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Title: Trump and Cruz: A Tale of Two Campaigns, One of Which Is Competent
Source:
NRO
URL Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/artic ... wo-campaigns-one-falling-apart
Published: Apr 7, 2016
Author: Ian Tuttle
Post Date: 2016-04-08 18:46:22 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 5349
Comments: 45
Earlier this week, the Washington Post released an “Internal Campaign Memorandum” penned by Trump campaign senior adviser Barry Bennett. Entitled “Digging through the Bull S[***]” and addressed to “Corey and Team,” the memo reads less like an internal communiqué than a fundraising e-mail sent to the wrong people: So this week the Media and the Washington Establishment bashed the campaign with energy yet ever seen against a Republican candidate. You name the medium and it was dominated with Trump Attacks. The media themselves couldn’t wait to label the week, “THE WORST WEEK EVER.” D.C. Pundits scurried to the networks to proclaim the end was at hand for Donald Trump. Yet another pathetic display by the so called experts who line their pockets at the expense of our candidates and causes. So what is the result of their efforts this week? Here it is . . . Bennett then quotes Reuters’s tracking poll, scolds the “Washington Establishment” once more for its “idiotic attacks,” and concludes: “Donald Trump 1 Washington Establishment/Media 0.” Campaigns are grueling, and higher-ups sometimes have to boost staffers’ spirits. But one gets the sense that Bennett isn’t writing as one professional to others, but as one member of a cult proselytizing to other true believers. Note the Trump-style capitalization that makes monolithic, omnipotent forces out of the press and federal officeholders. Have you ever wondered what a cabinet meeting of the North Korean government feels like? For those of us who have long maintained that the Trump campaign doesn’t operate in anything remotely resembling reality, the last week has offered confirmation. On Tuesday, Politico reported that the Trump campaign is “increasingly falling into disarray,” conducting massive layoffs and dismantling what little infrastructure it has, including in key general-election states such as Ohio and Florida. The campaign’s data team is now partly in the hands of “a 2015 college graduate whose last job was an internship with the consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive,” wrote Politico, adding: “Some of the campaign’s data remains inaccessible.” For those tracking the Trump campaign, it’s something of a surprise that there is data to speak of at all. As of February, they were not deigning to conduct internal polls. Then, on Wednesday, Politico augmented its tale of woe, reporting that the Trump campaign is embroiled in a power struggle between campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (who two weeks ago was charged with misdemeanor battery in Florida) and Paul Manafort, the veteran Republican operative hired last month to be Trump’s convention manager. According to Politico, Lewandowski recently sacked the man in charge of Trump’s Colorado operation because he disobeyed Lewandowski and communicated with Manafort directly. The campaign now has no state chair. Meanwhile, insiders say that Manafort has been considering leaving the campaign if he does not receive more support. (On Thursday, Trump announced that he was “consolidating the functions related to the nomination process and assigning them” to Manafort — perhaps an attempt to demonstrate support.) Lewandowski, as is his way, denies all, maintaining that Trump has “the most cohesive, loyal staff, the most loving staff I have ever had the privilege of working with on a campaign.” Contrast this with the Cruz campaign, which has been almost entirely free of such problems. Cruz’s team has been working tirelessly to secure delegates who will be likely to turn to him on a second or third vote at a contested convention. Those efforts have been sufficiently fruitful that, for instance, Cruz is apt to walk away with ten more delegates than Trump in Louisiana — a state that Trump won. Cruz swept both of the Colorado congressional districts that held their conventions this week, securing six more delegates for July, and an unaffiliated alternate delegate from Arapahoe County told MSNBC’s Benjy Sarlin that Cruz’s ground game is “extraordinary.” Likewise, a Republican operative in Arizona says that Cruz’s is the only campaign organizing aggressively in the state. Cruz is also having marked success getting delegates friendly to him on the convention’s key committees — see, again, Louisiana. Apparently, Trump did not know that he had been outmaneuvered by Cruz at Louisiana’s state convention until the results were reported by the Wall Street Journal. To this must be added the fact that the Cruz campaign managed to adapt its strategy mid-race after Trump’s surprise victories in the South earlier in the primary season — states that, with their large numbers of Evangelicals, were supposed to be Cruz strongholds. The Cruz campaign didn’t flail; it pivoted, successfully shifting its firewall to the Midwest and the Mountain West. Now, after a resounding victory in Wisconsin, Cruz is within reach of shutting out Trump in Indiana and Nebraska. If he can win a few pockets of delegates along the way, Trump will be kept under the 1,237 threshold. Two more different campaigns would be difficult to find. Cruz seems to have surrounded himself with knowledgeable, capable professionals operating quietly but confidently behind the scenes to win him the election. Trump’s campaign, by contrast, seems to be a whirlwind of incompetence and egotism that has not flown apart only because of the centripetal force of the personality at its center. And there is no reason to believe that Trump’s campaign will continue to be anything but chaotic, fractious, and inept. The Clinton juggernaut looms, and only one of these organizations has demonstrated the wherewithal to take it on.
