finish). M.D. Duke University School of Medicine. Family: Married to Kelley Ashby (1990), with three sons. His father is a former Texas congressman who ran for president three times but never got close to grabbing the brass ring. Claim to fame: Paul embraces positions that are at odds with most in the GOP, including an anti-interventionist foreign policy, reduced military spending, criminal drug sentencing reform for African-Americans and strict limits on government electronic surveillance – including a clampdown on the National Security Agency. Achilles heel: Paul's politics are aligned with those of his father, whom mainstream GOPers saw as kooky. Both Pauls have advocated for a brand of libertarianism that forces government to stop domestic surveillance programs and limits foreign military interventions. Rick Santorum Former Penn. senator Age on Election Day: 58 Religion: Catholic Base: Evangelicals Résumé: Former US senator and former member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Former lobbyist who represented World Wrestling Entertainment. Education: B.A. Penn State University. M.B.A. University of Pittsburgh. J.D. Penn State University Dickinson School of Law. Family: Married to Karen Santorum (1990), with seven living children. One baby was stillborn in 1996. Another, named Isabella, is a special needs child with a genetic disorder. Claim to fame: Santorum won the 2012 Republican Iowa Caucuses by a nose. He won by visiting all of Iowa's 99 states in a pickup truck belonging to his state campaign director, a consultant who now works for Donald Trump. Achilles heel: As a young lobbyist, Santorum persuaded the federal government to exempt pro wrestling from regulations governing the use of anabolic steroids. And the stridently conservative politician has attracted strong opposition from gay rights groups. One gay columnist held a contest to redefine his name, buying the 'santorum.com' domain to advertise the winning entry – which is too vulgar to print. REPUBLICAN DROPOUTS Rick Perry, former Texas governor (withdrew Sept. 11, 2015) Scott Walker, Wisconsin governor (withdrew Sept. 21, 2015) Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor (withdrew Nov. 17, 2015) Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator (withdrew Dec. 21, 2015) George Pataki, former New York governor (withdrew Dec. 29, 2015) Ben Carson Retired physician Age on Election Day: 65 Religion: Seventh-day Adventist Base: Evangelicals Résumé: Famous pediatric neurosurgeon, youngest person to head a major Johns Hopkins Hospital division. Founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which awards scholarships to children of good character. Education: B.A. Yale University. M.D. University of Michigan Medical School. Family: Married to Candy Carson (1975), with three adult sons. The Carsons live in Maryland with Ben's elderly mother Sonya, who was a seminal influence on his life and development. Claim to fame: Carson spoke at a National Prayer Breakfast in 2013, railing against political correctness and condemned Obamacare – with President Obama sitting just a few feet away. Achilles heel: Carson is inflexibly conservative, opposing gay marriage and once saying gay attachments formed in prison provided evidence that sexual orientation is a choice. Ted Cruz Texas senator Age on Election Day: 45 Religion: Southern Baptist Base: Tea partiers Résumé:U.S. senator. Former Texas solicitor general. Former U.S. Supreme Court clerk. Former associate deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush. Education: B.A. Princeton University. J.D. Harvard Law School. Family: Married to Heidi Nelson Cruz (2001), with two young daughters. His father is a preacher and he has two half-sisters. Claim to fame: Cruz spoke on the Senate floor for more than 21 hours in September 2013 to protest the inclusion of funding for Obamacare in a federal budget bill. (The bill moved forward as written.) He has called for the complete repeal of the medical insurance overhaul law, and also for a dismantling of the Internal Revenue Service. Cruz is also outspoken about border security. Achilles heel: Cruz's father Rafael, a Texas preacher, is a tea party firebrand who has said gay marriage is a government conspiracy and called President Barack Obama a Marxist who should 'go back to Kenya.' Cruz himself also has a reputation as a take-no-prisoners Christian evangelical, which might play well in South Carolina but won't win him points in the other early primary states and could cost him momentum if he should be the GOP's presidential nominee. Jim Gilmore Former Virginia governor Age on Election Day: 67 Religion: United Methodist Base: Conservatives Résumé: Former governor and attorney general of Virginia. Former chairman of the Republican National Committee. Former U.S. Army intelligence agent. President and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation. Board member of the National Rifle Association Education: B.A. University of Virginia. Family: Married to Roxane Gatling Gilmore (1977), with two adult children. Mrs. GIlmore is a survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma Claim to fame: Gilmore presided over Virginia when the 9/11 terrorists struck in 1991, guiding the state through a difficult economic downturn after one of the hijacked airliners crashed into the Pentagon. He is nest known in Virginia for eliminating most of a much-maligned personal property tax on automobiles, working with a Democratic-controlled state legislature to get it passed and enacted. Achilles heel: Gilmore is the only GOP or Democratic candidate for president who has been the chairman of his political party, giving him a rap as an 'establishment' candidate. A social-conservative crusader, he is loathed by the left for championing the state law that established 24-hour waiting periods for abortions. Gilmore also has a reputation as an indecisive campaigner, having dropped out of the 2008 presidential race in July 2007. John Kasich Ohio governor Age on Election Day: 64 Religion: Anglican Base: Centrists Résumé: Governor of Ohio. Former chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee. Former Ohio congressman. Former Ohio state senator. Education: B.A. The Ohio State University. Family: Married to Karen Waldbillig (1997). Divorced from Mary Lee Griffith (1975-1980). Claim to fame: Kasich was Ohio youngest-ever member of the state legislature at age 25. He's known for a compassionate and working-class sensibility that appeals to both ends of the political spectrum. In the 1990s when Newt Gingrich led a Republican revolution that took over Congress, Kasich became the chairman of the House Budget Committee – a position for a wonk's wonk who understands the nuanced intricacies of how government runs. Achilles heel: Some of Kasich's political positions rankle conservatives, including his choice to expand Ohio's Medicare system under the Obamacare law, and his support for the much-derided 'Common Core' education standards program. Marco Rubio Florida senator Age on Election Day: 45 Religion: Catholic Base: Conservatives Résumé: US senator, former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, former city commissioner of West Miami Education: B.A. University of Florida. J.D. University of Miami School of Law. Family: Married to Jeanette Dousdebes (1998), with two sons and two daughters. Jeanette is a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader who posed for the squad’s first swimsuit calendar. Claim to fame: Rubio's personal story as the son of Cuban emigres is a powerful narrative, and helped him win his Senate seat in 2010 against a well-funded governor whom he initially trailed by 20 points. Achilles heel: Rubio was part of a bipartisan 'gang of eight' senators who crafted an Obama-approved immigration reform bill in 2013 which never became law – a move that angered conservative Republicans. And he was criticized in 2011 for publicly telling a version of his parents' flight from Cuba that turned out to appear embellished. Donald Trump Real estate developer Age on Election Day: 70 Religion: Presbyterian Base: Conservatives Résumé: Chairman of The Trump Organization. Fixture on the Forbes 400 list of the world's richest people. Star of 'Celebrity Apprentice.' Education: B.Sci. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Family: Married to Melania Trump (2005). Divorced from Ivana Zelní ková (1977-92) and Marla Maples(1993–99). Five grown children. Trump's father Fred Trump amassed a $400 million fortune developing real estate. Claim to fame: Trump's niche in the 2016 campaign stems from his celebrity as a reality-show host and his enormous wealth – more than $10 billion, according to Trump. Because he can self-fund an entire presidential campaign, he is seen as less beholden to donors than other candidates. He has grabbed the attention of reporters and commentators by unapologetically staking out controversial positions and refusing to budge in the face of criticism. Achilles heel: Trump is a political neophyte who has toyed with running for president and for governor of New York, but shied away from taking the plunge until now. His billions also have the potential to alienate large swaths of the electorate. And his Republican rivals have labeled him an ego-driven celeb and an electoral sideshow because of his all-over-the-map policy history – much of which agrees with today's Democrats – and his past enthusiasm for anti-Obama 'birtherism.' DEMOCRATS IN THE RACE Hillary Clinton Former sec. of state Age on Election Day: 69 Religion: United Methodist Base: Liberals Résumé:Former secretary of state. Former U.S. senator from New York. Former U.S. first lady. Former Arkansas first lady. Former law school faculty, University of Arkansas Fayetteville. Education: B.A. Wellesley College. J.D. Yale Law School. Family: Married to Bill Clinton (1975), the 42nd President of the United States. Their daughter Chelsea is married to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, whose mother was a 1990s one-term Pennsylvania congresswoman. Claim to fame: Clinton was the first US first lady with a postgraduate degree and presaged