WOW! POLITICAL SUICIDE! TED CRUZ REFUSES TO ENDORSE TRUMP – CROWD BOOS HIM OFF STAGE

[musiclady]

I have never been able to handled the dullard Hannity.

But this past week was the first time I turned on Rush and had to turn it off again soon thereafter.  Sad.  I listened to him in the 80s, and went to the taping of his TV show in the 90s.

I gave up on Rush a month or two ago.  I listened as often as I could for 20 years.  Now I can't handle 5 minutes.

He's sold out, and IMO, if he ever really was a Conservative, he is no longer.  His love for Trump sucked out his brain.

BIG disappointment.

[catfish1957]

I gave up on Rush a month or two ago.  I listened as often as I could for 20 years.  Now I can't handle 5 minutes.

He's sold out, and IMO, if he ever really was a Conservative, he is no longer.  His love for Trump sucked out his brain.

BIG disappointment.

If Rush had simply stated that Trump was not a conservative and not a valid option for the GOP  a year ago, we would not be in this predicament.

[JustPassinThru]

Reagan endorsed Ford in 1976 and won Potus in 1980.

Cruz withheld endorsing tonight, and it will no be forgotten. It is a symbol of political judgment.

Reagan did NOT endorse Ford!

That is another of the Trump operatives' LIES.

[Cripplecreek]

Just the DU rounds alone impacting the ground can be felt almost mile away, not to mention JDAMS or Hellfires. Then there's that sound after the impacts of "BRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAPPPP!" followed by the scream of the engines whistling by as the Hog peels up and away, sometimes dropping chaff and flares as it goes.

Spooky you never hear.  You just get to watch the carnage of the mini guns laying everything waste or the whumps of the Howitzers or the Bofors impacting targets.

I remember reading Nick Rowe's account of being on the receiving end of actual American carpet bombing when he was a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. I know he felt conflicted about it at the time. Cheering the home team and being terrified at the same time.

Even from a couple hundred yards away from the path of the bombs the ground was bouncing and tossing them 5 feet in the air repeatedly.

[sneakypete]

Spooky you never hear.  You just get to watch the carnage of the mini guns laying everything waste or the whumps of the Howitzers or the Bofors impacting targets.

@INVAR

Yes,you can when they are down around 500 feet and circling around above you as they fire.

[musiclady]

If Rush had simply stated that Trump was not a conservative and not a valid option for the GOP  a year ago, we would not be in this predicament.

I completely agree.

There are apparently enough gullible people out there who thought that if Rush didn't condemn Trump for his liberalism, it must not matter.

I still have a hard time believing that a man I truly thought was a conservative who cared about conservatism, completely turned on every principle he claimed to have stood for.

He has a lot to answer for.

[JustPassinThru]

"Low energy" destroyed Bush. Not because Bush was actually low energy - you don't govern a state being low energy. He was just boring & wore glasses. The name resonated because of the image Bush projected.

The "Lyin Ted" meme was a Trump camp fabrication that only worked as an integral part of their strategy of attacking what in reality is Cruz's strength - his integrity.

Of course those who still think the insult is cute know its bogus & continue to troll using it. I guess that makes them dishonest.

Depends on the state government.  Florida has a relatively weak Chief Executive.  And Florida was in a good situation when Bush was in...he was basically a placeholder.

I happen to think he was right on that.  It was blunt and direct and a refreshing change.  But when Lord Trumpy got traction with it, he got the wrong message. 

Direct bluntness, I respect.  SLANDER and KNOWINGLY PUTTING OUT UNTRUTHS, I have no time for.  Words mean things and so does personal honor and integrity have meaning.

[INVAR]

Yes,you can when they are down around 500 feet and circling around above you as they fire.

I'll take your word.  I've never been that close to one over a target.  Closest I got to one was while it was on the tarmac.


As to Limbaugh - I think he is a Party Hack, stuck  in the paradigm that there is only one party possible to counter the Democrats even though the mountains of evidence about their collusion with the Leftists is overwhelming.