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#6. To: nolu chan (#5)
And Trump would drop out if he can't get to 1237 before the convention? Of course not. So it goes to a contested convention which will be conducted with delegates. And which Cruz has a very good chance of winning. So why would Cruz drop out? It would make no sense.
Just admit Cruz is full of shit.
It amazes me how bitter the Trumpsters are now that Trump is flailing, trying to dominate his own home state. Is it because he has missed so many opportunities to shut out the competition? Or is it because he's let his delegates slip through his fingers because he apparently doesn't understand the delegate selection process?
Just like a lifetime govt employee like Cruz to spend all that money and lose to a man from teh private sector who is doing it lean and mean. sneakypete being a lifetime govt employee understand.
It amazes me that anyone would think that Trump would be so much worse than Cruz or Hillary as president. As though the country has been doing just great over the past 40 years. I'll ask this: Why NOT Trump as president? I don't care that he's got an ego. When you need massive issues of corruption, corporate control and a horrible economy that needs fixing, any personality issues simply do not count. As Trump is leading now out of an original pack of 17 candidates, I honestly don't understand criticism that he should be doing better than he is. Even if you don't agree with his philosophies, how good does he have to do before he earns your respect? Do you think a double digit or even single digit percentage of the population could run for president and do as well as he has and is, even with the goofs he's made?
What gives you any confidence at all that he has any policy to address anything? Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it? Why? Why is it Mexico's fault that we won't close our own border? Start a trade war with China? Start a nuclear arms race across the Mideast and Asia? Whatever our problems, Trump isn't the answer. He doesn't have any answers. He doesn't seem to have any policy ideas, just a few slogans he repeats endlessly to crowds of cheering morons. Then he harangues them with another recitation of his polls. Of course, I couldn't stand Trump before he ran for prez. So I probably just don't like him and don't want to think of having to hear the insufferable gasbag on TV every day for the next four years. As awful as 0bama is. I also take a very dim view of any candidate who won't build up a campaign organization. This is reminiscent of the Alf Landon campaign of 1936 where he won the nomination and then just went home and didn't campaign at all. Because Landon wasn't prepared to be president any more than Trump is. I don't think he has a philosophy. Or any comprehensible policy ideas. So: never. But then, I loathe Trump and always did even before he ran for prez. Trump will not be the GOP nominee. And he will not be president. You may as well get used to it. I'm not sure why you care. You live overseas. Did you even vote for Trump?
Thanks for being honest. Policy? I'd say I'm sick of policies. I want a real person who will cut the crap. The USA is totally screwed. More of the same is not the solution, and that's all that all the other candidates have to offer. Trump offers a change of attitude, and that's a change that's needed. No one said it's Mexico's fault. Just because people have to pay for things sometimes doesn't mean they are at fault. Evening the playing field is not a war. One thing I don't like about Trump is his statements about spending more on the military. That's one thing we do not need. As for starting a nuke race in the ME... that's up to the people in the Mid East. I already am used to it.... from being under Clinton, Bush and Obama for 24 years. Anyone else will just continue to grow the massive train wreck called America. I would vote for Trump. But postal mail is 4-8 weeks each way, if it arrives at all. But I do care.