Obamacare with a failed attempt at health care reform in the 1990s. Achilles heel: A long series of financial and ethical scandals has dogged Clinton, including recent allegations that her husband and their family foundation benefited financially from decisions she made as secretary of state. Her performance surrounding the 2012 terror attack on a State Department facility in Benghazi, Libya, has been catnip for conservative Republicans. And her presidential campaign has been marked by an unwillingness to engage journalists, instead meeting with hand-picked groups of voters. Bernie Sanders* Vermont senator Age on Election Day: 75 Religion: Jewish Base: Far-left progressives Résumé:U.S. senator. Former U.S. congressman. Former mayor of Burlington, VT. Education: B.A. University of Chicago. Family: Married to Jane O’Meara Sanders (1988), a former president of Burlington College. He has one child from a previous relationship and is stepfather to three from Mrs. Sanders' previous marriage. His brother Larry is a Green Party politician in the UK and formerly served on the Oxfordshire County Council. Claim to fame: Sanders is an unusually blunt, and unapologetic pol, happily promoting progressivism without hedging. He is also the longest-serving 'independent' member of Congress – neither Democrat nor Republican. Achilles heel: Sanders describes himself as a 'democratic socialist.' At a time of huge GOP electoral gains, his far-left ideas don't poll well. He favors open borders, single-payer universal health insurance, and greater government control over media ownership. * Sanders is running as a Democrat but has no party affiliation in the Senate. Martin O'Malley Former Maryland governor Age on Election Day: 53 Religion: Catholic Base: Centrists Résumé:Former Maryland governor. Former city councilor and mayor of Baltimore, MD. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Education: B.A. Catholic University of America. J.D. University of Maryland. Family: Married to Katie Curran (1990) and they have four children. Curran is a district court judge in Baltimore. Her father is Maryland's attorney general. O'Malley's mother is a receptionists in the Capitol Hill office of Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski. Claim to fame: O'Malley pushed for laws in Maryland legalizing same-sex marriage and giving illegal immigrants the right to pay reduced tuition rates at public universities. But he's best known for playing guitar and sung in a celtic band cammed 'O’Malley’s March.' Achilles heel: O’Malley may struggle in the Democratic primary since he endorsed Hillary Clinton eight years ago. If he prevails, he will have to run far enough to her left to be an easy target for the GOP. He showed political weakness when his hand-picked successor lost the 2014 governor's race to a Republican. But most troubling is his link with Baltimore, whose 2016 race riots have made it a nuclear subject for politicians of all stripes. DEMOCRATIC DROPOUTS Jim Webb, former Virginia senator (withdrew Oct. 20, 2015) Lincoln Chafee, former Rhode Island governor (withdrew Oct. 23, 2015) 
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#1. To: cranky (#0)
In the course of those conversations, we acknowledged his concerns about a satirical observation we made in order to quell the attacks on Megyn Kelly, and prevent her from being smeared any further. Furthermore, Trump offered to appear at the debate upon the condition that FOX News contribute $5 million to his charities. We explained that was not possible and we could not engage in a quid pro quo, nor could any money change hands for any reason. In the last 48 hours, we've kept two issues at the forefront — we would never compromise our journalistic standards and we would always stand by our journalist, Megyn Kelly. We have accomplished those two goals and we are pleased with the outcome. We're very proud to have her on stage as a debate moderator alongside Bret Baier & Chris Wallace
Depends on where the money goes. My belief is none of the big mouth do-gooders (Gates, Zuckerberg, Buffet, Clinton, etc) do little more than hoard their wealth and proclaim their superiority. There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't
Kelly is a hack. Not because of the questions she asks, but she never lets a candidate who is on the clock to finish a sentence. I was surprised Wallace played the same game at times. That whole ethanol question and then Fox putting the spotlight on the Iowa governor in the audience was the personification of 'begging the question.' JEB was never interrupted and was handed questions which shaped his campaign message. Carson was slumbering again and I don't think heard a question asked and responded with what he wanted to say which was always off topic. It was clear Fox News wanted to breathe some life into JEB! and took the opportunity of Trump not there to do it. Trump always made Bush look bad. So The Donald should have shown up. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
That's why the cuckservatives love him so. Cruz is a kindred spirit.