Rush loves Trump - and likes his rudeness and over-the-top insults directed at any opponent.

Rush admires him for that and giggles over the fact Trump is not a statesman, but a mobster.

Rush not only sold out - he betrayed the very things he spoke about for the 28 years I've listened to him. 

He gave us warning signs though.  I remember him urging the House NOT to impeach Bill Clinton, because his logic was that "Unless you are guaranteed to kill the king, you do not attempt to take him out" or something like that.

Whatever it is, Rush is loyal to his golfing pal - and that is fine, but his shilling for a liberal I cannot stomach.

So Rush, like the GOP is dead to me.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

If those in power have been unable to remove Barry with a majority in both Houses do you think they'd be able to get rid of Trump or stop him? 

Yes.

The difference is that while you only need a majority in the House to impeach a President, you need 2/3 to get a conviction in the Senate.  And that was never, ever going to happen with 45+ Senate Democrats.  And everyone would have known that from the start, so the whole thing would have been a joke.

If Trump goes off the rails, the Democrats might be more than happy to impeach a Republican President, and you'd have a lot of Republicans more excited about a President Pence than a President Trump.  In other words, Trump would see more defections from Senate Republicans (probably Cruz for starters....) than Obama would have seen from Senate Democrats.

I don't even think that's arguable.

[skeeter]

If Rush had simply stated that Trump was not a conservative and not a valid option for the GOP  a year ago, we would not be in this predicament.

After 25 years of his 'advanced conservative studies' spiel and the fact he repeatedly admitted Cruz was the 'conservative choice' I kept waiting for Rush to make the call for Cruz.

As it turns out he likely could've changed the outcome of the primaries but he never stepped up.

Now his show is a tired rehash of 90's vintage pompom shaking.

[JustPassinThru]

I'll take your word.  I've never been that close to one over a target.  Closest I got to one was while it was on the tarmac.


As to Limbaugh - I think he is a Party Hack, stuck  in the paradigm that there is only one party possible to counter the Democrats even though the mountains of evidence about their collusion with the Leftists is overwhelming.

Rush loves Trump - and likes his rudeness and over-the-top insults directed at any opponent.

Rush admires him for that and giggles over the fact Trump is not a statesman, but a mobster.

Rush not only sold out - he betrayed the very things he spoke about for the 28 years I've listened to him. 

He gave us warning signs though.  I remember him urging the House NOT to impeach Bill Clinton, because his logic was that "Unless you are guaranteed to kill the king, you do not attempt to take him out" or something like that.

Whatever it is, Rush is loyal to his golfing pal - and that is fine, but his shilling for a liberal I cannot stomach.

So Rush, like the GOP is dead to me.

Actually, Limbaugh is a trumpbot first.  And foremost.

He's always been a bit of a Republican shill - he puts more weight on the Big R than he does on the person.  To an extent, that's necessary when choosing - almost any Republican is better than most Democrats.

Almost any.  There are exceptions.

But he was deep in the tank for Trump from the git-go; and back when the Establishment operatives were pushing the dead Shrub.  I think it was that there's a personal relationship he's not copping to; that Limbaugh is all giggly about the thought, months ago, that Trump was rolling over the RINOs.

And, since Trump was and is a friend, and a neighbor both in NYC and Florida...he cannot see Trump's faults or see the irony that the RINOs have made peace with God the Donald.  That they have more in common, are more alike, than the Republican base has with the Republican establishment.

And since Trump's friendship with Limbaugh had nothing to do with politics; since Trump had not an articulated political thought until recently; and since it was a friendship of mutual admiration - Limbaugh, as a rising star, impressed with Trump's wealth; and Trump, impressed with fame and celebrity and not having it in the 1980s, collected Limbaugh as Famous-People-I-Know...it's a shallow relationship but long-lived and hard to cut.

It will destroy Limbaugh.  It's making everything Rush claimed he believed, a lie.  Rush was given a chance to sell the second incantation of Reagan to the Republican voter base, and he BLEW IT.