So you just want a banana republic strongman. Maybe you've lived with the Latins too long. We can see what that kind of voting has brought them. Ideas and policies are hard. So let's just give up. This whole idea of an informed electorate, a marketplace of ideas, Western democracy in general, we'll just flush all that so some orange-skinned celebrity huckster can magically fix everything for us. Because we're so deserving, eh? It's all just pandering, most of it insincere. Inasmuch as Trump has any ideas, they are the ideas of Pat Buchanan and the Reform Party. You find very little in Trump's sketchy policy ideas that you didn't find first in Buchanan's campaigns. And Trump flirted several times with the idea of running as the Reform Party candidate some years back. What, would Trump have to start raving about that giant sucking sound before you recognized who he's channeling? And that was another fake campaign, intended only to elect (and re-elect) the Xlintons. Trump is a copy of a fake.
Compared to what US voting has brought the United States? Do you actually think the US political system works for the average American? It doesn't. The USA is FUBAR, and as such... how much worse could Trump be than anyone of the other 3?
He's a megalomaniac and a malignant narcissist. And he knows almost nothing outside his little world of luxury real estate and golf courses and resorts. Yes, he could be much worse. World War III, Great Depression II, etc.
Honestly, I think Hillary fits that description much more than Trump. Hillary is in this race for her own personal lust for power. She believes that she deserves to be president, as though it's her birthright. In fact, I think the ego award actually goes to Hillary, not Trump. I think arrogant is the negative term much more fitting for Trump. He has a lot of pride and confidence in himself, and likely excessively so. On the other hand, he has good reason to, being a highly successful businessman. But he still doesn't come off as craving power. Arrogant, yes, but a desire for power, no. At least I don't see that. While this can't be ruled out for any candidate, again, I'd say Hillary is the most likely to start WW3. She does crave power, and will be certainly motivated to show the world how tough a woman can be. Great depression II? Again, Hillary is in the pockets of Wall Street. Trump is rich, but owes nothing to anyone, so he'll be much less likely to be swayed by special interests. Trump, given his track record, knows how to negotiate. War won't be the action of first resort, as it is for many Republicans. Instead, Trump will employ negotiations first, not only with the parties he wishes to direct, but others that may have influence. I'd say Trump is certainly the best negotiator of any and all candidates who have run for prez this time.
You obviously have a rubber blow-up Trump doll,and just LOVE blowing the air supply tube. You are also an idiot and clueless fool if you don't understand how Trump has used special tax breaks,government subsidies,and bankruptcy laws leaving the taxpayers holding the bag. Wanna talk about how he is renting his private jet and it's crew to his campaign,and getting government dollars in return? BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
What part of "narcissistic sociopath" that you have trouble understanding? I'll take stupid and incompetent over insane and incompetent any day. BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
It's awfully early in the day for such vivid images. At least wait for the sun to come up.
Most of the geriatric drug loving, cop hating hippie libtard posters that burned their brains out on dope in the 50's and 60's, that still get excited over black and white reruns of I love Lucy, post 60 year old music videos were stupid enough to say Trump won't make it a year ago.... BUT ONLY YOU are F'n retarded enough to say it now. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Although I don't fit into your wee, wittle niche definition because I am a young, unretired whippersnapper ... Yeah, my opinion is that Trump won't make it. Why would anyone vote for Trump anyway?
Having a donut sugar rush this morning,Officer Barney? BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
Mostly because they are people that operate based on emotion,not thinking. In some cases,like Fire Islands,that's all they are equipped to do. BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
Funny you bring up the 1936 election. Trivia: Q:What two states did Landon carry in 1936? A: Maine and . . . . Vermont. VERMONT. Today's Socialist home of two Marxist senators (one out of the closet and one still in)was once so conservative that it (almost alone) voted AGAINST the godfather of modern US socialism. My how times have changed. The point is - comparing today's US to the one 80 years ago is probably like comparing pre-Castro Cuba to the one today. We've had a revolution - we just don't admit it. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD . . . " ~Psalm 33:12a
We've had several IMO. Bob might enjoy that warm mention of his beloved senators. LOL It is funny to read the old op-ed's about Landon's campaign. Basically, he got the nomination at the convention and then went home and hid in his house in Kansas until the election was over. You probably recall his daughter, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, served 3 Senate terms in the Reagan-Bush era.