I don't think so. Virtually all accounts I've read have been about Trump and oh, by the way, Rubio did this or Cruz did that, etc. It seems Trump stole the news cycle by not showing up. There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't
I don't know what to make of Cruz. I've read he's the most detested person in the Senate, totally without friends. So he's got that going for him but I don't know what else. There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't
Wouldn't suprise me at all if Trump played the Jesse Jackson shakedown game. No I don't think it overshadowed the debate . It did overshadow all the pre- coverage. The debate went on as it would've if Trump had been there .There were a couple of pre-rehearsed digs at Trump and at each other . Trump's presence would have made no difference except that his digs are more extemporaneous . All in all ,the undercard debate was more entertaining and substantive. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
So The Donald should have shown up. Even so, I'm not sure it hurt Trump, at least in the polls. Rubio will probably grab third. Cruz still has outorganized Trump by every report. Trump has failed on organizing transportation. In the precincts where he does have a precinct captain, they hadn't even gotten call lists to organize their precinct's Trump supporters in advance, a key marker. So, unless Trump's ground organization somehow roars to life in the next few days, I think Trump loses Iowa, maybe with Cruz as #1, Rubio #2, and Trump and Paul in third and fourth.
Nobody could breathe life into Jeb. Every Bush has been a childish dud from birth.
So, unless Trump's ground organization somehow roars to life in the next few days, I think Trump loses Iowa, maybe with Cruz as #1, Rubio #2, and Trump and Paul in third and fourth. Trumpsters will spin it and remind us that the GOP winner of Iowa usually does not get the nomination. Of course it will put a chink in the Trump's a winner who doesn't lose meme . Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Seriously? Professionalism demands that you remain polite. Saying "you did a nice job tonite" is one of those comments that polite people say. Like telling your wife she looks nice tonite, or your first grader that his violin playing is beautiful or brings tears to your eyes.
Did you listen to Herman Cain this morning? Anyway one of the callers said that one of Rubios staffers is a daughter of aFOX Executive, and they were speculating Rubio knew what all of the questions were going to be ahead of time. Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
You believe in professional politics. So that's what you see happening. I believe in the force of elan and shifts in center of gravity. Where people have the will to make something move, they do. So I think Trump wins big, the Establishment coalesces around Rubio, and he ends up being the Apprentice...er, Veep.
If Trump loses Iowa, it will be a sign that he is not as strong as he appears. When he wins it, it will be the harbinger of a 50 state sweep, and an Electoral College rout that hasn't been seen since Reagan.
Cuckservatism isn't professional.
I think you have no idea of what an Iowa caucus is and how it is conducted. It's much harder than just getting someone to show up to cast a quick secret ballot in 10 minutes.