Shilling for this simple, ADHD grifter and bagman.

This is where Limbaugh slinks off to a well-earned early retirement.   Maybe he'll get fleeced by Trumpy's "One-Time" Wealth Tax.  That would be poetic justice.

[txradioguy]

Now his show is a tired rehash of 90's vintage pompom shaking.

And that's ironic since he loudly and angrily declared he was NOT going to carry the water for RNC after McCain's loss in 2008.

[Smokin Joe]

@INVAR    @Smokin Joe

If you are on the ground in the area where a Spooky gun ship or a flight of A-10's are working over,it's awful hard to convince you that SOMEBODY ain't being bombed when you are closer than "danger close" and can feel the ground vibrate from the cannon strikes.

I worked a well in Nevada, east of Nellis AFB and Area 51, and we were treated to the occasional overflight by A-10s and F-16s. Both impressive, frankly, but the A-10 pilots had those remarkably nimble machines looking like hawks hunting in a field...I was on foot at the time, and the first thing I thought was "I sure am glad they aren't hunting me."
That aircraft is as beautiful as it is ugly, from a capability vs looks standpoint.

It is one of those designs that will be right for the role for a long time before something better comes along.

[starstruck]

Donald Trump is good at branding. That's how he has extended his reach in business, through branding.

The only reason that a brand or label sticks is if there is some truth to it. For example, 'low-energy' Jeb worked because it was true; crooked Hillery works because it's true.

If someone is skinny but you call him fatso, they just shrug, while others look at you like your nuts. It doesn't stick.

Lyin' Ted...well, that stuck.

Well I guess that is because of the type of people Trump appeals to. Polls have shown that he is popular with the uneducated. Third grade school yard taunts are very popular amongst certain individuals. But when you reach voting age you should have matured.

[goatprairie]

After 25 years of his 'advanced conservative studies' spiel and the fact he repeatedly admitted Cruz was the 'conservative choice' I kept waiting for Rush to make the call for Cruz.

As it turns out he likely could've changed the outcome of the primaries but he never stepped up.

Now his show is a tired rehash of 90's vintage pompom shaking.

Rush made a financial decision. Despite having half a billion dollars he figured not backing Trump would cost him money and position in the rich guys club.
So he threw his principles overboard to back the Orange Toad.
And yes, Rush knows Trump is no conservative. He's said as much numerous times. He knows Trump is  brash, vulgar, rude, etc.
Which makes him unlike Hannity who fell hook, line, and sinker for Der Donald.
I don't which is worse....tossing out your principles for money or being too dumb to see through Trump.
Either way both have lost whatever moral authority they gained for themselves as being champions of conservatism.

[Smokin Joe]

Yes.

The difference is that while you only need a majority in the House to impeach a President, you need 2/3 to get a conviction in the Senate.  And that was never, ever going to happen with 45+ Senate Democrats.  And everyone would have known that from the start, so the whole thing would have been a joke.

If Trump goes off the rails, the Democrats might be more than happy to impeach a Republican President, and you'd have a lot of Republicans more excited about a President Pence than a President Trump.  In other words, Trump would see more defections from Senate Republicans (probably Cruz for starters....) than Obama would have seen from Senate Democrats.

I don't even think that's arguable.

Just to twist the idea the other way, I think there are enough Democrats who would leave Trump in. He'd set them up for a clean sweep (House/Senate/White House) in 2020, not to mention implementing a host of socialist programs when the GOP was kicked out after the YUUUGE mess, and they'd beat the GOP with the outcome of a Trump Administration for decades. The GOP would be voting against the White House, and the Dems would be 'grudgingly' going along in a sense of 'bipartisanship'.

It would spell the end of the GOP as a force in politics, and if Trump was even allowed to call himself "Conservative", the brand would go down in history books as dung.

[goatprairie]

I could never stand Hannity.  The melees on his shows with Leftists were nauseating and I couldn't handle hearing  "Let me tell you something" about a dozen times a minute.