He has a lot of dreams, that is for sure.
Yeah but at least it's good ol' American Bull Shyte - and not the Russian Oligarchic Alligator manure Drumpf's Useful Idiots would have us all wading up to our arses in.
Because the other choices are RINO's, twat socialist or filthy Commie Sanders. Dipshit. Btw, I'm watching a great documentary on your hero, Christopher Dorner. Like most Paultard lovers of Dorner, he was crazier than a shithouse rat. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Like most cops. Including you, Barney. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much Isn't he one of of your own colleagues whom attempted to turn you PIGS in and the upper brass refused to listen? As I understand that situation, he tried tymer and tyme and tyme ... but no one would listen. SO, he took the law into his own hands ... similar to most PIGS who work under the colour of law.
Weekend Kookifornia mountain cabin.... 1,000.00 AR 15............. 1,100.00 A couple smoke grenades .... 34.00 A crispy fried cop hating asshole... Priceless. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
The only thing I hate worse than Paultards and welfare recipients... is a cop killer. Dorner was a cop killer. Key word.... WAS. lol I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
You know better than to post facts to FireIsland like that. His poor widdle piggy head will explode. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much The brass fucked upped and wouldn't listen ... as a fuckin' PIG, he had no alternative but go after his fellow PIGs.
Someone has to slap him around to wake him into reality. HELL, he is dreamin' of his fascist buddy Trump taking the helm in the WhoreHouse, next year.
In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much Lots of would-be-fascists supporting Trump. I think most are insecure and weak little men looking for a Daddy figure. Or maybe just the cult of personality. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much You have a good perspective on a POM-POM waving Trumperette.
You forgot the innocent victims of wild cop gunfire as they tried to kill this guy in the middle of traffic because some woman and her elderly mother were driving (newspapers?) in a vehicle similar to Dorner. Another outrage in this case and one that gives some credibility to Dorner's side of things that the LAPD was completely out of control with the public and with its own staff.
Yeah I remember that too. In fact, the cops who did the shooting were not charged. What a shock! No charges for LAPD officers who shot newspaper delivery women during Dorner manhunt Of course, FireIsland will tell you that they "must have been guilty" of something, otherwise the cops would not have fired at them. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much Posting these stories does inform people more widely, even at a tiny forum like LF. Because you and I (and probably a few others) remember it and will remember it for some years.
Spoken like a lifetime govt employee defending another lifetime govt employee like Cruz.
Boo whoooooo ... It's everyone else's fault. Bye bye, extra crispy. lol I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Does your mama know you are posting on the internet,little boy? BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO! ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION! Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012) American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
Govtemployeesayswhat?
It is a real wonder why Trump continues to be the shit out of Cruz who, in early April, has no hope whatever of getting to 1237.
#7. To: TooConservative (#6)
And Trump would drop out if he can't get to 1237 before the convention?
#8. To: nolu chan (#7)
#9. To: TooConservative, sneakypete (#0)
#10. To: TooConservative (#8)
It amazes me how bitter the Trumpsters are now that Trump is flailing, trying to dominate his own home state.
Is it because he has missed so many opportunities to shut out the competition? Or is it because he's let his delegates slip through his fingers because he apparently doesn't understand the delegate selection process?
#11. To: Pinguinite (#10)
(Edited)
I'll ask this: Why NOT Trump as president? I don't care that he's got an ego. When you need massive issues of corruption, corporate control and a horrible economy that needs fixing, any personality issues simply do not count.
Even if you don't agree with his philosophies, how good does he have to do before he earns your respect?
#12. To: TooConservative (#11)
What gives you any confidence at all that he has any policy to address anything?
Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it? Why? Why is it Mexico's fault that we won't close our own border?
Start a trade war with China?
Start a nuclear arms race across the Mideast and Asia?
Trump will not be the GOP nominee. And he will not be president. You may as well get used to it.