It's much harder than just getting someone to show up to cast a quick secret ballot in 10 minutes. That may be so. We'll find out when it happens if the people motivated by Donald Trump are motivated enough Middle Americans to get out and do it BY THEMSELVES, without having to be organized, shuttled, etc. I think that people are pissed enough, and have enough hope in THIS PARTICULAR CANDIDATE that they will find the interest and enthusiasm IN THEMSELVES to find the way and go do it. I also think that people who were hovering between Cruz and Donald have been there because they, too, are pissed, and that many of them, when the moment of decision comes, will decide to go with the stronger horse, because they really want something DONE this time. True believers don't care about electability, but lots of people who are not true believers do. You expect Cruz to win. I am highly confident that Trump will smoke the field. And we'll find out - when is it? - Tuesday night. You've said how hard it is. You've given an old-hand political insider's perspective. And you're sure that this inside baseball is going to make the difference. And I say that this time being an old hand is a disadvantage, because the country is pissed, and it's changing. I say that the middle class sees Trump as completely different, and people who would have caucused for one or the other, in the past, will this time caucus for Trump. The Santorum and Huckabee votes will go for Trump. The Carson votes will go for Trump. And many of the Cruz votes will. Cruz is going to get swamped, if I'm right, because allegiances are breaking and the party is transmorphing into something else. It's the coalescing moment before the French Revolution, American style, where the old rules don't matter anymore, and new math comes into play. That's what I believe. One of us is wrong. If Trump DOESN'T win grandly, then I will be surprised, will sit back, sadly, and will see that Americans have decided to remain cattle in the chute, treading the path downward towads doom and national replacement. And I'll admit that you were right, and that professional politics still rules the day. If I am right, I wonder if you'll open your own eyes, realize it, and admit it to me. I believe that we will find that out the day after the caucus.
Not only is Bill Sammon a Fox VP, he was involved with "crafting the narrative of the debate" according to Chris Wallace. There are three kinds of people in the world: those that can add and those that can't
And then, no matter what you delude yourself into thinking, there is always reality that is ever present. Trump is barely holding on to 2nd in Iowa. Yep, you were half right, with Dollar Donald it is always smoke AND mirrors. потому что Бог хочет это тот путь
Cruz got 8 delegates. Trump got 7. A big win would have been great, and would have contributed to momentum, but a margin of 1 delegate is fine. In New Hampshire, Trump will make up that one delegate difference, and then some.
Roger Ailes had three brief conversations with Donald Trump today about possibly appearing at the debate – there were not multiple calls placed by Ailes to Trump.
The Trump Foundation starts to sound a lot like the Xlinton Foundation.
#2. To: TooConservative (#1)
The Trump Foundation starts to sound a lot like the Xlinton Foundation.
#3. To: cranky (#0)
(Edited)
#4. To: cranky (#0)
Cruz turned to Kelly at the end of his interview and said: 'Nice job tonight.'
#5. To: redleghunter (#3)
So The Donald should have shown up.
#6. To: Roscoe (#4)
That's why the cuckservatives love him so. Cruz is a kindred spirit.
#7. To: cranky (#0)
Fox came close to admitting it had apologized to him but then claimed he had demanded $5 million for his own charity to turn up Toxic feud between the frontrunner and the cable channel completely overshadowed the debate
#8. To: redleghunter, tomder55, cranky (#3)
(Edited)
It was clear Fox News wanted to breathe some life into JEB! and took the opportunity of Trump not there to do it. Trump always made Bush look bad.
#9. To: redleghunter (#3)
It was clear Fox News wanted to breathe some life into JEB!
#10. To: TooConservative, redleghunter, cranky (#8)
Trump has failed on organizing transportation. In the precincts where he does have a precinct captain, they hadn't even gotten call lists to organize their precinct's Trump supporters in advance, a key marker.
#11. To: Roscoe (#4)
#12. To: TooConservative (#8)
Rubio will probably grab third
#13. To: TooConservative (#8)
So, unless Trump's ground organization somehow roars to life in the next few days, I think Trump loses Iowa, maybe with Cruz as #1, Rubio #2, and Trump and Paul in third and fourth.
#14. To: tomder55 (#10)
Trumpsters will spin it and remind us that the GOP winner of Iowa usually does not get the nomination. Of course it will put a chink in the Trump's a winner who doesn't lose meme .
#15. To: jeremiad (#11)
Professionalism demands that you remain polite.
#16. To: Vicomte13 (#13)
You believe in professional politics. So that's what you see happening.
#17. To: TooConservative (#16)
I think you have no idea of what an Iowa caucus is and how it is conducted.
#18. To: CZ82 (#12)
Anyway one of the callers said that one of Rubios staffers is a daughter of aFOX Executive, and they were speculating Rubio knew what all of the questions were going to be ahead of time.
#19. To: Vicomte13, All (#17)
I am highly confident that Trump will smoke the field.
#20. To: SOSO (#19)
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