Rush I permanently turned off about a month ago and canceled my 24/7 when it became obvious he was totally in the tank for his golf buddy and sacrificed everything we thought he stood for for a stalking horse for Hillary.  It was painful to hear him spin Trump's Liberalism as something of a good thing for the GOP.  The last straw was when I heard him yell at a woman who was a Cruz supporter than not voting for Trump was a vote for Hillary.

Oh well.  We were told that there would be a massive falling away from the truth at the time of the end.  I guess this is just another form of it taking shape

Out of habit I turned on Rush today hoping for a miracle. Which didn't happen. Rush opened his program today enthusiastically talking about the greatness of Der Donald with the email fiasco. I turned him off after about 20 seconds.
 I then put on Levin's show from yesterday. Now Levin says he will vote for Trump to avoid having Hillary in the WH. But Levin doesn't shrink from nailing Trump on his numerous faults. That's all I ask out of a supposedly principled talk show host.
Sadly, both Limbaugh and Hannity have let down their conservative listeners to enthusiastically back an immoral, the least conservative, most ignorant Pubbie candidate since Harding. I don't know...Harding might have been more conservative. At least he had the good sense to die early in his first term which allowed Coolidge into office.

[geronl]

Like you said, some truth: "Ted" was the true part.

Trump follows the "Big Lie" theory. Tell a big lie, keep telling it until people believe it.

There need be no truth in it.

[sneakypete]

I worked a well in Nevada, east of Nellis AFB and Area 51, and we were treated to the occasional overflight by A-10s and F-16s. Both impressive, frankly, but the A-10 pilots had those remarkably nimble machines looking like hawks hunting in a field...I was on foot at the time, and the first thing I thought was "I sure am glad they aren't hunting me."
That aircraft is as beautiful as it is ugly, from a capability vs looks standpoint.

It is one of those designs that will be right for the role for a long time before something better comes along.

@Smokin Joe

Yet the boneheads in the AF want to get rid of them because they ain't fighters,and fighters are "sexy".

We used to rely on the old A1 Skyraider for close ground support tac air,and it would definitely bring the damn-damn with it when it came. Carried twice as much ordinance as the typical fighter-bomber of the time,and could and would fly slow enough and low enough to put it where you wanted it. A seriously good thing when you being overran and need some 50 cals and 20 mm cannon shots to get the enemy off your chest. Not to mention the A1's were the ones you desperately wanted when it came time to drop napalm right on the edge of your perimeter. The fast movers would try,but the best they could usually do was put it in the right general area.

And from what I hear,the A-10 is so superior as a troop support gun ship there is no comparison to the old A-1's. They even have the advantage of flying a lot faster than the old A1's, meaning they can get there to help you quicker,and can still fly slow enough to put it where you want it.

And the pilots,like the A-1 pilots take GREAT pride in being able to do so.  They seem to care nothing about being "dashing fighter pilots",but they do love the idea of being the Calvary riding/flying to the rescue. Unfortunately,being a A-10 Warthog pilot is not helpful career-wise if you ever hope to wear stars.

[Smokin Joe]

Trump follows the "Big Lie" theory. Tell a big lie, keep telling it until people believe it.

There need be no truth in it.

Oh, the tactic is obvious. Make the lie a household word, then even people who know the truth, deep down, will repeat it.

The guy is his own propaganda ministry, but he has a Marketing Department on staff, too. I have little doubt campaign expenditures were funneled back into his organization on several levels, and that was likely one.

[Smokin Joe]

@Smokin Joe

Yet the boneheads in the AF want to get rid of them because they ain't fighters,and fighters are "sexy".

We used to rely on the old A1 Skyraider for close ground support tac air,and it would definitely bring the damn-damn with it when it came. Carried twice as much ordinance as the typical fighter-bomber of the time,and could and would fly slow enough and low enough to put it where you wanted it. A seriously good thing when you being overran and need some 50 cals and 20 mm cannon shots to get the enemy off your chest. Not to mention the A1's were the ones you desperately wanted when it came time to drop napalm right on the edge of your perimeter. The fast movers would try,but the best they could usually do was put it in the right general area.