I'm not sure why you care. You live overseas. Did you even vote for Trump?
#13. To: Pinguinite (#12)
Policy? I'd say I'm sick of policies. I want a real person who will cut the crap.
One thing I don't like about Trump is his statements about spending more on the military. That's one thing we do not need. As for starting a nuke race in the ME... that's up to the people in the Mid East.
I already am used to it.... from being under Clinton, Bush and Obama for 24 years. Anyone else will just continue to grow the massive train wreck called America.
You're not under them. You've lived overseas for a long time. Which is fine with me. You don't have any real stake in this election.
#14. To: TooConservative (#13)
So you just want a banana republic strongman. Maybe you've lived with the Latins too long. We can see what that kind of voting has brought them.
#15. To: Pinguinite (#14)
The USA is FUBAR, and as such... how much worse could Trump be than anyone of the other 3?
#16. To: TooConservative (#15)
He's a megalomaniac and a malignant narcissist. And he knows almost nothing outside his little world of luxury real estate and golf courses and resorts.
Yes, he could be much worse. World War III, Great Depression II, etc.
#17. To: Pericles (#9)
Just like a lifetime govt employee like Cruz to spend all that money and lose to a man from teh private sector who is doing it lean and mean. sneakypete being a lifetime govt employee understand.
#18. To: Pinguinite (#10)
It amazes me that anyone would think that Trump would be so much worse than Cruz or Hillary as president.
#19. To: sneakypete (#17)
You obviously have a rubber blow-up Trump doll,and just LOVE blowing the air supply tube.
#20. To: sneakypete (#3)
I still expect Trump to drop out.
#21. To: GrandIsland, sneakypete (#20)
#22. To: GrandIsland (#20)
Most of the geriatric drug loving, cop hating hippie libtard posters that burned their brains out on dope in the 50's and 60's, that still get excited over black and white reruns of I love Lucy, post 60 year old music videos were stupid enough to say Trump won't make it a year ago.... BUT ONLY YOU are F'n retarded enough to say it now.
#23. To: buckeroo (#21)
Why would anyone vote for Trump anyway?
#24. To: TooConservative (#11)
This is reminiscent of the Alf Landon campaign of 1936
#25. To: Rufus T Firefly, BobCeleste (#24)
(Edited)
We've had a revolution - we just don't admit it.
#26. To: sneakypete, GrandIsland (#23)
In some cases,like Fire Islands,that's all they are equipped to do.
#27. To: nolu chan (#7)
Just admit Cruz is full of shit.
#28. To: buckeroo (#21)
Why would anyone vote for Trump anyway?
#29. To: GrandIsland (#28)
... Dorner, he was crazier than a shithouse rat.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#30. To: GrandIsland (#28)
Christopher Dorner
#31. To: Deckard (#29)
#32. To: buckeroo (#30)
#33. To: buckeroo (#30)
Isn't he one of of your own colleagues whom attempted to turn you PIGS in and the upper brass refused to listen?
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#34. To: GrandIsland (#32)
Dorner was a cop killer. Key word.... WAS. lol
#35. To: Deckard (#33)
#36. To: buckeroo, GrandIsland (#34)
The brass fucked upped and wouldn't listen ... as a fuckin' PIG, he had no alternative but go after his fellow PIGs.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#37. To: buckeroo, GrandIsland (#35)
Someone has to slap him around to wake him into reality. HELL, he is dreamin' of his fascist buddy Trump taking the helm in the WhoreHouse, next year.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#38. To: Deckard (#37)
I think most are insecure and weak little men looking for a Daddy figure.
#39. To: Deckard (#36)
#40. To: TooConservative (#39)
You forgot the innocent victims of wild cop gunfire as they tried to kill this guy in the middle of traffic because some woman and her elderly mother were driving (newspapers?)
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#41. To: Deckard (#40)
Yeah I remember that too. In fact, the cops who did the shooting were not charged.
#42. To: sneakypete (#17)
#43. To: Deckard (#36)
#44. To: Pericles (#42)
Spoken like a lifetime govt employee defending another lifetime govt employee like Cruz.
#45. To: sneakypete (#44)
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