Posted on 02/01/2016 9:29:27 AM PST by DrewsDad
Today marks the crucial Iowa caucuses. We will find out whether the Donald Trump boom is real, or whether it's an exaggeration; we'll find out if Senator Ted Cruz's (R-TX) ground game matches the hype; we'll find out if Senator Marco Rubio's (R-FL) attempts to play for momentum have gained actual steam.
At this point in 2012, 46 percent of Republicans said they had decided for whom to vote in the last few days before the caucus; that was up from 30 percent in 2008. A huge number of Iowans are still deciding for whom to vote. So, with that in mind, here are five questions for Iowa voters:
1. Do You Trust Donald Trump To Be Conservative? Trump is leading in all of the polls coming into today. Trump is not a consistent conservative in any way. He has flipped on literally every major issue, save for private use of eminent domain (on which he has been on the wrong side). He may promise to build a wall with Mexico, but there’s no guarantee he’d do it, given the fact that just four years ago, he critiqued Mitt Romney’s immigration policy as too harsh. He may promise to fight ISIS, but just a few months ago he was willing to let Vladimir Putin take the lead. He may promise to fight abortion, but in the recent past he was pro-partial birth abortion. He may promise to repeal Obamacare, but yesterday he said that anyone who rejected a government plan to provide health care for those in need lacked a heart.
2. Do You Trust Donald Trump On Values? It's not just that Trump is inconsistent in his positions – or worse, that he has no centralizing philosophy other than his own self-aggrandizement. It's that Trump knows he’s manipulating his supporters. He told The New York Times over the weekend, "You know, if it gets a little boring, if I se people starting to sort of, maybe thinking about leaving, I can sort of tell the audience, I just say, 'We will build the wall!' and they go nuts." Do you trust this person to actually build a wall if the polls shift against it? People who value immigration policy as primary should think seriously about that question before jumping behind Trump as immigration savior.
People focused in on Trump's gaffe at Liberty University a couple of weeks ago in which Trump said "two Corinthians" as opposed to "Second Corinthians." But they missed the rest of the ridiculous quote: "Two Corinthians, right? Two Corinthians 3:17. That's the whole ballgame…Is that the one? Is that the one you like? I think that's the one you like." This is open pandering. It isn't even the botched Biblical reference that galls – it’s the fact that he tells his audience that he’s only saying this to appeal to them. But we’re supposed to believe that he’s totally sincere when he says, "If I'm president, you're going to see Merry Christmas in department stores, believe me – believe me." Yesterday, Trump went to First Christian Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa – and then proceeded to put money on the communion plates. "I thought it was for offering," Trump said. Here’s what Trump actually says on Communion:
When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed. I think in terms of 'Let’s go on and let’s make it right.'
3. Which Of These Republicans Do You Think Will Actually Stand Up To The Establishment? As I’ve been writing for weeks, it's obvious that the establishment would prefer Trump to Cruz. And they would obviously prefer Rubio to either. On Sunday, former Republican 1996 presidential nominee Bob Dole said, "Ted Cruz…wants us to be on the far, far right. There are some people out there – what's he going to do if he's elected? He's going to cost us wholesale losses in the Congress and governors and state legislatures." He then continued, "I want to reiterate my candidate is the best qualified in the group, Jeb Bush. But if it came down to Trump and Cruz, I would vote for Trump. I think he's a negotiator. He knows many members of Congress. In fact, he contributed Democrats and Republicans. He's worked for Democrats and Republicans. More than I can say for Ted Cruz, the Lone Ranger in the Senate." If you want someone who works with the other side, vote for the guy who has praised Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
4. Which Republican Do You Think Can Beat Hillary Clinton? The latest polls show that Donald Trump's polling favorability is simply awful. Gallup, in fact, gives Trump the highest unfavorability rating ever record: "At this point (two-week average through January 27), 33% of Americans view Trump favorably and 60% unfavorably…Hillary Clinton currently has a 52% unfavorable rating among al Americans, while Jeb Bush is at 45%, Chris Christie 38%, Ted Cruz 37%, Marco Rubio 33%, Bernie Sanders 31% and Ben Carson 30%." There’s a case to be made that Trump draws blue collar Democrats in swing states better than other Republican candidates; there’s also a case to be made that he alienates everybody. In current general election polls from NBC/Wall Street Journal (which, granted, mean virtually nothing), Trump loses by 10 to Clinton , while Cruz loses by 4, and Rubio loses by one.
5. Which Republican Best Represents The Conservative Brand? Republican presidential elections are an opportunity to present your ideology to the public. Trump has no ideology; Cruz is heavily ideological; Rubio talks vision rather than ideology. Which message should Americans hear? Many establishment pundits suggest that Rubio's hopeful vision for America is the best way to draw voters, and more importantly, build for the future; Cruz, by contrast, hopes to generate enthusiasm with the base. Trump does neither.
What Iowa voters do today will help determine the future of the republic, obviously. Should Trump win big, he'll be the prohibitive frontrunner. Should Cruz win, Trump will be knocked off his pedestal – and how far he’ll drop, nobody knows. Should Rubio finish surprisingly strong, he’ll be the establishment frontrunner, the chief rival to Trump.
We'll find out in less than 12 hours.
6. Who brought the homemade ginger snaps? I want the recipe!
This is too much BS and I am in too good of a mood about our chances in Iowa for me to spend time on this.
Another Trump hit piece. Let the hits keep coming!
Trump: Strong leadership skills. Can get things done, but can I trust that he will get the right things done? He undoubtedly strongly loves the USA. So with reservation, I will offer him the job based on that element of his character. Strong fighter who unabashed love of the USA, I will rely on that love of the USA to lead him in the right direction.
Cruz: I can trust Cruz to do the right things, but would he be effective in a leadership roll or will he simply alienate everyone he has to work with? Does he love his political theories or the USA more? So do I hire him just because he looks good on paper? Sadly, no.
Rubio: Good at sales but not leadership material. He is a born follower, not a leader. Too unprincipled to be an effective leader. Too easily lead by others.
The Dems?
Clinton, arrogantly corrupt, recklessly incompetent, shameless sense of entitlement. Obviously loathes everything that make she USA exceptional. Would find a reason to terminate her employment asap.
Sanders: Rigid ideologue. Incapable of Leadership on any level due to his blind worship of his failed political dogmas. Live is a bubble world where theory trumps reality.
O’Malley: Pretty boy empty suit. Cannot figure out how he got hired for anything in the 1st place.
The rest? Good men and women but not anywhere near Presidential level.
For those who want to know their score, the answers are:
Yes, Yes, Trump, Trump, Trump
Our government, National and State, must be freed from the sinister influence or control of special interests. Exactly as the special interests of cotton and slavery threatened our political integrity before the Civil War, so now the great special business interests too often control and corrupt the men and methods of government for their own profit. We must drive the special interests out of politics.
Theodore Roosevelt
Not ginger snap, snickerdoodles
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