And from what I hear,the A-10 is so superior as a troop support gun ship there is no comparison to the old A-1's. They even have the advantage of flying a lot faster than the old A1's, meaning they can get there to help you quicker,and can still fly slow enough to put it where you want it.

And the pilots,like the A-1 pilots take GREAT pride in being able to do so.  They seem to care nothing about being "dashing fighter pilots",but they do love the idea of being the Calvary riding/flying to the rescue. Unfortunately,being a A-10 Warthog pilot is not helpful career-wise if you ever hope to wear stars.

The funny thing is, that while the Warthog doesn't have the sexy lines, (and I'm not a pilot, never in the service, even) just watching that plane in capable hands was a thing of beauty. When man first dreamed of taking to wing like the birds, maybe he didn't envision that hawk hunting mice in a field, or an Osprey fishing, but I have watched both at length and the Warthog is the only thing I have seen without meat on its wings that flies like that. Beautiful, awe inspiring, even intimidating, and that's if you are a friend.

It's like watching that gangly and not so pretty girl you know go for her black belt all smoothness and flow, packing a punch to boot. You learn a respect for that, and find beauty in that grace.

High survivability in combat (from what I have read) is always a plus, and likely helps the pilots earn accolades for close air support.

The troops like them, too, because those on the stick have done incredible work with them.

I guess for some pilots, having the Marines or Army buy you a drink wherever you go is better than painting little airplanes on the side of the cockpit. Knowing you made a difference would be number one.

[skeeter]

And that's ironic since he loudly and angrily declared he was NOT going to carry the water for RNC after McCain's loss in 2008.

Back in the 90's Rush used to call Clinton conspiracy theorists and enforce-our-immigration-laws-now types "Kooks".

The GOP was simply the living end AND Bush invited Rush to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.

I thought he had learned something in the interim.

[Smokin Joe]

Back in the 90's Rush used to call Clinton conspiracy theorists and enforce-our-immigration-laws-now types "Kooks".

The GOP was simply the living end AND Bush invited Rush to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.

I thought he had learned something in the interim.

I noticed he would take a run at the Clintons and always pull that final, haymaker, punch.
It disappointed me a few times before I realized he wasn't going to cross that line and call them the crooks they were. I no longer made it a point to listen after that, and before long, just didn't.

I am not surprised. He's an entertainer. Make of that what you will, but while the foole will dance for the King, he'd be a fool to piss him off. I knew there was a line which would never be crossed, no matter who was on the other side.

[INVAR]

And from what I hear,the A-10 is so superior as a troop support gun ship there is no comparison to the old A-1's. They even have the advantage of flying a lot faster than the old A1's, meaning they can get there to help you quicker,and can still fly slow enough to put it where you want it.

Combat grunts LOVE them Hogs.  When danger is close, nothing hits Hajii harder and more accurately (except a JDAM) than a strafing run by a Hog Driver that knows how to skim the treetops and lay down fire that will instantly liquefy an entire brigade of Jihadists.

Unfortunately,being a A-10 Warthog pilot is not helpful career-wise if you ever hope to wear stars.

Hog drivers are essentially grunts in the AF that have more in common with a platoon cmdr than a career officer with sleek wings to a tech savvy fast mover.

[txradioguy]

Combat grunts LOVE them Hogs.  When danger is close, nothing hits Hajii harder and more accurately (except a JDAM) than a strafing run by a Hog Driver that knows how to skim the treetops and lay down fire that will instantly liquefy an entire brigade of Jihadists.

Hog drivers are essentially grunts in the AF that have more in common with a platoon cmdr than a career officer with sleek wings to a tech savvy fast mover.

They should just go ahead and turn them over to the Army like they planned to do prior to their last star turn during Desert Storm.

This isnt the first time the AF has tried to rid themselves of the A10.

As an aside...former Dallas Cowboys DE Chad Hennings flew Warthogs in Kuwait in 1991