Free Republic

In the beginning there was a combative media. Dating back to Colonial America, as Eric Burns has chronicled in his book, "Infamous Scribblers," politicians and journalists have mostly had a love (for Democrats)-hate (for Republicans) relationship. It is television and the advent of the celebrity culture -- from "TMZ" to "Entertainment Tonight," to now even broadcast news -- that has taken the process to new depths. The first televised presidential debate in 1960 between Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon began the shift from substance to the superficial. As numerous journalism students have been taught, people...

"We leave here with 19 million dollars," Cruz Communications Director, Rick Tyler, told reporters Monday evening. "That is more money that Bush, Rubio, Kasich and Christie combined." "People cannot leave Iowa with no money in the bank. Lots of candidates have done it, tried it, even when they've won and they have not gone on to win the nomination." Tyler continued to stress the importance of money going forward in the election. *SNIP*

... It should be noted that Wallace did exactly what the Republican establishment wanted during his interview with Cruz...

I'm seeing a lot of questions about how Rubio got 23% of the vote in Iowa. The answer is surprisingly simple, although it is likely to inflame Trump supporters. Trump has extremely high unfavorable ratings - possibly the highest of any presidential candidate since the metric began being measured. There are countless conservatives who simply *will not vote for him under any circumstances*. (Disclaimer: I am in this camp.) Meanwhile, Trump supporters have been doing their best to discredit Cruz. Along with the establishment - who hates Cruz - it's a veritable piling-on. What the Trump supporters don't realize is...

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Donald Trump's supporters showed up at the Sheraton Monday night fully expecting their man to win the Iowa caucuses. And why shouldn't they? Trump had held a lead of varying sizes in 13 of the last 13 polls listed in the RealClearPolitics average of Iowa polls. How could that not win? "Beats the hell out of me," said Michelle Tepley, a Trump fan from Waukee. "It doesn't make any sense." "Sad," said Kimberly Hawn of West Des Moines. "I don't know, I don't know," said Steve Brewer of Norwalk. Months ago, before Trump took the...

[snip] ".........Trump Nation is tired of failed transactions leaving only humiliation, disrespect, hardship, and despair. Trump Nation wants a transaction president. Donald Trump knows transactions. Donald Trump advertises that he's not only a high stakes negotiator. Trump will save the nation in the grandest transaction yet. It is that simple. Just like Trump Airlines. Recall Trump's promises in 1988 -- a lot more than a simple transaction in keeping the aging Eastern Airlines shuttle fleet flying. Trump promised luxury, convenience, style, personal touches, affinity to grandeur, and profitability. Except for convenience, Trump delivered nothing else for which customers were willing...